Large monstrosity, chaotic evil
Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48)
Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 6 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 8 (-1) |
Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +4
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +5
Damage Resistances Fire, poison
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Understands Abyssal but can’t speak
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)
Keen Smell. The jai’a’cor has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Pounce. If the jai’a’cor moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the jai’a’cor can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Actions
Multiattack. The jai’a’cor makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 15). The jai’a’cor has two claws, each of which can grapple one target.
Tail Sting. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one creature. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 4) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Bonus Actions
Frenzied Howl (Recharge 5–6). The jai’a’cor emits a blood-curdling howl. Each creature within 30 feet that can hear it must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Description
The jai’a’cor is a terrifying predator that stalks arid wastelands and infernal realms. Its massive scorpion-like body is covered in thick, crimson scales that shimmer like embers, while its head resembles that of a snarling red jackal, with glowing amber eyes and jagged fangs. This creature combines the relentless aggression of a beast with a cunning, almost demonic instinct for hunting. Jai’a’cor are often found in regions touched by fiendish influence, serving as guardians or unleashed as weapons of chaos.
Tactics
The jai’a’cor prefers to ambush prey, using its burrow speed and tremorsense to detect approaching creatures. It opens combat with its Frenzied Howl to scatter enemies, then targets isolated or frightened foes with its Pounce and multiattack. It uses its claws to grapple and restrain targets, setting them up for devastating Tail Sting attacks. Against resilient opponents, it relies on its poison resistance and high hit points to outlast them in prolonged fights.
Lore
Legends claim the jai’a’cor was born from a pact between a demon lord and a forgotten desert deity, its form a twisted fusion of their essences. Adventurers encountering a jai’a’cor often report an unnatural heat radiating from its scales, and some believe its poison carries a curse that lingers in the blood. Those who survive its attacks describe a haunting intelligence in its jackal-like gaze, as if the creature is sizing up not just their strength but their soul.