Enormous, rage-filled eyes glow in the dark rainforest as a monstrous serpent raises its head. Flames lick along its massive body and gather in its mouth, ready to smite those who would lay an injurious hand on the forest.
Guardian of the Rainforest
The Boitatá is a fierce protector of the rainforest. It will allow travelers to pass through who show respect to the forest. However, any who harm the Boitatá’s realm in any way — whether by chopping down trees or setting them ablaze — risk bringing on the Boitatá’s wrath.
Powers of the Fiery Serpent
The Boitatá can breathe fire, camouflage itself, and turn itself invisible. Even when hidden, however, the Boitatá’s presence can be felt from the heat it gives off, like that of a raging bonfire. Flames dance along its body when angered, but these flames are not corporal, and thus serve no danger to the forest when the serpent slithers through the foliage. This contrasts with the fire from the Boitatá’s mouth, which is very real — and deadly.
Creature of the Night
As a nocturnal creature, the Boitatá only appears at night. Sometimes, just the glowing eyes of the serpent can be spotted in the deep shadows of the forest. Beware, however, lest you gaze long into these bright eyes, as a prolonged stare into their fiery depths will turn you insane.
Defeating the Fiery Serpent
The Boitatá is technically a ghost, and thus cannot be killed directly. However, it is possible to temporarily weaken the magical serpent by dousing its head in enchanted water. Once doused, the serpent produces much smaller flames for a short time and has slower movements. One can also incapacitate the serpent by striking it with a weapon made from the bones of any forest-dwelling animal. A sufficient strike to the head will drive the Boitatá to retreat to the land of the dead, leaving the forest unguarded until the serpent has regained its strength enough to return.
Placating the Boitatá
If angered, the Boitatá can be placated through sacrifice — that is, by offering the bodies (or at least the eyes) of dead animals. The Boitatá eats the eyes of the sacrifice, and if satisfied, abates its anger. However, depending on the level of harm caused to the forest, it may take quite a lot of death to placate the serpent. If the harm is extreme, the Boitatá may not stop until it sees the guilty killed.
Passing Safely Through the Forest
The Boitatá allows the free passage of all who respect the rainforest. However, sometimes small mistakes happen, or minor harm is necessary. Perhaps it is not possible to find sufficient fallen wood for building a campfire, and some logs or sticks must be cut from a living tree. In these cases, a traveler would be wise to keep animals, or at least eyeballs, on hand that it can leave as sacrifices for appeasement.
Boitatá
Large undead, lawful neutral
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 105 (8d10 + 24)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
18(+4) 15(+2) 16(+3) 6(-2) 14(+2) 7(-2)
Skills Perception + 4, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunity Poison
Charmed, Exhaustion, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages Common
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Banished by Forest Bone
If the Boitatá is struck by a critical hit from a weapon made of the bones of an animal from the Boitatá’s forest, it is banished to a harmless demiplane. While there, it is incapacitated. The Boitatá remains there for one hour, at which point it reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied.
Diminished by Holy Water
If the Boitatá takes damage from holy water, its fires diminish. Until the end of its next turn, its speed is reduced to 20 feet, its Bite no longer does additional fire damage, and its Fire Breath only does 4d6 fire damage.
Rejuvenation
If it dies, the Boitatá returns to life in 1d6 days and regains all its hit points. Only a wish spell can prevent this trait from functioning.
