Skaedwan | Free Monster for D&D and PF2e

August 02, 2025
Posted by Luke Hart

A figure steps from the shadow, an easy smile on its pale face, yet its expression pulls at its drawn skin, ripping it where flesh has turned to rot. Solid shadows, featureless beneath the mask of human flesh, gleam in the torchlight as the horrifying creature stalks forward, more inky blackness piercing the carcass molded to its form.

Masquerading Corpses. The horrifying skaedwan stalks the night for unwary travelers and rends the flesh from their bones. It devours everything except the bones, with particular attention to its victims’ brains, which it consumes to collect the memories of the dead. If that were not horrifying enough, this monster slips on the discarded flesh, taking on its victims’ life and mannerisms until the skin rots, and it must find a new body to masquerade as.

Skaedwan - D&D 5e

Medium aberration, neutral evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 63 (14d8)

Speed 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	16 (+3)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)

Skills Deception +6, Insight +4, Perception +3, Persuasion +6, Stealth +5

Condition Immunities charmed

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages Deep Speech, any of the languages of its victims (usually Common and one other language)

Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Masquerader. The skaedwan can mimic and recall the memories of any creature whose brain it has consumed, including voices and mannerisms. If pretending to be a creature whose memories it has accessed, the skaedwan has advantage on Charisma (Deception, Intimidation, and Persuasion) checks to masquerade as that creature. A creature that hears the skaedwan or observes its behavior can tell they are imitations with a successful DC 14 Wisdom (Insight) check.

Ambusher. In the first round of combat, the skaedwan has advantage on attack rolls against any creature it surprises.

Surprise Attack. If the skaedwan surprises a creature and hits it with an attack during the first round of combat, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage from the attack.

Actions

Multiattack. The skaedwan makes two flesh rend attacks.

Flesh Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) slashing damage plus 2 (1d4) psychic damage. If a creature is killed by this attack, the skaedwan rips the skin from the corpse’s bones and affixes it to its body.

Bonus Actions

Dark Step (1/Day). The skaedwan steps into shadows and teleports up to 30 feet to an unoccupied shadow space that it can see.

Shadow Stealth. While in dim light or darkness, the skaedwan can take the Hide action as a bonus action.

Skaedwan - PF2e

Creature 3
Medium, Aberration

Perception +8; darkvision

Languages Aklo, the languages of those whose brains it has eaten (usually at least Common and one other)

Skills Athletics +10, Deception +9 (13 to Impersonate a creature whose brain it has eaten), Diplomacy +9, Intimidation +5 (9 while Impersonating), Stealth +10

Str +0, Dex +4, Con +1, Int +3, Wis +1, Cha +3

Shadow Stealth The skaedwan can move at its full Speed while Sneaking in dim light or darkness.

—

AC 21; Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +8

HP 45

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Speed 25 feet

Melee [one-action] claw +11 (agile, finesse), Damage 1d4+2 piercing plus 1d4 mental and rend flesh

Occult Innate Spells DC 21; 2nd charm, invisibility (at will; self only), sleep; Cantrips (2nd) detect magic, message, read aura, telekinetic hand

Dark Step [one-action] (occult, teleportation) Frequency once per day; Requirements The skaedwan is in darkness or dim light. Effect The skaedwan teleports to a location up to 25 feet away within their line of sight.

Masquerade The skaedwan can mimic and recall the memories of any creature whose brain it has consumed, including voices and mannerisms.

Rend Flesh If the skaedwan’s claw attack kills a creature, their skin is ripped from their bones and becomes affixed to the skaedwan’s body.

Sneak Attack The skaedwan deals an extra 1d6 precision damage to off-guard creatures.

Surprise Attack On the first round of combat, creatures that haven’t acted yet are flat-footed to the skaedwan.

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