Following is a writeup for Hellios, an advanced form of Radiance Mephit, one the new monsters featured in Skirmisher Publishing’s recently-released “At the Shrine of Othrys” adventure for 5E! He can be used in the context of that adventure or any other encounter that suits a storyteller’s needs.

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Hellios (Unique Paragon Radiance Mephit)

Hellios is a unique Paragon Radiance Mephit who, like lesser creatures of his kind, is composed of elemental Fire and Positive Energy and looks like a brightly incandescent winged humanoid about the size of a large Halfling. His hide swirls with energized flame punctuated with dark spots in the form of arcane sigils and he is surrounded by an aura of incandescence (shedding bright light in a 90-foot radius and dim light for an additional 90 feet). He can speak Ignan, Common, Quidan — the language of the Positive Energy Plane — and Celestial, albeit with a terrible accent that belies his claims that it is his native tongue.

What distinguishes Hellios from normal Mephits is, simply, that he has more volatile elemental material packed into his body, adding a bit of derangement to the physical instability that already characterizes his kind. He believes, in fact, that he is a demigod descended from the God of the Sun himself, and that for some convoluted reason he was exiled variously from Mount Olympus, the sun, or the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Radiance.

Hellios will accord himself appropriately while around others, assuming a haughty air, responding well to flattery or even worship, interspersing words and phrases in Celestial into his speech, and performing with his lyre. He is driven to command others, to include leading and directing activities that weaker creatures would be incapable of on their own.

Hellios will also make no secret of how much he despises the Material Plane and how dull and ugly he considers it to be. He does like flying as high in the sky toward the sun as he can on bright, hot days, and beyond that is drawn to great glowing spectacles like burning cities and forest fires.

If encountered at the Shrine of Othrys, Hellios will likely be occupying the Chapel of the Scorching Sun, possibly as a replacement for any regular Radiance Mephits or Radiance Mephit Scorchers that were there previously. If he needs reinforcements he will use his Summon Monster ability — and may use it to call his chariot and freakish two-headed elemental horse if he thinks it will make him more impressive or intimidating.

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Hellios (Unique Paragon Radiance Mephit)

Small Elemental, Neutral Evil

Armor Class: 12

Hit Points: 31 (7d6+7)

Speed: 30 ft., fly 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

7 (-2) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 17 (+3)

Skills: Intimidation +5, Perception +3, Religion +3

Tools: Lyre

Damage Vulnerabilities: Necrotic

Damage Immunities: Fire, Poison, Radiant

Condition Immunities: Poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages: Common, Celestial, Ignan, Quidan

Challenge: 3 (700 XP)

Death Burst. If Hellios dies, he will explode in a burst of energized flame. Each creature within 5 feet of it must make a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw, taking 13 (3d8) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Radiant. Hellios is so bright that it is difficult to look at him and, as a result, melee and ranged attacks are made against him at disadvantage.

Pulse (1/long rest). As an action, Hellios can momentarily pulse with a brightness like that of the sun, causing creatures within 60 feet of him to make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be affected as if by the spell Blindness. He requires no material components and his innate spellcasting ability is Charisma.

Scorching Rays (1/Day). Hellios can innately cast Scorching Ray, creating four rays of fire and hurling them at one or multiple targets within 120 feet. He must make a ranged spell attack at +5 for each ray and, on a hit, the target takes 7 (2d6) fire damage. Hellios requires no material components and his spellcasting ability is Charisma.

Summon Monsters (1/Day). Hellios can summon 2 (1d4) normal Radiance Mephits or a single Radiance Elemental that has the appearance of a two-headed winged horse and is yoked to a small chariot. A summoned monster appears in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of Hellios and acts as an ally to him. Such a creature remains for one minute, until it or Hellios dies, or until Hellios dismisses it as an action. Summoned Radiance Mephits cannot themselves summon other Mephits.

Actions

Multiattack. Hellios can make two melee attacks with his claws.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) radiant damage.

Plasma Breath (Recharge 6). Hellios can exhale a 90-foot long, 1-foot-wide line of energized flame. Each creature in that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) radiant damage on a failed save, or no damage on a successful one.

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Two-Headed Winged Horse Radiance Elemental

Medium Elemental, Unaligned

Armor Class: 11

Hit Points: 22 (4d8+4)

Speed: 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

13 (+1) 12 (+1) 13 (+1) 2 (-4) 11 (+0) 9 (-1)

Damage Vulnerabilities: Necrotic

Damage Immunities: Fire, Poison, Radiant

Condition Immunities: Poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12

Languages: —

Challenge: 1 (200 XP)

Radiant. A Radiance Elemental is so bright that it is difficult to look at and, as a result, melee and ranged attacks are made against it at disadvantage.

Trampling Charge. If this Radiance Elemental moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a hooves attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the Radiance Elemental can make another attack with its hooves against it as a bonus action (inflicting maximum bludgeoning and radiant damage if it is yoked to a chariot).

Actions

Multiattack. This Radiance Elemental can make three melee attacks, one with its hooves and two with its bites.

Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (2d4+1) bludgeoning damage plus 3 (1d6) radiant damage.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6+1) slashing damage plus 3 (1d6) radiant damage.