Toad King

This human-sized toad has an enormous head and expressive On the Cusp of Legend. The Toad King has not quite
onyx eyes. His broad smile, accentuated by wrinkles and warts, achieved status equivalent to other animal lords. However, he
complements his regal bearing and attire. expects he will undergo apotheosis when he convinces a hero or
King of Frogs. All amphibians respect the Toad King, group of heroes to complete a grand adventure on his behalf.
but frogs and toads follow his orders. He lives among
them in swampy areas and often adds his voice to their TOAD KING
croaking choruses. Medium fey (shapechanger), neutral
Fairy-tale Nobility. Comporting himself with dignity, the Armor Class 15
Toad King enjoys pretending to be a prince or king cursed to Hit Points 150 (20d8 + 60)
take a toad’s form. He spins a grand tale about witches or fey Speed 30 ft., swim 60 ft.
enchanters and convinces listeners to undertake elaborate
quests to break the curse. He is generous with castings of heroism STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
to aid those who agree to do his bidding, but he often insists 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 17 (+3) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 21 (+5)
on casting geas to ensure compliance. The Toad King hints at
rewards but tries not to promise anything specific. If he does Saving Throws Dex +9, Con +7, Cha +9
guarantee a reward, he is obligated to make good on his promise Skills Acrobatics +9, Deception +9, History +7, Insight +5, Nature +7,
if his pawns succeed. Survival +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from
nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison

A TOME OF BEASTS 2 22
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, Speak with Frogs and Toads. The Toad King can communicate with
poisoned, stunned frogs and toads as if they shared a language.
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11 Standing Leap. The Toad King’s long jump is up to 20 feet and his
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft. high jump is up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) Innate Spellcasting. The Toad King’s innate spellcasting ability is
Charisma (spell save DC 17). He can innately cast the following
Amphibious. The Toad King can breathe air and water. spells, requiring no material components:
Anuran Passivism. No frogs or toads can willingly attack the Toad At will: heroism, suggestion
King. They can be forced to do so through magical means. 3/day each: expeditious retreat, grease
Feint. As a bonus action before taking an action to attack, the Toad 1/day each: geas, water walk
King can attempt to feint an opponent within 5 feet of him. The
ACTIONS
target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw, or the Toad
King has advantage on his next attack. Multiattack. In frog form, the Toad King makes two bite attacks. In
Magic Resistance. The Toad King has advantage on saving throws humanoid form, he makes three rapier attacks. In his true form, he
against spells and other magical effects. makes three attacks: one with his bite and two with his rapier.
Magic Weapons. The Toad King’s weapon attacks are magical. Bite (Frog Form and True Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +9
to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) piercing damage
Rejuvenation. If he dies, the Toad King’s soul reforms on the Astral
plus 7 (2d6) poison damage. If the target is a Medium or smaller
Plane.In 1d6 days, it inhabits the body of another frog or toad on
creature, it is grappled (escape DC 14). Until this grapple ends, the
the Material Plane, which then becomes the Toad King (with all of
target is restrained, the Toad King can automatically hit the target
the hp and abilities thereof). Only killing every frog and toad on the
with his bite, and he can’t make bite attacks against other targets.
Material Plane will prevent this trait from functioning.
When the Toad King moves, any Medium or smaller target he is
Royal Croak. As a bonus action, the Toad King croaks at a frog or
grappling moves with him.
toad within 30 feet of him. If the target can hear him, it can make
Rapier (Human and True Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to
one weapon attack as a reaction against any creature that has
hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) piercing damage.
attacked the Toad King since the end of his previous turn.
Shapechanger. The Toad King can use his action to polymorph into REACTIONS
a Large emerald frog, a Medium male human, or back into his true
Parry (Human and True Form Only). The Toad King adds 4 to his
Medium bipedal toad form. His statistics, other than his size, are the
AC against one melee attack that would hit him. To do so, the Toad
same in each form—with the exception that only his true and frog
King must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
forms retain his swimming speed. Any equipment he is wearing or
carrying transforms with him. He reverts to his true form if he dies.

THE TOAD KING’S QUESTS

The Toad King enjoys sending adventurers on elaborate quests to • Soak the feather of a lymarien (see page 248) in the tears of
cure his “curse,” often spinning tales of his woeful plight wrought at guardian naga. The Toad King must consume the tear-soaked
the hands of evil fey or witches. Here are some example quests for feather before the next crescent moon.
particularly helpful adventurers:
• Bring the Toad King a cloak of winter wolf fur held together by a
• Retrieve the warty nose of a green hag who lives deep in the clasp made from a haleshi’s (see page 191) clam. The clam must
swamp, then burn it in the remains of a yowler (see page 380). have been used by the haleshi at least once to magically transport
The Toad King must inhale the rotten perfume. itself and others.
• Collect a dozen thornless roses from the cursed forest and • The Toad King must consume a potion made of basilisk eyes, pixie
sprinkle the petals in an ellipse around the Toad King at midnight dust, and holy water. The potion must be frozen by an ice bogie
on the night of a full moon. (see page 209) before consumption.
• Bathe a false gemstone from an arachnocrat (see page 102) in • Weave a crown made of hair from a sea hag, an orphan of the
the molten saliva of a hoard drake (see page 122), then place black (see page 286), and a mountain nymph (see page 272),
the glistening jewel on the Toad King’s forehead. then place the crown on the Toad King’s head.
• Obtain a gallon of water once inhabited by a crinaea (see page • Coat an acorn in a paste made from ashes left in an ashen
74). The water must be freely given and free of poison, and the custodian’s (see page 29) wake and plant it in the soil of the
Toad King must bathe in it for 24 hours. Toad King’s home. The first seed the tree bears will cure the
Toad King.

23 TOME OF BEASTS 2 A