Aurora Screamer

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Image promptlarge aberration floating in a frozen sky, translucent jellyfish-manta hybrid, membranous body rippling with shifting aurora colors, luminous ribbon tendrils, lipless shrieking maw of light, blinding radiant corona, hovering above an arctic glacier, polar night, green-violet aurora ribbons across a black star-field, self-radiant flare, ethereal menacing composition, prismatic glow over icy dark palette, dark fantasy, grimdark, painterly digital art, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, muted desaturated palette with corrupted-crimson accents, weathered post-Cataclysm atmosphere, intricate high detail, cinematic composition

Large Aberration, Chaotic Evil

CR 9ArtilleryArctic / Glacier

AC 16

HP 149 (13d10 + 78)

Speed 10 ft., Fly 60 ft. (hover)

STR

save +0

DEX

save +8

CON

save +10

INT

save +1

WIS

save +6

CHA

save +3

Skills Perception +6, Stealth +8

Resistances Cold, Necrotic

Immunities Radiant; Blinded, Charmed, Prone

Senses Blindsight 120 ft.; Passive Perception 16

Languages Deep Speech

Traits

Shimmering Veil. The Aurora Screamer's body constantly shifts color. Ranged attacks made against it are made with Disadvantage.

Blinding Radiance. Every enemy who can see the Aurora Screamer and starts its turn within 30 feet of it makes a DC 17 Constitution save. Failure: It becomes Blinded until the end of its next turn.

Point Blank Weakness. While an enemy is within 5 feet of the Aurora Screamer, its ranged attacks are made with Disadvantage.

Actions

Multiattack. Makes two Radiant Lance attacks and uses Piercing Wail.

Radiant Lance. Ranged Attack Roll: +8, range 150 ft. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 4) Radiant damage.

Piercing Wail. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 17, one creature that can hear the Aurora Screamer within 60 feet.

Failure: 13 (3d8) Thunder damage, and the target becomes Deafened (1 minute). Additionally, if the target is maintaining Concentration, its Concentration automatically breaks.
Success: Half damage, no other effect.

Corona Burst (Recharge 6). The Aurora Screamer erupts. Every creature in a 40-foot Emanation makes a DC 17 Dexterity save.

Failure: 45 (10d8) Radiant damage and Blinded for 1 minute.
Success: Half damage, not Blinded.

Bonus Actions

Drift. The Aurora Screamer moves up to half its Fly speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

How to Use

The Aurora Screamer is the caster-hunting Artillery.

Piercing Wail every turn automatically breaks Concentration (there's damage even on a save, and Concentration goes if the save fails). A Wizard's Haste, a Cleric's Spirit Guardians — under threat every turn.

Blinding Radiance — everyone within 30 feet risks going blind. A blind party can't hit a flying target.

It flies (Fly 60, hover) + Drift — melee characters can never reach it.

This is the "nightmare version" of an Artillery.

But it has weaknesses:

Weakness	Effect
Point Blank Weakness	Ranged attacks have Disadvantage within 5 feet
NO melee attack	Anyone who reaches it can hit it
Blindsight 120 ft.	But it has Immunity to Blinded — meaning blindness doesn't affect it, but your blindness affects you

How the party wins: Flying or ranged damage. A Ranger/Fighter (Archery) can hit it. Or Fly, Levitate, a flying mount.

Combination (Arctic Encounter):

Aurora Screamer (Artillery) + Rime Caller (Artillery) + 2× Brute

Two Artillery hit from range. The Brutes keep the party from closing in. The party can't reach the Artillery.

For a Lv10 party: 5.000 + 5.000 + (2 × 1.800) = 13.600 XP. Budget (Medium) = 2.300×4 = 9.200. High. Tough but fair — the party has to learn to use mobility.