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Image promptlarge winged mountain predator, dark-feathered raptor body, hooked beak and talons, broad silent wings, clinging to wind-scoured summit crag, camouflaged against shadowed rock, poised to snatch and drop prey, cold eyes, sheer killing drop behind, slate greys charcoal, bruised twilight sky, ambush-from-above pose, 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

Peak Shadow

Large Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil
CR 9LurkerMountains / Hills
AC 17
STR
19
+4
save +4
DEX
20
+5
save +9
CON
22
+6
save +10
INT
8
−1
save −1
WIS
17
+3
save +7
CHA
10
+0
save +0
Skills Perception +7, Stealth +13
Resistances Cold · Senses Darkvision 120 ft.; Passive Perception 17 · Languages —

Traits

Mountain Camouflage. Advantage on Hide checks on rocky/mountainous terrain; no cover needed. Ambush Killer. Its first attack from Hidden deals 22 (5d8) extra damage. High Altitude. Unaffected by altitude effects; unaffected by wind.

Actions

Multiattack. One Bite and two Talon attacks. Bite. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 5 ft. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) Piercing damage. Talon. Melee Attack Roll: +9, reach 5 ft. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) Slashing damage. Snatch and Drop (Recharge 5–6). The Peak Shadow snatches a creature. DC 17 DEX save. Failure: The target has the Grappled condition (escape DC 17). The Peak Shadow immediately climbs upward at its Fly speed (up to 60 feet) and drops the target. The target takes fall damage (1d6 per 10 feet, max 20d6) and has the Prone condition.

Bonus Actions

Vanish. Moves half its Speed (doesn't provoke Opportunity Attacks) and takes the Hide action.

Key

Prepare for Snatch and Drop — Feather Fall, flight, or high DEX. And open, level terrain (Mountain Camouflage doesn't work there).