Cultist
Source: Valda’s Spire of Secrets (2024)
Dogmatic and often unhinged, cultists draw upon forbidden, eldritch allies for a taste of arcane might.
title: Cultist
*Small or Medium humanoid (Cohort), Neutral*
- **Armor Class** 14
- **Hit Points** 6 plus six times your Captain level (the cultist has a number of Hit Dice [d8s] equal to your Captain level) (6 plus six times your Captain level (the cultist has a number of Hit Dice [d8s] equal to your Captain level))
- **Speed** 30 ft.
|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA|
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
|10 (+0)|14 (+2)|12 (+1)| 9 (-1)| 9 (-1)|16 (+3)|
- **Proficiency Bonus** +2
- **Saving Throws** 3+PB
- **Skills** [Arcana](Mechanics/CLI/rules/skills.md#Arcana) +1, [Deception](Mechanics/CLI/rules/skills.md#Deception) +5
- **Senses** passive Perception 9
- **Gear** [studded leather armor](Mechanics/CLI/items/studded-leather-armor-xphb.md), [wand](Mechanics/CLI/items/wand-xphb.md)
- **Languages** Common plus one other language
- **Challenge**
## Traits
***Proficiencies.*** Simple weapons; Light armor
***Level 5.*** Arcane Excellence. The cultist has a +1 bonus to its spell attack rolls and spell save DC. This bonus increases to +2 at Captain level 9, and +3 at Captain level 13.
***Level 5.*** Greater Curse. The cultist can choose the Necrotic Damage effect of its Eldritch Curse in addition to another effect. At Captain level 9, the Necrotic Damage effect deals `2d8` plus your Charisma modifier Necrotic damage.
## Actions
***Eldritch Curse.*** *Wisdom Saving Throw:* DC equals your Cohort save DC, one creature within 60 feet. *Failure:* The cultist chooses one of the following effects.
***Bleeding.*** Until the start of the cultist's next turn, the target takes an extra `1d4` Necrotic damage whenever it takes damage.
***Evil Eye.*** The target has the [Frightened](Mechanics/CLI/rules/conditions.md#Frightened) condition until the start of the cultist's next turn.
***Hobbled.*** The target's [Speed](Mechanics/CLI/rules/variant-rules/speed-xphb.md) is reduced to 10 feet until the start of the cultist's next turn.
***Necrotic Damage.*** The target takes `1d8` plus your Charisma modifier Necrotic damage.
***Level 17.*** Vulnerability Curse (2/Day). *Constitution Saving Throw:* DC equals your Cohort save DC, one creature within 60 feet. *Failure:* The target has [Vulnerability](Mechanics/CLI/rules/variant-rules/vulnerability-xphb.md) to one damage type of the cultist's choice until the start of the cultist's next turn. This [Vulnerability](Mechanics/CLI/rules/variant-rules/vulnerability-xphb.md) ends early after the target takes the chosen type of damage.
## Reactions
***Level 13.*** Hellish Rebuke. The cultist casts [Hellish Rebuke](Mechanics/CLI/spells/hellish-rebuke-xphb.md) in response to the spell's trigger, using your Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC equals your Cohort save DC).