GHYLAK THE MANY-MOTHER (boss fight stats)

 Here's an example of a tough boss I ran for my players this week. They spent the last few sessions searching through the swamps of the Lower Citadel for her, and I thought she was maybe going to be too tough to take down but they got her. This was run according to 5e rules, with the new estus healing we've been doing.

THE MANY-MOTHER

In her full radiance, she creates innumerable witches, which scatter like dandelion seeds across the air. They are barely intelligent, shrieking, laughing, naked women, they sleep in dirty piles, they burn and torture the living. But she is a goddess of the old age and she loves her children.

art by Frank Besancon

CR 28

Size huge (15x15)

HP 700

AC 28

Saves: Strength +10, Dexterity +10, Constitution +10, Intelligence +12, Wisdom +14, Charisma +14

Movement: Fly 80, Teleport 40, Walk 40

Immunities: Charm, Mind-Affecting, Movement Reduction, Disease

Defenses:

- The first time on every turn that someone approaches within 20', she can teleport 40' for free

- When she hits 350 hp, a divine aura surrounds her which makes her invulnerable to all damage until the end of her next turn. Arrows and projectiles that enter the aura turn to frogs or lizards, energy or magic turns to harmless swamp mud, melee users must make a Strength check DC 20 or the weapon goes flying the other direction 100'. Furthermore, all dead witches that she's created during combat come back to life with half-health.

- She's riding on a ram (or is it a goat?), but they are one divine entity. She can't be dismounted and any damage done to the ram just damages the goddess as a whole. 

Attacks:

- Shoot four rays of moonlight, range 200' or 600' with disadvantage, +16 for 8d8+10 radiant damage each

- If an enemy is within 20', her ram can also shout, causing an enemy's flesh to strip off. Attack +16 for 10d6 slashing damage.

- When she lands after flying for any distance, an shockwave explodes from the ram's hooves. This is a 20' radius, everyone has to make a Dexterity save DC 24 or take 4d10 damage and be knocked down.

-  (Recharge 1/2): She can cause an enemy to explode. A single target must make a DC 26 Con save or take 30d12 damage, save for half. If this brings you to 0 hp, you instantly die as you explode into bloody chunks.

Legendary actions (taken during player turn, after a player acts):

- (Every round) Spawn 1d4 witches, which bud and fall from her arms. They land prone and can act immediately on the enemy turn.

HP 80, AC 10, Fly 60'. Attacks: Shoot a fireball, DC 19' Dex save or 8d6 damage in 20' radius (standard fireball), or melee touch +12, then a DC 18 Wisdom save or be paralyzed, save at end of turn to end.

Then only one:

 - (Recharge on 1/2/3 out of d6): Kill a witch within 80' of her and heal for 8d10 hitpoints.

OR

- (Recharge on 1/2 out of d6): Command all in a 120' cone to bow. They must make a DC 22 Wisdom save or bow with their face pressed to the ground. This leaves them prone and probably blind until the end of their turn.

When she dies, she falls off her ram and transforms back into her crone form. She is helpless and has one hitpoint in this form, and she begs for mercy.