Wyrd of the Week: Bean Nighe

 

Bean Nighe (Undead)

Defense: 14

Endurance: 18

Reduction Value: 3

Attack Modifier: +5

Attacks: Strangle (2d6)

Special: Blessing of Doom, Drown. Mournful Song, Swift as the Stream, Undead

Move: 3

Saving Throw: 15

Despair Rating: 8

Known as the Washing Woman or Washer at the Ford, the Bean Nighe is often mistaken for a fey, but is actually

the forlorn spirit of young mothers who died while burdened by the belief that their motherly duties were left

incomplete. That sorrow turns inward, eventually twisting into hatred towards the living that keeps their soul

from finding peace. They appear to mortals unfortunate to encounter them as twisted elderly women shrouded

in a long grey-green shaw that conceals strange a twisted visage marred by such physical disfigurements as

having only a single nostril, only one long, broad tooth, or impossibly watery eyes. In all forms, Bean Nighe

keep their horrible appearance concealed by their dirty, water-logged clothing.

The Bean Nighe is always found at a river bank, most often near a village or small rural community. They most

typically haunt washing spots where they hope to draw victims in with a low, mournful washing song as they

dip the bloody edges of their rags into the water, endlessly washing them and yet never removing these crimson

stains. Any mortals who hear this song, which carries on the wind to a distance of up three hundred feet, must

make a Despair Saving Throw even before they see the Bean Nighe. Those that fail find must move towards the

Bean Nighe at their Cautious Movement rate or faster and suffer all the other effects of a failed Despair Saving

Throw. Once a target is adjacent to the Bean Nighe it attempts to entangle the target with their shaw. If the Bean

Nighe makes a successful melee attack against a target with this shaw, the victim is immediately pulled into the

nearby waters and begins to drown (see THJ2e Core Rules, page 88). In addition to the damage suffered from

drowning and the Disadvantage on all rolls imposed by drowning, the victim also suffers 2d6 strangulation damage

which is not reduced by most sources of Reduction Value (such as armor). Finally, though slow on land if a Bean

Nighe is standing in even a puddle of water and remains in any body of water her Movement is doubled from 3

to 6.

Fortunately those who are able to resist becoming enchanted by the mournful song of the Bean Nighe may be

able to capture her. Characters that are able to sneak up on the Bean Nighe and surprise her by making a

successful melee attack roll, followed by a successful Might-based Saving Throw can pin her. Once pinned, the

Bean Nighe can be made to provide a blessing to the one who captured her. This blessing, known as a Blessing

of Doom, grants the captor Advantage on any checks made associated with their Acrobatics, Forestry, Lore, or

Thievery. The captor chooses which ability receives this benefit at the time of capture. Unfortunately, this is

gift comes at a price, and the captor also suffers Disadvantage on all Grievous Wound Saving Throws. The

effects of the Blessing of Doom remain for a year and a day or until the Bean Nighe is slain.

Bean Nighes are always solitary and because they are undead, they are vulnerable to any effects or abilities that

uniquely target creatures of this type. Unfortunately, it is commonly believed that they are fey - though this is

false and unless a character specifically researches the Bean Nighe with a successful Lore check or discovers

this through the course of the legendarium it is "common knowledge" that the Bean Nighe is a fey creature.

Legend says that if a Bean Nighe is reunited with one of its living children, its rage will turn to sorrow and

remorse and the restless soul will find peace, fading from existence.