ᛋᚲᚨᚱᛚᚨᛏ ᚺᚨᛏᚱ

The gruesome and murderous redcaps are possibly the most vicious and savage of the fae creatures to plague the British Isles, for the redcaps do not “play” with their victims, nor “indulge in mischief.” Redcaps only murder their victims. It is what they live for; is the job they were given by either the Spring Queen of the Summer Court or the Winter King of the Winter Court (no one outside the redcaps knows for sure who gave the order, and the redcaps refuse to discuss such things), and it is a duty they love to carry out, for it is the best and only method for soaking their infamous red caps in a victim’s blood.

Redcaps appear to be short, thick, old human men and women, with large glaring red eyes, grisly hair streaming down to their shoulders, and caps red with dried blood. When the first redcaps came to the British Isles from Faerie they stayed in the Pictish kingdoms, but in the last century or so they have migrated south, so now any solitary lane or forest path in the Four Kingdoms might be their hunting grounds. 

Medium fae, wicked, cruel, and evil

Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 77 (9d8+36)
Speed 40 ft

Str 18 (+4) Dex 14 (+2) Con 18 (+4)
Int 10 (+0) Wis 16 (+3) Cha 14 (+2)

Skills Athletics +6, Perception +5, Intimidation +4
Condition Immunities charmed, exhausted, frightened
Damage Vulnerabilities iron weapons
Senses darkvision 60 ft, passive Perception 15
Languages Old English, Fae
Reaction to furious anger and tremendous fear—there are few fae who provoke such visceral reactions in NPCs. You can’t get a mob of NPCs to hunt a dragon for love or money but say the word “redcap” and most of your village will turn out to hunt the little bastard down and kill it.
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Fae Vulnerabilities. A redcap rolls with disadvantage for all actions taken while they hear the sound of church bells ringing or while touching silver.

Iron Anathema. A redcap rolls with disadvantage on all actions taken while touching iron.

Redcaps have disadvantage on saving throws involving iron and on any spell they cast against someone wearing iron armor or wearing an iron holy symbol.

When a redcap takes damage from an iron or steel weapon it gains the distracted condition (from the pain) until the end of their next turn.

Strong for its Size. While grappling, the redcap is considered to be Large size. Also, wielding a weapon for a Large size creature doesn’t impose disadvantage on its attack rolls.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. The redcap makes three melee attacks each turn.

Long Spear. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+4) piercing damage.

Long Knife. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit: 8 (1d6+4) slashing damage.

MOTIVES

Redcaps are sadists, and all their activities are designed to feed their sadism. They aren’t typical fae; they don’t practice “mischief” on humans. They simply kill them and dip their red caps into their blood.

ALLIES

About half the time redcaps work alone. The other half of the time redcaps appear alongside other redcaps and similarly vicious fae creatures.