Back in the day, White Dwarf magazine was the British answer to the Dragon, and its regular “Fiend Factory” column was a source of many monsters for early D&D games. In fact, the first edition Fiend Folio (1981) was largely a collection of monsters submitted to WD. This 3e conversion is part of an ongoing project to resurrect some interesting WD monsters that, for one reason or another, fell by the wayside.

The dream demon was a submission of Phil Masters and appeared in White Dwarf 25 (Jun/July 1981) as part of the article “Fiend Factory: The Black Manse.” Masters was a frequent contributor to White Dwarf, and at least two of his creations—the jaculi and the lamia noble—made the final cut for the Fiend Folio.

This tiny, impish creature resembles a black skeleton with huge, multicolored butterfly wings.

Dream Demon CR 2

A dream demon

Always CE Tiny outsider (chaotic, evil, extraplanar)

Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., see invisibility; Listen +3, Spot +3

Languages Common, Abyssal

AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 14
(+2 size, +4 Dex, +2 natural)

hp 7 (2 HD); DR 5/cold iron or good

Immune illusions, poison

Fort +1, Ref +7, Will +3

Spd 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 30 ft. (average)

Melee 2 wings +8 (1d4-2)

Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.

Base Atk +2; Grp -8

Atk Options aligned strike (chaotic, evil)

Special Actions command shadows (+2, 2d6+9 HD, 7th)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 7th)

At will—ventriloquism (DC 13), dancing lights

3/day—hypnotic pattern (DC 14), minor image (DC 14)

1/day—invisibility, mirror image

1/week—minor creation, mirage arcana (DC 17)

Abilities Str 6, Dex 19, Con 8, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 15

SQ alternate form

Feats Weapon Finesse

Skills Bluff +7, Diplomacy +7, Disguise +5 (+7 acting), Hide +7, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (any one) +3, Listen +3, Move Silently +7, Search +5, Spellcraft +5, Spot +3

Advancement 3–6 HD (Tiny)

Level Adjustment – (improved familiar)

Alternate Form (Su) A dream demon can assume another form at will as a swift action. A dream demon can assume the form of any Tiny or Small animal, humanoid, magical beast, or outsider.

Command Shadows (Su) A dream demon is able to command undead shadows at will as an evil cleric of 7th level.

Immune to Illusions (Su) As an expert at deceit, a dream demon is immune to all illusions.

See Invisibility (Su) Dream demons continually see invisibility as the spell (caster level 7th).

Dream demons are similar to quasits in nature, but possess a special flair for illusion magic.

Strategy and Tactics

Dream demons will first rely on trickery and their spell-like abilities and, if pressed, will attack with the razor-sharp edges of their wings.

Dream Demon Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge (the planes) can learn more about dream demons. When a character makes a successful skill check, the following lore is revealed, including the information from lower DCs.

DC	Result
12	This creature is a dream demon, a chaotic evil outsider related to the quasit.
17	Dream demons are masters of illusion and can quickly assume alternate forms.
22	Dream demons can command undead shadows to serve them.

Sample Encounters

Dream demons are usually encountered singly, though they are rarely found in small swarms.

Solitary (EL 2): A single dream demon flies through the night on an errand for its illusionist master.

Swarm (EL 4–9): A group of two to twelve dream demons have gathered at an abandoned black manse, where they torment all travelers who pass too near.

Ecology

Dream demons enjoy using their illusion powers to confuse, trick, and corrupt the unsuspecting.

Environment: Dream demons are natives of the Abyss, though they are frequently dispatched to the Material Plane. In the Abyss they are most common on layers controlled by the princes Graz’zt and Fraz-Urb’luu.

Typical Physical Characteristics: A dream demon’s natural appearance is as a black skeleton 1-1/2 feet tall with huge, gorgeous, butterfly wings, though they frequently use their alternate form ability so as to appear as any Small or smaller creature.

Society

Dream demons are very occasionally granted to chaotic evil illusion specialists as improved familiars.

Typical Treasure

Dream demons have standard treasure for their Challenge Rating, or about 600 gp.