Crows' Shop Steward

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Medium Construct, Lawful Neutral

Armor Class 15 (patched leather and woven straw)

Hit Points 60 (8d8+24)

Speed 30 ft.

STR 16 (+3)

DEX 12 (+1)

CON 16 (+3)

INT 12 (+1)

WIS 14 (+2)

CHA 10 (+0)

Saving Throws Wis +4

Skills Insight +4, Persuasion +2, Intimidation +2

Damage Vulnerabilities fire

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks

Damage Immunities poison

Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages Common, Auran

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Crow Union Solidarity. The shop steward has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, grappled, or knocked prone while a crow or raven is within 30 feet of it. When the steward is reduced to half its hit points or fewer, 1d4 crows arrive at the end of the next round if there are any suitable perches within 120 feet.

Fair Fight, Fair Consequences. The steward keeps careful track of dishonorable tactics. The first time on a turn that a creature within 30 feet of the steward attacks a surprised, incapacitated, unconscious, or restrained creature, or attacks a creature with advantage while that creature has no conscious ally within 5 feet, the attacker must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or take 7 (2d6) psychic damage and have disadvantage on its next attack roll before the end of its next turn. A creature that succeeds is immune to this trait for 24 hours.

Straw-Stuffed Construct. The steward doesn't need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep.

Actions

Multiattack. The steward makes two Pitchfork attacks.

Pitchfork. Melee weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d8+3) piercing damage. The steward fights with the pitchfork held in both hands and does not make this attack against a prone creature unless that creature attacked dishonorably this round.

Crow Grievance (Recharge 5-6). A cloud of indignant crows erupts around a point the steward can see within 60 feet. Each creature in a 15-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 14 (4d6) slashing damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. On a failed save, a creature is also unable to see beyond 5 feet until the end of its next turn as feathers and furious wings fill its vision.

Call the Strike. The steward chooses one creature it can see within 60 feet that has damaged an ally of the steward since the end of the steward's last turn. Until the end of the steward's next turn, the target cannot benefit from being invisible or hidden, and the next attack roll made against it has advantage. If the target willingly moves more than 15 feet before the end of the steward's next turn, it takes 5 (1d10) psychic damage as crows pursue it, and its speed becomes 0 until the end of its turn.

Bonus Actions

Raise the Black Feather. The steward plants a black-feather pennant in an unoccupied space within 5 feet. Until the start of the steward's next turn, the steward and its allies within 10 feet of the pennant have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed. The pennant is a Tiny object with AC 12 and 5 hit points.

Reactions

Grievance Filed. When a creature within 10 feet of the steward misses with an attack against the steward or one of the steward's allies, the steward forces the attacker to repeat the attack against a different target within the attack's range, chosen by the steward, if one is available. The new attack must target a creature that has not already been targeted by that attack this turn.

Environment Grassland, Forest, Urban

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"You may win the fight, friend, but you will not win the grievance." — the Crows' Shop Steward

Lore & Description

Appearance

This broad-shouldered scarecrow is stitched from faded blue work shirts, brown burlap, and bands of golden straw. A black feather is tucked beneath its crooked hat, and a polished brass badge reading LOCAL 113 is pinned to its chest. Its wooden face has been painted with a severe but oddly patient expression, while dozens of crows perch on its shoulders, arms, and pitchfork. Its straw fingers are wrapped in red thread like tiny union ribbons.

Behavior & Origins

The Crows' Shop Steward was built by a desperate farmer who wanted protection from raiders but could not afford a mercenary. Rather than terrorize the crows nesting in his fields, the scarecrow negotiated: safe perches and regular grain in exchange for watch duty. The arrangement spread from rookery to rookery, and the steward now represents the Blackfeather Agricultural Workers' Union. It insists on clear rules, equal odds, and proper notice before violence. The steward currently seeks the return of the union's stolen charter, hidden by the miller of Bramblehook, who has been forcing crows to work without food or rest.

Running Crows' Shop Steward

Tactics

The steward begins by raising its black-feather pennant and calling out the rules of engagement, then uses Call the Strike against the most aggressive combatant. It holds the center of the battlefield, keeping enemies within reach of its pitchfork while crows harry clustered foes with Crow Grievance. When bloodied, it fights more cautiously and tries to force a retreat or negotiated surrender; it fights to the death only if the union charter or its crow members are threatened.

DM Tips

Telegraph the steward's danger with orderly lines of crows, scraps of posted rules, and a black pennant planted beside the road before combat begins.
Play it as stern, procedural, and surprisingly reasonable; it pauses mid-fight to explain what violation an enemy has committed and what penalty is being assessed.
For a weaker party, remove Fair Fight, Fair Consequences and reduce the steward to 45 hit points; for a stronger party, add two giant crows that act on the steward's initiative.
Reward players who negotiate, accept fair challenges, or return the stolen union charter; the steward may become an unusually dependable ally.

Loot

Blackfeather Union Charter — A waxed parchment signed by hundreds of crows, ravens, and one very elegant rook. Returning it to the Blackfeather Rookery earns a favor from the entire flock.
Brass Shop Steward Badge — A battered badge stamped LOCAL 113. Once per day, its wearer can produce a convincing caw that attracts ordinary crows within 300 feet.
The Strike Fund — A small tin lunchbox containing polished buttons, silver wire, and a single black pearl contributed by union members. The pearl is worth 50 gp but is more valuable as proof of good faith to the crows.

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Generation Info

Original prompt:
"CR 4: A scarecrow that unionized the crows instead of scaring them. It fights fair and expects the same, with consequences for those who don't."

Created: Sep 3, 2026
Modified: Sep 10, 2026

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