Ye Olde Shoppe of Magicks – Monster Manuals – The Little Engine that Could

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In keeping with the Haunted Mansion our party is currently exploring, I came up with a WHOLE haunted library ala Gomez Addams

Encounter Mechanics

  • The books remain inert until one is pulled from the shelf. When disturbed, all awaken.
  • They can hover off the ground, flapping like birds. Some have the ability to run.
  • Their CR can be set between 2–3 each (slightly weaker alone, but dangerous as a group).
  • The fight can escalate as more books fall open—giving your party a frantic “stop pulling tomes!” realization.

Encounter Notes

  • Trigger: The fight begins when one book is pulled from the shelf. The rest join after 1 round, 1d4 books at a time, for rising tension.
  • Tactics: Books hover and swarm. “Art of War” boosts the others, “Odyssey” disrupts positioning, “Dracula” heals mid-fight.
  • Party Balance: Facing all 8 at once could overwhelm — consider staggering their arrival for a cinematic escalation.

The Little Engine that Could
(Monster Tome)

Medium Construct, lawful good

Armor Class 13 (hardened blue cover)
Hit Points 75 (10d8+30)
Speed 0 ft., hover 30 ft.

STR 14 (+2) DEX 12 (+1) CON 16 (+3)
INT 12 (+1) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Wis +4, Cha +5
Skills Persuasion +5, Insight +4, Athletics +4
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned, prone, exhaustion
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages understands Common, Celestial, and can communicate telepathically with allied creatures within 60 ft.
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP, usually helpful NPC rather than hostile)

Traits

  • I Think I Can. Once per turn when an allied creature within 30 ft. fails a saving throw or ability check, the tome can whisper encouragement. The creature may roll a d4 and add it to the result, possibly turning failure into success.
  • Steam of Hope. Whenever the tome or an ally within 15 ft. would take psychic or necrotic damage, reduce that damage by 5 (to a minimum of 0).
  • Unstoppable Spirit. The tome cannot be charmed or frightened. Whenever it succeeds on a saving throw, it heals 5 hit points.

Actions

  • Encouraging Pulse. Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range 30 ft., one ally. Hit: The target regains 8 (2d6+3) hit points and has advantage on its next saving throw before the end of its next turn.
  • Call the Engine (Recharge 5–6). The tome opens, projecting the Spectral Little Engine — a glowing blue train spirit that barrels forward in a 30-ft. line. Each hostile creature in the line must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw or take 18 (4d8) force damage and be knocked prone. Allies in the line instead regain 9 (2d8) temporary hit points as the engine’s radiant steam passes through them.
  • Rallying Chant (1/day). The tome radiates courage in a 30-ft. radius, whispering “I think I can” to all allies. All friendly creatures regain 10 (3d6) hit points and are freed from the frightened and charmed conditions.

Behavior & Roleplaying Notes

  • Personality: Earnest, optimistic, endlessly determined. Encourages allies to never give up, even against overwhelming odds.
  • Speech: Speaks in rhythmic, repetitive patterns (“You can do it… I know you can… I think you can… I know you can!”).
  • Tactical Role: A morale support ally; it’s not destructive but greatly enhances the party’s endurance and spirit.

Narrative Hook:

The tome was once used to inspire young dreamers, but when the Haunted Library was cursed, it alone retained its original heart.

It may appear to the party when they’re near despair — particularly in battles against the darker tomes like The Ice Queen or Inferno.

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Monster Tome base images were built using ChatGPT using prompts by Alien Graphics ©2025 Alien Graphics

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