[Monsters 2021] 022/365 - Possessed Painting (Patreon)

Possessed paintings often resemble high-quality oil paintings depicting a single human subject. At first glance, very little reveals the painting's true nature—that of a despicable undead spirit that's come to inhabit the image. Like many undead, the spirit hates and despises life, and will attack nearly any creature that comes within its range. It then attempts to pull its target into its painting so it can consume its life energy. After the possessed painting drains its target of all its essence, the target permanently fuses with the painting. Paintings that have just "eaten" appear as if they'd recently been touched up.

Possessed paintings are usually possessed by the malicious spirits whose images were captured on the canvas, especially if the likeness was captured close to the target's time of death. However, it's not uncommon for random spirits to possess perfectly normal paintings. When this happens, the spirit takes over the painting's subject. Creatures with truesight who view such paintings are imbued with an overwhelming sense of disturbing familiarity.

Most possessed paintings are found in old manors, the galleries of dungeons, and sometimes even museums. Necromancers and wicked clerics who enjoy the company of such dreadful art often hang multiple in their studies.

Undead Nature. The possessed painting does not require air, food, water, or sleep.