False Hydra is a memory-erasing D&D homebrew best run as a single shock

Polygon reports that the False Hydra, a 2014 homebrew creature created by Arnold Kemp on his Goblin Punch blog, is being praised as one of Dungeons & Dragons' most original and compelling monsters because its song causes witnesses to fail to perceive it and erases memories of any victims it devours.

The False Hydra’s song produces an inattentional blindness effect: every creature who hears it (usually in a five-mile radius) does not perceive the monster, even at close range, and any devoured creature is forgotten by those under the song’s influence. The monster’s creepy aesthetic draws on a disturbing creature from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and it commonly infiltrates quiet, remote villages—making it a strong fit for horror-focused D&D play.

Running the False Hydra offers many narrative opportunities: it lets a DM weaponize players’ tendency to forget details, produces striking reveals when characters finally notice the beast, and can yield memorable roleplaying scenes. The Polygon piece notes practical challenges too: Kemp’s original post did not include a stat block, attempts to translate the Hydra Song into mechanics vary, and allowing or denying saving throws affects how players discover the truth.

Key Topics

Culture, False Hydra, Arnold Kemp, Goblin Punch, Hydra Song