1.4 KiB
1.4 KiB
type, role, location, alignment, race
| type | role | location | alignment | race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| npc | Gate Guardian | Ashpeak Caldera | True Neutral | Earth Elemental Myrmidon (enhanced) |
Stonewarden
Overview
An ancient earth elemental bound by the First Sages to guard the Gate of Stone. It does not sleep, eat, or tire. It has tested every being that has sought passage through the gate for 3,200 years. It speaks in slow, grinding Common — each word like rocks tumbling down a slope.
The Three Trials
| Trial | Type | DC | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | Athletics | 18 | Hold open a collapsing stone passage for your companions to pass |
| Wisdom | Perception / Insight | 16 | Navigate a maze of shifting stone illusions; see the true path |
| Sacrifice | Roleplay | — | Give up something of genuine personal value (gold doesn't count). The Stonewarden knows a lie. |
If all three are passed, the gate opens peacefully. If any are failed by violence (attacking the Stonewarden, destroying the trial mechanisms), the Stonewarden fights:
- HP: 200 | AC: 20 | CR: 14
- Use earth elemental myrmidon (MToF p. 202) with max HP and lair actions (stone spikes, cave-ins, grasping stone hands)
Aftermath
The gate opens regardless of method — but if the Stonewarden is killed, the The Hand of Ruin is alerted by the magical backlash. The party loses the element of surprise for Arc 3.