As the air around us hummed with ancient magics and the chilling whispers of the long departed, our fellowship steeled ourselves against the impending confrontation. Before us, the guardian of Durnholde’s treasure—a behemoth of shadows, wrought from the darkest depths of sorcery—loomed menacingly. Its form shifted and swirled, a tangible darkness that defied the very laws of nature.
Sir Alaric stepped forward, his sword gleaming with holy light, a stark contrast to the obsidian-like darkness of our foe. Beside him, Faelen’s hands moved with practiced precision, his daggers ready to dance their deadly dance. Elara, her eyes alight with divine fervor, began to chant in a tongue that was old when the world was young, her hands weaving patterns in the air, crafting spells of protection and strength. And I, Thadeus, with staff in hand and fury in my heart, prepared to unleash the full wrath of my warlock’s power.
The battle erupted with a ferocity that shook the very foundations of the undercroft. The guardian, a creature not of flesh but of malevolence incarnate, struck with force enough to sunder stone. Spells and steel met shadows as we fought, not just for treasure, but for survival. The guardian’s attacks were relentless, its form shifting and reconstituting with each blow we dealt, as if the darkness itself fed its resilience.
In the heat of battle, a realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. The guardian’s strength was bound to the treasure it protected, its essence linked to the ancient artifacts that lay gleaming behind it. With a shout, I rallied my companions, pointing out the shimmering chain that seemed to tether the guardian to its charge. “Aim for the chain!” I bellowed, my voice echoing off the ancient walls.
With renewed focus, our attacks turned tactical. Sir Alaric charged, his blade aimed at the spectral chain, while Faelen’s daggers sought weak points in the guardian’s swirling form. Elara’s chants crescendoed into a symphony of power, her magic illuminating the undercroft with blinding light. And I, channeling the ancient energies that coursed through my veins, directed a blast of arcane energy that shattered the air itself.
With a deafening roar that reverberated through the undercroft, the chain shattered, the links breaking with the sound of breaking worlds. The guardian’s form wavered, its shadows dissipating like mist under the morning sun. As the last wisp of darkness vanished, a profound silence fell over the chamber.
We stood, breathless and weary, amidst the remnants of our battle. Before us, the treasure of Durnholde lay unguarded, its glow soft and inviting. Yet, as we approached, it was not the wealth of gold or jewels that caught our eye, but rather a simple, unassuming amulet lying atop the hoard. It pulsed with a light that seemed to echo the beat of the heart of the world.
Sir Alaric picked up the amulet, turning it over in his hands. “It seems the true treasure was not what we expected,” he murmured, a sense of awe in his voice. Each of us knew, without words, that what we had found held power beyond riches—a power that could change the very course of history.
As we left the undercroft, the treasure secured and our hearts light with victory, the sun broke through the darkness that had shrouded Durnholde. It cast long shadows behind us, but ahead, the light promised a new day. Our journey had ended, but the stories of our fellowship would live on, tales of bravery, darkness, and the unyielding light of camaraderie.
The Guardian of Durnholde Large Construct, Unaligned (5e)
- Armor Class: 17 (Natural Armor)
- Hit Points: 210 (20d10 + 100)
- Speed: 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 (+6) | 9 (-1) | 20 (+5) | 3 (-4) | 11 (+0) | 1 (-5) |
- Saving Throws: Con +10, Wis +5
- Damage Resistances: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
- Damage Immunities: poison, psychic
- Condition Immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
- Senses: darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
- Languages: understands the languages of its creator but can’t speak
- Challenge: 15 (13,000 XP)
Magic Resistance. The guardian has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Immutable Form. The guardian is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
Magic Weapons. The guardian’s weapon attacks are magical.
Bound Guardian. The guardian is magically bound to protect a certain area or treasure. If the guardian moves more than 120 feet away from the area or item it is bound to protect, it is destroyed.
Actions
- Multiattack. The guardian makes two melee attacks.
- Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
- Shadow Strike (Recharge 5-6). The guardian releases a wave of dark energy in a 20-foot radius. Each creature in that area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 45 (10d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
The Guardian of Durnholde (Wild Card) SWADE
- Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4 (A), Spirit d6, Strength d12+2, Vigor d12
- Skills: Fighting d10, Notice d6, Intimidation d8
- Pace: 6; Parry: 7; Toughness: 14 (2)
- Special Abilities:
- Armor +2: Thick stone skin grants the guardian additional armor.
- Fearless: The guardian is immune to fear and Intimidation.
- Construct: +2 to recover from being Shaken; does not breathe; immune to poison and disease.
- Large: Attackers gain +2 to attack rolls against the guardian due to its size.
- Bound to Treasure: The guardian cannot move more than 12″ from the treasure it guards without being destroyed.
- Dark Energy Wave: As an action, the guardian can release a wave of dark energy. All targets within a Medium Burst Template must make a Vigor roll at -2 or suffer 2d8 necrotic damage and gain the Shaken condition.
- Magic Resistance: Gains +2 on rolls to resist magical effects.
- Heavy: The guardian is heavy; vehicles may be damaged if they ram it and may injure creatures if it falls on them.