Gate Effigy Warden

large construct, unaligned

D&D 5.5 / SRD 5.2

Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Available with DM subscription
STR
18 (+4)
DEX
10
CON
14 (+2)
INT
6 (-2)
WIS
14 (+2)
CHA
8 (-1)

Defense

Armor Class
16 (natural armor)
Hit Points
90 (12d10+24 +2)
Speed
30 ft., swim 30 ft.

Treasure & Loot Common

No significant treasure

Proficiencies & Senses

Saving Throws Constitution, Wisdom
Skills
Athletics +7, Perception +5
Senses
darkvision 60 ft.
tremorsense 30 ft.
passive Perception 15

Characteristics

Damage Vulnerabilities
—
Damage Resistances
bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities
poison, psychic
Condition Immunities
charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Languages understands Common but never speaks

Traits and Actions

The Price

Trait Custom
The Price Custom
The warden will not attack a creature that has freely given something of itself at the gate (blood, a treasured item, or a name). It focuses its attacks on creatures that tried to force the gate or spilled blood by force.

Still Water

Trait Custom
Advantage Custom
While standing in water, the warden has advantage on saving throws.

Construct Nature

Trait
Constructs Rule
The warden doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep.

Unmaking

Trait Custom
Unmaking Custom
When the gate's price is paid, the warden crumbles into ordinary coral, destroying it.

Unmaking. Custom defeat condition: paying the gate's price destroys the warden without combat.

Multiattack

Action
The warden makes two Slab attacks.

Slab

Action
Melee Attacks Rule
Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.

Toll of the Gate (Recharge 5–6)

Action
Deafened Condition
Saving Throws Rule
Each creature within 20 feet of the warden must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 13 (3d8) thunder damage and is deafened for 1 minute. On a success, it takes half damage only.

Running the encounter

Combat Behavior

Tactics

  • Rises from the shallows beside the gate when someone tries to force it or spills blood by force.
  • Uses Toll of the Gate to deafen and scatter intruders, then focuses Slab attacks on gate-forcers.
  • Ignores creatures that freely gave something of themselves at the gate.

Combat Style

Silent, deliberate guardian that punishes force and rewards offering.

Morale

Fights until destroyed or until the gate's price is paid, then crumbles into coral.

Appearance & presence

Monster Description

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