by Angry Golem Games

How to Build Challenging Encounters with an Orthon

An orthon is a large fiendish creature that serves as a bounty hunter or a soldier in the armies of the Nine Hells. They are loyal, organized, and ruthless in their pursuit of their targets. They are also equipped with powerful weapons and armor that make them formidable opponents in combat. In this article, I will explain how to use an orthon effectively in your Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition games, from the point of view of the orthon itself.

An orthon is a very strong and durable creature, with high scores in most ability scores and several resistances and immunities. It also has good skills in perception, stealth, and survival, making it a proficient tracker and hunter. It can communicate telepathically with any creature within 120 feet that can understand a language.

Special Abilities of the Orthon

An orthon has several special abilities that make it even more dangerous and versatile in combat. These are:

Infernal Tactics. An orthon has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn in the combat yet. This means that an orthon can surprise its enemies with a swift and deadly strike before they can react.
Infernal Weapons. An orthon carries two weapons: a hellspear and a hellfire crossbow. Both weapons deal extra fire damage on a hit and have special effects on a critical hit. A hellspear deals an additional 14 (4d6) fire damage and reduces the target’s speed by 10 feet until the end of the orthon’s next turn. A hellfire crossbow deals an additional 10 (3d6) fire damage and ignites the target, causing it to take 5 (1d10) fire damage at the start of each of its turns until someone takes an action to douse the fire.
Magic Resistance. An orthon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. This makes it more resilient against spellcasters and magical traps.
Reactive Stealth. If an orthon is hidden from a creature, it can use its reaction to make a Dexterity (Stealth) check to hide again after attacking that creature. This allows it to remain unseen and strike from the shadows repeatedly.
Dimensional Lock. As an action, an orthon can create a field that prevents extradimensional travel within a 20-foot radius of itself for one minute. This field moves with the orthon and can be used once per day. This ability can be used to prevent enemies from escaping or teleporting into its territory.

Description of the Orthon

An orthon is a large humanoid creature with reddish skin, black hair, and yellow eyes. It has two large tusks protruding from its mouth and metal plates bolted onto its body. It wears half plate armor and carries a hellspear and a hellfire crossbow on its back. An orthon stands about 8.5 feet tall and weighs about 500 pounds.

An orthon is a loyal and obedient servant of the archdevils and pit fiends of the Nine Hells. It follows orders without question and executes them with efficiency and brutality. It has a singular hatred for demons and will pursue them across the planes if ordered to do so. It is also a skilled hunter and tracker, able to locate and capture any creature that has been marked as its target. An orthon takes pride in its combat prowess and seeks to die in battle as a glorious sacrifice for the cause of the Nine Hells.

Possible Tactics in Different Terrains

An orthon can adapt to different terrains and environments, using its skills and abilities to gain an advantage over its enemies. Here are some possible tactics that an orthon can use in different terrains:

Urban. An orthon can use its stealth and perception skills to blend in with the crowds and buildings of a city, avoiding detection and surveillance. It can also use its telepathy to communicate with allies or interrogate enemies without drawing attention. An orthon can use its hellfire crossbow to snipe targets from rooftops or windows, setting them on fire and causing panic. It can also use its dimensional lock ability to prevent enemies from using magic to escape or enter the city.
Forest. An orthon can use its stealth and survival skills to move through the trees and foliage of a forest, hiding from sight and tracking its prey. It can also use its darkvision and truesight to see through the darkness and illusions of the forest. An orthon can use its hellspear to ambush targets from above, impaling them and slowing them down. It can also use its reactive stealth ability to hide again after attacking, making it hard to locate and retaliate against.
Mountain. An orthon can use its climb speed and strength to scale the slopes and cliffs of a mountain, reaching vantage points and strategic locations. It can also use its perception and survival skills to spot hazards and opportunities in the mountain terrain. An orthon can use its hellfire crossbow to shoot targets from afar, igniting them and causing avalanches or rockslides. It can also use its dimensional lock ability to prevent enemies from flying or teleporting away from the mountain.

Special Tactics

An orthon can also use some special tactics that are not dependent on the terrain, but rather on the situation and the enemy. Here are some examples of special tactics that an orthon can use:

Bounty Hunting. An orthon can be hired or ordered by an archdevil or a pit fiend to hunt down a specific target, usually a powerful enemy or a valuable prisoner. An orthon will use all of its skills and abilities to locate, capture, and deliver the target, dead or alive. An orthon will not stop until it completes its mission, even if it means crossing planes or facing overwhelming odds.
Infiltration. An orthon can be sent by an archdevil or a pit fiend to infiltrate an enemy stronghold, organization, or faction, usually for the purpose of sabotage, assassination, or espionage. An orthon will use its stealth, telepathy, and intelligence to disguise itself as a member of the enemy group, gaining access and trust. An orthon will then carry out its objective, using its weapons and abilities to cause damage and chaos.
Reinforcement. An orthon can be summoned by an archdevil or a pit fiend to reinforce their forces in a battle, usually against demons or other enemies of the Nine Hells. An orthon will use its infernal tactics ability to gain an edge over the enemy in the first round of combat, striking hard and fast. An orthon will then fight alongside its allies, using its weapons and abilities to deal damage and support.

Combat Tactics Against a Generic Party of Adventurer

A generic party of adventurer consists of four common roles: a cleric, a fighter, a rogue, and a wizard ¹. These roles cover the basic needs of an adventuring party, such as healing, defense, damage, and utility. However, they also have some weaknesses and vulnerabilities that an orthon can exploit. Here are some combat tactics that an orthon can use against a generic party of adventurer:

Target the cleric first. The cleric is the main source of healing and support for the party, as well as a potential threat with spells and weapons. An orthon can use its infernal tactics ability to gain advantage on attack rolls against the cleric before it can act, and try to take it out with its hellspear or hellfire crossbow. If the cleric is protected by the fighter or other allies, the orthon can use its telepathy to taunt or intimidate the cleric, drawing it out of position or distracting it from casting spells.
Avoid the fighter’s reach. The fighter is the main defender and damage dealer for the party, as well as a potential obstacle for the orthon’s movement. An orthon can use its climb speed and stealth skills to avoid engaging the fighter in melee combat, and instead focus on ranged attacks with its hellfire crossbow. If the fighter has the Sentinel feat or other abilities that prevent enemies from moving past it, the orthon can use its dimensional lock ability to prevent the fighter from using magic items or spells to close the distance or escape.
Surprise the rogue. The rogue is the main scout and infiltrator for the party, as well as a potential source of sneak attacks and traps. An orthon can use its perception and survival skills to detect and track the rogue’s movements, and use its reactive stealth ability to hide again after attacking it. If the rogue is hidden from the orthon, it can use its truesight to see through any illusions or invisibility effects, and use its hellfire crossbow to ignite the rogue and reveal its location.
Resist the wizard’s spells. The wizard is the main controller and blaster for the party, as well as a potential source of information and utility. An orthon can use its magic resistance ability to gain advantage on saving throws against the wizard’s spells, and use its hellfire crossbow to disrupt its concentration. If the wizard tries to escape or teleport away from the orthon, it can use its dimensional lock ability to prevent any extradimensional travel within 20 feet of itself.

By using these tactics, an orthon can maximize its chances of defeating a generic party of adventurer in combat. However, an orthon should also be prepared for unexpected situations and adapt accordingly. For example, if the party has more than four members, different classes or roles, magic items or allies, or other factors that change the balance of power, an orthon should adjust its strategy and target priority accordingly. An orthon should also be aware of its own limitations and retreat if necessary. An orthon is loyal and obedient to its masters, but not foolish or suicidal.

Example of Encounters with the Orthon

Here are some examples of encounters that you can use in your games involving an orthon:

The Hunted. The characters have been marked as targets by an archdevil or a pit fiend for some reason, such as stealing a powerful artifact, defying their authority, or being potential threats. They are being hunted by an orthon that will stop at nothing to capture them alive and bring them back to the Nine Hells. The characters must evade, fight, or negotiate with the orthon before it catches them.
The Infiltrator. The characters are part of a group that is opposed to the plans of an archdevil or a pit fiend, such as a rebel faction, a secret society, or a rival power. They discover that one of their members is actually an orthon in disguise that has been sabotaging their operations, killing their allies, and spying on their secrets. The characters must expose, confront, and defeat the orthon before it completes its mission.

General Suggestions

Here are some general suggestions that you can use to make the most of an orthon in your games:

Use an orthon as a recurring villain. An orthon can be a great antagonist for your characters, especially if they have a history with the Nine Hells or its rulers. You can have an orthon appear multiple times in your campaign, hunting down the characters for different reasons, such as revenge, bounty, or orders. You can also have the orthon evolve and adapt to the characters’ tactics, gaining new weapons, allies, or abilities.
Use an orthon as a plot device. An orthon can be a useful tool to advance your story, especially if it involves the Nine Hells or its politics. You can have an orthon serve as a messenger, a spy, a saboteur, or a soldier for an archdevil or a pit fiend, revealing their plans, motives, or secrets. You can also have an orthon reveal information about the characters’ past, present, or future, such as their enemies, allies, or destinies.
Use an orthon as a challenge. An orthon can be a formidable foe for your characters, especially if they are not prepared for its skills and abilities. You can use an orthon to test your characters’ combat prowess, survival skills, and moral choices. You can also use an orthon to create tense and dramatic situations, such as ambushes, chases, traps, or duels.

Conclusions

An orthon is a powerful and versatile creature that can serve as a bounty hunter, a soldier, or an infiltrator for the Nine Hells. It has high statistics, several resistances and immunities, and special abilities that make it a deadly and cunning opponent. It can also adapt to different terrains and situations, using its skills and weapons to gain an advantage over its enemies. An orthon can be used in various ways in your games, from being a recurring villain to a plot device to a challenge.