Medium construct, lawful evil
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 38 (7d8 + 7)
Speed 20 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 7 (-2) | 12 (+1) | 5 (-3) | 5 (-3) | 5 (-3) |
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 7
Languages understands Dwarvish but can’t speak
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Engine of Pain. Once per turn, a creature that attacks the screamer can target the duergar trapped in it. The attacker has disadvantage on the attack roll. On a hit, the attack deals an extra 11 (2d10) damage to the screamer, and the screamer can respond by using its Multiattack with its reaction.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The screamer makes one drill attack and uses its Sonic Scream.
- Drill. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) piercing damage.
- Sonic Scream. The screamer emits destructive energy in a 15 foot cube. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or take 7 (2d6) thunder damage and be knocked prone.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A Duergar Screamer is a horrific construct that uses sonic energy to grind rock into dust. It is created by trapping a duergar, a subterranean dwarf, within a metal shell that is fused with mechanical devices. The duergar’s beard is shorn and its mouth is forced open by a metal ring. The duergar’s ongoing agony is channeled into psionic energy that powers the screamer’s drill and sonic cannon. The screamer’s eyes glow with a red light, and its voice emits a constant wail of pain and rage.
COMBAT
A Duergar Screamer is a formidable opponent in combat, as it can use its drill to pierce through armor and flesh, and its sonic cannon to blast enemies with destructive waves of sound. The screamer’s sonic scream can also knock foes prone, making them vulnerable to further attacks. The screamer is immune to poison and many conditions that affect living creatures, such as charm, exhaustion, and fear. However, the screamer has a weakness: attacking the duergar trapped inside it can deal extra damage to the construct and provoke a furious response from it.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A Duergar Screamer is usually found in the Underdark, the vast network of caverns and tunnels beneath the surface world. The screamer serves as a tool of punishment and intimidation for the duergar, who are known for their cruelty and tyranny. The duergar use the screamer to clear paths through the rock, to guard their fortresses and mines, and to terrorize their enemies and slaves. The screamer is also a symbol of the duergar’s hatred and resentment towards the surface dwellers, especially their kin, the dwarves.
ECOLOGY
A Duergar Screamer is not a natural creature, but an artificial one. It does not need to eat, drink, or breathe, but it does require psionic energy to function. The screamer draws this energy from the duergar trapped within it, who suffers endlessly from the pain of being fused with metal and exposed to sonic blasts. The duergar’s life span is greatly reduced by this process, and eventually it dies, leaving behind a husk of flesh and bone. When this happens, the screamer becomes inert and useless, unless another duergar is inserted into it.