Medium humanoid (dwarf), lawful evil
Armor Class 18 (chain mail, shield)
Hit Points 39 (6d8 + 12)
Speed 25 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 11 (+0) | 14 (+2) | 11 (+0) | 10 (+0) | 9 (-1) |
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Dwarvish, Undercommon
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Duergar Resilience. The duergar has advantage on saving throws against poison, spells, and illusions, as well as to resist being charmed or paralyzed.
Phalanx Formation. The duergar has advantage on attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws while standing within 5 feet of a duergar ally wielding a shield.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the duergar despot has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
ACTIONS
- King’s Knife (Shortsword). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft ., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage, or 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage while enlarged.
- Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage, or 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage while enlarged.
- Enlarge (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute, the duergar magically increases in size, along with anything it is wearing or carrying. While enlarged, the duergar is Large, doubles its damage dice on Strength-based weapon attacks (included in the attacks), and makes Strength checks and Strength saving throws with advantage. If the duergar lacks the room to become Large, it attains the maximum size possible in the space available.
- Invisibility (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The duergar magically turns invisible for up to 1 hour or until it attacks, it casts a spell, it uses its Enlarge, or its concentration is broken (as if concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the duergar wears or carries is invisible with it.
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
The Duergar Stone Guard are elite warriors of the duergar, a race of dark dwarves that dwell in the Underdark. They are trained to fight in tight formations, using their shields and short swords to fend off enemies. They wear chain mail and helmets adorned with horns or spikes, giving them a fearsome appearance. They are loyal to their king and clan, and will fight to the death to protect them. The Duergar Stone Guard are also adept at using magic to enhance their abilities, such as enlarging themselves or turning invisible.
COMBAT
The Duergar Stone Guard are formidable opponents in combat, especially when they fight alongside their allies. They have advantage on attack rolls and Dexterity saving throws while standing within 5 feet of a duergar ally wielding a shield, thanks to their phalanx formation. They also have advantage on saving throws against poison, spells, and illusions, as well as to resist being charmed or paralyzed, due to their duergar resilience. However, they have a weakness to sunlight, which impairs their vision and accuracy.
The Duergar Stone Guard use their king’s knife, a short sword that deals extra damage when they are enlarged, as their primary weapon. They can also use their magic to turn invisible or enlarge themselves once per day, giving them an edge in surprise attacks or brute force. They are not afraid to use their magic in front of their enemies, as they consider it a sign of their superiority and divine favor.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
The Duergar Stone Guard live in the Underdark, a vast network of caverns and tunnels that lies beneath the surface world. They inhabit fortified cities and outposts, where they mine for precious metals and gems. They are constantly at war with other races that share the Underdark, such as drow, mind flayers, and svirfneblin. They also raid the surface world for slaves and resources, using their magic to avoid detection.
The Duergar Stone Guard are part of a rigid and oppressive society, where everyone is expected to serve the king and the clan. They are loyal to their superiors, but ruthless to their inferiors. They have no concept of mercy or compassion, only duty and obedience. They value strength, discipline, and cunning, and despise weakness, disorder, and foolishness. They worship Laduguer, the god of duergar, who grants them their magic and demands their devotion.
ECOLOGY
The Duergar Stone Guard are humanoids that share some traits with dwarves, such as their short stature, stocky build, and resistance to poison. However, they have gray skin, white hair, and red eyes that glow in the dark. They have adapted to the harsh environment of the Underdark, developing darkvision and magic abilities. They also have a longer lifespan than dwarves, living up to 300 years.
The Duergar Stone Guard are carnivorous, preferring to eat meat from animals or enemies they have killed. They also drink strong ale or mushroom wine to cope with the stress of living in the Underdark. They have few natural predators, but many enemies that seek to destroy them. They reproduce by mating with other duergar of the same clan, producing one or two offspring every few decades. They raise their children in a harsh and strict manner, teaching them how to fight and survive from an early age.