Medium elemental, neutral
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 73 (7d8 + 42)
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +3
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 (+3) | 10 (+0) | 22 (+6) | 11 (+0) | 10 (+0) | 11 (+0) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Con +9
Skills Perception +6, Stealth +3
Damage Immunities (suggested) cold, fire
Damage Resistances piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t adamantine
Damage Resistances (suggested) electricity, piercing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t adamantine
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Terran
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Earth Glide. The xorn can burrow through nonmagical, unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the xorn doesn’t disturb the material it moves through.
Stone Camouflage. The xorn has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.
Treasure Sense. The xorn can pinpoint, by scent, the location of precious metals and stones, such as coins and gems, within 60 feet of it.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The xorn makes three claw attacks and one bite attack.
- Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
- Claw (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) slashing damage.
- Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) piercing damage.
- Bite (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (4d4 + 3) piercing damage.
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 xorn is a strange creature that dwells in the depths of the earth, feeding on precious metals and gems. It has a spherical body covered with thick, rocky plates that protect it from harm. It has three arms and three legs, each ending in a clawed hand or foot. It has a large mouth on the top of its body, filled with sharp teeth that can crush stone and metal. It has no eyes, but it can sense vibrations and smells through its four nostrils. It can also communicate telepathically with other creatures that share a language with it.
A xorn is native to the elemental plane of Earth, where it lives in harmony with other creatures of stone and mineral. It only visits the Prime Material plane if summoned by magic or by accident. It prefers areas rich in minerals and ores, where it can find its favorite food. A xorn is curious and intelligent, and it can learn new languages and information from other beings. A xorn has a keen sense of smell that allows it to locate treasure within 60 feet of it. A xorn values its food more than anything else, and it will not hesitate to steal or fight for it.
COMBAT
A xorn is not naturally aggressive, but it will defend itself if attacked or provoked. It can also be bribed with treasure to leave a party alone or even help them. A xorn can burrow through solid rock without leaving any trace, making it a stealthy and unpredictable foe. It can also surprise its enemies by emerging from the ground and attacking with its claws and bite. A xorn is resistant to most physical attacks, except those made with adamantine weapons. It is also vulnerable to sonic damage, as loud noises can disrupt its senses.
A xorn has two different methods of fighting, depending on the number of opponents. Against a single opponent, it bends the two legs nearest the enemy deeply, angling its body toward the target. In this way, it can use all four attacks at once. Against several opponents, it attacks with arms in all directions, each striking at a different target. One of the targets suffers a second attack, as the xorn angles its body down to bite.
If necessary, a xorn can use its ability to blend into the surrounding stone, making it almost invisible. This does not happen very often, since a xorn is more likely to ignore a party or openly demand metals. However, once combat begins, it can use a variation on this theme. The xorn may pass through the nearest stone (usually the floor) and vanish. It then lunges out of a stone surface to gain surprise, often at the feet of an opponent. This guerrilla warfare can continue indefinitely.
A xorn is affected by some spells differently than other creatures. A move earth spell flings a xorn back 30 feet and stuns it for one round. A stone to flesh or transmute rock spell lowers its AC for one round, during which it will attack as it readjusts its substance back to stone. A passwall spell inflicts 1d10+10 points of damage on a xorn. A phase door spell kills a xorn instantly if it passes through stone during any round.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
A xorn lives in the Underdark, the vast network of caverns and tunnels that lies beneath the surface of the world. It wanders from place to place, leaving behind open pockets where it has eaten out a vein of mineral. On its native plane, it is as peaceful as a herbivore, but on the Prime Material plane, it is more aggressive and hungry.
A xorn is solitary by nature, but it can form temporary alliances with other xorns or creatures that share its interests. It can also serve as a guide or a guardian for those who offer it enough treasure. A xorn respects other creatures of earth, such as earth elementals or dao, but it will not hesitate to challenge them for food or territory.
ECOLOGY
A xorn plays an important role in the ecology of the Underdark and the elemental plane of Earth, as it recycles the metals and gems that are otherwise wasted or hoarded by other creatures. A xorn’s digestive system can extract the pure elements from any material it consumes, leaving behind only dust and gravel. A xorn’s excrement is highly sought after by alchemists and artificers, as it contains rare and valuable substances.
A xorn’s body parts are also useful for crafting weapons and armor, as they are extremely hard and durable. A xorn’s lifespan is unknown, but some legends say that they can live for centuries or even millennia.
Xorn is employed as material component to empower the following spells: