The Weeping Cathedral Guardian
An ancient warding spell woven into a massive, semi-sentient cypress tree that has grown around the stone ruins of the Cypress Reach cathedral. It uses the surrounding swamp as a weapon to repel those who lack the proper consecration.
The Weeping Cathedral Guardian
Defenses
Detection
“A colossal cypress tree stands at the center of a bog, its trunk fused with the white marble pillars of a sunken cathedral doorway. Thick, grey moss hangs like funeral shrouds from its branches, and the water at its base is a swirling, oily black.”
Standard Engagement
The guardian activates when a creature that is not wearing a holy symbol of the Cypress Reach moves within 30 feet of the cathedral entrance.
On its initiative count, the guardian takes two actions from the following list: 1. Vine Snare: The guardian targets one creature within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be restrained and pulled 10 feet toward the trunk. 2. Murky Inundation: A wave of swamp water rises. Each creature within 20 feet must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or be knocked prone and take 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage. 3. Siphon Essence: One creature restrained by vines takes 9 (2d8) necrotic damage, and the guardian's 'Heart Root' regains an equal amount of hit points.
The hazard resets automatically after 24 hours if the Heart Root is not destroyed. If disabled via skill checks, it resets after 1 hour.
Creatures caught in the roots have a speed of 0 and grant advantage to attacks against them.
Creatures that take necrotic damage from the guardian have disadvantage on Strength checks until the end of their next turn.
The guardian cannot be moved or pushed by non-magical means.
A creature wearing the Holy Symbol of the Reach is ignored by the guardian and cannot be targeted by its actions.
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