The Heartbeat of the Eternal Glade
A symbiotic magical defense woven from the shared life force of an archmage and a druid. It protects their final rest by alternating between waves of wild, suffocating growth and surgical arcane strikes, synced to a rhythmic heartbeat that echoes through the chamber.
The Heartbeat of the Eternal Glade
Defenses
Detection
“Two stone sarcophagi lie beneath a canopy of crystal leaves. One is inscribed with glowing arcane sigils of deep violet, the other is wrapped in living, flowering vines that never wither. A thin tether of shimmering golden light pulses between the two chests like a literal heart.”
Standard Engagement
The trap activates when a creature moves within 10 feet of either sarcophagus or casts a spell of 1st level or higher within the chamber.
On initiative 20, the trap uses its Active Defense. On initiative 10, it pulses with the Heartbeat effect. Round 1: Arcane Surge. Round 2: Verdant Grasp. It repeats this cycle until the intruders leave or are neutralized.
The trap resets automatically after 1 hour of silence in the tomb.
Violet lances of force shoot from Caelum's sarcophagus. Three creatures within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 22 (4d10) force damage.
Thorned vines erupt from Elara's sarcophagus. All creatures on the ground within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or take 11 (2d10) piercing damage and be restrained (escape DC 15).
A warm golden light fills the room. Each creature must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature is Charmed by the beautiful image of the couple dancing. While charmed, the creature is incapacitated and its speed is 0. This effect ends if the creature takes damage.
As long as the golden tether has at least 1 hit point, the sarcophagi cannot be opened and have resistance to all damage.
Casting a spell that restores hit points within the room grants the trap 10 temporary hit points, as it feeds on the restorative intent.
Turn The Heartbeat of the Eternal Glade into a sheet
A high-res, share-ready sheet you can post or print.