Tri-Crux
Huge Construct, Unaligned
Armor Class: 15 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points: 85 (10d12 + 30; average 85)
Speed: 30 ft. (walking), 20 ft. (burrowing)
Challenge Rating: 3 (700 XP)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 6 |
Saving Throws: Strength +7, Constitution +6, Wisdom +5
Skills: Perception +5, Intimidation +2 (due to imposing presence)
Damage Vulnerabilities: None
Damage Resistances: Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, and Stunned
Senses: Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Tremorsense 30 ft., Passive Perception 15
Languages: Understands Primordial but cannot speak.
Spellcasting
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Actions & Abilities
Multiattack: The Tri-Crux makes three attacks: one with its Red Head, one with its Green Head, and one with its Purple Head. Each head can target a different creature within range.
Red Head Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 2 piercing damage. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Green Head Slam: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 3 bludgeoning damage. If the target is prone, this attack deals an additional 1d4 damage.
Purple Head Crystal Spit: Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6 + 2 slashing damage and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Elemental Roar (Recharge 5-6): Once per encounter, the Tri-Crux unleashes a thunderous roar that channels the essence of each head. Creatures within a 30-foot radius must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 2d6 thunder damage on a failed save or half as much on a success. Additionally, affected creatures that fail the save are frightened until the end of their next turn.
Earthquake Stomp (Recharge 6): The Tri-Crux can stomp the ground with such force that the surrounding area trembles violently in a 20-foot radius. Each creature must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 2d8 bludgeoning damage on a failed save or half as much on a success. Creatures that fail the saving throw must then succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
Defensive Action – Mystic Retreat: If the Tri-Crux is reduced to 10 hit points or fewer, it can choose to retreat quickly into the nearest rocky terrain, becoming camouflaged and gaining partial cover until the start of its next turn.
Environmental Adaptation – Rockslide: When in its lair (the Gemstone Caverns), the Tri-Crux can use the surrounding environment to its advantage. Once per encounter, it can cause a minor rockslide by making a mighty roar; each creature within 10 feet must succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d10 bludgeoning damage from falling rocks and be knocked prone.
Appearance
The Tri-Crux looms with an imposing presence, standing an incredible 12 feet tall and stretching 15 feet in length from its base to the jagged crystal protrusions that crown its three distinct heads. Its colossal silhouette resembles a titanic rock formation, defying the elements through eons. The creature adopts a slightly hunched posture, its three unique heads poised forward, surveying its surroundings with an air of both menace and intrigue.
Visually striking, the Tri-Crux’s skin is a rich tapestry of deep grays and earthy browns interspersed with vibrant reds, luminous greens, and regal purples. Each head boasts its own unique coloration: the Red Head glows with fiery crimson, emanating warmth, while the Green Head displays lush mossy tones accented by turquoise veins. The Purple Head dazzles with a regal violet infused with shimmering silver, creating a stunning contrast against the rocky surface of its body.
The texture of the Tri-Crux is rugged and rough, mimicking the feel of granite and sandstone, underscoring its ancient nature. Glossy, polished gemstone-like veins weave through its exterior, giving a glimpse of the creature’s ethereal beauty. Patches of moss and lichen are present, indicating a symbiotic relationship with its cave habitat.
Each head of the Tri-Crux presents distinct facial features that reflect its elemental nature. The Red Head’s fierce, ember-like glowing eyes radiate fury and heat, while jagged stone teeth glint menacingly in the light. The calming Green Head has gentle, wise eyes shimmering with an inner glow and a contemplative smile, while slender vines sprout from its jawline. The Purple Head, alive with expressiveness, features wild eyes that flash unpredictably, its mouth adorned with sharp, sparkling crystal teeth, as playful tendrils of energy dance around its form.
The Tri-Crux’s robust limbs are four sturdy legs, each equipped with jagged stone-like claws, capable of rending through armor and rock. Its muscular build ensures stability, while a smaller, stalactite-like tail swings behind, able to create tremors upon striking the ground.
Movement is an experience of power and rhythm; the Tri-Crux lumbers forward with an earth-shaking gait, its every step echoing like rolling thunder through the terrain. Glowing patterns pulse along its body, the red head flickering like a flame, the green radiating a soft, regenerative gleam, and the purple sparkling with wild arcs of energy. A thin layer of earth and moisture coats its skin, a testament to its connection to the natural world.
With magical energies resonating from its core, the Tri-Crux embodies a dynamic blend of strength, elemental power, and ancient mystique. It stands as a vibrant emblem of the forces of nature, ready to engage with its surroundings, a true marvel of the subterranean world.
Tactical Information
Tri-Crux: Behavior in Combat and Narrative Interactions
Behavior in Day-to-Day Life
The Tri-Crux, the Multi-Headed Monolith, spends its days in a state of vigilant guardianship over the enchanting Gemstone Caverns. Its towering figure remains largely motionless at the heart of the caverns, where it blends seamlessly with the rocky landscape, camouflaging itself as a natural formation. The Tri-Crux is not merely a creature of might; it is attuned to the whispers of the earth and the radiance of the precious stones within its realm.
Each of the three heads embodies distinct traits, influencing the creature’s overall temperament and day-to-day behavior:
- The Red Head, driven by a fiery connectedness to its mineral-rich surroundings, roars and rumbles in agitation during quiet hours, expressing its discontent with the stillness that predominates. Its need for action prompts it to perform minor tremors or cause small rock slides to assert its dominance over the territory.
- The Green Head serves as the calm amidst this tempest. It engages with the environment by encouraging the delicate flora around the caverns, fostering growth and maintaining equilibrium. This head has a fondness for the gentle creatures that might inhabit the caverns, often appearing friendly to such life and utilizing its wisdom to guide the other heads away from unnecessary destruction.
- The Purple Head, the trickster of the trio, entertains itself with mini displays of chaos, crafting illusions and deceptive glimmers from stray light on the crystals it embodies. Its antics often involve playful manipulation of light that can confuse lesser creatures, leading them astray in the caverns.
While the Tri-Crux does not hunt in the traditional sense, it occasionally partakes in the consumption of minerals that fall from its own body, allowing it to integrate the very essence of the caverns into its being. Intruders, on the other hand, feel the creature’s wrath—a protective instinct kicking into motion when trespassers threaten its domain.
Combat Behavior
When intruders breach the borders of its sacred caverns, the Tri-Crux reacts instinctively to invoke its formidable power. The creature begins combat with its sheer presence, the cacophony of its multiple voices echoing throughout the caves as it announces itself with a thunderous roar, potentially catching adventurers off guard.
In combat, the Tri-Crux employs a strategic mindset reflective of its ancient origins. Although it possesses raw brute strength, it also exhibits surprising cunning:
- Multi-Headed Attack: The Tri-Crux utilizes its three heads to engage multiple foes at once, making melee attacks against different targets each round. This can quickly overwhelm the party and forces them to split their focus, creating chaos in their ranks.
- As the tide shifts in battle, it calls upon its Elemental Roar, a powerful ability designed to instill fear and establish control over the battlefield. Creatures hearing this attack are often intimidated, potentially disrupting their strategies.
If overwhelmed or outnumbered, the Tri-Crux may strategically prioritize opponents based on perceived threats. It will concentrate its might against spellcasters and ranged attackers, whom it perceives as a greater danger to its existence. The Earthquake Stomp serves as an area control mechanism; the Tri-Crux uses it not only to inflict damage but also to disrupt enemy formations and provide a notable escape route if the tides begin to turn against it.
However, if severely injured, the Tri-Crux may resort to bravado and bluffs, appearing larger and more threatening in a desperate attempt to intimidate its challengers into retreating. Its heads may squabble as fears arise, but they will ultimately accrue their forces together for a final stand, showcasing their enduring bond even amid confusion.
Roleplay/Narrative Interactions
In non-combat scenarios, the Tri-Crux presents an intriguing paradox of ferocity and wisdom. Adventurers first encountering the creature may find themselves paralyzed by fear as the colossal guardian rises to its full height, eyes blazing with the determined spark of each head’s character. Depending on the intent of the intruders, the Tri-Crux may respond quite differently:
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Politely Approached: If adventurers approach with respect and reverence for the caverns’ sanctity, the Green Head—embodying wisdom—may perceive the adventurers’ intentions and engage in dialogue. It could share cryptic messages about the gem’s riches or the warnings of interlopers that came before. Diplomacy may even yield a bargain wherein the players prove their worth in embarking on a quest to protect the caverns or restore balance to the ecosystem.
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Threatening Actions: Should they draw swords or act aggressively, the Tri-Crux’s Red Head manifests, becoming aggressive and confrontational. It echoes guttural growls that vibrate through the ground, a warning before the skirmish begins. More often than not, it dismisses negotiations from stumbling adventurers and demands a display of strength before considering any deal.
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Subtle Deceit: If the adventurers attempt to bribe the Tri-Crux with items of value, the Purple Head might gleefully accept the treasure but could also cunningly deceive them. It may lead them on a wild goose chase or a perilous path deeper into the caverns, seeking to trap them instead of gaining allies.
Should adventurers corner the Tri-Crux or back it into a natural choke point, it may adopt a more defensive attitude, amplifying the strengths of its remaining abilities. Its personalities might emerge in conflict once more, leading to a fascinating debate between the heads on whether to flee into the rocks, negotiate, or fight to the last. In these moments, the players might find that their actions and words shape the creature’s decision, for the Tri-Crux is as ancient and wise as it is powerful—an ancient force shaped by the world around it, ever ready to defend its sacred domain.
