Caryatid Column (5e Creature)
Caryatid Column
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Medium construct, unaligned Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't adamantine Immutable Form. The caryatid column is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form. Magic Resistance. The caryatid column has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. Magic Weapons. The caryatid column's weapon attacks are magical. False Appearance. When the caryatid column remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal statue. Shatter Weapon. A non-adamantine weapon that scores a critical hit on a caryatid column is shattered after the damage is resolved. This does not affect unarmed strikes. Ammunition that hits the caryatid column is destroyed. ACTIONSMultiattack. The caryatid column makes two melee attacks. Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.
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A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support. A typical caryatid resembles a slender human female wielding a sword. They are often found in pairs, supporting an entablature over the doorway they are guarding. Since they are cheaper to produce than stone golems, they might be found in colonnades of up to a dozen. A lesser form of golem, they are programmed to animate when the location or object they are guarding is intruded upon. If their creator is present, they can also be commanded verbally. An activated caryatid takes on life-like pigmentation and her stone sword becomes steel. She will do whatever is required to protect her designated location or object, which may involve combat or luring the intruders away. Upon completion, she returns to her original position and transforms back into a stone statue.
A caryatid is the bane of melee adversaries, as her key defensive feature is to sunder weapons that strike her. The harder they strike, the faster they break. Uninformed players with improved critical hit ranges, such as the fighter champion, may find their favorite weapon rendered unusable. A fair DM will provide some clue to the caryatid's nature through the environment (the floor is littered with snapped blades) or knowledge (an arcana check.) The functionality of a shattered weapon and the ability to repair it is dependent on the DM and their campaign. Typically a shattered weapon is unusable as a weapon. A nonmagical weapon is not economic to repair, while a shattered magical weapon can be reforged requiring half its normal creation cost and time. At the DMs discretion, sentient or artifact weapons are immune to being shattered in this way. |
Variant: Greater Caryatid Column
Some caryatids are of superior quality and decorated with a gilded surface. A greater caryatid column has 57 (6d8 + 30) hit points, and their sword attack deals 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage. They have a challenge rating of 4 and their shatter weapon trait is replaced with the following trait.
Greater Shatter Weapon. A non-adamantine weapon that hits a caryatid column is shattered after the damage is resolved. This does not affect unarmed strikes. Ammunition that hits the caryatid column is destroyed.
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