VOL. No.

1
Cosmic Chronicle COSMIC CHRONICLE MAY 2022

COSMIC CHRONICLE LAUNCHES

“ILLUMINATING NEWS FROM ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE”
Cosmic Chronicle
Introduction
Welcome, dear reader, to the first issue of the
Cosmic Chronicle. My name is Jayce Jones, re-
nowned bardic scholar and interplanar journal-
ist. It is my great pleasure to introduce the new-
est and greatest adventuring newspaper making
its way onto the streets of Nexus, the City of
Legends! As a multi-versal hub to countless
worlds, our metropolis is always encountering
new and spectacular lore from lands that defy
imagination. This paper and its humble contrib-
utors are determined to catalogue these findings
so that you, our readers, can learn about the
countless secrets and wonders in our fair city.
Follow along as we study monsters to terrify and
inspire, speak with unique adventurers from dis-
tant lands, illuminate dungeons waiting to be
plundered, and oh so much more. Our team of
elite journalists are determined to bring you the
finest reporting on any and all matters of the
multiverse. No matter your taste or lifestyle, the
Cosmic Chronicle guarantees quality articles for
you to enjoy, all for a modest subscription well
worth the gold.
– Jayce Jones, Lead Editor
Balor
The Hunger at
the Friendly Feast
By Jayce Jones
The gates of Nexus are open to all, and every
now and again someone truly unique passes
through one of its portals. Today I had the…
honor…of meeting just such a being. While
this writer takes no issue with warlocks and
their dubious bargains, this encounter certain-
ly challenged my neutrality. I found this par-
ticular individual halfway through his fifth en-
trée at the Friendly Feast, an all-you-can-eat
restaurant in the Velvet Alleys. He was happy
to answer questions so long as doing so would
not disrupt his meal, and in between mouth-
fuls explained that he was “eating for two.”
Further questioning revealed that his other-
worldly patron was some kind of all-devour-
ing ooze-like entity whose hunger threatened
to consume worlds. When pressed, the warlock
humorously intimated—with an unmistakably
Mysteriaxis by Jason Strutz
sinister undertone and gluttonous chuckle—
that he was used to consuming far less “well
prepared” fare. It remains to be seen whether
this warlock was aiding the entity in consum- The Impossible Lair of Mysteryxis
ing realms or preventing calamity by satisfying
his patron’s gluttony. Regardless, the restau- By Jayce Jones
rant has yet to financially recover.
Dragons are no strangers to Nexus, and we here vors of their latest expedition, who had just failed

Introspective
By Jayce Jones
It is not often a demon graces our fair city, but
last week I was given the dubious pleasure of
interviewing a relatively even-tempered ba-
lor that was on “business trip.” The fiend was
spending its days lurking inside a factory with-
in the Towers of Thul consulting on a mysti-
cal device being manufactured in its name. Our
discussion covered topics from demonic poli-
tics to their favorite food. As horrible as its life
sounded, what astounded me most is that the
balor was happy. Even when its life was filled
with violence, pain, and depravity, the creature
found reasons to smile. Its fondest memory was
the act of force-feeding an ogre to a giant, a feat
of physical prowess I’d prefer to leave to my
imagination.
Read More on Page 2
Read More on Page 5 at the Infinity Chronicle are always eager to learn
all we can about these mysterious beings. Our con-
tacts within the Hive put us in touch with a gang
of thieves known as the Hoardstealers who spe-
cialize in robbing dragon lairs. Eager to hear more
about their adventures, we met with the survi-
Elder Xorn Examination
By Talien vos Karven
Last week, the Golden Path of Prosperity was
the victim of a series of rampant thefts. Several
jewelry stores were completely ransacked, and
their contents stolen. One poor janitorial em-
ployee went missing, and her body is yet to be
found. The authorities immediately suspected
the criminal element within the Hive but turned
up empty-handed. The culprit was later revealed
to be a strange elemental visitor known as an el-
Elder Xorn by Ambrose Hoilman
to burgle the home of a devious copper dragon.
They described to us in great detail the lair of one
Mysteryxis the Enigmatical, a magical puzzle of a
place that thwarted even these expert looters.
Read More on Page 10
der xorn who had come to Nexus seeking one-
of-a-kind gemstones. The thief led our city’s law
enforcement on a merry chase, passing through
the stone of streets and buildings as though it
were water. Thanks to the great work of our
sheriffs, the criminal is now behind bars pend-
ing trial.
Read More on Page 7

Quest Board Classifieds

Adventurers needed for this month’s missions,
featuring dangerous monsters, mystical lands,
and shiny loot!
Special Order The bone devil Ostiogran is
looking for worthy heroes to recover his ship-
ment of premium souls lost en route to the hells.
A rival ice devil is the primary suspect and is
thought to lair on one of the lower planes. This
“ice fortress” is said to be populated by a me-
nagerie of frigid creatures, including a fiendishly
possessed white dragon.
Favorite Toy A resident of the floating cloud
giant city of Nimbarus is missing his favorite
toy. The precocious toddler lost a ball given to
him on his 50th birthday. A single mighty kick
was enough to send the Large, rubber sphere
hurdling to the ground below. The child has
been having tantrums ever since, so expedien-
cy will be rewarded.
The Fugitive The celestial planes have put
out a bounty on one of their number who has
abandoned the cause. This wayward angel has
forsaken the ways of goodness and seeks refuge
among mortals. Fearing the consequences of
one of their number falling even further, the ce-
lestials are eager to resolve the situation, even if
violence is the only solution.
The Great Green Gobsmack A tribe of mus-
cular orcs is holding a spectacular wrestling
tournament that welcomes competitors of all
types. With four different events for various
sizes (Small, Medium, Large, and Huge), many
champions take to the field. The tournament is
seen as a productive way to resolve major dis-
putes between warring nations, angry dragons,
and others in conflict, with champions spon-
sored to represent competing interests. Heroic
adventurers are always needed to serve the
cause of many a client.
Death in the Family An old manner is haunt-
ed by generations of undead from a single fami-
ly. It is tradition that upon one’s death, the fam-
ily member rises to take up residence in the old
home, sharing eternal unlife with their loved
ones. However, the most recent member to pass
has not arisen, causing the undead members to
seek out one who can end the deceased’s peace-
ful rest.
Dragonmeet Three ancient dragons are hav-
ing a territorial dispute and have requested
non-draconic mediation. While the dragons ar-
en’t violent (yet), a conflict between them would
surely cause calamity in the surrounding lands.
No matter the resolution, one of the dragons
will be unhappy enough to start a fight, with the
arbiters of the dispute being the primary targets
of their wrath.
Read More on Page 9
 Balor Introspective
By Jayce Jones
5
th Edition is filled with all manner of dangerous
foes, but one stands out from the crowd as the pin-
nacle of the system’s monster design. Open your
Monster Manual to page 55 and you will discover what
I consider the best statistics block in all of official 5e: the
balor. Putting aside the balor’s spectacular lore and icon-
ic “Balrog” design, we are left with a robust creation
that exemplifies 5e’s greatest design principles in one ti-
dy package. You may think this hyperbolic, but this au-
thor is firmly of the opinion the balor is the gold stan-
dard of creature design to which all other 5e creations
should be held. Why is this, you may ask. Well, let us
count the ways.
As we examine the balor, we are looking for four key
elements that make it worthy of the title of “best mon-
ster design:” variety in its features, efficiency of its design,
effectiveness of its abilities, and the style of its design. For
reference, the balor’s statistics are provided here, courte-
sy of the 5e SRD (thank you, WotC). Also, massive cred-
it is due to the team behind this creature and the entire
Monster Manual. Thanks to Christopher Perkins, Chris
Sims, Rodney Thompson, and Peter Lee for designing
such a spectacular book.
Disclaimer. This article isn’t trying to argue the balor
is flawless. In fact, relative to the 5e meta almost every
monster in the Monster Manual is lagging woefully be-
hind. But that book was made to be an introduction to
D&D, with a suite of monsters that would be easy for
both new and experienced DMs to use effectively. The
quality of the balor’s design is measured by the degree at
which it succeeds at its intended purpose as a 5e monster
and a high-tier threat.
Efficiency
5th Edition design principles hold that a monster
should be as efficiently designed as possible to allow for
ease of use and comprehension by a DM. This doesn’t
mean a monster can’t be complex, but it should only be
as complex as it needs to be to accomplish its design goals.
The balor exemplifies this principle to an extraordinary
degree. Its statistics block is simple but highly function-
al. A DM knows what they are getting when they field
a balor. You can quickly assess what it can and cannot
do. Whether you are running a spur-of-the-moment en-
counter or a laboriously crafted tactical battle, the ba-
lor will be one of the easiest monsters to manage on the
battlefield. This simplicity covers a lot of bases. The ba-
lor has mostly excellent features that are easy to track,
2
Balor
Huge Fiend (Demon), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 262 (21d12 + 126)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
26 (+8) 15 (+2) 22 (+6) 20 (+5) 16 (+3) 22 (+6)
Saving Throws STR +14, CON +12, WIS +9, CHA +12
Damage Resistances Cold, Lightning; Bludgeoning,
Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities Fire, Poison
Condition Immunities Poisoned
Senses Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages Abyssal, Telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 19 (22,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6
TRAITS
Death Throes. When the balor dies, it explodes, and
each creature within 30 feet of it must make a DC 20
Dexterity saving throw, taking 70 (20d6) fire damage on
a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful
one. The explosion ignites flammable objects in that
area that aren’t being worn or carried, and it destroys
the balor’s weapons.
Fire Aura. At the start of each of the balor’s turns, each
creature within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage,
and flammable objects in the aura that aren’t being
worn or carried ignite. A creature that touches the balor
or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it
takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.
Magic Resistance. The balor has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The balor’s weapon attacks are
magical.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The balor makes two attacks: one with its
longsword and one with its whip.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10
ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) slashing damage plus 13
(3d8) lightning damage. If the balor scores a critical hit,
it rolls damage dice three times, instead of twice.
Whip. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 30 ft.,
one target. Hit: 15 (2d6 + 8) slashing damage plus 10
(3d6) fire damage, and the target must succeed on a
DC 20 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 25 feet
toward the balor.
Teleport. The balor magically teleports, along with any
equipment it is wearing or carrying, up to 120 feet to an
unoccupied space it can see.
with a strong array of obvious strengths and weakness- that can be exploited by clever players. Its saving throws
es that make it an ideal encounter tool. are strong, possessing key saves like Constitution
Because the balor is not a legendary creature, it can be and Wisdom to avoid losing turns. Its robust Charisa
easily paired with other monsters for awesome results. save defends against banishment, one of the most abu-
Normally, introducing a legendary creature into a battle sive spells in all of 5e. But the lack of Intelligence and
dramatically increases action economy and bookkeep- Dexterity saves provide great weaknesses for the party
ing, but not so here. What is more, demons are a type to exploit. Even its attacks have some spice. The Whip
of monster that are often used in groups. Where there is attack has both range and a nice rider to pull characters
one, there are often many. The balor can head a demon- closer on a failed Strength save, a terrifying prospect for
ic swarm, providing an awesome boost to the encounter a character with low AC. What is more, this whip can
without overwhelming the DM with responsibilities. pull characters into hazards and other dangers, made all
Special mention goes to the balor’s lack of a spellcast- the more possible by the balor’s terrific speed, allowing
ing feature. Many high-tier monsters have one of these, for optimal positioning. Despite its unassuming name,
and it is often unnecessary. Such a feature adds a ton the Longsword is a spectacular attack with a fantastic
of complexity to a creature, often for very little benefit. modifier for when the balor scores a critical hit. Not on-
This forces the DM to look up spells, track spell compo- ly is this a terrifying effect when it happens, it allows for
nents, and manage concentration (a complexity night- synergy with other monsters that may improve a balor,
mare, especially if the spells are not a meaningful part of like advantage or powerful spells like haste.
a monster’s arsenal). A balor has no need for such things
to be effective, and the designers wisely opted to forgo Effectiveness
its inclusion. This is why the balor outshines its devil-
ish counterpart, the pit fiend. While similarly designed, No tool in the balor’s arsenal is completely wasted, al-
the pit fiend can cast fireball, hold monster, and wall of fire, though Magic Weapons is pretty useless against charac-
terribly inefficient uses of its action that are traps for the ters and exists only to allow the balor strength against
DM to fall into and waste their creature’s precious ac- monsters with damages resistances that the characters
tion economy. summon or take the shape of. Its attack bonus is strong
with a +14, hitting an AC of 24 roughly 50% of the time.
Variety While these days that is not impressive against high-AC
builds, for a CR 19 against PHB-only characters with no
One of the biggest challenges for a monster designer feats/multiclassing (as was intended), it’s quite reason-
is creating a creature that is both simple and diverse. able. Death Throes is likely one of the balor’s most in-
Variety provides players with a great mix of the fa- teresting and powerful abilities. Not only is its
miliar and the new, allowing them to employ past
skills and experiences while still providing a new
challenge. A balor possesses many of the traits
players are familiar with from fac- ing
other, lower-level demons, but
not too many as to feel stale. Its
excellent movement options are
further augmented by the Teleport
action, which can be used to escape
from terrible situations such as the
notorious forcecage spell. With three
main damage types (slashing, fire, and
lightning), the balor possesses a reason-
able degree of options when attempting
to harm the party. No one defense pro-
vides complete protection. This damage is
further balanced by being sourced from its
Longsword and Whip attacks, along with its
Fire Aura and Death Throes traits, an offen-
sive mixture that tests a multitude of defens-
es. However, we aren’t looking for infinite op-
tions here. The balor’s limits are what make its
design so great. It has weaknesses and vulnerabilities Balor by Jason Strutz

3
damage impressive, it can make slaying the creature a
strategically bad decision. Yes, leaving the balor alive is
bad, but hitting the entire party for 20d6 fire damage is
arguably worse. Inexperienced or inattentive players are
in for a rude awakening when half their party gets KO’d
by a fallen balor, leaving several healthy, fire damage–
immune demons alive and well to finish them off.
It is no secret the recommended monster statistics pre-
sented in the DMG are wildly different from that of the
Monster Manual. By following DMG guidelines you typ-
ically end up with a stronger monster. However, the ba-
lor is interesting because it meets and even exceeds the
DMG’s guidelines in almost every category. It lags slight-
ly behind in damage (assuming it only gets two or three
interactions of Fire Aura every round) and hit points, but
it has a superior save DC and attack bonus. Remember,
the balor accomplishes all this despite not being a leg-
endary creature, nor having to take more than two ac-
tions every turn. Awesome stuff. A DM will never find
so much power for so little effort almost anywhere else in
5e, even with unofficial materials. The result is a monster
that cannot be ignored or trivialized by characters with-
out expending tremendous resources—exactly what you
want from a tier-4 threat.
Fewer Legendary Monsters Please
We would never argue the balor is perfect, but for
a monster in the 5th Edition core rules, it really is
something special. The balor is one of the few ti-
er-4 monsters in the Monster Manual, if not all
of 5th Edition. However, unlike the overwhelm-
ing majority of its neighbors that occupy this ti-
er, it is not a legendary creature. This is a bold and
wise design choice. Tier 3 and 4 D&D is plagued
by an endless parade of legendary monsters, forc-
ing characters to encounter far too many and re-
duce the significance of the term “legendary.” Why
is this bad? Legendary creatures are complicat-
ed. DMs often struggle to juggle the action econo-
my and multitude of features a legendary creature
possesses. This action economy is often seen as re-
quired to challenge high-level players, but that is
a false assumption. While more actions can be a
quick fix to a struggling creature, an innovative de-
sign can solve the same problem while reducing the
DM’s workload. The balor accomplishes this with
three key features: Fire Aura, Death Throes, and
its Whip attack.
The Fire Aura provides a perpetual source of
damage that occurs primarily when the balor is not
taking its turns. Monk making four attacks a turn?
That is 3d6 unavoidable fire damage on each hit!
Most legendary actions only provide a monster
4
Style
This factor is difficult to judge, but we at 2CGaming con-
sider a monster’s style to be how well it communicates
its personality and themes on the battlefield. Do the me-
chanics evoke the reactions from players that are con-
sistent with its design? In the balor’s case, we see a crea-
ture that is clearly a copyright-free Balrog meant to hit
like a truck, wreck plucky heroes with fire, and gener-
ally stand as the apex of demonkind. Fighting a balor
feels true to this theme. A DM could simply describe its
effects and actions in combat with little embellishment
and get strong reactions from the players. Even attempt-
ing to injure the balor risks your character’s life thanks
to Fire Aura, while each swing of its Longsword has
players holding their breath and begging for no natu-
ral 20. The Fire Whip excels at pulling wizards and oth-
er vulnerable characters to their doom, reminiscent of a
classic scene from The Fellowship of the Ring. Should the
characters achieve victory, the balor explodes in a terrif-
ic climax that will draw gasps from players as they roll
their Dexterity saving throws with crossed fingers. In
short, the balor has a unique style that always makes an
impression.
with a single modest attack to counter characters’
actions, but this is a veritable wall of pain the par-
ty cannot afford to ignore. The DM has no need
to constantly interrupt the flow of the fight to use
a legendary action, nor do they need to track how
many actions the balor has. Simply roll that 3d6
and move on. Clean, elegant, and fair.
Death Throes is spectacular because, like Fire
Aura, it provides damage at no cost to the balor’s
action economy. It’s also easy to remember, as it’s
hard to forget an opportunity to have your big bad
go out with a bang. The damage is among one of
the largest dice pools a party can experience from
a monster. Every character winces when the DM
grabs a fistful of d6s.
But we cannot underestimate the balor’s Whip.
As described, this attack has incredible synergy
with the balor’s Fire Aura, but it’s significant here
because of its terrific range and the ability to pull
creatures closer. Many monsters struggle to make
meaningful use of their reactions, but a balor less
so because of how easy it is to provoke an oppor-
tunity attack from it. The pull from the Whip cou-
pled with the balor’s formidable movement means
there are likely always some characters who are too
close for comfort, increasing the likelihood of an
opportunity attack occurring.
 The Hunger at the Friendly Feast
By Jayce Jones

New Warlock Legendary Subclass: Foul Offerings

The Hunger Otherworldly Patron
You forge a profane pact with a disgusting entity few
would dare name let alone bargain with. This glutton-
ous entity is known as The Hunger and lives up to its
name with an insatiable appetite for the organic matter
of mortal worlds. As an agent of such a being, you must
try in vain to satiate its hunger. The gifts afforded by this
patron make you more than just a warlock—you are a
vicarious mouth, satisfying your patron’s gluttony in re-
turn for greater power. The Hunger can be nearly any
creature of sufficient power, so long as the need to feed is
its primary concern. An unintelligent being such as the
tarrasque or a titanic world-devouring ooze are well suit-
ed for this role, forming an instinctual agreement that is
no less binding. No matter your patron’s nature, from
this moment onward its hunger gnaws at your every ac-
tion and finds you salivating at the chance to devour
those who dare stand in your way.
The Hunger Features
Warlock
Feature
Level
1st Expanded Spell List, Foul Offerings
Starting at 1st level, the all-consuming appetite of your
patron demands you make offerings of the slain. As an
action, you may touch the body of a flesh-and-blood
creature and feed it to your patron. When you do so, the
body vanishes with a sickening crunch as your patron
feasts upon the remains. As a reward for your offering,
your patron grants you a special die known as a gluttony
die. A gluttony die is a d20 that lasts until you finish a
long rest. You can have a number of gluttony dice equal
to your proficiency bonus. Any excess dice gained from
this feature are lost.
When you make an attack roll, saving throw, or abili-
ty check, but before the result is known, you can choose
to expend and roll all of your gluttony dice and choose
any of the rolled dice to be the result.
Predatory Senses
When you reach 6th level, the hunger of your patron
enhances your senses, allowing you to detect food with
ease. You can smell the presence of flesh-and-blood crea-
tures within 120 feet of you.
Additionally, when you take the Search action you
can attempt to learn additional information about a

6th Predatory Senses What Are Legendary

Subclasses?
10th Digestive Infusion

14th Eaten Alive Not all character options are created equal,
but among even the mightiest of them, there
are those that are truly extraordinary. Such is
Expanded Spell List the case with legendary subclasses, which are
The Hunger lets you choose from an expanded list of not only significant in power, but also in story.
Sometimes a detailed background is not enough
spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following
to tie a character to a setting. In such cases, a
spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.
legendary subclass may suffice, guiding char-
acters along a story of legend and significance.
The Hunger Expanded Spells Players hoping to experience such subclasses
Spell
must do so with the cooperation and collabo-
Spells ration of their DM. Additionally, such players
Level
bear a greater burden of responsibility to their
1st bane, caustic brew
game’s story due to their characters’ increased
2nd acid arrow, enhance ability significance. They should not expect special
treatment or even fair play from their DM, who
3rd slow, tongues is obligated to not only make things more diffi-
4th black tentacles, vitriolic sphere cult for the character but integrate them more
heavily into the world.
5th cloudkill, contagion

5
single creature you detect with this sense. When you do
so, your Wisdom (Perception) check is contested by the
target’s Dexterity (Stealth) check. On a success, you learn
the creature’s type, what it tastes like, and its hit point
maximum. If you fail this contest, you cannot use this
feature against that creature again until 24 hours have
passed.
Once you have used this feature, you must finish a
long rest before you can use it again.
Epic Otherworldly Patron:
The Epic Hunger
The Epic version of The Hunger provides additional
spells as well as a 26th-level class feature.

Digestive Infusion The Epic Hunger Expanded Spells

At 10th level, your patron allows you to physically man-
ifest its hunger through your magic. When you cast a Spell Level Spells
spell that deals a type of damage other than acid dam- 6th disintegrate, heroes’ feast
age, you may instead have it deal acid damage for its du-
ration (when applicable). 7th regenerate, sequester
Additionally, this acid is highly corrosive and eats 8th antimagic field
through the physical form of a creature it damages. Until
9th wish
the start of its next turn, a that creature takes acid dam-
age from one of your spells loses immunity to all types
of damage and instead has resistance to those types of Epic 26th Level Class Feature:
damage.
Ravenous Appetite
Eaten Alive You bring the ravenous appetite of your patron to bear
on the battlefield. When you cast a spell that deals acid
When you reach 14th level, you can send living enemies
damage on a failed saving throw, that spell deals double
directly into the hungry maw of your patron. As an ac-
damage against creatures that fail that saving throw by
tion, you can make a melee spell attack against a crea-
10 or more.
ture within reach. On a successful hit, the target is ban-
Additionally, as a reaction when a creature you can
ished to the inside of your patron. While banished in
see within 120 feet of you is slain by acid damage dealt
this manner, a creature is trapped within your patron’s
by you, you can send its body to your patron via your
body and takes 10d6 acid damage at the start of each of
Foul Offerings feature. If the target is an Epic creature,
its turns. If a creature is reduced to 0 hit points by this
you gain additional gluttony dice from this effect equal
feature, it is slain instantly, and you gain a number of
to your Charisma modifier.
gluttony dice equal to your proficiency bonus.
A banished creature can use its action to attempt a
DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check at the start of each of
its turns, freeing itself and reappearing in the nearest un-
occupied space to you on a success. The creature’s only
other method of escape is a wish spell.

6
 Elder Xorn Examination
By Talien vos Karven

M
ost seasoned adventurers have encountered
the peculiar elemental beings known as xorns.
While far from harmless, even the most can-
tankerous specimen can be placated with a modest offer
of gemstones to satisfy its hunger. Over the course of its
infinite lifespan, a xorn’s palate will have sampled count-
less varieties of gems. However, there is one extraordi-
narily rare stone xorns prize above all others. Known as
titan tears, these brilliant, priceless gemstones spark a star-
tling transformation when consumed by a lucky xorn.
The creature immediately enters a state of hiberna-
tion, and after a century emerges as the far larg-
er, more formidable elder xorn. While similar in
shape to its lesser cousins, the body of an el-
der xorn sports many noticeable differ-
ences. Its skin becomes as obsid-
ian, accompanying a greater size
and strength. Its hunger for gem-
stones reaches gratuitous levels.
To satiate this craving, the xorn
can transform organic matter into
delicious gems, which it then con-
sumes with gusto. With this power
any creature the xorn encounters
can be a potential meal.

Elder Xorn
CLASSIFICATION: Controller
FAVORS: Attacks (ranged), Constitution
(high), flight; fighters, monks, sorcerers
FOILS: Cover, hit points (high), material
components (gems); barbarians, paladins,
wizards
Elder Xorn by Ambrose Hoilman

Titan Tears
Said to be the crystalized tears of progenitor
beings, the gems known as titan tears are a
deep, mysterious blue. No matter how they are
cut, titan tears refuse to hold an edge or angle,
resulting in perfectly smooth, fluid gems. This
property makes them exceptional for artistic
jewelry and display, as if liquid and solid were
one. Unfortunately, there is no known source of
titan tears. They are found seemingly at random
across the multiverse and on every plane, though
always in frustratingly small numbers. While few
who understand a titan tear’s true value would
ever part with it, a typical evaluation of its price is
estimated to be 100,000 gp.

7
Lore
A character can learn the following information about an elder xorn with a successful Intelligence (Arcana)
ability check.

Elder Xorn Lore

DC Information

Elder xorns are larger, more powerful xorns, as their name suggests. However, with this increased
13 strength comes a correspondingly greater hunger for gemstones and precise senses that can smell the
presence of “food” at terrific distances.

Beware an elder xorn’s petrifying powers. When no gemstones are available, it may decide to create a
18 sparkling statue from your body and consume you on the spot. This attack can even pierce through stone
walls and other earthen obstructions with ease, allowing the xorn to fight from beneath the ground.

When faced with troublesome foes, an elder xorn can open up an earthen pit that is difficult to escape.
23 Victims of this effect are easy prey for the xorn. However, an elder xorn’s attacks are only especially
effective against gemstone. Avoid getting petrified and the creature poses little threat.

Elder Xorn
Huge elemental, neutral

Armor Class 21 (natural armor)

Hit Points 264 (23d12 + 115)
ACTIONS
Speed 20 ft., burrow 40 ft. Multiattack. The xorn makes five Claw attacks. It can
forgo making three of these attacks to instead use its
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Feast or Petrification Ray action.
24 (+7) 8 (−1) 21 (+5) 12 (+1) 19 (+4) 13 (+1)
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 25 ft., one
Saving Throws Str +10, Con +8 target. Hit: 21 (4d6 + 7) slashing damage.
Skills Stealth +11, Perception +10
Feast. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and
one restrained or petrified creature. Hit: 85 (10d12 + 7)
slashing from nonmagical attacks
piercing damage.
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities stunned Petrification Ray. Ranged Spell Attack: +10 to hit, range
Senses tremorsense 300 ft. (blind beyond this radius), 60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target must succeed on a
passive Perception 20 DC 21 Constitution saving throw or become restrained
Languages understands Abyssal but can’t speak as it begins to turn to gemstone. At the end of each of its
Challenge 17 (18,000 XP) turns, a creature so restrained must repeat the saving
throw or be turned to gemstone and petrified on failure.
TRAITS Once a creature has succeeded on three Constitution
saving throws against a single instance of this effect,
Improved Earth Glide. The xorn can burrow through any the restrained and petrified conditions end (when
earth and stone as though it were moving normally. While applicable).
doing so, the xorn doesn’t disturb the material through
Create Pit (Recharge 5–6). While burrowing, the
which it moves.
xorn creatures a pit above itself in a 30-foot-radius
Additionally, creatures do not gain cover against the
cylinder that is up to 60 feet deep. When the pit appears,
xorn’s weapon attacks from objects, structures, or terrain
each creature in the affected area must succeed on
made of earth and stone.
a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or fall to the bottom,
Loot Finder. The xorn can detect and pinpoint the exact landing prone. On a successful save, a creature moves
location of any gemstone or precious metal (including to the nearest unoccupied space at the edge of the
collections of multiple items) worth at least 500 gp within pit. Climbing out of the pit requires a successful DC 21
500 feet of it. If something the xorn is aware of via this Strength (Athletics) check.
feature is being worn or carried by a creature, the xorn can
pinpoint the exact location of that creature as well.

8
 Quest Board Classifieds
Adventurers needed for this month’s missions, featuring dangerous monsters, mystical
lands, and shiny loot!
Special Order, Tier 3: The bone devil
Ostiogran is looking for worthy heroes
to recover his shipment of premium souls
lost en route to the hells. A rival ice dev-
il is the primary suspect and is thought
to lair on one of the lower planes. This
“ice fortress” is said to be populated by
a menagerie of frigid creatures, includ-
ing a fiendishly possessed white dragon.
Rewards: 22,781 gp, a sword of sharp-
ness, and the contractual release of a sin-
gle soul from among those recovered
Favorite Toy, Tier 1: A resident of the float-
ing cloud giant city of Nimbarus is miss-
ing his favorite toy. The precocious tod-
dler lost a ball given to him on his 50th
birthday. A single mighty kick was enough
to send the Large, rubber sphere hur-
dling to the ground below. The child has
been having tantrums ever since, so ex-
pediency will be rewarded.
Rewards: 38 pp and a personal favor
from the concerned parents, redeemable
for up to 100 years
The Fugitive, Tier 3: The celestial planes
have put out a bounty on one of their
number who has abandoned the cause.
This wayward angel has forsaken the
ways of goodness and seeks refuge among
mortals. Fearing the consequences of one
of their number falling even further, the
celestials are eager to resolve the situa-
tion, even if violence is the only solution.
Rewards: Guaranteed forgiveness for up
to three acts of evil upon death, increasing
the likelihood of a better afterlife
The Great Green Gobsmack, Tier 2: A tribe
of muscular orcs is holding a spectacular
9
wrestling tournament that welcomes com-
petitors of all types. With four different
events for various sizes (Small, Medium,
Large, and Huge), many champions take to
the field. The tournament is seen as a pro-
ductive way to resolve major disputes be-
tween warring nations, angry dragons, and
others in conflict, with champions spon-
sored to represent competing interests.
Heroic adventurers are always needed to
serve the cause of many a client.
Rewards: The Champion’s Belt, a belt of
frost giant strength studded with ten ada-
mantine plates, worth 1,000 gp each
Death in the Family, Tier 1: An old man-
ner is haunted by generations of undead
from a single family. It is tradition that up-
on one’s death, the family member rises to
take up residence in the old home, shar-
ing eternal unlife with their loved ones.
However, the most recent member to
pass has not arisen, causing the undead
members to seek out one who can end
the deceased’s peaceful rest.
Rewards: A loyal zombie dog that follows
any verbal command
Dragonmeet, Tier 4: Three ancient drag-
ons are having a territorial dispute and
have requested non-draconic mediation.
While the dragons aren’t violent (yet), a
conflict between them would surely cause
calamity in the surrounding lands. No
matter the resolution, one of the dragons
will be unhappy enough to start a fight,
with the arbiters of the dispute being the
primary targets of their wrath.
Rewards: 10 acres of land within one of
the dragon’s territory where the dragon
will serve as steward and safeguard
 The Impossible Lair of Mysteryxis
By Jayce Jones
E
ncountering dragons is a huge component of 5th
Edition—it’s right there in the name! Presented
here is a thematic and easily integrated lair belong-
ing to the dragon Mysteryxis. We have designed both the
dragon and the lair using the rules from our Dragonflight
Delve Information
Location Name: The Impossible Lair of
Mysteryxis
Terrain Tags: Stone, Dungeon, Lair
Average Check DCs:
• Easy – 13
• Medium – 18
• Hard – 23
Environment: The lair is composed of dry
stone covered in a layer of stucco engraved with
draconic carvings. The area of the lair is lit with
dim light from magical globes that drift through
the air. The average ceiling is 40 feet high, and
each 10-foot section of wall has an AC of 15 and
100 hit points.
Special Effects: The lair is warded against
magical teleportation by creatures other than
Mysteryxis. When a creature attempts to
magically teleport into or within the area of the
lair, it must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving
throw or be stunned for 1 minute immediately
after they teleport.
Regional Effects: The region containing
Mysteryxis’s lair is warped by their magic, which
creates the following effects within the area.
• Clever Tongues. Unless Mysteryxis chooses
otherwise, creatures within the area have
advantage on Charisma ability checks when
telling jokes or making insults.
• Dragon Dreams. Whenever a creature that
can understand a language sleeps or enters a
state of trance or reverie within the territory,
Mysteryxis can establish telepathic contact
with that creature and converse with it in its
dreams. The creature always remembers its
conversation with the dragon upon waking.
• Tricky Mirages. Images of Large or smaller
monsters haunt the land within the territory.
These illusions move and appear real, although
they can do no harm. A creature that examines
an image from a distance can tell it’s an
illusion with a successful DC 18 Intelligence
(Investigation) check. Any physical interaction
with an image reveals it to be an illusion, as
objects pass through it.
10
book along with a few extra design elements we have in
the works. The lair is built to be easily dropped into your
campaign, serving as a challenging dungeon or curious
puzzle to solve. The dragon is similarly versatile, provid-
ing a tricky and enigmatic character to mystify and be-
devil your players.
The lair of Mysteryxis lies atop a tall, thin mesa
plateau that once served as an ancient stellar obser-
vatory. The landmark is difficult to ascend, requiring
an 800-foot climb the top. The lair is encased within a
great stone cube with no discernable markings or ap-
ertures save for a single heavy steel door (AC 18, 500
hit points) upon which Mysteryxis’s name is written
in Draconic. The door is not locked but is extreme-
ly heavy and difficult for creatures smaller than Huge
to open.
A-1
This entrance is worn smooth by the passage of many travel-
ers, leaving behind polished stucco floors. The walls are carved
with what appears to be a crude registry of the names of visitors
in dozens of different languages and dialects. It smells of ros-
es and sage, a consequence of the many scented candles littered
about in various states of melting.
This entrance is guarded by a single stone golem
named Butler. This golem is composed of brilliant ver-
million crystal, granting it an AC of 21 and maximiz-
ing its hit points from its Hit Dice (255 hit points). Butler
is not immediately hostile but telepathically queries any
visitors with a single, simple riddle: “I’m the rare case when
today comes before yesterday. What am I?” The answer is a
dictionary, but the purpose of the riddle is to test the intelligence
of any visitors to determine if they are worth talking to. Those
unable to solve the riddle within 1 minute are politely asked to
leave by Butler, who will not allow them to proceed if they fail
to solve it.
The door (AC 18, 500 hit points) at the end of the
atrium leads to area A-2 and is composed of a steel ada-
mantine alloy that has resistance to damage from spells
and magical effects. The door is locked for creatures
who have not solved the riddle asked by Butler.
A-2
The sounds here in this grand maze, large enough for a giant
to navigate, echo ominously, as if the space is far larger than it
appears. The smell of ozone is potent, as if an intense force had
scoured the surrounding surfaces.
 This maze is a cunning trap set by Mysteryxis for those
who enter without the dragon’s permission. When a
creature enters the maze, a magical wall of disintegrating
force stretching from floor to ceiling appears 5 feet be-
hind it, preventing the creature from retracing its steps.
The wall is permeable, though anything that passes
through it takes 66 (12d10) force damage. Additionally,
creatures and objects reduced to 0 hit points by this dam-
age are reduced to dust. As a creature moves through the
maze, the wall follows 5 feet behind it until it leaves the
maze. The maze has no physical exit other than return-
ing to the entrance. Instead, a creature traveling through
the maze must touch four different gemstones placed
throughout the area. Once the fourth stone has been
touched, a portal opens in the maze’s center that leads to
unoccupied spaces nearest to the center of A-3, the drag-
on’s atrium.
A-3
Polished marble coats the walls and floor of this grand atrium.
The space above is a mystical projection of the night sky, free
from the obscuring light of the sun regardless of the hour. The
perimeter is ringed with short stone daises sized for various crea-
tures of all types. In the center of these smaller platforms is the
largest dais upon which are littered dozens of copper dragon
scales. The air tastes clean, as if washed by a caustic agent that
is far too strong for the job.
The atrium of Mysteryxis is where the dragon meets
guests who are invited (or intruders who have come
this far). The room is rigged with a magical alarm in-
stalled by a wizard who owed Mysteryxis a favor, which
telepathically alerts the dragon the instant a creature
11
enters the area. The only door from the atrium leads
to the dragon’s hoard chamber (A-4), which is locked
with a potent mechanism that requires 1 hour of work
and a successful DC 30 Thieves’ Tools check to bypass,
unless one knows the password. The password is “in-
significance,” which is known only to the dragon and
their most trusted allies.
A-4
The hoard of Mysteryxis is an unusual collection of lit-
erature and evidence detailing unsolved mysteries and
enigmas that defy explanation. From murders with the
killer still at large to magical phenomena that befuddles
the world’s greatest minds, Mysteryxis has gathered as
much lore as possible so that they may attempt to solve
them. While the dragon has met with many success-
es, they do not share the fruits of their labor. To many
scholars, investigators, and collectors, this collection is
worth a hefty sum of at least 25,000 gp. Aside from this
curious assortment, Mysteryxis’s hoard contains the fol-
lowing items.
• Valuable Metals: 28,931 cp, 4,231 sp, 3,967 gp,
and 2,143 copper bars (worth 10,715 gp)
• Art Objects: Fourteen untitled masterwork
paintings from an unknown artist, worth 800
gp each to a collector
• Gemstones: 471 jets, polished into perfect spheres
• Objects of Significance: bag of holding, cape of the
mountebank, helm of brilliance
Lair Actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties),
Mysteryxis takes a lair action to cause one of the following
effects. Mysteryxis can’t use the same option twice in a row.
• Glamour. Mysteryxis becomes invisible until they
make an attack, use an action, or leave the lair.
• Precognition. Mysteryxis glimpses the future, gain-
ing advantage on attack rolls, saving throws, and
ability checks until the next initiative count of 20.
Mysteryxis the Enigmatical
Huge dragon, chaotic good
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 325 (26d12 + 156)
Speed 50 ft., burrow 50 ft., fly 80 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
20 (+5) 8 (−1) 22 (+6) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 24 (+7)
Saving Throws Str +10, Con + 11, Wis +8, Cha +12
Skills Arcana +7, Deception +12, Insight +8,
Perception +8, Stealth +9
Damage Immunities acid
Senses blindsight 30 ft., darkvision 120 ft., passive
Perception 18
Languages Draconic
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5
TRAITS can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns,
Draconic Magic. Mysteryxis is a 13th-level arcanist. Their
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 20, +12 to
hit with spell attacks). They have 92 spell points, which
can be used to cast the following spells, requiring no
somatic or material components without a listed gp cost.
Cantrips (0 points): minor illusion, shape water,
vicious mockery
1st level (2 points): dissonant whispers, shield,
silent image
2nd level (3 points): magic mouth, suggestion
3rd level (5 points): bestow curse, slow
4th level (6 points): greater invisibility, phantasmal killer
5th level (7 points): dream, scrying
6th level (9 points): guards and wards, mental prison
7th level (10 points): symbol
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). When Mysteryxis fails a
saving throw, they can choose to succeed instead.
Mysterious Stranger. If a creature with a challenge rating
or character level of 6 or lower spends 1 hour or less in
Mysteryxis’s presence, the dragon can attempt to erase
all memory of the encounter. When the creature leaves
Mysteryxis’s presence, they can force the creature to
attempt a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw, causing it to forget
the events that transpired during its encounter with them
on a failure. This effect occurs over the course of 24 hours.
The affected creature’s mind fills in the gaps this may
leave in its memory with harmless, mundane memories.
ACTIONS start of their turn.
Multiattack. Mysteryxis makes one attack with their Bite
or Tail, and two with their Claw. They can forgo making a
Bite, Claw, or Tail attack in this manner to instead use their
Frightful Presence feature.
12
• Spell Drain. Mysteryxis chooses a creature with spell
slots from a spellcasting feature within 120 feet of
them that they can see and drains the target’s magic.
The target can choose to expend a spell slot of 4th
level or higher. If it chooses not to, it takes 45 (10d8)
necrotic damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
target. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) acid
damage. When Mysteryxis scores a hit with this attack,
they can expend up to 12 spell points to add bonus acid
damage to the attack. This bonus damage is 1d6 for every
2 spell points expended in this manner.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) slashing damage.
Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 15 ft., one
target. Hit: 14 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.
Frightful Presence. Mysteryxis exerts their frightful
presence on creatures of their choice within 120 feet of
them. Affected creatures must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom
saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature
ending the effect on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is
successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune
to Mysteryxis’s Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours.
Breath Weapons (Recharge 5–6). Mysteryxis uses one
of the following breath weapons.
Acid Breath. Mysteryxis exhales acid in a 120-foot line
that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in the affected area
must attempt a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 60
(11d10) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much on a
successful one.
Dispelling Breath. Mysteryxis exhales a blast of
antimagic in a 120-foot line that is 5 feet wide . Spell
effects in the affected area immediately end if 10 + the
spell’s level is less than 17.
BONUS ACTIONS
Spellflurry. When Mysteryxis casts a spell with a casting
time of an action, they may expend spell points to cast
additional cantrips. They cast one additional cantrip for
every 3 spell points they expend in this manner, up to a
maximum of two cantrips.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Mysteryxis can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
the options below. Only one legendary action can be used
at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn.
Mysteryxis regains expended legendary actions at the
Cantrip. Mysteryxis casts a cantrip.
Bite (Costs 2 Actions). Mysteryxis makes a Bite attack.
Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions). Mysteryxis cast a spell of
3rd level or lower.