Shard‑Warden of Ahn‑Rak
Shard‑Warden of Ahn‑Rak
Wondrous item (artifact, requires attunement)
Appearance.
A fist‑sized figurine of beaten electrum and viridian star‑metal, crowned with jagged spikes and barbed coils. Its eyes are sealed with glowing amethyst X‑runes, and its open maw reveals gem‑fangs that seem to twitch when no one is looking. A heavy bail and loop allow it to be worn as a pendant.
Artifact Properties
When you first attune to the Shard‑Warden, roll twice on the Artifact Properties tables in Dungeon Master’s Guide (once on Minor Beneficial, once on Minor Detrimental). In addition, it has the following fixed properties:
| Beneficial | Detrimental | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Runesight. You gain truesight 120 ft. | Fractured Will. You have disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks. | |
| 2. Eldritch Reservoir. You have resistance to force damage. | Parasite of Fury. When you roll a natural 1 on an attack roll, you must succeed on a DC 17 Wis save or suffer one level of exhaustion. |
Magic Features
Living Aegis
While you wear the Shard‑Warden visibly, you gain a +3 bonus to AC and saving throws. Whenever you take damage from a single source that would reduce you below half your hit points, gold‑filigreed plates flare from the idol and you can choose (no action) to become encased in prismatic armor for 1 minute (or until you dismiss it as a bonus action). While armored you gain:
- immunity to non‑magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing;
- resistance to all other damage;
- your melee attacks deal an extra 1d10 force damage.
The armor can manifest this way 3 times per dawn.
Runic Circuitry (10 Charges)
The idol holds 10 charges and regains 1d6 + 4 expended charges daily at dawn.
| Charges | Power (save DC 18) |
|---|---|
| 1 | shield |
| 2 | counterspell |
| 3 | dispel magic |
| 4 | wall of force |
| 5 | teleport (self + up to 8 willing creatures) |
You can expend charges as an action to cast the spell. If the last charge is spent, roll a d20. On a 1, the idol unleashes a pulse of destructive energy: every creature in a 30‑ft. radius takes 8d10 force damage (Dex save half) and the idol becomes inert for 7 days.
Avatar of Calamity
Once every 7 days, you can speak the command rak‑ka‑mon while hurling the figurine to the ground. The Shard‑Warden grows into a Large Construct (Fiend) under your control for 1 hour. It appears in an unoccupied space you can see within 30 ft. (stats below). While in this form the figurine can’t be worn or used. When the effect ends, it shrinks back into the pendant and can’t transform again until seven sunsets pass.
Shard‑Warden Avatar
Armor Class 21 (living adamant)
Hit Points 195 (17d10 + 85)
Speed 40 ft.
STR 26 (+8) DEX 16 (+3) CON 21 (+5) INT 8 (–1) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 18 (+4)
Saving Throws Con +11, Wis +8, Cha +10
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from magical weapons
Damage Immunities force, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages understands the languages of its summoner but can’t speak
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP)Magic Resistance. The avatar has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Actions
Multiattack. Two slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (3d8 + 10) bludgeoning + 10 (3d6) force.
Prismatic Burst (Recharge 5–6). 60‑ft. cone; creatures make DC 18 Con save. On a failure, they take 45 (10d8) force damage and are blinded for 1 minute (save at end of turns). On success, half damage, no blindness.
Curse: Hunger of Ahn‑Rak
The idol’s sentience (Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 20) slowly interlaces with your psyche. Each day at dawn roll a d6. On a 1, you must succeed on a DC 18 Charisma save or your alignment shifts one step toward Chaotic Evil and the idol gains one extra Minor Detrimental property (DM’s choice). Wish or greater restoration can revert a single step. Three failed saves make the change permanent until the idol is destroyed or you are the target of wish.
Destroying the Shard‑Warden
The figurine must be submerged in the heart‑fire of a dying star (or its mortal echo, an efreeti’s final wish) while the name “Ahn‑Rak” is erased from every rune‑stone on the Material Plane. Otherwise, it re‑forges itself from the dust of fallen worlds 1d100 years later.
Using the Shard‑Warden in Your Game
- Patron’s Gift or Nemesis. A star‑bound warlock patron might gift (or reclaim) the idol. Its sentience can become an unreliable adviser—or a villain wearing the hero like a suit.
- Living Dungeon Key. The figurine could be a keystone that awakens a dormant construct city.
- Final Boss Twist. If the curse completes, the PC becomes the Shard‑Warden’s host body, turning the party’s ally into an avatar of calamity they must save—or stop.
“Forge me in ruin, mortal. Together we will write our names across the sky in letters of falling stone.”
—The voice of Ahn‑Rak, heard only by those it deems worthy