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Epic Monsters: Geryon and Orthos
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<blockquote data-quote="Mike Myler" data-source="post: 8495746" data-attributes="member: 6726030"><p>Today on <a href="https://www.enworld.org/wiki/mythological_figures/" target="_blank"><em>Epic Monsters</em></a> we’ve got a special double entry with even more heads: the three-headed giant <strong>Geryon</strong> and his two-headed hound <strong>Orthos</strong>!</p><p>[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]148946[/ATTACH]</p><p>As is typical in this column the subject changes drastically depending on the source material. Sometimes Geryon has three bodies and heads, or three bodies and one head, or in <em>Dante’s Inferno</em> he’s a manticore-wyvern monstrosity, then in a work called the <em>Geryoneis</em> the poet Stesichoros wrote he was six-handed, six-footed, and winged. In this instance we’re going with the classic three-headed version with the two-headed canine Orthos (also known as Orthrus). Geryon is related to the pegasus, Titans, and medusa though this isn’t what most people know him for—that would be his excellent cattle, the very same cows that <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/mythological-figures-hercules.669912/" target="_blank">Heracles/Hercules</a> is made to acquire from the giant’s western Mediterranean island home (Erytheia) as the tenth labor.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Design Notes:</strong></em> Geryon and Orthos aren’t too hard to pin down, easily covered by the ettin’s trait for multiple heads (though given the giant’s third head he should get something extra; we’ll go with another reaction). Let’s jump into the numbers! For the DMG we’ve got a 8.5 and 3.3645, the <a href="http://blogofholding.com/?p=7338" target="_blank">Blog of Holding</a> a 8.2 and 4, averaging out to CR 8 for Geryon and CR 3 for Orthos.</p><p></p><h2><strong>Geryon</strong></h2><p><em>Large giant, neutral</em></p><p><strong>Armor Class</strong> 16 (breastplate, shield)</p><p><strong>Hit Points </strong>210 (20d10+100)</p><p><strong>Speed </strong>35 ft.</p><table style='width: 100%'><tr><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>STR</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>DEX</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>CON</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>INT</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>WIS</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>CHA</strong></p> </td></tr><tr><td><p style="text-align: center">21 (+5)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">10 (+0)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">20 (+5)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">10 (+0)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">15 (+2)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">13 (+1)</p> </td></tr></table><p><strong>Saving Throws </strong>Dex +3, Cha +4; <strong>Proficiency</strong> +3</p><p><strong>Skills </strong>Animal Handling +5, Investigation +3, Perception +8, Persuasion +4, Religion +3</p><p><strong>Senses </strong>passive Perception 23</p><p><strong>Languages </strong>Greek</p><p><strong>Challenge </strong>8 (3,900 XP)</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Power Attack (1/Turn).</strong></em> When Geryon makes his first melee weapon attack in a turn, he can choose to take a –5 penalty to his melee weapon attack rolls in exchange for a +10 bonus to melee weapon damage. In addition, Geryon can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack after he uses a melee weapon to reduce a creature to 0 hit points or scores a critical hit with it. Geryon can only use this trait on his turn.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Three Heads.</strong></em> Geryon gains double his proficiency bonus to and has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks (included above). In addition, he has advantage on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px">ACTIONS</span></p><p><em><strong>Multiattack. </strong></em>Geryon attacks four times.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Slam.</strong></em> <em>Melee Weapon Attack:</em> +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. <em>Hit:</em> 9 (1d8+5) bludgeoning damage.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Spear (3).</strong></em> <em>Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack:</em> +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. <em>Hit:</em> 10 (1d10+5) piercing damage.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px">REACTIONS</span></p><p><em><strong>Extra Reaction.</strong></em> Geryon can take a second reaction each round.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><h2><strong>Orthos</strong></h2><p><em>Medium monstrosity, unaligned</em></p><p><strong>Armor Class</strong> 14 (natural armor)</p><p><strong>Hit Points </strong>30 (4d8+12)</p><p><strong>Speed </strong>40 ft.</p><table style='width: 100%'><tr><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>STR</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>DEX</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>CON</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>INT</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>WIS</strong></p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center"><strong>CHA</strong></p> </td></tr><tr><td><p style="text-align: center">18 (+4)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">15 (+2)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">17 (+3)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">4 (–3)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">13 (+1)</p> </td><td><p style="text-align: center">10 (+0)</p> </td></tr></table><p><strong>Saving Throws </strong>Dex +4, Con +5; <strong>Proficiency</strong> +2</p><p><strong>Skills </strong>Perception +5, Stealth +4, Survival +3</p><p><strong>Senses </strong>passive Perception 20</p><p><strong>Languages </strong>—</p><p><strong>Challenge </strong>3 (700 XP)</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Two Heads.</strong></em> Orthos has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks and on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.</p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px">ACTIONS</span></p><p><em><strong>Multiattack. </strong></em>Orthos attacks twice with its bite and once with its snake-tail.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Bite.</strong></em> <em>Melee Weapon Attack:</em> +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. <em>Hit:</em> 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Snake-Tail.</strong></em> <em>Melee Weapon Attack:</em> +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. <em>Hit:</em> 6 (1d4+4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mike Myler, post: 8495746, member: 6726030"] Today on [URL='https://www.enworld.org/wiki/mythological_figures/'][I]Epic Monsters[/I][/URL] we’ve got a special double entry with even more heads: the three-headed giant [B]Geryon[/B] and his two-headed hound [B]Orthos[/B]! [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] [ATTACH type="full" width="552px" alt="Geryon and Orthos DnD 5E BANNER.jpg"]148946[/ATTACH] As is typical in this column the subject changes drastically depending on the source material. Sometimes Geryon has three bodies and heads, or three bodies and one head, or in [I]Dante’s Inferno[/I] he’s a manticore-wyvern monstrosity, then in a work called the [I]Geryoneis[/I] the poet Stesichoros wrote he was six-handed, six-footed, and winged. In this instance we’re going with the classic three-headed version with the two-headed canine Orthos (also known as Orthrus). Geryon is related to the pegasus, Titans, and medusa though this isn’t what most people know him for—that would be his excellent cattle, the very same cows that [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/mythological-figures-hercules.669912/']Heracles/Hercules[/URL] is made to acquire from the giant’s western Mediterranean island home (Erytheia) as the tenth labor. [I][B]Design Notes:[/B][/I] Geryon and Orthos aren’t too hard to pin down, easily covered by the ettin’s trait for multiple heads (though given the giant’s third head he should get something extra; we’ll go with another reaction). Let’s jump into the numbers! For the DMG we’ve got a 8.5 and 3.3645, the [URL='http://blogofholding.com/?p=7338']Blog of Holding[/URL] a 8.2 and 4, averaging out to CR 8 for Geryon and CR 3 for Orthos. [HEADING=1][B]Geryon[/B][/HEADING] [I]Large giant, neutral[/I] [B]Armor Class[/B] 16 (breastplate, shield) [B]Hit Points [/B]210 (20d10+100) [B]Speed [/B]35 ft. [TABLE] [TR] [TD][CENTER][B]STR[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]DEX[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]CON[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]INT[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]WIS[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]CHA[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][CENTER]21 (+5)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]10 (+0)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]20 (+5)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]10 (+0)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]15 (+2)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]13 (+1)[/CENTER][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [B]Saving Throws [/B]Dex +3, Cha +4; [B]Proficiency[/B] +3 [B]Skills [/B]Animal Handling +5, Investigation +3, Perception +8, Persuasion +4, Religion +3 [B]Senses [/B]passive Perception 23 [B]Languages [/B]Greek [B]Challenge [/B]8 (3,900 XP) [I][B]Power Attack (1/Turn).[/B][/I] When Geryon makes his first melee weapon attack in a turn, he can choose to take a –5 penalty to his melee weapon attack rolls in exchange for a +10 bonus to melee weapon damage. In addition, Geryon can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack after he uses a melee weapon to reduce a creature to 0 hit points or scores a critical hit with it. Geryon can only use this trait on his turn. [I][B]Three Heads.[/B][/I] Geryon gains double his proficiency bonus to and has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks (included above). In addition, he has advantage on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious. [SIZE=5]ACTIONS[/SIZE] [I][B]Multiattack. [/B][/I]Geryon attacks four times. [I][B]Slam.[/B][/I] [I]Melee Weapon Attack:[/I] +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. [I]Hit:[/I] 9 (1d8+5) bludgeoning damage. [I][B]Spear (3).[/B][/I] [I]Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack:[/I] +8 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. [I]Hit:[/I] 10 (1d10+5) piercing damage. [SIZE=5]REACTIONS[/SIZE] [I][B]Extra Reaction.[/B][/I] Geryon can take a second reaction each round. [HEADING=1][B]Orthos[/B][/HEADING] [I]Medium monstrosity, unaligned[/I] [B]Armor Class[/B] 14 (natural armor) [B]Hit Points [/B]30 (4d8+12) [B]Speed [/B]40 ft. [TABLE] [TR] [TD][CENTER][B]STR[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]DEX[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]CON[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]INT[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]WIS[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER][B]CHA[/B][/CENTER][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][CENTER]18 (+4)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]15 (+2)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]17 (+3)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]4 (–3)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]13 (+1)[/CENTER][/TD] [TD][CENTER]10 (+0)[/CENTER][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [B]Saving Throws [/B]Dex +4, Con +5; [B]Proficiency[/B] +2 [B]Skills [/B]Perception +5, Stealth +4, Survival +3 [B]Senses [/B]passive Perception 20 [B]Languages [/B]— [B]Challenge [/B]3 (700 XP) [I][B]Two Heads.[/B][/I] Orthos has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks and on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious. [SIZE=5]ACTIONS[/SIZE] [I][B]Multiattack. [/B][/I]Orthos attacks twice with its bite and once with its snake-tail. [I][B]Bite.[/B][/I] [I]Melee Weapon Attack:[/I] +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. [I]Hit:[/I] 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. [I][B]Snake-Tail.[/B][/I] [I]Melee Weapon Attack:[/I] +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. [I]Hit:[/I] 6 (1d4+4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage. [/QUOTE]
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