npc

Forge Lord Durgrim

Forge-Lord Durgrim

CR 17

Medium humanoid (dwarf), Lawful Neutral

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

21 (Masterwork Plate and Mechanical Enhancements)

Hit Points

240 (20d8 + 150)

Speed

25 ft.

str

dex

con

int

wis

cha

Saves CON +14, INT +13, WIS +9

Skills ATHLETICS +12, HISTORY +13, INSIGHT +9, PERSUASION +10

Damage Resistances Poison, Fire; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Senses Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13

Languages Common, Dwarvish, Undercommon

Traits

Iron Lung.Durgrim has disadvantage on Constitution saving throws against effects that require breathing unless he is in a pressurized environment. However, his mechanical suit provides him with 1 hour of breathable air.

Aether-Engine Heart.Durgrim's steam-powered prosthetics grant him a +3 bonus to AC (included) and advantage on all Strength and Constitution checks.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day).If Durgrim fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack.Durgrim makes three attacks with his Mechanical Warhammer.

Mechanical Warhammer.Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 13 (3d8) fire damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 21 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Steam Blast (Recharge 5-6).Durgrim exhales a 30-foot cone of scalding steam. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The area is heavily obscured by steam for 1 minute.

Legendary Actions

Hammer Attack.Durgrim makes one Mechanical Warhammer attack.

Command Ally.Durgrim targets one ally he can see within 60 feet. If the target can see or hear Durgrim, the target can make one weapon attack as a reaction.

Overdrive (Costs 2 Actions).Durgrim moves up to his speed without provoking opportunity attacks and makes one Mechanical Warhammer attack with advantage.

Forge-Lord Durgrim

Forge-Lord Durgrim is the current leader of the Ironbeard Syndicate and the de facto ruler of Steamfort. At nearly 250 years old, Durgrim is a living testament to the industrial awakening of the North. He rose through the ranks not by lineage, but through unparalleled genius in mechanical engineering. In his youth, he was instrumental in refining the design of the first Aether-Engines, significantly reducing their volatility and making mass production feasible. His political maneuvering is as precise as his clockwork creations; he orchestrated the consolidation of the smaller dwarven guilds into the monolithic Ironbeard Syndicate, ensuring that Steamfort spoke with one unified, iron-clad voice.

Durgrim's defining moment on the global stage was his reluctant signing of the Treaty of the Iron Anvil in 420 AW. Faced with the overwhelming threat of the Giantfolk Incursion, he set aside decades of animosity with Kigum to form the Ironclad Vanguard. He personally piloted a prototype super-heavy exosuit during the Battle of the Boiling Coast, holding the line against a tide of Fire Giants. However, the intense, prolonged exposure to volcanic ash and raw, superheated Aether during the campaign severely damaged his respiratory system, leading to a chronic condition known as "Iron Lung."

Today, Durgrim is rarely seen outside the heavily filtered, pressurized environment of his command center in the Forge Heart. To combat his failing body, he has aggressively pursued mechanization, replacing much of his organic frame with intricate, steam-powered prosthetics. Rumors whisper that he is more machine than dwarf at this point, kept alive solely by a miniaturized Aether-Engine beating in his chest. Despite his physical limitations, his mind remains razor-sharp. He views the current Cold War with Kigum as a mathematical inevitability, constantly preparing Steamfort for the day when the uneasy peace inevitably shatters.