Originally Posted by
Durin-Thur
Durin-Thur Stonehammer Lord of the Deepstone
“You shall not Pass!”
Durin-Thur Stonehammer was very dour even by dwarves standards. His father was the cities most skilled sculptor. Durin was eager to learn his father’s craft, he loved the feel of a hammer in his hands and the smell of powdered stone and the sense of power from reshaping ancient stone to suit his will. However he lacked the patience to ever become a true master and his father saw this so he sent his son away to be trained as a Guardian so he could gain honor fighting on the front lines. Their city was deep in the underdark perhaps the deepest outpost of their kind, it’s gem deposits had made the entire city quite rich but the lived in a state of near constant warfare with the underdark’s native races.
The training was brutal fighting running miles long obstacle courses in full armor, fighting to well beyond the point of exhaustion, and learning to banish all fear of death. After his training Durin’s father gifted him a suit on armor that had been in their family since time immemorial, Durin knew that to prove himself worthy of this honor he needed to become the greatest warrior in the guardians and he volunteered for duty in the furthest reaches of the clan’s territory. Soon distinguished himself amongst the City’s guardians. He would stand at the head of the phalanx wielding his trademark hammer with a head of solid stone as wave after wave of broke like water against a Cliffside.
He was a hero to the entire city now he had greater prestige than he could ever have as a mason even if he’d been greater than his father. Durin was even engaged to a lesser daughter of a noble house.
No magic equipment assumed
Dwarven Crusader 5
Str 16
Dex 8
Con 20 (18 +2 Racial)
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 7 (9 -2 Racial)
HP 5d12+25
AC 23 (10+10 armor+4 shield-1Dex) +2 vs. larger creatures
BAB +5 War hammer +9 1d8+3
Saves
Fort 9 (4 base +5 Con)
Ref 0 (1 Base -1 Dex
Will 6 (1 Base +5 Con)
Feats
Endurance
Steadfast Determination
Dwarven Armor Proficiency
Class Abilities
Steely Resolve 10
Furious Counterstrike
Indomitable Soul
Zealous Surge
Maneuvers
Stone Bones* attack and gain DR 5/adamantine for until next turn
Crusader’s Strike* attack and heal 1d6+IL
Vanguard Strike
Leading the attack
Charging Minotaur
Mountain Hammer* attack +2d6 damage ignore DR and Hardness
Shield Block* immediate action grant ally AC bonus of your shield bonus +4
White Raven Tactics* immediate Change an ally’s initiative to 1 below yours (targeting yourself lets you go twice in a row)
Stances
Stone foot stance* +2 on Str checks, +2 AC vs. larger foes
Bolstering Voice
*usually in/readied
Skills
Balance 8
Stone working 8
Jump 8
Heal cc 4
Knowledge History 8
Climb cc 4
Languages
Common
Dwarven
Terran
Undercommon
Key equipment
MW Stone Warhammer
MW Mountain Plate
MW Tower shield
However, over the years the waves wear away the cliff face. During one particularly determined army of Orcs Durin, despite his now famous resiliency found himself at the edge of exaustion, his armor pulled him down like it never had before, it seemed like ages ago he had dropped his shield because he needed both of his weary arms to swing his hammer and he was slowly losing blood from dozens of small wounds. Regretfully he decided that for the first time in his career it was time to fallback.
He stepped backward into his squad but found that he had not stepped backward into a line of Dwarves. Had he been overcome with bloodlust and broken formation? No, now he saw that around him and behind him intermingled with several times their number of Orcs were dozens of Dwarven corpses; perhaps his entire squad. Further he was still alive only because most of the Orcs were parting to pass him on either side because though they could undoubtedly overwhelm him they had seen him kill enough of their fellows that only the bravest wished to challenge him. He didn’t know how many had already passed by but he could see the horde tightly packed and stretching out beyond the edge of his darkvision.
Just as he had lost all hope, not for himself but for his home, a plan emerged. He charged through the Orcs and swung with all his might, at the exact place that a lifetime of working stone told him not to. The stone broke open and the crack traveled up to the roof of the cavern which split and rained down oblivion on Dwarf and Orc alike.
Durin awoke. He had no idea how long he’d been unconscious he was buried alive in an earthen tomb of his own design. With no landmarks he did the only thing he could he picked a direction and started swinging his hammer. Whenever he’d taken a few sizeable chunks off a stone he’d sweep away armfuls of the fine sand that flowed between the stones and especially into his armor and test to see if he could move the stone yet and if it would be safe, then he would either lift the rock and toss it aside or keep working. Shortly after his second rest period he found the body of an Orc shaman in the rubble. The thought of eating him briefly crossed Durin’s mind but the body was too far gone for that. Still he fell on the body with the desperate energy that only the half starved have searching for anything edible. Several pouches had been ripped open and their contents smashed together.
Picking out the most disgusting matter he found some bits that looked like dried meat, he chewed his disgusting rations as fast as he could even though the grit on them cut painfully in his mouth he washed it down with whatever was in the Orc’s flasks. That was a mistake, as soon as he stood up his head started to spin and he fell flat on his face.
Durin woke and was surprised to find that he felt quite refreshed. He wonders if maybe something in one of those flasks was good for him he quickly dismisses this pointless query and gets back to work. Shortly after his next rest period his hammer shatters. He drops to his knees as despair washes over him.
Some time later as he sits waiting for death he reflects on his guardian training and how they had they learned to look for the smallest weaknesses and strike with such perfect focus that their weapons could break stone that should have shrugged off their attacks. He’d never attempted this with his hands but, why shouldn’t it work. He stood once more in front of the wall of fallen rocks focusing all of his will into his fist.
He pulled his aching hand back to nurse it, in a moment the pain had reached a manageable level and he was overjoyed to see that his hand had left a long thin line in solid stone. He immediately punched it again and regretted it, he hadn’t taken the time to regain his focus and he hurt his hand worse than the first time without damaging the stone in return. Internally chastising himself he stood before the stone and took the time to properly focusing his mind on the stone and on his fist. The work was slow and agonizing but he was making progress.
He completely lost track of all semblance of time no longer stopping to rest at all. The only time he stopped was when he heard faint sounds as if the stones themselves were whispering to him, he wanted to dismiss this as his imagination but as often as not he would find a tiny trickle of water or he would dislodge a stone and find a pocket of trapped. Before long the steel of his gauntlets dented and cracked. When the torn ends began to turn inward and bite into his fingers he cast them aside and continued his assault. After a time he noticed that his hands had healed where falling sand and powdered stone mixed with his blood from his knuckles, then later his skin seemed t become harder than the stone around him. He wondered if this was his mind slipping or a gift from his ancestors who appreciated his determination. When he found that his hardened skin took away the pain of striking the stone allowing him to strike faster he decided that it must be the former.
He continued his work not knowing how long he had toiled or for how much longer he would need go on to escape his stony prison. At the edge of exaustion and once more on the brink of starvation he paused and leaned against the stones in front of him and was shocked when the wall melted away in front of him revealing a cavern filled with mushrooms of several variety including a luminescent variety on the roof of the cave. Durin quietly muttered thanks to Moradin and his ancestors before voraciously consuming fistful after fistful of mushrooms until he felt near ready to burst his armor.
He lay sated on a soft patch of moss and drifted off to sleep for the first time in what felt like forever. His dreams were filled with images of home and with strange spirits following him and helping with everyday tasks. Durin wakes to the sounds of conversation, he wearily rises and goes back into the shadows of his cave to wait. A group of young drow come into the cavern carrying baskets and small knives. Obviously, this was too good to be true, this cavern was cultivated. The Drow are just laborers so he deals with them swiftly and mercifully. As he harvests a big basket of mushrooms he wonders if the young Drows’ masters will be as merciful as him.
Avoiding the Dark Elf City makes his journey home much longer and complicated while their patrols make it far more interesting. His route is long a circuitous filled with innumerable enemies and scarce few friends. When finally makes it home the first Guardian patrol he runs into doesn’t even recognize him and has to send for someone who can identify him.
Durin has been gone for almost a year and I seems there is nothing but ill news for him. His father was killed in the Orc attack and his betrothed has been married off to a warrior Durin knows is inferior who faired better than he against another branch of the Orc attack which was a mere fraction the size of the force he faced.
Note: I took some liberties with the Stone lord “ritual” .
It says you must be immersed in sacred loam.
Loam is a mixture of dirt, sand and clay a lot of what fell on Durin in the cave in was loam. Sacred is a vague word the loam could have been blessed long ago or it could have been blessed by ancestor/earth spirits trying to protect Durin.
It requires fasting for long periods of time deep underground.
Deep underground, check. So does nearly starving to death twice when you have a 20 con and endurance count as fasting? I say it can.
Must consume 1000gp worth of powdered gemstones.
The Orc shaman’s rations and spell component pouch were crushed together and he had components for multiple castings of stoneskin.
Dwarven Crusader 5/Stonelord 3/DeepWarden 2
Str 16
Dex 8
Con 21 (19 +2 Racial)
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 7 (9 -2 Racial)
HP 7d12+3d8+50
AC 24 (10+7 armor+2 Shield+5 Con) +2 vs. larger creatures
BAB +10 Longsword +13/+8 1d8+3
Saves
Fort 15 (10 base +5 Con)
Ref 2 (2 Base -1 Dex
Will 10 (5 Base +5 Con)
Feats
Endurance
Steadfast Determination
Dwarven Armor Proficiency
Open Minded
Stone Power
Track
Class Abilities
Steely Resolve 10
Furious Counterstrike
Indomitable Soul
Zealous Surge
Earth’s Blood
Stoneskin 1/day
Stoneshape 1/day
Trap Sense +1
Stone Warden(Con to AC)
Maneuvers
Stone Bones* attack and gain DR 5/adamantine for until next turn
Crusader’s Strike* attack and heal 1d6+IL
Vanguard Strike
Leading the attack
Charging Minotaur
Mountain Hammer* attack +2d6 damage ignore DR and Hardness
Shield Block* immediate action grant ally AC bonus of your shield bonus +4
White Raven Tactics* immediate Change an ally’s initiative to 1 below yours (targeting yourself lets you go twice in a row)
Stances
Stone foot stance* +2 on Str checks, +2 AC vs. larger foes
Bolstering Voice
* usually readied/in this stance
Skills
Balance 13
Stone working 8
Jump 8
Heal cc 5
Knowledge History 8
Climb cc 5
Survival 8
Knowledge Dungeoneering 9
Languages
Common
Dwarven
Terran
Undercommon
equipment
Longsword
Heavy Steel shield
Heavily Damaged Mountain Plate
Arbitrary amount of treasure from random encounters
After a few short weeks of rest, recuperation and mourning Durin emerged from his father’s house and began liquidating his father’s estate and commissioning gear. His armor which was damaged almost beyond the point of recognition he had reforged using the latest developments in armorsmithing and alloyed with adamantine, it’s lost gantlets were replaced with a set enchanted to enhance strength. The rest of his inheritance was spent on a variety of charms and amulets that promised to bolster his defenses to legendary levels. The only thing he kept was his father’s hammer. Once rested and reequipped he went to the captain of the Guardians “Durin-Thur Stonehammer reporting for duty, Sir!”
Everyone was shocked that he wanted to go back to defending the City so soon but, he couldn’t be dissuaded and though he wanted to the captain knew that giving Durin an easy assignment now would be insulting.
When Durin returned to duty in the most heavily contested areas the Dwarves claimed he quickly grew from a highly admired champion to a hero. In battle Durin would stand two full ranks ahead of his charges and the very earth rose up to fight with him from even the largest of attacks the few enemies that stumbled around him were easily dispatched by a full squad of fresh dwarves warriors.
Though the men loved Durin and toasted to him nightly, he became more and more distant spending almost all of his free time in solitary. Few dared ask what he did and nobody was even given an answer. Durin’s prowess in battle and mystical connection with the stone continued to grow. During one battle a second group of attackers flanked Durin’s force by using a side tunnel. At first his troops fought eager for some action after watching so many battles from the sidelines but, eventually the force was too much and they had nowhere to retreat to. Durin extended his arm and a opened in one wall of the cavern, he ordered them into the space then took guard outside.
Over the years more abilities emerged he began calling upon stone to reshape caverns when attack was immanent creating unassailable choke points. Durin became a legend even amongst his enemies and his protection became an excellent deterrent and the city was safer and richer than ever. In the decades that followed there were fewer and fewer attacks. As the Guardians became soft Durin grew anxious he no longer remembered how to live a peaceful life.
Then After years of relative inactivity the city was assaulted from a dozen directions at once. Durin Headed for the worst of the fighting of course and was soon holding back the assault there with only a pair of messengers watching him. He was surprised when a small squad came to meet him. It turned out that though this was the largest assault it was a rouse, it consisted entirely of slaves and green troops. The real attack was coming from the other side of the city and the forces there were fast becoming overwhelmed. Durin ran as fast as he could and was shocked by the carnage he found in his rage he heedlessly charged the first enemy commander he saw and as he collided with him the very earth shook knocking all around off their feet and killing many attackers. He quickly regained his composure and used his earth moving powers to seal the entrance to the city proper. The remaining troops separated going to the various lesser fronts. After the battle the stone pillars Durin had raised didn’t return to the Earth and after a few days a team of craftsman cut a whole through. The dead were carefully catalogued and taken away for burial but no sign of Durin was found.
Dwarven Crusader 5/Stonelord 3/Deepwarden 2/ Deepstone Sentinel 5
Str 20 (16 +4 enhancement)
Dex 8
Con 28 (20 +6 enhancement +2 Racial)
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 7 (9 -2 Racial)
HP 7d12+3d8+5d10+135
AC 45/47 (10+13/15 armor+9 Shield+9 Con+2 Natural+2 Deflection) +2 vs. larger creatures
DR 3/Adamantine DR 2/-
BAB +13 (Stone hammer +23/+18/+13 1d8+7)
Saves
Fort 23 (14 base +9 Con)
Ref 2 (3 Base -1 Dex
Will 15 (6 Base +9 Con)
Feats
Endurance
Steadfast Determination
Dwarven Armor Proficiency
Open Minded
Stone Power
Track
Armor Specialization
Extra Granted Maneuver
Class Abilities
Steely Resolve 10
Furious Counterstrike
Indomitable Soul
Zealous Surge
Earth’s Blood
Stoneskin 1/day
Stoneshape 1/day
Trap Sense +1
Stone Warden(Con to AC)
Mountain Fortress Stance
Passwall
Crashing Mountain Juggernaut
Indomitable Redoubt
Stone Curse
Dragon’s Tooth
Awaken Stone Dragon
Maneuvers
Stone Bones*(drop for shield block in a group) attack and gain DR 5/adamantine for one round
Crusader’s Strike* attack and heal 1d6+IL
Vanguard Strike
Leading the attack
Charging Minotaur
Mountain Hammer
Shield Block
White Raven Tactics* immediate action change ally’s initiative to one lower than yours (targeting yourself let’s you take another turn on the next initiative step.
Overwhelming Mountain Strike* attack +2d6 attack opponent loses next move action fort save DC 14+str mod
Elder Mountain Hammer* attack + 6d6 damage ignore DR and Hardness
Irresistible Mountain Strike* attack +4d6 opponent loses next standard action fort save DC 16+Str mod
Stances
Stone foot stance* +2 Str checks, +2 AC vs. larger creatures
Bolstering Voice
*usually in/readied
Balance 18
Stone working 16
Jump 8
Heal cc 5
Knowledge History 8
Climb cc 5
Survival 8
Knowledge Dungeoneering 18
Languages
Common
Dwarven
Terran
Undercommon
Equipment about ¾ WBL
+5 Adamantine Interlocking Plate
+5 Steel Towershield
+2 Stone Dragon Warhammer(stone)
+4 Gauntlets of ogre Power
+6 Periapt of Health
+2 Amulet of Natural
+2 Ring of Protection
Durin-thur Stonehammer has become a figure of legend. He’s never seen or heard from anymore except when the city is in dire need. At the taverns warriors tell tales of being hopelessly out numbered and feeling the earth shake then a pillar of stone sealing the cavern ahead of them then they claim to hear the sounds of battle for hours sometimes days then nothing. If it was Durin he didn’t stop to ask for any thanks, except in the stories of the least reliable young Dwarves. He is a mythical figure and some warriors have even started muttering quiet prayers to the Lord of the Deepstone.
Dwarven Crusader 6/Stonelord 7/Deepwarden 2/ Deepstone Sentinel 5
(Actual order Crusader 1-5/Stonelord 1-3/Deepwarden 1-2/Deepstone Sentinel 1-5/Stonelord 4-7/Crusader6)
Str 24 (16 +6 enhancement +4 inherent)
Dex 8
Con 34 (22+6 enhancement +4 inherent +2 Racial)
Int 14
Wis 10
Cha 7 (9 -2 Racial)
HP 8d12+7d8+5d10+240
AC 54/56 (10+13/15 armor+9 Shield+12 Con+5 Natural+5 Deflection)
DR 3/Adamantine DR 2/-
BAB +18 (Stone hammer +33/+28/+23 1d8+12)
Saves
Fort 35 (18 base +12 Con+5 resistance)
Ref 9 (5 Base -1 Dex+5 resistance)
Will 25 (8 Base +12 Con+5 resistance)
Feats
Endurance
Steadfast Determination
Dwarven Armor Proficiency
Open Minded
Stone Power
Track
Armor Specialization
Extra Granted Maneuver
Martial Study (Ancient Mountain Hammer)
Class Abilities
Steely Resolve 10
Furious Counterstrike
Indomitable Soul
Zealous Surge
Earth’s Blood
Stoneskin 1/day
Stoneshape 1/day
Trap Sense +1
Stone Warden(Con to AC)
Mountain Fortress Stance
Passwall
Crashing Mountain Juggernaut
Indomitable Redoubt
Stone Curse
Dragon’s Tooth
Awaken Stone Dragon
Summon Earth Elemental 1/day
Meld into Stone
Earth Power
Stone Tell
Smite Evil 1/day
Maneuvers
Stone Bones*(drop for shield block in a group) attack and gain DR 5/adamantine for one round
Crusader’s Strike* attack and heal 1d6+IL
Vanguard Strike
Leading the attack
Charging Minotaur
Mountain Hammer
Shield Block
White Raven Tactics* immediate action change ally’s initiative to one lower than yours (targeting yourself let’s you take another turn on the next initiative step.
Overwhelming Mountain Strike* attack +2d6 attack opponent loses next move action fort save DC 14+str mod
Elder Mountain Hammer* attack + 6d6 damage ignore DR and Hardness
Irresistible Mountain Strike* attack +4d6 opponent loses next standard action fort save DC 16+Str mod
Ancient Mountain Hammer* attack +12d6 damage ignore DR and Hardness
Stances
Strength of Stone* Immune to Critical Hits
Bolstering Voice
*usually in/readied
Skills
Balance 23
Stone working 23
Jump 8
Heal cc 5
Knowledge History 8
Climb cc 5
Survival 23
Knowledge Dungeoneering 23
Languages
Common
Dwarven
Terran
Undercommon
Equipment much closer to WBL
+5 Adamantine Interlocking Plate
+5 Steel Towershield
+5 Stone Dragon Warhammer(stone)
+6 Gauntlets of ogre Power
+6 Periapt of Health
+5 Amulet of Natural
+5 Ring of Protection
+5 Cloak of Resistance
+4 Manual of Bodily Exercise
+4 Manual of Bodily Health
Boots of Teleportation
Several Martial Scripts of Strike of Righteous Fury always keeps on fastened to the inside of his shield.
Note: His damage output may seem low even for a defense focused character but strikes go a long way towards making up for it. With white raven tactics he can make 3 strikes and a full attack in or 4 strikes in three rounds and after lvl 15 3 strikes or 2 strikes and a full attack in 2 rounds. Due to the nature the Crusader class these maneuver’s are refreshed every 4 turns/3 rounds and every 3 turns/2 rounds after the extra granted maneuver feat has been taken.
Books used:
Phb
Dmg
Complete Warrior
Races of Stone
Tome of Battle
Equipment is all core except for the awesome martial discipline weapon enchantment and mountain plate and interlocking plate which are both from Races of Stone. The stone hammer is just a war hammer with extra fluff though if anyone knows a good mechanical way to treat it I’d be interested in hearing it.
Re: Iron Chef Optimisation Challenge IV
