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Bag of Beasts
Brazen Bull
  • Huge, Construct
  • Unaligned
  • CR 4
  • AC 17 (Natural Armor)
  • HP 68 ((8d12 + 16))
STR
+4
19
DEX
-0
11
CON
+2
15
INT
-5
1
WIS
-4
3
CHA
-5
1

Damage Vulnerabilities

Damage Resistances

Damage Immunities

  • Poison, Psychic

Condition Immunities

  • Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned

Speed

  • basic - 30ft

Languages

Heated Chamber. The Brazen Bull is a macabre torture device that detains a victim within a chamber inside its body that heats up, roasting the trapped soul alive. Someone confined within has some room to move around but is completely sealed off from escape unless the door to the chamber is open from the outside. Every round the victim spends in the chamber they take 1d4 Fire damage. The victim inside is able to make attacks against the bull but has disadvantage due to the confined space.

If the Brazen Bull’s hit points drop below half and it is struck a critical hit, the chamber door malfunctions, opening up to allow the victim to escape. Someone may also attempt to open the hatch manually from the outside while standing next to the door by making a dexterity check DC 18.

Actions

Bull Rush. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (4d6 + 4) piercing damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Fire Breath (Recharge 5-6): The Brazen Bull emits a plume of fire and smoke from its nostrils in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 20 (4d10) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Haunting Bellows. If a victim is alive and inside the heated chamber, their cries of pain travel through a series of complex tubes and vents, and are turned into a haunting refrain that emanates from the Brazen Bull’s mouth. At the start of their turn, creatures that can hear the cries must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw DC 10 or become Frightened for 1 minute. Successful saves make the creature immune to the effects.

Sometimes a particularly contemptible ruler demand vile methods of torture in hopes of instilling fear in their subjects. The Brazen Bull is one of those devices. An animated bronze bull that not only battles prisoners of the ruler, it can also be used as a vile torture device that burns its victims alive inside it’s body.

The Brazen Bull is a nearly mindless automaton brought to life by less than reputable magic, appearing as a huge bronze statue of a stout bull. It follows the orders given to it by its masters and feels no remorse for its victims, attacking them with cold ferocity.

Treasure

The massive bronze bull is far too heavy to carry and none of its components on their own hold any value. The head, however, can be lopped off with a decisive blow and a craftsman can turn it into a helmet.

Helm of the Brazen Bull

Wonderous Item, Rare (requires attunement)
A shining brass helm in the shape of a bull’s head. It can turn the wearer’s shout into a chorus of woeful cries that frighten foes. Once per day the wearer can shout from inside the helm at a creature within melee range, the creature must succeed a Wisdom saving throw DC 16 or become frightened for 1 minute.
Game Hooks

Captured in the middle of a rescue mission, adventurers find themselves thrust into an open archway that reveals a large combat pit with stands full of voracious crowds. Their cheers are deafening. Across the packed earth on the far side of the pit the adventurers can see the person they were attempting to rescue, a political prisoner of the tyrant ruler, being loaded into what appears like a huge bronze bull. As the door is shut a terrible wail comes from the statue’s mouth along with a burst of smoke from its nostrils. Just as the adventurers realize the gravity of the situation, the statue comes to life, barreling forward at their position.