Sword Guardian Trap
The statue depicts a woman with four arms and the lower body of a snake. The statue holds swords in three of her hands; the fourth holds out a basket in your direction.
Stepping on a pressure plate beside the statue or jostling the statue triggers a Failure. A creature must avoid three pressure plates to pass by the statue. The pressure plates are disabled while the basket holds at least 10 pounds of weight.
Floor. An Engineering or Investigation check, or an examination of the floor, reveals that the floor next to and behind the statue is composed of pressure plates. The statue can be approached safely from the front.
Statue. An investigation of the statue reveals that the words “Pay Your Respects” are engraved on the bottom of the basket. A character that makes an Arcana or Religion check recognizes the statue as a marilith , a type of demon. An Investigation check, or an examination of the statue, reveals that the marilith has articulated arms.
The statue is an object with AC 19, 75 hit points, and immunity to cold, lightning, fire, piercing, poison, and psychic damage. Damaging the statue without destroying it outright triggers a Critical Failure.
Sword Guardian Variant: Sword Guardian Riddler
The message at the bottom of the sword guardian’s basket is a riddle. An appropriate item placed in the basket disables the trap; other items do not.
- “Golden head bearing a crown, golden tail up or down.” The trap is disabled if one or more gold coins is placed in the basket.
- “Born in fire, formed in water, polished silver, end in slaughter.” The trap is disabled if a weapon made of iron or steel is placed in the basket.
- A creature can make a thieves’ tools check to disable one pressure plate or one of the statue’s arms.
- A creature can make a Strength check to break one pressure plate or one of the statue’s arms.
Potential Outcomes
Critical Failure. The statue makes three melee attacks , each with a different arm. Each arm attacks with a +7 bonus, has a reach of 10 feet, and deals 9 (2d8) slashing damage on a hit.
Failure. As a Critical Failure, but only one arm attacks.
Success. One pressure plate or one arm is disabled. Disabling all three pressure plates or arms triggers a Critical Success.
Critical Success. The trap is disabled.