Guthallath

Game and Dungeon Masters, be honest. How much time have you really spent on your world? Is it ever enough? The answer is obviously no. The guthallath is a monster for GMs to indulge in. Its role as a (literally) gargantuan war machine from the ancient past is one of the best excuses you'll ever find to dig deeply into the history of what you've put together, though it isn't likely to be a monster that gets much actual use.

The guthallath is a gargantuan construct created with a sole purpose: destruction. If there's a phrase that has made me more excited than that, I can't think of it right now. This powerhouse is not lacking in both powers and immunities. Its 10th level disintegrate every 1d4 rounds puts a dragon's breath to shame. Constant true seeing means you can't make illusory terrain to divert it from its goal. Immunity to spells lower than 7th level and Resistance to the tune of physical 15 severely limits what your players can use against it. The ability to Trample huge or smaller creatures means you can't block it with sheer size. That isn't even mentioning its Erosion Aura (which creatures are never immune to) and its Powerful Blows feature, which helps it crit more often.

So how are you actually going to use this monster? Honestly, it's a 19th level creature! So you probably won't. 

But you definitely should. 

Bury it deep underground. Have the PCs come across its inert, slumbering form. Let it hint at the history you've created. Decide where it came from and what it's doing. Make an entire high-level one-shot or mini-arc about preventing it from destroying the known world. Plant mysteries about cyclic destruction, and hint that this thing is responsible. Then, when it awakes, consider making this an extended skill challenge rather than a flat-out combat. Again, in my opinion, this is definitely a monster that's more for GMs to flex creativity with than really for players to fight. Draw ideas from media like Shadow of the Colossus, Breath of the Wild, and the Iron Giant to really help the guthallath shine. Or leave it where it slumbers, waiting for its chance to start the engines of war once again, its very existence hinting at stories of epochs past and peoples long gone.

-TJ

Hook 1 (Max) - The Colussus of Tragge

The Great Colossus of Tragge is one of the greatest wonders on this side of the known world. The towering statue was reportedly created long before the city itself, as it was already here when the first settlers arrived. Its exact origin is a long-contested subject between scholars and the locals of Tragge. The monument stands well over one hundred feet tall, bearing a proportionally oversized shield and spear, as well as an additional set of arms crossed behind its back. Its face is a demonic visage set in a vicious snarl.

Today, however, it is not in the center of attention, for Tragge celebrates its sixth century of existence. Travelers from far and wide have arrived to take part in the variety of festivities, games, and pleasures that the metropolis offers.

At the third bell, the current city council announces that a play will take place—a reenactment of the city's founding! It tells a story of the legendary founder, who tamed many beasts to aid the people before finally forging the Colossus to protect them when he's gone. Everyone, being so enamored with the spectacle, fails to see one extremely vital thing.

The Colossus moved. And it looks angrier than usual.

Hook 2 (Nemanja) - The Collapse

When all of the world's seas disappeared overnight, many lives changed.

For some, it meant near-certain death as they found themselves living at the edge of a desert rather than in a magnificent port city. For others, it meant new opportunities arose; now, sunken ruins with undisturbed riches were suddenly within grasp. For brave sir Bellathor and his Burly Band, it meant their castle was instead atop a massive stone goliath instead of an island in the middle of the sea. 

As if all that wasn't enough, the not-island is evidently starting to wake up.

Hook 3 (TJ) - Riven Valley Rampage

The denizens of the Riven Valley have learned a lot over the centuries. Well-documented charts and maps show the path of The Great Destroyer. As such, they've settled outside of its attentions. Every 50 years The Great Destroyer, a colossus of unknown origin, stomps its way through the valley, carving an identical path of destruction before eventually settling down on the opposite side and slumbering again to later repeat the cycle. The rampage is expected this year and the Riven Valley inhabitants have shaped their lives around its occurrence. They readily throw their refuse into its preordained path, waiting for the piles of garbage to be evaporated by the Destroyer's disintegration beams; some even sell guided tours to see it where it slumbers. As word of the event has spread, ticket sales to view its berserk state have greatly exceeded previous figures. People have flocked from all over to see the Great Destroyer rise again, and the Riven Valley is having a hard time supporting the influx of people. Little do they all know that this year will not be like the others...