[MW Batch 2] Coldhart - CR 11 Huge Celestial

Acid, Arctic, Celestial, None

“Day 13 - We’ve finally made it to the abandoned mine. There’s no sign of any of the workers, but we did notice something odd: instead of a hole in the ground, there’s a crystalline pond of the clearest, purest water I’ve ever seen. Something doesn’t add up. We’re staying the night to investigate.”

— Last entry in the journal of Mel Tedaun, leader of the Arctic Rovers adventuring group

Despite the heavenly origins of coldharts, most people place them squarely in the “terrifying eldritch being I’d like to never lay eyes upon” category. These bizarre Celestials appear as towering white stags, disembodied skulls floating beneath the eerie glow of their strange, cartographic antlers. Even more upsetting than their disturbing appearance is their general attitude towards Humanoids: frigid at best, and downright hostile at worst—the latter of which is far more common.

Arctic Defenders. Coldharts exist for a singular purpose: to protect the unspoiled tundras and taigas of the world from the encroachment of industry and civilisation. Wherever seal poachers scheme, pine loggers fell ancient groves, and greedy miners carve into the frozen earth, a strange white stag is sure to arrive, eager to deliver coldhearted justice to those who would harm nature for lucre. Coldharts don’t bargain, concede, or forgive. Each crime against nature is equal in their eyes, and all are met with the same punishment—the melting of the offender into pure water, that they may in death sustain the life they sought to extinguish. A pond or creek appearing overnight is usually a sign of an unfortunate encounter with a coldhart… whereas the sudden birth of a lake or river speaks of a deliberate massacre.

Strange Bedfellows. Dire circumstances beget the oddest alliances. Though loath to endanger those it’s sworn to protect, a coldhart facing an especially formidable threat will sometimes call upon the aid of the denizens of the frozen wilds. A snowy owl hooting at midday may not be suffering from insomnia, but rather alerting a coldhart to an enemy’s presence. An arctic hare following an adventuring party might not be scrounging for food scraps, but deliberately leaving a trail for others to follow. The mightiest creatures of the frozen wastes—polar bears, winter wolves, or even remorhazes—will heed the coldhart’s summons and fight by its side to expel intruders from their homes. United under the Celestial’s watchful gaze, predator and prey temporarily set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal.

Home is Where the Hart Is. Coldharts act swiftly to prevent their foes from wreaking havoc upon the wilds. The urgency of their mission and their remarkable connection to the environment enables them to establish lairs in only a day or two, forging a bond so deep that it may bend the air, ice, and water to its will in battle. Yet this connection is as ephemeral as it is powerful, as the celestial stag’s duties compel it ever onward, forcing it to abandon each domain as soon as its safety is assured. For several days after this happens, the coldhart can be seen shedding frozen tears as it wanders the land in search of its next cause—no matter how often the cycle repeats itself, departure is always a profoundly sorrowful act.

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• Get the stats for this fearsome foe DOWN BELOW;

• Enjoy the gorgeous rendered art for it HERE;

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