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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

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Metuak, Cursed Legendary Warrior

Depending on the teller of the legend, the Burning Mammoth warrior Metuak was either a noble hero or a craven traitor. The truth, of course, lies somewhere between these two extremes.

When the Great Quake opened a rift to the Abyss in northern Avistan, it sent the native people scrambling for safety. In response to the cataclysm that caused the creation of the Worldwound, the Burning Mammoth following disagreed on what to do with their people's ancestral artifact, the Primordial Flame. A small group of rebels (those who became the Broken Tusk) hid the sacred lantern in Red Cat Cave, where it would be safe from demonic hands. The majority of the following, including Metuak, went east to fight the demons, taking the Burning Mammoth banner with them.

Metuak was one of the Burning Mammoth's bravest and best champions. He seemed immune to demons' temptations and mighty enough to overcome any single fiend. But the demons of the Worldwound were legion, and the Burning Mammoths quickly realized they had no hope of victory without the Primordial Flame. The following could scarcely spare a single warrior, so Metuak volunteered to retrieve their sacred artifact.

No one knew how long this quest would take or what trials he would face. Few dared hope he'd succeed, since the Broken Tusk had placed the Primordial Flame where it would be safe from any thief, mortal or demonic. Metuak proposed a desperate plan: He would allow a demon into his body to grant him the strength necessary to reclaim the flame. Metuak was known to be resilient against the influence of demons, and so the Mammoth Lords agreed. An invidiak named Xeleria—a demon of shadows capable of inhabiting a mortal body—was captured and bound to him.

At first, Xeleria struggled mightily to corrupt the impervious Metuak, even when the warrior called upon her aid to defeat the ancient cat spirit who guarded the Primordial Flame, Syarstik Painted-Tiger of Red Cat Cave. Together, merging fiendish shadow magic and sheer brawn, the man and the demon slew the cat. In turn, with his dying breath, Syarstik cursed the artifact he guarded. Metuak seized the Primordial Flame and instantly became obsessed, unable to part from it for even a moment without suffering unbearable anguish.

In this state, Xeleria's magic finally found purchase in Metuak's torment. The invidiak intermittently possessed his body and amused herself with the Primordial Flame, scorching the land and terrorizing innocents. Ashamed, Metuak gave up his quest to return the Primordial Flame to his people; instead, he sought a way to lift the curse and somehow separate himself from Xeleria. Metuak heard legends of noble, ancient creatures with knowledge far surpassing that of mortals, and he eventually found the lair of a powerful white dragon named Venexus. Venexus was neither noble nor wise, however, and she wrested the Primordial Flame from Metuak, causing the warrior to flee despite his torment. Metuak knew he'd lost his way, but he trusted his people and ancestors. He sought the advice of the Hillcross Witches, but they banished him from their domain when they learned he'd lost the Primordial Flame. Despairing, Metuak wandered through the nearby Tamarnian Tar Forest, where his demonic hanger-on attracted the ire of the nymph who guarded the black woodland. Adalemma the Solstice Queen chased Metuak and his demonic possessor from her realm, and by the time Metuak regained control of his body, he was in the shadow of Castle Grimgorge, a remote Mendevian outpost on the forest's border. Metuak threw himself on the mercy of the soldiers, but they recognized only the demon inside him. The crusaders imprisoned Metuak beneath the castle, extinguishing his last hope. Resigned to his fate, Metuak yielded at last to Xeleria, who called on her demonic allies to descend upon Castle Grimgorge and slaughter the garrison. Sensing that her forest could be next if Xeleria's rampage were permitted to continue, Adalemma magically bound Metuak and Xeleria to their dungeon, where they remained for over a century.

Campaign Role

In the final chapter of this Adventure Path, the characters break the curse of the Primordial Flame and free Metuak from his eternal torment. To do so, they must face both the ancient warrior and his demonic possessor in the dungeons beneath Grimgorge Castle.

Recall Knowledge - Fiend (Religion): DC 41
Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 41
Unspecific Lore: DC 39
Specific Lore: DC 36

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

MetuakCreature 13

Legacy Content

Unique CE Medium Fiend Human Humanoid 
Source Pathfinder #177: Burning Tundra pg. 90
Male demon-possessed human hero
Perception +7; darkvision, scent (imprecise) 30 feet
Languages Abyssal, Common, Hallit; telepathy 100 feet
Skills Athletics +14, Deception +11, Intimidation +13, Nature +9, Stealth +12, Survival +11
Str +8, Dex +6, Con +7, Int +1, Wis +3, Cha +5
Items +2 greater striking grievous hatchet
AC 20; Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +7; +1 to all saves vs. magic
HP 240 (dual soul; 120 each for Metuak and Xeleria); Immunities death effects, disease, fear, poison, precision; Resistances all 5 (except force, ghost touch, or positive>; double resistance vs. non-magical); Weaknesses cold iron 10, good 10
Attack of Opportunity [one-action] Dual Deny Advantage Due to his dual nature with Xeleria, Metuak is never flat-footed.
Speed 25 feet, fly 25 feet
Melee [one-action] claw +14 [+9/+4] (evil, magical), Damage 3d8+14 cold plus 2d6 evilMelee [one-action] hatchet +14 [+10/+6] (agile, evil, magical, sweep, thrown 10 feet), Damage 3d6+14 slashing plus 1d6 evilDivine Innate Spells DC 21, attack +13; 7th shadow blast; 5th shadow siphon; 4th darkness; 3rd fear; Cantrips (7th) telekinetic projectile
Axe Master Metuak has access to the critical specialization effect of axe weapons. Due to his hatchet's grievous rune, he can damage a third creature with the same restrictions.Dual Soul A demon named Xeleria is bound to Metuak's soul. Though the two entities share one body and are a single creature for the purpose of both targeted and area effects, Metuak and Xeleria each have 120 Hit Points. Damage to each is tracked separately. Xeleria's HP is reduced by force, good, and positive damage, and any damage from a cold iron weapon, a weapon with a ghost touch rune, and any damage originating from the Primordial Flame. All other damage reduces Metuak's HP. Metuak and Xeleria must both be reduced to 0 HP for Metuak to die and Xeleria to be destroyed. If, at the beginning of Metuak's turn, either Metuak or Xeleria has been reduced to 0 HP but the other hasn't, Metuak and Xeleria each regain 15 HP.Shadow Blend [two-actions] (divine, illusion) Metuak Strides up to twice his Speed. If he ends his movement in an area of dim light, he is hidden as long as he remains in dim light.Soul Swipe [two-actions] Metuak makes a single hatchet or claw Strike and compares the result to the AC of up to four foes, each of whom must be within his reach. He rolls damage once and applies it to each creature he hits. A Soul Swipe counts as two attacks for his multiple attack penalty. Metuak's hatchet applies its sweep trait against all four targets.Terrifying Howl [one-action] (auditory) Metuak unleashes a terrifying howl, attempting to Demoralize each creature within 30 feet. These creatures are then immune to Terrifying Howl for 1 minute.