“I was here when the sky cracked and the stars came down. You are… newer. But you may still endure.”
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Location: Cradlecliff Pass, northeast of Lygos in the Alimir Mountains
Description:
Krolm looks like nothing more than a large, weather-worn boulder, partially embedded in the hillside with patches of moss and lichen coating his rounded form. Two small glowing mineral eyes are barely visible in the creases of his face unless you're looking directly at them. His voice is deep, gravelly, and slow—as though the earth itself is forming words through him.
His body blends seamlessly with the terrain. Most travelers pass by without ever noticing him, and that's how he prefers it. But those who speak calmly, or greet the mountains, may find the stone blinking... and speaking back.
Personality:
- Patient. Extremely.
- Not
unkind, but dispassionate. He believes all things are temporary except the
stone.
- Occasionally
poetic, but dryly so.
- Finds
creatures who rush, interrupt, or talk in circles vaguely annoying.
“Ask your question... with care. I only speak quickly for avalanches.”
Roleplaying Krolm:
- He speaks in short, heavy sentences separated by long pauses.
- He
often responds to a question with another question, or a metaphor involving
rock, time, or pressure.
- Despite
his slowness, he misses nothing. His Perception is high, and he often quotes
things travelers said months ago.
Abilities (Narrative Level):
- Patient Vengeance Mastery – If attacked, Krolm does not retaliate immediately. He waits, then strikes only once, but with terrifying force.
- Immovable
Form – Immune to being pushed, moved, or knocked prone. Weather, magic, or
monsters mean little to him.
- Mountain
Memory – He remembers every creature that’s passed by, every storm, every
footfall on stone.
- Stone
Communion – Once per day, he can place his hand on the mountain and
"listen" to the rocks, allowing him to learn recent events in the
surrounding region (as Commune with Nature or Legend Lore, DM’s choice).
Common Player Interactions:
Situation Krolm’s Response
Players ask directions Describes landmarks, hazards, and trails—but requires patience to understand.
Players are respectful He may offer to walk them part of the way—though he is very slow.
Players are brash, impatient, or mocking He falls silent or pretends to be a rock again.
Players share stories of their burdens He listens, then may offer stoic wisdom or tactical advice.
Players ask about ancient history Krolm recounts quakes, battles, old temples, but uses stone-based metaphors.
Players fight near him He watches... and if the fight endangers the mountain or him, he joins with brutal calm.
Quest Hooks:
- A child has gone missing in the mountains. Krolm saw her days ago—and remembers where.
- A
slumbering elemental deeper in the range is stirring. Krolm has felt the
tremors. He doesn’t fear it, but he knows what comes next.
- A
cult is attempting to awaken something beneath the Talestone Range. Krolm won’t
fight them—but he can guide those who will.
- A
buried fortress lies beneath a collapsed canyon. Krolm knows its name, and the
riddle to unseal it.
Sample Dialogue:
- “I remember your footstep. You limped last time. It is better now.”
- “The
rock does not forgive. It only waits… until what struck it breaks itself.”
- “A
scream passed through the canyon three nights ago. It echoed wrong. Like it did
not want to leave.”
- “I
have seen men like you. Fire, fury, and then… ash. Sit. The stone listens
better than fire.”