The Usurper

Tales of a forbidden machine joined with powerful fiendish enchantments. A hushed whisper as the corpses of half a dozen dragons are found strewn across the dunes of a desert. Yes, weary scholar... I have heard of the Usurper and its ancient deeds.

Credit: u/Morvick

Armageddon Lost

Legend has it that the Usurper could alter reality however it pleased, such that its own mention has faded from living memory. If this machine is ever found, the gods would bring their wrath upon those who used it.

Something Old or Something New?

There are many ways to include Usurper in a campaign. It can alter reality and remain dormant for a millenium. Perhaps the story begins with The Usurper waking up and making its dreams come true...

Heart

The Usurper's power comes from its Heart. This artifact offers a shard of itself to a worthy creature for attunement: the Usurper then recognizes such creatures as Pilots. The Heart is sentient, can indicate direction to the Usurper, and whispers telepathic suggestions to the Pilots: it desires the subjugation of all gods by mortal hands.

Broken Heart The Heart is Usurper's weakness: it shatters if it takes 20 damage at once. An Arcana check DC 30 or a Wish spell can mend it and restore function.

Hull

Usurper segments its 900 hitpoints into Hulls. All damage and healing must be completely applied to only one Hull at a time. If a Hull reaches 0 hitpoints, it is breached and the next one is exposed - all ongoing conditions on Usurper end.

Some abilities require a minimum number of intact Hulls, such as [3] Depose which needs three, to be usable.

The Usurper Gargantuan construct, unaligned artifact Armor Class 25 (natural armor)

25 (natural armor) Hit Points 300/300/300 (Hull)

300/300/300 Speed 60 ft., fly 40 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 30 (+10) 7 (-2) 30 (+10) 5 (-3) 8 (-1) 23 (+6) Saving Throws Str +19, Con +19, Cha +15

Str +19, Con +19, Cha +15 Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic

necrotic, poison, psychic Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons

bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, suffocation, unconscious

charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, suffocation, unconscious Senses passive Perception 17, darkvision 300 feet Bulwark. Usurper has a damage threshold of 30. [2] Dauntless. The cockpit can seal shut, behaving like a Leomund's Tiny Hut warded by Forbiddance, guarding the Heart and Pilots from being targeted. Linked. While in the cockpit, Pilots are bonded by Telepathy to the Usurper and its Heart. Mighty. Treat a target's damage immunities as resistances, and any d12 rolled below 4 becomes 4. Ontological. The Usurper is immune to the Wish spell, and any spell or effect that alters its form. Trample. Large or smaller creatures take 50 bludgeoning damage on a failed DEX save DC 27 the first time Usurper moves over them in a turn. This changes to fire for 60 feet down when flying. Unstoppable (3/Day). Succeed on a failed save. Walking Castle. Ignore difficult terrain, fall damage, and elevation changes of 20 feet or less.

Dormant

The Usurper does not die, but instead is incapacitated and unaware of its surroundings if all Hulls are breached or certain abilities are used. If the Usurper fell Dormant due to damage, Immortal Protocol triggers for free after 1 hour.