Glacier Cult Guardians

A hard encounter for level-8 characters. A frost giant leads a patrol of aberrant guards — a cloaker drifting near the ceiling and a hydra chained near the gate. The hydra becomes uncontrolled if the giant falls.

Difficulty Hard · Level 8 · Party 4 · Environment Arctic

Steam rises from the chains binding a many-headed silhouette. Above you, the shadow on the ceiling moves against the wind. A giant's voice booms: 'Turn back or join the collection.'

Tactics. Frost giant hurls boulders to soften ranged attackers, then closes for greataxe attacks. Cloaker attaches to a spellcaster and uses Moan to frighten the party. Hydra is chained but attacks anyone who enters its reach; it gains a free attack action against the nearest creature when unchained.

Scaling. For 3 players: use a weakened hydra (4 heads, remove one head regrowth per turn). For 5 players: add a young remorhaz emerging from beneath the ice at round 3.

Aftermath. The giant's quarters hold a map to the glacier cult's main stronghold and the hydra's ownership brand — evidence needed for a local lord's quest.

XP Award 9000 · Easy 2800 · Medium 5700 · Hard 8500 · Deadly 13500

Note. If the frost giant is slain before the hydra is below half HP, the hydra breaks free and attacks randomly.