Fractured Equilibrium

Large Construct, unaligned. CR 8 with Miren’s binding-sigils intact; CR 5 effective when sigils are unmade via her voice-stone. Bound in 3413 by Miren Halloway to guard the Pale Stone at the Barrow of the Forgotten King. Central Ch 13.5 climactic antagonist. Antonio’s own stat block, delivered pre-shipped.

Ambient

The Equilibrium’s iron torso bears etched Silver Dawn dawn-prayer verses in Church-Latin. As it moves, the verses shift and reshape — the metal is not solid but somehow layered, and the prayers flow. This is Miren’s mercy: even the guardian she bound was made to remember prayer.

Stat block (CR 8, sigils intact)

AC 17 (natural armor). HP 150. Speed 30 ft.

STR 22 (+6) · DEX 10 (+0) · CON 20 (+5) · INT 6 (-2) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 8 (-1)

Saves Con +8, Wis +5.

Damage resistances: bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical weapons.

Damage immunities: poison, psychic.

Condition immunities: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned.

Senses: darkvision 60 ft, passive Perception 12.

Languages: understands old Kereszt and Silver Dawn liturgical; cannot speak.

Actions

Multiattack. One Chain Hook and one Cleaver Axe.

Chain Hook. Melee weapon attack, +10 to hit, reach 15 ft, one target. Hit: 15 (2d10+6) piercing. Target succeeds on DC 16 Str save or is grappled (escape DC 16) and pulled 10 ft toward the altar.

Cleaver Axe. Melee weapon attack, +10 to hit, reach 5 ft, one target. Hit: 17 (2d12+6) slashing. If target is grappled by the Chain Hook, Cleaver Axe crits on 19-20.

Bonus actions

Drag to the Altar. One grappled creature is dragged 10 ft toward the altar (opposed Athletics; +12 for the Equilibrium). If the creature ends its turn adjacent to the altar, it is pinned (restrained) and Equilibrium has advantage on Cleaver Axe attacks against it.

Lineage Sigil Rotation. Rotates the active lineage sigil, cycling through the twelve major vampire lineages (thirteen with the Baali crammed by Miren in a corner). Each rotation grants a different aura for 1 round: Brujah (+2 attack); Ventrue (30-ft push toward altar, DC 15 Wis); Toreador (30-ft fascinate, DC 15 Cha); Tremere (absorb 1st-level slot from a spellcaster within 30 ft); Nosferatu (invisible until attacks/start of next turn); Malkavian (30-ft Confusion, DC 15 Wis); Gangrel (+10 movement, grapple advantage); Lasombra (creatures in bright light within 30 ft take 1d10 necrotic); Tzimisce (+1d6 damage on Cleaver Axe; reshape 5 ft of floor as difficult terrain); Ravnos (one creature within 30 ft sees Equilibrium as ally, DC 15 Wis); Cappadocian (creatures dropped to 0 HP within 30 ft rise as Zombie under Equilibrium’s control, 1 max); Salubri (heal 10 HP); Baali (fire damage + disadvantage on saves 1 round, DC 15 Cha).

Severing Cleave (Recharge 6)

Action. Single Cleaver Axe attack against a target pinned to the altar. On hit, target succeeds on DC 17 Con save or begins transformation into a lineage vessel — mystic wound. If target dies within 3 rounds, rises as a lesser vampire-blooded thrall bound to whichever lineage sigil is currently rotated. Greater Restoration (or higher) within the 3-round window halts the transformation.

Guardian Sigil Anchor (Miren’s binding)

If the guardian sigils in B5 are unmade — Miren’s voice-stone spoken in the Vault, binding-name Kereszt-viselő three times — the Equilibrium loses Severing Cleave, Lineage Sigil Rotation, and Drag to the Altar. HP drops to 90. It becomes effective CR 5 and attacks the nearest living creature indiscriminately (including Edwin if present). Miren’s binding was what made it a guardian; without the binding it is a construct with a chain, and no direction.

Unbound — the Equilibrium’s last minute

Reduced to 30 HP or less after sigils are unmade, the Equilibrium stops attacking and stands still. If a PC speaks Miren’s name aloud in Barovian, the Equilibrium kneels — one knee to the floor — and disassembles into a pile of ordered iron sections over 3 rounds. Loot: head-piece worth 500 gp to a collector of ritual constructs, and as much again in political currency to Halvek as a Cathedral artifact.

Related: Miren Halloway · The Pale Stone Barrow · The Forgotten King · Ch 13.5 · Item: Miren’s Voice-Stone.