Clash With a Chosen

Altar of Tus’Alim

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  Truth is Absolute. Creatures cannot lie here. Any attempt to do so results in them instinctively speaking the truth instead.   Altar & Statues. A central obsidian altar is encircled by statues of former champions, each uniquely posed, their expressions reflecting triumph or failure.   Boundaries. Feels vast, but attempting to move more than 60 ft. outward or upward reveals an impenetrable boundary.   Light. The chamber is brightly lit with no obvious source.

Ori of the Plains

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  Ori was once a celestial Upiryrial, but the curse that turned them into a tiefling did not strip away their divine purpose. Ori is fierce, unyielding, and unapologetically honest. They’ve embraced death as an inevitability and wear their doomed fate like armor. Their voice carries the weight of someone who has seen the truth of life and doesn’t flinch.   Forest, Blink Dog Companion. Forest is a blink dog with ashen fur and faint silver streaks, always by Ori’s side, bound through divine power.


Roleplaying Ori of the Plains
Personality Trait. "People are always looking ahead, they forget what they left behind."
Ideal. "Divine Rite. I am bound to my duty, honoring Tus’Alim as best I can."
Bond. "Death doesn’t frighten me. I’m ready."
Flaw. "I don’t want to carry this burden forever."

Challenge One: Trial by Combat

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Characters fight in a controlled, tactical battle: not to the death. Ori, alongside Forest, summons a Deva who uses its Change Shape ability to take Ori’s form.   Combat. Ori of the Plains, Forest (Blink Dog), and 1x Deva   Linked Companion (Forest, Blink Dog). Ori's blink dog companion, Forest, is spiritually connected to him. All damage dealt to Forest is redirected to Ori. As a bonus action Forest can blink, grab a dropped item, and appear elsewhere.   Lair Actions. (affects Ori but not Forest or the Deva)  

• Tus’Alim’s Voice. DC 17 WIS saving throw or lose the ability to speak until the end of your next turn.
• Tus’Alim’s Sight. DC 17 CON saving throw or be blinded until the end of your next turn.
• Tus’Alim’s Touch. DC 17 DEX saving throw or you are unable to hold objects until the end of your next turn. Any items the creature is holding are dropped.

 

Challenge Two: Trial by Identity

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  The characters must craft something as an offering to Tus'Alim, using the provided divine materials. It can be a weapon, armor, focus, staff, or something entirely symbolic, but it must reflect their purpose as a group. The crafted item should embody their journey, unity, & individual contributions. Each character should add their unique flair while crafting collectively. They are given as much time as they are willing to invest. The trial tests devotion and collaboration, not speed. Follow DMG crafting rules or those on the reference page.

Challenge Three: Trial by Truth

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  Penance. The group must collectively sacrifice 100 hit points. Players know the threshold but not each other’s contributions. Characters declare their sacrifices secretly.   Confession. Each character must confess a significant regret, failure, or familial sin while taking 10 damage per turn from loss of air. Characters who do not need to breathe are unaffected.   Atonement. After confessing, each character makes a symbolic promise tied to their flaw, designed to improve themself. These act as the Geas spell. See Rewards.

Rewards

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Divine Creation. The characters receive the item(s) crafted during the trial. Only those who complete their Geas gained during the Trial by Truth can attune to these items.   If the Geas is incomplete or removed, a character cannot attune.   Restoration. If the trial is completed successfully, all surviving characters receive the benefits of a long rest to prepare for the challenges ahead.   Heroes’ Feast (If Ori Survives). Before the group departs, Ori casts Heroes’ Feast, granting the characters its benefits as a final gift.

Alternative Crafting

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Player Agency. Allow players flexibility to describe how they approach the task. Encourage the players to decide as a group what they are crafting. The item should reflect their purpose, unity, and ideals. Balance is up to GM discretion.   During the Trial. Let the players explain how they contribute, whether through skill, magic, or ingenuity. Use skill checks (Arcana, Religion, Smith’s Tools, etc.) sparingly, only to enhance roleplay or resolve creative ideas, not as a requirement. Focus on collaboration and the meaning behind the creation rather than strict mechanics.

Examples
Eclipse Mantle. Allies within 60 feet gain immunity to fear and resistance to radiant and necrotic damage. Once per long rest, the wearer can grant allies advantage on attack rolls and saving throws for 1 minute.   Anvil of Eternity. This artifact anchors the group’s resolve. Allies within 60 feet cannot be reduced below 1 hit point. Additionally, all allies’ critical hits deal an extra 4d10 radiant damage while within range.