The Buried Queen
The Buried Queen
"No one can serve two masters, You cannot serve God and Mammon."
Matthew 6:24
Perhaps the most successful of all the demons in her efforts is Mammon. Entertained by the petty human squabbling over physical possessions, Mammon helps along the mortal inclination toward Greed. Mammon began her manipulation thousands of years ago by slowly stealing money from merchants and tourists in Egypt in order to feed their obsession with wealth. This plan worked, of course, but had the unintended consequence of causing Mammon herself to become strangely obsessed with possessions. Over time, Mammon successfully convinced the Egyptian Pharaohs that she was an incarnation of the Egyptian goddess Selket, who was responsible for protecting the repose of the dead. In order to ensure safe passage into the underworld for his people, the pharaoh Khufu constructed a massive underground palace for Mammon, buried deep beneath his own tomb in the Great Pyramid of Giza. This sprawling subterranean dungeon eventually became known as the "Tomb of the Buried Queen," in honor of the name Mammon chose for herself.
Tomb of the Buried Queen. Mammon has become so obsessed with her new wealth that she rarely leaves her lair in the hidden passageways below the Great Pyramid. Mammon now spends her days wandering the Pyramid's subterranean chambers in the form of her simulacrum, the Buried Queen. The Buried Queen wanders throughout the pyramid obsessively counting and recounting her wealth, which she has spent millennia collecting. Mammon has all but forgotten Lilith's plan to find the Messiah, and is content to revel in her own Greed for all eternity.
Mammon's Lair
Ancient Labyrinth. The underground dungeon constructed by pharaoh Khufu is a winding deathtrap of secret passageways, traps, and other dangers, ending in Mammon's treasure hoard. If Mammon is encountered in her lair, she has a challenge rating of 9 (5,000 XP).
Aura of Temptation. Mammon has created an Aura of Temptation that stretches in a 1 mile radius, centered on the Great Pyramid to the west of Memphis. The territory and citizens within the 1 mile radius suffer from the following effects:
- Any creature that travels within 1 mile of the Pyramids must make DC 15 a Wisdom Saving throw. A creature that fails the saving throw suddenly feels like their inventory is substantially lighter, and knows that something has been stolen, even though they cannot put their finger on what the stolen item is. Unless another culprit is available, the creature will assume the thief must be one of its companions.
- People who live on the western edge of Memphis are obsessed with money. Business transactions are conducted suspiciously, and people clutch their coin purses close to their body as they travel.
- Many people within this radius obsessively hoard and little trinkets, whether or not they have value. Some people even ask to be buried with these trinkets, refusing to let go of their treasures even in the face of death.
- Despite the obvious wealth of the citizens of Memphis, no one seems content, and there is an undeniable sense of longing that is palpable throughout the region.
The Aura of Temptation ends if Mammon's true form is destroyed or banished from the material plane. Once the Aura of Temptation ends, all of the associated effects end, as does its influence on creatures within the radius.
Medium construct (simulacrum), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 16
Hit Points 105
Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -1 | +3 | +1 | +3 | +4 | +4 |
Saving Throws WIS +8, CHA +8
Damage Resistances Poison, Necrotic
Languages Infernal, Common, Old Egyptian
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 18
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Features
Atonement Vulnerability: The Buried Queen is a simulacrum constructed of pure sin. If she is subjected to an effect that destroys or atones for the sin of greed, such as the Lesser Atonement spell, she takes 27 (6d8) Force damage at the start of each of her turns while she is in its area of effect.
Magic Resistance: The Buried Queen has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Revealing Demise: If the Buried Queen is reduced to 0 Hit Points, she dissolves into molten gold and oozes onto the floor. At the start of her next turn, the true form of Mammon emerges in the space where the Buried Queen fell.
Spider Climb: The Buried Queen can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving her hands free.
Innate Spellcasting: The Buried Queen can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components.
At Will:
Detect Thoughts, Invisibility, Misty Step
3/Day:
Induce Greed (Wis 16)
Actions
Ritual Dagger: Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage and the target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 22 (4d10) Necrotic damage on failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
Telepathic Assault (Recharge 5-6): The Buried Queen lets out a blast of mental imagery in a telepathic assault. Each creature within 60 feet of the Buried Queen has its mind filled with thoughts of missed opportunities and objects of its desire. Each creature must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw, taking 31 (9d6) Psychic damage on a failed save, and half as much on a successful one.
Bible5e custom monster. Its specific traits supplement the current rules. See Using Bible5e Monsters.