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King Herla, the Timebound Sovereign

King Herla
My Images (midjourney.com)
  • Alias: The Timeless Sovereign
  • Gender: Male
  • Race: Human
  • Occupation: Monarch
  • Religion: – Celtic Pantheon
  • Allies: The Fairy Court, Loyal Nobles
  • Enemies: Fae Dissenters, Those Seeking to Exploit the Fae Pact
  • Abode/Base of Operations: Eternal Wanders of the British Isles
  • Nationality: Realm Unspecified
  • Languages: Celtic, English, Sylvan,
  • Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
  • Affiliation(s): Fae Nobility, Earthly Kingdom
  • Significant Others: Queen of Fae (In folklore)

King Herla, a ruler enshrouded in the mystique of an otherworldly pact, finds himself embroiled in a timeless saga. His realm is a tapestry woven with the threads of enchantment, as he navigates the delicate balance between the mortal and fae domains. Faced with the haunting specter of an unbreakable vow, King Herla grapples with an unyielding fear – the inexorable passage of time, forever bound by a fateful oath.

His actions, steeped in the tapestry of fate, are dictated by the intricate dance of diplomacy between his earthly subjects and the elusive fairy folk. He strives to maintain harmony, caught between the realms of duty and destiny. His ceaseless pursuit is to achieve a delicate equilibrium, a balance that safeguards his people and preserves the ethereal ties that bind him to the fairy realm.

In the intricate tapestry of his ambitions, he yearns for an enduring legacy. His heart’s desire is to leave behind a realm of prosperity and unity, where the echoes of his rule resonate through the corridors of time. As the threads of his story intertwine with the whims of fate, King Herla’s quest unfolds, an epic tale etched upon the fabric of both mortal and magical realms.


  • King Herla 5e
  • King Herla Pathfinder
King Herla 1
My Images (midjourney.com)

Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral

Armor Class 15 (studded leather) Hit Points 110 (13d8 + 52) Speed 30 ft.


STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
14 (+2)16 (+3)18 (+4)14 (+2)16 (+3)20 (+5)

Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +6 Skills Insight +6, Persuasion +8 Senses Passive Perception 13 Languages Common


Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. King Herla’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16). He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: charm person, disguise self, minor illusion

3/day each: blink, dimension door

1/day: mass suggestion

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If he fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.


Actions

Royal Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.

Charming Presence. He targets one creature he can see within 30 feet of him. If the target can see and hear King Herla, it must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. The charmed creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.


Reactions

Mystical Pact. When King Herla is reduced to 0 hit points, he disappears in a flash of light. At the start of his next turn, he reappears with full hit points in a location of his choice within 60 feet of his previous position. This ability can only be used once per long rest.


Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), King Herla can take a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

  1. Temporal Distortion. The flow of time around him becomes distorted. All creatures within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or have their movement halved until the start of King Herla’s next turn.
  2. Illusory Maze. He creates illusory walls and obstacles within 60 feet. Creatures must succeed on a DC 16 Intelligence saving throw to discern the illusions.
  3. Ethereal Portal. He opens a portal to the Feywild. He and his allies within 30 feet can move to the Feywild until the start of King Herla’s next turn.

King Herla, the eternal wanderer, brings a touch of enchantment and mystery to any campaign, his actions echoing the mythical tale that transcends time itself.

deer head, geometric ai file, deer-4292868.jpg, King Herla

A legendary king of the Britons who became a Monarch of a Wild Hunt after a visit to the Otherworld, only to return some three hundred years later, after the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain.

Currently in the World

King Herla stands tall and regal, draped in flowing robes that seem to shimmer with an otherworldly glow. His attire, a delicate blend of mortal and fae aesthetics, is adorned with intricate embroidery that tells tales of ancient alliances. A crown of ethereal blossoms rests upon his brow, symbolizing his connection to the mystical realm.

In this moment, King Herla is engaged in a solemn audience within the heart of his Fey court. The surroundings blend the beauty of nature with the mysterious allure of fae magic. Enchanted flora weaves a colorful tapestry, and soft, melodic whispers linger in the air. The atmosphere is both tranquil and charged with an ineffable energy.

Despite the grace in his posture, a faint hint of sorrow lines the monarch’s eyes. His mood is one of contemplation, carrying the weight of both mortal concerns and the ethereal responsibilities that come with his dual reign. The courtly grace with which he carries himself conceals the burden he bears as a bridge between realms.

The Story of King Herla

King Herla 2
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Once upon a time, in a kingdom of old, there ruled a wise and just king named Herla. Known for his sharp intellect and charismatic demeanor, King Herla’s reign was marked by prosperity and unity among his people. As fate would have it, the king’s life took an unexpected turn when he encountered a mysterious dwarf king with a great red beard and goat’s hooves.

One fateful day, King Herla and the dwarf king forged a pact under the ancient oaks. The terms were unusual, yet, ever intrigued by the mysteries of the world, he agreed. The pact was simple: if the dwarf king attended Herla’s wedding, Herla would reciprocate precisely one year later.

The day of Herla’s nuptials arrived, and the dwarf king honored his promise in a grand manner. He brought forth a vast host, laden with gifts and provisions, attending to the wedding guests so efficiently that Herla’s own preparations remained untouched. The otherworldly king then reminded Herla of his vow and departed as mysteriously as he arrived.

A year elapsed, and true to his word, King Herla set forth to attend the dwarf king’s wedding. His loyal companions by his side, they entered an opening in a high cliff, traversing through darkness until they found themselves in a realm seemingly lit by enchanted lamps. The wedding ceremony unfolded, lasting for three magical days.

As the celebration came to an end, the dwarf king presented Herla with gifts, including hunting animals. However, the most peculiar gift was a small bloodhound. The dwarf advised Herla that no man should dismount his horse before the dog leaped down.

Returning to the human realm, Herla and his companions encountered an elderly shepherd. Anxious to learn news of his queen, Herla was met with astonishment. The shepherd spoke of a legendary tale of a very ancient queen of the Britons who disappeared with a dwarf king into the very cliff they had traversed. The shepherd added that the Saxons had ruled the kingdom for the past two hundred years.

Perplexed he thought he had been away for just three days. When some of his men dared to dismount, they crumbled into dust. Herla, realizing the enchantment that bound him, warned his remaining companions not to dismount until the dog alighted. Yet, the hound, loyal to the dwarf king’s magic, remained on horseback. Thus, Herla and his host became eternal wanderers, forever traversing the realms between time and legend.

The tale of King Herla became a poignant legend, a testament to the unpredictable nature of pacts made with mystical beings. His story whispered through the ages, a reminder that some promises bind the soul more than they seem, leaving kings and kingdoms lost in the tapestry of time.

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