TEXT: The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  The Titan 
  Gates
  S
  trange giantS claiming to 
  be ‘Titan Gate Gladiators’ chal-
  lenge all comers, and those few who 
  survive are allowed passage through 
  the ominous portals that seem to be 
  magically grafted onto the giants’ 
  chests. Where do these mystical 
  thresholds lead? What is the ‘True 
  Ordining’ they speak of, and who 
  is this ‘Solemn Victor’? The adven-
  turers must answer these questions 
  by taking the giant’s challenge and 
  daring to step through the titan’s gate!
   
  WRITING Andrew Engelbrite
   COLOR ART Kevin Shea
   
  MAPS Dyson Logos
   
  EDITING Mike Myler
   
  LAYOUT Frank Michienzi
  A Mini-Adventure (Discovered Anywhere While Traveling Overland) 
  For 4-5 PCs of 11th or 12th Level.
  
  The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  Open Game Content | The game rule information in this 
  article is designated Open Game Content. All other material 
  in this article, including maps and illustrations (including 
  illustrations in the public domain), in-character and out-of-
  character narrative and descriptive text, character and place 
  names, trade dress, “EN Publishing,” “EN World,” “EN5ider,” 
  EN Publishing product and article titles, and  
  EN World and EN Publishing logos, are designated 
  Product Identity.
  Background
  Brokkr and Eitri were brothers, stone giants, and 
  master runesmiths of a far higher caliber than any 
  before them. They crafted weapons fit for gods 
  and tattooed magical markings with power that 
  surpassed the most intricate spells. As they armed 
  warriors unending (many achieving great victories 
  and spectacular deaths) the pair realized that they 
  alone in their forge would never see Asgard. A 
  quiet end in one’s sleep can be an enviable 
  death, but a warrior’s death is required to spend 
  an eternity of revelry in the great feast halls—
  the only true ordining. 
  The brothers devised a plan using one of their 
  most challenging runes, the titan’s gate, an intri-
  cate marking that requires two giants of strong 
  body and mind that creates a link between them 
  that crosses all distances both material and planar. 
  They smithed the titan’s gate runes upon them-
  selves and then dueled to the death—Brokkr 
  slew his brother and in doing so provided a 
  portal to Asgard through Eitri himself. At least 
  one of them would see Asgard, and the one 
  remaining ensures that other worthy warriors see 
  it too, in victory or death. Brokkr now sits as the 
  ‘Solemn Victor’ as the rest of his clan sets out with 
  their own titan gates, challenging the worthy for a 
  chance to face Brokkr and earn their place in 
  Asgard. 
  Challenge of True Ordining
  The PCs spot a bizarre giant sitting forlornly on a 
  hilltop strewn with skeletal remains and broken 
  weapons. A swirling vortex ringed by runic tattoos 
  dominates his chest, spiraling into an impossibly 
  deep vortex that defies reason.
  Challenger’s Hill
  This roughly circular 60-foot wide and 30-foot high hill is 
  flanked by steep embankments and haphazardly strewn 
  with the mortal remains of hundreds of warriors, some 
  ancient, and some troublingly fresh. A strange stone 
  giant tending a cooking fire dominates the top of the hill.
  Once the giant notices the PCs, read or paraphrase 
  the following:
  The giant stands up slowly, leaning heavily on a great-
  sword caked in rust and the wear of centuries. She 
  suddenly points the blade with unnatural quickness 
  towards the closest of you and says, “by the solemn victor 
  I issue challenge. Paradise awaits according to your 
  true ordining—step forward if you wish to find it.”
  Grimheld is a Titan’s Gate Gladiator that’s been 
  slowly traveling the world and issuing the solemn 
  victor’s challenge for nearly 300 years. She’s anxious 
  for another worthy fight and attacks any PC that 
  steps forward after she issues her challenge, and 
  is very reluctant to provide any information until 
  after they fight. If the adventurers decline Grim-
  held’s offer and turn to leave, she mocks them and 
  attempts to goad them into combat.
  Once Grimheld is brought to 92 hit points or less 
  she yields, exuberant and exhausted from a worthy 
  combat. She then explains that beyond her gate 
  lies the solemn victor who will allow the worthy 
  to enter Asgard without the pain of defeat and 
  death. She offers to allow the PCs to pass 
  through and meet the challenge—if they think 
  themselves worthy. Once the PCs do so, proceed 
  to Arena of the Solemn Victor.
  
  The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  TITAN’S GATE GLADIATOR
  Huge giant, neutral
  Armor Class 19 (runic armor) 
  Hit Points 184 (16d12+80) 
  Speed 40 ft.
   STR 
  DEX 
  CON 
  INT 
  WIS 
  CHA
   24 (+7) 
  18 (+4) 
  21 (+5) 
  13 (+1) 
  14 (+2) 
  13 (+1)
  Saving Throws Str +12, Dex +9, Con +10
  Skills Acrobatics +9, Athletics +13, Intimidation +6, 
  Perception +7
  Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 17
  Languages Common, Giant 
  Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)
  Gladiatorial Maneuvers (6d8/Short Rest). The giant has 
  6 maneuver dice, which are d8s. The maneuver dice 
  are expended when the giant uses them. 
  Lost to the Other Side. When a creature rolls a natural 1 
  when making a melee weapon attack roll against the 
  giant, they inadvertently strike into the open portal 
  on the giant’s chest. Melee weapons that strike in this 
  way are teleported through the portal (as per the Titan 
  Gate trait). Creatures making unarmed strikes or using 
  a natural weapon (such as bite or claw attacks) are 
  teleported instead.
  Titan Gate. The giant has an active magical portal 
  mystically enchanted onto its chest. This portal is 
  permanently active and linked to a similar portal on 
  another titan’s gate gladiator. Any Large-sized or 
  smaller creature or object that enters the portal 
  instantly appears within 5 feet of the linked portal, 
  or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is 
  occupied. These portals are intricately linked not 
  only to the giant’s bodies, but also to their souls. If 
  one of the linked titan gate gladiators dies, their linked 
  portal remains active in whatever afterlife their soul 
  ascends to. The giant can willingly allow creatures to 
  pass through its gate, or creatures can attempt to force 
  their way through by succeeding an opposed Strength 
  (Athletics) check.    
  ACTIONS
  Multiattack. The giant attacks twice with its greatsword. 
  It can replace any of these attacks with a focused strike, 
  a force back, sweeping strike, or tripping strike by 
  expending a maneuver dice. 
  Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., 
  one target. Hit: 28 (6d6+7) slashing damage.
  Focused Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 
  15 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (6d6+7) slashing damage. The 
  giant expends one maneuver die and adds it to the 
  attack roll.
  ALTERING THE DIFFICULTY LEVEL
  To tailor this mini-adventure for parties of lower or higher level, use the following substitutions for Titan’s Gate 
  Gladiator statblocks (giving the creatures the Lost to the Other Side and Titan Gate traits).
  PC Level
  Substitute Giant
  Brokkr’s Enhancements
  Iqium & Minions
  3rd-4th 
  Hill Giant
  20 extra hit points, +1d6 extra damage, CR +1
  Mage & Cult Fanatics
  5th-6th 
  Stone Giant/Frost Giant
  40 extra hit points, extra melee attack, CR +2
  Mage & Cult Fanatics
  7th-8th 
  Cloud Giant/Fire Giant
  60 extra hit points, +1d8 extra damage, CR +1
  Mage & Cult Fanatics
  9th-10th
  Storm Giant
  80 extra hit points, extra melee attack, CR +2
  Mages
  13th-14th
  Jack in Irons
  120 extra hit points, extra melee attack, 
  +1d10 extra damage, CR +3
  As written
  15th
  Svyatogor
  140 extra hit points, extra melee attack, 
  +2d6 extra damage, CR +2
  As written
  16th
  Antaeus
  160 extra hit points, extra melee attack, 
  +2d8 extra damage, CR +3
  As written
  
  The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  Force Back. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 15 ft., 
  one target. Hit: 28 (6d6+7) slashing damage. The giant 
  adds its maneuver die to the attack’s damage roll, and 
  targets that are Huge or smaller must make a DC 20 
  Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet directly 
  away from the giant. 
  Sweeping Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 
  15 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (6d6+7) slashing damage. The 
  giant adds its maneuver die to the attack’s damage 
  roll. If there is another target within 5 feet of the first 
  target, the giant may immediately make a greatsword 
  attack against that target. 
  Tripping Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 
  15 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (6d6+7) slashing damage. The 
  giant adds its maneuver die to the attack’s damage 
  roll, and targets that are Huge or smaller must make a 
  DC 20 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
  REACTIONS
  Parry. When another creature damages the giant with 
  a melee attack, it can expend one maneuver die 
  to reduce the damage by the number it rolls on its 
  maneuver die + 4.
  Riposte. When a creature misses the giant with a melee 
  attack, it can expend one maneuver die to make 
  a greatsword attack against the creature, adding 
  the maneuver die to the attack’s damage roll on a 
  successful hit.
  Rock Catching. If a rock or similar object is hurled at the 
  giant, the giant can, with a successful DC 10 Dexterity 
  saving throw, catch the missile and take no blud-
  geoning damage from it.
  Originally stone giants, the titan’s gate gladiators 
  are warped by runic magic and weathered by 
  centuries of combat. They live only for honor-
  able battle and move with a swiftness 
  unnatural to their kind. A magical 
  portal dominates their chests, 
  wreathed in glowing blue 
  runes, and their limbs and 
  digits seem to discon-
  nect and float with 
  their flowing move-
  ments, a side effect of 
  existing as a living 
  teleportation circle. 
  
  The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  Arena of the Solemn Victor 
  If the adventurers defeat Grimheld she graciously 
  allows the PCs to traverse her gate as worthy 
  combatants. When they enter her portal, read or 
  paraphrase the following:
  As you step through the giant’s portal your percep-
  tions twist and dissolve—you see only a single point of 
  light rushing towards you. With a thunderclap you land 
  on wet stone, rain pouring from overhead as a roaring 
  storm fills your senses. You stand on the steps of a 
  ruined temple that sits on stone pillars above a desolate 
  canyon. Somehow deeper and louder than the raging 
  storm, a voice bellows, “enter, worthy warrior. Your true 
  ordining awaits.”
  Warrior’s Steps
  Three giants, each with a swirling vortex upon their chest, 
  stand at the base of three 40-foot wide flights of steps. The 
  stairs all lead to the same broken chamber to the north, 
  and every other direction ends in a sheer 80 foot drop. 
  Several other jagged rock spires stretch out to the west.
  The three giants (Heimdall, Idun, and Tyr) are also 
  Titan’s Gate Gladiators. The PCs emerge through 
  Heimdall’s gate, which is permanently linked to 
  Grimheld’s gate. These giants are completely loyal 
  to Brokkr and when questioned only tell the PCs 
  to “Obey the Solem Victor”. If attacked, they fight to 
  the death.
  
  The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  Arena of the Solemn Victor
  A giant sits on a throne of broken shields at the center of 
  this 120-foot square chamber, dozens of broken weapons 
  clinging to his back, still embedded from battle. The eastern 
  wall is ruined, letting in the fury of the storm outside, and 
  a 20-foot wide rope bridge fit for a giant stretches from the 
  floor to a series of stone pillars to the west.
  Once the PCs enter the arena, read or paraphrase 
  the following:
  The ancient giant bellows, “Those who seek Asgard, 
  your journey has ended. Raise thy weapons…” The giant 
  opens his one good eye and gazes upon you for the first 
  time. “You have not the look of most seeking Asgard—
  why have you come?”
  Brokkr explains the purpose of his servants, and 
  truthfully answers any questions the party ask. 
  He is not convinced that the adventurers have any 
  chance against him, and would rather utilize the 
  PCs to solve a particular problem. Read or para-
  phrase the following at some point during this 
  conversation: 
  Brokkr contemplates for a moment and says, “others 
  have come here, not seeking Asgard but instead some 
  paradise in this world—fools—but my titans spread far 
  and wide. Perhaps what you do seek is with one of them? 
  I will grant you passage between my titan gates, if you 
  would do one small act of valor in my stead. Hrothgar 
  has been captured, not defeated with honor but instead 
  chained like an animal by this...frail magician. Travel 
  through Idun’s gate, cut down this troublemaking mage 
  for me, and every place my charges step shall be open 
  to you. 
  Idun is standing at attention and waiting. Once 
  Brokkr has commanded it, Idun allows the 
  PCs to travel through his gate (proceed to 
  Magician’s Shackles). If the PCs decide they’d 
  like to fight Brokkr for a chance to ascend to 
  Asgard, he uses the statistics for a Titan’s Gate 
  Gladiator except he has 100 additional hit points 
  (284 hp), makes one 
  additional greatsword attack each turn, and has a 
  CR of 18. Brokkr fights until his foes die or yield. 
  When reduced to 71 hit points or less, he yields and 
  allows the adventurers passage to Asgard through 
  his gate.  
  Magician’s Shackles 
  #1: Arcane Laboratory
  Once the PCs travel through Idun’s gate, read or 
  paraphrase the following:
  As you emerge from the portal your senses are bombarded 
  by acrid alchemical smells and the impossibly deep wails 
  of the giant next to you. An elderly man in an acid-stained 
  black robe lifts his goggles and his two assistants raise their 
  eldritch implements from the titan’s flesh. The old man 
  whistles and says, “well well, that Brokkr found someone 
  to send—how nice of him to procure fresh subjects.”
  Hrothgar is chained up along the northern wall, 
  Iqium (an Archmage) stands near the southern wall 
  as the PCs enter, and his two assistants (mages) 
  flank the adventurers as they enter. Iqium attacks 
  the party but starts with a time stop spell to provide 
  himself with as many defensive options as possible, 
  prioritizing either globe of invulnerability or stoneskin 
  (depending on his foes’ strengths), before firing a 
  cone of cold. They all fight to the death.
  Hrothgar has been drugged and experimented 
  upon, currently does not have his full health (his 
  hit points equal the party’s level x 10), and is inca-
  pacitated until he is woken up with a successful DC 
  15 Wisdom (Medicine) check.
  Once Iqium is defeated the PCs can easily free 
  Hrothgar and explore the rest of this wizard’s lair, or 
  return through giant’s portal to receive their reward.
  #2–#8: Iqium’s Lair
  If the adventurers decide to inspect the rest of Iqui-
  um’s Lair, they find no other occupants or dangers. 
  They do however locate a treasure trove of 5,000 gp 
  worth of arcane and alchemical ingredients scat-
  tered throughout the structure (acquiring all of it 
  takes 1 hour of thorough collection.)   
  
  The Titan Gates | EN World EN5idEr
  Resolving the Adventure
  When the party returns to speak to Brokkr he is 
  solemnly thankful to the PCs for freeing Hrothgar 
  from a dishonorable end and rewards them as 
  promised. He pulls a sword from the bristling 
  assortment on his back, tracing a sigil along its 
  blade that glows bright blue before presenting it 
  to the adventurers, saying “this sword now bears my 
  mark and my gates are open to any who wield it.”
  The PCs now have access to the already 
  established titan gates (whose locations can be 
  anywhere in the world) and any other titan gates 
  they may find throughout the rest of their adven-
  tures. This result essentially allows the GM to 
  create a roaming teleportation network to serve the 
  campaign as the giants wander anywhere a quick 
  route is needed. e
  BLADE OF THE TITAN’S GATE
  Weapon (longsword), very rare
  This rusted and bloodsoaked blade glows with blue 
  sigils and bares an edge far sharper than it appears. 
  You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made 
  with this magic weapon. As a bonus action, you can 
  create a small temporary portal between yourself 
  and a creature you can see within 30 feet that lasts 
  until the end of your turn. While this portal remains 
  open, you can make melee attacks against that crea-
  ture as if you were adjacent.
  In addition, this weapon bears the mark of Brokkr 
  and while wielding it all Titan’s Gate Gladiators allow 
  you and your allies to use the portals in their chests.
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/EN World EN5ider/EN5ider 300 - The Titan Gates.pdf