War Machines of the Dwarves (Frost Elves)

Disclaimer: This blog uses the MCDM Arcadia 1 mount system. I highly recommend this system if you want to use mounts in your 5e games.

The Dwarves (Frost Elves) of Frostwoods are some of the most prolific craftsmen of weaponry and war machines in all of Veneon. While some Dwarves commit their talents to sword or shield, some choose to focus their efforts on the creation of fearsome constructs that are ridden by brave (or foolish) warriors.

These war machines make for some of the most effective battle mounts available to an adventurer, although their hefty price proves an effective method of limiting their popularity.

In this post, I’ll detail 4 Dwarven war machines that you can introduce as powerful, mechanical battle mounts.

Hell Flame Strider

The infamous Hell Flame Strider is a bipedal construct with a brutal arcane flamethrower mounted on its side. With room for a single rider and equipped with a pair of tall, agile legs, the Hell Flame Strider is a popular choice for hunters dealing with quick, fire-vulnerable beasts that would otherwise outpace and outmanoeuvre them.

Designed and constructed by Jalder Grisslebeard, their effectiveness and popularity have slingshot the young Dwarf into fame, and he now enjoys regular commissions and an influx of resources to further perfect his creation.

A Hell Flame Strider costs 8000gp to purchase.

Scorporius Solo Siege-Bringer

The Scorporius Solo Siege-Bringer is a large war machine that was designed to allow a single fighter to lay siege to a fortified location. Heavily armoured and versatile in its uses, this war machine is ideal for assaulting defended buildings. It has 6 pointed legs that allow it to climb most surfaces without issue and a long, prehensile tail, tipped with an enchanted claw that can deliver powerful, stone-destroying blasts. While slower than other options, its protection and all-terrain options make up for the lack of speed.

This war machine was designed by Lady Gelvon Whitespine, after creating the machine to enact her personal revenge on a rival family. Due to it being expensive and time-consuming to build, she has passed the blueprints onto several other engineers to sell on her behalf.

A Scorporius Solo Siege-Bringer costs 16,000gp to purchase and is best given to high-level characters.

3rd-Tier Auto-Armour

Unlike most mounts, which have the rider seated on top of them, the 3rd-Tier Auto-Armour is a construct suit in which the rider is seated inside. Its humanoid shape and long, plated arms allow its rider to engage in battle and augment their own strength with that of the war machines. By keeping its rider partially contained within itself, it has become a desirable tool for those going into particularly dangerous battles. This design characteristic of taking damage on its rider’s behalf has made them short-lived and as such, they are often outfitted with a final, explosive attack should the war machine become excessively damaged.

After the success of the 1st and 2nd tier Auto-Armours, Nulgon Palehide has devoted himself to the continued improvement of his war machines. There are rumours within certain circles that Nulgon is working on a much larger and more powerful Auto-Armour, so immense in scale it requires a full crew to run it.

A 3rd-Tier Auto-Armour costs 12,000gp to purchase.

Walking Ice Cannon

Many of the Dwarven war Machines take inspiration from nature in their design. The Walking Ice Cannon is no different, appearing akin to a metallic Glacier Rhino with a large, misting cannon mounted atop its hind legs. While fast and dangerous up close, its true purpose is that of long-range artillery. The mounted ice cannon is capable of devastating frozen attacks on distant targets.

Its creator, Deetar Forgeeater, is a sheltered craftsman that prefers to keep to himself. The popularity of his war machines has made this difficult for him, however, as he now finds himself propositioned with contracts on a regular basis.

A Walking Ice Cannon costs 14,000gp to purchase.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for reading! These mounts are not like the natural beasts that most mounts consist of. Their mechanical nature means they are more dangerous than other mount options but also lack the self-governance of a living creature, making them easier to lose or have stolen. They will remain stationary if their rider is dismounted, while a living mount would be capable of acting independently. They are pretty expensive which is intentional as low-level parties might cause some real mayhem with one of these things.