Groon

Earthbreaker Groon is a human monk, the dawn marshal of the Braving Grounds District in Vasselheim, and the highest religious leader of the church of Kord. His place of worship is the Trial Forge, a temple to Kord that also serves as a meditation and physical training center.

As an NPC in Critical Role, Groon is played by Matthew Mercer. In The Legend of Vox Machina, Groon is portrayed by Ike Amadi.

Appearance
When Vox Machina first met Groon, he was an older human in his mid-to-late sixties with tough, reddish-tanned skin, a receding gray hairline, and a long, coarse, gray beard that extended to his beltline. He was short but stocky, and his stout body ripped with muscle from a lifetime of training in martial prowess and careful honing. He wore what appeared to be ceremonial robes of red and gold, simple wooden sandals, and a dark brown necklace of large, two-inch beads that adorned his neck and shoulders.

Personality
At first sight in the Crucible, the Earthbreaker appeared to have pupils, but in a later meeting, when he emerged from meditation, his eyes glowed with a pupilless white light. In this meditative state, Groon referred to himself in the third person as "the Earthbreaker" and moved with effortless swiftness. He also demonstrated knowledge of events about which Groon was unlikely to know, such as Vox Machina's victory over Juurezel.

Groon witnessed Grog's victory in the Crucible against Kern, and he nodded and smiled his approval from the edge of the arena. Grog and the rest of his party decided to meet Groon, so they entered the Trial Forge to seek an audience with him. At first, Groon was in a meditative trance as the Earthbreaker, instructing Grog to ask his questions, but Grog didn't really have any questions so instead offered Vox Machina's service. Groon emerged from his trance, smiled, and accepted Grog's piety—then revealed that dark times were ahead. The Earthbreaker intimidated the party, especially Grog, who was fixated on the fact that Groon's eyes glowed.

Grog later returned to the Trial Forge after the Chroma Conclave attacked. Groon put him through a trial intended to show the goliath that he should trust his friends rather than the dark blade, the Craven Edge.

Vox Machina entered the Braving Grounds and found them surprisingly empty. In the center of the sand pit was Groon, who told Grog that he had seen visions of his battles and recognized that Grog had found his strength. He told Grog to show him what he'd learned and dropped into a fighting stance.

In the re-match against Grog, this time in a one versus one battle, Earthbreaker Groon showed to be impossible to hit. Instead of attacking Grog, he simply moved around and examined him, giving cryptic hints. Frustrated at his inability to hit him, Grog eventually just places a finger on his torso, confirming that Earthbreaker Groon is present. In doing so, Earthbreaker Groon attacks Grog with a Flurry of Blows, hitting three out of four times, getting an immediate lead over the barbarian.

The two of them continue to exchange blows until Earthbreaker Groon uses his Quivering Palm on Grog, making Grog lose a massive chunk of his health, but thanks to Grog's high constitution, it didn't drop him to 0 HP as it would have otherwise. Eventually, Groon manages to drop Grog down to 0 HP but Grog uses his Relentless Rage in order to stand back up. Groon, impressed by Grog's endurance, attacks him again but another Relentless Rage allows Grog to keep fighting, causing him to win.

In winning, Grog's Titanstone Knuckles also reached their Exalted state.

Grog, Scanlan and Vex went to the Trial Forge to seek Groon's audience, finding him sketching general overview of the city in the sandpit, meditating, and trying to work out defense positions within the city in preparation for a siege. Groom shared that they are gathering monks and he meditates to figure out where Vecna's location. They asked him if he knew a way to contact Kord or had a bead of divinity to craft the Prime Trammels, but he could provide them with neither. Groon said that Grog once has drawn Kord's attention who is now aware of him, but it would be a long process to contact the god. "Piety, meditation, and learning of Kord's history" should reach out to him, but he is not a giving deity and appreciates self-reliance of his worshipers.

Groon was among the dignitaries gathered for the meeting at the Platinum Sanctuary to discuss the approach of Thar Amphala and Vecna's ascension. When Vecna revealed himself and began threatening the families of those present, Groon's daughter Desir was specifically called out.

Monk abilities

 * Unarmored Defense (AC = 10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier)
 * Ki points (≥ 17)
 * Flurry of Blows
 * Patient Defense
 * Step of the Wind
 * Unarmored Movement (+25 ft)
 * Monastic Tradition: Way of the Open Hand
 * Wholeness of Body
 * Tranquility
 * Quivering Palm
 * Deflect Missiles (1d 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level.)
 * Slow Fall
 * Extra Attack
 * Stunning Strike
 * Ki-Empowered Strikes
 * Stillness of Mind
 * Evasion
 * Purity of Body
 * Tongue of the Sun and Moon
 * Diamond Soul

Legendary actions

 * Like the Wind - Earthbreaker Groon moves up to his movement speed without provoking attacks of opportunity
 * Whirlwind of Blows - Earthbreaker Groon strikes everyone within the range of his fists

Appearances and mentions

 * Campaign 1

Quotations

 * "Grog. You are stronger than this thing that binds you. Where do you find your strength?"
 * "That's alright.. we'll bring the storm." (In response to Vex's warning that Vecna will bring an army of undead as part of his attack against Vasselheim.)

Trivia
In the first fight against Grog and his friends, Groon held back part of his abilities only the desire to get the message across. For instance, in usual circumstances, Quivering Palm reduces creatures HP to a 0 on the failed to save, or deals 10d10 necrotic damage on a successful, Vax managed to shrug it off on a successful one. Or when Groon deflected only 13 damage from Vax's dagger despite his capabilities to block 25+ (1d10 + your Dexterity modifier (7) + your monk level(17)).