Elder Evils

When Avamerin is defeated, read:
The deformed angel has but a moment to register
surprise before his expression twists into a knot of
pain. His scream has barely begun before his head
further deforms into that of a snake with five jaws
and extends from his body on a blood-streaked
serpentine neck. Then, as the immense snake within
coils and flexes, the angel’s ruined body flies apart in
a kaleidoscopic burst of flesh and bone. Where once
stood a humanoid foe now coils something far more
monstrous, a shape the mind refuses to accept.
Aspect of Sertrous CR 22
hp 379 (23 HD); fast healing 10; DR 20/cold iron and lawful
See page 115 for statistics
4 Golothomas CR 16
hp 243 each (18 HD); fast healing 10; DR 15/cold iron and
lawful
See page 118 for statistics
TACTICS
When Avamerin becomes aware of the PCs’ arrival, he
greets them with a friendly but tired welcome, congratulating
them on achieving the Inmost Vault of the Serpent
Reliquary. He then apologizes to the PCs, informing them
that there is no Sertrous—there never was. The Vanguard
was a sham, and the infestation of serpents is a trial placed
upon the world by the gods as a test to mortal life. Avamerin
proudly proclaims the PCs the saviors of their world and
congratulates them on proving to the gods that mortal life
can indeed stand against such horror and peril. He then
offers to send the PCs back to their homes; if the PCs accept,
he casts gate to open a portal for them.
Of course, these are all lies. Avamerin is merely attempting
to convince the PCs to leave the Inmost Vault so that he can
flee to somewhere else with the skull of Sertrous and rebuild
his lair. Whether the gate actually leads back to the PCs’ home
or to a horrific layer of the Abyss cunningly disguised to look
like their home is up to you.
If the PCs attack (as Avamerin expects), the fallen planetar
does his best to slay them all. As he attacks, his true nature
slithers into being; he is not the handsome angel the PCs
initially spoke to, but a hunchbacked creature with scaly
skin and a partially serpentine face, complete with forked
tongue. Although he has a large number of spell-like abilities,
he prefers to fight in melee, resorting to spells only to
defend himself or strike at foes beyond his immediate reach.
He makes liberal use of his quickened spells in the first few
rounds of combat.
When Avamerin is slain, Sertrous is forced to manifest to
defend himself. The demon lord uses the body of his first
and greatest minion to fuel the manifestation of his avatar,
and he calls upon four golothomas to aid him in the battle
as well. Sertrous uses Awesome Blow to hurl PCs into the
diseased trees to cause explosions of poisonous spores.
CONCLUSION
With the defeat of the aspect of Sertrous, the PCs slay the
obyrith lord for the second time. Since they have prevented
his return to the Abyss where he can rebuild his true form,
what becomes of Sertrous’s spirit is up to you. When the PCs
return to their world, they find the infestation brought about
by Sertrous’s presence already fading.
ENCOUNTER 8-3
FEATURES OF THE AREA
Diseased Tree: These soaking and shuddersome trees can
provide cover, but any attempt to climb them results in great
swaths of diseased wood and bark coming away by the handful.
This action or any solid blow struck against a tree unleashes a
cloud of green spores in a 10-foot-radius spread. All creatures
in this area must succeed on a DC 20 Fortitude save or take
1d6 points of Constitution damage and become nauseated for
1d6 rounds. A successful save indicates the victim is merely
sickened for 1d6 rounds. Creatures that are immune to disease
or poison are immune to this effect.
Deep Bog: These spaces cost Medium or larger creatures 4
squares of movement to enter. Small and smaller creatures must
swim to enter these spaces.
The water provides cover for Medium or larger creatures,
while Small and smaller creatures receive improved cover (+8
bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves). Medium or larger
creatures can crouch to gain improved cover. Creatures that
have improved cover take a –10 penalty on attacks against
creatures not underwater.
Tumble checks are impossible in deep bog, and the DC of
Move Silently checks increases by 2.
Shallow Bog: These squares cost 2 squares of movement
to enter. The DC of Tumble checks in these squares increases
by 2.
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