Elder Evils

ENCOUNTER 2-3
30
A
NGELS OF ATROPUS
Encounter Level 20
SETUP
Six angels of decay (A) prowl the area here. The players
can place their miniatures along a map edge based on the
direction of their approach.
When the players have finished placing their figures,
read:
You look out over the vast black stones called the
Eyes of Death. Narrow, glowing crevices mar the
surface like a grotesque web of veins.
Six disgusting figures fly above the blasted stone on
rotting wings. They have the vague shapes of
angels, but chunks of skin slough from their bodies
and float away into the void.
TACTICS
At the start of combat, the angels of decay are 60 feet above
the moonlet’s surface. As poor flyers, they can make 45-
degree turns for every 5 feet of movement, and they can
descend at double speed (100 feet). Each lands in a space
that will put it within reach of a PC. Each angel attacks
a different character; they double up if there are more of
them than there are PCs.
After the angels of decay land, the PCs are subject to
the angels’ rotting aura as long as the angels remain on
the ground.
In melee, the angels of decay use Power Attack
(included in the statistics block) to boost damage. Characters
struck by two or more attacks take additional
damage, and the angel of decay dealing the damage heals
5 hit points.
Combat attracts the attention of Atropus. In the round
after combat begins, the elder evil dispatches its aspect
(see page 19 for full statistics). It arrives from a random
direction after 1d6 rounds.
When the aspect of Atropus appears, read:
An enormous, headless, human-shaped
monstrosity lumbers into view. Its petrified flesh
is coated with a slick layer of black ichor. The
creature radiates malice and rage as though it is
an extension of Atropus itself, come to obliterate
these intruders once and for all.
Once here, the aspect of Atropus bolsters the remaining
angels of decay with its negative energy aura, granting all
undead within 30 feet +5 turn resistance and fast healing
5 (this benefit stacks with that from the Eyes of Death). In
6 Angels of Decay LM CR 15
hp 198 each (26 HD); DR 10/adamantine and magic
CE Large undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +29, Spot +29
Aura rotting (15 ft., DC 27)
Languages Abyssal, Common
AC 28, touch 15, flat-footed 26
Immune undead immunities (MM 317)
SR 24
Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +26
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 50 ft. (poor)
Melee 2 claws +25 each (2d6+13) and
2 wing slams +20 each (1d6+6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +13; Grp +30
Atk Options Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Power Attack, magic
strike, rotting touch
Abilities Str 37, Dex 14, Con —, Int 20, Wis 20, Cha 18
SQ unholy grace
Feats Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved
Initiative, Improved Toughness LM , Iron Will, Lightning
Reflexes, Power Attack, Toughness
Skills Concentration +29, Diplomacy +6, Hide +27,
Intimidate +33, Knowledge (arcana) +29, Listen +29,
Move Silently +26, Search +29, Sense Motive +29,
Spellcraft +34, Spot +29, Survival +5 (+7 following
tracks)
Rotting Aura (Su) When the creature is not flying, at the
end of each of an angel of decay’s turns, any corporeal
creature within 15 feet of it must succeed on a DC 27
Reflex save or take 5d6 points of damage (half on a
successful save). In addition, a living creature must also
succeed on a DC 27 Will saving throw or become
nauseated for 1 round.
Each round a creature takes damage from an angel
of decay’s rotting aura, the angel heals 5 points of
damage.
Rotting Touch (Su) An angel of decay that hits a single foe
with more than one attack in a round causes that
creature’s flesh to rot, dealing an additional 1d6+6
points of damage. Each time this occurs, the angel of
decay heals 5 points of damage.
Unholy Grace (Su) An angel of decay adds its Charisma
bonus to its Armor Class and on saving throws. These
bonuses are included in the stat block.
addition, living creatures within the aura gain five negative
levels for as long as they remain in the area. The aspect of
Atropus then sacrifices 50 hit points to call down a meteor
shower. This attack affects the aspect of Atropus and the
angels of decay as well as their enemies.
As long as the PCs do not confront the focus, it hangs
back and uses spell-like abilities, starting with wail of the
banshee and then meteor swarm. If it is the last creature in
the combat, it uses call meteor shower as long as it has at
least 300 or more hit points.