Elder Evils

ENCOUNTER 6-3
94
C
RYSTALLINE PRISON
Encounter Level 20+
SETUP
Obligatum VII (O) has found its way to the crystal housing
Pandorym’s mind and has begun its attack. It has dealt
enough damage to be close to releasing a mind shard. Six
dread wraiths (D) guard the kolyarut as it single-mindedly
pursues its task. If Lucather Majii survived or avoided the
battle in encounter 6–2, he is also present as indicated on
the map (L).
The players place their miniatures along a map edge,
depending on the direction of their approach. If Obligatum
VII succeeds in freeing a mind shard, it appears in
the center of the room, covering the squares occupied by
the crystalline prison.
When the players have finished arranging their
miniatures, read:
Swirling about this circular chamber are dark,
tattered shades whose red eyes glow with
malevolence. From behind the door of a circular
inner room come the sounds of metal clashing
on stone.
When a character opens the door leading to the inner
chamber, read:
A violet crystal dominates the center of this room,
pulsing with an unholy darkness that seems to
suck in light. Its evil glow casts everything in a
sickly violet pall. A human-shaped being of metal
stands near the massive crystal, chipping away at
it with a sword.
TACTICS
Obligatum VII is focused on releasing Pandorym’s imprisoned
mind. The kolyarut’s +2 adamantine vorpal longsword
ignores hardness, dealing an average of 11 points of damage
per round to the crystal. By the time the PCs arrive, it has
already dealt 50 points of damage to the prison. Once the
damage reaches 100 points, the crystal cracks and a mind
shard of Pandorym forms. (If you want to present a more
difficult challenge for the party, Obligatum VII can have
released a mind shard already and be well on its way to
shattering the crystal.)
The kolyarut is single-minded in its task, but it takes
steps to defend itself if it is reduced to 75 or fewer hit
points. Even then, if allies protect the inevitable it continues
its assault on the crystalline prison regardless of
its injuries.
Dread Wraiths: The dread wraiths work with one
another and Lucather (if he still exists) to defend the
inevitable, but they do not necessarily cooperate with
6 Dread Wraiths CR 11
hp 104 (16 HD)
LE Large undead (incorporeal)
Init +13; Senses darkvision 60 ft., lifesense 60 ft.; Listen
+25, Spot +25
Aura unnatural aura (30 ft.)
AC 25, touch 25, flat-footed 16; Dodge, Mobility
Miss Chance 50% (incorporeal)
Immune undead immunities (MM 317)
Fort +5, Ref +14, Will +14
Weakness daylight powerlessness
Speed fly 60 ft. (12 squares) (good); Spring Attack
Melee incorporeal touch +16 (2d6 plus 1d8 Constitution
drain)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +8; Grp —
Atk Options Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Constitution
drain
Special Actions create spawn
Abilities Str —, Dex 28, Con —, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 24
SQ daylight powerlessness, incorporeal traits
Feats Alertness B , Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge,
Improved Initiative B , Improved Natural Attack
(incorporeal touch), Mobility, Spring Attack
Skills Diplomacy +9, Hide +24, Intimidate +26, Knowledge
(religion) +22, Listen +25, Search +22, Sense Motive
+23, Spot +25, Survival +4 (+6 following tracks)
Lifesense (Su) A dread wraith notices and locates living
creatures within 60 feet, just as if it possessed the
blindsight ability. It also senses the strength of their life
force automatically, as if it had cast deathwatch.
Unnatural Aura (Su) Animals will not willingly approach
nearer than 30 feet to a dread wraith and panic if forced
to do so; they remain panicked as long as they are
within that range.
Daylight Powerlessness (Ex) Dread wraiths are utterly
powerless in natural sunlight (not merely a daylight
spell) and flee from it.
Constitution Drain (Su) Living creatures hit by a dread
wraith’s incorporeal touch attack must succeed on a
DC 25 Fortitude save or take 1d8 points of Constitution
drain. On each such successful attack, the dread wraith
gains 5 temporary hit points.
Create Spawn (Su) Any humanoid slain by a dread wraith
becomes a wraith in 1d4 rounds. Spawn are under the
command of the dread wraith that created them and
remain enslaved until its destruction. They do not
possess any of the abilities they had in life.
Lucather Majii CR 21
hp 155 or fewer (see encounter 6–2 for statistics)
Obligatum VII CR 20
hp 156
See page 86 for statistics