Exemplars of Evil

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eneath the fortress. Valbryn discovered the sealed portal to the Elemental Plane of Fire after swimming down into the molten rock here. This area is easily the hottest part of Gilgirn. Within 5 feet of the lava, the temperature exceeds 140 degrees F and deals lethal damage (DMG 303). 6. Northeast Tower: The northeast tower contains a basement, three levels, and a lookout. The basement is a storage area for the fortress’s finest metal goods. The first floor is a masterwork blacksmithy where the fire giant artisan works. The second floor is a study and place of reflection, adorned with antiques that belonged to fire giant ancestors. The third floor is the personal quarters of Helthra Morlydd, though she is not currently present. The fire giant artisan defends himself if attacked, but otherwise avoids conflict. He has access to hot rocks, used in the smithy, that deal extra fire damage when thrown. Fire Giant Artisan CR 11 hp 152 (18 HD) Male fi re giant expert 3 LE Large giant (fi re) Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +2, Spot +14 Languages Common, Giant AC 16, touch 8, flat-footed 16 (–1 size, –1 Dex, +8 natural) Immune fi re, giant immunities Fort +14, Ref +5, Will +10 Weakness vulnerability to cold, giant vulnerabilities Speed 40 ft. (8 squares) Melee warhammer +22/+17/+14 (2d6+10/×3) and slam +17 (1d4+5) or Melee 2 slams +22 each (1d4+10) Ranged rock +12 (2d6+10 plus 2d6 fi re) Base Atk +13; Grp +27 Atk Options Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Power Attack Special Actions rock catching, rock throwing Abilities Str 31, Dex 8, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 9 SQ giant traits Feats Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Skill Focus (Craft [armorsmithing]), Skill Focus (Craft [stone masonry]), Skill Focus (Craft [weaponsmithing]), Power Attack Skills Climb +16, Jump +20, Craft (armorsmithing) +14, Craft (stonemasonry) +14, Craft (weaponsmithing) +14, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +11, Listen +2, Profession (blacksmith) +11, Spot +14 7. Northwest Tower: The northwest tower contains a basement, three levels, and a lookout. The basement is a storage area for valuable gifts and tomes. The first floor is a library where the fire giant elder works. The second floor is split between a study full of books and journals, and a cell for Thaden Felstorm, which is outfitted with all the comforts of a guest room. The third floor is the personal quarters of Valbryn Morlydd. Neither she nor Thaden is currently present. The fire giant elder defends himself if attacked, but otherwise avoids conflict. Fire Giant Elder CR 12 hp 132 (18 HD) Male fi re giant aristocrat 5 LE Large giant (fi re) Init –3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +4, Spot +16 Languages Common, Giant AC 14, touch 6, flat-footed 14 (–1 size, –3 Dex, +8 natural) Immune fi re, giant immunities Fort +12, Ref +3, Will +13 Weakness vulnerability to cold, giant vulnerabilities Speed 40 ft. (8 squares) Melee dagger +21/+16/+11 (1d6+8/19–20) and slam +16 (1d4+4) or Melee 2 slams +21 each (1d4+8) Ranged rock +11 (2d6+8) Base Atk +14; Grp +26 Atk Options Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Power Attack Special Actions rock catching, rock throwing Abilities Str 27, Dex 4, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 18, Cha 13 SQ giant traits Feats Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Skill Focus (Knowledge [history]), Skill Focus (Knowledge [nature]), Skill Focus (Knowledge [the planes]), Power Attack Skills Climb +14, Diplomacy +8, Jump +18, Knowledge (history) +13, Knowledge (nature) +13, Knowledge (the planes) +13, Listen +4, Sense Motive +9, Spot +16 8. Meditation Chamber: Valbryn comes to this room to prepare her spells. She keeps her spellbook here, along with a highly polished silver mirror for scrying and an extensive library of focus components, material components, and spellglyph ink. A fl a m eb r e a t h (c o l d ) glyph cast on each door (Search DC 31 to find; Disable Device DC 31 to thwart) is keyed to activate by touch. CHAPTER 7 VALBRYN MORLYDD 121
ENCOUNTER 7-1 T HE GUARDS Encounter Level 16 SETUP Beyond the archway with its sculpted hell hounds (area 1), a flagstone bridge crosses a lava moat and leads to a gatehouse on the other side. The bridge, 15 feet above the lava, is the only way to approach the gatehouse on foot. If the PCs pass through the archway without setting off the sonic greater blast glyph and make an effort to conceal their position, they might remain undetected. The two fire giants standing guard outside the gatehouse and the two fire giants standing atop the gatehouse make Listen checks and Spot checks with a penalty of –1 per 10 feet of distance. If they succeed on either check, they notice the PCs. The two fire giants outside the gatehouse enter the structure, closing and bracing the stone doors from within, while the two guards atop the gatehouse hurl hot rocks at the party. When the PCs pass through the archway, read: As you step onto the flagstone bridge, a wave of heat envelops you from the lava moat that bubbles and churns below. The bridge spans over 100 feet, and leads up to a gatehouse 50 feet high. The curtain walls and structures are made of worked stone reinforced with iron braces. On both sides of the gatehouse, lava pours out of the lower curtain walls, feeding the moat. The entire stronghold is blackened from fire and heat, but no less sturdy for the exposure. The cavern roof above curves upward into a darkened dome. TACTICS The fire giants atop the gatehouse start hurling hot rocks at the PCs, targeting any airborne characters first. The flagstone bridge can take the punishment easily, having been designed to withstand such attacks. If the player characters eliminate at least two rock-throwing fire giants from a distance, or if they take cover behind the archway, the stone doors of the gatehouse open again and four fire giants emerge to attack the intruders. Four more fire giants (minus any that were defeated from a distance) charge the characters as a second wave of combatants. 6–8 Fire Giant Guards CR 10 hp 142 (15 HD) Male or female fire giant LE Large giant (fire) Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +2, Spot +14 Languages Giant AC 23, touch 8, flat-footed 23 (–1 size, –1 Dex, +7 armor, +8 natural) Immune fire, giant immunities Fort +14, Ref +4, Will +7 Weakness vulnerability to cold, giant vulnerabilities Speed 30 ft. (6 squares) in half-plate, base speed 40 ft. Melee greatsword +20/+15/+10 (3d6+15/19–20) or Melee 2 slams +20 each (1d4+10) Ranged rock +21 (2d6+10 plus 2d6 fire) Base Atk +11; Grp +25 Atk Options Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, Power Attack Special Actions rock catching, rock throwing Abilities Str 31, Dex 9, Con 21, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 11 SQ giant traits Feats Brutal Throw CAd , Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Overrun, Improved Sunder, Power Attack Skills Climb +9, Craft (weaponsmithing) +6, Intimidate +6, Jump +9, Listen +2, Spot +14 Possessions half-plate, greatsword If the battle takes place before the archway (and not on the bridge), the fire giants charge and attempt to sunder the characters’ weapons before cutting them down. Each charging sunder attempt uses a 5-point Power Attack (opposed attack +25 [+4 per difference in size category that fire giants are larger than their foes], damage 2d6+25). After making a sunder attempt, each fire giant uses a 5-point Power Attack (attack +15/+10/+5, damage 2d6+25/19–20), unless reducing their attacks proves ineffective. If anybody attempts to block a charging fire giant from attacking a designated foe, the giant uses Improved Overrun against the obstacle, gaining a bonus of +20 on Strength checks to knock it down. If the battle takes place on the bridge, the fire giants attempt to sunder the characters’ weapons (as described above) and then grapple with their designated foes. If a grappled PC whose weapon has been destroyed makes an attack of opportunity against a fire giant, he might provoke an attack of opportunity from the giant if he is not proficient in unarmed combat. 122
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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Introd
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Illus. by J. Zhang s a Dungeon Mast
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worlds, but the PCs find it first a
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them and thwart their efforts. A ri
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VILLAINOUS PLOTS Every great villai
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Envy Envious villains pursue their
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Advancing the Villain A one-shot vi
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Typical Classes: Bard, beguiler, he
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wants, what she expects of you, and
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FEIGN DEATH A clever villain has ma
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Table 1-1: Villainous Feats General
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Benefit: You gain the extraplanar s
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2nd Level Alliance Undone: Suppress
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whose movement rates drop to 0 feet
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cell belongs to a third cell, and s
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Illus. by T. Giorello he orc has fa
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hopes to eventually claim the Eldee
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double axe. He also carries a few s
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CHAPTER 2 ZARGATH HUMAN-BANE DEFENS
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changes each week. Unescorted visit
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FEATURES OF THE AREA The area has t
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If Dwarreg is killed or if more tha
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War Leader Grikfell CR 3 hp 25 (3 H
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effort to embrace this power, but h
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small jars throughout his personal
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares) Melee +1 r
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of the structure are masonry and ha
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CHAPTER 3 EDGAR & KATARIN TOLSTOFF
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After throwing the thunderstone, th
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FEATURES OF THE AREA The room has t
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Fiendish Wolverine CR — hp 34 (3
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fragmented into smaller knots and f
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that protrude from its surface are
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GOALS Pog’s time as a statue has
Page 72 and 73: of the crew into the hold. The capt
Page 74 and 75: CHAPTER 4 CAPTAIN GNASH 73
Page 76 and 77: 4 Pseudonatural Hobgoblins CR 1 hp
Page 78 and 79: FEATURES OF THE AREA The room has t
Page 80 and 81: TACTICS Once the PCs are aware of t
Page 82 and 83: way out. They took heavy damage, bu
Page 84 and 85: organization also includes Sulatar
Page 86 and 87: umors and courting new business ass
Page 88 and 89: Ranged +1 hand crossbow +10 (1d4+1
Page 90 and 91: CHAPTER 5 CALAIS ARCHWINTER among t
Page 92 and 93: FEATURES OF THE AREA The warehouse
Page 94 and 95: 4 Tomb Spider Broodswarms MM3 CR
Page 96 and 97: On subsequent rounds, Calais employ
Page 98 and 99: significant portion of his treasure
Page 100 and 101: USING FARROR As Emmara’s spy, Far
Page 102 and 103: Melee mwk greataxe +22/+17/+12 (3d6
Page 104 and 105: CHAPTER 6 EMMARA ISHANDRENN 5. Chap
Page 106 and 107: FEATURES OF THE AREA The sea cave h
Page 108 and 109: FEATURES OF THE AREA The lowest cer
Page 110 and 111: 2 Stone Golems CR 11 hp 107 each (1
Page 112 and 113: The young queen set about restrengt
Page 114 and 115: without provocatively revealing any
Page 116 and 117: as Thaden’s way of asserting his
Page 118 and 119: Appearance and Behavior Fire giants
Page 120 and 121: CHAPTER 7 VALBRYN MORLYDD Illus. by
Page 124 and 125: FEATURES OF THE AREA The gatehouse
Page 126 and 127: 8 Advanced Hell Hounds CR 12 hp 44
Page 128 and 129: this purpose. Decapitating scarf is
Page 130 and 131: Energy Plane, where even the boldes
Page 132 and 133: 4th—Moilian burning blood SC (CL
Page 134 and 135: Frightful Presence (Ex) Albrathax c
Page 136 and 137: are havens for the few inhabitants
Page 138 and 139: CHAPTER 8 KASTYA ZURITH- MOVYA 4. C
Page 140 and 141: 4 Bloodfiend Locust Swarms FF CR 8
Page 142 and 143: FEATURES OF THE AREA The room has t
Page 144 and 145: the way they came, and then uses a
Page 146 and 147: Sons were allowed to claim mates fr
Page 148 and 149: 5th (7/day)—dominate person (DC 2
Page 150 and 151: Rajief CR 12 hp 154 (19 HD) Male ad
Page 152 and 153: CHAPTER 9 BORAK, THUNDER TYRANT 151
Page 154 and 155: FEATURES OF THE AREA The Al-Iborak
Page 156 and 157: FEATURES OF THE AREA The main chamb
Page 158 and 159: FEATURES OF THE AREA The great hall
Page 160: THE SOTH TARNEL IN FAERÛN The Soth
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Exemplars of Evil

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