Exemplars of Evil

8 Advanced Hell Hounds CR 12
hp 44 each (8 HD)
LE Medium outsider (evil, extraplanar, fire, lawful)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., scent; Listen +11, Spot +11
Languages understands Infernal
AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 19
(+1 Dex, +4 armor, +5 natural)
Immune fire, outsider immunities
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6
Weakness vulnerability to cold, outsider vulnerabilities
Speed 40 ft. (8 squares)
Melee bite +10 (2d6+2 plus 1d6 fire)
Base Atk +8; Grp +10
Atk Options fiery bite
Special Actions breath weapon
Abilities Str 14, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 6
SQ outsider traits
Feats Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite),
Run, Track B
Skills Hide +17, Jump +17, Listen +11, Move Silently +17, Spot
+11, Survival +11 (+19 tracking by scent)
Possessions collar of mage armor
Fiery Bite (Su) A hell hound deals an extra 1d6 points of fire
damage each time it bites an opponent, as if its bite were
a flaming weapon.
Breath Weapon (Su) 10-ft. cone, once every 2d4 rounds,
damage 3d6 fire, Reflex DC 15 half.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
The inner ward shares the same structural properties of Gilgirn
(page 118), with no new features.
ENCOUNTER 7-2
If the PCs were trapped in the gatehouse and managed
to enter the inner ward by lifting the back gate portcullis,
the fire giants inside the gatehouse close it again to prevent
them from retreating from the battle.
Helthra tries to position herself so that a chosen foe stands
between her and a lava canal, so that she can use her Awesome
Blow feat (MM 303). If successful, she subtracts 4 from
her melee attack roll with her +2 adamantine flaming greataxe
(attack +29), hoping to knock her target 10 feet through the
air into the lava.
If her chosen foe is not close enough to the lava or has
immunity to fire, Helthra tries to make sunder attempts
instead (opposed attack +41/+36/+31/+26 [+4 per difference
in size category that Helthra is larger than foe], damage
3d6+23). If the princess sunders the character’s weapon
with her greataxe, she begins making normal melee attacks
with a 5-point Power Attack (attack +27/+22/+17/+12, damage
3d6+33/19–20/×3 plus 1d6 fire).
On the same round in which Helthra casts protection from
energy (or spiritual weapon, if the PCs are not using cold-based
attacks), the Urdred attack. They close to within 30 feet of
the PCs, activate ghost step as a swift action, and ready an
action to shoot any spellcaster who does anything threatening
(attack +21, damage 2d6+9/×3 plus 2d6 sudden strike).
Their intent is to disrupt spells, but they attack even if none
are cast. Ghost step attacks give the death maidens a bonus
of +2 on attack rolls and ignore their targets’ Dexterity bonus
to Armor Class (if any).
On subsequent rounds, the Urdred fire Rapid Shot volleys
into melee until the fire giant guards and hell hounds
are reduced to between one-half and one-quarter of their
number. At that point, the Urdred drop their longbows and
begin making melee attacks with their +1 longswords. On
the first round in which they can make a full attack, they
activate ghost step as a swift action and make four attacks
while remaining invisible for 1 round (attack +25/+20/+15,
damage 2d6+9/17–20 plus 2d6 sudden strike and +19 slam,
damage 1d4+4 plus 2d6 sudden strike).
If the Urdred are taking a beating and Helthra is not harried
by the PCs, she spontaneously casts invisibility on herself
so that she can walk around, healing the death maidens with
her wand of cure moderate wounds.
CONCLUSION
The hell hounds and fire giant guards fight to the death to
protect Gilgirn and their queen. If one of the two Urdred
fall, the other attacks the PC most responsible with a deathblade-poisoned
dagger.
If Helthra is reduced to 50 or fewer hit points, she spontaneously
casts invisibility on herself and retreats to the rear
gatehouse (see tactical encounter 7–3, page 126). Along the way,
she heals herself with her wand of cure moderate wounds.
Any remaining Urdred use ghost step to retreat when Helthra
does, but they cross the nearest footbridge first, hoping
that one or more PCs will pursue and activate the bridge’s
sonic greater blast glyph.
If the PCs end up alone on the battlefield, any fire giant
guards atop the barracks and gatehouses that have line of
sight to the characters begin throwing rocks at them. If
approached by multiple PCs, these fire giants retreat
to tactical encounter 7–3, along the curtain wall.
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