Exemplars of Evil

ENCOUNTER 7-3
126
G ATEHOUSE
Encounter Level 19 (20 if Helthra and her Urdred
from tactical encounter 7–2 are present)
SETUP
When Helthra sent two of the Urdred to join her mother,
the ninjas also collected Thaden and his fleshraker animal
companion and retreated to the rear gatehouse. There, the
surviving occupants of Gilgirn make their final stand,
with Valbyrn’s firepower to aid them.
First, Valbryn casts protection from energy (cold) on
herself, which lasts for 3-1/2 hours or until it absorbs
120 points of damage from cold-based attacks. Next, she
casts extended greater invisibility on herself, which lasts
for 38 rounds. Third, she casts polymorph on an Urdred
to create a spitting image of herself. Finally, she casts
globe of invulnerability where the Urdred stands atop the
gatehouse. Valbryn can cast all her spells on the defensive
without failing.
The polymorph-disguised Urdred remains atop the rear
gatehouse and yells down at the PCs, matching her gestures
with the spells that Valbryn casts while invisible.
Thaden and his fleshraker remain beside the so-called
queen for protection. This ruse is possible because Valbryn
has created spellglyphs for nearly all her prepared spells,
which allows her to cast them with no verbal or material
components. However, there is one spell that she prefers
to cast with its focus component for dramatic effect: decapitating
scarf (see Tactics, below).
Thaden begins every day in Gilgirn by casting endure
elements on himself. At the first sign of conflict, he casts
longstrider on himself, which lasts for 6 hours, and he
drinks his potion of barkskin +5, which lasts for 2 hours.
He casts bear’s endurance on himself at the last possible
moment before combat begins, since the effect of that
spell lasts for only 6 minutes. All of Thaden’s spells also
affect his animal companion.
When the PCs approach the rear gatehouse, read:
Valbryn, the fire giant queen, looks like a crimson
force of nature standing atop the rear gatehouse,
calling down spells with wild abandon. She
appears to be in her element, neither forgiving
nor merciful, much like every story about her
unchecked wrath has led you to believe.
TACTICS
Though she prepares spells from a book, Valbryn is a surprisingly
versatile spellcaster. Using elemental mastery,
she can spontaneously exchange any prepared spell of
3rd level or higher for a fireball spell. Using the Energy
Substitution feat, she can make the spell deal cold damage
instead. Moreover, because of her Maximize Spell feat
Valbryn Morlydd CR 17
hp 248 (29 HD); see page 113
Thaden Felstorm CR 15
hp 98 (128 with bear’s endurance) (15 HD); see page 115
Helthra Morlydd CR 15
hp 243 (289 with bear’s endurance) (23 HD); see page 117
4 Urdred CR 16
hp 197 each (19 HD); see page 124
12 Fire Giant Guards CR 17
hp 142 each (15 HD); see page 122
and her Rapid Metamagic feat, Valbryn can exchange any
spell of 6th level or higher for a maximized fireball that
deals fire damage or cold damage, without increasing her
casting time.
If Helthra or any member of the Urdred survives
tactical encounter 7–2 and joins the battle at the rear
gate, they tell Valbryn everything they know about the
intruders—including whether the PCs have immunity
to fire or not. If the PCs do not have immunity, the queen
casts wall of fire on them when they arrive, and sends Helthra
(if present) and any remaining Urdred and fire giant
guards into battle.
If the PCs do have immunity to fire, Valbryn uses Energy
Substitution to hit them with cold-based fi r e b a l l s instead,
warning Helthra, the Urdred, and the fire giants to stand
clear until they can enter melee combat safely. If a PC uses
magical means to fly, Valbryn waits until the character
flies over lava and then targets him with a greater dispel
magic spell.
After raining fireballs down on the PCs, Valbryn targets
the most bothersome character with a sword of darkness
spell (attack +19/+14/+9/+4, damage 1d4/19–20 plus one
negative level [two negative levels on a critical hit], no
save). The spell lasts for 19 rounds and could devastate
the PCs if they cannot dispel the effect. If the sword of
darkness kills a member of the party, Valbryn redirects it
to a new target.
While still invisible, Valbryn casts dimension door, transporting
herself, Thaden, and the dinosaur into melee combat
and leaving the disguised Urdred atop the gatehouse. In
doing so, Valbryn leaves the safety of the immobile globe
of invulnerability. The queen follows Thaden into battle and
casts stoneskin on him, which lasts for 190 minutes.
Valbryn is a vain individual, and takes great pride in
revealing herself after a particularly devastating series of
spells, wanting credit where it is due. Thus, if the adventuring
party has been largely defeated, she turns visible,
approaching to within 70 feet of the PC who has shown
the most resilience and casting decapitating scarf (CAd 102)
in an attempt to cut off his head. She uses her red sash as
the focus component; indeed, she wears it specifically for