Exemplars of Evil

More documents

Recommendations

Info

If Dwarreg is killed or if more than two orcs are slain, two orcs try to flee through the nearest door into the hall to sound the alert and summon help. The remaining orcs have orders to kill the human experts rather than let them escape. Unless directly engaged with the PCs, the orcs pursue the captives wherever they run. Any time a bookcase is pushed over or a loud noise occurs in combat, there is a 35% chance that two orc captains from the Arena of Justice (area 4) come to investigate. They don’t arrive immediately because they must go around the walls to use the approved entrance on the west side. If the alchemy station explodes, six orc soldiers from area 4 hurry to the library. Additionally, the manor is put on alert. CONCLUSION Any captives who survive the encounter latch on to the PCs, begging the adventurers to take them safely out of the manor. The prisoners are leaders in their respective fields, so the PCs would receive a substantial reward for any expert they rescued and returned home. Treasure: Most of the books on the shelves are common texts on history, government, architecture, and basic engineering. Hidden among the books, however, are ten arcane spell scrolls, as follows: 3rd—rage, hold person 2nd—blur, false life, mirror image 1st—ventriloquism, unseen servant, chill touch, shield, grease ENCOUNTER 2-2 FEATURES OF THE AREA The room has the following features. Bookshelves: Each of the eight wooden bookshelves is 2 feet thick, 10 feet long, and 5 feet high, with hardness 5 and 50 hit points. Each unit is about 25% filled with books and can be climbed easily (Climb DC 5). A bookshelf provides cover to anyone behind it (granting a +4 bonus to Armor Class and a +2 bonus on saves). A bookshelf can be pushed over by someone who succeeds on a DC 15 Strength check, dealing 2d6 points of damage to creatures standing in the squares where it lands (Reflex DC 10 half). It fills those squares with light debris, which increases the DC of Balance and Tumble checks by 2 and imposes a –2 penalty on Move Silently checks. A successful DC 10 Balance check is required to run or charge across light debris. Failure means the character can still act but cannot run or charge this round. Desks and Chairs: Squares occupied by desks and chairs cost 2 squares to enter. Desks provide cover for those crouching behind them. A creature can also climb on top of a desk, gaining a +1 bonus on melee attack rolls against opponents standing on the floor. Alchemy Station: Located in the southwest corner of the room, this long table is filled with alembics, beakers, burners, and numerous glass vials of chemicals (each has hardness 1 and 1 hit point). Shattering a vial or applying fire will cause the table to explode in a shower of chemicals and glass, dealing 5d6 points of damage to all creatures in a 20-foot radius. If the blast destroys the steel box containing the vials of alchemist’s fire (see below), a second explosion occurs. Alchemist’s Fire Storage: The alchemy station includes a specially designed steel storage box (with hardness 10 and 30 hit points) for vials of alchemist’s fire. The box can hold up to 20 vials in two rows, but currently it contains only 4 vials. If the box is destroyed by an explosion or damage from a weapon, the vials inside shatter, throwing flaming liquid out in a 10- foot radius. Creatures struck by the fire take 1d6 points of damage immediately and another 1d6 points of damage from flames in the following round. Illumination: Sconces placed every 20 feet along the walls hold torches that provide bright illumination. Additionally, a small oil lamp sits on each writing desk. Acid Bath: The alchemy station has a ceramic basin filled with alchemical byproducts. The acid deals 1d6 points of damage and destroys clothing and armor (Reflex DC 15). Doors: The three doors to this room are 7 feet high and brand new. Each door is 2 inches thick and has hardness 5 and 20 hit points. The eastern and southern doors are locked. 45
ENCOUNTER 2-3 46 A UDIENCE HALL Encounter Level 10 SETUP When the manor is not on alert, each of the southern entrances to the throne room and audience chamber has a constant guard of four orc soldiers (O), two on the outside and two on the inside. At any sign of trouble, the guards crouch in defensive positions and call for an alert. All guards will fight to the death, trying to delay the intruders long enough for those in the room to prepare themselves. Inside the room, Zargath (Z) and Grikfell (Gf) are meeting with a bugbear ambassador (B) to discuss a possible alliance with his people. Gurn (G) is present as well, and so is Grikfell’s worg, Elbeth (E). As soon as the guards raise the alarm, everyone inside the room prepares for an attack. Gurn drinks his vial of antitoxin, runs to give one tanglefoot bag to Grikfell and the other to a guard, and then heads for the back of the room again. He casts silent image to create the illusion of a solid wall hiding the hallway to area 13. Finally, he lights two smokesticks—one in a square in front of him, and the other in a square in front of Zargath—to conceal their presence. Zargath scatters caltrops in the squares next to the ones covered by the smokesticks. He pours his dust of dryness into the 50-gallon barrel of water next to him and retrieves the resulting pellet. Grikfell stands on the dais in front of the throne, with Elbeth nearby. The worg howls, trying to attract the attention of her packmates in area 5. The orc guards hold their positions. The bugbear ambassador unlimbers his morningstar and tries to conceal himself in the shadows. When the PCs enter the room, read: This dark audience chamber is surprisingly simple and clean for an orc abode. A primitive stone throne sits on a dais in the center of the room, in front of a huge flag with the symbol of the Black Wolves. Decorative weapons and shields are hung on the walls. In front of you, a heavily muscled orc wielding a double axe stands on the dais, next to a huge, snarling black wolf. Zargath Human-Bane CR 5 hp 15 (5 HD) Male orc rogue 4 LE Medium humanoid Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +7, Spot +7 Languages Common, Orc AC 18, touch 15, flat-footed 14; Dodge, uncanny dodge (+4 Dex, +3 armor, +1 deflection) Resist evasion Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +0 Weakness light sensitivity Speed 30 ft. (6 squares) Melee mwk short sword +6 (1d6+1) and mwk dagger +1 (1d4+1) Ranged mwk hand crossbow +11 (1d4) Base Atk +6; Grp +7 Atk Options sneak attack +2d6 Combat Gear 2 potions of cure light wounds, dust of dryness, ring of protection +1, tanglefoot bag, caltrops Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 8, Int 15, Wis 8, Cha 15 SQ trap sense +1, trapfinding Feats Alertness, Dodge, Two-Weapon Fighting Skills Diplomacy +6, Disguise +3, Escape Artist +4, Gather Information +6, Hide +11, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (architecture) +3, Knowledge (geography) +3, Knowledge (history), +3, Knowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (nobility) +3, Listen +7, Move Silently +11, Open Lock +5, Search +3, Spot +7 Possessions combat gear plus masterwork studded leather armor, masterwork hand crossbow with 50 bolts, master work short sword, masterwork dagger, masterwork thieves’ tools Light Sensitivity Zargath takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls, Search checks, and Spot checks in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell. TACTICS When the party enters the room, Zargath throws his dust of dryness pellet at the first character through the door. If it hits a PC, the pellet releases 50 gallons of water against the character, possibly knocking her flat (Strength DC 30 to remain standing). The water covers 4 squares of the floor, making them very slippery (–2 penalty on Dexterity checks). After the pellet hits, the orc guards move in, attempting to flank the characters. Grikfell throws a tanglefoot bag at any PC other than the one hit by the pellet and rushes into melee. Elbeth charges the party and attacks, focusing on any PCs who have been knocked down. From the back of the room, Gurn tries to target the PCs with his wand of magic missiles. The gnome throws a vial of alchemist’s fire at any character who comes within 2 squares of him. Zargath fires crossbow bolts at the intruders as shots become available.
Page 4 and 5: 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Introd
Page 6 and 7: Illus. by J. Zhang s a Dungeon Mast
Page 8 and 9: worlds, but the PCs find it first a
Page 10 and 11: them and thwart their efforts. A ri
Page 12 and 13: VILLAINOUS PLOTS Every great villai
Page 14 and 15: Envy Envious villains pursue their
Page 16 and 17: Advancing the Villain A one-shot vi
Page 18 and 19: Typical Classes: Bard, beguiler, he
Page 20 and 21: wants, what she expects of you, and
Page 22 and 23: FEIGN DEATH A clever villain has ma
Page 24 and 25: Table 1-1: Villainous Feats General
Page 26 and 27: Benefit: You gain the extraplanar s
Page 28 and 29: 2nd Level Alliance Undone: Suppress
Page 30 and 31: whose movement rates drop to 0 feet
Page 32 and 33: cell belongs to a third cell, and s
Page 34 and 35: Illus. by T. Giorello he orc has fa
Page 36 and 37: hopes to eventually claim the Eldee
Page 38 and 39: double axe. He also carries a few s
Page 40 and 41: CHAPTER 2 ZARGATH HUMAN-BANE DEFENS
Page 42 and 43: changes each week. Unescorted visit
Page 44 and 45: FEATURES OF THE AREA The area has t
Page 48 and 49: War Leader Grikfell CR 3 hp 25 (3 H
Page 50 and 51: effort to embrace this power, but h
Page 52 and 53: small jars throughout his personal
Page 54 and 55: Speed 30 ft. (6 squares) Melee +1 r
Page 56 and 57: of the structure are masonry and ha
Page 58 and 59: CHAPTER 3 EDGAR & KATARIN TOLSTOFF
Page 60 and 61: After throwing the thunderstone, th
Page 62 and 63: FEATURES OF THE AREA The room has t
Page 64 and 65: Fiendish Wolverine CR — hp 34 (3
Page 66 and 67: fragmented into smaller knots and f
Page 68 and 69: that protrude from its surface are
Page 70 and 71: 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 122 and 123:
eneath the fortress. Valbryn discov
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
show all

Exemplars of Evil

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?