Exemplars of Evil

ENCOUNTER 4-1
74
M
Encounter Level 7
AIN DECK
SETUP
The main deck of the Much Kill is a busy place. Pseudonatural
goblins (G) and pseudonatural hobgoblins (H)
go about their business: swabbing the deck, attending
to the sails, and avoiding the attention of Crunglutch,
who watches their work from the forecastle (area 3). High
above the main deck, a goblin lookout hides in the crow’s
nest (C).
When the PCs first spot the Much Kill, read:
A massive black caravel plows through the waves,
propelled by a strong wind that fills its crimson
sails. A black flag snaps in the wind, showing a red
demonic skull above a pair of crossed bones.
As the characters draw closer, read:
The ship is ghastly. Freshly severed heads hang
from the rails, dripping blood onto the ravenous
sharks that circle the vessel. Rotting corpses hang
from the barbed iron pole at the front of the ship,
twisting and breaking apart as the ship cuts
through the waves. The deck and rigging crawls
with goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears—but these
are no ordinary goblinoids. Purple tentacles emerge
from their flesh, eye stalks sprout from their heads,
and their features drip and writhe, transforming
before your very eyes.
TACTICS
When combat begins, three goblins and two hobgoblins
have not yet assumed their alternate forms. On the first
round, they do, and then they maneuver to flank any PCs
who come aboard.
The other three goblins lob javelins at any player characters
who are not yet on the main deck. The other two
hobgoblins use their true strike ability and then either load
their crossbows (if targets are available) or move to engage
an opponent in melee.
Once the goblins have exhausted their javelins, they
draw morningstars, use true strike, and fling themselves
into melee. All of the goblinoids fight to the death.
The goblin lookout begins combat hidden in the crow’s
nest 30 feet above the deck. He pops up and fires crossbow
bolts at the character closest to his location, targeting a
spellcaster in preference over someone else if two intruders
are the same distance away. Then he drinks his potion
of blur and continues his barrage.
Goblin Lookout CR 2
hp 16 (4 HD)
Male goblin rogue 3/fighter 1
CE Small humanoid (goblinoid)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +2, Spot +10
Languages Goblin
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14
(+1 size, +2 Dex, +3 armor)
Resist evasion
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +3
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee mwk longsword +4 (1d6–1/19–20)
Ranged +1 light crossbow +7 (1d6+1/19–20)
Base Atk +3; Grp –2
Atk Options sneak attack +2d6
Combat Gear potion of blur
Abilities Str 9, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 6
SQ trap sense +1, trapfinding
Feats Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Rapid Reload
(light crossbow) B
Skills Balance +10, Climb +5, Hide +12, Jump +7, Listen +2,
Move Silently +6, Profession (sailor) +8, Ride +6, Spot
+10, Tumble +10
Possessions combat gear plus masterwork studded
leather, masterwork longsword, +1 light crossbow with
20 bolts
6 Pseudonatural Goblins CR 1/3
hp 5 each (1 HD)
Male pseudonatural CAr goblin warrior 1
CE Small outsider (augmented humanoid, goblin, native)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +2, Spot +2
Languages Goblin
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 14
(+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 armor, +1 shield)
Resist acid 5, electricity 5; SR 11
Fort +3, Ref +1, Will –1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee morningstar +2 (1d6)
Ranged javelin +3 (1d4)
Base Atk +1; Grp –3
Atk Options true strike
Special Actions alternate form
Abilities Str 11, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 6
Feats Alertness
Skills Hide +5, Listen +2, Move Silently +5, Ride +4, Spot +2
Possessions leather armor, light wooden shield,
morningstar, 3 javelins, 1d6 sp
True Strike (Su) As the true strike spell, 1/day.
Alternate Form (Su) As a standard action, a pseudonatural
goblin can assume the form of a grotesque, tentacled
mass of dripping tissue. While a goblin is in this
form, its opponents take a –1 morale penalty on
attack rolls.