Exemplars of Evil

4 Pseudonatural Hobgoblins CR 1
hp 13 each (2 HD)
Male pseudonatural CAr hobgoblin warrior 2
CE Medium outsider (augmented humanoid, goblinoid,
native)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +2, Spot +2
Languages Common, Goblin
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14
(+1 Dex, +3 armor, +1 shield)
Resist acid 5, electricity 5; SR 12
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will –1
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee longsword +3 (1d8+1/19–20)
Ranged light crossbow +3 (1d8/19–20)
Base Atk +2; Grp +3
Atk Options true strike
Special Actions alternate form
Abilities Str 13, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8
Feats Alertness
Skills Hide +3, Intimidate +0, Listen +2, Move Silently +3,
Spot +2
Possessions studded leather, light steel shield, longsword,
light crossbow with 10 bolts, pouch containing 1d12 gp
True Strike (Su) As the true strike spell, 1/day.
Alternate Form (Su) As a standard action, a pseudonatural
hobgoblin can assume the form of a grotesque, tentacled
mass of dripping tissue. While a hobgoblin is in this form,
its opponents take a –1 morale penalty on attack rolls.
FEATURES OF THE AREA
The area has the following features.
Barrels: Three barrels stand between the doors to the captain’s
quarters (area 5) and the wardroom (area 6). Characters standing
in a space that contains a barrel gain cover.
Ladders: The ship has five ladders. Two lead up to the forecastle,
two lead up to the sterncastle, and one leads down to the
lower deck. Characters on a ladder who fight opponents standing
below them gain a bonus for being on higher ground.
Grates: Two wooden grates serve as cargo hatches that lead
down to the lower deck. Moving through a space that contains
a grate costs 2 squares of movement. Characters can try to
move more quickly, but they must succeed on a DC 10 Balance
check or their feet slip through a gap and they fall prone.
Spilled Blood: A great deal of blood has been spilled near
the main mast. Characters standing in a square that contains
spilled blood must succeed on a DC 5 Balance check each round
or fall prone.
Main Mast: The main mast (protruding upward from the spot
marked C) provides cover to anyone standing behind it. The mast
has AC 3, hardness 5, and 200 hit points. Anyone who tries
to climb the mast in an attempt to reach the crow’s nest, 30 feet
above the deck, must succeed on a DC 15 Climb check.
ENCOUNTER 4-1
DEVELOPMENT
This encounter escalates each round after combat begins.
Crunglutch (see page 71) watches the fight from the forecastle
(area 3) in the first round and joins the melee on
the second. If any PCs have not yet boarded the Much Kill
and are in range, the pseudonatural hobgoblins on the
forecastle fire the ballistae at them and then spend the
next 2 rounds reloading the weapons. If the PCs engage
these hobgoblins, they drop what they are doing and fight
to the death.
Additionally, Pog, the bugbear pilot, and two ordinary
hobgoblins stand on the sterncastle (area 2). The hobgoblins
fire their ballistae at the PCs, following the same tactics as
their mutated brethren on the forecastle. The bugbear pilot
remains at his station unless attacked.
Pog casts blur (or manifests concealing amorpha) in the first
round and then supports his comrades with fireball (energy
burst) and Melf’s acid arrow (energy stun). However, he has no
interest in dying. If half the defenders fall or if he is attacked,
Pog retreats, cuts the lines that hold one of the rowboats,
and then jumps over the rail, using feather fall (catfall) to
land gently in the boat. If pursued, the goblin tries to use
his powers to destroy the party’s vessel, but if escape looks
impossible, he surrenders.
If the fight lasts for more than 8 rounds, Captain Gnash
explodes out of his quarters. The bugbear uses his crew
to flank the PCs and tries to make sneak attacks. He uses
Maiming Strike frequently, laughing as he disfigures
his foes.
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