Exemplars of Evil

ENCOUNTER 4-2
76
L
OWER DECK
Encounter Level 9
SETUP
The crew uses the lower deck to store cargo because
Gnash insists on keeping the kython in the hold. Crates
and boxes are piled in the corners, and water pools on the
floor beneath the cargo hatch in the ceiling. The planks
are weak in places and sag under pressure.
When the PCs board the Much Kill, the sounds of combat
from the main deck alert Fecar, who quickly sets up an
ambush for the intruders on the lower deck. The map
shows the positions of Fecar (F) and a pair of varag barbarians
known as Fecar’s Boys (V). Just before springing the
ambush, the first mate drinks his potion of bear’s endurance
(see his modified statistics below), and each of Fecar’s Boys
uses his blur spell-like ability.
A maximum of three characters can be on the ladder at
one time.
When the characters climb down to the lower deck,
read:
The stench is particularly foul here, a blend of
sweat, blood, and dung. The light from above
breaks through the gloom just enough to reveal
what looks like a cargo hold. But before you have a
chance to assess your surroundings, a filthy
hobgoblin springs out of the shadows. The creature
screams with rage as it swings its sword.
Fecar the Unclean CR 7
hp 62 (7 HD)
Fort +6
Abilities Con 18
These statistics represent Fecar after he drinks his potion
of bear’s endurance; see page 68 for his full normal
statistics.
TACTICS
On their turn, Fecar’s Boys each take 5-foot steps to
attack the first PCs who come down the ladder. Throughout
combat, they use a 5-point Power Attack (+9 attack,
+10 damage), regardless of the success or failure of
their attacks. They remain at the base of the ladder
to restrict entry by other PCs and to make attacks of
opportunity against anyone who gets past them. They
make full attacks each round for 6 rounds, at which
point their blur effect ends. For the remaining 3 rounds
of their rage, they use Spring Attack to strike and then
leap away.
Fecar is more careful. He starts by throwing a tanglefoot
bag at the lead character, and while his allies crowd
the ladder, he uses Spring Attack to dart in, attack, and
leap back, always moving to a space where he can take
2 Fecar’s Boys CR 5
hp 81 each (6 HD); DR 5/magic
Male half-farspawn LoM varag MM4 barbarian 3
CE Medium outsider (augmented humanoid, goblinoid,
native)
Init +8; Senses blindsight 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., scent;
Listen +12, Spot +9
Languages Goblin
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 18; uncanny dodge
(+4 Dex, +4 armor, +6 natural, –2 rage)
Miss Chance 20% blur
Immune poison
Resist acid 10, electricity 10; SR 16
Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +7
Speed 70 ft. (14 squares); Run, Spring Attack
Melee +1 greatsword +14 (2d6+13/19–20) and
2 tentacles +8 each (1d4+3)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +5; Grp +13
Atk Options magic strike, rage 1/day (9 rounds)
Special Actions change shape
Combat Gear elixir of hiding, potion of cure moderate wounds
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 6th):
3/day—blur†
1/day—stinking cloud (DC 14), touch of idiocy (+15
melee touch)
† Already used once
Abilities Str 22, Dex 19, Con 22, Int 4, Wis 16, Cha 12
SQ trap sense +1
Feats Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Run B , Spring
Attack B
Skills Intimidate +4, Jump +29, Listen +12, Move Silently
+18*, Spot +9, Survival +9 (+13 tracking by scent)
*Fecar’s Boys can always choose to take 10 on Move
Silently checks, even if rushed or threatened.
Possessions combat gear plus +1 studded leather, +1
greatsword
Change Shape (Su) Fecar’s Boys can transform into horrid,
tentacled masses. The ability works as change shape
(MM 306), except as follows: Their movement modes
remain unchanged; they retain their tentacle attacks;
they become amorphous and immune to flanking and
critical hits; and creatures native to the Material Plane
take a –1 penalty on attack rolls against Fecar’s Boys.
Magic Strike (Su) Fecar’s Boys’ natural weapons are
treated as magic weapons for the purpose of
overcoming damage reduction.
When not raging, Fecar’s Boys use the following statistics.
hp decrease by 12
AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 20
Fort +10, Will +5
Melee +1 greatsword +12 (2d6+10/19–20) and
2 tentacles +6 each (1d4+3)
Grp +11
Special Actions change shape, true strike
Abilities Str 18, Con 18
Skills Jump +27
True Strike (Su) As the true strike spell, 1/day.