Exemplars of Evil

ENCOUNTER 5-2
A
LTAR EGO
Encounter Level 11
SETUP
Each corner of the chapel contains one everburning torch
and a statue of a spider. Near the wall opposite the
entrance is a plain altar, above which floats an upsidedown
rapier. The chapel is usually empty unless Calais
comes to pray or conduct a service. Tamesik was more
prone to dogma and enjoyed preaching to her minions,
but Calais dislikes holding ceremonies. Still, a secret
compartment in the altar holds a small store of magic
items, so Calais might come here to equip herself for a
fight—especially if she has been alerted to intruders
in the warehouse.
For the most part, the chapel is safe. However, if
anyone touches the altar without possessing a special
key, the shadesteel golem in the rapier is awakened. (See
Features of the Area, below.) When this occurs, four tomb
spider broodswarms emerge from the spider statues in
the corners.
If one of the PCs touches the altar without the key,
read:
As you touch the cool stone of the altar, the
hovering rapier begins to spin in circles. The
spinning rapidly becomes faster, creating a
whirling ring of shadow and steel. From this dark
ring emerges a metallic, skeletal monstrosity. At
the same time, hundreds of spiders pour out of the
statues in the corners of the room.
TACTICS
The broodswarms heal whenever the shadesteel golem
releases its negative pulse wave. Reldeth also heals, which
allows him to become a threat again even if he was previously
damaged.
These tactics can backfire, however. If a PC succumbs
to the poison of a broodswarm, he can be healed by the
negative energy of the golem’s pulse wave, but only for
1 minute.
CONCLUSION
The golem and the broodswarms attack until the PCs
are slain, they are slain, or the intruders retreat. If the
shadesteel golem is slain, it returns to the rapier and
cannot be released again for 24 hours. If the PCs retreat,
the golem returns to the rapier and waits to fulfill its duty.
The same is true for the broodswarms, except that they
return to the statues.
Shadesteel Golem MM3 CR 11
hp 119 (18 HD); DR 10/adamantine and magic
N Medium construct (extraplanar)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen +0,
Spot +0
Languages —
AC* 34, touch 14, flat-footed 31
(+3 Dex, +20 natural, +1 dodge from haste)
Immune magic, construct immunities
Fort +6, Ref +10*, Will +6
Weakness construct vulnerabilities
Speed* 60 ft. (12 squares), fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee* 3 slams +21 each (2d6+7)
Base Atk +13; Grp 20
Special Actions negative pulse wave
Abilities Str 24, Dex 16, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 7
SQ construct traits, haste, shadow blend
Feats —
Skills Hide +15, Listen +0, Move Silently +19, Spot +0
Immunity to Magic (Ex) A shadesteel golem is immune to
any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance.
In addition, certain spells and effects function
differently against the creature, as noted below.
A magical effect that has the light descriptor (such
as continual flame) causes the golem to speed up for
2d4 rounds as if affected by a haste spell. The golem is
also hasted if it is subject to a positive energy effect,
such as the turning attempt of a cleric, which might
happen if a cleric mistakenly identifies it as a
nightwalker or other undead.
If a shadesteel golem is targeted by or within the
area of a spell that has the darkness or shadow
descriptors, the golem heals 1 point of damage per
level of the spell.
Negative Pulse Wave (Su) A shadesteel golem can
radiate a burst of inky black negative energy as a free
action every 1d4+1 rounds. The pulse wave drains life
from all living creatures within 40 feet of the golem,
dealing 12d6 points of negative energy damage. A
successful DC 19 Fortitude save halves the damage.
Undead creatures within the area are healed of 12d6
points of damage instead, and any turning effect they
are under is broken. A death ward or similar effect
protects a creature from a shadesteel golem’s
negative pulse wave.
Shadow Blend (Su) A shadesteel golem has concealment
in any illumination other than full daylight.
* Affected by a continuous haste spell that is in effect
because of the continual flame spells cast on the
everburning torches. The haste effect (granting one
extra attack when making a full attack, +1 bonus on
attack rolls, +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class, and +1
dodge bonus on Reflex saves) is negated if all the
continual flame spells are dispelled or if the area is
brought into darkness.
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