Exemplars of Evil

ENCOUNTER 5-3
C
ALAIS’S CHAMBER
Encounter Level 12
SETUP
Assuming that the PCs were detected in the warehouse,
Calais (C) has had time to prepare for an assault. Even
if the adventurers successfully navigate the defenses
of the complex, Calais uses her prying eyes spell to look
for intruders. When she gets word that the complex is
under attack, she summons her most powerful guards
(D)—duskblade triplets named Oros, Nillaien, and
Hloethdrin—to her quarters (area 7). Although her bedchamber
is small, it is fairly defensible because it has two
escape routes: the teleportation circle and the secret door
to the Underdark.
Oros, Nillaien, and Hloethdrin are unshakably devoted
to Calais, whom they believe to be Tamesik the drow.
Tamesik rescued them from slavery when they were on
the verge of being sold to a gladiatorial arena; since that
day, the triplets have loyally served the priestess. Although
they realize that something is amiss with their benefactor,
they do not suspect that she is an impostor. If they were
to learn the truth about how Calais killed and replaced
Tamesik, their reaction would be extreme.
When the PCs enter this room, read:
The door opens to a surprising scene. Three drow
males in breastplates stand in a defensive line,
protecting their mistress with their glowing
longswords. Behind this wall of living steel stands
an elegantly robed drow female, preparing to
unleash the divine force of her dark goddess.
TACTICS
As soon as Calais has gathered her guards, she casts a series
of defensive spells. First, she casts spells that protect herself
and the triplets. In the first round, she uses her scroll
of mass bear’s endurance. In the next round, she casts bless,
followed by magic circle against law.
94
Calais Archwinter CR 11
hp 59 (10 HD); see page 83
Oros, Nillaien, and Hloethdrin CR 6
hp 31 each (5 HD)
Male drow duskblade PH2 5
LE Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Listen +2, Spot +2
Languages Common, Drow Sign Language, Draconic,
Elven, Gnome, Undercommon
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16
(+2 Dex, +6 armor)
Immune magic sleep effects
SR 16
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +4 (+6 against spells and spell-like
effects)
Weakness light blindness
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares) in breastplate, base speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 longsword +9 (1d8+3/19–20)
Ranged mwk hand crossbow +8 (1d4 plus poison/19–20)
Base Atk +5; Grp +7
Atk Options poison (drow sleep poison, Fort DC 13,
unconscious 1 minute/unconscious 2d4 hours)
Special Actions arcane attunement, arcane channeling,
quick cast 1/day
Combat Gear 2 doses drow sleep poison, scroll of see
invisibility
Duskblade Spells Known (CL 5th):
2nd (3/day)—ghoul touch (+7 melee touch, DC 15)
1st (6/day)—ray of enfeeblement (+7 ranged touch),
resist energy, shocking grasp (+7 melee touch, DC 14),
swift expeditious retreat, true strike
0 (6/day)—acid splash (+7 ranged touch), disrupt undead
(+7 ranged touch), ray of frost (+7 ranged touch),
touch of fatigue (+7 melee touch, DC 13)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th):
1/day—dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire
Abilities Str 14, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 10
SQ notice secret and concealed doors within 5 feet,
armored mage (medium), spell power
Feats Battlecaster Offense CM (see page 25), Combat
Casting B , Weapon Focus (longsword)
Skills Concentration +9 (+13 casting defensively),
Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (religion) +11,
Listen +2, Search +5, Sense Motive +8, Spellcraft +13,
Spot +2
Possessions combat gear plus +1 breastplate, +1 light steel
shield, +1 longsword, masterwork hand crossbow with 10
bolts, 7 pp, 5 gp
Light Blindness (Ex) Abrupt exposure to bright light (such
as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds drow for 1 round.
In addition, they take a –1 circumstance penalty on
attack rolls, saves, and checks when in bright light.
Arcane Attunement (Sp) For a combined total of six times
per day, each of the triplets can use dancing lights,
detect magic, flare (DC 14), ghost sound, and read magic.
Caster level 5th.
Arcane Channeling (Su) Each triplet can cast any touch
spell he knows (ghoul touch, shocking grasp, or touch of
fatigue) and deliver it through his longsword with a
melee attack. This channeling requires a standard
action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity. If
the attack is successful, the attack deals damage
normally, and then the effect of the spell is resolved.
Quick Cast Each triplet can cast one spell per day as a swift
action, as long as the spell’s normal casting time is 1
standard action or less.
Armored Mage (Medium) (Ex) Each triplet can cast arcane
spells with no chance of arcane spell failure while
wearing medium armor and using a light shield.