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mobility ideaspraise and undead dragonsI love your version of Adivion. I was going to go with the bladebound magus first, but I figured my players would expect that from me (I love me some Elric of Melnibone though I stopped reading after Tales of the White Wolf in 1994). But once I got a better idea of the character concept, I scrapped that idea altogether. Which lead me to the kensai build. This is something they won't expect.
Morrowgarth in my end game scenario will probably do a strafing run in the surprise round, catching Addy in the target area as well. I say 'a' because the paladin will have a flying mount by that time and will want to take to the sky to deal with the evil undead dragon (drawing him away is one of the reasons she's going to be there in the first place).
To help with that, Addy's going to have chill fire shield up and running. Since the breath weapon allows a Reflex save, I'll drop a d20 but have him auto-save to not take any damage (and in the process, preserve his badass mystique). I'm having visions him of cutting an image similar to Sephiroth standing amidst the flames of burning Nibelheim in FF VII. Heck, I even have a theme song picked out for Adivion: Zaibach by Yoko Kanno from the series Vision of Escaflowne (and found only on the VoE: For Lovers Only soundtrack album). I think that number should lend him just the right air of menace for this fight.
My player and I are both known for despising intelligent magic items as part of our loot. The act of having to fight your stuff for dominance in order to make the most basic decisions is something we hated as PCs and is a hatred we still hold to this day. So my initial idea was "what would happen to someone who gave up?" Because reading Adivion's motives in Gallowspire really sounded to me like someone who had given in to an obsession. A darkened mirror, really, showing what could happen to any PC were they to give in and just let go.
I might need Morrowgarth to keep a grapple-monster eidolon busy. We've had more than a few fights end with the eidolon grappling the villain and just constricting it while the PCs kinda watch. At least Adivion has the concentration check necessary to escape such a grapple. I think I'll drop arcana theft and maybe phantasmal killer in favor of more dimension doors. And he already has chill shield up...
I don't have plans for any music. All I have is my voice, an instrument that already inspires nightmares. And with that voice I plan this...
In the center of the seal stands Adivion. He wears fine black robes embroidered in silver and gold and a tall crown of bone. He grips a shining chalice with both hands and there is a distinct madness in his pale eyes. The souls of the dead and the damned rage around you all, their dance of destruction wrapping around the blades of stone that threaten to close in around you. The air is thick with anticipation.
“Why?!” he demands as you step into view. “Why couldn't you just leave us alone?! For so long we've been searching for that one spark, that one beautiful ray of light that would make this a world worth living in. And then you... You had to meddle where you weren't wanted. There's nothing here for you! Why?!”
“Now look what you've done,” Adivion says, with a defeated sigh. “Do you know why I chose Galdana? Before Tar-Baphon took his title he sired an heir. And long generations hence, he still has that heir. The Tyrant's blood flows through Galdana's veins. But not the mind...”
Adivion looks into the chalice's depths. The damned fly around him, surrounding him in a spectral ring. You can tell something has gone horribly wrong.
“Please don't make me,” he whispers. “Maybe they... No, no I can't...” His face collapses in defeat against some unheard command. “All right, all right... I'll do it.” He swallows nervously before drinking deeply of the chalice. The spectral ring dives at him before shooting up into the sky. The storm above ripples as something happens.
[allow the PCs free reign. Melee PCs can run up to try and smack the chalice away. Ranged PCs may try to shoot it out of his hands. The following line assumes they are successful.]
The chalice flies, blood red liquid fans out and hisses where it touches the silver seal. You can hear the chalice as it bounces over the edge of the tower to shatter on the stones below.
[the PCs may even kill Adivion here, he does not resist because he's gonna die anyway. Whether they act or not...]
Adivion falls to his knees, gasping. He looks up at you with eyes full of fear.
“Please... help me...”
His eyes roll back and he collapses, dead.
[depending on PC's actions he may even die in their arms]
For a moment all is quiet. And then the quiet ends. Adivion is thrown backwards, blood flying from his mouth. His eyelids tear open as his eyes burn out of their sockets. It appears as though his entire body is burning, searing from the inside-out by a terrible force. The howling storm embraces him, ripping away at his clothing and his skin with far too many claws. Or maybe it's a trick of the blades, shadows thrown where they should not be.
He hauls himself upright, dead and Forsaken. What remains of his soul tears at his skin, leaving black furrows that gape before sealing themselves. He looks at his hands and begins to laugh, the mad cackle of the insane. He levels his undead gaze at you.
“You did this to me,” Adivion Adrissant accuses. “You stole Galdana from me. Look! Look at what you've done!”
His voice changes as the blue fire in his eye sockets smolders to black. “Blood means nothing,” he says. “I am the only worthy vessel for the Tyrant. In life I was his servant. Now...”
He draws his sword and holds it aloft, a wicked black blade covered in angry red runes. The storm above strikes down to that sword, setting it aflame and the world changes. You and Adivion stand in a blasted wasteland. Gallowspire looms in the distance.
“Now I am the Tyrant REBORN!!”
