Thessalar (the lich in Dungeon 134) is a pretty cool character. I was thinking about introducing a couple of the thessalmonsters and lore about the many types of monsters he has created, so as to foreshadow him a bit. On the other hand, he really isn't a major focus of the campaign so maybe this would be a distraction.
Any thoughts?
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Heck, yeah, why not?
He's going to be Mordain the Fleshweaver instead in our Eberron-based AoW campaign, but I'll certainly be rewarding high Knowledge (Dungeoneering) checks with info like, "[X creature] is purported to be the product of the mad arcanist [Thessalar/Mordain]'s craft."
I might even toss in some of the other noted aberrations at some point to increase the chance that they'll nail a high check result eventually.
yeah, i have been thinking it would be pretty cool for the chars to fight several creatures made by him in the campaign. And then have to deal with their creator.
Plus rust monsters are always cool.
I am thinking in the Prince of Redhand instead of having the battle between the cockatrices, having Zeech controll a Rust Monster and a PC control some type of metal Golem. Before the battle he can explain how the Rust Monster was a creation from the mad Lich Thesallor. Now I just need to find an appropriate metal golem.
i know it's a bit late, but if you're looking for more information on thessalmonsters, i added this not long ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessalmonster
i used Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix I (MC3) as my main source, as i don't have #134 yet.
I just got a really delightful idea I'm going to use in my game: One of Thessalar's earliest creations was the very first acid beetle.
It adds an element of bitterness to meeting him, especially for a party that lost a member or two to a certain elevator long ago.
I was honestly a bit disappointed with Thessalar and his keep. Him being just a plain old lich when fighting Ulgurstasta sorcerers and spellweaver liches made him seem very vanilla.
I really reworked his spells and tactics to make him more of a challenge for my pcs. (And i might have used the stats for advanced Thessalhydra instead of the regular.... don't tell my pcs ;)
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I was honestly a bit disappointed with Thessalar and his keep. Him being just a plain old lich when fighting Ulgurstasta sorcerers and spellweaver liches made him seem very vanilla.
I really reworked his spells and tactics to make him more of a challenge for my pcs. (And i might have used the stats for advanced Thessalhydra instead of the regular.... don't tell my pcs ;)
Would you mind sharing your reworked spell list and tactics? I agree with you, and my PCs are just about to run into him...
Would you mind sharing your reworked spell list and tactics? I agree with you, and my PCs are just about to run into him...I was honestly a bit disappointed with Thessalar and his keep. Him being just a plain old lich when fighting Ulgurstasta sorcerers and spellweaver liches made him seem very vanilla.
I really reworked his spells and tactics to make him more of a challenge for my pcs. (And i might have used the stats for advanced Thessalhydra instead of the regular.... don't tell my pcs ;)
Sorry for the late reply (having a newborn can be distracting :p)
Thessalar
Wizard 20 (Transmuter)
15
23
00
33
14
16
HP: 225 (Eagles Splendor, False Life)
AC: 30 Touch 20 (+4 Shield, +1 Haste)
Init: +10
Saves: Fort +12 Ref +18 Will +18
CMB: +10
CMD: 30
Speed 30' or 60'
Skills: Perception +33, Stealth +37, Fly +29, Spellcraft +34, Knowledge +34, Sense Motive +33, Acrobatics +26, other skills....
Feats: Improved Initiative, Craft Construct, Craft Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, Forge Ring, Craft Wondrous Item, Greater Spell Focus, Empower Spell, Quicken Spell, Scribe Scroll B, Spell Focus, Toughness, Dodge, Lightning Reflexes, Improved Lightning Reflexes, Maximize Spell
♧Arcane Bond
Telekinetic Fist: 14/day 1d4+10 30'
Concentration +31 DC slvl +21 *(+23)
Specialized Transmuter
Opposed Schools: Illusion, Enchantment
9th: *Time Stop, Gate x2, Wail of the Banshee, Prismatic Sphere, Wish
8th: Empowered Chain Lightning, Quickened Dimension Door x2, Maze, *Temporal Stasis, Clenched Fist +42 1d8+11
7th: Maximized Enervation, Finger of Death, *Reverse Gravity, Spell Turning, Mage's Sword, Delayed Fireball x2
6th: Chain Lightning, *Disintegrate, Maximized Vampiric Touch, Quickened Mirror Image (2), True Seeing, Quickened Fog Cloud
5th: *Overland Flight, Cone of Cold, Cloud Kill, Quickened Ray of Enfeeblement, Wall of Force, Maximized Scorching Ray x2
4th: Dimension Door, Enervation, Empowered Scorching Ray, *Reduce Person Mass, Maximized Magic Missile, Fire Shield, Solid Fog
3rd: *Slow, Dispel Magic x2, Fireball, Ray of Exhaustion, Vampiric Touch x2, Protection from Energy
2nd: Eagles Splendor, Cats Grace, Scorching Ray x3, False Life, Mirror Image (2), Glitterdust, Resist Energy, Darkness, Gust of Wind,
1st: Shield, Ray of Enfeeblement, Reduce Person, Shocking Grasp, Grease, Magic Missile, Unseen Servant, Protection from Good
♡Permanent Spells: See Invisibility, Arcane Sight, Read Magic, Tongues
◇Contingency: Cast Displacement when attacked
■Already Cast: Unseen Servant, False Life
Combat Gear: Inflict Serious Wounds x10, Lesser Rod of Quicken, Wand of Scorching Ray lvl 8, Boots of Speed
Round 1: Time Stop, Gate x2 (Pit Fiend, 3 Barbed Devils), Prismatic Sphere, After that any Leftover
That's great - thanks! Don't worry about the late reply - it's not too late for me, and I remember what having a newborn is like. If you get the chance, could you explain what "After that any Leftover" means, please?
I'm running AoW for a Pathfinder 1E group right now (they're in TFoE right now) and I have been foreshadowing Thessalar already.
Acid beetles? Those are Thessalbeetles, created by a wizard long ago.
Owlbears? Those were also created by Thessal.
No one will really know he's still around until they encounter him as a lich, where he will unveil his most dastardly dilemma:
"Yes, I'm Thessal. You've heard of me? Good, good, that'll make this much easier. You see, the spirit fragment you seek is here in this rather large gem, soul bound. What? The gem seems a bit over-sized for Balakarde? Oh, it isn't for him . . . only. You see, this gem is also my phylactery.
To free Balakarde's spirit you only have to destroy me and then my phylactery. Ah, but I can see by your avaricious appraisal of this beauty that even I wouldn't need all of the room in this gem. And I do so hate inefficiency; hence my efforts to improve on the randomness of Nature.
But I digress. Demodragon (Dungeon #147) is also trapped inside. A modified Imprisonment of sorts. And Demodragon is the last remaining vestige of Demogorgon. If you slay me and destroy the phylactery, you'll retrieve Balakarde's spirit, but you'll also release Demodragon. He'll be at full strength and, as he's always in agony, ready to fight whoever is nearby, which will be you. And you? Well, you won't be at full strength because, and I promise you this, I will not go down easily and I will not go down alone.
Destroy me, rest up, then shatter my phylactery before I can reform? Believe me, I have thought of this. You see, I have spent centuries and more Wishes than were needed to insure a little contingency. Three minutes after I am destroyed, my phylactery will be teleported to a secure location, where I may revive and plot my revenge. Trust me when I say that a Dimensional Anchor will be woefully insufficient to the task of keeping my phylactery here. In fact, you would need the direct intervention of a greater deity.
So, that is your choice. Allow me to continue my experiments in peace or be the harbingers who usher in a new age of abyssal chaos by bringing Demodragon (and maybe even Demogorgon) back into existence?