I'm running There Is No Honor and The Bullywug Gambit, but I don't plan on running The Sea Wyvern's Wake or anything beyond that. I enjoy the adventures quite a bit and I think they're great, but my game takes place in my own homebrew setting and I don't want to take the campaign thousands of miles away from the established area (not to mention it’s more of an urban campaign). I need to end the adventure path prematurely, and this pretty much means the PCs are going to have to catch up with Vanthus and put an end to him, one way or the other. The PCs have already reached Kraken's Cove, so I need to wrap up the adventure path with the fight at the Vanderboren estate, or at least tracking down Vanthus somewhere within or near the city afterwards.
That being said, I was wondering if anyone had any idea what class and level Vanthus might be? Although it would be great if Mr. Jacobs could post Vanthus' stat block, I know that's probably not possible. So if I have to come up with Vanthus' stats on my own, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. My current party is made up of a 6th level human rogue and a 6th level human wizard (enchanter). The wizard plans on scrying Vanthus out as soon as he reaches level 7 and he learns the spell. He can easily get some of Vanthus' hair from a brush at his room at the estate (-10 to the save); at the very least, he has some of Vanthus’ possessions (-4).
Now, we know that Vanthus didn't think he was a match for Harliss Javell, so that means he's very likely lower level than her. He's younger than his sister, but his experience on the rougher side of life probably gave him a few more levels than her. We haven't been given any indication that Vanthus has magical ability, so spellcasting classes are probably out. Since the enchanter can end the fight fairly easily with a hold person or suggestion spell, I wouldn't mind giving him levels in a class with a decent Will save; that would also make it more difficult for him to scried out. I don't want to resort to the cheesy Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location shtick, though I’ll probably give him a cloak of resistance or something similar to help with the Will save. I also really can't justify giving Vanthus monk levels just for the good Will save, considering the life of vice he's led.
Suggestions?
Vanthus's stats first appear in Tides of Dread. I had the pleasure of supplying those stats myself. At that point, Vanthus is pretty advanced to make him a proper challenge at that level (9th-12th) and reflects where he's been since the party last caught wind of his presence near Sasserine. If James Jacobs wishes to elaborate more, I'll leave it to him to do so.
You could do worse than giving him a fighter/rogue build with a lot of ranks in Bluff. You should also give him the elite array for ability scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 placed wherever you wish).
Thanks for the quick reply :)
I'll build him as a fighter/rogue with a couple of items that help his saves. I want him to be a challenge after all the party went through to find him. I think I'll give him a couple of low-level Lotus Dragon lackies for them to fight through to get to him.
I figured the path wouldn't have the party running into Vanthus in the near future, so his true stats would be a bit too high level for my party.
Creative Director
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When Vanthus finally shows up in "Tides of Dread" with a stat block to back up his actions, he's pretty tough; he's been through a few life-changing moments, shall we say. AND: This is currently the only stat block for him that exists—there's no lower level one out there.
If you want to have Vanthus show up at the Vanderboren Estate, the best bet is to simply make up his stats however you want. He doesn't have to relate to what he ends up being later in the campaign, since you're not running that adventure anyway.
Although Vanthus is younger than Lavinia, he's had a rougher life and is certainly higher level than her.
If you want to stat him up similar to where he'll end up in "Tides of Dread" and want to have him challenge a group of 4th or 5th level characters on his own, I'd suggest making him:
CE male human aristocrat 1/rogue 4/fighter 3
If you want him to match high-level Vanthus's fighting style, he's a dual wielder fighter who uses a longsword and a sickle.
Thanks, that helps quite a bit. I'm working on his stats right now, and I was wondering what sort of fighting style to give him. It never even entered my mind to give him aristocrat levels, though it makes perfect sense (I was working with rogue 3/fighter 4). I'll add that level now :)
Is the sickle a leftover from his time on the plantage or is it the favoured weapon of Demogorgon? :)
well atleast its not warhammer and sickle.. lol
Thanks, that helps quite a bit. I'm working on his stats right now, and I was wondering what sort of fighting style to give him. It never even entered my mind to give him aristocrat levels, though it makes perfect sense (I was working with rogue 3/fighter 4). I'll add that level now :)
Thanurel, you should definitely give him the Improved Feint feat and use it A LOT in combat. Vanthus is a dirty, dirty fighter. Play him that way. If you can realistically set up the fight in a way that would benefit Vanthus the most, do so. Think about all the ways you can deny your PCs their Dexterity and there will be Vanthus to punish them for screwing up his plans (climbing, grappling -with Vanthus, that is-, flat-footed, unaware due to invisibility... are all good examples of situations that deny them their Dex).
Thanks for the info, his stats could come in handy. I'm thinking of having Vanthus go straight from parrot Isle, and confront Lavina (while the pc's are trapped in the caves). He'll break a few things and smack her around quite a bit for having sent the PC's after him; then leave before the pc's can escape the tunnels. When they get back to Vanderboren manor, they find it in shambles and lavina bleeding... makes vanthus all the more EEEEVIL! :)