Improving the encounter with Crimson


Savage Tide Adventure Path


I feel that the encounter with Crimson in EomE is a little uninspired. The PCs will mow it down with ease.

My current thoughts on spicing it up are as follows, but suggestions are welcome.

Note: they are a little x-rated

When the heroes enter the lower section of the temple the dining room is now a pleasure room, and their is a tapestry in mockery of Pelorian style tapestries of priests engaged in all manner of perversions. It is magical and those who look upon it are overcome by the urge to strip down and start getting it on with the nearest person (DC 35 Will save to resist). Potentially a big inter-party orgie ensues. I call this the tapestry of Carnal Lust trap. If some of the party is not overcome by their base urges then they will potential have part members forcing themselves on them.

Obviously this is none too quiet and it attracts the attention of vampires. Two of them come in to investigate, dressed in robes of clerics of Pelor. They initially try to discern how many of the party have been effected. If most of them have then the incubi and vampires are summoned and they start wisdom draining the heroes while the vampires start blood sucking them.

If it looks like only a couple are having issues then they might feign like they are mortified by the actions of the party, and then offer their blessings and question their business. Meanwhile the incubi and the rest of the vampires will be moving into hiding positions in room 3. The vampires will spider climb and take to the ceiling where they hide. The incubi will hide behind sarcophogi. The priests will try to lure the heroes into the next room where the incubi and vampires will spring their ambush, likely gaining a surprise round on the heroes.

To make the encounter even deadlier toss in a marilith.

The following stat block is not entirely by the book. It is essentially an elite incubus (Dragon Mag 353) with 12 levels of fighter and 3 levels of rogue, along with a few other upgrades. Skills, feats and saves have basically just been eye balled and not calculated properly.

It is assumed that the marilith cast see invis on them and that they drink potions of haste just before springing their ambush.

Incubus Elites, CR 15

Init +8; Senses darkvision, Listen +12, Spot +12
Languages tongues, telepathy 100'
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AC 28 (+4 Dex, +6 armor, +7 natural, +1 haste), touch 15, flat footed 27 (uncanny dodge)
hp 160 (HD 19) ; DR 10/cold iron and good, SR 30; Spd 60'
Immune electricity, poison; Resist acid 20/ cold 20/ fire 20
Fort +22 Ref +17 Will +17 (evasion)
BAB +16 Grp. +25
Active Spells: haste, see invisibility
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Melee: +1 disarming scourge +23/+23/+18/+13/+8 (1d8+10, 20x2)
Disarm: +31 Trip : +29
Attack Options: Sneak Attack +6d6, Wisdom Damage with grapple/kiss (2d6+ suggestion DC 30)
Spell-Like Abilities:
At Will- charm person (DC 25), detect thoughts, detect good, disguise self,
1 per day- modify memory (DC 30)
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Str 20, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 24
Feats: Iron Will, Combat Expertise, Improved Disarm, Weapon Focus, Improved Grapple, Weapon Spec.,
Improved Initiative, Improved Trip Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Melee Weapon Mastery, Lightning Reflexes

Skills: Bluff +20, Hide +12, Move Silently +12, Sense Motive +17, Tumble +12
Gear: +1 disarming scourge, +2 mithril breastplate, 1500gp misc. jewelry.

Tactics: When the alarm is sounded the incubi will take up position behind behind the sarcophogi and hide Spot DC 26
The vampire b#&&#es will spider climb on the ceiling and do their own hiding DC 44. When the heroes enter two of the vampires will be posing as priests of Pelor (with upside down holy symbols). They will welcome the heroes, and chat with them for a few minutes, asking what they want, and why they have come, and encouraging to sheath their weapons (Bluff checks +9).

Suddenly the Incubi will attack. They get a move and a single attack with their scourges. They will take advantage of the opportunity to sneak attack. At the same time the vampires will leap down from the ceiling with their kama and make an attack of their own, relying on their tumble skills and slow fall to avoid damage. They will attempt to set up flanking with the incubi.

The marilith will be busy hiding the nearby hall and will use blade barrier spells to start hammering the heroes

Sczarni

sounds good...

just one thing: See Invis is personal range, so no casting it on others (although w/ UMD they could scroll-cast or wand-cast it)

if i hadn't given up modifying these encounters, this would have been a nice set up.

as it was, my party "metafaculty'd" the location of crimson, teleported the warblade and monk (and psion) to her "im so goth im laying in a coffin being all sad-like" moment, bashing her into unconsciousness.

the vamps seemed like an afterthought at that point.

good luck,

-the hamster

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