Looking for help on last fight some spoilers beware

[ralath]

So far the party has failed on pretty much every level of this ap. They have not stopped the whispering way once in any significant way. If anything they have helped them by delivering the raven's head and not saving the count after multiple tries. At this point it feels like the whispering way would complete their task and feed the potion to the count. What kind of encounter would you think this would set up for the end. Any ideas would be very helpful.

[Joey Virtue]

A badA$$ Mythic Lich

[ralath]

Yeah I'm thinking that's what might have to happen at this point heh. Anyone got any good ideas on a build for Tar-baphon that might be a bit more challenging than what is written now but not just a total wipe for the party without any hope.

[Joey Virtue]

Do you have Hero Labs?

So what CR are you thinking

[ralath]

I do have herolab I'm thinking maybe cr 20 which will be really tough but not impossible.

[Joey Virtue]

A 15 level mythic lich would be the CR 20 but I think it should be harder then a CR 20
What level are your PCs? I think it should be at least CR +5 if not more

Take one of The NPC mages and the two lich templates and let him kick the PCs a$$ give him all the mythic stuff you want

[Level 1 Commoner]

There are published stats for the Whispering Tyrant in one of the mythic books. I guess it's time to use them. If your group still should have a chance at beating him, just drop the mythic part and say that he still needs time to regain his full power potential.

Side note: HOW did they screw it up so hard? The AP is rather easy after Book 2 in my opinion.

[Rakshaka]

I would take Adivion and remove his Forsaken Lich template, having him waiting for the PCs at the base of the tower. Have they dealt with Marrowgarth yet? If not, it would be pretty interesting to have Adivion riding him in patrol. As for Tar Baphon, the idea of using him but without the Mythic Tiers is pretty awesome. The other thing I would change is his gear; he wouldn't have access to his stuff since its still locked below with his original body. In this way, you could use whatever you feel like supplying him with to keep his CR normal, whatever stuff the Whispering Way might have to supply him with. An image I kind of like is him flying above the Gallowspire, directing a Nightcrawler which bashes fruitlessly against the side of the tower in an attempt to get in.

Man, I'm kind of envious; having this scenario play itself out is like letting a having a free license to throw whatever big-bad monsters you want to at the party. I could see TB's first goal is getting back into Gallowspire to get all of his stuff, which gives him a good reason to stay there and wait for whatever PCs your group rolls up.

[mikeawmids]

Just be careful not to set the party up for another failure. Yes, they've maybe messed up and there should be narrative consequences, but nobody will enjoy being shepherded towards a confrontation that will likely result in a TPK. Since the players have struggled with the AP as written, are they really up to fighting Tar Baphon? As a GM, my advice would be to use the forsaken lich as Tar Baphon and let them finish the campaign with a major victory, to compensate for the parade of failures that preceded it. Nobody likes their PC looking like a chump. Then move onto something new.