How to Make Baron Drelev Fight Memorable (spoilers)

[Harles]

I want to wrap up the AP with the death of Baron Drelev. (I'm not comfortable running high level stuff, so I'd rather end the campaign on a high note than to have it devolve into bickering and fights about rules interpretations, etc.)

I've seen this coming for a while. I've removed all references to Pitax and the First World, so the players (and their characters) believe that most of their hardships have come from Drelev. Heck, he was even responsible for awakening Vordakai back in #3.

The problem is that Drelev, as written, will be an absolute push over. Even though the party is only 7th level, they are easily functioning at a APL 11 or 12. (They have very good ability scores and have 7 members in the party.) Due to obscenely high armor classes, the only things that seem to really threaten the party are swarms, oozes, and incorporeal undead - the kinds of things that Baron Drelev isn't.

So how does a flesh and blood man challenge a party of 7th level demigods?

[Jason Nelson]

Answer #1: Don't run Drelev against them alone.

Answer #2: Don't run Drelev against them alone.

I realize that #2 is the same as #1, but it just seemed so important that it was worth stating twice... :)

Seriously, though, Drelev is a BARON with an army of mooks under his command. Why on earth would he face the PCs alone. If the knows the PCs are gunning for him (and he probably should), he should have a half dozen guards with him at all times, and when he faces the PCs his first action will be to call for aid, causing Imeckus Stroon and others to show up.

If you have him face the party alone, of course he's gonna get dogpiled. Give the PCs a lot of distractions to make them split their strength and give Drelev some time to make a memorable final stand.

[Erik Freund]

If the party's APL is where you say it is: just grab the throne room combat from AP #5. (you say you'll never run it anyways, right?)

It's a fight against a King, and he's got his whole entourage with him. Bards-and-trolls-and-barbarians-and-archers-and-contingencyspells oh my!

Re-flavor them as dark sisters of Gyronna, or Imicus Stroon's friends or something.