The Glyphstone
2005-12-02, 03:04 PM
http://www.pbase.com/image/54142490/original.jpg
For those who cannot see. (http://i.pbase.com/o4/30/358230/1/54142490.santafinished.JPG)
The snow swirls around you, whipping back into your face. The light of the lantern is barely visible five yards ahead, and footsteps just that far behind are already full of snow. You are lost, and getting very, very cold...
Abruptly, a figure appears out of the empty whiteness, moving towards you. It is large and bulky, its outline oddly irregular. As the figure approaches into the thin light, it is revealed to be a very generously sized man with an equally sized sack slung over his back. He might be fat, or perhaps just blanketed with many layers of clothing, topped with a bright red suit bearing white fur trim. In one hand he carries a large golden scepter, several jewels studding its length and head. In the other, a faint glow of magic begins to shine. His face is round and rosy, with a long white beard, but the eyes...
Those eyes, they gleam with a light that cannot be fully reflected from the lantern;s glow. The eyes narrow, and the mouth crinkles underneath the beard as he approaches, but is that an expression of joyous welcome, or a grimace of anger and hatred?
Saint Nikolas Kalauz (CR 20)
Human Sorcerer 6/Rogue 4/Arcane Trickster 10
Lawful Good Medium Humanoid
Init: +5
Senses: Normal vision, normal hearing, can cast Darkvision, Listen +17, Spot +17
Aura: Strongly Lawful, Strongly Good (when carrying the Scepter)
Languages: Common, Elven, Celestial - can speak and understand all languages via tongues and comprehend languages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25
HP 84 (6d4+4d6+10d6+20)
Immune to: Fire and Cold (when wearing the Suit)
SR: 21
DR: 5/evil
Fort +15, Ref +22, Will +21
Weakness: angered by the sight of blatant selfishness/cruelty (no definite game effect)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed: 30 ft.(6 squares), fly 60ft. (12 squares)(perfect)
Melee: Scepter of Kalauz +18/+13 (1d8+7+1d6 fire +1d6 cold +1d6 electricity +2d6 holy vs. evil/19-20/x2+1d10 fire+1d10 cold +1d10 electricity)
Base Atk/Grp: +11/+15
Attack Options: Smite Evil 5/day, adds +8 to attack and +20 to damage against evil creatures; sneak attack +7d6; Impromptu Sneak Attack 2/day
Special Actions: Spellcasting
Combat Gear: Wand of Dispel Magic (50 charges), Staff of ethereal action (50 charges); varied healing potions
Spells Known (CL 20th)
8th - Trap the Soul
7th - Limited Wish; Insanity
6th - Geas/Quest; Chain Lightning; True Seeing
5th - Feeblemind; Cone of Cold; Teleport; Break Enchantment
4th - Greater Invisibility; Shout; Charm Monster; Scrying
3rd - Displacement; Fireball; Lightning Bolt; Hold Person
2nd - Melf's Acid Arrow; Scorching Ray; Darkvision, Knock
1st - Magic Missile; True Strike; Shield; Detect Secret Doors; Charm Person
0th - Resistance; Acid Splash; Detect Poison; Detect Magic; Read Magic; Mage Hand; Open/Close; Arcane Mark; Prestigitiation
Spell-Like/Power-Like Abilities - Detect Evil and Detect Good at will when carrying the Scepter; Fly at will when wearing the Yuletide Suit;
Deity: Heironeous (or other pantheon-appropriate LG deity)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abilities: Str 12(18), Dex 12(18), Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 21(27)
(scores adjusted for items shown in parentheses)
Special Qualities: Ranged Legerdemain 3/day, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge
Feats: Craft Wondrous Item; Magical Artisan(C.W.I.); Extend Spell; Energy Substitution(Cold); Eschew Materials; Energy Admixture(Cold); Improved Initiative; Practiced Spellcaster;
Skills: Concentration +15; Craft(Toy) +18; Decipher Script +7; Diplomacy +14; Disable Device +7; Escape Artist +7 Hide +14; Intimidate +16; Move Silently +14; Knowledge(Arcana) +18; Spellcraft +18
Possessions: Yuletide Suit; Scepter of Kalauz; Bag of Gifts; Boots of the Winterlands; Belt of Giant Strength +6; Gloves of Dexterity +6; Vest of Resistance +5; Cloak of Charisma +6; Ring of Protection +5; Hat of Language; Mantle of Faith; Stone of Good Luck, Crystal Ball with True Seeing; Staff of Ethereal Action, Wand of Dispel Magic
Familiar: None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To most people,the Icy Avenger is a myth, a legend to encourage (or scare) their children. For those he has visited, they know better, that the enigmatic Saint Kalauz is very real indeed. Most of the year he spends hidden away in his lair, which no living creature save him has ever seen and returned from. It is said to be a mighty fortress near the very tip of the world, surrounded by a deadly ring of perpetual blizzards and snowstorms. Here, he rests, constructs fantastic devices, and scries on the world, watching for those who have been naughty or nice, seeking out the worst and most vile to punish, and the good and virtuous to reward. When the snowy seasons come, he departs his hideaway and sets out to track down those he has selected this year for his attentions, travelling by foot, by air, or by magical teleportation. Very little can impede his progress - he can bypass almost any lock or barricade with his magic, and even transit through solid walls if need be.
His approach to a targeted individual or group depends on their alignment, and thus his reasons for finding them. For those of good nature, he will announce his presence and explain his benevolent intentions, offering them gifts for their noble behavior. If they are evil, he will usually declare himself as well, giving them a few seconds to prepare themselves to be forcefully absolved of their wickedness, to death if necessary. Only for the most absolutely vile of fiends will he skip the preliminaries, abruptly launching into a devestating attack with the element of surprise. But nor is he above trickery and duplicity if the circumstances require it, such as pretending to treat the evil group as a good one, only to present one or more of them with gifts that are actually specially prepared trigger objects for Trap the Soul.
History
Nikolas Kalauz's past is as shrouded in mystery as is his present, with most knowledge of him being conjecture and theory at best, and wild assumptions the rest of the time. He was born in a nameless village long ago, to nameless parents, and lived a uneventful childhood. But when bandits attacked and destroyed his home, killing many, his life was changed forever. The father dead defending the town, the mother reduced to a wreck by sorrow at her loss, the young Nikolas alone with his newly emergent sorcerous powers appearing. He swore a vow that no such criminals would ever go unpunished as long as he lived to stop them, and set off from home. For years, he lived as a vigilante, hunting down and killing raiders and evil monsters. Their possessions that he did not need, he gave away to those he saw performing acts of kindness. He developed a small reputation, the eccentric wilderness-dwelling crusader, till one day he vanished without warning. No one knows why he left - it may have been a impulse, or some divinely inspired vision - but he abandoned all he had been working on and travelled north, deep into the wastelands of snow and ice. He was not heard of for some time, till one winter he returned wearing a rich suit of red and white, and wielding a mighty scepter of gold. He resumed his activities of hunting out evil, though his greatly increased power allowed him to ignore petty offenses and focus on those who committed greater deeds of darkness. Soon, tyrants and corrupt warlords trembled at the mention of his name, fearful that he might one day visit them as well, while heroes and champions praised his name (and often hoped for a visit from him as well, to recieve one of the fabled treasures he was said to disperse to those worthy of them). Over the years, he has been sighted on and off, though he never seems to grow any older or weaker. He never claimed the title of Saint, but it was gradually bestowed upon him by the masses through years of his generosity. His name to those that would oppose him is the Icy Avenger, an ominous title that carries the weight of immunerable seasons of snow and cold, wrapped in uncertainty and danger as strongly as are the howling storms that he loves so much.
Interactions/Combat
A group of adventurers might be quite likely to attract Kalauz's gaze, either for the grand quests they have accomplished, or the foul travesties they have committed. As mentioned, his dealings with them depend on their behavior and his reasons for finding them. His Bag of Gifts is nearly limitless, capable of producing any item within the stated limits, ranging from weapons to half-plate armor to potions or scrolls. Simple requests for money can also be accommodated in the form of gems, though this would require a bit of careful wording to avoid offending Kalauz with apparent greed. He might also bring with him previously crafted items, forged in his workshop, designed specifically to benefit those he gifts them to.
Evil adventuring parties will be likely to incur his wrath for sufficiently bad actions, and it is these that he will attack. He may give up to one round's worth of time to prepare, but after such his assault is relentless and merciless. Truly depraved teams he does not favor with such, but launches straight into the battle from hiding or simple invisibility. If he engages in battle or is forced into such, the following tactics are his standard approach:
Prior to Combat
-Uses Detect Good and Detect Evil to confirm that his targets are not another similar, but innocent group.
-Will typically cast Shield on himself, raising his AC values to 33, 19, and 29 respectively, and uses True Seeing.
-Always activates the power of his Yuletide Suit to fly.
-In the case of those he does not warn, he will also invoke Greater Invisibility or even Displacement.
Surprise Round (if applicable)
-Loose a Chain Lightning spell from hiding, with the primary target being the enemy that appears most threatening - typically the most obvious opposing spellcaster. If they appear to be obviously warded against electrical magic, he will sacrifice his movement to apply his Energy Substitution(Cold) feat. Often, such a powerful opening shot (27d6 electrical or cold damage) is enough to cripple or disable the target, the weaker secondary bolts softening up the other foes.
First Round:
-If there was no surprise round, or if he loses Initiative, he will utilize one of his Impromptu Sneak Attacks to perform the same Chain Lightning strike as above, keeping on the move if possible. If he still has the advantage, and the enemies are clumped together closely, a Fireball spell with Cold damage added via Energy Admixture is often effective - if they have spread out, he will focus on smaller groups or those that pose the greatest danger.
Following Rounds:
Scorching Rays and Acid Arrows pelt enemy spellcasters, hampering their counterattacks. Once opponents have been sufficiently weakened, he will wade into melee with his Scepter. This is often a risky diversionary tactic, exposing himself to being surrounded only to drop another Fire/Ice ball that he is immune to. He will conserve his Impromptu Sneak Attacks for when they will do the most damage, usually via another Chain Lightning spell. If gravely threatened, he retreats via Teleport or simply flying away.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Basically, a tricked out, bad-***, and somewhat ticked-off Santa Claus. He rewards those who are good and kind with presents from his mystic bag, but gives those of evil and dark hearts much more than coal...
For those who cannot see. (http://i.pbase.com/o4/30/358230/1/54142490.santafinished.JPG)
The snow swirls around you, whipping back into your face. The light of the lantern is barely visible five yards ahead, and footsteps just that far behind are already full of snow. You are lost, and getting very, very cold...
Abruptly, a figure appears out of the empty whiteness, moving towards you. It is large and bulky, its outline oddly irregular. As the figure approaches into the thin light, it is revealed to be a very generously sized man with an equally sized sack slung over his back. He might be fat, or perhaps just blanketed with many layers of clothing, topped with a bright red suit bearing white fur trim. In one hand he carries a large golden scepter, several jewels studding its length and head. In the other, a faint glow of magic begins to shine. His face is round and rosy, with a long white beard, but the eyes...
Those eyes, they gleam with a light that cannot be fully reflected from the lantern;s glow. The eyes narrow, and the mouth crinkles underneath the beard as he approaches, but is that an expression of joyous welcome, or a grimace of anger and hatred?
Saint Nikolas Kalauz (CR 20)
Human Sorcerer 6/Rogue 4/Arcane Trickster 10
Lawful Good Medium Humanoid
Init: +5
Senses: Normal vision, normal hearing, can cast Darkvision, Listen +17, Spot +17
Aura: Strongly Lawful, Strongly Good (when carrying the Scepter)
Languages: Common, Elven, Celestial - can speak and understand all languages via tongues and comprehend languages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AC 29, Touch 19, Flat-footed 25
HP 84 (6d4+4d6+10d6+20)
Immune to: Fire and Cold (when wearing the Suit)
SR: 21
DR: 5/evil
Fort +15, Ref +22, Will +21
Weakness: angered by the sight of blatant selfishness/cruelty (no definite game effect)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed: 30 ft.(6 squares), fly 60ft. (12 squares)(perfect)
Melee: Scepter of Kalauz +18/+13 (1d8+7+1d6 fire +1d6 cold +1d6 electricity +2d6 holy vs. evil/19-20/x2+1d10 fire+1d10 cold +1d10 electricity)
Base Atk/Grp: +11/+15
Attack Options: Smite Evil 5/day, adds +8 to attack and +20 to damage against evil creatures; sneak attack +7d6; Impromptu Sneak Attack 2/day
Special Actions: Spellcasting
Combat Gear: Wand of Dispel Magic (50 charges), Staff of ethereal action (50 charges); varied healing potions
Spells Known (CL 20th)
8th - Trap the Soul
7th - Limited Wish; Insanity
6th - Geas/Quest; Chain Lightning; True Seeing
5th - Feeblemind; Cone of Cold; Teleport; Break Enchantment
4th - Greater Invisibility; Shout; Charm Monster; Scrying
3rd - Displacement; Fireball; Lightning Bolt; Hold Person
2nd - Melf's Acid Arrow; Scorching Ray; Darkvision, Knock
1st - Magic Missile; True Strike; Shield; Detect Secret Doors; Charm Person
0th - Resistance; Acid Splash; Detect Poison; Detect Magic; Read Magic; Mage Hand; Open/Close; Arcane Mark; Prestigitiation
Spell-Like/Power-Like Abilities - Detect Evil and Detect Good at will when carrying the Scepter; Fly at will when wearing the Yuletide Suit;
Deity: Heironeous (or other pantheon-appropriate LG deity)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abilities: Str 12(18), Dex 12(18), Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 21(27)
(scores adjusted for items shown in parentheses)
Special Qualities: Ranged Legerdemain 3/day, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge
Feats: Craft Wondrous Item; Magical Artisan(C.W.I.); Extend Spell; Energy Substitution(Cold); Eschew Materials; Energy Admixture(Cold); Improved Initiative; Practiced Spellcaster;
Skills: Concentration +15; Craft(Toy) +18; Decipher Script +7; Diplomacy +14; Disable Device +7; Escape Artist +7 Hide +14; Intimidate +16; Move Silently +14; Knowledge(Arcana) +18; Spellcraft +18
Possessions: Yuletide Suit; Scepter of Kalauz; Bag of Gifts; Boots of the Winterlands; Belt of Giant Strength +6; Gloves of Dexterity +6; Vest of Resistance +5; Cloak of Charisma +6; Ring of Protection +5; Hat of Language; Mantle of Faith; Stone of Good Luck, Crystal Ball with True Seeing; Staff of Ethereal Action, Wand of Dispel Magic
Familiar: None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To most people,the Icy Avenger is a myth, a legend to encourage (or scare) their children. For those he has visited, they know better, that the enigmatic Saint Kalauz is very real indeed. Most of the year he spends hidden away in his lair, which no living creature save him has ever seen and returned from. It is said to be a mighty fortress near the very tip of the world, surrounded by a deadly ring of perpetual blizzards and snowstorms. Here, he rests, constructs fantastic devices, and scries on the world, watching for those who have been naughty or nice, seeking out the worst and most vile to punish, and the good and virtuous to reward. When the snowy seasons come, he departs his hideaway and sets out to track down those he has selected this year for his attentions, travelling by foot, by air, or by magical teleportation. Very little can impede his progress - he can bypass almost any lock or barricade with his magic, and even transit through solid walls if need be.
His approach to a targeted individual or group depends on their alignment, and thus his reasons for finding them. For those of good nature, he will announce his presence and explain his benevolent intentions, offering them gifts for their noble behavior. If they are evil, he will usually declare himself as well, giving them a few seconds to prepare themselves to be forcefully absolved of their wickedness, to death if necessary. Only for the most absolutely vile of fiends will he skip the preliminaries, abruptly launching into a devestating attack with the element of surprise. But nor is he above trickery and duplicity if the circumstances require it, such as pretending to treat the evil group as a good one, only to present one or more of them with gifts that are actually specially prepared trigger objects for Trap the Soul.
History
Nikolas Kalauz's past is as shrouded in mystery as is his present, with most knowledge of him being conjecture and theory at best, and wild assumptions the rest of the time. He was born in a nameless village long ago, to nameless parents, and lived a uneventful childhood. But when bandits attacked and destroyed his home, killing many, his life was changed forever. The father dead defending the town, the mother reduced to a wreck by sorrow at her loss, the young Nikolas alone with his newly emergent sorcerous powers appearing. He swore a vow that no such criminals would ever go unpunished as long as he lived to stop them, and set off from home. For years, he lived as a vigilante, hunting down and killing raiders and evil monsters. Their possessions that he did not need, he gave away to those he saw performing acts of kindness. He developed a small reputation, the eccentric wilderness-dwelling crusader, till one day he vanished without warning. No one knows why he left - it may have been a impulse, or some divinely inspired vision - but he abandoned all he had been working on and travelled north, deep into the wastelands of snow and ice. He was not heard of for some time, till one winter he returned wearing a rich suit of red and white, and wielding a mighty scepter of gold. He resumed his activities of hunting out evil, though his greatly increased power allowed him to ignore petty offenses and focus on those who committed greater deeds of darkness. Soon, tyrants and corrupt warlords trembled at the mention of his name, fearful that he might one day visit them as well, while heroes and champions praised his name (and often hoped for a visit from him as well, to recieve one of the fabled treasures he was said to disperse to those worthy of them). Over the years, he has been sighted on and off, though he never seems to grow any older or weaker. He never claimed the title of Saint, but it was gradually bestowed upon him by the masses through years of his generosity. His name to those that would oppose him is the Icy Avenger, an ominous title that carries the weight of immunerable seasons of snow and cold, wrapped in uncertainty and danger as strongly as are the howling storms that he loves so much.
Interactions/Combat
A group of adventurers might be quite likely to attract Kalauz's gaze, either for the grand quests they have accomplished, or the foul travesties they have committed. As mentioned, his dealings with them depend on their behavior and his reasons for finding them. His Bag of Gifts is nearly limitless, capable of producing any item within the stated limits, ranging from weapons to half-plate armor to potions or scrolls. Simple requests for money can also be accommodated in the form of gems, though this would require a bit of careful wording to avoid offending Kalauz with apparent greed. He might also bring with him previously crafted items, forged in his workshop, designed specifically to benefit those he gifts them to.
Evil adventuring parties will be likely to incur his wrath for sufficiently bad actions, and it is these that he will attack. He may give up to one round's worth of time to prepare, but after such his assault is relentless and merciless. Truly depraved teams he does not favor with such, but launches straight into the battle from hiding or simple invisibility. If he engages in battle or is forced into such, the following tactics are his standard approach:
Prior to Combat
-Uses Detect Good and Detect Evil to confirm that his targets are not another similar, but innocent group.
-Will typically cast Shield on himself, raising his AC values to 33, 19, and 29 respectively, and uses True Seeing.
-Always activates the power of his Yuletide Suit to fly.
-In the case of those he does not warn, he will also invoke Greater Invisibility or even Displacement.
Surprise Round (if applicable)
-Loose a Chain Lightning spell from hiding, with the primary target being the enemy that appears most threatening - typically the most obvious opposing spellcaster. If they appear to be obviously warded against electrical magic, he will sacrifice his movement to apply his Energy Substitution(Cold) feat. Often, such a powerful opening shot (27d6 electrical or cold damage) is enough to cripple or disable the target, the weaker secondary bolts softening up the other foes.
First Round:
-If there was no surprise round, or if he loses Initiative, he will utilize one of his Impromptu Sneak Attacks to perform the same Chain Lightning strike as above, keeping on the move if possible. If he still has the advantage, and the enemies are clumped together closely, a Fireball spell with Cold damage added via Energy Admixture is often effective - if they have spread out, he will focus on smaller groups or those that pose the greatest danger.
Following Rounds:
Scorching Rays and Acid Arrows pelt enemy spellcasters, hampering their counterattacks. Once opponents have been sufficiently weakened, he will wade into melee with his Scepter. This is often a risky diversionary tactic, exposing himself to being surrounded only to drop another Fire/Ice ball that he is immune to. He will conserve his Impromptu Sneak Attacks for when they will do the most damage, usually via another Chain Lightning spell. If gravely threatened, he retreats via Teleport or simply flying away.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Basically, a tricked out, bad-***, and somewhat ticked-off Santa Claus. He rewards those who are good and kind with presents from his mystic bag, but gives those of evil and dark hearts much more than coal...