Ketheric Thorm/Combat: Difference between revisions

}}{{CharacterInfo

|name       = Ketheric Thorm

|file        = alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp

|STR        = 18

|DEX        = 13

|CON        = 17

|INT        = 12

|WIS        = 15

|CHA        = 20

|str save    =  

|dex save    =  

|con save    =  

|int save    =  

|wis save    = Yes

|cha save    = Yes

|level      = 11

|race        = [[Undead]]

|type        = Undead

|HP          = 188

|AC          = 22

|speed      =  

|size        = Medium

|weight      = 75 kg / 165 lbs

|proficiency = 4

|initiative  = +1

|passive    =

{{PAS|Arcane Enchantment|Ketheric's Shield|custom=Ketheric's Shield Icon.png}}{{PAS|Darkvision (Passive Feature)|Darkvision}}{{PAS|Defence}}{{PAS|Divine Health}}{{PAS|Extra Attack}}{{PAS|Fey Ancestry}}{{PAS|Immutable Form}}{{PAS|Improved Divine Smite}}{{PAS|Magical Plate|Reaper's Embrace|custom=Reaper's Embrace Icon.png}}{{PAS|Opportunity Attack}}{{PAS|Reaper's Rigidity|Reaper's Embrace|custom=Reaper's Embrace Icon.png}}{{PAS|Shield Bash|Ketheric's Shield|custom=Ketheric's Shield Icon.png}}

}}{{CombatTab}}

== Spells and abilities ==

{{Feature box

|name=Deadly Orders

Your underlings are more likely to target this foe, and their [[Attack Roll]]s against it have {{Advantage}}.

{{Feature box

|name=Divine Smite

}}

== Conditions and passives ==

|name=Aura of Protection

|image name=Aura of Protection.webp

{{Feature box

|name=Aura of Hate

}}

The encounters with Ketheric may involve the following allies for either side. Detailed information in their respective pages.

=== Enemy allies ===

* [[Necromite]]

* [[Intellect Devourer]]

* [[Isobel]] (conditional)

=== Player allies ===

* [[Dame Aylin]]

Ketheric Thorm's actual battle has three individual stages, with some of the choices of the party coming into play in them.

The first part of the encounter with Ketheric is atop the [[Moonrise Towers]]. Ketheric will be joined by [[Susdera]], an acolyte of [[Myrkul]], as well as eight [[Necromite|necromites]]. Susdera will stand immediately before the party, while Ketheric will stand on the small balcony behind her, necromites flanking the stairs to it on both sides.  

The necromites can be safely ignored if the party is equipped to have a high DC or has necrotic resistance, as they only cast [[Reach from Beyond]], a low damage spell. However, both Ketheric and Susdera can summon more of them, so it's best to dispatch them with AoE attacks to avoid being overwhelmed.

Susdera herself may prove to be more of a direct threat at the start of combat given that she can cast Fireball and the party begins the fight grouped together by default. [[Silence]] or [[Darkness]] spells can neutralize her and give the party a chance to form up as needed. She's also able to cast "Bone Chill", preventing healing for one entire turn.

Ketheric may be a challenge if the party has no means of reliably damaging high AC enemies as he boasts a strong 22 AC. Additionally, though his Dexterity skill is relatively low, he has advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws via [[Ketheric's Shield]]. Spell with a dex save component can still be used should Ketheric use [[Reaper's Embrace]], which would negate the advantage he has. Charming or putting him to Sleep is out of the question too given his Fey Ancestry.

Ketheric has relatively low Intellect, so spells with it as a saving throw are a good means of damaging him. Alternatively, players may lean more into the melee side of things and attempt to knock him prone, paralyze him, disarm him or otherwise. Blinding him or other means of granting the party Advantage are also means of getting hit in more reliably.

Ketheric's main source of damage will be through a combination of his melee attacks and Smites. As a [[Paladin]] type of enemy, his attacks can very quickly burst down party members if his hits all connect. Radiant damage resist, AC increasing spells and granting him Disadvantage are all methods to mitigate his burst damage somewhat. At the end of his turn, Ketheric will also order his necromites to focus fire using [[Deadly Orders]] and cap his turn by casting [[Incubate Death]]. Be careful of the AoE explosion of the summoned entity should it not be destroyed before transformation.

Ultimately, the best course of action is to burst Ketheric down as soon as possible through whatever means available. Should the player have spared Aylin, she will join the fight on the party's side and assist. She's capable enough of quickly dispatching Susdera through her own Smites and greatly help with Ketheric.  

Once Ketheric's health drops to around 25%, he will interrupt the fight by summoning a gargantuan tentacle, kidnapping Aylin should she be present, and fleeing down the destroyed tower to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. If all of his allies are dead, combat ends immediately, otherwise they must be dispatched first. The party is then free to explore the surroundings and follow Ketheric when ready.

The second phase of the fight begins shortly after catching up to Ketheric in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. A Restoration Pod that grants the benefits of a [[Long Rest]] can be found to the right of the elevator that brings you to him. After the revelations regarding Ketheric and his allies, players will enter a short conversation with Ketheric. Whatever outcome of the dialogue, a fight will ensue.

This time, Ketheric can be found on the raised, round platform before the party. To the far right, a [[Mindflayer]] can be found overlooking the battlefield, further in, four [[Intellect Devourer|Intellect Devourers]] will quickly approach the party. Should she be alive, [[Dame Aylin|Aylin]] will be found trapped by spectral hands, granting Ketheric [[Immortal|immortality]] once more. To the other side of the room, to the left, four [[Necromite|necromites]] will sling spells down at the party.

===Phase 3===

After either destroying, or liberating the [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]], his invulnerability is lost, and he can finally be killed. During the first stage of the boss fight, he will eventually flee to the lower levels of the Tower, towards the [[Mind Flayer Colony]] to reconvene with [[Lord Enver Gortash]] and [[Orin the Red]], revealing himself, Gortash, and Orin as the Chosen of Myrkul, Bane, and Bhaal respectively.

If [[Gale]] uses his [[Netherese Orb Blast]], the game can end at this very moment, allowing the party to kill Ketheric Thorm, [[Enver Gortash]], [[Orin the Red]] and the [[Absolute]] in one fell swoop.

The latter two will leave Ketheric to retrieve the [[Mysterious Artefact]] in order to lead the [[Absolute]]'s army to [[Baldur's Gate]]. During this second segment of the boss fight, which the player can bypass entirely with a successful Charisma skill check. In either case, if the [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]] has not been destroyed, he will retrieve it once more, and either he, in the second stage or the [[Apostle of Myrkul]] in the third, will regain their invulnerability - but this can be rectified by using a [[Help]] Action on [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]].

Once he is defeated, he will finally die for good, allowing the party to retrieve his Netherstone, and proceed to [[Baldur's Gate]].