Editing Balthazar

{{PageSeo
| title = Balthazar
| description = Balthazar is a necromancer encountered in the Gauntlet of Shar.
| image = Balthazar.png
}}
{{SpoilerWarning|act=2}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Balthazar
| image = Balthazar.png
| voice = Roger Ringrose
| titles = Commander of the Reborn Dead
| race = Undead
| class = [[Necromancy School]] [[Wizard]]
| level = 8

| modules =
{{Infobox statistics
| child = yes
| size = Medium
| type = Undead
| hit_points = 91
| hit_points_tactician = 118
| weight_kg = 100
| weight_lb = 
| hiddenlevel = 8
| str = 10
| dex = 14
| con = 16
| int = 20
| wis = 14
| cha = 10
| con_save_proficiency = yes
| wis_save_proficiency = yes
| initiative = +7
| resistant1 = Bludgeoning
| resistant2 = Piercing
| resistant3 = Slashing
| resistant4 = Poison

| condition1_name = Mage Armour
| condition1_description = Base Armour Class is 13.
| condition2_name = Legendary Resistance
| condition2_description = +10 to your next 3 saving throws.
| condition2_mode = Tactician
| condition3_name = Undead Ward Aura
| condition3_description = Nearby allied undead are resistant to physical damage.
| condition4_name = Undead Ward
| condition4_description = Resistant to physical damage.

| feature1_name = Alert
| feature1_description = +5 to initiative and cannot be Surprised.
| feature2_name = Grave Magic
| feature2_description = Spells deal 1d8 Necrotic damage.
| feature3_name = Grim Harvest
| feature3_description = Once per turn, regain HP equal to twice the spell level of a spells that kills a creature.
| feature4_name = Immune to Control Undead
| feature4_description = Cannot be magically controlled by others. 
| feature5_name = Legendary Action: Spectral Aspect
| feature5_description = Spend a legendary action to adopt a Spectral Aspect after being struck.
| feature5_mode = Honour
| feature6_name = Legendary Action: The Dead Wastes
| feature6_description = Spend a legendary action to create a Dead Wastes area, healing undead and harming the living.
| feature6_mode = Honour
| feature7_name = Opportunity Attack
| feature7_description = Automatically attack an enemy moving out of your reach.
| feature8_name = Turn Resistance
| feature8_description = Advantage on saving throws against being turned.
| feature9_name = Undead Ward
| feature9_description = Nearby undead are resistant to physical damage.
| feature9_item = Circle of Bones
| feature10_name = Magic Resistance
| feature10_description = Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. 
| feature10_mode = Tactician
}}
}}
'''Balthazar''' is an Undead necromancer in service to [[Ketheric Thorm]], who can first be encountered in the [[Gauntlet of Shar]] during Act Two.

==Overview==
===Background===
Balthazar is a necromancer in service to General Ketheric Thorm, sent to the Gauntlet of Shar to retrieve the Nightsong; the source of Ketheric's immortality.

=== Quests ===
* [[Find Ketheric Thorm's Relic]]
* [[The Chosen of Shar]]
* [[Defeat Ketheric Thorm]]
* [[Find the Nightsong]]

== Involvement ==
{{main|Find Ketheric Thorm's Relic}}
Balthazar can first be encountered in the Gauntlet of Shar, behind a locked door guarded by his undead servants.

Approaching the door and/or his servants, wherever they are found, will generally trigger a conversation. A combat encounter will always trigger on conclusion of this conversation, where Dark Justiciar Avengers attack both the undead servants and the player's party. Once this combat resolves, the player may have the opportunity to speak to Balthazar further and learn more about the relic he is searching for. The player also has the option to simply attack and kill Balthazar at any time after this encounter.

The player also has the option to fully avoid contact with Balthazar and his servants until they delve deeper into the Gauntlet. It is impossible to avoid meeting Balthazar if the player reaches this point.

The second place he can be encountered, assuming the player has not killed him, is when the player crosses the threshold into the [[Shadowfell]] from within the Gauntlet. If the player has not yet met Balthazar at this point, he will simply introduce himself and give the player the opportunity to help him finish his mission.

Once the player finally meets Balthazar, they are generally allowed to choose at several points if they want to kill him or help him finish his mission.

If the player helps Balthazar obtain the [[Dame Aylin|Nightsong]] and later meets with Ketheric, Ketheric will take the player prisoner. They will wake up in Balthazar's lab at the [[Mind Flayer Colony]], where Balthazaar prepares to find a way to remove the artefact from the player's possession; ultimately, a fight between the player and Balthazar will break out.

== Combat ==
Balthazar will use a [[Potion of Speed]] at the start of his turn to gain [[Hastened (Condition)|Hasted]] unless you buy it off him during dialogue first (use the Trade button).

=== Spells and abilities ===
{{div col}}
* {{SAI|Animate Dead (Balthazar)|Animate Dead|w=30}} - Cast as a unique Level 6 variant, only when confronted in the [[Nightsong's Prison]], to reanimate an army of skeletons from the surrounding bones.
* {{SAI|Bone Chill|w=30}} 
* {{SAI|Cloudkill|w=30}} 
* {{SAI|No Rest for the Wicked|w=30}} 
* {{SAI|Ray of Sickness|w=30}} 
* {{SAI|Misty Step|w=30}}

==== Honour mode ====
* {{SAI|The Dead Wastes|w=30}}
* {{SAI|Legendary Action: Spectral Aspect|w=30}}
{{div col end}}

=== Loot ===
* {{MdRarityItem|Circle of Bones}}

==Gallery==
<gallery heights="250" mode=packed>
Balthazar Face Concept Art.jpg|Digital Artbook concept art. 
Balthazar Face Concept Art 2.png|Digital Artbook concept art.
</gallery>

==Related literature==

* {{MdItemIcon|Stained Book (Thorm Mausoleum)}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Diary of Ketheric Thorm, Vol 2}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Tissue and Organ Register}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Unsent Letter}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Ornate Letter}}

=== Written by Balthazar ===

{{div col}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Attention Acolytes}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Balthazar Personal Notes: 2}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Balthazar Personal Notes: 3}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Balthazar's Notes}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Clasped Book (Moonrise Towers)}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Research Notes (Balthazar)}}
* {{MdItemIcon|Orders from B}}
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notebegin}}
*Balthazar's name (and ribs) were taken from the monk {{FRWiki|Balthazar}}, a character from ''Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal''.
{{noteend}}

==External links==
*{{FRWiki|Balthazar (necromancer)|long}}

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