Ketheric Thorm/combat: Difference between revisions

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.  

After the revelations regarding Ketheric and his allies, players will enter a short conversation with Ketheric. During this dialogue, he can be talked down from fighting with a {{Ability Check|Persuasion|18}}. On a success, Ketheric will kill himself and the battle will skip to [[#Phase 2|phase two]]. Otherwise, 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 [[Invulnerable_(Condition)|invulnerability]] once more. To the other side of the room, to the left, four [[Necromite|necromites]] will sling spells down at the party.

Ideally the party should split in three: one to deal with the Mindflayer and help Aylin if alive, one to keep Ketheric occupied and one to deal with the Necromites. Dispatching the Mindflayer quickly will help the party keep control of the battle as otherwise it will attempt to stun them. It will also grant the party member a vantage point to fight against the intellect devourers and Ketheric. Dispatching the intellect devourers shouldn't be too difficult, most AoE spells should work, and they are not too troublesome either, though they could prove an annoyance should they [[Threatened|threaten]] a ranged unit.  

Aylin can be broken from her prison via the [[Help]] action. Once free, she will assist the party in the fight, usually going directly to Ketheric. The Necromites on the left platform are not too dangerous, however, they should be eliminated before the next phase, otherwise Ketheric will have a great power spike. One party member with an AoE spell should suffice, leaving them up there will also provide another vantage point for the rest of the fight.

The Apostle hits hard, often and has a large health pool. However, don't be intimidated as the battle is manageable provided you take care of the necromites and keep the Apostle occupied. The main gimmick of the fight is that the Apostle will sacrifice a necromite in order to gain the [[Finger of Death]] spell. Should the necromites be dealt with, or the Apostle itself prevented from consuming them, the threat of the spell shouldn't be an issue. The Apostle's presence also applies Bone Chilled to anyone near it on the platform, which can make healing damaged party members. Wounded party members can leave the platform (or there are a few small areas at very edge of it outside the sphere of influence), and downed ones can be shoved off by others if necessary.  

Party members having trouble hitting the Apostle can turn to area-of-effect attacks, whether spells or smokepowder bombs.  

Despite the large size of Apostle, it's still susceptible to most regular conditions, such as weakened or blinded, and can be made [[Wet (Condition)|wet]] using [[Create Water]]. The effect from Arrows of Ilmater that prevents healing and similar effects that prevent healing are extremely effective. Likewise, although it has a difficult-to-overcome saving throw versus many more severe conditions, casting [[Darkness]] on it will blind the Apostle thereby helping any melee fighters prevent some of the damage and combos, in particular removing its ability to opportunity strike. The Apostle's [[Reaper's Scythe]] does respectable damage and also knocks foes back, keep this in mind as it's possible it could knock units out of the platform. To prevent this, position all melee units with the spikes of the arena on their back, this way, if they are pushed, they won't fall off. Alternatively, the Apostle can be disarmed of the scythe, removing the threat entirely.

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