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The BridgeEncounter Level 17 (8,000 XP)Setup1 bodak reaver (R)3 bodak skulks (S)9 horde ghouls (G)The undead are hidden at the start of this encounter.Have the players place their miniatures as appropriatefor their marching order. Provide the read-aloudtext, and then place only the undead that the PCshave detected, if any—the bodak reaver, the hordeghouls, or both. The bodak skulks are invisible; evenif the PCs detect their presence, their exact location isunknown until they resume normal form to attack.The reaver and the skulks are clinging to therafters of the bridge, hiding amid the shadows above.The two ghouls positioned on the bridge on theencounter map are clinging to the underside of thebridge. The other ghouls are hiding behind trees orclinging to the trunks.The starting positions marked on the map areaccurate only if the PCs spot the undead whilethey’re hiding. If the undead do not appear untilthey attack, position them as appropriate for the circumstances.The attack begins either when one PCreaches the far side of the river or when half the PCsare on the bridge. Any undead not detected by thePCs gain a surprise round.When the bodaks drop from above, read:From the rafters above you, a quartet of dark, murkyhumanoids drops to the ground, landing in an animalistic,four-limbed crouch before rising to their feet. Milk-white eyesglare at you above a mouth gaping in an eternal scream.When the ghouls attack, read:From beneath the bridge and around the nearby treesscrabble a horde of mottled corpses. Their mouths bulgewith oversized fangs, and their claws click hungrily togetherin time to their predatory lope.Perception CheckDC 21: As you set foot on the bridge, you cannot helpbut note signs of movement around the various dead treesnearby. (With this result, the ghouls by the trees donot get a surprise round.)DC 25: You suddenly spot movement in the rafters aboveyou, almost invisible amid the shadows. (With this result,the bodak reaver does not get a surprise round.)DC 26: You just make out the signs of scrabbling belowyou, barely visible or audible between the slats of wood.(With this result, the ghouls clinging to the undersideof the bridge do not get a surprise round.)DC 32: Something other than the figure you’ve alreadyseen skitters in the rafters above. You see nothing, but youcan hear it—just barely—over the water rushing below.(With this result, the bodak skulks do not get a surpriseround.)Bodak Reaver (R)Level 18 SoldierMedium shadow humanoid (undead) XP 2,000Initiative +16 Senses Perception +17; darkvisionAgonizing Gaze (Fear, Gaze, Necrotic) aura 5; a creature in theaura that makes a melee or a ranged attack against the bodakreaver takes 5 necrotic damage before the attack roll is madeand takes a –2 penalty to the attack roll.HP 175; Bloodied 87AC 31; Fortitude 31, Reflex 30, Will 31Immune disease, poison; Resist 20 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant;a bodak reaver that takes radiant damage cannot weaken atarget until the end of its next turn.Speed 5m Greataxe (standard; at-will) ✦ Necrotic, Weapon+23 vs. AC; 1d12 + 6 damage (crit 2d12 + 18) plus 1d8 necroticdamage, and the target is dazed and weakened (save ends both).R Death Gaze (standard; encounter) ✦ Gaze, NecroticRanged 10; targets a living creature; +20 vs. Fortitude; if thetarget is weakened, it is reduced to 0 hit points; otherwise, thetarget takes 1d6 + 6 necrotic damage and loses one healingsurge.Death DrinkerIf a living creature is reduced to 0 hit points within 5 squaresof the bodak reaver, the reaver gains a +1 bonus to attack rollsuntil the end of its next turn, as well as 15 temporary hit points.Alignment Evil Languages CommonStr 22 (+15) Dex 21 (+14) Wis 16 (+12)Con 23 (+15) Int 10 (+9) Cha 23 (+15)Equipment plate armor, greataxe122CHAPTER 3 | Dragon LairsJASON A. ENGLE