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<blockquote data-quote="Leatherhead" data-source="post: 6960809" data-attributes="member: 53176"><p>The Barghest is more suited for a long con than a single encounter.</p><p></p><p>Imagine the following scenario:</p><p>Two tribes of Goblinoids having been waging what amounts to a turf war in the countryside. One of them has been a constant thorn in the side of the local populace for years. This new group is outmaneuvering the old group, despite having far weaker numbers. On the surface, it seems like the leader of the new group, a Young Hobgoblin warlord who isn't too adverse to working with the locals instead of just exploiting or pillaging them, is some kind of tactical genius and a bit of a folk hero. In reality, the Hobgoblin is merely a magically influenced puppet of the Barghest, who is "serving" as a trusted left hand goblin for doing the dirty work. The Barghest has been using this warband as a way to put some of the more juicy targets on the menu, and deflect attention from it's existence. Once the Barghest finishes it's quest, it will open a portal to Gehenna, and who knows what will come out?</p><p></p><p>The new warband may seek out the PCs as mercenaries, or perhaps the PCs seek out the warband as an ally against the old warband. Either way, it's a setup for the last two dishes on the Barghest's menu: The Old Warlord, and the New Warlord.</p><p></p><p>Of interesting note, the Barghest is immune to poison, and has full access to any weapons it may have had tucked away while in it's goblin form.</p><p></p><p>The final showdown:</p><p>The setup, both Warlords are on the battlefield, facing off for the fate of their tribes. The PC's are backing one side or the other and after a pitched battle, are probably a bit worn down, and ready to burn through what is left of their daily resources to finish the fight.</p><p></p><p>After one warlord falls, the Barghest pounces. (it's likely to survive to the end with little wear and tear due to it's resistances) Instructing it's most loyal of "followers" to unleash "The Mist" a heavy alchemical poison cloud that will obscure vision, cause poisoned status, and inflict damage to anyone caught in it's cloud for a just enough time to allow The Barghest to finish it's meal. The Barghest will then attempt to finish off the remaining warlord, and eat their bodies. Whatever remains of the warband will now turn on the PC's, drawing out the fight and perhaps setting up a flaming barricade to bar the PC's from entering the Mist to stop the ceremony (and maybe spilling the beans about what is going on to a particularly dense group).</p><p></p><p>Possible results:</p><p>The PC's save the Hobgoblin, and gain an ally (and their army) for life.</p><p>The PC's fail to save the Hobgoblin, but stop the Barghest from opening the portal. The warbands scatter, and cause general mayhem.</p><p>The PC's fail totally, and the portal is opened. All hell breaks loose.</p><p></p><p>A particularity nasty DM could perform the following dirty trick: </p><p>If the PC's elect to banish the Barghest before it finishes it's meal, but after the hobgoblin is dead, it wont stop the ritual, as the Barghest was banished while holding the hobgoblins heart. Just enough to finish the consumption and open the portal from the other side.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Leatherhead, post: 6960809, member: 53176"] The Barghest is more suited for a long con than a single encounter. Imagine the following scenario: Two tribes of Goblinoids having been waging what amounts to a turf war in the countryside. One of them has been a constant thorn in the side of the local populace for years. This new group is outmaneuvering the old group, despite having far weaker numbers. On the surface, it seems like the leader of the new group, a Young Hobgoblin warlord who isn't too adverse to working with the locals instead of just exploiting or pillaging them, is some kind of tactical genius and a bit of a folk hero. In reality, the Hobgoblin is merely a magically influenced puppet of the Barghest, who is "serving" as a trusted left hand goblin for doing the dirty work. The Barghest has been using this warband as a way to put some of the more juicy targets on the menu, and deflect attention from it's existence. Once the Barghest finishes it's quest, it will open a portal to Gehenna, and who knows what will come out? The new warband may seek out the PCs as mercenaries, or perhaps the PCs seek out the warband as an ally against the old warband. Either way, it's a setup for the last two dishes on the Barghest's menu: The Old Warlord, and the New Warlord. Of interesting note, the Barghest is immune to poison, and has full access to any weapons it may have had tucked away while in it's goblin form. The final showdown: The setup, both Warlords are on the battlefield, facing off for the fate of their tribes. The PC's are backing one side or the other and after a pitched battle, are probably a bit worn down, and ready to burn through what is left of their daily resources to finish the fight. After one warlord falls, the Barghest pounces. (it's likely to survive to the end with little wear and tear due to it's resistances) Instructing it's most loyal of "followers" to unleash "The Mist" a heavy alchemical poison cloud that will obscure vision, cause poisoned status, and inflict damage to anyone caught in it's cloud for a just enough time to allow The Barghest to finish it's meal. The Barghest will then attempt to finish off the remaining warlord, and eat their bodies. Whatever remains of the warband will now turn on the PC's, drawing out the fight and perhaps setting up a flaming barricade to bar the PC's from entering the Mist to stop the ceremony (and maybe spilling the beans about what is going on to a particularly dense group). Possible results: The PC's save the Hobgoblin, and gain an ally (and their army) for life. The PC's fail to save the Hobgoblin, but stop the Barghest from opening the portal. The warbands scatter, and cause general mayhem. The PC's fail totally, and the portal is opened. All hell breaks loose. A particularity nasty DM could perform the following dirty trick: If the PC's elect to banish the Barghest before it finishes it's meal, but after the hobgoblin is dead, it wont stop the ritual, as the Barghest was banished while holding the hobgoblins heart. Just enough to finish the consumption and open the portal from the other side. [/QUOTE]
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