Nifty Monster Combos: (Ak'Chazar Rakshasa and Cadaver Collector)

[stevelabny]

So I was skimming through the MM3 to see if I could find any new creatures that would be fun for the party to encounter as they travel across the Infernal Battlefields of Acheron (in search of the Iron Fortress).

I found the Cadaver Collector, a large construct used to gather dead by impaling the bodies on the spikes sticking out of its back and the Ak'chazar Rakshasa, a necromantic rakshasa prone to hanging out where he can find large quantities of dead.

Put the two together, and its a fun encounter for the whole family.
The cadaver collector has SR not only has against everything except sonic (which only slows it) and electricty (which heals it and un-slows it) but also spell turning for any spells 3rd level or lower. It has a paralying gas breath weapon, the trample ability, and the super cool power to win two grapple checks and impale a PC on his back spikes. FUN.

The Rakshasa also has a high SR (31) ,can fly, haa an inflict moderate wounds area effect as a free action 3/day and a few necromantic spell like abilities to go along with his regular sorcerer spells. The sorcerer spells as written already include the lightning bolt necessary to un-slow the cadaver collector and provide it with minor healing as necessary.

Plus the two both have decent AC (28 and 29 before spells) , 40 ft speed, great DR (the collector has 10/adamantine and the rakshasa has 15/good AND piercing)

I put these two CR 12 (the collector) and CR 15 (the rakshasa) straight out of the book against my 4 member 14th level party (barb14, monk13/sor1, clr 14, rog8,ftr6) that was approximately 90% fresh. Rolls were average all around and the fight was extremely challenging. The party was confused at which enemy posed the bigger threat and made the mistake of switching targets a few times. If the monk failed ANY of his saving throws, things could have gotten ugly in a hurry.

DM and players loved this battle.

So now I'm looking for more monster combos, preferably from books other than the original MM, but anything will do really.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I have the MMIII, but I haven't read it thouroughly (sp?). Is there any kind of synergy between these two monsters (apart from the fact that the Rakshasa) can cast lightning bolt on the Cadaver Collector?

There was an article in Dragon, probably a few years back, where they detailed powerful monster combos (IIRC, Grimlocks and Basiliks, Red Dragon and Iron Golem, for example). Is that the kind of thing you are looking for?

AR

 

[Voadam]

I was looking at things for the fortress as well for after the current module.

I'm going to be swapping out the dragons for campaign reasons and so I was looking for flying CR 10 creatures to take their places that could be advanced up to CR 15.

Creature Collection Revised, there is a construct from battlefield weapons that fits the module theme of Iron fortress and acheron battlefield, but I don't like the random number of attacks mechanic and I think it should have been done as a construct swarm instead of a big single creature.

CCII has moon giants with nifty displacement, invisibility, shadow walk, and insanity powers, but the picture is just not the image I want.

CCIII has phase mass, a cthulhoid like cone monster with tentacles and life draining that can pop in and out Ethereally.

Jade Dragons and hugry ghosts have hungry ghosts, ghosts who are necromancers, fly and have scarf magic attacks.

 

[Voadam]

If you have book of fiends there is a forge devil who fits in well with the fortress as well. Begins with an M I believe.

 

[stevelabny]

I have the MMIII, but I haven't read it thouroughly (sp?). Is there any kind of synergy between these two monsters (apart from the fact that the Rakshasa) can cast lightning bolt on the Cadaver Collector?

Well, I connected them through the idea that the necromantic rakshasha goes through the numerous battlefields of Acheron, collecting dead bodies to animate/experiment on/do other vile things to (acheron is a lawful plane, rakshasas are lawful. also, the Acheron description in MotP lists Rakshasas as often being on Aceron) and the cadaver collector is a construct usually constructed to gather dead bodies off of great battlefields. As written, they seem almost native to Acheron. It actuall seemed like a perfect synergy.

There was an article in Dragon, probably a few years back, where they detailed powerful monster combos (IIRC, Grimlocks and Basiliks, Red Dragon and Iron Golem, for example). Is that the kind of thing you are looking for?
AR

Yes, I read the article too, and I remember those combos and the Rust Monster/ werewold also...but I was trying to find more that havent been printed already.

Voad, thanks for the suggestions.

 

[ForceUser]

Vampires with trained basilisk pets. As undead they are immune to the basilisk's petrifiying gaze (since it requires a Fort save).

 

[Nightfall]

A truly NASTY little combo that a friend of mine used back before the 3.5 switch over.

FR's Deepspawn with CC2's Dark Womb. Both are very good at creating their own armies AND they work well underground.

Good for low/mid level adventuring AND you can always template one or both with some equally cool like half fiend or (my favorite), Class levels on the Dark Womb (sorcerer) and the Deepspawn Pr-class Warrior of Darkness.