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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jim pinto" data-source="post: 1473568" data-attributes="member: 17619">this is a B- encounter in my opinion, so don't think it represents the entire dungeon's quality. but, because the text hints at a lot of things you won't be seeing until the book is on the shelf, i thought i'd tease you with its details.enjoyH61. Gray Render’s LairWell-hidden behind a copse of thorny bushes, a dark opening gapes between two large granite boulders. Although the thorns jab at unprotected flesh, they are relatively easy to push aside. From the gap issues a faint odor, the scent of stale air and rotting flesh. As you venture deeper into the slightly claustrophobic tunnel, the stench intensifies. The light does not penetrate beyond the first few paces, making the spongy, marsh-like footing even more hazardous. Initial Attitude: HostileEncounter: A gray render (hp 162) has free run of the entire Region, and hunts the area on a frequent basis. Usually, it merely brings down one of the forest animals with which the area is stocked. It is, however, extremely effective at dealing with intruders in a permanent and gruesome fashion. The gray render is utterly devoted to the elven fortress and its defenders, and does not attack the inhabitants of the fortress. The elves have learned to present new arrivals to the render in the presence of one it already knows, to avoid unfortunate incidents.The lair is ordinarily utterly dark, with no light penetrating into its depths. Unless using alternate light sources, characters without darkvision suffer standard darkness penalties to Spot and Search checks.The floor of the lair is ankle-deep in bones, many of which still have rotting flesh clinging to them. Humanoid bones are mingled among the animal bones, and all of them bear the print of large teeth marks. Tactics: If the characters are accompanied by one of the elves or have been “introduced” to the gray render, it does not attack. Otherwise, thanks to its excellent sense of smell, it is not surprised by adventurers entering its lair. It is also unhampered by the darkness, and attacks the first intruder to enter its lair. If facing multiple foes, it uses Power Attack and Cleave to quickly reduce the PCs' numbers, then latches onto the nearest foe.Treasure: On a DC 28 Search check, the PCs find a cunningly worked figurine in rowan wood, the shape of a young elven woman. The figure is three inches long, with a hole bored sidewise through the top of the head. The figure is worth 1d6 silver for the workmanship if the PCs can clean the gore off it. However, questioning the elven troops in the Southern Rampart reveals that the figure belonged to Borileos, one of the elven warriors gone missing some time ago. The figure is the image of his betrothed.EL: 9Scaling: To increase the challenge of this encounter, increase the gray render’s Hit Dice by four. To decrease the challenge, reduce the gray render’s Hit Dice by one.Gray Render: CR 9; Large magical beast; HD 13d10+85; hp 162; Init +0; Spd 30 ft. ; AC 19, touch 9, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +13; Grp +23; Atk +18 melee (2d6+6/19-20, bite); Full Atk +18 melee (2d6+6/19-20, bite); +13 melee (1d6+3, 2 claws); Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SA Improved grab, rend 2d6+9; SQ Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +5; Str 23, Dex 10, Con 24, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 8.Skills and Feats: Hide +3, Spot +11, Survival +4; Cleave, Power Attack, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Track.Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a gray render must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.Rend (Ex): A gray render that wins a grapple check after a successful bite attack establishes a hold, latching onto the opponent's body and tearing the flesh. This attack automatically deals 2d6+9 points of damage.Skills: Gray renders have a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks due to their six keen eyes.</blockquote>

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