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CREATION GUIDE NPCs ITEMS CIRCLE OF EIGHT
HOMMLET MOATHOUSE
NULB
TEMPLE ELEMENTAL NODES ENDGAME
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Fire
Elemental Node
THE
ELEMENTAL NODES
After
clearing out all four levels of the Temple, it is now time to use
the dimensional gateways that Hedrack had previously controlled
access to. The gateways lead to a part of one of the four elemental
planes; Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Each portion of the elemental
plane is watched over by a guardian, a Demon from the Abyss that
is somehow representative of the Elemental Node that it resides
in. Each Demon guards one of the four Elemental Gems used to empower
the Orb of Golden Death.
The objective then is to join all four of the Gems to the Orb so
as to pursue a final ending.
Fire
Elemental Node
Of
all the Elemental Nodes, the Fire Node has the toughest of the guardians.
It is none other than a mighty Balor. As will be seen in my advice
concerning the Balor, there’s a specific reason for doing
the Earth and Air Nodes first. Generous use of Protection from Energy:
Fire is earnestly recommended for this Node, and not just when the
time comes to confront the Balor.
1. This is a
gateway to the Air Elemental Node.
2. This is a
gateway to the Water Elemental Node.
3. This is a
gateway to the Earth Elemental Node.
4.
Two Efreeti, genie-like beings with an emphasis on fire, lie in
wait to attack the party.
5. A collection
of Large Fire Elementals and Fire Snakes will attack the party here.
6. Here the
party will run into a large collection of Salamanders, who love
to crank out Fireballs. It is advisable to have Protection from
Energy: Fire on everybody beforehand in order to absorb the initial
onslaught. It is then recommended that your primary damage caster
catch as many Salamanders as he can with a Cone of Cold. This makes
the mopping up much easier.
Once
they’re gone, they’ll leave a chest behind. Along with
the treasure, you’ll also find a Holy
Greataxe +1, and an Amulet
of Wisdom +4. Ferofist
dons the Amulet of Wisdom at last.
7. Here you’ll
run into several Bodaks, undead creatures that apparently have damage
resistance penetrated only by silver weapons. They’re also
capable of a death gaze, though good enough saving throws will overcome
this. Remember those Silver Arrows in the Temple? Just a thought
that I didn’t test out. Holy weapons also make a good mark
on them. They aren’t too dangerous in any event.
8.
Here you’ll run into Darley,
a joinable sorceress. My Paladin ended up seeing her evil aura,
prompting her to reveal her true form as an Alu-fiend and then provoking
a rather easy fight where I wasted her.
9. Here you’ll
run into 3 Fire Toads. If I remember correctly, they’ll also
inflict fire damage in addition to the usual crushing damage after
swallowing a victim. Kill and kill quickly is the motto.
10. 3 Salamanders
lie in wait here.
 11.
Now it is time for the big challenge. I’ll give you a brief
rundown of the Balor’s procedure for killing your party. It
spends the first couple of rounds casting Suggestion in order to
have party members turn against you. It then activates its fear
aura to try and divide the party further. It will then summon Quasits
to its aid. It will then cast Slay Living at a target for the next
2 rounds. After that, it spends about the next 2 to 3 rounds trying
to dispel your buffs or protections. At that point, the Balor unleashes
its devastating melee attacks. Anybody close enough to the Balor
is always subject to damage from the flames that surround its body.
Incidentally, the Balor is also assisted by two Efreeti.
Maximum
preparation beforehand is the key. The first couple of rounds are
spent getting off any additional buffs of shorter duration such
as Haste. Indeed, Sir Tirion
casts Divine Favor on himself simply because the Balor’s Armor
Class is that high! Alliria
summons a Fire Elemental. Lanatir
uses the Orb of Golden Death to summon a Glabrezu and Vrock to the
party’s aid. As distasteful as this may be to a party committed
to the cause of good, it must be borne in mind that the Balor has
a Challenge Rating of 18 to 20. In the meantime, 10 is the cap on
the number of levels that you can advance.
The
ideal then is to have Sir Tirion and the Glabrezu create flanking
positions around the Balor. The two of them should then be able
to cut down the Balor to (a smaller) size. Indeed, I delayed the
casting of Haste until I could plant it on both Sir Tirion and the
Glabrezu. Even so, be mindful that the Balor has 250 or so hit points.
Lanatir cranks it out with Magic Missiles and Cone of Cold. He does
not however, expend any of his remaining 3rd level spell slots.
The reason for this is that he may have to cast Protection from
Energy: Fire again on a character if the Balor has dispelled it.
The
Balor will leave behind the Fire Elemental Gem, which empowers the
Orb of Golden Death to cast Flamestrike once a day, Summon Fire
Elemental once a day, and Summon Balor once a week. Wow…
The party is
now ready to leave the Node through the door that had been behind
the Balor.
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