Aphasius (4e Creature)

Aphasius (4e Moertus NPC)

Aphasius is the self-styled messiah of Orcus. His hatred of life is all consuming and he works tirelessly toward the destruction of all life, and storming the Shadowfell to conquer it in the name of his great lord. Aphasius was once a beautiful elf, but over the centuries undeath has left him a hideous dried corspe with paper-like brown skin drawn tightly over his bones. His empty eye sockets burn with an intense fiery-red glow, and his sparse grey scraggly hair hangs over his desiccated elven ears down to his shoulders. Aphasius always wears his Anathema Armor, and never lets go of his Rod of Orcus. The rod is a nasty cast-iron morningstar that is topped with four skulls around its head. Orcus has enchanted this rod to perform magical attacks when wielded by Aphasius, it also serves as a holy symbol of Orcus and Aphasius uses it as such.

Aphasius/Mummy Lord

Aphasius Level 26 Elite Controller
Medium Natural Humanoid (Undead) XP 18000
Initiative +14	Senses Perception +18, Darkvision
Despair (Fear) aura 5; enemies within the aura take a -3 penalty to attack rolls against Aphasius
Regeneration 15 (if Aphasius takes radiant damage, regeneration doesn't function until next turn)
HP 468; Bloodied 234; see also mummy's curse and immortal form
AC 46 (Anathema Armor); Fortitude 42, Reflex 40 (Anathema Armor), Will 43
Immune disease, poison; Resist 15 necrotic
Saving Throws +2
Action Points 1
Rod of Orcus ♦ at-will
Effect: +31 vs. AC; 1d10+9 necrotic damage, and the target contracts level 26 mummy rot. As well Aphasius and one adjacent ally gain a +2 power bonus to AC until the end of Aphasius' next turn.
Awe Strike ♦ recharge
Effect: Requires Rod of Orcus; +31 vs. Will; 1d10+9 damage, and the target is Immobilized (save ends). Saves against this effect take a -4 penalty.
Plague of Doom ♦ recharge ,
Effect: Ranged 15; +30 vs. Fortitude; 3d10+9 necrotic damage and the target takes a -3 penalty to all defenses until the end of Aphasius' next turn.
Psalm of Orcus ♦ recharge when first bloodied
Effect: Close Burst 5; +30 vs. Fortitude; 2d8+9 necrotic damage, and all undead in the burst regain 15 hit points. Destroyed undead creatures of 10th level or less, within the burst, stand as a free action regaining 15 hit points.
Summon Scarab Swarm ♦ encounter
Effect: Close Burst 2; Aphasius conjures 4 Rot Scarab Swarms that appear in any squares, of his choosing, within the burst. When these creatures appear, they make initiative checks and join the battle on that initiative count. They move to attack any living creatures and will fight until destroyed.
Mummy's Curse
Effect: Close Burst 10; targets enemies; +30 vs. Will; the target contracts level 26 mummy rot. Endurance checks against this disease take a -4 penalty.
Unholy Aid ♦ when Aphasius suffers an effect a save can end; recharge
Effect: Aphasius automatically saves against the triggering effect.
Second Wind ♦ encounter
Effect: Aphasius spends a healing surge and regains 117 hit points. Aphasius also gains a +3 bonus to all defenses until the start of his next turn.
Immortal Form
Effect: As the dusty form of Aphasius bursts during his Mummy's Curse his ashes drift away on supernatural winds. When a speck lands upon a suitable corpse, Asphasius begins to reform using the decaying flesh. Aphasius regains 1 hit point per year, and cannot function until he has fully healed (468 years). It is rumored that there are unholy rituals that can speed up this process, and that if Aphasius can be destroyed during his "regeneration" he will be permanetly destroyed.
Skills Religion +22, Diplomacy +22, History +22, Arcana +22, Insight +23, Intimidate +22
Str 13 (+14)	Dex 13 (+14)	Wis 21 (+18)
Con 18 (+17)	Int 18 (+17)	Cha 18 (+17)
Alignment Evil	Languages Common, Elven, Dwarven, Giant, Abyssal, Supernal
Equipment Rod of Orcus (Morningstar +6), Anathema Armor +6

Aphasius' Tactics

Aphasius starts combat by using Summon Scarab Swarm, and then follows on his next turn with Plague of Doom. He will continue to give support to any undead allies with Psalm of Orcus as he can when needed, and attack with Plague of Doom as he can. If forced into melee combat Asphasius uses his Rod of Orcus to the best of ability and attempts to withdraw to make ranged attacks. Once bloodied Aphasius uses his action point to use Second Wind.

Aphasius Lore

A character knows the following information with a successful History check.

DC 15: Nearly 600 years ago, on the world of Moertus, Aphasius lived as an Elven Wizard in the Feyois Forest. Never satisfied with the power he could obtain, he began worshiping Orcus while still living among his good natured people. When he was discovered, the Elves cast him out. Aphasius wandered into the north and vanished beneath the Rigsholm Mountains. When Aphasius next reappeared he convinced a group of evil Dwarven Priests to perform a unique mummification ritual, the process of which came from Orcus himself. Aphasius was mummified while still being kept alive by dark magic, and as he rose completed he transformed into a Mummy Lord of extreme power. At this point in his existence Aphasius came upon the realization that he could rule the world with his dark master’s help, and he set about that task without delay. Aphasius found it easy to control undead around him and at first took to the idea of raising an undead army, but Orcus whispered; “...why control just an army...when you could control all...if they where dead...”. Aphasius threw himself into the task, and soon determined that a highly contagious disease, that transformed the living into undead, would suit his purpose. As long as he could defeat two factors; the plan being discovered before the disease could be dispersed, and the use of magic to cure the disease before it could destroy the entire population. In time and with the aid of Orcus, Aphasius was able to create his hideous virus, one that would remain dormant until Aphasius triggered it. As the years passed Aphasius made contact with various evil cults, never revealing his true nature or intent, and formed contacts within these groups. Eventually Aphasius was able to approach a rather extensive cult of Vecna worshipers that spread throughout nearly all nations, and with the help of these evil mages Aphasius set about ushering in the "Great Fall" with his Living Dead.

DC 20: Even destroyed the threat of Aphasius has not passed, the enchantments that created him will eventually restore Aphasius to full form and the world may once again face destruction.

DC 25: There are dark forbidden rituals that can when performed over his regenerating form that will speed the process from 4 or 5 centuries, to just 1 or 2.

Encounter Groups

Aphasius always has allies on hand, and gladly sends them at foes as it benefits him.

Level 22 Encounter (XP 22,800)

• Aphasius (level 26 Elite Controller)
• 4 Mummy Guardians (level 8 Brute)
• 4 Skeletal Tomb Guardians (level 10 Brute)
• 2 Blaspheme Unholy Slayers (level 12 Skirmisher)

Level 24 Encounter (XP 29,800)

• Aphasius (level 26 Elite Controller)
• 2 Mummy Lords (level 13 Elite Controller)
• 2 Skull Lords (level 10 Artillery)
• 1 Nightwalker (level 20 Elite Brute)
• 4 Skeletal Tomb Guardians (level 10 Brute)

Level 26 Encounter (XP 45,300)

• Aphasius (level 26 Elite Controller)
• 1 Lich (Eladrin Wizard level 24 Elite Controller)
• 1 Nightwalker (level 20 Elite Brute)
• 3 Giant Mummies (level 21 Brute)

Level 30 Encounter (XP 84,450)

• Aphasius (level 26 Elite Controller)
• Doresain the Ghoul King (level 27 Elite Skirmisher)
• 1 Deathpriest Hierophant (level 21 Elite Controller)
• 4 Deathpriests of Orcus (level 9 Controller)
• 6 Darkpact Ghouls (level 19 Elite Skirmisher)
• 6 Abyssal Ghoul Myrmidons (level 23 Minion)

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