Goran of the Heart
Welcome again to Masters and Minions. This week I have an encounter with one of the enforcers from Moran’s Heart, a relatively new vampire cult. Moran’s Heart tends to mark their meeting areas with a small bloody “M.” Some of their enforcers also leave a similar bloody “M” at the scene of a hit as a grisly calling card.
For the past week or so the PCs have heard rumors of gruesome murders, all of which have been marked with an “M” drawn in the victim’s blood. The most recent of these murders also claimed the lives of several members of the city watch, who arrived in the middle of the massacre. The PCs might choose to track down the source of the terrible murders or they can stumble upon on one in progress. Goran is a brutal, bloodthirsty thug who joined Moran’s Heart after being seduced by their promises of power. As he continues to perform services for the organization, they continue to grant him more access to powerful blood magic, though he is impatient for the time when he will finally be allowed to cross over all the way. He is tall and pale, though the most imposing thing about him is easily his armor, which is pitch black, covered in wicked spikes, and enchanted to appear to be constantly weeping blood. He is quick to anger and more than a little sadistic, so he will not hesitate to attack the PCs, or any other bystander that may get in his way.
Goran |
CR 13 |
XP 25,600
Male human fighter 14
NE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Scent; Perception +15
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 14, flat-footed 26 (+2 Dex, +13 armor, +1 natural, +2 deflection)
hp 123 (14d10+42)
Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5; +4 bonus on Will saves against fear
Defensive Abilities armor training, bravery
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bardiche +21/+16/+11 (1d10+27/19-20x4) or Deadly Stroke +21 (2d10+54 plus 1 Constitution bleed/19-20x4)
Ranged N/A
Offensive Abilities Weapon Training (pole arms) +3, Weapon Training (blades, heavy) +2, Weapon Training (axes) +1
Blood Powers (CL 7th)
Beast Tongue – (0th)
Detect Blood – (0th)
Beast Traits, Lesser (wolf) – (1st)
STATISTICS
Str 22, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8, BP 10
Base Atk +14; CMB +20; CMD 34
Feats Bleeding Critical, Blood Smite, Critical Focus, Dazzling Display, Deadly Stroke, Expanded Blood Pool, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bardiche), Gain Power (Beast Traits, Lesser (wolf)), Greater Weapon Focus (bardiche ), Greater Weapon Specialization (bardiche ), Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Sanguine Aspirant, Shatter Defenses, Weapon Focus (bardiche), Weapon Specialization (bardiche)
Skills Climb +23 (+19 with armor check), Intimidate +22, Perception +15
Languages Common
SQ Blood Pool
Equipment +2 War Plate, +1 Keen Bloodstone Bardiche, Ring of Protection +2, Ring of Sustenance, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Belt of Physical Might (Str/Dex) +2
Goran always full power attacks for -5 to attack and +10 to damage; this is already included in his entry. He gets +8 to confirm critical hits.
Quotes
“I am fear."
“I am Death."
“I smell BLOOD!"
“Darkness cover your soul and blood cover my blade."
Tactics
Goran makes use of his Dazzling Display feat to demoralize as many of the PCs as he can. He then follows up by using Deadly Stroke on the closest shaken PC. If he has trouble hitting a PC he stops power attacking.