Alleo Ad’Daire

Art by Jeongyoon Park

**Alleo Ad’Daire** is the second boss of the Indigo Trials in *Heart of Tyre*.

## History

Alleo Ad’Daire was married to Minthis Ad’Daire.

### The Indigo Trials

Following their defeat of The Steel Storm the party - Lord Antonius Volnaris, Ives, Neve, Madd Morc, Seren - is restored by the Neverend. Seren attunes to her Fire Shield again. The next fight parameters are the following: Humanoid Ranger. Ban Spellburn and Humiliate. A phantasmal airship fades in from the infinite void, and a man with a fancy hat and a scimitar arrives on the scene. Alleo Ad’Daire, the Skylord and the husband of Starcaller Minthis, a" still living" Seven, is the Tops next opponent.

Alleo gives the party time to prepare for the fight. The consumed potions are restored. Ives recovers his standard arrows, but any used amber arrows are gone. The party buffs up before they get into formation. As Alleo gets into his fighting stance, his wedding ring shatters. His bravado, strength, and willpower left his soul. As he picks up the remnants of his ring, indigo crystals grow around him and begin to return to the crystalline ground. However, the spirit of his beloved, thrumming with Sevenic power, pulls him from the crystals. Before Minthis (the Seven who sacrificed herself in *Soul of Tyre*) leaves for the afterlife, she encourages Alleo to fight. Alleo turns to the party, stating that he will test them. If they are to bear the responsibility of his wife, he will make sure that they are worthy of it. The Seven stands behind Alleo.

Ives is the one who makes the first move, immediately flying upwards. Skylord Alleo then gets on his ship, swinging his saber against each Tops member before challenging Morc. Dranf attempts to hit Alleo, but the boss parries all of his attacks. Emperor Alleo then activates an unidentified glyph then “stores an attack.” Morc identifies the Glyph of Warding, which increases Alleo’s defense for every attack made against him.

Ives stealths behind Madd Morc. The Skylord uses Reposition to be next to Seren so he can take two swings at her. Derok fails to use Doom’s Herald on Alleo and then drinks a potion of Heroism, taking damage for taking those actions with the second twice as strong as the first. Neve calls back her Shadow Dagger she had missed in the last round, also taking damage for this action. Turns out that the Glyph of Punishment damages enemies within 60ft who takes an action. This does not affect people who are readying actions. Luckily, only one Glyph can be active.

Alleo designates the area for the Unfortunate Circumstance to perform Ramming Speed. Derok, Morc, Neve, and Seren are in the area. Before Derok Dimension Doors out of the way, he successfully uses Doom Herald, forcing disadvantage on Alleo’s rolls. Neve moves out of the area, and Seren maneuvers around Alleo to get out of the ship’s way. She learns of Shock and Awe, a devastating attack that targets all enemies but can only be used when there’s a critical hit. Emperor Alleo uses Commanding Gaze on Morc, preventing him from moving or teleporting.

Seeing the Skyship speeding in, Ives lassos and pulls Morc out of the way. Ives then shoots an Amber Arrow at Alleo, causing some of the amber to cover Minthis. Alleo moves away from everyone, using up his stored attacks to use Daring Swing three times against everyone but Seren who was close enough to avoid the attacks. She readies Dispel Magic at the end of Alleo’s Emperor turn. Alleo Repositions next to Morc and activates the Glyph of Torment, a glyph that damages any moving enemy. However, it was promptly Dispelled by Seren.

Ives learns that Alleo’s Bravado will allow him to negate any ability to control his actions or limit his movement at the cost of HP. No Hold Person for this boss. Derok identifies the hidden ability that Alleo’s saber has. If his HP is below half and he crits, he may attack again. Neve learns that Alleo is fighting with Minthis’s love, and that if he reaches a critical point, he will go through a Sevenic Surge and will then fight with the power of the Seven.

Ives lands another Amber Arrow on Alleo and feels that if he continues doing this, he will sever Alleo’s connection to Minthis. Alleo moves away from the rest of the group to prepare something. Derok realises that Alleo is waiting for Doom’s Herald to disperse and prepares another Daring Swing after Derok’s turn. Derok attempts to stop this with another Doom’s Herald but fails this time. Alleo uses Daring Swing twice, downing and locking out (should be “killing”, but Merciful is in play) Seren with a crit. Neve rushes to Seren and gets her back up with a Revivify Potion. Seren will plant her Sakura Tree. Alleo Repositions right next to Seren and activates Glyph of Torment. Morc realises Alleo’s plan. Alleo plans to use Shock and Awe to force the party in a very difficult situation.

Ives performs a fly-by rescue on Seren to get her away from Alleo. Alleo then activates Shock and Awe, downing Seren and severely injuring Morc. He then moves away from Morc and Derok and sets Ramming Speed on Seren, Neve, and Ives.

The party continues their fight against Alleo Ad’Daire. Those who were within his airship’s Ramming Speed get out of the way. A seven-pointed star shimmers on Alleo’s body. Morc learns that Alleo is channeling a ritual, one that allows him to get Sevenic Surge. For each of the next four rounds, Alleo will speak a piece of his promise to Minthis. Once he finishes reciting, the fight will enter the hidden phase. On his Hope Initiative, Alleo speaks “For all her strength, she was gentle with me.”

Alleo starts to defend himself while keeping his distance from the Tops. Derok attempts to Hold Person but fails. His concentration on haste ends, and he goes into a short stupor. An Indigo Event is triggered, but the Negator is used on the Reaping Storm. “Her love is a storm, and ever I am watched by her eyes.”

Ives lands another amber arrow, covering Minthis more with Amber. The Tops tries to take down Alleo but to no avail. With a Commanding Gaze, Alleo prevents the closest Tops, Morc, from moving. Morc will toss the Amber Mask (Seren gave it to him Seren before they entered the labyrinth) towards Derok. “Her visage is terror, but her smile is my sun.”

Desperate, Ives shoots a cocaine arrow at the ground next to Alleo who then relapses to his old addiction to the drug. Drugged up, Alleo begins to sprout things as though he is living his past. Alleo loses his Merciful trait, and the ethereal Minithis glares down Ives for doing this to her husband. Ives tells Derok to lace the Amber Mask with cocaine from the arrows, hoping that forcing the mask on Alleo will end his connection to Minithis. Derok does so and uses a Dimension Door to get close to Alleo. Despite wanting the crack, Alleo stops Derok from shoving the laced Mask on his face. Neve retrieves a cocaine arrow and drugs up Alleo more. Pissed off at seeing the return of Alleo’s former demon, Minthis manifests herself, shattering all of the amber that’s covering her. Not wanting to miss the fun, Morc runs up to Alleo and tells the rogues to fire another one.

Alleo speaks the words, “What is the one thing that she told me not to say.” Minthis realizes what he is about to say, and attempts to stop him from speaking. However, she fails, and Alleo speaks the name of the Enemy. The battle ends as Alleo turns into violet dust. Minthis gets on the ground and holds the dust of her husband, taking some time to process the Violet Death. For a moment, she forgets the greater enemy and turns her anger towards the Tops. “God bolt.”

Lightning strikes the ground, killing everyone but Ives who is somehow still standing from taking the magus opus spell of a Seven. The Neverend appears and restores the Tops to their full strength. Unlike the Steel Saint’s, Alleo’s pillar does not rise from the scar. Minthis joins her friends with hatred in her eyes. The party laments on their actions. The Neverend brings the party bad news. The will of a Seven supersedes their own will, and so their next opponent is chosen by Minthis.

## Characteristics

* Martial to identify: 14-18
* +7 to Athletics checks
* +8 to Wisdom saves

## Traits

* **Martial Master**:Like Martial Adept, martial clashes can occur. Martial Master means that this enemy has advantage on all clashes of this nature. In addition, they may clash at will.
* **Defender**:This creature has a way to raise its defenses or defend itself. Attack negation and AC.
* **Merciful**:This enemy will NOT target players after they are downed, attempting to spare targets instead of kill them. If your character is killed, you are locked out of the fight until you are revived. If all of your characters are defeated then the Indigo Scar trial is failed.
* **Sorrowful**:His heart is not in the fight, he does not wish for you to lose. This ability allows for him to heal/strengthen his enemies.
* **Deadly**: This enemy does more damage than normal.
* **Morale Breaker**: This enemy possesses a lot of crowd control effects like action skipping.
* **Sevenic**: This creature is blessed with the power of the Seven, and may have abilities that defy explanation.

## Abilities

His abilities are split into 4 categories among 3 initiatives. The first are general combat abilities that can be done across any initiative, two are his normal initiatives, and the final is an initiative that activates on a later round.

### Combat

General combat abilities that can be done across any initiative:

* **Bravado** - As a triggered action: Whenever this character would fail a saving throw that would control its action or limit its movement, it may spend 50 hit points to negate the effect.
* **Challenger’s Pose** - Whenever this stance is entered, if at the start of his next initiative there are no adjacent enemies to him, he immediately summons a Salvo. If there is one next to him, he gains an extra melee attack for every enemy adjacent. This is used on any ability that allows an attack.
	+ Attacks can be saved and used later?
	+ Combos into Shock n’ awe.
* **Parry** - As a reaction: Perform this attack whenever you would suffer an attack. Should this number exceed the attack it is negated. For the rest of the round, Alleo may Parry as a triggered action against the attack or spell DC.
	+ Parry has to exceed the attack to affect it.
	+ If it (successfully?) Parries, it is able to Parry for the rest of the round without using a reaction.
* **Reposition** - Move to a space within’ 100 feet. This does not provoke AoOs, this ignores Sentinel.
	+ Grabs rope from airship to move.
* **Saber** - Basic attack: [d20+11] [d8+6]
	+ Whenever this enemy is below half hit points and he critically hits with his Saber: he may attack again.
	+ This effect does not apply on these extra attacks.

### Skylord

Abilities used during the Skylord initiative:

* **Daring Swing** - Alleo swings to and attacks all enemies that are not within’ 30 feet of them. Each of these attacks have an increased critical threshold and multiplier for each enemy targeted.
	+ If Critical Hit: Damage die is multiplied, not total damage.
	+ This combos with Challenger’s Pose as Daring Swing is only one attack.
* **Flare** - Alleo summons a flare to blind all enemies on the battlefield for 1 round. All enemies must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be blinded for the duration.
* **Ramming Speed** - Alleo chooses an area within’ 100 feet as a 30 feet area. At the start of his next Skylord initiative, that area is struck with the rammending end of Alleo’s ship. All creatures in that area are stunned for [1d4] rounds. A DC 17 Strength save reduces this to 1 round (This save is made before the [1d4] is rolled).
* **Salvo** - Select an enemy. In one round, that enemy is struck with a Salvo from Alleo’s airship, the Unfortunate Circumstance. All creatures in a 20 feet radius centered on the target take [7d6] Piercing damage from a Salvo of ballista bolts.
* **Shock n’ awe** - All enemies take [15d6] Thunder and Lightning damage. DC 18 Dexterity saving throw for half. This ability can only be activated if Alleo has critically hit or been subject to a critical hit, within’ 1 round.

### Emperor

Abilities used during the Emperor initiative:

* **Commanding Gaze** - As a bonus action: Select an enemy, that enemy must make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw or be unable to move or teleport for 1 round.
	+ Combos into Ramming Speed.
	+ **Glyph of Punishment** - As a triggered action: Each time an enemy takes an action within’ 60 feet that enemy takes 5 points of Necrotic damage. Each time this is activated, this damage amount is doubled. This lasts for 1 round.
	+ Effected: Action, bonus action, item interaction, and reaction.
	+ Ready action can be affected by this, but only if it is used.
		- Strat: Ready action until Glyph is gone.
* **Glyph of Torment** - As a triggered action: While not adjacent to Alleo, each time an enemy moves they take 3 Slashing damage. Each time this is activated, this damage amount is increased by 3. This lasts for 1 round.
	+ Teleportation doesn’t trigger this.
	+ Combos into Ramming Speed.
* **Glyph of Warding** - For every attack made against this character, its AC is increased by 1. This lasts for 1 round.
* **Elven Superiority?** - Alleo counts as an elf for any positive effects on the battlefield. This is included to but not limited to: Immunity to sleep, immunity to fey charm, and other effects such as aging. However, Alleo does not like being an elf and takes one additional damage from any elf on the battlefield. This ability changes whenever a certain state is reached.
* Additional Notes
	+ Only one Glyph can be active at a time.
	+ Glyphs can be dispelled. If you have a cyphermage, the glyphs can be stolen.
	+ Doubling effects only last for 1 round or reset when changing Glyphs?

### Hope

Abilities used during the Hope initiative. This initiatve cannot be identified by Martial checks until this is activated. This activates on the 7th Round. On each passage of the Hope initiative, he recites these words. On the final one, he will have a Sevenic surge and they will fight him at full strength. 4 rounds and then the hidden phase is activated. Alleo fights with Minthis' love flowing through him. However, this is the power of the Seven. Should Alleo reach a critical point where defeat is on the horizon, he will activate his Sevenic surge. The combat parameters will change and he will fight with the power of the Seven.

* **For all her strength - “She was gentle with me…”**
	+ Shimmering magic begins to swirl around. His hat will fly free from his head. You see a symbol underneath his skin, a seven-pointed star, radiates outwards. It will radiate out from his right eye.
* **Her love was a storm - “And ever am I watched by its eye…”**
* **Her visage was terror - “But her smile was my sun…“**
	+ He will take off his coat, and arcane sigils begin to swirl all around his exposed body. Minthis begins to power up. Her eyes shining with astral fire.
* **Her words demanded obedience -**
* **Sevenic surge -**

Additional notes:

* He is using every defensive ability in order to complete his recital of his Hope initiative.
* Cannot be dispelled.

## Additional Mechanics

### Arrows

* Amber: The amber arrow weakens Minthis’ presence.
	+ Amber arrows hit: 3
	+ 3rd: The Amber creeps up Minthis’s two arms. It settles upon her chest. Minthis’s concern is that her husband will fall. Her steel resolve is that she believes in her abilities. However, there is a slight smugness to her that she has a trick up her sleeve.
* Cocaine: Alleo is an ex-addict.
	+ Alleo’s eyes have fully dilated. You have detected the following changes: General Confusion: [d10] = 6
	+ 1st: Minthis sheds a few tears that he transforms into the devil that haunted him his whole time. Minthis will look at Ives with hatred. The amber will crack on her visage.
	+ 2nd: Minthis is so angry she is beginning to manifest. The amber shatters and all the amber falls off of her spirit, and she begins to crack her knuckles.

### Meta knowledge checks

Arcadum rolls to see if Alleo hears the players talking with each other about their plans.

## External Links

* Google Docs for Alleo encounter, created by Morgeta

## References

1. ↑ Art Station post by Jeongyoon Park
2. ↑ Heart of Tyre: Episode 13
3. ↑ Heart of Tyre: Episode 14
4. ↑ Heart of Tyre: Episode 15