Callous Conductor

The **Callous Conductor** was a servant of the Violet who was the final boss of *The Herald's Call* campaign.

## Description

The Callous Conductor is a floating male wraith wearing dress clothing with a Violet aura. He has a small violin.

## History

### Summoning

Four individuals - Urien, Nojak, Vida, and Boris - use a Violet Shard in an attempt to summon the Callous Conductor to the Wall between the Badlands and Orde. Archael Sunspear, Arienne Okash'd, Azylea, Midas, Riku, and Zada decide to ambush the violet servant after defeating those who were going to summon it. They let the summoning finish after preparing to battle it. The Callous Collective is the servant which appears. As they were prepared they identify its abilities ahead of time in preparation for the fight.

### Ambush

The Callous Collective begins the fight by activating Imperia, an aura that increases his AC every time it is attacked, followed by Cursed Song on Zada, which is an ability that deals increased damage for each ally that she can see on the start of her turn. The Song is further amplified by Suffering Chord, an aura that increases its damage when a creature takes damage in the aura. Midas spends his three soul coins to cast spells using his Soul Action. Riku then casts Slow on the Callous Conductor, successfully removing its worrying amount of reactions, and uses Flame Weld on top of it. Archael protects the hurting Zada by casting Sanctuary on her and charges towards the Servant using Shining Assault, meeting it face to face. The Callous Conductor attempts to place a Cursed Song on Zada again, but because Sanctuary is blocking it, Midas is targeted instead. Arienne decides to rub dirt on Midas’ eyes to prevent Midas seeing any of them, stopping the ability from taking effect. Seeing this, the Violet Servant places a second Cursed Song on Azylea and casts Piano, an aura that deals psychic damage to the creature if they miss an attack or when the Callous Conductor succeeds a save. Midas doesn’t take any damage, but Azylea is knocked unconscious as she is in the middle of the party. Fortunately, Riku uses Dragon’s Grace and heals her. He then decides that things are looking grim and attempts to Clash with the Callous Conductor, but he’s countered by a screeching chord, deafening him as a result. Zada targets the Conductor with Apholios, but it’s able to dodge the brunt of the attack. After using his Golden Crown to heal everyone around him, Archael is able to see through the Servant’s tactics: they will fail if the Conductor is able to use Piano, Double Time, and Half Time together — effectively doubling all the activated auras’ effects and durations.

Imperia and Suffering Chord’s aura disappear, and the Callous Conductor activates Double Time, intending to start the combo. Seeing as Arienne is the only one who can stop it before the full combo, she attempts to Clash with the Violet Servant and succeeds, sealing Half Time. Realising that its strategy failed, the creature switches tactics and activates Lamentia, an aura that makes a person take psychic damage if it moves, followed up by Mezzo, an aura that heals the attacker but stuns them if they deal a critical hit. Midas activates his Soulfire to find a hidden ability of the Servant; when it’s below half HP, it can throw an Oblivion Sphere to the furthest enemy. If that enemy is hit, it will result in Violet Death. Azylea restrains the Conductor by using Frost Tangle. Taking advantage of the situation, Riku once again tries to Clash with it and this time he barely succeeds, dealing huge damage to the Servant. Zada sees it will use Crescendo, an ability that gives the target a point of exhaustion for every aura that surrounds them. The Callous Conductor once again activates Imperia and finally is able to shrug off Riku's Slow effect. Due to the effects of Piano and Double Time, Riku takes massive psychic damage and falls to the ground. But before the Conductor can make another move, Arienne decides to Clash again and succeeds, sealing Crescendo and releasing a massive amount of magical energy. Midas is able to absorb the energy and regains his third level spell slots. Realizing the Servant is close to half HP, Midas casts both Magic Missile and Fireball, successfully sealing Crescendo and stunning the enemy through Clashing. Azylea continues the momentum by successfully Clashing with Moonbeam. They seal Lamentia, but because the final string on the Conductor’s violin snapped with the sealing, Cursed Song is also removed from the fight. Zada uses her Soulfire to refresh the others’ and immediately fires another Apholios. Archael also uses his Golden Crown to heal everyone and bring Riku back to consciousness.

Arienne Clashes the stunned Callous Conductor with massive success and seals Suffering Chord, completely removing one of its initiatives. Seeing victory is in sight, the party goes all out. They bring down everything they have on the Servant, Midas dealing the final blow with a Scorching Ray. Before killing it, he decides to use Augurize to turn the soul into a Coin; a Violet Coin appears. As he picks it up, the Violet tries to corrupt Midas, but the wizard resists the temptation. As the fight ends, Thales Miletus arrives and meets the party. He congratulates them with eradicating the evil from his Wall. Now as the Herald approaches, the party sets out and faces Violet with the rest of Kalkatesh.

## Characteristics

* Martial to identify: 14
* +7 to All Saves (?)

## Traits

* **Auramancer** - This enemy’s main method of fighting is auras which it will cast on itself and others.
* **Improved Combo** - The abilities can be purposefully combo’d, the enemy can set up their ability to combo with other abilities, not tied to randomness.
* **Interruptor** - It has multiple reaction abilities and has three reactions a turn. Each one is connected to a certain initiative.
* **Magical Clash** - This enemy specializes in Magical combat and can be engaged in magical clashes.
* **Ruthless** - This enemy will target downed players and will attempt to finish them when given the chance.
* **Violet** - This enemy is a Servant of the Violet and should this enemy kill a player character, all of that player’s characters will be destroyed. This character cannot be resurrected. They will be forgotten and removed from the tapestry. This is known as Violet Death.

## Abilities

The Callous Conductor's abilities are generally spread through five types: Combat, Revelry, Sorrow, Metronome, and Hidden. The middle three being the three initiatives it has.

### Combat

The Callous Conductor has the following general combat abilities which can be used under any initiative:

* **Cursed Song** - Select an enemy within 30ft, that can be seen. At the start of their turn, they take [4d6] Psychic damage for each of their allies that they can see. [SEALED]
	+ This effect cannot be avoided by closing their eyes, but they can be Blinded to avoid it.
* **Two Step** - As a bonus action: This creature teleports to an adjacent square of an enemy it can see.
* **The Herald Watches** - If there are ever 7 or more auras, all enemies within 60ft take 20 maximum HP damage at the start of their turns.
	+ This ability cannot be free sealed.

### Revelry

**Revelry** is the Callous Conductors first initiative. It has the following additional abilities:

* **Double Time** - This creature gains a state, that whenever an aura triggers, that aura triggers again. This lasts for 2 rounds.
* **Imperia** - Creates an aura that lasts for 2 rounds. Whenever this creature would be attacked, it gains +1 AC.
* **Gloria** - Creates an aura that lasts for 2 rounds. Whenever a creature within 30ft is healed, this creature is healed for an equal amount. [SEALED]
* **Joviation** - As a reaction: Whenever a creature takes an attack action, this creature may cause that creature to take [10d6] Psychic damage, this cannot be used on enemies that are below half hit points.

### Sorrow

**Sorrow** is the Callous Conductors second initiative. It has the following additional abilities:

* **Half-Time** - This creature gains a state, that whenever an aura triggers, another aura is chosen and has it’s duration increased by 1 round. [SEALED]
* **Hesitation** - As a reaction: Whenever an enemy would attempt to cast a spell, counter that spell. [SEALED]
* **Lamentia** - Creates an aura that lasts for 2 rounds. Whenever an enemy would move, that enemy and this creature take [2d6] damage. [SEALED]
* **Suffering Chord** - Creates an aura that lasts for 2 rounds. Whenever a creature would take damage within 30ft, the next time Cursed Song activates, it deals an additional [2d6] damage. [SEALED]

### Metronome

**Metronome** is the Callous Conductors third initiative. It has the following additional abilities:

* **Crescendo** - Choose a single creature. That creature takes a level of Exhaustion for each aura they are in range of. [SEALED]
* **Fortississimo** - As a reaction: Whenever an enemy would move out of range of an aura controlled by this creature, apply a random aura to that creature, it counts as the origin, but this creature is the recipient.
* **Mezzo** - Creates an aura that lasts for 2 rounds. Whenever a creature would hit an attack or deal damage with a spell or ability, they are healed for [1d6] hit points. If the attack is a critical hit, that creature is Stunned for 1 round.
* **Piano** - Creates an aura that lasts for 2 rounds. Whenever an enemy would miss an attack or the Callous Conductor succeeds a save, the offending character takes [4d6] Psychic damage If the attack is a 1, instead they are afflicted with Cursed Song

### Hidden

The Callous Conductor has one hidden ability:

* **Oblivion Sphere** - At half hit points or lower: This enemy may enact an oblivion sphere. This always targets the furthest enemy. If it is the same distance, the choice is random. That enemy must make a Constitution Saving throw or they suffer Violet Death. [SEALED]
	+ When sealed: Its connection to the Herald is weakened and it becomes stunned.

## Additional Mechanics

### General

* The Destroyer’s Blade allowed them to identify all of the abilities and to seal two of them. The two abilities sealed are Gloria and Hesitation.

### Tactics

* End of Round 2: This enemy intends to get them into a fail state in 2 Rounds by using specific abilities. Those abilities are: Piano, Double Time, and Half-Time.
	+ Round 3: No longer possible due to the sealing of Half-Time.
* Round 3: Setting up Crescendo to kill people.
	+ No longer possible due to the sealing of Crescendo.

## Trivia

* Arcadum mentioned that the Callous Conductor and the Callous King and are somehow related though the exact nature of that relation is unknown.

## External Links

* Google Doc for the encounter, created by Morgeta