KAS THE BETRAYER

LONG AGO, WHEN VECNA WAS STILL MORTAL, Kas was Vecnas most trusted lieutenant. He served Vecna faithfully for centuries, first as an evil human paladin and later as a vampire lord. Over time, Kas came to envy Vecnas power and began plotting against him. In the final ritual of Vecnas apotheosis, Kas struck out, hoping to become a god in Vecnas stead. Kass attempt to destroy Vecna failed, but he did manage to sever Vecnas hand and cut out one of his eyes in the epic battle. So great was the fight that it destroyed Vecnas tower and f lung Vecna and Kas across the planes. Kass plot failed, though he retains his power.

Kas the Betrayer

Level 26 Solo Soldier

Kas Tactics
Kas has a twisted sense of honor that compels him to offer the appearance of a fair fight to any creatures he considers equals. He quickly dispatches challengers of obvious inferiority. Kas usually strikes first and without warning, and he attempts to subdue

Medium natural humanoid, human vampire (undead) XP 45,000 Senses Perception +22; darkvision Initiative +20 HP 1190; Bloodied 595; see also Kass recovery and blood drain Regeneration 20 (regeneration doesnt function while Kas is exposed to direct sunlight) AC 44; Fortitude 41, Reex 39, Will 41 Immune disease, poison; Resist 15 re, 15 necrotic; Vulnerable 10 radiant Saving Throws +5 Speed 7, climb 3 (spider climb) Action Points 2 m Bastard Sword (standard; at-will) Weapon +33 vs. AC; 2d10 + 14 damage (crit 34 + 5d6). M Blood Drain (standard; encounter) Healing Requires combat advantage against the target; +31 vs. Fortitude; 2d12 + 14 damage, and the target is weakened (save ends), and Kas regains 297 hit points. M Terrifying Smite (standard; at-will) Fear, Weapon Requires bastard sword; +33 vs. AC; 2d10 + 14 damage (crit 34 + 5d6), and the target is pushed 5 squares and immobilized (save ends). R Dominating Gaze (minor; recharge ) Charm, Gaze Ranged 5; +31 vs. Will; the target is dominated and takes a 2 penalty to saving throws against being dominated (save ends both). Aftereffect: The target is dazed (save ends). Kas can have only one creature dominated at a time. C Betrayers Whirlwind (standard; recharge ) Weapon Requires bastard sword; close burst 1; +31 vs. AC; 2d10 + 17 damage (crit 37 + 5d6), and the target is blinded (save ends). C Kass Challenge (minor 1/round; at-will) Necrotic Close burst 5; targets one enemy; the target is marked until the end of Kass next turn. If the marked target makes an attack that doesnt include Kas as a target, it takes ongoing 10 necrotic damage (save ends). Kass Recovery (free; while Kas is bloodied; recharges when Kas reduces an enemy to 0 hit points or fewer) Healing Kas spends a healing surge to regain 297 hit points and end all adverse effects currently aff ecting him. Mist Form (standard; sustain minor; encounter) Polymorph The Kas becomes insubstantial and gains y (hover) 12 until the end of his next turn. Kas cannot attack while in this form and can sustain this form for up to 1 hour. Alignment Evil Languages Common Skills Arcana +25, Insight +22, Intimidate +27, Religion +25, Stealth +21 Str 26 (+21) Dex 20 (+18) Wis 19 (+17) Con 22 (+19) Int 24 (+20) Cha 28 (+22) Equipment +5 black iron plate armor, +5 lifedrinker bastard sword

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an opponent rather than kill it. He has no reservations about attacking an unarmed opponent, but the creature must have access to a nearby weapon. If a combatant proves a good challenge, Kas transforms the creature into a vampire spawn under his control after he defeats it. Kas is cunning, having learned much of his craft from Vecna. He prefers to fight opponents in areas of darkness, where he has no risk of losing his regeneration. Kas revels in combat and tries to engage as many opponents as possible. However, even while engaging multiple foes, he retains wisdom and cunning. Kas is confident of his abilities but makes strategic retreats if necessary. In melee, he disengages with an enemy

Kas Lore
A character knows the following information with a successful Religion check. DC 25: Kas is one of the most powerful humanoids who is not a deity. He is a powerful vampire lord and is rumored to have defeated several lesser deities and primordials. He commands armies of living and undead followers, and is worshiped and revered by vampires and debased mortals. DC 30: Kas is known also as Kas the Betrayer and is the sworn enemy of Vecna. He was originally Vecnas trusted lieutenant, but he betrayed Vecna in an effort to become a god in Vecnas stead. Kas severed Vecnas hand and eye, and though both survived the battle, each now seeks the others destruction. Kas was once an evil paladin, and he still values some knightly principles. He is exceptionally proud and never forgets or forgives insults to him or his honor. Two artifacts are associated with Kas, the Sword of Kas and the Silver Mask of Kas (both described in Chapter 2). These items are no longer in his possession and now filter through the planes, corrupting those who are unfortunate enough to find them. DC 35: Kas regularly travels the planes, but he has two primary bases of operation. He commands a kingdom in the Shadowfell, where vampires rule over the living. Kas spends little time there, but he ensures that his vampire lords rule with an iron fist. This kingdom is tolerated by the Raven Queen, whom Kas has appeased by the sharing of information regarding Orcus and Vecna. Kas also spends time in a hidden dominion within the Astral Sea. The dominion is a realm of near total darkness with structures made from finely polished obsidian. Within this realm, the lakes and rivers flow with blood. Some of the prisoners from Kass kingdom within the Shadowfell are brought to the dominion as food for Kas and his allies who dwell there.

BLACKSTAR KNIGHTS ARE UNDEAD SPIRITS housed in vessels of animate black stone. Each knight serves Kas unswervingly, though stories of similar beings under the control of other creatures have begun to surface.
Blackstar Knight Level 23 Soldier

Medium shadow animate (construct, undead) XP 5,100 Initiative +21 Senses Perception +19; darkvision HP 212; Bloodied 106; see also soldiers duty AC 40; Fortitude 35, Reex 35, Will 35 Immune disease, poison, sleep; Resist 15 necrotic; Vulnerable 15 radiant Speed 7 m Greatsword (standard; at-will) Weapon +28 vs. AC; 2d10 + 9 damage, and the target is marked until the end of the blackstar knights next turn; see also deathsword. M Deathsword (standard; at-will) Necrotic, Weapon Requires greatsword; targets a creature marked by the blackstar knight; +28 vs. AC; 3d10 + 9 damage, and ongoing 10 necrotic damage (save ends) C Soldiers Duty (when reduced to 0 hit points) Close burst 2; targets undead allies; the target gains 25 temporary hit points. No Escape (move; at-will) Teleportation The blackstar knight teleports up to 10 squares, ending the move in a square adjacent to a creature marked by the blackstar knight. Alignment Evil Languages Common, Primordial Str 27 (+19) Dex 26 (+19) Wis 26 (+19) Con 20 (+16) Int 10 (+11) Cha 9 (+10) Equipment greatsword

Blackstar Knight Tactics

A blackstar knight usually fights alongside its allies, beginning combat by marking a foe. The blackstar knight then uses deathsword and no escape to hound the marked enemy.

Blackstar Knight Lore

A character knows the following information with a successful Religion check. DC 30: These blank-faced stone warriors house souls bound to their rocky forms. The ritual for creating them remains a deeply guarded secret, and possibly one that Kas no longer controls. The presence of blackstar knights and similar beings in the service of other masters aside from Kas supports the possibility that Kass defenses have been compromised and his secrets revealed.

Encounter Groups
Kas is usually encountered alone, but he sometimes permits the company of powerful undead servitors. Level 28 Encounter (XP 69,200) 2 blackstar knights (level 23 soldier) 1 death knight, dragonborn paladin (level 25 elite soldier, MM 51) Kas the Betrayer (level 26 solo soldier)
CH A P T ER 4 | New Monsters

K A S T H E B ET R AY E R

only long enough to use dominating gaze, which he targets on the opponent most skilled in melee.

Blackstar Knight

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