Aec'Letec Baldur's Gate
Aec'Letec is a Baldur's Gate enemy in BioWare's cRPG of 1998-99, Baldur's Gate. Aec'Letec is a True Tanar'ri Nabassu notable for its paralyzing death gaze, high rate of attack and excellent defenses that include a low AC, magic resistance and fire resistance. Aec'Letec is encountered in Ulgoth's Beard after we have defeated the Demonknight in Durlag's Tower Level 4.
Aec'Letec is gated in on a summoning circle when cultist Tracea Carol breaks the Soultaker dagger to complete a demonic ritual. In addition to Tracea, Aec'Letec is backed up by six cultists from whose souls it respawns upon being slain. Thus, the soul-fodder must first be slain before Aec'Letec can be utterly vanquished.
Aec'Letec Abilities
Short of foreknowledge only the luckiest players will survive this battle without reloading (even if they pay heed to Grael's words and take precautions). Aec'Letec opens proceedings by unleashing Paralysis Gaze, Fear, Silence 15' radius and Death Gaze, meaning Free Action and "mind shield" status are essential to survivability.
Death Gaze
Death Gaze is an interesting ability: a party member affected by this negative status effect needs to have it dispelled, pronto, before they are "chunked" and turned into ghastly undead that then turns on the party! As per our last infernal foe, Aec'Letec's elemental and magic resistances are rock solid, too.
Aec'Letec Stats
Aec'Letec has a THAC0 of 0 and inflicts an average of 13.5 slashing damage at a rate of 4 ApR, wielding a 1d10 claw as Grandmaster. In addition, Aec'Letec has an armor class of -9, 106 HPs, saving throws of 4-3-2-5-4, 100% fire and electricity resistance as well as 50% magic resistance and 50% magic cold and magic fire resistance.
How to Beat Aec'Letec
Being in closest proximity to Aec'Letec -- and a bothersome wizard to boot -- Tracea first needs to die. Then, the party must focus on the stationary cultists encircling Aec'Letec; turning attention to the demon once its disciples are dead, and banishing it back to the abyss for a whopping 16,000 experience points.
Thanks to the party most likely being max-level and decked out in some of the best gear offered by the campaign, there are many tricks and tactics that can be employed to this end, some inventive and others downright cheese.
Aside from a strong, Hasted and warded martial that simply whales away on the cultists followed by Aec'Letec, the following tactics can be employed to beat Aec'Letec:
- Cloudkill hit n runs (AR yoyo'ing)
- Animate Dead mobbing
- Otiluke'ing Aec'Letec
- Wand of Paralyzation spam [WAND04]
- Mustard Jelly squatting and sending just your tank down to wreck house (buffed to the max)
Below left: In the nick of time Dynaheir dispels the PC afflicted with Death Gaze as Kagain whales away on the demon's backside and Coran fills it full of holes with his Composite Longbow +1. (Aec'Lectic is scripted to chase down squishy wizards.)
Below right: Dynaheir and Xan are pronounced.. undead!
A few other notes on beating Aec'Letec:
- Dispel Magic is paramount and is fastest fired from a bow (Arrows of Dispelling)
- Ghouls conjured by Monster Summoning 3 can inflict immobilization on Aec'Letec
- Free Action status may be granted from potions, Free Action rings and the Spider's Bane sword
- Death Gaze may be warded off most easily by quaffing a Potion of Mirrored Eyes [POTN38]
Of all boss encounters in the campaign, this one, along with the Finale in the Temple of Bhaal against Sarevok, is the most fun to experiment with (though I don't doubt Aec'Letec's use of unique debuffs has caused more tears over the years!)
The victorious party returns to the inn, informing the noble dwarf that the deed is done.
This concludes the Durlag's Tower quest. Next up, is Werewolf Island.
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