Abdirak

Abdirak is a human servant of the Maiden of Pain, Loviatar. He is at the Bloodied Shrine in the Goblin Camp during Act One.

“

Let the sting of pain wash away your pain!

„

— Abdirak

Involvement

Act One

Abdirak resides inside the Shattered Sanctum next to the torture room. He offers peace and serenity through pain. If the interacting party member accepts, Abdirak strikes them several times. If the player character is the  Dark Urge, unique dialogue options are also available, and Abdirak may show sympathy for their plight. Regardless, if he is pleased with their performance, he blesses them with the permanent bonus  Loviatar's Love, and the following inspiration:

• ⁠A Kiss Without Mercy ( Acolyte background)
• ⁠The Art of Agony ( Entertainer background)

The player character must endure several strikes, each time passing either Performance or Intimidation roll, or failing Constitution roll.  Barbarians have advantage on the Intimidation rolls.

The rolls should not necessarily be of the same type, as long as each result of the roll is correct for the purposes of the trial.

If the interacting party member wishes to fail the Constitution rolls, they can  poison themselves by eating rotten food (found in the room next door).

If the participant removes their armour first, they are granted  Ardent Apostle – a temporary condition which grants a +4 bonus to Performance and Intimidation checks. This condition ends when Abdirak is done with the player character, regardless of the result.

If a party member reads  On Receiving Her Grace, found on the nearby table, this unlocks the dialogue option, "I saw your book. Let me try some of those techniques". This allows the party to choose which tool – mace, knife, or axe – Abdirak uses, and change the damage type inflicted to ⁠Bludgeoning, ⁠Piercing, or ⁠Slashing respectively. This can be used to reduce the damage taken. For example, selecting the axe option and casting  Blade Ward or equipping the  Amulet of the Unworthy to gain Slashing resistance. If all three ritual weapons are taken away, he casts  Bone Chill instead.

Afterwards, if present  Torturer Spike bullies  Lookout Grush into going up to the wall. Abdirak chooses a dagger, but gives up after two swings when Grush does not follow the ritual.

Abdirak moves to leave the sanctum the first time he is loaded in after the party kill the goblin leaders or successfully defeat  Minthara at the Emerald Grove. He is not brought into combat if the party members fight the goblins near him, instead opting to walk away. During the fight he moves in front of a burrow contemplating that he is too big to fit to escape. He carries the  Ritual Dagger and  Ritual Axe on his person from the Bloodied Shrine. After leaving the Shattered Sanctum Abdirak, unlike most other fleeing characters, does not despawn for a very long time. It is possible to follow him all the way out of the goblin camp, through the bridge, until only a bit south from Blighted Village where dirt road turns to stone, where he finally vanishes.

Dialogue

Fail to hold back the pain

Must be failed all three times.

• [CONSTITUTION] Try to hold back your cries. (DC 10)
  • [CONSTITUTION] Take a deep breath and close your eyes. (DC 10)
    • [CONSTITUTION] Grit your teeth and keep still. (DC 10 )

Cry out for mercy

• [PERFORMANCE] Yelp loudly and dramatically beg for mercy. (DC 5)
  • [PERFORMANCE] Writhe in exaggerated agony and cry out. (DC 10)
    • [PERFORMANCE] Ah, mercy! I can't take it... it's too much! (DC 10 )

Telling him to hit harder

• [INTIMIDATION] Come on. A child can hit harder than that. (DC 10)
  • [INTIMIDATION] You look tired. Should I take over? (DC 10)
    • [INTIMIDATION] Hit me as hard as you can - or I'll return the favour. (DC 5)

• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] More. (DC 10 )
  • [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] MORE. (DC 10 )
    • [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] MORE! (DC 5 )

Use monk training

Always results in failure, as the player character does not react to the pain as Abdirak desires.

• [MONK] Slow your breathing to attain silence, inside and out.
  • [MONK] Slow your heart and sink deeper into the stillness.
    • [MONK] Let the world recede. You neither hear the priest nor feel the blow.

Using bard skills

Requires no checks, automatically succeeds.

• [BARD] Make a show of screaming at the top of your lungs.
  • [BARD] Howl at the PAIN, the AGONY of it all.
    • [BARD] Sing out in pain and pleasure. You've never felt so ALIVE.

Companion approval

Agree to undergo penance.

• I am curious.  +5  +1

Combat

Abdirak can heal himself even though he is  Silenced or  Bone Chilled.

Attacks and actions

 Bone Chill ()

Damage: 1~8

1d8⁠Necrotic

Prevent the target from healing until your next turn. The target cannot help  Downed characters. An undead target receives  Disadvantage on  Attack Rolls.

 Range: 18 m (60 ft)

 Cure Wounds ( + )

Healing: 1~8 + modifiers

1d8 + Spellcasting modifier⁠Healing

Heal a creature you can touch.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

 Inflict Wounds ( + )

Damage: 3~30

3d10⁠Necrotic

Putrefy a creature with ⁠Necrotic energy filling your hands.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Loviatar's Scourge

Damage: 3~13

1d6 + 1⁠Bludgeoning

+ 1d6⁠Necrotic

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

Loot

• Loviatar's Scourge
• Scroll of Hold Person

Related literature

• On Receiving Her Grace, on the nearby table
• The Screed of the Willing