Ajax the Invincible

"On behalf of the college, I would like to thank Lord Alvaro for his excellent lecture. The whole school owes you a debt for donating your time today. We will now open the floor to questions. Before we do, I would like to remind you that we enjoy a certain amount of informality here at the war college, but when speaking to Lord Alvaro, let not informality topple over into familiarity. We will take the first question now. Francis?"

"Thank you, sir. Lord Alvaro, what we just heard on the topic of Ajax's strategy was pretty chilling. In your opinion, as someone who knew him, how serious is he with his stance on non-humans in Orden? And how should we reconcile this with the treaties he signed with the elves and dwarves of Vasloria? Thank you for your time, my lord."

"Ah, yes," Alvaro said, eyebrows raised theatrically. "Jack's famous 'pro-human' rhetoric." And there was a susurration among the students. For the last hour, Lord Alvaro had only referred to the subject of his lecture as "Ajax." Everyone in the city knew Ajax and Alvaro attended university together, but for the first time, the students in the lecture hall understood—they had been friends.

"The short answer is: no. I don't believe Jack is a raving ah... 'human supremacist,' as the broadsheets put it. That's Mortum. But he does find the idea useful.

"I spoke for the last hour on Jack's tactics. But let's talk about his high-level goals for a moment. Remember everything I just said about Vasloria. The unique problems it presents to someone like Jack. Vasloria is probably as complex a problem as Ajax will ever face. No centralized government, no infrastructure. There's no Vaslorian equivalent of the Heliopolis, or Capital, Kashiato, or Qarat al Ya'tib. So how does one conquer a region with no unified identity and no central command?

"Well, you create that identity. Consider, before the coming of Ajax, most humans in the region only knew the elves and dwarves as a source of trade! Commerce. Large-scale battles were mostly fought between human duchies.

"Ajax systematically defeats those dukes, replacing them with... no one, and he forces the elves and dwarves to sign treaties at swordpoint. Like the dwarves of Kal Kalavar. They pay tribute to Ajax in forced labor. They don't send dwarves, oh no! They capture humans. Those unsuited for labor go into the Body Banks.

"So, what has Jack done? He's chopped the head off the feudal system in Vasloria leaving only far-flung baronies to fend for themselves. The people feel scared, alone. Leaderless. If the people use the roads, they risk capture by the dwarves; if they use the woods for resources, they're cut down by the elves. So they learn to distrust the elves and dwarves.

"I think it's a stroke of genius. Conquering all of Vasloria by force would be a long and bloody affair. Instead, he creates the conditions that will allow him to save Vasloria. He lets this field lie fallow for a few years, and, when he returns, there'll be a whole generation of young people who do not remember a time when the roads or forests were safe. Who hate the dwarves and elves. When Ajax returns, they will welcome him as their protector and he will unite them against these new enemies.

"It's a long plan, but I can't see any way it won't work. Uniting humans by pitting them against everyone else in Orden is a strategy I think he'll rely on more and more. It's working very well for him. Next question."

"Lord Alvaro, according to the broadsheets, there are many new churches in Vasloria dedicated to 'Saint' Ajax. Do you believe this is part of his grand strategy? Thank you, my lord."

"That's Mortum's doing, I'm sure of it. Mortum was a great believer in the power of religion as a tool to manipulate societies. If Jack's given it any thought at all, he'd see it as a sound strategy for his plan to return as, not just the protector, but the savior of the land. I suspect if Mortum hadn't pushed the idea, Jack would have thought of it sooner or later. The Pharoah of Khemhara commands enormous power, more than any political leader in all Orden, because uniquely he is both head of state and the chief religious officer. Even the emperors of Caelila didn't think of that. Next question."

"Thank you. Lord Alvaro, if Ajax is trying to conquer the world... do you think he will succeed?"

"Yes. Unless there's rapid agreement between all the powers of the world to work together and stop him? Yes, he's going to win. It's precisely because he knew such an alliance of powers was practically impossible that he even considered a Caelian-style campaign of conquest in the first place.

"Next question."

On Ajax

He bestrides the land like one of history's great conquerors. A combination of ambition, courage, and study created a master tactician in command of a massive army collecting countless priceless treasures—and no one to stand in his way.

By Might and Merit

Ajax the Invincible has earned his title. He graduated top of his class at Capital's military academy, and then immediately launched into a campaign across his homeland of Phaedros. At his side was his advisor Mortum, a nefarious wizard who guided Ajax in the footsteps of the Caelian Empire's conquests before them.

Together, Ajax and Mortum went on to subjugate and enlist hamlet after town after city after territory with little standing in their way. When they successfully returned the Chrysopolis—an ancient flying sky-elf city—to the sky, and their accomplishments literally rose above the country—no one could ignore their might any longer.

Treasures Abound

Ajax lays claims to many powerful treasures, both gifted to him in exchange for sanctuary and taken by his own hands. The Mantle of the Phoenix Queen, a harness that conjures the wings of a phoenix. Uthgryl, the Negotiator, Blade of the Gol King, a sword so sharp that it could cleave a person's willpower in two. The Hand of Kukai, a gauntlet plated in jade that harbors powerful, forbidden magic.

His arsenal is vast and strategically picked to round out his strength. There are few situations he isn't prepared to handle.

The Iron Saint

While some of his forces may refer to Ajax as the Iron Saint, the version of him presented here hasn't taken up that title yet. Ajax the Invincible will continue to amass followers, treasures, and titles until he can ascend to his rightful status as a saint. It's up to the heroes to make sure this will never come to pass.

Ajax's Languages

Ajax speaks Caelian, Higaran, Khoursirian, Phaedran, Riojan, Vaniric, and Vaslorian.

Ajax the Leader

Ajax is a master tactician. It would stand to reason that he can enter battle leading an army instead of facing the heroes solo.

Future adventures might feature different iterations and stat blocks for Ajax. For now, you can convert Ajax the Invincible into a level 11 leader with the following adjustments:

• Reduce his encounter value to EV 52.
• Reduce his Stamina to 280.
• Remove his Ajax Turns trait.
• Remove all his maneuvers.
• Add the following maneuver:

Strike Them Down Two allies within 10 squares of Ajax each move up to their speed and can use a signature ability.

• Adjust the I'm Not Done Yet trait so that Ajax dies at −140 Stamina instead of −350.

Tactical Stance (Ajax Feature)

At the start of each round, Ajax chooses a new stance from one of the following options and gains its benefits:

⭐️ Insurgent

Ajax automatically treats his initial power roll as a 17. He can still roll to determine if he scores a critical hit.

⭐️ Mastermind

Before he uses an ability, Ajax can either shift up to 2 squares, or can cause one creature within line of effect to slide up to 2 squares, ignoring stability.

⭐️ Vanguard

Ajax has damage immunity 5. Additionally, any enemy who makes a power roll that includes Ajax as a target has a double bane on the roll.

Ajax's Malice (Malice Features)

At the start of Ajax's turn, you can spend Malice to activate one of the following features.

👤 Reason (2 Malice)

Ajax attempts to instill doubt into a creature within line of effect through logic and reason. The creature and Ajax make an opposed Reason test. If Ajax wins, he chooses to either deal 11 extra damage to one target on his next strike or to gain an additional triggered action during the current round. Ajax can't use this feature against the same creature during the same encounter.

🌀 Nexus Jewel (5 Malice)

Until the end of the round, Ajax chooses one of the following environments he has previously visited and overlays that environment on top of the encounter map, temporarily merging multiple realities.

Incredibly High Above the Ground: The winds whip and bluster. Any creature who can't fly takes a −3 penalty to stability, and forced movement effects gain a +3 bonus to their distance against such creatures.

Swamp: The ground is difficult terrain for enemies. Any creature who starts and ends their turn in the same space is restrained (save ends).

Volcanic Canyon: The air is stiflingly hot. Each enemy takes 5 fire damage for each square they enter.

☠️ Solo Action (5 Malice)

Ajax takes an additional main action on his turn. He can use this feature even if he is dazed.

🔳 Draw Steel (10 Malice)

Area, Magic, Ranged, Weapon	Main Action
📏 Four 3 cubes within 10	🎯 Each enemy and object in the area

Effect: Each target makes a test using their highest characteristic.

• ≤11: 26 damage; bleeding and slowed (save ends)
• 12-16: 22 damage; bleeding (save ends)
• 17+: 16 damage

Ajax then raises his Blade of the Gol King above his head as four giant blades emerge from the ground to fill the area. Each target is pushed into an unoccupied space adjacent to the area after the power roll is resolved. Each blade blocks line of effect and can be dismissed by Ajax at will (no action required).

Ajax the Invincible

☠️ Ajax

Ajax Turns: Ajax takes up to three turns each round. He can't take turns consecutively. Additionally, he can use three triggered actions in a round while he isn't dazed.

End Effect: At the end of each of his turns, Ajax can take 20 damage to end up to two effects on him that can be ended by a saving throw. This damage can't be reduced in any way.

🗡 Blade of the Gol King (Signature Ability)

Charge, Magic, Melee, Strike, Weapon	Main Action
📏 Melee 1	🎯 Two creatures or objects

Power Roll + 5:

• ≤11: 16 damage; M < 4 the target loses 1d3 Recoveries
• 12-16: 22 damage; M < 5 the target loses 1d3 Recoveries
• 17+: 26 damage; M < 6 prone and the target loses 1d3 Recoveries

Effect: Ajax shifts up to 2 squares between striking each target.

1+ Malice: Ajax can strike one additional target for each Malice spent.

🔳 Decree by the Jade Hand

Area, Magic, Ranged	Main Action
📏 3 cube within 10	🎯 Each enemy and object in the area

Power Roll + 5:

• ≤11: 11 holy damage; slide 2; P < 4 the target is hexed (save ends)
• 12-16: 17 holy damage; slide 5; P < 5 the target is hexed (save ends)
• 17+: 21 holy damage; slide 8; P < 6 the target is hexed (save ends)

Effect: A hexed target glows green, and each of their heroic abilities has its cost increased by 2.

3 Malice: The potency increases by 1. Additionally, the ground beneath the area drops 3 squares and is difficult terrain. Each flying target who has M < 5 is knocked prone.

🏹 Divine Vine

Magic, Ranged, Weapon	Maneuver
📏 Ranged 5	🎯 One creature or object

Power Roll + 5:

• ≤11: No effect.
• 12-16: The target is grabbed.
• 17+: 11 damage; the target is grabbed.

Effect: If the target is grabbed, Ajax can choose to keep the vine extended, pull the target adjacent to him, or pull himself adjacent to the target. The vine stays attached to a grabbed target until it takes damage from a strike, the target escapes the grab, or Ajax causes the vine to release the target (no action required).

Special: This ability can be replaced with the features of a different treasure Ajax has acquired.

🔳 Bead of Hell (2 Malice)

Area, Magic, Ranged	Maneuver
📏 5 cube within 20	🎯 Special

Effect: Ajax throws a glowing bead to a square within distance, which ignites at the start of Ajax's next turn and creates an area around it that lasts until the start of Ajax's following turn. Each enemy in the area when the bead ignites takes 20 fire damage, and if they have A < 5, they are dazed (save ends). Any enemy who starts their turn in the area takes 10 fire damage.

⭐️ I'm Not Done Yet.

Ajax dies only when his Stamina reaches −350. While his Stamina is below 0, Ajax is bleeding, he can choose any two options from his Tactical Stance trait each round, and the Director gains 2 additional Malice per round.

❗️ Is This What They Taught You?

Ranged	Triggered action
📏 Ranged 10	🎯 The triggering creature

Trigger: A creature within distance marks Ajax.

Effect: The target is marked while Ajax is marked. While the target is marked this way, Ajax gains an edge on power rolls against them, and whenever the target uses a triggered action involving their mark on Ajax, he can make a free strike against them.

❗️ Shieldbreaker Talisman

Magic, Melee	Triggered action
📏 Melee 5	🎯 The triggering creature

Trigger: An enemy within distance uses an ability to reduce damage.

Effect: Ajax makes a free strike against the target, dealing extra damage equal to twice the amount that was reduced. This extra damage can't be reduced in any way.

❗️ Who's Hesitating?

-	Triggered action
📏 Self	🎯 Self

Trigger: A creature uses the Hesitation is Weakness ability.

Effect: Ajax shifts up to his speed and can make a free strike. If the target has R < 4, this free strike also makes them weakened until the end of their next turn.

❗️ Your Obsession With Me Betrays You

Magic, Ranged	Triggered action
📏 Ranged 10	🎯 The triggering creature

Trigger: Ajax causes a creature within distance to gain ferocity or wrath.

Effect: If the target has I < 4, they use a signature ability against a target of Ajax's choice.

❗️ You Would Flounder Your Assault? (2 Malice)

Magic	Triggered action
📏 Self	🎯 Self

Trigger: A creature within 10 squares regains Stamina.

Effect: Ajax regains the same amount of Stamina.

☠️ Phoenix Wing King (Villain Action 1)

Area, Magic, Weapon	-
📏 5 burst	🎯 Each enemy in the area

Power Roll + 5:

• ≤11: 11 fire damage; A < 4 weakened (save ends)
• 12-16: 17 fire damage; A < 5 weakened (save ends)
• 17+: 21 fire damage; A < 6 weakened (save ends)

Effect: Ajax flies at high speed to cut through each target, then appears in an unoccupied space within distance.

☠️ I've Learned Their Tricks (Villain Action 2)

Area	-
📏 3 burst	🎯 Each enemy in the area

Effect: Ajax uses the shadow elf eclipse's technique to reduce each target's surges to 0. Additionally, until the end of the round, Ajax ignores edges and double edges on any target's abilities, and ignores any nondamaging effects of any target's damage-dealing abilities.

Special: This villain action can be replaced with a villain action from a creature any target has previously encountered.

☠️ Awe of the Iron Crown (Villain Action 3)

Area, Magic	-
📏 7 burst	🎯 Each enemy in the area

Effect: Each target who has I < 5 is knocked prone and can't stand until Ajax deals damage to them. For each target not knocked prone, Ajax can move up to his speed toward that target and use Blade of the Gol King against them.