Ptaris

Ptaris is a Githyanki located in the Society of Brilliance Lodge in the Lower City during Act Three. He will only be there if the stolen githyanki egg was given to Lady Esther as part of the quest  Steal a Githyanki Egg.

Overview

Background

Ptaris is the adult, who has grown up from Githyanki Egg, whose growth was accelerated in order for the Society of Brilliance researcher, Havkelaag, to prove his theory on genetic morality. As part of this, Ptaris was raised under the Ptarian Code, the teachings of which led him to kill the members of the lodge in his quest to cure them of evil.

History

Ptaris was laid at Crèche Y'llek's hatchery. He was the last of his brood in the hatchery, taking longer than expected to hatch. Though most caretakers would have crushed him, the hatchery overseer Varsh Ko'kuu had begun life in a similar way, and wanted to give the egg as much of a chance as he could.

Ptaris' egg was eventually taken from the hatchery by a group of adventurers who were passing through the crèche, and brought to Lady Esther, a member of the Society of Brilliance was on an expedition to obtain a githyanki egg for her fellow researchers. Esther brought the egg back to the Lodge in Baldur's Gate. There, it was taken on by the researcher and philosopher Havkelaag, who was trying to prove his theory on genetic morality by observing that a githyanki raised in a peaceful, nurturing environment could overcome their "violent nature". Havkelaag wrote down what happened with Ptaris in Havkelaag's Journal.

In order to complete their research in a shorter amount of time, the Society created a means of accelerating the growth of Ptaris. As the basis of their research, Ptaris was raised under his namesake, The Ptarian Code, a strict moral code decreed by the dragon god of justice, Bahamut. Some of the core ideals of the code were to uphold the highest ideals of justice and good, and correct those who would oppose these ideals.

As he grew, Ptaris showed a "diligence, attentiveness and hunger" for knowledge, learning and following the Ptarian doctrine almost obsessively. While Ptaris was true to how he enacted the code, his interpretation became too inflexible to consider the broader consequences and morality of his actions. Ptaris became more and more obsessive and compulsive, until he took action against Havkelaag and the Society. He believed himself to be absolutely good and able to determine who was "bad". Ptaris believed his father and the Society to be immoral, and in accordance with his code, attempted to "make them better". When this failed, he tried torture, and finally, death, massacring the members of the Lodge.

Involvement

Act One

Ptaris is first met while he is just an egg, incubating in the hatchery of Crèche Y'llek under the watchful eye of Varsh Ko'kuu. Ko'kuu will explain to the party that the egg is taking a longer time than expected to hatch. They can then Persuade him to let them take the egg, or simply steal it. If it is later given to Lady Esther along the Monastery trail, she will take it back to the Society of Brilliance Lodge, where it will grow into Ptaris.

Act Three

Arriving at the Society of Brilliance Lodge, the party will find a scene of devastation, blood coating the floor and the lodge members murdered. Upstairs and in the bedroom is be a portal, which leads down to the Lodge's docks, where a full grown Ptaris has just killed Lady Esther.

Ptaris will introduce himself, that he is Ptaris and he is "good". He will reveal that he was raised by a dwarf named Havkelaag, his growth accelerated and raised under the Ptarian code. Ptaris will read the player character's mind and see them giving him as an egg to Esther, and will blame them for the harm his father cause him.

At this point, the party can try and talk down Ptaris:

• [DECEPTION] I thought I was saving you. I had no idea what they were planning. (DC 25)
• [INTIMIDATION] I never should have saved you. But I'm happy to rectify my mistake. (DC 25)
• [PERSUASION] You would have been destroyed if not for me, I saved you. (DC 25)
• [BARBARIAN] [PERSUASION] I wield my anger like a blade, but it does not rule me. I am no more 'bad' than you are. (DC 20)
• [GITHYANKI] [PERSUASION] Ungrateful yank. Our kin would have destroyed you if it wasn't for me. (DC 20)
• [DETECT THOUGHTS] [WISDOM] Probe the boy's mind.
  • You feel strange, don't you? That's your conscience. It's telling you to stop.
• [WARLOCK] [PERSUASION] I gave you what my patron gave me - a chance at something more. (DC 20)

If successful, he will react by saying that his "father saved [him]"; that he was born evil and his father cured him. Ptaris will realize that his code is flawed, and will become inconsolable as he comprehends the reality of his actions.

If the party fails to convince Ptaris, he will become hostile and attack.

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Astral Step ()

Surrounded by silver mist, you teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Sapping Images

Creates magical effigies that steal 2 points of Charisma, Intelligence, and Wisdom from nearby targets.

Destroying a mental effigy restores the ability points.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Recharge: Per turn

 Vacuum Missile

4d8 (4~32) Psychic

Pierce a foe with a psychic dart and possibly drag other foes towards the target.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Recharge: Per turn

Honour Mode

In Patch #7, Ptaris gained a legendary action that lets him apply a pacifying aura to a foe that strikes him, once per round. This pacifying aura reduces the stats of all allies within 5 meters for 2 turns. It also grants 50 temporary hit points to the person with the aura, and if not removed after 2 turns, it will spawn a Ptaris' Mental Image.

 Legendary Action: Ptarian Dogma

Once per round, after being hit, Ptaris can spend a Legendary Action to surround his attacker in  Ptarian Pacifism.

Tactics

Ptaris can be a surprisingly challenging fight. He is Level 12 and creates a number of mental images that sap the strength of allies and can potentially cause them to become  Atrophied if not dealt with quickly. He will generally use  Astral Step and  Shunt Through Space to keep his distance from the party, while attacking them from a distance with  Vacuum Missile and creating more images.

However, Ptaris has no resistances and can be focused down rather quickly if the party has high damage dealers. Melee attacks can counter  Shunt Through Space by baiting Ptaris into wasting his reaction on an opportunity attack before attacking him themselves.

Notable loot

• Unflinching Protector Amulet

Related Quests

•  Steal a Githyanki Egg

Related Literature

• Havkelaag's Journal
• The Ptarian Code