Lord Soth, Spring 356 AC

by Joe Mashuga

Note: As an undead creature, Lord Soth technically has no Constitution score.

Special:

Cleric Abilities: Aura, rebuke undead (+2 synergy bonus), spells, spontaneous casting.

Death Knight: Abyssal blast 1/day (range 1120 ft., 18d6 half-fire half-divine damage, Reflex DC 27 for half); create skeletal warrior; damage reduction 10/magic; fear aura (Will DC 27; immune to cold, electricity, and polymorph effects; power word 1/day (blind, stun, or kill, as 18th-level wizard); see invisibility; spell resistance 28; summon mount (typically a 9-HD nightmare); symbol 1/day (pain or fear, as 18th-level wizard); spell-like abilities (1/day – detect magic, dispel magic, wall of ice, as 18th-level wizard); touch attack (1d8+8 plus 1 Con, Will DC 27 for half damage and no Con loss); turn immunity; undead followers (up to 36 HD); undead traits.

Knight of the Crown Abilities: Fight to the death, heroic initiative (+2).

Rogue Knight Abilities: Desperate strike +2d6, dire providence, fate's hand, favored foe +2 (Knights of Solamnia), hardhearted, honor's price, smite law 1/day (+8 to hit, +5 to damage).

Ex-Knight of Solamnia: As an ex-Knight of Solamnia, Lord Soth does not have the honorable will, knightly courage, or strength of honor abilities. He has traded his Knight of the Sword and Knight of the Rose levels for Rogue Knight levels, and has gained the fate's hand, favored foe*, and hardhearted abilities for being an ex-Knight. *Favored foe is not named as such but is described in the Former Knight Levels section of the rogue knight prestige class.

Lord Soth's Nightmare: Large outsider (evil, extraplanar); HD 9d8+36; hp 80; Init +6; Spd 30 ft., fly 90 ft.; AC 30, touch 11, flat-footed 28; Base Atk +9; Grp +17; Atk +12/+12 melee (1d8+4 plus 1d4 fire, 2 hooves) and +7 melee (1d8+2, bite); AL NE; SV Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +8; Str 19, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 10.

Languages: Abyssal, Common, Infernal.

Skills and Feats: Concentration +16, Diplomacy +2, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (the planes) +13, Listen +16, Move Silently +14, Search +13, Sense Motive +14, Spot +16, Survival +14 (+16 on other planes and following tracks); Alertness, Improved Initiative, Run, Track.

Special Qualities: Astral projection, darkvision 60 ft., etherealness, flaming hooves, smoke.

Possessions: +1 chainmail barding, military saddle.

Skills:

Bluff +8*, Diplomacy +18*, Gather Information +6*, Handle Animal +13, Intimidate +15*, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +8, Knowledge (religion) +5, Listen +4, Ride +21, Speak Language (Infernal), Spellcraft +4, Spot +4. *These skills increase by +5 when dealing with dishonorable or unsavory characters, and are decreased by –5 when dealing with the Knights of Solamnia.

Feats:

Alertness, Cleave, Diehard, Endurance, Great Cleave, Honor-bound, Improved Critical (greatsword), Leadership, Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Ride-By Attack, Stubborn, Weapon Focus (greatsword), Weapon Specialization (greatsword).

Languages

Common, Infernal, Solamnic.

Spells

Spells: Cleric Spells per Day: 3/2+1; base DC = 12 + spell level.    Deity: Takhisis. Domains: Evil (cast evil spells at +1 caster level), Law (cast law spells at +1 caster level).

Weapons:

+3 unholy greatsword (+28/+23/+18/+13 melee, 2d6+16/17-20) or touch (+25/+20/+15/+10 melee, 1d8+8 and 1 Con).

Possessions (as NPC):

+5 full plate, +1 lance, +3 unholy greatsword, amulet of natural armor +2, belt of giant strength +4, cloak of Charisma +4, ring of protection +2.

Description:

6'5" 300 lbs., glowing orange eyes, approximately 400 years old.

Background:

Loren Soth was once a shining exemple of the Knights of Solamnia. His deeds won him many accolades, and he became a Knight of the Rose approximately 2 PC. However, fate would conspire against Lord Soth in the form of an elven maiden named Isolde. Soth rescued the maiden and was instantly infatuated with her, so much so that he eventually slew his current wife and made Isolde his bride.
Lord Soth began to see the error of his ways, and begged Paladine to give him a chance for redemption. The Platinum Dragon answered, and Lord Soth was given the chance to stop the Kingpriest and thus, avert the coming Cataclysm. However, a chance encounter with Isolde's former brethren made him abandon his quest in pursuit of misplaced vengeance against his new wife. He returned to Dargaard Keep and nearly slew his own wife, but then the Cataclysm struck. As flames consumed Isolde and her unborn child, she called down a curse on her husband, condemning him to a horrid unlife. He became a death knight; his followers joined him in undeath as skeletal warriors.
Centuries passed as Lord Soth sat in Dargaard Keep, ruing his existence and replaying in his mind what might have been. Takhisis, Queen of Darkness, requested that Lord Soth join her dragonarmies. Lord Soth agreed, on the condition that a Dragon Highlord spend the night in Dargaard Keep. Kitiara Uth Matar volunteered for the task, and Lord Soth discovered a new reason to live.
The War of the Lance may be over, but Lord Soth still assists Kitiara. She does not yet suspect his own machinations, which may involve her very soul....

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