iwatt
First Post
My younger brother is starting up a homebrew campaign for his friends. Since he's just getting the hang of the changes, he's asked to come up with one of the BBEG of the campaign.
Here's a brief overview of the world:
Millenia ago, a huge battle bewteen good and evil was fought. Mighty celsetial hots battled fiends during centuries. Dwarves, men and elves joined in a holy alliance against the Demons. This led to a lot of half-celestial blood lines after the defeat of the bad guys. After the holy war, the Alliance of dwarves humans and elves continued, although after a time th demihumans splintered away and became isolated. Meanwhile, a theocracy developed in human lands, tied to a very strict Feudal system. The Old Empire hasn't had a true emperor in ages, but the Church mantains asemblance of unity through political maneuvering and threats of ex-comunion. The nobility of the land hold their positions due to their celestial bloodlines, although these have weakened considerably. Many nobles are Aasimar, although many other are just human but act as if they hold the celestial bloodlines. The church has also developed an inquisition, set on flushing out those involved in Diabolism (mostly mages) and those whose blood is tainted (half fiends and tieflings, remnants of the Holy War. The Outsider traits don't become obvious until puberty.
Because of the above, a strong caste sytem has developed. Only clestial bloodlines can rise highly in the church. Normal humans have their maximum rank curtailed if they become paladains or clerics.
The main God is called the All-father. His childeren are also gods, but are treated more as saints or aspects of the All-Father. They function normally as deities (granting spelss, for some domains, etcc...) but are subservient to the One church, at least in the lands of the Old Empire. The Evil god is called Oklu-klac and is bound in the lowest levels of the Abyss, and is the typical "Fallen-Son" evil god.
The following is the story of Lark Voorham, Sword-Sworn of the All-father.
In all respects Lark Voorham was the exemplary Knight. His mastery of mounted combat, and martial prowess was only outshined by his piety and deep religious fervor. No Knight could best him, and no evil hide from him. But as time passed, his station rose no higher. Members of noble families would take the temple posts to which he felt entitled. He became a fervent student of all religious mysteries, and continuosly would outwit other members of the church in debates about the finer points of ecclesiastical (sp?) law. But still he was dismissed in favor of less capable but well-blooded members of the upper-castes.
In anger he left for the Bloodlands, vowing to return one day, and that the temple would then raise him to the status he so richly deserved.
The Bloodlands were a land of noxious fumes, barren wastes, and blinding sandstorms. A haven for the damned, according to religious texts. In to this hell-on-earth Lark rode in, slaying all the evil in his path. As his men were slowly whittled away through attrition, Lark fought on as a man possesed, ubheeding of the pleas of his companions who wished to leave the accursed ground. But a single thought obsessed the Paladin's mind: If he were to slay all the evil denizens of the Bloodlands, the Church would have to recognize that the All-father's smiled on him, and that he was WORTHY. In his obsessive state of mind, he finally led his remaining companions in a suciide attack against the home of the Great Wyrm Grugaspenoth. O the original 100 members of the Legion of the Righteous Sword, only the last 13 rode to challenge the might of the Black Dragon Lord of the Hesparketh Range. A mighty battle ensued, in which all his companions but him were slain. As Lark landed the last blow on the Wyrm, a last blast of it's breath weapon brought the knight to his knees. As death rapidly approached, Lark saw that all his work would be for not. In anger, he cursed the All-father and drifted into unconciousness. In his dreams, a figure of fire and shadows promised him the means to bend the Church to his knees. The fallen-paladin, forsaking all for which he had stood in life, accepted the Dark Gift and became the first Vampire. For the next 500 years, Lark has raised a mighty army in the Bloodlands, bringing under his sway most of it's denizens.
In the interim, the Old Empire has lost it's emperor for the last 300 years, and most of the nobles squabble for temporal power. The churches coffers are rich, and the Inquisition has become the most powerful force in the Continent, able to bring any noble to his knees. The Highlands of the empire have seceeded, because nobody has provided aid from the predations of monstruos humanoids. But the border with the bloodlands has been unaturally quite for the last couple of generations, and the border lords have become complacent. As the campaign unfolds, Lark will bring his army into the lands of the Old Empire, in an unstoppable march towards the Holy city.
OK, the above is pretty much the story. What I need is help with statting out Lark's most important followers, and there equipment. Assume DMG treasure guidelines.
Mechanically speaking, Lark is a Fallen Paldin 10/Blackguard 10, with the Vampire template. His stats are:
Str 22 Dex 18 Con -- Int 15 Wis 14 Cha 20 (I used a 32 point buy for BBEG)
Feats: Power attack, Cleave, Imp Sunder, Combat Expertise, Leadership, Mounted Combat, Spirited Charge, Ride-by Attack.
1) What equipment for Lark (760,000 gp). Remeber he has an army backing him.
2) Choose Followers, servants, cohorts and spawn. This won't include the army he holds through conquest.
A) Leadership score: 25 =20+5(Cha)+2(Great renown)+1(Special Power)-2(Cruelty)-2(fiendush servant)+2(stronghold)-1(caused death of followers)
Cohort: 17th Level What cohort to pick? Tiefling Wizard?
Followers:135/13/7/4/2/2 This should be a loyal legion/guard
B)He also has a Fiendish servant: I'm thinking a Fiendish Warhorse.
C)He also has an undead companion. A meduim sized skeleton. Think Chambelain or Squire maybe. He's unturnable
Both of the above gain the following benefits: +8 HD, +7 Natural Armor, +4 str Adj, Int 9.
D) 40 HD worth of enslaved spawn. I was pretty keen on having a Vampire Dire wolf as a hunting companion. Advanced to 8 HD of course. That would leave 32 HD of spawn. Probably as leaders of the rest of the army.
3) Which leads to the last question: What kind of army. I'm thinking a lot of half-fiend templated humanoids (not orcs though, something else) as cannon-fodder, probably ogre-types as the enforcers (with half-fiend as well). Dragons are rare (only one of each kind, they are reborn if slain, they are considered outsiders for effect of polymorph etc..).
So, I know it's a tall order, but any help will be apreciated.
Here's a brief overview of the world:
Millenia ago, a huge battle bewteen good and evil was fought. Mighty celsetial hots battled fiends during centuries. Dwarves, men and elves joined in a holy alliance against the Demons. This led to a lot of half-celestial blood lines after the defeat of the bad guys. After the holy war, the Alliance of dwarves humans and elves continued, although after a time th demihumans splintered away and became isolated. Meanwhile, a theocracy developed in human lands, tied to a very strict Feudal system. The Old Empire hasn't had a true emperor in ages, but the Church mantains asemblance of unity through political maneuvering and threats of ex-comunion. The nobility of the land hold their positions due to their celestial bloodlines, although these have weakened considerably. Many nobles are Aasimar, although many other are just human but act as if they hold the celestial bloodlines. The church has also developed an inquisition, set on flushing out those involved in Diabolism (mostly mages) and those whose blood is tainted (half fiends and tieflings, remnants of the Holy War. The Outsider traits don't become obvious until puberty.
Because of the above, a strong caste sytem has developed. Only clestial bloodlines can rise highly in the church. Normal humans have their maximum rank curtailed if they become paladains or clerics.
The main God is called the All-father. His childeren are also gods, but are treated more as saints or aspects of the All-Father. They function normally as deities (granting spelss, for some domains, etcc...) but are subservient to the One church, at least in the lands of the Old Empire. The Evil god is called Oklu-klac and is bound in the lowest levels of the Abyss, and is the typical "Fallen-Son" evil god.
The following is the story of Lark Voorham, Sword-Sworn of the All-father.
In all respects Lark Voorham was the exemplary Knight. His mastery of mounted combat, and martial prowess was only outshined by his piety and deep religious fervor. No Knight could best him, and no evil hide from him. But as time passed, his station rose no higher. Members of noble families would take the temple posts to which he felt entitled. He became a fervent student of all religious mysteries, and continuosly would outwit other members of the church in debates about the finer points of ecclesiastical (sp?) law. But still he was dismissed in favor of less capable but well-blooded members of the upper-castes.
In anger he left for the Bloodlands, vowing to return one day, and that the temple would then raise him to the status he so richly deserved.
The Bloodlands were a land of noxious fumes, barren wastes, and blinding sandstorms. A haven for the damned, according to religious texts. In to this hell-on-earth Lark rode in, slaying all the evil in his path. As his men were slowly whittled away through attrition, Lark fought on as a man possesed, ubheeding of the pleas of his companions who wished to leave the accursed ground. But a single thought obsessed the Paladin's mind: If he were to slay all the evil denizens of the Bloodlands, the Church would have to recognize that the All-father's smiled on him, and that he was WORTHY. In his obsessive state of mind, he finally led his remaining companions in a suciide attack against the home of the Great Wyrm Grugaspenoth. O the original 100 members of the Legion of the Righteous Sword, only the last 13 rode to challenge the might of the Black Dragon Lord of the Hesparketh Range. A mighty battle ensued, in which all his companions but him were slain. As Lark landed the last blow on the Wyrm, a last blast of it's breath weapon brought the knight to his knees. As death rapidly approached, Lark saw that all his work would be for not. In anger, he cursed the All-father and drifted into unconciousness. In his dreams, a figure of fire and shadows promised him the means to bend the Church to his knees. The fallen-paladin, forsaking all for which he had stood in life, accepted the Dark Gift and became the first Vampire. For the next 500 years, Lark has raised a mighty army in the Bloodlands, bringing under his sway most of it's denizens.
In the interim, the Old Empire has lost it's emperor for the last 300 years, and most of the nobles squabble for temporal power. The churches coffers are rich, and the Inquisition has become the most powerful force in the Continent, able to bring any noble to his knees. The Highlands of the empire have seceeded, because nobody has provided aid from the predations of monstruos humanoids. But the border with the bloodlands has been unaturally quite for the last couple of generations, and the border lords have become complacent. As the campaign unfolds, Lark will bring his army into the lands of the Old Empire, in an unstoppable march towards the Holy city.
OK, the above is pretty much the story. What I need is help with statting out Lark's most important followers, and there equipment. Assume DMG treasure guidelines.
Mechanically speaking, Lark is a Fallen Paldin 10/Blackguard 10, with the Vampire template. His stats are:
Str 22 Dex 18 Con -- Int 15 Wis 14 Cha 20 (I used a 32 point buy for BBEG)
Feats: Power attack, Cleave, Imp Sunder, Combat Expertise, Leadership, Mounted Combat, Spirited Charge, Ride-by Attack.
1) What equipment for Lark (760,000 gp). Remeber he has an army backing him.
2) Choose Followers, servants, cohorts and spawn. This won't include the army he holds through conquest.
A) Leadership score: 25 =20+5(Cha)+2(Great renown)+1(Special Power)-2(Cruelty)-2(fiendush servant)+2(stronghold)-1(caused death of followers)
Cohort: 17th Level What cohort to pick? Tiefling Wizard?
Followers:135/13/7/4/2/2 This should be a loyal legion/guard
B)He also has a Fiendish servant: I'm thinking a Fiendish Warhorse.
C)He also has an undead companion. A meduim sized skeleton. Think Chambelain or Squire maybe. He's unturnable
Both of the above gain the following benefits: +8 HD, +7 Natural Armor, +4 str Adj, Int 9.
D) 40 HD worth of enslaved spawn. I was pretty keen on having a Vampire Dire wolf as a hunting companion. Advanced to 8 HD of course. That would leave 32 HD of spawn. Probably as leaders of the rest of the army.
3) Which leads to the last question: What kind of army. I'm thinking a lot of half-fiend templated humanoids (not orcs though, something else) as cannon-fodder, probably ogre-types as the enforcers (with half-fiend as well). Dragons are rare (only one of each kind, they are reborn if slain, they are considered outsiders for effect of polymorph etc..).
So, I know it's a tall order, but any help will be apreciated.
