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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BLACKDIRGE" data-source="post: 574512" data-attributes="member: 1953">You know, I feel that I somehow left ol' Nith hanging there at the end. So I have created an epic version of the mephit warrior and an expanded history for all to enjoy. I figure the Forgotten Realms is full of uber-powerful NPCs anyway, so one more couldn't hurt.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> Dirge**************************************************Nithrekel "The Ground Shaker", Earth Mephit Small Outsider; Fighter 20/War Master10, AL N; CR 33HD 3d8+30d10+165; hp 380; Init +14; Spd 60 ft, Fly 40 ft; AC 36 (+4 Dex, +1 size, +6 natural, +10 breastplate, ring +5)BAB +27/+22/+17/+12; Atk +38/+33/+28/+23 melee or +33/+28/+23/+19 ranged;SV Fort +29, Ref +24, Will +21;Str 30, Dex 12 (18), Con 16 (20), Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 14Skills (164 points): Bluff +18 (24), Climb +8 (18), Craft (weapon smith) +21 (23), Craft (armorer) +21 (23), Diplomacy +20 (26), Hide +6 (12), Knowledge (military tactics) +23 (25), Intimidate +20 (26), Jump +8 (28), Listen +6 (7), Move Silently +6 (8), Spot +6 (7) Feats: Power Attack, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Cleave, Weapon Specialization (bastard sword), Flyby Attack, Improved Critical (bastard sword), Great Cleave, Power Critical, Sunder, Improved Initiative, Expertise, Leadership, Hover, Overwhelming Critical (bastard sword), Epic Reputation, Devastating Critical (bastard sword), Epic Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Epic Weapon Specialization (bastard sword), Superior Initiative, Improved Trip, Improved Disarm Improved Sunder, Epic Strength, Improved Flight, Languages: terran, common, dwarven, ignan, gnollArmor: +5 Great Invulnerability (20/+4) Mithral Breastplate, +10 AC, 15 lbsWeapons: +5 Keen Sonic Blast Bastard Sword: Atk +46/+41/+36/+31 melee, Dmg 1d10+3d6+26, crit 15-20/x2+3 Returning Distance Throwing Axe: Atk +36/+31/+26/+21 ranged, Dmg 1d6+13, crit x3, range 20ftClaws (2): Atk +38 melee, Dmg 1d3+10, crit x2Other Gear: potion of cure moderate wounds (2), gloves of dexterity +6, ring of protection +5, circlet of resistance +5, ring of spell deflection, bracers of health +4, boots of striding and springing, cloak of displacement (major)Breath Weapon: 15 ft. cone of rock shards and pebbles, Dmg 1d8, reflex save for half DC 28Spell-like abilities: 1/hour – enlarge, 1/day – soften earth and stone, cast as 6th level sorcererFast Healing: Nithrekel heals 2 points of damage per round when underground or buried up to his waist in earth Summon Mephit: Once per day Nithrekel can summon another earth mephit with a 25% chance of success.The world of Faerun is full of immensely powerful mortals vying for status in a never-ending battle for domination. The city of Waterdeep echoes with the machinations of Khelbun Blackstaff, the immoral empire of Thay groans beneath the legendary cruelty of Szass Tam and the wandering archmage Elminster can appear anywhere and anytime to mettle in the affairs of mere mortals. Mighty warriors and mages rise up from the ranks of their lesser bretheren only to be destroyed before they reach true power, this is true for all but the most daring and lucky of individuals who risking everything persevere to become living legends.One such legend is the earth mephit warlord Nithrekel, dubbed the “ground shaker” for the fact that his army of fiercely loyal mercenaries is so vast that when on the move the ground literally shakes with the tread of thousands of marching boots. Long a slave of an archmage by the name of Hazergal the Red, Nithrekel gained his freedom some one hundred and fifty years ago by destroying his enslaver and taking control of the deposed wizard’s military forces. Nithrekel now leads an army of over thirty thousand humans, dwarves and humanoids of all shapes and sizes. Nithrekel’s legion, as his mercenary army is called, can be purchased for a short time by the highest bidder for any purpose including outright war with entire nations. Nithrekel is a brilliant tactician and a warrior of unparalleled prowess and his own exploits are legendary in themselves. He was once witnessed to have slain the ancient blue dragon Shimkanavazerak with a single blow when the haughty wyrm sought to make a meal out of some of Nithrekel’s troops while the legion marched through the wastes of Aunorach. Nithrekel had been marching along with his men disguised as an ordinary soldier as he often did to confuse his enemies, when Shimkanavazerak suddenly appeared out of the crisp blue desert sky and swooped low for the attack. Nithrekel shed his disguise and met the stunned dragon in midair diving straight for the huge wyrm, blazing sword flashing in the fierce desert sun. The two combatants crashed together in a spectacular midair collision that left Nithrekel hovering unscathed and Shimkanavazerak plummeting to the ground gouting blood from the massive, almost decapitating rent in his neck. The dragon was dead before his mammoth body slammed into the heat-scorched sands to lie ignoble and broken destined to be nothing more than a feast for carrion eaters. The ground shaker has many enemies not so easily dismissed as a rogue dragon, however. Chief among these is the half-dragon blackguard Ubok Prog, a villain of ineffable darkness and unholy power. The two warriors met for the first time over a century ago when Nithrekel, under the command of his then master Hazergal the Red, stormed and sacked the tower belonging to Ubok Prog’s employer, the fiendish sorcerer Sheveker. Nithrekel and his men defeated the half-dragon but were unable to slay him and the blackguard escaped the destruction he assumed befell his master. Since that fateful day Nithrekel and Ubok have met a handful of times and battled each other to a standstill, neither of the awesomely powerful warriors able to overcome the other. The hatred they bear for each other burns brightly even to this day and it is inevitable that one of them will eventually fall to the other. Nithrekel’s legion is highly organized and trained by a staff of officers, hand picked by Nithrekel himself. The army takes no orders from its various employers, allowing them only to designate the target of the legions massive destructive capability. The legion consists mainly of heavy infantry but can call upon units of archers and even heavy cavalry if the need arises. Nithrekel leads his troops into battle from the front, fearing nothing and has been elevated to near deific status by his fanatically loyal men. Aided by his longtime friend and advisor Vendek Shudderstone, a venerable duergar warrior whose vast expertise in the arena of armed conflict rivals the Nithrekel’s own, the legion has never lost a battle. Nithrekel and his legion make their home in the barren expanse of Vaasa; there a magnificent castle has been constructed surrounded by a permanent walled military camp. The legion patrols the area for twenty miles in each direction and brooks no intrusion from uninvited parties. Those seeking to employ Nithrekel’s legion must work through a vast network of contacts and submit to all manner of magical and mundane screening before they are allowed to meet Nithrekel in person. Once approved, an interested party is allowed to make a reasonable offer and detail the task in which the legion is to undertake. Nithrekel rarely rejects an offer based on moral or ethical grounds thinking only of the safety of his men and the risks they will take. The standard fee is one and a half million gold pieces or magical items of equivalent value. In addition to the fee the legion must be allowed to keep fifty percent of the spoils resulting from a military victory. Most consider this price a bargain to gain the use of the most powerful mercenary force in Faerun. The legion has been employed by all manner of persons and organizations in its century long history including the Red Wizards of Thay and the church of Helm. Nithrekel is wealthy beyond estimation and he passes much of that wealth onto his men. The legion is equipped with the finest weapons and armor and the soldiers live in comfort and even luxury when not on campaign. Thousands of mercenaries flock to Vaasa each year in hopes of joining the legion, most are turned away, lacking the qualities Nithrekel and Vendek demand in their men. Those that are allowed to join are subjected to a grueling eight-month training regiment that shaves away all traces of lethargy and inefficiency leaving only a razor sharp instrument of war. The legion has many enemies, more than a few of those numbering among the churches of lawful and good deities, who see Nithrekel’s army as a threat to the peace of the realm. Because he will accept a commission from anyone including infamous groups such as the Red Wizards, Nithrekel has received threats from the likes of the Harpers and the church of Torm who oppose any who would willingly conduct business with such nefarious organizations. None of the legion’s detractors has been able to muster the strength to openly challenge Nithrekel and his army, but from time to time an over zealous group of adventurers will try their luck against the mephit warlord to unanimously fruitless results. One such group, The Left Hand Of Justice, fanatical devotees of the god Tyr managed to infiltrate Nithrekel’s stronghold in Vaasa and confront the mephit in his own domain. Nithrekel tried to reason with the brash adventurers but they were full of righteous vindication and Nithrekel was forced to slay their leader, Jaken Longshadow, a paladin of some repute, earning the mephit the undying hatred of Tyrians everywhere. The rest of the Jaken Longshadow’s group were captured and sent to the closest church of Tyr in chains and bereft of all their possessions. Although feared by many powerful rulers throughout Faerun, Nithrekel has no aspiration to rule a nation of his own. He is content to dwell among the huge extended family of his legion and ensure that future generations of his army gain the benefit of the knowledge of those that came before them. Nithrekel will continue to sell his services to the highest bidder enabling his men to attain the best fighting condition possible and continue the legacy of their undefeated legion.</blockquote>

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