RandomFellow
2008-01-20, 08:06 PM
Death Knight Lord
The most powerful of the Death Knights, these fell lords of the undead serve as commanders for armies of undead in Hell's service. Asmodeus and the other Hell Lords have long since realized that the Demon's numbers combined with the constant conflict with the Celestials required a way to increase the number of soldiers at Hell's command.
Just fyi...Death Knight Lord is just because I couldn't come up with a better name for an exceptional Death Knight. If anyone has a better idea let me know. =) Also, anyone who wants to know where the DK template is:
MMII, pg. 207-208
The other names I was considering:
Asmodean Death Knight (this fellow is basically created only by Devils to command their undead armies)
Death Knight General
This template may be applied to any Death Knight with at least 8 HD.
Size and Type:
Same as base creature.
Special Attacks:
The base creature retains all existing special attacks. In addition, any weapon wielded by a Death Knight Lord is considered evil for purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Abyssal Blast (Su)
As Death Knight, except it may used up to Cha modifier times per day. (Effectively a Fireball spell that deals 50% Divine, 50% Fire with CL = HD and save of 10+1/2HD+Cha)
Fear Aura (Su)
As Death Knight, except the HD cap is equal to the Death Knight Lord's HD.
Special Qualities:
Create Spawn (Su)
Creatures killed (by Spell, Spell-Like Ability, Su Ability, or Weapon) by a Death Knight Lord, with fewer HD than the Death Knight Lord, rise after 1d4 rounds as a skeleton or zombie under the Death Knight Lord's control. They do not possess any of the abilities they had in life. Demons are not limited by the HD cap. (e.g. A 18HD Death Knight that lands the killing blow against a Balor gains a Balor Skeleton or Zombie.)
Damage Reduction (Su)
The Death Knight Lord's damage reduction changes from 15/+1 to 15/magic and good. Only a holy blade is capable of harming a powerful servant to an evil Deity.
Spell Resistance (Su)
A Death Knight Lord has his SR increased by 5. (This changes it from SR 20 to 25 + HD past 10th)
Summon Mount (Su)
As Death Knight, except the Death Knight Lord's level is treated as being 4 higher for purposes of the type of mount he can summon. (e.g. A Death Knight Lord (+8 LA) of 8th level is capable of summoning a Nightmare instead of having to wait 4 more levels.)
Spell-like Abilities
Once per day per point of Cha modifier a Death Knight Lord is capable of using the spells Plane Shift and Greater Teleport (self, plus items up to maximum load for the death Knight+Followers, plus any commanded undead) to any altar or temple aligned with the Death Knight Lord's deity (or devil master).
Abilities:
Increase from the base creature as follows: +4 Str, +4 Wis, +4 Cha
Alignment
Any Evil
Challenge Rating:
Same as base creature.
Level Adjustment:
+3
CR Adjustment:
+2
The most powerful of the Death Knights, these fell lords of the undead serve as commanders for armies of undead in Hell's service. Asmodeus and the other Hell Lords have long since realized that the Demon's numbers combined with the constant conflict with the Celestials required a way to increase the number of soldiers at Hell's command.
Just fyi...Death Knight Lord is just because I couldn't come up with a better name for an exceptional Death Knight. If anyone has a better idea let me know. =) Also, anyone who wants to know where the DK template is:
MMII, pg. 207-208
The other names I was considering:
Asmodean Death Knight (this fellow is basically created only by Devils to command their undead armies)
Death Knight General
This template may be applied to any Death Knight with at least 8 HD.
Size and Type:
Same as base creature.
Special Attacks:
The base creature retains all existing special attacks. In addition, any weapon wielded by a Death Knight Lord is considered evil for purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Abyssal Blast (Su)
As Death Knight, except it may used up to Cha modifier times per day. (Effectively a Fireball spell that deals 50% Divine, 50% Fire with CL = HD and save of 10+1/2HD+Cha)
Fear Aura (Su)
As Death Knight, except the HD cap is equal to the Death Knight Lord's HD.
Special Qualities:
Create Spawn (Su)
Creatures killed (by Spell, Spell-Like Ability, Su Ability, or Weapon) by a Death Knight Lord, with fewer HD than the Death Knight Lord, rise after 1d4 rounds as a skeleton or zombie under the Death Knight Lord's control. They do not possess any of the abilities they had in life. Demons are not limited by the HD cap. (e.g. A 18HD Death Knight that lands the killing blow against a Balor gains a Balor Skeleton or Zombie.)
Damage Reduction (Su)
The Death Knight Lord's damage reduction changes from 15/+1 to 15/magic and good. Only a holy blade is capable of harming a powerful servant to an evil Deity.
Spell Resistance (Su)
A Death Knight Lord has his SR increased by 5. (This changes it from SR 20 to 25 + HD past 10th)
Summon Mount (Su)
As Death Knight, except the Death Knight Lord's level is treated as being 4 higher for purposes of the type of mount he can summon. (e.g. A Death Knight Lord (+8 LA) of 8th level is capable of summoning a Nightmare instead of having to wait 4 more levels.)
Spell-like Abilities
Once per day per point of Cha modifier a Death Knight Lord is capable of using the spells Plane Shift and Greater Teleport (self, plus items up to maximum load for the death Knight+Followers, plus any commanded undead) to any altar or temple aligned with the Death Knight Lord's deity (or devil master).
Abilities:
Increase from the base creature as follows: +4 Str, +4 Wis, +4 Cha
Alignment
Any Evil
Challenge Rating:
Same as base creature.
Level Adjustment:
+3
CR Adjustment:
+2