Unicorn RampantClaw / Claw / Bite magazine & Tabletop Role-Playing Games

Nov 6th Baldrik Ostov, Death Knight

A knight in dirt-encrusted full armor steps forward and levels a glowing black blade at you. His black shield is emblazoned with a white sword and a diagonal red stripe, faded with age and numerous gashes. He raises the visor of his helm to reveal a fleshless skull for a face, with red pits for eyes. He swings his sword and a wave of screaming, lurid green hell-flame sweeps forth.

Baldrik Ostov was once the head of the Knights of the Crimson Sash, an order who served the Duke of Oleander in the time before the fall of Soguer. When the capitol fell and the lords of Soguer’s provinces fell to warring for succession, Baldrik led the Duke’s armies to many victories.

Eventually he went the way of all men and was struck down during a battle to subjugate one of the Duke’s rebellious vassals. His body was brought back to the Duke’s castle and interred there. This proved to be too great of a loss for Oleander to survive, and the majority of his vassals seceded over the next several years, leaving the Duchy as a tiny portion of it’s former lands.

There are those who know how to make use of a mighty warrior after he has died, however. One such person, upon his return to the mortal world to serve his dark master, used foul rituals learned at the feet of the Prince of the Undead to raise Baldrik from his grave and bind him to service. Now Baldrik rides the land as a horrible skeletal warrior doing the bidding of his evil master.

Baldrik in your game: Baldrik could make a great climactic encounter for a group of 11th level PCs. He could almost even be used as a solo monster against them. Alternatively, for a group of epic tier characters you could use a bunch of “Baldriks” as an encounter.

Statistics

Baldrik Ostov ✦ Level 15 Elite Fighter (Leader)
Medium natural humanoid (undead) ✦ XP 2400

Initiative +8 Senses Perception +9; Darkvision
HP 256; Bloodied 128; Healing Surge 64; Healing Surges: 2 see also power reference
AC 37; Fortitude 34, Reflex 26, Will 27
Immune disease, poison; Resist 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 10 radiant
Speed 5
Action Points 1

Powers

Basic Melee ✦ At-Will ✦ Martial, Weapon
Bastard Sword +21 vs. AC; 1d10 + 5 and 5 necrotic

Cleave ✦ At-Will ✦ Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: +21 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 6 and 5 necrotic damage, and an enemy adjacent to you takes 6 damage.

Anvil of Doom ✦ Encounter ✦ Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: +21 vs. AC
Hit: 2d10 + 6 and 5 necrotic damage, and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn.

Storm of Blows ✦ Encounter ✦ Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: +21 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 7 and 5 necrotic damage.
Effect: After the attack, you can shift 1 square and repeat the attack against another target within reach. You can then shift 1 square and repeat the attack against a third target within reach. After the final attack, you can shift 1 square.

Dragon’s Fangs ✦ Daily ✦ Martial,Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon
Targets: One or two creatures
Attack: +21 vs. AC, two attacks against one target or one attack against each target
Hit: 3d10 + 6 and 5 necrotic damage.
Miss: Half damage

Unbreakable ✦ Encounter ✦ Martial
Immediate Reaction Personal
Trigger: You are hit by an attack
Effect: Reduce the damage from the attack by 6.

Last Ditch Evasion ✦ Daily ✦ Martial
Immediate Interrupt Personal
Trigger: You are hit by an attack
Effect: You take no damage from the attack that just hit you.
However, you are stunned and take a –2 penalty to all defenses until the end of your next turn.

Marshal Undead
Aura 10; lower-level undead allies in the aura gain a +2 bonus to their attack rolls.

Soul Weapon ✦ Necrotic, Weapon
When attacking with its melee weapon, the death knight deals an additional 5 necrotic damage to its target.

Unholy Flames (standard; recharge 5,6) ✦ Fire, Necrotic
Close burst 2; +17 vs. Reflex; 6d8 + Constitution modifier necrotic and fire damage to living creatures; undead creatures within the burst (including the death knight) deal an extra 2d6 fire damage with melee attacks until the end of the death knight’s next turn.

Alignment Alignment Languages Common, Abyssal
Skills Athletics +18, Endurance +18, Intimidate +13
Str 22 (+13) Dex 12 (+8) Wis 14 (+9)
Con 13 (+8) Int 18 (+11) Cha 11 (+8)

Equipment: Warplate armor, Heavy Shield, Bastard Sword (soul weapon)