The Cult of the Damned

[Stratovarius]

X-Codes and buddies are here.

[X-Codes]

If I have buddies...

[Stratovarius]

You'll have em 

[Nanshork]

I'll be your buddy! 

[X-Codes]

Alright, well our cult is probably going to have very humble beginnings.  As in, two people and maybe some followers (depending on what we can pull off).  The ultimate goal is to return the Arhosa empire to power through any means necessary, and that's likely going to include a lot of necromancy.

As for how this whole thing gets started, my character is going to learn about this ancient empire and find something that leads him to believe he part of it's royal bloodline.  As such, his motivation is to claim the throne of the deceased empire.  Since it's a deceased empire, though, he's going to need all new vassals, soldiers, etc to get the ball rolling.

[Stratovarius]

Well, the core (and the ruling race) of the Arhosan empire still exist. They're just nowhere near as strong or as wealthy or as civilized as they were. If you flip through the kingdom list its Llethome, who are Half-Giants and Giants, that still holds the capital of the broken empire. There's also the Enayinbo, but they've more or less gone splat, and much of their knowledge is semi-lost.

[Nanshork]

I think that I can very easily be identified as your second in command, your enforcer if you will.  I sacrifice enemies to use their souls to power unholy rituals.  They can then be raised as undead.  What do you need of my character, keeping in mind that I'm fixed at going Ritual Warrior/ Ceremonial Butcher.  Take a look at the Blood Magic link to get a general idea of the things I'll be able to do.

[VennDygrem]

I think I found a build that could benefit your cult, but I've been leaning toward the Bandits, and I wouldn't want to step on Nanshork's toes as he's going for the whole second-in-command guy. Basically it would add to your legions of undead and still allow tanking goodness.

Too bad!

[Nanshork]

I think I found a build that could benefit your cult, but I've been leaning toward the Bandits, and I wouldn't want to step on Nanshork's toes as he's going for the whole second-in-command guy. Basically it would add to your legions of undead and still allow tanking goodness.

Too bad!

If you want to be his second-in-command we could do that.  I'll just be that weird psychopath who nobody knows exactly what he wants and runs around beng crazy.   

[VennDygrem]

I think I found a build that could benefit your cult, but I've been leaning toward the Bandits, and I wouldn't want to step on Nanshork's toes as he's going for the whole second-in-command guy. Basically it would add to your legions of undead and still allow tanking goodness.

Too bad!

If you want to be his second-in-command we could do that.  I'll just be that weird psychopath who nobody knows exactly what he wants and runs around beng crazy.   

I don't want to counteract your character concept. I'm sure there would be some other role I could take.

Anyway, taking another look at the build I was considering just doesn't seem viable enough. It's reliant on having a one-time access to an artifact that's tied thematically to the FR setting. Plus, it doesn't quite come into its abilities in both sides strongly enough.

Back to the drawing board!

[Nanshork]

I think I found a build that could benefit your cult, but I've been leaning toward the Bandits, and I wouldn't want to step on Nanshork's toes as he's going for the whole second-in-command guy. Basically it would add to your legions of undead and still allow tanking goodness.

Too bad!

If you want to be his second-in-command we could do that.  I'll just be that weird psychopath who nobody knows exactly what he wants and runs around beng crazy.   

I don't want to counteract your character concept. I'm sure there would be some other role I could take.

Anyway, taking another look at the build I was considering just doesn't seem viable enough. It's reliant on having a one-time access to an artifact that's tied thematically to the FR setting. Plus, it doesn't quite come into its abilities in both sides strongly enough.

Back to the drawing board!

Eh, I'd probably be a psychopathic second-in-command anyway.  And yes, I'd say that needing access to an artifact isn't viable. 

[VennDygrem]

I think I found a build that could benefit your cult, but I've been leaning toward the Bandits, and I wouldn't want to step on Nanshork's toes as he's going for the whole second-in-command guy. Basically it would add to your legions of undead and still allow tanking goodness.

Too bad!

If you want to be his second-in-command we could do that.  I'll just be that weird psychopath who nobody knows exactly what he wants and runs around beng crazy.   

I don't want to counteract your character concept. I'm sure there would be some other role I could take.

Anyway, taking another look at the build I was considering just doesn't seem viable enough. It's reliant on having a one-time access to an artifact that's tied thematically to the FR setting. Plus, it doesn't quite come into its abilities in both sides strongly enough.

Back to the drawing board!

Eh, I'd probably be a psychopathic second-in-command anyway.  And yes, I'd say that needing access to an artifact isn't viable. 

Well, you just need to be able to touch it once, but still, that's a silly prerequisite.

[Nanshork]

I think I found a build that could benefit your cult, but I've been leaning toward the Bandits, and I wouldn't want to step on Nanshork's toes as he's going for the whole second-in-command guy. Basically it would add to your legions of undead and still allow tanking goodness.

Too bad!

If you want to be his second-in-command we could do that.  I'll just be that weird psychopath who nobody knows exactly what he wants and runs around beng crazy.   

I don't want to counteract your character concept. I'm sure there would be some other role I could take.

Anyway, taking another look at the build I was considering just doesn't seem viable enough. It's reliant on having a one-time access to an artifact that's tied thematically to the FR setting. Plus, it doesn't quite come into its abilities in both sides strongly enough.

Back to the drawing board!

Eh, I'd probably be a psychopathic second-in-command anyway.  And yes, I'd say that needing access to an artifact isn't viable. 

Well, you just need to be able to touch it once, but still, that's a silly prerequisite.

What's the PrC?

[VennDygrem]

It's the Horned Harbinger from Faiths and Pantheons. It's kind of campaign-specific, as the artifact is tied to the setting, but I saw a build in the ToB builds compendium that used it and it seemed nifty, if, again, a bit limited in its power. Build is here.

[Nanshork]

It's the Horned Harbinger from Faiths and Pantheons. It's kind of campaign-specific, as the artifact is tied to the setting, but I saw a build in the ToB builds compendium that used it and it seemed nifty, if, again, a bit limited in its power. Build is here.

*looks up horned harbringer* Ahh, I'd forgotten how much of a bonus that PrC got on leading undead armies.  So, will you be joining the Cult or the Bandits?

[VennDygrem]

Seeing as how the harbinger doesn't really work in this setting, I think I'm going with the Bandits. Conquest and plunder ftw!

Plus, undead smell. Just FYI. 

[Nanshork]

Awww, I feel unloved. 

[X-Codes]

So, I've been looking at this stuff and... it's pretty cool.

Maybe instead of Skald I could go with a Ritualist/Lifeweaver/Quietus, creating undead and then sacrificing them when they're no longer useful.  To get decent skills, I'm going to have to go Human and get at least a 14 Int, but that doesn't seem too terrible to me.

The curious thing is how Theft of the Soul and Bloodless Sacrifice would interact.  Does the Undead's normal immunity to negative levels not apply since it's not negative energy, or can I simply not use undead creatures with Theft of the Soul?

EDIT: By the way, it seems that the "descendant of royalty" line won't work, given that I'll be human and not any kind of giant or half-giant.  That also gives more region options as well.  As was said in the prep thread, Marleath seems to be the best starting place, although our group would likely move out to spread a little chaos before returning and staging a coup. 

[Nanshork]

Nice, very nice.  Just remember that if you go that route you'll be losing out on your level six and level seven rituals. 

Is there anything you require of my character/need me to tell you before I get him set in stone?

[X-Codes]

Now that you mention it, Grudging Acceptance would come so late in the build that it's probably not worth the lost ritual level, and those extra Ritualist levels will give me Hematic Seizure.

As for what I need to know... Can't really think of much.  The way I see it now I'm the leader of our cult while you're my bodyguard.  We'd need a head priest, but that can wait until a 3rd decides to join.  The way I figure, so long as you're effective at melee combat you're good.  We could have met up by me posting something somewhere to get people together for an expedition into other nations, and you answer the summons along with however many other followers Strato gives us.

Anyway, here's what I've got so far...

Human Ritualist 4

Stats:
Str 8
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 16
Wis 8
Cha 16

Flaw/Trait: Inattentive/Absent-Minded

Skills:
Concentration +5
Knowledge (Arcana) +7
Knowledge (History) +2
Knowledge (Local) +7
Knowledge (Religion) +7
Spellcraft +7
Use Magic Device +7

Current Feat Setup:
1) Force of Personality, Tomb-Tainted Soul, Knowledge Devotion (Local)
3) Tomb-Born Vitality, Extended Grasp
6) Slaying Strike
7) Morphic Ritual

Rituals:
Bloodforce, Lesser
Hematic Theft
Shroud Self, Minor
Streaked Countenance
Transfer Resistance
Weapon of Blood

Beyond that it's hard to say.  Can I apply Corpsecrafter to undead I create with Quietus rituals?