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Lord Soth

2021-01-14T02:35:25Z

2603:8001:3500:CB:9C0B:DF4B:7E04:2455: /* Character Arc */

{{awesome}}
[[file:Death knight MM 5e.jpg|thumb|Soth made a surprise appearance in the 5e Monster Manual.]]

'''Lord Soth''' of Dargaard Keep is a [[Death Knight]] from the world of [[Dragonlance|Krynn]] and one of the oldest undead in the setting, as he predates the [[Rocks fall, everyone dies|Cataclysm]]. Created by [[Tracy_Hickman|the Hickman power couple]], he is generally held up as being one of the greatest D&D villains of all time; in [[Dragon Magazine]] #357, the last issue, he was ranked in at #15 on the d20 Greatest Villains, making him the 6th best villain the franchise has ever seen. Among those keeping our boy off the top five was the ''first'' place winner, fellow Gothic undead villain ... [[Strahd von Zarovich]]. Also by the Hickmans. Can't lick the Hick.

As is sadly to be expected for someone from a D&D setting driven by novels, Soth's backstory has been retconned, mostly in the name of amping up the [[grimdark]] including to make him more evil before he met his wife ... which, of course, makes him less ''tragic''. We'll stick with the Hickmans' original vision for baseline.

==The Tragic Backstory==
Lord Soth was once a Knight of the Rose, the most prestigious rank of the Knights of Solamnia, until the day that he encountered [[ogre]]s trying to murder and/or rape a band of [[elf]] priestesses of [[Paladine]] in the forest. He slew the beasts and then rescued the elves, but tragedy struck; he and the youngest, most beautiful priestess fell in love and began having sex with each other. The problem was, Soth already had a wife back home. Consumed with lust, he sent a secret message to his seneschal, Caradoc, and had him murder Soth's wife so that Soth could secretly take the priestess as his wife.

Naturally, the disappearance of Soth's wife was deemed suspicious and he was imprisoned, his guilt assured when the elf-maid's pregnancy by Soth was revealed by her three fellow priestesses. Soth was to be executed, but his wife and still-loyal men helped him escape and flee to Dargaard Keep, where they were beseiged by the rest of the Knights. During this time, Soth's temper grew increasingly foul, until one day he struck his hugely pregnant wife; horrified by what he had done, he prayed to Paladine for redemption, and was offered a chance; he was told of the approaching Cataclysm, and told that if he were to undertake the potentially deadly quest to stop the Kingpriest before he gave the gods no choice but to unleash it, his honor would be restored.

Soth told his wife and set off, but fate tragically intervened; the same three elven priestesses who had revealed his secret love affair accosted him on the road. They had found out about his quest - ''how'', nobody knows, because surely his wife wasn't stupid enough to tell these bitches anything.

To explain what happened next, you need to understand something: the Kingpriest's plan wasn't entirely his own idea. He was secretly being manipulated by a sect of elven bigots, who truly believed that their race being created by the Gods of Good at the dawn of creation meant that they were blessed above all else. These elves believed that through the Kingpriest, they could scourge the world of all the evil races - which basically amounted to "everything but elves and their human pawns". So, these crazy bitches ignored the whole "the world will burn in divine wrath" part of the story and instead resolved to stop Soth by whatever means possible.

Doing so turned out to be disappointingly easy. Soth was many things, but he wasn't very bright. They spun him a bullshit story insinuating his wife had been cheating on him and that the baby wasn't his, and Soth immediately turned around and charged back home. He stormed into his wife's chambers, where his wife had given birth to his son not so long ago, and began accusing her of infidelity even as the Cataclysm hit the planet. Fire crashed down on his wife and she begged him to save their son... but Soth refused, still believing she had been unfaithful. With her dying breath, she cursed him and the gods took heed, devastating Dargaard Keep and turning Soth into a Death Knight and his men into Skeleton Warriors (a beefier sort of Skeleton).

At least those elf bitches got theirs; they got turned into banshees and condemned to haunt Soth's lair, constantly singing the story of how they were all damned to this state.

==Character Arc==
Soth first made his real mark on the world as part of the War of the Lance, when he allied himself with the Dragonlords of [[Takhisis]] at the behest of the Blue Lady, Kitiara. In reality, he had nothing but contempt for Takhisis; he followed Kitiara because he had fallen in lust with her and wanted her for himself. As a result, at the end of the War, he waited for her to perish in battle and then took her body before fleeing back to Dargaard Keep.

Whilst he did this, he had his seneschal, Caradoc, who was condemned to eternity as a ghost, visit the Abyss to retrieve Kitiara's spirit. Unfortunately for them both, Caradoc tried to blackmail Soth into giving him payment for Kitiara's spirit; in the resultant rampage, the mists of [[Ravenloft]] reached out and swallowed them both, ultimately leading to Soth damning himself to a prison in the new domain of Sithicus. There, he ruled over a populace of tormented elves and [[kender]] vampires, but his home was a permanent ill-fit, and the banshees that followed him singing the story of how he was damned kept getting the details wrong until even he couldn't remember what happened. It doesn't ''sound'' like much but even in death he was still a man accustomed to rigid military order, and it actually drove him nuts.

Eventually though, Soth realized what few others (and no other Dark Lord) ever had: the only way to win at Ravenloft's Dark Powers' game is not to play it. Rather than rage impotently at a domain that tormented him, he sought solace in oblivion. He had multiple magic mirrors crafted that allowed him to dwell in magically shaped memory-worlds that were either close enough to the truth for his peace of mind, or pure wish-fulfillment. Being undead he could spend his entire time locked in such dream trances, completely ignoring whatever happened in Sithicus and relatively happy. In the end, though, a combination of an uprising instigated by his rivals, the intervention of his late wife's ghost effectively re-enacting the destruction of Dargaard Keep and the will of the Dark Powers (who were actually [[butthurt|a bit miffed]] at him giving them the middle finger with his dream trance escaping his punishment) forced him out of his dream mirrors for good. And he accepted it. He accepted the punishment set before him, and accepted all the evil he had done. So the Dark Powers sent him back to Krynn.

Dealing with Ravenloft's Dark Powers was already one hell of a feat, but once back where he started he did even better: he eventually attained redemption by [[troll|basically flipping off and triggering Takhisis so hard]] she proceeded to restore his mortality for the special purpose of having the satisfaction to kill him herself. [[rage|Bitch was royally pissed off]]!

The Hickmans infamously were furious about Soth's stint in Ravenloft, as they have long hated the idea of "crossovers" and so despised the setting that had sprung up from their original Ravenloft modules. They have constantly tried to retcon Soth's trip out of canon in their novels, but thanks to the screwy way time works there, the Ravenloft writers were free to ignore it until they [[butthurt|purposefully eradicated one of the most iconic villains in ''D&D'' through divine intervention]] so that no one else could ever have him. Despite this, in his [[Dragon Magazine]] "hall of fame" appearance, it is pointedly noted that Soth spent time damned to the [[Demiplane of Dread]] as the lord of Sithicus. Additionally, it is said that the current [[Darklord]] of Sithicus is at times tormented by visions of the redeemed ghost of Lord Soth.

[[Category:Ravenloft]]
[[Category:Dragonlance]]

Death Knight

2021-01-14T02:31:04Z

2603:8001:3500:CB:9C0B:DF4B:7E04:2455:

{{stub}}

[[File:1499611878863.png|thumb|300px|right]]
The Death Knight is a powerful [[undead]] monster originating from [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. Taking the form of an armored undead warrior with potent magical abilities, it is something of a more [[gish]]y [[Lich]] and has become an iconic "upgrade" for the [[Blackguard]], or otherwise martial champion decked out in the most evil attire you can think of fit for a death metal album cover- it's basically the [[lich]]dom for the melee chad that leads the army of darkness unto the forces of good.

==Death Knights in D&D/D20==
Planeswide in most settings, Death Knights hold their origins in the [[Greyhawk]] campaign setting- originally created by Prince of Demons [[Demogorgon]] after violently raping the treacherous knight Sir Kargoth's eyesockets with his rot-inducing-actually-cock tentacles for three days straight until he died, then arising as an incredibly angry undead-monstrosity. Thence it marched through the [[Fiend Folio]] to your gaming table.

The death knight glares out from the archetypical [[lich]]-like pinpoint lights from within its sunken eye-sockets, alongside his unlucky colleagues in the same fashion. The death knight is a force to be reckoned with, commanding great magical power, usage of power words- typically stun and die, and ignoring AC, they're the martial champions of evil and generals of undead hordes they'd attract as cohorts, beings infused with the power of the [[Abyss]] in chaos and evil, and the negative energy of death. Not all of these Death Knights are okay with their current existence, in fact- some instances created by Kargoth's betrayal are in fact- cursed. One may note that in Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur's gate, that Doomknights and Demonknights of Demogorgon also exist, so whether these are separate creatures, doomknights being the most distinct, or placeholders for such creatures is a question left unanswered.

[[Demogorgon]] however did not hold onto the rights to his creation for long, the means to creating them were eventually stolen, and distributed across his rivals- Orcus, Eltab, and then every other Tanar'ri. Eventually death knights became known and used planeswide by [[Demons]], [[Devils]], [[Daemons]], and evil deities alike. Death Knights are typically found serving a lich as bodyguards, or <strike>meatbags</strike>bonebags for buffing spells, or as solitary creatures, living in the ruins of towers, castles, and other large structures awarded to military men and militia for valor and service to a local lord. Some Death Knights even continue to manage their fief or holdings unto death, and things either sway to the place becoming abandoned, undead infested, or even a somewhat secure place for an individual to work the lands as they would do in the norm- though the risk of undead attack is greater because of the master's own powers.

That said, in the setting of [[Dragonlance]], Death Knights are creatures of divine origin, statistically stronger than their native abyssal counterparts and made by the act of gods cursing knights who fail to uphold their virtues or assigned tasks. The infamous [[Lord Soth]] is the first example of this, a Death Knight above all others that even ended up in the [[Ravenloft]] Campaign setting before the gods called before him let him off the hook on his punishment for being a zealous dickhead worried about being cuckolded. Soth also used his powers by reciting songs- which makes him additionally spooky- but the Death Knights of Krynn are by no means a joke, especially in a setting where magic is limited and the advantages of being undead put the risk of all life being wiped out if they were to ever go white walker on everyone's ass very real. Soth also had additional abilities as a death knight unique to himelf.

Death Knights typically had power words, fireballs as a 20th level caster, abyssal blast, the ability to attract undead cohorts, and ex-paladin blackguard abilities, on top of their potent immunities as undead- in effect, they're a basically a straight upgrade for some martial professions give or take.

In 4th edition, the similarity to liches was emphasized by giving Death Knights the same ability to reconstitute themselves after death, with their weapons serving as a kind of phylactery.

In 5th edition, Death Knights are now what happens to a Paladin that breaks his oath and dies before he can atone. What makes them interesting in this edition is that they will always come back from the grave until someone manages to get them to repent of their sins.

The [[Pathfinder]] Graveknight is much the same creature, with the dead warrior's soul bound to his armour in much the same way as a [[Lich]]'s is bound to a phylactery. This tends to go badly for anyone who loots a defeated Graveknight's armour, with the wearer being transformed into a replacement body.

===Gallery===
<gallery>
Death knight MM 1e.webp|1e
Death knight MM 2e.png|2e
1499611878863.png|3e
Death knight Dragon 360.jpg|4e (Dragon #360)
Death knight Dragon 360 2.jpg|also Dragon #360
Mauglurien Dragon 364.jpg|Dwarf death knight from Dragon #364.
Death knight MM 5e.jpg|5e
Graveknight akeiron.jpg|Pathfinder
Graveknight B3 PF.png
Graveknight PF 2e.png|Pathfinder 2e
</gallery>

==Death Knights in Warcraft==

Death Knights in Warcraft are just about what you'd expect from a Death Knight from Greyhawk. Except toss out the whole demonic aspect and just fill it with undead. Hilariously, there are two kinds of Death Knights in Warcraft. First off, there are the ones created by Gul'dan before the events of Warcraft 2. These Death Knights were created using the bodies of dead knights infused with the spirits of sacrificed necrolytes(his own orcish troops). Most, if not all, of these "First generation," death knights were killed by the Alliance and the subsequent destruction of Draenor though the most infamus of them remained, what can be noted of this generation is that they were more akin to martial warlocks than that of the later generations, often sporting a Nazghul-esque appearance. The "second generation," Death Knights were made by Ner'zul not long after he was imprisoned as the Lich King before Warcraft 3. These new Death Knights were either raised into undeath because they were powerful warriors in life, or they're Paladins who've fallen from grace. Most of the time, people assume they're both one and the same since they have practically the same abilities. They're not entirely wrong as Death Knights were just a recycled unit given a new role for a new faction in their next game. The third generation began with Arthas, as the Lich king, creating the Ebon blade, and establishing the rune system, which were archtypes a death knight in his service could assume when pursuing further power- past this, there are fourth ad fith generation death knights which are more of the same, but they include other previous non-death knight races as well.

Despite some shortcomings, Warcraft death knights are particularlry deadly, as they have the ability to shut down spellcasters effortlessly, because they can force choke a bitch from afar- and they have the ability to do edgy underdeveloped derivative blood magic, which is more thematic and made only on rule of cool, NURGLEMODE, and Frostymode.

[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]][[Category:Undead]]

Death Knight

2021-01-14T02:25:52Z

2603:8001:3500:CB:9C0B:DF4B:7E04:2455:

{{stub}}

[[File:1499611878863.png|thumb|300px|right]]
The Death Knight is a powerful [[undead]] monster originating from [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. Taking the form of an armored undead warrior with potent magical abilities, it is something of a more [[gish]]y [[Lich]] and has become an iconic "upgrade" for the [[Blackguard]], or otherwise martial champion decked out in the most evil attire you can think of fit for a death metal album cover- it's basically the [[lich]]dom for the melee chad that leads the army of darkness unto the forces of good.

==Death Knights in D&D/D20==
Planeswide in most settings, Death Knights hold their origins in the [[Greyhawk]] campaign setting- originally created by Prince of Demons [[Demogorgon]] after violently raping the treacherous knight Sir Kargoth's eyesockets with his rot-inducing-actually-cock tentacles for three days straight until he died, then arising as an incredibly angry undead-monstrosity. Thence it marched through the [[Fiend Folio]] to your gaming table.

The death knight glares out from the archetypical [[lich]]-like pinpoint lights from within its sunken eye-sockets, alongside his unlucky colleagues in the same fashion. The death knight is a force to be reckoned with, commanding great magical power, usage of power words- typically stun and die, and ignoring AC, they're the martial champions of evil and generals of undead hordes they'd attract as cohorts, beings infused with the power of the [[Abyss]] in chaos and evil, and the negative energy of death. Not all of these Death Knights are okay with their current existence, in fact- some instances created by Kargoth's betrayal are in fact- cursed. One may note that in Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur's gate, that Doomknights and Demonknights of Demogorgon also exist, so whether these are separate creatures, doomknights being the most distinct, or placeholders for such creatures is a question left unanswered.

[[Demogorgon]] however did not hold onto the rights to his creation for long, the means to creating them were eventually stolen, and distributed across his rivals- Orcus, Eltab, and then every other Tanar'ri. Eventually death knights became known and used planeswide by [[Demons]], [[Devils]], [[Daemons]], and evil deities alike. Death Knights are typically found serving a lich as bodyguards, or <strike>meatbags</strike>bonebags for buffing spells, or as solitary creatures, living in the ruins of towers, castles, and other large structures awarded to military men and militia for valor and service to a local lord. Some Death Knights even continue to manage their fief or holdings unto death, and things either sway to the place becoming abandoned, undead infested, or even a somewhat secure place for an individual to work the lands as they would do in the norm- though the risk of undead attack is greater because of the master's own powers.

That said, in the setting of [[Dragonlance]], Death Knights are creatures of divine origin, statistically stronger than their native abyssal counterparts and made by the act of gods cursing knights who fail to uphold their virtues or assigned tasks. The infamous [[Lord Soth]] is the first example of this, a Death Knight above all others that even ended up in the [[Ravenloft]] Campaign setting before the gods called before him let him off the hook on his punishment for being a zealous dickhead worried about being cuckolded. Soth also used his powers by reciting songs- which makes him additionally spooky- but the Death Knights of Krynn are by no means a joke, especially in a setting where magic is limited and the advantages of being undead put the risk of all life being wiped out if they were to ever go white walker on everyone's ass very real. Soth also had additional abilities as a death knight unique to himelf.

Death Knights typically had power words, fireballs as a 20th level caster, abyssal blast, the ability to attract undead cohorts, and ex-paladin blackguard abilities, on top of their potent immunities as undead- in effect, they're a basically a straight upgrade for some martial professions give or take.

In 4th edition, the similarity to liches was emphasized by giving Death Knights the same ability to reconstitute themselves after death, with their weapons serving as a kind of phylactery.

The [[Pathfinder]] Graveknight is much the same creature, with the dead warrior's soul bound to his armour in much the same way as a [[Lich]]'s is bound to a phylactery. This tends to go badly for anyone who loots a defeated Graveknight's armour, with the wearer being transformed into a replacement body.

===Gallery===
<gallery>
Death knight MM 1e.webp|1e
Death knight MM 2e.png|2e
1499611878863.png|3e
Death knight Dragon 360.jpg|4e (Dragon #360)
Death knight Dragon 360 2.jpg|also Dragon #360
Mauglurien Dragon 364.jpg|Dwarf death knight from Dragon #364.
Death knight MM 5e.jpg|5e
Graveknight akeiron.jpg|Pathfinder
Graveknight B3 PF.png
Graveknight PF 2e.png|Pathfinder 2e
</gallery>

==Death Knights in Warcraft==

Death Knights in Warcraft are just about what you'd expect from a Death Knight from Greyhawk. Except toss out the whole demonic aspect and just fill it with undead. Hilariously, there are two kinds of Death Knights in Warcraft. First off, there are the ones created by Gul'dan before the events of Warcraft 2. These Death Knights were created using the bodies of dead knights infused with the spirits of sacrificed necrolytes(his own orcish troops). Most, if not all, of these "First generation," death knights were killed by the Alliance and the subsequent destruction of Draenor though the most infamus of them remained, what can be noted of this generation is that they were more akin to martial warlocks than that of the later generations, often sporting a Nazghul-esque appearance. The "second generation," Death Knights were made by Ner'zul not long after he was imprisoned as the Lich King before Warcraft 3. These new Death Knights were either raised into undeath because they were powerful warriors in life, or they're Paladins who've fallen from grace. Most of the time, people assume they're both one and the same since they have practically the same abilities. They're not entirely wrong as Death Knights were just a recycled unit given a new role for a new faction in their next game. The third generation began with Arthas, as the Lich king, creating the Ebon blade, and establishing the rune system, which were archtypes a death knight in his service could assume when pursuing further power- past this, there are fourth ad fith generation death knights which are more of the same, but they include other previous non-death knight races as well.

Despite some shortcomings, Warcraft death knights are particularlry deadly, as they have the ability to shut down spellcasters effortlessly, because they can force choke a bitch from afar- and they have the ability to do edgy underdeveloped derivative blood magic, which is more thematic and made only on rule of cool, NURGLEMODE, and Frostymode.

[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]][[Category:Undead]]