[Amphetryon]

His piety hangs by a spider's thread.

Originally Posted by Daresh Mlezniir

Daresh Mlezniir, Selvetarm’s Sentinel

The Story...
Never give or receive quarter, and hope to die amid the bloodlust of battle against overwhelming odds.

Spoiler

It is unknown when Daresh was born. The deepest vaults in Ssamath, the City of Spells, hold texts over four thousand years old that mention his name.

The powerful servitor of the Spider That Waits was supposedly born in the now derelict city of Tlendinhiir, once located in the Upper Earthroot. In life, he had been a mere fighter who was called to Selvetarm’s service soon after his creation. After Selvetarm’s corruption by Lolth, however, he undertook a ritual to transform himself in undeath, and swore never to rest so long as his god was bound in Lolth’s service.

He began a crusade against Her clergy in his city, and the infighting eventually depleted the city of enough fighting forces so that one of their rival cities swooped down on their moment of weakness and wiped it out. At the end of the slaughter, barely one hundred of Daresh’s forces stood standing, and none of Lolth’s clergy had survived.

He sent out his warriors to seek out every corner of the Underdark, to set free the word of his glorious crusade, as he ventured lower and lower into the maze of caverns near his former home, seeking a site for a base of operations.

The next reference to Selvetarm’s Sentinel was nearly two millennia later, when a massive force of warriors emerged from the bowels of the Lowerdark and completely overwhelmed a minor city near Brundag, leading the leaders of Undrek’thoz to believe that he was based somewhere beneath the Yuirwood, ancestral birthsite of Selvetarm.

Although Undrek’Thoz searched for his forces for nearly a decade, no sign was ever found, and they eventually gave up pursuit.

It is only now, with Lolth being silent once again, and with Selvetarm showing no signs of stopping him from attacking the forces of his hated mistress, that he was begun to show himself once more, wiping out drow enclaves in the Earthroot, slowing taking on larger and larger cities.

Only time, and the length of Lolth’s silence, will tell how long the Servitor will continue to attack Lolth’s forces.

-Q’arlynd Melarn of Ssamath, 7 Hammer, Year of Rogue Dragons (DR 1373)

The Build...
War is the ultimate expression of individual power, and only through battle and death can you realize the respect of your comrades.

Spoiler

Daresh Mlezniir
*Note: He wants to undergo the Ritual of Crucimigration at the earliest opportunity; once undead, only certain Fortitude saves will apply.

The Spellcasting...
Magic is merely another weapon in the hands of the warrior.

Spoiler

Spells per day

Spells are chosen from the Blackguard spell list, not the Cleric.

*Note: without access to Wisdom boosting equipment, Daresh will never use his 4th level spell access, as his base Wisdom is insufficient to give him a bonus spell of 4th level.

The Explanation...
Hone your fighting skills constantly and teach those who will follow into the fray.

Spoiler

General Information
Daresh Mlezziir, NE male Necropolitan Lesser Drow
Fighter 6/Pious Templar 4/Drow Judicator 10

Ability scores:
Strength 16, Dexterity 14, Constitution 6, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 15, Charisma 12, final scores of Strength 18, Dexterity 14, Constitution -, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 16, Charisma 14

On the path
Early levels

Spoiler

Daresh is extremely fragile. It’s recommended to not play him before he undergoes the Ritual of Crucimigration, as he’s prone to die to the most delicate of hits. If he needs to be played pre-ritual, take advantage of your fighter levels and load up in the heaviest armor that you can afford, and carry a tower shield. Swallow the -2 on your to hit roll – you’re just trying to survive for a couple of levels.

Mid levels

Spoiler

Here’s where he really starts coming into his own. With Combat Focus activated, his saves of +13/+7/+10 (with Selvetarm’s Blessing and ability bonuses at 9th) are misleading. His Will save is actually +14 (due to Combat Focus)(or +16 versus spells), and his Undead type combined with Mettle insure that many of the spells don’t affect him anyways. His once/day save bonus (from True Believer) is usually used on an important Reflex save. By now, he should be 2-handing his Heavy Mace and ‘wielding’ an Animated heavy shield for full Power Attack Synergy.

In my opinion, Daresh has reached his peak here at 9th level. He’s got most of his iconic abilities running, and with Combat Focus running for 13 rounds, he’s got a nice +8 bonus on checks or rolls to resist bull rush, disarm, grapple, overrun, and trip attempts, as well as fast healing 4 and a +4 to Will saves, making Will, ironically enough, his strongest save. He’s got his powerful 1/day War Strike as well as the start of his Pious Templar spell, which include inflict spells to heal himself. Blade of Blood is a fun spell to prepare, as even getting the full effect (and dealing 5 damage to yourself) is nearly completely negated by his fast healing in the same round.

Late levels

Spoiler

Starting at 12/13th level, you begin to actually use Daresh’s Intimidate skill. While at first you’ll likely have to rely on a item to bump your charisma up to 15 for Imperious Command, by the higher levels it’s easy enough to nab a single Inherent bonus to bring it up to 15 permanently.

Daresh gets his spider companion and his pseudo-smite effect here, as well as the powerful Judgement ability (DC21). He’s a bit tougher with Improved Toughness, while his perfect BAB continues to pay off. He’s chosen a phase spider companion to help him in flanking an in general mobility.

15th level you grab Dismount attack. If your DM allows you to treat a phase spider as a nightmare (see Adaptations), this gets even nicer, as you can charge in on the Ethereal plane and dismount in the Material.

End game

Spoiler

As a capstone of sorts, you get the wonderful Combat Awareness (with at least 2 other [Combat Form] feats), letting you know adjacent enemies’ exact hit points, but also letting you know exactly where they are with your 5ft blindsight. Weapon Specialisation is nothing special at this level, but hey – free damage is free damage, right? An additional (true) smite per day, with a flat +4 to hit/damage and DR 1/- (again, free is free) rounds out the build.

Adaptations

Spoiler

A) See if your DM will allow you to undergo your Ritual near a desecrated altar – an extra 2hp/HD are nothing to look down upon. If so, then it either frees up a feat (Improved Toughness) or gives you an extra 40hp at 20th level.

B) If your DM allows the phase spider’s ethereal jaunt ability to be used as the nightmare’s, then it’s an even more potent choice.

C) As for equipment, nab the Fearsome armor enhancement (+5000gp) from Drow of the Underdark for an easy a boost to your Intimidate skill.

Use of the Secret Ingredient

Spoiler

War Strike: Provided you can get close enough to an enemy caster (maybe riding your phase spider, please see Adaptations), this could prove fatal. Even on a successful save, you’re still going to be reducing their constitution by 1d6.

Command Spiders: In his quest to free his master from Lolth’s grip, he’s bound to come upon servitors of the Spider Queen, so any advantage is one that he’ll take. Particularly potent against Verminkeepers and Arachnomancers (Und).

Selvetarm’s Blessing: Can I get a ‘Hells yes’ to a +3 profane bonus to all saves? Note that this stacks with items that grant a resistance bonus. Since he has a lower Charisma score, this is actually superior for him compared to a Paladin of Tyranny/Slaughter or a Blackguard’s equivalent ability.

Selvetarm’s Wrath: Once more, free damage is never turned away, even though it’s extremely limited time per day.

Spider Servant: As above, as well as mobility – it’s got a climb speed, and in the Underdark, it’s an extremely valuable movement mode. Also makes for good scouting, as well as intelligent conversation for an otherwise solitary character (it’s intelligence is only one point below his).

Spider’s Grace: Useful to set up a flanking position with his spider companion – with it active, they can both creep along a wall or a ceiling, or even engage in combat there.

Judgement: An extremely useful way to thin out the battlefield of low-Fort save enemies (arcane casters, for example). At a usable DC (21) and excellent range, this is golden for him. Especially once you note that he sets the parameters of the judgment each time he uses it.

The Build Sources...
It is only through the glory of battle that one overcomes the weak limitations of the flesh.

Spoiler

Player’s Handbook
Player’s Handbook 2
Player’s Guide to Faerun
Underdark
Drow of the Underdark
Complete Scoundrel
Monster Manual
Complete Divine
Libris Mortis
Complete Warrior