Do not meddle in the affairs of demons, as... I couldn't quite make out the rest through the screaming.
Quote Originally Posted by Nefarious Tate
Nefarious Tate

Human – Chaotic Evil – Duskblade 5 / Pious Templar 2 / Divine Crusader of Cyric 9 / Nar Demonbinder 4

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Backstory
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Galliard Tate grew up in one of those cities people recommend you never visit. A natural talent for magic combined with the killing instincts of a career warrior meant that he was near the top of the pecking order of the local ruffians. While others would loot and steal, Galliard was the lookout… or more often the distraction. He enjoyed hurting people; he was good at it; and nothing drew the city guard’s attention away from a heist better than a mugging or murder in the streets.

The crew he ran with became wanted men very quickly and either melted away or were hung; all except for him. Wanted for the murder of several city guards, he was a hard target to bring in. “The Nefarious Galliard Tate” drew the attention of bounty hunters far and wide, and he evaded or killed them for some months, until cornered and outmatched at last. But his hunters were slaughtered in turn by members of the cult of Cyric, Lord of Murder, who appreciated his talents and recruited him.

He was Nefarious Tate now, and he became a Templar of Murder. Under their tutelage he learned new kinds of magic tricks to kill and maim in melee. Almost as a side effect, he learned how to summon things from the lower planes. Small things, but he was fascinated by them. The way they breathed, the way they longed to hurt things, the way they obeyed his every command…

So when at last he came across ancient magical tomes (by killing their previous owner and the assassin he was working with who wanted a share of the books) that described the forgotten demon lore of Narfell, he was hooked. His health succumbed to an unearthly pallor, but he crackled with new unearthly energies he could use to split foes apart.

In a few short years, the cult of Cyric caught up with him for the betrayal of their assassin, but were unable to mete out punishment on him due to the demons that joined him in the resulting melee. The last sight the high priest of Cyric saw was Tate standing over him, accompanied by the massive frame of a Glabrezu demon.

“I AM Nefarious, and I belong to no one. You, on the other hand… now belong to my friend here.”


The Build
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{table=head]STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA|-|Level Bonuses
14|12|12|12|12|16|-|level bonuses into CHA[/table]
{table=head]Level|Class|Base Attack<br>Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Skills|Feats|Class Features

1st| Duskblade 1|
+1
|
+2
|
+0
|
+2
|Concentration 4, Knowledge (Religion) 4, Knowledge (Planes) 4, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 2|Weapon Focus (Longsword), Iron Will|Armored Mage, Arcane Attunement

2nd| Duskblade 2|
+2
|
+3
|
+0
|
+3
|Concentration 5, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Planes) 5, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 3|-|-

3rd| Duskblade 3|
+3
|
+3
|
+1
|
+3
|Concentration 6, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Planes) 6, Sense Motive 2, Spellcraft 5|True Believer|Combat Casting
4th| Duskblade 4|
+4
|
+4
|
+1
|
+4
|Concentration 7, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Planes) 7, Sense Motive 3, Spellcraft 6|-|Armored Mage (Medium)

5th| Duskblade 5|
+5
|
+4
|
+1
|
+4
|Concentration 8, Knowledge (Religion) 5, Knowledge (Planes) 8, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|-|Quick Cast (1/day)

6th| Pious Templar 1|
+6
|
+6
|
+1
|
+6
|Concentration 9, Knowledge (Religion) 8, Knowledge (Planes) 8, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|Spell Focus (Conjuration)|Mettle
7th| Pious Templar 2|
+7
|
+7
|
+1
|
+7
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 1, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 8, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|-|Smite (1/day)

8th| Divine Crusader 1|
+7
|
+9
|
+1
|
+9
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 1, Intimidate 4, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 8, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|-|Aura

9th| Divine Crusader 2|
+8
|
+10
|
+1
|
+10
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 1, Intimidate 8, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 8, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|Practiced Spellcaster (Div Cru)|-
10th| Divine Crusader 3|
+9
|
+10
|
+2
|
+10
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 1, Intimidate 10, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 9, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|-|Resist Electric (5)

11th| Divine Crusader 4|
+10
|
+11
|
+2
|
+11
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 1, Intimidate 12, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|-|-

12th| Divine Crusader 5|
+10
|
+11
|
+2
|
+11
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 3, Intimidate 14, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|Tomb Tainted Soul|Weapon Specialization (Longsword)

13th| Divine Crusader 6|
+11
|
+12
|
+3
|
+12
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 16, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 10, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 6|-|Resist Acid (5)

14th| Nar Demonbinder 1|
+11
|
+12
|
+3
|
+14
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 17, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 11, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 8|-|Fiendish Familiar, Inimical Casting

15th|Nar Demonbinder 2|
+12
|
+12
|
+3
|
+15
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 18, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 12, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 10|Arcane Strike|Iron Sign

16th| Nar Demonbinder 3|
+12
|
+13
|
+4
|
+15
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 19, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 14, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 10|-|Master Summoner

17th| Nar Demonbinder 4|
+13
|
+13
|
+4
|
+16
|Concentration 10, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 20, Knowledge (Religion) 10, Knowledge (Planes) 16, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 10|-|Brazen Sign

18th| Divine Crusader 7|
+14
|
+13
|
+4
|
+16
|Concentration 11, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 21, Knowledge (Religion) 12, Knowledge (Planes) 16, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 10|Demon Mastery|Darkvision

19th| Divine Crusader 8|
+15
|
+14
|
+4
|
+17
|Concentration 12, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 22, Knowledge (Religion) 14, Knowledge (Planes) 16, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 10|-|-

20th| Divine Crusader 9|
+15
|
+14
|
+5
|
+17
|Concentration 13, Craft (Metalsmith) 5, Intimidate 23, Knowledge (Religion) 16, Knowledge (Planes) 16, Sense Motive 5, Spellcraft 10|-|Resist Acid (10), Resist Electric (10)[/table]


Spells Known
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{table=head]CL|-|Dusk0|Dusk1|Dusk2|-|PT1|-|DC1|DC2|DC3|DC4|DC5|DC6|DC7|DC8|DC9|-|Nar4|Nar5|Nar6|-|Spells
1st|-|3|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|0(Acid Splash, Ray of Frost, Touch of Fatigue), 1st(Ray of Enfeeblement, Shocking Grasp)
2nd|-|4|3|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|1st(Resist Energy)
3rd|-|5|4|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|1st(Obscuring Mist)
4th|-|6|5|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|1st(Kelgore’s Firebolt)
5th|-|6|5|2|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|2nd(Touch of Idiocy)
6th|-|6|5|2|-|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Blackguard List (1st)
7th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|(usually Summon Monster I)
8th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Inflict Light Wounds
9th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|1|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Shatter
10th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Contagion
11th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Inflict Critical Wounds
12th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Inflict Light Wounds, Mass
13th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|Harm
14th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|2|1|-|-|4th(Dimensional Anchor, Lesser Planar Binding, Magic Circle vs Good), 5th(Spell Resistance)
15th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|2|2|-|-|4th(Summon Monster IV), 5th(Plane Shift)
16th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|3|2|1|-|6th(Greater Dispelling)
17th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|-|3|3|2|-|5th(Dispel Good), 6th(Planar Binding)
18th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|-|3|3|2|-|Disintegrate
19th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|-|3|3|2|-|Earthquake
20th|-|6|5|2|-|1|-|3|3|3|3|3|2|2|1|0|-|3|3|2|-|Implosion [/table]


Level Highlights
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Level 7 – Nefarious is a pretty standard Duskblade at this level. He can dump 5d6 of energy damage into a melee attack (or drain STR or INT instead) and has a Smite available to increase his attack roll. Mettle allows him to save for no effect on all Will partial and Fort partial spells, which are his strongest saves. He has become enamored with summoning evil things now, but it’s mostly an unhealthy fascination at this point. =)

Level 12 – Nefarious has a more damage options now, including channeling Contagion and Inflict Critical Wounds into melee attacks. (Both 4th and 5th level slots will be used for Inflict Critical.) And his Divine Crusader caster level is decent now with Practiced Spellcaster. He also has one (or two, depending on how you read the Pious Templar ability) more Smites per day to improve his to-hit roll for channeled spells. But the big improvement is picking up Tomb Tainted Soul, as he can now heal himself with many of the spells on his Divine Crusader list… and it’s about to get better.

Level 15 – The build comes together at this level. He has Harm available to channel into melee attacks and to heal himself with, and his levels of Nar Demonbinder provide two major things… out of combat demon summoning, and in combat melee buffs. Sure, Plane Shift, Spell Resistance, and Summon Monster IV are decent in their own right and Dimensional Anchor can be channeled into a melee attack, the Nar Demonbinder spell slots are really there to provide hit and damage bonuses with Arcane Strike. And delivering a Harm or Touch of Idiocy through his Quasit familiar isn’t a poor option either. Plus the Divine Crusader caster levels add to his Nar Demonbinder caster level.

Level 18 – Sweet Spot – Nefarious has real power at this level. He’s using 6th and 7th level slots for Harm now (and shortly 8th and 9th as well) plus having both Spell Resistance and Greater Dispel with a real caster level (15th), and he is well placed to use Planar Binding on a regular basis. Armed with a CHA item and a Circlet of Persuasion (or similar item with larger bonus) and using his Brazen Sign ability, he has little trouble binding a Glabrezu to aid him in combat and provide the occasional Wish or summoning a Retriever to use as a combat companion or mount.


Demonic Synergy
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Why Nar Demonbinder? – It’s the concept. Murderous individual joins a cult, and without being a real spellcaster he learns to summon and command demons, becoming horrifyingly good at it. It’s hard to do that in 3.5 D&D, and Divine Crusader is one of the few ways to accomplish it. It’s also deliciously synergistic, as both classes rely on Charisma and both can saddle up their spell list to the Duskblade base class that is powering it all.

The only downside is fitting it all in. Nar Demonbinder really needs that 4th level Brazen Sign ability to keep the powerful outsiders in thrall, and that meant taking the hit for only doing 9 levels of Divine Crusader. The capstone ability (Outsider type and DR 10/magic) is quite minor compared to the missing spell slots that could be filled with more Harm.

Duskblade and Destruction Domain – The Divine Crusader’s domain ability is augmented in 3 ways with this build. First, Pious Templar and Destruction domain stack, adding 1 or 2 uses of Smite per day, granting an untyped bonus to hit when needed (and a bit of damage too). Second, the domain spells can be channeled into melee attacks by the Duskblade’s Arcane Channeling ability, which is useful when it’s Contagion or Inflict Critical, and damn devastating when it’s Harm. Thirdly, the spell list does double duty as a source of healing once Nefarious picks up Tomb Tainted Soul.

Demon Binding and Arcane Strike – This is deceptively higher Teir than it might appear. Out of combat, the demon summoning can accomplish a great number of things (including shortening Nefarious’ expected lifespan!) and gain him access to combat companions. In combat, the spell slots can be converted to attack and damage bonuses by Arcane Strike. Only have one Harm left… use both Smite and Arcane Strike for a +10 to hit. At 18th level that’s a bonus +6d4+159 damage, Will save for +6d4+84. =)

Tomb Tainted Soul – More synergy with the Divine Crusader domain. This feat means he’s healed by the spells on his list, so he can cause massive damage or recover from said same. And a Quick Cast Harm makes all the difference between death and victory when Nefarious is getting pounded on! Sure, he takes damage from Cure spells now, but if an enemy does figure that out, his Mettle ability means he can save for zero damage using his best saving throw!


Source Books
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{table=head]Sourcebook|Class/Race|Feats
Complete Divine|Divine Crusader, Pious Templar|Practiced Spellcaster, True Believer
Complete Warrior|-|Arcane Strike
Fiendish Codex I|-|Demon Mastery
Libris Mortis|-|Tomb Tainted Soul
Player’s Handbook|-| Iron Will, Spell Focus, Weapon Focus
Player’s Handbook 2|Duskblade|-
Unapproachable East|Nar Demonbinder|-[/table]