Dread Lord

Dread Lord CR 11

XP 12,800
Human dread lord cavalier 11
LE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +10
Aura fear aura (60 ft., DC 19)

DEFENSE

AC 23, touch 12, flat-footed 22 (+10 armor, +1 deflection, +1 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 131 (11d10+66); fast healing 10
Fort +14, Ref +9, Will +9; DR 5/good or silver
Weaknesses landlocked

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee +1 greatsword +19/+14/+9 (2d6+10/17–20)
Ranged mwk composite longbow +15 (1d8+6/19–20)
Special Attacks all-seeing, banner +3/+2, cavalier’s charge, challenge (+11, +3, 4/day), mighty charge, physical mastery, unquestioned ruler
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 11th; concentration +15)

At will—charm animal (DC 15), charm person (DC 15), detect thoughts (DC 16)
3/day—clairaudience/clairvoyance, dominate animal (DC 17), dominate person (DC 19), mass suggestion (DC 20), speak with animals, speak with plants, stone tell

STATISTICS

Str 22, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 18
Base Atk +11; CMB +17; CMD 31
Feats Blind-Fight, Dazzling Display, Distracting Charge, Improved Critical (greatsword), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Outflank, Power Attack, Step Up, Toughness, Weapon Focus (greatsword)
Skills Climb +9, Handle Animal +18, Intimidate +18, Knowledge (history) +8, Knowledge (nobility) +8, Perception +10, Ride +12 (+17 on mount), Sense Motive +13, Swim +9
Languages Common, Draconic, Infernal
SQ expert trainer +5, greater tactician (3/day, 8 rounds, swift action), mount (horse), one with the land, order of the cockatrice (braggart, steal glory)

ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary or troop (1 plus 2–8 fighters of 4th–level)
Treasure NPC gear (+1 greatsword, +1 full plate, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +3, ring of protection +1, masterwork composite longbow with 20 bolts)

Dread lords are intrinsically tied to the territories they inhabit, either through ancestry or by claiming them in costly battle. Ambitious and cunning in their pursuit of land and glory, once dread lords attain their goals of conquest, they transition into tragic figures. They might find themselves hollow once their dreams are fulfilled, having nothing else to strive for, or could becoming heartless toward their charges, seeing them as ungrateful for all the lord sacrificed.

Some lords come into power through vile deeds and become targets of powerful curses wreaked by people they wronged or powerful divine entities that demand retribution. These despicable creatures are transformed into brooding immortals known as cursed lords. Regardless of how they rose to rule over their lands, their dark domains are dangerous and haunted places.