Elena Faith-hold

Elena Faith-hold, a former paladin, is the Darklord of Nidala. She resides in the Faith Hold, just outside Touraine,, and she wields a magic bastard sword, Caitlin.

Background

A paladin, trusted friend of Kateri Shadowborn and fellow Knight of The Circle, Elena was the Knight-Protector of the Province of Nidala. After the Heretical Wars, Elena returned to Nidala a hero. Although she knew herself to be merely a vessel of Belenus’s power, she still basked in the adoration of the masses. After a time, her people’s praise filled her head and she began to see a purpose beyond simply protecting Nidala from evil. In the wake of Kateri Shadowborn's assassination, Elena Faith-hold set forth on a crusade to crush evil utterly, followed by thousands of fanatics as devoted to her as to Belenus himself. The forces of evil rose as one to oppose her, and the War of Evil lasted many months, but Elena and the forces of good emerged victorious.

In the wake of her victory, many Nidalans forsook the other gods of their pantheon to worship only Belenus, as their hero did. As Belenus’s following spread, the few holdouts began to be seen by the people as outcasts, stubbornly refusing to join the 'One True Religion.' The zealots among the clergy came to Elena with vicious lies about the nonbelievers, and eager as she was to please her god, Elena leapt into another holy war against the heathens. It was then that her paladin’s gifts deserted her, as did her unicorn mount; Belenus had withdrawn his approval. But Elena was convinced of her own righteousness, and was certain these tests of faith would only make her stronger. After extinguishing those who would not worship Belenus, she turned among her followers and sought to annihilate those who were not firm allies and those who were not human. With each purge, she found some new target, some faction not as holy as she, against which to continue her crusade.

When her divine powers didn't return, she began to doubt, and prayed to Belenus for guidance. Belenus was silent. But something else answered. A swirling fog arose, and when it receded, Elena found herself in a strange land. As she wandered this new place, she found in each village she encountered, something of the evil she'd eradicated from her own lands. Resolved to cleanse this area of its vile inhabitants, she devised a test. Disguised, she would enter a town and sit quietly in a public place to observe. If she saw more evil than good in one day, she would destroy the village and all its inhabitants. But as fate would have it, her chosen spot was often the center of ill-repute in each town, where evil among the townsfolk was most likely to be seen. Her harsh judgment fell on ten towns before she was once again whisked away by the Mists. She emerged before the Faith Hold, as a wizened old servant welcomed her home to Nidala.

Current sketch

When a Nidalan town becomes irredeemably evil in Elena's deluded opinion, she and her soldiers surround the town and burn it to the ground, later blaming the fictitious dragon Banemaw for the attack. Faith-hold fervently believes her ends justify her means, but she is cursed with periods of self-doubt. Once per week, Faith-hold is irresistibly called to take a midnight ride upon her steed, all the while a terrible chorus of condemning voices remind her of the failure of her ultimate mission.

Statistics

2nd Edition: 10th level fighter with corrupted paladin-like powers

3rd Edition

The Kargatane wrote Elena up for Secrets of the Dread Realms, but she never saw print. Here's her unedited 3.0 stat block:

Elena Faith-hold, Darklord of Nidala

Female human ex-Pal3/Blk8: CR: 11+; Medium-size humanoid (human); HD 11d10; hp 90; Init +2; Spd 20 ft.; AC 23 (touch 11, flat-footed 22); Atk +16/+11/+7 melee (1d10+7 [one-handed] or 1d10+9 [two-handed]/crit 17-20 plus 2d6 unholy damage, +2 unholy bastard sword) or +13/+8/+3 ranged touch (by spell); SA aura of despair, command undead, poison use, smite evil, sneak attack +2d6, unholy bastard sword; SQ detect evil, dark blessing, fiendish servant; SR 14; AL LE; SV Fort +13, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 20, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 11, Wis 14, Cha 18 Height 5 ft. 11 in.

Skills and Feats: Concentration +4, Diplomacy +10, Heal +4, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (religion) +4, Ride +8; Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Improved Critical (bastard sword), Mounted Combat, Ride-by Attack, Trample.

Languages: Nidalan*

Blackguard Spells per Day: 2/1/1/1. Base DC = 12 + spell level. Caster level 8th.

Signature Possessions: +2 unholy bastard sword “Caitlin”, +2 full plate of moderate fortification, masterwork large metal shield, candle of truth, gold holy symbol of Belenus.

Fiendish Heavy War Horse: CR 3; Large magical beast; HD 6d8+18; 48 hp; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 50 ft.; AC 22 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural, +7 armor); Atk +10/+10/+5 melee (1d6+4 [x2], hooves; 1d4+2 bite]; Face/Reach 5 ft. by 10 ft./5 ft. [10 ft. with horn]; SA smite good; SQ darkvision 60 ft., cold and fire resistance 10, damage reduction 5/+1, empathic link, improved evasion, scent, share saving throws, share spells; SR 12; AL LE; SV Fort +13, Ref +7, Will +7; Str 19, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 6.

Skills and Feats: Listen +8, Spot +8.

Possessions: Masterwork half-plate barding, military saddle.

Combat

Elena is a born warrior. She is never so happy as she is when fighting what she believes to be a righteous battle. She will not withdraw unless clearly overmatched, and even then retreat will be temporary. She prefers to fight while mounted on her fiendish steed, riding in the midst of her foes swinging her bastard sword.

Aura of Despair (Su): Elena radiates a malign aura that causes enemies within 10 ft. of her to suffer a –2 morale penalty on all saving throws. Many Nidalans claim that when their Holy Protector is provoked by evil, she responds with a palpable fury; even the most wicked of beasts tremble before her righteous wrath.

Command Undead (Su): Elena can command or rebuke undead as a 6th-level evil cleric.

Convert (Sp): At will, Elena can attempt to convert a foe to her side. The target must succeed at a DC 19 Will save or “see the light,” repenting her wicked ways and gladly joining Elena’s ranks. This effect acts as a powerful form of charm monster, except that she can only convert humanoids, and those who are converted will gladly die for her. If a target succeeds at her Will save, Elena cannot attempt to convert that creature again for 24 hours.

Smite Evil (Su): Twice per day, Elena may attempt to smite “evil” with one normal melee attack. She adds +4 to her attack roll and deals 8 extra points of damage. This power functions against any creature Elena has previously detected as “evil” (see below). If Elena attempts to smite a creature she has not detected as evil, the smite has no effect but is still used up for the day.

Detect Evil (Sp): Elena believes that she can still detect evil, as per the spell. Furthermore, she believes that the inability of other spellcasters in Ravenloft to detect evil is a sure sign of their spiritual impurity. In truth, this ability performs just as the detect evil spell — except that instead of evil, Elena actually detects any strong emotions that the target creatures may feel toward her. Sadly, this ability does not distinguish between emotions. Elena interprets both the burning hatred of her foes and the boundless love of a suitor as purest evil, and lashes out at each.

Detect Life (Sp): By concentrating for a full round, Elena can detect the thoughts of any humanoid within 60 ft. Elena cannot read the creature’s thoughts, but she can hone in on them to root out creatures that may be hiding. Targets within range can make a DC 19 Will save to escape detection. Magic effects that shield thoughts also prevent discovery. Intriguingly, this power cannot detect infants or the insane.

Poison Use: Unlike the blackguards of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, Elena still believes herself to be a paladin. She has not trained herself in the use of poison, and thus lacks this ability.

Lay on Hands (Sp): Once per day, Elena can cure herself or her fiendish mount of 12 points of damage.

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Islands of Terror
		Islands of Terror - p7
		Islands of Terror - pp14-16
		Ravenloft Third Edition - pp156-158 Secrets of the Dread Realms - p7 Islands of Terror - pp6-10
		Knight Protector of Nidala