You have delve into the other side of mankind, bathing yourself through all kind of horrors that no man could withstand. You soon risen out from the depths of darkness, having now become part of that world and reborn as a creature of evil. But just being evil isn't enough, as you rose up and grew overtime as a powerful, ruthless "Dark Lord". The path of being a lord of darkness is not an easy one, as you will be both feared and hated from most of the common people, while those with authority and power will not try to stop you. As to how you became a Dark Lord is much questionable; did you either inherit the title from a family legacy, work hard to obtain the statues of evil from nothing, or once thrown aside your good nature and heroic self in order to become the ruler of darkness. Over the years, you have come to understand wealth, power, and terror you possess as a Dark Lord. The title of "Dark Lord" carry a powerful hold to the small land of your own, while also wielding significant influence within the criminal underworld. You seek to expand your land and power, gathering the forces of darkness to your side by using fear and might, while having some contacts within other criminals from the inside. You’re far closer than most people to the world of evil, seeing the world more then just "black and white" and know that just being nice and saving lives isn't the solution to saving the world, but instead ruling it.
Work with your DM to come up some ideas as to determine how much authority and influences the title of "Dark Lord" carries on the evil creatures/humans within the campaign, such as if he/she own a fortress for example. You also need to discuss at how your origin/background will have an effect on both the common people, the criminals/villains and the land soldiers living within the game. These details help establish your family and your title as features of the world of the campaign. If you didn't own a land from a family heritage, then you must explain how you acquired your own land and fortress, whether you did it all by yourself, made a deal with a demon/ dark god, or if you had help from your own assemble army of evil.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from the following: Persuasion, Deception, Intimidation, History or Insight
- Tool Proficiencies: Either forgery Kit or Thieves Kit.
- Languages: Choose any one language's.
- Equipment: A set of dark-color armor, one singe weapon's, a signet ring, one evil/cursed item and a satchel containing 35 gp
Why did you become the Dark Lord? What tragedies or choices that pave this path to you? Were always evil or once a good person? You can work with your DM to determine the story behind your accession to being the dark side, or you can choose to roll on the table below to determine how you become the Dark Lord.
| d10 | Origin of Evil |
|---|---|
| 1 | My family had raise and groom since I was born, in order to become the heir of their legacy and rule over the forces of evil. |
| 2 | I was corrupted by an evil sorcerer spell that brainwash me, to which now I have become the Dark Lord against my will. |
| 3 | I had discover that I was the lost child of the old Dark Lord, to which I now claim my heritage as the new Dark Lord. |
| 4 | I was betray and left for death by those closest to me, yet I was able to survive and now I have return as the Dark Lord for one reason: revenge. |
| 5 | I dream of being an adventure with good intention, yet I end up making horrible mistakes that force me onto a dark path, resulting me to become the Dark Lord. |
| 6 | I desire to change the land ruled by an unfair society and the unjustice laws made the corrupted ruler, to which I choice to rebel and take over as the new ruler. |
| 7 | I was banish from the kingdom and my right as the rightful ruler, to which soon I buld up my reputation as the Dark Lord to reclaim my throne. |
| 8 | My home was destroyed by war and I was the only survivor to escape, to which now I am filled with hatred and desire power to crush the those responsible for destroying my life. |
| 9 | I have been alseep for hundreds of years by a powerful magic, to which now I have awaken and now seek to start my conquest upon the land once more. |
| 10 | I had made a deal with a powerful, dark entity (archdemon, demon lord, outsider, etc.) that cause me to become a Dark Lord, in exchange for serving under them. |
Thanks to your terrifying fame as the Dark Lord, the people of the land are frighten by your legend. The common folks will try to tolerate you and inclined to listen to you in order to avoid your wrath, though they still dislike your presences. Few among them would either run away from you, call on the guards, deny you entrance to a building or even attempt to ambush you in some alley. You are also feared by the political nobles and other high-ranking people of the land, to which they will not hesitant to call the guards to arrest you if your threaten them too much. You also have to become carful around the soldiers across the land and try your best not to cause too much trouble, else they will arrest you for one act of evil. There are great risk of being a Dark Lord, yet you hold the most power within the dark world of evil, where both the low-lives, evil wizards, cultists and all other form of evil's reside in the land.
Every form of criminal organizations, evil entities and other villains will know much about you and your title as the Dark Lord. You have the abilities to us Intimidation (on advantage) to terrified an enemies group to run away, or instead use Persuasion (on advantage) to convinced them to fight for you instead of against you, even trying to build up your dark army in the future. You can call upon spies in the underworld to be your eyes and ears, relaying all kinds of information to you, or instead hire assassins to do your dirty job and remove some pawns out from the game (can't be high-ranking challenge characters or such). You are even able to make an audience with some of the local evil characters to make deals with, yet you need to be good at making Charisma rolls during the discussion, else the negotiation will break down and a fight will be ensue. There are some limit of being a Dark Lord, as only mindless monsters/beasts, high-challenging rates villains, or enemies who hates you can not be reason with, thus you will be attack by them.
Suggested Characteristics
From their own perception, Dark Lord's view the world differently to the like of common hero's of justice and benevolent ruler's, that the world isn't just plain "black and white", but in fact in-between and gray. It with their appearance and personality that might make them seem like any villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an abundance of endearing, if not redeeming, characteristics. There might hold some sense honor and promise, yet dark lords rarely show any respect for law or authority. Dark Lords also have some form of responsibilities that would make them seem similar to nobles, expect make dealing with low-lives and criminals of the land, while managing their lands and fortress, yet can have some loyal allies to mange the land while they on the quest with other allies.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am not easily frighten by the mere sight of evil, for I have done worse. |
| 2 | As the lord of darkness, I must show some some restraint to not harm my land. |
| 3 | All who stands before me will tremble in fear and engrave my image to their mind's. |
| 4 | I take great joy in toturing them, while taking something of theirs as a reminder of me. |
| 5 | I shall bring this land and the people within it into a new edge of peace, even if I have to become the villain as the result. |
| 6 | I don't really open myself to anyone, mostly due to my nature of not trusting the good guys. |
| 7 | I can't not show any weakness to anyone as a Dark Lord, thus must kept the pain to myself. |
| 8 | I show no mercy to weak, giving them the most painful death till there nothing lieft of them. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Responsibility. As the lord of darkness, I planned to expanded my influence over the land and become the ruler of it. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Respect. Even as a evil Dark Lord, I am still able to at least treated my loyal minions with some dignity. (Good) |
| 3 | Destruction. I have only the desire to burn the land and unleash chaos upon the people. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. I only desire to obtain more power so that I can rule the land with only fear and despair. (Evil) |
| 5 | People. I’m loyal only to my 'minions', not to any ideals or any laws that tries to forces itself upon me. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Redemption. There’s a chance that even a Dark Lord could become good, to become a good ruler instead. (Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Although I don't say a lot of kind words and tend to be cruel, I still care for others in my own way. |
| 2 | My alliance toward the forces of evil must be sustained at all costs. |
| 3 | Even I hold my relationship with the most pathetic, low-life minion with high regard. |
| 4 | Even the lord of evil still possess the ability to love another person and willing to sacrifice my life to save them. |
| 5 | I own my life to the one who save my life, even if they are the good guys. |
| 6 | Even if the common folks only see me as the villain, I will protect them. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have issues in trusting people, always thinking that everyone is after my life. |
| 2 | I tend to hide secrets from those closest to me, making deals behind their back's. |
| 3 | I unable to stop myself from manipulating or commanding others either in the open or from the shadows. |
| 4 | I only found pleasure in making a person writhe in pain and agony. |
| 5 | Everyone I see are nothing to me but worms for me to crush under my boot. |
| 6 | I have lived too long and seep too deep within the depth of evil, thus I have no idea at how to act or even be 'good'. |