Adrius, The Dreadhorde Emperor

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# Adrius, The Dreadhorde Emperor
 A low-born peasant, Adrius rose to power through the hardships and travesties he endured during his time within the Imperial army of his homeland alongside his brother Ocrisius. It was quite apparent that the two had much talent from the start. The two were inseparable on the battlefield, and they were a storm of blood and steel to all those who met them. Stories would rise not long after they arrived from the opposite side that would speak on the terror they brought upon those who faced them.
<br> Their reputation would grow with each battle as those who heard their name herald them as the greatest warriors and tacticians. Adrius would become known for his wit and tactical mind, whilst his brother's strength and masterful skill with a blade set them apart from all the rest they fought alongside. Their bond as brothers was unbreakable.

<br> It was when the Emperor at the time sent the brothers to fight against the calamitous dragon, Xhor'gis, that the fates would turn against them. Adrius and Ocrisius were given a legion of men to fight alongside to slay the dreaded wyrm. However, even to such brilliant combatants, they were no match for the dragon's immeasurable power. 
<br>After losing most of their men at the foot of Mount G'Hena, the lair of Xhor'gis, Adrius lay bloodied and beaten surrounded by a field of death and ruin. Ocrisius continued to command the remaining men but to no avail. The dragon was just far too powerful. However, Adrius would not stay down as he would stand once more to join his brother's side. They would finish this, or die together.

<br> It was here, when the only thing that remained were the brothers that they learned that the Emperor had sent them to Xhor'gis to be sacrificed to safeguard the Empire. 
<br> A long deal made at the inception of the first kingdom within the land, kept together by the blood of the strong.

<br>Xhor'gis, in those last moments, lamented how powerful the two brothers were. It wanted to see them grow even more, so it gave the two an option. It would only consume one of their souls, and it would let the other go. Although, he would give them a seed of more power to take with them.

<br> Adrius wanted to be the one to die at that moment, but he was too weak from the battle, and this allowed Ocrisius to make himself the martyr. Adrius watched as the dragon consumed his brother before his eyes, then used his command over life and death to warp Adrius into a Knight of Death who would take command of the undying around him. Xhor'gis bid him take the souls of the fallen surrounding him and bring his wrath towards the bloodline who caused all this to take place.

<br> When he rose from the ground, the cacophony of wailing souls sang a chorus to his ascension. He would bring his Dreadhorde to that Empire and bring ruin to the Emperor.

<br> Silently that day, he also made a promise to return to Mount G'hena. whereupon his arrival, he would slay Xhor'gis and mount his head at the top of his new throne.

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___
> ## Adrius, The Dreadhorde Emperor
>*Large Undead, Lawful Evil*
> ___
> - **Armor Class** 24
> - **Hit Points** 525 (50d10 + 250)
> - **Speed** 40 ft., climb 40 ft., fly 80 ft.
>___
>|STR|DEX|CON|INT|WIS|CHA|
>|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
>|30 (+10)|20 (+5)|28 (+9)|24 (+7)|22 (+6)|24 (+7)|
>___
> - **Saving Throws** Con +18, Int +16, Wis +15
> - **Skills** Athletics +19, Intimidation +16, Perception +15
> - **Damage Resistances** cold; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
> - **Damage Immunities** necrotic, poison
> - **Condition Immunities**  blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned, stunned, unconscious 
> - **Senses** truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 25
> - **Languages** Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Infernal
> - **Challenge** 30 (155,000 XP)
> ___
> **Legendary Resistance (3/Day).**
If Adrius fails a saving throw, he can choose to
succeed instead.
>
>
>**Dreadhorde (1/Day).** When Adrius rolls initiative he conjures Undead creatures whose combined average hit points don't exceed 300. These creatures magically form from the souls of those he has slain in an unoccupied spaces within 200 feet of Adrius and obey his commands until they are destroyed or until he dismisses them.
>
>**Dread Aura.** Any creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of Adrius must succeed on a DC 24 Wisdom saving throw or take 18 (4d8) necrotic damage, and Adrius' attacks critical on a 19 and 20 against it until the start of their next turn on a failure.  Undead creatures are immune to this aura. 
>
> **Immortal Emperor.** Adrius controls six Dreadhorde Generals who command his undead armies. When he drops to 0 hit points, his soul escapes his current body and leaves to inhabit the body of one of his generals with half his hit points. So long as his generals remain alive and are in the same plane of existence as him, Adrius can use his action to share his senses through one of them allowing him to see through their eyes, hear what they hear, and speak through them.
>
>
>
>
>**Soul Stealer.** A creature reduced to 0 hit points from damage dealt by Adrius must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw or it dies and can't be resurrected through magic short of a Wish spell, until Adrius dies or releases their soul. 
>
>**Turning Defiance**. Adrius and any other undead creature within 60 feet of it have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn Undead.
>
> 
>
> 
> ### Actions
> ***Multiattack.*** Adrius makes three attacks with his Life Stealing Blade or his Soul Blast and uses his Soul Whelm.
>
>
> ***Life Stealing Blade.*** *Melee Weapon Attack:* +19 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit* 19 (2d8 + 10) slashing damage plus 33 (6d10) necrotic damage, and Adrius regains 10 hit points. 
>
>***Soul Blast.*** *Ranged Spell Attack*  +16 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 18 (2d10 + 7) cold damage.
>
> **Soul Whelm.** Adrius surrounds a creature it can see within 60 feet of him with the souls of those he's killed. The target must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw or take 35(10d6) cold damage and 35(10d6) necrotic damage, and it can't regain hit points until the start of Adrius' next turn on a failure. On a success, the target takes half as much damage, and suffers no further effects. 
>
> ### Bonus Actions
>
>***Command Undead***. Adrius can command an undead creature he controls  within 60 feet of him  to make one weapon attack roll at a creature within their range.
>
>
>***Soul Step.*** Adrius teleports, along with any equipment he is wearing or carrying, up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space he can see. each creature within 10 feet of the space Adrius left must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw, taking 16 (3d10) cold damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.  
>
>
> ### Reactions
>
>***Parry***. Adrius adds 5 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, Adrius must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
>
>
>***Undying Apocalypse (Recharge 5-6).*** When a creature is reduced to 0 hit points within 120 feet of Ardius, he causes a vortex of souls to rise from the target. Each creature in a 20-foot-radius, 60-foot-high cylinder centered on the creature  must make a  a Wisdom saving throw taking 39 (6d12) cold damage, and 39 (6d12) necrotic damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. The area within 120 feet of the blast than becomes desecrated ground.
>
>
> ### Legendary Actions
>Adrius can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. Adrius regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
>
> **Strike.** Adrius makes one attack with his  Life Stealing Blade or his Soul Blast.
>
>
>**Graveborn Curse (Cost 2 Actions).** Adrius chooses a point within 120 feet of him that he can see. A whirlwind of souls covers a 20 foot radius and lasts until the end of Adrius' next turn. Undead creatures in that area have advantage on attack rolls and can dash, and disengage as a bonus action.
>
>
>**Vital Outburst (Cost 3 Actions).** Adrius targets a creature within 60 feet of him and they must make a DC 24 Constitution saving throw or expend a hit die and deal 22 (4d10) necrotic to each creature within 30 feet of it. If the target does not have a hit die to expend they instead take one level of exhaustion.
>

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>##### **Artist Credit**: 
>
>- [Soul frame Pantheon by Kang jihun](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/ZawbKm) pg 3
>- [Talk to Water by Florian Herold](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/bKAmXE) pg 4
>
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>
>###### More [ArgenisDBarrios](https://www.reddit.com/user/ArgenisDBarrios/) content can be found in my [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/ArgenisBarrios "title")! Including my Spirit Blade class, subclasses, Spells, magic items, and more character options.
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