Josu Vess, Light Knight
Hundreds of years ago, the swamp now known as the Caligo Morass was the home of the Vess family, a successful lineage of knights and healers. For generations they had dwelled on the forest island of Urborg, protecting it from invasion and aiding sick and injured locals. This all changed in a single night, when a powerful necromantic curse swept across the Vess estate, transforming its family members into powerful undead monsters, and its servents into wights, zombies, and ghouls.
At the center of the necromantic wave was the lone make heir of the Vess family, a once-sickly boy by the name of Josu. In the aftermath of the estate's destruction. Josu was transformed into an undying lich, a powerful force of evil. The Vess family's only other heir, a young healer named Lilianna, disappeared in the tragedy, never to be seen or heard from again.
Servant of the Cabal The devastating loss of the Vess family, and the transformation of the Vess estate into the necromantically-charged Caligo Morass, was the beginning of the end for Urborg. Soon after, a series of events would slowly warp the whole of the once-verdant forest into a swamp much like the Morass. When Belzenlok rose as the patriarch of the Cabal, he moved its headquarters to an abandoned Phyrexian fortress near the center of Urborg.
It was there on Urborg that Belzenolk discovered the existence of the lich Josu Vess, recruiting the under knight into his service. Belzenlok promised Josu an end to his suffering, using the vast necromantic powers of the Cabal to stabilize Josu's condition, ridding him of the pain from the curse that had plagued him for centuries. In thankfulness, Josu gave himself over entirely to the service of the Cabal, acting as one of Belzenlok's top generals.
Desire for Vengence While legends claim that the daughter of the Vess family, Lilianna, disappeared in the destruction of the family estate, Josu Vess knows the truth. Josu's status as a lich is a result of Liliana's mistake, a failed attempt to heal her brother of a curse, which succeeded only in placing Josu under a cure of Liliana's own making. This same curse is what would eventually transform Josu into a lich, creating an enduring connection between himself and his sister.
Though he was mad with pain, Josu clearly remembers watching his sister disappear into thin aid, and the undead victims of their family held him back. Though he can not sense where she is, as one of Liliana's undead creations, Josu can sense that Liliana is still alive, somewhere. Watching and waiting, serving the Cabal, and gathering his power, Josu trains every day to perfect both his skills as a knight and his own mastery of necromancy. He knows, deep down, that someday his sister will reappear, and Josu plans to be ready to take his vengeance for the centuries of pain, madness, and despair that she has put him through.
Josu Vess, Light Knight
Hundreds of years ago, the swamp now known as the Caligo Morass was the home of the Vess family, a successful lineage of knights and healers. For generations they had dwelled on the forest island of Urborg, protecting it from invasion and aiding sick and injured locals. This all changed in a single night, when a powerful necromantic curse swept across the Vess estate, transforming its family members into powerful undead monsters, and its servents into wights, zombies, and ghouls.
At the center of the necromantic wave was the lone make heir of the Vess family, a once-sickly boy by the name of Josu. In the aftermath of the estate's destruction. Josu was transformed into an undying lich, a powerful force of evil. The Vess family's only other heir, a young healer named Lilianna, disappeared in the tragedy, never to be seen or heard from again.
| Armor Class | 18 (plate armor) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit Points | 16d8+96 | ||
| Speed | 30 ft. | ||
| Strength | 21 (+5) | ||
| Dexterity | 10 (+0) | ||
| Constitution | 22 (+6) | ||
| Intelligence | 12 (+1) | ||
| Wisdom | 18 (+4) | ||
| Charisma | 19 (+4) | ||
| Saving Throws | Constitution d20+10 | Wisdom d20+8 | Charisma d20+8 |
| Skills | Animal Handling d20+8 | Perception d20+8 | Intimidate d20+8 |
| Damage Immunities | Cold | Necrotic | Poison |
| Condition Immunities | Poisoned | ||
| Senses | Passive Perception 18 | ||
| Languages | Common | ||
| Challenge | 10 (5,900 XP) | ||
| Special 1 | Menace | Josu Vess has an advantage on all attack rolls made against | a creature if there is no ally of the target within 5 feet of it |
| Special 2 | Spellcasting | Josu Vess is a 9th-level spellcaster. | His spellcasting ability is Charisma |
| (spell save DC 16, d20+8 to hit with spell attacks). | He has the following Paladin spells prepared | ||
| Spells 1 | 1st level (4 slots) | Command | Compelled duel |
| Searing smite | Shield of faith | Thunderous smite | Wrathful smite |
| Spells 2 | 2nd level (3 slots) | Branding smite | Find steed |
| Magic weapon | |||
| Spells 3 | 3rd level (2 slots) | Aura of vitality | Blinding smite |
| Dispel magic | Elemental weapon | ||
| Action 1 | Multiattack | Josu Vess uses his Frightful Presence, | then makes three attacks with his Warhammer |
| Action 2 | Warhammer | Melee Weapon Attack | d20+9 to hit |
| Reach 10 ft., one target | Hit 2d8+5 bludgeoning damage | plus 2d8 necrotic damage | |
| Action 3 | Frightful Presence | Each creature of Josu Vess' choice that is within 60 ft. | of Josu Vess and aware of him must succeed on |
| a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. | A creature can repeat the saving throw at the need of each of its turns, | ending the effect on itself on a success. | If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, |
| the creature is immune to Josu Vess' Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours | |||
| Action 4 | Summon Knights (Recharge 6) | Josu Vess summons 1d6 undead knights, | which appear in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet. |
| The knights roll initiative and take their own turns, | and follow any verbal commands issued by Josu Vess |
Josu Vess, Lich Crusader
Hundreds of years ago, the swamp now known as the Caligo Morass was the home of the Vess family, a successful lineage of knights and healers. For generations they had dwelled on the forest island of Urborg, protecting it from invasion and aiding sick and injured locals. This all changed in a single night, when a powerful necromantic curse swept across the Vess estate, transforming its family members into powerful undead monsters, and its servents into wights, zombies, and ghouls.
| Armor Class | 18 (plate armor) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit Points | 22d8+132 | ||
| Speed | 30 ft. | ||
| Strength | 23 (+6) | ||
| Dexterity | 10 (+0) | ||
| Constitution | 22 (+6) | ||
| Intelligence | 12 (+1) | ||
| Wisdom | 18 (+4) | ||
| Charisma | 20 (+5) | ||
| Saving Throws | Dexterity d20+5 | Constitution d20+11 | Wisdom d20+10 |
| Charisma d20+11 | |||
| Skills | Animal Handling d20+11 | Perception d20+10 | Intimidation d20+11 |
| Damage Immunities | Cold | Necrotic | Poison |
| Condition Immunities | Poisoned | ||
| Senses | Passive Perception 18 | ||
| Languages | Common | ||
| Challenge | 16 (15,000 XP) | ||
| Special 1 | Menace | Josu Vess has an advantage on all attack rolls | made against a creature if there is no ally of the target within 5 feet of it |
| Special 2 | Spellcasting | Josu Vess is a 15th- level spellcaster. | His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19). |
| He has the following Paladin spells prepared | |||
| Spells 1 | 1st level (4 slots) | Comand | Compelled duel |
| Searing smite | Shield of faith | Ray of sickness | Thunderous smite |
| Wraithful smite | |||
| Spells 2 | 2nd level (3 slots) | Blindness/Deafness | Branding smite |
| Find steed | Magic weapon | Ray of enfeeblement | |
| Spells 3 | 3rd level (3 slots) | Aura of vitality | Blinding smite |
| Dispel magic | Elemental weapon | Vampiric touch | |
| Spells 4 | 4th level (2 slots) | Find greater steed | Staggering smite |
| Action 1 | Multiattack | Josu Vess uses his frightful Presence, | then makes three attacks with his Warhammer |
| Action 2 | Warammer | Melee Weapon Attack | d20+12 to hit |
| Reach 10 ft., one target | Hit 2d8+6 bludgeoning damage | plus 3d8 necrotic damage | |
| Action 3 | Frightful Presence | Each creature of Josu Vess' choice that is within 60 ft. | of Josu Vess and aware of him must succeed on |
| a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. | A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, | ending the effect on itself on a success. | If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends or it, |
| the creature is immune to Josu Vess' Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours | |||
| Legendary Actions | Josu Vess, Lich Crusader can take 3 legendary actions, | choosing from the options below. | Only one legendary action option can be used at a time |
| and only at the end of another creature's turn. | Josu Vess regains spent legendary | actions at the start of his turn | |
| Legendary Action 1 | Warhammer | Josu Vess makes an attack with his Warhammer, | then regains a number of hit points equal to the damage dealt |
| Legendary Action 2 | Summon Knights (Costs 2 Actions) | Josu Vess summons 1d6 undead knights, | which appear in unoccupied spaces within 30 feet. |
| The knights roll initiative and take their own turns, | and follow any verbal commands issued by Josu Vess | ||
| Legendary Action 3 | Unholy Knight (Costs 3 Actions) | Josu Vess touches a dead creature, | infusing it with his own lich essence and transforming it |
| into an undead creature under his control. | The creature acts at the end of Josu Vess' turn and follows any verbal commands | issued to it by Josu Vess (no action required). | Otherwise, it defends itself but takes no other action |
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