The Lonely Warrior
The Lonely Warrior is an ancient Kellid warlord, his name long lost to the passage of millennia. Once a powerful warrior king who ruled during the Age of Enthronement, he was laid to rest in a barrow mound with all the honors befitting his station. His loyal guardians swore to protect him “even beyond death”—an oath that would become a terrible curse when the tomb was disturbed.
Description
The Lonely Warrior appears as a skeletal figure clad in ancient armor, wielding a magical weapon that has endured thousands of years. His form radiates the power of undeath, sustained by the oath that binds him to his tomb. Though his flesh has long since decayed, his martial prowess remains formidable.
History
The Lonely Warrior was a Kellid warlord who ruled approximately 3,700 years ago (during the Age of Enthronement, roughly 700-1000 AR). He lived during the time when the Kellids still held the Kamelands independently, before the Taldane Empire’s Second Army of Exploration conquered the region around 900 AR.
When he died, he was interred in the Lonely Barrow with great ceremony. His most loyal warriors swore to guard his tomb for eternity. Over time, the earth near the mound subsided, opening a crack in the tomb. This disturbance somehow twisted the guardians’ sacred oath into an undead curse. The warlord himself rose as a powerful undead entity, and his skeletal guardians continue their eternal vigil, attacking any who dare enter the tomb.
Abilities
- Lonely Dirge: A keening wail of ancient sorrow that stupefies those who hear it
- Final Respite: A death curse that allows the Lonely Warrior to strike one last time as he falls
- Martial Excellence: Despite being undead, the warrior retains his formidable combat skills
- Command of the Dead: The skeletal guardians appear to coordinate with their lord
Encounter with the Party
The party entered the Lonely Barrow following a treasure map found in the Hateful Hermit’s den. After navigating past giant bat swarms and shadow traps, they reached the eastern burial chamber.
As soon as they entered, the stone sarcophagus burst open, and the Lonely Warrior emerged to defend his tomb. The battle was fierce but relatively brief:
- Kairos struck first with a Spellstrike, then used Magus Analysis to identify the creature
- The Lonely Warrior unleashed his Lonely Dirge, stupefying Kairos
- His attack against Kairos missed
- Kairos’s second Spellstrike destroyed the ancient warlord
- With his dying action, he triggered Final Respite, striking at Leonardo
- Skeletal guardians then poured in from the shadows to continue the defense
The Lonely Warrior’s defeat allowed his soul—trapped for thousands of years in undeath—to finally move on to Pharasma’s judgment, as Kairos explained to the party.
Treasure
Within the Lonely Warrior’s sarcophagus lay his prized weapon:
- +1 cold iron flaming bastard sword (broken into 2 shards, but still radiating magical power)
The weapon was taken by Leonardo, to be repaired and wielded once more.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Undead (Former Kellid Warrior) |
| Age | Approximately 3,700 years old |
| Risk | High - Boss-level undead with powerful abilities |
| Location | The Lonely Barrow, Kamelands |
| Weapons | +1 cold iron flaming bastard sword |
| Abilities | Lonely Dirge (stupefying wail), Final Respite (death curse attack) |
| Guardians | Multiple skeletal warriors and a skeletal champion |
| Status | Defeated by the party on 29 Arodus 4710, soul released to Pharasma’s judgment |
Cultural Significance
The Lonely Warrior represents an important piece of Kellid history from before the Taldane conquest. The mosaics in his tomb show Kellid village life with Taldane artistic influences, suggesting cultural exchange during the Age of Enthronement. Kairos identified the site as having potential for a museum to preserve this ancient history.
Related
- The Lonely Barrow - His tomb
- Session-20 - The encounter
- Kairos - Provided historical context and Pharasmin perspective on his undeath