Nergal — Lord of Kutha, Plague, War & Inflicted Death

Nergal, Bringer of the Last Fever

2024 · Large Celestial (Greater Deity), Neutral Evil · CR 37 (epic campaign rating; no official XP; PB +11)

Armor Class 29 (divine panoply); Hit Points 1,053 (54d10 + 756); Speed 50 ft.

Saving Throws Str +24, Dex +20, Con +25, Int +20, Wis +22, Cha +23
Skills Athletics +24, Insight +22, Intimidation +23, Perception +22, Religion +20
Resistances Fire, Necrotic, Psychic; Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing
Immunities Poison damage; Charmed, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned, Stunned
Senses Truesight 240 ft., Passive Perception 32; Languages all; Telepathy 1 mile

Divine Traits

Divine Nature. Nergal does not require air, food, drink or sleep. Destroying his body is not his permanent divine death.

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Nergal fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed.

Magic Resistance. Nergal has Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Lord of Pestilence. A hostile creature beginning its turn within 30 feet of Nergal makes a DC 31 Constitution save. On a failure it takes 18 (4d8) Necrotic damage and has Disadvantage on its next Constitution save before the start of its next turn. On a success, it takes half damage and has no Disadvantage.

Inflicted Death. A creature damaged by Nergal receives only half the Hit Points it would regain from healing until the start of Nergal’s next turn.

Personal Divine Spellcasting

Charisma is Nergal’s spellcasting ability (save DC 31, +23 to hit with spell attacks). He requires no Material components. Each spell uses its printed casting time, remaining components, duration, targeting and Concentration; he can maintain only one Concentration spell at once. Limited uses return on a Long Rest. These are Nergal’s spells, not the spells his priests automatically gain.

Actions

Multiattack. Nergal makes three Mace of Meslam attacks.

Mace of Meslam. Melee Attack Roll: +24 to hit, reach 15 feet, one creature. Hit: 39 (4d12 + 13) Bludgeoning plus 27 (6d8) Necrotic damage.

War-Plague (Recharge 5–6). Nergal unleashes a 60-foot cone. Each creature of his choice inside makes a DC 31 Constitution save, taking 72 (16d8) Poison plus 36 (8d8) Necrotic damage on a failure, or half on a success. A creature that fails cannot take Reactions until the end of its next turn.

Scorch the Battlefield (Recharge 5–6). Nergal ignites a 40-foot-radius circle on the ground he can see within 180 feet for 1 minute. The area is Difficult Terrain. A hostile creature entering it for the first time on a turn or starting its turn there takes 22 (4d10) Fire damage. A creature is damaged no more than once per turn by this effect. Nergal can end the fire without an action.

Inflict the Final Wound (1/Day). One creature with fewer than half its Hit Points, within 120 feet and visible to Nergal, makes a DC 31 Constitution save. On a failure, it drops to 0 Hit Points; if it has Legendary Resistance or Mythic traits, it instead takes 100 Necrotic damage. On a success it takes 50 Necrotic damage. The effect cannot permanently destroy another deity.

Bonus Action

March of Meslam. Nergal moves up to half his Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks; one willing allied creature he sees within 60 feet may move 15 feet without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

Reaction

Scar of the Fallen. When a creature Nergal can see within 120 feet regains Hit Points, he reduces the amount regained by 40 (minimum 0). He has one Reaction per round.

Legendary Actions — Four Uses

Immediately after another creature ends its turn, Nergal can take one option and spend the stated uses; four uses return at the start of his turn. He cannot act while Incapacitated.

• Mace Strike (1). Nergal makes one Mace of Meslam attack.
• March of the Dead (1). He moves 25 feet without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
• Plague Mark (2). One visible enemy within 90 feet makes a DC 31 Constitution save, taking 36 (8d8) Necrotic damage on a failure or half on a success. A failed save also prevents it regaining Hit Points until the end of its next turn.
• Seven Spectral Weapons (3). Up to seven creatures of Nergal’s choice within 60 feet each make a DC 31 Dexterity save, taking 22 (4d10) Force damage on a failure or half on a success.

House of Meslam — Estate Action

On Initiative Count 20 (losing ties), while at his divine stronghold, Nergal chooses one effect: Ash Gale (a 50-foot-radius area is Lightly Obscured until the next count 20); Burning Line (a 60-foot line of floor is aflame until the next count 20; a creature entering or beginning its turn there takes 22 Fire damage, once per turn); or Seven Called (up to three fiendish allies he sees each move their Speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks). He cannot choose the same action in consecutive rounds.

Nergal, Lord of Kutha

2014 · Large celestial (deity), neutral evil · Greater Deity; Challenge 37 (unofficial epic design; no official XP; PB +11)

Armor Class 29 (divine panoply); Hit Points 1,053 (54d10 + 756); Speed 50 ft.

Saving Throws Str +24, Dex +20, Con +25, Int +20, Wis +22, Cha +23
Skills Athletics +24, Insight +22, Intimidation +23, Perception +22, Religion +20
Damage Resistances fire, necrotic, psychic; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, poisoned, stunned
Senses Truesight 240 ft., Passive Perception 32; Languages all; Telepathy 1 mile

Traits

Immortal Deity. Nergal requires no air, food, drink or sleep. Killing his body does not permanently kill the god without the campaign’s divine-death conditions.

Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If he fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. Nergal has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Pestilent Presence. A hostile creature that begins its turn within 30 feet makes a DC 31 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) necrotic damage and having disadvantage on Constitution saving throws until the start of its next turn on a failure, or half damage and no other effect on a success.

Last Wound. For a round after taking damage from Nergal, a creature can regain only half as many hit points from healing (round down).

Innate Spellcasting

Charisma is Nergal’s spellcasting ability (save DC 31, +23 to hit with spell attacks). He requires no Material components. Each spell uses its printed casting time, remaining components, duration, targeting and Concentration; he can maintain only one Concentration spell at once. Limited uses return at dawn. These are Nergal’s spells, not the spells his priests automatically gain.

Actions

Multiattack. Nergal makes three Mace of Meslam attacks.

Mace of Meslam. Melee Weapon Attack: +24 to hit, reach 15 ft., one creature. Hit: 39 (4d12 + 13) bludgeoning damage and 27 (6d8) necrotic damage.

War-Plague (Recharge 5–6). Nergal exhales pestilent cinders in a 60-foot cone. Each creature of his choice in the cone makes a DC 31 Constitution saving throw, taking 72 (16d8) poison and 36 (8d8) necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one. A creature failing the save cannot take reactions until the end of its next turn.

Burning Earth (Recharge 5–6). Nergal chooses a 40-foot-radius circle on ground within 180 feet he can see. For 1 minute it becomes difficult terrain and burns creatures entering it for the first time on a turn or beginning their turn inside for 22 (4d10) fire damage (once per turn).

Sentence of Slaughter (1/Day). One visible creature below half its hit points within 120 feet makes a DC 31 Constitution saving throw. On failure it drops to 0 hit points (a creature with Legendary Resistance instead takes 100 necrotic damage); on success it takes 50 necrotic damage. It cannot permanently kill another deity.

Bonus Action

War March. Nergal moves 25 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. One ally he can see within 30 feet may move 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Reaction

Wither the Cure. When a visible creature within 120 feet regains hit points, Nergal reduces that instance of healing by 40, to a minimum of 0.

Legendary Actions

Nergal can take four legendary actions each round, using one option at the end of another creature’s turn. Spent actions return at the start of his turn and cannot be used while incapacitated.

• Mace Strike. He attacks with the Mace of Meslam.
• Ash Stride. He moves up to 25 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Plague Mark (Costs 2 Actions). One enemy within 90 feet makes a DC 31 Constitution save; on failure it takes 36 (8d8) necrotic damage and cannot regain hit points until the end of its next turn; on success it takes half damage.
• Seven Weapons (Costs 3 Actions). Up to seven enemies he can see within 60 feet each make a DC 31 Dexterity save, taking 22 (4d10) force damage on a failure or half as much on a success.

Kutha’s Divine Stronghold — Lair Actions

In his own stronghold, initiative count 20 (losing ties) allows Nergal one of these actions, not repeated consecutively: fill a 50-foot-radius area with lightly obscuring ash for 1 round; set a 60-foot ground line alight (22 fire damage on entering or starting there, once per turn); or let three visible fiendish allies each move up to their speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Nergal, Destroyer of Kutha

CR 37 / MR 10 (unofficial epic extrapolation; no published XP) · NE Large outsider (divine, evil, extraplanar)

Init +13 (Dex +9, Improved Initiative +4); Senses darkvision 120 ft., true seeing, see invisibility; Perception +62; Aura pestilence (30 ft.).

AC 59, touch 45, flat-footed 50 (–1 size, +9 Dex, +14 natural, +15 divine, +12 deflection)
hp 936 (48d10 + 672)
Fort +40, Ref +35, Will +37
DR 20/epic; Immune disease, fire, poison; Resist cold 30, electricity 30, negative energy 30; SR 48
Speed 50 ft.

Melee +5 heavy mace +66/+61/+56/+51 (2d6+18 bludgeoning plus 6d6 negative energy); Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.; Base Atk +48; CMB +62; CMD 79

Str 36, Dex 28, Con 38, Int 28, Wis 32, Cha 34
Skills Intimidate +63, Knowledge (religion) +60, Knowledge (planes) +60, Perception +62, Sense Motive +62, Spellcraft +60
Feats (24): Combat Reflexes; Power Attack; Cleave; Great Cleave; Improved Bull Rush; Greater Bull Rush; Weapon Focus (heavy mace); Improved Critical (heavy mace); Critical Focus; Staggering Critical; Stunning Critical; Toughness; Iron Will; Improved Iron Will; Great Fortitude; Improved Great Fortitude; Lightning Reflexes; Improved Lightning Reflexes; Spell Focus (necromancy); Greater Spell Focus (necromancy); Spell Penetration; Greater Spell Penetration; Improved Initiative; Quicken Spell-Like Ability (contagion).
Languages all, telepathy 1 mile; Environment Kutha or Meslam.

Special Abilities

Divine Immortality (Ex). Nergal does not age or die from mundane disease or poison. When destroyed, his manifested body returns only through the campaign’s divine restoration; permanent divine death requires separate conditions.

Pestilence Aura (Su). Hostile living creatures starting their turns within 30 feet make a DC 46 Fortitude save (Charisma-based); on failure they take 6d6 negative energy damage and are sickened for 1 round; on success they take half damage and are not sickened. This supernatural harm is not a transmissible natural disease.

Inflicted Death (Su). A creature Nergal hits with his mace receives only half the normal hit points from magical healing for 1 round (round down); this does not apply to negative energy healing received by an undead creature.

War-Plague (Su; recharge 1d4 rounds). 60-foot cone, DC 46 Fortitude save. Failure deals 12d6 fire plus 12d6 negative energy and leaves the target staggered for 1 round; success halves damage and negates staggering. Spell resistance applies. Creatures immune to one damage type take no damage of that type.

The Seven (Su; 1/day). Nergal calls seven destructive spirits within 60 feet, each appearing in an unoccupied square. They use the site’s ordinary fiendish or spirit creature statistics appropriate to this court, and act on his initiative starting next round; they remain for 1 minute or until destroyed. This does not create seven additional attacks by Nergal during his turn. Their exact creature identities must be selected before encounter play.

House of Meslam (Su). Within his divine realm once per round on initiative 20 Nergal either makes a 50-foot-radius area difficult terrain for 1 round, ignites a 60-foot line (6d6 fire on entering or starting, once per round), or permits three allies to move up to their speed without provoking attacks of opportunity.

Divine Spell-Like Abilities

Caster level 30; concentration +42; Charisma-based saving throw DC 22 + spell level. Spell-like ability rules apply to components, actions and spell resistance. Individual daily uses renew at sunrise in Kutha.

Granted Cleric Domains and Domain Spells

Death, Destruction, Evil and War are Nergal’s Pathfinder domains; Pestilence is an alternative campaign domain. Its spells for levels 1–9 are ray of sickening, death knell, contagion, fear, blight, harm, destruction, horrid wilting, wail of the banshee. A cleric takes powers and bonus spell slots from its chosen domains, not Nergal’s innate spell-like uses.

Nergal, Warlord of the Great Below

Greater deity (Divine Rank 16); NE Large Outsider 20 / Fighter 20 / Cleric 20; suggested CR 50 (unofficial; not a published encounter or XP value)

Hit Dice 20d8 + 20d10 + 20d8 + 840 (1,130 hp); Init +13; Speed 50 ft.
AC 62, touch 44, flat-footed 53 (10 base, –1 size, +9 Dex, +18 natural, +16 divine, +10 deflection).
Base Attack/Grapple +55/+72; Attack +5 heavy mace +88 melee (2d6+18 bludgeoning plus 4d8 negative energy); Full Attack +88/+83/+78/+73; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks War-Plague, Inflicted Death, salient divine abilities, cleric spellcasting; Special Qualities DR 30/epic, SR 67, true seeing, divine immortality, immunity to disease, fire and poison.
Saves Fort +66, Ref +49, Will +57 (including Divine Rank 16).
Str 36 (+13), Dex 28 (+9), Con 38 (+14), Int 28 (+9), Wis 32 (+11), Cha 34 (+12).

Skills Concentration +72, Intimidate +72, Knowledge (religion) +72, Knowledge (the planes) +72, Listen +72, Spot +72, Spellcraft +72.
General feats (21 for 60 HD): Combat Casting; Improved Initiative; Great Fortitude; Lightning Reflexes; Iron Will; Toughness; Cleave; Great Cleave; Power Attack; Improved Bull Rush; Improved Critical (heavy mace); Weapon Focus (heavy mace); Weapon Specialization (heavy mace); Greater Weapon Focus (heavy mace); Greater Weapon Specialization (heavy mace); Combat Reflexes; Quick Draw; Blind-Fight; Spell Focus (necromancy); Greater Spell Focus (necromancy); Spell Penetration.
Fighter bonus feats (11 from fighter 20): Dodge; Mobility; Spring Attack; Combat Expertise; Improved Trip; Improved Disarm; Improved Feint; Improved Sunder; Improved Overrun; Whirlwind Attack; Weapon Focus (longsword).
Environment House of Meslam; Alignment neutral evil.

Salient Divine Abilities

Avatar, Battlesense, Divine Battle Mastery, Divine Shield, Divine Spellcasting, Mass Divine Blast, Wound Enemy and Life and Death. These are 3.5e-style salient powers; their existing source rules apply and are not mechanically replaced by a differently named 5e trait. Nergal’s additional underworld abilities below are original campaign rules.

War-Plague (Su). Every 1d4 rounds Nergal sends cinders through a 60-foot cone. Living creatures within make a DC 52 Fortitude save; on failure they take 12d6 fire and 12d6 negative energy damage and become sickened for 1 round, or half damage without sickness on success. Spell resistance applies. Negative energy cannot harm a creature immune to negative energy.

Inflicted Death (Su). A creature damaged by Nergal’s mace can benefit from only half the normal magical hit-point healing for 1 round. A natural form of healing is unaffected. Undead that normally heal from negative energy are exempt.

Scourge Command (Su). As a standard action Nergal may command one evil outsider or supernatural plague-spirit within 120 feet; a DC 52 Will save resists. A successful save provides immunity to this command for 24 hours. He cannot overrule an equal-ranked deity’s active direct command without a divine-rank contest.

House of Meslam (Su). Once per round on initiative 20 while inside his divine estate, Nergal may create 60 feet of burning ground (6d6 fire for entering or beginning a turn, once per round), make a 50-foot-radius area difficult terrain for 1 round, or allow three allies to move their speeds without provoking attacks of opportunity.

Cleric 20 Spellcasting

Nergal prepares spells as a 20th-level cleric, caster level 20, Concentration +72, spell save DC 21 + spell level (Wisdom). The table shows daily prepared base slots plus Wisdom 32 bonus spells, before an additional domain slot at each level 1–9. His prepared choices are listed as examples to fill the slots before play; he does not gain 10th-level spells from his Divine Rank.

Cleric Domains and Granted Spells

Death, Destruction, Evil and War are appropriate domains. Clerics choose two domains by the 3.5e rules and receive each domain’s granted power and a single domain spell slot per spell level, not Nergal’s ordinary prepared spells. A campaign Pestilence Domain has level 1–9 domain spells cause fear, death knell, contagion, fear, slay living, harm, destruction, horrid wilting, wail of the banshee and a granted power allowing one reroll of a failed save against disease per day.