Buy me a coffeeEarl Yniol, the Wraith of Ruined Legacy
Meet Earl Yniol – the fallen noble whose scandalous family betrayal and ruined legacy will rock Camelot to its core!
- Alias: The Wraith of Ruined Legacy
- Gender: Male
- Race: Medium Undead Noble (once Human)
- Occupation: Cursed Guardian of his Ancestral Keep, former Earl
- Religion: Devotee of the Old Ways (worships ancient, forgotten deities)
- Allies: Spectral remnants of his noble kin and adventurers who prove their honor
- Enemies: His treacherous nephew Yder (Edyrn) and all who defile his sacred legacy
- Abode/ Base of Operations: The haunted, crumbling ruins of his ancestral fortress in the highlands
- Nationality: Arthurian, hailing from an ancient, enchanted realm on the fringes of Camelot
- Languages: Common and the Old High Tongue
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
- Affiliation(s): Once a member of a noble house upholding chivalric honor; now bound to the cursed legacy of his ruined estate
- Significant Others: Enid, his cherished daughter whose fate is intertwined with his own tragic story
Lore & Story:
Once a venerable earl who ruled a vast, enchanted realm, Earl Yniol was celebrated for his honor and unwavering protection of ancient traditions. His life took a tragic turn when his ambitious nephew, Yder, betrayed him by usurping his lands and plunging his legacy into ruin. Unable to find peace in death, Yniol’s spirit was cursed to linger as a spectral warden over the crumbling remnants of his ancestral keep. Now, his tale is woven into the fabric of myth—a somber reminder of how betrayal and lost honor can forever bind a noble soul.
Origins & Role in Myth:
Yniol’s tragic downfall is the subject of countless ballads and legends. Once the proud patriarch of a noble line, he was known to be a staunch guardian of sacred relics and chivalric lore. However, the treachery of his kin transformed him from a living hero into an undead sentinel. His enduring presence is said to be a grim omen: travelers who glimpse his mournful figure in the twilight are warned that even the loftiest honor can crumble to dust.
Motivations & Personality:
Haunted by the memories of lost glory, Earl Yniol is driven by a dual desire for vengeance against those who wronged him and for the restoration of his once-hallowed legacy. His bitter pride and deep sorrow compel him to test the resolve and purity of those who dare enter his ruined domain. Though his spirit is shrouded in regret, a flicker of noble duty still endures within him—prompting him to guide worthy heroes toward redemption and the ancient wisdom of his people.
Physical Appearance:
Manifesting as a medium-sized, spectral noble, Yniol’s presence is both unassuming and profoundly eerie. His gaunt visage is marked by pallid, rune-etched skin and deep-set eyes that emit a ghostly silver glow. His disheveled silver hair, once a symbol of his regal bearing, now falls in tangled strands around a face etched with eternal sorrow. Draped in tattered yet once-grand vestments adorned with the faded sigils of his house, he carries a mysterious rune-carved amulet—a remnant of the ancient magic that still binds him. In one skeletal hand, he clutches a battered, enchanted sword that whispers the lost glories of his mortal past.
Role in the Campaign:
- Ally/Quest Giver: Yniol may appear as a tragic mentor, challenging adventurers to prove their honor by undertaking quests that aim to restore ancient magics and redeem his ruined legacy.
- Antagonist: His vengeful spirit can serve as a formidable foe, striking fear into the hearts of those who disturb his cursed domain, forcing heroes to confront the consequences of betrayal and the weight of lost honor.
- Mysterious Encounter: As a solitary wanderer among the haunted ruins of his former estate, Yniol might offer cryptic prophecies and moral tests, subtly influencing the destiny of the realm.
Earl Yniol’s enduring legend stands as a poignant reminder that even in the depths of decay, the echoes of honor and the possibility of redemption persist—shaping the fate of those brave enough to heed his mournful call.
Earl Yniol 5e
Earl Yniol, Pathfinder
Earl Yniol, the Wraith of Ruined Legacy
Medium Undead (Noble), Chaotic Neutral
Challenge: 8 (3,900 XP)
Armor Class: 18 (Plate Armor)
Hit Points: 110 (13d8 + 52)
Speed: 30 ft.
Ability Scores:
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 18 (+4) |
Saving Throws: Dex +6, Wis +6, Cha +8
Skills: Insight +6, Persuasion +8, History +5
Damage Resistances: Necrotic; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities: Poison
Condition Immunities: Charmed, Exhaustion, Poisoned
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 16
Languages: Common, Old High Tongue
Special Traits:
- Undying Resilience: When Earl Yniol is reduced to 0 hit points, he can make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a success, he drops to 1 hit point instead. This ability can be used once per day.
- Aura of Lost Honor: Creatures within 10 ft. of Yniol have disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks as his cursed sorrow unsettles them.
- Innate Spellcasting: Earl Yniol’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). He can innately cast the following spells without requiring material components:
- At will: chill touch, minor illusion
- 3/day each: blindness/deafness, darkness, hold person5ecompendium.github.io+2World Anvil+2World Anvil+2
- 1/day each: finger of death, fear
Actions:
- Multiattack: Earl Yniol makes two attacks with his Cursed Blade.
- Cursed Blade:
- Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
- Hit: 12 (2d8 + 3) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage.
- Spectral Grasp:
- Ranged Spell Attack: +8 to hit, range 30 ft., one target.
- Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) necrotic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or have its speed reduced by 10 ft. until the end of its next turn.D&D Wiki+15ecompendium.github.io+1
- Summon Lingering Memories (Recharge 5–6): Earl Yniol calls forth ghostly apparitions from his lost realm. Each creature of his choice within 30 ft. that can see the apparitions must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Legendary Actions:
Earl Yniol can take 2 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. Earl Yniol regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
- Spectral Shift: Earl Yniol moves up to half his speed (15 ft.) without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Wail of Regret: Earl Yniol emits a mournful wail. Each creature within 10 ft. must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened until the end of its next turn.
Equipment:
- Armor: Earl Yniol wears a set of tarnished yet formidable plate armor, remnants of his former nobility, providing him with an Armor Class of 18.
- Weapon: He wields the Cursed Blade, a longsword imbued with the sorrow and betrayal he endured, dealing both slashing and necrotic damage as detailed in his Cursed Blade attack.
Tactics & Combat Style:
- Opening Moves: Earl Yniol typically begins combat by using his innate spellcasting to cast darkness or hold person on a key opponent, isolating a threat while his cursed aura unsettles nearby foes.
- Mid-Battle Strategy: He alternates between Cursed Blade and Spectral Grasp to both deal damage and debilitate his opponents, using his mobility (aided by Spectral Shift) to remain elusive.
- Controlling the Battlefield: With Summon Lingering Memories, he creates chaos on the field, forcing enemies to flee in terror and leaving them vulnerable to his melee attacks.
- Defensive Measures: Thanks to Undying Resilience and his resistance to nonmagical damage, Yniol remains a persistent threat even when the battle turns against him.
- Legendary Actions: His ability to act at the end of other creatures’ turns allows him to disrupt enemy plans and reposition strategically, ensuring that his tragic legacy continues to haunt the battlefield.
Earl Yniol, the Wraith of Ruined Legacy
Medium Undead (Augmented Humanoid)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Initiative: +6
Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., Perception +14
Defense
- AC: 24, touch 11, flat-footed 23 (+9 armor, +1 Dex, +4 natural)
- HP: 110 (13d8+52)
- Fort: +8, Ref: +5, Will: +10
- Defensive Abilities: Channel Resistance +4, Undead Traits
- DR: 10/magic and silver
- Immune: Cold, Electricity, Undead Immunities
Offense
- Speed: 30 ft.
- Melee: Cursed Blade +14/+9 (1d8+6/19–20 plus 1d6 negative energy)
- Special Attacks: Aura of Lost Honor, Summon Lingering Memories
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +14):
- At will: chill touch (DC 15), minor image (DC 16)
- 3/day each: blindness/deafness (DC 16), deeper darkness, hold person (DC 16)
- 1/day each: fear (DC 17), finger of death (DC 20)
Statistics
- Str: 18, Dex: 12, Con: —, Int: 14, Wis: 16, Cha: 18
- Base Atk: +9; CMB: +13; CMD: 24
- Feats: Improved Initiative, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (longsword), Iron Will, Toughness, Combat Reflexes
- Skills: Intimidate +17, Knowledge (history) +15, Perception +14, Sense Motive +14
- Languages: Common, Old High Tongue
- SQ: Undying Resilience
Special Abilities
- Aura of Lost Honor (Su): Creatures within 10 feet of Earl Yniol take a –2 penalty on saving throws against fear effects and on Sense Motive checks.
- Summon Lingering Memories (Su): Once per day as a standard action, Earl Yniol can summon spectral apparitions from his past. All creatures within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 18 Will save or be frightened for 1d4 rounds. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
- Undying Resilience (Ex): Once per day, when Earl Yniol is reduced to 0 hit points, he can make a DC 20 Fortitude save. On a success, he is instead reduced to 1 hit point.
- Cursed Blade (Su): Earl Yniol wields a +1 unholy longsword that deals an additional 1d6 points of negative energy damage on a hit. This weapon is bonded to him and cannot be wielded by others.
Tactics
- Before Combat: Earl Yniol uses deeper darkness to shroud the area, gaining an advantage over foes without darkvision.
- During Combat: He engages in melee with his cursed blade, utilizing Power Attack to deal significant damage. He uses hold person to immobilize agile opponents and fear to scatter groups.
- Morale: Bound by his curse, Earl Yniol fights until destroyed, relying on his Undying Resilience to sustain him in dire moments.
Ecology
- Environment: Ruins of his ancestral fortress in the highlands
- Organization: Unique
- Treasure: Standard (including his +1 unholy longsword and masterwork plate armor)
Description
Earl Yniol appears as a gaunt figure clad in tarnished plate armor, his eyes glowing with a sorrowful red hue. His presence exudes an aura of despair, and his once-noble features are twisted by the anguish of his cursed existence. The cursed blade he wields hums with dark energy, a testament to his tragic fall from grace.