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R

Class Acts:

WarlordDevilish tricks from the ancientwarmongers of Bael Turath!

BY STEPHEN RADNEY-MACFARLAND

illustration by Sam Wood

Resourceful. Bravura.Commanding.Inspiring. All these words describe the warlord.Unlike the cleric who channels leadership by using

divine inspiration, a warlord digs deep into her innerbeing to pull victory from defeat and inspire hercompanions toward victory after victory. But some

warlords find inspiration and power beyond theirken to supplement their native tactical genius. Oneof the most dramatic examples of this tradition comes

from fallen Bael Turath as detailed in sections ofThe Hellpath Tome. Although the writings of the legendary tief ling

general Malachi are some of the more celebratedpassages of The Hellpath Tome, his contributions camerelatively late to the history of Bael Turath and are

refinements of the tactics and maneuvers of a thenmaturesome would say stagnateempire. Otherolder sections of that martial history are rooted in

the ancient traditions of the empire, back when thefirst pacts were formed between the people thatwould become the tieflings and the powers of the

Nine Hells. These earlier forms and exploits are moreclosely connected to the infernal. As a result, they aremore manipulative and most are brutal. Many emulate

the tactics of the devils themselveseven to the extentof favoring polearms and reach weaponswhile othersblur the line between martial exploit and infernal

pact. These disciplines, or at least those that have beenuncovered, have become very popular with warlords

who do not fear the dangers of infernal pacts.

Some of the fragments found in TheHellpath Tomejust scratch the surface of a deep and ancient martialdiscipline taught to the early soldiers and captains

of Bael Turath by the Du kes of Hell. Only time wi lltell if more will be uncovered. Maybe brave (or fool-hardy) adventurers currently plundering the ruins

of Vor Kragal will unearth f uture martial andinfernal wisdom.

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Level 29 Daily Exploit

Asmodeuss Gambit Warlord Attack 29

Sometimes a minor sacrifice by a commander can yield

swift and terrible action from the troops.

Daily Martial, WeaponStandard Action MeleeweaponSpecial: Before you make the attack, you grant combat

advantage to all your enemies until the start of yournext turn.

Target:One creatureAttack:Strength vs. ACHit:4[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you mark

the target and opportunity attacks against the targetgain a power bonus to damage rolls equal to yourIntelligence modifier (save ends).

Effect:Until the end of your next turn, enemies makinga melee attack against you provoke opportunityattacks from your allies.

FeatsThe following set of feats represents a special pactthat warlords who multiclass into warlock and theinfernal pact can take.

Infernal Captains Pact[Multiclass Warlock] Prerequisites: Infernal pact class feature,

Pact Initiate feat Benefit:Once per encounter, as a minor action,

you can place an Infernal Captains Curse on theenemy nearest to you that you can see. The curse

wreathes the target in the semblance of hellfire. Thiseffect radiates light like a torch (radius 5 squares) butcreates no heat. When you hit a creature under your

Infernal Captains Curse with an attack, the targetgrants an ally of your choice combat advantage on theallys next attack.

Infernal Captains Fury[Multiclass Warlock] Prerequisites:11th-level, warlord, Infernal

Captains Curse feat, infernal pact class feature,

Pact Initiate feat Benefit:When you hit a creature under your

Infernal Captains Curse with an attack, you can grantan ally 2d6 extra fire damage if the ally hits withhis or her next attack against the creature instead of

making the target grant an ally combat advantage onthe allys next attack. Increase the extra damage to 3d6 at 21st level.

Hells Implement [MulticlassWarlock] Prerequisites:Warlord, infernal pact class

feature, Pact Initiate feat Benefit:You can use a polearm as a warlock

implement, adding its enhancement bonus to attackrolls and damage rolls for warlock powers that useimplements. You do not gain your weapon proficiency

bonus to the attack roll when using a polearm as animplement. You cannot use powers or propertiesfrom the item to empower or enhance your warlock

attack powers.

Magic Item

This magic polearm is a favorite of those warlordswho take the infernal captains path.

Devils Tongue Polearm Level 7+This wicked polearms red lacquered blade takes the shapeof stylized flames atop a pole of burned wood reinforced

with black iron.

Lvl 7 +2 2,600 gp Lvl 12 +3 13,000 gpLvl 17 +4 65,000 gp Lvl 22 +5 325,000 gpLvl 27 +6 1,625,000 gp

Weapon:PolearmEnhancement:Attack rolls and damage rollsCritical:+1d8 damage per plusProperty:A creature within your melee reach and

under the effect of your Infernal Captains Curses atthe start your turn takes fire damage equal to yourIntelligence modifier.

Power (Daily):Free Action. Use this power when youhit a creature under your Infernal Captains Curse.

The target grants combat advantage to all creatures(save ends).D

About t he Auth orBorn on a stormy Christmas day, in our nations capital,

during the Nixon administration, the stars were definitely

wrong when Stephen R adney-MacFarlan d came screaming

into the world. Spending most of his impressionable years as a

vagabond and nere-do -well, Stephen eventually sett led in the

Northwest to waste his life on roleplaying games.

Once that RPGA guy, Stephen is now a developer in RPG

R&D. He also teaches a class on roleplaying design for the

Art In stitute of Seatt le, molding the min ds of young and

upcoming designers. Be afraid. Be very afraid.