Gargauth, the Tenth of Nine

Alignment: Lawful Evil
Domains: Charm, Evil [Corruption], Law, Envy, Pride, Sloth, Trickery [Greed]
Favored Weapon: Rapier

Gargauth, The Lord Who Watches, is the demigod of betrayal, cruelty, political corruption and power brokers. He embodies the inevitable decay and corruption that accompanies all self-serving, greedy, and power-hungry leaders and groups. Gargauth holds to the letter of any agreement, not the spirit, and relishes betraying anyone with whom he forged a pact by twisting the contract to serve his own ends. Gargauth is a master strategist, and his sense of humor moderates his temper. He can be erudite, charming, and genteel, but his true nature always reveals itself eventually. In truth, the Lord Who Watches is utterly depraved, the incarnation of evil most foul.

Gargauth is a former arch-devil whose foul nature was too much even for others of his ilk. Exiled from the Nine Hells, Gargauth took to wandering the planes, returning time and again to Toril. His cult blossomed during the war between the Harpers and the malaugryms. His nature as a loner, and a betrayer of anyone regardless of their moral fiber has set him against even the dark deities of Faerun, who — much like the archdevils that kicked him out of Baator — fear he seeks to take their power, rather than conspire with them.

Dogma: Life is all about the accumulation of power. Civilization is a thin veneer over the base desires that make up the core of every living being. Those who wish to survive and prosper must recognize this truth and concentrate all their resources on the pursuit of power. To achieve power one should use one’s charms and honeyed words or a barbed and bloody dagger as appropriate for the situation. It is more important to rule that to sit on the throne. Keep to the letter of any agreement and the rules established by those more powerful, but be prepared to twist any contract or stricture so as to maximize the benefit you receive.

For Deific Obedience

Obedience: Using a ruby-bladed knife, inscribe symmetrical cuts into the flesh of another creature — preferably a sentient being you have in your charms or otherwise hold dominion over. If you’ve no other sentient being at hand, the blood may be your own. Drain the blood into a bowl, then use the blood to draw a pentagram on the ground. Kneel within the pentagram and murmur scandalous secrets you have learned of persons in power. Gain a +4 profane bonus on Bluff  checks to deceive, and on Persuasion checks.

Boons
1: Shoulder Devil (Sp) murderous command 3/day, covetous urge 2/day, or slave to sin 1/day
2: Charming Cruelty (Ex and Su) Gargauth grants you a form meant to both beguile and slay. Your nails become razor sharp, granting you two natural claw attacks that deal damage appropriate to your size (1d4 for a Medium creature). If you already had claw attacks, those attacks deal damage as though you were one size larger instead. You become more physically attractive; depending on how drastic the changes are, you may or may not still be recognizable as your former self. As a standard action, you may alter your form to that of the opposite gender for up to two hours per day; you do not have to spend these hours consecutively, but you must spend the duration in 10 minute increments.
3: Corrupting Strike (Su) With a single rip of your claw, you can rend a creature’s virility, congeniality, or magical potency. Three times per day, you can make a single claw attack as a standard action. In addition to taking normal claw damage, the creature struck must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + half your Hit Dice + your Charisma modifier) or become permanently mutilated in some physical or spiritual way. The victim takes a –6 penalty to its Strength and Constiturion checkss; or Charisma and Wisdom checks, or on caster level checks, concentration checks, and spell penetration checks. The affects of the penalty are your choice. This is a curse effect, and cannot be stacked upon the same victim more than once.

Antipaladin Oath

While Gargauth’s clergy focus their efforts on turning mortal souls, the the Tenth of the Nine empowers his Blackguards to be truly mortal fiends in of corruption and ruination.

• I am Temptation. Mortals are weak and fickle creatures. I learn the weaknesses and desires of those around me and use them to my advantage.
• I am a Manipulator. I always look to gain the upper hand, whether by gaining parley, leverage, or blackmail.
• I am a Dominator. Though I may not be the leader in every situation, by the Tenth of the Nine, I shall always be the one truly in charge.

For Followers of Gargauth

Archetypes: Brazen Deceiver† (Bard), Cult Leader (Warpriest), Devil’s Advocate† (Cleric), False Priest (Sorcerer), Hidden Priest (Cleric), Unholy Barrister† (Cleric)

Feats: Devilish Pride, Conversion Channel, Diabolical Negotiator, Fearsome Finish, Fiendish Obedience, Firebrand, Hellish Shackles, Shatter Resolve, Trick Spell, Verify.

Magic Items: Barbed Pentacle, Diabolical Masquerade Mask, Half-Plate of the Dark Prince, Hell’s Eye

Prestige Classes: Arcane Devotee, Diabolist (Houseruled), Divine Champion, Divine Disciple, Divine Scion (Unchained), Divine Seeker, Souldrinker (Houseruled)

Traits: Alluring, Always Threatening, Contract Master, Covenant of Abaddon, Demon Hunter, Enchanting Conniver, Fiendish Confidence, Flames of Hell, Honeyed Words, Lover of the Law, Worthless Pawn.

Unique Spell Rules

• Enthrall can be prepared as a 2nd-level Cleric or Inquisitor spell
• Murderous Command can be prepared as a 1st-level Inquisitor spell
• Suggestion can be prepared as a 2nd-level Cleric or Inquisitor spell

Cult of Gargauth

The church of Gargauth is a secretive faith, although there are some significant exceptions. Clerics work to increase their personal power, the power of the church, and, by extension, the power of Gargauth. Clerics are expected to be Gargauth’s eyes and ears throughout Faerûn. They are to entice and corrupt powerful individuals and leaders in communities throughout Faerûn and bind them into strict contracts favorable to Gargauth’s goals. They seek to seize positions of power whenever possible and integrate their positions into the secretive hierarchy of the faith. Gargauth has directed his followers to undermine other evil faiths and steal their worshipers rather than waste energy in conflicts with good deities. Many clerics multiclass as sorcerers.

Gargauth’s clergy mark all agreements with signed contracts consecrated in the name of the Lord Who Watches. Priests of Gargauth believe that their lord enforces the letter of any agreement and his divine wrath will be visited on any who betray the it. On the other hand, breaking the spirit of any agreement is acceptable and encouraged if it benefits the priest and the Hidden Lord.