Death Knight (background)

Death Knights are unholy warriors who worship Yredelemnul, the God of Death. They are charged with opposing all things holy, but in return they gain power over death and the undead.

Racial Restrictions

Demigods can not be Death Knights, as they cannot worship Yredelemnul (or any other god).

Starting Equipment

Some species may receive different items based on their unique restrictions.

• +1, +1 weapon of choice (hand axe, spear, short sword or mace)
• +0 leather armour
• Bread ration
• 20 gold

Starting Skills

These are adjusted by your species' aptitudes.

• Fighting: 2
• Chosen Weapon's Skill: 2
• Armour: 1
• Dodging: 1
• Invocations: 3

Strategy

Death Knights are like dark Priests with some melee ability. Yredelemnul's powers are primarily for the creation and enslavement of undead, so this background also plays a little like a Summoner. Like many religious backgrounds, the role of Death Knight suits less magical species who need an alternate source of power. Yredelemnul's mirror damage and life drain invocations make nice panic buttons, once you earn them. Later in the game, his ability to enslave souls can make worthy slaves even of uniques.

History

Originally, Death Knights had a choice between starting with a Book of Necromancy and starting off worshiping Yredelemnul. In 0.7, the background was removed entirely, and Priests were given the option to start with Yred. The ability to start with a Book of Necromancy was deemed redundant and also weaker than a plain Necromancer, and thus removed; Reavers were removed for a similar reason a version later. In 0.8, Death Knights re-added, this time only worshiping Yred (with priests correspondingly losing that option).