Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - Adherents of Nergal

[Apupunchau]

One of the things I love most about Golarion is that there is a ton of stuff left unwritten. It allows me to expand on things in my games and invent new things to further enrich the game world. A part of the setting that always interests me are the divine being they have and how the interact with their followers and each other. On one of the Pathfinder FB pages I play a little game of creativity where I ask about what kind of character you would make to follow a god. This week I'm looking at Nergal, the Infernal Duke of atrocities, pestilence, and war.

Sitting at our theoretical gaming table, our GM turns to us and says, "All of the characters must be followers of Nergal, although they do not need to be divine casters." What character do you make? Who is he? Why has he chosen The Slow Death as his patron? In what ways does he further the Infernal Duke‘s goals? Why would he be attracted to this beings doctrine?

[Darthslaverus]

I think this might be the first time I follow the actual spirit of these threads and create a character from scratch. :P

If I were to create a character for a Nergal-focused campaign, I think I would make a twisted warrior who takes soldiering to its darkest extreme, a man who carries out the salting of fields, the burning of homes, and the massacre of dissidents in a ritualistic fashion. The character would consider committing atrocities to be the highest calling of any solider, as it represents the setting aside of petty mortal morals, a personal sacrifice of one's own humanity to further Hell's uncompromising view of order. In keeping with Nergal's lawful aspect as an infernal duke, the character would likely encourage a chilling sense of professionalism in others, emphasizing the importance of following every command, no matter how vile. Although a strict disciplinarian, he might well come to view his companions as brothers and sisters-in-arms, and would try to assuage any guilt they might feel as a result of their actions, like an evil team dad.

Class-wise, I would definitely make this character a Cha-focused class. Cavalier, Flame/Battle Oracle, Skald, and Mesmerist all seem like good choices. I think I'd lean toward Skald, actually, just to help bring out the worst in others.

I can see the character being motivated by a disdain for conventional, chivalrous tactics- perhaps a decisive battle in the character's past was lost due to a commander's sentimentality or sense of honour.

[Apupunchau]

Nice I like it. If you went Cavalier maybe order of the hammer route. But all in all a solid follower of Nergal (again not to be confused with Nurgal although they are aspects of the same real world deity)