Sarevok Anchev

Sarevok Anchev was a powerful Deathbringer and one of the Bhaalspawn, the mortal offspring of dead god Bhaal. During the mid–14, he formulated and carried out a plan to replace his divine father as the Lord of Murder.

"If you have the arrogance of a god and can kill like a god, who's to say you are not a god?"

- Winski Perorate, regarding Sarevok

Description
Sarevok was enormous for a human male. His fearsome appearance was amplified by the unique suit of armor he wore. His eyes glowed with a solid yellow radiance.

Personality
Sarevok was an extremely capable individual, both highly intelligent and physically powerful. He was an expert strategist and was quite charismatic when he so chose.

He did however also have a very short temper and was not one for exercising caution.

Abilities
Having studied how to instill dread in his foes as well honed his skill in the most vicious styles of combat, Sarevok was a truly fearsome warrior. He was capable of inciting fear in his foes that left them completely paralyzed.

As a Deathbringer of Bhaal, Sarevok could slay some of his foes with a single cleaving slash of his greatsword.

He was highly resistant to arcane magic.

Activities
"Make violence of its goodness. Spill its blood, and bathe in Bhaal's eternal rapture."

- Sarevok to an aspiring Unholy Assassin.

Sarevok's life goal was to achieve apotheosis as the new Lord of Murder. Having researched his divine heritage as one of Bhaal's children, he believed that a great slaughter in Bhaal's name would spark his ascension. To this end, he concocted a plan to manipulate the Iron Throne into orchestrating a war between the city-state of Baldur's Gate and the nation of Amn.

Additionally, Sarevok sought to eliminate competition from the other Bhaalspawn in Faerûn. This feat proved to be more challenging than pitting rival nations against one another.

Throughout the 15 century DR, Sarevok continued to rally Bhaal's followers in the city of Baldur's Gate. He tested and judged the acumen of new deathbringers, making the final decision as to whether or not they would be granted full standing as an Unholy Assassin. He demanded that each aspirate slay a single celestial being in cold blood.

Relationships
"She hungered for Bhaal's favor more than anyone I'd ever known. But her daughter, Orin, hungered even more."

- Sarevok, speaking of his family.

Sarevok was romantically involved with the Kara-Turan warrior Tamoko. While the two truly loved one another, Sarevok lost sight of her as he became obsessed with his schemes and efforts related to his apotheosis. She in turn did not think such a thing was truly possible for a mortal to attain. Regardless, she simply did not want to lose him to godhood. Tamoko's disinclination to follow his plans led Sarevok to take another lover, Cythandria, who cared for little else beyond the power and wealth she could gain through Sarevok.

Sarevok had at least two known daughters, one of whom he sired with the other. Helena was a devoted Bhaalist and loyal killer in her own right. Sarevok and Helena had an incestuous relationship that led to the birth of his granddaughter Orin the Red. Orin was a changeling who would serve as Bhaal's false Chosen, having usurped the role from the individual known only as the Dark Urge.

During his search for godhood, Sarevok gained quite a following among the faithful of Bhaal. They were wholly devoted to his cause; offering their livelihoods and even their lives to the man they saw as son of their god. Chief among these followers was the wizard Korlasz, one of the few individuals who could even say they were Sarevok's confidant.

Sarevok's inner circle was full of individuals who each had vested interests in his success: Winski Perorate, his mentor; Tazok, the leader of the Blacktalons mercenary company; Angelo Dosan, the power-hungry officer of the Flaming Fist; and the enigmatic conjurer Semaj.

Sarevok also had a number of other followers who were privy to his true plans, including: Zhalimar Cloudwulfe, Gardush, Naaman, Diyab, Aasim and Alai.

Possessions
Sarevok wore a unique set of plate armor adorned with blades and spikes. His horned helm was crafted to resemble a fiend's open maw, and granted him the Deathbringer's sight.

Throughout his years he wielded +2 greatsword made specifically for him, known as the Sword of Chaos, which was imbued with necrotic energy.

In his later years, he also adorned himself with an amulet of Bhaal.

History
"Face me! Face the new Lord of Murder!"

- Sarevok, facing down Abdel Adrian in battle.

Early life
Sarevok was saved from death at a very young age. A group of Bhaalist cult members gathered several Bhaalspawn children together at their temple in the Forest of Wyrms, and prepared to sacrifice them to the Lord of Murder. A group of Harpers assaulted the temple and saved the children from a grim death. While some of the Bhaalspawn were rescued or adopted, Sarevok was unfortunately left behind.

He grew up as an urchin in the streets until he was adopted as Sarevok Anchev by Richtar, the Arm of the Iron Throne. Richtar used the alias of Rieltar Anchev while acting as Sarevok's father and establishing the Baldurian branch of the organization. When Sarevok was just a child, Rieltar had his foster mother strangled with a garrote in front of him. This tragedy greatly troubled the young Sarevok.

Revelation of Heritage


Like other Bhaalspawn, Sarevok had vivid dreams of destruction and mayhem that were accompanied by apparent messages from Bhaal himself. At some point he confronted a priest of Bhaal about his dreams but gleaned nothing useful. Consequently he slew the Bhaalist.

In the, Sarevok traveled from Ordulin to the Sword Coast alongside his adoptive father Rieltar, in order to expand the Iron Throne's operations in Baldur's Gate, and the Western Heartlands. Sarevok used this opportunity to begin researching the prophecy of Alaundo related to Bhaal, and his relevance therein. He came to understand that he was indeed one of the Bhaalspawn. After reading the line: "deaths they bring shall awaken the father, and through them he will rise", Sarevok believed he had to incite killing on a grand scale in order to assume Bhaal's portfolio.

While in Candlekeep he encountered the monk Gorion and his ward Abdel Adrian. He quickly came to realize that Abdel was indeed a Bhaalspawn like himself.

After he gained some sense about his divine heritage, Sarevok studied under Winski Perorate to learn more about the dark arts associated with Bhaal. With the aid of his new mentor he came to understand that a grand slaughter of massive scale was needed for his ascension.

Cultivating Influence
During that same year of 1365 DR, Sarevok assisted his foster father with his grand scheme that would to bring great wealth and influence to the Iron Throne. A group led by Rieltar's subordinate Mulahey would begin sabotaging the iron ore produced by the mines of Nashkel, while bandits and mercenary groups would raid iron shipments that traveled along the Coast Way road. Meanwhile, infiltrated several Baldurian mercantile interests such Seven Suns and the Merchant's League using doppelganger agents.

Growing tension in the region surrounding the iron trade would be blamed on the southern nation of Amn. They sought to compound this foreign hostility by spreading rumors that Amn was taking these actions to prepare for war against Baldur's Gate and their Flaming Fist army. The Iron Throne itself would arise as saviors, providing quality ore from their mine in the Cloak Wood, de-escalating the situation and making a fortune. While Rieltar only sought to bring the west on the precipice of war, Sarevok sought to fully carry out the events that would lead to death on the scale of a god.

Sarevok built a loyal following of devotees during this time. They saw him as a sort of divine teacher. With the aid of his most–committed servant Korlasz, he established a hidden sanctum within the ancestral crypts that belonged to her family.

At some point Sarevok traveled to an abandoned temple of Bhaal located near where the Coast Way crosses the Winding Water. After he routed the Cyricists within, he learned that the saga of the Bhaalspawn would culminate in the Tethyrian city of Saradush.

Seizure of Power
"You're perceptive for an old man. You know why I'm here. Hand over your ward and no one will be hurt."

- Sarevok, to Gorion.

By the month of Tarsakh in the, their plan was well on its way to success. At that time Sarevok saw an opportunity to rid himself of a fellow Bhaalspawn. In Mirtul, he returned to Candlekeep with Tamoko and a few allies and ambushed Gorion and his ward along the Way of the Lion. While Sarevok managed to slay the old sage of Candlekeep, the Bhaalspawn fled into the night.

In the weeks that followed, Abdel Adrian began putting an end to Sarevok's lesser schemes while the leadership of the Iron Throne intervened against his more grandiose plot. Rieltar and Brunos Costak made for Candlekeep to negotiate a treaty with the Knights of the Shield, in an effort to prevent all out war. To stop them both, Sarevok framed the hero for the deaths of the Iron Throne leaders and had them imprisoned within the dungeons of the great fortress library.

Sarevok then arranged for the assassination Entar Silvershield of the Baldurian Council of Four and Commander Scar of the Flaming Fist, blaming it on the Shadow Thieves guild in Amn. As Baldur's Gate was crippled with fear about a seemingly inevitable war, Sarevok was able to gain nomination as one of the new Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate. His interests in the Iron Throne would provide the city with the iron they needed and he would lead their army under the permission of its ranking officer, Angelo Dosan.

During his coronation, Sarevok was confronted by his brother and fellow Bhaalspawn Abdel. His plans were laid bare for all to see and the true nature of his plans were exposed to the city's leaders and the Baldurian nobility. After a brief battle, Sarevok fled to his inner sanctum, within the Bhaalist temple in the Undercity. The Hero of Baldur's Gate followed. They and their respective allies fought a great battle that ended with Sarevok's death. His body dissolved into golden dust as his essence dispersed and joined that of Bhaal.

Existence after Death and Rebirth
"A long while ago, my wretched sibling brought me back. The fairest of the Bhaalspawn, soul-bound me to this husk."

- Sarevok.

When Abdel Adrian pursued Jon Irenicus into the Abyss the following year, he encountered a supernatural being that took Sarevok's form. As with all the Bhaalspawn, an "echo" of Sarevok was transported to Bhaal's realm after his death. This wraith Sarevok possessed one of the Tears of Bhaal and used it to provoke his half-sibling to transform into Bhaal's avatar, the Slayer. Sarevok was defeated once again, yet a portion of his essence still remained.

This essence of Sarevok manifested in the pocket plane of Bhaal's Throne of Blood again some weeks later. When Abdel Adrian appeared once again, he presented his divine sibling with a deal: If they gave up a part of their divine soul so that he may live again, he would offer information vital to resolving the Bhaalspawn crisis. In truth, Sarevok wished to travel alongside his brother. Despite his death he felt he still had some role to play in the fulfillment of Alaundo's prophecy.

After their time together, Sarevok traveled far and wide across Toril. He singlehandedly routed an orc army that threatened Berdusk, terrifying the locals with his fearsome prowess, then later marched on Westgate as a conqueror, only to abandon his scheme a short time later. While tales of his adventures circulated across the Realms, it was known that he did travel to Kara-Tur to bury Tomoko, the one woman he truly loved. Despite that act of devotion, Sarevok was a tortured individual who never found peace, and was said to have even marched upon the infinite planes of the Abyss.

Return to Baldur's Gate
Eventually Sarevok returned the Sword Coast and gathered together whichever servants of Bhaal he could muster forth. He remained in the city of Baldur's Gate for the better part of the 15 century, until the.

As of the Absolute crisis, Sarevok remained as the head of the Murder Tribunal in the Temple of Bhaal. The cult of Bhaal in Baldur's Gate was by this point led by his granddaughter Orin the Red, the Chosen of Bhaal. Served by 'echoes' of Bhaal's other children and servants―namely Illasera, Sendai, and Amelyssan―Sarevok attended to those who sought to become the Lord of Murder's future Unholy Assassins.

Behind the Scenes

 * In the Baldur's Gate series of video games, Sarevok is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.

Trivia

 * Sarevok was one many characters from the Baldur's Gate video game that were inspired by player characters in a real pen-and-paper campaign run by lead designer James Ohlen years prior to the game's development. This original version of Sarevok, played by Ohlen's friend Jeff Veitenheimer, was a gladiator with a Githyanki silver sword in a Dark Sun campaign where Toril was the pre-cataclysm state of the desert world of Athas.