Direguard

A direguard was a more powerful version of a baneguard created by clerics of Cyric (and later, Iyachtu Xvim, Velsharoon, and others), liches, and death knights. After the Spellplauge, there were two known varieties: the direguard deathbringer and the direguard assassin.

Description
While baneguards looked like normal undead skeletons, direguards had flames of red burning in their eye sockets and shadowy black armor through which their bones could be seen. Direguard deathbringers had glowing claws that crackled with force. Direguard assassins were shrouded in shadow and manifested a glowing red blade in their hand.

Personality
Direguards were of average intelligence and capable of creative, independent thought and actions that did not contradict the orders given to them by their creator. They were not able to speak and were wholly evil.

Combat
Direguards had all the abilities of a baneguard (able to shoot magic missiles and blink) plus they could see invisible and ethereal creatures. The shadowy aura that surrounded them gave them extra armor in combat. Direguards could use any normal weapon or attack barehanded. They could also use any magic item that did not require a verbal command or a body of flesh, blood, and organs.

Because they were undead, they could be turned by any priest able to turn a wraith.

After the Spellplague, the missiles became blasts (deathbringers) or blades (assassins) of force.

Habitat/Society
These undead creatures were created for a purpose and only did what they were commanded; there was no societal organization. They also did not have a habitat; they went where they were told and followed orders without the need for food or water. Cyricists used them primarily to guard their temples and other places of significance to their faith.

History
The church of Bane developed the create baneguard ritual that created baneguards and, after the fall of Bane, other evil- and neutral-aligned faiths acquired the technique. After the ascension of Cyric, his clergy researched the improved create direguard spell and kept it a closely guarded secret for as long as they could. The Thayans were also known to have developed a way to create direguards.

After the Spellplague, direguards were created from live volunteers rather than inanimate skeletons. Evil religions often transformed warriors into direguard deathbringers, while liches and death knights favored turning their allies into direguard assassins. Deathbringers had to fill a quota of deaths or be destroyed by the powers that transformed them.