Zealot of the Absolute

Zealots of the Absolute serve as paladin footsoldiers of the Absolute, forming the core of its conventional army.

Overview

Zealots are soldiers and followers of the Absolute, forming the backbone of its army. Like the adepts, and most other members of the broader Cult of the Absolute, zealots are oblivious to the reality of the tadpoles and deceptive nature of the pretend-god, believing or being manipulated into believing that the Absolute is a new goddess.

Involvement

Act One

Two zealots of the Absolute can be found dead in the Mountain Pass, perishing after being attacked by githyanki youth as they were escorting  Duke Ravengard to Moonrise Towers.

Act Two

Zealots of the Absolute are found acting as enforcers and soldiers of the Absolute army, and can be found in large numbers in Moonrise Towers as well as in the war camp west of Reithwin. They form the backbone of Absolutist forces in the area, and can be fought against during the ⁠Assault on Moonrise Towers.

As the Elder Brain orders to start the march towards Baldur's Gate, zealots of the Absolute can be seen marching alongside undead and goblins.

Act Three

A large number of zealots, such as  Lewis Morell, were present during the initial assault on High Hall, pushing the City Watch out of the area at the cost of severe casualties. When the party arrive, only three living zealots remain and can be encountered in the Upper City; two of which are situated in the courtyard, with the third one hidden in the Upper City Sewers.

Combat

Zealots of the Absolute are deadly melee opponents based off a Strength-oriented Oath of Vengeance paladin class. In Act Two, they are some of the most dangerous enemy archetypes that the party can face, boasting high HP pools and capable of dishing large amount of damage through their smites, while being statistically more powerful than any of the potential allies that the party can have.

Attacks and actions

 Branding Smite ( + + )   –  Halberd

Damage: 7~26

1d10 + 4⁠Slashing

+ 2d6⁠Radiant

Your weapon gleams with astral radiance as you strike and possibly mark your targets with light, preventing it from turning  Invisible.

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Cleave ()   –  Halberd

Damage

1/2 Normal weapon damage

Swing your weapon in a large arc to attack up to 3 enemies at once. They each take half the damage your weapon usually deals.

 AoE: 2 m (7 ft) Cone

 Recharge: Short rest

 Divine Smite ( + )   –  Halberd

Damage: 8~38

1d10 + 4⁠Slashing

+ 2d8⁠Radiant

+ 1d8⁠Radiant (If the target is undead or a fiend)

Your weapon deals an additional 2d8⁠⁠RadiantDRS damage, increased by 1d8⁠⁠Radiant damage when attacking Fiends or Undead.

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Hamstring Shot ()   –  Shortbow

Damage: 1~6

1d6⁠Piercing

Shoot an enemy in the thigh and possibly reduce their movement speed by 50%.

 CON Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Recharge: Short rest

 Lacerate ()   –  Halberd

Damage: 5~14

1d10 + 4⁠Slashing

Slash at your target's vital points to make it  Bleed.

Undead and constructs can't bleed.

 CON Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

 Recharge: Short rest

 Lay on Hands: Greater Healing ( + 2 )

Healing

4 × (Paladin level)⁠Healing

Imbue your hands with divine power to heal an ally.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

 Lay on Hands: Lesser Healing ( + )

Healing

2 × (Paladin level)⁠Healing

Imbue your hands with divine power to heal an ally.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

 Main Hand Attack ()   –  Halberd

Damage: 5~14

1d10 + 4⁠Slashing

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m (5 ft)

 Ranged Attack ()   –  Shortbow

Damage: 1~6

1d6⁠Piercing

Make a ranged attack with your equipped weapon.

 Range: 18 m (60 ft)

 Rush Attack ()   –  Halberd

Damage: 5~8

1d4 + 4⁠Piercing

Charge forward and attack the first enemy in your way, possibly pushing them  Off Balance.

 STR Save

 Range: 9 m (30 ft)

 Recharge: Short rest

 Thunderous Smite ( + + )   –  Halberd

Damage: 7~26

1d10 + 4⁠Slashing

+ 2d6⁠Thunder

Your melee weapon rings with thunder as you strike, pushing your target 3 m (10 ft) away and possibly knocking them  Prone.

 STR Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

Tactician/Honour only

 Abjure Enemy ( + )

 Frighten an enemy. They have  Disadvantage on ability checks and  Attack Rolls, and they cannot move.

Fiends and undead have  Disadvantage on this Saving Throw.

 WIS Save

 Range: 18 m (60 ft)

Loot

• Halberd
• Plate Armour
• Shortbow

Known zealots of the Absolute

Drow

•  Zealot Niram
•  Zealot Rylveth
•  Zealot Soreni
•  Zealot Zira

Dwarf

•  Zealot Arden

Halfling

•  Zealot Brinn

Half-Elf

•  Zealot Iogar

Half-Orc

•  Zealot Munish
•  Zealot Nadi

Human

•  Zealot Bennel
•  Zealot Falla
•  Zealot Klen
•  Zealot Krizt
•  Lewis Morell (deceased)
•  Zealot Malik
•  Zealot Renan
•  Samwell Staxford (deceased}}

Notes

• Some members of this archetype may have slightly different passives, movement speed, weight, and size due to being members of different races.
• The two zealots encountered in the High Hall courtyard are level 7 as opposed to level 8.
  • These two zealots are also visually equipped with more basic and rudimentary armour rather than the ornate  Plate Armour that most zealots are commonly seen wearing.
  • This might be an implication that most zealots are not as well-equipped as their counterparts in Moonrise Towers, especially as the zealots seen during the Elder Brain's march cutscene and  Lewis Morell are devoid of visual body armour.