Antagonists of the Broken Cog

[doctornecrotic]

Besides the Darklords, which I should probably better stat out at some point, I wanted to ponder some other NPCs that I'll probably include in my latest broken cog expansion. The purpose behind this is to add to my existing lore and domains, while giving characters a new enemy or nemesis (or even reluctant ally) to one day encounter. Plus, this might be a good way to revise some ideas before finalizing them.
So far, I have only one sufficiently thought out alongside stats.

Father Luca Allarmante, Leader of the Death Merchants
"Necrocracy, taken literally, implies leadership organized by the dead."

Prior to becoming an ancient dead, Father Luca was part of a well respected covenant within Sorrentrico at a young age. His acceptance into his holy station was back in 159 of the Barovian Calendar, at the age of 22 years old. He emerged in a time of great fear. Valentia's economy all but collapsed, Ichthyos had broken off of the last legs of the old empire, riots on the streets have become more common, barbarians from the eastern coast have begun to assault the cities. Father Luca still held strong. Eventually, he became a high clergyman that proved influential within regional politics as well. The various Chiesas of Saints recognized him as a supreme bishop, secondary to the Supreme Minister of Faith. In truth, his work under the church of Saint Fortuito had a darker side. Fortuito taught disciples that life must to live to the healthiest, that the best acolytes are ones who treat their bodies as a long-lived and well maintained temple. Luca interpreted this as secretly diving into dark means of preservation. The catacombs below offer many in the ways of dark secrets, as did the more figurative underground found beyond the city. Amidst a riot in Sorrentrico, the many monks of Saint Fortuito vanished as flames wrapped and consumed the monastery. This was ultimately very fortunate for the mad monk and the growing cabal under him. A few of the order suspected heresy from the high clergyman, only to be slain by city dwellers taking their wrath out on nobility and the church. Luca took this as a means to flee underground, continuing his dark craft research.

Some have said to have seen "his ghost" in the catacombs, until 163 when the dark ritual of preservation took effect, turning him into one of the ancient dead or a mummy. Curiously, his priestly abilities changed as he was warped, as if some other deity took the place of his prior divine connection. The priests under him became lesser undead servants, but were still important to him. In time, other scholars of the esoteric and grim found their way to the very same place, this slowly added to Father Luca's sinister coterie. A deeper layer of the tunnels below even uncovered far more ancient dead, but they proved less powerful than him. Upon awakening, his sheer skill humbled them, making them somewhat reluctant subordinates. This would in time become the foundations of the Death Merchants that haunt the depths below Alleigosto. Over the years, the rise of technology has greatly fascinated him, falling directly in line with many of his teachings as a priest of Saint Fortuito. This has in turn helped him to change to his current state as a fourth rank mummy, through the incorporation of technological augmentation.

Father Luca looks much as he did in life, shockingly well preserved from a mostly youthful looking body. Blackish brown curly hair lines his head, trailing down into sideburns. Magical scars from dark rituals have marred a face that would otherwise look mostly alive. The dread arcana melted his nose down towards the nasal bone as his lips were burned off as well. Due to the deformities on his face, much of his facial hair is gone too, removing most of a beard. These deformities are covered up by the ancient dead. His garments reflect his station as a former high priest under the tutelage of Saint Fortuito. Symbols of strength and endurance adorn his faded and ancient cloak, cowl, and robes. Often in his grasp is a holy scepter, adorned with similar religious imagery. Despite becoming an undead horror and schemer of conspiracies, his faith remains deeply important to him.

Father Luca Allarmante (ancient dead, fourth rank); AC 0; MV 9; P15; HP 71; #AT 3 (mummy slam, mace, see ancient dead for powers) ; Dmg by weapon or 3 - 18 (mummy slam); Spells as 15th level Priest (6/6/6/6/4/2/1 Slots); Str 19, Dex 9, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 17, Cha 18; AL LE; THAC0 10. Can only be hit by magic weapons of +2 or greater bonus. Likewise, cold and electricity do not affect Father Luca. Father Luca has an enchanted holy symbol, granting a +1 bonus against Saves vs. Spells. Likewise, machinery implants helped to increase his rank.

[IanFordam]

Sorry to have taken so long to respond to this post. I just wanted to remark that I think creating non-darklord NPCs is a wonderful way to more fully populate a domain, particularly a homebrew cluster without lots of extra lore. Personally, I would have an easier time designing an adventure around Father Luca than around Alleigosto as a whole. Please continue.

[doctornecrotic]

I have others planned as well. I just realized that Alleigosto has accidentally become the Barovia of the cluster. Oh well.

• Professor Paolo Villaverde, the Man Plant - A former professor from Sorrentrico's university that experimented on himself when funding was cut. He's now a crazed plant hybrid that wants to merge fauna with flora.
• Vasilis, the Deep King’s Eyes - A fanatical priest of the Ancients that can disguise as a normal human. He acts as a spy seeking to undermine nearby territories of Nosos and Alleigisto, while learning more about the wider cluster.
• Jilline, The Accursed Mountain Crone of Zherisia. A former witch who sought to protect Zherisia before the GC. However, her ritual became corrupted during it and she became a vengeful hag who now seeks to doom the lands.
• Lucretia Vaerizocchi, the Daughter of Death - A black sheep noble diplomat who mostly turned away from the family's secret obsession with necromancy in favor of means of controlling the living. A femme fatale in the more violent and grim sense, a dark shadow in the background causing ceaseless conflict.
• Tonic Jim, The Vampire of New Timor - A down on his luck drunken courier turned psychic vampire henchman for an undead legion growing outside of Timor.

That's all I have for so far. They might be the crux of my planned article too. I do have a section on helpful/good NPCs. They should probably get stats too.

[TheArcaneWeirdo]

I have others planned as well. I just realized that Alleigosto has accidentally become the Barovia of the cluster. Oh well.

And what's the oroblem with that?

• Professor Paolo Villaverde, the Man Plant - A former professor from Sorrentrico's university that experimented on himself when funding was cut. He's now a crazed plant hybrid that wants to merge fauna with flora.

Merging fauna with flora is a very interesting concept. I've seen it once or twice, but only as glimpses in stories that were more concerned with other stuff - kinda like mystical sparkle to show the reader how weird magic can get sometimes. I'd actually love to dive into that for once!

[*]Vasilis, the Deep King’s Eyes - A fanatical priest of the Ancients that can disguise as a normal human. He acts as a spy seeking to undermine nearby territories of Nosos and Alleigisto, while learning more about the wider cluster.

How exactly is he planning to do that? What false identities does he use? How can the PCs meet him for the first time?

[*]Jilline, The Accursed Mountain Crone of Zherisia. A former witch who sought to protect Zherisia before the GC. However, her ritual became corrupted during it and she became a vengeful hag who now seeks to doom the lands.

That's quite a backstory!
Now here's an idea:
Zherisia lost nearly every bit of nature it had due to the Dark Powers' whim. The people had no choice in the matter, they had nothing to do with it, this tragedy was imposed on them based on reasons that would seem absurd and undermine their entire sense of reality if they heard them (Like 'yeah, we got rid out of 90% of your country and left only the capital cause it was the only interesting thing there. No, not to you - to players. In another world. Who think you're fictional characters in a setting created for a type of game you won't even understand how to play.' That's worse than the beginning of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!)
Nosos (and I suppose at least some other domains in the Broken Cog), on the other hand, knowingly and methodically ruins its envoirment purely out of greed and spite. To Jilline, that's adding a grevious insult to a bleeding, infected injury, and sprinkling salt on it.
What if she is just protesting against this unstoppable process of self-destruction? She isn't seeking to doom the lands, but to save them from the industries that inevitably will?
Her methods of doing it are terrifying, of course. She causes vines to grow spontaneously and rapidly in the middle of asphalt roads, factories and business towers, endangering the populace - but she isn't evil or insane, just a well-intentioned extremist. She can be reasoned with (though not easily), and can be the group's ally or foe depending on their own choices.

[*]Lucretia Vaerizocchi, the Daughter of Death - A black sheep noble diplomat who mostly turned away from the family's secret obsession with necromancy in favor of means of controlling the living. A true femme fatale.

Interesting start. Two notes:
1) There's a confusing amount of people and forces in the demiplanes of dread called 'death'. You have the mysterious 'Death' Strahd claims to have made a pact with; Then you have Death as in Azalin's delusional clone; Then you have The Red Death, which is another thing entirely...
So having a new antagonist called Daughter of Death would be perfectly on theme, but I feel like we should go deep before we go wide? What if Lucretia is somehow related to Azalin's family?
2) You have two female characters here. One is a hag and the other is a femme fatale. Don't you think it's just a little tiny bit... Ugh... Sexist?
I'm not even saying from a political perspective - I just think it's genuinely boring. If all female antagonists are either disgustingly ugly monster or incredibly attractive seductresses who use their beauty to ruin men's lives, it just gets reptitive! The same two tropes over and over again!
I don't think you're intentionally sexist, but notice you're recycling tropes that are - and it's a shame, cause other than that you have incredible ideas!
What if Lucretia is trying to 'control the living' not through sexuality, but some sort of social engineering? Maybe she's a corrupted journalist spreading propaganda? Or an evil school headmistress trying to brainwash her students? There are a lot of ways to influence people, and sexuality is merely the easiest one to dramatize.

[*]Tonic Jim, The Vampire of New Timor - A down on his luck drunken courier turned psychic vampire henchman for an undead legion growing outside of Timor.
[/list]

The name cracked me up.
I have this idea that he has just enough free will left to complain about this new turn in his life. He has to work as a henchman, but that doesn't mean he has to like it! He wouldn't be able to refuse the command to capture the PCs, but he's sure going to grumble about it. Loudly. These dam bees just forcing him to do stupid trash.
Food for thought: Can he still get drunk as a vampire? If he can't, does he find blood a suitable replacement? Does he see any parallel between the cravings? How aware was he of the problem with his addiction? Every possible answer for these questions would be fascinating.

That's all I have for so far. They might be the crux of my planned article too. I do have a section on helpful/good NPCs. They should probably get stats too.

Sounds like a good idea!

[IanFordam]

[*]Lucretia Vaerizocchi, the Daughter of Death - A black sheep noble diplomat who mostly turned away from the family's secret obsession with necromancy in favor of means of controlling the living. A true femme fatale.

Interesting start. Two notes:
1) There's a confusing amount of people and forces in the demiplanes of dread called 'death'. You have the mysterious 'Death' Strahd claims to have made a pact with; Then you have Death as in Azalin's delusional clone; Then you have The Red Death, which is another thing entirely...
So having a new antagonist called Daughter of Death would be perfectly on theme, but I feel like we should go deep before we go wide? What if Lucretia is somehow related to Azalin's family?
2) You have two female characters here. One is a hag and the other is a femme fatale. Don't you think it's just a little tiny bit... Ugh... Sexist?
I'm not even saying from a political perspective - I just think it's genuinely boring. If all female antagonists are either disgustingly ugly monster or incredibly attractive seductresses who use their beauty to ruin men's lives, it just gets reptitive! The same two tropes over and over again!
I don't think you're intentionally sexist, but notice you're recycling tropes that are - and it's a shame, cause other than that you have incredible ideas!
What if Lucretia is trying to 'control the living' not through sexuality, but some sort of social engineering? Maybe she's a corrupted journalist spreading propaganda? Or an evil school headmistress trying to brainwash her students? There are a lot of ways to influence people, and sexuality is merely the easiest one to dramatize.

To be fair to Doc Necrotic, he did not write anything explicit about Lucretia Vaerizocchi's sexuality. She's a diplomat, which implies political manipulations, and she comes from a family of necromancers, which implies arcane manipulations. Admittedly, he did use the term "femme fatale", which commonly refers to a seductress. However, I understood the usage here to undercut the common implication and emphasize a stark fact: She is a woman who is deadly.

That said, knowing how you and I each interpreted this description, he may wish to revise the description to more clearly express his vision for her.

[doctornecrotic]

My only issue with Alleigosto becoming the prime focus is that I don't want to pull away from other domains. Alleigosto has gotten the most new toys and development. Other new domains have significantly less.
As for Lucretia, she is somewhat inspired by Lucrezia Borgia, transplanted into my analog for Italy (and albeit far later in timeline). Granted, the notorious Ivana Boritsi is as well. If anything, Lucretia's probably closer to Dominic in abilities, except she isn't disgusting and repugnant. She's more of a false-friendly-face bureaucrat than a seductress, the drama monger taken to a deadly extreme. She is Hard P Politics policy gone rotten (rather than soft p more social politics). And given her family name, she still has necromantic abilities. She just prefers to control the living over the dead. Perhaps I misused femme fatale, except a far more literal meaning.
Funny you mention brainwashing students though, one of the alternate personas of Vasilis the Deep One is a graduate student instructor named Michela who is secretly seeding lessons with propaganda for Alleigosto's Darklord. I'll elaborate on that later. I have my plans to elaborate on previously mentioned female characters in a heroic NPC companion. Lady McDunnough is a spirit medium of Paridon for one, I've use her a few times now. While older, still sharp as could be and in quite good shape. Likewise, I have an influential nun in charge of a charity that relieves some of the pain of Darkheath's endless war. These heroic characters are somewhat the foils of the villains I'm making here.
As for Tonic Jim, he's somewhat inspired by a prior Vampire the Masquerade character. For those who haven't read up, various iterations made it so a vampire can feel old addictive sensations by drinking blood of those who also do them. So, a Kindred with a booze problem? Drunks are the target.

[doctornecrotic]

Professor Paolo Villaverde, the Man Plant - Alleigosto
“Pillars of the vessel come tumbling down
As the dominant visage of the world takes hold
Undecayed by the passage of time
Abandon your body if your soul is to survive” - Bloodspore, Hostile Fruiting Bodies

At one point, Villaverde was a professor within Alleigosto’s most prestigious academia. His speciality was within not just botany, but experimental practices incorporating advancing Alleigoston technologies. His desire was to create bountiful living gardens that could keep up with the times. And the end goal, a lush future of cleaner air and plentiful resources for his people. However, his experiments and visions were exceedingly costly. Only a few of them proved any fruitful results. But, in his words, he just needed more time and more support. His results did have an upwards projection towards his goals, but they proved slow. And ironically, the pressure and cuts placed on him by the university worsened this. To him, it was not pruning of branches, but butchery of innocent life itself. As the university came to a close and summer weather began to swell, he overheard collegiate deans conversing. After the following summer intermission courses finish, they would not only cancel all of Villaverde’s future research, but force him out of the university.

In the days leading up to summer courses, he feverishly worked on any way to accelerate his research and came to a conclusion, if he wanted fast results, he’d need to test his experiments on himself. On a cool rainy night, tragedy struck as his attempts to expand on plant life bonded with him. As he writhed in pain, he was horrifically transformed into a fusion of floral life and human body. As he thrashed about, specimens and other tests were unleashed as the lab assistants quickly became overwhelmed by horrid mutant plantlife. Investigating security was quickly torn apart by the floral things as the mutated professor fled the campus. While the outbreak was quelled on the campus, few at the university had any idea what was to come.

In forests untainted by Sorrentrico’s rampant need for consumption and expansion, Villaverde continues to experiment on plants to “perfect” as he sees fit. However, the process of mutation changed his mind as well. His goals are less about the needs of the people, but the perfect synthesis of life like him. Perfecting a superior fusion life form has the ultimate act of aid for the people. He has exploited the anti-industrialization sentiment of nearby villages, in order to discreetly get unwitting test subjects to further his ends. Likewise, mad fell druids devoted to the cause of the Darklord revere Villaverde as a holy being. While he only has a vendetta against the university that spurned him, he has no qualms with unleashing his plant horrors on the wider domain. After all, it is their chance to showcase the superiority of hybridized life in his eyes.

Professor Villaverde (plant mutant): AC 4; MV 12, Cl 12; F9; hp 84; #AT 2 with +2 bonus; Dmg by weapon; special; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 7; AL LE; THAC0 12. Villaverde is a mutant plant hybrid. Plant hybrid creatures get bonus HP per level. He utilizes an arcane pin on his tattered lab jacket, giving him a +2 bonus to all saving throws. Likewise, he carries an enchanted flintlock pistol. Due to the lighting mechanism, he does not like to use it often. Once per day, he can cough up spores that are toxic to inhale within 5ft. of him. Infected creatures must succeed save vs. poison every 1d6 hours (starting with initial contact) or lose 1d4 points of Constitution. Creatures reduced to 0 Constitution die, as varieties of small plant creatures proceed to rapidly grow from the corpse. Upon being cursed via a Restoration or similar spell, the spores go away and stat damage recovers 1d2 points per day of rest unless also restored by a separate spell. However, he prefers to engineer horrid plant creatures, if helped. He roams the border of Alleigosto and Ichthyos, going between laboratories where he creates plant-hybrids.

[TheArcaneWeirdo]

Professor Paolo Villaverde, the Man Plant
“Pillars of the vessel come tumbling down
As the dominant visage of the world takes hold
Undecayed by the passage of time
Abandon your body if your soul is to survive” - Bloodspore, Hostile Fruiting Bodies

At one point, Villaverde was a professor within Alleigosto’s most prestigious academia. His speciality was within not just botany, but experimental practices incorporating advancing Alleigoston technologies. His desire was to create bountiful living gardens that could keep up with the times. And the end goal, a lush future of cleaner air and plentiful resources for his people. However, his experiments and visions were exceedingly costly. Only a few of them proved any fruitful results. But, in his words, he just needed more time and more support. His results did have an upwards projection towards his goals, but they proved slow. And ironically, the pressure and cuts placed on him by the university worsened this. To him, it was not pruning of branches, but butchery of innocent life itself. As the university came to a close and summer weather began to swell, he overheard collegiate deans conversing. After the following summer intermission courses finish, they would not only cancel all of Villaverde’s future research, but force him out of the university.

In the days leading up to summer courses, he feverishly worked on any way to accelerate his research and came to a conclusion, if he wanted fast results, he’d need to test his experiments on himself. On a cool rainy night, tragedy struck as his attempts to expand on plant life bonded with him. As he writhed in pain, he was horrifically transformed into a fusion of floral life and human body. As he thrashed about, specimens and other tests were unleashed as the lab assistants quickly became overwhelmed by horrid mutant plantlife. Investigating security was quickly torn apart by the floral things as the mutated professor fled the campus. While the outbreak was quelled on the campus, few at the university had any idea what was to come.

In forests untainted by Sorrentrico’s rampant need for consumption and expansion, Villaverde continues to experiment on plants to “perfect” as he sees fit. However, the process of mutation changed his mind as well. His goals are less about the needs of the people, but the perfect synthesis of life like him. Perfecting a superior fusion life form has the ultimate act of aid for the people. He has exploited the anti-industrialization sentiment of nearby villages, in order to discreetly get unwitting test subjects to further his ends. Likewise, mad fell druids devoted to the cause of the Darklord revere Villaverde as a holy being. While he only has a vendetta against the university that spurned him, he has no qualms with unleashing his plant horrors on the wider domain. After all, it is their chance to showcase the superiority of hybridized life in his eyes.

Professor Villaverde (plant mutant): AC 4; MV 12, Cl 12; F9; hp 84; #AT 2 with +2 bonus; Dmg by weapon; special; Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 7; AL LE; THAC0 12. Villaverde is a mutant plant hybrid. Plant hybrid creatures get bonus HP per level. He utilizes an arcane pin on his tattered lab jacket, giving him a +2 bonus to all saving throws. Likewise, he carries an enchanted flintlock pistol. Due to the lighting mechanism, he does not like to use it often. Once per day, he can cough up spores that are toxic to inhale within 5ft. of him. Infected creatures must succeed save vs. poison every 1d6 hours (starting with initial contact) or lose 1d4 points of Constitution. Creatures reduced to 0 Constitution die, as varieties of small plant creatures proceed to rapidly grow from the corpse. Upon being cursed via a Restoration or similar spell, the spores go away and stat damage recovers 1d2 points per day of rest unless also restored by a separate spell. However, he prefers to engineer horrid plant creatures, if helped. He roams the border of Alleigosto and Ichthyos, going between laboratories where he creates plant-hybrids.

Plant guy! Plant guy! Plant guy! Plant guy!

[doctornecrotic]

Vasilis, the Deep King’s Eyes - Ichthyos

Vasilis was at one time a human hybrid, born with the blood of horrid things of the seas called “Deep Ones”. As he grew towards old age, his blood strengthened as he became like his ancestors. However, he never lost his sense of mind nor his mystical talents. The mad priest of the ancient ones began to research ways to undermine heretics, especially neighboring nations. While still religiously devout, he became obsessed with espionage, the life of a spy became a new priority. One talent he turned to is illusion and disguise. Even if he looked like his human form, seeing an old man so energetic and flexible might raise eyes. His current primary disguise is a variant of his younger years. Vasilis II has become his public identity while dealing in Alleigosto in public as an advocate for his homeland. Due to close proximity to his actual identity, he does not use this very often. Otherwise, he's a shadowy enigma outside of the masks he wears.

His various personas have emerged across Alleigosto and other lands though, each has a different role that’s being infiltrated. Luigi Spimoni is perhaps his most humble, where he acts as a sanitation worker helping to clear urban canals of filth. In reality, no one pays him much mind while being Luigi as he clears out muck and checks up on the water. In truth, he is secretly adding hard to trace poisons into the water while sampling the various pollutants to use in rituals. Likewise, figures of high society that travel the canal for personal purposes are easily overheard by the deep one. More curious is Armand Durran, who acts as an emissary for relief aid for Rockbaecche. This duel purpose personality exists to gather intel on both nations, should the plague-infested quarantine pariah state become a problem for Ichthyos one day. Plus, keeping Alleigosto more focused on their eastern neighbor takes further pressure off them. He has even disguised himself as Michela Fespuccelli, a graduate educator in Lorco Institute, the major university of the domain. Michela’s purpose is to deflect interest in Ichthyos, while subtly educating students on the faults of Alleigosto’s inner workings. As this persona, she has become an ally of Duke Jeriko Arcaico (the Darklord of Alleigosto), through her somewhat subversive teachings. However, the Duke thinks that Michela is not radical enough for the long term of his revolution. Other identities exist, but are currently less developed. It’s even harder to trace these concepts back to the deep one priest.

Bloated, corpulent, excessive. Vasilis is a decadent man in many ways. When not transformed, he is a massive deep one with an oily dark blue sheen across his leathery and scaled skin. This is easily hidden when he shifts to an alternate self.

Vasilis (deep one): AC 4; MV 12, Sw 15 (when not transformed); Cl13; hp 62; #AT 1 with +2 bonus or 2 (claws); Dmg by weapon or 2 - 9, 2 - 9 (claws); requires +2 or better weapon to hit; Spells as 13th level Priest (6/6/6/4/2/2/-);Str 15, Dex 11, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 15; AL CE; THAC0 12. Vasilis is a deep one. He has a +1 dagger. He has a supernatural boon which allows him to shapeshift into a growing library of specific human and even demihuman forms. All of these act as alter-egos. An information broker operating within Valentia. The foul mage uses a variety of mundane and arcane tricks to assume an unassuming if unattractive human form. Despite complying with local customs and traditions, Vasilis is a fervent supporter of the Cult of Ichthyos and its dark ways. He has only committed one sacrificial murder in the 8 years he has spent in Alleigosto, and only because he knew that all circumstances favored him. Likewise, almost all evidence regarding this crime has been buried. When he is not enchanted with an invisible layer of water over him, he lounges in a secret room beneath his house that has access to the sewer system as well as bay access.

[doctornecrotic]

Hartmut von Stroheim, Diabolic Conspirator - Rockbaecche

One of the few allies that Von Wilholt has is also likely one of the biggest reasons for his doom. Hartmut von is involved with the ancestral fiend cults that operated among nobility in centuries past. Despite attempts for inquisitions to purge the heresy, it always remained. Hartmut von was part of the reason for that. Von Stroheim, despite being seemingly ageless, is not actually undead. For his devotions to fiendish powers, he is cursed to never age again. Physically, he resembles a man in his early 40s that has remained in good shape. Besides a receded widow’s peak on his forehead is a large scar inflicted by a brutal burn. This is likely the result of a profane ritual. Further scarring caused his face to slightly contort, making it so he always speaks with an angry sneer. His sinister visage is befitting of the leader of the evil cabal that lingers underneath the very palace that tried to hide it.

In his younger years, he had reached out to royal family members, often causing them to go mad. It is for the reason that the nobility has been considered cursed by superstitious locals. The more rational accused the nobility of insanity as a result of generations of inbreeding. Due to ages of limited marriage, this is also likely true. Von Stroheim's associates, having caught onto the warlock's audacity, spread the latter information as a cover-up. Following this, the warlock took far more subtle approaches at corruption. He has continued to weave forbidden incarnations and rituals, ranging from trying to reestablish connections to the lower planes with the prime material to infusing dark energies by the castle to further corrupt the nobility. Since the outbreak, most of this has been put on hold. However, the warlock has been successful in pulling fiends into the catacombs below the lakeside castle. Said fiends are deeply resentful of the cultists below, who in turn avoid the fiends at all cost.

Von Stroheim is a dread occultist of the highest degree. Tainted family members who fell to the old ways referred to him as “the old warlock” when delving deep into corrupted catacombs. It was said that von Stroheim rested over a portal into the Lower Planes, but this was mostly speculation by sinister scholars who had met him. While Von Wilholt looked for any edge possible to seize power, his network of spies encountered a rumor over diabolism. At first, this was a chance to disgrace his employers. But in the end, it became something he would weaponize for himself. But, “the old warlock” was no fool, so he formulated ways of keeping the future Regent in check so the paranoid royal lackey wouldn’t backstab. This was also the chance to see how modern innovation blended with ages old fell magic, resulting in the horrid plague that ravaged the lands. While von Stroheim is not exactly a scientist in his own right, he studied this end of the known world like one.

Hartmut von Stroheim (human); AC 8; MV 12; M17; HP 48; #AT 1; DMG by weapon or spell; (5/5/5/5/5/3/3/2 Slots) STR 9, DEX 10, CON 13, INT 18, WIS 14, CHA 14; AL NE; THAC0 15; von Stroheim has many boons, as the leader of a vile cult should. He does not age. Likewise, he is immune to weapons that lack an enchantment of +2 or greater. He also has a 50% chane of magic resistance. Both damage from fire and cold sources do not hurt him. He also has strangely boosted health. Despite these strange abilities, he is not a fiend, just a human with numerous boons.

[doctornecrotic]

Lucretia Vaerizocchi, the Dark Doctors’ Daughter - Alleigosto

While born into magical craft like the rest of her family, she always diverged from the rest of the dark doctors. She was disinterested in the specialty craft of “Thanatology” or an advanced form of necromancy specifically dealing with souls and the undead. To her, it detracted from all that life itself had to offer. And more so, manipulating death brought no joy. But, manipulating the living, that could bring a life worth living. Her focus pivoted more to illusion and enchantment, any means of beguiling and warping the minds of those around her. And where spells weren’t needed, honey dipped words and a cruel mouth would. Through coercion, manipulation, and a little extra enchantment; several noble houses alone turned on each other from as little as harsher market competition to as great as outright violence in the streets. Her own brother, Mateo, uncovered a conspiracy that risked the demise of Clan Zaritelli. While collusion with New Rockbaecche’s most corrupt powers was true, Lucretia found a way to massively worsen all of that. Mateo was prepared to reveal everything, but only got as far as getting information to equally corrupt family members. Ultimately, Mateo was removed to profane chambers below Sorrentrico, and was never heard from again. However, Lucretia’s meddling had become a problem to the otherwise secretive and reserved family. She was cut off from family fortune and delivered an ultimatum, cease this behavior of overt politicking and return to the family ways or face banishment. She is smart enough to openly show her bitterness and resentment from her punishments. However, she has secretly plotted against her family for such a grievous slight. Nothing has emerged from this, as the long game is being played.

For now, she plays along, while working through networks of proxies to continue to sow conspiracies. None in her clan know, but the Undeath Merchants below the domain’s catacombs and tunnels are well aware. As it keeps other Houses and groups at bay, the secretive group of ancient dead secretly will it. Her own involvement in family business has granted her knowledge beyond most in this domain. For instance, she is aware that the automatons and machine-men are dread constructs, destined to turn on their creators at some point. Her otherworldly charisma seems to affect the more self-aware constructs for a time. This has led to all manner of industrial incidents, with her fingerprints long brushed off. More than likely, she had a hand in the notorious Gran Sorrentrico warehouse bombing, which ultimately yielded souls for her family to exploit.

Lucretia keeps up appearances, mostly to feed her ego, but otherwise tries to look ordinary among her noble court. She has a fair light tone with dark brown hair. Her expressions when dealing with others rarely shift outside of pleasant or kindly looking, even if this is all a facade. Some consider her to be a deeply responsible diplomat and respectable heiress to the family name. In truth, she is vain, spoiled, and petty. Her family has risked disconnecting her, if solely for games of intrigue that turned diplomats and potential suitors into pawns and playthings. She hides her immaturity and contempt with a pleasant demeanor and softly spoken, often inspiring words. Her incredible public relationship skills have even earned her the nickname of “Sister Lucretia”, even though none of the churches recognize this literally. For now, only her family and close allies know of her plots. Attempts by others to expose her have currently failed. Despite similarities and claimed mutual cultural heritage, she is not familiar with Ivana Boritsi of Borca yet.

Lucretia Vaerizocchi (human): AC 8; MV 12; Ba11; hp 45; #AT ; Dmg by weapon; Casts spells as 11th level Bard (3/3/2/1 Slots); Str 9, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 19; AL NE; THAC0 15. A black sheep of the family, but no less corrupted by darkness. Her presence is seemingly unmatched, but much of this is likely from her strange magical talents. She carries a mystical necklace, holding a pendant detailing lips clenching a bloody dagger. The pendant grants an incredible bonus to her Charisma, which is now 19, as well as a bonus of 3 to her reaction score. The majority of her spell list involves charms, domination, or illusions. However, under the forced tutelage of her family, she knows some necromancy spells. She is remiss to do something as “barbaric” as bringing weaponry with her, but she has carried a “self defense pistol” and a poisoned switchblade-like dagger every now and then. She’d rather rely on her gift of speech over violence.

[TheArcaneWeirdo]

Lucretia Vaerizocchi, the Dark Doctors’ Daughter - Alleigosto

While born into magical craft like the rest of her family, she always diverged from the rest of the dark doctors. She was disinterested in the specialty craft of “Thanatology” or an advanced form of necromancy specifically dealing with souls and the undead. To her, it detracted from all that life itself had to offer. And more so, manipulating death brought no joy. But, manipulating the living, that could bring a life worth living. Her focus pivoted more to illusion and enchantment, any means of beguiling and warping the minds of those around her. And where spells weren’t needed, honey dipped words and a cruel mouth would. Through coercion, manipulation, and a little extra enchantment; several noble houses alone turned on each other from as little as harsher market competition to as great as outright violence in the streets. Her own brother, Mateo, uncovered a conspiracy that risked the demise of Clan Zaritelli. While collusion with New Rockbaecche’s most corrupt powers was true, Lucretia found a way to massively worsen all of that. Mateo was prepared to reveal everything, but only got as far as getting information to equally corrupt family members. Ultimately, Mateo was removed to profane chambers below Sorrentrico, and was never heard from again. However, Lucretia’s meddling had become a problem to the otherwise secretive and reserved family. She was cut off from family fortune and delivered an ultimatum, cease this behavior of overt politicking and return to the family ways or face banishment. She is smart enough to openly show her bitterness and resentment from her punishments. However, she has secretly plotted against her family for such a grievous slight. Nothing has emerged from this, as the long game is being played.

For now, she plays along, while working through networks of proxies to continue to sow conspiracies. None in her clan know, but the Undeath Merchants below the domain’s catacombs and tunnels are well aware. As it keeps other Houses and groups at bay, the secretive group of ancient dead secretly will it. Her own involvement in family business has granted her knowledge beyond most in this domain. For instance, she is aware that the automatons and machine-men are dread constructs, destined to turn on their creators at some point. Her otherworldly charisma seems to affect the more self-aware constructs for a time. This has led to all manner of industrial incidents, with her fingerprints long brushed off. More than likely, she had a hand in the notorious Gran Sorrentrico warehouse bombing, which ultimately yielded souls for her family to exploit.
Lucretia keeps up appearances, mostly to feed her ego, but otherwise tries to look ordinary among her noble court. She has a fair light tone with dark brown hair. Her expressions when dealing with others rarely shift outside of pleasant or kindly looking, even if this is all a facade. Some consider her to be a deeply responsible diplomat and respectable heiress to the family name. In truth, she is vain, spoiled, and petty. She hides her immaturity and contempt with a pleasant demeanor and softly spoken, often inspiring words. Her incredible public relationship skills have even earned her the nickname of “Sister Lucretia”, even though none of the churches recognize this literally. For now, only her family and close allies know of her plots. Attempts by others to expose her have currently failed. Despite similarities and claimed mutual cultural heritage, she is not familiar with Ivana Boritsi of Borca yet.

Lucretia Vaerizocchi (human): AC 8; MV 12; Ba11; hp 45; #AT ; Dmg by weapon; Casts spells as 11th level Bard (3/3/2/1 Slots); Str 9, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 19; AL NE; THAC0 15. A black sheep of the family, but no less corrupted by darkness. Her presence is seemingly unmatched, but much of this is likely from her strange magical talents. She carries a mystical necklace, holding a pendant detailing lips clenching a bloody dagger. The pendant grants an incredible bonus to her Charisma, which is now 19, as well as a bonus of 3 to her reaction score. The majority of her spell list involves charms, domination, or illusions. However, under the forced tutelage of her family, she knows some necromancy spells. She is remiss to do something as “barbaric” as bringing weaponry with her, but she has carried a “self defense pistol” and a poisoned switchblade-like dagger every now and then. She’d rather rely on her gift of speech over violence.

Incredible. Good job.

[doctornecrotic]

Jilline, The Accursed Mountain Crone - Zherisia

The mountain crone is in truth a tortured woman who only wished to save not just herself, but likely Zherisia as a whole. Beyond her first name, Jilline, she has lost her old identity. Only scraps of her former self cling on like dead flesh on a zombie. Her prior occupation outside of her witch coven was both that of a healer and an artisan. In terms of the latter, she even attempted to weave the arcane into her canvas paintings, adding a mystical if somewhat haunting quality. The Grand Conjunction destroyed not just her plans, but a ritual she was actively enacting. All of this stemmed from the Knife of Paridon, whom years ago carved through victims as the night fell. As a coven became the newest target, one of the witches sought any way to not only prepare against the killer, but what ill omens await the land. Her searching led her to a grim revelation, a time of great change, Hyskosa’s Hexad. Fears of this Grand Conjunction began to drive her towards mad obsession. Preparations took her up the mountainside which cut Paridon from Timor, and all was in order… until it happened.

Mists unlike the border of the land began to wash over all things like a tidal wave. Magical spells began to warp and deform, the ongoing spells for the ritual began to act erratic. The witch grew into panic, this wasn’t supposed to happen, not yet! The end of the world came early, and so did the innocent young soul. As the cataclysm that rocked the Demiplane of Dread came to an end, the witch awoke in a blurry void akin to her mountain cave retreat. What emerged from the cave was not the well intended healer for an olden ways coven, but a tainted hag. The corrupted thing was now fueled by hatred and wrath, feeling betrayed by her lands and people. She gave much of herself to the people of this land, only for everything else to be taken away. To her, the city caused the Grand Conjunction. The collective pettiness, cruelty, ignorance and more of the people manifested as a curse. And through this curse, she gained a new purpose. As countless years drift, she grew more mad from isolation until one day the lights of Paridon once again cut through the mists. As the architect of a new plot, she would become an avatar of vengeance. She would avenge all of those wronged by Zherisia, including those beyond the realm’s borders. Only when they all pay will they learn the name and face of their former savior. This is not the end though, she seeks to rewrite Paridon and wider Zherisia. The ugliness can be removed, something glorious can take its place. Through her warped witchcraft, she dreams of a fantasy world that has become progressively more unhinged. Only the paintings in her isolated dwelling give a clearer picture of her terrifying vision for the future; flailing vine tendrils, repurposed flesh, unfathomable spirit entities and other macabre visuals line her creative gallery.

Should her plans to massacre much of Paridon go through, she is unlikely to stop there. In ages past, her coven attempted to sabotage attempts to tear apart wilderness across Zherisia. The wilds were their home, only paying the city enough lip service and healing rituals to cause the bureaucrats and business types to tolerate them. It is perhaps forr this reason that her sights are directly set on Nosos as well, which she desires to one day purge as well. To her, the land is a mistake, corrupted by greed and hubris. Only by exterminating all things upon the tainted land can it truly restart into something beautiful.

Jilline embodies the wrongness that changed her. All of her features are stretched at somewhat odd angles, like a caricature or a carnival fun house mirror. Part of her revenge plan is to make the world as crooked as she is. Her skin is green, like a green hag. Her hair largely is erratic and unkempt. While she continues her crusade to banish the hideousness of her homeland and the wretched behavior and values of its people, she ironically continues to neglect herself. As she is now a supernatural being, the consequences of this have been lessened.

Jilline the Accursed (Unknown variety of hag): AC 4; MV ##; hp 66; #AT 2 with +2 bonus; Dmg by Weapon or 7-8/ 7-8; Casts spells as a 13th level Mage (5/5/5/4/4/2 Slots); Str 19, Dex 11, Con 15, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 7; AL NE; THAC0 8. ## was once a human, mutated by a cataclysmic spell gone awry in the Grand Conjunction. She attempted to protect herself and others as the world altering event was transpiring. However, it corrupted her spell, as it was incomplete, with mists and magic warping her, tainting her very core. She now seeks vengeance upon the lands for wronging her. She is immune to charm, sleep, fear, fire attacks, cold attacks, and weapons that are under +3 enchantment; plus she has magic resistance 35%. Likewise, she has general hag abilities, with the spell-like abilities of the night-hag. However, she can twist sleep victim souls into oozes that are useful for her own rituals.

[doctornecrotic]

Since I'm back, I can return to this.
Also, if anyone is wondering, Jilline is actually named after the song Jolene because I am a fan of Dolly (RIP).

[doctornecrotic]

Tonic Jim, Vampire of New Timor - Zherisia

Tonic Jim was once Timothy Cranston III, a struggling courier living in what emerged from the ruins of Timor. In 759 BC, he decided to investigate the depths below that were blamed for destroying his ancestral home, only to stumble upon a subterranean nightmare. The marikith almost devoured him in a foul swarm. His salvation came in the form of mutated humanoids who claimed to be descendents of the original city. The process badly scarred his already trauma-ridden mind. It turned him fearful, violent. This magnified as he took to heavily indulging in alcoholic beverages. If it wasn’t for his career in delivering messages and getting out of bad places fast, he probably would have faded into madness and heavy drinking. But, that wasn’t his passion. Writing elaborate prose is what fueled him to stay within courier work. To the locals, he became “Tonic Jim”, a word play on his love of receiving medicinal liquor from monks in a nearby monastery. But, one gang took notice of the troubled young man. These were not ordinary criminals, but a mutant strain of vampire not unlike the mad minions of Doctor Dominiani. These “psychic vampires” initially considered draining him into a husk before leadership stepped in to embrace him instead.

He awoke from his transformation, no longer thirsty for booze. Like other psychic vampires, he craved the life energies of others rather than blood. It is said that his peers can literally drain the minds, like the feared “brain suckers” of a far off nightmare place called “Bluetspur.” Often, he frets and guilts over draining a victim to death, but sometimes loses himself in rage and passion. His preferred victims are drunks, as he can feel the sensations of alcohol that no longer affect him otherwise. A coalition of protestors in Paridon called “The Anti Devil Water Retribution” have been blamed for his murders, as all victims either indulge in alcohol or produce it. They assert that their tactics to shut down the alcohol industry are completely peaceful and that they would never go to extremes. As such, they are actively hiring investigators to find the cause of the murders. For the time being, Tonic Jim is unaware that he may be pursued. His undead masters have slowly become aware of the former courier’s gradually growing carelessness and may seek to eliminate him. However, his skill in delivering messages at record speed is only amplified by his new abilities. And thus, he is spared for now. But, in his unlife, he is a tragic and self-hating monster. In order to indulge his old vices, he must indulge new ones. However, his past and present work makes him extremely aware of his surroundings. While he is an untrustworthy ally at best, he can serve as an informant… albeit one liable to betray the living at a moment’s notice. While not actively in service of far more dangerous and powerful undead masters, he will often reside in the O’Dougal Street Writers Forum building, the site of his first feeding… a bloody massacre that slew his former friends. The remains of the final issue of the “Writers’ Forum Journal" await a delivery that Jim will never make.

Tonic Jim looked much as he did in life. He resembles a lanky younger man, with a sickly blotchy tone otherwise adding colour to a now pallid skin. His attire is that of a lower class endless worker, just as frayed from toil as his then-living boy was. An injury caused by a fight gone wrong has caused a mildly crooked jaw. Psychic vampires fortunately do not feed from the mouth, but use their fingers and the fell magic that flows through them to burrow into the minds of victims, like other horrors of the mists. And like others of his kind, nails have become far sharper and fingers likely extend into something slightly more monstrous. His hair and skin look as unkempt as they did in life, with the added misfortune of looking like a freshly dug up cadaver.

Tonic Jim (vampire, psychic); AC 1; MV 15/ Fl 15 (A); F4/Th5; HP 74; #AT 1 with +1 bonus ; Dmg by weapon or 4 - 9 (1d6 + 3 slam); (PP 15/OL 80/ FRT 50/ MS 50/ HS 50/ DN 20/ CW 65/ RL 5 Thief Skills); Str 18(/51), Dex 16, Con 18, Int 11, Wis 8, Cha 12; AL NE; THAC0 12 (11, from bonus). Psychic vampires, like cerebral vampires, can use a gaze attack that functions like Hypnotic Pattern. Psionic victims of this gaze take a -2 penalty against the save. Psychic vampires can inflict a choice of Confusion like effect or a state of near-catatonic paralysis effect from their touch instead of attacking otherwise. Targets have -4 penalty to the save, except psionicists and psionic creatures who take a -6 penalty instead. Tonic Jim counts as a warrior for hit point adjustment. As a psychic vampire, Jim gains bonus to Move Silently and Hide in Shadows thief skills. Psychic vampires also drain through their fingernails or their fangs, but prefer using their hands on an incapacitated or stunned victim, such as from the psychic vampire touch. They must puncture the victim’s head before psychically mind draining. This works similarly to the mind flayer ability to consume a brain, in which the vampire needs 1d4 rounds to properly get into the victim's brain to fully drain it. Otherwise, the victim suffers 1d4 loss to Intelligence and Wisdom that must be restored through magical means, like the Restoration spell or similar. The victim becomes a brain-dead undead thrall instead of having their brain devoured though, unless properly embraced by a psychic vampire through psychic energy infusion.