Hello all - this is a port from the Wizards boards, where I outlined a few self-made additions to the Falkovnian/Drakov structure.
This thread will have two new characters: one will be a write up of Vigo Drakov (who does not, as far as I'm aware, have official stats), and the other will be a write up of Yuri Mitrovich, who is mentioned only once by name in the Black Box as a distant relative to Vlad Drakov himself.
Vigo Drakov doesn't appear in the original Black Box set, and it appears that he is intended in part to be a possible illegitimate child. There appear to be hints that he was actually sired by an outsider - perhaps the Gentleman Caller?
I decided to make Vigo Drakov the most dangerously violent and sadistic of all the Drakovs. Vlad Drakov and his legit sons all are cruel and merciless, but Vigo outshines them all insofar as he may actually be certifiably insane. He has entirely unpredictable mood swings and ranges from verbal taunting to out-and-out deadly assault in the blink of an eye. He initially impressed his father with his penchant for violence and sexual depravity, but as he aged and grew more physically powerful than his brothers, his father recognized a crisis in the making.
Things came to a head during a Falkmeet in Aerie with Vlad Drakov and his sons present. Incensed by a perceived snub from Mircea Drakov, another son of the Konigsfuhrer, Vigo drew his dagger and pinned Mircea's left hand to the table before assaulting him viciously about the face with his bare hands. Although the other Drakovs and retainers were able to pull Vigo off him, a simmering hatred brews between the legitimate Drakov sons and Vigo. The affair was hushed up as a drunken beerfest brawl.
Nobody spoke of the unnaturally deep gouges and wounds that Vigo somehow managed to cause in Mircea's face and neck with his bare hands.
Vigo Drakov was put away in the Lekar Prison, installed as its Falkfuhrer, and conveniently hidden from sight. There, he is able to indulge his sadistic tendencies without attracting too much attention. Every so often, he presents the most resilient slaves and captives to his father for entertainment, a move that still impresses his father enough to keep Vigo politically safe.
Vigo, when he's mentally lucid enough to think, is starting to have suspicions about his parentage. It is well documented that his mother died in childbirth. However, some close to the source have told him that his mother went insane before giving birth to him, indulging in various acts of torture and eventually grievously assaulting her previous children. Vigo inherently knows this to be true, as he has deep memories of holding children's heads underwater and tearing at their tongues and throats.
The truth is that Vigo is an Unholy Scion (as described in the Heroes of Horror book - a template that awards various unholy powers for being sired by a fiend and a mortal female). Vlad Drakov is not his father, and he suspects this. He is still too depraved to mount any concerted investigation into his roots, but the knowledge he does have is enough to torment him. He believes that if he only knew his father, he would find a fellow being of power that would view his natural tendencies as a benefit, instead of a social shame.
Falkovnian power struggles
Vigo Drakov, Kerkerführer of Lekar Central Prison
Male Human Unholy Scion (evil, native outsider) Fighter12/RaptorKnight3; CR 18; Size M (6'6"); HD 15d10+41; hp 128; Init +3 (Dex); Spd 20' (armor) or 50' (mounted); AC 34 (touch 20, flat-footed 31); Base Atk 15/10/5; Grapple 19; Atk Longsword melee +23 (1d8/17-20)+9 or Hawkbows ranged +18 (1d10/19-20), or unarmed melee +19 (1d4)+4; melee and natural weapons are evil aligned, and do +2d6 dmg vs. good opponents; Face/Reach 5'/5'; AL CE; SV Fort 13, Ref 8, Will 7; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 14, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Handle animal 21, Ride 17, Intimidate 21, Sense motive 13, Bluff 12, Climb 11, Swim 10, Jump 10, Listen 11, Spot 11, Survival 5, Move silently 12. Gains +2 to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks to Falkovnians. Exotic weapon proficiency (Hawkbow), Weapon focus (Hawkbow), Weapon focus/spec (Longsword), Rapid reload (Hawkbow), Mounted combat, Trample, Leadership, Improved critical (Longsword), Mounted archery, Ride-by attack, Spirited charge, Animal affinity.
Special Attacks: All melee and natural weapon attacks are considered evil-aligned and do 2d6 extra dmg. vs. good creatures. Can rage as per barbarian twice per day: (+2 to melee hit and damage, +30 hp, +2 Will saves, -2 AC, lasts for 13 rounds). Ride by attack allows him to keep moving after a charge, and Spirited charge allows him double damage with melee weapons from horseback. Mounted combat allows him to roll a Ride check against a single attack that would have hit his mount, to see if he deflects it. From a distance, he can fire one Hawkbow (two bolts on one attack roll) per round and reload the same round as full action, and he only gets half-penalty for moving mount (-2 for double move, -4 for running).
Special Qualities: Already failed one powers check - allows him 90' low-light vision (in addition to his innate 60' darkvision), but he develops a craving for biting and chewing human flesh. (Not yet cannibalistic, but it's not far off.) Unholy Scion abilities: + Cha bonus to AC deflection; unarmed attacks function as 1d4 claw weapons, although hands do not visibly change; familial charm (useless, as mother is dead); Can cast 3/day Charm Person, Protection from Good, Major Image, Poison, True Seeing, Unholy Aura. Can cast 1/day Desecrate, Enervation, Dominate Person, Baleful Polymorph, Animate Dead (HD x 4), Unhallow, and Harm. DR: 10/good and magic. Fast healing 4. Darkvision 60'. Immune to poisons and mind-affecting spells and abilities. Resistance to acid/cold/electricity/fire 5. Spell Resistance 25.
Languages: Falkovnian, Mordentish.
Possessions: Full plate +2, Large steel shield +2 (usable mostly on foot, as he cannot use it along with the Hawkbows), Longsword +3, Hawk helm, Bloodhawk figurine.
Tactics: Vigo Drakov is a superb horseman and falconer, and prefers to keep his distance from his enemy at first, sending in his Bloodhawk magical item, while using Hawkbow attacks. If pressed, he will engage in long, strafing charges with his longsword, trying for a critical hit (which would threaten triple damage or even higher). On the ground, he uses his shield and will often Rage to mow down opponents.
Male Human Unholy Scion (evil, native outsider) Fighter12/RaptorKnight3; CR 18; Size M (6'6"); HD 15d10+41; hp 128; Init +3 (Dex); Spd 20' (armor) or 50' (mounted); AC 34 (touch 20, flat-footed 31); Base Atk 15/10/5; Grapple 19; Atk Longsword melee +23 (1d8/17-20)+9 or Hawkbows ranged +18 (1d10/19-20), or unarmed melee +19 (1d4)+4; melee and natural weapons are evil aligned, and do +2d6 dmg vs. good opponents; Face/Reach 5'/5'; AL CE; SV Fort 13, Ref 8, Will 7; Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 17, Wis 14, Cha 18.
Skills and Feats: Handle animal 21, Ride 17, Intimidate 21, Sense motive 13, Bluff 12, Climb 11, Swim 10, Jump 10, Listen 11, Spot 11, Survival 5, Move silently 12. Gains +2 to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks to Falkovnians. Exotic weapon proficiency (Hawkbow), Weapon focus (Hawkbow), Weapon focus/spec (Longsword), Rapid reload (Hawkbow), Mounted combat, Trample, Leadership, Improved critical (Longsword), Mounted archery, Ride-by attack, Spirited charge, Animal affinity.
Special Attacks: All melee and natural weapon attacks are considered evil-aligned and do 2d6 extra dmg. vs. good creatures. Can rage as per barbarian twice per day: (+2 to melee hit and damage, +30 hp, +2 Will saves, -2 AC, lasts for 13 rounds). Ride by attack allows him to keep moving after a charge, and Spirited charge allows him double damage with melee weapons from horseback. Mounted combat allows him to roll a Ride check against a single attack that would have hit his mount, to see if he deflects it. From a distance, he can fire one Hawkbow (two bolts on one attack roll) per round and reload the same round as full action, and he only gets half-penalty for moving mount (-2 for double move, -4 for running).
Special Qualities: Already failed one powers check - allows him 90' low-light vision (in addition to his innate 60' darkvision), but he develops a craving for biting and chewing human flesh. (Not yet cannibalistic, but it's not far off.) Unholy Scion abilities: + Cha bonus to AC deflection; unarmed attacks function as 1d4 claw weapons, although hands do not visibly change; familial charm (useless, as mother is dead); Can cast 3/day Charm Person, Protection from Good, Major Image, Poison, True Seeing, Unholy Aura. Can cast 1/day Desecrate, Enervation, Dominate Person, Baleful Polymorph, Animate Dead (HD x 4), Unhallow, and Harm. DR: 10/good and magic. Fast healing 4. Darkvision 60'. Immune to poisons and mind-affecting spells and abilities. Resistance to acid/cold/electricity/fire 5. Spell Resistance 25.
Languages: Falkovnian, Mordentish.
Possessions: Full plate +2, Large steel shield +2 (usable mostly on foot, as he cannot use it along with the Hawkbows), Longsword +3, Hawk helm, Bloodhawk figurine.
Tactics: Vigo Drakov is a superb horseman and falconer, and prefers to keep his distance from his enemy at first, sending in his Bloodhawk magical item, while using Hawkbow attacks. If pressed, he will engage in long, strafing charges with his longsword, trying for a critical hit (which would threaten triple damage or even higher). On the ground, he uses his shield and will often Rage to mow down opponents.
So much for the Falkfuhrer Vigo Drakov. I'd initially statted him as a Fighter 12/Raptor Knight 2, for a total of 14 levels. But then I read Heroes of Horror and thought he'd be a good unholy scion template too. That bumped his power right up to CR 17, which may be too high.
Below, I have Yuri Mitrovic, the head of the Nachrichtendienst (Ministry of Intelligence) and Spymaster of all Falkovnia. Mitrovic has a parallel plot to Vigo Drakov in that he is sitting on a very important secret regarding his wife (and by extension his mentally ill daughter). The campaign is likely to progress with Mitrovic hounding the PCs through his espionage attempts, until the PCs make a breakthrough in discovering some secrets of his.
The PCs can then force Yuri to the bargaining table by threatening to reveal his secrets, and through his defection they can secure a chance to lure Vigo Drakov (who tortured them and who runs the Kerkerministerium with an iron fist) into an ambush.
Yuri Mitrovic is a medium-height man with jowly features, placid-looking eyes, and thinning dark hair. He is cleanshaven, with a slightly protruding jaw, and a quiet, unassuming demeanor. He was born a minor noble in Falkovnian affairs, and his childhood and young adulthood were unremarkable. At the age of 19, he joined the Falkovnian army's noble corps, or Edelkorps, as a swordsman. Although he served with dutiful loyalty, Mitrovic left the Edelkorps at the end of his required service. He next surfaced in the Nachrichtendienst, or Ministry of Intelligence, where he put his language skills to use. Aided in part by his noble heritage and his quiet, unquestioning efficiency, Mitrovic rose in the ranks and eventually took over as the ministry's Falkfuhrer.
His current day-to-day operations consist mostly of managing domestic agents, in a campaign to root out the "Lost King" Gondegal. However, he also has sleeper cells passively reporting information from every domain that neighbors Falkovnia. He is particularly interested in Lamordia, as his daughter, Sonia Imlach, is interned there in a sanitarium.
Mitrovic is a calm man with an air of patience and politeness about him. The dark taint of Falkovnia has not touched him nearly as much as many other Falkfuhrers. However, this does not mean he is merciful or kind. He is concerned purely with efficiency, and will often devote many resources to win the favor of an informer. His favorite tactic is to flatter informers' egos by enrolling their children or other relatives in state-run boarding schools. This often offers the family some degree of respite from harassment from the army. Mitrovic then compels his informers to serve him by implicitly threatening their children. He is a master of mind games, often showing the parents how much academic improvement the children have made under his benevolence. He likes to turn children against their parents subtly, cultivating a sense that they are superior.
This paternalistic approach is yielding gains as the first generation of such children are reaching maturity, and the Nachrichtendienst gains a new crop of devoted and well-educated servants. However, it is reflective of a dark secret: Mitrovic's former wife, Ireena Imlach, bore him a daughter, Sonia, who showed early signs of mental retardation. As Sonia reached her third birthday and signs of her mental condition became clear, Mitrovic prepared to execute Falkovnian law, which rules that all sub-human individuals become property of the state and must be surrendered. However, before he did so, he made a discovery that stayed his hand.
One of Mitrovic's side-projects upon assuming leadership of the spy ministry was to investigate the heritage of his wife. He had known for some time that her mother, Nadia Ruzich, likely had an extramarital affair. Mitrovic was concerned that this could damage his reputation if it became common knowledge. He was not, however, prepared for what he did find out - for an entire year, Ruzich had been a secret concubine of the Konigfuhrer himself, Vlad Drakov.
This discovery meant that his wife, Ireena, was very likely the daughter of Vlad Drakov, and therefore his own daughter, Sonia, was Drakov's own granddaughter. This heritage meant that, regardless of Falkovnian state law, Mitrovic could stand guilty of treason if he allowed a Drakov to go to prison. This placed Yuri in an impossible situation: he was required by law to turn Sonia over to the state for incarceration, but if he did so, Drakov could try him for treason. Fearing what might happen if she were discovered, he had her spirited away to a sanitarium in Ludendorf in Lamordia.
She assumed the name and cover history of Dagmar Leboyik, daughter of a Darkonian nobleman formerly of Lamordia. This cover story was perfect, because the real Dagmar Leboyik is long dead and her mother, formerly known as Petra Leboyik, is now a Darkon resident who has lost all memories of her life in Lamordia.
Combat: Mitrovic dislikes fighting and will try to escape from a dangerous situation by commanding his underlings to fight while he retreats. In a last-ditch scenario, he does have a potion of haste which he will drink and try to escape on foot.
Below, I have Yuri Mitrovic, the head of the Nachrichtendienst (Ministry of Intelligence) and Spymaster of all Falkovnia. Mitrovic has a parallel plot to Vigo Drakov in that he is sitting on a very important secret regarding his wife (and by extension his mentally ill daughter). The campaign is likely to progress with Mitrovic hounding the PCs through his espionage attempts, until the PCs make a breakthrough in discovering some secrets of his.
The PCs can then force Yuri to the bargaining table by threatening to reveal his secrets, and through his defection they can secure a chance to lure Vigo Drakov (who tortured them and who runs the Kerkerministerium with an iron fist) into an ambush.
Yuri Mitrovic is a medium-height man with jowly features, placid-looking eyes, and thinning dark hair. He is cleanshaven, with a slightly protruding jaw, and a quiet, unassuming demeanor. He was born a minor noble in Falkovnian affairs, and his childhood and young adulthood were unremarkable. At the age of 19, he joined the Falkovnian army's noble corps, or Edelkorps, as a swordsman. Although he served with dutiful loyalty, Mitrovic left the Edelkorps at the end of his required service. He next surfaced in the Nachrichtendienst, or Ministry of Intelligence, where he put his language skills to use. Aided in part by his noble heritage and his quiet, unquestioning efficiency, Mitrovic rose in the ranks and eventually took over as the ministry's Falkfuhrer.
His current day-to-day operations consist mostly of managing domestic agents, in a campaign to root out the "Lost King" Gondegal. However, he also has sleeper cells passively reporting information from every domain that neighbors Falkovnia. He is particularly interested in Lamordia, as his daughter, Sonia Imlach, is interned there in a sanitarium.
Mitrovic is a calm man with an air of patience and politeness about him. The dark taint of Falkovnia has not touched him nearly as much as many other Falkfuhrers. However, this does not mean he is merciful or kind. He is concerned purely with efficiency, and will often devote many resources to win the favor of an informer. His favorite tactic is to flatter informers' egos by enrolling their children or other relatives in state-run boarding schools. This often offers the family some degree of respite from harassment from the army. Mitrovic then compels his informers to serve him by implicitly threatening their children. He is a master of mind games, often showing the parents how much academic improvement the children have made under his benevolence. He likes to turn children against their parents subtly, cultivating a sense that they are superior.
This paternalistic approach is yielding gains as the first generation of such children are reaching maturity, and the Nachrichtendienst gains a new crop of devoted and well-educated servants. However, it is reflective of a dark secret: Mitrovic's former wife, Ireena Imlach, bore him a daughter, Sonia, who showed early signs of mental retardation. As Sonia reached her third birthday and signs of her mental condition became clear, Mitrovic prepared to execute Falkovnian law, which rules that all sub-human individuals become property of the state and must be surrendered. However, before he did so, he made a discovery that stayed his hand.
One of Mitrovic's side-projects upon assuming leadership of the spy ministry was to investigate the heritage of his wife. He had known for some time that her mother, Nadia Ruzich, likely had an extramarital affair. Mitrovic was concerned that this could damage his reputation if it became common knowledge. He was not, however, prepared for what he did find out - for an entire year, Ruzich had been a secret concubine of the Konigfuhrer himself, Vlad Drakov.
This discovery meant that his wife, Ireena, was very likely the daughter of Vlad Drakov, and therefore his own daughter, Sonia, was Drakov's own granddaughter. This heritage meant that, regardless of Falkovnian state law, Mitrovic could stand guilty of treason if he allowed a Drakov to go to prison. This placed Yuri in an impossible situation: he was required by law to turn Sonia over to the state for incarceration, but if he did so, Drakov could try him for treason. Fearing what might happen if she were discovered, he had her spirited away to a sanitarium in Ludendorf in Lamordia.
She assumed the name and cover history of Dagmar Leboyik, daughter of a Darkonian nobleman formerly of Lamordia. This cover story was perfect, because the real Dagmar Leboyik is long dead and her mother, formerly known as Petra Leboyik, is now a Darkon resident who has lost all memories of her life in Lamordia.
Combat: Mitrovic dislikes fighting and will try to escape from a dangerous situation by commanding his underlings to fight while he retreats. In a last-ditch scenario, he does have a potion of haste which he will drink and try to escape on foot.
Last edited by HuManBing on Wed May 21, 2008 11:33 am, edited 2 times in total.
Yuri Mitrovic, Spymaster of Falkovnia:
Male Human Aris4/Ftr4/Exp4; CR 12; Size M (5'8"); HD 4d8/4d10/4d6; hp 76; Init -1 (Dex); Spd 20' (breastplate); AC 18 (touch 9, flat-footed 18), up to +5 Combat Expertise; Base Atk +10/+5; Atk melee Falkfuhrer's Longsword +14 (1d8/19-20) no ranged; Face/Reach 5'/5'; SA Improved Feint; SQ none; AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +11; Str 13, Dex 9, Con 10, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +18, Decipher Script +8, Diplomacy +19, Forgery +9, Gather Information +19, Handle Animal +16, Intimidate +16, Knowledge Local +11, Know History +11, Know Nobility +11, Ride +9, Search +6, Sense Motive +16, Swim +6. Investigator, Leadership, Negotiator, Persuasive, Animal Affinity, Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, Weapon Focus Longsword.
Languages: Falkovnian, Darkonian, Balok, Lamordian, Mordentish.
Possessions: Falkfuhrer's Longsword +2, Light steel shield +1, Breastplate +2.
Note that Yuri Mitrovic appears in the Black Box bloodlines! He is technically related to Vlad Drakov, but only because his mother-in-law had an affair with the Konigsfuhrer.
Male Human Aris4/Ftr4/Exp4; CR 12; Size M (5'8"); HD 4d8/4d10/4d6; hp 76; Init -1 (Dex); Spd 20' (breastplate); AC 18 (touch 9, flat-footed 18), up to +5 Combat Expertise; Base Atk +10/+5; Atk melee Falkfuhrer's Longsword +14 (1d8/19-20) no ranged; Face/Reach 5'/5'; SA Improved Feint; SQ none; AL LE; SV Fort +6, Ref +2, Will +11; Str 13, Dex 9, Con 10, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 16.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +18, Decipher Script +8, Diplomacy +19, Forgery +9, Gather Information +19, Handle Animal +16, Intimidate +16, Knowledge Local +11, Know History +11, Know Nobility +11, Ride +9, Search +6, Sense Motive +16, Swim +6. Investigator, Leadership, Negotiator, Persuasive, Animal Affinity, Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, Weapon Focus Longsword.
Languages: Falkovnian, Darkonian, Balok, Lamordian, Mordentish.
Possessions: Falkfuhrer's Longsword +2, Light steel shield +1, Breastplate +2.
Note that Yuri Mitrovic appears in the Black Box bloodlines! He is technically related to Vlad Drakov, but only because his mother-in-law had an affair with the Konigsfuhrer.
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Drinnik Shoehorn
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I'd still go with Half-Fiend rather than Unholy Scion as Vigo is the Gentleman Caller's offspring.
Unholy Scion's in Ravenloft always seem something under the perview of Hags to me.
Unholy Scion's in Ravenloft always seem something under the perview of Hags to me.
"Blood once flowed, a choice was made
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
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Eric the Light Bringer
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Eric the Light Bringer
- Agent of the Fraternity
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- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:06 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
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Drinnik Shoehorn
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Fiendish implies that there's the taint of the Lower Planes in a creatures blood. The Half-Fiend template implies that the creature is the direct offspring of a creature from the Lower Planes.Eric the Light Bringer wrote:it is in the Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual (3.5) #1...as is the fiendish template to (which may be more applicable?)HuManBing wrote:Where's the half fiend template from? I'll check it out...
As Vigo is Malocchio's half-brother and Malocchio has the half-fiend template, I think it's same to assume that all of the GC's kids have the half fiend template, albeit with a few tweaks here and there.
"Blood once flowed, a choice was made
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
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Eric the Light Bringer
- Agent of the Fraternity
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you are right, but none of the Callers spawn actually fit the half-fiend template very well...they are demonic on the outside, inside, etc.Drinnik Shoehorn wrote:Fiendish implies that there's the taint of the Lower Planes in a creatures blood. The Half-Fiend template implies that the creature is the direct offspring of a creature from the Lower Planes.
As Vigo is Malocchio's half-brother and Malocchio has the half-fiend template, I think it's same to assume that all of the GC's kids have the half fiend template, albeit with a few tweaks here and there.
I was thinking at least the fiendish template doesn't have a "standard" form, and may be more fitting for the caller's spawn...
considering that the mothers of each spawn is a full Vistani and there is some "dark destiny" for them, creating a brand new RL template, "Gentleman's Spawn" template, may be a better way to go than the average half-fiend template...
Oh, one last point. Another poster pointed out to me that Vlad Drakov probably wouldn't care about the welfare of one of his many illegitimate grandchildren, especially one who was a) female, and b) insane.
After some more thought, I changed Yuri Mitrovic's motivation away from pure self-preservation, and more towards a twisted sense of loyalty to little Sonia. Perhaps Yuri's only facet of pity or kindness is towards this helpless little child of his, and he doesn't want to see her fed into the grinder of Falkovnian law.
If the PCs are feeling merciful, they can allow him to go into exile in Lamordia to spend the rest of his life with Sonia, taking care of her. Of course, with Vigo Drakov, if the full plot to draw him out into the open goes ahead, it is very unlikely that they will be able to do anything with him except fight him outright and try to kill him.
In my campaign, the PCs will side with Gondegal and also a homeworld villain, an aristocratic ogre mage named Bukcsa. In the end, they have a series of choices they can make:
* the Kargat really wants them to deliver Yuri to them. Azalin's secret police would definitely benefit from his help, and a Kargat leader is thinking of converting him into a Ghost and binding him to the Kargat HQ in Karg.
* the Kargat is less interested in Vigo, seeing his continued existence in Falkovnia as a useful destabilizing tool.
* Gondegal wants Vigo to stand a trial (before a kangaroo court, admittedly) which will find him guilty and hang him.
* Bukcsa (the ogre mage) suffered an acid burn that blinded his left eye thanks to Vigo. He is eager to repay the debt. If the PCs give Vigo to Bukcsa, the ogre mage will subject Vigo Drakov to a truly bloodcurdling display of bodily and mental torture for a period of several weeks before finally killing him.
(Bukcsa has a method of distilling his own blood into a weak potion of regeneration or potion of healing, which allows him to pull fingernails, yank people's arms out of their sockets, and tear genital organs out by the roots while still keeping the initial victim alive... after a fashion.)
Of course, with my PCs as largely neutral characters, this will raise serious doubts about whether anybody, even something so evil as Vigo Drakov, deserves such an end...
Truly evil PCs will give Vigo to Bukcsa, and will turn Yuri back to Vlad Drakov's men, ensuring a very painful and despairing end to both lives.
PCs interested in realpolitik might turn Yuri over to the Kargat to give Darkonian intelligence an added boost against Falkovnia.
For good PCs, delivering Yuri to Lamordia to be with his daughter isn't going to be enough to ensure his safety. Drakov will assuredly send assassins and spies against him. Without help from another source, Yuri may survive with his daughter for about five years or so before somebody eventually gets him.
After some more thought, I changed Yuri Mitrovic's motivation away from pure self-preservation, and more towards a twisted sense of loyalty to little Sonia. Perhaps Yuri's only facet of pity or kindness is towards this helpless little child of his, and he doesn't want to see her fed into the grinder of Falkovnian law.
If the PCs are feeling merciful, they can allow him to go into exile in Lamordia to spend the rest of his life with Sonia, taking care of her. Of course, with Vigo Drakov, if the full plot to draw him out into the open goes ahead, it is very unlikely that they will be able to do anything with him except fight him outright and try to kill him.
In my campaign, the PCs will side with Gondegal and also a homeworld villain, an aristocratic ogre mage named Bukcsa. In the end, they have a series of choices they can make:
* the Kargat really wants them to deliver Yuri to them. Azalin's secret police would definitely benefit from his help, and a Kargat leader is thinking of converting him into a Ghost and binding him to the Kargat HQ in Karg.
* the Kargat is less interested in Vigo, seeing his continued existence in Falkovnia as a useful destabilizing tool.
* Gondegal wants Vigo to stand a trial (before a kangaroo court, admittedly) which will find him guilty and hang him.
* Bukcsa (the ogre mage) suffered an acid burn that blinded his left eye thanks to Vigo. He is eager to repay the debt. If the PCs give Vigo to Bukcsa, the ogre mage will subject Vigo Drakov to a truly bloodcurdling display of bodily and mental torture for a period of several weeks before finally killing him.
(Bukcsa has a method of distilling his own blood into a weak potion of regeneration or potion of healing, which allows him to pull fingernails, yank people's arms out of their sockets, and tear genital organs out by the roots while still keeping the initial victim alive... after a fashion.)
Of course, with my PCs as largely neutral characters, this will raise serious doubts about whether anybody, even something so evil as Vigo Drakov, deserves such an end...
Truly evil PCs will give Vigo to Bukcsa, and will turn Yuri back to Vlad Drakov's men, ensuring a very painful and despairing end to both lives.
PCs interested in realpolitik might turn Yuri over to the Kargat to give Darkonian intelligence an added boost against Falkovnia.
For good PCs, delivering Yuri to Lamordia to be with his daughter isn't going to be enough to ensure his safety. Drakov will assuredly send assassins and spies against him. Without help from another source, Yuri may survive with his daughter for about five years or so before somebody eventually gets him.
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Drinnik Shoehorn
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- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 6:28 pm
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I don't understand. The half-fiend template doesn't have a "standard" form. Malocchio has the half-fiend template, and he doesn't look fiendish, except for his small sixth finger on each hand.Eric the Light Bringer wrote:you are right, but none of the Callers spawn actually fit the half-fiend template very well...they are demonic on the outside, inside, etc.Drinnik Shoehorn wrote:Fiendish implies that there's the taint of the Lower Planes in a creatures blood. The Half-Fiend template implies that the creature is the direct offspring of a creature from the Lower Planes.
As Vigo is Malocchio's half-brother and Malocchio has the half-fiend template, I think it's same to assume that all of the GC's kids have the half fiend template, albeit with a few tweaks here and there.
I was thinking at least the fiendish template doesn't have a "standard" form, and may be more fitting for the caller's spawn...
considering that the mothers of each spawn is a full Vistani and there is some "dark destiny" for them, creating a brand new RL template, "Gentleman's Spawn" template, may be a better way to go than the average half-fiend template...
"Blood once flowed, a choice was made
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
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Eric the Light Bringer
- Agent of the Fraternity
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:06 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Actually, if you believe function makes the form, then there is a “standard” form for the half fiend....Drinnik Shoehorn wrote: I don't understand. The half-fiend template doesn't have a "standard" form. Malocchio has the half-fiend template, and he doesn't look fiendish, except for his small sixth finger on each hand.
(I don’t have the book with me so this is all from memory)
Basically the half fiend template gives you claw and bite attacks, which indicates fangs and claws...also they receive wings (thus why it is a +3 adjustment vs the +2 adjustment of the half-dragon) and the ability score modifiers (increased, strength, charisma, etc.) also would normally shape the appearance of the half-fiend...also, mechanically, there is the standard resistance and spell like abilities to consider
Of course, skin, hair and eye color, along with “cosmetic” features (horns, forked tongue, etc.) are normally unique to each half fiend...but if you look at any WotC write up of half demon they all are basically the same (wings, claws, spell abilities, etc.)
I find it difficult to sift out Malocchio’s half-demon template with the dukkar and storyline powers (like the uber-teleportation power) so he is a poor study of the Gentleman Caller’s spawn...but if his other spawn lack the non-cosmetic half-demon physical characteristics (wings, fangs, claws, etc.) and variable spell-like abilities/resistances it makes them more unique and less “standard” half fiends...simply put, how much can you alter a template before it is something else?
In fact in Gazetteer IV Malocchio’s write-up calls him a dukkar and not a half-demon/fiend! Maybe the half-vistani/half-incubus spawn of Malocchio are “dukkars” and that the “standard” half-fiend template should be added only to the caller’s “normal” human/demon spawn
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Drinnik Shoehorn
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 1801
- Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 6:28 pm
- Location: Tiptree, Home of Jam
But Vigo's true form is an abomination which he hides with Illusions, making him still a candidate for the half-fiend template. I've not got the Gaz IV to hand at the moment, though, so I'll have to look at it before I can check Malocchio's stats again. I could be wrong.Eric the Light Bringer wrote:Actually, if you believe function makes the form, then there is a “standard” form for the half fiend....Drinnik Shoehorn wrote: I don't understand. The half-fiend template doesn't have a "standard" form. Malocchio has the half-fiend template, and he doesn't look fiendish, except for his small sixth finger on each hand.
(I don’t have the book with me so this is all from memory)
Basically the half fiend template gives you claw and bite attacks, which indicates fangs and claws...also they receive wings (thus why it is a +3 adjustment vs the +2 adjustment of the half-dragon) and the ability score modifiers (increased, strength, charisma, etc.) also would normally shape the appearance of the half-fiend...also, mechanically, there is the standard resistance and spell like abilities to consider
Of course, skin, hair and eye color, along with “cosmetic” features (horns, forked tongue, etc.) are normally unique to each half fiend...but if you look at any WotC write up of half demon they all are basically the same (wings, claws, spell abilities, etc.)
I find it difficult to sift out Malocchio’s half-demon template with the dukkar and storyline powers (like the uber-teleportation power) so he is a poor study of the Gentleman Caller’s spawn...but if his other spawn lack the non-cosmetic half-demon physical characteristics (wings, fangs, claws, etc.) and variable spell-like abilities/resistances it makes them more unique and less “standard” half fiends...simply put, how much can you alter a template before it is something else?
In fact in Gazetteer IV Malocchio’s write-up calls him a dukkar and not a half-demon/fiend! Maybe the half-vistani/half-incubus spawn of Malocchio are “dukkars” and that the “standard” half-fiend template should be added only to the caller’s “normal” human/demon spawn
"Blood once flowed, a choice was made
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005
Travel by night the smallest one bade" The Ballad of the Taverners.
The Galen Saga: 2000-2005