Café de Nuit

I wasn't going to, since by 760 BC (the present day of my campaign setting), they're not still around. Which is a bit of pity, because I didn't mind the Burning Peaks. Particularly Tovag. But I can live without them.

I would imagine Vecna would be a level 20 wizard (necromancer?) mythic lich (with some extra to represent him being an actual *god*), while Kas would be a level 20 fighter? mythic vampire.

Ryan Naylor wrote:

Gonzoron of the FoS wrote:I think you nailed Juste, Ryan. He's a favorite of mine, and I wish I had your version when I used him IMC. And I agree with pretty much all the decisions in your author notes.

My only issue is that I'd like to see his save DC's even higher. Major Image would be DC20, plus sinkhole modifier (what rank? probably only 3 or so, I'd imagine. It's not Drakov's impalment spike grove, or Markov's lab or anything...) A good will save character with high wisdom at his CR level will have about a 50/50 chance of seeing through it. Considering that it's Juste's main shtick to do the whole "what is real and what isn't" thing, that's a very good chance of ruining a whole adventure.

I don't know how to fit it into PF "fairly," since you've given him most of the DC improvements that I know of. But I like Scaena to be a little bit deliberately unfair.

Thanks Ron!

As a darklord, Juste raises the level of a sinkhole of evil by 1 within 300 ft. i.e. the stage.

I'm certain, given the madness and slaughter the stage has seen, it'd be a pretty substantial sinkhole by itself. So, say, (including Juste being nearby), rank 4 or 5, with taints of madness and fear. Which means that any Will save in that area suffers a -4 or 5 penalty anyway, with an additional -2 or 3 penalty to saves that deal (directly) with madness or fear effects.

Also, the secret is that illusions only give you a save when you "study them closely or interact with it in some fashion." Juste is extremely intelligent and has been doing this for a long time, so he knows how to structure illusions to make them convincing. And he can nest them (so disbelieving one just reveals another), and cast new illusions as a swift action, as well. And people's personalities are draining away over time too. And if you spend 24 hours in a rank 5 sinkhole of evil, you need to make a Madness save.

So what you're actually looking at (if you want to be really unfair), is that most of his illusions don't give you a save straight off, and for when they do, they're at an effective DC of 24-28, and you're suffering ability damage and going mad the whole time as well.

Nice. Are you aware of John Baker's Juste Desserts, which set a Ghastria campaign inside Scaena iirc or was it the other way round? Who knows...
This post explains how he ran it. It's an awesome use of Scaena and Ghastria imho and i wonder how your comments above should influence my rereading of it.

I've seen it, yes. I think when I was researching Stezen d'Polarno.

I'm not sure what you're asking me though.

just for laughs maybe you can do a food based darklord?

jules wrote:just for laughs maybe you can do a food based darklord?

With only a few exceptions, I'm trying to stick to converting existing darklords, rather than creating any new ones.

However, Yagno Petrovna is a food-based darklord, so...

Now, the star of Baroness of Blood and an article in the Book of Souls:



Ilsabet Obour (Kislova)

Timeline
732 BC Peto born.
737 BC Born in Prime Material Kislova.
740 BC Ilsabet’s mother dies. War with Tygelt breaks out
743 BC Begins training under Jorani. Orders the mutilation of the rebel leader. Janosk attacks Sundell and is beheaded. Begins poisoning prisoners.
744 BC Peto marries Marishka. Ilsabet poisons her and Greta.
745 BC Poisons Mihael. Marries Peto. Begins affair with Jorani. Goes to Sundell.
746 BC Creates the alchemical vampires. Lekai born.
747 BC Murders Sagesse.
748 BC Poisons Peto and Jorani and loses Lekai. Kislova forms.
760 BC Present day.

Powers Checks
Caress (Violence: orders the mutilation of the rebel leader: 4%; 743 BC): Dark warns Sundell of Kislova’s treachery.
Enticement (Violence and Betrayal: poisons Marishka: 16%; 744 BC): Vampiric Charisma +4
Invitation (Violence and Black Magic: murders Emory and creates the alchemical vampire: 32%; 746 BC): Alchemical vampires.
Embrace (Blasphemy and Violence: murders Sagesse: 8%; 747 BC): Vampiric Charisma +6
Creature (Betrayal and Violence: poisons Peto and turns Jorani into an alchemical vampire: 16%; 748 BC): Becomes darklord of Kislova. Vampiric Charisma +8

Base stats
S 9 D 15 C 14 I 15 W 13 Ch 9 (high fantasy)
Racial: Int +2 (human)
Levelling: Int +3
Powers checks: Cha +8
Favoured class: hp
CR 13 (11 [levels] + 1 [PC-level treasure] + 1 [darklord abilities])

760 BC (Current day stats)
CR 13 XP 25,600
Female Human Alchemist (Reanimator) 12
LE Medium Humanoid (human)
Init: +2 (Dex) Senses: Perception +20
Defense
AC 20 Touch 15 Flat-footed 17 (+2 Dex, +3 armour, +2 natural, +1 dodge, +2 deflection)
hp 92 (8 + 11d8 + 24)
Fort +15, Ref +13, Will +8
Immune poison
Resist acid 10
Offense
Spd 30 ft
Melee +9/+4 wounding dagger +1 (1d4; crit 19+ plus poison)
+8
Ranged +12 bomb (5d4+5 fire)
S 9 D 15 C 14 I 20 W 13 Ch 17
BAB +9 CMB +8 CMD 26 (23)

Feats
Alertness, Brew Potion, Defensive Combat Training, Deft Hands, Dodge, Ghostsight, Great Fortitude, Master Alchemist, Throw Anything
Skills
Appraise +12 (4), Bluff +15 (12), Craft (alchemy) +27 (12), Diplomacy +11 (8), Disable Device +9 (2), Heal +12 (8), Knowledge (arcana) +12 (4), Knowledge (dungeoneering) +6 (1), Knowledge (geography) +6 (1), Knowledge (history) +6 (1), Knowledge (local) +6 (1), Knowledge (nature) +16 (8), Knowledge (nobility) +7 (2), Knowledge (planes) +6 (1), Knowledge (religion) +7 (2), Perception +20 (12), Sense Motive +12 (9), Sleight of Hand +21 (12), Spellcraft +9 (1), Stealth +14 (12), Survival +8 (4), Use Magic Device +10 (4)
Languages
Kislovan*, Draconic, Infernal, Abyssal, Elven, Dwarven

Treasure
(81,000 gp/108 gp)
Wounding dagger +1, amulet of natural armour +2/necklace of adaptation, bracers of armour +3, cauldron of brewing, cloak of resistance +3, ring of minor acid resistance, ring of protection +2
Lots of poisons

Special
Alchemy +12
Swift alchemy
Bomb (5d4+5; DC 21)
Mutagen
Poison use
Fast poisoning (swift action)
Concentrate poison
Poison conversion
Sticky poison
Alchemical vampire (create alchemically empowered obyri; as alchemical zombie)
Bottled ooze
Infusion
Vampiric Charisma (must feed off another’s pain each day, or loses 1 Cha to minimum of 9)
Altered spelllist
Mastery +3
Sinkhole of evil

Formulae
(7/6/5/4); DC 15 + spell level
1 – detect undead, cure light wounds, disguise self, endure elements, expeditious retreat, identify, keen senses, true strike, vocal alteration, youthful appearance, cause fear
2 – alchemical allocation, blistering invective, blood transcription, darkvision, delay poison, false life, protection from arrows, touch injection, transmute potion to poison
3 – lesser animate dead, absorb toxicity, amplify elixir, arcane sight, haste, displacement, cure serious wounds
4 – detonate, freedom of movement, neutralise poison, vitriolic shield, universal formula, stoneskin, moonstruck

Another darklord from the BoS series: the Book of Sorrows. A domain I've always really loved for the time glitch at the heart of it. Just a great idea for a curse.


Serenissa d’Aubliet (Romagna)

Timeline
723 BC Born on the Prime Material Plane.
735 BC Begins looking after the twins.
739 BC Murders the twins and burns down the Great Hall. Flees to Romagna.
741 BC Seduces Etaine.
742 BC Kills herself and tries to kill Etaine. Romagna forms.
760 BC Present day.

Powers Checks
Caress (Betrayal: Bitterness and resentment towards her childhood companion for being noble: 2%; c735 BC): Xenophobia.
Enticement (Violence: murdering the twins: 32%; 739 BC): Cha +2
Invitation (Betrayal: covering up the death of the twins: 4%; 739 BC): Cha +2
Embrace (Blasphemy: burns down the Great Hall out of spite: 8%; 739 BC): Cha +2
Creature (Betrayal and Violence: attempts to kill Etaine: 16%; 742 BC): Becomes a ghost and darklord of Romagna.

Base stats
S 8 D 15 C 12 I 13 W 10 Ch 16 (high fantasy)
Racial: Cha +2 (human)
Levelling: Cha +1
Template: Cha +6
Favoured class: hp
CR 9 (6 [levels] + 3 [template])

760 BC (Current day stats)
CR 12 XP 6,400
Female Human Rogue 7 Rank 3 Ghost
CE Medium Undead (augmented humanoid, incorporeal)
Init: +6 (Dex, feat) Senses: darkvision 60 ft, Perception +18
Defense
AC 18 Touch 18 Flat-footed 17 (+1 Dex, +7 deflection)
hp 91 (8 + 6d8 + 49)
Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +4
Channel resistance +7
Incorporeal (gold weapons can strike her)
Immune undead traits
Rejuvenation
Evasion
Trap sense +2
Uncanny dodge
Offense
Spd Fly 30 ft (perfect)
Melee +8 incorporeal touch (1d8 + energy drain 2; DC 20; plus 4d6 sneak)
+7
S – (8) D 15 C - I 13 W 10 Ch 25
BAB +5 CMB +7 CMD 25 (24)

Feats
Blind-Fight, Deceitful, Improved Initiative, Persuasive, Weapon Focus (touch)
Skills
Acrobatics +12 (7), Appraise +7 (3), Bluff +19 (7), Diplomacy +19 (7), Disguise +9 (0), Fly +12 (0), Intimidate +9 (0), Knowledge (history) +4 (3), Knowledge (local) +8 (4), Knowledge (nobility) +8 (7), Perception +18 (7), Perform (act) +11 (1), Sense Motive +6 (3), Sleight of Hand +12 (7), Stealth +14 (7), Use Magic Device +17 (7)
Languages
Romagnan*, Draconic

Treasure
(6,000 gp)
Cloak of resistance +2, ring of protection +1

Special
Sneak attack +4d6
Evasion
Uncanny dodge
Trapfinding +3
Trap sense +2
Charmer (2/day)
Honeyed words (3/day)
Surprise attacks
Rejuvenation
Energy drain (2)
Invisibility (at will)
Phantasmagoria (major images only, at will)
Immune to turning
Held at bay by symbols of matrimony (as vampire)
Vulnerable to gold weapons
Invisible and unable to harm Romagnans
Influence natives (rage, unadulterated loathing 1/week; mostly unconscious)
Mastery +7
Sinkhole of evil

And another ghost, to round out my series: Torrence Bleysmith, from IoT and the Black Box. Another interesting curse, I think, being able to feel (and show!) the damage done to his body.

I was quite surprised to be reminded that he had arcane spellcaster abilities, so I've given him bard levels to tie in best with his other reported skills (such as expert fencing, archery, riding, instruments - the nobleman's arts, you might say).

The only other thing I can say is poor Mother Bleysmith - having 5 children in 5 years! I've guessed his age based on being physically able to compete with a much older brother on an even footing, since a 12 year old and a 17 year old are not evenly matched at anything.



Torrence Bleysmith
(Staunton Bluffs)

Timeline
c600 BC Born in Prime Material Mourette, the youngest of five children in five years.
c618 BC The other siblings stop competing; the rivalry with his brother August intensifies.
c625 BC Sent to the capital with his brother.
628 BC Sent home again after his father is humiliated by their competition.
629 BC War with the Avergnites breaks out.
630 BC Betrays his brother and nearly destroys the Stauntonians. Commits suicide. Staunton Bluffs forms.
760 BC Present day.

Powers Checks
Caress (Black Magic: curses father and brother when sent home from capital: 4%; 628 BC): Confounded at every turn.
Enticement (Betrayal: sells secrets to the Avergnites in hope of destroying his brother: 16%; 630 BC): Cha +2
Invitation (Betrayal: leads August and the Stauntonian military into an ambush: 32%; 630 BC): Int +2
Embrace (Black Magic: performs ritual to seize minds of the Stauntonian peasants: 8%; 630 BC): Dex +2, Int +2
Creature (Betrayal, Black Magic and Violence: drives Stauntonian peasants to certain death to try to win back Staunton: 16%; 630 BC): Becomes a ghost and darklord of Staunton Bluffs. Wis +4.

Base stats
S 12 D 13 C 12 I 14 W 13 Ch 14 (high fantasy)
Racial: Dex +2 (human)
Levelling: Wis +1, Int +1
Powers checks: Dex +2, Int +4, Wis +4, Cha +2
Template: Cha +4
Favoured class: skills
CR 12 (9 [levels] + 2 [template] + 1 [darklord abilities])

760 BC (Current day stats)
CR 12 XP 19,200
Male Human Fighter 8 Bard (Archaeologist) 2 Second Magnitude Ghost
LE Medium Undead (augmented humanoid, incorporeal)
Init: +3 (Dex) Senses: darkvision 60 ft; Perception +26
Aura: frightful presence (20 ft, DC 20)
Defense
AC 17 Touch 17 Flat-footed 15 (+1 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 deflection)
hp 107 (10 + 7d10 + 2d8 + 50)
Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +13
Bravery +2
Channel resistance +8
Uncanny dodge
Incorporeal
Rejuvenation
Immune undead traits
Offense
Spd Fly 30 ft (perfect)
Melee incorporeal touch +12 (11d6, DC 20)
Ranged +12
Space/Reach: 5’/5’
S – (10) D 17 C - I 19 W 18 Ch 20
BAB +9 CMB +12 CMD 29 (27)

Feats
Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Defensive Weapon Training (+2; heavy blades), Dodge, Improved Feint, Iron Will, Mobility, Skill Focus (Bluff), Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (longsword)
Skills
Acrobatics +12 (6), Bluff +24 (10), Diplomacy +18 (10), Fly +13 (0), Handle Animal +11 (3), Intimidate +14 (6), Knowledge (local) +10 (2), Knowledge (nobility) +10 (2), Perception +26 (10), Perform (dance) +11 (3), Perform (string instruments) +11 (3), Ride +12 (6), Sense Motive +13 (6), Stealth +18 (10), Survival +10 (3), Use Magic Device +16 (8)
Languages
Avergnite*, Draconic, Infernal, Halfling, Mordentish

Treasure
(13,000 gp)
Bracers of armour +1, cloak of resistance +2, ring of protection +2

Special
Bravery +2
Armour training 2
Weapon training (bows)
Archaeologist’s luck (+1, 9 rds/day)
Bardic knowledge +1
Clever explorer +1
Rejuvenation
Apostate
Corrupting appearance (able to be suppressed)
Corrupting touch
Frightful presence (able to be suppressed)
Forgotten
Only able to manifest at night or during thunderstorms
Hanging rope (if linked to the rope around his neck, held 1d6 rounds; causes Horror)
Bones (shaken by damage to bones)
Create spawn
Master of the castle
Mastery +5
Sinkhole of evil


Spells
DC = 15 + spell level
At will – read magic, resistance, know direction, prestidigitation, unwitting ally
4/day – borrow skill, invigorate, timely inspiration

Ryan Naylor wrote:I've guessed his age based on being physically able to compete with a much older brother on an even footing, since a 12 year old and a 17 year old are not evenly matched at anything.

That's not true, they are on quiet equal footing when it comes to annoying each other.... xD

One final point of news: I'm running out of things to put up. Even my well of darklords is running dry. I estimate I'll be done in about another fortnight.

This is good news for those of you who wanted a netbook version, since I will then collate everything into netbooks, revise according to feedback, and then release them.

So, if you have any requests, revisions, critiques, comments, concerns, queries or questions, sometime over the next two weeks is the time to do it.

Zilfer wrote:

Ryan Naylor wrote:I've guessed his age based on being physically able to compete with a much older brother on an even footing, since a 12 year old and a 17 year old are not evenly matched at anything.

That's not true, they are on quiet equal footing when it comes to annoying each other.... xD

Well, except that then.

How about your versions of the Black Rose and Blessed Knight (mentioned in Gaz IV) of Sithicus?

...Also would be curious to see how you handled Rudolfph Van Richten! Loved your Madame Eva

...Also, I'll be happy hash out more NPCs with you on here. I'm sure this thread will could keep going for a while...

I've also mentioned in the past the Dirgist from Van Richten's Arsenal that I'd like help converting to Pathfinder since after reading the different songs and comparing to the Bard Dirgist Archetype and the Court Bard you mentioned for debuffing I really couldn't match too much of the dirgist's songs to that.

Would you build it as a Archetype or a Prestige Class? My Girlfriend really wants to play her dirgist again is what it is but I've little to no experience converting material and I've a hard time considering what is overpowered or level appropriate.

how about characters from the masque of the red death then?

None of you ever want me to have any spare time ever again.