I recently introduced my players to the main characters in their storyline and they believe they already have them all identified. So, naturally, I want to turn it all on it's head for them. So what I'm thinking is the actual BBEG is the fellow they're accepting jobs and help from, and he's setting them up to confront and defeat his real opponent, the rightful ruler. Through rumor, manipulation of the facts and outright lies, he will convince the party that the ruler is evil and up to no good, and needs a good firm talking-to by the party. Then when the climactic confrontation finally takes place, Mr. Nice swoops in and steals the kill, crown and glory, leaving the PCs with a burning pile of WTF on their doorstep.
I realize the danger of pissing off the party and I think I know them well enough that they can handle such a storyline, not to mention that I will give chances for them to uncover the plot before things come to a head. So let's assume you've all given me the "don't do it" advice and let's move on the the planning stage.
I'm leaning towards a high level bard, around 18th and human is what I'm envisioning. A real smooth talker, heart-throb, man's man. Woman love him and men want to be him sort of guy. The works. And he uses this fame and prestige to manipulate people subtly to get what he wishes. And he's currently angling for the top job in town through an arranged coup by some willing dupes; aka the party. I'm looking for any archtypes, feats, spells and magic items that would make him into an "all will love me and despair" kinda guy. I'm not married to the Bard class, but am leaning heavily towards it.
So, let 'er rip and let's see what you got! :)
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Bard is an obvious choice, I would recommend to go for the magician archetype so you can pick up some arcane spells that you are missing for a puppetmaster such as Telekinesis.
Enchanter Wizard works fine if you want him to be the puppetmaster behind the throne kind of deal.
Other option is simply to make him a monster , Incubus comes to mind with some bard class levels to up his cr to 18. Fey also could probably work but one doesn't come up from the top of my head.
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I would suggest that as the pc's get higher level, the BBEG acquire succubus minions that are disguised as bodyguards needed due to the danger of opposing the "evil ruler". Then plan B is that the BBEG convinces the party that the succubi had involuntarily bound him( fun reversal) and thanks the party generously for " freeing him"
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@rorek55 - I like the Court Bard archtype, fits well with my image of him.
@Eltacolibre - I prefer the Bard since this guy likes the spotlight. No hiding in the shadows for him. I like the idea of him being a disguised Fey, but the only one I found that would remotely fit is the Satyr. Granted, I'm working mainly off the phone app since I'm out on the road and don't have access to my books or the web most of the time. I'll look at other Fey later. I like that idea though!
@pendothrax - Succubus bodyguards, I like the concept! Fits well with his hedonistic nature, and I imagine they could easily flatter their way into positions that would benefit them and their demonic masters in the future. I'm going to have to think on that more...
Keep it coming folks, this is good stuff!
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A fun way to disguise a BBEG for the long term is to have rival bad guys he is more thatn motivated to help the party defeat.
I have an old idea I have not been able to use, a power struggle between two evils. There is a lost druidic place of power within the capital city of the kingdom.
The neutral evil druid of Rovagug wants to find the place of power and use it to unleash the strong to literaly devour the weak and weaken the advance of civilization in the process.
The necromancer wants to consume the potent life energies the place of power to unleash an undead plague and take power where he can grab any research subject he wants at any time.
The BBEG helps the party destroy these two and any other potential rivals for early through mid campaign, and the end iw where the reveal takes place.
@pendothrax - Way ahead of you. There are at least two other alternate "BBEG" entities in the plot. :)
@roek55 - I did a variation of that once. A 3.5 game, had one of the characters not create a backstory and claim amnesia instead. Had him finally regain his memory in a chance meeting with the BBEG, recalling a childhood trauma that wiped his memory, but when he tried to articulate it, he discovered that the BBEG had cast a spell (from Book of Vile Darkness, don't recall the name) that prevented him from communicating in any way, shape or form the details of one particular event, in this case the traumatic event (parent's murder by BBEG) that wiped his memory. He both loved the twist and hated me for it at the same time. ;)
Still haven't gotten around to stating this guy out yet, but the party met him tonight. He was charming, interested and helpful, and the party ate it up. Lots of gifts and a night on the town on him made a very favorable impression with the group. I gave some very subtle clues about his succubus companion and am going to drop a couple more about the bard himself. This should be fun!
if your going nonmagical (or just partially magical)I can't recommend master spy enough.
@ishmell - I'll look at it again, but this is a flamboyant figure and Spy Master struck me the first time as too low key.
@MotDT - He likely would be a more effective puppet-master if I were playing him as a straight control freak, but I'm envisioning him as more of a cruel boy playing with toys he doesn't mind breaking for his enjoyment. He manipulates, lies and coerces people into doing his wishes, only resorting to magic for expediency in time crunch situations or out of necessity when words fail him.
I dunno if you can get away with him being undead, but vampires are the kings/queens of making mortals into their b~#*$es. Dominate person plus charisma bonuses make them an excellent template to add to a bard who specializes in manipulating people. Problem is detectability, but I'm sure there's some magic means to manage this. Technically all this BBEG would need is a solid disguise check, so a hat of disguise would do the trick for the most part. And, of course, if cover's blown, just bust out some dominate and let the PCs fight each other for a bit.
Oh, man! That is SO tempting! I had plans for a dandy style character that would turn out to be a vampire, I could just merge the two instead! Now the big question is; is his companion another vampire or keep her a succubus? Him being a spellcaster,... oh damn. Just checked, Protective Pemumbra isn't a Bard spell.
Ok, even bigger question; what ways could I have him walking around in broad daylight if he's a vampire? The party already met him and he walked across a courtyard in the full sun with no shade or visible damage, so he needs something to make him immune to the sun. Suggestions?
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I dunno if you can get away with him being undead, but vampires are the kings/queens of making mortals into their b~#*$es. Dominate person plus charisma bonuses make them an excellent template to add to a bard who specializes in manipulating people. Problem is detectability, but I'm sure there's some magic means to manage this. Technically all this BBEG would need is a solid disguise check, so a hat of disguise would do the trick for the most part. And, of course, if cover's blown, just bust out some dominate and let the PCs fight each other for a bit.Oh, man! That is SO tempting! I had plans for a dandy style character that would turn out to be a vampire, I could just merge the two instead! Now the big question is; is his companion another vampire or keep her a succubus? Him being a spellcaster,... oh damn. Just checked, Protective Pemumbra isn't a Bard spell.
Ok, even bigger question; what ways could I have him walking around in broad daylight if he's a vampire? The party already met him and he walked across a courtyard in the full sun with no shade or visible damage, so he needs something to make him immune to the sun. Suggestions?
I agree with vampire bard lol give him a ring of sunprotection it's practically usless if you aren't a vampire so it won't sell for enough to disrupted wbl or have it only work to the person it's bound to (this case vampire dude)
Why would a high level NPC need to do this? Why would he need to play around with low level PCs? Just Dominate them, and it’s over- or get better, higher level puppets.
Why *IS* he messing around with the PC's?
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The best way for the PC's not to view him as a threat... is for him to not be a threat. A high level bard is a powerful character with great manipulative powers.
On the other hand... a commoner with a very powerful tool, like an orb of dragonkind that he keeps very carefully hidden from the PC's, couldn't possibly be the BBEG...
Basically. The two big issues with the puppet master:
1. Why is he using all of these people for things he could easily do himself? A powerful spellcaster is powerful. Big networks don't keep secrets. Characters over 5 hit die are subject to all sorts of scrying issues. Meta-game-y players are going to be suspicious of any powerful NPC that's not an open book to them.
2. Why is he standing by and watching, or actively helping a group of people, as they become more powerful than he is? Why not squash them when they can't possibly prevail? Or at least inhibit them so they can never threaten you?
But, what if he wasn't powerful enough to do anything on his own? What if the PC's could absolutely dominate him from the start? What if he manipulates powerful agents so that he is powerful? And he helps them gain power to enhance his own? What if he's just a nobody who accidentally gained absolute control over one powerful agent and then used that, secretly, to gain enormous power and prestige?
Seems like a pretty fun hook to me...
Basically. The two big issues with the puppet master:
1. Why is he using all of these people for things he could easily do himself? A powerful spellcaster is powerful. Big networks don't keep secrets. Characters over 5 hit die are subject to all sorts of scrying issues. Meta-game-y players are going to be suspicious of any powerful NPC that's not an open book to them.
2. Why is he standing by and watching, or actively helping a group of people, as they become more powerful than he is? Why not squash them when they can't possibly prevail? Or at least inhibit them so they can never threaten you?
But, what if he wasn't powerful enough to do anything on his own? What if the PC's could absolutely dominate him from the start? What if he manipulates powerful agents so that he is powerful? And he helps them gain power to enhance his own? What if he's just a nobody who accidentally gained absolute control over one powerful agent and then used that, secretly, to gain enormous power and prestige?
Seems like a pretty fun hook to me...
Why do dogs lick them selves or cats sleep all day because they can...
If i'm an all powerful immortal being with nothing it time on my hands i'd get bored and start messing with people
Excellent points, all. The main reason he's helping the party is because he is actually interested in much larger fish and sees the PCs as a tool he can use against those foes. He's vying for political control over the city they are residing in which has recently become an important trade hub after gaining a lucrative new trade deal with a recently emerged race in a remote area. He does this to not only gain control of the area, but also to amuse himself. He enjoys challenges and taking control of the region without resorting to outright magical domination at every turn is his latest pinnacle that he wishes to climb. With my recent change of his character from a human bard to a vampire one, that only increases the likelihood that he would want to do it the hard way, as he needs something to fill the long years of immortality.
But I am stuck on this sunlight immunity thing. Yes, I could custom create a spell or item that would grant it. I'm just wondering if there is already something out there that would do the same thing. I found the Dread Vampire template which reduces to severity of the damage he would take from the sun, but as I said, he's already been seen in the full sun with no damage taken and I really don't like to ret-con important details like that. They also were in his house which I described as bright and airy. Of course, this is excellent camouflage for a vampire, if I can think of a way to pull it off without hand-waving, which I don't like doing. If I insist my players follow the rules, it's only fair I do the same.
An excellent idea, but let me be clear. Before it was mentioned above, I had no idea he would be a vampire so I have been treating him as a normal human. He has a position on the town council, he shops, eats out and gives performances in the city. In short, I have already given the party lots of information on him that points to him being human, not the least of which is that he wanders about during the day with no special protections or visible harm. So, since I want to make him a vampire and I have already painted my way into a corner with this previous information, how do I make it work without GM fiat?
An excellent idea, but let me be clear. Before it was mentioned above, I had no idea he would be a vampire so I have been treating him as a normal human. He has a position on the town council, he shops, eats out and gives performances in the city. In short, I have already given the party lots of information on him that points to him being human, not the least of which is that he wanders about during the day with no special protections or visible harm. So, since I want to make him a vampire and I have already painted my way into a corner with this previous information, how do I make it work without GM fiat?
The vampires (companion) can cast first lvl wizard spells then take the one spell mentioned earlier or have bard take a feat that allows that cantrip
Hmmm, a recently read post on here made me seriously think about dipping gunslinger for this fellow. Maybe Pistolero, maybe Mysterious Stranger, more likely both. Would this add anything to the build combat wise? I'm liking it from a story/background perspective, but not sure if I should do the dip or just flavour him with a pistol.
As an aside, his succubus companion will be a gunslinger/sorcerer, likely 3/3 with both the above archetypes on the gunslinger.
I Decided Against The Gunslinger Dip. Just Going To Give Him a Derringer Instead, Maybe a Magic One With a Nasty Ability. (Yes, I'm On My Phone Again. Damn Thing, Wish I Knew Why It Did This...)
So, a Straight Up 15Th Level Bard With The Dread Vampire Template. It Removes Some Of The Sunlight Problem, I'll Create a Custom Ring For The Rest. (I Was Watching Vampire Diaries With My Kids Last Night. If It's Good Enough For Hollywood, It's Good Enough For Me. :D) Or Perhaps a Custom Spell a la OOTS? Thoughts?
Yes, I Had Noticed That. I Really Just Wanted It For The Sunlight Thing. I'll Probably Trim Out a Lot Of The Other Immunities.
*Edit* Alchemist With a Pistol? I'm Guessing He's Loaded For Bear With Alchemical Cartridges? :)
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I TOTALLY got the wrong idea from reading this, and took it a bit too literally.
I imagined an Artificer enemy (who styles himself a literal Puppeteer) crafting heaps of Carrionettes and using them to secretly take over a nation's leaders, one by one, while he keeps their stored souls in the puppets in his cupboard. After all the 'personality shifts' in the various leaders some get suspicious.
When the PC's do, the King sends them on a specific quest but when they return they find the ruler to be spiteful and completely clueless about the 'important quest' he previously sent them on.
At that point they are declared enemies of the nation and the BBEG reveals himself, going into Villainous Monologue mode and commanding his 'minions' (the possessed leader's bodies) to attack. Sure, they could slaughter everyone, buuuuut... that would put them in even WORSE trouble with the actual leaders (should they survive) and perhaps even other nations when it's found that they've conveniently 'assassinated' all the conquered nation's leaders. So they can cut loose and make it worse, or try to subdue the evil minions while the BBEG is trying to kill them.
Delicious.
But, you know, the Bardly Manipulator Guy, that's cool too!
I think I'll go start working on mine, though. Thanks for the inspiration!
Well, they met him again the other night. I dropped a few hints, Protective Penumbra on all the windows (explained away as a vanity thing, keeps his skin soft and pale), strange tattoo on his chest that he brushed off as something from his youth (party hasn't got a good look at it yet and they're not likely to, since the sorcerer tipped his hand that he knows of magical tattoos), and showed him to be a heartless bad-ass in a mugging scene, although the party was far more interested in his toys then his actions.
Oddly enough, my daughter called what as he is right off the bat. Well, SHE did, not her character. I quizzed her gently on it today and her says character doesn't actually believe that, she was just bugging me because she just finished her latest Vampire Diaries binge and had vamps on the brain. So, the first of the hints are dropped, he has proven yet again to be a boon to the party (helped them out of another jam and gave them another "quest" mission), so they are seem to be clueless so far, although they don't entirely trust him yet, I think. He's sown some more rumors about the mayor, his target and the one he's setting the PCs up to take down for him, which I think they soaked up. All in all, it's shaping up nicely! Perhaps I'll post his build later this week.
Lol that being said you should make his ring one protecting him lol she be like I knew it
Lol that being said you should make his ring one protecting him lol she be like I knew it
I'm very tempted, but the sorcerer just took Craft Magic Tattoo last level, so I'm going to have the tattoo on his chest be the "magic item" that protects him from the sun. He'll love being able to use his knowledge to ID it later and this makes sense, as no one can steal it nor can he misplace it if it's carved into his flesh.
As an aside, what level should Protection from Sunlight be, anyways? I'm thinking of basing it on Protective Penumbra, but without the slight shade giveaway and with a longer duration, as well as the ability to be made permanent.
I found a better vampire template then that Dread vampire one that was so OP. This one fits the feel I was looking for and gets rid of that annoying sun problem as well.
Vetala vampire seems a much better fit for my bardic blood-sucker. Of course, I've now dropped anti-sunlight hints and this critter is unaffected by sunlight.
*sigh*
What could I do with the magic tattoo on his chest instead of Protection from Sunlight?
What could I do with the magic tattoo on his chest instead of Protection from Sunlight?
It could be not really a tattoo as such, but rather a Symbol spell (though Bards can't cast those).
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Randy SilverWind!
Please, peruse and critique. If you have any questions, if I have missed something, made an error or if you just think that I could do something a bit better, please don't be shy!
I hope I did this link-thing correctly, first time trying this. Let me know if it doesn't work.
Link works, but the site demands I register and accept cookies. :p
Weird, it's just dropbox. I'll try putting up another link later.
Here he is in spoiler form, for those that don't like the link above. :)
Randy SilverWind (Vetala vampire)
male human court bard 15
CE medium undead (augmented humanoid)
Init: +10 (+6 Dex, +4 Imp. Init.) Senses: Darkvision 60', Perception +32
DEFENSE
AC: 34, Touch 21, FF 28 (+9 armor, +6 Dex, +4 Nat, +5 Def.)
HP: 240 (15d8+180); fast healing 5
Fort: +17, Ref: +17, Will: +11,
Defensive Abilities: Channel Resistance +4 DR: 10 Good and Magic Resist: 10 Electricity and Fire Immune: Undead immunites
Weakness: Vetala vampire weaknesses
OFFENSE
Speed: 30, Climb 30
Melee: 2 claws +20 (1d6+4 plus paralysis), or +1 agile unholy human-bane rapier +17/+12/+7 (1d8+9 plus 2d6 vs. good plus 2d6 vs. humans)
Ranged: +1 glammered unholy human-bane coat pistol (1d4+1 plus 2d6 vs good plus 2d6 vs humans)
Special Attacks: drain prana, malevolence, paralysis, possess corpse, bardic performance 44 rounds/day, countersong, distraction, fascinate, suggestion, (DC 29), glorious epic (DC 29), mockery -5, satire -3, scandal (DC 29)
Bard Spells Known: (CL 15th, +17 ranged touch, DC 22+level)
5th (4/day)- bard's escape, resonating word, modify memory (DC 31), vengeful outrage (DC 29)
4th (6/day)- break enchantment , forgetful slumber (DC 28), greater invisibility, serenity (DC 28)
3rd (7/day)- arcane concordance, charm monster (DC 27), dispel magic, malicious spite (DC 27), smug narcissism (DC 27)
2nd (7/day)- allegro, blood biography, calm emotions (DC 26), compassionate ally (DC 26), dust of twilight, enter image, share memory (DC 26)
1st (7/day)- adoration (DC 25), beguiling gift (DC 25), ear-piercing scream, memory lapse (DC 25), solid note, sow thought (DC 25)
0th (-/day)- dancing lights, daze (DC 24), detect magic, lullaby (DC 24), mage hand, prestidigitation, read magic, summon instrument *(I give detect and read magic to all spellcasters as bonus spells. Remove dancing lights and mage hand if you don't.)
STATISTICS
Str: 14 Dex: 22 Con: 0 Int: 21 Wis: 14 Cha: 34
Base Atk: 11 CMB: 13
CMD: 29
Feats: Alertness(b), Combat Relflexes(b), Deceitful(b), Greater Spell Focus(Enchantment), Heighten Spell, Improved Initiative(b), Magnum Opus, Prodigy, Still Spell, Skill Focus(Disguise)(b), Spell Focus(Enchantment), Spell Perfection(Modify Memory), Spell Song
Skills: Appraise +11, Bluff +34, Climb +18, Craft (percussion instruments) +11, Diplomancy +37, Disguise +35, Handle Animal +29, Intimidate +32, Know(arcana) +18, Know(history) +20, Know(local) +30, Know(nobility) +30, Know(religion) +13, Perception +32, Perform(sing) +41, Perform(oratory) +21, Perform(act)(percussion) +17, Sense Motive +28, Slight of Hand +24, Spellcraft +23, Stealth +32, Use Magic Device +30
Languages: common, elvish, draconic, orc, abyssal, dwarvish
Special Qualities: heraldic expertise +7 (4 re-rolls/day), wide audience (50' radius, 100' cone, +3 people), versatile performance (act, oratory, percussion)
Combat Gear: scroll of harm x2, scroll of protection from energy x2, scroll of heal (for Marion), scroll of summon monster V, scroll of greater invisibility
Other Gear: +3 celestial armor, +1 unholy keen human-bane rapier, +1 glammered unholy human bane coat pistol, ring of protection +5, boots of teleportation, cauldron of seeing, handy haversack, headband +6 (Cha, Int [slight of hand, UMD, K:nobility]), hidden sword tattoo x2 (one for each weapon. Glove of storing for rapier if tattoos not allowed), iron circlet of guarded souls, medallion of thoughts, metamagic rods (reach, still, quicken), mnemonic vestment, unfettered shirt, spell book with assorted wizard spells, mainly utility and divination (used with mnemonic vestment).
TACTICS:
Before Combat: Randy will prepare by casting a scroll of protection from energy if he is aware that he'll be facing a particular energy type. Otherwise he will have cast arcane concordance with Extend Spell metamagic chosen.
During Combat: Randy will lead with his glorious epic ability if he has Marion with him to make it that much easier for her to hit, otherwise he starts with his scandal bardic performance. Round two begins with a casting of allegro followed by either a quickened resonating word against any obvious spellcasters or a quickened charm monster against any front line types he thinks might be susceptable. In case he is overmatched to the point where he's used one harm scroll already or Marion has gone down, he will either use bard's escape or his boots to retreat from the conflict. Randy has existed for a long, long time and sees no shame in retreating from a fight. He will exact revenge if forced to do so though.
Drain Prana (Su)
A vetala can drain the mental vitality of a grappled opponent. If Randy establishes or maintains a pin, he drains this energy, dealing 1d4 points of Charisma damage. Additionally, the victim is affected by the spell modify memory, as if he had spent 5 minutes concentrating. The vetala gains perfect knowledge of any memory it chooses to eliminate using this ability. Vetalas often use this ability to prevent victims from remembering they've been attacked.
Malevolence (Su)
As a full-round action, Randy can attempt to take control of a helpless living creature's body, as the spell magic jar (CL15), except that it does not require a receptacle. The target can resist the attack with a successful Will save. A creature that successfully saves is immune to that same vetala's possession for 24 hours. If a creature fails its save, its consciousness and control of its body are subsumed as the vetala takes command of its body. Randy can remain in control for 12 of hours or until he decides to end the possession. Whenever the possession ends or the host body is killed, Randy's consciousness instantly returns to its body, regardless of distance, so long as it remains on the same plane. If Randy's body has been destroyed or moved to another plane, his consciousness is destroyed when the possession ends. While possessing another creature, Randy's body is empty and vulnerable, though he is instantly aware if his body is disturbed or takes damage.
Paralysis (Ex)
Any creature struck by a vetala's claws must make a successful Will save or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds. Elves are immune to this effect.
Possess Corpse (Su)
As a full-round action, a vetala can possess a Large or smaller corpse just as it can a living body. The vetala's consciousness leaves its body and takes control of the corpse, animating it as either a skeleton or zombie (depending on its state of decay). The vetala can remain in control of a corpse indefinitely, and can communicate through the body, but cannot use any of its other special abilities. This ability otherwise functions just as malevolence.
***
Randy has been a vetala vampire a long, long time. He is easily bored but greatly enjoys tormenting "the unwashed masses", but not in the traditional ways of torture or terror. He prefers to infiltrate a community, win it's trust and love, then tear it apart from within with rumors, lies, insinuations and gossip. He learns the people, discovers their fears, loves, prejudices and dreams, then uses that knowledge against them in subtle but devastating campaigns. He uses magic only when people prove resistant to his natural charm, considering it beneath his talents to rely on such a crutch when not specifically required. This helps to keep his cover intact as well, since there isn't a trail of dominated or charmed people in his wake as with most vampires.
His companion, Marion, is a succubus gunslinger who adores him, mostly for his subtle cruelty, and follows him about serving as bodyguard, mistress and assistant in his elaborate schemes of death and ruin. She urges him onto greater and more complicated acts of depravity, enjoying the resulting chaos and pain. She has betowed her profane gift upon him in the form of a boost to his already overwhelming Charisma, which she delights in knowing she can remove at any time to devastating effect. (Randy is unaware of this fact and would be enraged if it was revealed.)
Randy tends to keep a few talented artistic types locked away in his home, sometimes creating masterpieces for his amusement, but mostly for feeding purposes. He rarely feeds away from the privacy of his home, but always drains his subjects to the point of death and fakes a suicide scene to cover his tracks when he does. Since these individuals are almost always buried in a proper manner with blessings or in conscrated ground, he has created no unintentional spawn in many years. When he does, he quickly destroys the resulting undead, for Randy tolerates no competition of that sort in his claimed space.
So, I might be a bit late, here, but what about a succubus, who was cursed by a girdle of gender swapping, who became a vetala vampire?
...
... possibly all on purpose?
(Sorry, I'm in a bit of a hurry. Links and fleshing out the ideas later.)
It would certainly explain the succubus connections.
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"Welcome, to Vampiric Island!"
Or perhaps a tad later in his career?
"You will make excellent Corinthian leather once I've finished flaying you."
Or perhaps his best known role?
"No...no, you can't get away...from hell's heart, I stab at thee...for hate's sake, I spit my last breath...at thee..."
Hmmmm, perhaps this has merit... :)
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You're forgetting his most relevant role: Vincent Ludwig in The Naked Gun - he starts out as a beloved pillar of society and generous benefactor (who can give PCs a magical dagger or wakizashi that's "impervious to everything but water"), then uses mind control to make others do his dirty work fnord: A plot to assassinate a monarch!
Been so long since I've seen that. Might have to rewatch is and refresh my memory, for none of that rings any bells. I wonder if it's on Netflix?