Setting: Normal magic metropolis
Background: My group is attending a performance shortly, a performance also to be attended by the local nobility, wealthy merchants, high-ranking guild members and potentially a few members of the royal family. There have been threats on the royal family recently, so personal and public security is quite high. Up until now I've mostly been expressing personal protection via bodyguards and the like, but these might not be socially acceptable in a concert hall/amphitheatre.
What kinds of magical gear might nobles have to protect them in case of s!*$ hitting the fan?
Thoughts thus far - capes of various resistances/shield/mage armour; items with teleport charges on them (for the wealthier members of society); rings of protection; and an escort for the royal family (thinking a summoned marid using change shape to appear either as another member of the family or just a simple human bodyguard).
Bonus question: Would there be an equivalent of a metal detector (i.e. a person/entity checking out the magical properties of all items brought into the hall)?
Bonus question: Would there be an equivalent of a metal detector (i.e. a person/entity checking out the magical properties of all items brought into the hall)?
A 1st level wizard could be hired on the cheap to detect magic all night. You'll probably want some stronger muscle (and magic) to back him up if anyone actually does bring in magic items though.
Extreme protection would likely include antimagic fields, especially around any concentrated areas of wealth and in locations where the royal family is expected to spend extended time.* Forbiddance might also be put in place to only allow trusted people into specific areas. Contingency with teleport affects on important persons with a trigger of "if attacked". A combination of Detect Magic and the Rod of Metal and Mineral Detection can be used together to ensure that literally every individual of the general public is screened for metal or magical items. This doesn't completely ensure safety, but it will be hard to get past.
*Because antimagic fields everywhere would be too much trouble
Glamered Armor is a hell of a way to surprise a would be assassin. Ring of Invisibility, wands of dimension door or some other way to quickly escape would also be a good idea. Permanencied arcane sight or see invisibility also wouldn't be a bad idea.
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This thread is not about the magical defenses of a noble bear. I am disappointed.
This thread is not about the magical defenses of a noble bear. I am disappointed.
Actually, thats what I thought at first to, but then I decided to make suggestions anyways.
Surely the answer to the question depends upon the wealth of the nobles? Just because someone's noble it doesn't necessary mean they are wealthy by adventurer standards. Also what protections will be provided by the event they are attending? Attendees may feel the security provided is sufficient. Finally what level are you working at?
This thread is not about the magical defenses of a noble bear. I am disappointed.
Well obviously we are talking about werebear nobility.
So maybe have someone ready with versatile weapon to make everyone's swords act like silver.
Bonus question: Would there be an equivalent of a metal detector (i.e. a person/entity checking out the magical properties of all items brought into the hall)?A 1st level wizard could be hired on the cheap to detect magic all night. You'll probably want some stronger muscle (and magic) to back him up if anyone actually does bring in magic items though.
Wizard? No...a bard. Have the night's entertainment dedicate a song (with a selection of music to help create a code system) to anyone suspicious.
For escapes: a cape of the mountebank maybe?
For checking out people: have a bard nearby. Maybe he's your valet. Let him do the detect magic thing. Or possibly a personal minister (cleric) to tend to your spiritual needs. If your noble is truly noble, I could see having a paladin on retainer as a spiritual adviser instead. Having access to even a few mercies and LOH would do a lot to keep a noble alive.
Thanks for your advice all, it's proved very helpful - some great ideas!
Also what protections will be provided by the event they are attending? Attendees may feel the security provided is sufficient. Finally what level are you working at?
The party is all at level 6, and the provided security is going to be fairly significant in terms of manpower (mostly in the form of members of the city Watch plus a small cadre of trained personal guards w/ some experience combating magic), but magical assistance is mostly going to be centralised around the royal party.
Surely the answer to the question depends upon the wealth of the nobles? Just because someone's noble it doesn't necessary mean they are wealthy by adventurer standards.
An excellent point - at this stage I'm planning to have three different tiers of nobles with varying resources at their disposal. The lowest nobles will mostly have static defenses like the cloaks of resistance/rings of protection, while those at the other end may have access to wands of teleport or dimension door.
Well obviously we are talking about werebear nobility.
An idea too good not to include. I have a mental image Beorn from the Hobbit appearing from nowhere and tossing opera chairs and attackers every which way...
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Well obviously we are talking about werebear nobility.An idea too good not to include. I have a mental image Beorn from the Hobbit appearing from nowhere and tossing opera chairs and attackers every which way...
For some reason, I feel that they should be Russian. Like....old Imperial Russian.
Which, given the way that the setting goes, could also mean a connection to Irrisen and that of course spells witches. So you could have an old, stern werebear noble that gained his position via military command and his wife, a winter witch.
Just throwing random ideas out there. I liked the images this all brought up.
I remember there being a magic item that was a box of 3-4 pearls. Each pearl would do something useful. One detected poison, I think one detected enchantments.
Not sure, but I think eating them also had an effect.
I think a diviner (specialist wizard) )bodyguard would be a potent asset. Spells such as prying eyes and symbol of scrying would enable a diviner to observe a large area while staying close to their ward, detect magic and arcane sight for sensing any magic, seek thoughts to detect threats and finally the ability to always act in a surprise round coupled with a bonus to initiative gives them a good chance of acting first. Make them an ifrit with wildfire heart, improved initiative, and a scorpion or compsognathus familiar and they'd have an initiative of 12 + dex mod + 1/2 class level before they even role.
They could just watch the performance from another spot in the audience dressed in different clothes while illusions occupy their seats. A great way to dodge an attack is to not be in the spot being attacked.
A silent image would work just fine.
-Matt
Nobles concerned about their safety would have:
Cape of the mountebank, Winged Boots, Quickrunners Shirt, Slippers of Spider Climb, Boots of escape, Helm of Teleportation, Aegis of Recovery, Mind Sentinel Medallion
Noble items for being more nobleish:
Hat of Disguise, Mask of Stony Demeanor, Circlet of Persuasion, Helm of Comprehend and Read Languages, Cap of the Free Thinker, Helm of Telepathy, Judges Wig, Medallion of thoughts, Sleeves of many garments
General Items:
Security Belt, Sipping Jacket, Eyes of Eagle, Boots of Striding and Springing
Thats all I can really think of off hand, though I'm sure there are many I'm missing.
What kind of protection the nobles and the establishment are going to have is also going to depend significantly on where they are from. Cheliax or Nidal? You can bet that anything they can afford and think of, they'll get, including having screening starting way back from the establishment to make sure that no one who has disloyal thoughts gets in (and anyone's whose thoughts can't be detected is automatically suspect), plus they'll probably have both Inquisitors and Devils (Cheliax) or Kytons (Nidal) on guard duty. Some place like Land of the Linnorm Kings or even Brevoy? The nobles are probably at least in part expected to be their own defense. Other places are probably somewhere in between, although most of them probably wouldn't have standing forces of Devils or Kytons in attendance. Mendev might come closest to being like Cheliax and Nidal, although not having standing forces of Devils or Kytons, due to the threat of Demonic infiltration, although due to having forces stretched thin, they might not always be able to pull Inquisitors from normal duties to cater to the security needs of the nobles.
Love this item.
^Noble's Vigilant Pillbox has a serious ergonomic flaw (bolding mine):
"When activated, the white pearl detects poison in a 10-foot radius around the wearer, dulling to a dark gray if poison is within range. If swallowed, it grants the benefit of a delay poison spell."
AND
"The black pearl turns white if any invisible creature is within 10 feet of the wearer. If swallowed, it grants the benefits of see invisibility for 1 minute."
So if an invisible creature is around, the user has a big chance of swallowing the wrong pearl unless they memorized the locations or different sizes, and even then in the heat of the moment might get them mixed up. Plus, 10 feet isn't much range for warning of an invisible creature, especially since you probably can't be looking in your box all the time.
^Noble's Vigilant Pillbox has a serious ergonomic flaw (bolding mine):
"When activated, the white pearl detects poison in a 10-foot radius around the wearer, dulling to a dark gray if poison is within range. If swallowed, it grants the benefit of a delay poison spell."
AND
"The black pearl turns white if any invisible creature is within 10 feet of the wearer. If swallowed, it grants the benefits of see invisibility for 1 minute."
So if an invisible creature is around, the user has a big chance of swallowing the wrong pearl unless they memorized the locations or different sizes, and even then in the heat of the moment might get them mixed up. Plus, 10 feet isn't much range for warning of an invisible creature, especially since you probably can't be looking in your box all the time.
....because an invisible creature would be the best person to drug someone's drink.....
Heck, they could stash the supply of poison in someone's pocket later in order to frame them, which adds the just right kind of mayhem for assassination and politics.
The flaw also adds some fun, because the noble will then curse himself after taking the wrong pill, and he will then announce that 'someone suspicious and invisible is in the room' right after he turned invisible in front of everyone. Or he doesn't announce it, whatever, it doesn't change the outcome. People will immediately associate that noble with any invisible shenanigans that go on, and people would suspect that any protests from him was simply a poor ploy to throw off suspicion.
Nobility are likely to have retainers and bodyguards with them regardless of the function, they generally would be expected and treated as scenery. The only typical limits on bringing guards with you is when you are visiting someone of higher rank, who might demand you limit your guards due to his own security concerns (all properly worked out by underlings in advance of course.)
Beyond that, others have given good ideas of magic spells and items.
However, casting awaken on a bear and giving him a title of nobility to ensure his loyalty would indeed make a great magical defense.
