Why is his face blank and featureless? Why is he a skinny toothless albino?
Considering the dungeon is full of other freaks, why does he wear this mask?
Where did he come from? Did he ever have a name? Who is the man behind the mask?
Anybody come up with an interesting backstory?
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Well, as a priest of Vecna, he'd want to conceal his face, not because of how it looks, but to mantain his secrecy. There was talk in another post about the missing Hieronean priest mentioned in the Diamond Lake backdrop; it would be interesting if either the Faceless One or Theldrick was that missing cleric.
There was also talk in several threads about the Faceless One being too interesting to die in fight without the party ever encountering him before or afterwards. Right from the start, they should be meeting strange people (Hextorites), and getting Spot checks at night to see dark shapes (Kenku) running around, telling them that something is afoot. As they make a name for themselves, perhaps they're even catching glimpses of the Faceless One from alleys and such, but he always disappears before they can confront him. As they make their way through the Labyrinth, they can here him speeking to them, sort of like a magic PA system, mocking them and such.
Finally, I'm slipping him a potion of Gaseous Form and letting him escape to become a recurring villain. Eventually, many adventures in the future, they might catch up to him and unmask him. I've always liked Vecna as a villain-deity, and the Faceless One is one of the most unique characters I've ever seen. He needs to be important.
Imagine this scene: The party has him beaten, but suddenly he begins to cackle and disolve into a mist. Now, rather than the party looting at their sweet convenience and then stumbling onto the Ebon Aspect, they chase the gaseous wizard out into the main hall. He's got quite lead on them, however, and they arrive just in time to see him summoning forth the Ebon Aspect. As it rises from the murky depths, he calls out a final quip and dissappears again. He'll advance in level with them and come back to be a thorn in their side again and again.
That is a great idea, Saern!
I concur with IGR Saern, nice alternative and great post.
Why is his face blank and featureless? Why is he a skinny toothless albino?
Considering the dungeon is full of other freaks, why does he wear this mask?
Where did he come from? Did he ever have a name? Who is the man behind the mask?
Anybody come up with an interesting backstory?
Could it be The Faceless One is in fact.....Cobra Commander? Think about it.
I'm really happy that people like the Faceless One. If I have my way (and I just might!) I'll get to delve into more details on him and others like him.
I've long been fascinated with the cult of Vecna. My basic concept for it is, as you ascend through the cult ranks, a cultist learns more and more secrets that allow him to fade into the background of the world. The Faceless one has managed to escape his identity. No one knows who he is, and it's possible that even he has forgotten.
The most powerful cultists of Vecna travel like whispers on the wind. They plant an idea here, a thought there, a sudden desire here. They manipulate the world from behind a veil of secrecy, orchestrating an immense play with a climax that none can even begin to guess. The mightiest of Vecna's servants can walk through a castle's front gate, sit beside the king, and whisper counsel in his ears, with no one, not even the king, suspecting the evil at hand.
At least, that's my basic concept for them.
Perhaps the Faceless One didn't mutilate himself, but he willingly partook of some dark, arcane ritual where the mutilation was a byproduct or side effect of the ritual itself. The mystic tattoos are also another effect of the ritual, being burned into his flesh, identifying him as being truly "marked" by Vecna. Just some thoughts.
How about the Facless Hate from the Book of Vile Darkness? Or better yet, some modified version thereof.
How about this for a character background. I harkens back to the 1st edition when Psionic Blast could cause someone to go permenantly insane. Oh the good old days...
'The Faceless one's sanity was shattered by an encounter with a Mind Flayer in the sewers of Grey Hawk, and since then he has developed multiple personalities. The Faceless One's persona has taken hold so strongly he has forgotten his 'real' name and has magically disfigured himself so no one will recognize the 'real' person.
To add Pathos to this disturbed character, have an encounter where he is stalking the PCs and and old lover or friend recognizes his mannerisms and he has to flee, lest his weak persona take hold.'
Hard to have him as a recurring character if you play him "as written."
If he's not killed the Ebony Aspect takes his life force to rise up and slay the heroes.
Traggic accident resulting form an innocent acid fight when he was younger?
Although I do like the idea of one of the evil proests being the lost priest from the temple in town. Anyone feel like doing up a cool back story on that? Betrayal, lost faith, maybe something valuable stolen from the temple in town...
ASEO out
Hard to have him as a recurring character if you play him "as written." If he's not killed the Ebony Aspect takes his life force to rise up and slay the heroes.
Maybe... but I've also said (on another thread) that the Faceless One is too interesting to kill off without a re-appearance.
Here's what I'm planning: the Faceless One's "condition" is likely the result of a complex Vecnan ritual. The Ebon Aspect is likely the result of a complex Vecnan ritual. As the Faceless One is slain, along with the other high priests of the Ebon Triad (either by PCs or involuntarily), the Ebon Aspect arises.
The PCs have to deal with the Ebon Aspect in one way or another, but once it's defeated there's no reason that the Faceless One couldn't "emerge" from the black pool (perhaps even in an upgraded, perfected form... a few days later).
The PCs have to deal with the Ebon Aspect in one way or another, but once it's defeated there's no reason that the Faceless One couldn't "emerge" from the black pool (perhaps even in an upgraded, perfected form... a few days later).
Maybe when the Ebon aspect arises it has all the arms, and eyes, but when the faceless one arises later as you suggest,he is missing the eye and hand having contributes that part of himself to the Ebon Aspect.
Still the next question is where will he reapear, other than as a random encounter, if there are no more vecna cultists in the plot?
ASEO out
Maybe when the Ebon aspect arises it has all the arms, and eyes, but when the faceless one arises later as you suggest,he is missing the eye and hand having contributes that part of himself to the Ebon Aspect.
Yep, I'm planning on having the Faceless One essentially reintegrate as "himself" from the pool, but with ebony skin and even smoother features.
Still the next question is where will he reapear, other than as a random encounter, if there are no more vecna cultists in the plot? ASEO out
Partly, I'm waiting for a few additional details on the 4th (5th?) adventure to determine some of this, because there are supposed to be Cultists "taking revenge" on the PCs in that one. But I'm also running it in Forgotten Realms, so I have a tie-in with some shadow magic and the Shadovar of Shade (Netheril). I also have a Red Wizard currently wandering around in town, and a spy of the Shadovar as well. I want him to be a recurring villain that gains in power alongside the PCs, harrying them every so often. Then the PCs get to take him out in some flashy style probably by the 8th or 9th adventure.
Another interesting option: How many people read the short free adventure from the Wizards site, Ghosts of Aniel (or something like that)? One of the possibilities of the adventure was that a slain wizard uses his malevolence ability to take over a PC's body, then uses a wish spell stored in a magic gem to make it permanent, "ressurecting" himself in the form of the PC.
Even if the Faceless One is slain, his ghost can come back and try to pull a move like that on the party- hopefully he'll live in mine, but there's always that choice if he doesn't.
This might also be a good way to remove an unbalancing character, though you could probably only use it once before the party figured it out and got angry.
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My solution to bring the Faceless One back as a recurring villian - he is a simulacrum. Simulacrum is a 7th lvl spell which can be accessed by a wizard at 13th lvl. It creates a duplicate that is at 1/2 the lvl of the creator - 6th lvl. Watch your PC's eyes bug out when you tell them that after striking the final blow their foe melts into a puddle of water (simulacrum is made of snow & ice).
I'm thinking I'll have the real Faceless One just before a Gathering of Winds. I don't plan on running the Champion's Belt - don't want to run PC's as gladiators. I'm also setting in the Realms so I plan to have some of the action take place in Skullport and bring in Nhyris D'Hothek and the Crown of Horns. Thinking of a triangle with PC's, Nhyris & shadowraths, and Faceless One & Ebon Triad all vying for the Crown of Horns. Haven't decided what role the crown will play yet though.
My solution to bring the Faceless One back as a recurring villian - he is a simulacrum. Simulacrum is a 7th lvl spell which can be accessed by a wizard at 13th lvl. It creates a duplicate that is at 1/2 the lvl of the creator - 6th lvl. Watch your PC's eyes bug out when you tell them that after striking the final blow their foe melts into a puddle of water (simulacrum is made of snow & ice).
That is an AWESOME idea!
I'm thinking I'll have the real Faceless One just before a Gathering of Winds. I don't plan on running the Champion's Belt - don't want to run PC's as gladiators. I'm also setting in the Realms so I plan to have some of the action take place in Skullport and bring in Nhyris D'Hothek and the Crown of Horns. Thinking of a triangle with PC's, Nhyris & shadowraths, and Faceless One & Ebon Triad all vying for the Crown of Horns. Haven't decided what role the crown will play yet though.
What sourcebook are you using for this? Waterdeep or Champions of Ruin? Or both? Just curious.
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I'll be using several sourcebooks for the Skullport piece of the adventure - some older 2E stuff (City of Splendors, Skullport sourcebook, Ruins of Undermountain) plus 3.5 Waterdeep book.
I did a conversion of the shadowraths based on their entry in 2E Monstrous Compendium Annual 4. Here are those conversions:
Shadowrath, lesser
Medium Undead
HD: 4d12 (26 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 30ft
AC: 14 (+3 natural, +1 dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+4
Attack: Slam +5
Full Attack: Slam +5
Damage: 1d6+3 plus 1d4 Str damage
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Strength damage
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/bludgeoning and magic, spell resistance 13, darkvision 60ft, undead traits
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +5
Abilities: S:14 D:13 Co:-- I:11 W:12 Ch:14
Skills: Hide +12* Jump +9 Move Silently +8 Spot +8
Feats: Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (slam)
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary, gang (2-5), or troupe (3-8 plus 1-3 greater shadowraths)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 5-12 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: --
This creature is an undead being; appearing as a blackened skeleton, its eye sockets aglow with red, deadly energy.
Strength Damage (Su): The touch of a lesser shadowrath deals 1d4 points of Strength damage to a living foe. A creature reduced to Strength 0 by a lesser shadowrath dies. This is a negative energy effect.
Undead Traits: Immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, & morale effects), immune to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, & death effects, not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain, immune to ability damage, fatigue, & exhaustion, immune to any effect that requires a Fort save unless it also works on objects or is harmless.
* A lesser shadowrath receives a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks.
Shadowrath, greater
Medium Undead
HD: 7d12 (45 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 30ft
AC: 18 (+5 natural, +3 dex)
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+7
Attack: Slam +8
Full Attack: Slam +8
Damage: 2d4+6 plus energy drain
Space/Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Energy drain
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 10/silver and magic, spell resistance 19, +2 turn resistance, darkvision 60ft, undead traits
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +7
Abilities: S:18 D:17 Co:-- I:15 W:14 Ch:17
Skills: Hide +17* Jump +14 Listen +14 Move Silently +13 Search +12 Spot +14
Feats: Alertness(b), Improved Initiative(b), Lightning Reflexes(b), Weapon Focus (slam), Improved Energy Drain (LM pg. 27 – gain +1 to atk, save, & skill/ability cks for each neg lvl drained), Ability Focus (energy drain)
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary, pair, or troupe (1-3 plus 3-8 lesser shadowraths)
Challenge Rating: 6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: 8-21 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: --
At first glance, it appears this creature is human. But a closer look reveals that its skin is sickly gray in color, its eyes and mouth are filled with crackling purplish-black energy, and its hands have transformed into sharp black-nailed claws.
Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a greater shadowrath’s slam attack gain a negative level. The DC is 18 for the Fort save to remove a negative level. The save DC is Cha-based (+2 for Ability Focus feat). For each such negative level bestowed, the greater shadowrath gains 5 temporary hit points.
Undead Traits: Immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, & morale effects), immune to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, & death effects, not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain, immune to ability damage, fatigue, & exhaustion, immune to any effect that requires a Fort save unless it also works on objects or is harmless.
* A greater shadowrath receives a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks.
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My intentions with the Faceless One:
He was once associated with minor "cult" of whackos who hang out in these mines in the crater rim of this extinct volcano over in the Lortmils. A cult that has a thing for this dead god Tharizdun. Maybe you've heard of him? The Faceless One, once known as ________(insert appropriate NPC name), was a minor cog in a very big wheel known as the Outer Fane, associated with the Fire Temple. He began to discover that Absolute Entropy probably wasn't going to have much job security for the future and began to question his place within the Fane. Besides, ochre just wasn't his colour. ((If none of this makes sense, ask someone who's experienced Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.)) Unfortunately, those of the Inner Fane sensed within him doubt and chose to sacrifice him to the cause. His sacrifice involved a lot of black stone with purple veins writhing through it known as a Cyst. The sacrifice was cut short when a group of stalwart adventurers interrupted the activities. The adventurers looked upon his innervated features and took him back to this little berg known as Hommlet where a high priest by the name of Y'dey helped him to recover. Though she sensed much "hate" in him orientated towards those of the ochre robes, she couldn't fanthom what she had healed. The Faceless One left Hommlet to regain his stature as an arcanist and to find a way to avenge his torture by those that hope to return Tharizdun to the Flanaess. He immediately found that Vecna's philosophy matched his and worked to appease a deity that was "real". In his studies of Vecna he learned of the teachings of the Ebon Triad. The combined Overgod would certainly be powerful enough to utterly destroy Tharizdun and that is what he, personally, works for.
I'm taking this angle as most of the players in my game have heard of Tharizdun and/or experienced the Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. Subtle tie-ins like this make the setting seem more "real" to the players. Also, it's satisfying as a DM to hear them go "aaaaaaah!" when the discover the tie in, which I will plant in the Faceless One's effects.
Hard to have him as a recurring character if you play him "as written."
If he's not killed the Ebony Aspect takes his life force to rise up and slay the heroes.
Yes,so true,but the nice thing about D&D is the Dungeon Master can change the "rules"to suit his campain.
I assume that rod he weilds is in the DM 3.5 (which i dont have) so im hoping someone can give me th "low down" on exactly what it does, as well as the price of it please.
I assume that rod he weilds is in the DM 3.5 (which i dont have) so im hoping someone can give me th "low down" on exactly what it does, as well as the price of it please.
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/rods.htm#metamagicExtend
I'm suprised that no one thought of an obvious choice... he's either a changeling or a doppleganger. I'm running with a mix of these two critters, and maybe the simulacrum idea will work as well.... hehehehehe....
Squid
I'm still running my players through the Shackled City at the moment, and even though I'm planning on running AoW later with all new characters (but the same players) I'm actually putting in some subtle tie ins already. Including the low level wizard they left for dead under Cauldron in the Kopru ruins, after hitting him with a Melf's Acid Arrow.
Reggie
The idea of him being a Simulacrum reminds me of the adventure "Threshold of Evil" in Dungeon #10, where the PCs are up against an archmage in his hollow mountaintop. It is chock full of simulacra. The Archmage himself is level 21 or so, so his simulacra range from level 1 to 11, along with a cloned fighter. One scene in the throne room holds two simulacra of the archmage and two or three of the fighter, along with the originals - quite a challenge...
So perhaps even more of the leaders might be simulacra or something similar. A nice twist to the usual spell might be an exploding clone instead of one just melting...
Stefan
Although I do like the idea of one of the evil proests being the lost priest from the temple in town. Anyone feel like doing up a cool back story on that? Betrayal, lost faith, maybe something valuable stolen from the temple in town...
The big problem there, however, is explaining why the missing high priest ("Amon Kyre," IMC) is a wizard & not a cleric.
The idea of him being a Simulacrum reminds me of the adventure "Threshold of Evil" in Dungeon #10, where the PCs are up against an archmage in his hollow mountaintop. It is chock full of simulacra. The Archmage himself is level 21 or so, so his simulacra range from level 1 to 11, along with a cloned fighter. One scene in the throne room holds two simulacra of the archmage and two or three of the fighter, along with the originals - quite a challenge...
So perhaps even more of the leaders might be simulacra or something similar. A nice twist to the usual spell might be an exploding clone instead of one just melting...Stefan
Was that the one that took place in Mount Thalask?
Don't know why I remembered that name but I recall there were simulacrums of a wizard with a 20 intelligence (mythically high back in 1st and 2nd edition), a truly tall mountain, and a nasty doorless room full of acid designed to foil teleporting/phasing PCs attempting pursuit of the fleeing wizard.
As for some of these other posts, I can absolutely see the resemblence between Cobra Commander or Tharizdun and the Faceless One.
I say he just had a bad reaction to his Acutane.
The idea of him being a Simulacrum reminds me of the adventure "Threshold of Evil" in Dungeon #10, where the PCs are up against an archmage in his hollow mountaintop. It is chock full of simulacra. The Archmage himself is level 21 or so, so his simulacra range from level 1 to 11, along with a cloned fighter. One scene in the throne room holds two simulacra of the archmage and two or three of the fighter, along with the originals - quite a challenge...
Azurax Silverhawk, was his name. Never got a chance to play the adventure, but it was a great read. The mage was a Dorian Grayesque character, who aged through a painting. I ended up working Silverhawk into my Greyhawk campaign (IIRC, I placed Mt Thalask in the Hellfurnaces), intending to use the adventure at a later date, but never got the chance.
I say he just had a bad reaction to his Acutane.Just when I though Craft (Herbalism) no longer had uses...
Absolutely.
Rumor has it that Vecna actually lost that hand due to an acupuncture therapy session gone wrong. He's been a real curmudgeon about alternative therapies ever since and directly instructed the Faceless One to "go pharmaceutical."
Shame, really. A dose or two of Saint John's Wort and some Valerian might curb Vec's puppy killing and sandwich molesting long enough for him to get in touch with his more 'snuggly' self.
"Sorry about that whole... evil vibe I was perping on you guys."
Sorry, guys (for the potential redundancy). Just checked this thread. Looking forward to reading TFoE and finding out about this Faceless One. I remember flipping thru 125 (just get back issues of 124 and 125) and seeing a picture of him. Amazing!! Great idea, Mr. Mearls! Hopefully he will come back later, but if not, I'm sure he will in my campaign. Mwahahahahahaahah!!!!
WaterdhavianFlapjack
I say he just had a bad reaction to his Acutane.Just when I though Craft (Herbalism) no longer had uses...Absolutely.
Rumor has it that Vecna actually lost that hand due to an acupuncture therapy session gone wrong. He's been a real curmudgeon about alternative therapies ever since and directly instructed the Faceless One to "go pharmaceutical."
Shame, really. A dose or two of Saint John's Wort and some Valerian might curb Vec's puppy killing and sandwich molesting long enough for him to get in touch with his more 'snuggly' self.
"Sorry about that whole... evil vibe I was perping on you guys."
?
WaterdhavianFlapjack
I say he just had a bad reaction to his Acutane.Just when I though Craft (Herbalism) no longer had uses...Absolutely.
Rumor has it that Vecna actually lost that hand due to an acupuncture therapy session gone wrong. He's been a real curmudgeon about alternative therapies ever since and directly instructed the Faceless One to "go pharmaceutical."
Shame, really. A dose or two of Saint John's Wort and some Valerian might curb Vec's puppy killing and sandwich molesting long enough for him to get in touch with his more 'snuggly' self.
"Sorry about that whole... evil vibe I was perping on you guys."
?
WaterdhavianFlapjack
Pay no attention to the idiots behind the curtain, WHFJ. We are waaaaaaaaaaay off book here. Riffing off a meager Acutane reference is all.
I think the Faceless One is going to reappear in the lair of Zyrxog. Not sure if I'm going to up his level any- it will largely depend on the party's level at the time. This should help to further illustrate the connection between the Ebon Triad and HoHR, and thus Raknian, in case the party misses the clues.
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I'm actually thinking I will replace Raknian with the real Faceless One and have him be the master of the ulgurstasa. I'm not planning on running the gladiator games, so I'll have some re-working to do. Party should be 9th-10th lvl by then, so they should be able to handle a roughtly 13th lvl wizard (which is what lvl Faceless One would need to be to cast simulacrum).
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My thought was to have the Faceless One use an 'unknown until now' spell or ritual to substitute Filge for himself when the Ebon Aspect rises. It fits the concept of evil and betrayal that the Triad seems to love so much. The whole thing was planned, including his escape. This especially works if the PC's let Filge live back in WC
Personally, I'm more interested in knowing why the Faceless One has a 21 Intelligence when he's only have one Ability score boost and is allegedly human.
Personally, I'm more interested in knowing why the Faceless One has a 21 Intelligence when he's only have one Ability score boost and is allegedly human.
Maybe he read a Tome of Clear Thought (+2)?
Personally, I'm more interested in knowing why the Faceless One has a 21 Intelligence when he's only have one Ability score boost and is allegedly human.
Or maybe he is a reincarnated grey elf?
Good call, the Tome of Clear Thought makes great sense; Vecna cultists are into reading dusty old tomes full of dark secrets. Oh and perhaps not coincidentally, the writeup says that the Dark Cathedral used to be Vecna's library...
I plan on making Faceless One's vast intelligence a factor. He will be a brilliant tactician, and will have thought of every possibility; including the possibility that an overpowering force of PCs might someday break through the complex's defenses. So he will have escape plans ready (maybe the main plan is to have an apprentice's potion of gaseous form ready in his pocket?)
Yeah, that Int score of the Faceless One's had been bugging the hellout of me as well. As for having found and read a Tome of Clear Thought (+2), that begs the question: what's happened to it? Did he stash it away somewhere or send it on to another Ebon Triad cell? I certainly wouldn't place an item of such value in the direct possession of a 6th level NPC villain for the PCs to get their hands on. I think the less unbalancing solution would be the following: replace some portion of his gear with a Headband of Intellect (+2). This would assume he started with an Int of 18 (well beyond normal for an NPC human), and that he spent his 4th level ability adjustment on his Int, which is certainly the smart choice for a wizard. Still, the arbitrary assignment of an 18 to an NPC ability score bugs me, considering how pretty much every other NPC is made using the standard Elite Array set of scores.
Int 21 can be explained thus: The Faceless One is old.... real old.
Are we forgetting that Vecna is indeed a diety of undeath? What about bringing him back as an intellegent undead? If the ritual will require the lives (and possibly souls) of the cult leaders, the Faceless One is likely the only leader to be privy to this little side effect. A pact with his dark Lich-God could have him resurface in unlife.
The PCs run into the Faceless One again- same mask and everything. After yet another battle they remove his mask (or it falls off in combat) only to reveal the blank stare of a eyeless skull- truly he is the Faceless One now!
I'm about to start in on the Age of Worms for the second time with a new group. Last time I ran it pretty much out of the box, and I can't wait to tweak things up a bit more this time.
I'd like him to be Darl Quethos. Or, for Darl to be the "real" Faceless One, with the earlier a simulacrum. So maybe Darl could be a mystic theurge instead of a straight cleric? And be faceless (explaining why he wears that silly hood all the time)?
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In my campaign, I made the Faceless One literelly faceless. The "mask" was actually a parasitic familiar that resembled a large scarab. It bonded to him by eating out the center of his face (eyes, nose, and sinuses). The Faceless One saw through the eyes of the scarab as long as he was "wearing" it.
When the party killed him, his "mask" flew off and started attacking them. Meanwhile, the oozy blackness - like that from the pool in the Main Cathedral - poured from the hole in his face.
I'd like him to be Darl Quethos. Or, for Darl to be the "real" Faceless One, with the earlier a simulacrum. So maybe Darl could be a mystic theurge instead of a straight cleric? And be faceless (explaining why he wears that silly hood all the time)?
Actually this is what I am gonna do.