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I am currently running the Styes and have become intrigued by the Councilmen. In an effort to add some behind-the-scenes action, I statted out Councilman Thornwell and will eventually attempt to do the same for Sliris and Rashlen. However, I wanted to stay true to your wicked vision of the Styes and I am unsure if you're planning on involving the councilmen in future installments of the Styes. I would hate, for example, to have one of the councilmen die only to find out that he's a major NPC in the next Styes adventure.
I have only recently started as my players just defeated Mr. Dory last session. Once the adventure is done, I will run the Weavers (assuming my players survive). I am quite pleased with the adventures and look forward to the development of the Styes. Many thanks.
Don't people listen to me? If the players kill off an NPC who winds up being a major player later on, <I>that NPC has a sucessor of some kind.</I>
With how, forgive the term, inbred the Styes are, I'm sure whoever replaces the slain councilman would not have fallen far from the tree, so to speak.
Hell, you could use the same stats and just change the name and look.
But if another Styes adventure gets printed, it won't be for months, so I wouldn't worry too much. The place is full of neat hooks...
Creative Director
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<snort>
It's late, and I read that as "meat hooks." And thought to myself, "Eew... there's not much more unsanitary than a meat hook in the Styes, is there?" And then I saw that it said "neat hooks," instead.
And if this doesn't get me an award for most off-topic/random messageboard post of the week... I'll eat my hat!
You'll eat your fat? That's pretty gross.
Who are you calling fat?
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It's not just a question of killing an NPC off by mistake. I also wanted to remain true to the author's vision. For example, I contemplated giving Thornwell the Dark Speech feat from Book of Vile Darkness, but decided against it in the end. I gave him Spell Focus (enchantment) instead. Not as cool as Dark Speech, but more useful for him, knowing the abilities his classes give him. I wasn't sure what to do about his ability scores so I did what I normally do with important NPC's: I gave him the elite array.
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Here is the stat block I made for Thornwell. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
[br/]
Councillor Thornwell (CR 14)[br/]
Male human bard 8/disciple of Asmodeus 6
NE medium humanoid (human)
Init: +1; Senses: Listen +5, Spot +0
Languages: Common, Infernal, Abyssal
[br/]
AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+1 dex, +3 armour)
hp 94 (14 HD)
Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +11
[br/]
Speed 30'
Melee: +1 rapier +10/+5 (1d6, 18-20)
Base Atk +10; Grp +9
Atk Options: Disciple of Darkness (+1 luck bonus, 1/day)
Special Actions: bardic music (8/day)
Combat gear: wand of cure light wounds
Spells known (CL 11th)
4th (2/day) - dimension door, dominate person (DC 21), modify memory (DC 21)
3rd (4/day) - dispel magic, displacement, glibness, scrying (DC 18)
2nd (4/day) - hold person (DC 19), invisibility, mirror image, song of festering death (DC 17)
1st (5/day) - alarm, comprehend languages, sorrow (DC 18), Tasha's hideous laughter (DC 18)
0 (3/day) - detect magic, ghost sound (DC 15), lullaby (DC 17), mage hand, message, prestidigitation
Spell-Like Abilities: 1/day (CL 11th) - charm (DC 18), command (DC 18), summon hellcat, evil authority (DC 23)
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 21
SQ: bardic knowledge +12, bardic music 8/day (countersong, fascinate, suggestion (DC 19 or 21), inspire courage +2, inspire competence), learn secret 3/week
Feats: Boost Spell-Like Ability, Disciple of Darkness, Evil Brand, Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Leadership, Spell Focus (enchantment)
Skills: Bluff +21, Concentration +20, Diplomacy +25, Gather Information +23, Hide +7, Intimidate +23, Knowledge (history) +7, Knowledge (local) +7, Listen +5, Move Silently +7, Perform (singing) +22, Sense Motive +16, Spot +0
Possessions: combat gear, fleshshifter armour, +1 rapier, ring of mind shielding, amulet of health +2, cloak of charisma +4
[br/]
Charm (Sp) Once per day, the disciple of Asmodeus can produce an effect identical to that of a charm person spell cast by an 11th-level caster.
Learn Secret (Ex) Through trickery, deceit, and sometimes even intimidation, a disciple of Asmodeus can learn secrets otherwise unattainable. The disciple can make a Gather Information check three times per week with a +10 competence bonus.
Command (Sp) Once per day, the disciple of Asmodeus can produce an effect identical to that of a command spell cast by an 11th-level caster.
Summon Hellcat (Sp) The disciple of Asmodeus can summon 1 hellcat once per day. This functions as a summon monster spell cast by an 11th-level caster.
Evil Authority (Sp) Once per day, at the command of the disciple of Asmodeus, all evil-aligned creatures within 50 feet that have fewer Hit Dice than the disciple must succeed at a DC 23 Will save or recognise the disciple as their superior. Affected creatures do not attack the disciple of Asmodeus and do as he commands as though affected by a mass suggestion spell. This mind-affecting ability lasts for 24 hours.
[br/]
Height 5'11"; Weight 148 lbs.; Hair jet black; Skin tan; Eyes grey; Age 34; Patron Deity Asmodeus
The Styes is full of meat-hooks...:)
Hmm, I'd say that I haven't considered quite what Thornwell and the rest, and the others that admire, covet and envy them quite look like, let alone stated them out (stat blocks...NOOOOOO) so I'd go along with it in your own way and then, as suggested by my erstwhle chums, you could always have some fly wreathed undead/corrupted/corpse creature version turn up and still govern quite easily:)
Now, back to writing about a worse place...
Rich
...although having said that I'd always imagined Thornwell to be so pale...oh so very pale.
And with a voice like the falling of old leaves in autumn that could so easily become a storm...
Hagen,
Well done, and thank you for the work.
I'm not a d20 expert (no pun intended), but your work looks sound.
<snort>
It's late, and I read that as "meat hooks." And thought to myself, "Eew... there's not much more unsanitary than a meat hook in the Styes, is there?" And then I saw that it said "neat hooks," instead.
And if this doesn't get me an award for most off-topic/random messageboard post of the week... I'll eat my hat!
You are perhaps the greatest Editor-In-Chief Dungeon has ever known.
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...although having said that I'd always imagined Thornwell to be so pale...oh so very pale.
And with a voice like the falling of old leaves in autumn that could so easily become a storm...
Hmmm. I think I'll change Thornwell's Perform (singing) into Perform (whisper). At first I really wanted to give him the Dark Speech feat from Book of Vile Darkness and the Fiendish Codex, but using the feat does 1d4 charisma damage, which can be downright lethal for a bard.
I actually tried out the Dark Speech feat on an NPC in one of my games. It wasn't terribly effective, but it's got a lot of flavor. And it may be more powerful for a higher charisma/higher level character (don't have Hordes of the Abyss around at the moment). From a flavor standpoint, it totally works for Thornwell. Maybe potions of restoration to take the edge off while he's bought time with Dark Speech?
Great work on his stat block, I might add. He's definitely going to need a large entourage to get the most out of his abilities, though. And besides, he's the kind of guy you want coming back to harass your PCs over and over again.
Richard, do you have a campaign website or personal webspace where you post additional Styes tidbits? I am starting up a campaign set in the lovely locale this week! I think I've disected the two dungeon adventures for all their background content and want to know if any more exists out there.
Great work regardless,
Kel
Richard, do you have a campaign website or personal webspace where you post additional Styes tidbits? I am starting up a campaign set in the lovely locale this week! I think I've disected the two dungeon adventures for all their background content and want to know if any more exists out there.
Great work regardless,
Kel
Hello Kel,
It's a nice idea. I do run a Styes adventure path, but just right now I have a few too many things on my plate to spend enough to do it justice (if you can use the words justice and Styes in the same sentence:)). Who knows in the future though? In the meantime have fun with the setting and just think horribly when you write anything.
Rich
Mr. Pett, I found a roper in my backyard this morning when I got up. It has no collar or any other markings to show who it belongs to, but it keeps bleating, "Mnaaaar!" Did you misplace one of your's? One that maybe got lost on its way to the residence of Mr. Vaughn? If it's yours, could you kindly come pick it up? It's making a mess of my backyard and driving my dog crazy.
Oh, and I'll have some Rat food for you this week.
Mr. Pett, I found a roper in my backyard this morning when I got up. It has no collar or any other markings to show who it belongs to, but it keeps bleating, "Mnaaaar!" Did you misplace one of your's? One that maybe got lost on its way to the residence of Mr. Vaughn? If it's yours, could you kindly come pick it up? It's making a mess of my backyard and driving my dog crazy.
Oh, and I'll have some Rat food for you this week.
If it answers to the name of 'purdy' it's greg's.
Huzzah - rats rats rats!