This was a solid entry. He's a really usable villain, without much tweaking required. Well-written and well thought out. You got my vote.
I am quite impressed by this one. Good Job!
This is awesome!
This is my favorite. A villain with tentacles and a big mouth, who is also thoughtful and networky. Engaging without straining to be so.
4/10
It's just hard for me to take an otyugh villain seriously. Heck, I didn't realize they were even intelligent until one spoke to our party in Curse of the Crimson Throne, and we thought it must be an illusion or something for a minute. And his last name just begs to be corrupted into "stench." Other than being a rank poo-beast, it's OK.
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4/10
It's just hard for me to take an otyugh villain seriously. Heck, I didn't realize they were even intelligent until one spoke to our party in Curse of the Crimson Throne, and we thought it must be an illusion or something for a minute. And his last name just begs to be corrupted into "stench." Other than being a rank poo-beast, it's OK.
you should really look beyond the poo-beast :P
but actually as a player that "It's just hard for me to take an otyugh villain seriously" it would be adeadly disadvantage in your part on this one :P
I really like this and will be voting for it.
But there is one thing i want to comment on. I really didn't dig the discription. I thought the Infernal elements where very clumsily added to the discription. I think that is something that needs work, but beyond that, very well done Neil.
Pass him on. Very cool.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4
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This is awesome. I can see this villain in Korvosa all ready. When the voting is over you should tale us if you had a city in mind when you wrote Gulga up. I think most people just think Korvosa because it goes with all the flavor from the Crimson books. You got my vote.
-The Twitching King
When the voting is over you should tell us if you had a city in mind when you wrote Gulga up.
I'm actually quite eager to answer some of the questions asked so far...and to share more about how and why I put together this specific villain concept. But I'll certainly wait until the voting period has ended...and possibly the next as well, because I don't want anything I might say about Gulga to impact the "stat-block" or "lair" voting down the road if we're asked to use our same villain in succeeding rounds.
But, yeah...I'm very eager to talk about this guy. Thanks to everyone for their feedback. Even those who didn't particularly like him.
--Neil
Of all the entries, this one screams "BBEG" the loudest. Um, Neil, I hope we won't be meeting this guy anytime soon in your CotCT campaign, right?
:nervous chuckle
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This is awesome. I can see this villain in Korvosa all ready. When the voting is over you should tale us if you had a city in mind when you wrote Gulga up. I think most people just think Korvosa because it goes with all the flavor from the Crimson books. You got my vote.
-The Twitching King
je I see him also in CotC, at leastmoving some strings but growing to be his own power as you finishthat adventure and move on... his tentacles still moving behind to keep tabs on whatever you do next :D
This is fresh and has a lot of possibilities. Plus, it nods to Lovecraft (yay!),
A nod's as good as a wink to an albino abyssian otyugh as they say.
Contributor, RPG Superstar
aka Leandra Christine Schneider
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Oh my, after only a few days of absence this entry has seen a lot of discussion.
Unable to add much more, I 'll humbly leave my vote. I really enjoyed the "leaves" and this villain raised above my expectations. I'm confident you can surprise us further.
...also, I'm happy you took on a difficult stat-block for next round :-)
Memo to Paizo Merchandise Dept.:
One word: P-L-U-S-H-I-E !!!
Now on to the entry: L-O-V-E I-T!
If Gulga isn't what it is, I'd give it A BIG WARM HUG!!!
Exceptionally well planned, written and executed. I agree with everyone else's comments. There's not much else to say that hasn't been said already.
Verdict: On to next round!
TL
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Star Voter Season 6
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This was one of the only entries that jumped out and slapped me around...in a good way!
I think it's highly original, highly adaptable for DMs to play with, and highly memorable. If I threw this villain out to my players, they would be telling stories about it/him for months, guaranteed.
This got my 100% first vote.
Great stuff.
Of all the entries, this one impressed me the most. The otyugh is not a monster I use very much, so the coolness of this entry got my GM wheels turning. I'll definitely use in my campaign.
Nicely done, Neil!
Christina
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I gave this some thought and I dismissed it. I gave it some more thought and it made it onto my "maybe" list. And then I gave it yet more thought, and have come to the decision it is my second favorite (behind the awesome fleshwarper). This is a very workable villain; I am certain my group would be shocked to find the mastermind behind their troubles was such an unexpected and effective mastermind.
I think you are likely to go on to the next round, and that will be *the round* for you. Your Leaves of the Autumn Dryad needed mechanical work, but it was a great item. Similarly, this is a great concept as well; if you can pull off the execution, then you will be well placed to continue to advance. If you can't get the stat block right, then I fear you will eliminated, something I really would not like to see happen for it is clear you have talent.
Good luck!
I think you are likely to go on to the next round, and that will be *the round* for you. Your Leaves of the Autumn Dryad needed mechanical work, but it was a great item. Similarly, this is a great concept as well; if you can pull off the execution, then you will be well placed to continue to advance. If you can't get the stat block right, then I fear you will eliminated, something I really would not like to see happen for it is clear you have talent.
Thank you. I can only promise to do my best. And I appreciate all the encouragement folks have provided here. It is a definite motivator for me. I want to do well for myself, obviously. But I also want to do stuff that will entertain everyone and live up to expectations, too. Personally, I think RPG Superstar is one of the most unique, industry stirring developments to come along in a long, long time. And I'm very appreciative and thrilled to be a part of it this year as a competitor.
Sincerely,
--Neil
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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OKay..you had me at Cyth V'sug, because Shane and I racked our brains making drow characters who served this guy.
You also had me at otyugh, because using creatures that are smarter than they get credit for always hooks me.
You get docked a nitpick point for not telling us how he became a wizard. Sorcerer with a fiendish bloodline, sure. Maybe his first spellbooks come as a gift from the Fungus Lord? Maybe he kills a wizard and picks it up slowly while he begins to see the destiny laid on him by the circumstances of his birth.
Extrapoints, because this guy uses several different types of monsters and gives you many ways to introduce him. I choose to kidnap homeless folks from near the sewers, and lead the party on for a bit with these bodies in the sewers which were obviously sacrifices. While the are looking for a local cult, many small cults are working hard to herald a new lord of the underworld.
At higher levels, I think a territorial dispute with a destrachan clan gets the attention of the PCs. Another monster that gets little credit for their high mental scores, the destrachan warriors attempt to wall off their enemies with destructive tunnel collapses. Sinkholes in the city. ENtire buildings crushing all who were in them. And the destrachans are really the devil that the party deals with to bring down the best villain of superstar 09: Gulga Cench.
I dig the name.
You also had me at otyugh, because using creatures that are smarter than they get credit for always hooks me.
I must admit I wasn't even aware that otyughs were sentient at all. I've never used them, so I just thought of them as some sort of monstrous animal. So I even learned something here.
You also had me at otyugh, because using creatures that are smarter than they get credit for always hooks me.I must admit I wasn't even aware that otyughs were sentient at all. I've never used them, so I just thought of them as some sort of monstrous animal. So I even learned something here.
You and me both. My experience in otyughs are limited to couple of computer games, where they didn't show any signs of sentience, but apparently I should go check those stats another time...
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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Having finished evaluating (and scathing, I guess) all the villains, I have to come back and give you props. I know you want this contest to be a good experience for everyone, but that includes the voters and you helped make that happen. I don't remember most of the other entries when I think about Gulga Cench, and that's merciful.
Two badass and imaginative entries. Now let's see what you've got for the math.
Now let's see what you've got for the math.
Thanks. I'm working on it right now. And it's become my own personal horror (or is that hell?)... ;-D
--Neil
I really like this entry - I liked it a lot. Unfortunately for you, this particular villain won't work so well in my (somewhat unusual) campaign, which is a great pity, as it deserves to. There are a number of other entries I had to dismiss on those grounds, but I kept letting this one through as I slowly narrowed down my list, because it's just so freaking cool. But, in the end, it didn't quite make it over the bar.
It's in no way a criticism, just a "I only have four votes" thing. I hope to see you in the next round - I can't wait to see what you do with this one!
Some good stuff
Ditto on this. I'm looking forward to your stat block. I'm also looking forward to your comments on this villain when you are able to share more.
Good Luck!
Sorry. Double post
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
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Great job on this. You hit all the important points and knocked the villain out of the park. My only quibble is that instead of being poised for mystic theurge, I can't figure out why he isn't a mystic theurge already. It can already qualify as soon as it's wiz 3/clr 3, and then could be a MT 4 at the same number of levels. I'm not holding that against you in this round, but in the next round for the stat block, you're already at a disadvantage I think.
That being said, this is my new vote #3, bumping my previous #3 down to 4th vote.
I'm making a running list of everyone's questions so far. And once we've got the green light to comment, I'll happily do so. But in the meantime, thanks again for your support.
I've also been working on the stat block per Sean's suggestion that we get started right away. Hopefully, I can do a good job with that for everyone and still have time to come back and comment on Gulga's backstory and my design decisions.
Of course, all of that depends on what kind of curve ball they throw us with the official rules for Round Three and how involved they prove to be. So, bear with me...
Thanks,
--Neil
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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Dedicated Voter Season 6
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Well, don't be disappointed. I think they're Int 5. But an unusually intelligent one, plus 4 for half-fiend might just get a bonus language!
Back in the day, neo-otyughs were pretty smart (as smart as humans, at any rate). I'm kind of sad they've been rolled into the base creature. But there's nice historical precedent for more powerful, smarter otyughs. Rah for old-school!
I'm actually quite eager to answer some of the questions asked so far...and to share more about how and why I put together this specific villain concept. But I'll certainly wait until the voting period has ended...and possibly the next as well, because I don't want anything I might say about Gulga to impact the "stat-block" or "lair" voting down the road if we're asked to use our same villain in succeeding rounds....But, yeah...I'm very eager to talk about this guy.
Greetings to those who blissfully dwell in the light of day, caring not for what lurks in the dark, damp, fetid places of your own making!
Against my better judgement I am compelled to respond to some of the many questions you have posed in this forum. Unfortunately, the human male you know as Neil Spicer is otherwise 'indisposed' and currently finds himself entertained by a few of my better henchmen for daring to reveal so much about our operations.
With that in mind, further enlightenment about my exact capabilities is better left for another day...preferrably after the devoted followers of Cyth V'sug have wrested this mortal plane from your control and lowered it into the Abyss. But, until that day comes...and since the proverbial cat is obviously out of the bag about my identity...I shall endeavor to set a few things straight.
When the voting is over you should tell us if you had a city in mind when you wrote Gulga up. I think most people just think Korvosa...
I should probably refrain from telling you the exact location of my lair. It is true that a city like Korvosa could certainly fit the description Mr. Spicer offered. Where else could one find such a plentiful population of otyughs and a school of conjuration that actively dabbles in summoning rituals?
All you really need to know is, yes, my mother unknowingly consumed the spores of a demonic minion. And if it weren't for the ineptitude of young conjurers and their petty rivalries, I might likely have never been born. Let every apprentice take note: the ritual used for consorting with devils doesn't hold the same abjurative properties when applied to demons...so, know what you're summoning before you start the incantation. The students failed to learn this lesson. Thus, my 'father' immediately broke free of the entirely inappropriate circle meant to bind him. And, in the ensuing chaos, caused quite a stir upon school grounds before one of the masters laid him low. Then, in their haste to hide what transpired that night, those tasked with cleaning up the mess took the easy shortcut of dumping his remains into the sewer.
But, if I've learned anything in my lifetime, it's to be very careful of that which you discard. It often turns up again in the most disturbing way...and at the most inopportune times. So began my childhood. And so did my lord expand his reach into this world through me.
You get docked a nitpick point for not telling us how he became a wizard. Sorcerer with a fiendish bloodline, sure. Maybe his first spellbooks come as a gift from the Fungus Lord? Maybe he kills a wizard and picks it up slowly while he begins to see the destiny laid on him by the circumstances of his birth.
Alas, I wish it were so simple. But, no, my first spellbook came to me quite by accident...like so much discarded trash, actually. One of those same foolish arcane students apparently fell victim to a gang of thugs who dumped his body in the sewers. It's funny how often that happens down here...but I digress...
Glad for the meal, I was also somewhat surprised to find much of the apprentice's gear intact. I devoted much self-study to his spellbook, teaching myself the rudiments of the craft. And, as I grew in strength, I made friends with the derro and drow who sometimes wandered up from the depths below the city. Exchanging services gave me access to more arcane knowledge. And, though I never attended a school of wizardry, I had access to some of the most unfettered minds of magecraft this world has ever known.
I must admit I wasn't even aware that otyughs were sentient at all.
It is a cruel trick played upon my species that others view us with such ignorance or disdain. Just because we dwell in the sewers and feast upon all manner of organic waste, doesn't mean we're any less sentient...any less capable...than those of your own race who willingly debase themselves. If my minion, Brimback, were here, he could certainly testify to the nature of your kind. They easily take to the fungal inhalers we sell upon the streets...eager for that extra 'high' no matter the damage it might do to their minds. So, sentience doesn't equal intelligence or wisdom. You can find all of those things in some creatures and entirely missing in others. In my estimation, I am living proof that otyughs are capable of displaying them all. And, when I'm done with preparing this plane for my lord, Cyth V'sug, I will ensure your species is depleted of them instead.
Back in the day, neo-otyughs were pretty smart (as smart as humans, at any rate). I'm kind of sad they've been rolled into the base creature. But there's nice historical precedent for more powerful, smarter otyughs. Rah for old-school!
Occasionally, I run across a human that surprises me. And you are clearly such an individual. I too have found evidence of a greater evolution of my species...and I am now attempting to reinvoke it. Given your obvious enthusiasm for supporting such an outcome, you might be interested to know we still have openings in my organization if you are so inclined to join...
...ooh, is he seeking a mate? or planning on “building” one? [delicious shudder]...
I'll admit it is sometimes lonely here in the dark. Occasionally, I yearn for a consort at my side, but haven't yet found my equal in the fairer gender of my species. So, yes, I am unashamed to say I have endeavored to 'build' a better mate. And there are encouraging signs of progress in that regard.
Setting up a mystic theurge?
I prefer not to answer that question at this time. It wouldn't do to give away all my secrets or my plans for the future. But check back here at a future date, and perhaps once my plans are closer to fruition, I can further enlighten you on this subject.
I couldn't get around the fact that he's an otyugh. Cool description, but I just kept thinking "It's an otyugh".
That's quite alright. I prefer for your species to continue thinking of me in that regard. I will prove their doom long before they discern the true danger I pose.
The intelligent otyugh mastermind is interesting, but I'm not a big fan of Cyth-v'sug.
It isn't necessary to become a fan of Cyth-V'sug. His plans only call for you to become subservient to him.
On the Cyth v'sug note though, I am wondering if this villain maintains contacts with Treerazer.
Ah, you mean the traitorous fiend who tried to usurp my lord's dominion? Like my lord, I am aware of Treerazer's presence on this plane. He's carved out quite a hole in the elves' precious forest. But he does so for his own benefit, not to usher this plane into the Abyss. Nevertheless, he serves his purpose in the greater plan of Cyth-V'sug. By keeping the elves occupied, it limits what that potent species can do to oppose us. And, with others assuming Treerazer represents the whole of my master's will on this plane, it allows me to operate virtually unnoticed below every major population center throughout the world. As a result, I will be my lord's favorite when he claims this plane. Not Treerazer.
I was always so sad that I'd never see a beholder masterminding a city's underworld in Golarion but now I no longer feel the loss of the icon with this piece of work.
I am unfamiliar with this 'beholder' of which you speak. Perhaps it is a creature bound to another realm?
Ohhh the abyssal ones seem to be tugging at my heartstrings tonight. Especially since I'm currently running with a plot that involves an experiment-gone-wrong right now...
How delightful! I'm equally interested in the notion you would find me capable of tugging at your heartstrings, as well as your apparent vocation as a midwife. I can forsee a place for you among my experiments...or as a handmaiden to deliver my most recent progeny. And, for the record, there's no such thing as an 'experiment-gone-wrong'...they're all just happy little accidents.
Reckless Ratings...Concept4...Content4...Coolness5...Credibility4...Clarity4...Total Score21...
Ah! A numerologist! Excellent. I give your assessment a passing grade as well...for now.
The origin story is terrific, and yet concise enough that you still have plenty of room to talk about...his activities and goals, his minions and motivations.
Yes, perhaps a little too much room to talk about such things? This is why Mr. Spicer currently finds himself being interrogated in a very small room with a tiny metal cage surrounding his head. A cage with a very small door that only barely manages to hold back a feral rat ready to feast upon his eyes if he doesn't divulge how he came by this information about me.
Nobody ever suspects the otyughs these days. Think of the chaos that would occur if he was posing as one of Korvosa's trash disposing otyughs!
Yes. Evil Genius, indeed. Just think of the chaos if something like that were to happen...
Only one, minor quibble -- I first read Cench as Stench (silly human brain) and had to get past the pun...
Oh, it's not a pun, my dear. Mr. Spicer's assessment about me was correct. I am self-named. And, as long as you know this much about me, I don't suppose it will hurt to provide the details around why I'm called Gulga Cench. You see, growing up in the sewers as a child, I really had no parents to teach me much about language and words. I'm self-taught in virtually everything. The few otyugh that bore my presence would sometimes talk among themselves about me and our species. We sometimes call ourselves by a different name...the gulguthra. And, in my youth, I took a fancy to the term and shortened it to Gulga.
Later, as I grew a bit older and stalked my own fresh meat among the sewer workers and otyugh wranglers who venture down here, I often overheard many of your kind remark..."What a stench! Do you smell that?"...right before I flayed the skin from their bones. Of course, young minds being what they are...I completely misinterpreted the term, leaving out the important consonant...and I came to call myself Cench as well. The childhood nickname has stuck ever since. And I don't mind it so much. It's as much a part of who I am as the heritage of Cyth-V'sug.
The origin, the description, the methods, all win over my innate notion of the "I like to eat poop" otyugh cliche.
I'm glad to hear that, Todd. Because in all honesty, most otyugh don't prefer to eat your vile waste. True, we can subsist on it...much like you could get by on bread and water, I suppose. But I much prefer the meat of flesh and the wine of blood. And, for the time being, I deem it necessary for the otyugh living in the sewers to continue disposing of your offal, if for no other reason than to maintain a semblance of normalcy while I carry out my plans. Of course, now that Mr. Spicer has blown the lid off our operation, all of that may have to change.
...what's this guy's arcane penmanship going to be like?
It's quite good actually. I won't go into the exact details for how my physiology enables me to scribe my spells. But I wouldn't be where I am today if I weren't equally capable in that regard.
The only problem I have is wanting to know more...
I'm afraid much of that will simply have to wait. This is all I have time to share. After all, your world isn't going to conquer itself. I have much to do. And I could do without this distraction. Now, please excuse me. I must go ask Brimback to keep Mr. Spicer's screams to a minimum so I can concentrate.
"The eyes! Go for the eyes, Boo!"
:)
Enjoyable.
I somehow get the feeling that you have been hard at work preparing that over the past week and were just waiting for the right moment to post it.
A pity though, that "Gulga Cench" responded rather than "GULGA CENCH".
Best!
~ LD.
I somehow get the feeling that you have been hard at work preparing that over the past week and were just waiting for the right moment to post it.
Actually, I wish that were the case. But no, I typed all that up this evening. I'd been thinking of doing something in-character for Gulga, but hadn't written it yet. That time was better spent crafting a most heinous stat-block instead. And trust me, that was far more painful than the rat-cage.
A pity though, that "Gulga Cench" responded rather than "GULGA CENCH".
Yes, well. Funny story about that, too. When I posted my entry, I checked the normal format for how villains appear in Paizo's products. And their names were always in all CAPS...and any title would then be in lower-case. So, I figured I'd do the same for my entry...and just assumed everyone else would, too.
Imagine my embarrassment when I saw my entry was the only one with an all CAP-ped name. Oops! But then, the upside of it was that it sort of made my guy standout to some degree. That was both a positive and a negative, because at least one person said they almost didn't read my entry because of the all CAPS in his name. I'm extremely glad everyone gave him the benefit of the doubt anyway.
Thanks,
--Neil
"because at least one person said they almost didn't read my entry because of the all CAPS in his name."
...I believe that was me. :o
After reading the character though and giving it a chance, I have come to believe that ALLCAPS probably suit the character quite well. I just generally find it off-putting when people abuse ALLCAPS; here it does not seem that ALLCAPS was abused- in fact it added to the otherworldliness of the character.
Hmm... "Yes, well. Funny story about that, too. When I posted my entry, I checked the normal format for how villains appear in Paizo's products. And their names were always in all CAPS...and any title would then be in lower-case. So, I figured I'd do the same for my entry...and just assumed everyone else would, too."
I never noticed that. Amusing situation there.
Once again; good work and good luck!
Once again; good work and good luck!
Thanks and...ummm...I gotta run!
Escaped! What do you mean he escaped?!? Brimback! Remind me again, what do I pay you for?
*sigh*
C'mon...let's see if Memorymaker can track him down.
I just wanted to say, hands down, this is the best villain in the contest this year, to me. I didn't have to hesitate, I don't have to qualify... this guy had my vote the moment I finished the entry. Maybe I should say "you had me at half-fiend otyugh," actually.
Beyond my love of freaky monsters, which I do so love...
...the otyugh is a classic creature, which I've seen much use of in modules, but which I've never seen used as a villain, which is a shame.
He's got the creepy factor, not just from being a demonic aberration worshipping a fiendish fungal god, but also ratchetted up by his horrifically unsanitary stock in trade (diseases and sewer-grown drugs) and that his idea of opulance probably involves a goodly layer of filth.
What's more, he's versitile in being used as an evil cultist leader, a sewerological Dr. Moreau, or a good old fashioned crime-boss... because he's all of these things. It just depends on how the heroes approach the situation, what side or sides they see.
The closest thing to a flaw I can see, is that he's poised for Jabba the Hutt jokes from players... and heck, as a DM, I'd actually be tempted to portray him with my best Jabba impression. ...but it's not altogether untoward to take inspiration from that series for him, since I would have trouble believing it if someone told me otyughs weren't inspired by the trash-compactor monster in Star Wars already (which ain't a bad pedigree.)
Also... awww, I missed the Ask Gulga segment of this thread. ;.;
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definitively the best villainin the contest, followed closely bu the Fleshpeddler
I liked the impersonation and talk in character... and as Self-Taught Evil Geniuses I believe part of his low self steam shows in the fact that he forced to be educated like a Taldan or a Chelexian...heis nota Jabba de Hut who is barely able to talk our language... but even betweenthe filth the creature has given himself time to educate himself as if to pose like a gentleman if unseen...
very Dr. No indeed...
Gulga Cench made himself in the image he had, both being an Otyug and a servant of a fiend... as much as being a civiliced businesman who would break your bones andthrow you in the bay, and call itthe work of common thugs to keep the guard busy.
heis nota Jabba de Hut who is barely able to talk our language... but even betweenthe filth the creature has given himself time to educate himself as if to pose like a gentleman if unseen...
Well, I'm just trying to be honest. I think I've got at least one player I can "count on" to make a Jabba reference the moment she finds out the big crime-boss is actually a huge, rubbery, inhuman thing with a rat-like sidekick.
As for the "unable to speak English" bit, I don't think Jabba or the Hutts are any less evocative as villains because they have people to speak "the common tongue" for them. That aside, I think the deep, moist, rumbling tones of Jabba's voice sync up well with the kind of voice I'd give Gulga, at least, with the guises dropped... just that I'd probably have him speak in Common.
Does anyone else remember the old computer version of "Curse of the Azure Bonds"? You had to negotiate with Neo-otyughs in the sewers to escape from the first city - I've loved them ever since.
Yes, Brimback...dump him over there.
No, I don't pretend to understand what Mr. Spicer is babbling on about. What exactly is a stat-block and what does 'Round Three' have to do with his plans?
These are questions you should take care to ask him...maybe after you peel a bit of skin from him to get his attention? Just be sure to bring it to me. I skipped breakfast this morning...
Oh! Hello again! What? There's more of you down here asking questions of me? I swear, someone should seal off the hideout before it becomes a tourist attraction! I could do without these disruptions. Still, I suppose I do have some time to spare.
...the otyugh is a classic creature, which I've seen much use of in modules, but which I've never seen used as a villain, which is a shame.
I too would agree that we otyughs are quite classic. We've been around a long time. A bit underappreciated, really, in this advanced age. Once my plans reach fruition, though, I'm sure we'll make a pronounced comeback...a meteoric rise, really. What? No. I have nothing to do with calling down meteors from the sky. Why do you ask?
...his idea of opulance probably involves a goodly layer of filth.
Well, I really view myself as more of a multilayered renaissance otyugh, actually. Generally speaking, I clean myself up far more than my less-evolved brethren. After all, you can only cloak such smells for so long, you know? That's why I find it's better to clean up a bit before meeting with my underlings. Then, I can save my illusions for more important deceptions. Of course, like anyone, I do enjoy a good soak in a mostly-mud bath now and then. It certainly helps me relax after a long day.
The closest thing to a flaw I can see, is that he's poised for Jabba the Hutt jokes...
Jabba? The Hutt? Never heard of him. Is he a bard, perhaps? An entertainer with a flair for joke-telling? No?
...very Dr. No indeed...
Doctor No? Where do you people come up with these ridiculous sounding names? And to think, some still question my own surname! How can they be critical, if titles like Jabba the Hutt and Dr. No are commonplace?
I think I've got at least one player I can "count on" to make a Jabba reference the moment she finds out the big crime-boss is actually a huge, rubbery, inhuman thing with a rat-like sidekick...
Ah, well see...I'm obviously different! I don't have a rat-like sidekick (unless you count Brimback, and he masquerades as a human far more often than a rat). Instead, I have a bat-like sidekick. Memorymaker here is a stirge. A very intelligent one, mind you. And if your friend wishes to make jokes about me, perhaps we could persuade her otherwise by introducing her to him. I'm sure she'd see the differences almost immediately once he gets attached. In fact, I imagine Memorymaker would grow quite 'attached' to her. You don't mind sacrificing a bit of her blood to get the point across do you?
Does anyone else remember the old computer version of "Curse of the Azure Bonds"? You had to negotiate with Neo-otyughs in the sewers to escape from the first city...
I'm afraid I don't own one of those magical devices. I only manage to post here through my spells. But I certainly like the sound of what you're describing.
I'm terrified by what you're going to unleash on your fellow competitors in the villain lair round, and the adventure round. Don't make them cry too much.
Right now, the only one crying will be Mr. Spicer. His attempt to escape was cut short when he slipped and fell. Brimback's got him trussed up tighter than a spring chicken at the moment. So don't be expecting anything more from him about me or my lair. We've got to exercise tighter information control down here. And I intend to see to that immediately.
I think Gulga could have a large and long-running impact on Golarion. He has a lot of fans out here.
Well...hmmm...thank you very much. I'll admit, I'm not completely above flattery and adoring fans, as long as their adoration is well-placed. And, as long as it's placed in me, it's certainly appropriate.
Even so, I really should be on my way. In order for me to have a 'large and long-running impact on Golarion,' I need to devote my time to that effort.
Now, Memorymaker will see all of you out. Right this way. And don't worry, he's already gorged himself on Mr. Spicer's blood. So he shouldn't be too hungry. Nevertheless, I'd recommend against tarrying. He gets quite ravenous sometimes...such a glutton, really!
Now, where'd I put my spellbook...