It looks like I need a stat block (3.5) for Lorthact. Anyone made one yet?
I really want him to have the epic spellcasting feat, so that means at least 21 hit dice (which is high but not unreasonably so for a duke of Hell).
Any other thoughts on what he should be like? The dude defeated "a Murder Squad of pit fiends and cornugons", while simultaneously casting some serious illusion magic, so he can't be too wussy.
According to the appendix in the back of the Guide to Korvosa, he's an infernal, the 3.5 stats for which are in the d20 SRD
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/abomination.htm#infernal
You'd have to fiddle with his SLAs to let him shapechange (or give him an Epic magic item), though.
According to the appendix in the back of the Guide to Korvosa, he's an infernal, the 3.5 stats for which are in the d20 SRD
D'oh! Thank-you! I saw that but didn't remember that this was the name of an actual creature.
That will do fine. I'd rather stick with what's established than monkey with it, so I'll forego the epic spellcasting. His spell-like abilities would seem to explain his combat abilities. His immunity to polymorph is a problem, since he clearly has some method of transforming from a Large abomination into something that looks like a Medium human. Maybe that's the kind of epic magic item he'll have.
He's even about the right CR. At 26 he's a good progression from the CR 21 big bad (possibly followed by a CR 25 big bad, if the players mess up).
ETA: The magic item doesn't even need to be epic, if it's psionic. Maybe he just imported a skin of Proteus from Vudra, or something.
According to the appendix in the back of the Guide to Korvosa, he's an infernal, the 3.5 stats for which are in the d20 SRD
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/monsters/abomination.htm#infernal
You'd have to fiddle with his SLAs to let him shapechange (or give him an Epic magic item), though.
So what is an infernal, besides something with a really nasty set of stats?
Abominations in general (of which infernals are an example) are the dregs of godhood, either the misbegotten offspring of the gods or failed gods. We know that the Lords of the Nine, although not gods, are nearly divine (excepting the truly divine Asmodeus), and the implication is that Lorthact was driven from the Nine Hells because he initiated a power struggle for control of one of the layers and lost. He was probably either a pit fiend or a unique devil who became an infernal due to sheer force of will and power--he almost, but not quite, made himself into a lord of hell.
I just looked at the original stats fo the Infernal in the epic handbook and they used to have polymorph self as a power.
Some random wonderings about Lorthact. He's an exiled Duke of Hell, right? Hiding from devil hit squads and all of that? So, how does he have so many devil servants? How does he have his contract with the queen stored in Dis? Why is he negotiating to let devils have free run of Korvosa? And, really, what was his goal in all of this?
Creative Director
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Some random wonderings about Lorthact. He's an exiled Duke of Hell, right? Hiding from devil hit squads and all of that? So, how does he have so many devil servants? How does he have his contract with the queen stored in Dis? Why is he negotiating to let devils have free run of Korvosa? And, really, what was his goal in all of this?
Lorthact is an intentional loose end, one that we'll probably not do anything with. He's something for each GM to develop as he/she sees fit for his/her game... and this thread's a great place for folks to start throwing out ideas!
I have to change him at least a little bit, since it's known that he can cast prestidigitation (which I did as a throwaway once before I started thinking about his stat block). Maybe two levels of conjurer? This would give him a few spells as well as another feat. For skills I'm thinking sixteen ranks in Spellcraft, but I'm less certain about the feat. Thoughts?
I have to change him at least a little bit, since it's known that he can cast prestidigitation (which I did as a throwaway once before I started thinking about his stat block). Maybe two levels of conjurer? This would give him a few spells as well as another feat. For skills I'm thinking sixteen ranks in Spellcraft, but I'm less certain about the feat. Thoughts?
16 ranks seems a bit low.
How'd your party come up face to face with this guy? My party never even suspected he was there and were never even in the same neighborhood as he was.
16 ranks seems a bit low.
Yeah, but he only gets sixteen skill points with those two levels of conjurer. I just meant that this is how I was thinking of advancing him. I could always give him more levels, of course.
How'd your party come up face to face with this guy? My party never even suspected he was there and were never even in the same neighborhood as he was.
I have an Ornelos PC. The player told me in the background she submitted that Volshyenek was actually still around and that she was his favourite (great to the x) granddaughter. I said okay. Now that she's becoming fairly heroic, he's making sure that she knows that Sermignatto needs to die before the queen does (or else his entire scheme falls apart, but he's not telling her that).
I'm guessing that even if the party found out that "Uncle Anondar" the retired Ornelos majordomo is really Volshyenek that they'd shrug and be fine with it. If they found out that he was really Duke Lorthact it might give them pause, but then again it might not.
For now I just want to make sure that I know what he's like and what he can do, since if nothing else they're going to be spending a bunch of time with him socially. I don't want to make another goof like having him cast a spell he doesn't have.
