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Irovetti is basically a competent version of Drelev. Since I added 2 mini kingdom incursions in book 2, its even more repetitive.
Between book 2 to book 4 there will be some breaking up of the theme. The Carnival of Tears will threaten to destroy a hamlet controlled by a player's retired character, the events of Fellknight Queen will play out, I have a ton of political subplots, and then there's the Varnhold Vanishing. While this goes down, 2nd party is taking on Citidel of Pain. All good stuff that sets up book 4 well as we get some more war!.
But then what we war all over again with basically a more competent version of the exact same villain? Not in my game. DM_Dudemeister's idea mentioned in some of his posts about a Dr Doom styled Irovetti with technical genius sounds fun but its not my campaign. I dislike tech, though I will throw in a clockwork dragon that will be the extent of the Numerian influence.
I like a more political Irovetti. What if Irovetti was more Machiavelli then anyone expected. What if Pitax was less a idiots farce of bad artwork and more a front for a bard college filled with spies and rogues? What if Irovetti was in fact behind allot more then the books suggest? What if Pitax was in fact more of a secret rival to Daggermark?
I'll be back on this, I think some DMs are going to dig what I'm cooking up.
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Keeping my eye on you, Solspiral.
I have loved your stuff so far.
I want Irovetti to be political and sneaky, with a face-off at the very last.
His use of
My game: the NPC spymaster "David" can get a lot of information on a lot of different things... But when they get closer to this booklet, he'll have to inform them that this is not going well.. He's even losing/lost some of his people.
Sounds cool.
I have to admit my Irovetti is basically just a speedbump before I bring in Choral, and a method to get Briar into my players' hands. He's not going to have too much stage presence, other than being behind much of the manipulation going on in the earlier chapters... what of it isn't Nyrissa anyway.
...and a method to get Briar into my players' hands.
In my game the PCs will eventually get a vision that its in the roots of the old sycamore, the spirit of the tree is dying because Nyrissa has begun to forget about her love.
...back to Irovetti
Though how do you plan to make him more cunning and political then?
I'm just about to start Book 5 myself in the next three weeks or so, and I always welcome new ideas to my game.
Though how do you plan to make him more cunning and political then?
I'm just about to start Book 5 myself in the next three weeks or so, and I always welcome new ideas to my game.
Well, to start, one of my ideas for this section is that, at the tournament, Irovetti would use a Bard's Performance on a some River Kingdoms assassin/representative(most likely Mivon, given the pre-existing relations with Pitax, but you could use others, even Daggermark) to Suggest that the PCs were here to commit some grievous offense against Daggermark, and that "preventative measures might be taken." A moonlit assassination attempt would follow and, whatever the result, it would spark a war between the PCs and Mivon/Daggermark/Other, and Irovetti could move to supplant both nations while they fought each other.
There are plenty of other ways to go about it, too, if you want to get devious about it. Daggermark's a nation of assassins just waiting to be hired, and I'm sure a few would be willing to "work abroad," as it were. That's even before we get to hiring (ex)patriots, planting sleeper cells, and, of course, the spy-staple double(triple/quadruple) agent. There's all kinds of ways to start a proxy war. Find what works best for you and the PCs. Just remember to leave little clues lying around that it is, in fact, a proxy war, and there's more going on behind the scenes.
But then, you're playing Kingmaker, aka
EDIT: why did I spoiler this again? Oh well.
Irovetti intends to destablise Brevoy, divide Mivon, distract daggermark and Numeria (by starting a war) all to make a 2 front attack to either take the Pcs kingdom or take Mivon! This will be a complicated and destructive war in book 5 and will have consequences beyond the just PCs vs Pitax.
Some changes...
-Irovetti is actually the grandson of Baronet Dumond from Citidel of Pain. Dumond is not statted in there (I'll stat him up on this thread at some point) but he has made some potent artifacts and basically is a lich with alchemist and necromancer levels.
-Gramps is around and aiding his heir but is not in fact running the political show, that's beneath him now (plus he was actually really bad at it.) His assistence will be very much a bored court wizard contribution. Useful but not as invested as one might otherwise think. Irovetti's kingdom is a place where he can conduct is evil experiments in reletive seclusion.
-Irovetti runs an organization of bard/assasins and rogues. One of his key leutenants is a quickling rogue named Gallows who will be stealing fun items like the Occukus of abandon and a certain barbarian's artifact sword. Thanks to his grandfather he will have an amulet that will protect him from mental assaults and control.
-More over Irovetti has an image of a rebellous leader that stands against tyranny. He might not be a peach himself but he thumbs his nose at Brevoy, Daggermark and Numeria and his people at least on the surface have a happy healthy looking kingdom. Irovetti has seduced a fairly good sized contingent of Milani's priesthood. He is using them along with his bards to destabilize the region which he then intends to conquer.
-The success of the cult of milani will hinge on a man in a silver cherub mask that seems to be good at everything (its actually and adventuring party of 4 with similar builds all wearing copies of the mask and hats of disguise.) Think "V" is for Vendetta but in a fantasy setting with real magical power. He inspires revolt and uprisings which lead to the Brevic civil war and some issues with Mivon we'll get to later. He'll even help the PCs take down Drelev!
I'll be posting mods from book 3 on with thsi new direction. Just think Narissa doesn't have to be behind everything she can be one of a few major villians huzzah!
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Tools at hand...
Bard School: So Pitax is supposed to be filled with good intentioned but poor quality art, right? Doesn't it make more sense if the art is just a front for their true skills, political intrigue and assasination? What if Irovetti was running a school for assasins right under everyone's noses? What if the terrible art was actually a complex series of coded communication?
With such a school the failures of Drelev and Varnhold make more sense. Varn is encouraged to fight a fruitless battle with the centaurs while Drelev is constantly reminded of his inferiority. "A true king wears the finest this, a true kings castle looks like this, a true king in generous and throw lots of parties." Just a few well placed wisperers applying pressure at the right intervals. Heck make Drelev's mistress a double agent for Irovetti, helping undermine Drelev and giving information on daggermark's intentions in the area.
With Mivon, a Tian import is about to become a problem, poppies. A few well timed songs singing praises for the drug. A few extra coins to prostitutes who keep the drug in supply and recomend it to their customers. Perhaps a playact of Irovetti part-taking to make it "cool" and suddenly all the nobles of Mivon become adicted to opium. With a properly timed revolt from his wayward cult of Milani the nobles become pliable and perhaps agents.
The bard school fills allot of holes in the plot. Think what Irovetti can do with dozen's of Gregori types.
High level alchemy and necromany: With his grandfather being a lich with lots of alchemist and necromantic wizard levels even his assistence in the form of potions and minions will be useful. Gramps has his own agenda but he's willing to pay his share and will ahve apprentices at Irovetti's disposal.
As a center of learning it only makes sense that Pitax would pay good money for corpses in good condition to study anatomy. An undead army is surprisingly effective in mass combat, especially when its unexpected.
If just the bards and spies of Pitax are well equipped with potions they become scary, give an army healing pots and they too can ruin someoness day.
Clockwork dragon and other artifacts: Irovetti is going to have an amazing charisma, we're talkign cheesy pc levels of specialization here and he will be equally armed with an equally absurd UMD. The clockwork dragon is his hold card and the reason he's not worth Numeria's wrath, that thing is a killed (the other reason of course angry lich.)
With a amulet that signifigantly bolsters and protects his mind from intellegent magic items he can use things like the occulus of abandon and anything else that pops up without fear.
His Quickling Thief Gallows will me amazing at imporved steal!
Charming the cult of Milani: This is perhaps a personal opinion but Milani's followers seem a little naive. They remind me of the revolutuionaries form Les Miserables, too young and idealistic to realize they aren't in a position to change things.
For Irovetti there can be no more perfect weapon then a bunch of innocent idealistic malcontents spreading ignorant and chaotic ideas to all his neighbors.
They are a perfect cover for his bard/assasins and spies. A great patsy when needed. Pretty much the good guy can'tr keep their hands clean and kill them. Mwahahaha
Irovetti Himself: I'm strongly considering changing him to a Bard/Oracle/Synth summoner combo. I like the idea of an extremely charismatic man with a broken body that just manages everything by sheer force of will. I might even make him crippled.
The idea is new I'm still topying with what I want him to be... Suggestions from the penut gallery? One thing I do not want is just a bard fighter he's already way to close in design to Drelev for my liking.
Bard/Oracle/MysticTheurge combo could be interesting, depending on how many levels he gets. Taking the Oracle curse that limits movement range would fit in with the 'crippled but super-powered' feel you want for him and giving him an alternate movement speed would be peanuts(like flight from an overland flight spell or, say, a chair on wheels to make him seem even more like Professor X).
Personally though, I'd just give him straight bard levels all the way through. Use feats to boost the power of his spells and bard performance and make him a buffer/debuffer. Instead of fighting Irovetti himself, the PCs need to claw through his minions, lieutenants, and magical/animated/undead defenses in a pitched battle with waves of reinforcements to stop him; or perhaps a running battle through the palace as Irovetti tries to get away and throws up roadblocks and organizes his castle's wards so the PCs have to chase him while avoiding taking too much damage or they fall behind. This has nasty potential if you give him means to fly(and stop those pesky PCs from dispelling his precious wings/spells). Both of these have the potential to be interesting and engaging final fights in keeping with Irovetti's MO and keeping him far away from the "fightin' bard" he was originally built as without the multiclassing headaches. Keeping the Bard's skill point progression(and thus mechanically backing him up as a master puppeteer and UMDer) is the cherry on top.
Also? Stealing the ideas on the Bard School for future use. Too awesome to pass up.
...Wait, what's-
Think "V" is for Vendetta but in a fantasy setting with real magical power.
I approve wholeheardedly. More please!
Thinking something like:
2 levels of bard mostly for fluff but also the light spell casting, skill points, versitile performance, bardic knowledge and fascinate.
4 levels of synthesist summoner for concept of willing himself past his limitations by force of personality. When he wears his eldion he looks like an angel with wings and what not. Also by 4th level we have haste and a few other nice arcane shiny bits. When not with his eldion we're also cooking with SM2 slas which admittedly are mostly speed bumps but still possibly useful.
Thinking 11 levels of juju oracle for ju-ju zombie making love, channel negative energy and a whole rash of mean shinies. Yeah was also thinking the lame curse.
As to buffing he has tons of bards to do that for him being able to make better zombies and being able to work past his physical limitations is essential to having his grand-father's respect.
I'll stat it out soon my PCs tend to crush anything within 3 CR of them so he'll have help. The Quickling with rogue levels shoudl make him pretty tough.
Did I mention in my world a good portion of King H's trolls disappeared? Grand-dad did some experiments on them to make them useful, Ju-ju trolls, werewolf trolls, troblins, and trolls with evolutions are also on the minions that are scary list :)
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Somewhere on the boards I posted up a re-do version of Irovetti as a 16th level bard (Arcane Duelist), which had the APG been finalized when I was writing the adventure is probably the way that I would have statted him up in the first place. That's the way I ran him when I did book 5 in my home campaign, and he was a holy terror that really put the fear of God into my players.
I also made the hints about him being a bad guy muuuuuch more subtle than in the published version. Even at the point when the Whiterose Abbey ambush occurred, the players were uncertain as to whether Irovetti himself was behind it, or whether he might have been killed or kidnapped and replaced, or whether his lieutenant Nunzio Arpaia might have taken his place.
Whatever combat stats you give Irovetti, you need to PLAY him as a lot cannier and more morally ambiguous than I think the final adventure presents him. He's not a mustachio-twirling dastard. He is just a devious ruler who wants what the PCs have and is willing to lie, cheat, and steal to get it.
...Wait, what's-
Think "V" is for Vendetta but in a fantasy setting with real magical power.
The "V" team is going to look something like:
-A ranger/rogue combo switch hitter capable of quickdrawing into capable melee or using archery.-A shadow sub-school illusionist wizard that uses summons and misdirects and shadow jump to great advantage.
-Alchemist because "V' needs bombs
-Cleric of Lamashtu because insanity and trickery are hallmarks.
They all have stone faced masks for that +10 to bluff and hats of disguise so they all look the same for not allot of money. That's where my head is at at present. Most if not all will have bluff as in class skill, throw one or 2 some perform oratory spread around skill love and you have a veritable mightmare. Best part is it won't be evident this isn't just one guy running around looking like a frakin' god.
Yeah then lets factor that they will be stirring up the Cult of Milani, probably the black sisters from book 2 and 4, throw in some hanspur nutbags, and you've got enough religious confusion and issues to completely obscure Pitax's involvement.
Yeah this side has been marinating in my brain for awhile...
Somewhere on the boards I posted up a re-do version of Irovetti as a 16th level bard (Arcane Duelist), which had the APG been finalized when I was writing the adventure is probably the way that I would have statted him up in the first place. That's the way I ran him when I did book 5 in my home campaign, and he was a holy terror that really put the fear of God into my players.
I also made the hints about him being a bad guy muuuuuch more subtle than in the published version. Even at the point when the Whiterose Abbey ambush occurred, the players were uncertain as to whether Irovetti himself was behind it, or whether he might have been killed or kidnapped and replaced, or whether his lieutenant Nunzio Arpaia might have taken his place.
Whatever combat stats you give Irovetti, you need to PLAY him as a lot cannier and more morally ambiguous than I think the final adventure presents him. He's not a mustachio-twirling dastard. He is just a devious ruler who wants what the PCs have and is willing to lie, cheat, and steal to get it.
1st honored to have you post in my thread, I like the insight you're bringing to the character. Thanks for that. I do think Irovetti is a fine villain as published, he just suffers from being right after a similar baddie in book 4 which is why I'm looking at modding this, please take no offense.
Subtle is the way I am going. PCs already have a clue (Witch used speak with dead on Gregori and has his head in a pickled jar somewhere.) I want his hands in more cookie jars than cannon is all. Narissa is an amazing villain, but I want more politics the PCs can engage in and frankly she's mostly monster plot.
Motivation-wise he's pretty complex. His disablity motivates him to power but also forces him to rely on others at times which he resents with a burning passion. His charm will be beyond reproach, he will run a good propeganda machine and when he speaks it will eb difficult to disagree. He craves approval and affection form his nearly indifferent grandfather, who will only respect magical and intellectual acheivements.
He hates Numeria because of their corruption, Brevoy for its petty squabbling lords and resents Daggermark for its control of the region.
He won't be indifferent toward his people, I want better for him than that. His people are wealthy and for the most part happy. It just so happens that people disappear at times. Its a large population, maybe they just moved right? Certainly they haven't been turned over for experimentation!
All in all I'm not coloring in the lines you created but its still mostly you're picture...
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My Irovetti is closely tied to the Strocalle family and drug trade, he's got his hands in quite a bit. Could begin smuggling some bad batches to your kingdoms. Otherwise, I went with the former adventurer angle who has some twisted appetites and studies his opponents much like he'd study a script to a play.
Used Jason's Arcane Duelist angle, altered an item or two (Irovetti knows his foes), and we're paused in the middle of our 2nd battle with the king. He is lethal, as he should be, and the party wants him dead. The 2nd time around, they made back door deals with houses not so loyal to Irovetti. The Pitax info is minimal but gives plenty enough for some intrigue.
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I was thinking of this a while ago but because we are barely into VV I didn't give it too much thought.
My thoughts so far though might help.
He wants what the PCs have but he doesn't want to risk losing all that he has already. He is savvy and diplomatic, a cunning liar, and a man who knows how to use his resources.
He manipulated Drelev into attacking the PC's kingdom to test them, he sent Grigori to spy on them, and he most certainly has spies and agents in every neighboring kingdom. He is careful though, and does all he can to avoid a mistake come back to him.
Grigor wasn't aware of who hired him, just that it was an interested party who wanted the PCs to fail. Drelev was unstable and unpredictable that made rash decisions to save his own skin. Any spies or agents that are discovered wont be able to give more than subtle hints as to who they work for.
He also seems like the type of person to use multiple approaches to getting what he wants. He wouldn't just rely on Grigori or Drelev to destabilize the PC's kingdom, those would just be the obvious attempts.
Lastly, big obvious moves, like the border wars with Mivon, could be blamed on others. He has plenty of merchant nobles, minions, and agents that he can point a finger at. With the border wars with Mivon, those started long before he came to power, and they are fought by the merchant families.
In my game, he is pushing many angles to destablize the area.
Brevoy
Mivon
Numeria
Daggermark
PC's kingdom
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PC's kingdom
There isn't much of a reason why he couldn't have taken that land years ago, so the question is why would he want it? And why now? I haven't figured that out yet.
A few obvious explanations stand out:
1) Wasn't worth much until the PCs developed it, not that its worth something, nearby, and not exactly well established its an easy way to expand at little cost. Low risk, high reward.2) With Brevoy in civil war the time to expand borders is ripe.
3) Its further from Numeria
4) He'd pretty much have a cut off and flanked Mivon.
For my version the answer is simpler and tied to Citadel of Pain...
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#1 makes the most sense. But I am having an issue of why he would go for a simple land grab. How does he benefit from expanding his holdings with a costly war, even if the land is both prosperous and developed? How does a larger kingdom benefit him?
Better yet, what is his end game? I think figuring out an ultimate goal for him will really help me here.
We know the result of that land grab, which is a costly siege where he loses everything.
I have a bit more to go before I am close to preparing for part 5, but this a good start to it.
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#1 makes the most sense. But I am having an issue of why he would go for a simple land grab. How does he benefit from expanding his holdings with a costly war, even if the land is both prosperous and developed? How does a larger kingdom benefit him?
Better yet, what is his end game? I think figuring out an ultimate goal for him will really help me here.
We know the result of that land grab, which is a costly siege where he loses everything.
I have a bit more to go before I am close to preparing for part 5, but this a good start to it.
Perhaps there's something there that's drawing him - an ancient site, a secret hoard, anything - so long as the players aren't aware of it? I've found that sometimes, not tie-ing up all the threads can lead to a more compelling story for the players, and allow them to wonder about the mystery of why. Sometimes, a persons motivations are simply a mystery...
Alternately:
Another option - perhaps those who Imprisoned Narissa are becoming aware that her prison is weakening. If so, maybe they see Irovetti as a better bet than the PCs, and are urging/backing him to secure the lands for when Narissa inevitably breaks out?
Jabberwonky's spoiler is pretty much exactly what the AP as-written gives for his reasons, his motive, and his goals. He has his own personal reasons, but he's also been nudged by his "muse" for the past several years into working on her goals simultaneously, and getting benefit out of his efforts for both of them.
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But he has been ignoring his muse for some time, holding onto Briar in case there is an emergency or if he grows bored. You guys are right that she is subtly influencing him, but not directly. She isn't even aware that he has the sword.
I am going to have Crucible of Chaos happen in the Tors, meaning the PCs are going to have a crashed Shory flying city within their borders. I think that would be sufficient reason for him to actually try to take the PC's kingdom. A flying city would be a huge resource in any plans he has for the future.
His small actions against them before were attempts to destabilize or test them.
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I did miss the sentence in the summary of part five that says she hopes to use her influence to spur him into attacking PCs. That still seems a bit weak, but mostly because there are not many hints to the players that this is the case. Not really a problem with the changes I will be making.
Ivoretti's back story revised
Baronet Dumond is Ivoretti's grandfather on his mother's side. Dumond was a brilliant alchemist that started a small colony into the stolen lands on Numeria's behalf around 50 years ago. His colony was doing somewhat well, he had a daughter he had fostered in Numeria to a noblemen and basically kept his dark experiments private enough to escape notice.
The stolen lands are an excellent place for a dark secret, and the baron's Citidel located on the northern shore of the hooktongue slough was an excellent location. No one noticed missing bandits and anything that needed to be disposed of went into the swamp.
Unfortunately for Dumond he ended up exposed eventually and the events described in Citidel of pain happened. For Ivoretti's mother, who had come of age, been married into a noble family and had a son in Numeria (where ever the cannon story describes.)
Rest goes somewhat canonical as his mother gets cut off, he uses his skills to make a dishonest living. His mother gets killed he kills technic league agents and obtains Numerian artifacts. One major change is that one of his Numerian artifacts is a headband (which can be placed over a helm or in a crown) safeguards his mind from Narissa's influence. He play acts being magically cowed and certainly lusts for her but he's not a puppet he's another player.
Ivoretti also takes Pitax but its an established kingdom his head start on the PCs isn't by a little its by a good but he should in fact also have more armies. It should be a near impossible fight which is why it makes sense he isn't just taking on the PCs but Mivon as well. He might also agree to a peacetreaty as long as he gets land concessions.
His goal is to gain more power to eventually make a play against Numeria. Pitax alone isn't enough he needs massive resources to take on his old enemy. Right now he's just strong and dangerous enough for Numeria to not want to bother...
Up next, The Crown of Pitax (enhanced by a Numerian circlet) and The Mage Key Rod (Numerian control rod that uses nanites to overtake enchantments.)
Crown of Pitax
Basically functions as a circlet of persuasion and a lesser hat of disguise at the same time. The crown is treated as a headband for the purpose of slots and can be worn with a helm.
Numerian Mindblank Skullcap
Aura none functions mechanically using electro magnetic currents
Slot head; Price priceless Weight 2 lbs.
Description
Covered in adamantine this skullcap has the fortitude property as well as providing a continual effect idenitical to mindblank. In addition to this property the wearer is completely protected from intrusions from magical items and artifacts with egos. The wearer simply cannot be dominated by a magicval item while wearing this.
There are drawbacks however as wearer cannot use any spell or form of telepathy, and suffers a -2 to stealth bonuses as the skullcap makes small mechanical noises.
Construction
Requirements null; Cost priceless
Construct Slaver Key
Aura light alteration despite being numerian; CL 3rd
Slot none; Price priceless; Weight 8 lbs.
Description
Oversized Jailor's key with what close inspection would reveal as a trigger and barrel out of the front. Its made of a variety of star metals and glass steel, a disable device 15 opens the mechanism up to reveal a clip with 5 adamantine projectiles.
When the trigger is pulled the adamantine is actually liquified and fires a projectile that looks like mercury. These are actually nanites that react to magical auras, particularly constructs. The nanites can control the constructs for the bearer of the key. The barrel looks like it can contain 6 adamantine bullets they are not magical in any way but master crafted. The device functions as long as it is loaded but a disable device DC 30 is required to tune the device to yourself.
Next up: Discussion of Ivoretti having the Occulus of abandon and Ovinrbaane
Cost priceless
There are some things money just can't buy. For everything else, there's NumeriCard.
Ivoretti with the Occulus: No longer needs the darkvision permanenced on him so he can focus on different spells for his permanency scroll. All tghe visual stuff is great as is the planar binding because who doesn't want to add daemons in the mix? HE will not however be able to use the charm manster power because it establishes a mindlink which the skullcap will stop. He basically will not risk exposing his mind in that manner.
Iveretti with Ovinrbaane: Constant freedom of movement, aid, and dispell against offensive magics. Also gives a second melee option outside rod of razors.
All in all he will be a heck of a challenge if the PCs fail to stop the quickling rogue from stealing these.
Next up: Pitax and Ivoretti's resources revisited.
The bard school: My Ivoretti is going to have somewhere around 2-4 levels of bard. his general however remains a 10th level bard and likely master of the school. I discussed the effects of thsi already this is mechanics now.
-Pitax Heralds are already statted as 6th level bards which is a lovely base and will be the baseline herald.
-Add 1 or 3 levels of assassin for the deadly Nightshade Heralds
-Add 1 level of fighter, Convert to bard levels to arcane duelist archetype and swap bow feats for dervish dancer, dazzling display, weapon focus scimitar for a melee skirmisher that can buff/debuff. Blade Heralds
Fighters: Note that Pitax wardens seem common that's better then the typical warriors you commonly see. Plus these guys work extremely well with out heralds (of all flavors.) Teamwork is the key when running these encounters I think. While they will be under leveled against the PCs tactics can make these fights way more memorable.
Rogues Guild: I'm going to take the iconic rogue at 4th level and give him the were rat template. Ivoretti already has the Guild working for him, why would he not use his wererat minion to make them all stronger? Even if they turned on him his elite Troll guards will be way tougher.
Logical partnerships: From book 3- Drowned Trees bandit camp seems to be a natural partner as they like money and are outlaws. Thru a catspaw they can make excellent spies and have a safe base of operations. The Monster gang the Disapperers is another useful band of miscreants that could easily make trouble. The marching men make an excellent target for Ivoretti's key.
I'll get around to stat arrays for allot of this, so not in book 5 yet though. This thread will eventually be full of stuff to plunder!
Next up: Ivoretti's plots and planning
Endgame:
Ivoretti wants revenge on the technic league. His mother was his whole world, in a way Ivorettis is allot like batman, you know only evil and stuff. To get the technic league he needs a nation powerful enough to challenge Numeria and Pitax alone is not strong enough.
Brevoy, Mivon, and the stolen lands together with Pitax has the population and resources to achieve his ends, but for their fractious nature and petty lords they might combine to make a truly potent nation. Ivoretti has the motive and perhaps the means to make that happen. The missing Rogerians, and the swordlords satellite kingdoms in the stolen lands provides the opportunity.
Phase 1: Gather resources
Ivoretti is constantly on the lookout for new alliances and items to use to collect more power. Stealing magic items, spying on everyone, and approaching the disenfranchised of his enemies are all bread and butter tactics. He is not above bribery and extortion or working with the monstrous denizens of the stolen lands.
Some examples of how this might express itself:
-Any villain that escapes the PCs could well join Ivoretti's forces
-Thawns: has any creature ever been more desperate for purpose?
-Reincarnation: its a cheap way to bring back someone that can be useful again liek the staglords minions
Phase 2: Divide and conquer
Has there ever been a more exploitable resource than unrest? So many ways to spread it. For the PCs the events of Gregori and pretty much all of book 4 are just minor thrusts at undermining the stability of a kingdom.
By book 5 the PCs kingdom is full of spies, bards willing to stir up unrest, and various monster groups seeded throughout. Assassins will be planted and targeting NPC council members, members of the cult of Milani, well timed and expertly written lawsuits, and various magical assaults.
As to Brevoy, Pitax is behind the whole mess. False evidence, babies switched with changlings, turncoat mercenaries, promises to both sides, and again assassinations with evidence pointing to other Brevic nobles. Brevoy will be out of the way for 10 years from end of book 2 on.
This leaves the PCs kingdom and Mivon for the taking. Mivon will be undermined by their own divided houses in an attack similar to Brevoy except this time he is taking a side, and families in Mivon are pledged to him. Drug addiction, bribery, blackmail, and magical compulsions. Ivoretti is going all in on a 2 front war. If he succeeds he takes 2 kingdoms and builds up to conquer the weakened by civil war Brevoy.
Up next: Restatting Ivoretti
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in a way Ivorettis is allot like batman, you know only evil and stuff.
Then I shall break his back, and his country!
Teach Bane to rip me off.
The entry on Ivoretti mentions he's created with a 20 point buy and wealth per level equal to a PC. Given the artifacts I'll be beating the wealth per level bit but I am using the same method of statting Ivoretti as my PCs use roll 4 D6 drop the lowest reroll 1s. Result was about on par with my PCs: 14, 11, 15, 16, 16, 11.
I've toyed with level and decided even though he's getting the artifact boost (if his quickling succeeds) I'm going to remain at 16th level. I did consider Oracle and Synthesist, but the stats are pretty good so a couple levels of synthasist aren't practical and I'm no longer in love with a lamed body per-se so I've flipped and I'm more considering a Bard/Sorcerer/Dragon Disciple. Specifically Bard 1st, Sorc 5th, dragon Disciple 10th.
Ok lets play with stats. Str: 16 Dex: 11 Con: 15 Int: 14 Wis: 11 Cha: 16 before human bonus +2 to cha, 4 level stat adds (1 to dex, Wis, 2 to cha), and Dragon disciple adds (+4 strength, +2 Con, +2 int) to make it
Str 20, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 20 before items. Not too shabby. Caster level will end up Bard 1st, Sorc 12th (6th level spells), and advance 2 bloodlines as we will go crossblooded.
Ivoretti
NE Human Arcane Duelist Bard 1/Crossblooded Sorcerer 5th/Dragon Disiple 10
Feats: 1st,Human, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th,
13th, 15th
DD:
2nd, 5th, 8th must be draconic bloodline
Bard:
Arcane Strike
BAB +9/+4 Nat armor +4, 2nd bloodline Sylvan for animal companion
Bard Spells known
4 0s, 2 1st
slots 0s infinate, 1 1st before cha bonuses
Sorc spells known:
9 0s, 5 1st + 2 4th level and 5th level favored class bonuses, 5 2nd, 4 3rd, 3 4th, 2 5th, 1 6th
slots 6 0s, 6 1st, 6 2nd, 6th 3rd, 6 4th, 5 5th, 3 6th before cha bonuses
Stat bloc to be continued!
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I did miss the sentence in the summary of part five that says she hopes to use her influence to spur him into attacking PCs. That still seems a bit weak, but mostly because there are not many hints to the players that this is the case. Not really a problem with the changes I will be making.
I think they tried to use her as a Succubus pulling strings to some effect, only as a fey. Thats why she always acts through agents.
Actually, see my own discussion on how I handle Nyrissa. I will be adding to it soon.
Ditto :0 we always end up doing that! Though in my defense mine's from December!
I must confess I'm perplexed at how Ivoretti's stats come out to stre 18, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 12, Wis 8 and Cha 22 without any stat boosting items or an explanation like the manuals that give stat ads. That doesn't seem like a 20 point buy to me... Part of the reason I'm doing this, I want to know where the numbers come from.
Not counting the Numerian Artifacts the Pitax crown and any items earned by theft from PCs (those evil artifacts) that may or may not appear in the stat bloc, I will keep to the wealth by level table so that us OCD DMs that want to track every copper ram have peace of mind.
So we have 315,000 gp to work with.
I must confess I'm perplexed at how Ivoretti's stats come out to stre 18, Dex 18, Con 20, Int 12, Wis 8 and Cha 22 without any stat boosting items or an explanation like the manuals that give stat ads. That doesn't seem like a 20 point buy to me... Part of the reason I'm doing this, I want to know where the numbers come from.
Yeah, there's got to be some missing items or implication of manual use. 20 PB gives me, as close as I can get, STR 14 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 12 WIS 8 CHA 14, with a +2 for Human (probably in Cha) and another +4 (again probably in Cha) from his levels, for a total of 22 CHA (so at least that part's correct). He's missing +4 STR and DEX and +6 CON. I'd either say he used manuals, or give him appropriate stat-boosting items (moving points from CHA to CON as necessary).
Why DD for Irovetti, exactly? Not opposed to the change, just wondering what it adds to the character/fight.
Why DD for Irovetti, exactly? Not opposed to the change, just wondering what it adds to the character/fight.
I am going to drop last 2 levels of DD and go with 2 more levels of sorc instead.
My main concerns for Ivoretti as written are the following:
-Too similar to Drelev, same basic goal of kill head of state that's really just a catspaw for someone else. One's a rogue fighter one is a bar fighter.
-Not going to be a challenge as written. By the time my PCs are anywhere near the appropriate level to challenge Ivoretti they will eat him alive as written. Like Orthos said he'd be a speed bump.
-Between his general (10th level bard) and his heralds (6th level bards) his inspire courage ability is redundant. He'd just be one more bard after killing a bunch of bards, that's not an andboss to me.
Why DD?
-Addresses all me concerns somewhat neatly.
-I want magic and melee without making a magus since there's already one in the party.
-I want a Cha based character, its the main element I like about Ivoretti as written, the good guys won't want Ivoretti to be the bad guy. When you talk with him you want to be his friend or his follower not his enemy the guy is just that suave.
-DD Ivoretti has the ability to fly in a way that can't be dispelled, can throw around 6th level spells, blast a breath weapon, mix it up in melee effectively. My players switch up tactics allot try to throw whatever I planned for on it's head, I need an enemy versatile enough to to flex muscle in multiple roles if need be to provide a proper challenge.
The stats have been explained/discussed in the threat Jason Nelson mentions.
Here's the statblock JN mentions and some additional comments by Jason:
Castruccio Irovetti - CR 16
XP 76,800
Male human bard (arcane duelist) 16
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +18
Defense
AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 20 (+10 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 149 (16d8+74)
Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +14
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 adamantine keen vicious human bane flying blade +18/+13/+8 (1d12+7/19–20/x3 plus 2d6), cold iron armor spikes +16/+11/+6 (1d6+6)
Ranged 1d4 +1 keen seeking human bane adamantine darts +16 (1d4+5)
Special Attacks bardic performance 40 rounds/day (swift action, bladethirst, dirge of doom, distraction, fascinate, frightening tune, inspire competence +5, inspire courage +3, inspire greatness, inspire heroics, rallying cry, soothing performance)
Bard Spells Known (CL 16th; concentration +22, +26 if grappled or casting defensively)
6th (2/day)—overwhelming presence (DC 24) (UM) (DC 24), waves of ecstasy (DC 24) (UM) (DC 24)
5th (4/day)—cloak of dreams (DC 23) (APG) (DC 23), greater dispel magic, greater heroism, shadowbard (UM)
4th (5/day)—dance of a hundred cuts (UM), primal scream (UM), shocking image (UC), wall of sound (UM)
3rd (6/day)—blink, charm monster (DC 21) (DC 21), confusion (DC 21) (DC 21), phantom steed, slow (DC 20)
2nd (7/day)—allegro (UM), gallant inspiration (APG), suggestion (DC 20) (DC 20), tactical acumen (UC)
1st (7/day)—cure light wounds (DC 17), disguise self, feather fall, grease (DC 17), moment of greatness (UC), saving finale (APG)
0 (at will)—I didn't bother picking any. :)
Statistics
Str 19, Dex 16, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 22
Base Atk +12; CMB +16 (+20 trip); CMD 29 (33 vs. trip)
Feats Arcane Strike(B), Combat Casting(B), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Disruptive(B), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (flying blade), Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Greater Trip, Improved Trip, Penetrating Strike(B), Power Attack, Spell Focus (enchantment), Spellbreaker(B), Weapon Focus (flying blade)
Skills Acrobatics +19, Bluff +25, Diplomacy +25, Disguise +20, Fly +14, Intimidate +25, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (engineering) +5, Knowledge (geography) +5, Knowledge (history) +5, Knowledge (local) +5, Knowledge (nobility) +5, Perception +18, Perform (act) +10, Perform (comedy) +10, Perform (dance) +10, Perform (keyboard instruments) +10, Perform (oratory) +10, Perform (percussion) +10, Perform (sing) +10, Perform (string) +10, Perform (wind) +10, Ride +4, Sense Motive +3, Sleight of Hand +7, Spellcraft +5, Stealth +4, Swim +5, Use Magic Device +18
Combat Gear potions of barkskin +5 (2), scrolls of see invisibility (2), scroll of magic vestment +4, wand of shield (CL 5th, 10 charges), ring of evasion, ring of spell turning, winged boots; Other Gear mithral medium fortification +1 full plate, +1 adamantine keen vicious human bane flying blade, cloak of resistance +5, belt of physical perfection +4, headband of alluring charisma +6, necklace of adaptation, potion of gaseous form, scroll of stoneskin (CL 7th), scroll of blur (CL 3rd)
Jason's comments:
At first glance, it doesn't look like much for CR 16. However, his hit points were effectively doubled since he had received a shield other spell from his gigantic troll ally (by way of imbue with spell ability).
Next, the mountain of buffs that he rolled up prior to combat stacked up in impressive fashion. With buffs including:
1. (bardic performance) bladethirst to add ghost touch and shocking burst to his weapon
2. a shadowbard spell to provide him with (bardic performance) inspire courage simultaneously. I ended up cheating slightly here when I forgot he didn't get +4 until 17th level and only realized later that he should have gotten +3. (then again, this is countered by me forgetting to have people save vs. his cloak of dreams spell that might have put some of them to sleep)
3. +5 barkskin potion
4. +4 magic vestment oil on his armor
5. greater heroism
6. dance of a hundred cuts
7. haste (from allegro)
8. Power Attack
9. Arcane Strike
10. tactical acumen
11. spell turning from his ring
12. stoneskin scroll
13. razor shield from his "rod of razors" (the above-noted flying blade), which gave cover vs. ranged attacks and did fire shield-type damage vs. melee attackers
14. shield from his wand
15. shocking image
16. blur
17. and, the piece de resistance, the dirtiest GM trick in the book... dust of disappearance!
Final tally with all buffs:
AC 45, touch 23, FF 36
Fort +18, Ref +23, Will +18
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 adamantine keen vicious ghost touch shocking burst human bane flying blade +27/+27/+22/+17 (plus an extra +2 to hit, flat-footed if you can't see him, which you pretty much can't) (1d12+31+1d6 electrical+2d6 vicious/19–20/x3 plus 2d10 electrical).
Most of the palace in my version is under a forbiddance, but he was eventually able to use blink when the battle led down into the laundry below the main floor of the palace, which was very effective for him. The fight lasted so long that some of his buffs wore off or got dispelled, though he was able to re-cast a few. He did cast a few spells, notably including overwhelming presence twice.
Might I suggest you have a look at Oterisk's guide to the DD over in the Advice Forum, GM Solspiral? While I think your built is solid, there might be some areas for further optimization/using synergies.
Ruyan.
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Oh, listen to the Chronicles podcast about the KM books. Each podcast that covers a KM book has an interview with the writer of that book. In the one about KM 5, the author explains some of the things he wrote into the AP that were changed later, like how the castle was designed to have lots and lots of NPCs use hit and run tactics on the PCs to wear them down before they reached Irovetti. That may also help you get a better idea of what the author intended for him.
Ok wow that version of Ivoretti is much better, still think a bard = too similar to the last king but dam if that isn't a useful stat block. Stats are rolled I'm not 100% sold on my build yet letting it marinate some. Personality and background are really all that I needed for now. Stat blocks will be coming soon though.
I'm not totally into him being yet another layer of pawn, so it going against that plot point doesn't bother me even a little. There's still a tie to her which is all I require.