(Circa "The People of the Black Circle")
Medium-sized Outsider
Wizard/Black Seer of Mount Yimsha
Level 10/10
Hit Dice: 20d4+40 (100 hp)
Initiative +6 (+2 dex, +4 improved initiative)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 12 (dex)
Attacks: Unarmed +9/+4 melee, or +9 melee
Damage: Unarmed 1d4-1, or 1d4-1 plus Stun
Special Attacks: Stunning Touch, Spells
Special Qualities: Summon Familiar, Scribe Scroll, Inner Strength, Knowledge of the Secrets of Reality, Timeless Body, Magical Might, Silence, Longevity, Master of the Black Circle, damage reduction 10/ +1
Face/Reach: 5 ft x 5 ft./5 ft.
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +18
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 23, Wis 17, Cha 16
Skills: Alchemy +29, Concentration +24, Knowlege (Arcana) +31, Knowlege (Planes) +29, Scry +29, Spellcraft +29, Intimidate +26
Feats: Skill Focus (Knowlege-Arcana), Craft wonderous Item, Improved Initiative, Craft Staff, Spell Focus (Snatch the Heart), Spell Penetration, Leadership, Combat Casting, Empower Spell, Maximize Spell
Climate/Terrain: Mount Yimsha
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 20
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Advancement: By Character Class.
'Who are you?' [Yasmina] demanded.
'I am the Master of Yimsha.' The tone was rich and resonant, like the mellow notes of a temple bell.
'You are a devil,' she sobbed.
'Not I!' he laughed. 'I was born on this planet, long ago. Once I was a common man, nor have I lost all human attributes in the numberless eons of my adeptship. A human steeped in the dark arts is greater than a devil. I am of human origin, but I rule demons. But for all your stupidity, you are a woman fair to look upon. It is my whim to keep you for my slave.'
The daughter of a thousand proud emperors gasped with shame and fury at the word. 'You dare not!'
His mocking laughter cut her like a whip across her naked shoulders. 'Little fool, do you not realize that your royal pride is no more to me than a straw blown on the wind? I, who have known the kisses of the queens of Hell!'"
~ The People of the Black Circle, by Robert E. Howard.
The Master of Yimsha is a powerful wizard who controls the Lords of the Black Circle. He is a master of planar travel and arcane knowledge. His motives are dark and mysterious, and he deals with rebellion quickly and decisively. His pride is intense. He was once human, but has become so in tune with magic that he is now considered to be an Outsider.
The Master of Yimsha generally fights with spells and summoned creatures.
Stunning Touch (Ex): The Master of Yimsha knows pressure points of the body and can strike out, stunning a victim who fails a Fort save (DC=10+Seer's Cha bonus+class level in Seer). This attack is taught so well that, despite it being an unarmed attack, it does not provoke an Attack of Opportunity. It takes concentration and is the only attack the Seer can make that round.
Inner Strength: +1 Bonus to Will Saves
Secrets of Reality I: The Master of Yimsha understands illusions so well that illusion school spells no longer need material or verbal components to function. Casting time remains unchanged. Illusion spells that operate with only a material or verbal component now require a somatic component.
Secrets of Reality II: The Master of Yimsha understands the morphic nature of reality exceptionally well. Alteration spells no longer need a material component. Casting time remains unchanged.
Timeless Body: The Master of Yimsha no longer suffers ability penalties for aging and cannot be magically aged. (Any penalties already suffered remain in place). Bonuses still accrue, and the seer still dies when his time is up.
Magical Might: The difficulty class for all spells cast by the seer is increased by 2.
Silence: All spells no longer require verbal components. Any spell with only a verbal component requires either a somatic one or a mental one (DM's call). Casting time is unchanged.
Longevity: The Master of Yimsha is beyond the realm of materiality. He cannot die of old age.
Master: The Master of the Black Circle can command the Lords of the Black Circle. The seer has so attuned his body with magic that he becomes a magical creature. He is forever more treated as an outsider (extraplanar creature) rather than a humanoid. Additionally the Master gains damage reduction of 10/+1.
The Master of the Black Circle is a character from Robert E. Howard's story, "The People of the Black Circle." This story was first published in Weird Tales as a three part seriel in the September, October, and November issues of 1934. The story can also be found in the Ace/Lancer paperback "Conan the Adventurer"; the Berkley/Putnam hardbound collection, "The People of the Black Circle," the Donald M. Grant Limited Edition "The People of the Black Circle", and the Gnome Press collection "The Sword of Conan". Marvel Comics adapted the story into comic form in "The Savage Sword of Conan" issues 16-19. All of these are out of print, but are usually available on eBay.
This story is the first Conan story I ever read, and is one of the best. It is certainly my favorite. Fritz Lieber characterized the story as the best story of the entire Conan saga.
