Yeah, for any patron character, you have to have a reason why they can't do the thing themself.
This becomes harder if the patron is supposedly higher level or more resourceful. It also becomes harder if it's a recurring patron (sure, you can make up a reason why he can't do the one task, but how come he can't do any of the tasks that he keeps asking for) ...
Running with that idea (and the concept of Xavier in my head now that you've used his name), how about ...
(I'll call him "Patron" as a placeholder for his/her name)
As a brash youth, Patron often sought knowledge and the power that comes with it. He prefered to think of himself as an archeologist, but more often than not, it devolved to administrative apprenticeships and light mercenary work.
However, a year ago he was more than excited when he got his hands on a recently uncovered tomb. Figuring no one would notice his absence, he squirreled himself away and began researching. he eventually uncovered a way (as he believed it) to speak to astral beings. So, following the procedure, he called out to the heavens. At first he thought he failed, but then he got a response.. it was a powerful being from above, the likes of which Patron only imagined. Patron asks for secrets of knowledge (and power that goes along with it) and the being agreed, but at a price -- so a deal was struck. In exchange for some of Patron's youth and vitality, he was imparted knowledge to tap in to the stars ...
Due to his payment, Patron has trouble walking on his own, needing a walking stick to even move at all. He was also instantly aged in appearance, so he is barely only 20, he appears to be an older man in his 70s.
Stats of importance:
Warlock - star pact (another pact type for variation)
Can cast rituals
Speed 2 (as if affected by a permanent slowed condition) if at least one hand occupied by staff, quarterstaff, or walking stick. Otherwise, Speed 0
moderate to high int and cha; average to moderate wisdom and con. low dex and str.
Age: 19
Physical appearance: Appears in his 70s. He might even be a little sickly (some extra coughing and weezing here and there while talking), and sometimes when holding heavy books or items his arms shake a little more as if he was holding something much heavier than it really is.
Personality
Motivations: Perhaps the quests he sends the PCs on are for more archeological type items that he wants for himself. perhaps they are somehow related to the powerful being (i.e. that being wants something done, for better or worse) perhaps Patron realized soething bad is happening, but no one is listening to him, figuring him to be a crazy old man. perhaps Patron himself is responsible for something bad that will happen (something else he unleashed during his attempts to contact the being in the first place) and now he is trying to prepare the pcs to fight it/stop it.
or some such.
That's really just off the top of my head. Others have said great ideas in this thread already. I was just trying to push the issue of "why can't he do it" and mix it with "who he was" in the same concept (thus, payment which led to walock - but the same idea could be done with a cleric as well).
This becomes harder if the patron is supposedly higher level or more resourceful. It also becomes harder if it's a recurring patron (sure, you can make up a reason why he can't do the one task, but how come he can't do any of the tasks that he keeps asking for) ...
Running with that idea (and the concept of Xavier in my head now that you've used his name), how about ...
(I'll call him "Patron" as a placeholder for his/her name)
As a brash youth, Patron often sought knowledge and the power that comes with it. He prefered to think of himself as an archeologist, but more often than not, it devolved to administrative apprenticeships and light mercenary work.
However, a year ago he was more than excited when he got his hands on a recently uncovered tomb. Figuring no one would notice his absence, he squirreled himself away and began researching. he eventually uncovered a way (as he believed it) to speak to astral beings. So, following the procedure, he called out to the heavens. At first he thought he failed, but then he got a response.. it was a powerful being from above, the likes of which Patron only imagined. Patron asks for secrets of knowledge (and power that goes along with it) and the being agreed, but at a price -- so a deal was struck. In exchange for some of Patron's youth and vitality, he was imparted knowledge to tap in to the stars ...
Due to his payment, Patron has trouble walking on his own, needing a walking stick to even move at all. He was also instantly aged in appearance, so he is barely only 20, he appears to be an older man in his 70s.
Stats of importance:
Warlock - star pact (another pact type for variation)
Can cast rituals
Speed 2 (as if affected by a permanent slowed condition) if at least one hand occupied by staff, quarterstaff, or walking stick. Otherwise, Speed 0
moderate to high int and cha; average to moderate wisdom and con. low dex and str.
Age: 19
Physical appearance: Appears in his 70s. He might even be a little sickly (some extra coughing and weezing here and there while talking), and sometimes when holding heavy books or items his arms shake a little more as if he was holding something much heavier than it really is.
Personality
Motivations: Perhaps the quests he sends the PCs on are for more archeological type items that he wants for himself. perhaps they are somehow related to the powerful being (i.e. that being wants something done, for better or worse) perhaps Patron realized soething bad is happening, but no one is listening to him, figuring him to be a crazy old man. perhaps Patron himself is responsible for something bad that will happen (something else he unleashed during his attempts to contact the being in the first place) and now he is trying to prepare the pcs to fight it/stop it.
or some such.
That's really just off the top of my head. Others have said great ideas in this thread already. I was just trying to push the issue of "why can't he do it" and mix it with "who he was" in the same concept (thus, payment which led to walock - but the same idea could be done with a cleric as well).
