Faking it: The Wizard

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Got an idea for a 'suprise' villan I want to use - lets call him Bob for now: Bob was an elven nobleman with a keen interest in magic. He joined an elven mages guild, but was booted out for meddling with necromancy. He was exiled from their kingdom and spent years working as a sell sword, until his eventual corruption into a death knight - too long and convoluted to go into here. His character levels would be roughly - Elven Death Knight - Wizard 1:Fighter 14(ish).

His Death Knight powers give him access to a couple of very powerful innate spells and the ability to gain a number of undead followers. (using the Dragonlance setting version - I just like it).


However, he is rather vain and likes people to think of him as a powerful 'master of the dead' necromancer, as that's always been his desire. He is never happier than when someone mistakes him for a Lich. Bob will go to almost any length to fake it.

I figured his 1 level of wizard would help with spell trigger items... but scrolls would be prone to fizzling.... So how would you go about doing this? Is there a way he could pass items off as his own power? Would another 'real' mage be able to catch him out? Would/should his innate spells be distinguishable from 'regular' magic?

My first thought was that he hides his greatsword in some kind of extra dimensional dagger sized wrist sheathe, just in case anyone works out his little secret. His wizard robes are probably glammered armour. Anyone got any other item ideas?

Any help/suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[alsih2o]

hey al, how ya been?

put the sword in a glove of storing.

his innate spells probably do not need all the hand waving and chanting, but i think he would do it anyway.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

hey al, how ya been?

put the sword in a glove of storing.

his innate spells probably do not need all the hand waving and chanting, but i think he would do it anyway.

Going pretty good thanks... Working, living and the usual sort of things. Nothing too exciting, apart from a Russ RPG extravaganza, which is lots of fun. Oh, and looking around to finish renting and buy my first place, pretty scary stuff. How's things going with you?

Glove of storing is a good idea... Definitely arm waving for his innate stuff, wondering if anyone can catch him out. He'd be embarassed and perhaps a 'tiny' bit angry!

Just hoping it'll mess around with expectations my players have got about fighting wizards! It'll be interesting to see whether they work it out or not?

 

[alsih2o]

Going pretty good thanks... Working, living and the usual sort of things. Nothing too exciting, apart from a Russ RPG extravaganza, which is lots of fun. Oh, and looking around to finish renting and buy my first place, pretty scary stuff. How's things going with you?

Glove of storing is a good idea... Definitely arm waving for his innate stuff, wondering if anyone can catch him out. He'd be embarassed and perhaps a 'tiny' bit angry!

first place, cool!

same old same old here too.

a basic spellcraft check would let them notice, but with innate abilities and some wizardly background i would make it harder. i would probably give him a bonus for being old too.

i had a similar idea, but based on simaese twins, a fighter and a sorcerer. they saw themselves as one perosn, and dealt with very few underlings so they were rumored to be one person. attached at the small of the back makes flanking impossible

i lamed out on finishing it, but the concept was fun to play with.

 

[MarauderX]

How about some skill points thrown into Perform or Bluff as opposed skill rolls vs. Spellcraft? If he is talking a lot with the PCs (goading them on, threatening them, whatever) have him be airy and kind of a megalomaniac, saying things like 'I could have disintegrated you back when you were sleeping at the inn, but I wanted you to witness my final triumphant glory as I summon the dead to rise again! Now DIE!' or somesuch. I think it would be fun to have the PC wizards backing down from casting spells directly at him, as he may threaten them by saying their spells will be rebounded or absorbed, making him only more powerful. It would a great surprise to the fighter-types when he whips out 20 points of damage in melee though... then the players might think they have bitten off more than they can chew if he can cast AND deal out that kind of damage.

Add in some prestidigitation to add to the effects, such as a cold room, make-up that makes him look really pale, and markings like an alchemist's lab or library. Have the PCs look at the books, most of which may be blank or have nothing to do with magic to give them some hints. He might want to wear a necklace with a big gem in it that the PCs may aim to destroy, only to have him give them a beat down for ruining the elven relic.

BTW, I hope your home buying is going well. Try to get the seller to pay the closing costs if you can!

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I really like that perform/bluff idea. Think either would work, but perform is probably more apt... Prestidigtation is also excellent, I'll have to work out an item that lets him use that as a freebie... he's going to have a fair collection of items to play about with. Thanks a lot

The guy is definitely a real egomaniac, definitely the taunting speechmaker type. I quite agree that he could be very intimidating for a party, if they fail to realise what's going on... I'll throw out a few oblique clues and see what happens.

If they can find out overall motivation/plan they may start to wonder. Trying to entrap and then blackmail a powerful outsider into giving him 'real' magic power. He is fairly insane, overconfident and somewhat stupid!


Housebuying is still in the early phases. Currently looking around for something in the price range. Closing costs still a way off, but it'd be great if someone else pays them!