Help my terrorize a player

[CCamfield]

One of my (new) players included as part of his background that he had, at a young age, killed a wizard. I thought it was a bit improbable, but it seemed like too good a plot hook to pass up.

Basically, what I decided was that this wizard had a master who wants to avenge the death and has finally tracked down the player. In classic Evil Villain style, though, they don't want to just kill the player, they want to make him suffer first. Right now they are operating through a pawn, either an apprentice, dominated individual, or just someone hired who is capable of sneaking around effectively, either with magic or skills.

The players are part of a military regiment but where I would run this, they would be staying at a commandeered inn in a captured town. I was thinking that the player would wake up to find words scrawled in blood on the wall of their room (YOU WILL KNOW FEAR). Or perhaps, one of their weapons is stolen and used to kill someone on the streets at night, to get them in trouble.

It seems that if the pawn is actually sneaking into the character's room that this probably wouldn't go on for too long unless they vary their time of entry (the player, I imagine, would stay up all night waiting for someone to come in through the door or window).

I'd really welcome suggestions on this!

 

[dglass]

Presidigitation. You can soil or clean a lot of stuff. Its a zero level spell so just about anyone with arcane knowlege could do it. The Master could pull a fast one and pose as the 'pawn' himself. Use only low-level spells, no magic items. Then when the PCs interrogate him: Time Stop, nuke, nuke, nuke.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

Salutations,

It sounds like an interesting idea, but be careful not to scare off the player. If it looks like you are targetting him for harrasment over other players' characters, then it may not go well.

As for an idea: have the imp ex-familiar of the dead wizard show up to cause some trouble.

SD

 

[CCamfield]

Presidigitation. You can soil or clean a lot of stuff.

Hmm, cool...

Its a zero level spell so just about anyone with arcane knowlege could do it. The Master could pull a fast one and pose as the 'pawn' himself. Use only low-level spells, no magic items. Then when the PCs interrogate him: Time Stop, nuke, nuke, nuke.

Considering the PCs are second-level.... no, I don't think so.

My current plan for the agent if spotted is to get out of town to a deserted farm where he's set up a trap in a barn - make it look like he's entered, but is in fact hiding somewhere, and then close the doors on the PCs as the dire rats come up from their holes to see what smells so good. Then, if necessary, set the barn on fire.

Sagan, I don't understand what you're saying... I was using "their" in a generic sense, i.e. one of this PC's weapons might be stolen.

 

[Dr. NRG]

In a world with raise dead, resurrection, animate dead and plenty of other ways to come back, make it the guy he killed that harrasses him. Don't let him know it right away, though. That would spoil the fun....

Just think how much fun a ghost, or even a lich or vampire could give the character (and party) later on. Wait until he forgets about the guy he killed as a youth, and then make the victim literally come back to haunt him...

NRG

 

[Grundle]

Ok boys and girls... can you say REVENANT!

The wizard he killed, comes back as a revenant seeking revenge.

 

[CCamfield]

I suppose you're going to tell me that revenants are in the MM2 or somesuch... right?

My world has few to no divine spellcasters, so the amount of 'raise dead' going around is going to be pretty low. But general forces of evil turning people into the undead, I'm in favour of.

My most recent idea is that this agent plaguing the player could slip some poisonous snakes into the room while the PCs are asleep...

 

[Kyramus]

every odd arrow is cut at the shaft, will break upon firing whether or not it hits and cause no damage.

swords glued to sheaths, it would really be hard to fight with a sheath sword.

put ants in someone's backpack with rations.

itching powder.

switch material components from designated pouches.

re label potions.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

This will mess with him

Have the players reflection become that of an older version of the Wizard he slew. Every time he looks into a mirror, a very angry man will be staring back at him. Have him very slowly turn into the wizard as well. If you do it right, you will be able to get the player very curious as to what is going on.

As an added twist, have wanted posters depicting the wizard pop up in regards to various murders.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[demiurge1138]

Don't kill him, or torment him without cause or balance. Use this as an oppurtunity to get the rest of the party in on it.
The wizard rises from the dead as a revenant (Monsters of Faerun) very displeased. But, being the subtle type, he decides to just make the character's life miserable instead of shorter. He starts scrying on the character, finding where he is headed and then commiting a crime there while using an alter self to appear as the character. The character will find that everywhere he goes, he'll have the town guard asking him questions, the townspeople suspicious of him, etc.
Just my 2cp.

Demiurge out.