s/LaSH
First Post
If I'm immortal, and reincarnable ('zat a real word?), I have the luxury of time. My first goal would be research, simply to track down all mention of my existance if it's rare enough, then kill anyone who knows about it. (There's bound to be a single isolated mage somewhere who knows the secret, but I don't know that, and will act surprised when the adventurers find him and come after me.)
My second goal is setting up equipment dumps just in case. I may need an army of duergar or their ilk to do it, but I'll dig an enormous hole somewhere nobody would ever think to look (say, right under the Elven kingdom but far too deep to be noticed), then hunt down every piece of magical treasure I can find and throw it in and shovel rocks over the top. I may even set up multiple troves, just in case. The next time (or the next, or the next) I'm killed, I'll hope I've got enough magic ferreted away to arm an entire army with magic blades, enchanted armour, staves and wands and golems.
If I'm smart, I'll have done this in the past (and subsequently killed everyone who knew where this pit was), so I'll be able to arm my legions of doom in this cycle of my life - thus making the heroes' lives harder.
Now, were I to planning to finally act in this cycle, I would need a trustworthy power base. The orc army messiah trick is a good old chestnut; just to make things a little more exciting, I'd stage an elaborate death sequence for myself in battle using illusions or actors, so everyone who knows I'm risen once again thinks I'm dead for another 2000 years. After that, it's time to be good.
No, really. If there's one thing evil tyrants do wrong, it's make enemies. It's OK to have enemies, so long as they're only my enemy between the time I pull the lever and the time they hit the pirhana pool below (give or take thirty seconds, less if they're not a cow). I'd also seek out controllable doppelgangers to replace the unfortunate victims of my wrath. And above all, I'll never off my underlings unless there's a really, really good reason that my other underlings can understand - failing to capture the hero is rarely punishable by death, but if my nation's got a standing law that allows execution for fleeing battle, I'll have a fair court-martial. Anyone who goes over to the heroes is, of course, an enemy and is fair game so long as you make the point very clear. Of course, my underlings will be given perks, such as the odd pillage trip into neighbouring realms, and a cut of the tax on my empire; this is to make the post more attractive than opposing me.
If this stage is successful, I won't necessarily be the most beloved man in the land (I am, after all, a warmonger and probably a hard tax-taker, and I assume I'm evil so I'll have to do something nasty every so often because it's in my nature). However, I will have a reputation as fair, and people will want to work for me because it gets them safety (from my occasional outburst) and perks.
However, I will not trust anyone with the truth. And should anyone ask about the horrible stench of brimstone in the halls of my private chambers, I was cursed by the leader of the orc horde with his dying breath; I must occasionally take his shape, but my piety or rare medicine or something keeps it at bay most of the time. But should word ever get out, I'm certain to be ruined, so would you please keep it secret? Or if not, then at least I'll pretend to run out of medicine every so often and send adventurers on dangerous quests to retrieve rare ingredients. It not only culls the adventuring population, but it makes you even more tragic.
Oh, and you have to play on the hates of your chosen dominion. Or if that fails, make them up. If Realm A is poor compared to Realm B's opulence, you have yourself an excuse. If not, then just poison your own fishing shoals and seek revenge later.
It's all quite fun, isn't it?
Merry Christmas, y'all.
My second goal is setting up equipment dumps just in case. I may need an army of duergar or their ilk to do it, but I'll dig an enormous hole somewhere nobody would ever think to look (say, right under the Elven kingdom but far too deep to be noticed), then hunt down every piece of magical treasure I can find and throw it in and shovel rocks over the top. I may even set up multiple troves, just in case. The next time (or the next, or the next) I'm killed, I'll hope I've got enough magic ferreted away to arm an entire army with magic blades, enchanted armour, staves and wands and golems.
If I'm smart, I'll have done this in the past (and subsequently killed everyone who knew where this pit was), so I'll be able to arm my legions of doom in this cycle of my life - thus making the heroes' lives harder.
Now, were I to planning to finally act in this cycle, I would need a trustworthy power base. The orc army messiah trick is a good old chestnut; just to make things a little more exciting, I'd stage an elaborate death sequence for myself in battle using illusions or actors, so everyone who knows I'm risen once again thinks I'm dead for another 2000 years. After that, it's time to be good.
No, really. If there's one thing evil tyrants do wrong, it's make enemies. It's OK to have enemies, so long as they're only my enemy between the time I pull the lever and the time they hit the pirhana pool below (give or take thirty seconds, less if they're not a cow). I'd also seek out controllable doppelgangers to replace the unfortunate victims of my wrath. And above all, I'll never off my underlings unless there's a really, really good reason that my other underlings can understand - failing to capture the hero is rarely punishable by death, but if my nation's got a standing law that allows execution for fleeing battle, I'll have a fair court-martial. Anyone who goes over to the heroes is, of course, an enemy and is fair game so long as you make the point very clear. Of course, my underlings will be given perks, such as the odd pillage trip into neighbouring realms, and a cut of the tax on my empire; this is to make the post more attractive than opposing me.
If this stage is successful, I won't necessarily be the most beloved man in the land (I am, after all, a warmonger and probably a hard tax-taker, and I assume I'm evil so I'll have to do something nasty every so often because it's in my nature). However, I will have a reputation as fair, and people will want to work for me because it gets them safety (from my occasional outburst) and perks.
However, I will not trust anyone with the truth. And should anyone ask about the horrible stench of brimstone in the halls of my private chambers, I was cursed by the leader of the orc horde with his dying breath; I must occasionally take his shape, but my piety or rare medicine or something keeps it at bay most of the time. But should word ever get out, I'm certain to be ruined, so would you please keep it secret? Or if not, then at least I'll pretend to run out of medicine every so often and send adventurers on dangerous quests to retrieve rare ingredients. It not only culls the adventuring population, but it makes you even more tragic.
Oh, and you have to play on the hates of your chosen dominion. Or if that fails, make them up. If Realm A is poor compared to Realm B's opulence, you have yourself an excuse. If not, then just poison your own fishing shoals and seek revenge later.
It's all quite fun, isn't it?
Merry Christmas, y'all.
