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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AFGNCAAP" data-source="post: 1306006" data-attributes="member: 871">FYI, here's some background information on the villainous uber-lich known as Thesek...Thesek is one of the first few spellcasters to attain lichdom (any liches older than him who still survive are demiliches by now--he's that potent).  Thesek was the mortal responsible for the creation of many new races as a product of his experiments for the perfect soldiers (ala Saruman).  IMC, Thesek was responsible for the creation of the following races:   *   Hippogriffs (a mix of griffon, eagle & horse, for use as special steeds for Thesek's operatives)   *   Owlbears (one of Thesek's early experiements)   *   Troglodytes (actually an evil race of short, pale gray folk, ala the duergar, derro, & svirneblin, but IMC they're called troglodytes).  Thesek's ultra-specialized race for use as soldiers to conquer the underdark.  However, they cannot stand the surface light at all.   *   Marikos (a race made from mixing kuo-toa, locathah, & sahuagin).  Thesek's ultimate aquatic soldiers, the marikos were so effective that they caused the extinction of their "parent" races (the locathah, kuo-toa, & sahuagin), & the near-extinction of some other aquatic races.  Though they cannot survive out of water for too long, they are able to live comfortably in either freshwater or saltwater.Thesek also had a strong alliegiance with a small human nation, known for their sinister, pervasive snake cult.  During the centuries since Thesek's defeat, these degenerate humans have since become the evil race known as the yuan-ti.Thesek made a pact with the orcs, & had them attach the elven nations.  The elves won the battle, but it was a pyrrhic victory--the races of orcs & elves were horribly reduced in numbers from that conflict.  Thesek's forces drove the halflings from their native lands, making them seek refuge in human kingdoms.  Thesek's evil corrupted a dwarven nation, & his magic & breeding experiments transformed them into the troglodytes.Thesek's original plans of conquest were almost successful, if it were not for the valiant efforts of a young hero & his allies (armed with a potent enchanted longsword), along with the betrayal/revolt of the goblinoid forces (led by the psychic Kobolds).  Thesek was defeated (& thought slain), & the massive armies scattered.But Thesek did not truly die, & over time, he returned to unlife.  Thesek decided to bide his time, waiting for the right opportunity to make another attempt at conquest.  He devised a new sinister lair, slowly gained new allies, & stayed behind the scenes.  The young hero who "slew" him became the king of a great nation, the enchanted longsword now a heirloom of royalty.Thesek's marikos exterminated the locathah, sahuagin, and kuo-toa; they also drove the aquatic elves & sea spirit folk to near extinction.  Though the aquatic elves & sea spirit folk no longer exist, a new race was born from the mixing of these two fading peoples--the Oceanids.It has been quite a few centuries since Thesek's "fall."  The marikos have dwindled some, but still threaten the seas; the oceanids are their sworn enemies.  The troglodytes are legendary dangers of the underdark.But Thesek is planning a return.  He has "gifted" a few select people with crystal ball each (actually a crystal hypnosis ball), gaining control over them.  He has made an alliance with a powerful noble family in the human kingdom, gaining a means to cripple the legacy of Thesek's "slayer."And, Thesek has started his experiments again.  He has created new races for his new army:   *   Hobgoblins (goblins who were bred with orcs, humans, & other creatures in order to breed a tough, hardy warrior race, ala the Uruk-Hai)   *   Bugbears (after the hobgoblins, Thesek further bred the bugbears as stronger, tougher creatures to serve as berserkers, shock troops, and ambush troops)   *   Kobolds (actually the Blue goblins from the Psionics Handbook, but IMC they're called kobolds)   *   Ogre mages (a mix of ogres, trolls, and other creatures; intended to serve as Thesek's field commanders)Thesek's evil rises again, and now a new generation of heroes must thwart this great evil once and for all.---------------------------Some side notes:FYI, I still have the reptilian "kobolds" & "troglodytes," stat-wise, though they are now members of the same race of creatures IMC (I haven't come up with replacement names for them: I was thinking of having them worship powerful (& evil) death slaads, & calling them the sla'adeshk).Since "kobold" is a term used to describe the blue goblins, IMC gnomes gain bonuses to attack goblinoids & xvarts.</blockquote>

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