The most important people in the world (my players stay out)

[coyote6]

Kravnok Wildhammer: hard-drinking dwarven berserker, renowned giantslayer and general adventurer; reputed to be somewhat mad. Ordinarily, not the type one invites to a "how-do-we-save-the-world" conference, but he's got one of those weapons. You know the type -- weapon (hammer, in this case) of adamantine, covered in eldritch runes, forged in the breath of a dragon, rumored to have been wielded by/forged by/have slain a (demi-)god, with a will of its own, stalked by grim destiny, etc. Much of Wildhammer's reputation for madness comes from his tendency to argue with the hammer (no one else can hear it, of course), and occasionally be controlled by it. Then there's the berserker thing and the heavy drinking, of course.

Tollek Narn (aka Hordebreaker and the Hammer of Havoc): Forged by a cabal of dwarven rune-priests ages ago, blessed by a dwarven god, all to slay a twisted Fomorian god-king and his tainted folk & their minions. And it did that. A while ago. Long quest. Big titanic battle. Tragedy and triumph. The whole nine yards. The Hammer kind of thought there'd be a finale, a conclusion, once its great purpose had been fulfilled. Probably destroyed, but at least it'd be a blaze of glory. But not so much, alas. Sure, there was blazing, but then it was held as a relic/trophy, stolen by duergar, swallowed by a vast dragon-thing, lost in a cavern for a couple of centuries, found by a bugbear (a bugbear, of all things!), and then finally ended up once more in the hands of a mighty dwarven hero (for a sufficiently flexible definition of "hero"). Now if they can just figure out a purpose . . . or find more evil things (giants, preferably) to smite. Either one.

 

[Darklone]

My world has gotten MUCH more interesting. Who knew? The human commoner is an especially nice touch. I welcome more, including religious leaders.

I'll definitely post about how this goes. Judging from past games, I'll use most or all of these to some extent, and a few of them will take center stage in the spotlight.

Thanks!

Now how do I keep MY players out of this thread when I yoink these NPCs?

PC, we expect to see a link!

 

[Blackrat]

One from my homebrew. Mightiest individual from it.

Elendur the Ancient Half-elf Archdruid/Archmage. Chosen of Skaia, Renel and Storm (Replace with your nature-gods). Incredibly old, (actually rumoured to be the very first half-elf ever born) but looks no more than 20-25 year-old. Nowadays extremely pacifistic but used to roam around the lower planes, warring against evil outsiders, in his younger days. His word is allways listened in all druidic circles and religious orders of the nature-gods. By only showing up he has prevented many wars in the last few centuries and he seems to actually radiate an aura of calming energy.
It is actually surprising to see him attending this gathering. He has not taken interest in any affairs of mortals in more than a century. Last time it was to prevent a war that threatened the nearby jungles.
(now I don't know how well this next part goes with your world, but in mine, Elendur is actually many millenia old, being the first half-elf ever. He has risen to be a demigod and is the lover of Skaia, Goddes of natures beauty and fey.)

Old Blue-eyes Elendurs trusted companion, a silver great wyrm with whom he has travelled for more than a millenia. Elendur found the dragon after slaying a demon that had attacked a dragons lair. The ancient mother and all but one wyrmling had been destroyed. Elendur looked after the hatchling and it grew to be an invaluable friend.

 

[Arkhandus]

Zobnoggle Gooblashek, the Lord High Coordinator of All Twelve-Hundred Gnomish City-States of the Radiant Eastern Domain, Lord Mayor of the Bazgalyn City-State, Senior Grand Obbob Fifty-One Years Running, Most-Acclaimed Swordmaster of the Radiant Eastern Domain, Illusionist Supreme, Scourge of the Eastern Gnoll Savages, Eviscerator of Ogres, Elder Grandson of the Thrice-Named Dragon of Bazgalyn Twice-Removed, Son of Ibinzobok the Fourth, Bearer of the Golden Mustache, Honored Acolyte of the Eldest Church of Garl Glittergold, and Bestest Pastry Chef of Bazgalyn One-Hundred and Forty-Seven Years Running.

.......An old gnome aristocrat, level 15 or so, who is absolutely serious. And has really awesome PR in his homeland, but hardly any actual skills, beyond the pastry-chef thing. And yet pronounces his long list of titles as though he fought and bled for every single one of them, and truly deserves them. And totally acts the part of such a broadly-accomplished master of everything. Yet never actually displays his skills (beyond the pastry thing, again). He just convinces everyone he really is das uber gnome. Totally maxed out on Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Perform (Oratory), and whatnot. Also all kinds of languages known. High Intelligence and Charisma, dunno about Wisdom or physical stats. But probably slightly above average physical stats, so he actually looks like he might actually be able to wield a sword or bow.

Naturally, he carries no weapons on his person, refusing to bring his storied, gold-inscribed, silver-bladed falchion, Ten Thousand Shining Strokes of Death, as it would be improper to bring it on such an occasion and the blade belongs in the land of its forging where it is meant to protect gnomish kind.....and he wouldn't want to accidentally hurt anyone here, of course. And for similar reasons he left behind his spellbook and other tools of combat, wanting to avoid provoking unnecessary conflicts at such an event.

But of course, he really just wants to avoid breaking his facade of being das uber gnome. He has servants and magic items in his homeland which covertly provide whatever flashy displays he may need back home.

His entourage to the event is a contingent of kobold servants, treated essentially as dogs, who wear fine suits and serve his every need. As well as a pair of gnomish allies, Breena Mazenkisholek and Rubeshnikellikoshin Dabosa. Breena is less serious than Zobnoggle and goes by the nickname Pinky, as she always seems to end up with her hair and face dyed pink from experiments that explode on the workshop table. Somehow. For now, maybe just the tips of her hair are pink, not yet replaced by newly-grown hair. Breena/Pinky is a high priestess of some sort from the Eldest Church of Garl Glittergold, and occasional advisor to Zobnoggle.

The other gnome, who usually goes by Ru, is supposedly Zobnoggle's economic advisor and minister of labor or somesuch, and wears sparse, loose-fitting, cheap garments, though just decent enough to not be overly offensive to the snobs and powerful folk that are likely attending the event. He is reasonably eloquent, but frugal with both words and money. In actuality, he is Zobnoggle's bodyguard on this trip, a gnomish monk of great skill and wisdom, with just enough social skills and professional knowledge to carry out his supposed role as economic advisor and such.

Most likely, any magic items they wear are probably covered by Magic Aura or Misdirection spells.

 

[Xer0]

PC, why is the world dying? Is there some sort of force that behind what's happening? Perhaps your BBEG? If there is, have him show up, uninvited and unexpected, to mock the assembly (if he's a known BBEG) or to wheedle and convince the assembly to allow the detah of the world to happen (if he's not a known BBEG).

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Cardyll Ashby, a former slave who won his freedom in the gladiator pits, then carved out his own fiefdom as a haven for the downtrodden and oppressed. The old guard sees his radicalism as a threat, and have dispatched numerous assassins as they fear a direct confrontation will lead to civil unrest. All attempts have failed, but Cardyll knows that several of the other attendees were responsible, and isn't above letting them know he knows.

Cardyll is a bear of a man, and age hasn't dimished his fearsome aura. His bald head is scarred, his nose a twisted ruin, and his smile has been known to cause young children to cry. Still, he has the utter loyalty and devotion of his people. He comes to the conference with but a single companion, his wife, another liberated slave. He fears no one and disdains the trappings of wealth. There is nothing more dangerous than a man who desires nothing you have and scorns everything you stand for.

Cameron Duvall, bard of great reknown. He has an ear for gossip, and a penchant for repeating it in his songs. His biting wit has ruined great men, made noble houses laughingstocks, and even led to the suicide of a high priest. He plays no favorites, and hence everyone is his enemy. Still, he excels at playing one side against another, and more than one war has started with a whisper in his ear. Even the mighty warrior fears him, for what power has the sword against a song that will be sung in taverns for generations?

Cameron is a dashing rogue,with a lopsided smile and merry eyes that hide the cunning mind behind them. Still relatively young, the fit body earned through years of travelling from town to town has begun to soften as wealth and luxury take their toll. Woe to anyone that mentions that, however! As always, Cameron is surrounded by sycophants of all races, many of whom are bastard children, abused servants, and others with an axe to grind against the rich and famous.

 

[Stormborn]

The Artificer

No one knows his real name, race, or even gender. If it was ever known the Artificer has made great efforts to hide it. Rumor has it that centuries ago he was an magic using adventurer who seriously offended the gods of death (there are dozens of rumors as to how). Fearful to enter their realm he crafted for himself a magic item known as Coffin Armor to trap his soul in the material plane. He is permanently bound in the armor now, and has been for several hundred years. He cannot eat, drink, sleep, breath, or have any kind of physical contact and people speculate that he is little more than a powerful ghost haunting his own body. It doesn't seem to effect his ability to cast spells, however, nor his skill at crafting magic items. He has made a fortune by supplying unusal magic items to those who can afford them and is said to have deals with many extraplanar beings of a variety of alignments. He has several vast forge/factories scattered throughout the world, mostly run by constructs and a few higly trusted mortal apprentices, including ones that float in the sky, swim through the sea, and walk across the land.

He arrives riding on what seems to be great metallic dragon, but is in fact a construct. He wears the coffin armor, which simply resembles dull gray full plate with a featureless helm, and dislikes any adornments. His wealth is only displayed in magic items and constructs. In addition to the dragon he is ever flanked by two shield guardians and a sentient construct (warforged, but it can be unique) named Prentice. If someone watches him carefully they can see small insect like constructs that seems to scurry up to his helm and then away, no doubt spying on others. After all, Dyandeodanu's god is one of the ones he has offended.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Brrrellobbedeb - Sahuagin Lord
Brrrellobbedeb is an unusually pale green for a sahuagin, but his strength of presence cannot be missed. He moves very little while observing those around him, only his dark eyes shifting about the room, but when he speaks his whole body moves with his words in large and graceful motions


Astirelimin - Queen of the Aquatic Elf city of Silanis
Astirelimin seems to be a typical haughty elf monarch, who would not deign to speak with many in the gathering if the fate of the world itself were not in the balance.


Not sure of the setup you have to keep the attendees from fighting, but I would have both of these NPCs set up next to each other in order to provide them with the necessary aquatic environment. Unfortunately it makes for a poor diplomatic setup as they glare at each other, and perhaps test the means that prevent them from fighting each other directly.

 

[Kestrel]

Pip Brokehorn, Lord of the Fey. 16th level Satyr Bard. He dresses rather modestly for a fey, considering he wears nothing, typical of a Satyr. He carries his pipes and wears a Crown of Autumn Leaves (probably a powerful artifact or not, according to his whims). He has an entourage of 12 Pixie Sorcerors and his consort/bodyguard, the Nymph Philomena, a 15th level Rogue. She wears a Shawl of Modesty, to hide her beauty from the mere mortals present. If threatened, she sheds it to protect herself and her leige, fighting with a crystalline dagger of dancing. (Which discharges Irresistable Dance upon each successful strike)

 

[BlackMoria]

Malagaunt - a middle age human (obvious arcanist) summoner with piercing, haunting black eyes. Those that meet his gaze are shaken (Will DC 20) and will recount that the eyes seem soulless yet seem to have a dark, sinister, intelligence (like the Abyss looking through at you) at the same time, a seeming contradiction.

Alleged leader of the Sarcausen Cabal, a secretive order of summoners who are rumored to summon and enslave fiends and other extraplanar entities. The cabal are covert manipulators, power brokers and hoarders of forbidden and rare knowledge.

Malagaunt appears to be a contingent of one but actually his staff (darkest black with seeming minature lightnings flickering within it) is actually a shapeshifted molydeus demon with barbarian class levels and he is attended by 4 invisible stalkers (classed in rogue / assassin) retainers at all times.