Friday, 29 August 2025

Some NPC Prep Experiment for my Homebrew


 

































I have been rewriting my pc gen and have made some good progress a while ago

Final version of Lv one for my EThyrian cursed labyrinth in a few days, I hope, with inset maps on page and a map upgrade. Checklists for cursed monsters to destroy and a track for fragments of language recovered. I'd like to check that all the inter-level entrances are marked on map and a symbol for any room text entries mentioning it. So on my Patreon shortly.

I have about 5 posts half done, I'm waiting to get steam to finish. I have homework currently, too, which sadly comes first. I'm now playing 4 D&D games. We have one session all hands of curse of straad 2014 d&d, and a bit of shadowdark on the side with a group I've been a player with 4 years?  My Chagrinspire game will last a while yet, but might drop in some Marvel 1960 over xmas. I'm a player in an oldschool essential BX as an elf. I'm running a Theros-based Greek-themed D&D2024 game, which is 5th level

I was planning on presenting lots of subclass options, but not every class has the same vibe for variants. Some might just be training and built with the same skill options. Some, like clerics, might have specific powers.. Some are just flavour reskins. So anyway, this is me playing with character gen, which is to go up to 20th level demigod level. At this point, the gods will try and get you on their team and help you with a painful and tragic apotheosis. I considered statting up stats for each class to show characters from 1st, 5th, 10th, 16th and 20th I need some other rules cleared up before I start this project, though.

So today Im just making some versions of an NPC terrorising quite a few campaigns from afar and might be relevant shortly. So here is a few versions with some bio amd homebrew info.

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Zero Start
Yes, i renamed stats for reasons like wisdom has changed definition wildly over editions
So i rolled terrible 3d6 in order, so I'm taking the point option for unplayable characters instead, as im not feeling it for this NPC

Kiron is a cruel brat and a minor royal house noble. He is a squire to his uncle the previous Emperor, so basically a house servant with some duelling experience. Theoretically a prince but their are about 300 of them when the empire covered the continent

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Prince Kiron, 0Lv Noble Background
Agility 15
Might 8
Vigour 12
Charm 7
Talent 8
Will10 

Prince Kiron, 0Lv Noble Background
Agility 12
Might 14 +1
Vigour 13 +1
Charm 11
Talent 10
Will15 +1

HP (d4+1) 4
AC +3
Luck 2
Arms Skills:
-Swords d6+1 
Arts Skills:
-Etiquette for fancy manners displays
-Riding because real nobles dont walk
Alignment: has some wicked and deceitful tendencies 

Wears leather and a small sword and knife for when armed as a servant
has a coat of arms of the imperial house
------------------------------
1st Lv
So as starts as zero every level up gives you a stat point
hp and skills of zero lv stack with 1st if you start play as zero Lv
This was done as i almost every table have one person who does not want to be zero level and now they can they just miss sweet buffs

Kiron becomes a squire on the road to knighthood as part of the Imperial entourage. Some note he is vain and has a talent for sadistic cruelty and fashionable dress. Not getting ahead as he would like gets involved in the cult of Taganikus the shadow of the sun and servant of the outer void, a false sun god who excels at hiding among the sun god minions. So takes his first oath to the dark power of the cult.  .

Prince Kiron, 1st Lv Warrior
Agility 12
Might 15 +1
Vigour 13 +1
Charm 11
Talent 10
Will15 +1

HP (4+d10+1) 12
AC +7 Chain+Medeum Shield
Luck 2
Arms Skills:
-Swords d8+1 
+1 Lv hit bonus   
-Blades d4+1 
-Spear d8+1
-Mounted Combat, +1 hit & damage mounted vs on foot 
-Critical Hit, on a natural 20 
Arts Skills:
-Etiquette for fancy manners displays
-Riding because real nobles dont walk
-Judgement for detecting falsehood and just decisions
-Diplomacy
-Poison Lore
Alignment:
1 evil oath for a +1 sword Bright-Burn
-Bully the weak
Viscous hunting dog follower 

------------------------------
5th Lv
More stat points, skills and oaths mostly
probably have a few potions, but the Amulet of Non-Detection is a must with the sword gift, possibly a feature of his cult that uses corruption for selfishness not chaos
On the emperor's bodyguard team, and silenced some of his enemies
At this point, a trusted crusade leader fighting mutants in the Empire's name
As a squire and dog has mutated (pets have options instead of level-ups as you get better)

Sir Kiron, 5th Lv Warrior
Agility 13 +1
Might 17 +2
Vigour 13 +1
Charm 11
Talent 10
Will14 +1

HP (4+5d10+5) 37
AC +12 +1plate +1 Medeum Shield
luck 3
Attacks 2
Arms Skills:
-Swords d8+2, +1hit Agility bonus, +2 Expert Skill, +5 Lv bonus
-Blades d4+1 
-Spear d8+1
-Mounted Combat, +1 hit & damage mounted vs on foot 
-Critical Hit, on a natural 19 or 20 
-Cleave
-Quickdraw Sword
+2 Expert longsword
Arts Skills:
-Etiquette for fancy manners displays
-Riding because real nobles dont walk
-Judgement for detecting falsehood and just decisions
-Diplomacy
-Poison Lore
-Bluff
Alignment:
2 evil oaths & gifts
-Bright-Burn
 +2 Sword (Conceal Alignment)
-Bully the weak
-Summon 1HD spirit, round/Lv once a week,
-Punish the shunned (fought in the mutant crusades)
3 nuetral oaths +1 plate +1 sheild +1 luck
-Avoid others' struggles, Give foes swift punishment, Shun Strangers, protect clan, 
1st Lv Squire
Viscous hunting dog follower, now mutated, 2-headed, huge, diseased bite 

------------------------------
10th Lv
Statesman of the empire, always on the frontier to avoid detection
Set to return with army and support of corruption cults to get crowned emperor but it takes a while for the problems to begin. Lots of monuments and newly minted coins. He has access to imperial regalia artefacts but really they are buried in his tomb complex construction site. The fakes will be powerful faux evil relics made to deceive and protect the false emperor from detection with an amulet, mass suggestion sceptre, and every round crown. The items are evil and sentient, so attack unworthy and advise the emperor. A cacodemon in disguise watches over him from another plane to help his evil purpose. It also covers up a prophecy with some assasination

Sir Kiron, General, 10th Lv Warrior
Agility 13 +1
Might 18 +3
Vigour 13 +1
Charm 13 +1
Talent 10
Will16 +2

HP (4+10d10+10) 84
AC +14 +2 plate +2 Medeum Shield
luck 4
Attacks 3 +1 damage dice bump
Arms Skills:
-Swords d8+3, +1hit Agility bonus, +3 Expert Skill, +10 Lv bonus
-Blades d4+3 
-Spear d8+3
-Archery d8+3 
-Mounted Combat, +1 hit & damage mounted vs on foot 
-Power Strike -4 hit +d4 damage once per round
-Critical Hit 3, on a natural 18, 19 or 20 
-Cleave
-Opportunity attack
-Quickdraw Sword
-Expert longsword +3
Arts Skills:
-Etiquette for fancy manners displays
-Riding because real nobles dont walk
-Judgement for detecting falsehood and just decisions
-Diplomacy
-Poison Lore
-Bluff
-Taunt
-Command
Alignment:
5 evil oaths & gifts
-Bully the weak, start fights, treat slaves with cruelty, give enemies slow deaths, slander enemies with lies
-Bright-Burn
 +3 Sword (Conceal Alignment, Intelligent, +d3 fire)
-Summon 1HD spirit, round/Lv once a week,
-detect alignment spell as priest
-cure light wounds spell as a priest
-summon mount 4HD 12 hours a day
-Punish the shunned (fought in the mutant crusades)
5 neutral oaths & gifts +2 plate (absorb 2 magic damage) +2 shield (courage) +1 luck
-Avoid others' struggles, Give foes swift punishment, Shun Strangers, Hoard wealth, build monuments
6th Lv Guard captain
5th Lv Guard luitenant
4th Lv Executioner
3rd Lv Guard sergeant
2nd Lv Stablemaster
1st Lv Servant squire
The dog is now a hellhound
4th Lv Jester
 
------------------------------
15th Lv
His evil acts cause a civil war splitting all the regions into seperate states
Widely reviled but many sungod faithful support him still because he scans as lawful good
Worked on goals of immortality and building a state cult using the false sun cult
Senior followers are cultists and run government and millitary. Four cacodaemons guard in secret and direct cultists

Sir Kiron, Emperor, 15th Lv Warrior
Agility 13 +1
Might 18 +3
Vigour 13 +1
Charm 14 +1
Talent 13 +1
Will16 +2

HP (4+10d10+10+20) 104
AC +16 +3 plate +3 Medeum Shield
luck 4
Attacks 4
 +1 damage dice bump
Arms Skills:
-Swords d8+3, +1hit Agility bonus, +3 Expert Skill, +15 Lv bonus
-Blades d4+3 
-Spear d8+3
-Archery d8+3 
-Mounted Combat, can move, attack, then move while mounted
-Mounted Charge, x2 damage charging on mount
-Mounted Defence, +1AC vs targets on foot while mounted 
-Mounted Attack, 
+1 hit & damage mounted vs on foot 
-Dismount Rider
-Disarm
-Knockback
-Set Spear x2 damage
-Power Strike -4 hit +d4 damage once per round
-Critical Hit 3, on a natural 18, 19 or 20 
-Cleave
-Opportunity attack
-Quickdraw Sword
-Expert longsword +3
Arts Skills:
-Etiquette for fancy manners displays
-Riding because real nobles dont walk
-Judgement for detecting falsehood and just decisions
-Diplomacy
-Poison Lore
-Bluff
-Taunt
-Command
-Forbidden Lore
-Steward
Alignment:
9 Evil oaths: Bully the weak, Start fights, treat slaves cruelly, give enemies slow deaths, slander enemies with lies, torture when possible, enslave weak & helpless, wage constant war, hunt and kill weak for sport 
6 neutral oaths & gifts: avoid others' struggles, give foes swift punishment, shun Strangers, hoard wealth, build monuments, build monuments to glorify self, hunt hidden enemies among the people
-Bright-Burn +4 Sword (Conceal Alignment, Intelligent, +d3 fire, Change into a lance)
+2 plate (absorb 2 magic damage) +2 shield (courage) +1 luck
-Summon 1HD spirit, round/Lv once a week,
-detect alignment spell as priest
-cure light wounds spell as a priest
-summon mount 4HD 12 hours a day
-Punish the shunned (fought in the mutant crusades)
-Summon 1HD spirit, round/Lv once a week,
-detect alignment spell as priest
-cure light wounds spell as a priest
-Aid spell as a priest
-Strike spell as a priest
-summon mount 4HD 12 hours a day
+3 plate (absorbs 2 magic damage, protection adds to saves)
+3 shield (courage, bracelet form)
+1 luck
11th Lv Warmaster 
10th Lv General
9th Lv Executioner
8th Lv 
Chariot driver
7th Lv
 Guard captain
6th Lv
 Guard luitenant 
5th Lv Spymaster 
4th Lv 
Guard sergeant 
3rd Lv Cup bearer servant
2nd Lv Privy servant
1st Lv
 Torturer
The dog is now a hellhound
9th Lv Jester (bard)

---------------------------------
 
20th Lv
False religion emperor cult dominates but 30 years of civil war
Seeks godhood and to restore the black sun from the age of darkness
Hopes to at least join evil gods and the kingdom turn into a cespit of evil monsters
Probably has javelins of lightning, magic arrows, a magic chariot pulled by hippogriffs, a ring of teleportation d4 per day, bag of holding
mortal stats, AC and total to hit can reach +20 max normally
except stats gained by oaths Lv 17+
His 4 cacodaeomons are disguised as angels with an illusion and non-detection of alignment torcs and other daemons and evil beings serve as spies, like daemons or doppelgangers

Emperor Kiron, 20th Lv Warrior
Agility 13 +1
Might 23 +5
Vigour 16 +2
Charm 14 +1
Talent 13 +1
Will16 +2

HP (4+10d10+20+20) 114
AC +16 +3 plate +3 Medeum Shield
luck 4
Attacks 5
 +2 damage dice bump
Arms Skills:
-Swords d12+5, +1hit Agility bonus, +3 Expert Skill, +20 Lv bonus
-Blades d8+5 
-Spear d12+5 / Javelin d10 +5
-Archery d12+5 
-Quickload javelin
Martial Attack
Martial Strike
-Mounted Combat, can move, attack, then move while mounted
-Mounted Charge, x2 damage charging on mount
-Mounted Defence, +1AC vs targets on foot while mounted 
-Mounted Attack, 
+1 hit & damage mounted vs on foot 
-Dismount Rider
-Disarm
-Knockback
-Set Spear x2 damage
-Power Strike -4 hit +d4 damage once per round
-Critical Hit 3, on a natural 18, 19 or 20 
-Cleave
-Opportunity attack
-Quickdraw Sword
-Expert longsword +3
Arts Skills:
-Etiquette for fancy manners displays
-Riding because real nobles dont walk
-Judgement for detecting falsehood and just decisions
-Diplomacy
-Poison Lore
-Bluff
-Taunt
-Command
-Forbidden Lore
-Steward
-Resolve (Will saves)
Alignment:
14 evil oaths & gifts: Bully the weak, Start fights, treat slaves cruelly, give enemies slow deaths, slander enemies with lies, torture when possible, enslave weak & helpless, wage constant war, hunt and kill weak for sport, perform public spectacles of cruelty, murder solves every problem, punish the shunned (fought in the mutant crusades), spare no prisoners, always eek to seize power
6 neutral oaths & gifts: avoid others' struggles, give foes swift punishment, shun strangers, hoard wealth, build monuments, build monuments to glorify self, hunt hidden enemies among the people

-Bright-Burn
 +5 Sword (Conceal Alignment, Intelligent, +d3 fire, Change into a lance)
-Summon 1HD spirit, round/Lv once a week,
-detect alignment spell as priest
-cure light wounds spell as a priest
-Aid spell as a priest
-Curse spell as a priest
-Cloak of fear spell as a priest
-summon mount 4HD 12 hours a day
+3 plate (absorb 2 magic damage, protection adds to saves)
+3 shield (courage, bracelet form)
16th Lv Warmaster 
15th Lv General
14th Lv Executioner
13th Lv 
Chariot driver
12th Lv
 Guard captain
11th Lv
 Guard luitenant 
10th Lv Spymaster 
9th Lv 
Guard sergeant 
8th Lv Cup bearer servant
7th Lv Privy servant
6th Lv
 Torturer
2x4th Lv priests
4x3rd Lv priests
1x2nd Lv priest
zero-level acolyte
The dog is now a three-headed giant hellhound and can be a mount
-has a shadow dragon-like form and can fly to the nightmare realm
-keeps this hidden in a basement somewhere
14th Lv Jester (bard)

--------------------------------------------------

The party are visiting the region soon and might decide they need to do something
they have a mission to kill 2 gunpowder-skilled wizards in a secret research castle

A third of the empire is evil and corrupt
A third are going along because they believe all the lies and illusions and believe they are good
A third are oppressed and persecuted, but have a resistance. Some of these are good, many are neutrals. A few hell cults in secret aid subterfuge vs the empire

Mutants are enslaved for dangerous labour or killed and cry out for mercy
The swamps of Chagrinspire have a horde of chaos templar mutants ready for war
The undead of the swamps might join in, as many were empire soldiers angered by the current empire

A quest for the true heir and regalia of the empire might help
Or the party could try and start a theocracy

Players will help define continental politics
possibly all a gnome plot

Thinking of designing some airports for Chagrinspire based on 1920s concepts

Thinking the golem engine blocks of light cloth and wood fighters are the most recycled part, and human operators ensure loyalty. Some golems might not like what they do and cry tears while dropping bombs. Airships with golem operations exist, too. Upper Chagrinspire is operational and running global manipulations and plunder operations.

Oaths are the most common way to make magic items 
Better items are more likely to be sentient and uncooperative to plunderers

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