d20 Adamant Entertainment NPC (Non Player Compendium) Volume 2.pdf

Non Player Compendium

Volume 2

by Nick Mulherin

M any products detailing NPCs are fairly concrete -- no matter how many times a Gamemaster goes back

to a product, the same NPCs are always there, presented in the same fashion, with the same alignment,

with the same motivations. Once an NPC appears in one campaign, a GM is hard-pressed to re-use that

NPC in a different campaign, especially if the players remain the same. This particular product aims at lexibility,

presenting one NPC (statted out at 1st level and 5th level) that has then been developed along two different paths

(with stats for 10th, 15th, and 20th level for each path). One path leads to a life of cruelty and villainy, the other

remorse and righteous rehabilitation.

A word about the organization of the document -- through the irst two sections, the NPC receives a very

detailed backstory, which gives way towards more general notes on use and possible hooks into the campaign as

the NPC is presented in two different ways. This was done in order to make this product as useful as possible

while still giving enough depth to the NPC to make the choices at the crisis viable and believable. Naturally, the

details presented here as background can be omitted or changed as necessary by the GM or could occur off-stage

to account for later encounters with the character.

Note : References to deities are intentionally vague -- Gamemasters should insert a campaign-appropriate

deity of their own. Suggested domains are listed in parentheses after the reference to the god.

Caius

T he only child of a pair of priests devoted to the elven god of music and the arts (Good, Knowledge, Sun),

Caius grew up in a monastery and temple complex at the edge of the elven lands. His parents, Ianus

and Aelia (male elf Clr7 , female elf Clr8 , both N), having waited until they were well into middle-age

before they even considered children, delighted in everything he did. Understandably, Caius’s precocious talent

for singing thrilled his parents, and they encouraged him, convincing their colleague, Peritrus (male half-elf

Brd4/Rog2 , CN) to give him voice lessons.

Although Peritrus was a capable and enthusiastic teacher, especially when presented with a talent like Caius,

his lessons were frequently framed with rather poisonous advice, promoting a solipsistic, hedonistic lifestyle

that elevated the artist’s needs far, far above those of the common people or even the nobility. Excited by their

son’s progress under Peritrus, however, Ianus and Aelia overlooked their young son’s snobbish and self-centered

tendencies, excusing them as being part of a proper musical temperament. For his part, Caius considered his

parents’ lavish attentions smothering and grew to prefer spending his free time with Peritrus, taking long walks

with the older half-elf through the monastery’s grounds, discussing the great elven musicians of centuries past

(for, of course, all the greatest musicians were elves or, Peritrus frequently added with a wink, “had at least a touch

of the elf in their blood”) and the nature of religion (a natural topic, given their home). Some days, when the

teacher was in a foul mood, he’d complain miserably about being stuck in a monastery in the middle of nowhere

and tell Caius about his time in the great cities of the lands.

In the Summer of Caius’s 130th birthday, Ianus and Aelia told him that he would be expected to take his clerical

vows now that he had reached maturity. The young elf, his head illed with tales of distant cities and famous

musicians, refused to take vows and, in a it of pique, refused to eat as well. He said nothing to them, instead

spending his days wandering about the gardens deep in conversation with Peritrus. His parents, expecting him to

relent, let him do all this, believing that he would come around and take his vows. When they went to his room the

morning of the ceremony, they found it empty, save for a small piece of parchment, which turned out to be their

son’s irst professional composition, a short, wordless choral piece: A Meditation in C minor, written on leaving

home and beginning life (for Peritrus) .

Appearance : Caius is a short and slender elf, with a slight bearing and pale skin. He has high cheekbones and

clear green eyes, which are all the more striking when compared to his nut-brown hair.

Personality : In the end, despite the good intentions of Ianus and Aelia in having Caius study with Peritrus, they

ended up creating a spoiled, self-centered, jaded young elf by allowing the elderly bard so much inluence. At

this age, Caius has no sense of decorum, betraying boredom and disgust without a second thought, yawning at the

least appropriate times and gazing off into space if the conversation turns away from him even briely. In spite of

his annoyance with his parents, he expects strangers to lavish him with praise in the same way and often latches

onto approving elders as surrogate parents, much as he did with Peritrus. At the same time, Caius can be charming

in his enthusiasm for topics he knows a lot about, such as religion or music, and his excitement over his own,

admittedly mediocre (but promising), compositions often makes up for his ickle demeanor. If someone does him

a good turn, he repays the favor promptly and frequently in a clumsily dramatic fashion.

Goals : At this time, Caius has two goals: one, to reach the largest city in the surrounding region and, two, to

establish himself as the premier elven composer of his day. To this end, he looks to join up with a caravan or

group headed towards the city. Failing that, he’ll walk the distance, staying over nights in small taverns and inns,

singing to pay his bill. If an adventuring party or caravan attempts to negotiate with him, by attempting to retain

him as a guard or agreeing to escort him to the city

if he helps with a quest, the young elf will agree if

such a plan does not put him into too much danger

and pays him at least 4 sp/day. His preference,

however, is to get to the city without incurring any

debts whatsoever.

Combat : Caius might be self-centered, but he’s far

from stupid and knows that he has few options in a

stand-up ight at this point. If he’s alone, he runs,

regardless of an opponent’s strength or numbers.

If attacked while part of a larger group, he hangs

in the back, using his inspire courage ability and

iring the occasional arrow. In the event that

someone captures him, he surrenders immediately

and attempts to bargain for his life. He has no

compunctions about betraying someone if it means

he gets to live.

Caius, Male Elf Bard 1

Size M; HD 1d6-1; hp 5; Init +6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved

Initiative); Spd 30 ft.; AC 15 (+2 Dex, +3 studded leather);

BAB +0; Grp -1; Atk melee -1 (dagger, 1d4-1/19-20/x2),

ranged +2 (shortbow, 1d6/x3/60 ft, or dagger, 1d4-1/19-20/

x2/10 ft); SA Bardic music, arcane spells; SQ Elf qualities;

AL N; SV Fort -1 (-1 Con), Ref +4 (+2 Dex, +2 Brd), Will

+4 (+2 Wis, +2 Brd); Str 8, Dex 15, Con 8, Int 13, Wis 14,

Cha 15.

Skills, Feats and Languages

Bluff +6 (4 ranks, +2 Cha), Concentration +3 (4 ranks, -1 Con), Diplomacy +6 (4 ranks, +2 Cha), Gather Information +6 (4 ranks, +2

Cha), Knowledge (Religion) +5 (4 ranks, +1 Int), Listen +8 (4 ranks, +2 Wis, +2 racial), Perform (Sing) +6 (4 ranks, +2 Cha); Improved

Initiative; Common, Elf, Gnoll.

Special Abilities

Bardic knowledge +2 (+1 Int, +1 level), bardic music 1/day ( fascinate , inspire courage +1, countersong), arcane spells; immunity to

magic sleep effects, +2 racial bonus to saves against enchantment spells or effects, low-light vision, Martial Weapon Proiciencies

(longsword, rapier, longbow, shortbow), +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.

Spells

Spells Known 4, Spells per Day 2

Save DC 12 + spell level

0-level : ghost sound , light , lullaby , summon instrument .

Equipment

Studded leather armor, traveller’s clothes, shortbow, 4 daggers, backpack (bedroll, 3 torches, lint & steel, 20 sheets parchment, 2 vials

of ink, 2 quills).

Crisis Point

E ventually, after a series of mishaps and instances along the road, Caius reached the city. Once there, he

managed to convince Jeremiah Coventry (male human Exp4/Ftr1 , N), the owner of The Elk & Star

Tavern, that he was more than capable of providing nightly entertainment for the customers. Wary, but

willing to give the charming young elf a chance, the owner engaged him for nightly performances at the beginning

of the week, iguring that business was sparse enough then that it wouldn’t hurt too much if the bard actually drove

away business.

Initially, Caius performed poorly -- his stage manner was atrocious, and his compositions were maudlin and

derivative, a situation exacerbated by his lacking an accompanist. Recognizing the innate talent of the young

vocalist even when he saw the lackluster reception the performances received, Jeremiah decided that, with time,

practice, and an accompanist, he might have a solid draw for The Elk & Star for years to come. While Caius

continued to struggle through his nightly performances with an odd mixture of bravado and pretentiousness, the

tavern owner auditioned musicians on the sly, eventually hiring Arabelle Devere (female human Brd6 , NE), a

capable local musician with an established name and the willingness to work with new talent. In the pair of them,

he saw a duo that would bring the crowds into his tavern and cause them to stay late into the night. In Caius,

Arabelle saw a naïve young elf selish enough to be lattered into working for the local thieves’ guild.

Both of their assumptions proved to be true. The Elk & Star became extremely popular among all peoples of the

city, with the two musicians getting along famously and performing brilliantly, and Caius worked wonders for the

thieves’ guild, which Arabelle presented as a local association of merchants with common interests. Caius was

exploited for what he was, a vain musician and charming conversationalist. Unwitting merchants were wheedled

into unfavorable deals during late dinners at The Elk & Star, arranged with the promise of meeting the very

talented bard. When people refused to play according to the guild’s rules, Caius was used as a front man, making

them feel like the luckiest and most generous people in the world (all, of course, while keeping the conversation

turned to himself and topics he had been prepped on by Arabelle). Eventually, he could soften them up enough

with his attentions (or, if necessary, magic), dedicating songs to them or recommending their goods and wares

during performances, that they’d cow to the demands of Caius’s “friends” in the guild. He may or may not have

known about the legality of his associates’ actions, but, if he did, he certainly didn’t care. Even in the most liberal

interpretation of the law, his hands were clean. Plus, Arabelle had made him famous, a favor which he was

determined to repay as best he could.

As time passed on, both The Elk & Star and the thieves’ guild prospered, with both businesses attracting a more

desirable and inluential set of clients, even attracting minor nobles, such as Sir Horacio Jonley (male human

Pal3/Ari2 , LG) and Lady Elisabeth Makepeace (female human vampire, Ari6, maximum ranks in Perform

for both stringed instruments and keyboards, Skill Focus in both). On top of that, with time and practice, Caius

improved his compositions markedly and, with Arabelle’s help, learned to play the lute, enabling them to play

duets, increasing the amount of money Jeremiah could charge (lute duets were particularly popular for a few

summers). A fair man, if a touch greedy, Jeremiah passed this money on to the performers, enabling Caius to buy

some better equipment, such as a Vonnerkam lute, made by the dwarves of the north out of maple and dogwood,

and some better clothing. Combined with some of the “gifts” he received from the thieves’ guild and visiting

merchants, he inally began to look the part he had always played in his mind.

It was only natural that Caius would catch the eye of Lady Elisabeth Makepeace, especially given her talents as a

musician. Flattering the young musician with her attentions and some lavish gifts, including two bottles of ancient

elven wine and some lasks of unguent of timelessness for his Vonnerkam. Her interest in Caius mainly stemmed

from the boredom of eternal life but eventually grew into a twisted sort of love, with her eventually planning

on turning the elf to her. She demanded, and received, more of his time. The bard frequently left Arabelle to

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