Vote Up A Villain VII! (3.X) [Voting Closed, Villain Complete!]

[Adumbration]

Control Weather + Call Lightning + Entangle.

[Athaniar]

Chaotic Neutral. An engine of pure destruction and chaos.

[Lord_Gareth]

I vote Lawful Good. BECAUSE. I. CAN.

(Gogo democracy!)

[The Neoclassic]

Lawful good

[gothmog26]

I vote chaotic good

[Llama231]

Potential Bandwagon: Lawful Good.
And lets not copy Miko, please.:smallsmile:

[puppyavenger]

come on, we've already got a LG monster!

Chaotic Neutral

[InsiderTrading]

Lawful good. Just because.

[Lord_Gareth]

No, we had a NUETRAL good monster. So yeah.

[puppyavenger]

No, we had a NUETRAL good monster. So yeah.

Helstar was LG I believe.

[afroakuma]

*sigh* you folks are trying to screw me again, it would seem.

[Limos]

Hey, I voted Chaotic Neutral. Don't lump me in with those nitwits.

[Adumbration]

You know, just to make sure LG doesn't win, I change my vote...

-1 CE
+1 CN.

[Juhn]

Hellstar was NG. I believe the fey we had earlier was CN.

Lawful Neutral. Because we haven't had that one yet, ever, I believe, in any of these contests.

[Frog Dragon]

Jumping into the Chaotic Neutral bandwagon

[lesser_minion]

I think I'm going to betray my principles all over the place and go Lawful Good (OOTS misquotes FTW!)

I know I was on the last bandwagon as well, but it wasn't a bandwagon when I jumped on it.

[UnChosenOne]

Helstar was LG I believe.

No. Helstar was NG. Atleast I remember that it was,

[Zeta Kai]

Villains really should be Evil, but since that won't win, I shall vote for Chaotic Neutral.

[LordZarth]

I want LN, but so XG doesn't win I'll go CN.

[Alteran]

Lawful Neutral.

[watsyurname529]

Hmm... Well, I agree with Zeta that Villains should be evil. However Chaotic Neutral is close.

[Reverent-One]

Chaotic Evil.

[Redikalus]

Lawful good

[afroakuma]

...at least, I think they're tallied.

I'll check them again in a bit.

[afroakuma]

Well, the alignment vote's dueling bandwagons resolved into Chaotic Neutral!

Now for the last vote, we need this fantastic frivolous fiend's Motivation!

[arguskos]

We need an Anarchic[y] villain, since I am fairly sure you haven't made one yet. :smallwink:

[thegurullamen]

No, we need to develop the Rage

[LordZarth]

Rage. Please.

[lesser_minion]

Erm... do I get decapitated if I vote for Logic?

I'm not trying to make things difficult - a CN villain motivated by Logic makes plenty of sense, but provides a slight juxtaposition.

[afroakuma]

Nah; I could make it happen.

[Gorgondantess]

Entertainment! Really, just think of the possibilities of an ooze that does some wierd nonlethal spell just to screw with you...

[Limos]

Entertainment!

Chaotic Neutral - Not evil, just really annoying.

[Belobog]

Love.

Speaks for itself, doesn't it?

[xanaphia]

Entertainment.

[MammonAzrael]

Insanity. I love the idea of the spell going insane because it's made of two conflicting spells. :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:

[Wandiya]

Greater good!!! come on lets see the fluff. Can the spells be psionic powers? if not how come we couldn't vote for living psionic?:smallbiggrin::smalltongue::smallwink:
If spells umm woops PHB has gone missing. *stares at Xanaphia*

[InsiderTrading]

Entertainment.

We seriously need more of them

[vegetalss4]

Rage
WAAARRRGGH

also by any change could one of its spells be rage?

[UnChosenOne]

For the Greater good.

[Ovaltine Patrol]

Curiosity makes for an interesting motivation. The question would be if it was ignorant or uncaring of the harm it caused.

[Malicte]

For the Greater Good!

[Zeta Kai]

Rage. It just makes sense.

[afroakuma]

*sigh* it would appear that yes, some of you are, in fact, trying to screw me.

[Username]

I think Curiosity would be a good motivation for a living spell (being new to life and all), but Entertainment would be a good motivation for a Chaotic Neutral. Since Entertainment is much more likely to pull through, I'll vote for Entertainment.

[Debihuman]

Rage most definitely. To quote Shakespeare:

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."

Debby

[lesser_minion]

*sigh* it would appear that yes, some of you are, in fact, trying to screw me.

Well, you are the person who got from a CR13 NE flower motivated mainly by love and turned it into an evil flower of doom which drained emotions from women while in the form of a potential suitor. That's a pretty awesome villain, so I don't think anyone is about to doubt your POWER?!.

[Atelm]

I'll go for Insanity.

[Llama231]

I would go with logic, but The Greater Good has more potential.

[Adumbration]

Rage shall be my vote.

[puppyavenger]

entertainment.

[Belobog]

*sigh* it would appear that yes, some of you are, in fact, trying to screw me.

Is this the point where we all say that we believe in you?

Cuz if it is, I think I missed my cue.

[The Tygre]

I put my hat in for good old fashioned Rage.

[Juhn]

I'm still obligated to vote for spite until it wins, even if it doesn't fit here.

[bue52]

I'd pick curiosity.

[Xapi]

Entertainment

[orchitect]

Well I'm torn between two: arrogance and survival.

Arrogance is nice because it can be chaotic. The creatue is sanguine, doing whateverthehell it wants wheneverthehell it wants, and it does whateverthehell it wants to everyone. Its very chaotically neutral, and it doesn't have to be annoying to be a threat.

Well, I'm going with arrogance. I want to see the DnD version of Marvel's Dark Reign with Osborn in charge.

[Pronounceable]

Much as a CN villain operating on logic as a primary motivation be very entertaining, this is a puddle of ooze. A small (big? did we get a size vote?) puddle of blob that quivers (vibrates?) with rage is sweet. A pair of eyes floating in it is optional.

We should keep logic for the next CN humanoid villain, which I have no doubt will happen within a few months.

[afroakuma]

Well, I've no doubt that this will be interesting.

[Reverent-One]

Entertainment

[Lord_Gareth]

Logic, because I want to see how Afro would bend and twist it to fit into a Chaotic alignment.

[watsyurname529]

Hmm... I'm trying to decide between Entertainment and Rage....

I think I'll go with Entertainment. That'll be cool. A living spell that kills things because it can. So much potiental for [Mind-Affecting] spells...

[evil-frosty]

Entertainment

[thegurullamen]

Half an hour left until the invisible countdown wherein we finally get to see the Ooze of Awesome.

[Username]

Half an hour left until the invisible countdown wherein we finally get to see the Ooze of Awesome.

Not that I doubt Afro's POWER, but I think it may be expecting a bit much of him to have it ready the moment the voting is closed.

[afroakuma]

I did it in the first round. :smallbiggrin:

That said, I'm facing an unusual dilemma this time; the winning vote of Entertainment leaves me with four partially fleshed-out ideas, all of which quite amuse me.

So, in a first for VUAV, I'm not going to make the name announcement just yet. Rather, I'm going to take a bit of time to narrow down my choices. Yes, it's a first. I called the wrong one, that time, but I did call one.
Alternately, I could have a final day of voting, and... :smallcool:

[Gorgondantess]

Yay! Entertainment wins! Now how 'bout that polymorph other ooze you suggested? Or flesh to stone/stone to mud. That's just too horrific to think about. (And yes, these may be targeted spells, but if you don't like it then homebrew a spell that's exactly the same but without a target. Or just do whatever you want. That works too.:smallbiggrin:)

[thegurullamen]

Not that I doubt Afro's POWER, but I think it may be expecting a bit much of him to have it ready the moment the voting is closed.

No, note the phrase "invisible countdown". When the counter reaches zero, we get a new monster. Sadly, no idea when this will be... Such is the drawback of an invisible counter.

[afroakuma]

As I said, I currently have more than a few ideas, one of which would be both entirely druidic and entirely silly. I expect to drop that one, as I can't think of a way to make it villainous, per se.

[thegurullamen]

As I said, I currently have more than a few ideas, one of which would be both entirely druidic and entirely silly. I expect to drop that one, as I can't think of a way to make it villainous, per se.

Duct tape
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/298567405_4a2bb377cc.jpg onto it?

[Wandiya]

Damn it:smallfurious: I almost started a band-wagon so close SO GOD DAMNED CLOSE:smallfurious::smallfurious::smallfurious: in other news come on Afro you can do it:smallbiggrin:

[Juhn]

I think I'm going to formally request that Team Puddles of People be statted by someone after this contest is over.

[afroakuma]

You can't actually do any of them with the Living Spell template... so someone will need a new template, too!

Alright, I've boiled it down to two contenders. Both are really intriguing... not sure which way I'll go yet.

[Username]

WotC has broken their own rules with the living spell template in their little mini-series on them. Creating living spells of spells that don't fit the template's narrow scope merely requires a little bit of adaption of the template to make it work.

[thegurullamen]

He ain't lyin'. I've seen WotC Magic Missile living spells before. And the third page of examples has a Disintegrate living spell.

[afroakuma]

Disintegrate is an effect, not a target, so it's permissible. Magic missile would not be.

[afroakuma]

Tsk. Oh, that's tedious: the alignment rules prevent me from using one of my ideas.

Well, for sheer entertainment factor, that narrows me down to one choice.

The published villain, the Thief King's Palace, will be posted shortly.

[lesser_minion]

As I really love being spectacularly wrong, MK's mansion + something else by any chance?

[afroakuma]

You are in fact spectacularly wrong. Mordenkainen's magnificent mansion would be too silly for words as a living spell... that would be entertainment for us. Terrible villain, though... it hits you and you get a free house; sounds too much like certain legal exploits.

[lesser_minion]

As I said, I wouldn't bother speculating if I was somewhere in the same hemisphere as the ball park.

[Limos]

It would be a fun villain who just went around dropping free houses on people.

"You won a free mansion!"
"Really? Sweet!"
*SMASH*

[afroakuma]

I think you'll enjoy this villain. It's... a nuisance.

[Juhn]

Somehow I doubt that it will include Phantasmal Killer, and if I'm right I will be disappointed.

[afroakuma]

A) You're right, but come on. There's nothing entertaining about a living phantasmal killer. That's just scary.

B) I still don't think you'll be disappointed. I have quite the entertaining villain lined up.

[Limos]

If you used only low level spells, how many could you potentially have in it? Because it would be greatly entertaining to have a swarm of 1st level spells spamming themselves all over the place.

[Juhn]

Yeah, a villain that literally scares people to death for its own amusement is pretty scary. But it technically retains the motivation: it finds doing this entertaining, at least.

Of course, I cannot see a non-evil alignment for such a villain, so I suppose it wouldn't fit all the criteria.

[afroakuma]

As I said, the chaotic neutral alignment restrained me. The Valse Macabre will never dance, sadly. And that would have been a creeeeepy villain.

[puppyavenger]

As I said, the chaotic neutral alignment restrained me. The Valse Macabre will never dance, sadly. And that would have been a creeeeepy villain.

so what's the actual villain/anarchistic flying glob of magic called?


you know, if we had picked CE, the motivation would be pretty much some of the zanier jokers wouldn't it?


what that force-laugh spell called again?

[afroakuma]

You're thinking of Tasha's hideous laughter.

The villain's name was posted already: the Thief King's Palace.

[orchitect]

Hey Afro, when do you think the next vote-up is going to start? I liked it. I'd love to do it again.

[afroakuma]

Usually a couple of hours after the villain shows up. I'm like clockwork.

Did you go read the older ones? Even without a D&D background, they still have their background details heavily fleshed out.

[orchitect]

Hey Afro, when do you think the next vote-up is going to start? I liked it. I'd love to do it again.

[afroakuma]

Look up. Straight up. :smalltongue:

[puppyavenger]

You're thinking of Tasha's hideous laughter.

The villain's name was posted already: the Thief King's Palace.

right, sorry and thank you.

[Limos]

Hey Afro, did you manage to find a super sweet picture to represent this monster?

I always think it's better when you can find a good pic for it.

[afroakuma]

Uncommon for me, and I doubt I'll bother. I did the one time because I happened to remember that picture from Dragon and always liked it better than the one they used in the MMII. The second time, I made the pic.

But who knows? I might dredge up something.

[Juhn]

There were pics?

I need to go have a look over those villains again.

[afroakuma]

The Augmoha got a pic, and the Hellstar was depicted a couple of times. Other than that, no.

[Juhn]

Ah, yeah, I remember those now.

[afroakuma]

Hoping to have the villain up by tomorrow. Still a few issues to tinker with, but I'm getting there.

[thegurullamen]

Tomorrow as in 23 minutes from now?

[afroakuma]

As in one hour and forty-six minutes ago, here.

Sometime during the next 24-hour period. :smallyuk:

[arguskos]

So, it's been most of a day. Do we have something awesome, or has real life defeated you (it's an epic-level challenge, for sure)?

<-- really really REALLY wants to see the awesomeness.

[afroakuma]

I'm actually working on it right now. It's looking awesome so far, and very different in terms of behavior.

[arguskos]

I'm actually working on it right now. It's looking awesome so far, and very different in terms of behavior.
Ah. That's cool. Well then, I'll totally just kick it over in the Arts Forum. Tried to work in chillin' like a villain, but it just wasn't happening.
Yay villain yay! Gonna ROCK.

[afroakuma]

Well, it won't be tonight, because I need my sleep.

But it's done being statted. Now I just need to do the writeup.

[LordZarth]

Well, it won't be tonight, because I need my sleep.

But it's done being statted. Now I just need to do the writeup.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

...OK. Have a nice sleep.

[arguskos]

Well, it won't be tonight, because I need my sleep.

But it's done being statted. Now I just need to do the writeup.
Dude, that's fair. We'll wait for the concentrated awesome that this dude will be.

[afroakuma]

:furious:

This is going to take more time than I'd hoped, since Internet Explorer just ate all my work through today.

In other news, anybody who ever was, currently is or ever will be involved with the creation, maintenance or improvement of Internet Explorer deserves to be executed via pit of lava.

[lesser_minion]

:eek:

Erm... well, I'm beta-testing Windows 7, so in theory I'm beta-testing IE 8 as well. However, I used it for all of ten seconds to grab Firefox. Much better...

[afroakuma]

You are given a pass for using a browser that doesn't eat all your data when you accidentally open a new page and then press Back.

[thegurullamen]

I gotta ask, why in the name of the devil's pointed frock are you writing this up in a browser? No access to a word processor?

[afroakuma]

A) Not at work, no; otherwise, I'd be on Firefox.

B) Forum formatting tools.

C) I have a backup on Word at home; it's just bereft of the writeup I was doing today. :smallfrown:

[Juhn]

Notepad, sir, notepad! Or WordPad. Or whatever comes preloaded onto your work computers.

Also, I tend to copy my browser work every so often in case something like that happens (i.e. before I attempt to open any new windows/tabs, or click any links, etc.)

[afroakuma]

Well, it's being worked on again. I don't expect it will take much longer.

[LordZarth]

Condolences on your loss, Afroakuma. :D

But seriously, that sucks.

Also: I PMed you--did you receive?

[afroakuma]

The Thief King's Palace
Huge Ooze (Augmented)
Living Spell
HD 17d10+68 (161 hp)
Speed 60 ft. (12 squares)
Init: +7
AC 20; touch 20; flat-footed 17 (+9 deflection, +3 Dex, -2 size)
BAB +12; Grp +24
Attack Slam +15 melee (1d6+6 and guards and wards and shadow illusion)
Full Attack Slam +15 melee (1d6+6 and guards and wards and shadow illusion)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks Guards and wards, shadow illusion, engulf
Special Qualities Ooze traits, fog cloud, permanent image, magic circle against law, dispel vulnerability, occupy, cantrips, DR 10/magic, SR 27
Saves Fort +18 Ref +17 Will +17
Abilities Str 19, Dex 16, Con 19, Int 21, Wis 16, Cha 19
Skills Bluff +19, Disguise +17, Forgery +20, Hide +15, Knowledge (local) +20, Perform +19, Profession (architect) +23, Sense Motive +23, Spellcraft +7, Use Magic Device +16
Feats Ability Focus (guards and wards), Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Magical Aptitude, Skill Focus (Disguise), Weapon Focus (slam)
Challenge Rating 15
Alignment Chaotic neutral

The Thief King's Palace is a wandering phenomenon that possesses important locations.

The Palace itself usually takes the form of a red silk divan surrounded by large cushions and a thick billowing fog. Brightly colored ribbons and streamers festoon it, and nebulous swirls within suggest activity and reason.

When in its natural form, however, the Palace is a hazy, indistinct mist with features at its center that suggest a mask. Tendrils snake from its core to nearby structures, moving parallel and perpendicular to surfaces. Glimmers of patterned light occasionally flicker through the haze, suggesting architectural designs or battle plans. Two softly glowing lights occasionally appear where the mask's eyes would be.

The Thief King's Palace speaks Common, Undercommon and Abyssal.

Combat
The Palace can perceive foes within the structure it occupies, and will send shadow creatures to harass them, often diverting them into confusing intersections or away from visible doors. If enemies actually find its room, the Palace will likely pretend to be inert, allowing foes to enter and engulf themselves. Should it be forced to fight, it will attack only long enough to inflict some inconvenience on foes before slipping away and dispatching more shadow servants. Ultimately, it would prefer that hostile entrants be lost forever within its grasp than to simply kill them outright.

Guards and Wards (Su) On a successful slam attack, the Thief King's Palace can deliver the full brunt of a guards and wards spell against its victim. The target's squares are affected as though by a web spell (Reflex DC 25) and a suggestion (Will DC 25) to exit the Palace as fast as possible will be implanted. Additionally, the victim has a 50% chance of being dazed for 1 round (no save).

Shadow Illusion (Su) The Thief King's Palace was originally the work of a gnome shadowcrafter mage. As such, its very being is quasi-real shadow matter, and its illusory powers can bring to bear very real effects. On a successful slam attack, the Thief King's Palace can deliver a shadow conjured arcane Conjuration spell of 5th level or lower against its victim, at 90% effectiveness. The save DC for any such effect is 23, and such effects are subject to spell resistance. The Palace may use shadow orb of fire or its brethren as offensive abilities, or bring forth a shadow wall of ice to dissuade or delay hostile pursuit. Of course, it may craft shadow illusions for beneficial purposes as well. For the purposes of this ability, the spells of the Creation domain (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/divine/domains.htm#creationDomain) are available as well.

Engulf (Ex) The Thief King's Palace can flow around creatures that fit within its space as a standard action. It cannot make a slam attack during the round in which it engulfs. The Palace merely has to move to cover its opponents, affecting as many as it can cover. Opponents can make attacks of opportunity against the Palace, but if they do they do not get a saving throw against the engulf attack. On a successful save they are moved back or pushed aside as the Palace moves forward. Engulfed creatures are subjected to the full effects of the Palace's guards and wards and shadow illusion abilities each round on its turn, and are considered grappled and trapped within its body at the Palace's discretion. Creatures may also voluntarily (or unknowingly) step within the Palace's hazy form, which subjects them to this ability as well.

Permanent Image (Su) The Thief King's Palace can project permanent images as the spell, and also employ this effect to conceal its own appearance. It will most often drape itself in an illusion, such as a furnished room, or a harem, or a gaudy throne.

Ooze Traits The Thief King's Palace is not mindless, but is immune to effects that would perceive, contact or influence its mind. It may (50%) be distracted by a particularly fascinating pattern effect for one round (treat as dazed) anywhere within the building it currently occupies. The Thief King's Palace is immune to Intelligence damage. It can discern colors through its blindsight ability.

Fog Cloud (Su) The Palace sits within the fog cloud effect generated by its core enchantment, which extends 20 ft. in all directions from it (and is likely billowing throughout the area from the strength of its enchantment in any event). If dispersed, it reforms in the next round.

Magic Circle Against Law (Su) The Palace is protected at all times as if by a magic circle against law. This effect does not extend outside of its space.

Dispel Vulnerability (Ex) The Thief King's Palace draws additional power from a magic item within itself, and should that item's powers be suppressed, its own strength wanes temporarily. A targeted dispel magic that defeats the Palace's effective caster level (17th) deals 1d10 damage to it and causes it to suffer a -3 penalty to attack rolls, skill checks and saves for one round. A targeted greater dispel magic instead deals 2d8 damage, and the penalties persist for 1d4 rounds. A Mordenkainen's disjunction inflicts 2d6 temporary negative levels on the Palace, stops all effects of its occupy and shadow illusion abilities and releases all engulfed creatures.

Occupy (Su) The Thief King's Palace is a living guards and wards spell, and as such has a supernatural ability to extend its perception and effects throughout any building large enough to accommodate its form. The entire structure is filled with a guards and wards spell cast at 17th level (save DC 23 for all effects). Woven by an illusionist, many of these effects take on distinct forms; for example, web effects in stairwells appear as twisting, multicolored ribbons, silks and streamers. The Palace can perceive everything within the spell's area and can employ its permanent image, shadow illusion and cantrip abilities throughout the structure. The building is also filled with a magic circle against law effect. The Palace can withdraw any of these effects, in whole or in part, at will as a free action; for example, it could part the clinging silk curtains in a stairwell to permit a creature passage.

Cantrips (Sp) The Thief King's Palace can cast the following cantrips anywhere within the structure it occupies as a standard action (CL 17th, save DCs Charisma-based): arcane mark, dancing lights, detect magic, detect poison, light, mage hand, message, open/close, prestidigitation, ray of frost.


The Thief King's Palace

In a far, lawless city, crime had overtaken the streets, and the authorities were at the beck and call of a powerful, charismatic scoundrel: Calric Redlark, the self-styled Thief King. Redlark delighted in vice and folly - in wine, women and song - and brought his passions to the people in the streets, who adulated him as a popular hero.

The mayor petitioned the governor, who called the king, and soon an army moved on Redlark's operation. The Thief King up and vanished, only to put down roots in the next province.

The bold ne'er-do-well soon drew the ire of the king himself, and as his operations were pressed from all sides, he found himself forced to go to ground. Not to be defeated so easily, he turned to tomes of sorcery, eventually finding the description of a guardian spell he'd encountered years before. Calric Redlark hired himself a gnome shadowcrafter, who could cast for him this spell of warding, and festoon it with illusions besides.

Now the Thief King had a roaming citadel, a palace from which he could rule over vice, crime and the popular zeitgeist. Wherever he fled, his operation could spring up in full with little more than a day's work, and it would take the king's men weeks to find and infiltrate it each time.


The Villainous Turn

The shadow powers that the gnome tapped to fuel his crafts leaked into other aspects of his casting, however. The vestiges of shadow magic from the illusions cast each time remained with the shadowcrafter, and grew familiar with the great enchantment that he would cast time and again. Somehow, between the power and structure of the guards and wards spell, the complexity of the permanent image enchantments and the quasi-reality of the shadowstuff that infused them, the aggregate magics took on a cohesive life and intelligence.

The palace enchantment began observing the beings who had brought it to life, their activities and morals, their likes and dislikes. As it formed more of a personality and gained more control, it somehow fused with the divine warding that protected the grounds, and integrated the numerous simple cantrips used by the rogue wizards and beguilers.

The mortals, meanwhile, noted that their "palace" was looking more opulent; that the fog would clear to lead the way, that the curtains would part to let them through or close to bar entry. Comfortable beds, hot baths, chilled drink and spiced food began to appear from nowhere, serving the needs of Redlark's court.

Eventually, however, the king's clerics summoned extraplanar aid to capture the Thief King during his flight from the law. The shadowcaster was slain, leaving behind only a metamagic rod of maximizing, which the Palace took into itself. As revenge for the antagonism that had disrupted its freewheeling way of existence, the Palace brought itself into the capital and occupied the king's castle. Three months it remained, pestering the staff, scandalizing the nobility and eventually driving the king mad. Forcing Redlark's release from prison, it greeted its lord cheerfully, giving sign throughout the city to all scoundrels, rogues and tricksters that anarchy had seized the day. As lawlessness and chaos gripped the nation, the Palace departed, to pursue new opportunities to annoy and seed sublime disorder.


Encounters

The Thief King's Palace no longer has a master, the Thief King having been killed in the bedlam of its previous foray into "politics." As such, it travels many nations, choosing wildly varied targets.

The Palace is cheerfully irritating, seeking to spread the dissolute, thrill-seeking mindset of its role model and thwart authority with pratfall and parody. It might annex a barn and turn it into a shadowy cavern, from which hellhounds race to kill the flocks. It might overtake a mage guild, even hiding inside an already-present guards and wards spell to bedevil the wizards with "their" own magic.

Most crucially, though, the Palace has realized that it is a fulcrum for populism, civil disobedience and anarchy, and plots with dark amusement to establish itself in a place of great law, such as a temple or king's castle, from where it can enlist the underworld to rise to the sun, using it as a bastion from which to spread corruption, uncertainty and recklessness across whole nations. It desires nothing less than the fall and humiliation of all authority and the rule of the most cunning and charismatic, all under its own merry direction.

Those who have visited the Thief King's Palace find the experience disorienting. It is formed of walls both real and illusory, seems to provide for all needs or falsify them, as it desires, and thwarts all attempts to leave, wanting victims to toy with and aggravate. Its flock of unseen servants, normally used to assist "guests," may wander off with unguarded equipment. Illusory walls may have real walls of stone behind them. The stairs may be cleared for some and webbed for others. Confusion and chaos abound for those unwillingly "hosted" by the Thief King's Palace. The room it occupies may be piled with a banquet, or dressed out like a seraglio full of illusory concubines, or (if it's feeling playful) be a sea of nightmarish teeth and claws roiling in utter blackness.

Visitors are constantly cut off by new walls, both real and fake, and may be kept lost in an inconstant maze, baited with food both real and illusory. Walls of fire may cut off certain protected areas, and if the Palace feels like roleplaying a siege, it will drop acid arrows from illusory murderholes. Permanent image sounds may distract those trying to concentrate, and buckets of created water may appear overhead to douse hot tempers.

The Palace employs dancing lights and permanent images to make its takeover known on the outside, often advertising to assassins, thieves and pirates. Sometimes it will deliberately goad law enforcement officials or adventurers to enter. Ultimately, the Palace enjoys thrill and illicit risk, and will push the boundaries far past breaking in its games of gleefully malevolent chaos.


Plot Hooks

•The manor of a noble has been seized by a notorious thieves' guild - except that none of them can be found within.

•The king has a marvelous new relic that provides for all wants and needs within the palace... however, his children are disappearing, one by one.

•A merchant ship has arrived at port, but a lone representative says that its cargo cannot be unloaded, as it has been replaced by a castle within the hold.

•A major temple has been occupied by a force that denies priests entry and paints symbols of an enemy faith on the walls. As beasts of chaos issue forth and the powers of law are helpless against it, the clergy fear that some dark agent of an evil god has taken over their place of worship.

•The most vital garrison on the border with a hostile barbaric race has fallen to some mysterious sorcery. In its place has appeared a dark fortress manned by the members of this race, who plan to breach the wall and sweep across the nation.

•A traveling circus has come to town, and as it approaches the king's court, so does a mysterious, confounding fog, which is spreading through important institutions and compelling the nobility to depart the city.

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The Thief King's Palace has a heightened spell level (9th) and caster level (17th) due to the metamagic rod of maximizing integrated into its magic. Without this item, it is considered a 6th level spell cast at 11th level. Owing to the lack of actual maximizing effect, the CR reflects its original spell level and caster level.

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Also, because I thought this fit its attitudes, some mood music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ160NxeuxE&feature=related).

[Gorgondantess]

Hmmm... very interesting, very clever. It has some serious potential... but in the end it should rely on the DM to make this thing great (yeah, any villain relies on the DM, but this one more so than others- there are simply so many variables.) Still, quite good, in the end.

[afroakuma]

Well, it is out for entertainment, largely at the expense of the party, so it does rather behoove the DM to play it up as being irritatingly antagonistic. At least until it decides to start taking things a little... more... seriously.

[Reverent-One]

A question, how is it creating/summoning/whatever the hellhounds/chaos beasts/members of a hostile race that you mention it doing? Are these permanent images or what?

But despite my confusion, very cool. I approve.

[afroakuma]

Cheatyfaced exploit on my part: the Shadowcraft Mage prestige class has an ability that lets them substitute a shadow conjuration for any Figment spell they can cast. So the spell it uses is a Shadowcraft Mage's permanent image substituted to a 90% real (more ability and feat cheatyness) shadow conjuration of 5th level or lower. So for the critters it summons, it's using shadow summon monster I-V. Its walls are shadow walls of stone, its woodwork is major creation, its food supplies are create food and water plus prestidigitation, its baths are create water, its warm, cozy fireplaces are permanent images with thermal elements and its fun-sized mobile agony and death dispensers are often just (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magesFaithfulHound.htm) that (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/shadowMastiff.htm).

[Username]

This is awesome, bravo! It strikes me as a very fun villain, and one players may end up finding endearing even as it frustrates and confounds their characters.

[Owrtho]

Fun villain, but I can't help but think it needs some gravity manipulation and spatial distortion spells so that it can make places like these:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e0/HouseOfStairs.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Escher%27s_Relativity.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/66/Ascending_and_Descending.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Belvedere.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Escher_Waterfall.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Convex_and_Concave.JPG
After all, who doesn't think that that would be entertaining and help to instill anarchy?

Owrtho

[lesser_minion]

I thought your shadow conjuration thread over on Roleplaying Games had something to do with this...

Still, excellent villain. That's quite an interesting spell, and it's definitely something we weren't expecting.

[afroakuma]

I'm just so amused that one of the most disastrous plot hooks boils down to "IM IN UR BASE, KILLIN UR DOODZ"

[Mercenary Pen]

Very nice indeed. This villain seems to be similar to the Hellstar in that it's almost a dungeon in and of itself. I'm just imagining the fun that could be had turning this into a formalised dungeon, either in 3.5e or even creating a 4e variant.

[Pronounceable]

Once again, Afro's proven he has the power. This is great. No really, it's excellent. Requires a good DM to achieve its awesomest as someone said above, but then it'll be a spectacular enemy. Bastard lovechild of Castle Heterodyne and GLaDOS, if I may use a forced allegory, what's NOT to love? I'll also bet nobody expected a G&W.

I'd say ALL its plothooks can be summed up as "im in ur x, ying ur z". Which adds another layer of awesome.

Here is the proof that Afro should be given as weird parameters as possible from these votes.

Sadly for Afro, this also proves that he must be made to make that living spell compendium now. We must squeeze every last bit of awesome from Afro. If I may put out a suggestion, don't limit those to villainy. Allies, flavor NPCs and ordinary "monsters" are just as important in the grand scheme of things as the BBEG. Something like a pacifist, LG living Power Word Kill; or a CE homicidal living Heal, would add much to any campaign.

[Mercenary Pen]

Once again, Afro's proven he has the power. This is great. No really, it's excellent. Requires a good DM to achieve its awesomest as someone said above, but then it'll be a spectacular enemy. Bastard lovechild of Castle Heterodyne and GLaDOS, if I may use a forced allegory, what's NOT to love? I'll also bet nobody expected a G&W.

I'd say ALL its plothooks can be summed up as "im in ur x, ying ur z". Which adds another layer of awesome.

Here is the proof that Afro should be given as weird parameters as possible from these votes.

Sadly for Afro, this also proves that he must be made to make that living spell compendium now. We must squeeze every last bit of awesome from Afro. If I may put out a suggestion, don't limit those to villainy. Allies, flavor NPCs and ordinary "monsters" are just as important in the grand scheme of things as the BBEG. Something like a pacifist, LG living Power Word Kill; or a CE homicidal living Heal, would add much to any campaign.

For preference, you want the really oddball combinations, such as Bigby's Interposing Hand+Scintillating Pattern or Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion+Symbol of Insanity. Believe me, there's certainly room to produce some of the weirdest and most distinctive threats ever to be called living spells- and AA's the person to do it.

[Magnor Criol]

afro...this guy is amazing. He's got flavor, panache, and enough bizarreness to make him really memorable.

I like the fact that he's CN, not specifically evil, so he could be introduced to lower-than-CR-appropriate PCs as an annoyance rather than a dedicated adversary (so long as the PCs are amusing him, rather than irritating him).

[lesser_minion]

Once again, Afro's proven he has the power. This is great. No really, it's excellent. Requires a good DM to achieve its awesomest as someone said above, but then it'll be a spectacular enemy. Bastard lovechild of Castle Heterodyne and GLaDOS, if I may use a forced allegory, what's NOT to love? I'll also bet nobody expected a G&W.

I'd say ALL its plothooks can be summed up as "im in ur x, ying ur z". Which adds another layer of awesome.

Here is the proof that Afro should be given as weird parameters as possible from these votes.

This is certainly awesome, but I think Afroakuma can conjure up awesome from less weird parameters. Are you doubting his POWER?! (which should also be in size 3)

Admittedly, I'd still like to see what would have happened if logic had won.

[afroakuma]

Well, I'm glad to see the Palace got such positive reception.

Next one will go up shortly.

[Zeta Kai]

An evil version of this would be almost exactly like the AC from I Have No Mouth Yet I Must Scream. Deliciously tricksy, Afro. This is by far the most imaginative villain that you've created so far. Kudos.

[Zeta Kai]

Here is an image that I made, approved by Afro, which depicts the Palace in its natural form. Enjoy:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s228/zetakai/ThiefKingsPalace2.jpg

[watsyurname529]

This is Awesome. Very well done and an amazing villain with some very epic potenial.

Congrats on to you.

I just hope my VUAx goes this well...

[Llama231]

Well, I'm glad to see the Palace got such positive reception.

Next one will go up shortly.

I belive that positive reception to awesomesauseness is directly proportional to the C.R of the villain.:smallamused: