Evil Bard BBEG

[sabelo2000]

So there I was trying to design the BBEG for a later high-level adventure, possibly THE BBEG for the entire campaign. And it occurred to me that having an evil bard would be kind of a fun departure from the norm. I'm thinking, flavor him after H.P. Lovecraft's "High Priest Not To Be Described" perhaps.

Problem is, I'm having difficulty finding good pointers or guides for an evil bard. Obviously Sublime Chord and Dirgesinger present themselves, but Dirgesinger is a bit underwhelming unless you can boost his debuff DCs significantly.

I'm looking for fear effects, debuffs, things of that sort that can preferably be done with Bardic Music ability, as well as ways to boost the DCs of the same.
It may be helpful to note that this BBEG, if all goes as planned, should be ECL 25-30 so epic options are open.

Can anyone point me toward some good feats/classes/guidebooks?

Thanks in advance, Playground.

[thethird]

Have you seen the joker (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5496158)?

[Squirrel_Dude]

Here's the best tip I can give for a BBEG Bard: He has the diplomacy win button as a class skill. If he wants to, he can make every person the players hold dear an enemy, force them to fight every town they walk into.

Basically, Bards are one of the worst enemies you can possibly face because while enchantment magic doesn't work well on most monsters, it's really good against npc classes (the king, the commoners, etc.). Also take advantage of things like skill tricks that would let him cast spells near the party, without them being able to notice that he's the one casting them.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

I've already made one of these for someone else (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252815#4).

[Rosstin]

How about a somber bard who plays sad songs for the dead, whom he commands to rise up and take life back from the living?

[Irk]

haunting melody feat produces a fear effect and doomspeak provides a debuff in the form of a minus 10 to various things. Both are bardic music feats.

[Waker]

I'm somewhat surprised that no one has suggested Music of the Outer Spheres.

[CyberThread]

I've already made one of these for someone else (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252815#4).

Am confused by the build , why does he want his half orc to be human?

[Spuddles]

How about a somber bard who plays sad songs for the dead, whom he commands to rise up and take life back from the living?

Lich bard, playing this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o)on his organ.

Adventuring through dungeons, always hearing organ music off in the distance, which incidentally buffs every monster in the dungeon (undead included, thanks to that feat that lets bards buff the dead).

Then they get to him and he's just going to town on his pipe organ in a concert hall. Every seat is filled with a corpse. Suddenly all the corpses in the room animate and whirl about.

Roll initiative.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Am confused by the build , why does he want his half orc to be human?

To qualify for the feat Dreadful Wrath from PGtF, which grants a frightful presence that doesn't contain a HD limit on what it can affect.

[CyberThread]

Aww okay so you can qualify as starting from a certain region you mean?

[O.j.s]

Take doomspeak if you can. Also is good to have martial studied (devoted spirit )to get intimidade as class skil.

[Zanos]

Lich bard, playing this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o)on his organ.

Adventuring through dungeons, always hearing organ music off in the distance, which incidentally buffs every monster in the dungeon (undead included, thanks to that feat that lets bards buff the dead).

Then they get to him and he's just going to town on his pipe organ in a concert hall. Every seat is filled with a corpse. Suddenly all the corpses in the room animate and whirl about.

Roll initiative.

I love you.

[Manly Man]

Lich bard, playing this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o)on his organ.

Adventuring through dungeons, always hearing organ music off in the distance, which incidentally buffs every monster in the dungeon (undead included, thanks to that feat that lets bards buff the dead).

Then they get to him and he's just going to town on his pipe organ in a concert hall. Every seat is filled with a corpse. Suddenly all the corpses in the room animate and whirl about.

Roll initiative.

This, a billion-jillion-fafillion-kazillion times over.

[Bonzai]

Every once in a while I create a villain that I really like. When I do, I will then do a write up about him in the style of the old 2nd edition Forgotten Realms Villains Lorebook, and put them in a binder for sharing with friends and for future inspiration. Here is an evil Bard that I created.

Short story I include to impart his style and MO.

The guard paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. It was almost time. His hand gripped the handle of his short sword, turning his knuckles white. Was it too late to turn back? No, he thought to himself, he was going through with it. The promised distraction arrived on time. A familiar beggar had fallen in front of the small procession. Most of the body of guards had surged up front, to shoo off the beggar, and look for a potential ambush. Now was the time! Calmly he drew his short sword, and casually walked up to his employer. The beggar’s shouts of protest turned to cries of pain as the guards began to beat him. More guards moved to assist them. Seeing his chance, he quickly clamped his hand around his employer’s mouth and plunged his sword deep into his back. He quickly yanked out his blade, and ducked down an ally and several side streets as his companions brought up cries of alarm.

Making his way back to the inn, he thought back on last night and the circumstance that brought him to this. He had worked late again. His employer, the bastard, had seen fit to keep his guards late as he caroused with some lovely wench that his coin must have bought. Certainly, a man with that many chins couldn't have gotten a girl like that any other way. The long hours, and his current lack of coin to procure a wench himself further soured his mood. After the fat wretch had finally retired for the evening, he went to his favorite inn, content to drown his sorrows in cheap ale. Then he saw her… she was beautiful. She must have been new, for he had never seen her work there before. When she brought him his drink, she was all smiles and her eyes seemed to linger far too long upon him. Emboldened, he started chatting with her, with a generous amount of playful pats and suggestive comments thrown in. There was a bard playing tonight, a good one. The atmosphere in the inn that night was magic, and the hours seemed to fly away.

It soon came time to close, and the woman huskily ushered him into a dark back room. A sudden light appeared from an uncovered lantern, revealing a beggar sitting at a table. He quickly bid the woman to leave, and began to talk. By the gods he was persuasive. He seemed to know every indignity suffered, and every slight his employer made against him. The bulging bag of gold also proved very enticing. When the beggar revealed his plan, it all seemed so easy, so reasonable. Besides, the bastard had it coming!

At last he made it to the inn, and cautiously made his way into the back room. Soon he was joined by the beggar, who plopped the bag of coins on the table. The beggar told him, “Well done”, and began to merrily hum a tune. The tune was hauntingly familiar, he was sure that he had heard it before, but just couldn’t place it. Warily, he poured out the contents of the bag onto the table and began to count. Was the gold slightly slimy to the touch, or was that just his sweaty hands? It was probably just nerves. Was it hot in here? His brow had broken out in a sweat. Finally he was satisfied that he had not been cheated, and began scooping the gold back into the pouch. He found it surprisingly hard to stand and when he tried to take a step he collapsed to the floor. The room started to spin. Poison! It had to be. The last thing he saw before death claimed him was the man’s features changing into those of the bard from the night before, still humming that haunting tune.


Devron Taim, The Dirge.

Human CE Bard 11/ Zhentarim Spy 2
HP: 108
Init: +6
Speed: 30ft
Space/Reach: 5ft
AC: 16 t: 12 F: 14
Bab: 8/3
Attack: 11/6 1d6+3
Abilities: Str:13 Dex:14 Con:16 Int:10 Wis:10 Cha:18
Saves: Fort: 6, Ref: 12, Will: 10
Skills: Perform 15, Spellcraft 15, Slight of hand 15, Hide 15, Move Silently 15, tumble 5, spot 5, listen 5, Bluff 5, Disguise 5, Forgery 5, Gather information 5
Feats: Deceitful, Lyrical Spell, Subsonics, Arcane Strike, Spell Focus (Enchantment), Improved Initiative.
Possessions: Ring of Chameleon Power, Mythral Shirt, Cloak of Charisma +2, +2 Rapier.
Features: Bardic knowledge, Sneak Attack 1d6, Undetectable Alignment, Cover Identity.
Bardic Music: Counter song, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +2, Inspire Competence, Suggestion, Inspire Greatness.
0 lvl spells/ 3 per day: Prestidigitation, Message, Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Ghost Sound, Summon Instrument.
1st lvl spells/ 4 per day: Charm Person, Comprehend Languages, Feather Fall, Expeditious Retreat.
2nd lvl spells/ 4 per day: Silence, Invisibility, Sound Burst, Tongues.
3rd lvl spells/3 per day: Charm Monster, Dispel Magic, See Invisibility, Gaseous Form.
4th lvl spells/1 per day: Dominate person

Combat/Tactics: Devron seldom likes to enter combat directly. Instead he prefers to allow others to do his killing for him. His spells and bardic abilities allow him to control the minds of others, at which he is a master. He is also a master of disguise, with his ring of the chameleon allowing him to appear as whomever he likes. No one knows his true identity, and he takes great pains to ensure that no one will. As such, he never shows his true face on the job. If forced into a direct confrontation, he will attempt to dominate one of his attackers. If it fails he will use his rapier and arcane strike ability to melee his foes.

Friends/Allies: As a Zhent agent, he has the nominal support of the organization. As a respected Bard, doors are open to him that otherwise might not be.

Foes/Enemies: No one outside his immediate Zhent superiors know his true identity. As such he has no real enemies. However, if his involvement in the various deeds he has carried out come to light, any number of good aligned organizations, victims, or local law enforcement would be hot on his trail.

Appearance: He has long blond hair, and piercing blue eyes. He is extremely handsome, and takes great pains to keep up his appearance. However, he is a master of disguise, so he could appear to look however he wants too.

Personality: While in public, he is polite and charming in the extreme, a real bard’s bard. In private however, his true personality comes out. Cold, ruthless, and completely amoral. He thinks nothing of using his looks, charm, or bardic abilities to get what he wants. Everyone and anyone are disposable, except for him of course. To him people are only useful as an adoring audience, or as pawns to do his bidding. He has a quick temper when things don’t go his way, and has been known to vent his frustrations in particularly cruel fashion.

History: Devron was an orphan in Lyrabar. He was taken in by a kindly priest of Ilmater, and became a ward of the church along with several other young boys. Early on, he learned that he had a wonderful gift for song. He also learned that charm and good looks can get you far in life. Despite the priest’s best efforts to raise him to be a just and virtuous man, the boy grew up devious and manipulative. When he came of age he was apprenticed to a famous bard, and it seemed that his future was secure. However, his darker nature would not allow him to be content with the life of a wandering minstrel. He was drawn to the seedier places, and he began to love the thrill of danger and intrigue.

It started small, robbing drunkards of their purses. Then things went wrong, and he committed his first murder. That was a thrill unlike any other, and he became addicted to it. Even more addicting, was the thrill he gained by manipulating others into doing his dirty work for him. Eventually, his antics brought him to the attention of the Zhents. The Zhents offered him a choice, work for them or be exposed. This suited Devron just fine, and he even found the whole thing to be exhilarating. Ever since he has been cultivating his identity as a well known and respected Bard; all the while concealing his more sinister activities. The Zhents have come to value him as an operative that can get things done, without leaving any evidence implicating them.

Motives and Goals: Devron exists simply to sow chaos. He loves the thrill he gets from manipulating others into doing his bidding. The Zhents provide a wonderful outlet for his inclinations, and even provide support and income from them. His main goal is to increase his reputation as a bard, and to gain more autonomy within the Black Network. Then he will be free to indulge upon his whims whenever he desires.

I used him in a short two night story arc. It was essentially a murder mystery where the players had to find out who was behind a murder, and peel away the layers of subterfuge that the character had thrown up to distract them. I like the idea of the stereo typical heroic bard actually being a vicious murdering sociopath, but being insanely good at hiding it and covering it up.

[Karoht]

Ninja 2 Bard 6 (Soundstriker) [PF]

Ninja 2, be a Gnome. This is to gain a Ki Pool.
Your first Talent/Trick should be Snap Shot, as per the Rogue Talent. Being able to act in surprise rounds is a big deal. Throw smoke bombs.
3rd Level Feat-Bewildering Koan. Short explanation, you weaponize your Bluff Skill. As a Swift action!
Once you have Weird Words, Smoke Bombs and Ventriloquism become your friends. Goz Mask or Fogcutting Lenses to see through the Smoke.
Take the feat Taunt, pick up the spell Blistering Invective. Intimidate is now uses your Bluff instead.

Your attack order goes something like this.
Surprise Round-Smoke Bomb (especially if you pick up Poison Bomb)
Round 1-Bewildering Koan someone as a Swift Action, Start Performance (Weird Words) as a Standard. Do 6 bolts (divided up among whichever targets you want) each dealing 1D8 + Charisma Bonus (add on sneak attack damage if they are within 30ft and Flat Footed, which, if they are in the smoke and you have the mask/lenses, they are all Flat Footed VS you).
Round 2-Maintain music as a Free Action (as per Bardic Performance), Bewildering Koan as a Swift, Blistering Invective for your Standard. Opponents should be shaken (lower hit and saves), and quite damaged by this point.
Round 3-Maintain music as a Free Action (as per Bardic Performance), Bewildering Koan as a Swift, Glitterdust someone for your Standard or throw another Smoke Bomb/Poison Bomb.

Defenses-Buy a scroll of Greater Invisibility, cast Mirror Image on yourself (potion works) if they manage to get rid of your Greater Invisibility.

This in addition to the Joker Bard tactics can be completely lethal. You're more of the Green Goblin than the Joker, but the Joker Bard tactics are the leadup to the encounter, the encounter involves you and some mooks.