Xarias the Mad, conquering necromancer
(Xarias previously appeared in the October 2000 issue of Sabledrake Magazine)
ST: 12 [20] -- Swing 1d+2, Thrust 1d-1
DX: 13 [30] -- Speed 6.5, Move 6, Dodge 6
IQ: 16 [80]
HT: 13 [30]
Point Total: 399
Advantages: Magery 3 [35]; Strong Will +3 [12]; Ally Group (20 men on 12-) [40]; Ally (Captain Hanar, 200 point character, on 12-) [30]
Disadvantages: Fanatacism (self) [-15]; Megalomania [-10]; Odious Personal Habit: Cannibalism (-3 reaction) [-15]
Quirks: Talks to stuffed pets as if they were alive; Converses with his dinner while it's being prepared; Keeps his word with honorable allies/foes
Skills: Alchemy-17 [6]; Broadsword-15 [8]; Knife-14 [2]; Leadership-16 [2]; Philosophy-18 [8]; Physician-16 [4]; Professional Skill: Taxidermy-16 [2]; Strategy-17 [6]; Surgery-17 [6]; Thaumatology-19 [4]; Theology-18 [8]
Grimore (* - M/VH spells)
Skill 17 (1 point except as noted): Alter Body; Apportation;
Alter Visage; Continual Light; Darkness; Itch; Light; Might; Minor
Healing; Sense Emotion; Sense Foes; Shape Darkness; Spasm; Steal Health;
Stun
Skill 18 (2 points except as noted): Animation* [4]; Control Zombie; Death Vision; Fear; Lend Health; Lend Strength; Pain; Sense Spirit; Steal Strength; Turn Spirit; Weaken Blood
Skill 19 (4 points except as noted): Paralyze Limb; Summon Shade; Summon Spirit; Total Paralysis; Wither Limb
Skill 20 (6 points except as noted): Animate Shadow; Death Touch; Decapitation; Evisceration; Shape Shifting* [16]; Skull-Spirit; Zombie
Equipment: Enchanted thrusting broadsword (+2 to-hit, +2 damage, flaming weapon, 1d+4 cut/1d+1 imp, plus burn damage), enchanted light leather armor (PD 3/ DR 3), powerstones as required and a suitably black outfit with boots and a cape.
Appearance: 6'3", 185 lbs, lightly tanned skin, black eyes, thick black beard and topknot (otherwise shaved bald), about thirty years old
Biography
Xarias is the archetypical evil, insane necromancer. He is out for world domination and will gladly kill (then put to use) anyone who gets in his way. The fact that he prefers to take important enemies alive and have them for dinner makes him even more nasty.
Little is known of Xarias' personal background. By most accounts he simply appeared with a large army some six years ago. Among the various rumors about him are:
Xarias was determined to get revenge and found a perfect instrument: the Caulderon of Challir. An obscure and forgotten relic, it possessed one gruesome ability: anyone who boiled a human brain in it and then ate the brain gained some of the abilities of the dead person. Xarias used the Caulderon over a period of several years both to exterminate the other necromancers and to increase his personal power. Before he could use the artifact on all the necromancers, one of his henchman stole it for his own use. The thief payed for his transgression dearly, but the Caulderon was never recovered.
By then, Xarias was powerful enough to eliminate the remaining members of the secret society on his own. He had also, though years of using the powers of the Caulderon, developed a taste for human flesh and, warped the power gained from others, became quite insane. One of his more macbre habits is the acquisition of pets: whenever he finds an animal he likes, he kills, stuffs and mounts it.
Encountered
Xarias splits his time between his mountain fortress and his army in the field.
Canonicality
Xarias is designed using normal GURPS ® rules.
What if?
The character does not translate well to most settings or genres outside of generic fantasy. Xarias would fit reasonably well in a Yrth campaign (assume his human troops are remnants of a mutinous Megalan legion). No necromancers of note have appeared in the Discworld ® series, but there is always a first time. With a great deal of tweaking, he might fit in a GURPS Technomancer ™ campaign.
Adventure Seeds
The Blackest Caulderon: The PCs somehow come into possession
of information telling where the Caulderon of Challir currently rests (they
might not even know they have the knowledge!); unfortunately, one of Xarias'
agents mistakenly believes that the party has actually recovered the Caulderon
and relays that to Xarias. He then attempts to take it from the party (and
not suprisingly fails); with his dying breath he tells them that Xarias
knows they have the Caulderon and will stop at nothing to recover it from
them. Do the PCs beg for mercy? Do they try to recover the Caulderon to
either give to Xarias or to destroy it? Or do they flee for their lives?
The Hell Riders
Xarias' military forces contain a large number of undead which do not count towards his ally group (they are simply expendable shock troops). Xarias will have 4d6 skeletons and 2d6 zombies available as personal bodyguards at any time (in addition to members of his Ally Group not currently performing tasks for him). Any prisoners or soldiers executed will increase these numbers, unless they became dinner guests ...
Likewise, most of his other troops are considered expendable and replaceable. The exceptions include the dragon (Qarak, an unreliable ally; no point cost) and Captain Hanar (Xarias' field general). Note that Hanar will try to preserve his men if at all possible.
Troop Roster:
150 Seasoned Goblin light infantry, TS 450, irregular
600 Average Goblin light infantry, TS 1200, irregular
200 Average Zombie light infantry, TS 1000, irregular
1 Average adolecent dragon, TS 90, no rider
120 Veteran heavy cavalry, TS 1440, human
240 Seasoned archers/ight infantry, TS 300, human
90 Average miners/sappers, TS 180 (720 in siege), human
400 Green support, TS 400, irregular (includes camp followers)
Total Troops: 1801
Total Troop Strength: 5060
Other Notes
Xarias provides three points of Exceptional Strength. He normally has
around 200 zombies avaliable, but there may be more or less depending on
circumstances (some may be replaced by skeletons).
Xarias has a personal bodyguard of twenty warriors and mages of various
races and backgrounds. In general, they range from 75 to 175 points (due
to possible treachery, he employs no powerful mages; the most powerful
is a 125-point Earth Elementalist). He rarely needs them (only a fool would
try to directly assault such a powerful necromancer), though occassionaly
he uses them as messengers, but more often sends them to perform errands
he does not have the time or inclination to perform himself (defeating
or delaying one of his bodyguards is a sure way to gain the unwelcome attention
of Xarias). GMs should use GURPS Warriors™ and GURPS Wizards™
to create the various henchmen (though a few are simple thieves).