Exemplars of Evil

CHAPTER 1
GREAT
VILLAINS
16
Illus. by J. Zhang
Characters in the business of killing for money are evil
by definition, but bounty hunters need not be. In fact, some
bounty hunters believe that they are doing the world a service
by taking dangerous criminals off the streets. They become villains
when they cannot or will not question the nature of their
job, especially when it’s clear that their quarry is innocent.
Typical Classes: Beguiler, duskblade, lurk, monk, ninja, psychic
warrior, ranger, rogue, sorcerer, soulknife, spellthief.
Example: Hyrum Shent (NE male whisper gnome RS ninja
5/assassin 5) takes nearly any job, no matter how unsavory,
because he craves the thrill of the hunt. Unsavory governments
hire him to bring in political enemies, fugitives, and
sometimes random citizens—rulers find that spreading
fear makes it easier for them to maintain their iron grip on
the populace.
Portraying the Assassin/Bounty Hunter: These villains
are professionals. They might enjoy their work, but they are
all business all the time.
Criminal/Spy
Most villains are criminals of one sort or another. Whether
they are murderers, thieves, extortionists, or counterfeiters,
they profit by defrauding others. Many pursue their line of
work because they believe that honest jobs are for suckers,
and they view other people as marks, dupes, and victims.
Spies can be considered criminals, too. They are thieves
of a sort, but instead
of pilfering coins
or goods, they steal
information. Spies
might serve foreign
powers, evil religions,
or anyone with an interest
in a particular
subject.
Typical Classes:
Bard, beguiler,
duskblade, hexblade,
lurk, psion, rogue,
spellthief, swashbuckler,
wizard.
Example: Wensly
Phelps (CE male
maenad EPH lurk 6)
works the marketplaces
of a large city,
picking pockets and
cutting purses. Unlike
some thieves, he
does not target only
victims who look
like they can afford
to lose a few coins.
He steals from everyone
he can.
Portraying the
Criminal/Spy: Criminals are accustomed to looking over
their shoulders and often are nervous or skittish. To roleplay
this trait, talk quickly and assume a tense posture. Look
around frequently, and glance back over your shoulder every
now and then.
Cultist/Priest
Though cults and religions differ in size, they are similar in
many respects. Both groups serve what is believed to be a
divine entity. Both groups have authority figures who claim
a deeper understanding of that entity. And both groups
teach that devotion to the principles of the organization will
improve the lives—or the afterlives—of their members.
However, in the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS game, cults and religions
tend to be separated by a major doctrinal distinction.
Religions follow the edicts of deities, while cults serve lesser
powers of a suspicious or sinister nature.
A villainous cultist or priest has beliefs that are at odds
with those of the player characters. The villain might honor
the same god the PCs do, or a different deity that is noted for
being good, but her methods of worship or her interpretation
of divine will conflicts with that of the party. More
commonly, villainous cultists and priests serve evil deities
or fiend lords, such as archdevils and demon princes.
Typical Classes: Archivist, ardent, binder, cleric, crusader,
divine mind, dragon shaman, incarnate, paladin, shugenja.
Example: Reinia Trent (CE female human aristocrat 2/
cleric 3 of Graz’zt) lives a double life. In public, she is the
beautiful wife of an influential noble and enjoys wealth, a
massive estate, many children, and the envy of every other
woman in the city. But behind closed doors, Reinia is the high
priestess of a cult that venerates the Six-Fingered Hand. She
and five other women
regularly gather in the
cellar of her sumptuous
home to perform dark
rituals to their dreadful
master.
Portraying the
Cultist/Priest: Keep
foremost in your mind
the deity or being you
worship, and strive
to exemplify its will.
Invoke the name of
your power in regular
speech, make strange
signs, and quote sayings
from your holy (or
unholy) book.
Merchant
Merchants are masters
of commerce and trade.
They have connections
in most large cities, giving
them a long reach
and the means to monitor
the PCs’ activities.
A merchant can be
A villainous cultist pays homage to her master
anyone from a small,
one-man outfit to a
powerful prince who controls massive trade consortiums,
putting him on par with the mightiest of kings.
A villainous merchant uses his wealth, contacts, and power
to acquire more of all three, which he then bends toward his
ultimate goal.