Darkangst Edgemourn the PC

[Nifft]

Wasn't there some kind of blind-folded anti-demon Elf dude from Warcraft who took the power of demons into himself, so he became a hated outcast in order to protect those he loved, but the darkness ate at his heart blah blah and he had two giant swords or something?

Cursed with awesome powers, hating the pain of being so cool, etc.?

If I recall correctly, that guy fits here.

[Kantaki]

Oh right, Naruto.

My 12 year-old son used to be a big fan (we bought him video games for it, and he got a lot of books and DVD's in the series from the library).

All those "hidden villages" seemed full of "edge".

It was the first thing that came to mind when I saw that post.

Although to be fair, the worst offenders are villains.
Kinda. I lost track.

And the main character is a subversion.
Unfortunately. That jumpsuit is an eyesore.

[Max_Killjoy]

Wasn't there some kind of blind-folded anti-demon Elf dude from Warcraft who took the power of demons into himself, so he became a hated outcast in order to protect those he loved, but the darkness ate at his heart blah blah and he had two giant swords or something?

Cursed with awesome powers, hating the pain of being so cool, etc.?

If I recall correctly, that guy fits here.

Illidan Stormrage.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Wasn't the point of Drizz't to be an anti-edgelord or did I totally misread his character?

No, that's basically it. He's "evil race but actually good" and big on flowery poetry and all, but he's a very optimistic and caring guy. He's just...an adolescent elf.

[Scripten]

No, that's basically it. He's "evil race but actually good" and big on flowery poetry and all, but he's a very optimistic and caring guy. He's just...an adolescent elf.

I got that feeling. Bad stuff happens to him, sure, but he doesn't seem to angst all that much. I haven't read the books in a very very long time though.

Now, for real edge, we can bring up the primary, secondary, and tertiary characters in just about any Warhammer 40K novel. Of course, it's all tongue-in-cheek so that might change whether it counts, but boy do they layer on the edge.

[Nifft]

Now, for real edge, we can bring up the primary, secondary, and tertiary characters in just about any Warhammer 40K novel. Of course, it's all tongue-in-cheek so that might change whether it counts, but boy do they layer on the edge.

I'm not an expert, but I have played a bit in the Rogue Trader version of that universe.

IIRC there was some fun tongue-in-cheek stuff, like everything Orky, but it also seemed like there a huge quantity of non-ironic edge.

[Eldan]

Yeah, the tone of 40k is inconsistent and has waffled around a lot over the years. Sometimes, it's "EVERYTHING IS HUGE AND AWESOME", sometimes it's simply dark, sometimes it's unintentionally so over the top dark you can't take it seriously anymore and sometimes it's intentional parody of how dark it is.

It used to contain a bit more parody.

[Guizonde]

Don't forget "mismatched: roll once per eye"!

out of many characters i rolled using whfrp's "unusual features" chart, i only got something else besides "mismatched eyes" once. that one time was a nose ring. i gave up and now always choose "mismatched eyes" whenever applicable. in honor of my first character, those colors are golden/hazel and violet (because nothing screams "boring" like pink and yellow eyes). failing that, one green and one blue. oddly enough, the violet eye is quite appropriate in 40k if your character comes from the scarus sector: it's a "racial" trait of cadians and their descendants.

most of my characters aren't really edgy, either. they've just got weird eyes, a slight sociopathic streak, and a penchant for the smokables (cigars, pipes, hookahs, cigarettes... best excuse ever to have a lighter on hand).

[Anonymouswizard]

out of many characters i rolled using whfrp's "unusual features" chart, i only got something else besides "mismatched eyes" once. that one time was a nose ring. i gave up and now always choose "mismatched eyes" whenever applicable. in honor of my first character, those colors are golden/hazel and violet (because nothing screams "boring" like pink and yellow eyes). failing that, one green and one blue. oddly enough, the violet eye is quite appropriate in 40k if your character comes from the scarus sector: it's a "racial" trait of cadians and their descendants.

most of my characters aren't really edgy, either. they've just got weird eyes, a slight sociopathic streak, and a penchant for the smokables (cigars, pipes, hookahs, cigarettes... best excuse ever to have a lighter on hand).

I've personally had many characters who are 'shifty', but not actually edgy. Heck, one of the edgiest characters I played was an attempt at playing a previously edgy character, he entered play several years after he'd attempted to straighten his life out (he was still extremely kooky and owned some books that his bosses likely would not have approved of, but he was honestly trying). He ended up appearing shifty but acted extremely honestly and earnestly, he ended up studying to become a priest after the campaign ended. The same campaign featured a church-raised assassin who was 16 and exploited to perform sinful acts because he was already damned, who was essentially the 'this is so awesome' version of an edgelord (awesomelord?) and carried a katana because they are apparently the 'greatest swords ever designed'*.

Now my characters tend towards long coats, but that's because my last GM tended towards using cities that got cold and wet a lot (such as London during winter), they appear a lot less when we're not in such climates. Actually led to a hilarious moment when the entire group discovered we'd independently given our characters knee length coats, and so stood out like a sore thumb.

On the subject of heterochromia, never had a character with it, but I've had plenty of them with internal/central heterochromia (ring of another colour around the pupil) because I have the gold-blue/green-blue version myself. Otherwise they tend towards brown eyes, I've got a thing for going for more generic look.

* This caused an argument, I'm a massive fan of European swords who believes katana were only suited to their environment. I currently arm character with infantry sabres in European settings, and jian in Chinese settings.

[Personification]

I've personally had many characters who are 'shifty', but not actually edgy. Heck, one of the edgiest characters I played was an attempt at playing a previously edgy character, he entered play several years after he'd attempted to straighten his life out (he was still extremely kooky and owned some books that his bosses likely would not have approved of, but he was honestly trying). He ended up appearing shifty but acted extremely honestly and earnestly, he ended up studying to become a priest after the campaign ended. The same campaign featured a church-raised assassin who was 16 and exploited to perform sinful acts because he was already damned, who was essentially the 'this is so awesome' version of an edgelord (awesomelord?) and carried a katana because they are apparently the 'greatest swords ever designed'*.

You were attacked by a version of Szeth-son-son-Vallano who got his awesomeness (and age) lowered?

[JNAProductions]

I'd like to share this for a laugh. Good quotes include:

-and snakes covered the baby like a throne.

The young red-eyed elf was not in the world around him, he was different from everyone, he felt a hatred ...

"PRATICES AND STUDY ARE FOR AMATEUR. TRUE POWER IS A BIRTHRIGHT".
Nameless King

Says the Warlock. :P

[Arbane]

I'd like to share this for a laugh. Good quotes include:

Says the Warlock. :P

Is this by That Guy who keeps showing up here with his Mary Sueorcerer character?

[JNAProductions]

Is this by That Guy who keeps showing up here with his Mary Sueorcerer character?

Ee-yup. He sent me a PM, announcing himself as a banned user. (Don't worry, I reported it.)

I'm just confused why he chose me. Should I feel honored? Or apathetic? :P

And just... My god, that backstory. Look at it. LOOK AT IT! HOW DO YOU COVER SOMETHING LIKE A THRONE?

[2D8HP]

I'd like to share this

.....The development of the orphan baby was a mystery, but he survived without any love and affection alone in the world.......

.....With such power, he ventured into the depths, made powerful Pacts, and acquired powerful eyes that saw in the deepest darkness and powers ever imagined....

....The villain loved to hide in the shadows as he watched his Undead devour the invaders of darkness.......

......Able to manipulate illusions, battle tactics and a legion of undead he destroyed and annihilated the school of necromancy, turning them all into new tools.......

*cries tears of joy*

That is...

...the finest back-story EVUH!

*sob*

I salute it's majesty!

[Personification]

Ee-yup. He sent me a PM, announcing himself as a banned user. (Don't worry, I reported it.)

I'm just confused why he chose me. Should I feel honored? Or apathetic? :P

And just... My god, that backstory. Look at it. LOOK AT IT! HOW DO YOU COVER SOMETHING LIKE A THRONE?

Parsimoniously

[War_lord]

You you could just, you know, let people play the character they want to play in a fantasy game, instead of complaining about any character who isn't a noblebright Hobbit-type with loving parents, two kindly uncles, five siblings, a wife, three kids and a dog named toby, who's adventuring for... some reason, instead of actually looking after his familial responsibilities.

[Lord Raziere]

.....The development of the orphan baby was a mystery, but he survived without any love and affection alone in the world.......

.....With such power, he ventured into the depths, made powerful Pacts, and acquired powerful eyes that saw in the deepest darkness and powers ever imagined....

....The villain loved to hide in the shadows as he watched his Undead devour the invaders of darkness.......

......Able to manipulate illusions, battle tactics and a legion of undead he destroyed and annihilated the school of necromancy, turning them all into new tools.......

*cries tears of joy*

That is...

...the finest back-story EVUH!

*sob*

I salute it's majesty!

Uh real talk: please tell me your being sarcastic, but your trying too hard if you are and its obnoxious. if you aren't its still obnoxious. tone it down. like your entire attitude, is just obnoxious and annoying whether its for real or not. I don't really care which. just please tone it down. especially when it comes to this weird angsty PC schtick you have going here, its particularly obnoxious when you keep constantly proclaiming this every single time it comes up and if its a joke, it stopped being funny like two seconds after you posted it the first time. like I get your trying to find some laughs or whatever, but I just find it annoying that you keep pigeonholing all PCs into super-angsty stuff like this whether you intend it to be funny or not. like I wish I could laugh at the joke but its just making me roll my eyes because its just so tiresome. like I know your joking, but I'm feeling nothing but annoyance from it.

and oh hey, a backstory that'll make good snark fodder. I'll have to do an MST of it. at least for myself.

[Tanarii]

Don't stop or tone it down 2D8. It's freakin hilarious.

[Anonymouswizard]

You were attacked by a version of Szeth-son-son-Vallano who got his awesomeness (and age) lowered?

Please, this was a party member who had no actual awesomeness. Szeth is a good example of the character he was going for, what he ended up with was essentially an anime ninja (he was a massive anime fanboy, hence the 'katanas age the greatest swords ever invented') in a party that consisted of an ex-cultist, two nuns, and a private detective.

The character also broke rules and we didn't discover it for about three months because he didn't share his build with anybody.

Now anime ninjas have their place. Fighting alongside a Solar Exalt is one. Another is Tokyo being invaded by aliens. What is not their place is a group of church employed to run around modern day London and root out cultists.

You you could just, you know, let people play the character they want to play in a fantasy game, instead of complaining about any character who isn't a noblebright Hobbit-type with loving parents, two kindly uncles, five siblings, a wife, three kids and a dog named toby, who's adventuring for... some reason, instead of actually looking after his familial responsibilities.

That works until one person has a massively different idea of what sort of fantasy we're playing to everybody else. Or the character doesn't work with the party, which is the big problem with edgy characters.

Must Edgelords I've seen have been grizzled liner types who don't like other people, and hang around for significantly happier people. It gets even more insane when everybody is an Edgelord, which I've personally never seen happen.

So yeah, it's mainly a problem with when you get parties that consist of Bob the Fighter, Jeff the Wizard, Sally the Rogue, Alice the Cleric, and Bloodknife Painhurt.

[War_lord]

That works until one person has a massively different idea of what sort of fantasy we're playing to everybody else. Or the character doesn't work with the party, which is the big problem with edgy characters.

Really? Because all I ever see is stuff like "that character's backstory has dead parents, lol edgy!". For a community that consumes Comic books, Anime, action movies, roleplaying games and fantasy fiction almost as a matter of course there's a surprising willingness make giant sweeping condemnations much in the same way many would dismiss these hobbies altogether as being "kids stuff".

Must Edgelords I've seen have been grizzled liner types who don't like other people, and hang around for significantly happier people.

What's an "edgelord" how do you actually tell someone who's "trying too hard to be cool" from someone who's genuinely making the character they want to play? If there's a tonal problem talk to the player. When I DM I'm pretty upfront about "no silly joke characters" (because it stops being funny halfway through session two), I don't wait for my players to make their characters, see that one of them has made a bumbling old Rock Gnome Wizard with 4 Perception, and then complain about their humorous character ruining my Dark Fantasy inspired setting. I clarify tone ahead of time so that it doesn't become an issue.

It gets even more insane when everybody is an Edgelord, which I've personally never seen happen.

I'm rather past the stage of my life where I think in terms like "edgy" or the related term "tryhard". I play D&D for fun, not to revert back to the high school dilemma of "well I want people to think I'm cool, but actually showing any interest or passion is a faux pas".

So yeah, it's mainly a problem with when you get parties that consist of Bob the Fighter, Jeff the Wizard, Sally the Rogue, Alice the Cleric, and Bloodknife Painhurt.

If the DM has failed establish the tone in his initial pitch, and failed to review the characters before play, whose fault is it?

[Anonymouswizard]

Really? Because all I ever see is stuff like "that character's backstory has dead parents, lol edgy!". For a community that consumes Comic books, Anime, action movies, roleplaying games and fantasy fiction almost as a matter of course there's a surprising willingness make giant sweeping condemnations much in the same way many would dismiss these hobbies altogether as being "kids stuff".

Eh, what I was saying is that if the group decides they're playing the type of fantasy that includes edgelords (which, I'll be honest, happens at least half the time in my experience) then they're fine, but if only one member of the group wants that there's going to be some problems.

What's an "edgelord" how do you actually tell someone who's "trying too hard to be cool" from someone who's genuinely making the character they want to play? If there's a tonal problem talk to the player. When I DM I'm pretty upfront about "no silly joke characters" (because it stops being funny halfway through session two), I don't wait for my players to make their characters, see that one of them has made a bumbling old Rock Gnome Wizard with 4 Perception, and then complain about their humorous character ruining my Dark Fantasy inspired setting. I clarify tone ahead of time so that it doesn't become an issue.

Honestly? My solution is to be there at character creation, make sure what seems to have been created fits, and not asking for backstories until I have an opinion of the character.

Heck, I refuse to let a campaign start with characters that weren't created together, precisely because of this. I've seen characters that don't fit, including at least once mine, break campaigns.

FWIW, I can't explain it, but there is a difference between 'tragedy to try and improve the character' and 'tragedy that is OMG so edgy' that can be deduced when reading a backstory. It is however a very fine line and exists mostly in the presentation, I'll generally let 'edgyness' slide if the backstory makes it look like the character's not just sat around moping but has actually tried to make something out of his life.

I'm rather past the stage of my life where I think in terms like "edgy" or the related term "tryhard". I play D&D for fun, not to revert back to the high school dilemma of "well I want people to think I'm cool, but actually showing any interest or passion is a faux pas".

Yeah, I honestly don't give a darn about the character if they fit the setting. The problem is that even when I go for dark fantasy my settings end up weirdly hopeful, and with the idea that the only people who will make a difference are those who stop moping and try as hard as they can.

Heck, my problem with 'edgy' characters is generally that I think there's not enough effort being put into them. I think you can take a character who has had a horrible backstory and go one of two routes, Darkangst Edgemourn or an attempt to create a three dimensional character who is affected by their tragedy but not defined by it (which is really hard, I very rarely managed to get the 'affected by their tragedy' into my final personality).

If the DM has failed establish the tone in his initial pitch, and failed to review the characters before play, whose fault is it?

Well sure, it's the GM's fault there. But sometimes characters slip past, like what sounds like a character focused on stealth and not being seen turning out to be capable of dodging bullets (a dyslexic GM who didn't want to read every character sheet and worked on the basic concept). Although that character eventually fit in personality wise (we had maybe one legitimately sane member, somebody who didn't understand society worked), the build was really weird for the game.

[2D8HP]

Don't stop or tone it down 2D8. It's freakin hilarious.

.
2D8HP curses cruel fate:

CURSE YOU CRUEL FATE!
"mumble, mumble, mumble, I must, mumble WHATEVER THE COST!

[Jormengand]

I sometimes think that this talk of "Too edgy" characters goes a little bit too far.

I want you to imagine a man whose name means Eagle No-one'sson, who is a human assassin (tables 2 and 3) - in fact, his entire backstory can be summed up as "I work for assassins" (table 4) - he's been trained from birth to assassinate people, essentially. He gradually changes from chaotic to lawful neutral, and is not only pragmatic to the core but definitely serves an evil higher power, though he doesn't know it at the time.

As for "He's got to be misunderstood! His misanthropic nature is simply the outward manifestation of a deep-seated insecurity, resulting from the internalization of the notion that he is apart from others and always will be, that he somehow stands alone, and that no one will ever truly understand the incredible, titanic struggle within himself, nor will he ever truly be able to relate this to another person, no matter how close they become," that's almost exactly his personality.

Who am I talking about? None other than Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, one of the most popular characters in gaming history. Let edgy characters be edgy; they can still be awesome.

[Tanarii]

Really? Because all I ever see is stuff like "that character's backstory has dead parents, lol edgy!".

Yeah pretty much. Of course, Vladamir Darkbane, vengeance paladin, who's parents were killed by vampires and now he wants VENGEANCE, is a bit more trope-y that that.

But if it's not an actual problem, keep your cracking up on the inside, and maybe come to the forums to laugh about it.

Of course, depending on the game system, taking the piss is the entire point. Certainly it is for D&D ... it was invented based on taking the piss out of, and making corny stereotypes of, any number of pop-culture stuff the original wargamers had read in sci-if and fantasy books. It wasn't until later that people went all: must serious 'roleplay' ARGLE BARGLE

Edit: What makes me really laugh is when people are trying to combine those. They are totally serious about their lengthy actually-just-here-to-write backstory about Sir Edgelord, because roleplay* is serious bidness.

*not, yknow, actual roleplay. Just the part that means "writing a long torturous fanfic backstory"

[The Glyphstone]

I sometimes think that this talk of "Too edgy" characters goes a little bit too far.

I want you to imagine a man whose name means Eagle No-one'sson, who is a human assassin (tables 2 and 3) - in fact, his entire backstory can be summed up as "I work for assassins" (table 4) - he's been trained from birth to assassinate people, essentially. He gradually changes from chaotic to lawful neutral, and is not only pragmatic to the core but definitely serves an evil higher power, though he doesn't know it at the time.

As for "He's got to be misunderstood! His misanthropic nature is simply the outward manifestation of a deep-seated insecurity, resulting from the internalization of the notion that he is apart from others and always will be, that he somehow stands alone, and that no one will ever truly understand the incredible, titanic struggle within himself, nor will he ever truly be able to relate this to another person, no matter how close they become," that's almost exactly his personality.

Who am I talking about? None other than Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, one of the most popular characters in gaming history. Let edgy characters be edgy; they can still be awesome.

The crucial difference there is that Altair is the solo protagonist of a story. He doesn't have to share the narrative and spotlight equally with 3-5 other characters who are equally edgy and lonesome and awesometastic sweetsauce.

[Guizonde]

I sometimes think that this talk of "Too edgy" characters goes a little bit too far.

I want you to imagine a man whose name means Eagle No-one'sson, who is a human assassin (tables 2 and 3) - in fact, his entire backstory can be summed up as "I work for assassins" (table 4) - he's been trained from birth to assassinate people, essentially. He gradually changes from chaotic to lawful neutral, and is not only pragmatic to the core but definitely serves an evil higher power, though he doesn't know it at the time.

As for "He's got to be misunderstood! His misanthropic nature is simply the outward manifestation of a deep-seated insecurity, resulting from the internalization of the notion that he is apart from others and always will be, that he somehow stands alone, and that no one will ever truly understand the incredible, titanic struggle within himself, nor will he ever truly be able to relate this to another person, no matter how close they become," that's almost exactly his personality.

Who am I talking about? None other than Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, one of the most popular characters in gaming history. Let edgy characters be edgy; they can still be awesome.

as awesome as your post is, you can give that treatment to a hell of a lot of other characters: mario, link, doomguy (especially with his "reboot" by bethesda). i think the distinction to be made is whether you're writing a byronic hero or you're a hack.

sure, there's the typical tropes to go with your edgelord character, and this thread covers them nicely. what i really like is subverting them. my current character is:

-half-drow
-heterochromic (purple and golden)
-wears mostly black, some blood red
-complete sociopath
-has parent issues (like, his father is missing in action, his mom left him on his dad's doorstep)
-criminal adolescence
-possessed by a tome of eldritch horror
-has substance abuse problems
-works as an inquisitor
-his last name translates to "rose thorn"

everyone calls him "josé" and he's usually both the skillmonkey and the barrel of laughs of the group. he's just a socially maladjusted half-blood with a hard background trying to do his best to make golarion a better place. hell, despite what the dm tries to make of that character, he's about as anti-edgelord as he can be played. whereas some people have grimdarkified the pokémon universe. i think it boils down to "how can you write an effective character with a tragic past without going over the top on the angst". some people will have fun making edgy characters on purpose, but i think this thread is about mocking the bad fanfic writers who think that "edgy" is cool. that was cool back in the 90's. not nearly the 2020's. now it's time to make light of this.

(but seriously, your post was awesome).

[Max_Killjoy]

I sometimes think that this talk of "Too edgy" characters goes a little bit too far.

I want you to imagine a man whose name means Eagle No-one'sson, who is a human assassin (tables 2 and 3) - in fact, his entire backstory can be summed up as "I work for assassins" (table 4) - he's been trained from birth to assassinate people, essentially. He gradually changes from chaotic to lawful neutral, and is not only pragmatic to the core but definitely serves an evil higher power, though he doesn't know it at the time.

As for "He's got to be misunderstood! His misanthropic nature is simply the outward manifestation of a deep-seated insecurity, resulting from the internalization of the notion that he is apart from others and always will be, that he somehow stands alone, and that no one will ever truly understand the incredible, titanic struggle within himself, nor will he ever truly be able to relate this to another person, no matter how close they become," that's almost exactly his personality.

Who am I talking about? None other than Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, one of the most popular characters in gaming history. Let edgy characters be edgy; they can still be awesome.

Part of it is that people for some reason mistake the worst of something for all of it. They confuse the superficial trappings of a certain sort of character with what amounts to a character that would be badly written or played no matter what its superficial trappings were. Bad characters are bad characters whether they're "edge" or not.

And then there are those stupid "You might be an edgelord if..." checklists that people use to belittle and spit on any character coincidentally who has even one or two of the listed characteristics -- and like the even more idiotic "mary sue" checklists, they just keep growing, adding on more and more supposed red flags until only the most bland and banal and saccharine of lit-fic worthy characters are "acceptable".

[Arbane]

Yeah pretty much. Of course, Vladamir Darkbane, vengeance paladin, who's parents were killed by vampires and now he wants VENGEANCE, is a bit more trope-y that that.

But if it's not an actual problem, keep your cracking up on the inside, and maybe come to the forums to laugh about it.

Of course, depending on the game system, taking the piss is the entire point. Certainly it is for D&D ... it was invented based on taking the piss out of, and making corny stereotypes of, any number of pop-culture stuff the original wargamers had read in sci-if and fantasy books. It wasn't until later that people went all: must serious 'roleplay' ARGLE BARGLE

Edit: What makes me really laugh is when people are trying to combine those. They are totally serious about their lengthy actually-just-here-to-write backstory about Sir Edgelord, because roleplay* is serious bidness.

*not, yknow, actual roleplay. Just the part that means "writing a long torturous fanfic backstory"

I can't remember where I saw it, but I once read someone Telling Me About His Character, who was a Gargoyle (from the Disney cartoon) with an utterly horrific backstory - clan all dead, hideously scarred, missing one wing.... but the player would lapse into his traumatic backstory grimderp brooding with even the TINIEST prompt. "Ice cream? No colder than the WINDS OF VENGEANCE that pour from my blackened heart". It wrapped back around to pure black comedy.

[2D8HP]

I have now found Darkangst Edgemourn:

BACKGROUND: The birth of the Nameless King was a disaster, his parents were killed by a sudden explosion and snakes covered the baby like a throne. Camponents tried to kill the red-eyed, white-haired baby with an arrow, but a shield of energy blocked the attack (Shield Spell). The development of the orphan baby was a mystery, but he survived without any love and affection alone in the world. His name was Lucius Threvor.
The young red-eyed elf was not in the world around him, he was different from everyone, he felt a hatred ... But he always followed rules strictly, always manipulative and with an intimidating image.

The beginning of the end:
The young elf was taken to necromancy school to understand his power. But, his personality strength and arrogance did not accept the way they learned magic. His inability to learn large numbers of spells and his way of manipulating magic challenged school leaders. Expelled and humiliated by Wizard Balther with 6 powerful undeads around him, he fled the big city and hid in the darkness. Though humiliated, he worshiped the dark and deep eyes of sinister magic.
In the darkness, the chaotic power began to manifest, but he did not surrender, control and mold to his pleasure. After defeating defeating some opponents, he created his first skeleton with his already decomposing body. It was bone-shaped power.

With such power, he ventured into the depths, made powerful Pacts, and acquired powerful eyes that saw in the deepest darkness and powers ever imagined.
The villain loved to hide in the shadows as he watched his Undead devour the invaders of darkness.
When his power reached an unattainable level, he began mortal duels and learned defensive tactics and manipulation, Otherworldly Wings and the power of flying freely began to cause mass destruction.
Now with the bodies of the dead, he brought them back to serve him. Able to manipulate illusions, battle tactics and a legion of undead he destroyed and annihilated the school of necromancy, turning them all into new tools.
With his Temple, the surrogate ability to hide in the shadows and power of destruction he is advancing his troops to the end of those who abandoned him.
After long years, his name has been forgotten and is now known as "Nameless King", the killer of Wizards.

GOAL: The main objective of the villain is to acquire the artifact that allows to know the true names of Devils and Devils to use them to his pleasure.

"PRATICES AND STUDY ARE FOR AMATEUR. TRUE POWER IS A BIRTHRIGHT".
"Sorcerer King"

BUILD:

Nameless King (Divine Soul Sorcerer 17 / Hexblade 3)

Medium humanoid (Wood Elf), Lawful Evil
Armor Class 27 (Shield +3, Robe of Archmagi,+4 Dex, +3 Charisma - Dragon Mask)
Hit Points 145
Speed 30ft, Fly Speed 30ft
STR
8 (-1)
DEX
18 (+4)
CON
16 (+3)
INT
8 (-1)
WIS
8 (-1)
CHA
16 (+3)


Saving Throws Cha+9, CON +9 (Advantage against Spells and other magical effects)
Skills Stealth +20 (+6 Proficiency +10 Pass without trace Spells + 4 dex, Darkness/Invisibility Advantage), Sleigh of Hand +10 (+6 proficiency +4 Dex), others skills doesnt deitaled


Damage Resistance: Ranged attack;
Immunities: Poison, Divination

Senses passive: Perception 15, See invisible
Magic Resistance: The Nameless King has advantage on saving
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Ranged Attack Resistence. The Nameless has damage resistence against ranged damage.

Spellcasting:

The Nameless is an 17th-level Sorcerer and 3rd-level Warlock. Its
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19, +11 to hit
with spell attacks).

Cantrips (at will):.Eldrich Blast, Mage Hand, Blade Ward, Prestidigitation, Guidance, Minor Image, Toll of Dead, Melding
1st level (4 slots): Cure Wounds (free), Sanctuary, Longstride (feat bonus)
2nd level (3 slots): See Invisible, Silence, Earth Bind, Pass without trace (feat bonus), Alter Self, Darkness
3rd level (3 slots): Counterspell, Revify, Anime Dead, Major Image, Magic Circle
4th level (3 slots): Dimension Door, Greater Invisibility, Freedom of Movement, Death Ward
5th level (3 slots): Planar Binding
6th level .(1 slot): Planar Ally
7th level (l slot): Teleport
8th level (l slot):
9th level (l slot): Wish


ACTIONS
Ranged Weapon Attack (Oathbow): +13 to hit, reach 600 feet, one target. Hit: (1d8 +4 + Purple Worm Posion (DC 19, 42 average damage) piercing damage.

Itens:
+3 Shield
Robe of The Archmagi
Periapt of Proof against Poison
Staff of Swarming Insects
Purple Worm Poison
Dragon Mask

Feature and Spells know:

Some Background Feature
Font Of Magic (17)
Metamagic
MM: Distant Spell
MM: Twin Spell
MM: Heightein Spell
MM: Subtle Spell
Divine Magic
Favor Of The Gods
Empowered Healing
Otherworldy Wings
Pact Magic
Invocation
Eldritch Spear
Devil's Sight
Pact of the Blade
Hexblade's Curse
Hex Warrior
ASIs: Spell Sniper, Shield Master, War Caster, Wood Elf Magic
Warlock 4 Spells Know
Sorcerer 15 Spells Know



Don't know about Coffeelock ?
Find here[/url]

The Villain Active Spells:
Well, the DM was pretty clear. Coffeelock keeps steath and buffs when start an Attack/Defense . This is Coffeelock's signature. Then, Death Ward, Contingency: Teleport, Darkness, Sanctuary, Mirror Image, See Invisible and any other Spell Know. If the spells are over, he returns to his Temple of Gods for Short Rest.

Direct Combat tatic:

The NK and his Simulacrum is flying 1200' way and/or Stealth (+20 Stealth check and advantage, Darkness or Invisibility)


The NK's Attack:
Distant Metamagic + Spell sniper feat + Eldrich Spear (1.200 feet range). If the enemies is close enough, he casts Distant Dimension Door (1.000 feet)
If the enemies is within 600', The Simulacrum casts Distant Earth Bind. If Earth Binded, Silence Spells is devasting against spellcasters. The NK ignores silence effects with subtle spells.
Also, Simulacrum's Distant Silence + NK's Wish: Force Cage (Trapping the enemie and the NK) is devasting
If the enemy tries to use get cover, the villain will be stealth and the Undeads will attack them.
While the NK is steath, it can freely use his illusions and Subtle Enemies Abound, Subtle Earth Bind, Subtle Charm Person, Subtle Command to analyze the active buffs on the target.
Heightein Catapult (No verbal component): It's amazing on the battlefield, you can simply destroy walls, covers and give high damage from invaders while staying stealth. Fantastic.

Feeblemind or any save or suck : NK is protected by Heightein Sanctuary. Also, The Nameless King has acess to Greater Restauration Spell and Staff of Swarming Insects (No button and no concentration! ) and Programmed Illusion.

Globe of Invulnerability: The Simulacrum uses Oathbow (+13 attack roll + Advantage + 1d8 piercing + 4 Dex + 3d6 piercing damage) + Purple Worm Posion (DC 19 or take 42 average damage) = 59 average damage per shot.

Indirect Combat Tatic:

Master of Stealth, Dircord and Illusion:

The NK is able to create multiples Major Images (Permanent) and can use stealth action to move them. Flying Images against enemies unable to fly and if they fly, They will be vulnerable. He also used Wish: Programmed Illusion on condition of being attacked directly. Distant Casting Minor Image is useful to creat panic.
This further hinders the enemy from going on an alpha strike, forcing them to spend their teleports and exposing themselves.
Of course, meanwhile the Undeads are hungry.
The Nameless King can steal material component bag and spellbooks with Stealth and Sleigh of Hand.

Necromancy:

The Nameless King and his Simulacrum casts Animate Dead, creating a horde of Undeads. The Nameless King prefer Archers (Longbow and Purple Worm Poison) and Low-level Mages:
Archers attack from long range and are always alert with perception checks to detect any approaching enemy.
Low-Level Mages casts Earth Bind and Magic Missales.
Undead don't walk together, they have a space between them, so, they are not an easy target for area spells.
Undeads destroy any cover available on the battlefield, to make the battlefield as open as possible. No places to hide or run away.

Detail: Be very careful with Undeads, they are dangerous and Simulacrum can use Alter Self (Skelleton or Zombie) and deal mortal Ranged Attacks (59 damage per shot) and casts free Subtle Spells. You will not even notice it and you'll be dead quickly.

The Nameless King is the best Necromancer of the entire game.

Army of Darkness:

The villain is extremely efficient when summoning demons, as Lawful Evil villain is extraordinarily organized and tyrant.
Why is he better than the others? Simple, Heightein Metamagic and acess to Planar Binding and Planar Ally. The powerful fiends have an advantage over magic and are very powerful. At the same cost, the villain has the DOUBLE chance of being successful (Heightein Metamagic).

Undoubtedly, this is the most dangerous part of Villain. However, it is easily overcome.
The villain uses Magic Circle (Heigher Level), every hour the villain applies multiple times Heightein Planar Binding (Heighter Level) against Empyrean until winning.
The villain prepared the group of fiends to defeat the Empyrean, if necessary.
First he summons the Coualt, Fiends, Genius and then the Empyrean.

The villain will summon multiple creatures (as much as possible) and use them only in strategic and extreme cases.

He is extraordinarily stealth and can infiltrate (Alter Self) between them and use Sutble Metamagic while using spells freely, making it impossible for enemies to identify the real villain.

The main tactic of the Fiends is to remove any synchrony between the group, to catch the attention of the group while the villain observes the perfect time of the attack. The fiends mages are efficient for counterspell and magic missiles, they are also invisible.


Fiends

- Arcanaloth:
- Alter self: Duplicate Villain at will, Invisibility at will, Magic Missale at will, MindBlank, Counterspell (Amazing against spellcasters) and others.
- Ultraloth dispel magic at will, Mass Sugestion, Invisibility at will and others
- Witches
- Nycaloth

Celestials:
- Couatl: Greater Restauration and suporting
- Empyrean

Elemental
- Genies


Premises:


- Do not ignore the villain's defenses. How did you identify the true? How did you bypass Sanctuary? Is your character able to see the enemy? How to perceive the presence of the enemy? How did you defeat the Undead perception checks ? How to know the location or who is the enemy?

- Unearthed Arcane is disallowed (Obviouly).

- Wish dependent on DM approval, does not work.

- Teleport (Chance to fail) + Save of Suck (Counterspell) does not work if you do not respond how you beat the villain's defenses.

- The temple of the gods is very well hidden and its location is not obvious (you need be able to locate it), Mighty Fortress + Temple of the Gods work well together and the entire temple is protected by permanent Wall of Stones. Inside the temple has the most powerful Undeads and Fiends ever alert. Inside the Temple is a Clone Spell.

- All villain equipment has Instant Summon Spell.

- All as permanent and long lasting spells were casted previously and not at the time of battle: Programmed Illusions, Major Images, Planar Binding and others

- Meta-game is not allowed, you (Player) knows the character's build, but not your character. So your character needs to be able to know about villain information. Otherwise, your tactic will NOT be valid.

.
Will we ever see the like again?

[Tanarii]

I was like ... this has to be a joke, right?

Then I saw it seems to actually be an NPC villain. And it all made sense. Nobody can make an edgelord-ier character than a storyteller DM's villain. 😂 (C.f. all WFRP)