Garzim is a mercenary mage, hard as adamantium nails, as mysterious as the kindness of a Dragon, and more dangerous than a nest of Viper eels.
He can be found in the dark corner of the tavern, his face shrouded in an umbral cloak, his staff forged of the spine of his enemy. He is a dangerous man to cross, and even powerful warlords have quailed before his might. No-one cheats him and lives. He is well-respected for his impeccable timing in all he does, and has plans which not even his employers could possibly understand. No job is too dirty, no task too difficult. Garzim is a name to be feared and respected. Who else could have accomplished the burning of the Ronolas River, or the capture of Lirdien's Bluff without a single fireball? All of the above is merely a persona, a bluff designed to keep the young half-elf mage Drenio in drinks and out of too much trouble. He lurches from disaster to disaster, desperately trying to stay out of trouble and keep his skin intact. He took on the identity of his master Garzim, actually a feared and respected mercenary mage, who died under the tender administrations of several enthusiastic courtesans a few years back. Since then, he's been trying to pay off his old gambling debts and just stay allive, but keeps finding himself courted by dangerous and powerful people who require, nay, demand, his services at any cost, usually at the point of a sword. Statistics: Drenio is a 5th-level Illusionist, way out of his league and overcommitted. He relies on several of his old master's belongings, including a staff that floats beside him when commanded, a hood that shrouds his face in impenetrable darkness but allows him to see out, and garments that are impenetrable to blades and resistant to magical effects. All of these assist in building the myth around his (non-existent) vast power. His wily cunning and weasel desperation have got him out of as many situations as his keen intelligence. How you can use Garzim in your game: - The Player Characters might hear about the exploits of a powerful mercenary mage, someone very dangerous and accomplished. They might even spy him in the distance, lurking mysteriously, but not actually taking any actions that they can see. Everyone around treats him with quite a deal of respect. - Garzim might be sent after your PCs, to interfere with whatever they're doing. He'll do a lot of levitating and seeming intimidating, but will generally hold off on any actual spellcasting. If pushed, he'll likely drop the ruse and try to flee. - Your PCs might hear that Garzim has been hired by the forces of their enemies, and he certainly has a ferocious reputation. If they get a chance, they might try to eliminate or cut off the payment for Garzim. Doing a little research could lead them to Garzim's current lair, where they can confront him, revealing the startled young apprentice desperate for assistance. He offers them the payment their enemy gave them, if they can spirit him out from behind enemy lines. Also posted on Game Masters Stash on 19 June 2019. Comments are closed.
|
AuthorI'm Luke. He/him pronouns. Archives
May 2022
Categories
All
|