Immortal Despot

Villain Archetype

PL12

Written by Steven Trustrum

Illustration by Eric Lofgren

Copyright 2014 Misfit Studios. All Rights Reserved.

This villain archetype appears in Better Mousetrap 3e. You can buy the PDF here or buy it as a hardcopy book in color or black and white.

Abilities

Strength 5 Fighting 12 Stamina 5 Intellect 5 Agility 5 Awareness 5 Dexterity 5 Presence 5

Powers

Imposing Presence: Perception (Visual) Area Affliction 5 (Resisted by Will; Dazed, Stunned, Paralyzed), Innate, Subtle • 12 points

Rage: Enhanced Strength 2, Activation (Move), Exposed 2 (Dodge, Parry), Inhibited (Routine Checks), Tiring; Enhanced Fortitude 2; Enhanced Will 2 • 1 point

True Immortality: Immortal 3, Immunity (Aging, Critical Hits, Disease, Poison, Suffocation Effects), Regeneration 3 • 16 points

Equipment

Whatever gear, vehicles, and weapons suit the moment. The Immortal Despot is typically armed with a knife and heavy pistol, although he much prefers the hands-on approach to combat.

Advantages

Connected 2 (Select Two), Contacts 2 (Select Two), Eidetic Memory, Equipment 6, Fast Grab, Fearless, Great Endurance, Improved Grab, Improved Initiative 2, Inspire, Languages 5 (Select Sixteen, Spanning the Centuries), Ranged Attack 7, Reliable Attack (Unarmed), Tracking

Skills

Acrobatics 8 (+13), Athletics 2 (+7), Deception 6 (+11), Expertise: Current Events 8 (+13), Expertise: Governing 8 (+13), Expertise: History 14 (+19), Expertise: Metahumans 12 (+17), Expertise: Riding 10 (+15), Expertise: Sociology 6 (+11), Expertise: Survival 8 (+13), Expertise: Tactics 14 (+19), Expertise: Theology & Philosophy (AWE/INT) 8 (+13/+13), Expertise: Select Four Professions 6 ranks each, Insight 6 (+11), Intimidation 12 (+17), Investigation 2 (+7), Perception 6 (+11), Persuasion 4 (+9), Sleight of Hand 8 (+13), Stealth 6 (+11), Technology 2 (+7)

Offense

Initiative +13

Heavy Pistol +12 Ranged Damage 4 Knife +12 Close Damage 6, 19-20 Unarmed +12 Close Damage 5

Defense

Dodge 15 Fortitude 15 Parry 12 Toughness 5 Will 15

Power Points

Abilities 38 Skills 17 Powers 23 Defense 19 Advantages 33 TOTAL 158

Classic Bits

Some classic elements associated with the Immortal Despot include:

Eternal Life Has a Price

To maintain a sense of balance, it is common for immortality to come at a price. Sometimes this price is paid by the Immortal Despot himself but, most often, it is paid by the rest of society. This is usually necessitated by the villain’s moral and ethical detachment and sense of superiority. Whether the character must conduct human sacrifices to absorb life essence, must remain in a confined location that sustains his extended life, needs to periodically be exposed to an impossibly rare catalyst, or must eat flesh of his blood (meaning his descendants), some element is in play that must be complied with for the Immortal Despot to remain a man removed from time’s normal temperament.

False God

Full of his own insane arrogance and undying will, the Immortal Despot has come to view himself as a living god and has erected a fanatical cult of zealots around himself. These minions will do anything for their false god, including perpetrating deadly scheme after deadly scheme in his name against non-believers. Not only must the heroes stop whatever it is the Immortal Despot has decided he must perpetrate against mankind as part of his divine right, but they must also shatter the religion he has built around himself.

Historical Figure

Not satisfied to be the true power behind the scenes, the Immortal Despot has assumed one (or many) alternate identities well-known by history. The character has made use of his long-won knowledge and experience to assume power (or be as close to it as possible), a fact he may or may not play close to the vest. If the character is open (or, at the very least, indifferent) about his past, his previous identities will contain clues regarding what the villain is capable of and what his goals may be. If not, the Immortal Despot’s secret past lives are a secret to be discovered as part of the game’s plot.

Man out of Time

Although it may seem obvious that a man not plagued by time’s influence would have plenty of opportunities to adjust to each new age’s culture and technology, this is not necessarily so. Consider how previous generations fare during such change within the span of a single lifetime―a grandfather born before the invention of the jet engine adjusting to computers as an assumed matter of everyday life, for instance.

It is possible the Immortal Despot has not been able to keep up with the times very well, potentially leaving him trapped in the culture and ways of his birth (a worst case scenario.) It is more likely, though, the character will be several centuries behind because some degree of adapting is all but impossible to ignore. This will be a weakness of sorts (a complication?) because the Immortal Despot cannot adequately account for modern technology and behaviors, likely making him reliant upon subordinates in many regards.

Power Behind the Throne

For some power hungry, ageless tyrants, it is necessary or preferred to stay out of the public eye rather than assuming power directly for themselves. This keeps them out of the crosshairs and makes it easier to hide their true nature. Explaining why they are able to drink poison meant to topple a malevolent ruler is far more difficult than painting the target on someone else’s back.

Using an Immortal Despot as the power behind the throne allows the Gamemaster to throw various other opponents at the heroes, using these cads as a smokescreen. Doing so allows the player characters to believe they have defeated the bad guy, while allowing the actual threat to remain hidden and unknown.

Wanting to Die, Unable to Do So

Not everyone who obtains immortality desires it. In some cases, an Immortal Despot does not seek power for its own sake, but rather because it fits the perception of the monster they believe themselves to be. This sort of character is especially appropriate to an Immortal Despot using the Curse theme. The curse can perhaps most easily be defined as the character being someone who wanted to die, for whatever reason, but their eternal life is applied as punishment for something they have done.

Just why this turns the character into a villain depends on the nature of why the immortal does not want the burden of everlasting life. Does he want to be with his deceased family but, as punishment for allowing them to die (or killing them), is he required to force his pain upon others? Perhaps he seeks conquest as a way of making himself a target in a world filled with metahumans, hoping one of them will come along with an ability that can finally kill him. Whatever the reason, such an undying foe will be all the more dangerous due to their utter disregard for their own well-being.

Wealth of Ages

The Benefit (Wealth) advantage is purposely absent from the Immortal Despot’s game statistics. This is because not all will have acquired exceptional wealth despite their many years of opportunity. However, it makes sense that someone who has lived centuries will have had ample chance to pillage, plunder, and invest. Most Immortal Despots should have an impressive treasury with which to fund their plotting, with an appropriate amount of accompanying minions and lackeys to carry out such plans. Give your villain as much wealth as you feel suits their concept and the role you want him to play in your game.