Grand Vizier Bartholomew Morraine – Google Docs
Grand Vizier Bartholomew Morraine
Bartholomew Morraine is the very model of a classic grand vizier: he is tall, saturnine, sports a goatee, wears silken robes whenever he can get away with it, and never goes anywhere without his blackwood staff. He is currently more or less in charge of whatever North American petty-kingdom the players next encounter, and it is widely (and accurately) whispered that Morraine is a sorcerer of no little skill. Certainly he has no trouble with binding others to Morraine’s service, and probably his will as well. Ah… the King’s (or Premier’s, or President’s, or Mayor’s) service, of course. There’s always a figurehead in place, while Morraine rules from the shadows. He prefers it that way.
And, honestly: usually so does the rest of the court, including quite probably the titular ruler him- or herself. The simple truth is that Morraine is extremely good at running things, has no actual tendencies towards evil, and is quite conscientious about justifying his (quite high) salary and (fairly extensive) privileges. His public persona is more than half affectation; nature clearly intended Bartholomew Morraine to look the very picture of an evil mastermind (albeit and entrancing one), so the Grand Vizier has decided to run with it. It’s not like he actually has to oppress any peasants, throw heroes into dungeons, and/or despoil virgins.
His subjects do kind of understand all of this, but Morraine does also have a reputation for coming down like a hammer on genuine rebels, or other violent troublemakers. This gives him a complex reputation in whatever kingdom he ends up running, which can lead to all sorts of misunderstandings with adventuring parties. Fortunately, if Morraine does have a group of problem-makers thrown into the dungeons he won’t do anything permanent before finding out what the whole story is; unfortunately, if Morraine happens to have temporary custody of a group of problem-solvers he’s absolutely of the ‘make them a job offer they can’t refuse’ school of Meddlesome Authority Figures.
But that might be ‘fortunately’ after all, because Morraine pays well. And even covers reasonable expenses! Just save all the receipts.
Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d10, Spirit d10, Strength d6, Vigor d8
Skills: Fighting d6, Guts d10, Healing d8, Intimidation d12, Investigation d10, Knowledge (Poisons) d6, Knowledge (Occult) d10, Knowledge (Affairs of State) d10, Notice d10, Persuasion d10, Shooting d6, Spellcasting d6, Streetwise d6
Charisma: +2 Pace: 6 Parry: 5 Toughness: 6
Edges: Arcane background (Magic), Charismatic, Command, Connections, Inspire, Level-Headed, Power Points, Wizard
Hindrances: All Thumbs, Code of Honor
Power Points: 15
Powers: barrier, bolt, detect arcana, dispel, elemental manipulation (fire), obscure, fear, speak language