Realms Personalities : Szass Tam

Male lich Nec10/Red10/Acm1/Epic1: CR 31; Medium-size undead; HD: 20d12+5; hp 131; Init +2; Spd 30 ft.; AC 29 (touch 14, flat footed 27); Atk +12/+7 melee (1d6+2, staff of power) or +10 melee (1d8+5 [Will DC 25 half] plus paralysis; lich touch) or +12/+7 ranged touch (by spell); SA Paralyzing touch, fear aura; SQ Archmage high arcana, epic-level benefits, immunities, +4 turn resistance, damage reduction 15/+1, Red Wizard abilities, undead qualities; AL NE; SV Fort +1, Ref +10, Will +21; Str 11, Dex 14, Con -, Int 22, Wis 20, Cha 20. Height 6 ft.

Skills and Feats: Craft (alchemy) +26, Concentration +25, Craft (gem cutting) +16, Diplomacy +7, Heal +9, Hide +10, Intimidate +11, Knowledge (arcana) +26, Knowledge (architecture and engineering) +11, Knowledge (Thayan history) +16, Knowledge (religion) +11, Listen +15; Move Silently +10, Profession (herbalist) +9, Profession (sailor) +9, Search +20, Sense Motive +13, Spell-craft +32, Spot +15, Swim +2, Survival +7; Craft Staff, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item, Maximize Spell, Mind Over Body, Quicken Spell, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Spell Focus (Evocation), Spell Focus (Necromancy), Spell Mastery (animate dead, cone of cold, control undead, magic missile, teleport), Tattoo Focus (Necromancy).

Special Attacks: Paralyzing Touch (Su): Creatures touched must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 25) or be permanently paralyzed. Fear Aura (Su): Creatures of less than 5 HD in a 60-ft. radius that look at the lich must succeed at a Will save (DC 25) or be affected as though by fear as cast by a 29th-level sorcerer.

Special Qualities: Archmage High Arcana: Arcane reach, spell power +2 Epic-Level Benefits: Two effective levels of archmage (included in the above total), bonus spell level x7 (included in the listing below). Immunities (Ex): Immune to cold, electricity, polymorph, and mind-affecting attacks. Red Wizard Abilities: Specialist defense (Necromancy) +4, spell power (Necromancy) +5, circle leader, Scribe Tattoo, great circle leader. Wizard Spells Per Day: 5/7/7/6/6/6/6/3/5/5/1/1/1/1/1/1/1. Base DC = 18 + spell level, 20 + spell level for evocation spells, 28 + spell level for necromancy spells. Wizard Caster Level: 22nd. Specialized School: Necromancy. Prohibited Schools: Enchantment, Illusion.

Spellbook: As a very old lich, a powerful wizard, and one of the rulers of a nation of wizards, Szass Tam has access to virtually any spell that is known and has created many unique necromancy spells known only to himself or the other Red Wizards. He normally prepares a quickened teleport and several quickened attack spells. He typically uses his 16th-level spell slot to prepare a quickened, maximized energy drain.

Possessions: Given his position of power and advanced magical abilities, Szass Tam can easily acquire nearly any sort of non-artifact magic item (and has access to at least two known Netherese artifacts, the Death Moon Orb and Thakorsil's Seat). He has a staff of power, bracers of armor +10, and a ring of three wishes in his possession at all times.

Infamous for his wise, cold cruelty and his longevity, Szass Tam is the zulkir of Necromancy in Thay, its most influential Red Wizard, and - observers say - the true ruler of Thay. A lich for the last two hundred-odd years, Szass Tam achieved his present power through great arrogance, the skills and preparation to hack up his overweening ambitions, and the brilliant schemes of one of the most cunning and intelligent beings in all Faerûn.

Like other Red Wizards, Szass Tam prefers to remain unseen, working through lackeys and servitor creatures (including vast armies of undead led by vampire generals) while he plots and schemes. His own undeath gives him patience. He's quite prepared to abandon servants and attempts that fail, and simply try again later in a better way. Tiring of the continual betrayals and slaughter within the Red Wizards, he has decided that the best future for Thay and for the Red Wizards is united under him - controlled through his magic and through fear. He's not openly exerting power yet, because he wants to preserve Thay's strength as much as possible, and in doing so control as much as he can before any open conflicts erupt.

Szass Tam possesses a truly incredible collection of magic items, ranging from rings, wands, and other trinkets up through staves and golems to artifacts. In his stronghold northwest of Tyraturos, he's almost unassailable. Those who meet him (or seemingly real magical images of himself that he creates and sends far across Faerûn) discover Szass Tam to be calm, cultured, and even pleasant. He appears as a richly robed, skeletally thin pale man. Balding, he has dark eyes, a thinning black beard, and hands that have shriveled to claws. He can, of course, use magic to change his appearance. His favorite false form is that of a tall scholar, aging but vigorous, with glittering jet-black eyes and a soft, purring voice.

Szass Tam is polite but blunt, and he can be plunged instantly into cold, controlled rage by insolence or deliberate defiance. On the other hand, he seems to admire those who cross or foil him by cleverness, as long as they treat him politely. He's always spinning more simultaneous intrigues than most Faerûnians have years in their lives, and with his domination ever growing, he seems content to view existence as a great game, with plots and schemes as the playing pieces or, if you prefer, weapons.

Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting


Realm's Personalities