Personalities of the Twin Cities

While Rinloru has some important priests of Nerull and Winetha has some noteworthy mages, the two major protagonists of the strange alliance concern us here. Their "supporting cast" is deliberately left open for development.

Animus-Priest Delglath: Animus with the powers of 13th-level priest of Nerull and additional abilities (see below, and Wis 18). AC 6 (ring of protection +4), hp 88, AL NE. Delglath has all the special powers and abilities of an animus, but he has one additional talent. At will, he can cause blisters to rise on the palms of his hands which secrete a smoking, corrosive acid. This does not harm Delglath, but his touch inflicts 1d4+4 hp of damage per round his palms are in contact with the skin of anyone else, and the acid corrodes cloth in one round, wood at the rate of 1" thickness per round, and metal at the rate of .25" thickness per round. Magical items receive the standard saving throw against destruction by acid; nonmagical items do not. "Delglath's blessing" is a laconic Rinloru saying which refers to this dreaded touch.

Delglath sees himself as a Chosen One of Nerull. In one respect, his view has some validity. Though he is but 13th level, he is a powerful enchanter of magical items (consider him as equivalent to a 20th-level priest for this). Delglath even has been to the Causeway of Fiends to take stone he polished, crafted, and enchanted to create his talisman of ultimate evil which he wears with pride. He has other magical items, of course; these include a great sickle +2, +3 versus good-aligned creatures, a ring of X-ray vision, and a brooch of shielding with 71 charges remaining.

Delglath has the typical wizened, wrinkled appearance of the animus. He has long, flowing white hair which he braids in the style of old Aerdi nobles, and blue eyes which are unblinking. As a personality, he is consumed with the desire to render Aerdy into a kingdom of the undead with himself atop the malachite throne. But he is wily and cunning, and while insane he knows this is not a goal he can aim at right now. He seeks no alliances, and he has eliminated all who oppose him within his own lands. He intends to do the same everywhere else. Once he has the talisman, Winetha will be his first target. Rauxes will be next.

Archmage-Prince Lakaster: 19th-level mage (Dex 16, Con 15, Int 18). AC 0 (black robes of the Archmagi, ring of protection +3), hp 49, AL LE (NE). Lakaster is chronologi cally 77 years of age, but due to two potions of longevity and his possession of an amulet of perpetual youth (see Tome of Magic) he is biologically only 35 (this becomes 57 if his amulet is removed). He is an imposing 6' 5", slim, graceful; the blond archmage has boyish good looks, a broad white-toothed smile, and friendly hazel eyes. He is a thoroughly evil power-maniac, however. Still, he is brilliant and urbane, and he is worldly-wise. He knows the value of alliance, having time to develop one's strength when facing an enemy—and of the value of one well-planned, lightning-swift, devastating strike (prefera bly with a streak of wanton cruelty).

Lakaster has many magical items. His quarterstaff +5 has the additional magical properties, usable once a day, each using one charge: spectral force, suggestion, wall of fire, wall of stone. The staff is recharged by being plunged into one gallon of fresh blood from an intelligent, humanoid creature, and Lakaster has no compunctions about recharging it when he needs to do so. Lakaster always wears his Serten's ring, which confers on him a perma nent Serten's spell immunity. whether this ring truly belonged to that legendary archmage, who can say? Lakaster certainly isn't saying.

Lakaster is on fair terms with the Sea Barons, but has few other contacts among local nobles. He is too obsessed with desire for the Wand of Lynerden to bother with politics now. Night and day he labors to research the combined powers of the wand and helm of that fabled wizard, and his researches continue to yield conflicting answers. Any who could provide him with the truth would be very well rewarded by this archmage-prince, who has a fair collection of Asperd pearls and similar valuables among his personal wealth.