Hello,
So, you're the DM and you find yourself needing to roleplay King Foril of Cormyr, the Royal Mage Ganrahast and his second, Vainrence.
How would you go about it? Would you portray each like their better known predecessors (Foril like a confident and commanding Azoun IV, Ganrahast as an imperious and always paranoid Vangerdahast, Vainrence the confident and loyal-to-the-death Laspeera)?
Or would you prefer to find ways to make them unique? That is, recognizing they must to some degree be like their forerunners, but also knowing that as individuals of great power each of these NPCs must be distinctive in ways that shine through in an encounter with a group of player characters.
At this point, I'll take all the help I can get. ;)
My thanks in advance for any advice you share.
Hello,
So, you're the DM and you find yourself needing to roleplay King Foril of Cormyr, the Royal Mage Ganrahast and his second, Vainrence.
How would you go about it? Would you portray each like their better known predecessors (Foril like a confident and commanding Azoun IV, Ganrahast as an imperious and always paranoid Vangerdahast, Vainrence the confident and loyal-to-the-death Laspeera)?
Or would you prefer to find ways to make them unique? That is, recognizing they must to some degree be like their forerunners, but also knowing that as individuals of great power each of these NPCs must be distinctive in ways that shine through in an encounter with a group of player characters.
At this point, I'll take all the help I can get. ;)
My thanks in advance for any advice you share.
Hmmmm.... I would probably play up Foril alot like Azoun IV, Ganrahast Im not so sure about. That Cormyr article in Dragon awhile back stated that Vainrence was more military minded than Ganrahast, so i would see him more of a Vangerdahast type, seeing a threat to Cormyr in anything and everything. So I guess Ganrahast might seem a little more laid back, probably a quiet type, but always very observant, probably some secrecy goin on in there too, like you dont know what hes got goin on or what hes up too, hes just there, ever vigilant. So I would see Vainrence as more out spoken, not afraid to let his opinion be known, regardless who he may anger or offend. Whereas I see Ganrahast being more quiet, standing solemnly by the king perhaps every once in awhile leaning down to whisper something in the kings ear. Thats how I would play it. I havnt used Cormyr yet in any of my Campaigns since the switch to 4e, but Im gonna have to fit them in there somewhere, I always did like Cormyr.
I was thinking of the feeble, brainwashed King and the cunning court wizard(who is in the pocket of the Shades) that controls him. The other wizard could be an accomplice, or trying to find out whats going on/getting sent on dangerous mission to get killed, so he/she wont find out.
Awww cmon man, not the Shades! they got enough of the Realms as it is. Besides I dont want to have to invade Cormyr as well!
Besides, there is no wrong answer to this topic...
They are a Logical Enemy.
Besides, there is no wrong answer to this topic...
I know i know, but still, the SHADES!!!!? I cant help but think that you are conspiring against me!
So that leaves Foril.
I should clarify in my campaign all three of these NPCs are in possession of their mental faculties and thoughts and not under any sort of mind control. As well are are unswervingly loyal to Cormyr (though each in his own way).
So, how best to portay an aging, 70 + something year old King?
[had to jump in there before you two ran away with the thread
]Excellent suggestions, both. OK I'm liking the idea of Vainrence as outspoken and aggressive, Ganrahast as quiet and wise.
So that leaves Foril.
I should clarify in my campaign all three of these NPCs are in possession of their mental faculties and thoughts and not under any sort of mind control. As well are are unswervingly loyal to Cormyr (though each in his own way).
So, how best to portay an aging, 70 + something year old King?
[had to jump in there before you two ran away with the thread ]
He hes definitely got experience on his side! So he probably knows whats what and whos who and all that, definatly not just a figure head. Hes very noble but not arrogant, and genuinely cares for the commoners and all of Cormyr. Fair and just would be two defining qualities as well. All in all i would say hes alot like King Azoun IV. I would say he probably has a way with words too. King Azoun was a great warrior, but I see Foril as being more diplomatic.
Bummer, your no fun Mr...
If you and I were to play chess, I'd make it my duty to briefly eulogize each piece lost by either side, with my pieces noble Cormyrians and yours evil Sembians and their Shadovar overlords.
That's always fun. ;)
If he's not particularly loved, I'd go with a somewhat distant authoritarian figure who didn't mix too much with the commoners, simply because he always had an unfair advantage in any dealings with them. That might be an interesting angle to play up to seperate him from his predecessors, in that he doesn't get involved with commoners, literally loving his people personally, like earlier Obarskyrs. Could make for an interesting change.
If he's respected and loved, well, I guess I'd add in an edge of cynicism creeping into his worldview, as he's survived countless intrigues and is probably a little suspicious of everyone around him, though not so that it undercuts an underlying kindness to him. Maybe cautious would be a better way of putting that.
For the mages... I'd probably go with a somewhat bonhommie personality for Ganrahast, who's friendly and personable, always good for a laugh and smile as he pats you on the back in a most friendly manner, so that you won't see that touch spell about to go off as he kills you if you've betrayed Cormyr. Genuinely an agreeable person, unless you're disloyal to Cormyr, in which case he operates under the premise of keeping his enemies very close indeed, since it shortens the time it takes to get to them when the executions come due.
Vainrence, I'd probably go with a straightman archetype, with a dry wit that has a somewhat acidly barb to it. Maybe play up some tension between the two, where Vainrence looks to sometimes be fed up with Ganrahast, the better to draw out plotters and intriguers looking to drive a wedge between the two. Never presenting a united front, and yet somehow their actions tend to complement each other, though ideally making it look like it was an accident somehow to keep the PCs a little off balance as to what their actual relationship was.
My take on, for what its worth.