Ondoros Rouis
King of Liekia
“History is a graveyard of failed experiments and dead monsters. My crown was forged to ensure we do not waste our dwindling days digging up what our ancestors died to bury.”
— Proclaimed at the sealing of the Southern Grots
Appearance
A tall man with strikingly gaunt features, King Rouis carries himself with a refined elegance. The sharp angles of his visage and his completely unblinking stare betray a quiet aura of malevolence.
His skin has an almost translucent quality, like that of old parchment, likely from a life spent within the dim candlelight of late night councils rather than days spent in the warm glow of the sun.
He moves with an unnerving stillness, devoid of wasted motion, making him look less like a living man and more like a monument sitting upon the throne.
Personality
It’s become a well known fact amongst merchants and nobles that doing business with the king is an endurance test. He is famous for pausing mid sentance and just letting the silence drag on just to see who breaks first. While he’s careful not to appear cruel or lose his temper in public, it’s common knowledge that he maintains the strictest forms of manners, but this predatory ettiquette is nothing more than a conversational trap.
His almost skeletal appearance has created the belief that he simply does not sleep. While the rest of the citizenry rests, he’s thought to be pouring over ledgers and plotting his next moves. Then there’s his eerie, unblinking gaze. It’s described by any who’ve seen him that it’s like being looked through rather than at.
Rumors
When entering an event as head of state, he’s officially announced as King of Liekia, Bearer of the Cobalt Crown, Protector of the First True Realm of Men, High Warden of the Heartwood, and the Justiciar of the Blue Spires.
Plot Hooks
Local Plot:
- In response to the dwindling treasury, the king has been cutting backroom deals to give long-term leases of prime dock space in Skalan to foreign ship captains of the Nautilion League at a premium, pricing out local sailors and leading to an increase in regional smuggling.
- The increase in local crime has conveniently given him the pretext needed to crack down on black market dealers, and strangle the financial backers of his merchant lord rivals.
Regional Plot:
- At the king’s direction, Redvakt Peacekeepers are conducting searches for specific magical items.
- He’s ordered the confiscation of items the king believes are to be used for a coordinated attack against the monarchy by traditionalist agitators in an effort to stop the plot.
Foreign Plot:
- To solve his military recruitment crisis, and protect the borders against growing civil unrest, Ondoros has established a covert supply chain.
- Ondoros has been secretly exporting large, black crates containing heavy, modular iron plating for ship hulls to Brynnmor in exchange for sellswords that answer only to him. The foundries across Liekia have been forced to work around the clock under the watchful eye of agents of The Royal Kralia to produce them as fast as possible.
- Large sums of coin have been funneled into this covert project, causing the Liekian treasury to deplete at an accelerated rate.
Plot Progression
Local Plot:
- Timeline: Triggers upon first entering Skalan or discovering the dock deals | Limit: 21 days after the trigger event.
- If Opposing the Crown: If the party assists Liekian ship crews to impede the contract negotiations, the merchant lords grant a 10 percent discount on purchases at their Skalan shops. However, the king raises border fees to 5 silver pieces (sp) in addition to other tax increases. This imposes a −2 penalty to all Charisma checks made when interacting with over-taxed, non-sailor residents.
- If Assisting the Crown (or Actively Ignored): If the party ensures the contracts are finalized or allows the time limit to expire, the king stabilizes the treasury, earning the party Royal Favor. While the party holds Royal Favor, they receive a +2 bonus to all Charisma (Persuasion) checks made against Crown officials, are exempt from standard border entry fees, and can secure safe, high-end lodging within government districts. However, disgruntled local sailors drive up regional smuggling, resulting in a +2 DC increase to all Charisma checks made within the docks and a 20 percent increase to maritime travel costs.
Regional Plot:
- Timeline: Triggers upon witnessing a Redvakt raid or entering traditionalist territory | Limit: 14 days after meeting a plot-associated NPC.
- If Opposing the Crown: Should the party assist the conspiracy, royal timber storehouses are set ablaze. Some Redvakt Peacekeepers are pulled away from their posts, causing the DC for all Dexterity (Stealth) checks throughout Liekia to decrease by 2, and the party gains access to a traditionalist safehouse.
- If Assisting the Crown (or Actively Ignored): If the party aids the Redvakt Peacekeepers in crushing the agitators or allows the timeline to expire, three dozen traditionalists are publicly executed in Skalan. The party earns a Royal Commendation, but widespread civil discontent doubles guard patrols and increases all market prices by 20 percent due to choked trade routes.
Foreign Plot:
- Timeline: Triggers upon discovering a black crate or investigating the foundries | Limit: 14 days after the initial discovery.
- If Opposing the Crown: If the party uncovers this operation and sabotages the shipments, they halt the deal and can scavenge enough high-grade material to craft up to three pieces of +1 armor or +1 weapons.
- If Assisting the Crown (or Actively Ignored): If the party secures the shipments or allows the timeline to expire, the transaction completes and Brynnmor sends a legion of 800 elite mercenaries. If the party is allied with the king, these troops grant them legal immunity. If the party is hostile to the king, the mercenaries reinforce the Redvakt, adding 1d4 CR 5 martial enemies to random encounters and increasing the DC by 4 for all ability checks made to avoid arrest.
Ondoros Rouis, King of Liekia
Armor Class 17 (+1 Regal Breastplate)
Hit Points 135 (18d8 + 54)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
11 (+0)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
16 (+3)
CHA
18 (+4)
Saving Throws Dex +7, Int +8, Wis +7
Skills Insight +11, Deception +12, Persuasion +12, Perception +7, History +8
Condition Immunities Exhaustion (caused by lack of rest)
Senses Passive Perception 17
Languages Common, Liekian
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Sleepless Attrition. Ondoros is immune to magic or effects that force sleep. He has advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks against any creature he has spoken with for more than 10 minutes.
Master of Tactics. Ondoros can use the Help action as a bonus action. When using this action to direct an ally, the target of the attack can be up to 30 feet away from him rather than within 5 feet.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Ondoros deals an extra 14 (4d6) damage when he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of one of his allies that isn’t incapacitated.
Multiattack. Ondoros makes two melee attacks with his Sovereign’s Foil, or makes one attack and uses Weaponized Silence.
The Sovereign’s Foil. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) psychic damage.
Weaponized Silence (Recharge 5–6). Ondoros stops speaking and fixes a suffocating stare on a creature within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 21 (6d6) psychic damage and is incapacitated until the end of its next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t incapacitated.
Misdirection. When targeted by an attack while an ally is within 5 feet of him, Ondoros can choose to have the attack target that ally instead.
Unsettling Gaze. When a creature targets Ondoros with a ranged attack or spell, he turns a piercing, unblinking glare upon them. The attacker must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the attacker suffers disadvantage on the attack roll.
Roleplaying Guide
Appearance & Mannerisms
Appearance: His cheekbones are sharp, and only exaggerate by his hollow cheeks. A neatly trimmed, dark beard hides none of his prominent jawline. Under his intense eyes, dark violet shadows emphasize the look of someone who probably gets very little sleep.
Attire: Ondoros favors impeccably tailored, high-collared tunics of deep midnight-blue silk and charcoal wool. Every seam of his clothing is cut to maximize practicality, allowing for swift movement. When entering potentially dangerous situations, he preferes to wear a stylized breastplate, adorned with Liekian insignias over top his fine clothes.
The Crown & Weapon: Atop his head sits a circlet of polished platinum, inset with sapphires. At his hip rests The Sovereign’s Foil, a weapon used by kings for hundreds of years. Its guard is shaped from dark steel, looking more like a executioner’s blade than a royal ornamental rapier.
Traits: He has long, skeletal fingers which are meticulously kept. On his non-dominant hand he wears a single, heavy signet ring bearing the crest of Liekia. He rarely gestures, preferreing to keep his hands clasped over his pommel while standing or on the armrests of a chair when seated.
Character Roleplay
When Speaking: Talk in a quiet, measured, and perfectly steady voice. Never shout, stutter, or raise your pitch when surprised or challenged. Use a total lack of emotional response in all situations. Never answer immediately when spoken to. Count to at least five before responding verbally. Through the entire pause, stare uncomfortably, purposefully and pointedly at the target of your reply.
Courtesy: Adhere strictly to courtly etiquette. When addressing visitors you should always use overly dramatic embellishments such as: “my esteemed guests,” “honored travelers,” or “my dearest friends,” especially if they are currently in a hostile situation such as being held at swordpoint by his guards.
Reactions: While interacting with others, lock eyes with the speaker and do not break contact. Keep your eyelids slightly heavy but steady and completely unblinking throughout the conversation. If insults or threats are lobbed in his direction, do not react with fury, or even a scoff. Instead, offer a faint, pitying smile without otherwise acknowledging them. Dismiss their outburst and calmly redirect the scene.
Breaking Point
The Breaking Point: If the party successfully disrupts any two of the king’s ongoing major plots, Ondoros reaches a breaking point, triggering the following regional shifts:
Boons:
- The party gains access to a network of traditionalist safehouses and smuggling routes. While using these, the party cannot be tracked or revealed by mundane means.
- The party can bypass border checkpoints entirely.
- Rebel blacksmiths will repair the party’s gear and provide free rations and ammunition for their preferred ranged weapons.
- Black market goods are available at a 20 percent discount.
- Resistance NPCs actively lie or create distractions to mask the party’s movements.
Consequences:
- The DM rolls a d20 at the end of every long rest. On a 15 or higher, the rest is interrupted by an encounter with a high-CR bounty hunter.
- Agents of The Royal Kralia begin arresting known conspirators and publicly branding the party’s associates as separatists. Any previously friendly or neutral NPC who interacts with the party must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or refuse to speak with, harbor, or sell goods to the party out of fear of royal retribution. (Note: Rebel blacksmiths, resistance contacts, and black market vendors automatically succeed on this saving throw.)