Serpent Ring and was broken, enslaved and sent to Aquilonia as a slave. Thoth-Amon regained his ring and has since returned to Stygia. King Ctesphon IV, knowing full well the terrors Thoth-Amon wields, restored him to his former ranks and titles, except for High Priest of the Cult, which Ctesphon IV retained for his own use. He reconquered the Taia province.
King Ctesphon IV
Ruler of Stygia, Lord of the Serpent Throne, High Priest of the Cult of Set and the House of the Black Ring Medium Humanoid (Acheronian (Stygian) scholar 8/ noble 12)
Hit Dice: 5d6+5d8+14+3+10 (67 hit points)
Initiative: +8 (+2 Dex, +6 Ref) Speed: 30 ft.
Dodge Defence: 19 (+7 level, +2 Dex) Parry Defence: 21 (+9 level, +2 Str) DR: —
Base Attack Bonus/Grapple: +15/+17
Attack: Stygian Bow +20 ranged; Javelin +17 ranged; Lance
+17 melee
Full Attack: Stygian Bow +20/+15/+10 ranged; Javelin +17
ranged; Lance +17/+12/+7melee
Damage: Stygian Bow 1d12+2/ 19-20 x2/ AP 4; Javelin
1d8+2/ x2/ AP 3; Lance 1d10+2/ x3/ AP 4
Special Attacks: Special regional feature +3 attack bonus
with Stygian bow
Special Qualities: Stygian/Acheronian traits, title, rank
hath its privileges, wealth, special regional feature +3, social ability (comeliness, family ties), lead by example +4, enhanced leadership, do you know who I am?, new sorcery style x4, scholar, lay priest background, base power points, knowledge is power, +2 power point, advanced spells x6, bonus spells x2, increased maximum power points (triple)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +20 (+10 vs. Corruption) Abilities: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 18, Cha 26 Skills: Bluff +15, Craft (alchemy) +23, Craft (herbalism)
+16, Decipher Script +8, Diplomacy +20, Handle Animal +13, Intimidate +31, Knowledge (arcana) +28, Knowledge (nobility) +14, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perform (ritual) +31, Profession (scribe) +13, Sense Motive +27, Sleight-of- Hand +8
Feats: Chariot Combat, Eyes to the Sky, Hexer, Iron Will,
Leadership, Menacing Aura, Mounted Archery (chariot use only), Priest, Ritual Sacrifice, Steely Gaze, Tormented Sacrifice
Reputation: 102 (Villain) (+10 bonus to Bluff, Gather
Information and Intimidate Checks)
Leadership: 42/44 (17th level cohort; 800 1st level, 160 2nd
level, 40 3rd level, 10 4th level, 4 5th level, 2 6th level)
Code of Honour: None
Allegiances: Cult of Set, The Black Ring, Stygia
Base Power Points: 10 (4 base, +4 Wis, +2 bonus); 30
maximum
Magical Attack: +18/+21 (+7 level, +8 Cha, +3 Regional
Bonus/Curses: +1 racial, +2 hexer feat)
Sorcery Styles: Curses, Hypnotism, Immortality,
Prestidigitation
Spells Known: Conjuring, domination, draw forth the soul,
entrance, eternal youth*, greater ill-fortune, hypnotic suggestion, lesser ill-fortune, mass hypnotic suggestion, telekinesis, torment*, witch’s vigour*
Corruption: 6 Insanity: Sleeplessness
Possessions: Shepherd’s crook, farmer’s flail,
linen kilt, double crown, sandals, wig. *Spell from Conan: The Scrolls of
92
T
h
e
o
cr
a
cy
a
n
d
T
yr
a
n
n
y
King Ctesphon IV is a sinister Stygian descended from the original inhabitants of Elder Stygia, the vile by-product of generations of inbreeding. He is taller than most men by a head, has pale, white skin, has large, luminous eyes and has a sensuous mouth. He has a sinuous, snake-like stride worthy of a ruler of a nation of snake worshippers. His feet are regarded as well-shaped. Ctesphon’s sandals always have the hieroglyph representing the Sons of Shem on them, so that he can symbolically trample upon the Shemites with each and every step he takes. He is the glittering-eyed third son of Queen Neftha, who ruled as King Ctesphon III. As a child he was trained as a scribe and initiated both in the temple of Derketo and the temple of Set. Quickly he earned the right to be initiated into the House of the Black Circle and was trained as a sorcerer-priest. When his mother died, he was quick to act to secure his place as king, killing his two older brothers with horrible curses. Upon his ascension to the throne he ordered all prisoners throughout Stygia sacrificed to Set in his honour, regardless of crime and regardless of upcoming trials to determine innocence. He married his sister within days of taking the crown. Currently he has twenty three wives. King Ctesphon IV is worshipped as a god in his own right, a living incarnation of Set, the upholder and protector of all things Stygian.
Unlike his uncle Ctesphon II, he is a natural leader who exudes self-confidence. His most well- known trait is that of courage. He has no problem trying out new ideas and he believes he is headed for success no matter what he tries. Opposition is but an annoyance to be swatted away. He has no problem taking a gamble, following a dream, setting his mind on a goal and pursuing it with the
utmost confidence, courage and enthusiasm. He also has a hot temper and can throw almost childish tantrums when faced with a slight, imagined or real. He has often ordered the death of entire villages because of a perceived insult. Ctesphon inspires fear and dread in others. He is powerfully charismatic, but the sinister edge to his personality frightens even hardened Stygians. He knows the old ways, methods of alchemy and sorcery passed down through his family since the days of Elder Stygia. Vanity is one of his chief weaknesses and he is a sucker for artful compliments (–10 on any Sense Motive skill check against such art). He has a scribal cohort named Bessu Besek who serves as one of his two viziers; Bessu was actually a childhood adversary who later became his closest friend. He is fond of children and his own children are sources of pride and
happiness.
He tends to fall in love at first sight and never thinks twice about following the dictates of his heart but he is turned off by sloppy appearances and loud, vulgar behaviour. Ctesphon also has a tendency to credit a lover with virtues not found in reality; when the lover fails to live up to his expectations he is horribly wounded. He tends to have secret love affairs that bring him trouble more often than not. Given the chance, he prefers to run everyone’s lives, making his position as king wonderful for him. He is often blunt and brusque, with little patience for the ‘tried and true’ if he thinks he has a better idea.
Ctesphon is ruled by his emotions. It is faster to reach his heart than his head. He is a quick and accurate learner if his emotions are engaged. If a subject does not arouse his affections then he dismisses the subject completely. In order to change the mind of King Ctesphon IV, one must change how he feels about the subject first. Logic will not win the
T
h
e
o
cr
a
cy
a
n
d
T
yr
a
n
n
y
93
day with Ctesphon. Thoth-Amon knew this and used it to get Ctesphon to throw down all other magicians from their places of power, making Thoth-Amon the most powerful sorcerer in Stygia politically and economically.
Ctesphon IV suffers from insomnia. He lies awake for hours every night, tossing and turning, seeking sleep. He must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 15) every morning or wake up fatigued (–2 to Strength and Dexterity, cannot run).