Tragi-Comic Immortal NPC Concept

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EliBenedict
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Tragi-Comic Immortal NPC Concept

Unread post by EliBenedict »

Suppose some Enlightened Immortal (Mystic China) of the Secind Refinent learns the Doppleganger (Superior) spell of legend, and casts it. 
Per the spell description, their doppleganger has half of their abilities in every respect. Even assuming the original immortal is quite exceptional (character level in the teens, attributes in the high teens and twenties), the doppelganger ends up being pretty average (character level 6-8, attributes 8-12, maybe.)

But, since the doppelganger has half the orginial's abilities in all respects, they are still, presumably, an enlightened immortal of the first refinement, meaning they are truly immortal and will always be reincarnated as themselves if they die.
So, the original immortal continues to hone themselves, eventually reaching the 9th level of refinement and deciding to permanently discorporate, leaving the doppelganger behind.

Now, the doppelganger is truly an enlightened immortal, and as such, they feel the drive of all enlightened immortals to seek their own perfection.

But, as a doppelganger, per the spell, they can't advance or grow in any way. So they're stuck, a mediocre, true enlightened immortal, seeking a refinement they will never be able to achieve. Most other enlightened immortals give them a wide berth, thinking they're bad luck or something, but many other supernatural beings (demons, dragons, ect.) get flummoxed because the doppelganger looks, and acts, just like this demi-god-like hero of legend they'd all rather not mess with.

The doppelganger could be introduced to a campaign as a kind of tragi-comic relief, dispensing wisdom and ancient secrets  which they remember are somehow important to the PCs (and/or universe) but which they aren't really smart/wise/insightful enough to understand, and hoping the PCs can somehow get them past they're metaphysical stuck place.
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drewkitty ~..~
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Re: Tragi-Comic Immortal NPC Concept

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

I would have it not work for the PC EI. Because it is a NPC character type.
The Dg would end up where the EI was at half their age or half the EI age when they became a EI. Whichever is weaker.

In other words, if the character type is at the extremes of abilities, then things that work fine for 'normal' chars, don't work the same for them.
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