Vincienzo di Randazzi
by Andrew TheisenAC 1018
"Shame- I really thought you had me that time. Shall we make it best of seven, then, or do you concede?"
I Appearance
Vincienzo is of average height, though slight of build. He has the olive complexion traditional of his Thyatian ancestry, though with a paleness that is testimonial to a lifetime spent indoors. Vincienzo's hair is black, and shoulder length, usually kept bound in a ponytail. The ends of his hair are bleached white, making it resemble a fox's tail. His brown eyes twinkle mischievously.
He dresses in the latest cut and style of clothing, but his outfits are always specially tailored to have a gaming theme to them- red and black chessboard patterns, tiny roulette wheels, etc. Vincienzo's outfits are not garish, though they do draw attention by dint of their thematic underpinnings.
II Personality
Vincienzo is the consummate gamesman. He loves games of chance- the higher the odds against him, the better. In particular, he was known as a champion dart thrower during his tenure at the Great School of Magic. He is also acknowledged a champion summoner- setting summoned creatures against those of an opponent in an arena-type situation. Vincienzo's close bonds with his summoned monsters has led them to victories against traditionally stronger opponents time and again. Ironically enough, though he is most known for using his summoned creatures in gaming, he is closer to them than he is to his own family. He knows them all by name and several of them have been his companions since childhood. In Vincienzo's eyes, it is other people that are pawns and game pieces to be used and discarded at will.
III History
Born with a gift for magic surpassing that of his father, Vincienzo was groomed from an early age to be what Pangratio di Randazzi could not- a privileged member of the Glantrian nobility. Showing little talent for the arts of war, Vincienzo was instead apprenticed to become a wizard. Unfortunately, he was perhaps pampered a bit too much. Living a life of leisure, Vincienzo became cut off from other children as well as his own family. His truest companionship came from the creatures he summoned with his magic- for Vincienzo's specialty was in the field of conjuration.
When he came of age, Vincienzo was packed off to the Great School of Magic in Glantri City. Being somewhat shy at first, he found himself the object of ridicule by his peers. In order to fit in, he took on many dares and bets in order to prove himself to others. Fortunately, Vincienzo's keen mind was suitable to games of skill, and he demonstrated a great degree of luck at games of chance. As his reputation as a gambler grew, he began to come out of his shell and develop into something of a rogue.
Vincienzo remained at the Great School of Magic only long enough to graduate, at which time he left, finding no more challenge in it. He stayed in the city, however, becoming a permanent fixture in Glantri City's various gambling dens and casinos. He drifted among the noble social circles for a time, living high and low on his gambling wins and losses. Back at home, his family looked upon him with growing disfavour but having little ability to control their gadabout son.
The meteor impact of 1006 caused the death of Caterucia di Randazzi, his mother. Though he hadn't seen her in several years, the loss hurt Vincienzo more than he'd care to admit. In his grief, he became reckless, taking bets at impossible odds and amassing huge amounts of debt. In a seemingly vain attempt to relieve himself of his misfortunes, he accepted a bet by a long-time gambling companion to vie for a position among the nobility. It was the gamble of a lifetime, but by calling in favours and making several shady deals, Vincienzo beat out favoured competitor Agostino di Malapietra and became the first Baron of Ylourgne.
Though he'd gotten out of debt, Vincienzo immediately came to regret his position. The tedium of rulership, along with the self-serving nature of politics at first disturbed him. He brought in his father, and later, his brother, to assist in the mundane duties of administration while he concentrated on his own pursuits and living the high life of nobility. As he hobnobbed with the Glantrian elite, the more he came to view politics as yet another game- albeit one with much higher stakes- with pawns to manipulate and pieces to move. Vincienzo has become quite a bit more politically active of late, as he seeks to establish himself as the winner in yet another gambit.
IV Web of Intrigue
Vincienzo leaves the day-to-day administration of his dominion to his father Pangratio- a retired army commander- and his younger brother Jacobo. Unbeknownst to Vincienzo, Jacobo is a high-ranking member of the Followers of the Claymore who is using his position in Ylourgne to help strengthen the weakened organisation.
Their sister, Colletta, is married to Coenraet Rjevens, a former
Among his political allies, Vincienzo counts Gerrid Rientha, Viscount of Castelbianco. The two men share a love of gambling and a respect for one another's magical prowess. Though he is more closely associated with the House of Kern these days, Vincienzo still considers his former associate in House Morlay- Prince Malachie du Marais- to be a politically asset. Within the bounds of Ylourgne, Vincienzo acknowledges and officially recognises Andre David de Foret as Huntsman of Ardenne, conceding jurisdiction of the wood to the ranger.
Vincienzo's enemies include former Baron Pieter Vandehaar, who stills seethes with rage over the events of a recent magical duel. Archduke John Beaumarys-Moorkroft has a special hatred for Vincienzo's familiar for disrupting many of his fox hunts; this dislike has carried over to his master.
Finally, Agostino di Malapietra still carries a grudge against Vincienzo for losing out in the contest for title to the Barony of Ylourgne in 1006 AC.
V Statistics and Style of Magic
Vincienzo di Randazzi: Male human Conjurer 10*; CR 10; Medium humanoid (human); HD 10d4; hp 31; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 10; Base Atk +5; Grp +5; Atk +5 melee (1d4, dagger), +11 ranged (1d4+1, +1 returning dart), or +10 ranged touch (by spell); Full Atk +5 melee (1d4, dagger), +8/+8 ranged (1d4+1, +1 returning dart), or +10 ranged touch (by spell); SA spells; AL N; SV Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +8; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 17, Wis 13, Cha 17. *Statistics are age adjusted and include a +2 level bonus to Dexterity.
Skills and Feats: Bluff +8, Concentration +10, Craft (woodworking) +4, Decipher Script +6, Diplomacy +5, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +5, Profession (gambler) +14, Sense Motive +6, Sleight of Hand +9, Spellcraft +10. Augment Summoning, Craft Wondrous Item, Extend Spell, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Scribe Scroll, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus (dart).
Familiar: Vincienzo's familiar is a fox named Scacco.
Scacco uses the better of its own or Vincienzo's base save bonuses. Its abilities and characteristics are summarised below:
Scacco: CR -; Tiny animal; HD 10; hp 15; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 22, touch 16, flat-footed 18; Base Atk +5; Grp -1; Atk +7 melee (1d3, bite); Full Atk +7 melee (1d3, bite); SA deliver touch spells; SQ improved evasion, low-light vision, scent, speak with canines, speak with master; AL N; SV Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +8; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 7.
Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Listen +4, Move Silently +4, Spot +2, Survival +1, Swim +2; Stealthy.
Spells Prepared (5/6/6/5/4/3): 0- arcane mark, detect magic, mage hand, prestidigitation, resistance; 1st- feather fall, mage armour, summon monster I (x2), true strike, unseen servant; 2nd- bear's endurance, bull's strength, cat's grace, Melf's acid arrow, summon monster II (x2); 3rd- dispel magic, haste, slow, summon monster III (x2); 4th- Leomund's secure shelter, polymorph, summon monster IV, extended summon monster III; 5th- dismissal, summon monster V, extended summon monster IV.
*Prohibited School: Evocation
Possessions: +1 returning dart (x2), bag of tricks (rust coloured), deck of illusions, rod of wonder.
"One of these days, I'll get you Randazzi! And your little rodent, too!"
Archduke John Beaumarys-Moorkroft, ranting after a disrupted fox hunt.