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DnD 4e Tezcatlipoca
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Tezcatlipoca

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Frylock's Avatar
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    Tezcatlipoca

    Tezcatlipoca, the "Smoking Mirror," is the Aztec god of night sky, god ancestral memory, and time. Together with Quetzalcoatl, he created the Earth, but as I discussed in Quetzalcoatl's entry, they are bitter enemies. Taking inspiration from how Wizards of the Coast dealt with Lolth, I've created two forms of Tezcatlipoca that made the most sense. Like Lolth (my favorite TSR-created god), you'll first confront Tezcatlipoca as a humanoid. When that humanoid drops to 0 hit points, he instantly transforms into Tepeyollotl ("Heart of the Mountain"), which is his jaguar form. Because you’re essentially fighting two solos, each form has 59% the normal hit points (as per both Lolth entries). Obviously, if you prefer one form by itself, increase the hit points accordingly. Note: Tezcatlipoca had another "animal form" ("nahualli" or "nagualli"). If you're inspired to add to this entry by creating Chalchihuihtotolin, the (blood-)Jewelled Fowl, he might make a good Skirmisher.

    While in humanoid form, he's a lurker. This is inspired by his status as the inventor of mirrors. He is said to carry a magic mirror that gives off smoke and killed enemies. This is represented by his Smoking Mirror trait, and further by his Mirror Image and Shattered Mirrors powers (though the latter has no mythological basis; it was borrowed from another creature because I thought it was neat). His weapon is the atlatl, which was the first compound weapon created by the human race. It was a short spear placed in a hand-held launcher. (As demonstrated here, the launcher by itself is referred to as an atlatl, but most people ordinarily refer to the combination of the pieces as such.) For melee attacks, he uses a short spear by itself, and for ranged attacks, the atlatl, which magically replaces the short spear as needed. He also has a land speed of only 4 because of his missing foot. This comes from a story in which he and Quetzalcoatl created the world. In order to do so, he had to use his foot as bait to trick the giant crocodile, Cipactli. As the god of time, I titled his solo protection-from-status-effects power, Temporal Reversal, which I liked because it's not a trait or free action, but rather an often-recharged triggered action.

    While in jaguar form, Tepeyollotl is a brute and thus more straightforward; however, his divine portfolio changes, which gives him a different suite of powers. As Tepeyollotl, he's the Jaguar of Night, lord of the animals, darkened caves, echoes, and earthquakes, all of which inspire thunder and terrain effects. As for his solo protection-from-status-effects power, each turn Tepeyollotl removes one condition automatically and then may spend a minor action to make a save against another.

    A DM should note that Texcatlipoca and Tepeyollotl both play well with others. Their attacks are ally-friendly because of the belief that Texcatlipoca punished those who mistreated their slaves. He can be accompanied by humanoid minions in either form if game balance requires it, and both forms have the trait, Loyal Leader, which prevent him from ever attacking one of his allies. This may seem odd for an evil deity, but keep in mind that "good" Aztec deities generally required human sacrifices and allowed for slavery. It's all relative.

    Click on the names below for the stat blocks:

    Texcatlipoca, the "Smoking Mirror" (humanoid form)

    Tepeyollotl, the "Heart of the Mountain" (jaguar form)

    Tezcatlipoca was also known by these names:
    Yoalli Ehecatl (Night Wind)
    Tloque Nahuaque (Lord of the Near and Night)
    Titlacahuan (He Who's Slaves We Are)
    Moquequeloa (The Mocker)
    Necoc Yaotl (Enemy on Both Sides)
    Telpochtli (The Youth)

  2. #2
    Looks good Rob. I certainly consider stealing him for use against my players if they every got to epic levels.

    One nitpick. The aura has the cold keyword but deals poison damage, did you want him to deal cold damage, poison damage, or both? I like the heavily obscured aura even though I know ranged characters will cry foul. It is fitting that a capstone boss will have some major protections.Obviously if any party is going to take him on they are going to be going after him specifically and should have some foreknowledge. If that is the case I might expect them try and grab an aurakiller weapon.

    In fact if you are running in a setting where characters can't buy magic items you could make it a quest to find an aurakiller weapon.

  3. #3
    Super Moderator Frylock's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by flashedarling View Post
    One nitpick. The aura has the cold keyword but deals poison damage, did you want him to deal cold damage, poison damage, or both?
    It should be poison damage only. I'm using the legacy Adventure Tools, and it has several bugs. I missed that one, as well as the omission of triggers in his triggered powers and the omission of the recharge dice for Temporal Reversal. Corrected. Refresh the page in your browser.

    Quote Originally Posted by flashedarling View Post
    I like the heavily obscured aura even though I know ranged characters will cry foul.
    Ranged character are for chickens, so they don't get my sympathy. :-) Seriously, that's a problem, but there are so many powers and items at paragon level that get around concealment, I assume this won't always be a problem for characters even without an aura-killer weapon. The fact that I stole that from the aura of a low epic level character makes me more comfortable with that assumption.

    Your story ideas make a lot of sense. Thanks for the feedback.
    Last edited by Frylock; 11-16-2011 at 02:37 AM.
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