A thousand years ago, the man now known as the Masked One was Hadrak Urjan, a visionary magician and priest in the Temple of the Lunar Queen, and the secret lover of Zenobia, a priestess there. It was his passion for the future Lunar Queen that was to be his tragic doom. When the illicit tryst was exposed, he was excommunicated and executed. Through his occult studies, Hadrak Urjan had found a way to pass through death and rise from his grave mightier than before. However, this process was not without consequences. Hadrak Urjan returned from beyond the grave as an undead horror, with only one thought occupying his mind – to regain his love at any cost!
The Masked One is a lich who hides his withered husk under a purple robe and a weeping moonsilver mask. He rarely leaves his home, an opalescent pagoda situated on a high cliff. The Masked One has an unhealthy obsession with the Lunar Queen. He wants to liberate her from her marriage to the dread Droonag Zar by breaking the magical bond between the two. But since Zenobia has undertaken this ordeal of her own will, for the sake of the lunar realm, this can only be done by kidnapping her. The Masked One has tried and failed several times, but as one of the undead, he has all the time in the world to plan his deed, which is why he spends most of his time gazing through a crystal orb at his former lover and her monstrous husband. His only other interest is playing Varrak Kress, but he does not often encounter potential opponents.
Interactions with the Player Characters: The Masked One may try to recruit the PCs as pawns in some complicated plot to kidnap the Lunar Queen. He could also act as a mentor for a magic-user who is willing to serve him. In the end, the Masked One is likely to end up as a foe to most player characters.
The Masked One, Lich
Armour Class 0 [19]
Hit Dice 11**** (50 hp)
Attacks 1 × touch (1d10 + paralysis) or spell
THAC0 11 [+8]
Movement 60’ (20’)
Saving Throws D11 W12 P11 B14 S12 (Magic-user 10)
Morale 10
Alignment Chaotic
XP 4,300
Treasure Type A
Undead. Makes no noise until he attacks. Immune to effects that affect living creatures (e.g. poison). Immune to mind-affecting or mind-reading spells (e.g. charm, hold, sleep).
Aura of fear. Anyone seeing a lich must save versus spells or flee for 2d6 turns. Characters above the 4th level are immune.
Mundane damage immunity. Can only be harmed by magical attacks.
Energy immunity. Unharmed by electrical and cold-based attacks.
Magic immunity. Immune to magic that causes polymorph, insanity, or death.
Arcane spells. Cast spells as a 10th-level magic-user.
Level 1: Light (Darkness), Sleep, Summon Chaos Spawn;
Level 2: Radioactive Blast, Ray of Enfeeblement, Web;
Level 3: Haste, Invisibility 10’ radius, Lightning Bolt, Mysteries of the Worm;
Level 4: Charm Monster, Remove Curse (Curse), Polymorph Self
Level 5: Animate Dead, Teleport;
Illusionist spells. Cast spells as a 10th-level illusionist
Level 1: Colour Spray, Glamour, Phantasmal Force
Level 2: Blindness/Deafness, Hypnotic Pattern, Mirror Image
Level 3: Phantom Steed, Spectral Force, Wraithform
Level 4: Confusion, Phantasmal Killer, Shadow Monsters
Level 5: Seeming, Demi-Shadow Monsters
Paralyzing touch. Chill touch causes paralysis for 6 turns (save vs paralysis).
Moonsilver mask. Can be used once a day to cast Cause Fear.
Henchmen
The Masked One has created three henchmen: the mutants Goro and Katan, and the robot Mantron, designed to serve their master fanatically. They are equipped with illusion projectors, allowing them to blend in when on missions to gather information and recruit agents.
Goro
This mutant lunarian has bat-wings and eight undulating snakes for legs. Goro wears a helmet, an ornate battle harness, and fights using a light raygun or a sword.
AC 3 [16], HD 5, Att 1 x light raygun (1d10) or 1 x sword (1d8) and 1 x snake bite (1d4 + poison), SV D10 W11 P12 B13 S14, THACO 17 [+2], MV 60′ (20′) / 180’ (60’) flying, ML 6, AL C
Katan
A mutant lunarian with hooves for feet and a flaming skull crowned by rams’ horns. The skull smolders continually and flares up in bright flames when Katan becomes angry or enters battle. Katan wears a breastplate, bracers, and greaves. He fights with a battle axe or by butting his opponents with his horns.
AC 3 [16], HD 5, Att 1 x horns (1d4 + 1d4 fire) or 1 x battle axe (1d8), SV D10 W11 P12 B13 S14, THACO 17 [+2], MV 90′ (30′), ML 7, AL C
Mantron
This robot warrior has brightly polished silvery armor and is equipped with four sword-arms.
AC 1 [18], HD 6, Att 1 x deathray (1d8 + save or be vaporized) or 4 x sword-arms (1d6), SV D10 W11 P12 B13 S14, THACO 17 [+2], MV 90′ (30′), ML 8, AL C