Basically, my BBEG is a corrupt king who profits off a crime and cult ridden city/country and has for some reason banned the use of magic. He also has anyone who attempts to leave the city be executed. Personally I want to have the king be something more monstrous but not TOO crazy and I couldn't find any monsters that would fit the gist. My players haven't directly met him yet and don't know much beyond that he is the king. What monster would y'all make the king to where it's not too crazy and it just feels right.
He could be a beast similar to beauty and the beast.
He could be a Half-dragon, a half-ogre, an intelligent gazer that hovers where the head would be on a robotic body, a hobgoblin, orc, dragon that is stuck in a human form, efreet, shadar-kai, minotaur, formorian, duergar, medusa, skull lord, skeleton, or lamia.
This may be the opposite of what you are looking for, but he could have been a powerful creature that was transformed into the most horrific form imaginable, a chihuahua. He would still be intelligent and powerful, but he is trapped in the form of a chihuahua and won't allow anyone to see him. Maybe he sits on an enchanted throne that gives him the appearance of a powerful being but if he steps of the throne his true form is revealed.
The king I want to be very powerful on his own, though I am open to "Whisper" BBEGs that would use the king like a pawn. I'm just trying to find a reason why a creature/person would want magic to be banned though, seeing as how most use magic to further their own power.
The king I want to be very powerful on his own, though I am open to "Whisper" BBEGs that would use the king like a pawn.
I also like the efreeti idea for a powerful [lawful] evil entity that would rule over this city/country. Alternately, I could also see some of the more powerful devil types filling this role very well. In fact, if you're wanting your king to be a pawn of something bigger, then a horned devil or ice devil might be a good option. That devil might be serving a higher ranking devil that has its own plans and agenda, such as a pit fiend. I'm not a fan of many 5e fiends not having some spellcasting abilities, but you can easily add some innate spells to help them out. For example, a disguise self spell to maintain its kingly appearance.
I'm just trying to find a reason why a creature/person would want magic to be banned though, seeing as how most use magic to further their own power.
Borrowing from my idea and comments above, I could easily see an extraplanar creature (such as an efreeti or devil) banning the use of magic in their city/country. Without magic radily available, it's a lot harder to deal with their plots and machinations. Prevents others from being able to see through their illusions and disguises. Magic charms and suggestions aren't able to be dispeled. Fiendish entity cannot be banished back to their original plane.
And, just because the king bans their citizens from practiciing magic, doesn't mean that they aren't being hypocritical and using magic themselves. They're unlikely to display their use of magic, but they could certainly be casting spells behind closed doors to maintain their hold over their city/country.
And, just because the king bans their citizens from practiciing magic, doesn't mean that they aren't being hypocritical and using magic themselves. They're unlikely to display their use of magic, but they could certainly be casting spells behind closed doors to maintain their hold over their city/country.
This makes the most sense as an explanation to me as well. I can easily see the king to be power hungry. He is not just a king, he is also a powerful mage, but he does not want anyone (at least in the kingdom) to be more powerful than him and pose as a threat. If the magic is banned, others will not get better at it.
Maybe he discovered some really powerful spell (leading to immortality? or something more sinister like controlling others… like Imperio from Harry Potter or whatever Saruman used on Theoden) and he really wants to keep it for himself only. Though, if there is someone controlling the king, then maybe they are using magic to do so and do not want anyone to discover the control or worse, control the king for themselves.
This is all genius, it would make sense the king is using magic for himself and is trying to do some sort of ritual. Perhaps a Efreeti was cursed and needs to constantly feed into the weave to stay in the material plane and when others try and use magic it weakens his connection. Thanks for y'alls input, it really helped me and your ideas are genius btw.
The king I want to be very powerful on his own, though I am open to "Whisper" BBEGs that would use the king like a pawn. I'm just trying to find a reason why a creature/person would want magic to be banned though, seeing as how most use magic to further their own power.
You ban magic, so that YOUR magic is the only magic in the land.
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Basically, my BBEG is a corrupt king who profits off a crime and cult ridden city/country and has for some reason banned the use of magic. He also has anyone who attempts to leave the city be executed. Personally I want to have the king be something more monstrous but not TOO crazy and I couldn't find any monsters that would fit the gist. My players haven't directly met him yet and don't know much beyond that he is the king. What monster would y'all make the king to where it's not too crazy and it just feels right.
He could be a beast similar to beauty and the beast.
He could be a Half-dragon, a half-ogre, an intelligent gazer that hovers where the head would be on a robotic body, a hobgoblin, orc, dragon that is stuck in a human form, efreet, shadar-kai, minotaur, formorian, duergar, medusa, skull lord, skeleton, or lamia.
This may be the opposite of what you are looking for, but he could have been a powerful creature that was transformed into the most horrific form imaginable, a chihuahua. He would still be intelligent and powerful, but he is trapped in the form of a chihuahua and won't allow anyone to see him. Maybe he sits on an enchanted throne that gives him the appearance of a powerful being but if he steps of the throne his true form is revealed.
These ideas are great and I especially like the efreeti idea. It mixes the perfect amount of being lawful evil and mysterious. Thx dude!
Is the King really the BBEG? Or is there somebody behind the throne providing some "sensible" advice to the King?
The king I want to be very powerful on his own, though I am open to "Whisper" BBEGs that would use the king like a pawn. I'm just trying to find a reason why a creature/person would want magic to be banned though, seeing as how most use magic to further their own power.
I also like the efreeti idea for a powerful [lawful] evil entity that would rule over this city/country. Alternately, I could also see some of the more powerful devil types filling this role very well. In fact, if you're wanting your king to be a pawn of something bigger, then a horned devil or ice devil might be a good option. That devil might be serving a higher ranking devil that has its own plans and agenda, such as a pit fiend. I'm not a fan of many 5e fiends not having some spellcasting abilities, but you can easily add some innate spells to help them out. For example, a disguise self spell to maintain its kingly appearance.
Borrowing from my idea and comments above, I could easily see an extraplanar creature (such as an efreeti or devil) banning the use of magic in their city/country. Without magic radily available, it's a lot harder to deal with their plots and machinations. Prevents others from being able to see through their illusions and disguises. Magic charms and suggestions aren't able to be dispeled. Fiendish entity cannot be banished back to their original plane.
And, just because the king bans their citizens from practiciing magic, doesn't mean that they aren't being hypocritical and using magic themselves. They're unlikely to display their use of magic, but they could certainly be casting spells behind closed doors to maintain their hold over their city/country.
This makes the most sense as an explanation to me as well. I can easily see the king to be power hungry. He is not just a king, he is also a powerful mage, but he does not want anyone (at least in the kingdom) to be more powerful than him and pose as a threat. If the magic is banned, others will not get better at it.
Maybe he discovered some really powerful spell (leading to immortality? or something more sinister like controlling others… like Imperio from Harry Potter or whatever Saruman used on Theoden) and he really wants to keep it for himself only. Though, if there is someone controlling the king, then maybe they are using magic to do so and do not want anyone to discover the control or worse, control the king for themselves.
This is all genius, it would make sense the king is using magic for himself and is trying to do some sort of ritual. Perhaps a Efreeti was cursed and needs to constantly feed into the weave to stay in the material plane and when others try and use magic it weakens his connection. Thanks for y'alls input, it really helped me and your ideas are genius btw.
You ban magic, so that YOUR magic is the only magic in the land.