The Aethervale

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npc

Commander Vane

Commander Vane
Commander Vane
Medium humanoid (human), True Neutral
Reveal Stat Block
Armor Class
19 (Half-Plate + 2)
Hit Points
165 (22d8 + 66)
Speed
30 ft.
str
18
+4
dex
16
+3
con
16
+3
int
10
+0
wis
14
+2
cha
16
+3

Traits

Eternal Guardian.Vane regains 10 hit points at the start of his turn if he has at least 1 hit point. If he dies, his body dissolves into obsidian dust and reforms in a safe location after 24 hours.
Legendary Resistance (2/Day).If Vane fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Actions

Multiattack.Vane makes three attacks with his Obsidian Greatsword.
Obsidian Greatsword.Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) force damage.
Leadership (Recharge 5-6).For 1 minute, Vane can utter a special command or warning whenever a nonhostile creature that it can see within 30 feet of it makes an attack roll or a saving throw. The creature can add a d4 to its roll provided it can hear and understand Vane. A creature can benefit from only one Leadership die at a time. This effect ends if Vane is incapacitated.

NPC Profile: Commander Vane

Role: Leader of The Crimson Company Location: Fortunes Lake Town, Western Continent (and wherever the highest bidder is) Status: Immortal (Cursed)

Appearance

Commander Vane appears as a man in his early 40s, with a weathered face, piercing blue eyes, and a mop of dark hair streaked with prematurely white hair at the temples. He has a lean, athletic build and bears numerous scars from centuries of combat. His most striking feature is a large, jagged obsidian-like scar over his heart—the result of the curse that granted him immortality. He typically wears a blend of traditional plate armor and modern, anti-magic gear.

Personality

Vane is a man of dry wit, cynical pragmatism, and immense tactical genius. Having lived through centuries of war, he has seen the best and worst of humanity. He is weary of the world's endless cycles of conflict but finds himself unable to step away from the only life he's ever known. He is a man of his word, but his loyalty is always to his company and his own survival.

Goals and Motivations

  • Survival of The Crimson Company: The Company is Vane's only family. He ensures they remain the most elite and sought-after mercenary group in Aethervale.
  • Breaking the Curse: Vane secretly seeks a way to end his immortality. He longs for a final, peaceful death, but his curse prevents him from dying even from the most grievous wounds.
  • The Long Vigil: He keeps a close eye on the world's power players, occasionally intervening to prevent any one faction from gaining enough power to trigger another "Age of Ruin."

Secret

The "curse" that granted Vane immortality was not a random act of a dying mage during the War of Sunder. It was a deliberate experiment by Aurelius the Golden, who wanted to see if a human soul could be anchored to the material plane indefinitely to serve as a perpetual balance-keeper. Vane is starting to suspect this and is searching for evidence of the dragon's interference.

Relationship with Other Factions

  • Kigum: He has a complex relationship with the city he helped save. He respects their academy but finds their politics nauseating.
  • Steamfort: He views their technology with a mix of fascination and dread, recognizing its potential for both greatness and destruction.
  • Aurelius the Golden: Vane treats the "High Chancellor" with a cautious, almost instinctive suspicion, sensing the ancient power behind the man's facade.