#conspirator

(art by Nathascha Konieczka on Artstation)

I’ve said it several times when bringing up the Investigator class, but truly, along with the bard, it is an example of a class that is not limited to one particular aesthetic or methodology, especially when archetypes are involved. An investigator, after all, could indeed be a detective, or they could be a researcher, or simply a brilliant tactician or scholar.

They might even be criminals, if the mastermind archetype and today’s subject are any indication.

Today’s archetype centers around an investigator that prefers to hide their activities from others. Many are true to the archetype’s name and seek some dubious end that they have to keep hidden. However, others might have good intentions, but have to hide their methods and activities, either because of their moral questionability, or because those they strive against are constantly watching.

In any case, these investigators are constantly on the lookout, not only for a new angle for their own goals, but also to avoid the attention of their rivals and foes.

As one might expect, these investigators have learned to use their talents and inspiration for more underhanded skills than most other investigators, though they can spend some training to develop the more classical inspired skills. In addition, they are especially adept at appearing innocent or hiding their identity.

They say it’s only paranoia if nobody is actually out to get you, and conspirators have a knack for spotting observers, even magical ones, and have trained themselves to notice the telltale signs of even invisible magical sensors, making them very hard to spy upon.

A simple archetype, but one that gives the investigator a more roguish set of skills to use inspiration for free on, though they can get back some of their more traditional skill bonuses by sacrificing an investigator talent. Honestly you can build them much like any other investigator, though their keen perception will come in handy when secrecy is important. That being said, in some games the villains watching the heroes and anticipating them can often be part of the challenge, so discuss it with the GM first so that you don’t find yourself frustrated by having the gimmick you built your character around ignored in favor of GM fiat. And likewise, GMs should keep in mind when a party has a character with this archetype or similarly seeks to keep their actions secret, and be careful how they use fiat to determine how much the bad guys know. Not saying you can’t have the baddies anticipate the party’s moves, but be sure to find ways for the conspirator to get the drop on them with plays of their own.

When you’re trying to enact your goals in constant secrecy, it can be hard to find it in yourself to trust anyone. As such, many of these characters might struggle to open up to the party, or even include them in their plans. Over time, however, they may learn to open up to a select few.

For years, Ipak has tried to get back several sacred gnoll artifacts that are on display in a museum in human lands, but she has been vexed at every turn. No longer content to ask and petition, she has begun planning to get them back by any means, requiring her to act in utmost secrecy to do so.

When the water of river Manka turns blood red and is filled with a writhing, oily mass, many suspect some sort of curse. However, following a hidden trail of clues reveals that someone has chosen to poison the water with a blood algae swarm, and the culprit is someone that nobody suspects.

For generations, the Whitemark family has been plagued with mysterious misfortune that has steadily drained their fortunes and stained their reputation as many folks try to avoid contact with the “cursed” family. However, this malediction is no supernatural event, but rather, the cruel manipulations of a deathless doctor with a vendetta against the family.