The Fifty Worlds: NPCs

Pamina

Pamina is a priestess of the Orphic Cult. Pamina it is an adventuring pseudonym, taken from The Magic Flute. About fifteen years ago, there was a very popular production of The Magic Flute in Atlantis, as a consequence of which, rather a lot of female adventurers call themselves Pamina.

In Qwanet, this particular Pamina is known as "Pamina Engelosembais" (the adjectival nickname is not complementary, so I won't translate it).

[AD&D-Specific:] Pamina, half-elf female, Str 15 Dex 17 Con 13 Int 17 Wis 16 Cha 18 Align NG Hp 49. Height: 5'11", weight 147 lb. Age: Late twenties. Mythos Priestess, level 15. Bard, level 17.

If you do not have anything specific prepared for the Orphic Cult, assume that they are priests of Music and Dance (as in the Clerics' Handbook) and cannot cast clerical spells of 6th level or higher. The Bards' Handbook specifically allows half-elven True Bards to be dual-classed Cleric/Bards.

Pamina is a pacifist and a vegetarian (she would be a vegan if this were practical). Pamina will never intentionally cause physical damage to a living intelligent being, and she will go out of her way to stop others doing so.

The historical Orphic Cult were also pacifist and vegetarian. They were also celibate and chaste. I think it reasonable to assume that this last requirement will have been dropped. Cults which require chastity of their members do not, as a rule, last all that long. The Shakers, another song-and-dance cult, lasted longer than most, but when was the last time you met a Shaker? So Pamina, although celibate, is most definitely not chaste. (These are technical terms, and you might want to consult the Clerics' Handbook to make sure you understand them correctly.)

Pamina has the Glibness, Keen Hearing and Music/Singing traits, and several levels of singing proficiency. Pamina's singing voice is breathtakingly beautiful.

Pamina's granted charm/fascination power requires her to sing. When used, it can be used against a number of targets totalling up to 30 HD. It can be used three times a day, but cannot be used in combat. To avoid it, targets must make both a saving throw vs enchantment magic and a wisdom/intuition check.

Pamina's character flaws are that she is mercenary and that she is exceedingly self-centred. Since she knows how to be subtle, the latter flaw usually only shows up when she encounters other women with attractive singing voices. She is, after all, a prima donna.

She is also a high priestess, and openly out to convert the rest of the universe to her faith. Everyone should sing and dance, and everyone should be pacifist and vegetarian, and she actively seeks to convince unbelievers of this.

Pamina does not truly believe in the concept of property. The sacred scriptures of the Orphic Cult do not include anything on property rights. She certainly does not believe in the concept of other people's property. If someone does not take care of his property, he does not deserve to keep it.

Pamina carries a +5 defender longsword, and knows how to use it. Against unintelligent monsters and undead, she uses its full powers proficiently. However, her combat speciality is parrying; in melee against living, intelligent beings, she will only ever parry, never strike, and she will make use of her sword's defensive capabilities.

Pamina wears or carries several other magical items appropriate to her level, including a robe of scintillating colours, two ropes of entanglement and eyes of charming. Her other magical items will, similarly, be ones which restrain rather than cause damage.

Pamina owns a magical xylophone. When this is played, anyone hearing the music (except the player) must save vs enchantment magic or dance until the music stops. Although in principle portable, it is rather cumbersome to carry around, so she does not always have it with her.

If Pamina wills it, the touch of her holy symbol causes Otto's Irresistible Dance. In melee, she normally carries this in her second hand and uses it as a second weapon. She is not ambidextrous, so her "to hit" probability is reduced.

As a half-elf, Pamina has these abilities: less sleep, resistance and stealth.


Pamina is usually on good terms with Sabrina.

Pamina is actively heterosexual; her numerous lovers include Aurelius and Vladimir.

Pamina and Tanleigh Dyrrant dislike one another intensely (Tanleigh is a prima donna too!), but would co-operate if anything threatened their mutual friends.


Note for DMs:

If the player characters need some healing done for standard fees, no questions asked, Pamina will do it.

However, Pamina's main function in the campaign is for adventure hooks.

Firstly, there are a lot of female adventurers using the same name. Sooner or later, the player characters will walk into a tavern expecting to meet this Pamina, only to encounter one of the others instead. With any luck, they might even end up here.

Secondly, there is an adventure hook starting in the Red Circles District of Qwanet in which Pamina is a central character.


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