- Theme: Exploitation of vulnerability, manipulation of belonging, and perversion of justice.
- Description:
- This villain is a powerful human who preys on those who feel lost, abandoned, or disconnected.
- They offer a twisted form of “belonging,” creating a macabre family or collection of souls, often by exploiting their deepest fears and desires.
- They have a strong connection to the occult, perhaps a rival to the mercenary’s “old faith,” or a dark perversion of it.
- Their view of justice is heavily skewed, believing that they are “saving” these lost souls from a cruel world by adding them to their collection.
- Motivation:
- A deep-seated fear of loneliness or abandonment, twisted into a need to control and possess others.
- A belief that they are providing a service to the lost, offering them a “true” home and purpose.
- A desire to prove their superiority over the “old faith” by corrupting its principles.
- Connection to the Characters:
- The Puppet:
- The Collector could offer the puppet the “ultimate” form of belonging, a place where it will never be abandoned.
- They might manipulate the puppet’s fear, promising it a permanent place in their “family” in exchange for its service.
- The puppet could be a target for the villain, who wants to add the puppet to his collection of unique souls.
- The Occultist Mercenary:
- The Collector could represent a dark reflection of the old faith, corrupting its power for their own selfish ends.
- They might be seen as an abomination by the mercenary, a perversion of the sacred.
- The villain could be gathering souls to use in a large ritual that the mercenary must stop.
- The villain could have once been a member of the old faith, that has turned away from its teachings.
- Abilities and Threat:
- Powerful occult magic, capable of manipulating souls and creating illusions.
- The ability to sense and exploit the emotional vulnerabilities of others.
- A network of manipulated followers, acting as their eyes and ears.
- They might use puppets of their own, that are made from the souls of their victims.
- Philosophy:
- “The world abandons those who are weak and alone. I offer them true belonging, a place where they will never be forgotten.”
- “Justice is not about fairness, it is about providing a home for the lost.”
- “The old ways are weak, and outdated. I am the new faith.”
Why This Works:
- It directly addresses the characters’ core themes.
- It creates a personal conflict for both characters.
- It allows for a morally complex villain with a twisted sense of justification.
- It allows for the usage of puppets in the fight against the villain.
This villain can be adapted to fit your specific world and story, but the core concept of exploiting vulnerability and manipulating belonging should provide a strong foundation.
Misfits, outsiders, orphans - Collector building an army of these people Reaching the CORE is their goal - in search of rare treasure
Blindly following - promise of better life Current army of 10k - not sure exactly the scale of