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Jan van Leiden, The Mad King of Münster

Jan van Leiden 2
My Images (midjourney.com)
  • Alias: The Prophet King
  • Gender: Male
  • Race: Human
  • Occupation: Religious Leader, Self-Proclaimed King
  • Religion: Anabaptist Radical
  • Allies: Devoted Followers
  • Enemies: Oppressive Authorities, Critics of His Ideology
  • Abode/Base of Operations: The New Jerusalem (Münster during the Münster Rebellion)
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Languages: Dutch, German
  • Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  • Affiliation(s): Anabaptist Movement, Münster Rebellion
  • Significant Others: His 16 wives

Jan van Leiden is a radical Anabaptist leader who has risen to power in the city of Münster. Though coming from humble beginnings as the son of a bricklayer, Jan has quickly proven himself to be an eloquent speaker and an adept political strategist. After joining the Anabaptist movement and embracing their beliefs in adult baptism and the separation of church and state, Jan travels to Münster hoping that it will become the “New Jerusalem.” He effortlessly gathers disciples around him, swaying them with visions of a just, religious society. Once in Münster, Jan skillfully maneuvers himself into a position of authority, eventually proclaiming himself to be the king of the new Zion.

Ruthless in his quest to create a theocracy, Jan shares power with only a trusted inner circle and demands absolute loyalty from his followers. He leads with seemingly endless energy and maintains an aura of charisma around him that borders on hypnotic. However, beneath this exterior lies a man driven by past trauma – haunted by childhood poverty and surviving a harsh punitive system.

Jan desperately craves the power he was once deprived of. Though believing he ushers in holy righteousness, hints of megalomania reveal his motivation to be as much political as religious. Surrounded by loyal disciples who cling onto his every word, Jan becomes drunk on power and descends further into religious tyranny. He takes sixteen wives to show his dominance as king and readily resorts to gruesome violence to take out dissidents in an attempt to create his terrifying version of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Jan van Leiden
Jan van Leiden – AI Generated Artwork – NightCafe Creator

John of Leiden is a Dutch religious leader and revolutionary.

Jan van Leiden, Self-Proclaimed King of New Zion Medium humanoid (human), chaotic evil

Armor Class: 12 (15 with mage armor)
Hit Points: 71 (13d8 + 13)
Speed: 30ft.

STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
9 (-1)14 (+2)12 (+1)15 (+2)10 (+0)18 (+4)

Saving Throws: Wis +3, Cha +7 Skills: Deception +10, Intimidation +7, Persuasion +10, Religion +5 Senses: passive Perception 10 Languages: Common, Celestial Challenge: 6 (2,300 XP)

Spellcasting. Jan is a 9th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following spells prepared:

  • Cantrips (at will): friends, mage hand, message, sacred flame
  • 1st level (4 slots): command, detect evil and good, guiding bolt, shield of faith
  • 2nd level (3 slots): hold person, spiritual weapon
  • 3rd level (3 slots): crusader’s mantle, mass healing word
  • 4th level (3 slots): banishment, freedom of movement
  • 5th level (1 slot): flame strike

Turn Immunity. Jan and his allies within 30 feet of him cannot be turned or forced to flee by magic that turns undead.

Fanatic Followers. Jan has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of his allies is within 5 ft. of that creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Actions

Multiattack. Jan makes two melee spell attacks.

Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.

Scepter of Faith. Melee Spell Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage plus 4 (1d8) radiant damage. If the target is undead or a fiend, it takes an extra 7 (2d6) radiant damage.

Reactions

Shield of Faith (1/Day). Jan blesses a creature he can see within 60 feet of him, giving them a +2 bonus to AC until the end of their next turn.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20, Jan takes a lair action to cause one of the following:

  • Jan casts command without expending a spell slot
  • All allies of Jan within 60 ft. of him can make one weapon attack as a reaction.
  • Jan calls forward a spiritual weapon into an unoccupied space within 60 ft. of him which lasts until his next turn.

He moved to Münster, capital of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster, where he became an influential prophet, turned the city into a millenarian Anabaptist theocracy, and proclaimed himself King of New Jerusalem. The insurrection was suppressed in June 1535 after Prince-Bishop Franz von Waldeck besieged the city and captured John. John was tortured to death in the city’s central marketplace on 22 January 1536, along with Bernhard Knipperdolling and Bernhard Krechting.

Currently in the World

Jan van Leiden stands commanding before his followers, dressed extravagantly in a deep purple velvet robe with gold stitching around the wrists and neckline. An ostentatious golden crown rests atop his head, encrusted with gems that glitter in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. He holds an ornate scepter casually in his right hand as he addresses the room. His sharp facial features are framed by long dark brown hair that falls in waves past his shoulders, well-kempt for a holy man.

Though his five foot seven frame is relatively average in height, Jan carries himself with the dignity of someone far taller. Back straight and chin up, his hazel-green eyes blaze with fiery conviction. As Jan speaks, he uses sweeping gestures with his left hand, further drawing in the enraptured crowd gathered before him. The deep folds around his calculating eyes crinkle as his mouth twists into a clever smirk, enthused by his own oration on their sacred mission.

Behind him stands an honor guard of his most trusted men, clad in simple peasant smocks but wielding vicious swords and pikes without hesitation. The followers hang on Jan’s every emphatic word, ready to obey his every divine command to shape their humble town into the New Jerusalem.

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