Lorenzo de’ Medici — The Magnificent
Florence · Statesman · Banker · Patron · Mogul of Dispater
Lorenzo de’ Medici is the dominant political patron of Florence, a banker-statesman who turns credit, art, diplomacy and personal loyalty into power. He is generous when generosity strengthens Florence or his network, ruthless when a rival threatens either, and always alert to the price attached to a favour.
At a Glance
| Home | Florence |
|---|---|
| Role | De facto ruler, banker, diplomat and patron |
| Campaign alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Class path | Rogue 10 / Mogul of Dispater 12 |
| Patron | Dispater |
| Strengths | Diplomacy, banking, leverage, intelligence networks, patronage and long-term planning |
| Weakness | Every alliance creates another obligation, and infernal patronage always carries a claim of its own |
Explore: Florence · Italy · Italian NPCs · Niccolò Machiavelli · Leonardo da Vinci
Game Statistics
Lorenzo de’ Medici — D&D 5.5e
Lorenzo de’ Medici
Medium Humanoid (Human), Lawful Evil
AC 19 · HP 238 (28d8 + 112) · Speed 30 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 (−1) | 18 (+4) | 18 (+4) | 20 (+5) | 18 (+4) | 24 (+7) |
Saving Throws Dex +10, Wis +10, Cha +13 · Skills Deception +19, History +11, Insight +16, Investigation +11, Persuasion +19, Sleight of Hand +10
Senses Passive Perception 14 · Languages Italian, Latin, French, infernal court cant; telepathy 60 ft. with creatures bound by one of his contracts
CR 18 (PB +6)
Traits
Master of Florence. Lorenzo has Advantage on Charisma checks involving Florentine officials, bankers, guilds, artists, household retainers or anyone who owes the Medici bank money.
Insider Trading. Lorenzo can cast Detect Thoughts at will (spell save DC 21) without components. A creature that succeeds on its save is immune to this use for 24 hours.
Mind of Steel. Lorenzo has Advantage on saving throws against Charmed and Frightened, and magic cannot read his thoughts unless he allows it.
Infernal Contract. Once per turn when Lorenzo succeeds on a Deception, Persuasion or Insight check against a creature that has willingly accepted money, protection or a formal favour from him, he can mark that creature until the next dawn. Lorenzo has Advantage on attacks and ability checks against a marked creature, and that creature has Disadvantage on its first saving throw against one of Lorenzo’s abilities.
Actions
Luck Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) Piercing plus 21 (6d6) Psychic damage if Lorenzo has Advantage on the attack.
Hostile Takeover (Recharge 5–6). One creature Lorenzo can see within 60 feet that is marked by Infernal Contract must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or become Charmed for 1 minute. While Charmed, it treats Lorenzo’s spoken commands as if under Geas. The creature repeats the save whenever it takes damage.
Pull the Strings (2/Day). Up to three creatures Lorenzo can see within 60 feet must make a DC 21 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, Lorenzo chooses whether the creature immediately moves up to its speed, drops one held object, or uses its Reaction to make one weapon attack against a target Lorenzo names.
Bonus Actions
Call in a Favour. One allied creature within 60 feet may move up to half its speed and make one ability check or weapon attack.
Reactions
Not Without Consequence. When a creature Lorenzo can see targets him with an attack or hostile spell, he imposes Disadvantage on the roll if that creature has previously accepted a favour, payment or safe conduct from him.
Legendary Actions
- Measured Step. Lorenzo moves up to half his speed without provoking Opportunity Attacks.
- Read the Room. Lorenzo makes an Insight or Perception check.
- Buy the Moment (Costs 2). One ally within 60 feet immediately takes the Dodge action or moves up to its speed.
- Infernal Leverage (Costs 3). One marked creature within 60 feet must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom save or be Charmed until the end of its next turn.
Lorenzo de’ Medici — Pathfinder 1e
Lorenzo de’ Medici CR 18
Male human rogue 10 / infernal mogul 8; LE Medium humanoid (human)
Init +8; Senses Perception +28
AC 34, touch 19, flat-footed 29; hp 230
Fort +15, Ref +23, Will +20; SR 29
Speed 30 ft.
Melee luck blade +23/+18/+13 (1d6+5/19–20 plus 5d6 sneak attack)
Special Attacks sneak attack +5d6, hostile takeover, insider trading, pull the strings 2/day
Special Qualities evasion, improved uncanny dodge, mind of steel, trapfinding +5, uncanny dodge
Abilities Str 9, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 20, Wis 18, Cha 24
Skills Appraise +28, Bluff +38, Diplomacy +40, Disguise +30, Knowledge (local) +28, Knowledge (nobility) +28, Perception +28, Sense Motive +32, Sleight of Hand +25, Use Magic Device +30
Hostile Takeover (Su). Twice per day, Lorenzo may target a creature that has failed a saving throw against Insider Trading. The target must succeed on a DC 26 Will save or be affected as Dominate Person for 18 rounds.
Insider Trading (Su). At will, Lorenzo may use Detect Thoughts as a spell-like ability, CL 18th, Will DC 23.
Pull the Strings (Sp). Twice per day, Lorenzo may affect a creature already influenced by Insider Trading as Geas/Quest, Will DC 26.
Lorenzo de’ Medici — D&D 3.5e
| Lorenzo de’ Medici “the Magnificent” | |
| Rogue 10, Mogul of Dispater 12 | |
| Medium Humanoid (Sapien) | |
| Hit Dice | 22d6+52 (131 hp) |
| Initiative | -1 (-1 Dexterity) |
| Speed | 30 ft. (6 squares) |
| Armor Class | 27 (-1 Dexterity, +8 armor, +5 deflection, +5 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 27 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +15/+14 |
| Attack | luck blade +16 melee (1d6+2/19-20); or +1 dagger +15 melee or +15 ranged (1d4+1/19-20) |
| Full Attack | luck blade +16/+11/+6 melee (1d6+2/19-20); or +1 dagger +15/+10/+5 melee or +15 ranged (1d4+1/19-20) |
| Space/Reach | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Corporate bid, economics of extortion 2/day, hostile takeover, insider trading at will, pull the strings 2/day, sneak attack +5d6 |
| Special Qualities | Enterprising +6, evasion, improved uncanny dodge, member of the board, resistance to acid 30, cold 30, electricity 30, fire 30, and sonic 30, skill mastery (Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot), Spell Resistance 21, trapfinding, trap sense +3, mind of steel, uncanny dodge |
| Saves | Fort +12, Ref +19, Will +21 (+33 against mind-influencing effects) |
| Abilities | Strength 9, Dexterity 9, Constitution 11, Intelligence 17, Wisdom 18, Charisma 18 |
| Skills | Appraise +28, Bluff +39, Decipher Script +23, Diplomacy +43, Disguise +30 (+34 when acting in character), Forgery +30, Gather Information +21 (+23 locally), Intimidate +31, Knowledge (local) +23, Listen +24, Sense Motive +27, Sleight of Hand +10, Spot +24, Use Magic Device +24 |
| Feats | Deceitful, Devotee of Darkness (Dispater), Impostor, Improved Toughness, Iron Will, Leadership (26), Negotiator, Persuasive |
| Epic Feats | Epic Toughness |
| Environment | Any land or underground |
| Organization | Solitary (unique) |
| Challenge Rating | 22 |
| Treasure | 1155 gp, +1 dagger, amulet of natural armor +5, belt pouch (with 100 sp), bracers of armor +8, cloak of resistance +5, courtier’s outfit, jewelry (50 gp), luck blade (with 3 wishes), mantle of Spell Resistance, ring of greater universal energy resistance, ring of protection +5, waterskin |
| Alignment | Lawful evil |
What Is Lorenzo Doing Right Now?
Holding Florence together
Lorenzo is balancing guild interests, banking obligations, artistic patronage and rival families without allowing any one faction to become strong enough to challenge him openly.
Buying influence abroad
Letters of credit, marriages, gifts and private envoys extend Medici influence beyond Florence. A promise made in Venice, Milan, Rome or Naples may already have consequences before the official envoy arrives.
Feeding the workshop network
Artists, architects, engineers and inventors receive money and access in return for work that enhances Florentine prestige. Lorenzo is particularly interested in devices, coded designs and discoveries that rivals cannot easily copy.
Managing Dispater’s claim
Lorenzo treats infernal power as another contract to be negotiated. The problem is that Dispater does the same. Every favour accepted from the Iron City risks becoming leverage in a later bargain.
Relationships
- Leonardo da Vinci: valued for invention, observation and the ability to solve problems nobody has yet described correctly.
- Michelangelo: a difficult genius worth protecting because his work can make Medici ambition visible for generations.
- Niccolò Machiavelli: useful whenever Florence needs someone to understand what rival states will actually do rather than what they publicly claim.
- Rodrigo Borgia: an ally, rival and indispensable source of sacred-legal power whose price is rarely limited to coin.
- Dispater: Lorenzo’s most dangerous patron because the relationship mirrors Lorenzo’s own method: contracts, patience and pressure applied at exactly the right moment.
Adventure Pressure
- The impossible loan: a city Lorenzo saved with emergency credit refuses repayment after discovering one clause was written in Infernal.
- The stolen design: a workshop prototype disappears before Lorenzo’s envoys can inspect it, and three rival courts already know what it does.
- The family marriage: a political union would stabilise Florence but fulfil part of an older infernal bargain nobody in the family remembers signing.
- The missing ledger: one Medici book records mundane debts; its paired volume records favours owed by spirits, devils and dead patrons.
Equipment and Resources
Lorenzo carries a luck blade, court weapons, protective magic and documents that are often more dangerous than any sword. His true equipment is institutional: the Medici bank, trusted messengers, household guards, artists, lawyers, spies, debtors and patrons across the Italian states.
Corporate Bid (Su): Lorenzo can make a suggestion (DC 25) to every creature that fails its save against insider trading, to a maximum of 12 creatures per day.
Devotee of Darkness: Once per day, Lorenzo can call upon the aid of Dispater, granting him a +3 profane bonus to any one roll. Against chaotic or good foes, Lorenzo gains a +1 profane bonus to Armor Class, and once per day can gain a +2 profane bonus on saving throws against a spell with the chaotic or good descriptor. He also gains Spell Resistance 22 against chaotic and good spells and spell-like abilities.
Whenever dealing with a higher-ranking servant of Dispater (or the Lord of the Iron Tower himself), Lorenzo takes a –2 penalty on attacks, checks, and other rolls, a – 3 penalty to Armor Class, and a -6 penalty to saving throws. In addition, no Spell Resistance Lorenzo obtains is ever effective against such creatures.
Economics of Extortion (Su): 2/day, Lorenzo can generate greater profit from his interactions with others. He can increase the save DC on insider trading or pull the strings by +3. Alternatively, he can triple the duration of all uses for insider trading for the day.
Enterprising (Ex): Lorenzo knows how to conduct business in a way that suits his purposes. He has gained a +6 bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive checks.
Hostile Takeover (Su): 1/day, Lorenzo can use dominate monster (DC 25) on any creature that has failed its save against his insider trading ability. Caster level 22nd.
Insider Trading (Su): At will, Lorenzo can use detect thoughts in a 90 foot radius emanation (DC 25). The emanation can either be centered on himself or upon any creature under the effects of pull the strings or hostile takeover (so long as said creature is on the same plane as Lorenzo). Insider trading can only be used in one location at any one time, regardless of where the effect is centered.
Spell Resistance does not apply, and the ability lasts for up to 22 rounds. Lorenzo doesn’t have to concentrate to maintain the effect, but it still takes three rounds to pick up surface thoughts; new creatures entering the effect must save or also be affected, but once a creature successfully saves against the effect, he is immune to it for 24 hours.
Member of the Board (Su): Lorenzo is one of the most trusted servants of Dispater. As a Member of his Board he becomes immune to all mind-influencing effects as per the mind blank spell; this immunity does not extend to mind-influencing effects originating from Dispater and his higher-ranking servants.
Mind of Steel (Ex): Lorenzo gains a +12 bonus on all saves against mind-influencing effects.
Pull the Strings (Sp): 2/day, any creature that has failed its save against insider trading can be affected by pull the strings if it fails another Will save (DC 26). An affected creature is under the effects of a geas, as determined by Lorenzo. Caster level 22nd.
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