What are your best villains you've created?

Hey guys! My brother wants to design a dnd campaign, and he asked me to come up with some villain ideas. I actually really struggled with it... so I was wondering, what compelling or chilling villains have you managed to come up with? What actually makes a villain impactful or sympathetic?

I did manage to come up with a few vague villain ideas, I'm kinda sad he'll only be using 1 of them lol, so I thought I might just dump the others here in case anyone else could find a use for them!

1. Faravin, the Dragon Prince

• Backstory: One of seven heirs to the dragon empire, Faravin seeks to distinguish himself from his siblings. Dragon society, viewing the humanoid races as inconsequential, has remained aloof from their world's affairs for millennia. Faravin is different, however. With the arrogance of his kind and the desire to prove himself, Faravin ventured into the humanoid realms, expecting to find primitive societies ripe for domination. Upon discovering the complex civilisations that had flourished in the dragons' absence, Faravin was shocked, but he quickly adapted his strategy. He decided to forge a kingdom in the humanoid realms by uniting the lands under his rule, through the draconic custom of marriage alliances with the current rulers - albeit by force.
• Philosophy: Views humanoids as beneath dragons but worthy of being united under his rule through draconic customs, if only to secure his own power and superiority. Misinterprets forceful dominance for honourable leadership.
• Strategy: Abducts royals to create alliances through marriage, misinterpreting the human concept of marriage and dominance.
  • Kidnapping Royal Heirs: Targets heirs from all major races and kingdoms to weaken political structures. He 'acquires' many many humanoid 'fiances' in his lair.
  • May assassinate existing monarchs to destabilise kingdoms and demonstrate power.
  • Uses displays of draconic might to quell resistance and instil fear.
  • Arranges luxurious galas and offers lavish gifts to 'entertain' and win over his captive 'fiances'.

2. Tharivol the Devout

• Backstory: Tharivol was once a revered high priest of a well-known and widely loved deity of generosity and fertility, Elyssana. Known for his zeal and deep faith, he began to view the offerings of the faithful - fruits, grains, and trinkets - as insufficient gestures of devotion. In a misguided attempt to present the ultimate tribute to Elyssana, Tharivol offered his own child in sacrifice, believing this act would elevate him to the highest echelons of piety. However, his action was met with horror and revulsion. The god Elyssana, whose teachings promote life and growth, not death, disavowed Tharivol, and the religious community excommunicated him. Shunned and unable to comprehend the rejection, Tharivol's faith twisted into something dark and unrecognizable. He concluded that his offering was simply not grand enough. Now, Tharivol has become obsessed with capturing the entirety of the world within a bag of holding a gifting it to his goddess—an offering that he believes will finally earn him redemption and reward from his god.
• Philosophy: Believes that presenting the ultimate gift (the world in a bag) will restore his favour with his goddess. Believes that all others are below him, akin to savage beasts or heretics. No one can match is piety.
• Strategy: Steals significant parts of the world, like landmarks and famous artefacts and even influential people, aiming to contain them all in his bag of holding.

3. Valthorius the Historian

• Backstory: Once a devoted scholar and loving partner, Valthorius sought to defy the natural order when his beloved succumbed to an incurable illness. His quest for forbidden knowledge to resurrect her angered of the god of the dead, who cursed Valthorius with immortality, warping him into a lich as punishment for his hubris. Initially, Valthorius tried to maintain his former life, but the world recoiled from his monstrous form. Rejected and alone, he retreated to the shadows, becoming an observer and passive historian. Centuries passed as he chronicled the rise and fall of empires, his heart growing colder with each year. Eventually, the isolation became unbearable. Valthorius's mind broke under the weight of endless solitude. He began to see the undead he could summon not as tools or minions, but as potential companions. In his deranged state, Valthorius started to 'collect' friends by turning the living into the undead, hoping to finally end his eternal loneliness.
• Philosophy: Valthorius has embarked on a macabre quest to fabricate the companionship he craves. He deludes himself into believing that his acts of murder and reanimation are merciful, providing his 'friends' liberation from the burdens of life and the allure of eternal presence by his side.
• Strategy: Creates macabre scenes with undead, leaves clues to lure adventurers, hoping to turn them into undead friends.
  • Valthorius meticulously scripts his encounters with the living, crafting clues and scenarios to guide potential companions to his lair.
    • For example, he may present 'gifts' to those he wishes to befriend, such as the corpse of an acquaintance they briefly argued with the other day, complete with an attached note signed "Your pal, Val"
  • He revels in the attention his antics garner from adventurers, seeing them as especially worthy candidates for his circle of undead companions. Should adventurers engage with him, they become characters in Valthorius's twisted narrative. Valthorius records the adventurers' exploits with unnerving detail, fantasizing about their eventual roles in his undead tableau.
  • He orchestrates elaborate scenes, such as the ghoulish tea parties, to welcome potential 'friends' who visit and to express his deranged form of hospitality.
    • If visitors reject his tea party and his other offers of friendship, his desperation manifests in violence, rationalizing that if individuals cannot willingly accept his 'friendship', he will force it upon them after murdering the,.

4. Jinya, the Soul-Stealing Succubus

• Backstory: With every crooked deal struck, Jinya captures a soul, inscribed onto a soul coin that joins the myriad others adorning her gown. Her endgame is to accumulate enough souls to rival the archdemons, believing that with a sufficient collection, she can ascend to rule her own infernal dominion. She entices rulers and heroes alike with her bargains, promising them their greatest wish in exchange for their submission to her. While she does 'grant' their wishes, she takes a cruel satisfaction in deliberately warping the requests of her victims. To her demonic brethren, Jinya's aspirations seem laughable, succubi being seen as weak, lesser demons. But with every soul that becomes part of her armour, she is gaining power.
• Philosophy: Jinya views her transactions as a twisted form of natural selection, rationalising that those foolish enough to strike a deal with a demon are unworthy and their souls deserve to be harvested. To her, each soul collected is a testament to her superiority and a step towards her grand ambition. She avoids the more carnal methods of her succubus sisters, choosing instead to entice her victims with the lure of their deepest aspirations. Jinya regards this approach as a purer form of seduction, one that ensnares the essence of a being rather than just their senses.
• Strategy: Offers deals that seem too good to be true, collecting souls through contracts. She aims to amass enough power to ascend in the demonic hierarchy.
  • Army of Souls: The soul coins that make up Jinya's armour are more than mere trophies, each coin is a soldier waiting to be called upon, an eternal conscript in her growing army. With her soldiers, Jinya aims to stage a coup that will shake the foundations of the demonic hierarchy, forcing even the mightiest archdemons to acknowledge her.
  • Tarquin, The Immortal Ferret: Among Jinya's collected souls is Tarquin, once a warrior of great renown who sought immortality. Jinya granted his wish, not with eternal life but with eternal servitude, transforming him into a ferret. Tarquin is her confidant and her plaything; she converses with him, revealing plans and insecurities in moments of vulnerability. Yet, his immortality is a cruel joke. Whenever Tarquin displeases her or fails in a task, she kills him without hesitation (often brutality), before resurrecting him, keeping him trapped in a morbid cycle of death and resurrection.
• Appearance: Stunningly beautiful, with a regal demeanour. She has pink skin, horns and wings. Her armoured gown, woven from the shimmering soul coins she has collected, clinks softly as she moves. Her ferret, Tarquin, can often be seen coiling about her neck or entwined amongst her long, delicate fingers.

WOW, that was longer than I expected! If anyone read any of my ideas, I really appreciate it - thank you! :) Some are very basic, I know... but they were fun to come up with! Lol. I'm excited to hear the villain ideas of others and to better learn how to come up with properly evil villains!