Midnight RPG - Captain Willis speaks with Durgaz

Captain Wilis Lerpanti

Erenlander (Fighter 6) [ARMS: Longsword, Small Shield, Studded Leather]

Captain of Battle Group C: 13/14 men, 12 Erenlanders (Fighter 3) [ARMS: Longsword, Small Shield, Studded Leather]

Following the meeting for the choosing of First-Hold's new primary captain, outside on the top of the steps of the moothall among the stars Captain Wilis comes up behind Durgaz... He doesn't reach out, nor comfort you in friendship as the large Sarcosan (Khalim) did on Bildgewater among the Cobron Isles that night. Captain Wilis addresses Durgaz with respect but much less jovialness. These men, here have shed blood together. There is, there should be, a communal understanding between them. But while the respect of command is still given. So too is advice...

No disrespect Captain. You misjudged me in the moothall. I offer an olive branch if that miscommunication would halt the interest you had in how I might suggest you lead men...

Only a cynical man would call what these people have "lives," Captain.
Fear, despair... this is not how man was supposed to live.
The Enemy in the North needs a check and balance against human corruption, against the unbridled rage of bred in Shadow Minions, we have needed it for over one hundred years. With combined might of men, elf and dwarf - we sacked the Corpse God twice... every time the Shadow reached its pinnacle of decadence, we returned it into the Scar, we restored the balance. The Enemy learned from those defeats, the twisting of men's minds and souls... the lose of innocence, the lose of compassion, the lose of hope have made a breeding ground for suffering and injustice.

My Captain, you've never learned to mind your surroundings!
For as much as you want, you will never lead your race out of darkness without these men, or elves or dwarves or any race who wish to live free at your side. Your anger outweighs your compassion. That's what I've tried to offer you. You asked and I answered. A leader of man is more than just a man lost in the scramble for his own gratification or need to repay old debts. If the man continues in that way, he can be destroyed, or locked up. But if you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can't stop you, you become something else entirely. Which is...? Which is... Legend, Captain My Captain...

Before Lord Ghulvenne's council meeting, you spoke to me as a man concerned with how to better himself. Yet, when confronted in the safety of our general's council you lashed out as if we'd never spoken. You asked for my council and I gave it. For every inch of my blood and mind telling me that you are Orc, and that I should rail against your wishes - I offered my help at your request. And in a moment of contention - I noted, there in the moot hall, that you are NOT of the breed of Orc I know... You immediately assumed this a threat. It was not. You immediately sought to enforce the challenge of might makes right. That my Captain is the rally of Orc OR Sarcosan ...he jokingly smirks for the first time... This is not the surrounding of that nature. Had you allowed me to finish in the moot hall, you would have heard that my words were compliment to your strength. It is true - you are unlike no other Orc mankind has known. You are legend. As legend, as a symbol you can be incorruptible, everlasting...

Are you so desperate to fight that you hold your legend back so that you can only take them on one at a time?

The men have talked... I know some of the history here... Your brother's death was not your fault Captain Durgaz.
It was his fate, it was destiny. It was your legend being birthed.
Anger does not change the fact that your brother failed to believe.
Even so, when you have failed in your own belief, has that have stopped you?
Your breeding, your training is nothing! The will is everything! The will to act as no ORC has before...

You've traveled the world... Now you must journey inwards... to what you really fear... it's inside you... there is no turning back. What crimes you committed before, they were not your fault. You must become more than just another Orc in the mind of your opponent. If you make yourself more than just a man or Orc, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something else entirely.

Your lack of compassion is a weakness your enemies use. It is compassion and belief that men follow. But I know, but YOU know - it is only the rage that drives you now. That impossible anger strangling the grief, until the memory of your loved ones and those that you have put down or failed is just... just a poison in your veins. And one day, if that does not change, you will catch yourself wishing the people you fight for never existed so you'll be spared your pain. Your anger gives you great power. But if you let it, it will destroy you. As it has the spirit of mankind.

That anger you have is not complicated, it gives you great power. You have learned to bury your fear with anger.
I offer you another way, a way for you to confront it, and face the truth. You know how to engage men, you know how to fight men. You know how to kill armies. You proved that just days ago here on this rock. But Captain, to turn the tide, to break the Shadow's final embrace for the third and final time, to lead men - you must learn to engage men in a new way.
You know how to disappear and rage.
To lead men, no matter the race, to find the means to fight injustice, to turn fear against those who would prey on the fearful - What you need to see is that what you really fear is inside yourself. You fear your own power. You fear your own anger, the drive to do great and terrible things.

Death does not wait for you to be ready! Death is not considerate, or fair! And make no mistake: here, in this fight, you face Death.

Ask yourself, now that you have lived among humanity, have you started to pity them?
The Shadow prays on orc and men to thrive on the indulgence of society's pity and the unabashed disgust for the weakest of mankind. But even those men and orc fear most what they cannot see. Even a god fears the unknown. You are unknown to man. You are unknown to orc.

What is it you seek when you ask a question of me Durgaz?

Do you seek an answer less complicated? Black and white?
Because the world of mankind is not so cut and dry. In the world of man, you face men that will promise you loyalty one day and lie to your face the next. But know Captain, that not all men are of that nature. And, unlike "NORMAL Orcs" Captain, it is the strength of man that he can change that nature. You have become as man in that regard - whether you like or have disgust for it. I fear for you my Captain. If you cannot separate yourself from your own nature of hate, pity and disgust for mankind, you are destined to fail in your task. If you don't find another way you will fall as many men and elf and dwarf and as many legends have before.

So you must ask yourself Captain, why is it you sought my council?
I cannot tell you that I have all the answers. Before this week, I never thought it would be possible to do what WE have done here. I never dreamed my woman would become my wife in the open sun on this hill... but Captain, don't think of me as an idiot... Or a lesser. Even if a man is not your equal in combat, might being right is not the way men respond to most. Men respond to hope and dreams. Men respond to legend. And so will Shadow.

We can't always choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we handle them. Are you ready to begin?

...looking out across the new town-ship of First-Hold, the Captain grips his sword belt pulling his leathers and tunic taunt, straitening the wrinkles - at the same time flicking flecks of the late night's chill off. He looks to the stars then back down and with a deep breath he makes an offer.

Captain. You've spoken of the nature of orc, I've seen it. ...he glances to his left slightly looking at Captain Durgaz as the 'men' stand on the moothall walk looming over First-Hold...
Captain. I offer you this. The orc. Your 'men', need to see it for themselves - they need to know that fire burns in the hearts and lungs of man just as it does orc. The battlefield here in the last days was a poor example, as they've seen dozens of times - these men... these women... these 'children' of First-Hold fought them. Fought the orc legion because their was no choice. They fought to survive. You've shown me, this is not the mind of an orc. They do not fight to survive, they survive to fight. Let us take that to them. Let us take man to them and show the mettle that beats beneath my kind's chests. Were an orc to see a human hold off four better-armed men by himself at his CHOICE, that orc... those orc might begin to rethink his belief that all humans are weak.

I suggest we go to your 'Black Mask' and challenge them for the right to fight alongside them. Then perhaps we can sit at the same table, then perhaps we can begin your and the necromancer's 'new' ideas. The new way can only come if the old way leads to it, can it not?

... muttering to himself before continuing... Sara would kill me were she to know I... ... Captain, bring me to the camp. I will stand against four of your legion alone. I will fight at my choice. I will show them that men too can have a heart and love for the more martial things, in life or death... And by the 'High King' we will have fellowship!

What do you say Captain?

OUT OF GAME

The idea here is IF you think this is a good idea, we'll take Captain Wilis and update his stats and begin the game with you taking him into this scene (with the other PCs to watch if they want). Then YOU will play (battle and role-play based on how I've played him in bluebook and in-game) Captain Wilis in the battle with 4 orc (that I stat up) of the Black Mask unit. One for me and each other player!! The battle will go and the 'winner' will be determined as will the outcome of how the orc choose to see this battle and the will of a human...

I think this would be a fun opening and a poinient opening for the game. Plus YOU would get to battle orcs for the first time in the body of your normal opposition (a human). I'd allow YOU to create Captain Wilis as YOU like, (meaning you can make him a straight fighter or change him up. You can also give him "heroic" stats if you use the Midnight stat creator as a base) we can talk about equipment you'd think he might have or give him... Then I may have 1-2 additions to his stats for Saturday based on my background plans.

What do you think?

If you like it, don't tell anyone. It'll be a fun little opening battle. It WILL be hard, no doubt - he MAY lose. But we'll see how it plays out. The fun is NOT knowing.

If you like the idea...?

So here's what you'd begin with, these are JUST my suggestions:

Captain Wilis Lerpanti Stats

Erenlander (Fighter 6) [ARMS: Longsword, Small Shield, Studded Leather]

Captain of Battle Group C: 13/14 men, 12 Erenlanders (Fighter 3) [ARMS: Longsword, Small Shield, Studded Leather]

Make suggestions on weapons/armors/charms, potions etc... he might have/use.

male human (Erenlander) Ftr6

Hit Dice: 6d10+30 (HP 76)

Initiative: +3 (+3 Dex)

Speed: 30 ft.

Armor Class: 13 (+3 Dex)

Attack: +10/+5 melee, or +9/+4 ranged

Saves: Fort +10, Ref +5, Will +3

Alignment: NG

Abilities: Str 19, Dex 16, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 13

Size: Medium (6'4", 228lbs)

CR: 6

Languages: Erenlander (fluent), Trader's tongue (basic).

Feats: Cleave, Endurance, Human fighting initiate (Improvising Weapons, Elfling Retreat, Stable Heart), Improved bull rush, Improved overrun, Iron Will, Lucky, Power attack, Stunning fist (1), Orc slayer, Spring attack.

Class Abilities(Ftr): Bonus feat (any fighting) (x4), Improviser, Bonus feat (improviser).

Skills: Craft (locksmithing) +7, Diplomacy 4, Disguise +3, Escape artist +3, Handle animal +10, Heal +2, Hide +3, Intimidate +13, Jump +10, Knowledge (history) +2, Listen +1, Move silently +3, Open lock +7, Ride +10, Spot +1, Survival +4

The rest is up to you if you like this idea.

You can alter this as you like...