The rise and fall of an Orc Chieftain (Orc warrior NPC throughout his life)

I really love the threads that Maverick Wierdo has done with NPCs, but I wondered what a humanoid NPC like an orc would look like throught out his life. I figured that an orc would see a bit more action than a human gaurd so I took Maverick Wierdo's NPC formula and doubled the amount of XP earned in a year. Orcs have a shorter life span than humans, so they reach middle age, old age, and venerable quicker but are able to hold onto more of their battle prowess due to thier greater strength.

Below I have detailed the life of Hargash, an orc from the Throat Ripper clan. This thread will illustarte his beginnings as a lowly orc warrior, to his bloody ascension to cheiftain, to finally his fall and the end of his life.

Maverick, I hope you don't mind that I used your formula. Its a great idea that I just couldn't help using.

Hargash, Orc Warrior
Warrior L1; med humanoid; AL LE; CR .5; age 14
HD 1d8+1; hp 5;
Init +0; Spd 30 ft; AC 14;
BAB +1; Atk +4 melee or +1 ranged;
SV Fort +3, Ref +0, Will -1;
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 09, Cha 08.

Skills (8 points): Climb +2 (5), Intimidate +2 (1), Jump +2 (5), Swim +2 (5)
Feats: Weapon Focus: longsword
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Studded Leather, +3 speed 30ft, 15 lbs.
Large Wooden Shield, +2, 10 lbs.
Weapons: Longsword: Atk +5 melee, Dmg 1d8+3, crit 19-20 x2
Javelin: Atk +1 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft

Hargash is an above average orc. He is a little stronger and a little smarter than the rank and file and with some luck he could go far. At this level he is at the bottom of the male hierarchy and is usually forced to stay in the lair guarding the females and cubs while the rest of the males hunt or raid the nearby human settlements. Although certainly strong enough to use the favored orc greataxe, Hargash instead uses a sturdy longsword discarded by an older male and has become quite skilled with it. He is also one of the few orcs in his tribe to employ a shield.

Hargash, Orc Warrior
Warrior L2; med humanoid; AL LE; CR 1; age 15
HD 2d8+2; hp 10;
Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 16;
BAB +2; Atk +5 melee or +2 ranged;
SV Fort +4, Ref +0, Will -1;
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 09, Cha 08.

Skills (10 points): Climb +3 (6), Intimidate +3 (2), Jump +2 (5), Swim +2 (5)
Feats: Weapon Focus: longsword
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Scale Mail, +4 speed 30ft, 30 lbs.
Large Wooden Shield, +2, 10 lbs.
Weapons: Longsword: Atk +6 melee, Dmg 1d8+3, crit 19-20 x2
Javelin: Atk +2 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft

The last year has been a good one for Hargash; he has participated in a number of successful raids and has earned a place for himself among the other males. His skill with his sword and the simple use of a shield has given him the decisive edge in two fights with rival males. One he severely wounded and the other he slew, gaining his scale mail in the process. He now seeks to move up in the tribe and has started a rivalry of his own with Guzrak. one of the chief’s bodyguards. Hargash knows Guzrak is no match for him and if he can provoke the other warrior into a confrontation Hargash can slay him and move into his position.

Hargash, Orc Warrior
Warrior L3; med humanoid; AL LE; CR 2; age 18
HD 3d8+3; hp 16;
Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 16;
BAB +3; Atk +6 melee or +3 ranged;
SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +0;
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 09, Cha 08.

Skills (12 points): Climb +3 (6), Intimidate +3 (2), Jump +3 (6), Swim +3 (6)
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Scale Mail, +4 speed 20ft, 30 lbs.
Large Steel Shield, +2, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Masterwork Longsword: Atk +8 melee, Dmg 1d8+3, crit 19-20 x2
Javelin: Atk +3 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft

Hargash is now a powerful and respected warrior in his tribe. He has ended his rivalry with Guzrak by slaying him and usurping his position as a bodyguard to the chief. Through flattery and gifts Hargash has become chief Korgon’s favored warrior and was even given a masterwork longsword the chieftain had no use for. Hargash continues to join his fellow warriors in theft and raiding, but has convinced his chief that greater riches could be gained by raiding the fat merchant caravans that trade with the nearby human settlements. Hargash’s skill with his weapon is unmatched by any of the warriors in his tribe save chief Korgon, and he has slain many rivals and upstart males with a single stroke of his sword.

Hargash, Orc Sub-Chief
Warrior L4; med humanoid; AL LE; CR 3; age 22
HD 4d8+4; hp 23;
Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 17;
BAB +4; Atk +7 melee or +4 ranged;
SV Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +0;
Str 17, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 09, Cha 08.
(4th level stat bump, +1 to Str)

Skills (14 points): Climb +3 (6), Intimidate +5 (4), Jump +3 (6), Swim +3 (6)
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Chain Mail, +5 speed 20ft, 40 lbs.
Large Steel Shield, +2, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Longsword +1: Atk +9 melee, Dmg 1d8+4, crit 19-20 x2
Javelin: Atk +4 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft

Hargash the Mighty (as he likes to think of himself) is the most feared orc in the Throat Ripper clan. His great strength and keen wit (for an orc) have earned him the title of sub-chief, and no orc has dared challenge him in well over a year. The clan has grown wealthy and powerful under the guiding hand of Hargash. His idea of raiding merchant caravans has yielded more money than the clan actually needs, prompting Hargash to consider actually trading with some human settlements farther to the west for better weapons and other items the clan could use. Hargash has also obtained a magic longsword and better armor from an adventuring party that tried to put a stop to his clan’s raiding.

Hargash is now at the height of his physical prowess and is a very intimidating orc. He stands well over six and a half feet tall, his muscular frame crisscrossed with dozens of battle scars. His gleaming white tusks have been capped with silver and his face is covered with ritual scarring and tattoos. He is never seen without sword and shield and the young warriors of the tribe both admire and hate him in equal measure.

Hargash, Orc Sub-Chief
Warrior L5; med humanoid; AL LE; CR 4; age 27
HD 5d8+5; hp 29;
Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 17;
BAB +5; Atk +8 melee or +5 ranged;
SV Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1;
Str 17, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 11, Wis 09, Cha 08.

Skills (16 points): Climb +4 (7), Intimidate +6 (5), Jump +3 (6), Swim +3 (6)
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Breast Plate, +5 speed 20ft, 40 lbs.
Large Steel Shield, +2, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Longsword +1: Atk +10 melee, Dmg 1d8+4, crit 19-20 x2
Javelin: Atk +5 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft
Other Gear: potion of bull’s strength, potion of cure moderate wounds

A combination of luck and skill has allowed Hargash to see his 27th winter. He has survived dozens of raids and even the odd adventuring party and now is ready for the greatest challenge of his life. Chief Korgon had become old and frail, a fact the disgusts Hargash, and it is time for the clan to have a new leader. That leader should of course be none other than Hargash himself. An alliance with the clan adept has allowed Hargash to quietly convince most of the clan that his ascension is the will of Gruumsh, but the old chieftain still has his supporters. A bloody civil war is brewing in clan Throat Ripper and Hargash intends to be on the winning side.

Hargash has once again managed to improve his equipment by looting slain foes (adventurers) and through his alliance with Lumgok the clan adept.

Very interesting! I like the title. But when will he fall?

Tisvon said:

Very interesting! I like the title. But when will he fall?

Click to expand...

I have him through level ten. You'll just have to keep reading to find out when he falls.

Dirge

Hargash, Orc Chieftain
Warrior L5; med humanoid; AL LE; CR 4; age 30 (middle age, -1 Str, Dex, Con; +1 Int, Wis, Cha)
HD 5d8; hp 24;
Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 19;
BAB +5; Atk +8 melee or +5 ranged;
SV Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +2;
Str 16, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 09.

Skills (16 points): Climb +4 (7), Intimidate +6 (5), Jump +3 (6), Swim +3 (6)
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Masterwork Halfplate, +7 speed 20ft, 50 lbs.
Large Steel Shield, +2, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Longsword +1: Atk +10 melee, Dmg 1d8+4, crit 19-20 x2
Javelin: Atk +5 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft
Other Gear: potion of bull’s strength, potion of cure moderate wounds (2),

Chief Hargash. After forcing the old chieftain into a one on one confrontation he had no chance of winning, Hargash has claimed leadership of clan Throat Ripper. Under his stern tutelage, Hargash has shaped his warriors into an elite fighting force. With money gained through caravan raids he has purchased quality weapons and armor from an unscrupulous dwarven merchant in a nearby town. All of Hargash’s warriors have adopted their chiefs fighting style of longsword and shield and have been well trained in their use by Hargash himself. Each of clan Throat Rippers 40 orc warriors is armed with chain mail, a large steel shield and a longsword, with Hargash’s bodyguards in breastplates. With his well-trained warriors, Hargash looks to increase his territory, and the neighboring orc and goblin clans have begun to fall one by one to Hargash’s warriors.

Now entering middle age, Hargash has retained most of his strength due to the near constant battle he has seen in the last 3 years. He has become a crafty leader, and his lawful alignment has served him well in his role as chieftain. He now wears the black halfplate armor of the former chieftain and has a few more potions at his disposal.

Hargash, Orc Chieftain
Warrior L6; med humanoid; AL LE; CR 5; age 34 (middle age)
HD 6d8; hp 29;
Init +0; Spd 20 ft; AC 20;
BAB +6/+1; Atk +9/+4 melee or +6/+1 ranged;
SV Fort +6, Ref +3, Will +3;
Str 16, Dex 10, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 09.

Skills (19 points): Climb +4 (7), Intimidate +8 (7), Jump +4 (7), Swim +3 (6)
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack, Cleave
Languages: orc, common

Armor: Masterwork Halfplate, +7 speed 20ft, 50 lbs.
Large Steel Shield +1, +3, 15 lbs.
Weapons: Longsword +1: Atk +11/+6 melee, Dmg 1d8+4, crit 19-20 x2
Javelins (3): Atk +6/+1 ranged, Dmg 1d6+3, crit x2, range 30ft
Other Gear: potion of bull’s strength, potion of cure moderate wounds (1), cloak of resistance +1

The orcs of clan Throat Ripper are happy under Hargash’s rule, they are wealthy and well fed and their chieftain has created an orderly, if harsh, environment that none of them have ever known. The clan has destroyed or subjugated almost every other orc clan for miles and now Hargash commands a force of over 150 orc warriors. The local human towns now pay tribute to “King Hargash” to keep his warriors from razing their homes. Hargash has three wives and a total of 9 sons, the oldest of which has already killed 2 of its siblings, much to the delight of his father.

Still strong and hale, chief Hargash has led each attack on enemy clans himself and is still the mightiest warrior in his clan. He has gained two more magic items, his shield, from the corpse of an enemy chieftain and his cloak, from yet another slain adventurer.