Character Submissions
Submission Deadline: July 1st, 2007
Submissions Received and Reveiwed:
Thermopylaen> Dannesk[sblock=Dannesk's Concept]For the man wealthy enough to afford him, Dannesk is a lifesaver and a brutal force of law. Dannesk makes his living traveling the land and offering his services as a champion to those who find themselves in legal trouble. In a brutal land of cruel justice, trial by battle is often used to settle most legal disputes (I’m taking this from my own knowledge of dark age and early medieval northern European history. I hope that jives with your implied campaign setting). In trial by battle, the two opposing sides of a legal dispute battle to the death with the assumption that the gods will favor the just side of the dispute. But for those who are old, feeble or cowardly, the scales of justice are tipped against them. For a small sack of gold or a few casks of ale, Dannesk, a skilled practitioner of hand-to-hand combat, can stand in as your champion and settle most disputes. He is the dark age equivalent of a high-powered attorney.
Such a lifestyle has suited him well so far. In most parts he has a modest reputation for his trade. He wears large bearskins and fine light colored leather as well a number gold rings and chains; all of these accouterments are signs of his affluence. They also add to his overall intimidating countenance. His face is shaped in such a way that it casts shadows over his eyes and cheeks and the sharp stare of his blue eyes from under the shadow of his brow can curdle the stomach of even the most seasoned local warrior.
After years of defending the highest bidder, he has become a little jaded in a slightly annoying way. He is prone to wry humor and is usually apathetic to the suffering of others. This personality has more to do with his poor appraisal of himself than with humanity or the world. Deep down he is disgusted with what he does, not because of the suffering or injustice it brings to others, but because it holds no glory or honor. He constantly says to himself, “I need a change. I can do more with these hands than defend cattle-thieves and support blood-feuds.” The prospect of adventure, combat with superhuman monsters and rendering service to a great king appeal to him inasmuch as they are ways to gain honor and renown.
I am thinking of making an Executioner, Weapons Master or Man-at-Arms who specializes in unarmed combat and grappling.[/sblock]Helfdan> Ragnar Gunnarsen[sblock=Ragnar's Concept]Many years ago, Gunnar Gunnarsen was one of King Rothgar's trusted sea-chiefs. Many were the raids and battles which he won for his former master. Years ago, he retired to his own homestead, with a plump, much younger, merchant's daughter for a wife. When the Eaters of the dead attacked, Rothgar sent his son to find the fierce old sea-chief. But Gunnar, now well into his fifties, was no longer interested, or well-suited, to such a quest. But honor demanded that he aid his old king. In his stead he sent his eldest son Ragnar. Prince Wulfgar was at first crestfallen, until he met the burly young warrior. Ragnar has sailed with several of his father's seawolves, and is an experienced mariner himself. He also has become renowned in his village for his skill with sword, axe, and spear, his strength, and his courage. ((In keeping with the epic tone of the setting, i would make him a man-at-arms and make use of the cleave and overwhelming presence trees))[/sblock]ValenarJaeldira> Arwulf the Steelfist
[sblock=Arwulf's Concept]Arwulf the Steelfist hails from a small village, high upon the rocky mountain that overlooks the northern shore of the southern lands. His village is small, put it's mountain fastness protects it's people, and it's mountain climate makes them some of the most legendary and resiliant people there are. This is were Arwulf, son of Argyle, come from. Sheathe din the steel his father won in long-gone, but oft-told tales, Arwulf has come down from his mountain village for only the second time. The first time was 2 years ago, when the warriors of his village and the warriors from the coast banded together to destroy the Black Hand raiders and bring their riches back to their people. This time, Arwulf descends alone, accompanied only by the warning the one-eyed wise-man sent with after reading his wounds: A Steelfist is not a steel will. You must descend the mountain and seek glory until your will is sheathed in the same armor as your body. Only then can you truly do honor to yourself and to your ancestors. Arwulf means to do just that. (He will either be an Armiger that fights with a waraxe in one hand and a gauntleted fist on the other or a Berzerker who does the same thing. I think I'd rather go Armiger at this point-I will be making use of the Unarmed Combat feats from the new Players Guide.)[/sblock]Sapper> Ágeirr
[sblock=Ágeirr's Concept]Ágeirr is getting on in years. He is the old veteran of countless battles and raids. He was a great warrior, fierce and noble of character. He still possesses these qualities but they are usually found at the bottom of a tankard now. He has turned to drink and is quite proficient at it, loud and boisterous he tends to be the center of attention. He often recounts the tales of his battles, pointing to the scar on his chin and says “I got this when I fought against…” or pointing to his missing big toe, “I lost this when…” His tales are many and always welcome.
Ágeirr is a warrior of King Avildar and was there when the boy Wulfgar brought the news of the great evil stirring in the lands of King Rothgar. When he hears of this great evil, his spirit is revived and feels a call to help. He must help. He smashes his tankard down, tries to rise announcing he will help, “I have one great battle left in me yet…” and promptly crashes down, face first onto the table.
(Ágeirr is going to be a berserker)[/sblock]figmike> Wiglaf
[sblock=Wiglaf's Concept]A large scar runs down his chin, a smaller one crisscrosses it mid way. His dirty long black hair is always a mess, as is the leather armor on his chest. Wiglaf is his village’s best known thief; he makes no claim to be otherwise. He’s proud of his profession, as proud as any warrior. Of course he doesn’t steal from his village. But he travels a lot. Each town knows him by a different name, a merchant here, a drifter there, sometimes a simple herdsman. But wherever he goes, misfortune follows: a burglary, a mugging, perhaps a murder if needed. Wilgaf is a scoundrel and a criminal.
He’d be an even better thief, if he hadn’t spent five long years in King Rothgar’s prison.
Now a chance to return.
And get his revenge.[/sblock]Necro Kinder> Bleikr Jókellson
[sblock=Bleikr's Concept]Bleikr is the best archer his village has to offer. He is the veteran of numerous raids and has become quite a celebrity at home. His bow is feared on the battlefeild. And if his bow fails (which is rare), his axes will take it's place. He has hunted many a great beast, and killed many a brave man. Usually before they could even lay a hand on him. His villiage is only a short distance from Rothgar's, so when they attacked, he saw the fire. He saw the smoke. Now he goes to aid his neighbors, and add some more to his trophy colloction.
Bleikr will be an Archer, of course, and specialize in Bow and Throwing Axes.[/sblock]Blind Azathoth> Svartulf Vargsson
[sblock=Svartulf's Concept]The most important things in Svartulf Vargsson's life are family and faith. He is a highly loyal and dutiful young man, raised in a very close, very large, and very pious extended family. Svartulf dedicated to those close to him and to his family's patron deity—Thor [or this campaign's equivalent], god of thunder and favorite of the common man. Svartulf has a noble and honorable heart, and the heart of a warrior, but he does not seek fame as others who follow the way of the sword and the spear; he simply wishes to do right by his family, his ancestors, his people, and his god.
Thus, when Wulfgar comes to speak of Rothgar's plight, Svartulf will hardly need to be asked to fight; he will leap at the chance. There is a debt to Rothgar's family that Svartulf's line must repay, and Svartulf is happy to repay it, especially if doing so would also honor his beloved Thor, hero god and giant-slayer. Svartulf's great-grandfather, Eyjarr Galmannson, you see, was once owned by Rothgar's grandfather—he was a slave, laborer and servant.
The story goes that Rothgar's ancestor treated Svartulf's with kindness and grace, and that before either perished, Eyjarr was released from service, granted the rights of a free man that his descendents have enjoyed. Rothgar and Wulfgar, to be certain, will not know the name of Eyjarr Galmannson—but Eyjarr remembered Rothgar's grandfather for all his life. He told the tale many a time of the nobleman who gave his family a chance to be free to his son, Gangulf Eyjarsson, who told the tale to his son, Vargr Gangulfson, who told the tale to his son, Svartulf Vargsson, who will finally give to Rothgar what is owed.
[Mechanically, Svartulf will be a Weapon Master focused on the warhammer, of course, what with it being Thor(or this campaign's equivalent to Thor)'s favored weapon.][/sblock]Blackroot> Utlagi[sblock=Utlagi's Concept]He doesn't plan to pay for his room or his board either. He stoically passes through the opened second floor window and drops onto the muddy road below, his buckled stiletto jabs into his thigh as he hits the ground. The town doesn't hold the same allure as it did in his childhood, the old fishing village rots away into the old customs its holds. About fifty leagues from where he stands lays his homeland, to which he'd never return. The contempt for his family, namely his father, and the Town Elders that despised his existence and that of any other bastard keep him far from the slum that was his birthplace.
He traverses the main stretch of town, barely noticing the fishmongers and prostitutes that pepper the streets, his mind only on two people. He approaches a rotting hovel that stands between the coast and the edge of the forest. The building is occupied by only one man; a self-proclaimed businessman and Elder, a blackmailer of the poor, and a man whose bounty belongs to Útlagi. Gígr is as vile as he is fat and stupid. A local merchant paid 26 silvers to have him disposed of. The bounty in no way reflects Útlagi's seemingly inborn skill, but rather his un-interest in wealth. He slowly slips into an unlocked doorway and finds the body of the vile swine laying asleep on a bundle of linen and animal skins. While the job will be easy, Útlagi finds more satisfaction in the chase as opposed to the kill, but this will suffice. He unsheathes his stiletto and holds it above the bloated jugular of his soon-to-be victim.
He wipes the blood from dagger with a small leaf in the underbrush he passes through. He leaves the town of his latest victim and heads into the unknown. Any hidden dangers are sand through his fingers.
{Emotionally dying/dead assassin. Uses mostly a stiletto/dagger-type weapon. The most important thing about Utlagi is the fact that he is indifferent to a lot of things, and because of this he will do pretty much anything with the right motivation, usually food or money, and not even that much.}[/sblock]
Game Links (for reference):
Revised Rules Summary
Iron Heroes FAQ/Wiki
Alternate Armiger Class
Iron Heroes Companion Sneak Peak
