Military NPC Submission! (Crosspost from Craft & Trade Submission thread!)
Captain of the Militia
Dalvar Hammersmith, male dwarf War10: Medium-size Humanoid (dwarf); HD 10d8+30; 87 hp; Init +1; Spd 15ft. (20ft. base); AC 16 (+1 Dex, +5 armor); Melee +1 dwarven battleaxe +11/+6 (1d10+4); SQ dwarf traits; AL LG; SV Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +3; Str 16, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 14.
Skills and Feats: Climb +3, Diplomacy +3, Handle Animal +4, Intimidate +6, Jump +1, Profession (soldier) +5, Ride +5; Exotic Weapon Proficiency (dwarven waraxe), Leadership, Power Attack, Skill Focus (profession: soldier).
Equipment: Belt pouch (20gp), breastplate, cold weather outfit, +1 dwarven battleaxe, traveler’s outfit, waterskin, war pony w/ bit & bridle, military saddle, saddlebags.
Dalvar Hammersmith was born to a prominent clan of warriors in Kul Moren. He was raised to fight from an early age and is an expert with his traditional clan weapon, a dwarven waraxe. Thus, he felt more than qualified to become a member of the Royal Guard in Mor’s End and left Kul Moren and his clan behind.
Once in the human-dominated city he joined the Guild of Guards and was soon on his way to becoming one of the most stout, reliable members of the guild. However Dalvar became bored with guard duty and soon was forgetting to show up for assignments, as he spent more and more time in the city’s many taverns pestering adventurers and travelers for news from beyond the walls of Mor’s End. The guildmaster at the time, Henry Wilhelm, told Dalvar to either give up his obsession or leave the guild. Dalvar left the guild and everyone is glad he did. Now a successful tavern owner Dalvar can spend time doing what he loves most – chatting with adventurers and travelers, when he has the time.
For Dalvar wasn’t content to let his fighting skills go to waste. He is a proud member of the militia and has recently been promoted to captain. The previous captain, Alex Backfield, retired from the militia last year to his stedding several miles northeast of Mor’s End. Backfield chose Dalvar for the position and both the Castellan and Lady Kelvin agreed. Dalvar often visits the retired old captain for advice, realizing the man’s experience is still valuable to the city.
The added responsibilities of being the Captain of the Militia tend to keep Dalvar away from The Downpour during the day, as he and his personal squad of men spend a lot of time on active duty and helping the local watch. This has allowed him to seek out interesting escapades, such as cleaning out monstrous vermin from the city’s sewers to riding with the Outlands Rangers on rare occasion. He’s eager for the chance to prove himself and to hopefully turn the standing militia into a more crack fighting force.
Most of the time he helps run drills throughout the city every six months or so. He believes in being prepared for anything and takes his new responsibilities very seriously. He has matured to the point where he understands what is needed from him as Captain of the Militia. Gone is the easily distracted young dwarf that once dallied from tavern to tavern, although he still enjoys a good night of revelry and story telling. As long as any active members of the militia show up on time the next day, they are welcome to sit and have a mug of Dwarven Strongheart with their captain in his tavern.
Plot hook: Rumors are floating around that a foreign force is marching towards Mor’s End to lay siege to the independent city-state. The commanders of the military aren’t sure what to make of the rumors. Dalvar and his men are put on constant alert but Dalvar would like to get Alex Backfield’s advice on the current situation, as well as some strategic information the retired old captain and he discussed the last time he visited him. However, his responsibilities as captain means that he has to stay in the city and he can’t spare any militiamen to go to the Backfield stedding.
He knows of the PCs, as they have visited his tavern on occasion. He asks them to go to the Backfield Stedding and take some important plans for the Alex to look over. They are to get a written response from Backfield, as well as anything else he’s been working on for Dalvar, and return with the documentation to the city. In reality, Dalvar considers Alex to be a mentor and would prefer it if the old man came back to the city, for a while, just in case the rumors turn out to be true. He asks the PCs to try and convince Alex to come back with them. However, Alex is a stubborn man and the PCs might very well get caught outside the city defending the old man’s stedding, from an invading army, if they can’t convince him to come back to Mor’s End. Regardless, Dalvar needs the information Alex is providing.
