Need flavoursome weapon suggestions for a character concept

[FloatingDisc]

Hello, not sure if this is exactly the right spot for this thread, so sorry if that's the case.

I'm about to start playing a halfling warlord in a friend's campaign, and until recently I was set on him using a broadsword two-handed as his primary weapon. I only recently saw the battle standards in the character builder, and now I'm thinking of giving him a one-handed weapon instead, so he charge about, planting his standard wherever it's most needed.

There are a reasonable number of options available, but the most important criteria for the selection is flavour. So, a little background...

He's a halfling from a big human city, who grew up as a thief, and was imprisoned in a filthy dungeon at quite a young age, and spent a fair number of years inside. In events that I won't go into here, he was captured by duergar invaders and conscripted into their foul underdark army. After proving himself a capable and charismatic warrior, he was made an officer (hence the warlord class). After serving for some years in a campaign, the army came to a point not far from the surface, and the halfling deserted, taking a duergar battle standard as his prize, mostly out of spite.

He is an odd sort. He is a follower of Bane, something he took up while serving the duergar, and thiis informs a lot of his decisions. Not unlike a marine cadet from Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket", he has a certain esprit de corps, and doesn't think badly about his former captors, for by their cruel-seeming actions, he was formed, which to his mind justifies any wrong-doing he may have suffered. Despite this, he is not an inherently evil creature.

So, I've imagined his weapon choice should have some duergar/dwarfish significance. Axes and hammers seem obvious, but for some reason the hammer doesn't fit in with the image I have of this halfling.

Also, information about duergar is woefully sparse on the internet (at least as far as I can see) and I don't know how much their military gear would differ to that of "regular" dwarves. As underground dwelling creatures, even picks are possible, and as evil creatures, especially cruel weapons could be appropriate as well.

So, I suppose what I'm asking is for suggestions qualified by a little flavoursome explanation, if anyone's got time. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I reckon scourge or light pick would be good, with the vengeful or poisoned abilities.

 

[Mengu]

A whip would be interesting, provided you're willing to gain proficiency in it. It's a good prison guard/slaver weapon. It's also got good proficiency bonus and reach. But I usually try to make fluff and crunch meet. A light pick or a hand axe would probably be just as fitting.

 

[FloatingDisc]

Thank you both, I'm considering all the suggestions so far.

It's interesting that a whip has been a consideration since the character's initial conception (hmmmm, not convinced that's the right word, but you know what I mean), as a means of dispensing discipline. Perhaps the character can repurpose it now, turning it on his foes rather than his subordinates?

The reach element is particularly interesting, and I'll have to think more on fluff/flavour to match.

 

[-Avalon-]

Thank you both, I'm considering all the suggestions so far.

It's interesting that a whip has been a consideration since the character's initial conception (hmmmm, not convinced that's the right word, but you know what I mean), as a means of dispensing discipline. Perhaps the character can repurpose it now, turning it on his foes rather than his subordinates?

The reach element is particularly interesting, and I'll have to think more on fluff/flavour to match.

Interesting to note that whips have been involved/considered since the character was conceived...

But as for cool ideas? Ummm, maybe go with a holder on your back for the standard, and use spiked chain? Halfer could drop one end of spiked chain as a free action, draw the standard and plant it, then pick up other end of spiked chain again... spiked chain, to me, seems like a pretty good flavorful weapon of choice for the Duergar... cruel, has reach, lots of dwarven crafting involved... can wrap it around enemies and squeeze/cut like barbed wire....

 

[cmbarona]

Um, isn't the spiked chain two-handed, and thus unuseable by halflings?

 

[Ryujin]

Given the write up you posted, I'd be tempted to make the character a pint-sized Roman Centurion. Give him hide armour and a gladius (short sword), to go with his nasty past. Military leaders tend to be fairly uniform in gear and appearance, rather than having 'flair.' The simple dichotomy of a happy little Halfling turned into a hard-bitten army drill sargeant should be plenty of flavour.

"Come on you maggots! Who wants to live forever?!!"

 

[FloatingDisc]

UPDATE:
After some deliberation I settled on a scourge with the Lifedrinker enchantment! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. My halfling debuted (more or less) in the final session of KotS, and struck the killing blow to the BBEG with his new scourge! Woohoo! His magical battle standard was pretty effective too. All in all, he behaved like a warlord should, shifting people around and providing combat advantage and healing reasonably effectively.



Thanks everyone for you great suggestions!

I think cmbarona is probably right about the spiked chain. I really like Ryujin's centurion idea - that's pretty much the concept as I see it! Originally I just wanted a funny, ironic sort of character, and the bloodthirsty halfling warlord was too good to pass up. He's evolved during weeks of discussion between myself and the DM into a somewhat more three dimensional character, though the core cliche of the tiny destroyer remains intact

I think my favourite suggestion so far is for a poisoned scourge. I'll deliberate a little more before tomorrow's game, and wait to see if any other suggestions pop up.

If anyone else is interested in contributing, I'm pretty sold on the scourge (though he will likely retain a non-magical broadsword over his back), but if anyone has any suggestions as to what enchantment (the character will begin at level 3, so I think that allows up to level 4 enchantments?) I'd love to hear them!

Thanks again everyone.