Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi - Orcish Mercenaries

[MelonHead]

Have you decided on the backstory for why we're sieging the stronghold? Being framed in some form of larger plot would definitely suit a band of unloved Orc mercenaries and help drive the story, we could even find that we'd done the bad guys dirty work for them after sieging the castle and discovering we'd been manipulated twice over.

Just some throw away ideas.

[HeySeuss]

Setup to take the fall for killing said female heir when storming the fort? Cutting a deal with said heir for revenge on mutual foes?

[GreivousKhan]

Why not just make the claimant unrelated blood-wise, like a vizier, or influential count? It's always nice to have grey and grey.

@Peik

In that cause they'd need a good reason to want to rule, aside from power of course. I was thinking of something tragic for the claimant, such as witnessing their father being murdered/assassinated and mother raped. Thus paving a way for your basic heroes journey...

Of course there is the risk said person would end up being more interesting than our characters. :P

[Flagg]

What about something a bit simpler, at least to start with? King dies without issue, rival lords are warring for the crown and the Company is in the service of one of them? Then perhaps an heir can be discovered or other nations or factions (religious body, mages, elves, etc) can be brought in to complicate what was a good old fashion civil war?

[MelonHead]

<Snipped quote by Peik>

In that cause they'd need a good reason to want to rule, aside from power of course. I was thinking of something tragic for the claimant, such as witnessing their father being murdered/assassinated and mother raped. Thus paving a way for your basic heroes journey...

Of course there is the risk said person would end up being more interesting than our characters. :P

@GreivousKhan

In a weird way I think that is what would make our characters interesting. We've all heard the stories of the legendary hero's rise to power and justice, but who's heard the story told from the point of view of the grunts?

I think that's what drew me to this.

[Peik]

I personally don't like heroic stories. This is an Orc Mercenary Warband - way I see it, there's no need to play the hero. Moral ambiguity makes for the better story, in my opinion.

[GreivousKhan]

<Snipped quote by GreivousKhan>

In a weird way I think that is what would make our characters interesting. We've all heard the stories of the legendary hero's rise to power and justice, but who's heard the story told from the point of view of the grunts?

I think that's what drew me to this.

@MelonHead

That is a nice perspective. In that case I like the claimant idea even more.

Ironically there is a series of books kind of like this, also staring a merc company of orcs.

What about something a bit simpler, at least to start with? King dies without issue, rival lords are warring for the crown and the Company is in the service of one of them? Then perhaps an heir can be discovered or other nations or factions (religious body, mages, elves, etc) can be brought in to complicate what was a good old fashion civil war?

@Flagg

That's pretty much the idea, I was more wondering about the why of our siege. Which I think would be the best place to discover said hier. Imo any way. Also, hi Flagg. ^^

Long time no see.

[Flagg]

One interesting way to start out might be to have them fighting for the claimant with the least legitimate claim. A powerful Duke/Duchess with a very tenuous claim to the throne. That lets us start simple but leaves plenty of room for an heir/heiress and whatever else we want to introduce later on.

Also, hi @GreivousKhan! Good to see you! It's good to be back on RPG after an unwelcome hiatus.

[shaitarn]

How about the classic illegitimate child? Maybe he/she is the best man/woman for the job despite being a bastard. Maybe a few of the priests can't accept them because they were born outside the 'sacred bonds of marriage'. And maybe this kingdom had conquered some of the other lands/races around them in the past and now they see their chance to revolt while the kingdom tears itself apart.

[MelonHead]

I personally don't like heroic stories. This is an Orc Mercenary Warband - way I see it, there's no need to play the hero. Moral ambiguity makes for the better story, in my opinion.

@Peik

But the new King/Queen would have so much gold, and be so very thankful.

[Peik]

<Snipped quote by Peik>

But the new King/Queen would have so much gold, and be so very thankful.

@MelonHead

Whoever the new King/Queen is, he/she would also be very thankful. And I don't think going for the weakest claimant isn't the sensible thing to do when all you care about is the money. Not to mention the problems that'd stem from not receiving regular proper payment.

[HeySeuss]

Maybe said claimant has a witchcraft/magic use problem. Maybe it's a men's only club in this kingdom.

And yes, these are orcs, not heroes. We need to stick to the...uhhh...damnit, what's the word? Idiom sir! Yes, IDIOM!

[GreivousKhan]

<Snipped quote by Peik>

But the new King/Queen would have so much gold, and be so very thankful.

@MelonHead

I actually came across this exact dilemma when running an 'evil' D&D campaign some months back. The main people who you want to impress are the folks with the most money, was actually ends up being the king/government, so in all you end up doing more or less what a normal adventuring party does. If perhaps a little less honestly.

I also like the idea we orcs are trying to also break the common stereotypes about our kin. (and trying t cash in of course.)

[Peik]

<Snipped quote by MelonHead>

I actually came across this exact dilemma when running an 'evil' D&D campaign some months back. The main people who you want to impress are the folks with the most money, was actually ends up being the king/government, so in all you end up doing more or less what a normal adventuring party does. If perhaps a little less honestly.

I also like the idea we orcs are trying to also break the common stereotypes about our kin. (and trying t cash in of course.)

@GreivousKhan

I really don't think people who are grateful to live another day, and spend said day with blooded battlefield work, plunder and pillage care about breaking common stereotypes.

[GreivousKhan]

<Snipped quote by GreivousKhan>

I really don't think people who are grateful to live another day, and spend said day with blooded battlefield work, plunder and pillage care about breaking common stereotypes.

@Peik

It's important if you want more people to hire you in the future. "Our Word is as good as Gold" kind of scenario. A merc company should be VERY concerned about their reputation. An all orc one more so than normal.

[Peik]

<Snipped quote by Peik>

It's important if you want more people to hire you in the future. "Our Word is as good as Gold" kind of scenario. A merc company should be VERY concerned about their reputation. An all orc one more so than normal.

@GreivousKhan

As far as I've understood from the original post, that's precisely what Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi is about, anyway. They're mercenaries. They're hired for efficient warfare. Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi lives up to it. Helping the oppressed is not exactly something the average employer of a mercenary company would be happy about. More than often, mercenaries did that themselves.

[GreivousKhan]

<Snipped quote by GreivousKhan>

As far as I've understood from the original post, that's precisely what Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi is about, anyway. They're mercenaries. They're hired for efficient warfare. Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi lives up to it. Helping the oppressed is not exactly something the average employer of a mercenary company would be happy about. More than often, mercenaries did that themselves.

@Peik

I didn't say we should help those who can't pay us... I was more referring to not not getting into situations that would stain the company reputation.

[Peik]

<Snipped quote by Peik>

I didn't say we should help those who can't pay us... I was more referring to not not getting into situations that would stain the company reputation.

@GreivousKhan

Then we'd just do what we're paid to do, no more, no less.

[MelonHead]

<Snipped quote by GreivousKhan>

As far as I've understood from the original post, that's precisely what Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi is about, anyway. They're mercenaries. They're hired for efficient warfare. Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi lives up to it. Helping the oppressed is not exactly something the average employer of a mercenary company would be happy about. More than often, mercenaries did that themselves.

@Peik

I suppose, there's definitely space for the Orc honour and revenge motive to fit in though, picture us working for the big bad, do a job, get fucked over, given the opportunity to work for someone who would -pay- us to fuck over the person who fucked us over? Maybe human mercenaries would shrug their shoulders after getting shafted and move on, but would Orcs? Screw the cause, as long as it pays us to kill the bastard we want to kill? Just a thought anyway.

[Peik]

<Snipped quote by Peik>

I suppose, there's definitely space for the Orc honour and revenge motive to fit in though, picture us working for the big bad, do a job, get fucked over, given the opportunity to work for someone who would -pay- us to fuck over the person who fucked us over? Maybe human mercenaries would shrug their shoulders after getting shafted and move on, but would Orcs? Screw the cause, as long as it pays us to kill the bastard we want to kill? Just a thought anyway.

@MelonHead

That's perfectly plausible, though the company prides itself on discipline, and an important part of discipline is to know when to fold your cards.