Appearance:
- Granitbiten is an impossing mountain of a man at six feet tall with shoulder as wide as an axehandle. His face is best described as hard and angular, worn with a life of hardship and bitter loss. His hands and arms up to his shoulders are composed of granite, giving him an incredible punch, and immunity to weapons he can block with his arms and hands.
He can be found easily among mercenaries and thieves, willing to sell his abilites for coin, or favors. Hard drinking, bareknuckle bar fights, and liberally beating someone with his fists are his meat and potatoes. If there is a gladiator, or pit fighting venue, he will not only know where it is, but will invariably be involved in it up to his stone elbows.
His clothing almost always shows his stone arms, and broad chest, though if combat is likely, he will don a thick breastplate to prevent a sword thrust, or lucky arrow. He always wears a broad leather belt with a heavy brass beltbuckle, and will carry a cudgel with a wickedly studded iron head.
Granitbiten is in a single word, arrogant. He has no empathy and commonly associates fear with admiration, and loathing with 'playing hard to get' Thus he thinks himself undefeatable, irresistable to the ladies, and a local celebrity.
Background:
Granitbiten was once a fairly successful adventurer who by luck, and deceit gained one wish of his to be granted by a genie/godling/whatever, and he wished for fists that struck with the strength of boulders.
Sensing his betrayal, his wish was granted in the most literal sense. Instead of gaining the incredible strength he wanted, his limbs were turned into stone. Movable, flexible, but still stone. This cost him most of his fine motor control, and his hands are immune to all but the most extreme stimuli. His hand could be thrust into a blazing fire, and unless that flame was hot enough to melt stone, he would not likely even feel it. He is tormented by the loss of delicate sensation, the crush of a rose petal between the fingers, or the tantalizing thrill of naked flesh to caressing hands.
This made him angry and bitter. Soon his adventuring wealth was squandered away, and he had to find money again. Labor was beneath him, and he had no interest in risking his life again, only suckers and chumps did stuff like that. Like the group had had begun with, the one that he had destroyed when they were weakened after the battle and discussing who would get to make the one wish they had earned.
Now, he is a high ranking henchman of others. Crude, boorish, but utterly effective with both terror tactics, intimidation, and death with his cudgel, he makes a good subcommander of a villian. On his own, he would steadily deplete his funds in gambling, whoring, and drinking to excess, all of which are weakness that can be exploited. He continually underestimates female foes, cannot resist gambling and betting, and has never met a bottle that he didn't fall into.
Roleplaying Notes:
Granitbiten is stubborn, and impulsive. He is too loud, often foul smelling, and should raise the ire of the PC's quickly. As his endowments came from greater than human powers, they should be immune to being disenchanted, or being reverted into normal flesh by anything less than the force that created them in the first place.
He is incredibly strong, but when he is drunk he cannot guage is stregth well, and will with regularity crush anything he picks up, break things he touches, and generally fly into a destructive rage. He enjoys gambling, but when drunk he will crush dice to powder, mangle playing cards, and other hands on games.
Granitbiten can be either a sympathetic enemy, having once been in the position of the PC's and haven fallen. He could be redeemed and recruited as a henchman to the PC's who could help him deal with his myriad of problems while enjoying his imressive combat prowess. Or, he could be a powerful adversary who the PC's are only interested in defeating.
- I was watching TV (Teen Titans) and wondered what would be the fantasy equivalent of a cyborg? A human with golem/animated limbs,of course.
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? Responses (12)
I like this carecter. I do think that if he coulden't feel with his hands,he'd be very clumsy.
I agree that he would be clumsy, especially with fine movement and such. Large items, such as weapons, or other things of that nature wouldn't be much of a problem. On the other hand, writing and handling items made of delicate glass, or paper are right out.
If my hands were numb it would effect my mental state badly.
He is very angry, and bitter over the matter. If he were more of a thinking man, as opposed to a 'crude crusher' he could be psychotic or worse.
The inability to write doesn't mean much to someone who never writes, but loosing the ability to feel something smooth, or supple like skin would be unbearable. To this end, he spends almost every cent he earns on liquor, or on prostitutes.
I have had a bit of writters block the past few days so thanks for the character driven kick start. I liked the idea of this guy so I think this is how I might use him.
Currently Granitbiten is the undefeated champion of the gladiatorial games heavy weight division in the city.
Granitbiten probably spends most money on liquor and things that make him look good. He is a popular gladiator and many misguided seek to serve him. He always enters the arena with a beautiful woman on each arm. As arrogant and perhaps an egotist he selects prostitutes to perform for him amongst floor pillows and furs and he watches from his most comfortable chair. They do so freely and wish only to be in his good graces. For this he bestows gifts to the loyal. Sometimes he takes part and occasionally he breaks a toy but his servants clean up his messes without question and no one ever takes notice or so it seems.
Someone in the party knows of a beautiful local young woman that has been abducted or the party is hired by a family to return their daughter. It is a few weeks prior to her wedding to a local horse handlers son. It is rumored that she was taken to the city (where gladiator games are held) to be sold. The party may try bidding on her but they will be out bid. Granitbiten has seen the merchandise already. He likes what he sees and hates to loose so he has given orders to out bid anyone, to call in markers if necessary. The young woman has been selected for his entertainment. This draws the party's rescue into a conflict with Granitbiten. They can try to challenge Granitbiten in combat to win her freedom or attempt to sneak in and rescue her. Any assassination attempt on Granitbiten would be very difficult, he has many supporters and a network of spies.
This could also make Granitbiten and his devout followers an enemy for a future adventure or just a continuously aggravating villain. By stealing a toy of his, he would seek to punish the insolent pests that hampered his happiness, besides if it ever get out that he didn't pursue, he could loose respect or control of those that fear him. If Granitbiten is slain his followers and local backers would seek retribution against the party for damages to their prize fighter.
Now all the party needs is a few contacts and the story a few twists.
Wow! I am glad I was able to inspire you so. I am impressed with what you did with him. Kudos.
Glad you like. Can't wait to see the look on my players faces when they encounter this guy.
This is a very believable character that can be included in numerous plots, not epic but still great.
A stylish villaing can have an unstylish Granitbiten to take the punches for him; given Granitbiten's irksome nature, PCs are bound to run into conflict with him sooner or later.
Two thumbs up, meh likes.
5/5
Updated: Minor format edit, added freetext
believable,tragic, he reminds me both of Cain Marko (Juggernaut) and Marv from Sin City. Ovbiously indirectly, but nevertheless. Without adding a long detailed expose on how i'll be using him, suffice to say I will be! (more than once)
I even just thought of a love interest for him, someone he falls head over heels for, willing to give up the booze and hookers.
This one is cool, it has a classic touch to it. I am HoHing it both to shed some light on some of your older subs(that are great, as are your new ones), but different somehow from your newer ones. Splendid work Scras.
As you mention, he has the potential to play different roles even at higher levels.
There is some much gold buried at Strolen's it is incredible.
Commented on for Comment Challenge!