Redgar the Valiant

Appearance:Redgar is the archtype of the heroic warrior. Biceps bulging under mail sleeves, swinging a sword given to him by the king, made by the best bladesmith in the kingdom. His horse is a mighty destrier and his lance has never been broken in battle or tournment. Like any celebrity, he is dashing and handsome, his voice a rich baritone that makes the ladies melt. Honeyed words of courtly romance fall from his lips the way obscenities fall from sailors.

Background:For some people the stars are perfect and their lives are granted to them on golden platters. Redgar is one such person. In truth, his name is Sylvester Cooke and he is at best a mediocre warrior, and all of his courtly manner is scripted. He is constantly attended by half a dozen retainers, hired with the wealth of his realm. They include a poet turned script writer, a master at arms, and several attendants to make him look pretty.

A bumble of good luck got him knighted by the King and presented with a masters blade. The rest is fluff propigated by minstrels who were given coin to tell his tales. Most of his real exploits were achieved behind a wall of hired mercenaries and adventurers who gain payment while he gains the accolades and praise.

If faced with an overwhelming challenge, he will often turn tail and run, claiming the opponent used dirty tactics, cheated, or brought a detachment of orcish mercenaries, the services of a necromancer or the like. The unlucky challenger would be hard pressed to out maneauver the heros propaganda network.

Redgar travels about the civilized lands, rarely venturing into dangerous areas. He is a hero/leader for the King and goes about raising morale and boasting about his deeds while the musicians sing his songs of praise.

Special Equipment
Redgar is a proverbial Batman of magic items and top quality gear. Obviously his arms and armor are of masterwork quality, etched, and inlaid with jewels and precious metals. If a medieval suit of armor cost as much as a modern car, Redgar's suit cost as much as a Ferrari. Beyond such staple gear, he has a number of other magical items such as Rings of Protection, Boots of Speed, and other such accoutrements. His steed is always a suitably white stallion and wears the best in horse barding that can be bought. If there is anything he needs, if he doesnt have it on hand, chances are that one of his henchmen or retainers has one on them, just for such an occasion.

Roleplaying Notes:
Redgar is a painfully vain man lacking in depth. He is barely able to read, and spends most of his time preening, working out, or carousing and wenching. He believes that everyone thinks he is the very best, and he has claimed it for so long he has started to believe it. It is to the point that some merchants will have him endorse their products at bazaars and market squares, paying him gold for his appearance and appraisal of their goods.

Plot Hooks
New Employees - Redgar has hired the PCs as front men for his latest outing and heroic deed. They will be the first into the fray, while he stays behind and has th best treatment. Silk pillows and hot tea while they eat rations and sleep on the ground. They discover the depths of his shallowness seeing him without the benefits of his retinue, and then see him with it in public accepting the praise and rewards for their actions.

Bad Company - like the above hook, but the PCs have to work with Redgar and have to deal with the fact that he is unskilled in tactics and uses the frontal assault in every mission every battle. He will only take the field late in the battle, attended by his masters ay arms to make the last attack, often against an already defeated foe.

Bad Timing - Everyone has an off day, and Redgar and his retinue beaten by a band of angry barbarians/orcs/wascaly wabbits, and the PCs help fend off the attack, recognizing the hero. Later the tale is reversed and it is instead Redgar who saved them. People ridicule the PCs for claiming to have resuced Redgar. Poke them in their pride.

Did you bite your thumb at me? - a PC invariable insults the hero who challenges them to a duel. If it looks like Redgar will lose, some of his retinue intervene, help him cheat, or otherwise disrupt the contest. The PCs discover themselves shortly after declared cheaters and vagabonds.

One Good Jerk Deserves another - At a market or bazaar, a vendor noting the PCs offers them some money if they will hawk his wares for a short time. The reason becomes obvious when Redgar strolls up, claims his wares inferior to another vendor who paid the gold for Redgar to diminish his competition and pump up his own work. The PCs find themselves also detracted from by Redgar. Look, a mealy vendor with rusted swords...speaking of rusted swords, get a load of these unblooded knaves...