I steal. And slay.

[gridlore]

When it comes to my games and settings, I have no scruples. I'll steal just about anything. History, neat places, plots from everything from Germanic epic poetry to Shakespeare to Moonlighting, items, names.. If I like it, it's in.

Which is why I'm considering at Dwarf Slayers to my prospective Pathfinder game. Drawn from the classic Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play, the Slayers are dwarves who have so dishonored themselves that death in combat is their only path to redemption. Here's the cover of the classic edition of the game. The heavily-tattooed dwarf with the orange mohawk is a Slayer. They do that, tattoos, extreme hair-styles, piercings, to proclaim that they are unclean, crazy, and off to die. Slayers seek out bigger and badder prey in their quest for death. Trolls, giants, dragons and finally infernal creatures are all met in single combat with the dwarf eschewing defensive measures in favor of frenzied attacks. The Slayer wants to die, but must die fighting to the best of his ability.

Now picture a successful Slayer. He's killed dozens of trolls and dragons. He is a monster of pure violence. And he's completely out of his little dwarven mind because he's denied the one thing he wants - to die gloriously. So he just keeps going and going. Amassing a pile of enchanted goodies to allow him to combat bigger and bigger baddies.

Not only would they rock as a character class for a player into the crazy berserker rage, but picture what happens when a Slayer sets out and fails to come back. Enchanted arms and armor. Rings, amulets, and souvenirs from a hundred victories. But beyond that, assume that the Slayers' death ends his shame with his clan. Think of the gratitude of a Dwarven clan who return whatever is left for internment in the family vaults. They might claim some of the goodies, but having a Dwarf Lord owing you one big freaking favor can be quite the campaign boost.

Of course, one of the stupidest things you could do is cast Raise Dead on a dead Slayer. He will not be happy with the party.

Comments

[lostwanderfound.livejournal.com]

Also consider the reaction of the rest of Slayer community when one of their own doesn't return: "hot doggity, finally something that can kill me!". I wouldn't be surprised if they started fighting amongst themselves in the rush to get there and have a go...

[seawasp]

In a D&D universe I'd think it'd be EASY for a lone dwarf, howsoever powerful, to find something he could fight and lose terribly to. The classic named standby is a dragon, which in 3E are badasses, unlike prior editions. Even if you've reached Epic level, you could always just go into, say, the Temple of Athena and say how you're so badass you could make the virgin goddess your b*tch.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

The way WHFRP had it written up is Slayers start on things that they have a slight chance of beating, like Trolls, and when that ceases to be a challenge, they move up. The idea isn't to lose terribly, but to battle to your last breath ina fight you have a chance of winning.

I can see some Slayers being desperate enough to challenge the gods themselves.

[seawasp]

Why the heck not? You died gloriously, returned honor to your clan, yada yada and like that. Now you get to enjoy your newly-minted honor. What's the point of having resurrection magics if you can't make USE of them?

(MY biggest use for them was to destroy undead. "I AM THE GREAT LICH-LORD AHRIMAN! TREMBLE BEFORE MY --" "Wand of Resurrection." "GAH!!" *thud*)

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

I think that might be seen as cheating. The whole point is to wipe away your shame by dying nobly and going to join your ancestors in honor. Getting raised might ruin that. The way I run my dwarves, the entire idea of raising the dead is anathema.