Goliath Harpoon Thrower [Archive] - Wizards Community

Goliath Harpoon Thrower [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MeleeMonster
11-02-05, 04:54 PM General Idea Here: Take advantage of a big old goliath wo throws around multipole harpoons in a round.

Conflict: What's a great way to have a character travel from the mountain tops to on the seas? All the while making interesting friends an enemies.

Here's a bit of background help filling it in, removing anything or adding things in woudl be greatly appreciated.

Rough Draft - Outline Sketch Stage:

Goliath grows up amongst games, competition, nomadic - much like any other goliath. No great occurrences during childhood. When he reaches teen years his tribe is doing very well in fact they have grown so much that there is word of branching out and making 2 or 3 tribes of smaller goliath groups.

Being that our goliath friend has always anted to know more about the world around him and that since life has been pretty good he sees this as a great opportunity to go out on his own and see the world for a while. Simply he takes advantage of this - no great calamity or tragedy or clan goes out to him.

Travels out of his lands and finds work/interest in a dwarven community with a local ironsmith. The dwarf is an old ex-pirate who has settled down to get back in touch with his roots. The goliath begins learning the dwarf's trade at this point and helps in conflicts which arise from giants in the area proving to be a rather effective tool. The smith teaches the goliath how to use these strange devices he calls harpoons as weapons and the goliath is intrigued by the stories of slaying great whales and other creatures with these devices on the high seas.

He proves to be good at this but throws them in a strange manner - throwing his entire body into each throw than rather just with his arms. His accuracy improves and the damage even on dummies is brutal.

He, under the tutelage of the dwarf at some point spends his greatest resources on building his own set of personalized armor. Most other armors are too constrictive for his liking and he starts to create his breastplate from the mithral material - he loves the sheer and d sheen on it although he dwarf suggests that he really should be using much better adamantine. Their relationship is a mixture of patronage and chastising. He eventually becomes a respected member of the dwarf clan after proving his mettle in battle and in his craftsmanship.

Of course the longing for the seas he has been told about late at night, over many spirits, pushes him on to want to see these marvels himself. The dwarf eventually dies simply of old age and in his journals as well as the rest of the possessions that the dwarf hands off to him in his bequethment to him he includes a deed to a ship, his lances, and his small estate. Our goliath friend realizes after reviewing the journals and the accounts that the dwarf ex-pirate had that this must be where he goes to next. This will be his next adventure in life. He returns the estate to the dwarven community and all are sad to see this big man leave their tribe but understand that his wanderings are what brought him here and that one day it would take him away as well. A series of large festivities are held in honor of the passing of the dwarf and the journey soon to undertake the goliath. They all wish him off well and welcome him back any time into the clan that he may return.

He travels out and finds himself a ship to join up with through some act of strength or combat I am sure - cliché but most stories are anyways and why else would you wan this guy on your boat? Maybe a something involving the harpoons?

He has been sailing for a while - long enough o pick up the accent and verbiage. And long enough to know that sure the high seas are cool but they don't live up the epic levels his dwarven fried had told him of.

We pick up with the character after he has been on land very shortly and looking to see what life holds on land and maybe be headed back to his one of two homes either dwarven country or the goliath lands depending upon what makes sense with early story line and what GM prefers for plot point.

Interesting occurrence s on seas: fought many things harpooned beasts he was told of and ends up picking up a treasure chest where he carries is highly polished and cared for breastplate. He prides this greatly for he built at the hands of who he sees almost as a father figure and in the dwarven ways. His lance she prides as well for the very reason that they were the dwarf's and he enjoys them so much. He carries them in a sling over his shoulder loosely slung but able to be pulled tightly if needs be. They glisten and shimmer in the light also polished, but made of high quality steel not mithral.

Personality:
I was thinking of adding an almost gold lust to him for a change in character's sake. What do you guys think about this?

The Look:
Usually when you see him he will not be wearing his breastplate - it will be polished sitting in his treasure chest.
From the feet up (clothing):
Large brown leather 'piratey' boots. Loose pantaloons (not obnoxiously so) they will be tucked into the boot - to prevent water from getting into the boots and getting his pants wet, habit from sailing days. These pantaloons are non-descript color yet in my mind - though they may very well be some mismatched (from boots) lighter leather - again for protection from the moisture. Often bare chested with his sling over his shoulder (more on this beauty later). He will have a few sailors’ shirts - open and billowy but nothing fancy and hell no on ruffles! They will be typical white likely but scarred with age, dampness, and the brine of the sea. Finding clothes to properly fit this guy is difficult so when he gets his hands on it he wears it to death.

The Breastplate:
Practically blindingly shiny from the polishing all over the armor which looks exceptionally sturdy and yet this goliath moves very easily in it. All across the armor are intricate details of goliath life, dwarven community (a dwarf would be able to recognize the clan from the workings without a difficult DC) and tales of the sea. The harpoons of the dwarf stories (the harpoons the goliath now carries) are featured inlay of the stories across the armor. Though the armor was constructed by the goliath (with assistance and guidance by he dwarf) the dwarf did the majority of the actual art work. The goliath had some hand in their creation of course as well but it was definitely the Dwarf’s show.

More details on the stories one day to come - could make a great potential plot hook to figure out all the stories on the armor or it could be a map to something great or a journey the dwarf wanted to make but could not - best yet a buried treasure! This could be a further reason why he rarely wields the armor out in public. Year I am a huge fan =- that’s my plan. Buried Treasure - (I am suture it won't be guarded by big baddies either - yeah right!) But also gets other party members into the journey to get more gold, experience, and he will need their help to decipher the riddles and/or map or clues on there!

The Quiver:
Also formerly the Dwarf's. This was made by an elven artisan with intricate details around it studded with stones around it has writing on its sides in an old tongue - mystery language to the goliath! For purely aesthetic reasons when the harpoons return they always return sheathed into the quiver. The strap crosses over one's chest and in this case is worn over from over the top of the right shoulder to the left waist. It hangs loosely but can be tightened with a quick tug on the leather strap. The quiver and the harpoons have been together for so long that the magical essence has rubbed off and there is a light glow around it of a magical aura when viewed with detects magic. The harpoons stand out imposing over the goliaths shoulder blades exposed. Attached is a cover for the blades but rarely if ever does the goliath cover them except for in city or large towns. He never puts anything into the sheath outside of these harpoons. And just as a note - I wouldn't suggest trying to fool around with his harpoons or his armor without asking permission first - I don't see him taking well to that.

Very open for suggestions at this point guys so throw some ideas to me.
erbmjw
11-03-05, 05:36 AM Quick comment - you are wondering how he gets passage on a ship ... but according to the background he owns one. He gave away the landlocked estate but not the ship.

The dwarf eventually dies simply of old age and in his journals as well as the rest of the possessions that the dwarf hands off to him in his bequethment to him he includes a deed to a ship, his lances, and his small estate.
Morka
11-03-05, 10:52 AM I didn't read your whole story, I just have a thought that might help you: perhaps your Goliath is a Dire Salmon hunter? Then one day, he slip on a wet stone, and fall unconscious. His body is taken by the stream, and he awake on a beach near the spot where his river join with the ocean. Seeing this endless water fascinate him, and he only wishes to explore it...
MeleeMonster
11-03-05, 11:54 AM Couple of things:

Yeah I did say he wowns title to a ship - what I made a huge mistake in though was inm specifying that that will be a later adventure for him. I wanted iim to get soem sea going experience before he is captain of a ship. Thank you fo the reminded to add that in.

Dire Salmon hunter - not a bad idea at all but go ahead and take a look thorough the background section and tell me what you think of that vs. dire slamon hunter concpt - bot h good and valid but I am leaning toward the set ebackground concept. Though that may be a realy cool thing to happen to him when he was young . . .
MeleeMonster
11-05-05, 02:42 PM So yeah I am implementing the dire salmon hunter thing in his childhood and am making one other signifcant change - instead of being in a dwarf comunity I am going to put the old dwarven pirate into that race from Races of the Wild with the wings just to change things up a bit.

I also am giving him a loyal pet dog a massive Great Dane who he raised from a pu (for mechanical purposes I think he will be magebred and selected for hsi size [3.0 masters of the wild spoke about this]). The dog will be a she and his persoanl guard dog and a big sweetheart with him only.
My question is though:
What would be a cool/unique way for him to acquire this dog?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MeleeMonster 11-02-05, 04:54 PM	General Idea Here: Take advantage of a big old goliath wo throws around multipole harpoons in a round. Conflict: What's a great way to have a character travel from the mountain tops to on the seas? All the while making interesting friends an enemies. Here's a bit of background help filling it in, removing anything or adding things in woudl be greatly appreciated. Rough Draft - Outline Sketch Stage: Goliath grows up amongst games, competition, nomadic - much like any other goliath. No great occurrences during childhood. When he reaches teen years his tribe is doing very well in fact they have grown so much that there is word of branching out and making 2 or 3 tribes of smaller goliath groups. Being that our goliath friend has always anted to know more about the world around him and that since life has been pretty good he sees this as a great opportunity to go out on his own and see the world for a while. Simply he takes advantage of this - no great calamity or tragedy or clan goes out to him. Travels out of his lands and finds work/interest in a dwarven community with a local ironsmith. The dwarf is an old ex-pirate who has settled down to get back in touch with his roots. The goliath begins learning the dwarf's trade at this point and helps in conflicts which arise from giants in the area proving to be a rather effective tool. The smith teaches the goliath how to use these strange devices he calls harpoons as weapons and the goliath is intrigued by the stories of slaying great whales and other creatures with these devices on the high seas. He proves to be good at this but throws them in a strange manner - throwing his entire body into each throw than rather just with his arms. His accuracy improves and the damage even on dummies is brutal. He, under the tutelage of the dwarf at some point spends his greatest resources on building his own set of personalized armor. Most other armors are too constrictive for his liking and he starts to create his breastplate from the mithral material - he loves the sheer and d sheen on it although he dwarf suggests that he really should be using much better adamantine. Their relationship is a mixture of patronage and chastising. He eventually becomes a respected member of the dwarf clan after proving his mettle in battle and in his craftsmanship. Of course the longing for the seas he has been told about late at night, over many spirits, pushes him on to want to see these marvels himself. The dwarf eventually dies simply of old age and in his journals as well as the rest of the possessions that the dwarf hands off to him in his bequethment to him he includes a deed to a ship, his lances, and his small estate. Our goliath friend realizes after reviewing the journals and the accounts that the dwarf ex-pirate had that this must be where he goes to next. This will be his next adventure in life. He returns the estate to the dwarven community and all are sad to see this big man leave their tribe but understand that his wanderings are what brought him here and that one day it would take him away as well. A series of large festivities are held in honor of the passing of the dwarf and the journey soon to undertake the goliath. They all wish him off well and welcome him back any time into the clan that he may return. He travels out and finds himself a ship to join up with through some act of strength or combat I am sure - cliché but most stories are anyways and why else would you wan this guy on your boat? Maybe a something involving the harpoons? He has been sailing for a while - long enough o pick up the accent and verbiage. And long enough to know that sure the high seas are cool but they don't live up the epic levels his dwarven fried had told him of. We pick up with the character after he has been on land very shortly and looking to see what life holds on land and maybe be headed back to his one of two homes either dwarven country or the goliath lands depending upon what makes sense with early story line and what GM prefers for plot point. Interesting occurrence s on seas: fought many things harpooned beasts he was told of and ends up picking up a treasure chest where he carries is highly polished and cared for breastplate. He prides this greatly for he built at the hands of who he sees almost as a father figure and in the dwarven ways. His lance she prides as well for the very reason that they were the dwarf's and he enjoys them so much. He carries them in a sling over his shoulder loosely slung but able to be pulled tightly if needs be. They glisten and shimmer in the light also polished, but made of high quality steel not mithral. Personality: I was thinking of adding an almost gold lust to him for a change in character's sake. What do you guys think about this? The Look: Usually when you see him he will not be wearing his breastplate - it will be polished sitting in his treasure chest. From the feet up (clothing): Large brown leather 'piratey' boots. Loose pantaloons (not obnoxiously so) they will be tucked into the boot - to prevent water from getting into the boots and getting his pants wet, habit from sailing days. These pantaloons are non-descript color yet in my mind - though they may very well be some mismatched (from boots) lighter leather - again for protection from the moisture. Often bare chested with his sling over his shoulder (more on this beauty later). He will have a few sailors’ shirts - open and billowy but nothing fancy and hell no on ruffles! They will be typical white likely but scarred with age, dampness, and the brine of the sea. Finding clothes to properly fit this guy is difficult so when he gets his hands on it he wears it to death. The Breastplate: Practically blindingly shiny from the polishing all over the armor which looks exceptionally sturdy and yet this goliath moves very easily in it. All across the armor are intricate details of goliath life, dwarven community (a dwarf would be able to recognize the clan from the workings without a difficult DC) and tales of the sea. The harpoons of the dwarf stories (the harpoons the goliath now carries) are featured inlay of the stories across the armor. Though the armor was constructed by the goliath (with assistance and guidance by he dwarf) the dwarf did the majority of the actual art work. The goliath had some hand in their creation of course as well but it was definitely the Dwarf’s show. More details on the stories one day to come - could make a great potential plot hook to figure out all the stories on the armor or it could be a map to something great or a journey the dwarf wanted to make but could not - best yet a buried treasure! This could be a further reason why he rarely wields the armor out in public. Year I am a huge fan =- that’s my plan. Buried Treasure - (I am suture it won't be guarded by big baddies either - yeah right!) But also gets other party members into the journey to get more gold, experience, and he will need their help to decipher the riddles and/or map or clues on there! The Quiver: Also formerly the Dwarf's. This was made by an elven artisan with intricate details around it studded with stones around it has writing on its sides in an old tongue - mystery language to the goliath! For purely aesthetic reasons when the harpoons return they always return sheathed into the quiver. The strap crosses over one's chest and in this case is worn over from over the top of the right shoulder to the left waist. It hangs loosely but can be tightened with a quick tug on the leather strap. The quiver and the harpoons have been together for so long that the magical essence has rubbed off and there is a light glow around it of a magical aura when viewed with detects magic. The harpoons stand out imposing over the goliaths shoulder blades exposed. Attached is a cover for the blades but rarely if ever does the goliath cover them except for in city or large towns. He never puts anything into the sheath outside of these harpoons. And just as a note - I wouldn't suggest trying to fool around with his harpoons or his armor without asking permission first - I don't see him taking well to that. Very open for suggestions at this point guys so throw some ideas to me.
erbmjw 11-03-05, 05:36 AM	Quick comment - you are wondering how he gets passage on a ship ... but according to the background he owns one. He gave away the landlocked estate but not the ship. The dwarf eventually dies simply of old age and in his journals as well as the rest of the possessions that the dwarf hands off to him in his bequethment to him he includes a deed to a ship, his lances, and his small estate.
Morka 11-03-05, 10:52 AM	I didn't read your whole story, I just have a thought that might help you: perhaps your Goliath is a Dire Salmon hunter? Then one day, he slip on a wet stone, and fall unconscious. His body is taken by the stream, and he awake on a beach near the spot where his river join with the ocean. Seeing this endless water fascinate him, and he only wishes to explore it...
MeleeMonster 11-03-05, 11:54 AM	Couple of things: Yeah I did say he wowns title to a ship - what I made a huge mistake in though was inm specifying that that will be a later adventure for him. I wanted iim to get soem sea going experience before he is captain of a ship. Thank you fo the reminded to add that in. Dire Salmon hunter - not a bad idea at all but go ahead and take a look thorough the background section and tell me what you think of that vs. dire slamon hunter concpt - bot h good and valid but I am leaning toward the set ebackground concept. Though that may be a realy cool thing to happen to him when he was young . . .
MeleeMonster 11-05-05, 02:42 PM	So yeah I am implementing the dire salmon hunter thing in his childhood and am making one other signifcant change - instead of being in a dwarf comunity I am going to put the old dwarven pirate into that race from Races of the Wild with the wings just to change things up a bit. I also am giving him a loyal pet dog a massive Great Dane who he raised from a pu (for mechanical purposes I think he will be magebred and selected for hsi size [3.0 masters of the wild spoke about this]). The dog will be a she and his persoanl guard dog and a big sweetheart with him only. My question is though: What would be a cool/unique way for him to acquire this dog?