CE male human barbarian 5

An unremitting bully and brutish extortionist Raine is a thorn in the side of a once-peaceful hamlet’s inhabitants.

Background

The bastard son of the village lay-about, Raine is a drunken thug. Disowned by his feckless father in his early teens, Raine attempted to make his way in the world. For six years he staggered from rag-tag adventuring bands to morally-bankrupt mercenary companies. They all quickly tired of his thirst for dwarf spirits and his uncanny ability to start arguments (and fights).

Raine returned to Elodie just a few months before his 20th birthday. The good folk of the hamlet hardly recognised the uncouth, bearded, barbaric-looking warrior who swaggered into the inn, stinking of sweat and clad in a breastplate and wolf pelts. Seeing no-one with the strength or ability to best him, Raine began lording over the peasants. He began touching up the women and provoked an almighty barroom brawl which resulted in the death of the hamlet’s headman—Donnegal—and serious injury to half a dozen others. His supremacy assured, Raine took the headman’s home and bedded Donnegal’s wife by force. 

For almost a year he has run Elodie as his personal fiefdom—taking what and who he wants. The peasants believe his knowledge of the surrounding area makes it impossible for them to escape. Raine insists “his people” refer to him as the Grey Wolf. He also has them speak in revered tones about his useless father. Raine has gathered what little wealth the hamlet has and is now planning to give some of the young men limited martial training so they can assist him in his planned campaign of banditry.

Personality

Raine is the vilest of humans. He is beneath contempt. He is driven by the most base desires and an unquenchable need to be obeyed. He is unpredictable, frequently under the influence of alcohol and never does anything which does not directly benefit himself. Like most bullies, Raine is a coward and relies on his rages to see him through trouble.

Mannerisms

Raine is always smiling. He is even prone to breaking into laughter and song while raging.

Foes often smell the Grey Wolf before they see him—such is his stench. He always wears his furs which he believes enhance his savage countenance. In truth he has never slain a wolf and stole the skin from a tavern wall.

Hooks

The characters may come into contact with Raine if he forces some of “his” peasants into a bungled attempt at banditry. 

Alternatively, one of Elodie’s farmhands flees Elodie to seek help in ending Raine’s tyranny—and bumps into the characters.

Want More?

This is an extract from Campaign Codex #5: Lesser Villains which is available in 5e, OSR and Pathfinder 1 editions.