Adventurers often need henchfolk and hirelings to round out their party. Often, however, such folk end up being nothing more than one-dimensional fighters, clerics or whatever.

Use these two NPCs to add depth and flavour to the henchfolk in your game.

Anthic Ovlag

Pale of skin and black of hair, this stout dwarven warrior has scarred forearms and calloused hands. He wears a suit of heavy dwarven chain and carries a heavy warhammer.

Anthic Ovlag (LN male dwarf fighter 2) diligently serves his patron but does not needlessly lay down his life.

Personality: Brave, trustworthy and loyal, Anthic is the quintessential dwarven warrior—except he is terrified of spiders. He loves ale and is entranced by stars. When the night sky is clear, he sits for hours gazing upwards in wonder.

Mannerisms: Gruff and to the point, Anthic loudly clears his voice before speaking. He lets others finish speaking before replying and expects the same courtesy.

Background: Anthic’s clan is in a long, slow decline, and he has turned to an adventurer’s life to help them.

Hook: Anthic dreams of returning to his kin with a great store of wealth. His clan needs new defences and mercenaries to guard them. This embarrasses him, and he does not willingly speak of it.

Kaunanna Natityrr

Impossibly slender and graceful, this elven woman wears shimmering white and gold robes. Her violet eyes sparkle with intellect.

Kaunanna Natityrr (CG female elf wizard 1) personifies impatience. Cursed with an elven master who preferred slow and steady progress, Kaunanna has come to human lands to gain the power she so craves.

Personality: Impetuous, impatient and easily bored, Kaunanna can be a handful to deal with. For all that, though, she is genuinely good and craves power and knowledge for the good it will do her people. She passionately believes the strong should protect the weak. She despises bullies.

Mannerisms: Kaunanna speaks quickly and forcefully. Sometimes she speaks so quickly, her words blend into one long sound.

Background: Born into a near-timeless and peaceful elven society, Kaunanna has been bored or restless for as long as she can remember. 

Hook: Kaunanna has joined the party because she believes she can learn something from them—particularly any wizards, sorcerers or other worshippers of the god of magic in their ranks. At a critical juncture of an adventure, she meets someone else who can teach her something new, and her loyalty to her fellows is sorely tested as a result.

Want More?

The NPCs above appear in 20 Things #69: Henchfolk & Hirelings by Creighton Broadhurst.