2025 Character Creation Challenge, Day 16: Throg the Stormrider

It's day sixteen of the challenge. Halfway through. Over the hump. Nothing but downhill from here.

I hope.

I came up with a NPC concept for X1 The Isle of Dread. He may not be used in the adventure. Normally, I would make a note and move on. I certainly wouldn't go to the trouble of creating a character sheet at this point. However, there is this challenge I'm participating in and it's nice to have him ready to go as an option.

Throg, Half-Orc Barbarian, 1 of 2

Throg was born on the frontier. His parents belonged to communities that were supposed to be at war with each other. The harsh reality of life in the wilds meant that they had more in common with each other than their nominal rulers in distant capitals. Half-orcs were accepted, if not common.

That acceptance disappeared from Throg's life once he left his home. Filled with wanderlust, he struck out on his own as soon as he was able. Throg found himself judged by his appearance, an outcast in both human and orc cultures.

Throg found ways to get by on the fringes of civilization. His knowledge of the wilderness meant he could hire himself out as a scout or guide. And there was always mercenary work.

He eventually found himself in a coastal village populated by outcasts like himself. It reminded Throg of home. To his surprise, he was able to apply himself to life near the sea. He took to sailing small boats, catching fish by hook or net, and learning all he would need to be useful to his new community.

Let's interrupt Throg's tale to come up with numbers for him. Throg is a half-orc barbarian. Before anybody objects, racial restrictions on classes and levels are not used in our campaign.

My dice were warm - a couple of good results and nothing that would impose penalties. Applying the modifiers for being a half-orc resulted in several modest bonuses. Most importantly, Throg's Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution more than met the requirements for the barbarian class.

Throg specializes in the sword. However, he finds the long bow, hand axe, and dagger useful in the wilds.

Throg, Half-Orc Barbarian, 2 of 2

One day, Throg was caught by a sudden storm. The fierce winds blew his small sailboat beyond the sight of land. He drifted for weeks until making landfall on the Dread Isle.

Throg adapted quickly. He found materials to repair his sailboat and began to explore the coast of the Dread Isle. The indigenous population came to an uneasy agreement with him. Throg traded the fish he caught and pearls he harvested for supplies. He lives away from the villages. It's a peaceful life, but he yearns to return to the pleasures of the mainland.