Marshal Marshall

[Thramzorean]

Name: Marshall Berringer - Master Armourist, Master Medic

Race: Human

Class: Blacksmith 10

Alignment: NG

Stat Block

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Marshal Berringer
M NG Human Blacksmith, Level 10, Init 7, HP 145/145, Speed 30
AC 33, Touch 32, Flat-footed 26, CMD 43, Fort 14, Ref 13, Will 13, CMB +11/+6, Base Attack Bonus 10/5
Distance Merciful +1 Launching Crossbow +18/+12 (Variable +5, null)
Sundering (miss-fire 1) +2 Rifle, Mosin-Nagant M1891 (5) +19/+13 (1d10+5, x4)
Stainless Steel MW Battlewrench +12/+7 (1d4+1, x3)
(+7 Dex, +2 Natural, +1 Deflect, +13 Misc)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 24, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
Condition
+10 on tracking using Survival
Ignores non-magical difficult terrain with martial focus
+1 AC vs. bullets
Improved Sunder

+4 AC on Active Shield Defence
Default Weapon Augments are Merciful on Launching Crossbow, +1 on Rifle (Included)
Default Shield Augment is +2 on Shield (Included)

 

Background

"You make your own luck."

A military man with a glittering self-made career. At the time his discharge an air assault major awaiting promotion, and perhaps more significantly, classified a master armourist, a position with recognised prerogatives and special status in the hierarchy of the Aetherian High Navy. Marshal is not only a master armourist but also a master medic, which to the troops he has served with of the greater functionality, officers and mechanics are two a penny.

In the military luck plays its part, the finest officer can receive a stain on their record due to actions of a subordinate they have no control over; war itself can drive people insane - who has not seen the blank eyed homeless on vassal state city streets, stark reminders of the effects of Aetherian cannons; while a single miss-interpreted word in poorly communicated orders can doom an individual and their unit.

Yet all of this pales before the self-inflicted wounds, the anguish inflicted on the self by oneself. For Marshal, he was brung low by the love of a woman above his station. Who was he, the son of a humble locksmith, to aspire to the hand of a duchess to be, a personage with ancestry that indeed had royal blood in its genealogy? The results were predictable, the sad shaking of heads in the mess halls as rumour grew, a harbinger of certain inevitability.

So it was Marshall, once the epitome of military efficiency and drive, was left to wallow in the depths of his jilted depression bereft of purpose and will to live. Many in such straits have turned to drink or other concoction to adle or delude the brain - in Marshal's case he became an adrenalin junkie, volunteering for evermore risky assignments till even the elite marines under his command began to suspect him of a death wish - and wanted no part in it.

In amongst the pounding iron foundries and chugging diesel engines of Aetheria there remains a humanity, often disguised true. Practicality plays a part, there is no desire to waste useful, hard-won, assets. An alternative option was found for Marshal, whose errant recklessness was glossed over with an honourable discharge and a silver badge.

The Waste is a land for miss-fits and the broken discards of society, Marshal would find a new home there, or simply vanish into the dust like so many before him.

 

Personality

"Destroy their weapons and suddenly peace becomes the better option."

Marshall is, when not otherwise in a morose funk, a vivacious energetic man of pleasant humour and calm demeanour. There is a hard edge to him, one does not survive in the military without a sharp focus on the necessities of war, but this is now tempered with the sure knowledge of his own fallibility.

He is not particularly religious, the monotheistic church and the potential schism of the New Reformationists has held little interest to him. There has always been chaplains attached to whatever unit he has served, that's all he has really known or cared about that aspect of the Emperor's divine rule. He is in truth a technocrat at heart, a patriot believing firmly the advance of the Aetherian Empire relies on its capability to harness the world around them.

In his own way also, Marshall is a better man than many of the clergy. In terms of both a fundamental benevolence and his attitudes to his fellow beings. He cares for his soldiers, avoids civilian casualties, and remains a man of clear conscience despite the atrocities of war. When riot control and native suppression without anti-heretical vindictiveness is called for, Marshal was an officer of choice.

 

Appearance

"The man behind the gas mask."

A man dressed in oiled black leathers with a black long coat and matching broad brimmed hat strung about with military gear. Plain-featured, with over-sized ears and a slight cast to one eye, the man is the sort of individual who would be passed in the street with nobody remembering particularly much about him. A lined dry complexion, weather-tanned by the rushing cold wind of the airships, green eyes and curly blond-brown hair. Surprisingly soft-voiced and a somewhat retiring manner leaves many to wonder if in fact he is a military officer at all for those more used to bombastic drill-sergeants and pistol toting evangelistic preachers.

Yet there is no doubting the exceptional excellence of his tactical equipment, the ubiquitous M-N rifle is slung over one shoulder, but what is of immediate notice is the intricate, personalised, swivelling, curved and bent massive black metal shield strapped to his left arm that seems an extension of his body it moves so lightly with his every stride. At his right hip hangs the most extraordinary weapon. A geared metallic crossbow of sorts can be made out, but with levers, springs, ammunition pickers, fuse cutters and who knows what other accoutrements, certainly it is never intended to hold any sort of standard quarrel.

Across his body is a complex black leather weapon harness, grenades, fluid injectors, vials, and pouches of this and that strung about such that the man might be a walking apothecary.

For those versed in the human condition there is an air of vulnerability about him, not so much a man who has lost at life, rather one who has had to confront his own weaknesses.

 

Storyline

Marshall stood, there on the highest pinnacle of the highest air city, on a spire that pierced the cumulus clouds and left him and the woman beside him watching the sun rise over a carpet of billowing rose-gold. It was perfect, the air of pristine quality, the night wind had sent all the dusty smog of chimneys and factories far away, to leave only wisps of rising cloud to dance amongst the towers below.

There before them the shadows between the streets and long avenues were being chased into hiding by the golden light that fell upon grey slate and brick-red tile roofs. This, this was Aetheria. A new day. A new day to learn and grow, in partnership forever with this city, this world, and this woman beside him.

Could anything be more perfect? Marshall stood, resplendent in his formal dress uniform, the rows of medals and campaign braids turning his left chest into a sparkling kaleidoscope of colour. On his right side an item to him even more dear, her token, a delicate white lace kerchief, pinned to his shoulder lapel. So hard won, after months of gallant devotion. She had loved the attention and he had played the role to perfection.

Marshall turned from the rising sun to glance behind at the last of the evening stars. Each he knew, what naval officer didn't? Dear friends that would in their turn revisit the glittering firmament above them.

Yes, today would be perfect. In a short moment they would descend to breakfast on the pavilion, to discuss and lay their plans for the future. Then Marshall had a short interlude to catch a lecture in the alchemists hall on the fascinating properties of iridium before being called away to duty, to depart on his next voyage, then to return to a new... home.

As if prompted by his mind, at the edge of the city a long gleaming merchant ship left her moorings to glide upwards to greet the fiery ball of the sun. A beauty of her class, glinting brass railings could be seen from here, it was almost as if he could hear the slow chug of the diesel engine turning the propellers. Marshall smiled, he had some ideas about that, ideas that would make him famous throughout the Imperial High Navy.

Yes, it was the perfect day.

Then, at last, the woman spoke.

"No."

 

~~~

 

Marshall, for all that he had been told to stand at ease, was as rigid as a muzzle-loader ramrod. The woman sat behind the wide wooden desk before him held his life in his hands, and not just metaphorically. Her word would convict him before any court-martial, and for the first time in his career Marshall understood the palpable fear of authority - this perhaps accentuated by the fact that of any officer in the High Imperial Navy, this Commodore knew him best. His commanding officer when he first graduated, the green as grass second-lieutenant.

"You almost lost your entire unit, Major Marshall," came the neutral comment, a hand stretching out of a beringed sleeve was turning the loose pages of his own report.

"Yes, ma'am," came the prompt reply. Marshall had known they were in trouble the moment he had seen one of the enemy backflip out of the blast of his grenade. They had been warned they faced no ordinary soldiers. Only a last minute flash of inspiration with a gas tank and a fortunate change of wind direction had allowed them to air-lift out before disaster struck.

"Snipers would have worked, we should have sent the skirmishers in as recommended by fleet command. It was my decision to use a heavy assault platoon."

Indeed he had barely survived himself, the lithe masked enemy before him making the mistake of disarming the battlewrench in hand, not understanding Marshall's shield was his real weapon.

"So you state."

The woman rose to walk over to the windowpanes that in the traditional manner over-looked the stern of her vessel. A small, compact figure, her diminutive form no indication of the aura of authority that emanated from her.

"I have reviewed the report and one provided by your sergeant-major, as you are aware," the Commodore continued in the same neutral voice, still gazing away into the distance through the windows. "There is an option on the desk, I suggest you take it."

Puzzled Marshall stepped forward to pick up and open a plain manila envelope, curiously heavy. Within it was a silver badge, engraved with the words "Imperial Marshal", along with his discharge papers, already signed.

There was a choking cough as the emotion of the moment over-took him.

Finally, there was a long sigh. "I accept."

He had been trained in deep insertion, he had the fundamental skills. Indeed unbidden a thought came flashing into Marshal's mind, the idea of entering the Wastes to see the ancient devastated ruins of the Precursors for himself, rather than reading about them vicariously in the stack of adventurers journals he had in his cabin.

Then his thoughts turned to the steel-haired woman before him. "Commodore... allow me to say...," he began, before he was cut off.

"Enough. Go do your duty, Marshal Marshall."

 

Edited April 25 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

Martial Law

Scratchpad

Base Abilities
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 8. Race Dex +2, 4th Con +1, 8th Dex +1
ABP: Con, Wis.

 

Human
- Focused Study: 1st Skill Focus - Profession (Blacksmith), 8th Skill Focus - Perception
- Skilled

 

Reference
- Spheres of Power
- Martial Traditions
- Practitioner Feats
- Practitioner Traits
- Shield
- Barrage
- Alchemy
- Equipment
- Scout

 

Class
- Blacksmith 10

 

Feats - 5
Martial Talents - 10
Smithing Insight - 5
Bonus Feats: Craft Wonderous Item, Craft Magic Armour and Weapons

 

Martial Tradition - Shield Master
Shield Training, Shield Sphere, Deflective Shield, Mechanical Training
 

Class Equipment Talent: Custom Training - War Hammer, Rapier, Mortar, Cannon (Artillery) Have assumed Mortar is a martial weapon, Artillery is exotic.

 

Martial Talents
- Unarmoured Training (+6)
- Barrage
- Expert Reloading {Equipment}
- Alchemy - Improved Fuse Grenade
- Scout {Drawback: Tracker = + Track the Scene}
- Unimpeded Positioning {Scout}
- Mechanical Savant {Equipment}
- Mobile Focus {Barrage}
- Fuse Master {Alchemy}
- Redirecting Shield {Shield}

 

Smithing Insight
- Gunsmith
- Shieldsmith
- Maker’s Know How
- Master Shieldsmith
- Toolsmith

 

Feats
- Combat Reflexes
- Healers Hands
- Signature Skill Unlock - Healing
- Perfect Calm {Spheres Practitioner Feat}
- Crossbow Mastery

 

Traits
- Frontier Healer
- Scout's Eyes {Spheres Practitioner Trait}

 

Edited March 28 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

Marshal Law

To explain the build for you Penchant -

Basically an armoured tank to be able to move about the battlefield to repair men and equipment. The character has considerable in-combat medical abilities if you're familiar with the healer's hands feat and treat deadly wounds combo. The blacksmith class provides good repair abilities for guns that get the broken condition or otherwise, if there's vehicles involved for example. The blacksmith also has useful daily group buffing abilities which can be seen under the Maintenance heading of the class (all spheres links are above).

Offensively Marshall has a reasonably grunty alchemy grenade capability but that is highly ammunition restricted and has other issues, it's not instantaneous and if you're up against somebody with evasion it's worthless (see Other Notes in the character sheet for details). He's a specialist in taking out enemy weapons as a base ability of the blacksmith class, if troops are pinned down by a heavy machine gun he looks to take out the machine gun rather than the gunners. The key point with the build though is with his grenade launching crossbow and to have a bit of alchemy fun - to be able to shoot tanglefoot bags at range and so forth.

One specific ability that could want noting as different from standard 1e is the active shield sphere ability to redirect missed attacks back at enemies at -2 to hit which costs an AoO to use.

Useful side abilities are his high tracking skill level and the sphere's scout ability to identify creature weaknesses without resort to a knowledge skill.

So, yeah, tried to stay on setting theme with the class, and with the group support abilities avoid any over-the-top damage output combos of spheres.

Edited April 25 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

Marshmallow Law

 

Marshal Marshall Berringer                                                                                                                                                            Character Sheet

Once upon a time, a long time ago.

 

There was a Marshal by the name of Marshal.

 

Who spoke like, "This."

 

Edited April 25 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

@Penchant I'll state Marshall as being ready for review. Any questions you might have regards the build or otherwise please let me know Penchant. I've explained a bit about the character design above and can easily expand on that. Happy to rework as required.

 

Edited March 29 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Starhawk]

Healer is most welcome. Luce has no ability in that direction.

[Starhawk]

Just now, Steel Warrior said:

I had considered a healer myself, but I saw Ilya, Superstitious Sniper and Meddlesome Medic and went a different route lol.

Last fight we were in, I didn't see any healing so I assumed there was none.. perhaps I missed something. But yeah Luce has none.

[namo]

1 hour ago, Starhawk said:

Last fight we were in, I didn't see any healing so I assumed there was none.. perhaps I missed something. But yeah Luce has none.

When everything was tallied... we had taken no damage. Hence no healing needed.

Indeed Ilya has out-of-combat healing (it's fast healing, so takes some time to do its work).

[Thramzorean]

Yeah, I did deliberately look to fill the niche, with full HPs for players and the BBEG, wands of cure light don't really cut it.

Edited March 29 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[namo]

So about how much do you heal in 1 round?

[Starhawk]

Wasn't there a movie called 'We are Marshall'?

[Thramzorean]

2 hours ago, namo said:

So about how much do you heal in 1 round?

Typically 26 or 23 htps. Might roll a 1 though and lose 10. Can do that 10x a day. No chance of failure next level.

 

2 hours ago, Starhawk said:

Wasn't there a movie called 'We are Marshall'?

So there is, looks worth a watch too. I had to search it. I'm no movie buff.

 

 

[Starhawk]

Sounds like a case of split personality disorder. Guess you can be good cop and bad cop at the same time. :)