The ancient monk trudged wearily through the snow, his journey almost at an end. He had walked a thousand leagues following an old fool’s dream, nothing more. The vision had said a walk of a thousand leagues would reveal something surprising – and here he was, footsore, disappointed and within sight of the mountaintop temple from which his journey had begun. At 2,000 years of age, nothing he had seen on his travels had been in the least bit surprising. Had his vision failed him?
It was then that he saw amid the snow a small bundle, beside it a blackbird standing guard, it’s head cocked to one side, watching. As the monk leaned forward a tiny strong hand reached out and curled around his gnarled index finger. A green hand. The blanket parted to reveal a babe, green and ugly and calm.
The old monk’s eyes softened as he gathered up the bundle and walked the last ten paces to the temple gate.
His vision had not failed him at all.
Blackbird is an orc monk raised in a temple high atop a remote mountain range. He is named for his constant companion, the selfsame blackbird which stood guard over him almost three decades ago. The temple monks have taught him the disciplines and knowledge of their order to the best of their ability, and he has shown himself to be a capable (though not particularly academic) student.
Dirty little secret: In a land entirely devoid of orcs, did Blackbird just fall from the sky? Or are the gods playing dice again with Blackbird little more than a deific experiment into the nature of the savage soul? Who knows? (I do!)
Notes: 4e orcs rock. 4e monks rock. Put them together and you get green wushu with bad dentistry – and I like it!
Blackbird, Lawful Good Orc Monk-1
Str 16, Con 14, Dex 16, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 10
HP 26 bloodied 13 surges 6×9/day
AC 15, Fort 15, Ref 14, Will 12, Init +3
Unarmed Strike +6 vs AC, 1d8+3
Centered Flurry of Blows/w, Dragon’s Tail/w +3 vs Fort, Five Storms/w +3 vs Ref
Warrior’s Surge/e +6 vs AC, Open the Gate of Battle/e +6 vs AC
Masterful Spiral/d +3 vs Ref
Acrobatics +8, Athletics +8, Religion +5, Stealth +8
Running Charge, Warrior’s Surge, Centered Breath: Centered Flurry of Blows & Mental Equilibrium, Unarmed Combat, Unarmoured Defense
Against All Odds, Background: Occupation – Scholar
I don’t play 4e. But . . . Orc monks are still cool in RM. They kick even better butt with the Rolemaster Martial Arts Companion to back them up. Oh, did I tell you I designed an art for orcish pie bakers?
.-= Elton´s last blog ..Pin Ups are cool!! =-.