Questline for party favorite NPC | Dream Realm DnD | Page 1

sonic stream Jan 9, 2023, 9:08 PM

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I may need some help creating a mini questline for an NPC that is the favorite of the majority of my players. Making the quest in such way that the party will have enough moments to shine, while also having the NPC stand central to everything.

The NPC in question is one of the last remaining full blooded orcs. In my world orcs were created by a God of War to fight off demons, after the war, as a reward the God gave the orcs their own freedom and free will. And after three and a half thousand years of mingling with other races, finding an orc with 100% pure orc blood is unbelievably rare.
I was thinking of another Full Blooded Orc challenging this one for a duel, but that would be both short-lived and wouldn't involve the party. Nor would it fit the NPC accepting this duel, as he is not aggressive and mainly uses his strength to protect others.

thick shoal Jan 10, 2023, 2:58 AM

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How long has it been in game since the players seen this npc?

sonic stream Jan 10, 2023, 5:53 AM

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It has been a while, they have known him for a few weeks. And from thei perspective have made a decent connection. As they set up a prank for him last session and have been able to convince him to join in on games.
And currently one of his better friendships is with one of the PC's sister.

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It may also be good to mention that the NPC is in fact a were-moose.
In my world the BBEG is a mad scientist who can draw out any inner-animal hidden in one's DNA and this NPC was one of his experiments.

thick shoal Jan 10, 2023, 6:46 AM

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so orc moose?

sonic stream Jan 10, 2023, 6:55 AM

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Yep

fierce shadow Jan 10, 2023, 10:26 AM

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What can you tell us about the orc culture in your world? If not many full orcs are left, perhaps there isn't much of it left / mixed with other racial or country cultures?

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From what you wrote, honourable duelling seems to be one of them. Idk if protection / sense of honour, or belligerence are also common. Asking this so I could possibly suggest plot hooks other than a duel

sonic stream Jan 10, 2023, 11:34 AM

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From what is left of the orcs, while 100%pure blooded orcs are rare. There are many orcs who are descendants of the original created orcs, but have half-breeds as ancestors. So while an orc may claim that 20 generations of his family have bee orcs, the ancestor of 37 generations ago may have been only half orc.
And for those remaining orcs their culture vary from where they would be from.

For the most prominent Orc culture, there are two cities.
One city in the mountains that has accepted their aggressive, strong nature and have started working with those that only they find worthy, A city mostly inhabited by Orcs, Goliaths, Hobgoblins, and Goliaths. Strength and sturdiness are their main way of earning respect, emotions and other 'weaknesses' are frowned upon.
The other who were shunned for their more monstrous aspects. They formed a town that is very inclusive, many other races like goblins, kobolds, minotaurs, tabaxi, and bugbears form a commune and don't discriminate.

And another thing from history, is that the God who created the orcs was one of the bigger rivals of Orcus, to spite the demon lord, he named his creations to fight his forces "Orcs"
Though some demon lords managed to fuse orc with their own demons, creating the demonic Tanarukk's. All of them have been wiped out. and demons no longer have a big grasp on the world.

fierce shadow Jan 10, 2023, 12:41 PM

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Does being a 100% pure blooded orc make them look different? Give them certain abilities? Is it even possible to tell a 100% from a 95%? Does the orc god answer more of the prayers for the full ones? Do the non full ones have issues with their freedom of will?

sonic stream Jan 10, 2023, 1:00 PM

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There's only one way, and it comes down to genetics. The original orcs all were similarly made, therefore making it obvious that the green skinned 7'2" orc is less of an orc, than their darker skinned and taller kin.
True orcs would have dark grey skin, standing at no less than 9 foot.
And for different abilities. They are generally stronger, tougher, and more resistant to damage.
If you are talking about game mechanics, there is no real difference between stats.
And the gods in this world don't mettle much, and clergies are not that common.
No problems with their free will either. Though should the God want to, he is able to manipulate individuals more easily the higher percentage of orc blood runs through their veins.

Though the orc god is not a malicious god at all

fierce shadow Jan 10, 2023, 1:09 PM

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If you want to focus on this one orc NPC's arc while roping in the PCs (which i agree with), I'd def recommend taking a slightly different route than the duel.

A duel is too short. Can be related to proving himself to an orc tribal chief looking for a partner / the daughter of the chief. Someone who is also full blooded. And so our party-NPC wishes to earn her hand for the sake of his race / proving himself / a promise to his parents. This allows you to make it amultiple session thing including 1) Martial Combat 2) Hunting 3) Leadership / Charisma etc. With other suitors also present.

A fun little wrench you could throw in is that maybe the full orc's personal feelings are muddled. And he actually loves someone else, possibly that PC's sister? Ofc, I have no way of knowing if thats something that would fit, as I don't know why they are friends or what the sister is like. Or another wrench being the moral / social complications that may arise from marrying that orc tribal chief / daughter, as they may be immoral, or about to start working with someone evil. Maybe one of the contenders for the hand is not actually a 100% orc, just pretending to be, and the daughter + this contender love each other. And so on.

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You could replace the matrimony hunger games with an election / winning the right to rule an orc village / tribe / an important position in one of those cities.

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regardless of what you do, make sure that each of the sub-trials have something to do with either what a PC is good at, or ties heavily into a PC's list of factions / NPCs / interests. So that each of them shines throughout it all.

sonic stream Jan 10, 2023, 1:31 PM

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This is an amazing plot hook, though for this specific NPC, it would be hard to find motivation for this NPC to want to rule, or invoke the challenge himself.
He is loyal to the village he helps protect, this village has been formed by an elderly half-orc werewolf. This village is a safe-haven for those that met a similar fate to the full-blood orc in question, being a test subject of the BBEG.
As mentioned before he does not strive for power or leadership. Though I may use a reverse version, where he is challenged by someone who does wish to become a tribe leader. And knowing my players, they will hype him up to take it on, or defend him when he would refuse.

But I will definitely use your take on the sub-trials fitting to the party's strengths.

fierce shadow Jan 10, 2023, 1:35 PM

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Yeah, def. Tap into something that NPC wants to protect / cannot refuse. Maybe by bringing someone else he cares about into the picture

#Questline for party favorite NPC