Preferred Equipment: Cyclops crafted plate armor, battleaxe, scimitar, punching dagger
Gold: 1510
The Uniter: Drawing his forces from the many disparate clans and warriors who have migrated leagues to stand beside him Arlaw has the ability to keep these many groups in line and away from infighting and instead focused towards a singular goal of his conquest. Jockeying for position is rare within the forces and most disputes are settled swiftly.
Dark Beacon: Despite his origins and apparently more simple manner Arlaw attracts dispossessed and landless warriors who are travel to him and lay their blades at his feet. These men and women come from countless backgrounds and for various reasons but in the end all serve Arlaw and integrate into his ever growing army. Veterans and green soldiers regularly find their way into the Haerrell Savannah to fight against those who oppose Arlaw.
Physical
[5]
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Magic
[1]
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Command
[5]
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Wealth
[8]
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Influence
[4]
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Dedication
[7]
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Weapon Mastery III
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Curse Magic
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Cyclops
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Furs
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Wandering Greedy Trader
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Spirited Leadership
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Dirty Trickster
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Gnolls
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Goblin Iron
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Public Executions
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Implacable Will
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Night-Sight
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Harpies
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Orc Steel
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Water Rats
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Bloody Brotherhood
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Kobolds
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Small Lands
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Bandit Clan
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You Can't Kill the Messiah
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Drums of War
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Normal Lands
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Dominator
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Big Lands
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Self-Sufficient
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Bigger Lands
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Wiser than he Looks
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Looitng Experts
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Biography: Born the eldest son of a chieftain Arlaw was almost assured to ascend to his fathers position. Being a gnoll of the Haerrell Savannah though he still had to earn his right to take the reigns of the clan and even survive. They were harsh times on the Savannah with clans fighting each other, raiding and looting for what little resources were available. They would assault the caravans that they believed they could defeat and trade with those willing and powerful enough. The kobolds and humans were a constant threat in that time as well as well as potential targets. It was kill or be killed all across the Savannah friends were rare and enemies everywhere.
Arlaw imagined something different, where his clan did not face the risk of starvation every day, where they were no longer divided and weak, where if necessary he would keep everyone in line to strike out and seize the resources of the surrounding lands. It took time first though as he served under his father, proving himself against other clans and caravans. It was not until his father died in a raid against humans that he ascended to be chieftain slaying both warriors who came forth to challenge him for the position.
As chieftain he moved quickly to bring his dream of a unified force together striking out at former enemies in decisive battles. In the past when one clan completely overwhelmed another it wiped out the defeated clan taking slaves and butchering their foes. Arlaw instead brought all surviving males before him and told them that he could butcher them but instead gave them a chance to serve him instead. In only a few battles he had grown to the largest clan in memory. With such forces they could suddenly assault targets that they never could before and soon merely showing up would force clans to lay down their arms before him.
As High Chieftain he saw his dream nearly there when things suddenly jumped in an entirely new direction. With a few hundred men he assaulted a town when instead of fighting back the men laid down their weapons and stated they would serve him in return for protection. Never before had humans served a gnoll in the region but Arlaw saw that the humans could be a great resource, a stronger base than before. He had to range out further and further to find targets to raid for as word of him spread when he arrived at a location the warriors would lay down their arms to serve him. Even koboldsof the savannah came before him weapons at their sides with gifts of death to his enemies in return for the fortune he was amassing, the protection of his army, and the resources he commanded.
Caravans were one of the few targets he could still strike but they began to either surrender to him, pay dues, or go far about his lands even as he claimed more and more. Seeing his power he knew he needed to consolidate and so began to take the simple broken paths and form them into roads. When a human came to him showing him a map of the savannah with his domain shown, he set the man to the task of properly mapping everything that bowed to him. From even beyond the savannah men now came to him, hearing of his army and the power he commanded they came with gifts and knowledge putting themselves at his command and were put to use with their skills.
Naturally with such growing attention it was not long before local powers came to stop him, armies raised by cities marched against him, and in a single decisive battle were crushed in open fields where it was expected that the use of cavalry Arlaw lack would give the edge. Instead it merely gave the vaunted cavalry to him and revealed the weakness of the city of Kakado. Marshalling his entire army Arlaw marched to Kakado and forced every village and town to give him what they could. Looking upon the city with it's remaining forces it was clear to all assembled that Arlaw even outnumbered and lacking in many resources was destined to win. It was as though he was touched by the gods. The lord of the city fled from the army ranks and was dragged grovelling and begging as the disgusting wretch he was before Arlaw. He was promptly beheaded, his body tossed aside, rumor holding his corpse found its way into a kobold's stew.
The soldiers of the city swore themselves to Arlaw, a gnoll of the savannah, those who survived. Not all humans were so willing to accept their new lord and so a bloody harvest was held for any who refused service to their new lord. This wave of death radiated out from the city across lands new and old to Arlaw's domain were any who were disloyal found themselves dragged from their homes and beheaded in the streets. Not just humans but amongst the kobolds and even gnolls those who were not willing to declare themselves fully for Arlaw were beheaded in his name.
With a city sworn now to him it was once more time to consolidate threats were still posed, with lands now abutting the mountains harpies were raiding the villages for men, food, and anything of value. Ever the hands on leader he assembled an army to march into the mountains. Fighting harpies were they chose the battle he lost men to their ambushes and gained a growing respect for them and their capability, but all the same he would never turn back. Nothing had ever threatened him with defeat and today would not be the day that ended. Finally he forced them into a solid defense to keep him and his men away from their nesting grounds high in the mountains. There they fought ferociously sensing defeat but were no match in a straight fight even with the sky on their side. Eventually their queen was brought down, wounded she was captured and held up as a trophy before the harpies. This forced a lull in the fighting as the harpies withdrew to one last line of defense and other harpy wounded were rounded up. Arlaw informed the queen she was not to die as expected but instead would now serve him as his newest concubine in his harem. A queen would be a mighty trophy for him to bring back to his city.
This proclamation resulted in an offer of her own as she lay on the ground before him, her and hers would come to him willingly as she looked upon him with the hungry eyes well noted in her race. They needed the men of other races and the things he represented along with his power. Seeing another chance to add to his forces he accepted her offer, leading her to the harpies who stood ready to die at their nesting grounds to inform them they were to now bow before Arlaw and recognize him as their new lord. He liked that title she had used, 'Lord,' and so he took the title just as he took the harpy queen forcefully that night. It was not until month later he would learn she could never bear him a son, only harpies, something she found greatly amusing much too his chagrin.
With the harpies added to his forces now he knew he could utilize them as a new avenue never before used in warfare on the savannah. The port city of Baobab should have been a fierce battle for control. Instead as he marched his army towards it and harpies flew above the city men cowered in their homes and the lord of the city was stabbed by his generals. Once again those who would refuse their new lord were butchered, what was to be a tremendous battle was a massacre in the streets and barracks of the city.
A port suddenly and vastly expanded his power from far away soldiers who had heard of his growing might came to him. Knights and cyclops swore their blades and hammers to him while scholars and priests swore their knowledge to him. Planning to expand, to control, to rule, crews were sent out to find resources to mine for such would surely be needed. Roads were built and grew to extend his projection of power. When the roads reached the city of Sabona the leaders of the city knew what was to come and instead went to head it off. The lord of the city came with a single champion requesting that the Sabona champion fight one of Arlaw's choosing and that victory would result in Sabona being left free while their defeat would find the city under the control of Arlaw without further resistance. Naturally Arlaw accepted such favorable terms, most expected him to pick one of the cyclops battlesmiths to represent him if he did not pick himself. Instead though almost all were surprised when the queen of the harpies was chosen. As the champion of Sabona brought up his massive two-handed sword the harpy took off into the air and proceeded to simply throw javelins at him. The champion never even had a chance to swing at his foe for while no mortal blow was struck the champion's motions became more and more sluggish. Eventually the champion collapsed on the ground his breathing growing difficult and then ending. At this Arlaw congratulated the master poisoner of the kobolds for the success of his latest concoction.
The lord of Sabona was beside himself in fury but as was pointed out to him now rules had been broken and should he choose to not honor the agreement then such as had happened that day would happen a thousand times over when Sadona was visited. As was tradition when the forces of Arlaw marched into a new city those who would be a danger to the rule of Arlaw died in the streets an example to what would happen to any who would oppose the Lord of The Haerrell Savannah.