Barbary

Barbary is the strong-willed and fearsome daughter of Captain Redond and Maureen. As a key member of the pirate ship Sister Mercy, she is both a formidable presence and a deeply malevolent force. With her staunch belief in human supremacy, a legacy of her early indoctrination into Wastri’s faith, and her new devotion to Orcus, Barbary has become an agent of chaos and death. Her alignment with the Cult of Orcus , her unwavering loyalty to her family, and her merciless nature make her a dangerous adversary to all who cross her path.

Physical Description

Barbary is a towering and imposing woman, her physical presence alone enough to command respect and fear.

• Height and Build: Broad-shouldered and muscular, she carries herself with the confidence of someone used to dominating her surroundings.
• Facial Features: Her visage is marked by angular cheekbones and a permanent scowl that exudes malice. Her piercing blue eyes are unnerving, hinting at her inner cruelty.
• Hair: A mane of dark, untamed hair falls past her shoulders, often tied back when she is engaged in combat.
• Clothing: Barbary wears a mix of functional pirate garb and grim religious adornments. Her armor is reinforced leather, engraved with runes honoring Orcus, and her robes are lined with crimson to signify bloodshed and death.

"Weakness disgusts me. If you're not strong enough to fight, you're not strong enough to live."

Key Details

• Towering, muscular figure.
• Piercing blue eyes that radiate cruelty.
• Armor adorned with symbols of Orcus.
• Practical but intimidating pirate attire.

Personality

Barbary is a volatile mix of cruelty, cunning, and unwavering loyalty to her family and Orcus.

• Cruelty: Barbary revels in domination, tormenting her enemies and lesser crew members alike. Her sadistic streak is well known among the Sister Mercy's crew.
• Loyalty: While she shares her father’s wickedness, her loyalty to her family is absolute. She will defend the Sister Mercy and its crew to her dying breath.
• Fanaticism: Barbary’s devotion to Orcus has eclipsed her early faith in Wastri. She serves as the ship’s spiritual enforcer, spreading Orcus’s dark influence.
• Leadership Style: Though she is not officially the ship’s leader, Barbary often takes charge during raids, barking orders with brutal efficiency.

Key Traits

• Sadistic and ruthless in her interactions.
• Fanatically devoted to Orcus and his teachings.
• Loyal to her family but will not hesitate to enforce Orcus's will, even on them.
• Highly respected (and feared) by the crew.

Background

Barbary’s upbringing aboard the Sister Mercy shaped her into the fearsome figure she is today.

Early Life

• Acolyte of Wastri: As a child, Barbary was trained in the faith of Wastri by a wandering cleric. This instilled in her a belief in human superiority over demi-humans.
• Life Aboard the Sister Mercy: From a young age, Barbary participated in the raids and operations of the pirate ship, learning the brutal trade of piracy under her father’s tutelage.
• Turning to Orcus: Influenced by her father’s descent into Orcus worship, Barbary abandoned Wastri’s teachings and pledged herself to the Prince of the Undead. This decision marked her complete moral and spiritual corruption.

"The Prince of the Undead whispers to me. His power is my purpose, and his will shall be done."

Key Events

• Became a spiritual enforcer aboard the Sister Mercy.
• Transitioned from Wastri to Orcus worship, solidifying her role as an agent of death.
• Took an active role in orchestrating raids and terrorizing merchant vessels.

Motivation

Barbary’s life is driven by a combination of family loyalty, Orcus’s dark mandate, and her own lust for power.

• Supremacy of Orcus: Barbary seeks to spread the influence of Orcus, converting or destroying all who oppose him.
• Family Loyalty: Despite her cruelty, she remains loyal to Captain Redond and her brothers, Mallandamus and Senyig. She sees the Sister Mercy as a vehicle for fulfilling her dark ambitions.
• Ambition: Barbary secretly dreams of one day leading her own fleet of pirate vessels, creating a domain ruled by terror and death.

"Family is everything. Cross me or mine, and I’ll send you screaming into the Abyss."

Goals

• Spread Orcus’s dark faith and influence through piracy and terror.
• Solidify her family’s dominance on the Velverdyva River and Imeryds Run.
• Amass wealth and power for herself and her demon prince.

Relationships

Family Dynamics

• Captain Redond: Barbary respects her father’s strength but quietly disapproves of his perceived weakness as he grows older. She would never openly challenge him but secretly believes she could lead better.
• Maureen: Barbary has a strained relationship with her mother, seeing Maureen’s gentler nature as a liability.
• Mallandamus: Barbary deeply admires her older brother’s strength and views him as a kindred spirit in their shared devotion to the family’s goals.
• Senyig: She shares a complicated relationship with Senyig, often mocking his quiet nature but secretly relying on his cunning and subtlety.

"Mallandamus fights with strength, Senyig with guile—but I? I fight with purpose, and that is why I cannot fail."

Allies and Rivals

• The Crew of the Sister Mercy: Barbary commands their respect through fear and charisma. Few dare to challenge her authority.
• The River Pirates: Barbary views the other pirate factions on the Velverdyva River as either useful allies or potential targets.
• Temple of Elemental Evil: While Barbary respects the power of the Elemental Cults, she sees them as rivals to Orcus’s supremacy. She is willing to work with them when their goals align but remains wary of their influence.

Operations in Nulb

Barbary plays a key role in the Sister Mercy’s operations in Nulb, using her influence to strengthen her family’s presence in the village.

• Cultic Influence: Barbary uses her position to recruit followers for Orcus, particularly from the desperate and downtrodden of Nulb.
• Economic Manipulation: She works with local smugglers and merchants to ensure the Sister Mercy has access to supplies and information.

River Raids and Piracy

• Merchant Targets: Barbary’s ruthlessness ensures the success of the ship’s raids on merchant vessels.
• Psychological Warfare: Her cruelty and Orcus-backed magic spread fear among the riverfolk, discouraging resistance.

DM-Only Section: Secrets of Barbary

Show spoiler

Hidden Depths

• Conflict with Maureen: If Barbary learns of Maureen’s disapproval of Redond’s pact with Orcus, she may take drastic action to protect her father’s deal.
• Ambition: Barbary harbors a secret desire to one day overthrow her father and take command of the Sister Mercy. Her loyalty to Redond is conditional on his continued strength.
• Orcus’s Influence: Barbary is increasingly being consumed by Orcus’s will. She is beginning to lose her sense of self, becoming little more than a vessel for the demon prince’s power.

Plot Hooks

• Family Betrayal: If Maureen or Senyig attempts to oppose Redond’s pact with Orcus, Barbary may take sides, leading to a potential family schism.
• Rivalry with the Temple of Elemental Evil: Barbary’s ambition may lead her to clash with the Elemental Cults in Nulb, creating opportunities for the adventurers to exploit.
• Redemption Arc: A deeply buried part of Barbary longs for freedom from Orcus’s influence. Clever players may be able to exploit this vulnerability.

Key Facts for DMs

• Role: Barbary is a fearsome enforcer and recruiter for Orcus aboard the Sister Mercy.
• Magic: As a priestess of Orcus, Barbary wields dark necromantic powers.
• Conflict: Barbary’s ambition and fanaticism may cause rifts within the crew or with other factions.
• Secret Weakness: Despite her loyalty to Orcus, Barbary is not beyond redemption, though she would never admit it.

"The rivers carry fear wherever the Sister Mercy sails. I’ll see to it that fear becomes despair."

Barbary

Towering Pirate Cleric of Orcus

• Armor Class (AC): -1 (plate +1, shield +1)
• Hit Points (HP): 27
• Hit Dice (HD): 4 (Cleric)
• Speed: 9
• Attack: #AT: 1 To Hit Bonus: +4
• Damage: 1d6 + 4 (rod of smiting)

Attributes

• Strength (S): 17 (+1 to melee hit/damage)
• Intelligence (I): 14 (Moderately well-read; capable of spell comprehension)
• Wisdom (W): 18 (+4 bonus to saving throws vs. magic)
• Dexterity (D): 10 (No bonuses or penalties)
• Constitution (Co): 16 (+2 bonus to HP per level)
• Charisma (Ch): 10 (Neutral; no special reactions)
• Comeliness (Com): 15 (Striking appearance with a dark, commanding aura)

Clerical Spellcasting

Barbary has access to divine spells granted by Orcus. She prepares her spells daily and chooses them based on her brutal and destructive objectives.

Spell Slots

• 1st Level: 3
• 2nd Level: 2

Prepared Spells

1st Level:

• Command (Force a single target to obey a one-word order)
• Protection from Good (+2 AC vs. good creatures)
• Cause Light Wounds (Inflict 1d8 damage on touch)

2nd Level:

• Hold Person (Paralyze humanoids in place; saving throw negates)
• Spiritual Weapon (Summon a weapon of Orcus' will, dealing 1d8 damage)

Equipment

• Rod of Smiting (+3 vs. constructs, destroys golems on critical hits)
• Plate Armor +1 (magically enhanced for added protection)
• Shield +1 (inscribed with unholy runes of Orcus)
• Coin Pouch: 50 gp, 25 sp

Special Abilities

• Turn Undead: Barbary can manipulate undead, commanding them with Orcus' dark blessings. Undead under her control often follow her orders without question.
• Divine Connection: Barbary's faith in Orcus grants her the ability to channel unholy energy, inflicting harm to good-aligned creatures and bolstering her dark aura.

Tactics

• Combat Style: Barbary charges into battle fearlessly, using her rod of smiting and shield to dominate her foes while casting debilitating cleric spells to weaken opposition.
• Leadership: As the crew's spiritual authority, she rallies pirates to fight ferociously, leveraging Orcus' unholy blessings to tip the scales in their favor.
• Psychological Warfare: Her menacing presence and unyielding faith in Orcus terrify enemies and inspire allies, sowing chaos wherever she treads.

Personality Traits

• Cruel and calculating but fiercely loyal to her family.
• Utterly devoted to Orcus, often invoking his name in battle.
• Ambitious and eager to extend her influence among Nulb's factions and the Temple of Elemental Evil.

Alignment

Lawful Evil

Species

Humans of Greyhawk

Ethnicity

Oeridian Oerid

Year of Birth

551 25 Years old

Sex

female

Eyes

piercing blue eyes

Hair

A mane of dark, untamed hair falls past her shoulders

Height

6'

Belief/Deity

Orcus

Aligned Organization

Sister Mercy

"Death isn’t the end. It’s a beginning—a chance to serve Orcus in eternity. Be grateful if I grant you that gift."

Unholy Symbol of Orcus by 3orcs