Grebs Follyfoot, Illustrated by James Keegan
…if they can’t get their disciplined little halfling heads out of their rears, then we’ll have to do it for them, shan’t we? I’ve not done all this work tearing everything down just for them to dig their heels more fully into their illusion, did I? DID I???
Of course not! OF COURSE NOT! They think that the world is about order and society and law and little flowers and festivals and joy. They’re just a pack of weak people spouting weak things and holding the strong back. “Don’t hurt me!” “Please be fair!” If you can live, then live! I can’t live for me and for you! Why even ask? Where’s the “fair”-ness IN THAT!?!
I’m here to take what I want. It’s the only rule! If I want…say, one of your eyes…Hold still dammit! Lemme climb up there! Ah, there we go…then I’ll take it. See? Now stop with your screaming or I’ll decide I want your heart. You sound like an infant. You now how I feel about babies…
What was I saying? Ah yes –all of these structures suffocate me. You look around you and you see what, exactly? Mewling babies and the teats of the infinitely finite. Family, law, society, civilization, they’re looming over me. “Why, hello there you cute little fuzzy halfling! How can we strangle your hairy little body today?” The world sees a halfling, but what they should really be seeing is a chained dragon, dizzy with the details of his confinement and dangerously desirous of his freedom. The world sleeps but it is my dream that will see the weak purged by flame.
Ah, ok…I want your heart now. You over there, hold him still. And stop that damn screaming!
There we go. You know, I’m not into trophies but I’m considering changing my mind, maybe!
Where was I? Yes…so we’ve poisoned the water. Now, burn this place to the ground. Tell mother I said hello.
Should have given me that toy.
Background
Grebs found himself swallowed by a purple worm, tumbling and swishing around the beast’s inside, praying for help to come. When help didn’t come, he relied on himself to claw his way out, handhold by wretched handhold. Covered in acid burns from the worm’s digestive system, and maddened by the experience, Grebs changed from the lovable caring person he once was into the raving madman bent to destroy civilization and all its pretenses.
Motivation & Goals
Grebs believes that if you are weak, you should not live. Anything that contradicts this belief is anathema to him. Governments, communities, religion –these institutions and more all hide the weak and shelter them from the worst of what life truly has to offer. The strong should have what they want because they’ve taken it by force, and keep it until someone stronger comes along.
Grebs works to turn “might makes right” into the waking reality of all those who draw a breath.
Organization
Grebs doesn’t take too well to planning, and he doesn’t like managing people. His philosophy does attract a great many people to him, and he’s more than willing to use those who follow him for his own gain. Grebs uses people from a multitude of races and social classes. He keeps a few trusted henchman around him at all times, but organization isn’t a word you could use for what Grebs does. When he works towards some end, he gathers people around him for the task, and then discards or sacrifices them when done. Grebs uses a multitude of disguises and personas as he moves from place to place.
Adventure Hooks
The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (Heroic) –Grebs takes the role of Kory Thistledown, an old halfling eccentric who would just love to give away his fortune to someone worthy. To determine worthiness, the halfling merchant holds an elaborate series of games in the PC’s town. There are a few accidental deaths initially, but as the games progress, the tone of the game gets uglier and uglier. PCs have to participate to get to the true purpose of these games. As they get down to the final contestants, Grebs qua Kory places them all in a pit and commands them to kill each other. The winner gets to lead the small army he’s raised to cause as much damage as possible to the region. If they don’t fight, Grebs will have them killed. If the PCs get out of the impromptu arena fight, they will have to stop the rampaging hordes that Grebs has set loose upon the land.
Who is More the Fool…(Paragon) The ailling king of a mighty empire has gotten a new court jester. The king wishes to spend his last days with a smile on his face, and the newly-appointed fool –Grebs Follyfoot, or Jolly Laughter in this guise — obliges him. So well does he satirize the other nobles of the court, that he has the king’s exclusive attention. So much so, that when the Fool cracks wise about how a noble should die, the lord of the realm makes it happen. The PCs must find some way to stop this deadly fool under the protection of the dying king, lest all the nobles die before him, leaving the land locked in civil war and chaos.
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About gamefiend
A Jack of All Trades ,or if you prefer, an extreme example of multi-classing, Gamefiend, a.k.a Quinn Murphy has been discussing, playing and designing games straight out of the womb. He is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of this site in addition to being an aspiring game designer. As you would assume, he is a huge fan of 4e. By day he is a technologist.
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