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So ... I was just watching "Serenity" and "Firefly" on Hulu, and I got to thinking, and something popped into my head.
Back in the 3rd Edition days of D&D there was an organization of sorts (and a Prestige Class) called the Reavers. They were a group of insane, savage people devoted to slaughter, for the sake of brutality, and nothing more, really. They weren't entirely unlike the Reavers of Firefly.
So, a question logically followed for me to wonder if there's a group like this in Golarion. I mean, I know there's probably evil religious cults, and whatnot, but I don't think that is what I am really looking for. I'm guess I'm just wondering if there's a sort of nihillistic group of slaughtering-murderers, horri-bad type of group.
Other than adventurers? :)
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Rovagug ... hmm ... I guess I'm gonna have to look him up! I don't know much about him. Which, one would think that I would, since I am big on Osirion. Isn't he the big dung beetle whose carcass is in the city?
As far as the inspiration for the Ravagers, though ... While Firefly cam out in 2002 (at least on TV), Sword and Fist, the 3rd Edition book containing Ravagers, came out in 2001. I find it more likely, though, that both the Ravagers and Reapers were inspired by an earlier source altogether.
There are hundreds of years of tales of borderlands-savages. Even in the Old West movies there were hollywood "injuns" (which has been cited by Whedon as inspiration, and have little to do with IRL natives), and the tales of Norse Vikings that came to raid and pillage. Spanish explorers talked about strange canibalistic customs in Central America, and even Celtic tribesmen were viewed as bloodthirsty pillagers by the ... the, what, English?
Anyway ... all of those have a similar "feel" to what I am looking for. I wonder if there's any others out there in Golarion?
[Edit: Upon further reading about Rovagug, he seems to be similar to what I am looking for. If I were running a World of Greyhawk campaign (of which I am a great devotee), I would say that Rovagug is more equivalent to the dread Tharizdun. Ultimate nihilism. I'm looking for something a little more ... "blood and guts" related, if you know what I mean. I'm looking for outright slaughter.
Or to quote that which has become and internet trope: "Blood for the Blood God."]
Radical sect of worshippers of Gorum. Also, look through demon lord descriptions, I am sure there will be some who will be adequate patron for such group.
I don't know of any canon organization that would fit what your looking for. None of the deities that would go for the 'blood for the sake of shedding it' concept have anything to do with war.
You're likely going to have to create our blood warriors from scratch. You could go with orc marauders from Balkzen. Or maybe a secretive sect of warriors that have taken up the teachings of Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath? From what has been described about her, those following her example may be exactly what you're looking for. They could have discovered or been manipulated by Thassilonoan artifacts linked to her, or perhaps be part of a sect of individuals that kept aspects of her philosophy alive from one generation to the next.
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Radical sect of worshippers of Gorum. Also, look through demon lord descriptions, I am sure there will be some who will be adequate patron for such group.
Gorum ... Gorum ... hmm. Another one I'm gonna have to look up.
I don't know of any canon organization that would fit what your looking for. None of the deities that would go for the 'blood for the sake of shedding it' concept have anything to do with war.
Hmm. Well, I'm not certain what ti is that I said, but, I'm certain that I slipped something in inadvertantly that brought the connotation that they had to have someting to do with war. I mean, I guess Erythnul's domains include War? Or maybe it was the WH40K reference?
Nevertheless, there's not really a "requirement" for war to be a special interest. Just wanton cruelty and slaughter. Is there something that you think would otherwise fit, if there weren't a war prerequisite?
Nevertheless, there's not really a "requirement" for war to be a special interest. Just wanton cruelty and slaughter. Is there something that you think would otherwise fit, if there weren't a war prerequisite?
Perhaps followers of Zon-Kuthon, then. Pain, torture, murder, and loss are all themes that fit his worship. I mean, he tortured, warped, and enslaved the very divine being that sired both him and his sister. Broke his own father and transformed what was left into his personal herald.
If you want savage bloodshed and dark corruption, Zon-Kuthon is your guy.
Wow, I just realized what an appropriate analogue Zon-Kuthon and his followers are for the Reavers of Firefly. After all, both are into chains, cutting on themselves and others. Wow, that gives me some ideas, some stretch of nowhere that nobody goes because the disciples of Zon-Kuthon will torture you to death if they catch you, and they'll sing happy songs while they do it, as if they were doing you a favor. . .
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<rolls eyes>
Damn it. I just realized in my original post that I refered to the Prestige Class correctly in the thread title, but, in the text of the post, I said:
Back in the 3rd Edition days of D&D there was an organization of sorts (and a Prestige Class) called the Reavers.
Obviously, that's inaccurate. They were called "Ravagers". ... the discussion is still apt, though. And the usage is correct thereafter. My appologies for the typo.