College For
Warlords
The Program: RWTC (Reserve Warlords' Training Course) is Sigil Prep's structured Warlord training program, to prepare future officers for their careers in just about any military that needs a pushy loudmouth to tell the soldiers what to do. Or fellow adventurers, either way. The major offers both strong tactical courses, as well as classes on making rousing pre-battle (and in-battle) speeches.
As part of the final exam, warlords will be expected to lead a class of freshmen fighters, paladins, or spellswords into battle against a rival school's freshman class. Grades will be based on surviving troops.
Students will be supplied with one military weapon, and shield.
"The important thing is to remember to be a decisive commander on the battlefield, but to learn to relax off the field. Nobody likes a pushy know-it-all.... Anissa! Your sock drawer is a mess! Remember, we went over this yesterday, fold, not roll..." --Anastacia d'Deneith, sophomore Human Warlord
"Hate 'em. Morgrave has a Warlord quarterback, and you can't hardly get near him. He's runnin' the ball straight down the middle, and it seems like the rest of his line is just movin' and tacklin' like a machine. I gotta crack their playbook." --Coach Klank, Warforged Fighter professor
(and by popular demand)
"Who will follow me!? We're going off campus for pizza! FOR PIZZA!!!" --Tobias, sophomore Human Warlord
WARLORD UPPERCLASSMAN MAJOR EMPHASIS
Battle Captain: Take your leadership skills up another notch. It'll be hard not to respect you as a leader after your Battle Captain training. Even if you dump stat Charisma.
"As eldest daughter of the baron, it's expected of me to lead the troops into battle, and to fight as hard and as fierce as anyone out there. Even if I must risk life and limb to do so. Meanwhile, the Baron's other daughter gets to run around in her pajamas playing super-hero. I hate birth order." --Anastacia d'Deneith, sophomore Human Warlord
Battlelord of Kord: The first in what we hope is a series of paragon programs with rhyming names. The key to success in Battlelord of Kord is to accept any challenge as it comes. Preferably with some teammates, because let's face it, you're a warlord. You suck at fighting by yourself.
"Kord is big on words like 'Mighty' and "tempestuous' and 'Triumph'. Besides combat and athletics, he's also the god of Hyperbole. Although, he's got a loooooooot of competition" --Regdar, graduate Human Fighter
Combat Veteran: Of course, the only way to become a combat veteran is to survive many combats. Expect four straight semesters of nothing but hard battle. Extra credit for surliness.
"I really respected that old guy, y'know. All leather-faced and gravelly voiced, as if he's seen the worst of the world, and all of it was reflected in his eyes. I was kinda surprised to find out he was only 19." --Mialee, graduate Eladrin Wizard
Commando Captain: Sometimes an army isn't what's called for. Sometimes you need a tight, small, specially trained group that can get into small spaces, and meet the trouble head-on. Like your standard adventuring party. What were we talking about again?
"I don't get it. He's wearing underwear..." Mialee, graduate eladrin Wizard
Concordant Leader: This program is only open to genasi. Learn to control the roiling elemental forces within you, and turn them toward greater leadership skills. Protect yourself and your allies from the elements. 25% of your final grade is based on accurately figuring out the clumsy wording of your Elemental-Heart Strike power.
"Equal to your... resistance, and of the type opposed by... the Hells? Okay, one more time. Two elements leave the Elemental Chaos in opposite directions..." --Jack Solon, freshman Genasi Psychic Warrior
Dujun of Erathis: There is no greater goal than the expansion of civilization. Wilderness is for punks. Tame the wilds, raise the forces of good in the name of society! Don't let some stupid trees and chipmunks get the better of you. You see five hundred acres of woodland beauty? We see two strip malls and a parking garage. We don't know what a "dujun" is exactly, but it doesn't take no shit from no babbling brook, we'll tell you that much. Stupid brook.
"Oh, hi... Jarna. Vadania. Soveliss. Autumn, Spring, huh... looks like all my druid and ranger friends are here. Heh. Just, uh, petting this porcupine... heh. Ow." --Tobias, sophomore pussy Warlord.
Earthfast Brigadier: Only the toughest and most durable warlords need apply. You must have the strength of the Earth itself, or at least a drunk surly dwarf. Because that's who's teaching you, and he isn't interested in your doctor's note.
"I hope yuir ready for some Dwarven Payback! Because I have that five gold I borrowed from ye." --Tordek, senior Dwarf Fighter
Flamebrow Commander: This class teaches the tactics and philosophies laid out in the classic manifesto, Flamebrow. It was written centuries ago by a famed dragonborn mercenary. It's long out of print, but the faculty don't care. The first three or four students to get there might find a copy used at the campus bookstore, but most of you will have to buy a copy off the AstralNet, probably for more than a college student can afford. Tough break, kids.
"Luckily, I found my copy in a treasure hoard" --Anastacia d'Deneith, sophomore Human Warlord. "Bitch" --Quinn, recently robbed sophomore Green Dragon
Infernal Strategist: Oh, this was a class? Sorry, I thought it was Merrick complaining about somebody beating him on the battlefield. "That infernal strategist, I oughtta..." Oh, you know how paladins are. Huh. I guess I should find out what an Infernal Strategist does so I can write something up. I'm sure it's about strategy. And infernos, maybe...
"It's a series of strategies based on the teachings of a legendary tiefling warlord. The textbook is The Hellpath Tome, the professor is Professor Malachi, and it's a Monday-Wednesday-Friday class at 8, 10, or 2. Does anybody besides me do homework?" --Anastacia d'Deneith, sophomore Human Warlord
Knight Commander: Learn to project honor and chivalry in everything you do. Earn respect by example, and be the sort of leader people beg to follow. And do it all wearing a tin can with some king's emblem on it.
"It was 'bout the best day the bizness ever had. That Tobias kid came rushin' in here, with about a hunnerd kids, all more excited about eatin' pizza than anybody ever was." --the manager of Odo's Pizza, local Orc businessman
Longarm Marshal: The school supplies the spear. Magic helmet is optional.
"The way I hear it, they got a surplus of spears at the book store, and rather than reduce prices to get rid of them, they created a course that made spears mandatory. I'm just saying." --Kerwyn, junior Human Rogue
Platinum Warlord: It's like the Gold Warlord, but with no credit limit. Don't leave home without him.
"I realize there's a lot to write, but that just smacks of lazy. And this paragon path is devoted to me, so how does it make me look?" --Bahamut, god of good dragons... no, not anymore, it's um... god of justice, I think
Shadow Captain: You spent your freshman and sophomore years learning to be a leader of men. Now you can become a leader of, um... nothing. But substantial nothing! The shadows talk to you. And become soldiers which... just stand there, but they supply cover. So there you go. You and the absence of light, BFF.
"Wait, this Paragon Path has the shadow power source... But the Shadow Campus isn't even built yet, so... you take this class in the shadow of the Shadow campus... that's actually kind of cool." --Anastacia d'Deneith, sophomore Human Warlord
Spiral Tactician: Eladrin enrolled in this program learn to use their fey step power more efficiently and tactically in battle. Use it more often, use it to help allies, use it to get way more than your allotted attacks per round.
"And getting your muddy footprints all over the Feywild. Who do you think cleans that up, huh?" --Ehlonna, goddess of picking up your mess
Sword Marshal: Build up the reputation of the blade in your hand, such that the very sight of it inspires your allies to greatness. Be sure you select your blade carefully before starting this course, because you're pretty much stuck with it.
"Put me down, you stupid mook!" --Silvershine, intelligent magic lonsword
Twiceborn Leader: All the best things come in twos. Two targets for your inspiring word, two times the defense from catching your breath, two people whacking one foe at the same time. Unfortunately, each session lasts two hours, requires two labs, and there will be two finals at the end of the semester.
"Yeah, apparently, this whole path was based on some folktale. Me, I'm waiting for the one that lets you spin straw into gold. I think it's worth Kailey's first born." --Maddie Weber, junior Drow Cleric
WARLORD GRADUATE STUDIES
Legendary General: Name another school that can promise you 'legendary' status after graduation? You become so commanding in your presence, that your allies won't even fall down and stop fighting when they die, unless you tell them to. When you say jump, your men don't say 'How high?'. They fuckin' JUMP! When you say 'Gimme an A+', and your professor does, then you graduate.
"I come from a long line of Legendary Generals, actually. One Legendary Colonel, but he retired to go into the fast food chicken industry." --Anastacia d'Deneith, sophomore Human Warlord
Warmaster: Is 'Tactical Genius' too strong a phrase? Not after you've gotten your Master's in Warmaster. There is no battle you can't win, no army you can't lead to victory. Every lab you attend goes down in history, and even your B-minuses have the bards writing epics.
"I don't mind the juniors calling us 'Frosh', and making us do their homework and all the practical jokes. It's when the grad students call you 'Private', and send you off to fight the undead legions that I get sort of antsy" --Arin, freshman Human Cleric