Ogre Longshoreman, 7th Level Commoner, D&D 3.5 (Core Books)

Here in the United States and Canada Monday is Labor Day. A holiday set aside for the remembrance of the working men and women who have worked to build the countries. In honor, here is a non-player character from my city who is a laborer in one of the honored professions—a longshoreman (or docker, or wharfie). He is one a party could hire for help due to his strength, or for what he has learned just being around where he works. He and his friends could also be hired to find out information in a subtler way than an armored adventurer might not be able to.

Vicactor (Vic), Ogre longshoreman

Growing up in the section of the city, the Grotto, known as being the worst area to live in Vicactor understood hard work and hardship from an early age. Crime is rampant and gangs are a part of everyday life. Being an ogre, Vicactor always had the standing opportunity of joining one of the gangs like many others of his immediate and extended family had done. However, he had watched many of his family get killed, sent to prison, or sold into slavery since an early age that he decided it would be better to find some other way to make his way out of the slum.

At that early age he started standing on the stones waiting to be picked to haul cargo along the wharf. His size and willingness to work hard without question moved him quickly up the lines for selection. Over a few years Vicactor gained the respect of the other wharfies and was even given the task by a few supervisors to select his own day crew. This led to Vicactor earning more money which led to him being able to move out of The Grotto and into a small home in the wharf district with a new wife.

Since then Vicactor has continued to rise among the longshoreman. He has a regular crew of who work with him who are known for the good work they do. Even though he runs his own crew, Vicactor doesn't do any negotiation for work, which is handled by the ship and warehouse supervisors who still hire the dockers, but it is known when Vicactor and his crew is on the dock, they are working that day.

Vicactor is a regular citizen of the city in basically every way. He works, spends time with his family, wants his son and daughter to be better off than he has been, and wants to live a good life. Part of his money is spent on his children gaining an education. So far both have learned to read, something Vicactor and his wife were never able to do, and he is hopeful they will be able to more with their lives than be laborers like himself.

But, even being in a city that legally accepts all races doesn't mean there aren't problems for Vicactor and others like him. Over the years he has had to defend himself against rowdy adventurers and has even stepped in to help one of the men working on his crew (he was being attacked by a mugger). There was even a time about a year and a half ago when Vicactor helped the city guard secure a small group of adventurers/pirates who were causing problems. He follows the laws as he understands them, but that also means he will help defend those who he feels connected and obligated to.

His crew of himself and six other workers (three humans, two half-orcs, and an elf) are known to be a tight group who will stand for each other if a fight breaks out. They don't look for fights, because that might lead to not getting work, but if someone tries to bully any of the crew the person will most likely be dealing with all of them.

Vicactor (Vic), Ogre longshoreman (dock worker)

Level 7 commoner (effective level 6) (using the D&D 3.5 core books)

Str 26, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 14, Chr 9

Alignment: Neutral to Neutral Evil

HP 79

Initiative: +0

AC 15 (natural armor +5, dex +1, size -1)

Attack base +6/+1 (+4 for grapple due to size)

Melee Attack +15/+10, masterwork large dagger (1d6/19x2)

Fort +10, Reflex +3, Will +5

Space/reach: 10'/10'

Speed: 40'

Feats (4): Alertness, endurance, skill focus (knowledge-local), skill focus (use rope)

Skills (28): Climb +8 (+10 with rope) (4), jump +6 (2), knowledge (local—wharf and grotto) +5 (4 cc), listen +9 (5), profession (longshoreman) +5 (3), spot +9 (5), use rope +9 (5)

Special Qualities: Darkvision 60', lifting and carrying at double a medium sized character

Languages: Common, Giant

Special mundane items: Masterwork large dagger.

Other items are part of his home, and spent on his family.

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