Character Type: NPC

Build Type: Balanced (combat + narrative)
Build Role: Enforcer / Control / Tactical Anchor

Mike’s Take: Justice Ain’t Blind — It’s Obedient

Y’ever met someone who makes ya sit straighter just by walkin’ past?

That’s Nail.

He don’t yell. He don’t bark. He just exists, like a wall with orders. You’ll hear his armor long before ya see his face — all scraped steel and rivets that’ve seen more blood than polish. No helm. He wants ya to see him. And remember.

Word is, the Count found him broken. Armor cracked, code shattered. Gave him structure again. Now? He is the structure. Moves like a construct, speaks like a courtroom. If he pauses mid-sentence, that’s not hesitation — that’s calibration.

I once saw a mage try to bribe him. Nail didn’t flinch. Just nodded, walked the mage to the cellar… and locked the door. Mage’s still there. He gets food. Sometimes.

📌 If yer thinkin’ of sending yer players to jail, make sure they meet the warden first. Read up on The Count, The Village, and maybe even The Pale Widow if they’re unlucky.

Build Breakdown: What Makes Nail Tick (And Hit)

Race: Reforged Human (augmented with minor prosthetics)
Class Base: Fighter (Battle Master) 9 / Paladin (Oath of Conquest) 3
Armor: Half-plate stitched with binding runes
Weapons: Reinforced halberd, boot dagger, iron restraint hooks
Passive Perception: 15
HP: ~128
AC: 19

Combat Style: Pin, Judge, Disable

Signature Ability – Iron Interdict (Recharge 5–6):
Forces one creature within 30 ft. to make a DC 16 Wis save or be rooted in place for 1 round, as spectral chains clamp their ankles. If they move, they take 4d6 force damage.
Battle Master Maneuvers:
- Menacing Attack – adds frighten condition on hit
- Trip Attack – takes 'em off their high ground
- Disarming Attack – always goes for the weapon, not the wound
Oath Spells (Conquest):
- Command, Compelled Duel, Hold Person — everything to force obedience
- Uses Divine Smite only on those who resist the law

Roleplay Flavor: How to Use Him

Emotionally Cold, Logically Precise
Nail doesn’t shout. He asks for clarification before he hurts you.
Surprisingly Merciful
He offers redemption — but in documents, duties, and dogma. He’d rather break a soul slow than spill it.
Rumors & Secrets
- He cries when alone. No one’s seen it — except the Widow.
- His original name is sealed in the manor’s locked wing.
- He once served another lord. That lord’s grave is chained shut.

When the Party Needs a Wall

📌 By Tharn’s itchy chainmail, if yer game’s missing pressure, give ’em someone they can’t charm or trick — just survive.
👉 Use Captain Nail as your walking moral compass, interrogation trigger, or prison boss. For more like him, explore the Player Builds & NPCs, or gear him up at the Tavern Armory.

Equipment Loadout

⚔️ Weapon: Ironhowl Bastion

Technically a shield, but Nail uses its lockdown aura to enforce discipline through positioning.

🛡️ Armor: Custom Augmented Half-Plate

Enchanted to mute sound within 5 ft.
Scribes magical “vows” into steel with every arrest.

How to Drop Him In

As a trial by fire: He arrests the bard. He doesn’t explain why.
As a recurring shadow: Appears whenever laws are broken — like a walking DM consequence.
As a final mercy: If he kneels beside a fallen PC, it’s not to kill. It’s to offer them a place inside the structure.

FAQ

Q: Can Nail be defeated?
A: Yes. But he won’t die cursing you — he’ll just ask, “What law did I fail to uphold?”

Q: What happens if the party joins him?
A: Then the Count gains loyal weapons. And the Widow smiles wider than usual. That’s never good.

📌 By me beard, this one’s for GMs who want their villains to have lieutenants that ain’t just muscle — they’re the rules, the lines, and the reasons to behave.
👉 For more brutal precision, moral tension, and NPCs that’ll make yer rogue hesitate, check the rest of the Player Builds & NPCs, or contact Mike before someone gets shackled.

Captain Nail: The Law in Broken Armor