Buy me a coffeeFranz Schmidt, Executioner of Nuremberg
“The Grim Chronicle: Life and Secrets of Franz Schmidt, Nuremberg’s Notorious Executioner!”
- Alias: Franz Schmidt, Executioner of Nuremberg
- Gender: Male
- Race: Human
- Occupation: Executioner
- Religion: Devout Catholic
- Allies: Some sympathetic members of the clergy and a few understanding town officials
- Enemies: Criminals, those who question or oppose the justice system
- Abode/Base of operations: The Executioner’s House in Nuremberg
- Nationality: German
- Languages: German, Latin
- Alignment: Lawful Neutral
- Affiliation(s): The Nuremberg justice system, the Catholic Church
- Significant others: A wife and children, who share the burden of the executioner’s stigma
Franz Schmidt, known as the Executioner of the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg, is a man bound by the grim duty of carrying out the city’s most macabre sentences. He hails from a lineage of executioners, a role that was both hereditary and shunned by society. Franz, like his forefathers, was thrust into this life from birth, inheriting not only the executioner’s tools but also the weight of a dark and stigmatized profession.
Despite the chilling nature of his work, Franz Schmidt is a man who values order and justice. He understands that his role, gruesome as it may be, serves to maintain the fragile balance of law and order in Nuremberg. He fears the chaos that would ensue if someone else were to take up the mantle of executioner without his dedication to precision and fairness.
Franz’s days are filled with somber tasks – preparing gallows, sharpening blades, and carrying out sentences handed down by the city’s legal authorities. Each execution is executed with the utmost precision and solemnity, as he believes that even in death, a condemned soul deserves respect. While he knows his actions are necessary, they weigh heavily on his conscience.
He yearns for understanding and empathy from a society that shuns him. Franz dreams of a day when the stigma of his profession will be lifted, and his family’s legacy can be seen in a new light. He aspires to be remembered not as a grim executioner but as a man who upheld justice in a time when it was needed most, hoping that someday, his contributions to society will be recognized beyond the shadows of the gallows.
Franz Schmidt, Executioner Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
- Armor Class 12 (leather armor)
- Hit Points 78 (12d8 + 24)
- Speed 30 ft.
STR 14 (+2) DEX 12 (+1) CON 14 (+2) INT 12 (+1) WIS 16 (+3) CHA 10 (+0)
Skills Insight +5, Medicine +5, Perception +5 Senses passive Perception 15 Languages Common Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Actions
Executioner’s Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 2) slashing damage.
Torture Implements. Franz Schmidt can use various torture implements as melee weapons, each with different effects. He makes a melee weapon attack with a +4 bonus to hit.
- Rack: On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or take 12 (2d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage and be restrained. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turn, ending the restrained condition on a success.
- Thumb Screw: On a hit, the target takes 8 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and its Strength score is reduced by 1d4 until it completes a short rest.
Hangman’s Noose (Recharge 5-6). Franz Schmidt throws a hangman’s noose at a creature he can see within 30 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be restrained by the noose. A restrained creature can use its action to make a DC 15 Strength saving throw, ending the restrained condition on a success. Franz Schmidt can use his bonus action to pull the noose, dealing 12 (2d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage to the restrained creature.
Executioner’s Authority (3/Day). Franz Schmidt can issue an authoritative command to a creature within 30 feet of him that can hear and understand him. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Inquisitor’s Insight. He has advantage on Insight checks made to discern the truth and detect deception.
Headsman’s Hood. He wears a hood that grants him advantage on saving throws against being blinded and deafened.
Tool Proficiency. He is proficient with executioner’s tools and can use them to perform executions, interrogations, or other related tasks.
Actions
Multiattack. Franz Schmidt makes two melee attacks with his Executioner’s Blade or two attacks with his Torture Implements.
Executioner’s Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d10 + 2) slashing damage.
Torture Implements. He can use various torture implements as melee weapons, each with different effects. He makes a melee weapon attack with a +4 bonus to hit.
- Rack: On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or take 12 (2d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage and be restrained. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turn, ending the restrained condition on a success.
- Thumb Screw: On a hit, the target takes 8 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and its Strength score is reduced by 1d4 until it completes a short rest.
Hangman’s Noose (Recharge 5-6). Franz Schmidt throws a hangman’s noose at a creature he can see within 30 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be restrained by the noose. A restrained creature can use its action to make a DC 15 Strength saving throw, ending the restrained condition on a success. Franz Schmidt can use his bonus action to pull the noose, dealing 12 (2d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage to the restrained creature.
Executioner’s Authority (3/Day). Franz Schmidt can issue an authoritative command to a creature within 30 feet of him that can hear and understand him. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
Inquisitor’s Insight. Franz Schmidt has advantage on Insight checks made to discern the truth and detect deception.
Headsman’s Hood. Franz Schmidt wears a hood that grants him advantage on saving throws against being blinded and deafened.
Tool Proficiency. Franz Schmidt is proficient with executioner’s tools and can use them to perform executions, interrogations, or other related tasks.
Reactions
Executioner’s Reflexes. When Franz Schmidt is attacked, he can use his reaction to make a melee attack with his Executioner’s Blade against the attacker.
Equipment
Franz Schmidt carries an Executioner’s Blade, a set of torture implements (rack, thumb screw, hangman’s noose), and wears leather armor and a Headsman’s Hood.
Suggested Characteristics
Personality Traits. Franz Schmidt is meticulous and thorough in his work, always striving for precision in his executions and interrogations. He is known for his unwavering dedication to his role as an executioner, and he carries out his duties with a sense of solemnity and responsibility.
Ideals. Franz Schmidt believes in upholding the law and ensuring that justice is served, even if it means carrying out difficult and unpleasant tasks. He values order and discipline and sees himself as a protector of society from those who would disrupt it.
Bonds. Franz Schmidt is bound by duty to his role as an executioner, and he takes his responsibilities seriously. He feels a strong connection to the city where he serves and is loyal to the authorities who employ him.
Flaws. Franz Schmidt’s profession has made him somewhat stoic and emotionally detached. He finds it challenging to connect with others on a personal level and can be seen as intimidating due to his occupation.
Alignment. Lawful Neutral
Roleplaying Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt is a man of few words, preferring to let his actions speak for him. He carries out his duties with precision and efficiency, never showing emotion during an execution. He is deeply committed to upholding the law and ensuring that justice is served, even if it means carrying out difficult and morally challenging tasks.
Despite his intimidating appearance and profession, Franz Schmidt is not without compassion. He believes in treating those he executes with dignity and respect, and he takes no pleasure in causing unnecessary suffering. He sees his role as a necessary one for maintaining order in society.
Franz Schmidt’s dedication to his work is unwavering, and he takes his responsibilities seriously. He is meticulous in his preparations for each execution, ensuring that everything is done correctly and according to protocol. He is also skilled in interrogation techniques and uses them to extract information when necessary.
While Franz Schmidt may appear stoic and emotionally detached, he carries the weight of his profession with him at all times. He is haunted by the memories of those he has executed and the pain he has witnessed. Despite this, he continues to serve as the city’s executioner, believing that it is his duty to carry out the law.
Franz Schmidt’s loyalty to the city and its authorities is unwavering. He sees himself as a protector of society, ensuring that those who break the law face the consequences of their actions. He is respected by some and feared by others, but he remains dedicated to his role as an executioner.
Appearance
Franz Schmidt is a tall, imposing figure with a shaved head and a thick, well-groomed beard. He wears a leather executioner’s hood that covers his face, revealing only his piercing eyes. His leather armor is well-worn, a testament to years of service. He carries his executioner’s tools on a leather belt, each implement carefully maintained and sharpened.
Current Activity
Franz Schmidt is currently in the midst of preparing for an upcoming execution. He is meticulously inspecting his executioner’s blade, ensuring that it is perfectly sharpened and ready for use. His surroundings are a dimly lit chamber within the city’s prison, where the condemned await their fate. Franz’s mood is somber, as he approaches his duty with the gravity it deserves.
Conclusion
Franz Schmidt, the executioner, is a man bound by duty and committed to upholding the law. He carries out his responsibilities with precision and solemnity, even as he grapples with the weight of his profession. In a world where justice and order are paramount, Franz Schmidt serves as a steadfast guardian of society, ensuring that those who transgress the law face the consequences of their actions.
Currently in the World
Franz Schmidt, the Executioner of Nuremberg, is a stout middle-aged man with a rugged appearance. He stands at an average height, his broad shoulders and muscular arms revealing the physical strength required for his grim profession. His face bears the weathered marks of years spent outdoors, with a strong jawline and a neatly trimmed beard, both graying with age. His deep-set eyes, a somber shade of brown, seem to hold the weight of countless judgments and sentences.
Franz is typically seen wearing his official attire, a somber ensemble of black and dark brown. He dons a long, black hooded cloak, which conceals most of his body, leaving only his hands and boots exposed. Underneath, he wears a plain black tunic and trousers, practical for the tasks at hand. A leather belt with various tools of his trade, including keys and a ceremonial sword, is fastened securely around his waist.
Currently, Franz is in his dimly lit workshop within the Executioner’s House in Nuremberg. The room is filled with an eerie silence, interrupted only by the occasional clink of metal against metal as he inspects and sharpens his instruments. The low-burning candles cast flickering shadows on the rough stone walls, creating an atmosphere that embodies the gravity of his profession.
His mood is solemn and introspective, as it often is. The weight of his role in society, tasked with carrying out executions and punishments, constantly weighs on him. Franz knows that his actions are necessary for maintaining order and justice, but he also harbors a deep fear of being misunderstood and ostracized by those who fear or despise his profession. Despite the somberness that surrounds him, Franz Schmidt remains a man driven by a sense of duty and a desire to bring a form of grim closure to the turbulent times in which he lives.