Orc Wardrummer (Basic Lore)

Orc Wardrummer (Leader; CR 13)
Chaotic Evil - Medium - Humanoid (Orc)
This creature possesses the Leader role, and therefore counts as 2 monsters for purposes of encounter size, XP award, and treasure. This monster frequently has the Leader role, but may be set to different roles if desired. Orc wardrummers aren't some timid nerd-orc who spent all his time in band practice, put on eye-liner and hung out with all the music theatre orcs. No, orc wardrummers are the orcs who decided that swinging an axe around in combat and hiding behind a shield was too boring, and decided he'd rather be the loudest, most obvious target on the field of battle, because LET THEM COME! These are the orcs who proudly proclaim the arrival of their tribe, and beat the dirge of their enemies, laughing as the battle swirls around them. They are the veterans of many battles, often proudly wearing scars or even missing eyes or limbs. They've chosen a path of tremendous honor and almost certain death, but a death that comes from facing their enemies head-on in battle, not slowly rotting in some village hut surrounded by weaklings and invalids. Wardrummers aren't completely defenseless, of course. They swing their mighty drumsticks as much at passing enemies as at their drum. After all, an enemy is just fresh leather waiting to be stretched. The drum itself is usually a prized treasure of the tribe, and if it is ever lost or taken by enemies, the tribe's recovery efforts will be aggressive and swift. They typically resemble a snare drum, around 2' in diameter, and attached to the drummer by an elaborate leather harness and worn directly in front of the orc's waist. The drumsticks are often thigh bones or other trophies taken from particularly strong enemies. A single tribe may have a few wardrummers, but they are never attached to the same unit. Instead, they are spread among the strongest raiding parties to declare the honor and pride of the tribe. Orc wardrummers are nearly always in the company of a large group of Orc Centurions, and frequently an Orc Warlord. The sound of orc drums rightly inspires fear in anyone who knows that they mean. The presence of an Orc Wardrummer has the effect of whipping his companions into a nigh-frenzy of bloodthirst, and always makes any fight with them far more risky.