If anyone is in need of the stereotypical 'four generals' characters then I offer these guys up as on the house. They've been bouncing around my head as part of a campaign that does not have particularly high odds of ever happening.
I've been thinking about Armour Astir Advent but since a big part of the game is that you're supposed to come up with the villains, antagonist and setting together with the players these guys existing is a bit contradictory to that. Whoops!
The plot would be that these guys are leading the occupation on your magic rich island nation as part of the imperial expansion of a technologically developed nation. The intention is to take the island's magic for their own with the end result being a fusion of magic and tech.
Leading the charge would be Alfonse the Lance, head of Imperial Scouting Division IV. The youngest son of a noble house Alfonse was a celebrity for his fencing prowess but has applied his quick wits, keen eye and penchant for risky but decisive action to military ends.
Alfonse has a reputation as a braggart due to his celebrity back in the empire and achievements in leading the initial strikes on the island. His tendancy towards dandyism also rubs others the wrong way but his swordsmanship and prowess for high speed attacks makes up for this.
Of course, Alfonse's job would have been much harder without support from Felipe the artillery. Leader of Imperial Artillery Division II. A veteran from multiple campaigns Felipe's preferred approach is to saturate any battlefield with ordnance leaving the enemy in tatters.
Gruff and proud, Felipe oversees these strikes from his airship Jacinta which itself is one of the empire's most advanced long range weapons platforms. His ability with a rifle is legendary and he wields a custom, triple barreled anti-astir rifle.
Maintaining control over the island is Caterina the grapple who commands Imperial territory security force VIII. The only one of the four who is common born, Caterina is also the only one not born in the empire's home nation instead coming from a subjugated territory.
Caterina grew up as part of a group of urchins who robbed and stole to survive. As they grew older the group's activities evolved turned into organised crime with Catherina putting her formidable skill with her fists towards enforcing territory boundaries.
Eventually even the empire's garrison troops knew not to get too involved with the gang activities going on but a series of raids on empire stockpiles led to Caterina's arrest. Thanks to Bernat, who had paid close attention to the criminal empire, Caterina was spared death.
Instead, her abilities to inspire confidence in the rank and file as well as her willingness to go to extreme lengths to hold territory led to Bernat sponsoring her through the empire's military academy.
Lastly, Bernat the scholar. From the family whose name is synonymous with the technological development of the empire Bernat turned his intellect towards the research of magical energy and it was on his recommendation the island was invaded.
Magic is a force that is in thin supply in the home nation but Bernat is hoping that study of the island will allow him to either change this situation or at the least let him find a way to fully harness it for use throughout the empire.
Despite the decisive victories of the initial invasion and Caterina's iron grip the island would have been extremely difficult territory to hold were it not for the capitulation of Crown Princess Milyaruu who signed the island's formal declaration of surrender.
With the majority of the royal family killed the princess serves as the island's figurehead. As evidenced by her imperial attire the Crown Princess is firmly under the control of the empire with Caterina maintaining close guard over her.
There are rumours that Princess Milyaruu is actually an important figure within the island's resistance and has taken part in multiple missions. Some believe the empire has an impersonator, others think the rebel is a fraud. Other theories include magical double or automaton.
The truth is, of course, whichever revelation would cause the biggest shock to your players at the most dramatic moment.
Throughout the campaign which would be focussed on rebellious activity to destabilise the empire the players would continually run into these four. With each consecutive defeat their pride would drive them to take on Bernat's offer of experimental magitech enhancements.
Each 'enhancement' would drive them further and further away from humanity. Eventually they'd be able to take on airship and Astir (fantasy mecha) by themselves but they'd all become increasingly erratic and driven by revenge.
Their enhancements would be complementary of their talents but would eventually push into monstrous territory. Alfonse would replace his legs with four artificial boosters, Felipe would become a barely mobile weapons platform, Caterina would sport collosal Astir busting arms.
This would all be driven by Bernat's emotional manipulation as he becomes increasingly obsessed with combining man and machine through magic. His final form would basically be a CPU to allow him to control almost all the island's mechanised forces at once.
As I said, I'll likely never do anything with any of this but if you're looking for a group of villains to prop up your evil emperor or feel like you want to add a bit of organisational structure to whatever tyrannical system your heroes are facing feel free to lift as much or as little from this as you want. If it ever turns into anything fun give me a shout out and let me know, it'll be good to know that my brain gremlins have found a good home.
