Nietziroth the Pit Lord

IN RETROSPECT...

I loved the idea of a demon character to for my motley assortment of adventurers. As remarkable, or plain crazy, as it sounds I combined this idea with a growing interest in philosophy, hence the name and basic character for Nietziroth - Niet for short - being inspired by what (little, I'm sure it shows) I had read by Friedrich Nietzsche. At the time I was intrigued by his ideas that were cast against monotheistic religions ("God is dead."), of 'chaos' in the universe but that he desired man to surpass himself through the creative application of art.

I was inspired by Canderous Ordo from Knights of the Old Republic - an unashamed kickass badass, seen by others as evil but he doesn't care, he mainly cares for his strong code of honour that is earned through battle, quite like a typical Klingon from Star Trek. With a demon I would also have a means of exploring the possible viewpoint of the 'bad guys' of the WarCraft universe, to go further with the inverted cliches that the series. This demon would be a different shade of 'evil', one that wasn't purely chaotic but had reasons for what deeds it did, along with a speck of doubt in his behaviour. A challenge for Tarok, the wise orc shaman, was to rescue and then be accompanied by the voracious demon to overcome common foes and likewise discuss several subjects regarding the nature of the Burning Legion in the WarCraft universe.

There could have also been themes of racism and stereotypes, with nearly every other character associating Niet with absolute and wanton destruction - the whole design is very unconventional but I enjoyed coming up with it, I think it's the way to go when creating such evil characters.

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VOICE WORK

For Niet, I recorded some unit responses and a 'pinnacle' speech that would be a focal point of his character as he reflected on his past genocide.

Download.


DESIGN

Nietziroth
Occupation: Pit Lord
Affiliation: None
Age: 320

Though relatively young for a Pit Lord, Nietziroth is a very cunning and powerful fighter, carefully able to exploit the weakness of enemies. Once a servant of Mannoroth's caste of Pit Lords in their mission with the Burning Legion of annihilating entire worlds, Nietziroth faithfully acted as a destroyer for Sargeras's forces. One day, however, he began questioning the Legion's goal of destroying all life and existence - that it seemed far too simple-minded to just remove everything because the Legion dictated so, that creation was not necessarily a mistake. Due to the zealousness of the other demons, however, Nietziroth was soon mocked by his superiors and angered. After he retorted their insults, he was imprisoned somewhere in the Great Dark. The time alone has given the Pit Lord the chance to contemplate his bewildered views. He is now eager to escape and find a new destiny.


Design notes: An intelligent Pit Lord, also called 'Niet' for short. Exiled by the Burning Legion for his views on the universe, he was imprisoned on a small island that is part of Outland, formerly Draenor, and guarded by Magtheridon's minions. Tarok the shaman rescues him during his time there and, deciding not to be wholly prejudiced, frees the Pit Lord. Niet in turn pledges (Which is very unheard of from a demon) to likewise help the shaman and get him to Azeroth. Tarok is conscious that it was a demon (Kil'jaeden) that damned the whole orcish race, not all demons. Eventually the two work together and travel to Azeroth, where Nietziroth decides to see the worlds 'passionate conflict' for himself, given that it has defeated the Legion once (WC3 may or may not have occurred at this time yet). The player is meant to be impressed by Nietziroth's awesome strength (Inspired by the likes of Canderous Ordo from Knights of the Old Republic) but sceptical of his lack of morals (He is still fundamentally a demon and relishes destruction, but just not for the sake of it), yet sympathetic because nearly everyone views demons as utterly evil (Even if they mostly are) and initially dislike him.

Nietziroth is a character inspired by the philosopher Nietzsche - hence the name - the so called 'bad boy' of philosophy. Nietziroth does not believe in destroying the entire universe like the rest of the legion, but he does believe most concepts created by mortal beings (Religion and most beliefs) are pathetic attempts at dissuading themselves from the true nature of reality, that is the hopelessness and meaningless of existence, something many of them refuse to accept. Worse are people who believe that they can FIX the chaos using their views and feeble 'powers' of mind or matter. Even worse, though, are the demons of the Burning Legion who want nothing at all to exist and see no meaning whatsoever - not even what we can create. Nietziroth sees the Legion's formation of order as blatant hypocrisy, even if it is a means to an end, and he believes that the chaos of the universe, for the Titans have not shaped it all into Order *at all* but gave us the 'basic template', should be embraced and people should only create something out of it to express themselves and validate their existence. For him, it is battle, which he calls an artform.


Text \ Conversation Ideas

Between Tarok and the Pit Lord. These are inspired by the style of the philosophical discussions in Planescape: Torment, but to my knowledge are fully original.


I have killed... I have killed women and children... I have killed mostly everything that walks or crawls ... and now I have come to kill you!
(That's a reference to Unforgiven, actually)

Unit responses:
What?
Let the slaughter commence!
We have work to do!
Ready to destroy!


"I've stood atop the apex of burning worlds... I've destroyed thousands by my own hand and seen millions killed through my tactics. I've watched worlds be drained of their very life and legions of creatures fight against hopeless odds only to die..."
(Modified from Zeratul's speech at the end of the original StarCraft)

"I seek only the truth, Pit Lord."
"Pah! The truth?"
"What would you say of it?"
"You wish to know? The single absolute truth is that in the end there is only darkness. Pure nothing."
"How do you know?"
"How do I know?! I know it's there - it's a path everything heads to. I believe the closest word to being like you for it would be 'faith'. Oblivion awaits us all, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. That is not to say, though, that life is pointless. My kind believe otherwise - they wish to accelerate what they believe is the inevitable end of existence."
"But faith is not proof, only hope."
"Perhaps you shall see a hint of oblivion coming when you embrace death for yourself."
"Well, I certainly hope to avoid that for as long as I can."
"As I said, it IS inevitable."


"Hmpgh. His hate is nothing."
"Nothing? He's clearly full of anger and willing to kill all of those responsible (For some quest)."
"That's all? Pah! You've clearly not seen the eyes of a greater demon, or heard the hatred in the voice of a Warlock plotting perfect stratagems designed to tear apart entire species."
"I can't say that I have, and you make it sound like I should be grateful."
"Most demons thrive on hate - it comes natural to them. They resent especially people of this type of world, with your easy experiences and lives. It is an unquenchable, unreasonable fury."
...
"There will never be peace, will there?"
"No."


"The Legion and the Nether live off the magical essence of mana. Do you understand now? In a way, the pathetic people of this world are stealing the very lifeforce of my kind!"
"But... we use it responsibly to help our world, the best we can."
"Help?! Do you not understand anything, Shaman?! Where is this worlds responsibility?"
"Wh-
"*Sigh!* It is no surprise my kind hate such worlds so vastly! It deserves wiping out for its moronic use of magic."
"So the solution to the issue is for your kind to wipe us out and destroy the world? Oh, that is just as responsible!"
"As responsible as your people. With such mana all this world has done little with it. Those damn mages at Dalaran spent their time hording precious artefacts! And the only decent wars were when your corrupted kind came here. You have done more harm than good in my eyes, at the cost of what is lifeforce to me and my race. People in this world of Azeroth have fought wars for next to nothing, not even the glory. What a tragic waste!"
"It seems like a matter of opinion and perspective to me. Don't forget that not all these races here enjoy warfare as much as you."
"Pah!"
"*Sigh* Very well. I think we'd best leave it and move on."
"Whatever you wish, shaman. At least I now feel like unleashing this renewed anger!"



"Why do you mention existence so much?"
"Why not? It is everything we act towards and what we are. Without it, we're obviously nothing at all, mweheh."
"No, you use that specific word frequently: existence."
"Heh. This may amuse you, but I will say that I believe in having clear definitions of what I say. Many races use the word 'life' to describe it, but I feel that means little. Exisiting goes on beyond that ... life is what you're given, existence is what you do with it. It is meaning."
"But I find it ironic that you use the word existence when your kind seeks to remove it from reality!"
"You would find irony and paradox's aplenty in the Nether, shaman, for that is the way of the Great Dark. An entropy looping forever in and out of itself. I've seen a hundred such paradox's, enough to drive a lesser mortal to absolute insanity. Mwehehehe, I've not seen *that* look for some time."
"What look would that be?"
"Hehehe! When a mortal makes a certain realisation their face and mind suddenly twist. It's not the insane look of not knowing. No, it's the madness OF knowing! It is an infinite shock that recoils in their mind, keeping them in a single state disbelief."


"Hmpgh! I've seen mo-
"Shut up for once, will you?! We must get moving!"
"Pah, just say so quicker next time!"


"What will you do on your return to the Nether?"
"Hmmm. There is much to be done, and many ways in which I can act. I shall seek out the few allies I can and study the situation. The future is always an uncertainity, as an accomplice of mine once said."
"Oh, I'm an 'accomplice' now, you say?"
"Pah! Just take my damned pleasantry as best you can!"
"Done. For what it's worth, and whether or not you understand me likewise, I wish to thank you for your help. You have done a great deal and taught me a great deal, of demons, existence, and myself. Thank you."
"It has been more than a necessity or bond to fight alongside you and your companions, Tarok, that I will say ... but do not goad me into saying any stronger a term! Farewell."


"I... am a Pit Lord. I have stood atop the apex of destroyed cities and dead civilisations. I've killed and cut creatures of countless species, fighting in pools of their blood until they were extinct from all but my memory. I've stood and watched entire worlds burn and be reduced to meagre shadows. I've seen the very entropy of realities twisting themselves before the Legion's might.

But this ... world ... it's ... 'different' to the others that I helped destroy. It's not just full of life, as wretched as it is, but it's full of the *fight*!
That is something I respect. This world has defeated the Legion itself twice (?) and continues to be full of conflict and war, aspects I enjoy studying. I'd certainly hesitate to have this glorious planet of battle eradicated, given the chance."
"Well thats good to hear!"


"Ahh, the glory of the pit. A monumental downward recess of raven black and crimsun rocks. The only emotions within are pure hatred and pain. Every moment you are fighting for your very existence. Weapons lie strewn everywhere and foes of all kinds run rampant. Energies of shadow rip apart the unwary as foes continuously battle with one another.
Few survive the brutality of the pit - for it it makes some simply give up the will to live. It is my kinds greatest sight and creation. While some demons enjoy the pure slaughter, I believe it justifies ones existence - to sit and watch the fighting truly reminds me of why I live. It is a place where the best survive and the worthless are rightly slaughtered. It creates the strongest of my race so that we can aid the Legion in its mission."


"There is only chaos. Pure and unbridled. It is true - nothing else matters!"
"How so?"
"The Titans created some aspect of order from existence. Existence itself did not create order, only itself. The chaos makes up a huge deal of the universe, parts that countless species have denied over time. Chaos is the only supreme, not this organised makeup that you mortals put on worlds like this, like some sort of crude mask."
"But to defeat creation, haven't you and the Pit Lords in the Legion had to organise yourselves in turn?"
"Exactly. It is a valid point - I suppose that often one must do more than understand ones enemy, one must BECOME like your foe in order to destroy them, to prove you know enough about them in order to annihilate their existence. That is what the Pit Lords and the Burning Legion do."
"So you differ from the Legion's belief how?"
"No longer do I believe in destroying everything, all semblance of order - I believe creatures should acknowledge the chaos and do something with it. In a way, the Legion believes in chaos, but that thre is just that - there is no meaning and thus everything is forfeit so they destroy it. Races elsehwere often create facades, they create something to give order to their existence, but such thoughts are wholly ignorant and should be purged."



*Why the Pit Lord is with Tarok*
"We form a simbient relationship."
"I owe him a 'debt' of sorts, though that amongst my race is mostly unheard of. This world is also a special one for my race, and I am keen to observe it for the time being. As long as the shaman is finding me great things to kill and moments to experience, I shall fight alongside him. For now."
"You seem to greatly stress the duration."
"Meh. I long to return to the Nether someday and deal with an enemy of mine."



*After Niet has helped out Tarok, his demon rival confronts him.*

"You pathetic wretch! You boil my veins in anger at calling yourself a Pit Lord!"
"What's worse is your continuing to brand everyone in one group."
"You will never be one of us, and forever be feared by these ... feeble mortals until you die!"
"Perhaps. But before that day comes I will know that I have expressed myself! I will have upheld my pride ... and I will have destroyed lowly, whining maggots like yourself!"

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