Thinking about Briggsy and Yorgrim. The ways they're different.
[Minor EoM spoilers and a long ass ramble abound]
Thinking about the way that Briggsy seeks attention of any kind. Loud and grating and wise-cracking, embracing the reaction regardless of if it's joy or upset.
The way Yorgrim remains quiet and observatant, rarely speaking unless spoken too, easily talked over.
How Briggsy is tense and squinty-eyed at nearly every person he meets, drawing weapons at every sudden noise, but rarely takes action.
And how Yorgrim has trusted to the point where it's gotten people killed, but the moment suspicion is raised he is ready to do whatever it takes to keep the people he cares about safe.
Briggsy is tanky. High HP, insane AC. He can take a hit, but he doesn't. Mechanically, he is built to not die. To be able to run out of danger and avoid getting hurt. He's thick-skinned and nimble, but first and foremost, a coward.
Yorgrim, however, is a tank. Neither his HP or AC are as high as Briggsy's, though he has all the resistance of your typical barbarian. But he does what he's supposed to. He takes hits, he falls unconscious at least once per combat because he keeps putting himself in harms way.
But that's Yorgrim's job. Not just mechanically as a martial, but in-character. Protecting people is his duty. His purpose. He's not as explicit and preachy about it as Marius, but you see it in the way he lugs around Jericho's exhausted body, the way he pulls Marius away from triggers, the way he carries Anya through the sinful streets of Cyril. Being a shelter and humanoid shield is the latest in a long line of purposes he's served through his life in order to give it meaning. It's why he served as the shaman. It's why he performed the ritual. It's why he carries the tombstone. It's why he travels on his pilgrimage. It's why he's still alive. Life in and of itself is a labour he performs because he is still useful. It's what keeps sloth from consuming him. It's what keeps him from succumbing to his desire for rest. The only thing Yorgrim wants more than death is to be useful.
And Briggsy doesn't care about any of that. At least, he doesn't act like he does. He runs, and he cowers, and he takes shortcuts. He cheats and steals and lies. He has no worry about integrity, purpose, or duty. He cares about legacy. He wants people to know who he is, constantly asking strangers if they've heard of him already, because he wants people to react to his name, it doesn't matter how. Whether it be fame or infamy, his greed extends to reputation. And with that comes a sense of responsibility, but only to himself. A need to be independent, to be the only person he relies on, which brings us back to his stats.
Traditional spellcasters are far more weak and squishy than someone like Briggsy, because those spellcasters are usually protected by martials like Yorgrim. But Briggsy doesn't want to be protected by someone. He doesn't want to have to trust someone else with his safety, not after the last time he trusted someone else to help him. So he runs, and he takes shortcuts, because relying on himself and only himself is easier than letting someone else do the protecting for him.
Yorgrim needs to be relied on.
Briggsy is terrified of having to rely on someone else again.
Yorgrim cares more about being useful than being acknowledged.
Briggsy would rather be known as a fool or a coward than not known at all.
Yorgrim assumes people have good intentions.
Briggsy assumes everyone is out to get him.
But Briggsy doesn't need Yorgrim to protect him. He is more than a tool. And still Yorgrim will keep him safe whether Briggsy likes it or not.
And Briggsy cracks jokes and gives Yorgrim a silly little pet name, but beyond that exterior Yorgrim knows Briggsy to be more courageous than he lets on.
Even then, at the end of the day, every good thing that has ever happened to Briggsy has been a curse in disguise, and misfortune follows Yorgrim and the people he loves like an omen.
If only they had the time to meet in the middle there too.
[It should be known that a good chunk of Briggsy's analysis was inspired/informed by my good friend @drzibs]
