[Raellus]

Thanks, James, I'll check that out.

Quite a few of the replies to my original query re-listed the usual suspects. I guess I was hoping for some subtlety and/or a little authentic humanity- in other words, something not already portrayed in popular media ad nauseum. We all know the archtypes- they're easy to identify, familiar, comforting even, but to seasoned post-apoc warriors such as ourselves, they're also becoming rather trite, colorless, and cliché.

For a case study in subtle, nuanced humanity and the creation of a real-life warlord, let's look at history's most notorious example. Physically, he was unattractive and less than average by most metrics. His one defining physical feature became iconic only after his ascension to power. Prior to that, it was fairly commonplace and wholly unremarkable (unless you were familiar with early American cinema). This man's early career goal was not something associated with martial/political leaders of men. He suffered failure, professionally and personally, on several occasions. He did serve in the military during wartime, in combat, with distinction, but his unit-mates didn't think much of him. He certainly wasn't warlord material at that point in his life. He spent time in prison. He wrote a book that not many people at the time bothered to read. He had at least one serious romantic relationship, although many suspect it was never properly consummated. There are second hand reports of some kinky pseudo-sexual behavior. He was fond of little children (although, apparently not inappropriately) and doted on his dog. He surrounded himself with other unattractive people who could well have been described by their contemporaries as losers. All in all, this is not a description of your typical warlord as portrayed in popular media.

If he hadn't been a master manipulator, with a gift for public speaking, myth-making, inspiring intense personal loyalty to himself in others, and unleashing these followers' potential for committing great evils, none of us would ever have heard of Adolf Hitler.