Hetra Hallhewer's page

About Hetra Hallhewer

A character for Society Organized Play, both online and in person.

Appearance
"Our ev'ry dwarf a Darklands vet,
We own this hall but owe a debt.
Though dangerous, our task be set:
For there's work needs doin'...an' we're not dead yet."
-- Old Kravenkus Nursery Rhyme, turned Drinking Song (Common approximation)

The dwarven woman before you reaches a stray hand up to her short braids, appearing resigned that something is not there. Her armor and large sledge paint her as a warrior, but several belts of common tools strike you as being particularly civilian. Her face is rough and worn though no scars adorn it.

She seems particularly passive and keeps to herself in quiet contemplation. Carefully cradling a durable tome in large hands you catch the name: Hammer and Tongs. You remember this is not merely the dwarves' holy book, but also a trove of practical crafting advice. The underfolk probably think any single subject book would be inefficient... and inefficiency might be the greatest sin of all.

The woman has a round-eyed if taciturn gaze, and as much as she tries to focus on her tome those eyes keep crawling up and looking around her in subdued wonder. You suddenly get the distinct impression that she is far younger than you assumed, at least by dwarven standards. Combat appears to make her eyes wide and her skin pale.

Biography

Hailing from long suffering Kravenkus in the World's Edge Mountains, Hetra grew up in the company of desperate dwarves scavenging for honor and food in equal measure, along with oath-breaking slags that had no other places to turn. Few families had chosen to remain at the Sky Citadel, for the veins had long been dry and the gates to the Darklands too numerous to protect. This small community huddles deep within the ancient, innermost keep, trying to carve out some semblance of a life in the shadow of glories long lost.

Hetra had harbored dreams of becoming a skilled craftswoman, or maybe even being fortunate enough to serve the forge as a priestess of Torag...but upon coming of age her community was quick to discover a most terrible plight. She lacks any remote skill at craft or creation. The only area she shows affinity for is in the destruction of things - a talent for seeing hairline fractures, and knowing which walls are load-bearing - and this is most certainly not seen as a gift from Torag by her fellows. As the Hallhewers had long been known for their architecture this was particularly terrible news.

Forlorn at the shame she brought upon her family, Hetra found herself employed in the only task she was able: clearing debris of rock and ruin so that more talented dwarves could rebuild in its clearing. Kravenkus might be a Sky Citadel, but precious few dwarves reside there, and the once illustrious halls find themselves falling into both disrepair and Darklands hands. For several years she toiled, smashing stone and removing rubble, and carefully salvaging any beautiful dwarven stonework to be reintroduced by better hands. It was humble work, and humbling.

Hetra turned out to be braver than some of her fellows - though she would never be able to see it this way - as she often had to clear caverns near goblin infestations, or work in close proximity of those bombs meant to aid in demolitions. Her darkvision became sharp, her muscles strong.

After one too many attacks from the Darklands, however, she decided upon a new course of action. In the efforts to gather what funding and outside aid she may for the restoration of her beloved Kravenkus, she would join this "Pathfinder Society" and provide her Droskar-cursed skill to determine the instability of ruined rooms and timeworn tunnels for their brave explorers. And if the Society decided that some location was too dangerous to leave be, then Hetra was just the one to bring it crumbling down. She currently sees herself as nothing but a villager; she does not yet know that the Society has registered her as a warrior, and will blanch when she first realizes their mistake. She will be quick to point out that she is undeserving of the title. Thankfully, it turns out that long days of toppling columns and hurling large debris into disposal bins make this "stone lumberjack" a far better fighter than she yet realizes.

Traits
She saw the subtle cracks along the wall as starkly as lightning on a night sky. There, that was the spot: the place that would make it all come crashing down.

Warsmith (Racial)
You have an intuitive grasp of the weak points of metal and stone. You gain a +1 trait bonus to damage rolls against creatures and objects made primarily of clay, crystal, earth, metal, or stone. Knowledge (Engineering) is a class skill for you.

Life of Toil (Social)
You have lived a physically taxing life, working long hours to support a trade. Hard physical labor has toughened your body and mind. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Fortitude saves.

Racial Talents
No other Sky Citadel was in such disrepair. Those of Kravenkus felt other dwarves were abandoning their duty.

Slow and Steady
Dwarves have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance.

Darkvision
Dwarves can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Lorekeeper
Dwarves keep extensive records about their history and the world around them. Dwarves with this racial trait receive a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (history) checks that pertain to dwarves or their enemies. They can make such skill checks untrained. (This racial trait replaces Greed.)

Defensive Training
Dwarves gain a +4 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the giant subtype.

Hatred
Dwarves gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against humanoid creatures of the orc and goblinoid subtypes because of their special training against these hated foes.

Hardy
Dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities.

Relentless
Dwarves are skilled at pushing their way through a battlefield, tossing aside lesser foes with ease. Dwarves with this racial trait receive a +2 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to bull rush or overrun an opponent. This bonus only applies while both the dwarf and his opponent are standing on the ground. (This racial trait replaces Stability.)

Stonecunning
Dwarves gain a +2 bonus on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. They receive a check to notice such features whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking.

Weapon Familiarity
Dwarves are proficient with battleaxes, heavy picks, and warhammers, and treat any weapon with the word "dwarven" in its name as a martial weapon.

Class Talents
They hadn't heeded her warning, but at least she'd made it in time. Three powerful strikes with her earth breaker, and the tunnel entrance collapsed before the goblins could scamper up to her. They were getting closer to her home every day.

Favored Class: Fighter (Foehammer)
While the axe is the most famous dwarven weapon, the hammer is at the heart of dwarves' heritage as forgemasters and warriors alike.

Proficiencies
Dwarves always seem such a serious lot. It's often joked (and half wondered) if their rattles are axes and their cradles are rocks.

Weapons, Simple
Weapons, Martial
Weapons, Dwarven
Armor, Light
Armor, Medium
Armor, Heavy
Shields (including Tower)

Feats
"I'm afraid I have nothing to offer you, Misters and Misses, though I will carry your load and do what I can."

Improved Stonecunning
You receive a +4 bonus on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework. This bonus replaces the stonecunning ability's normal bonus on Perception checks.

Power Attack
You can choose to take a –1 penalty on all melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain a +2 bonus on all melee damage rolls. This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (–50%) if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary natural weapon. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every 4 points thereafter, the penalty increases by –1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage.

Improved Sunder
You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when performing a sunder combat maneuver. In addition, you receive a +2 bonus on checks made to sunder an item. You also receive a +2 bonus to your Combat Maneuver Defense whenever an opponent tries to sunder your gear.

Chronicle Boons (Permanent)
Collapsing towers, fragile floors, earthquake damage... Ambrus Valsin sure wasn't kidding when he said he'd find a way to make her useful.

Friend of Janira Gavix
The field agent who oversaw your Confirmation into the Pathfinders is appreciative of your bravery and camaraderie. She helps you perform research, granting a +1 bonus to all Knowledge checks attempted while you are at the Grand Lodge.

Confirmed Field Agent
Hetra was given a Wayfinder engraved with her name and date of Confirmation into the organization. As a reward for services rendered the compass was free, and any vanities it becomes socketed with cost 1 less prestige to purchase. Janira interacted with this wayfinder in a different adventure, inserting a rare Pathfinder Coin to receive a hidden message about Eylysia.

You Be Goblin!
+2 to all Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive checks made against goblins. This bonus comes from Reta Bigbad in We Be Goblins!, so is spun here that Hetra has much racial experience in defending her construction sites from Darkland goblin attacks.

Skills
Hetra fell backwards off the stool, stuttering and sputtering in confusion. This said the Lodge had registered her as a warrior! No wonder they kept throwing her into danger! Why would they ever think that?

[00] Acrobatics
[00] Appraise
[00] Bluff
[00] Climb
[00] Craft, Type
[00] Diplomacy
[00] Disable Device
[00] Disguise
[00] Escape Artist
[00] Fly
[00] Handle Animal
[00] Heal
[00] Intimidate
[02] Knowledge, Dungeoneering
[02] Knowledge, Engineering
[00] Knowledge, Dwarven (can use untrained)
[00] Linguistics
[02] Perception
[06] Perception for Stonecunning
[00] Perform, Type
[02] Profession, Laborer
[00] Ride
[00] Sense Motive
[00] Sleight of Hand
[00] Spellcraft
[00] Stealth
[00] Survival
[00] Swim
[00] Use Magic Device

Offense
BAB: 1
Earth Breaker: AB 4, Dmg 2d6+3, Crit on 20 for x3, Bludgeoning.
Light Pick: AB 4, Dmg 1d4+3, Crit on 20 for x4, Piercing.
(Folding Shovel): AB 0, Dmg 1d6_3, Crit on 20 for x2, Improvised, Fragile.
(Crowbar): AB 0, Dmg 1d6_3, Crit on 20 for x2, Improvised.
(Unarmed): AB 4, DMG 1d3+3, Bludgeoning, Nonlethal, Unarmed Penalties.

Defense
HP: 13 / 13
AC: 13 (Base 10 + Armor 4 - Dex 1)
Save, Fortitude: 6
Save, Reflex: -1
Save, Will: 2

Statistics
Size: Medium
Speed: 20 feet (Slow and Steady)
Encumbrance: L 76 lbs / M 153 lbs / H 230 lbs

Leveling
She didn't know her own strength...though she was about to find out.

Character Level: 2
Growth Track: Standard
Experience: 4 / 6
Society Scenarios Completed...

1a. The Confirmation (with Alika, Althas, Borosan, Ranif, and Shalin. GMed by Jeremy.)

1b. We Be Goblins! as Reta Bigbad (with Hawkeye127, Darksandman, and AxeMurder0. GMed by Revvy Bitterleaf.)

1c. Master of the Fallen Fortress (with Borosan, Chagrek, Grimor, Kito, Mortie. GMed by Blackfoot.)

2a. The Wounded Wisp (with Kyra, Travial Amakirr, Quido Stumblefoot, Kep. GMed by Blackfoot.)

Recurring Allies
Janira Gavix, Borosan

Notes
"Torag, do you test me? I almost fear I'll fall into the very sky."

* Hetra's profession is about building a good foundation for others to build on, and this is symbolically reflected in her approach to combat. She spends her rounds knocking back or knocking down enemies, or else bringing her trademark penchant for breaking to bear through sundering armor or caving-in enemy entry points. Many of her options are meant to help her party fight, rather than deal damage herself.

* When she does attack, Hetra prefers doing only one powerful slam on any given round. The Vital Strike feat family and various Foehammer options will help get this across. Massive hammers like the Earth Breaker really deal damage because of their weight, and swinging it fast enough for multiple attacks is difficult to picture (short of the Shoanti). She always prefers using a two-handed hammer like an Earth Breaker or a Maul, unless her deconstruction needs call for initial strikes with a pick.

* If pressed, Hetra's shovel and crowbar both trigger her Foehammer bonuses if improvised as weapons. She has also been known to grab the largest strut or column fragment she can find (improvised greatclub) if goblins attack during construction work, and she uses such until it shatters. She can hurl chunks of debris as thrown weapons, but receives no Foehammer bonuses for them.

* Hetra has two great dreams (though admittedly, her tendency towards too much humility means she doesn't think either is very likely). She wants nothing more than to ensure that Kravenkus is restored, even if she is no longer around to witness it. She also laments that Droskar is the god of toil and hard work, noble pursuits that he has corrupted. Having had a few dangerous run-ins with Duergar seeping in from the Darklands, she feels that Droskar has taken advantage of them and holds a young, naive hope that they might one day rejoin their bretheren.