Malthu the Redeemed's page

Hero Points: 3
2nd: 2/2
1st: 4/4
Relentless Footing 5/5

Malthu is a hulking brute, standing nearly seven feet tall and rippling with muscle. Pox marks still remain scattered on his face and body, a testament to his brush with death and the fate of his family. He bears a curious sword tattoo which appears to be a highly stylized symbol of Iomedae, only curved and bent. But someone who looked carefully might realize that the symbol was constructed on top of the insignia of his former clan, the Twisted Nail.

Malthu is loud and outspoken, and occasionally cynical about his own place in the world. An outsider to every world he's known, Malthu has learned to rely on himself and to always project an aura of strength. If someone doubts his abilities, his first instinct is to challenge them. If someone wants to help him, his first instinct is to assume they want something from him--which is fine as long as he feels respected. Finally, if someone gets in his way, he becomes angry--Malthu is used to getting his way.

Somewhere beneath that hardened exterior, though, is a loyal friend and soldier. Despite lacking formal education, he is quite sharp and has an intuitive understanding of battle tactics and strategy. He believes in keeping all his men alive so they can fight again. And for those he views as part of his "clan," he demonstrates an undying loyalty.

Before arriving in Trunau, Malthu was a fierce raider amongst the Twisted Nail clan. Rare for a half-orc in his tribe, Malthu was born from an Orc mother, Duras, a female Orc of unusual size, strength and ferocity. She was known as a cross-soul, a rare female who had the fighting spirit of a male. While Duras was respected as a warrior, her ferocity made it difficult to find a lover, for no Orc dared to take a wife that could defeat him in combat. So it was a surprise to all when Duras was found to be pregnant, and an even greater surprise when she gave birth to a single child, a half-human. A single child was a rarity amongst Orcs, who often give birth to litters of young. The Twisted Nail were notorious among both Orcs and Humans for being cannibals, and it was said that Malthu killed and devoured his siblings in the womb, an auspicious sign of his ferocity.

In his childhood, Malthu was always treated as an oddity, and the target of brutal bullying. But he was undaunted, and learned to stand on his own and fight back. When he came into adulthood, it was clear he had inherited his mother's enormous size and strength, along with what was considered, by Orc standards, to be great cunning from his human heritage. Named, "Malthu the Terrible," he was trusted with leading raids against both Orcs and Humans and became greatly successful, known for such feats as the Sacking of Kassen and the Massacre at the Skittermounds. He could have had his pick of Orc wives, but, perhaps because of his heritage, he rejected all orc women. Instead, he took human slaves, with particular affection for Denali, a Varisian woman captured in a raid against a caravan. The other orcs questioned his exclusive preferences for humans, but none dared tell it to his face. Denali's feelings toward Malthu were more conflicted, but she soon learned that having Malthu's favor meant having a good life. Over time, she bore him two children and found she could not continue to hate the father of her son and daughter. As for Malthu, life was good. Very good.

It was after Malthu led a raid against a Nidalese community that his life would take a dramatic turn for the worse. Under normal circumstances, Malthu would not have attacked, for the village's defenses were known to be strong. Yet recent scouting reports suggested that the number of guards on patrol had recently been cut by more than half. Malthu saw the opportunity for his greatest raid yet. He marshaled his tribesman and launched a fierce attack by cover of night, overwhelming the town's fortifications and looting the great riches within. As was often the case, Malthu joined his clansman in celebrating his triumph by consuming the flesh of his enemies.

What he did not know was that the town's sudden weakness was borne of plague. Soon after, however, Malthu felt incredibly ill. He had a blistering fever, and began to cough up blood. He was brought home to the care of his mother, Duras, and slave-wife, Denali, but they could do nothing to cure him. The orc shamans had no understanding of the illness. Worse, the illness began to spread. Denali became sick, and then their two children became ill as well. His children were the first to die, their young bodies unable to fight the disease. Denali too, soon succumbed. And Malthu was left alone, and weak. Those jealous of Malthu's power sought to usurp his place. Duras did her best to fend off these challengers - she was still feared and respected even in her old age. But Malthu knew it would not last, and he was sure that staying at his home meant certain death - if not from the disease, then from his enemies. So he fled the village for human lands.

Malthu stumbled his way to Trunau. When he reached its gates, he begged and pleaded for entry, to seek a healer. But his reputation had preceded him. "Well if ya look at that, Malthu the Terrible!" cried the gate guard. "I never realized how appropriate that name was. You sure look terrible right now!" The guard seemed to be delighted to see Malthu stand weakly at the gate, spitting up blood. Unsurprisingly, the gate remained closed. Rejected, Malthu began to make his way back home. Better to die at home than as a beggar among these humans, he thought. But in truth, he was too weak to go far. Instead, he collapsed by the side of the road.

To his surprise, Malthu awoke not in the afterlife, but within the confines of the Sanctuary in Trunau, being watched over by a gnarled old half-orc. It was Katrezra, former shaman of the Empty Hand tribe. Katrezra knew what the shamans of the Twisted Nail had forgotten - Malthu had contracted the same plague that swept through Trunau 50 years ago. The Orcs were obviously not affected, but Malthu certainly was given his human heritage. Fortunately, Katrezra was able to call upon Halgra to give Malthu the Terrible a chance, and was also was prepared to help Malthu fight the disease. So it was that Malthu recovered.

Since then, Malthu has stayed with Katrezra and the town of Trunau. Malthu claims he owes the shaman a life debt, and that he must stay until he can repay it. Though, even if he wanted to return to his home, Malthu faced great suspicion and peril for turning to humans to help him. He has fought hard to earn the respect of the citizens of Trunau, and, like Katrezra, has come to follow the ways of Iomedae and even receive her blessings. He is now a defender of civilization instead of a raider, and among the members of the church, he has taken to being called Malthu the Redeemed. But he remains a pariah in his own home, as some in Trunau will never forget that he was once Malthu the Terrible.

Malthu the Redeemed
Male Half-Orc Inquisitor (Sanctified Slayer) 4
NG Medium Humanoid (human, orc)
Init +7; Perception +8
Darkvision 60ft
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+1 Dex, +6 Armor, -2 ACP)
hp 38 (4d8+12)
Fort +9, Ref +4, Will +8
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Offense
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Speed: 20 ft. (30 ft without armor)
Masterwork Longsword: +7, 1d8+9/19-20/x2
Masterwork Greataxe: +7, 1d12+9/x3
Greataxe, Cold-Iron: +6, 1d12+9/x3
Masterwork Morningstar: +7, 1d8+9/x2
Silver Dagger: +6, 1d8+6/19-20/x2
Javelin, Cold-Iron: +4, 1d6+4/x2 (30 ft)
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 8
BAB +3; CMB +7; CMD 18
Feats: Improved Initiative; Step Up; Power Attack
Traits: Fate's Favored (+1 luck bonuses); Giant-Blooded (half penalty on oversized weapons, +2 CMD vs Awesome Blow)
Skills: Climb +8(1), Heal +8(3), Intimidate +8(2), Knowledge (arcana) +6/+8(2) K. Local +2/4(1), Knowledge (dungeoneering) +6/8(2), Knowledge (nature) +6/8(2), Knowledge (planes) +5/7(1), Knowledge (religion) +6/8(2), Lore (Orcs of Belkzen) +8(4), Perception +9(4), Profession (butcher) +9(4), Sense Motive +9(2), Spellcraft +5(1), Survival +8/10(3), Swim +8(1)
Languages: Common, Giant, Orc
Half-Orc Abilities:
Darkvision 60ft
Intimidating (+2 to Intimidate)
Sacred Tattoo (+1 luck bonus to saves)
Weapon Familiarity (greataxe, falchion)
Inquisitor Abilities:
Persistence Inquisition - Step Up as bonus feat
Relentless Footing (5/day) - Swift Action to increase speed by 10ft
Studied Target - Move action for +1 hit/dam and bluff/know/perc/SM/survival
Monster Lore - +Wis to identify creatures
Stern Gaze - +1/2 lvl to Intimidate and Sense Motive
Cunning Initiative - +Wis to Init
Detect Alignment
Track - +1/2 lvl to Survival to follow/identify tracks
Sneak Attack 1d6
Spells:
2nd (2/day): Inheritor's Smite, Invisibility
1st (4/day): Cure Light Wounds, Divine Favor, Litany of Sloth, Remove Fear, Weapons Against Evil
0th: Acid Splash, Daze, Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead, Guidance, Stabilize
Equipment:
Scale Mail (50gp)
Greataxe, Cold-Iron (40gp)
Chakram, Cold-Iron x3 (6gp)
Morningstar (8gp)
Dagger (1gp)
Holy Symbol of Iomedae, Wooden (1 gp)
Spell Component Pouch (5 gp)
Backpack (2gp)
Bedroll (0.1gp)
Belt Pouch (1gp)
Flint and Steel (1gp)
Rope (1gp)
Grappling Hook (1gp)
Waterskin (1gp)
Crowbar (2gp)
Torches x 10 (0.1gp)
Masterwork Longsword
Alchemist’s Fire x4
Composite Shortbow (+3 Str)
Arrows x20
Mwk Breastplate
Climber’s Kit
Fine Silver Dagger
Healer's Kit
Holy Water x2
Mwk Morningstar
Potion of CLW x2
Scroll of Knock x2
Scroll of Cause Fear
Scroll of Ghostbane Dirge
Scroll of Remove Fear
Scroll of Resist Energy Communal
Scroll of Remove Paralysis
Scroll of See Invisibility
Scroll of Comprehend Languages
Scroll of Obscuring Mist
Smoke Pellet x2
Tangleburn Bag
Tanglefoot Bag
Wand of Inflict Moderate Wounds (7 charges)
Masterwork Greataxe
Scabbard of Vigor
Spring-Loaded Wrist Sheath x2
Cold Iron Javelin x3
334.05 gp

Accomplished Sneak Attacker, Outflank?