Orphax was originally part of the three-person squad of PCs build around defense and shield/spear formations. That game never really got off the ground, but his concept would fit well in this game. He's a soldier from an inter-planar city who's magic trinket for getting home got Disjunction-ed. Now he's stranded and trying to make it as a sellsword, at least until he manages to figure out a way to make it back home. He's currently built at 7th level and a little over your budget, but if you approve the concept I'll adjust his crunch tomorrow night. As for your questions- 1: One contact name - who - and what are they Cal, a gunslinging catfolk arms merchant who Orphax and his squad had been escorting at the start of this mess. It's basically Cal's fault Orphax is stuck out in the middle of everywhere. Orphax doesn't actually like Cal very much, but the snarky furball is undeniably resourceful and owes Orphax a lot of favors. 2: One enemy - who and why Kalafas, a rather psychotic Ifrit who feels like Arch, Orphax's home city, is built on top of his House's family territory (or something like that, Orpahx wasn't paying attention in that particular briefing). Since his family was displaced a few thousand years ago, Kalafas has made his home on Sigil and has been hatching schemes against Arch. Orphax doesn't know Kalafas is here, and Kalafas probably doesn't know that a few of the legendary Archon Soldiers have ended up stranded in the City of Doors, but Orphax isn't exactly a subtle guy. It's probably only a matter of time before Kalafas finds out, and then the poor Archers are in for as much trouble as a Djinn can throw at them. 3: Some thing you care about, what and why Loyalty. Sometimes soldiers, even good ones, have to do some damned distasteful stuff. That stuff is a whole lot easier to deal with, and less likely to come up, if you have a good group of people to watch your back.
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
Orphax bites into an apple as he walks through town, pausing with the others as they slow before the gristly inn sign. He looks at it as if considering, eyebrows raised in amusement, chewing slowly. After a moment he chuckles to himself, rolls his eyes and follows tossing his apple core in a scraggly bush near the gallows.
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
Orphax stands a little straighter, broken ribs and battered flesh popping back into place. He claps the healer on the shoulder and grins. "Indeed. Your patron seems to gift you with the power of damn good timing. Another swing or too and I'd have had to let one of my boys take the hits. That's just undignified."
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
"I'm Orphax, my men here are Allich and Herac" the older of the three says, wiping his spear free of blood and gesturing to his right and left. "We were happy to help, though if anything like this happens again you should be aware that we have a strict "no heroics" policy. That's the kind of stuff that gets folks killed, you know? If you run out again while we've still got people behind us to guard, you're on your own. No offense meant, just the way it is."
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
Rolling around his companion, Orphax manages to put himself in the way of two more of the giant's swings. He finally grits his teeth and starts to show his discomfort at the battering he's received. The glow from beneath his armor continues. "Caster, do you heal?" he shouts over his shoulder while lashing out at the giant in retaliation. Take Herac's damage, Lay On hands, Full attack Lay On Hands 1d6 ⇒ 4 First Attack 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 plus 1d6 ⇒ 6 electricity Second Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 plus 1d6 ⇒ 6 electricity down to 23
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
First, Orphax is taking the damage again. Second, 25 doesn't confirm against either of us. Herac has a base AC of 25. Raging brings it to 23, Shield Wall and Aid Another (as an AoO from Bodyguard) bring it to 27. Basically, Orphax takes another 25 HP, with the 27 from before he's down 52 putting him at 56. "Down" Orphax once again puts himself in harms way for his companions taking the second blow in much the same way as the first. As the blow lands a golden glow seems to come from beneath his armor, somehow lighting it up from beneath as if the armor beneath the lacquer were made of something that light could penetrate. Lay on Hands to self as a free action. 1d6 ⇒ 4 make that 60 HP.
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
Watching the slender girl run out from behind the safety of their shields, Orphax's jaw clenches. "Dammit..." Full Attack Longspear 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 plus electricity 1d6 ⇒ 5 Longspear 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 plus electricity 1d6 ⇒ 5
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
"Herac, down!" Orphax slides left as he thrusts, stepping into the line of the giant's incoming swing, taking the heavy blow on his flank. He grunts only barely, absorbing the blow from the giant's club like a prizefighter sucking up a punch. He rolls with it, his upper body swaying and his knees bracing, shunting off the battering-ram sized weapon with practiced ease. Orphax uses In Harm's Way to take the damage for Herac Longspear, fighting defensively 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 damage 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 plus 1d6 ⇒ 5 electricity damage
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
Mikka wrote:
Well, his second attack missed so it's a bit moot, but I think Mikka's right. Unless the giant has some strange means of getting a second attack after moving, it shouldn't have gotten it. By the way, unless otherwise stated, the SOP for the Phalanx is going to be to delay action until the initiative of the lowest of the three, and then all act simultaneously.
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
The trio's bivouac site is a bastion of order and cleanliness on the edge of the squalor. The tents are of strange make, seemingly without ropes or frame. Massive warhorses sit in line next to the tents, Chestnut, Dapple Grey and Sabino White, chewing contently in their feed bags, all three barded and skirted in red and white; the same heraldry bourn by the three men sitting around the small fire playing some kind of strange card game. At the bellow they turn their heads, hands snapping to the long spears set in the ground next to them. At the sight of the giant the one in the center stands and sighs. "Oh, Godstone. Shield's up, boys. I don't think that guy'll settle for being dealt in and given a drink." His armored boot kicks the edge of the strange rounded shield he'd been sitting on like a bench, and in a motion that seems too smooth to be unpracticed, slips his arm into the grips as it pops into the air. The spear in his hand crackles as his grip tightens, lightning running up and down it's length. "I was going to have to bluff that hand anyway..."
Male Human Fighter 4, Cavalier 1, Paladin 2
grmnbln wrote:
heh. Pretty accurate assessment, actually. The setting they're from is kinda like D&D on crack. They're just soldiers, but they're soldiers trained in a place that has made an entire economy out of cranking out giant badasses. I've been working on the mechanics of my character so I haven't written the backstory section yet, but I'll let you know when it gets added. In the mean time, Nightflier, I think the mechanics are solid and ready for review. Rolling for the last bits now- 7d4 + 41 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2) + 41 = 64 (using your homerule hit point system) 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3) + 8 = 14 for horse |