Rael Talevera's page

About Rael Talevera

Male Half-elf Ranger 2
NG medium humanoid (human, elf)
Init +3; Senses Perception +13; Low-Light Vision
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14
hp 18
Fort 4 Reflex 6 Will 1

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft
Spell Like Abilities Detect Magic 2/day (CL 2: DC 12)

Melee
Masterwork Greatsword +6 (2d6+4/19-20/x2) or
Masterwork Greatsword +5 (2d6+7/19-20/x2) or
Warhammer +5 (1d8+3/x3)
Ranged
Crossbow, light +5 (1d8/19-20/x2) or
Dagger +5 (1d4+3/19-20/x2)

Space 5 Reach 5

STATISTICS
STR 16 DEX 16 CON 12 INT 10 WIS 12 CHA 11
BAB 2 CMB 5 CMD 18

Traits:
Cold and Calculating - You gain a +1 trait bonus on all Bluff checks against favored enemies that share one of your subtypes. You also gain a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls made against such favored enemies during the surprise round.

Bastard - You gain a +1 trait bonus on Sense Motive checks, and Sense Motive is always a class skill for you.

The Bookworm - more or less fits your description. What about using the mechanics for "Civilized" here: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (nobility) checks and Knowledge (local) checks. Knowledge (local) is always a class skill for you.

Attached - The GM chooses the object of your attachment. Whenever the object of your attachment is either threatened, in danger, or in someone else’s possession, you take a –1 penalty on Will saves and a –2 penalty on saves against fear effects. If the person or object to which you’re attached is ever lost, killed, or destroyed, exchange this drawback for the Doubt drawback.

Feats
Power Attack, Cleave, Least Dragonmark of Detection, Skill Focus (Perception)

Skills Climb 5, Disable Device 6, Intimidate 4, Knowledge (local) 6, Perception 13, Sense Motive 7, Stealth 6, Survival 6

Languages Elven, Common
Gear Masterwork Greatsword, Crossbow - light, Dagger (2), Warhammer, Bolts - crossbow (20), Thieves' tools

Appearance and Personality:
A tall Khoravaran male with brown hair tied in a pony tail, dressed in dark clothes with a two-handed sword usually draped over his back.

Rael is quiet and contemplative, some would say brooding. Growing up he was naturally trusting over others and made friends quickly. The events of the past years have put a bit of a damper on that, and it takes longer to get him to put down his defenses now. Once he has decided someone is a member of "his inner circle" then he is fiercely protective of them and would do anything to help them out in times of need.

Background:
Rael is the only child of Rowan Talevera, a 1/2 elf professor archaeology at Morgrave University. He had no knowledge of his father until he manifested his dragonmark (which comes from the House Medani). Growing up in the hallways and back alleys of Morgrave University was a dream. He generally had the freedom to roam the campus (and other parts of the University and Ivy Tower districts). His 2 closest friends growing up were Ethan and Jayna Chord - whose parents were both also professors at the University, and life long friends of her mother. Ethan was 4 years older than Rael, and Jayna was a year younger. Rael wanted to learn more about his father, but his mother always refused to give him too many specifics. Sadly - he never got to ask his mother about the Dragonmark. When Rael 18, his mother was killed. She was on an excursion to Xen'drik and during the journey home, the ship she was traveling on was lost at sea in a storm (at least that's the story Morgrave University tells). In addition, Ethan Chord and his parents were on the same expedition and are presumed dead as well. Jayna and Rael had, in one horrible accident, lost both of their entire families. Upon hearing this news, the trauma caused Rael to manifest the Mark of Detection on his shoulder.

Jayna's Aunt helped watch after them afterwards, but Rael and Jayna descended into deep depression and the natural rebellion of youth was only intensified. Rael tried multiple times to join the military, but was rebuffed each time. He attempted once to try to approach House Medani to find out who his father is. Sadly, even though he was able to talk to a few people within House Medani, for some reason, they couldn't (or wouldn't) help him with his quest. Embittered, he eventually returned to Morgrave University to continue his education. He was also committed to discover exactly what happened to his mother's ship on the way back from Xen'drik, as it had remained shrouded in mystery.

He made it through Morgrave by the skin of his teeth (and also by the good graces of a few of the professors there who knew his mother). During his 2 years there, he spent more time in the bowels of Lower Menthis than he did in halls of Morgrave in Upper Menthis. He knows bartenders in taverns across Downstairs (a district in Lower Menthis), can talk his way into clubs and shows throughout Torchfire and has more than his fair share of even more tawdry contacts in Firelight.

After graduation, Rael still had a small amount of his inheritance left from his Mother. For the last 2 years, he's bounced around odd jobs all over Sharn (generally in the Menthis Plateau area, but occasionally elsewhere) while still searching for more information about his father as well as trying to figure out more about the events surrounding his mother's death. Rapidly running out of coin, he jumped when his friends began talking of leasing an old inquisitive firm and opening up a business.

Background Mechanics
Homeland, Family and Childhood: Raised in a Human Metropolis
Parents: Only his father is alive
Siblings: None
Circumstances of Birth: Bastard Born
Parents Profession: Artisans (I figured this would most compare to University Professor)
Major Childhood Event: Death in the Family (Mother)
Ranger Background: Detached Observer
Influential Associates: The Mentor (Aldan Lake)
Moral Conflicts: Negligence of a close friend over the loss of their families, with sincere regret
Relationships: Several Inconsequential Relationships
Drawbacks: Attachment (Person) - to Jayna

Motivations:
To discover twin truths - 1) who inside of House Medani is his father, and why does he want nothing to do with Rael? and 2 - what really happened to his mother's expedition?

Contacts:
Jayna Chord - life long friend and as close as a sister to Rael. Jayna currently helps to manage her Aunt's dinner theater in Smoky Towers.

Professor Aldan Lake - A Ranger and close friend of Rowan and the Chords, Aldan was also a professor of archaeology at Morgrave, but was not on the expedition to Xen'drik that claimed Rael's mother's life. Professor Lake shepherded Rael through Morgrave and helped him survive the devastating death of his mother. In addition, Rael received his initial Ranger training from Aldan and also learned from him how to use the two-handed sword he favors to this day.

Ragnar - dwarven bartender at the Singing Pixies Tavern in Downstairs

Dominique - a courtesan in Firelight.

Justin d'Medani - the one person that would actually talk to Rael when he inquired about his father. Sadly - Justin was no older than Rael and also was unable to get anyone to give him any information on Rael's history. However - Justin won over Rael's trust, given that he was the only member of House Medani that seemed to take him seriously. The slightest spark of a real friendship seems to be emerging between the two - and Justin is the only person in House Medani that Rael feeling anything but Contempt for at the moment.

Half-elf Traits
Adaptability: Half-elves receive Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st level.*
Elf Blood: Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
Elven Immunities: Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and get a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
Keen Senses: Half-elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception skill checks.*
Multitalented: Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes.

Class Features
Archetype: Urban Ranger
Armor and Shield Proficiency: You are proficient in Light and Medium Armor. You are proficient with shields (excluding tower shields.)
Weapon Proficiency: You are proficient with all Simple and Martial Weapons.
Favored Enemy: +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, Survival checks and attack and damage rolls against Humanoid (human)
Track: You add +1 to Survival skill checks made to follow tracks.
Wild Empathy: 1d20 + 2; You can improve the initial attitude of an animal (like a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person).