Wrath of the Righteous recruitment


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Alright, my backstory is complete.

Backstory:
“I was playing with my dog in the back streets of Kenabres the day I was taken… I was only five years old. The cultists came, and took me and several of my friends. As far as I can tell now, it was some sort of sleep spell…”

“We woke up, finding ourselves to be nine years older. The cultists had kept us magically asleep long enough for us to mature. We were to be used in some sort of sinister summoning ritual, something to summon a creature so big that it would widen the Worldwound itself…”

The lass says this as she sharpens her blade, a jagged, red sword, stolen from the cultists that had tried to disembowel her in service to whatever dark god they worshipped. She stops talking, letting the runes covering her muscular arms tell the story of her rage that harrowing day. Sights and sounds emanate from her body, telling of the torture she endured in “preparation” for her sacrifice. The scene of her sacrifice appears - the cultist stabbing her in her heart, her rage as she wrenches the sword from his hands and stabs him in turn. The image grows more vivid as you see the abyssal energies absorbing into her, sealing her wound and creating a blackened scar on both her and the sword.

You ask her what her goal is. Why do you want to join the Crusade, you ask.

“My goal?” She spits, wondering at your impetuousness in asking.

“I wish to destroy each and every one of those things with their own power.”

Is there anything wrong with it?

Planning to go Champion path, but I could also go Guardian.


Hopefully that's a positive comment. ;)


@Amanda: Nothing wrong, but it might be good to learn what she did in the space between nine years old and now.

@Tilnar: Yeah, positive.


Spooky GM wrote:
@Steave Rojerz: I guess this was bound to happen eventually. I was initially a little uncertain, but I did ask for righteous heroes and it's hard to get more righteous than that. So you get the greenlight.

@Spooky: Glad you like him. Hope you like him enough to select. I've updated his equipment, background, personality including tropes, and Advancement section to show direction of build. I'm also an older player, so role-playing the older and experienced character should be fun.

cheers!


So, like, I'm now a Bloodrager because it makes WAY more sense given my backstory. Abyssal Bloodline, since I was corrupted by demonic energies. To cap that off, could I maybe be a Demonspawn Tiefling instead of a human, to reflect the XTREME POWAH OF THE ABYSS granted to me?


Sure, that makes sense.


I will probably take champion or Guardian as it stands atm. Haven't used mythic much though. Both look good mechanic wise and (even better) RP wise.


I can easily take Archmage or Champion - both make sense RP wise.


Alright. I'll leave both of you off the character list until you've made up your minds.


Chief, put me down for Archmage! It fits my character incredibly well! I'd like to keep the Stolen Fury campaign trait, however, as my character is literally built around it.


Do you mean keeping the backstory bits, or keeping the +2 to CMB versus demons? Because I'd prefer if mechanically you took the Archmage trait, but your backstory can remain as it is I guess, though adding the bits from Riftwarden Orphan would be nice.


Since we have like 9000 champions already, I will select the Guardian Mythic Path. (couldn't decide, so when I looked at who was going what I figured that was a sign :P)


I've got a character that can be either Trickster or Guardian.

Sergeant Jackram Hughes, Trickster:

Sergeant Jackram Hughes
Male Human (Kellid) Ranger 1
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 11 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 20 ft.
Melee cold iron falchion +4 (2d4+4/18-20) and
. . heavy mace +4 (1d8+4)
Ranged shortbow +4 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks favored enemy (evil outsiders +2)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats Power Attack, Skill Focus (Disable Device)
Traits chance encounter, cynic (mendev), scholar of the great beyond
Skills Disable Device +4, Heal +5, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (nature) +5, Knowledge (planes) +6, Perception +5, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +4, Survival +5 (+6 to track)
Languages Abyssal, Common, Hallit
SQ track, wild empathy +0
Combat Gear cold iron arrows (20); Other Gear kikko armor, cold iron falchion, heavy mace, shortbow, backpack, masterwork, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, mess kit, rope, thieves' tools, torch (5), trail rations (5), waterskin, whetstone, 2 gp, 4 sp, 7 cp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Chance Encounter (1/day) Re-reroll failed Acrobatics, Bluff, Disguise, Sleight of Hand or Stealth check, keep 2nd result.
Cynic (Mendev) +1 trait bonus on Sense Motive checks, and Sense Motive is always a class skill for you.
Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders +2) (Ex) +2 to rolls vs Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders).
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.
Wild Empathy +0 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.
--------------------
Jackram grew up in Kenabres, child not of crusaders but of the native inhabitants of Mendev, and from a young age he has learned of the dark foes of that land, not much from books, but from listening wide-eyed to the tales told both by the idealistic paladins, and the jaded and world-wise mercenaries and low templars who fought alongside them.

To very close friends only, he sometimes tells a story of his childhood. Like a lot of kids, he didn't know when he was getting in over his head, see, and one night, following a band of soldiers on a late patrol, he found himself trapped behind a group of cultists. A mysterious elven woman emerged from the dusk, whispering in his ear that he could easily make it past them, if he were only to open the door. He discovered a trap door, locked, in the foundation of a ruined home close to the cultists' den, and using thieves' tools he'd only recently learned to operate, he unlocked it, finding a tunnel that led him to another opening near a path to home. Since then he has always relied on his own skills and luck, and drinks a toast to the mysterious woman every Starday.

Soon enough he joined the army, and was made a Sergeant almost immediately. Since then, he's seen hundreds of bright-eyed paladins rushing off to fight the demonic hordes... and had to write so many "We regret to inform you" letters that the names just blur together over time. He's gruff and prickly, but takes great care in making sure his soldiers have the best chance they can have to survive.

"Life's short, enjoy it while you got it," is a philosophy he lives by. Cayden Cailean is the closest deity to his heart, though he says the prayers to Iomedae when the other soldiers say them. Sometimes he'll mutter "Nur, nur, nur" while they're singing the hymns, depending on how cynical he feels that day, but he knows that the fresh-faced recruits, the newly-minted lieutenants, have to see "Sarge" in prayer with them.

A weakness for women, wine, and song is a flaw he'll admit to. A haunting doubt that the Worldwound will stay contained is one he won't.

Discussion of Sarge as a skill-focused character:
As you can see, although Sarge is quite capable in a fight, he's also skilled and will be able to meet most non-face skills with ease. The trickster archetype suits his cynical, pragmatic, do-what's-necessary attitude. At higher levels he'll take the bond with his teammates, allowing him to give bonuses to his party against his enemies, which will be evil outsiders and humanoids (human) primarily, and then adding other groups as appropriate as the story progresses.

Sergeant Jackram Hughes, Guardian:

Sergeant Jackram Hughes
Male Human (Kellid) Ranger 1
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +5
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 (+6 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 15 (1d10+5)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +1
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 20 ft.
Melee cold iron falchion +5 (2d4+6/18-20) and
. . heavy mace +5 (1d8+6)
Ranged shortbow +3 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks favored enemy (evil outsiders +2)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 18, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +5; CMD 17
Feats Power Attack, Toughness
Traits cynic (mendev), exposed to awfulness, scholar of the great beyond
Skills Heal +5, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (nature) +5, Knowledge (planes) +6, Perception +5, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +1, Survival +5 (+6 to track)
Languages Abyssal, Common, Hallit
SQ track, wild empathy +0
Combat Gear cold iron arrows (20); Other Gear four-mirror, cold iron falchion, heavy mace, shortbow, backpack, masterwork, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, mess kit, rope, torch (5), trail rations (5), waterskin, whetstone, 17 gp, 4 sp, 7 cp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Cynic (Mendev) +1 trait bonus on Sense Motive checks, and Sense Motive is always a class skill for you.
Exposed to Awfulness (1/day) Vs Death/Incapacitation by demon: Reroll saving throw as free action, keep 2nd result.
Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders +2) (Ex) +2 to rolls vs Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders).
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.
Wild Empathy +0 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.
--------------------
Jackram grew up in Kenabres, child not of crusaders but of the native inhabitants of Mendev, and from a young age he has learned of the dark foes of that land, not much from books, but from listening wide-eyed to the tales told both by the idealistic paladins, and the jaded and world-wise mercenaries and low templars who fought alongside them.

To very close friends only, he sometimes tells a story of his childhood. Like a lot of kids, he didn't know when he was getting in over his head, see, and one night, sneaking around the outskirts of the city, he was set upon by a horrid Dretch that had somehow made it through the wards. He laughs at it now, but to a small kid the relatively weak demon was almost deadly. A passing patrol saved him before he was slain, but he was in a coma for weeks before reviving.

Soon enough he joined the army, and was made a Sergeant almost immediately. Since then, he's seen hundreds of bright-eyed paladins rushing off to fight the demonic hordes... and had to write so many "We regret to inform you" letters that the names just blur together over time. He's gruff and prickly, but takes great care in making sure his soldiers have the best chance they can have to survive.

"Life's short, enjoy it while you got it," is a philosophy he lives by. Cayden Cailean is the closest deity to his heart, though he says the prayers to Iomedae when the other soldiers say them. Sometimes he'll mutter "Nur, nur, nur" while they're singing the hymns, depending on how cynical he feels that day, but he knows that the fresh-faced recruits, the newly-minted lieutenants, have to see "Sarge" in prayer with them.

A weakness for women, wine, and song is a flaw he'll admit to. A haunting doubt that the Worldwound will stay contained is one he won't.

Discussion of the Guardian path:
This would be a more combat-oriented version of the character. He'll still have a lot of skills, but not as many, and will be more focused on doing damage in combat and protecting others. His hunter's bond will be an animal companion, going for the guardian abilities associated with having one.


Right now Guardian is significantly less crowded, and I have a feeling Ranger might not make for the best skill monkey in a campaign like this.


OK then we can go with the Guardian version, I rather liked that one better anyway.


Trying to enter in one of Spooky's campaigns, take 3!

So, I'm happy that not much people have took guardian: that's exactly the Mythic Path I wanted!

A very rough draft of the character:
I'm thinking of an Oradin of Vildeis(LG Empyreal lord of Scars and martyrdom, also called the Cardinal Martyr): a Kyton-spawn tiefling, he joined the Crusade to give a sense to his meaningless life and escape from his growing depression (Taking the suicidal trait from Blood of Fiends, obviously). He first trained with the Paladins of Iomedae, but later left as Iomedae precepts didn't fit him. Now he's doing (Insert random work I've yet to decide) in Kenabres, believing that with his rejection of Iomedae he lost the little Paladin powers he had. Those powers are actually coming from Vildeis, and that will become more and more clear as he gains Lay on Hands at level 2 and when he has a revelation at level 3, taking a level of Oracle of Life and becoming a faithful servant of the Cardinal Martyr.

Objective: Even if he sincerely wants to fight for good and take others' burdens and pain upon himself, he will struggle against his masochistic Kyton nature (the thought that he's taking others' pain on himself only to gain pleasure) and self-hate (he's doing it only to punish himself, under the wrong assumption that everyone is more worthy of life than himself).
Basically, I want his to be a journey to absolute selflessness.

Again, it's a rough draft, but I'll develop from this.


Uh-oh, I'm not becoming a fixture of the Recruitment forum, am I?

As for the backstory, looks solid. Interesting angle to take, and not a god I would have expected, but I'm interested to see where it goes. Will it just be one level of Oracle, or will there be a general plan for the multiclass?

Liberty's Edge

Presenting the Wizard, Aleister Sune. Currently in Beta.

Some Crunch:

Name: Aleister Sune

CG Tiefling Conjurer (Teleportation Sub-School) HP 8 (1d6+2)
AC 15 Resist: Cold, Electricity and Fire (all 7)

Arcane Bond: Familliar (Thrush), Opposed Schools: Evocation and Illusion,
Str 7, Dex 16, Con 14 , Int 20, Wis 7, Cha 9
Fort +2, Refl +3, Will +0

Racial Traits:
Native Outsider, Darkvision, Skilled, Spell-Like Ability, Fiendish Resistance, Prehensile Tail

Character Traits:
Unscathed, Fiend Blood (Bluff), Riftwardern Orphan (Archmage)

Feats:
Scribe Scroll, Armor of the Pit

Concentration +7

Skills: [Ranks]
[1] Bluff +6
[1] Diplomacy +3
[1] Knowledge Local +9
[1] Knowledge Planes +9
[1] Knowledge Arcana +9
[1] Linguistics +9
[1] Spellcraft +9
[0] Stealth +5

Languages: Common, Abyssal, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Infernal, Celestial

Background:

Backstory:
An orphan of the worldwound Aleister was raised under foster care. The taint in his blood made it difficult for him to connect with others in Kenabres. He would often find himself alone looking over Kenabres from the roof of his foster home, thinking about the family he never knew.

The bard’s would sing of the brave souls who fought the abyssal threat, but Aleister always considered the many people who passed through Kenabres on their way to the worldwound to be foolish. He had seen hundreds fall to the demon horde, his own parents among the buried and he had no plans to join them.

His heritage and unpopular views regarding the crusaders made it difficult for Aleister to find someone to instruct him in the Arcane arts. Eventually he formed an intellectual bond with a young woman working as an apprentice and was able to learn the art second hand. He asked the woman many times throughout their time together why she wanted to fight the abyssal army, but her answers only confused the young tiefling.

It wasn’t until her death that he could understand her words. Another life sacrificed to the Worldwound. After her death it seemed to Aleister that he was seeing Kenabres for the first time. A city full of life fighting for something larger and more important than themselves.

This new understanding ignited a fire within Aleister, a thirst for something more than knowledge. Peace. He wanted to put an end to the crusades once and for all. He knew that leaving the Worldwound to fester would bring ruin upon the material plane, and it needed to be stopped.


@Spooky: Nah. You're heading that way, tough :P

As for Oracle levels, I'm thinking of taking 2, probably 3. I'll need them mostly to up the number of people I can put Life Link on.

EDIT: 2 Spookys!

Liberty's Edge

Fixed. No more doppelganger.


Spooky GM wrote:

@Andanan: Interesting way to twist Stolen Fury. The refluffs aren't a problem. What about the prestige class would need refluffing?

Well, the fluff around Brothers of the Seal ties them to Kaer Maga (in Paths of Prestige), but i'd much rather the Prc represent (obviously this doesn't kick in until level 6) a devotion to safeguarding the Wardstones of the Worldwound or some other fluff relevant to WoTR. Mechanically, Andanan would have no difficulty qualifying for the prestige class.


@Flashohol: Looking solid so far.

@Adahn: Well hopefully I won't go all the way. I'm banking on my fourth game being enough to tide me over, especially during my summer slump where my real life group doesn't meet and I go through DMing withdrawals.

@Andanan: Oh, it's fluff in the book, right. I was just looking at the fluff-less SRD page. Yeah, changing it is fine.


Spooky GM wrote:
@Gregory: He'll need a bit of a tweak to get in, I imagine, as right now his backstory doesn't account for why he'd be in Kenabres or anything about the Crusades, not to mention lack of one of the really important to everything campaign traits. But what's there so far looks alright. It's definitely a character goal that would be interesting to explore in the story, given its themes and such.

Im sorely tempted to go Heirophant simply for the roleplay aspect it presents, but then again, theres nothing stopping me from doing that anyway, so Trickster it will be.

As for background, thats luckily rather easy. The World Wound being what it is, and with all the demons running around, its the perfect place for Gregory to get some hands on experimentation done. Because lets face it, working with vials of demon blood and skin samples just isnt as effective as dealing with the real thing...and he isnt about to try his hand at summoning rituals thats for sure.

It will be put in there eventually, but thought id write a shorthand here for you in the interim.


Heh, Spooky, I think ya are coming a bit of a fixture. You have really reasonable rules and you run APs in a fun and interesting way.

I was in the recruitment for your Way of the Wicked campaign, but I dropped out because I feel really uncomfortable playing Evil characters.

About the campaign trait (Stolen Fury): I'd like to just straight-up keep it, as I'm going to be going for the (surprisingly many) melee-focused Path Abilities of the Archmage Path.


@Gregory: Alright, sounds good.

@Amanda: The problem is, the traits grow as the game goes on, and though it's a bit railroadey, the plot develops based on the traits. I'm fine with you also having an evil ritual happen to her and it not be the one from the trait, but reading ahead in the book, I've got to keep with what's there.


Spooky GM wrote:

@Gregory: Alright, sounds good.

@Amanda: The problem is, the traits grow as the game goes on, and though it's a bit railroadey, the plot develops based on the traits. I'm fine with you also having an evil ritual happen to her and it not be the one from the trait, but reading ahead in the book, I've got to keep with what's there.

OH. Okay. I thought they just gave that bonus at the beginning and then just kinda existed. So... Amanda's parents were both Riftwardens, and she was taken by the cultists because of this.

Easy.

Luckily there are a few Tiefling feats specifically dealing with fighting Fiendish influences, so my concept is safe.


Okay, yeah I thought about Ragathiel, but didn't think he fit the character very well, but I suppose since Vengeance is part of the portfolio he'll do.

So Shauldrek, on his trek to find his place in the world is attacked by his father, the Atamahuta Oni (I am going for Exposed to Awfulness and the Guardian position). The followers of Ragathiel save him and take him in. He doesn't feel comfortable around these people, as they are all very skilled and therefore look better than others who've seen as many battles as they. So Shauldrek perfects his alteration to fit in. He begins training as a cleric, but when they learn of his parentage, they see his potential to help exact vengeance on those who deserve it as decided by divine guidance...as an inquisitor.

That work?


Oh look at that, in one day Guardian went from having no applicants to being the most applied-for.

Archmage:
-Mia Rumsfield, Halfling Witch
-Amanda Mayweather. Pitborn Bloodrager (Abyssal)
-Aleister Sune, Tiefling Wizard (Conjurer, Teleportation Subschool)

Champion:
-Andanan Sumna, Oread Monk
-Petravius Impetus, Half-Elf Magus
-Lars von Maur, Paladin of Sarenrae

Guardian:
-Darien Cedric Espoir, Aasimar Paladin of Iomedae
-Sergeant Jackram Hughes, Human Ranger
-Unnamed F@!+ass, Tiefling Paladin of Vildeis
-Shauldrek, Tiefling Inquisitor

Hierophant:
-Gabriel, Aasimar Cleric

Marshal:
-Sir Basil de Fermer, Human Paladin of Iomedae (Warrior of Shining Light)
-Steave Rojerz, Half-Elf Ranger
-Dakon Tarro, Half-Elf Summoner (Wild Caller)

Trickster:
-Drakra Worpltng, Gnome Bard
-Leander Mulberry, Tiefling Rogue
-Gregory Paltaris, Tiefling Alchemist (Mindchemist) [Pending backstory adjustment]


I have a buddy here applying for the Hierophant path position soon.

I'd like to switch back to Runic Berserker, with the primary casting stat switched to Charisma from Intelligence. For one, it's a more well put-together class than the Bloodrager, and for two, I feel that the Bloodrager is far too powerful given the classes it was based on.


I'm curious as to how Runic Berserker Archmage would work. Mostly because due to how I'm recruiting, the party would almost certainly lose out on a full Arcane caster for a gish without actual speels, and I'm not entirely sure that's the best move.


@Spooky While the ranger looks odd with the marshal, let me tell you what I would like to do. To model the Captain's tactical abilities and leadership, I would start with the Marshal's Rally and Decisive Strike.

Then, if Wrath enables the Captain to command some "Howling Commandos" then I would ask you to consider allowing the Inspire Minions from Marshal to apply to his Freebooter's Bane. Inspire Minions specifies morale or competence bonus, but the wording appears general enough for the application. Freebooter's Bane provides an untyped bonus, which I think was a designer oversight, but it is very similar to an Inspire Courage. While this ability would not affect the player characters, it would fit his Leadership.

cheers


Alright changed up Azim. He now will be going the path of guardian. Hope you like.

Modified Background:

Azim was born in Katheer the capital of Qadira. A simple barmaid his mother. She was taken one night by a trade prince. Not having money enough for herself she took the baby to the temple of Sarenrae. The monks and priest found the child in the morning and took him in.

Azim grew and studied at the temple. He became good friends with a young girl there. Her name was Hana. She had hair orange as the sun. Her eyes green but seem to almost flicker as a flame would. The two grew close and even trained together as battle dancers. Azim didn't have the grace that Hana did, but was able to come into his own at the art.

Hana was a couple years ahead of Azim, and finished her training. The two didn't say goodbye. They simply told each other until we are together again. Hana was going to the worldwound as many from the temple have. Azim would follow and they would bring the fight to hell together.

One day training with the others a terrible attack happened. There was no cause or warning. Azim and the other boys were sparing when a emaciated horned human looking beast poped in and started killing. The skin of the beast seemed like it was stretched over the bone beneath. It killed two of the boys with ease. Azim fool heartedly rushed the beast olny to be sevely wounded as well.

Azim spent many weeks asleep and dreaming. He dreamed of the beast still and the carnage it caused. He would also dream of Hana. Sometimes good and then sometimes bad. The bad dreams were of her being tortured by the beast and suffering for eternity. When finally awake Azim used the dreams to finish his training. He found them to be toubling but yet motivating that he needed to finsh and find Hana.

Azim now finds himself in the city of Kenabres. He has been searching and asking for Hana for only a day. He has been to the local temple and learned Hana has not been seen for days now. He holds her spirit in his heart and has yet to think the worst. He has read the texts of Yaniel and knows his enemy. He now makes preparations to continue the search for Hana.

Sovereign Court

Spooky GM wrote:

Oh look at that, in one day Guardian went from having no applicants to being the most applied-for.

I see this happen in every Wotr recruitment thread. People switch their concepts around to try to not be in a contested path rather than sticking to their guns.


@Steave: Oh no, I actually clued into that idea pretty quickly; it would be the logical place to go with him. Even if he doesn't try to amass followers and allies, he can still get use of Marshal abilities with the party alone just fine. Champion, Guardian, Trickster, and Marshal are not paths I'm too worried about adherence to the basics of, because there's a lot of wiggle room and an array of classes can go into it. So, unconventional as a Ranger/Monk Marshal is, I'm a lifelong comics reader and could see the direction from miles away. It's only really Hierophant and Archmage I have concerns about, because those two are sort of mage for full casters of their respective sorts, and party balance is an issue for me.

@Amanda: Maybe with Champion now not quite as intimidating-looking, your original plan might work better? Even Bloodrager is a bit iffy as the party's sole arcane caster, now that I hit my second wind and think on it a little more.


got caught up at work and got ninja'ed by some post. Thats okay, I'm sticking with Guardian. I like my backstory and It fits with the build I have in mind.


Hm, Bard Guardian? Bardian. Interesting.


Yeah, that'd be best, I think. My character makes much, much more sense as a Champion anyways.


Cool.


Eh, what the heck. I'll stay Bloodrager.


Well this is disappointing, I was going to post a guardian, but its kind of daunting at this point.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I say go ahead and give it a shot. After all, considering this recruitment is supposed to be open for a few more days, probably all mythic paths are going to more or less fill up with submissions.


@Amanda You can always grab the Dual Path Mythic feat and have bits of both. I'll Dual Path Archmage as Trickster, even though my focus will remain with Trickster.


@Cuan: Oh! Thanks for pointing out that feat, it's perfect!

I can't decide between Bloodrager and Runic Berserker.


Would you be interested in a Halfling brawler who's an escaped slave/arena fighter who worships the god of freedom and adventure?


Here is Aeryx, an odd-looking, birdlike fellow with a bad history with demons. He's had a hard go of it in life so far, judged harshly by many, but he knows deep down that he's a good soul meant for great things in the fight against evil. He will be on the Champion mythic path, aiming to destroy demons with his powerful bow (or at least the one he hopes to be able to afford one day…) and his deep understanding of their kind.

Stat block:

Aeryx
Male Garuda-Blooded Aasimar Ranger (Infiltrator) 1
CG Medium outsider (native)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 12 (1d10+2)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2 (+3 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting spells and effects from demons)
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee cold iron longsword +4 (1d8+3/19-20) and
. . dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20) and
. . light mace +4 (1d6+3)
Ranged shortbow +4 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks celestial crusader, favored enemy (evil outsiders +2)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +0)
. . 1/day—spell-like ability, greater
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 9
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats Point-Blank Shot
Traits armor expert, asmodean demon hunter, stolen fury
Skills Knowledge (geography) +4, Knowledge (nature) +4, Knowledge (planes) +1 (+4 on checks related to demons), Perception +6, Stealth +6, Survival +6 (+7 to track)
Languages Celestial, Common
SQ track, wild empathy +0
Combat Gear cold iron arrows (50); Other Gear chain shirt, cold iron longsword, dagger, light mace, shortbow, ranger's kit, 17 gp, 3 sp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Armor Expert -1 Armor check penalty.
Asmodean Demon Hunter You gain a +3 trait bonus on Knowledge (planes) checks about demons and a +2 trait bonus on Will saves against mind-affecting spells and effects from demons.
Celestial Crusader (Ex) Against evil outsiders gain +1 to att/AC, and +2 to Knowledge/Spellcraft vs them.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders +2) (Ex) +2 to rolls vs Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders).
Point-Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Stolen Fury +2 trait bonus to CMB vs. Demons
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.
Wild Empathy +0 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.

Aeryx’s Story:

Aeryx had always been a bit…different. His odd, amber eyes were unusual enough, made even more so by his small size and almost birdlike movements. From birth, folk in his village in Mendev thought him some sort of half-breed, though none could say what the other half might be. Their ignorance made them fearful, however, and they judged him to be the scion of some foul mating - a harpy somewhere back in his bloodline, or some other abomination. But Aeryx felt in his heart that he was good inside, and even destined to do great things in the cause of good, though his kin and the other villagers mocked when he said so.

Outcast that he was, for his strange looks and seemingly baseless belief in himself, Aeryx was often alone, and that made him a target. Cultists, worshippers of some foul demon-lord, came upon him as he played by himself in the forest one day, distracted by his day-dreams of defeating evil and showing everyone what he was made of. They kidnapped him and other young folk from the lands around the village, though Aeryx was among the youngest of them. He remembers little of what he went through, other than the fact that it was soul-searingly cruel and brutal, and that he and a handful of others managed to escape, and many more children did not. He made his way back home, but his life would never be the same.

He suffered strange, indistinct nightmares for years afterwards and, as he approached manhood, the dreams grew worse – and other changes in him began to take place. His eyes changed, ever so slightly at first, then the skin on his face grew taut, and his nose sharper, so he came to resemble a bird more than ever – and a bird of prey, in fact. This was very disturbing, but was nothing to what came next. Gradually, in a bizarre likeness of an egg hatching, a pair of wings sprouted from his back. He was able to hide them at first, but over a number of weeks they grew too large, and eventually came to be near as tall as Aeryx. Considered in the abstract, his wings are beautiful – a mix of cream, dark grey and a dark, coppery red, like the red-tailed hawk that hunts in Mendev in the warmer months. When seen on the back of a young man, in a small village in a land beset by demons, they are frightening indeed.

Aeryx was no longer welcome in his home or his village, and he decided the time had come to find out what lay behind his dreams, and his belief that he was meant for great things – before he was stoned as demon-spawn by those who grew up with him. He set out for Kenabres, where the knowledge of demons and the opportunities for greatness were in much greater supply than in his small village of Isterov, on the western edge of the Estrovian Forest. As he travelled, he fantasized that he would arrive in the great city and be welcomed, and understood, but it was not to be. Soon after arriving in Kenabres, Aeryx’s appearance attracted the attention of a group of ‘witch hunters’ intent on rooting out evil infiltrators in the city. They decided there was something wrong about Aeryx, and that he was weak and alone enough to make a suitable target. Aeryx was just barely able to fight them off and escaped, and has managed to avoid them since, but the experience galvanized him. His life experiences so far – the suffering under the cultists, the rejection by his own people, the persecution in the very stronghold dedicated to rooting out Golarion’s greatest evil – none of these have shaken his conviction that he is good, and that he must prove this to the world, until no one can doubt it.

In his brief time in Kenabres, he has learned more about the nature of good and evil, and creatures on either side of that balance. He wonders quietly if he might be an aasimar, a descendant of angels, and thus destined to fight evil. Though he is not certain of his identity, he’s fiercely proud of what he now believes to be his angelic blood, and takes great insult at any who might suggest otherwise or comment on his unusual appearance. He has set himself to the study of demons, and has learned a good deal about fighting them, though his experience with actual demons is quite limited indeed.

Aeryx does not know if he will ever fit in anywhere, but in his zeal to learn more of demonkind, and his clear determination to fight them, he has earned the respect of some of the older Crusaders in Kenabres. This gives him hope that he can become part of the war against the Worldwound and its denizens, and find brotherhood, and show the world who he truly is.

Appearance and Personality:

At first glance, Aeryx looks like a short, slender human man. A closer look makes clear that, rather than an elaborately-cut cloak on his back, what he has is a pair of large wings. Mostly dark grey in color, with touches of cream and a dark, copper red, the wings extend from about the level of his ears down to where the tips just brush the floor. His hair, longish and swept back from his face, is of the same coppery color as the flecks in his wings. His face is narrow, with large, alert, amber eyes and a hooked nose. He carries a small, well-worn bow behind his left shoulder, and a brand new longsword with a black blade rides at his hip.

In his movements, Aeryx varies between two extremes. At times he sits watchfully and still, eyes calm and alert, occasionally turning his head to a new position, and looking for all the world like a man-sized hawk - albeit a small man. At other times, and particularly in a fight, he seems filled with unnecessary energy, hopping about and appearing to move in several directions at once.

Aeryx dreams of becoming a renowned demon-hunter, or in some other way showing the world that he is worthwhile and good. Many people in his life have judged him harshly and treated him even worse. This has instilled in him a fierce, even violent, pride in himself and what he believes to be his angelic heritage. His belief in himself as a descendant of angels, and his early experiences with demon cultists, have also bred in him a deep-seated hatred of demonkind, and a part of him just wants to kill demons for the sport of it.

Role in the party and plan for future levels:

Aeryx will have various roles in a party: his focus is on ranged combat with his bow, but he’ll also be very effective in melee. As with most rangers, he'll be useful in tracking the party’s enemies and knowing something about their strengths and weaknesses. His stealth and perception will also make him quite useful as a scout.

At this point I see him going straight ranger and focused on his archery, though I do sometimes find that characters take on a life of their own and call for surprising twists in their builds over time.

Random Notion:

Given that Aeryx has wings, I’m wondering about replacing his spell-like ability with the following racial trait from the Advanced Race Guide:

Gliding Wings (3 RP): Prerequisites: None; Benefit: Members of this race take no damage from falling (as if subject to a constant nonmagical feather fall spell). While in midair, members of this race can move up to 5 feet in any horizontal direction for every 1 foot they fall, at a speed of 60 feet per round. A member of a race with gliding wings cannot gain height with these wings alone; it merely coasts in other directions as it falls. If subjected to a strong wind or any other effect that causes a creature with gliding wings to rise, it can take advantage of the updraft to increase the distance it can glide.

This trait costs 3 Race Points, just like the Aasimar’s Greater Spell-Like Ability, so it’s not a change to the overall power level of the race, and fits very nicely with Aeryx’s birdlike nature. I’d be curious to hear what you think.


Dotting for interest, probably to try the Aetherurgist. It'd be an Oracle of Nature, summoning the spirits of treants, forest animals, and just general nature-based spirits.

The Exchange

Submitting a hierophant that breaks a couple of rules, but I think makes for a strong crusader none the less. Looking for feedback more than anything else really.

Crunch:

Polydeuces Troy
Male Human (Chelaxian) Cleric (Evangelist) of Asmodeus 1
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +3
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 5 (1d8-3)
Fort -1, Ref +2, Will +4 (+3 Trait bonus vs. mind-affecting spells and effects from demons)
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee heavy mace +3 (1d8+3) and
. . longspear +3 (1d8+4/×3)
Ranged sling +2 (1d4+3)
Special Attacks fascinate, inspire courage +1, sermonic performance, countersong, sudden shift
Cleric (Evangelist) Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +3):
1st—bless, disguise self [D]
0 (at will)—create water, guidance, light
[D] Domain spell; Domains Deception, Trickery
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Statistics
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Str 17, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +0; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Combat Reflexes, Lingering Performance
Traits asmodean demon hunter, touched by divinity
Skills Diplomacy +4, Perception +3, Spellcraft +3
Languages Common
SQ aura, domains (deception), public speaker, spontaneous casting
Other Gear masterwork chain shirt, heavy mace, longspear, sling, sling bullets (10), terendelev's scales (sacred weaponry), silver holy symbol (Pentagram), 72 gp, 9 sp
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Special Abilities
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Asmodean Demon Hunter You gain a +3 trait bonus on Knowledge (planes) checks about demons and a +2 trait bonus on Will saves against mind-affecting spells and effects from demons.
Aura (Ex) The Cleric has an aura corresponding to his deity's alignment.
Bardic Performance: Fascinate (1 targets) (DC 10) (Su) One or more creatures becomes fascinated with you.
Bardic Performance: Inspire Courage +1 (Su) Morale bonus on some saving throws, attack and damage rolls.
Cleric (Evangelist) Domain (Deception) Associated Domain: Trickery

Bluff, Disguise, and Stealth are class skills.
Combat Reflexes (3 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.
Lingering Performance Bardic Performances last 2 rds after you stop concentrating.
Public Speaker (-1 DC to hear) An evangelist gains Perform as a class skill. In addition, she is trained to project her voice with great skill and effect; the DC to hear her speak in difficult conditions is reduced by an amount equal to her class level plus her Charisma modifier (
Sermonic Performance (standard action) (4 rounds/day) An evangelist gains the ability to deliver a select number of supernatural and spell-like performances through the force and power of her divinely inspired preaching and exhortation. This ability is similar in all respects to bardic performance as us
Sermonic Performance: Counterspell (Su) Counter magical effects that depend on sound.
Spontaneous Casting An evangelist does not gain the ability to spontaneously cast cure or inflict spells by sacrificing prepared spells. However, an evangelist can spontaneously cast the following spells by sacrificing a prepared spell of the noted level or above:

Sudden Shift (5/day) (Su) As an immediate action after being missed by a melee attack, teleport up to 10' away, within the reach of the attacker.

Background:

Polydeuces and his younger brother, Castor, were raised by their mother in Isger until his brother was seven years old. Mother Troy, having only six fingers (having had four bitten off by raiding goblins during the Goblinblood Wars) could no longer remember Polydeuces' age and sent the two out into the world, reckoning he was old enough to take care of his brother. They scrounged by on odd jobs, eventually working their way to Elidir where they made a living dangling from the legs of men condemned to death by hanging. Because what they did was of questionable legality, people started to take notice of these orphans and their resourcefulness. They were captured one day and sent to the Sisters of the Golden Erinyes.

Though illiterate until they were taken in by the sisters, Polydeuces and his brother developed their native intelligence and became quite articulate due to their repeated attendance to Chelish produced plays and performances in Isger's capital. Polydeuces in particular was fond of the Chelish heroes and often sought the emulate more than their speech, but also their habits and their faith. His favorites were never Paladins --who were often buffoons and misguided souls in Chelish theater, but instead were the pious clerics and inquisitors, agents of the faith whose cool heads and strict discipline he thought always triumphed over the forces of chaos. Every once in a while he would stand in mirrors and try to emulate the pyrotechnics of the plays by setting his hands on fire.

This strange ability did not go unnoticed by the sisters, who read it immediately as the spell burning hands, which was strange considering the boy had no magic in his blood. They took this as a sign that he was touched by their god Asmodeus, as he granted this power to some of his faithful, particularly those destined to do great things. They immediately began to dote on the boy and teach him the faith of the dark prince, hoping to not lose this special child to a lesser faith. It was not long after his adoption that he began to wear the symbols of the church and claim he would soon be a crusader in the Worldwound, like some of his heroes from plays he remembered. Seeing his potential in the clergy, and a little tired of him using the other orphans as his practice demons, the sisters arranged a contract for him to go to Egorian and do as they knew he wanted: train for demon hunting. Saying goodbye to his brother, who was never quite tame enough to be a career clergyman, he went to the Chelish capital.

Its very rare that one hears of those crusading for the hellish kingdom, but some in the nation felt it was time to increase Cheliax's influence in the crusade against the demons of the Worldwound. To that effect they conceived a loose order of knights, clergy, and inquisitors to prepare and send crusaders to the Worldwound in the name of mighty Cheliax. This order, known as Her Infernal Magestrix's Own Black Fire Guard, quickly became a bureaucratic mess that was underfunded, unadvertised, and only occasionally brought up as a political talking point by a politician or clergyman looking to impress peers. Despite this, Poludeuces took the opportunity and saw it as his chance to become like his childhood heroes.

As his time in the church went on and his time to venture to Mendev grew near, Polydeuces became dissatisfied with the direction his church was going in. Many times he felt disciples of Asmodeus were more interested in making and bending rules to justify their vices than in making them to maintain order and balance. In his reading of the Asmodean disciplines, he saw the dark prince as doing evil not as an end, but as a means to an end, that end being to preserve order and route out chaotic usurpers. Again, he found even more reason to venture into the Worldwound. He felt the call to show the world that those who worship Asmodeus held order paramount to all other ventures and the threat posed by the demons pouring out of the Worldwound was one that even infernal Cheliax, Empire of Devils, was obligated to send its sons and daughters to quell.

With spear, mace, and infernal might behind him he ventured out from Cheliax, setting off on a journey toward the Worldwound. Many of his ilk called him a fool on another man's errand, a misguided boy looking to claim glory where there was none to be had. Polydeuces however was blinded by the righteousness of his endeavor. Any plan to set the world back on the path of order would begin with a brave gambit against the most visible force of chaos on this planet save mortals, the demons pouring out of the Worldwound. This crusade, though heavily romanticized, means everything to him. With the aid of a few good men, he could perhaps make his god take a second look at the mortals who sewed chaos in his universe and see that they can rise as the greatest heralds of the order he seeks to return every world among the stars to.

Description:

Mussed curly brown locks hang over his classically handsome face. Going lower, thick eyebrows sit above a straight nose, thin mouth, and a chiseled chin. HIs skin is dark, betraying his origins in humid Isger. Standing only 5'10, he is shorter than the average adventurer, but he is well built and particularly strong. If not for his armor proudly displaying the reversed pentagram, one would be hard pressed to guess he ever spent any time in Cheliax or worshipped their patron deity.

His voice is neither booming nor feminine, but when he speaks there is a calm reassurance behind his words, as if he's selected them carefully.

Picture here.


LOL maybe I should move Sarge back to trickster. ;)


ALRIGHT!

I have decided...

I will STAY A BLOODRAGER!

*pitiful amounts of confetti appear*


Adahn_Cielo's Oradin here!

Backstory:
Menedemus was born in Goldenmeadow, a little village in the countryside, as the only child of a couple of farmers. His birth caused quite a ruckus: his mother, a perfectly normal woman married to a perfectly normal man, gave birth to a child who was born covered in scars from head to toe, as if someone slashed him while he was still in his mother's womb. This was thought to be a malformation the child was born with and, while no one luckily understood it was caused by a fiendish heritage, he was shunned by the rest of the village for his whole childhood. He wasn't old enough to understand it, but people usually talked behind his and his family back, making assumptions and false, never spoken-aloud accusations of the cause of the child appearance. His parents, too, could only look at him with a mixture of pity and unexplainable fear, never giving him the love that parents usually give to their son.
While most of the other children of the village didn't even talk to him, nonetheless Menedemus had one friend: Valeran, the son of the miller, was the only one who would play with him, and even Valeran's parents were one of the few that taught of him as only “Poor sick Menedemus”, and not some divine retribution for supposed sins his family had never committed.

All that changed on that fateful night, the same night that Menedemus would have desired again and again to have been his last...
It was a normal morning, and a barely twelve years old Menedemus looked out of the window. As usual, the other kids were going to play at the river near the town, but something else caught his eyes: a small group of knights in shining armors were questioning people in the town square. All of them had a symbol on their shields that resembled a sword circled by sunlight, that later Valeran explained him to be Iomedae's holy symbol.
The day then passed as normal, until in the evening, as the sun was setting, the town's kids came back with an unnerving story: the river's water turned black and slimy, and it tasted bitter and disgusting. Panic started to spread among the villagers, but it was nothing as the terror that erupted when a hulking mass of scales and teeth rushed into the square, pursued by the Paldins of Iomedae from before. ”We have to stop the Hezrou! In formation!”. Before they even started to move, the demon settled its slit pupils on Menedemus and jumped on him. Everything started to fade as the claws of the beast ripped his flesh;his eyes could see nothing but black, and he continued to hear the battle raging on until he passed out...

He wished he would have never awoken: he had still his life, but it turned into a living hell.
He was timely healed by one of Iomedae's paladins, but still passed some weeks into a deep coma. When he came to his senses, the town held him responsible for what had happened: what could have called such a tragedy on the village, if not that cursed kid?
He didn't even know what to say, and only managed to ask what had happened. They told him that not only there had been many victims among the villagers, but that all of the kids that went to the river that day started to show horrible deformations.
But worst of all, among the ones that died there was Valeran.
Menedemus's world crumbled to dust.
His parents never spoke to him from that day.
Every time he crossed the town's streets, he was greeted by an hail of thrown stones. At first he shielded himself with his arms, cried for help and shouted that he had done everything wrong, but after some times he had given up.
Even the pain caused by the rocks started to feel oddly relieving...
I probably deserve all that they're doing to me. If I didn't exist, that creature would have never come to the village!
He started to eat less and less, but instead of growing weak and frail, his body became healthy and strong.
He watched how deformed the other children, now young men and women, had become, and wished that it would have happened to him instead of them. But his face grew to be charming and beautiful.
Why do you do this to me? What god is mocking me, and for what reason?
At the age of sixteen, he only exited his room to visit Valeran's tomb, earning his daily stoning.
He also grew a tail, and the villagers didn't kill him only because they were afraid of what the “Demon” would do to them.
Sadly, he could only find happiness in his dreams: dreams of a world were he never existed, or was killed that fateful day by the Hezrou...

One day, a group of crusaders of Iomedae rested near the village for one night. Menedemus had heard stories about them: men and women who went to the Worldwound, to fight the monstrosities that it spawned. He saw that as the chance to redeem himself. He couldn't heal the deformities of the other. He couldn't bring Valeran back to life. But by fighting for others, maybe, he could outbalance his sins with righteous deeds. And if he would have not been able to do that, he would find in battle the end to an existence of guilt and despair...
But things didn't go as planned. The crusaders gladly accepted another apprentice ready to fight, sure, and they taught him to fight.
But their teachings didn't ring to him. How could you be so focused on simply fighting? If you passed all of your time in the front lines, slaying evil anywhere you set your gaze, how could you not lose sight of the ones you're fighting for? How could you only fight, when you should give your whole being to the ones you're trying to protect?
If a demon is running amok, is your only thought to pursue him, to fight him,instead of warn a village of the danger?

Menedemus left, and joined guard duty in Kenabres, the city near the worldwound where he was training under the Iomedaeans. He helped keep the order and patrolled the streets day and night, night and day, giving all of himself to make the city a peaceful place( as much as a city near the Worldwound could be, at least). He became a little famous, part for the deserting of his training as a crusader, part for his singular appearance, but mostly for his seemingly continual patrols of the streets: someone even said that he didn't even need to sleep...

Menedemus himself was happy of his job: he truly felt joy when he was able to help someone, and his devotion to his guard duty helped to keep grim thoughts at bay.
No I'm not doing it to keep my head busy! I'm helping only ad only because I want to be of use to others!
People even started to greet him and smile at him, something that no one from Goldenmeadow ever did. Sometime, tough, he missed the rocks that they threw at him.
No, absolutely no! I never want that to happen again, and I never enjoyed it! I mean, I deserve all that they did to me but...I never enjoyed the wounds they inflicted on me! Never!
The truth is, he could never bring himself to stop and ask himself for what or who he was working so hard for: was it really for the good of others, or only to escape from his guilt?
Only one thing was certain: every time Menedemus was about to pass out from fatigue, after whole days of work,a strange, unknown force seemed to push him, to whisper in his ear that it was not enough, that he could give so much more of himself to others...


Appearance and personality:
Menedemus is an extremely charming man, but his beauty is impaired by the unsettling amount of scars that run all over his body. Most of them were provoked by his Kyton heritage, but a fair amount are also from the numerous wound he suffered at the hands of the village' frequent stoning. His sleek tail, covered by spiraling scars, lashes right and left when he's distressed, something that usually happens when he's trying to force his self-doubt out of his head.
Indeed, Menedemus's scars run far more deeply than on his skin. What happened to him, his nature and his upbringing deeply influenced him: torn between the thought that he's helping people only to find respite from his guilt, he desperately struggle against the desire to end his own existence, one that the village brought him to think to be a misfortune to all that are close to him.

So here's Menedemus fluff. I played a little around with his campaign trait (Exposed to Awfulness): the "nightmares of what could have happened[...] plague your sleep" are beautiful dreams for him, sadly :(.

Crunch wise, I stumbled upon something very cool: the Holy Vindicator PrC. It's so flavorful it hurts! I'm still debating if it wouldn't gimp the Oradin build too much, but the idea of a servant of a goddes of Martyrdom with Stigmata feels too good to pass. I'm not really worried about the damage, seeing as the Oradin is practically a healer/tank, but I'll have to see if I can keep up heal wise.

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