GM Dark Lord's Way of the Wicked Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Divinitus

Drovic Saylwren
Male dhampir investigator (mastermind)/summoner (synthesis) 1 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 30, 101, Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide 96, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Magic 80)
LE Medium humanoid (dhampir)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +6
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +4 Dex)
hp 11 (1d8+3)
Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +2; +2 trait bonus against mind-affecting effects, +2 bonus vs. disease and mind-affecting
Defensive Abilities negative energy affinity; Resist undead resistance
Weaknesses light sensitivity
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee shortsword +0 (1d6/19-20)
Investigator (Mastermind) Extracts Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +4)
. . 1st—cure light wounds, expeditious retreat
Summoner Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 7/day—summon monster I
Summoner (Synthesist) Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1st (2/day)—infernal healing[ISWG], mage armor
. . 0 (at will)—acid splash, arcane mark, detect magic, read magic

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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 14
Feats Skeleton Summoner[UM], Spell Focus (necromancy)
Traits deathtouched, natural-born leader
Skills Bluff +10, Diplomacy +8, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (local) +7, Knowledge (religion) +7, Linguistics +7, Perception +6, Sense Motive +4, Spellcraft +7; Racial Modifiers +2 Bluff, +2 Perception
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Undercommon
SQ a quiet word, alchemy (alchemy crafting +1), fangs, inspiration (3/day), resist level drain
Combat Gear alchemist's fire (2), alkali flask (2); Other Gear mwk studded leather, shortsword, sleeves of many garments, bandolier, belt pouch, blanket, dice, flask, formula book, ink, black, inkpen, masterwork backpack, parchment (5), scroll box, silk rope (50 ft.), spell component pouch, sunrod, waterskin, 445 gp, 7 sp, 7 cp
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Special Abilities
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Mastermind's Inspiration (Ex): A mastermind can use inspiration on any Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge, or skill checks without spending a use of inspiration. This ability alters inspiration.
A Quiet Word (Diplomacy or Intimidate, 1/day) (Ex) With 10 minutes of prep, an ally can use your skill ranks on a Diplomacy or Intimidate check later.
Alchemy +1 (Su) +1 to Craft (Alchemy) to create alchemical items, can Id potions by touch.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Fangs You can bite a helpless (automatic) or grappled (with a CMB check) foe for 1d3 dam.
Fused Eidolon A synthesist summons the essence of a powerful outsider to meld with his own being. The synthesist wears the eidolon like translucent, living armor. The eidolon mimics all of the synthesist's movements, and the synthesist perceives through the eidolo
. . Base Form: Biped (claws)
. . Evolutions: Undead Appearance (2 pts), Bite (1 pt)
Fused Link (Su) Starting at 1st level, the synthesist forms a close bond with his eidolon. Whenever the temporary hit points from his eidolon would be reduced to 0, the summoner can, as a free action, sacrifice any number of his own hit points. Each hit point sacrif
Inspiration (+1d6, 3/day) (Ex) Use 1 point, +1d6 to trained skill or ability check. Use 2 points, to add to attack or save.
Light Sensitivity (Ex) Dazzled as long as remain in bright light.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
Natural-Born Leader Your cohorts, followers, and summoned creatures gain +1 vs. Mind-affecting effects, +1 Leadership score if you have the Leadership feat.
Negative Energy Affinity (Ex) You are alive, but react to positive/negative energy as though you were undead.
Resist Level Drain (Ex) Negative levels don't impose penalties or become permanent, but still kill if exceed HD.
Skeleton Summoner (1/day) Summon skeletons instead of living creatures with summon monster
Sleeves of many garments Transform current clothes into any non-magical new form.
Spell Focus (Necromancy) Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC.
Undead Resistance +2 save vs. disease, mind affecting effects.

Dhampir: Half vampire
Summoner (Synthesist): Vampire heritage being manifested to his physical form
Investigator (Mastermind): "Why do yourself, what you can get others to do for you", minions, skill monkey, villain boss

Cassus Daviron
Male Human Antipaladin 1/Oracle (Black-Blooded) 1
LE Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +7; Senses Perception +6

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Defense
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AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10 (+1 Dex)
HP 13 (1d10+4)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2

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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk greatsword +6 (2d6+6/19-20)
Ranged javelin +2 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks Smite Good
Antipaladin Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . At will—detect good
Oracle Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1st (5/day)—divine favor, inflict light wounds (DC 15), protection from good
. . 0 (at will)—create water, detect magic, guidance, mending
. . Mystery Battle
Antipaladin Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +5)

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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 20
Base Atk +1; CMB +5; CMD 16
Feats Alertness, Noble (Scion Of War), Power Attack
Traits Attempted Murder, Magical Knack, Reactionary
Skills Diplomacy +9, Intimidate +11, Knowledge (planes) +5, Knowledge (religion) +5, Perception +6, Sense Motive +6, Spellcraft +5
Languages Common, Celestial, Infernal
SQ Aura of Evil, Revelation (War Sight)

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Traits/Feats
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Attempted Murder +2 to Intimidate checks, Intimidate is always a class skill for you.
Magical Knack (Antipaladin) +2 CL for a specific class, to a max of your HD.
Reactionary +2 trait bonus on initiative checks.
Alertness +2 bonus on Perception and Sense Motive skill checks. If you have 10 or more ranks in one of these skills, the bonus increases to +4 for that skill.
Noble Scion (Scion of War) +2 bonus on all Knowledge (nobility) checks. You use your Charisma modifier to adjust Initiative checks instead of your Dexterity modifier.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.

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Special Abilities
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Aura of Evil (Ex) The antipaladin has an Aura of Evil with power equal to her class level.
Detect Good (At will) (Sp) You can use Detect Good at will (as the spell).
Smite Good (1/day) (Su) +4 to hit, +1 to damage, +4 deflection bonus to AC when used.

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Special Abilities
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Curse of Black Blood All black-blooded oracles effectively share the same curse—the curse of black blood. The material affects these oracles physically and mentally, altering both physiology and mystic powers. The blood of a black-blooded oracle actually runs black, and wounds she suffers are infected by her own power and are difficult to heal. She is immune to the effects (both beneficial and destructive) of black blood. Positive and negative energy affect a black-blooded oracle as if she were undead—positive energy harms her, while negative energy heals her (this aspect of the curse has no effect if the oracle is undead). The curse also dulls the oracle’s coordination somewhat, imparting a –4 penalty on all Dexterity-based skill checks. At 5th level, she gains cold resistance 5. This increases to cold resistance 10 at 10th level, and immunity to cold at 15th level.
This ability replaces the oracle’s curse.
War Sight (Su) Take your choice of 2 initiative rolls.

mwk Greatsword
Javelin (x3)
mwk Banded Mail
Travellers Outfit, Signet Ring, Backpack, Bedroll, Belt Pouch, Mitran Silver Holy Symbol, Mitran Tabard, Silk Rope (50 ft.), Grappling Hook, Mess Kit, Soap, Flint and Steel, Trail rations (5), Waterskin
192 gp
9 sp

Click here to view the sheet
(Note: Not shown is the Greensting Scorpion familiar, which is giving me the +4 Initiative modifer. I'll have this completed if selected. I just wanted to get this up before the deadline.)

Kumo's mechanics and overall build is ideally suited as a melee striker/skills expert of the group. The build desires to make use of it's arcane casting ability in the form of "juitsu" to enhance the trademark abilities commonly associated with ninja. You won't see much "boom" from this build unless its either desperation or appropriate for the situation.

Kumo prefers to deal with his targets with subtlety and finesse, but won't back down from an open fight if the situation calls for it. Completing the objective matters above almost everything else. He is an honorable person and will do his best to work with whomever is necessary to complete the task at hand. He won't doublecross allies unless a good reason is given.

Thunder roared closely behind the lightning streaked sky as the torrential downpour of a rainstorm continued on. The sound was deafening, masking the approach of hunters and seekers as they closed in on her position. It also masked the wails of lament from her newborn child nestled away just beneath her bosom. Exhausted and short of breath, she pushed forward through the storm motivated by fear of what would happen to her and her child if her pursuers had caught up to her.

Like a disoriented gazelle, she went forth pushing through bushes and low tree branches trying her best to protect her precious passenger from both debris and the rain. She could hear them slowly getting closer. Her vision wasn’t nearly as good as theirs in the dark and she knew it. She had hoped for sunrise to come soon as it might give her an advantage. It was desperate, wishful thinking as she slipped on a moss-covered rock. She took care to land on her side as she fell so as to not hurt the baby and was rewarded with a sharp, seething pain into her side. A cry of pain erupted forth before she could catch herself. As she pulled herself up through gritting teeth, she discovered the cause.

A felled log with the remnants of a broken tree limb sat upright upon the forest floor. She had landed and inadvertently impaled herself upon it. Clutching her side, she could sense that the wound was bleeding extensively. She tried her best to use whatever clothing she had to apply pressure to the wound and proceeded onward. Minutes went by seemingly melded into hours. How long had she been running now? She had no way to tell other than knowing she was still being pursued.

The world was beginning to wobble and waver. She could feel her heart strain against her chest, desperate to continue its function of existence. She collapsed once more as she tripped over a root. Lightning flashed in the sky as she tried to get up, illuminating a cloaked figure with a singular curved blade drawn in the light. Terrified, she shot backwards accidentally dropping her crying child. Without so much as a chance to plead for her life, she felt the blade run through her heart.

As the figure examined the kill, he could hear others coming. The crying child was drawing whomever was chasing her towards the dojo. The figure thought about dispatching the child here as well but noticed that mother and baby was decidedly different. She was clearly human and bore the markings of the lash. The babe was of onyx skin and had ears of an elf.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot let anyone know of our home, but looks like you wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway,” the figure spoke quietly to the slain mother, taking note of the wound. He took another look at the child, picking it up for closer inspection. “Clearly of the Darklands…” Caught in a conundrum of what to do in the moment and attempting to bury any feelings of remorse, the figure decided to take it back to sensei. If he orders the child slain, so be it.

Using the terrain and the child to his advantage, the cloaked figure led the child away from the area leaving the body of the mother behind to be found by her pursuers. He knew others from the dojo were coming and would no doubt quickly dispatch any other potential threats. He knew a few things as he went back home. That woman was an escaped slave. She also was carrying a half-breed drow in her arms.
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Tomi slid the door closed behind him, ending his endeavors out in the storm. He was soaked to the core. Why did he bring this incessant screaming thing of the drow child with him? Surely sensei would simply order the child killed. Tomi shook his head. He really should’ve just left it out there to die. It would’ve been better served as bait for his brothers and sisters of shadow.

Tomi sighed to himself as he looked down at the bundle. Yeah, definitely drow blooded, but how did she end up all the way out here? Tomi could feel a series of footsteps rush towards his general direction beyond the wails of the child. Several women surrounded Tomi, their hands gripped around their pommels as if expecting an unexpected invader.

“Relax, it’s just me, Tomi back from the forest.” He held up his free hand in a wave while trying to hide his nervousness with a wry smile.

“Where are your brothers, Tomi?” A human woman with greying hair in her fifties strode her way past her guardians. Her voice carried a stern tone of discipline and expected obedience. “And what is that you are carrying?”

Tomi took a knee before Sensei Umeko, laying the child before her feet, his head laid low. “They will be along shortly. We only counted six in their number, outnumbering them three to one. It will be a swift death for the intruders.”

Umeko scoffed at the report. “I shall punish you later for your insubordinence.” Umeko glared down at the child on the floor, whom at the moment had stopped crying. With barely even a flick of her wrist, a throwing blade stuck into the floor landing right next to the child. Tomi couldn’t help but flinch a little. Sensei was cold and at times ruthless. He wouldn’t have put it past her to kill an infant in cold blood. What startled him even more is how the child seemed fascinated with the gleam of the blade wedged into the wood of the floor.

“What did you intend to do with a Darklands spawn?” Umeko asked coldly.

“I wasn’t sure, sensei. That is why I brought it to you.” Tomi was curt in his response.

“Kill it.” Umeko turned around and proceeded to go back the way she came.

That was the response Tomi expected. It wasn’t going to be worth the month of backbreaking labor to have gotten that answer. He reached for the kunai stuck in the floor when he heard Umeko speak again as she was leaving.

“That is assuming you cannot find a good use for it.”

Umeko was already around the corner and out of sight as Tomi brought his head up. Her guard relax their grip on their weapons. Most moved on but a couple women knelt down with Tomi to have a closer look. “Wow, an actual drow. Looks like our village will have an interesting new addition.”

“The woman that carried this child was human. I have my doubts that this child is full blood.” The other two women exchanged glances at one another as if knowing a deeper understanding to Tomi’s words.
“Well, no matter. We will attend to this child for now. Go get some rest. We’ll wait for our brothers.”

Tomi nodded in agreement. He would need all the rest he could get for tomorrow was going to be a hard day of labor.

25 Years Later
Nestled in the foot of the mountain between the Kamiteki and Awahana Rivers, the hidden villiage of Jijan served as home for The Black Lotus, an organization of ninja for hire. Frequently working in secret within the capital of Minkai, the city of Kasai, The Black Lotus would also accept contracts from the neighboring cities of Akafuto, Uddo, Shogokabe, Wanshi, Oda, and Hiyosai. The clan specialized in sabotage, subterfuge, espionage, and assassination. Each member of the village was either training or a fully trained expert in the Art of Ninjitsu. It is here that Kumo spent his child and adolescence, training in the ways of The Black Lotus. Under Umeko’s stern dislipline and Tomi’s direction, the boy earned his name for his penchant of patience to set traps for his targets as well as for his natural ability to remain unseen.

A minor paragon amongst his peers, he developed arcane abilities at age 16. By age 20, Kumo had learned to mix his inert arcane talent with his developed skills as an assassin. At age 22, Kumo was working covert contracts in the smaller districts and lesser towns among the coastline of Southern Minkai. On the eve of his 25th birthday, a message from Master Tomi came instructing him to return for reassignment.

As Kumo arrived, the atmosphere was a somber one. At first he thought that baba, Umeko died. It wasn’t until he actually went to the elder’s hut did he find that was not the case. Umeko was there waiting. She was much older now as was Tomi.

“Kumo, please sit.” Tomi calmly stated. Kumo did not speak as he sat down cross-legged on the cushion floor. Umeko, withdrawing a scroll from her loose fitting kimono, handed it to Tomi who in turn displayed the scroll out onto the table.

As Kumo stared down at the parchment, observing a map with the country of Talingarde painted upon it. Puzzled by the map, Kumo asked, “What’s this?”

“That is where you’ll be going,” replied Tomi. “Through Yaezhing’s graces, we’ve been bestowed with another very lucrative contract. You’ll be going to the island nation of Talingarde and assisting the Church of Asmodeous with its agenda of toppling the regional government there.”

Kumo rubbed his chin as he wandered his thoughts. He had never heard of such a country before. As such, it must be exceedingly far away. He wasn’t sure how such a contract became available to The Black Lotus. He only understood that Yaezhing was responsible for meriting out divine judgment as necessary amongst the gods. It would not be uncommon for others to seek out His aid, but he did not know this Asmodeous. “What do we know about Talingarde and what is this “Church of Asmodeous”?”

Tomi nodded in Kumo’s direction, giving a slight approval of his pupil to desire more information. “Talingarde is an island nation roughly two weeks southwest by boat from the harbor village of Shogokabe. It is a kingdom ruled by House Darius in a traditional monarchy. It is an honorable country that until approximately twenty years ago was diverse in its pantheons. A decree by the ruling monarch changed all that, outlawing all other deities of worship save for a deity known as Mitra. We do not know much about this Mitra, but it seems that a few individuals find this decision oppressive.”

Umeko continued in with the briefling, “The Church of Asmodeous strikes me as a western idea similar to our own Yaezhing. The only key difference being their worship of creatures they call ‘devils’. Aside from that, you shouldn’t have any problem working with them.”
Kumo nodded, not fully grasping the pantheon. He thought he would find out nonetheless. “What is it that this Church requires and how will I contact them?”

Tomi chimed in again. “They have paid an exuberant sum for our services. You will be serving them until further notice. As for how to contact them, that was a little vague…” Kumo could sense the concern on Tomi’s voice. “Their instructions were to simply ‘kill someone in public and surrender’. Their messenger assured me that they would be able to contact you afterwards.”

“How unorthodox,” Kumo thought to himself, “This could be exciting.” He began to stand up in anticipation for the long journey.

“Kumo,” Tomi interrupted, “Say your farewells. This might be one of those missions where it will be a long time before you return…or even come back from at all.”

Kumo nodded solemnly at Tomi and left the hut. Tomi didn’t have to say that. It did no good escalating this feeling of unease as Kumo went to pack his things for the long journey.

Two Weeks Later
Being half drow, it didn’t take much to pick a fight with someone, rather a duel to the death. Except it wasn’t much of a duel. All Kumo had to do was act a fool and reveal his face in a pub full of drunken squalor. While his home village accepted him for who he was, he knew that drow-blooded fey were an abomination in the eyes of many.

Kumo desperately wanted to find some measure of enjoyment for the unsatisfying kill, but all he got was a beating from the local guards. Lovetaps he thought, as to keeping himself amused. Even as they branded an “F” into his forearm, he found himself laughing in anticipation. Kumo wondered how his contractor would contact him deep within Brandlescar Prison.

Regarding feats, specifically Improved Unarmed Strike and Improved Grapple:

The Aegis's Hardened Strikes evolution reads just like Improved Unarmed Strike, could i use it to qualify for feats that require IUS?

Also, the Grab ability reads just like Improved Grapple, could i use it to qualify for feats that require Improved Grapple?

Daemon-spawn tiefling magus (bladebound, kensai) 1/psion 1/gestalt 1 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Race Guide 168, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat 55, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Magic 9, 47, Ultimate Psionics 49)
LE Medium outsider (native)
Hero Points 1
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 13 (1d8+3)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2
Defensive Abilities canny defense; Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee mwk scimitar +2 (1d6/18-20)
Special Attacks arcane pool (+1, 5 points), spell combat
Magus (Bladebound, Kensai) Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1st—color spray (DC 15)
. . 0 (at will)—mage hand, ray of frost
Psion Powers Known (power points 4, ML 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1st—inertial armor, mind thrust (DC 15), telempathic projection (DC 15)
. . 0 (at will)—conceal thoughts, detect psionics, empathy, telepathic lash (DC 14)
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 16
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 14 (15 vs. disarm, 15 vs. steal)
Feats Armor Of The Pit[ARG], Psion Weapon Proficiencies, Psionic Body, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (scimitar)
Traits called, holdout, magical lineage, sedition
Skills Bluff +8 (+12 to tell a lie), Diplomacy +7, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (planes) +8, Sense Motive +4, Spellcraft +8, Use Magic Device +7
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Infernal
SQ beguiling liar, chosen weapon, discipline (telepathy [telepath]), hedonistic, hero points, prehensile tail, talents
Other Gear mwk armored kilt silken ceremonial armor, mwk scimitar, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), ink, black, inkpen, mess kit, night tea (30), pot, soap, spell component pouch, tattoo holy symbol of Asmodeous, teapot, torch (10), trail rations (5), waterskin, 358 gp, 9 sp
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Special Abilities
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Arcane Pool +1 (5/day) (Su) Infuse own power into a held weapon, granting enhancement bonus or selected item powers.
Beguiling Liar +4 to Bluff to tell a lie.
Called (1/day) Reroll a natural 1 on an attack roll and take the second result instead.
Canny Defense +1 (Ex) +INT bonus to AC (max Kensai level).
Chosen Weapon (Scimitar) Kensai abilities only function when wielding a weapon of this type.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Does not Sleep You do not need to sleep. You are not immune to sleep effects.
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Energy Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Fire attacks.
Hedonistic If you do not gain a reward in a day, you are fatigued for 4h the next day (Fort DC 20 negates)
Hero Points Hero Points can be spent at any time to grant a variety of bonuses.
Magical Lineage (Shocking Grasp) A chosen spell counts as 1 level lower when metamagic feats are applied to it.
Prehensile Tail Your tail can retrieve small objects on your person as a swift action.
Psionic Body Bonus HP +2
Sedition +1 trait bonus to Bluff checks and Bluff is always a class skill for you and +1 trait bonus to Leadership score.
Spell Combat (Ex) Use a weapon with one hand at -2 and cast a spell with the other.
Talents You may learn 3 "talents" (level 0 powers) as well as detect psionics.
Telepathy (Telepath) A psion who chooses the discipline of telepathy is known as a telepath. He is the master of powers that allow mental contact and control of other sentient creatures. A telepath can deceive or destroy the minds of his enemies with ease.

Manipulative She is more likely to trick others into doing her dirty work when possible, she twists the laws to her own advantage and delights in making contracts that favor her more than the recipient.

Devout She believes in the Prince of Darkness wholeheartedly, enough so that she is willing to tear down Talingarde and rebuild it by his will.

Sadistic She doesn't allow others to stand in her way for long, she works to discredit them and erode their power base before striking them down completely. It is a task she enjoys greatly.

Hedonistic She enjoys a certain lifestyle and has the means and body to manipulate her way into those positions she enjoys best.

Despite nearing fifty years old Shami was still well in her prime and a prime example of her succubi heritage. She had a well rounded figure, and dark ebony skin which made her stand out as unique among the more fair toned Talingarde citizens. It is this uniqueness that she exploits when manipulating and seducing her way to the top. She stands five foot and two inches tall and around one hundred and thirty five pounds. She has shoulder length silver hair that surprisingly never loses its place.

She tends to wear elaborate silken gowns that show off her well toned proportions while keeping just on the right side of decent. Lest she get on the bad side of Church. Due to serious competition she had to improve upon her gowns in terms of defense...

She has violet colored eyes that sparkle in the dark, a fact she tries to hide and goes mostly unnoticed by her lovers as they are more focused on other activities.

She was born hermaphroditic, with a tail and dark scales that she is able to hide most of the time. For those that notice she has easily played them off. Reveling in the attention it normally gains her along with the fact that it played into her role as an exotic Courtesan.

Her mother's life ended with her birth, a moment her father remembers as the most horrific moment in his life. A child born with both the parts of man and woman was beyond his ability to comprehend. He tried to be a devout Mitran, to take care of his daughter as she came of age and teach her the right way. In his heart though a darkness festered, over the years it metastasized and as more changes over took the girl. Her skin darkened to become black as pitch, she grew what could only be a tail and she started to not sleep at all. Ever. This darkness in his heart turned into a hatred he had hid for so long that it tore free in a rage. It was the first and last time he struck her, he struck her a blow that would have brought most to their knees.

Shami though was far tougher than her father realized, far more cunning and once he struck her she reacted in a way she had never thought possible. Before he could take it a step further she struck out with a force the eye could not see. A shimmering that flashed for a mere second before their eyes before slamming into his mind, momentarily stunning him. In her moment of shock she struggled to understand, to make him understand and before she knew it she was lashing out again and this time she somehow changed the way he thought. This new change, this power made her hungry to understand exactly what she could do and he became her first victim, used him as a tool to sharpen her mental skills.

He is still alive, a man bent to the will of his daughter and willing to help her with anything she needed done. Granted she doesn't take advantage of him like she feels she should, instead she keeps their relationship clear and he doesn't reveal her secrets like a good father.

Her chosen career was being an Exotic Courtesan or "Counselor", it took time but eventually she was able to manipulate the minds of lesser men and woman into helping her reach the higher echelon of society. Middle class nobles and their pockets were open to her, as time wore on it became more and more... Empty. She wasn't gaining anything, she wasn't any more successful and she wanted power and respect. So she started to turn her works towards gaining that strength.

She joined the local arcanist college, twisting her tutor's into teaching her more quickly. they were so helpful she was able to cruise through her classes with ease. However becoming a wizard wasn't what she wanted, she wanted to be able to meld magic and combat skills as one. Just in case she needed to fight one day. She left the college with her head held high, knowing one day she would succeed in getting that power that was once beyond her reach.

She started to use her skills to counsel others into what she thought was for the best of Talingrade. Using her powers to twist their minds, making them into helpful pawns and slowly placing herself on what could only be a rise to the highest power in Talingarde. She continued to manipulate, control and guide as many as she could into believing her words. All until one night she indulged herself in the latest conquest of a nobleman's wife, a work of many days to culminate into a night of immense pleasure.

However the fallout was far worse than she could have imagined. The lord flew into a rage when he discovered his wifes adultery, he turned on Shami before she could find and reverse the damage. Revealing her plot to the famed witch hunter Sir Balin of Karfeld. With the backing of the church it was far too easy for him to find her and bring her to heel. However she hadn't tried to flee. No, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction. The last thing he said to her was: “Mitra may forgive you yet for your seditious lies. Talingarde will not." He drug her before the noble who had betrayed her and she couldn't help but smirk and say. "If you weren't so small she might have refused. Jealous Coward." The man's rage stayed with her through the one sided trial.

She made no effort to hide her contempt for the judge, especially as the charges were read out loud. However as the trial continued they brought a witness to the stand, who was none other than the famed Sir Balin. His account was another nail in her coffin and the cowardly nobleman's wife was used against her as well. Condemning her while hiding the bruises her husband had given her beneath her white makeup. As the gavel was like a hammer sounding on steel, it rang in her ears when the punishment was read out...

Death by beheading...

In that moment she lost her cool, her smirk fell away and she said nothing in rejection of her fate. Replying in a cold and simple manner. "In Mitra there is no justice, it allows only cowards and impotent weaklings to ascend to power." The crowd flew into an uproar, which escalated so quickly it threatened to be the end of her and in that moment, as the guards fought to keep the crowd back, she looked at the nobleman that had betrayed her. Her head would not roll before she had her revenge. She spoke enjoying as she watched him reel back as though her were being struck blood leaking like red tears from his eyes and ears. "Impotent, Cowards, Die." She thrust her hate into his mind like a spear, splitting his neural pathways and by the time they had calmed down the crowd the nobleman was dead. She smirked as they escorted her away, leaving the Noblewoman the inheritor of her dead husbands assets. A small victory, especially as Shami was sure the woman was still hers.

Now she unnerved her guardsmen, who learned quickly that she never slept. She just stared at the door intently, a smile on her face as she thought of how she was going to escape. Before she met the headsmen's axe. Branderscar wasn't enough to hold her and all of Talingrade would know her wrath. She would break free and this time when she gathered her supporters she tear the entire kingdom down by ripping out its roots and she would choke the Mitran faith with its own hypocrisy...

Goals

1. Break Free
2. Re-establish her power base
3. Kill everyone involved in her trial.
4. Seek the power necessary to accomplish her goals, no matter the cost.
5. Destroy Mitra and take all of Talingrade.

"The thirst wins!"

Drovic Saylwren sits properly in his cell. Staring through the bars. He ponders back on what brought him to his current predicament. "I thought I had everything covered. I compartmentalized the information. No one knew more than their part. It was perfect. Ransom on a well known noble's adult son. I had it all figured out. I've been working toward this moment my whole life. The big score. The feeding was just a bonus.

. I had persuaded the innkeeper to provide a safe house. I convinced the welp's son in was in his best interest to be at the most opportune location at exactly the right time. The "true form" scared a couple local thugs to make initial contact. All I had to do is follow through with the plan. Unfortunately the thirst overwhelmed me and I HAD to feed on the son. The blood was too good, I wanted to keep him alive to enjoy the noble blood on a regular basis. I guess I should have finished the job and leave him lifeless, before those weak willed thugs had the opportunity to think twice about their actions.

. Alas, they saw the value of returning the son to his noble father as more profitable than my grand scheme. Once he returned to his father, alive, I had to face a charge of attempted murder. While the need to sustain my cursed heritage with innocent blood has resulted in numerous corpses. This was the 1st one to escape and report the deed. Thus here I am.

. While I may be technically dead already, I don't intend to allow my sentence to be carried out. Getting out of here should be easy enough. I just need to figure out if the guard responds to bluffs, diplomacy, or intimidation. Once I escape, I need to find a party of skilled individuals to manipulate to my will. Perhaps some of the other inmates will show promise on that front. Of course if they prove to be too much trouble. I can simply take care of them like I should have done with that overindulged spoiled brat that got me here in the first place.

. With a combination of manipulation, negotiation and fear... I will control this city and the world. Then I will be free to avoid the cloak and dagger games that bind me to this current fate. The thirst got me here, leaving loose ends... but it will also be satisfied by ,y pick of the lot, once I rule this land." Drovic snaps out of his recollection and focuses on the immediate task. The hunger is already growing and a new meal must be procured soon. "Guard! Guard! you assistance is required. Come here!"

. This one is of no consequence. Perhaps he can be a snack before I move on. Or perhaps I should anoint him as the 1st of many minions I will aquire in my rise to power.

Throughout the history of the virtous and most holy nation of Talingarde, there have always been sons and daughters from the Noble House of Davinor who have stood up and taken their places amongst the forefront of her armies for the honor and glory of serving their country, the Shining Lord Mitra and their own family. Generations of soldiers, officers, generals, and even some few heroes, throughout the years all have served their parts and made their marks upon the world which has brought the House of Davinor great renown and riches that within Talingarde that are not widely matched and surpassed by fewer still.

Cassus Daviron, and his younger twin Tarrus Daviron, are but the latest generation that has had the fortune to have been born into this long and illustrious line. As the two brothers started moving away from their childhood pursuits, and begun dedicating more of their education to more ecclesiastical and martial pursuits, they proved themselves to be pair of prodigies praised by many of their tutors as some of the current generations brightest lights for the future of Talingarde. As years of training went by for the boys, Cassus found himself taking up the mantle of a Paladin of Mitra and dedicated himself to the cause of righteousness and justice, while his brother Tarrus was drawn further by the divine and became a Cleric of Mitra devoting himself to spreading the virtues of benevolence and charity in his gods name.

As duty demanded of him as the older son, once his training was completed his father revealed that he had organised for Cassus to be married to the daughter of one of his closest allies - the beautiful Yvrain Strikland. In the short months they had together before their nuptials, Yvrain slowly but surely won Cassus over with her intelligence, kindness and her gentle sense of humour until when the time came, he was glad to stand at the altar to pledge his life to her while his brother stood at his side as his best man. Half a year after the wedding, word came through that the warmongering barbarian tribes were once again growing restless and that Cassus's battalion among others was being mobilised in defense of the realm.

Entreating his brother to take care of his new wife while his duties called him away to the borders, Cassus spent the better part of the next three years participating in various small-scale skirmishes and battles, many times over proving through deeds and action in these conflicts that the praise he had received as a trainee were not mere words. Even so he was glad to receive word when his battalion was being rotated out for leave, anticipating meeting up with his wife and brother again for the first time in years...

Three months later, Brandescar Prison

As the doors open up into the room with a creak, Cassus lifts his head and looks towards the sound before flinching as the unaccustomedly bright light hits his eyes. Reflexively trying to raise his hand to block out the light, he grimaces as it catches after a few inches with a rattle of chains, reminding him once again where he has been condemned to. A slow plodding sound follows as a body -undiscernable as it it framed by the light from behind - moves in towards him before sitting down in a stool that has been kept in the middle of the room out of his reach. The figure stays silent for several long minutes before an easily recognisable voice creaks out one grief filled word "Why?"

Rage fills him at the voice, at the question, an instant before he slams forward against his chains as far towards the man reaching out to him futileley. "Why? ...Why!?" Slumping back down onto his own stool, he glares at the man as he reigns in the rage, drawing it in before keeping it as a smouldering coal of anger heating his core. Lowering his arms with a soft clinking rattle as the chains hit the floor he replies to the man question "You know why I did it father, what my brother and my wife did to me behind my back. What I did was Justice and I only regret that I was unable to finish the job. If you really cared you could have prevented this long ago, but you took the cowards way out and ignored everything."

Several more minutes pass as the two stare at each other through the dark, one in grief and pain and the other barely controlled anger. Without speaking another word, Lord Daviron rises from his stool and walks out of the room, pausing in the doorway to gesture to someone before striding out of sight. Two other figures soon replaces him, entering into the room and pressing him against the wall before another holding a long length of iron with a glowing red rune on the tip enters in. Spitting off to the side, Cassus sneers mockingly at the figure holding the brand "Come on in then and get it over with, I don't have all day."

Fire, Pain, Blood. And a voice speaking to him through all three.

Betrayed by your country, betrayed by your god, betrayed by your own family. You need but take my hand mortal, and the Prince of Hell will grant you the power needed to right these grievous wrongs. All that I ask is for you to serve me as you do so, champion my cause, bring about my vengeance against the followers of Mitra as you do your own.

Your boons, they will give me Justice I have been denied? Then so be it o' Lord of Darkness, I so swear myself as your loyal servant.

Then the deal is done, I grant you my blessing so that you may bring about my enemies despair. Await my call...

A handsome man standing at six foot 3 inches tall with bright blue eyes, chestnut hair and a tanned well muscled frame from a lifetime of training, Cassus Daviron is the ideal specimen of a human being as befitting a scion of such a long and proud noble heritage.

Since accepting the blessings of Asmodeus on the day of his branding, his eyes have lightened to a cold ice blue, his hair turned stark white and his skin seems far paler than it once did.

Finnigan regarded himself as a free spirit. He never could stand being forced to follow a god that restricted him such as Mitra tried to. Most outsiders that he knew were the same, the notion of only worshipping one god was preposterous. As soon as he was old enough he joined an outlaw band. One of the few left that wanted to be free from the current totalitarian kingdom. Added to the fact that they never treated him like a normal citizen, he found the outlaw life much better suited to him. He knew it was all because of his skin colour. He was a fetchling stranded on the material plane. He hadn't asked for this but it was all he had. There he learned how to use many weapons to great effect, along with any armour he had available. Most of them liked him and he was able to gain their trust and have some influence in their plans. Now that he had become a mercenary he fought to free Talinguarde from the tyrants that ruled it. Unfortunately the group he joined was too small. They had no allies that could help. No way to truly threaten the king. So they fled north to the wild lands that the kingdom did not yet reach to seek help there but nothing was different. Everyone was only concerned with their own problems. The bugbears tribal wars made them no threat. He knew it was only a matter of time till the kingdom turned its eye to securing the wild north. What could he do...

The band he was apart of met an unfortunate end in a skirmish with bugbears. They had been trying to make a deal with a local chief when it turned nasty and they were ambushed and the chief's warriors had turned against them. The only one to make it out was Finnigan. He limped back towards their hideout just inside the forest north of the walls to heal his wounds. In his time alone he thought of the times when his ancestors had arrived in Talinguarde, how all the gods were honoured. He remembered one in particular who had a small following among his people. Zon Kuthon was a god of shadows and pain. The midnight lord had even been on his native plane for a time and many Fetchlings paid him reverence. During his time of solitude he called out, asking for divine help to bring the knowledge of gods forgotten back to Talinguarde. He heard a strange voice calling him to go into the heart of Talinguarde, telling him he was to be part of a greater plan to bring Talinguarde into a new enlightened age.

Once he was well again, though he never seemed to fully recover from his head wounds and was now totally deaf, he took what he needed and snuck his way back across the border and headed south. He felt an urge in his heart, a new calling. Avoiding the roads he headed into the heart of the country. He knew his target. He needed to send a sign so that those who hid in the shadows would join him and overthrow the system. He picked a large church and broke in at night. One of the acolytes was tending the grounds. Unlucky for her. He captured her and on the altar to Mitra carved a skull, Zon-Kuthon's symbol into her chest, killing her and letting the blood cover and profane the altar. Someone must have been close by and noticed her screams for he was soon surrounded and captured by city guard. "It doesn't matter what you do to me! It has started! They will return to this land and wipe it clean! There will be new beginnings!" He let them take him, but not before he caused two of them to turn on each other. He knew he was going to be burnt at the stake for this. His sacrifice was worth it. He had finally done something of worth in his life. He hoped Zon Kuthon would deem him worthy. He could already feel the black taint in his soul taking over.

Finnigan
Fetchling Lord of Darkness Antipaladin 1/Warsighted Oracle of Battle 1
Chaotic Evil Medium Outsider(Native)
Init -3; Perception +5; Darkvision 60ft.; Low-Light Vision;
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DEFENSE
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AC 12, touch 12, flatfooted 10 (+1 dex, +0 armour, +1 dodge)
HP 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +4 (+1 vs all divine spells)
Resist Cold 5, Electricity 5
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OFFENSE
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Speed 30ft.
Melee Unarmed +5 (1d3+4/x2)
Melee Unarmed Power Attack +4 (1d3+6/x2)
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ORACLE SPELLCASTING Concentration +6; CL 1
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Spell-like Ability (1/day) Disguise Self
Orisons DC 15 (unlimited) Bleed, Detect Magic, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize
1st level spells DC 16 (5/day) Inflict Light Wounds, Murderous Command, Shield of Faith
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STATISTICS
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Str 18, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 20
Base Attack 1; CMB +5; CMD 16
Feats Power Attack, Dodge
Traits Desecration(Crime), Dangerously Curious(Magic), Indomitable Faith(Faith)
Favoured Class Oracle(+1HP)
Skills(5 per level) *only shows class skills*
0 Bluff +5
0 Craft +0
1 Diplomacy +9
1 Disguise +9
0 Handle Animal +5
0 Heal +1
1 Intimidate +9
0 Knowledge(engineering) +0
0 Knowledge(history) +0
0 Knowledge(planes) +2
0 Knowledge(religion) +0
1 Perception +5(-4 on opposed perception, automatically fails checks based on sound)
0 Profession +1
0 Ride +1
0 Sense Motive +1
0 Spellcraft +0
0 Stealth +3
1 Use Magic Device +10
Racial Bonus +2 on Knowledge (planes) and Stealth checks
Languages Common
Equipment Sleeves of Many Garments(200gp), Masterwork Greatsword(350gp), Masterwork Backpack(50gp), Cracked Dark Blue Romboid Ioun Stone(400gp)
Current encumberance
Money
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ANTI-PALADIN ABILITIES
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Weapon and Armour Proficiency Antipaladins are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields).
Aura of Evil(Ex) The power of an antipaladin’s aura of evil (see the detect evil spell) is equal to his antipaladin level. A paladin who uses smite evil on an antipaladin deals 2 points of damage per paladin level on his first successful attack.
Detect Good(Sp) At will, an antipaladin can use detect good, as the spell. An antipaladin can, as a move action, concentrate on a single Item or individual within 60 feet and determine if it is good, learning the strength of its aura as if having studied it for 3 rounds. While focusing on one individual or object, the antipaladin does not detect good in any other object or individual within range.
Smite Good(Su) As a swift action, the antipaladin chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is good, the antipaladin adds his Charisma bonus (if any) on his attack rolls and adds his antipaladin level on all damage rolls made against the target of his smite. If the target of smite good is an outsider with the good subtype, a good-aligned dragon, or a good creature with levels of cleric or paladin, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the antipaladin possesses. Regardless of the target, smite good attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess. In addition, while smite good is in effect, the antipaladin gains a deflection bonus equal to his Charisma modifier (if any) to his AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If the antipaladin targets a creature that is not good, the smite is wasted with no effect.
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ORACLE ABILITIES
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Battle Mystery An oracle with the battle mystery adds Intimidate, Knowledge (engineering), Perception, and Ride to her list of class skills.
Bonus Spells enlarge person (2nd), fog cloud (4th), magic vestment (6th), wall of fire (8th), righteous might (10th), mass bull’s strength (12th), control weather (14th), earthquake (16th), storm of vengeance (18th).
Martial Flexibility(Ex) 3/day At 1st level, a warsighted can use a move action to gain the benefit of a combat feat she doesn't possess. This effect lasts for 1 minute. The warsighted must otherwise meet all the feat's prerequisites. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + 1/2 her oracle level.
Curse of Deafness You cannot hear and suffer all of the usual penalties for being deafened. You cast all of your spells as if they were modified by the Silent Spell feat. This does not increase their level or casting time.
Orisons Known Bleed, Detect Magic, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize
1st level spells known Inflict Light Wounds, Murderous Command, Shield of Faith
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RACIAL TRAITS
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Shadow Blending(Su) Attacks against a fetchling in dim light have a 50% miss chance instead of the normal 20% miss chance. This ability does not grant total concealment; it just increases the miss chance.
Shadow Resistance Fetchlings have cold resistance 5 and electricity resistance 5.
Spell-Like Abilities(Sp) A fetchling can use disguise self once per day as a spell-like ability. He can assume the form of any humanoid creature. A fetchling's caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice. When a fetchling reaches 9th level in any combination of classes, he gains shadow walk (self only) as a spell-like ability usable once per day as a spell-like ability. A fetchling's caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice. When a fetchling reaches 13th level in any combination of classes, he gains plane shift (self only, to the Shadow Plane or the Material Plane only) usable once per day as a spell-like ability. A fetchling's caster level is equal to his total Hit Dice.