GMEdwin's The Pharoah's Race

Game Master Insnare

started so well but rest are do-able

Now she found herself as something of a respected apprentice merchant. Buying and selling goods between various markets within Sothis, though she often found that information brought her the greatest coin.

And yet she yearned for something more. As good as she was becoming, she didn't want to lead the life of a merchant and yearned for adventure. Especially when she heard the stories in the taverns of one adventuring group or another that had returned from the endless sands with bags of treasure.

Str 14(14), Dex 16(14+2(race)), Con 10(9+1(level)), Int 14(14), Wis 10(12-2(race), Cha 19(17+2(race))
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Combat & Magic
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AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+7 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 21 (4d12+2d8+5)(still needs HD from levels 2 to 6)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +4
Defensive Abilities Uncanny Dodge; Immune dazzled
Weakness Lame

Base Atk +5; CMB +7; CMD 20

Speed 30 ft.

Melee
+1 Adamantine Bill +8 (1d8+4/x3) and
Gauntlet +7 (1d3+2/x2) and
Masterwork Dagger +8 (1d4+2/19-20/x2)

Ranged
+1 Composite longbow (Str +2) +9 (1d8+3/x3)

Spell-Like Abilities Efreeti Magic (1/day)

Spells Known (CL 4, +7 melee touch, +8 ranged touch, +8(+12) concentration, +4 spell penetration):
1 (5/day) Divine Favor, Cure Light Wounds (DC 15), Endure Elements, Burning Disarm (DC 15)
0 (at will) Stabilize, Create Water, Detect Magic, Mending, Guidance
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Statistics
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Feats: Combat Casting, Firesight, Skill Focus (Knowledge [religion])

Traits: Magical Knack (Oracle [Planar Oracle])

Skills: Acrobatics +7, Climb +1, Craft (blacksmith) +10, Diplomacy +8, Escape Artist +2, Fly +2, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (religion) +13, Perception +9, Ride +2, Sense Motive +9, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +2, Survival +4, Swim +1

Languages Common, Elven, Ignan, Osiriani

SQ Armor Mastery, Bellows, Desert Mirage, Elemetal Fury (+1 rounds/attack), Fast Movement +10, Moment of Clarity (1/rage), Rage (10 rounds/day), Renewed Vigor 1d8+0 HP (1/day)

Combat Gear +1 Adamantine Bill, +1 Composite longbow (Str +2), +1 Mithral Agile breastplate, Gauntlet, Masterwork Dagger

Misc Magic: Feather Token (lance), Handy Haversack, Potion of Shield of Faith +2, Wand of Cure Light Wounds (19 charges),

Other Gear: Small Traveling Anvil (reskin of goldsmithing anvil), Artisan's outfit, Masterwork Artisan's tools, Bedroll, Bellows, Belt Pouch (3), Heavy Blanket, Chain (10 ft.), Chalk (10), Crowbar, Flint and Steel, Folding Chair, Hammock, Jug, Mug/Tankard, Silk Rope, Sunrod, Tanglefoot bag, Tindertwig (5), Trail Rations (10), Waterproof Bag, Waterskin (4), Wrist sheath
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Special Abilities
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Armor Mastery (Ex) You become more maneuverable while wearing armor. You can move at your normal speed in medium armor that is made of metal. This does not grant proficiency in armor.

Bellows +1 Survival to start fires.

Combat Casting +4 to Concentration checks to cast while on the defensive.

Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).

Desert Mirage +2 to Stealth in deserts and to saves to resist starvation and thirst.

Efreeti Magic (1/day) (Sp) Cast enlarge person or reduce person 1/day.

Elemetal Fury (+1 rounds/attack) (Ex) Elemental damage extends your rage.

Fast Movement +10 (Ex) +10 feet to speed, unless heavily loaded.

Firesight You can see through fire and smoke without penalty, ignoring cover or concealment.

Immune to Dazzled You are immune to the dazzled condition.

Lame One of your legs is permanently wounded, reducing your base land speed by 10 feet if your base speed is 30 feet or more. Your speed is never reduced due to encumbrance.

Magical Knack (Oracle [Planar Oracle]) +2 CL for a specific class, to a max of your HD.

Moment of Clarity (1/rage) (Ex) Remove the benefits and penalties of a rage for 1 round without ending the rage.

Rage (10 rounds/day) (Ex) +4 Str, +4 Con, +2 to Will saves, -2 to AC when enraged.

Renewed Vigor 1d8+0 HP (1/day) (Ex) 1/day while raging, heal yourself for 1d8+0 HP

Uncanny Dodge (Ex) Retain Dex bonus to AC when flat-footed.
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Physical stats and appearance: 77 yrs old (still barely an adult from his point of view); 5' 6"; 140 lbs; bronzed skin; flame red hair, charcoal black eyes; short but strong and lithe; clearly used to being around the forge and fire; has a strong limp on his left leg where a childhood accident by a forge left its permanently scarred and weakened, with bits of metal buried inside; he tries very hard to hide this limp, but is never entirely successful, even if he has learned how to work around it. to the point he once again has full functionality of the leg

Personality: A restless spirit forged by the fires of the forge and time, and called upon by the spirits of fire and metal to serve as their voice, their herald; An innate restlessness fills him, though what seems like a lifetime of training has tamed it to the point where he can usually hide it; quick to anger, but, like a fire burning overly hot, also quick to cool down; has a certain magnetism that both awes and frightens at the same time; never really comfortable around strangers, especially if he has to move about, and often comes across as aloof and distant to such folks; even known friends can sometimes notice a certain distance in his dealings with them

History: More blessed than many ifrits, Maqah at least has the benefit of looking mostly human and lacking the more problematic inheritances usually bestowed upon his kind, even though his skin is still a dead giveaway that he is somehow different. Found abandoned at a temple of Serenrae on the outskirts of Sothis, the priests there took him in despite his strange appearance, and were able to teach him how to control and focus his inner fire to at least some degree, though the task became harder as the lad grew up, and demonstrated that even if physically he was still mostly human, he very much had the temperment of living fire.

If it hadn't been for a childhood accident of a blacksmith forge exploding when he was nearby and burying metal and stone shrapnel in his body at multiple locations, the real difficulties would have arisen much earlier. As it was, even though most of the physical damage was repairable, one leg proved to be more stubborn, and his whole body was left somewhat weakened; the left leg had so many metal bits buried so deep, they could not safely remove all of them, and in addition to cursing the lad with lameness, these metal fragments would provide even further difficulties for him down the road. Still, in many ways, the lameness proved to be a blessing in disguise to the clergy trying to raise the lad. It forced the lad to stay still long enough to learn how to handle a forge, and even absorb some learning about religion.

Their real problems began when he reached what to humans would be late adulthood. Those who had raised him were getting too old and dying, and he did not take kindly to folks younger than him trying to tell him what to do. The deaths of those who he had viewed as mentors also created a certain distance in his view of others, as he learned first hand the pain of loss, and didn't like it. This simply made the age difference that much harder to bridge. This by itself was a difficulty to be sure, but it would have been managable if not for another problem that arose at this time. Maqah started to sense that the metal he was working at the forge, and indeed, the forge itself, was starting to talk to him. When he sought out assistance from the priests, who were already frustrated with him, they doubted him, and even though they were gentle about it, it was not long before he simply decided to leave, and take his chances as a mercenary. Though he was moderately successful, he found that the mercenary life only served to increase his challenges, amplifying the strange effects and voices he felt around metal, and making it harder for him to control his inner restlessness. He took odd jobs around Sothis and the surrounding area, acquiring a bit of a reputation for himself as a strong and effective, but hard to manage, guard. Recently securing a position at a prosperous blacksmith job in Sothis as a journeyman blacksmith and guard, he is far from satisfied with it, it provides him with shelter, and in an odd sort of way, grants him understanding of the forces of fire and metal that burn within him. Still, the fires within burn hot, and he knows it won't be long before they demand something more once than this sedate life once more. Already he feels it rising, triyng once more to break free.

His best friend is a small, runty weasel that he picked up out of the sewers one day. For some reason that he can't explain, he just feels a bond with the little guy that he can't ignore. Alf, the weasel's name, is quite friendly, and often serves as an icebreaker in social settings when Maqah's appearance proves to be a barrier.

Will become a familiar at level 7 with the eldritch heritage feat.

Vas has the stats to pull off a truly M.A.D. build, so I'm going to go with a Fighter/Monk/Duelist (gaining combat bonuses from Strength, Dex, Int and Wis)

Pleeeeese let me in. I've never rolled a stat set like that in my life. :)

I'm a hell of a player. Really.

Long years of working in the bakery, moving bags of flower from point a to point b have made him strong and hearty, especially in his arms. As the years went by, his ability to use the adamantine Heartbreaker to destroy things was only amplified by his growing strength. His aunt told him stories about when the Lockston family had a good name, and even take him to their estate for a walk once in a while. When he became 18, Gage decided to leave the bakery and start earning money as a "possession recovery expert" for hire, and on his own time a relic hunter. He's irritated by the bureaucracy of the Pathfinders, and so he works as an independent contractor. After all, Gage, while strong and mildly attractive is hardly the type for working up the ladder in the bureaucratic world.

Alistair Cooper was born in Absalom to a fairly wealthy family. Being a rather rambunctious youth, always finding him in trouble and cavorting with the wrong sort of kids; Alistair was the kind of kid that was always caught looking up a girl’s skirt. As a result of his chaotic ways he was sent off to a boarding school for boys where he excelled in history; among other “unofficial” studies.

In an effort to snap Alistair into reality he was sent off on an historical field study to Osirion. The expedition was to be financed by the Lady Exemplar Khymrasa to be a part of a dig near the Slave Trenches of Hakotep. The expedition was both an educational field study as well as a recruitment tool for the Pathfinder Lodge, to see who would be worthy to be trained as a Pathfinder.

While on the dig Alistair met a young girl by the name Rana. Rana was a fiery red haired Sorceress and, (as luck would have it), the daughter of Lady Khymrasa. They soon became close friends / lovers; much to the objection of her mother.

During the dig Alistair uncovered what appeared to be a puzzle box. Neither Rana nor Alistair was able to decipher the hieroglyphs on the puzzle box. But they knew that it was the key to something more. They brought the box to the Pathfinder Venture-Captain Jalden Krenshar as he was leading the expedition along with several other Pathfinder members. Jalden informs them that Pathfinder Abasi was the best source to translate the glyphs as he was a well versed Osirionologist.

Abasi examined the box he immediately realized what it may be, Abasi thought it best to keep the knowledge to himself. He told Alistair and Rana that he would need more time to figure out the box he sent them on their way back to the dig.

Abasi realized that the box held the secret to a lost tomb that could change the Osirion nation forever. He was able to decipher the hieroglyphs and open the box to reveal the secrets within. But in doing so, the power of the box now opened, corrupted Abasi and poisoned his mind with great evil.

Abasi needed to remove those that stood in his way to achieve his goals and become the “Immortal Pharaoh”. He used his magic to eliminate the other Pathfinder’s on the dig thus beginning a major conflict at the Trenches of Hakotep. Alistair and Rana joined with Jalden to try and stop Abasi, but, unfortunately Rana was killed in the fight.

Lady Khymrasa blamed Alistair for the death of her daughter, a hatred that has festered for the next several years, even to this day. Lady Khymrasa also realized that Abasi was partly to blame, but he possessed something that she wanted, the puzzle box.

Alistair went into hiding to avoid Abasi having teamed up with the rogue Zuri and making connections in the Sothis black market of illegal antiquities trade. Zuri and Alistair, who now went by the title Professor Cooper, went on several expeditions / adventures with Zuri obtaining artifacts to be sold on the Black Market, and making a name for them among the Pathfinders.

Lady Khymrasa decided to hire a group of adventurers to track down and kill Abasi and obtain the puzzle box. She made contact with Kalim Rafiki (a desert nomad/ ranger) who was a pathfinder member trained to track and eliminate rogue pathfinders.

Alistair would frequently find himself locked up in the prison cells of the lodge in Sothis because of his dealings with Zuri. Eventually Alistair grew tired of taking the fall for Zuri and managed to get him turned over to the Pathfinder Lodge for prosecution.

But before Zuri could be tried, Kalim sought the help of Alistair to track down Abasi which would lead him to the Ruins of Tumen. Zuri had managed to obtain a map that was supposedly to detail inside the ruins where they had hoped to find Abasi. This was Zuri’s “ace in the hole” to save his neck.

An uneasy alliance was formed, the Pathfinders had to reluctantly trust Zuri to help track down the rogue Pathfinder. Abasi was discovered there inside a crypt within the ruins seeking to commune with one of the mummies buried within. The trio of adventurers battled Abasi and his undead minions and finally defeated him. But the puzzle box was lost through a gate to the underworld.

Back in Sothis the trio parted ways Zuri (now pardoned by the lodge for his assistance in the elimination of Abasi) continued his scheming and proved to be more of a nemesis than an ally, always involved in the illegal antiquities trade of the region.

Kalim returned to his people in the desert and Alistair (now promoted to full pathfinder member) accompanied him to help defeat a group of nomadic barbarians raiding trade routes in the region. Alistair was appointed to the rank of captain in the Osirion volunteer militia where he managed to end the barbarian raids and restored trade routes along the River Sphinx.

Alistair (now called “Guard Captain Cooper”) continued his duties maintaining the safety of the southern trade routes, commanding his small militia force, but it wasn’t long before the Pathfinder lodge would contact Alistair again….