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Greetings fellow gamers.
For months now I have waited on a chance to run this, and thought my IRL gaming group would enjoy it when it became my turn to DM recently. However they chose to have my run Kingmaker (which is a blast btw) so now I've decided to run this as a PbP. Below, I will have a brief overview as well as what I am looking for in potential players. Character creation rules will also be found.
The Five Kings Mountains was once the domain of the stout folk, with few others challenging their claim on the area. Things changed however, when Ordrik murdered his cousin Garbold, the rightful King of Highhelm. As the newly appointed King, Ordrik's first act was to establish a Theocracy, not to Torag, but to Droskar, the God of Toil. Those loyal to Ordrik went on the offensive and put a swift end to any who opposed his rule. Spouting edicts of isolationism, Ordrik forced all under his rule to abandon their homes on the surface of the Five Kings Mountains and forced them back into the underground, sealing up the entrance to their cities and cutting off all trade and relations with the outside world.
This proved to be a dark time for not only the stout folk, who were forced to work for the sake of working, forsaking all pursuits of working for aesthetic purposes, but also for the other races living near the Five Kings Mountains. With the Dwarves no longer around to "cull the herd" so to speak, of the orcs that called the Five Kings Mountains home. Their population now going unchecked they quickly overran neighboring cities and kingdoms. In the 200 years the dwarves have been gone, the orcs have bolstered their empire to well over 1 Million souls.
After the death of Ordrik, the Council came together to choose the next heir for the stout folk, someone to lead the dwarves back to the surface and help them regain their glory. The council deliberated for less than two days, choosing the greatest warrior among them. And so it was that Bruagh came to power. His first act as king was to retake Highhelm from underneath the orcs. It was a daring move, that payed off, The Dwarven nation had their Capitol back. But the daring move proved costly. The dwarves of Highhelm, barely have enough soldiers to hold the captial city, which is easily the single greatest bastion of defense in all of Golarion.
Knowing his kingdom is in perilous straits, Bruagh has hand selected a small warband to retrive a powerful dwarven artifact thought to be in the ruins of a an ancient keep to the south of Highhelm. Aside from recovering this artifact you have two other objectives. Send any surviving surface dwarves to Highhelm, and to kill as many of the enemy as possible.
Character Creation-
-6th Level
-Dwarf Only!!!
-Only 1 Arcane caster will be accepted
-Only the Core Rule Book, Advanced Players Guide, and Dwarves of Golarion are allowed.
-25pt buy
-2 Traits
-HP Max at first 3/4's thereafter.
-WBL starting gold.
PrC's are fine but NO multiclassing!!!
This will not be first come first serve, but rather, after a few days I will look at all applicants and accept the 4-5 that I think will work best.
Your Dwarf should be a real dwarf, one who puts his clan first and foremost. Once who wants to return Highhelms to it's previous glory.
No Evil Alignments. Chaotic is allowed, but probably not the best choice.
I love dwarves and I am intrigued by your plot concept, so I will definitely be submitting something for your perusal later tonight. I'm thinking about a dwarven inquisitor....
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I've been itching to play a Dwarven Paladin, I'll come up with something Shortly. :-)
Thoradin StoneHeart, Dwarven Paladin of Torag
a short on my Character:
Thoradin was not alive when the exodus happened, But his Father, a Cleric of Torag was. Fiercly deticated to his god, Thoradin's father Secertly continued his worship of Torag, spreading his Teachings to his son. While this allowed the teachings to be passed on, and not forgoten, it also cost Thoradin's father his life. He was put to death with out a trial. In a Rage, Thoradin went to try adn avenge his father, even if it ment his life as payment aswell. Before Dawning his Weapon, Torag apeared to Thoradin in a vision, explaining that revenge would solve nothing, and the best way to honor his father's memory was to continue to worship Torag, and some day, spread his teachings. Thus Thoradin took up his task with fervor, purpose, and a love for Justice and Order.
Elyk Spangelhelm, Dwarven Cleric of Torag, wishes to guide these warriors on their path. Details to follow tomorrow...
EDIT - Okay this has me so excited some details are coming now. I'm thinking Good Domain and Defense (Protection) Sub Domain, Lorekeeper racial variant, Child of the Temple and Indomitable Faith traits. This is a Dwarf raised in a failing temple of Torag during the time you described where the society was devoted to Droskar. He never gave up on his faith in the true father of the Dwarves, and with this new wise King taking the throne Elyk is determined to support his people in their rise to glory before Torag once more. Lawful Good, as if that needed saying, I'm thinking this kind of stat array after racial and 4th level:
10, 10, 14, 14, 18, 14
Eventually his father was 'disposed of' by Ordrik's followers, although there was of course no proof, and Elyk chose to follow in his father's footsteps in taking care of the temple in his father's place. However, while he was a true follower of Torag, Elyk knew that he could serve his god better than going to his death at the hand's of Ordrik's men. So he cared for the temple quietly, and bid his time patiently harbouring his grudge as only a Dwarf can.
With the rise of King Bruagh though, he was ready to stand up and fight for the Dwarf name, for the Spangelhelm name, and most of all in Torag's name! Elyk was at the forefront of the fighting at the retaking of Highhelm, and proved himself thoroughly in the battle. Now he comes humbly before his King, daring to hope he might be chosen to help resurrect the Dwarf name alongside his brothers.
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Dwarrig Stoneskin
Class: Fighter
Hp
65hp
1st max=10hp
2nd...6th=(3/4)5x8+5x3(+3con mod)=40hp+15hp
stats
str:18 dex:14 con:16
int:10 wis:12 cha:10
+1 str (4thlvl)
+2 con, +2 wis, -2 cha (dwarf)
Family Background:
From the family of stoneskins, this dwarf is the ultimate wall between enemies and friends. Those who try to pass, are stopped by cold axe steel through their skulls and if this is not killing, then enemy will be finished by spiked shield or in the end, just by sheer brute force.
Marching in front line with honor and strong body, but even with stronger and most stubborn mindset you have ever seen. He didn´t born to Stoneskin family just to be soft but to be the mountain. Harder than adamantine, stronger than giants, Stoneskin family didn´t earn their name for nothing if not taking blow after blow and giving twofold back!
Raised by utmost military mind and sheer willpower of hardest stone, dwarfes from this family are well respected all around Golarion, since there is only few who can truly match the hardness and thick-skulness of members from this family.
Dwarrig was born during an enormous earthquake. As usual, the Stoneskin family dwarves were not shaken by a bit by this "small" tremor, since after all, they were supposed to be the eartquake itself! And when the eartquake was in its fullest force, Dwarrig came and there was silent for a moment, like a mountain and the caves itself took a deepbreat in front of this miracle... and Dwarrig´s father, Gworrig, saw a vision directly from Torag, that his son, fully equipped on finest mithril and strongest axe in his hand but more than that, in front of lines thousand dwarves to lead agaisnt orcs... a sight, many Stoneskin members were dreaming off... but only to be filled as front line fighters... after all, they were the mountain itself.
From young age, Dwarrig was raised with utmost hardness and all possible family knowledge was passed down to him they knew! Here was the Champion itself and he would be one would be in front lines to bring dwarves back to their glory. From morning to evening, the young child grew to be adult with constant training against multiple Stoneskin dwarf adults, beaten by clubs and later by swords, equipping the heaviest armors and weapons, bringing down destruction with their brute force and slamming that shield through their enemies skulls.
Decades later, Dwarrig was walking through his family halls and saw the looks of his family members and the yells of the clan members: "Glory to Stoneskin Clan! Glory to Dwarves! You have chosen as Torag told to us!". He was chosen! He had proven himself along with his other clan members, being in front line and smashing those orcs down while they retook their capital city. He was walking with his clan members, with other dwarves, some moments he was alone against hordes of orcs but always giving for each hit against him 4 hit back. He had conquered the imporant site from the orcs in the city, all alone! He had held his line, his head and shattered he coming forces. For that, he had received now honor from Bruagh itself.
Stoneskins in front, Stoneskins atands, Stoneskins never fall.. that was their fate and each member death would be avanged! This was their fate and now he had chance again to improve his clan worth in the eyes of others... since he truly was the member of Stoneskin clan... the hardest of them all.
He is hard as stone and as his clan name says, the mountains itself have seem to be taken an form of dwarf! So hard is he, so long he last that enemies lose their will, so hard is it to kill him. So is his mindset also. Stubborn as rock, immovable to directions, will of bull, he never surrender and give everything back toe-to-toe. Not the sharpest member of dwarves but the most trustworthy you can find and deadliest one when it comes to combat. Honor and Glory! Stoneskins fame, they all ride on his shoulders and he carry it proudly.
So far the character concepts sound great.
As far as timelines go, I would say it depends. I am shooting for at least 2-3 months, however I will wait on a natural conclusion or stopping point. I don't want to force it to end before the story is done, yet I don't want to drag it out after is is starting to die.
And as a few have done, feel free to use the archtypes from the APG.
Sorry for double post but wanted to add this in. Feel free to link some of your background posts. Have the same clans etc. Won't improved your chances for getting in, so don't think if you put a sub par character background in with someone with an awesome background that it will get you selected.
Aside from that, I like what I am seeing thus far.
Keep in mind RP will be a heavy portion of this with some hack'n'slash mixed in.
Updated with yet more, wow this concept has me buzzing. I love Dwarves.
So far posted the idea and background along personality. Was thinking about build or should do it later IF picked up for the game or I could start now to give some kind of fleshing?
Honestly I will want to see a character sheet before I decide who is in and out. Not a big rush though, I probably will not pick before Friday unless there are a lot of completed submissions before then.
Another huge fan of dwarves here. I've not had a chance to play one in quite a while, so I'm going to submit a character as well. Since you actually want to see character sheets, I won't go into too much detail quite yet but one will be forthcoming!
Her´be a mate for ya all! Mount´n aint moving and i´m sturdier than all of them.
Everything should be quite ready with guy for overall inspection although might still find something I forgot (WBL should be still ok and considering some other options, but will see later)
I quite fancy an Oracle of Stone, with the Tongues drawback so that he will scream warcries in Terran as they close in battle.
Got a profile up, still working on it, but it's in this profile.
Okay... I think this sheet is finished, apart from some detailing of the history/appearance/additional fluff. All the mechanical and character basics are there, and anything else I add will be cosmetic.
Same. Got all the mechanics down and paper ready. Not sure should I add something else and etc. Might have some mistake with numbers but IMO, I am ready with this
Dwarves get no love, so this Rocks (pun intended)
I'll get to work on him right away.
Morad IronHand is one of the few surviving members of his Clan. his father, clan cheiftan, has asked his son to once more carry the clans honor into battle. They hope to find more survivors of their clan and win Honor by killing many of the enemy. His fateher's last words are "The strenght and Honor of the Clan go with you, Don't return without them" Like most IronHand's Morad hair and beard are Flame orange in color. As he is still young, 95 years of age. his beard is still bright, where is fathers is a deep dark orange.
He's a fighter using the 2 handed fighter archetype fromn the APG. His favored weapon is a dwarven dern derger's using the feats from DoG to switch range as a move action when weilding 1 handed. He has the Strong Amr supple wrist trait from DoG as well.
I'll create a full sheet shortly for you.
edit: with the exception of skills, his profile should be complete
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I'm making a dwarven Rogue right now, because who expects a dwarf in breastplate to be sneaky?
Rogue with the Acrobat and Scout Archtypes.
At the age he was old enough to work for the sake of working all day long, Durgrin had grown to hate the only way of life he'd known and yearn for the stories of old to be true! He learned the traditional way to fight, but soon added his own abilities to the mix, and even in armor he was hard to keep in one spot. Unfortunately, this lead to him doing drills everyday to the point of exhaustion.
But now Ordrik is dead, and Drugrin will do anything it takes to make sure the Old Glory returns, even if it means dieing for some old weapon Braugh needs! His grandfather will rest in peace, Ordrik and his father be damned!
Fiddle my standard list of prepared spells a little, not that it makes much difference.
Alexander here, submitting Rahkeg Oathsworn for the arcanist slot- a Transmuter living in Highhelm with the Enhancement subschool- hoping to one day find a new route to Immortality that doesn't involve repeated reincarnations or Lichdom.
His character sheet is entirely complete, including skills, equipment and spells prepared for the first day.
I have posted his background, personality and appearance here- everything else is available in this profile.
I run my own long-standing games on these forums and will be able to post daily.
Rahkeg Oathsworn is a member of a prominent mercantile family in Highhelm, a learned Wizard and scholar approaching middle age. Rahkeg had a difficult childhood, struggling with the belittlement of his studies by his peers- and dealing with the difficulties of being a practitioner of arcane magic in a martially inclined Sky Citadel such as Highhelm. Now a little over a hundred years old, Rahkeg is as an expert on Transmutation magic and eagerly pursues his research.
Despite being bullied in his childhood, Rahkeg is a patriot, and has contributed in many battles and conflicts over the years- in such hard times, few Dwarves his age have not. While he yearns to be left alone to his research on how to enhance the soldiers of the kingdom, he understands the need for all to do their part, and he has inherited a strong sense of duty from his stern, disapproving father. His speciality on the battlefield is to improve the abilities of his fellow soldiers- something he has gained great respect for as the Dwarves are nearly always outnumbered by the Orc hordes. He has also gained renown as a lorekeeper and historian, and his written works are well received.
Rahkeg is awkward socially, only in his element on the battlefield (which he sees as a massive chess board, a problem for his mind to solve) or in his research and writings. He disdains the taste of strong ales and struggles to relate to his fellow Dwarves. Due to this, he has few friends despite his social standing. Rahkeg is extremely loyal to Bruagh and did his best to support the warriors rise through power. Rahkeg was dismayed when this show of loyalty earnt him a place on a suicide mission to find an old Dwarven artifact, but his steadfast loyalty refuses to let him complain.
Ultimately, his long term ambition is to seek a way to restore veteran and aging Dwarf warriors to the physical state of their youth- for who then could stand against his people, with the combination of hundreds of years of experience in the bodies of young Dwarves, eternally young unless killed in battle? The fervour with which he pursues this research is extremely intense, and he will often go days without sleep until he reaches a new milestone.
The source of this intensity is a secret and shameful fear of death- Rahkeg fears his own mortality but knows that there would be no place for him at Highhelm as a Lich. Thus he has always been drawn to Transmutation magic, and hopes to find another path to Immortality through it.
Rahkeg is usually dressed in simple scholars robes, although a Detect Magic would reveal Conjuration and Necromancy auras about him- signs of his daily ritual of casting Extended Mage Armour and Extended False Life.
Rahkeg has prematurely silver hair, and is of average height and build for a Dwarf. He frequently appears to be day-dreaming, and is often lost in his thoughts.
While obviously not particularily muscular, he moves with incredible speed when he chooses to, his reflexes whispering of transmutation magic. He wears a pair of reading glasses wherever he goes and disdains carrying any weapon other than a stout quarterstaff which doubles as a walking stick when he is weary.
I love dwarves and the whole idea of the game (fighting to restore their ancient kingdom). I have a concept for a dwarven bard that I've used in 2 (dead) previous games. I'll have to modify him a bit to fit the needs of this game but the basic idea is there.
Backstory:
Grunhild's clan were smiths who suffered greatly during Ordrik's reign. They were forced to endlessly create plain tools and weapons with no regards to artistry and culture. Grunhild himself hated his first days toiling at the forge. Always headstrong and curious, he earned for more. He fled the Five Kings Mountains, going out into the world to live amongst other people and learn their culture. During this time, he also researched all information he could find on Dwarven legends and culture thus learning how much had been loss during the reign of Ordrik. When Bruagh came to power after Ordrik's death, Grunhild decided it was time for him to return home. He had traveled and seen good parts of both Avistan and Garund and he wanted to help the dwarves return to their past glory. King Bruagh selected Grunhild for this expedition because of his knowledge of both the surface and the dwarven past.
Solarious's Character,
Fully updated, check pofile page for all info
I see we may have a Cleric of Torag too, would you want to tie our backgrounds together somehow?
Nice! Got my APG now. I just love it. This moment going through it and taking a look at Shield Fighter and thinking if I should go for it. Stoneskin is after all like a stone :)
This is Wander Weir, introducing my profile. The character sheet is still very much in progress but I plan to have it completed by the end of the day.
Here's the character concept/ background. Toryx is a Paladin, using the Warrior of the Holy Light archetype.
Little more than 112 years ago, Toryx was born the only son of Dethik, a supporter of Ordik. Though the birth itself was uneventful, the newborn infant himself was remarkable in two ways: 1. He did not cry, even when the midwife cleared his lungs with one sharp slap across his back and 2. He had a large red birthmark across his forehead, unmistakably in the shape of a large warhammer, Torag's symbol.
With that birthmark, Toryx's life was pre-ordained. His father, of course, was furious when he discovered the God's marking upon his son's head. Too many years under the sway of Ordik and his theocracy had diminished the regard for Torag, especially to one of the King's friends.
Dethik ordered that Toryx and his mother be removed from the city to a small holding some distance away, and there he was raised, never coming to know his father as anything more than a distant, disapproving figure.
Though Dethik had also instructed that Toryx be taught little about Torag, the child hardly seemed to need to be instructed at all. He was calm, clear headed and remarkably pre-possessed, rarely needing to be chastened or punished for wrongdoings. As he grew older he spoke of Torag with an increasing fervor, voicing his belief that Torag wished the dwarves to return to the surface and push back the forces of the Orcs who were rampaging above.
Whether by accident or design, others began to visit the holding, quiet, soft-spoken dwarves who were eventually discovered to be devotees to Torag. Nothing Dethik did could stop the news of Toryx's birthmark from spreading and even as the father's influence amongst Ordik's inner circle diminished, Toryx's fame grew. He was well instructed in the ways of Torag and as soon as he was able, dedicated himself and his hammer to the God's will. He became a valiant warrior and leader on the battlefield, a shining emblem of Torag's might and blessings.
When Ordik at last perished and the council chose Bruagh to rule, Toryx was one of the first to support the effort to win back the capital city on the surface. Never was Toryx's dedication to Torag more clear than when, at a particularly dark turn in the battle a great nimbus of light exploded from Toryx's form and emboldened the warriors around him to overcome their attackers and push onward to triumph.
With the city retaken but hard times still ahead, Toryx has dedicated himself, by Torag's will, to aid the King in any way necessary to return their people to their abandoned cities and drive back the Orc threat once more.
Also, for the record, I can post daily.
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This is Wander Weir, introducing my profile. The character sheet is still very much in progress but I plan to have it completed by the end of the day.
Here's the character concept/ background. Toryx is a Paladin, using the Warrior of the Holy Light archetype.
** spoiler omitted **...
Just as a heads up, 127 years is into middle age by two years.
Just as a heads up, 127 years is into middle age by two years.
Really? Oops. Okay, revising that. :) And thanks for the heads up.
Solarious's Character,
Fully updated, check pofile page for all info
I see we may have a Cleric of Torag too, would you want to tie our backgrounds together somehow?
Yeah, I'd be happy to, what were you thinking? Also, as for posting frequency, I can certainly do every day, possibly multiple times if necessary.
"The history of the earth is written deep in the stones, and if you want to understand, you have to learn how to read them."
It always offended her sense of symmetry that warriors would learn to use iron and stone, and with that use, became dependent on it, neglecting the pursuit of bettering themselves to become as the iron and stone themselves. She did not believe that a Dwarf could not have limbs of iron, a heart of stone, solid and unmovable.
Many had come close. She wanted to come closer. She would be Kotri Bolgirn, "The Unbreakable".
Hmmm.
Well I just now noticed that there's actually already a submission for a Dwarven Paladin of Torag, even using the same alternate class feature.
Given that's the case, and it's pretty uncool to submit a character so similar after the fact, I'll withdraw my original idea. Sorry about that, Solarious.
I'll see if I can come up with something different that seems a little less reflective of another player's submission.
My apologies.
@Wander Weir: no Worries, keep it submited, never know who will get picked or who wont
@Elyk Spangelhelm, I'm not sure, maybe brothers perhaps? our backgrounds are so close its creepy! lol I could change my sur-name to Match yours
After thinking for a while, I think I will twist my Dwarfen fighter a little bit to be more like a real defender / stone like = going for a Shield Fighter. Will complete changes soon
@Thoradin, sure thing! They're pretty much the same, so we could be brothers with a simple change of name. If you want to adopt my clan that's totally fine with me, I've been mulling over further details for them, so we can fill them out together if you like?
@Thoradin, sure thing! They're pretty much the same, so we could be brothers with a simple change of name. If you want to adopt my clan that's totally fine with me, I've been mulling over further details for them, so we can fill them out together if you like?
Works for me, I prob won't be able to post much more today, off work in a few. Let me know what you come up with :-)
I have an idea for an oracle (flame mystery) with the wasting curse. Will post stats and background soon.
Just to let it be known. There are now only three slots left available.
The Spangelhelms are in.
So that is a Cleric of Torag and a Paladin of Torag. The backstory that both of you individually submitted fits perfectly into the world...
And that's what is most important.
Also, there is nothing to say you can't have two Paladins of Holy Light. I am not one who thinks that you should have the perfect party make up.
Also, a few errors I noticed. Someones backstory doesn't really fit, mostly because of the goblins and timeline. Someone made a level 4 character. Another a level 1 character. A few peoples profiles are really hard to read and will get a better look once it is cleaned up a bit.
Aside from that keep the submissions.
Can't wait to see the Earth Mage and the Monk submission.
Also, I really like Rahkeg's background. It's very unique. Unique is good as well!
This is Lucendar and here is my submission.
Rhen Stoneheart is added as well.
One spot left for an arcane.
One spot left for anything else.
Cleaned my character sheet and made some changes, hopefully make more senses now if had some problems. Should be more readable now
@Thoradin, sure thing! They're pretty much the same, so we could be brothers with a simple change of name. If you want to adopt my clan that's totally fine with me, I've been mulling over further details for them, so we can fill them out together if you like?
I added this to my profile :-)
Thoradin isn't as smart, or as wise as his brother Elyk, but he is as charming. While his brother tended to the Temple, Thoradin focused on his martial skills, preparing to protect the temple against any evil that would do it harm. Although the younger of the two Spangelhelm's, Thoradin is a bit taller than his brother, which he has no qualms about bringing up in good fun.
Hah! I like that, particularly the bit about him being taller and the rivalry. Nice to see we were both accepted, this looks to be lots of fun. :D
Also, do you want to share my shield crest? I've described it in the profile, but I'll give more details here. If you imagine a heavy steel shield of this shape with the same kind of line down the middle. It kind of bears half of two crests meeting at that line - the Spangelhelm one and Torag's. So if you see the warhammer crest of Torag in the campaign setting, it has half of that on the right, and on the left meeting the half of the warhammer is half of a great axe with a wing coming out halfway down the haft. The background of the Spangelhelm crest is silver, and the great axe has a ruby in the middle of the blade which is inscribed with ornate runes relevant to the clan.
Also, I love how our traits match! Both with indomitable faith, and the reflected background in child of the temple and guardian of the forge. It really rings true with the history.
Hah! I like that, particularly the bit about him being taller and the rivalry. Nice to see we were both accepted, this looks to be lots of fun. :D
Also, do you want to share my shield crest? I've described it in the profile, but I'll give more details here. If you imagine a heavy steel shield of this shape with the same kind of line down the middle. It kind of bears half of two crests meeting at that line - the Spangelhelm one and Torag's. So if you see the warhammer crest of Torag in the campaign setting, it has half of that on the right, and on the left meeting the half of the warhammer is half of a great axe with a wing coming out halfway down the haft. The background of the Spangelhelm crest is silver, and the great axe has a ruby in the middle of the blade which is inscribed with ornate runes relevant to the clan.
Also, I love how our traits match! Both with indomitable faith, and the reflected background in child of the temple and guardian of the forge. It really rings true with the history.
Yea sounds great! i thought about using a dwarven war axe, but I'm too much of a Dragonlance guy, to have a dwarf under the mountain w/ an axe, thats more of a hill dwarf thing.
Well Elyk uses a hammer too, it is Torag's holy weapon after all.
Also, a few errors I noticed. Someones backstory doesn't really fit, mostly because of the goblins and timeline. Someone made a level 4 character. Another a level 1 character. A few peoples profiles are really hard to read and will get a better look once it is cleaned up a bit.
Aside from that keep the submissions.
Can't wait to see the Earth Mage and the Monk submission.
Also, I really like Rahkeg's background. It's very unique. Unique is good as well!
Like I said, this character comes from a dead game which is why he's at 4th level. I was planning on restating him but I don't think I'll bother now since my chance of getting in seem pretty low. Have fun with the game.