Motteditor's Ironfang Invasion PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

* I like PbP for a lot of reasons but a big part of that is you can get a lot of good role-playing. While there will be plenty of combat and other such fun aspects of the game, I want people to embrace role-playing.

* The game will be very player driven, especially in book 1. It's not as sandbox-y as Kingmaker, but players will drive what happens. Make sure your character will be set up to do that, and not just someone who reacts to external motivations.

* I will have maps in google sheets. I move all the "figs" on the map.

* The game will have basic survival as a central theme for quite a while.

* There is no good place to buy or sell magic for quite a while.

* You will have to manage NPCs to an extent.

* This is a war scenario, and there will be situations where children and teens may be in distress and at risk of physical harm. There will be no graphic depictions; it will simply be noted as happening. I do not plan to have any sexual violence in the game.

* Read these, love these, post by these:

Doomed Hero’s Guide to PbP Gaming

Building a Better Doomed Hero: Painlord’s Advanced PbP Guide

* I post 5-10 times a week and expect you to do the same. I sometimes miss a day, so I understand if you do too, but if you know you're going to miss time -- or even are busy so may need to post more sporadically for a time -- I expect you to let everyone you're playing with know in the Discussion thread (I do that as well). Momentum is key in PBPs; if you slow down, I slow down and the game dies. None of us want that to happen.

* Become a tight-knit group. Always have a reason to stay with the others, friendship counts. Have your characters do the same thing. (Seriously, giving each other feedback is good, as Painlord suggests. Favorite posts you like, or call them out in the Discussion thread or OOC comments.)

* I'll have you format your Quick Stat line when we get into play. If you want to make me really happy, though, I prefer a "Quick Stats' spoiler when in combat, as I've done here.

* Please give a 3-5 word explanation of all feats/traits etc and have the descriptions of all your special qualities at the end of the stat block. A simple copy-paste helps me a lot and if I can spend less time looking up rules, I can spend more time writing good posts.

* Communicate. I mentioned feedback above and notes about missing time, but let me know what you like and what you don't. Most of all, don't disappear. If you want to drop the game or get slammed at work, I'll understand, but let us all know. If you start not posting for long stretches of time, I'll have to replace you (and I HATE having to do that).

* I do grouped combat 90+ percent of the time. I will roll initiative. If the antagonists don't go before or after everyone, there will be a "Round 1/2." This is effectively Round 1 for just those who have a better initiative than the antagonists. Post your actions immediately (don't wait if you're not at your spot in the initiative order). I'll resolve them, then the antagonist's actions, then there will be a full Round 1 where the entire party acts (even though it will technically be Round 2 for some of you). You're free to give me an either/or post (i.e. I attack the hobgoblin; if Nebbin killed it, I instead charge the wolf attacking Vashta) and I may sometimes change your actions if they don't make sense based on what's transpired before/after. I'll also sometimes have you delay if it would make sense, though that's not always possible. Basically, I'll try to make combat run smoothly. :) You can find an example of combat here (starting with a surprise round for the PCs). (Note this has Reign of Winter Book 5 spoilers.)

* I'll sometimes roll saves for you if I need to know the results to advance the action, but I prefer to let you roll them yourself.

* I expect you to roll for actions in the order in which they occur. When in doubt, roll reactions to GM first, reactions to players next and then your actions. This should help minimize players swapping over save throws for attack rolls (and the like).

* I'll ask you for what general knowledge you want when you try to identify creatures; they'll be saved so I can give you that ASAP instead of having to ask you (you'll still be free to ask for different/specific information when you make a check if you want).

* Tell me about your character. I care less at this point about completed mechanics (I want to know race/class/archetypes, but I'm not going to be looking at stat blocks) and don't expect you to create an alias (you can if you want to, but I don't expect it). I DO want to know some basics about your character: What does she look like? What has he done so far in life? (This doesn't need to be a book -- you're first level -- but give me some idea of your back story.) What does she like or dislike? What is his lifelong ambition?

* This may be part of the above bullet point, but what's your character's connection to Phaendar? The adventure starts in the Nirmathi town, and the traits in the Player's Guide offer you several reasons you could be there. What's your reason? Do you have friends and/or family there? Tell me about them.

* How do you see the character developing? This doesn't have to be definitive -- plans change as the story develops (my Varisian mesmerist is realizing she needs some sword practice, for instance...) -- but give me some idea of what you're thinking.

* What timezone are you in and when do you typically post?

* Tell me about your gaming experience. If you're a PBP veteran, link to 1-3 of your favorite posts you've written, which give me some idea of your writing style. If you're new to PBP, write a couple sample pushing posts. I'm looking to see how you write, as that's the medium we all communicate in for PBP.

Again, at this point I don't really care about your build. I want to know about your character. If I get three great characters that are arcane casters, I may see if one of them can be tweaked slightly for balance purposes or may just run an unbalanced party. That said, I know the character design rules can determine whether I'm interested in a recruitment as a player, so here's what you can expect:

Level: 1st
Races: Core only
Classes: Paizo only, and must use unchained when available. Any Paizo archetype is acceptable (as long as it's on Archives of Nethys or the PRD). You can also use any of the following archetypes I created for Flying Pincushion (links to the products are in my profile): scorned heart (witch), circuit judge (inquisitor), poacher (rogue)
Ability Scores: 20 point buy
Skills: Standard (background skills may be part of the game; I haven't decided yet)
Hit Points: Full at first level; half +1 at subsequent levels
Alignment: Any non-evil (though if you think chaotic neutral gives you license to be crazy and do whatever, consider that one banned too)
Traits: 1 campaign, 1 non-campaign.
Gold: Average
Verboten: The slumber hex. Sorry, it's the main thing I've found that really makes encounters un-fun.

About my character, I'll have to flesh them out a bit. Same for the connection to Phaendar and development.
I'm in the CET timezone, GMT+1, but I don't have a fixed time of posting as my lessons are erratical.

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• 1. Could I provide a few named NPCs to reside in/around Phaendar? I plan on my druid's family living in town (wife, kids, etc.) to give him a strong reason to be tied to this community.
  
• 2. Will dinosaurs play any part in this AP? (I plan on taking the Saurian Shaman archetype, with my PC having an Ankylosaur companion. If not, that's not a problem, but I'd like to know beforehand.)
  
• 3. Will there be places to buy uncommon but nonmagical items for a while? (I was planning on taking Heavy Armor Proficiency for my 1st level feat, with the intent to purchase lamellar (stone) quickly and then Dwarven Stoneplate later on.)
  
• 4. Lastly, what are your usual posting times? I didn't see them listed on your profile ;)

Marius Greathammer
Male dwarf paladin (tortured crusader) 1 (Pathfinder RPG Horror Adventures 65)
LG Medium humanoid (dwarf)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +6 (+8 to notice unusual stonework)
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +2 shield)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +4; +2 vs. poison, spells, and spell-like abilities
Defensive Abilities defensive training
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee dwarven waraxe +5 (1d10+3/×3)
Special Attacks hatred, smite evil 1/day (+0 attack and AC, +1 damage)
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Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 15 (19 vs. bull rush, 19 vs. trip)
Feats Weapon Focus (dwarven waraxe)
Traits grounded, kraggodan castaway
Skills Acrobatics -5 (-9 to jump, -3 on balance-related checks), Appraise +1 (+3 to assess nonmagical metals or gemstones), Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (nobility) +5, Knowledge (religion) +5, Linguistics +2, Perception +6 (+8 to notice unusual stonework), Sense Motive +6, Survival +6; Racial Modifiers +2 Appraise to assess nonmagical metals or gemstones, +2 Perception to notice unusual stonework
Languages Common, Dwarven, Goblin, Hallit, Undercommon
SQ alone in the dark
Other Gear scale mail, heavy steel shield, dwarven waraxe, 70 gp
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Special Abilities
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Alone in the Dark Can use lay on hands only on self, use 2 to gain use of smite evil, and auras only affect self (not allies).
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white only).
Defensive Training +4 Gain a dodge bonus to AC vs. monsters of the Giant subtype.
Greed +2 to Appraise to determine price of nonmagic goods with precious metals or gemstones.
Hatred +1 Gain a racial bonus to attacks vs. Goblinoids/Orcs.
Smite Evil (1/day) (Su) +0 to hit, +1 to damage, +0 deflection bonus to AC when used.
Stonecunning +2 +2 bonus to Perception vs. unusual stonework. Free check within 10 feet.

My character idea is a Half-Elven Ranger, Hunter or possibly Druid named Ein Silverkin.

Backstory
Deep within the Fangwood there was once cozy little hut surrounded by all manner of gardens. A constant stream of traffic from the nearby hamlets traveled to the hut. An injured man, a pregnant woman, parents with their sickly child, each would knock and be allowed entry. Within the hut they would find not a hunched old witch, but a beautiful elven woman of an age indeterminate to all who met her. They knew she had resided there since before they were born and would likely be there long after they died. Some said she was once a great adventurer reknowned across the Inner Sea, though she never confirmed nor denied such whispers. Her remedies and cures turned her a a tidy profit to keep her gardens and stores well stocked.

That Elven Hedgewitch was my mother. I grew up in that hut, tending its gardens and assisting in the healing of the weary. My mother wished nothing more than for me to learn her trade and become a curer of ails, but it was not to be. I wished for dangerous adventures and exotic places. Many an argument had begun with my mother finding me daydreaming when I should haven been -in her opinion- working and learning. I know not what my mother had against adventurers, but the only patrons to which she was ever rude were those who live such a life. She kept her secrets close to her chest and spoke little of her past to me. I know that she had a small ornate box she kept under her bed. I once spied her pouring over it in the night, eyes filled with tears.

One night I left my mother in her trance and snuck out to the woods. It hadn’t been unusual for me to do so, I found solace under the leaves and the stars: tracking animals, gathering berries, or going for a night swim. Unfortunately, that night was to be different. The Darkblight came for us, for the surrounding hamlets and for the hut I grew up in too. By the time I reached my home the blighted Fey and their aberrations had destroyed it utterly, naught was left but ash. Of the Darkblighted creatures only one Fey remained. I attacked it in a rage and it toyed with me, its laughter played through my mind and amplified my hatred and fear until there was nothing left but a gibbering madness. I awoke the next morning, the Fey had not killed me, though I knew not why. It did leave me with a blighted scar across my throat that will never heal. Of my mother I found no trace, it is likely she died there, but I often lose myself in thoughts, wondering if she is out there somewhere, the slave of some twisted Fey. Elves live a long life and I have heard it said that if that life becomes one filled with regrets it can become a slow death instead. I believe that is how my mother felt, wasting her days away in that little hut. I can only hope she found her peace that day, because with the blighted Fey her slow death would become an eternity.

I wandered out of the Fangwood in a daze and eventually a hunting party from Phaendar found me. One of the hunters, a man named Benjamin who had frequented my mother's hut took me in. Even as a child I knew he carried a flame for my mother and I saw that he grieved for her too. He nursed me to health and then accepted me into his home. With the hunters, I found training and work that allowed me to fulfill my urge to roam and to continue to learn in the memory of my mother. It was impossible to continue to brood and lament when these hearty people offered me nothing but smiles and companionship. My scars may never heal, but I have found a home and a purpose here in Phaendar.

Character development
I expect my character to develop into someone who offers wise words and a level head except when the Fey are involved. He may be something of a scout for the party/militia. Are there specific roles in the militia like there are roles in the kingdom for Kingmaker? Rules-wise I am picturing more of a melee fighter than ranged. Something of a skirmish.

Posting Times
I live in the eastern timezone. I typically post in the early afternoon eastern time, but it varies. Sometimes I remember I haven't posted at then do so at 3am. You would be surprised how often people post in reply to those 3am posts soon after!

RP Experience
I have been roleplaying all my life. First with D&D, then later Pathfinder and the World of Darkness games. I also have just played A LOT of roleplaying video games. I have been into PbP for a few years now, but I did have one relatively long break after a series of terrible things happened in my family in a very short period of time.

Sample Post 1
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I'm on Greenwich meantime, I recently had success in a series of interviews which means I have happily fallen into my first job, which I will be starting next Monday. The first 5 weeks are full time as I have a legal training course, after that I'll be working Monday, Tuesday, Friday, so I'll be free in the evenings going forward and eventually I'll be free on Wednesday and Thursday.

I've never played play by post before however I have been involved in several short lived collapsed campaigns and a few one shots and one year and a half long (and then collapsed) campaign. I've also done bits and pieces of DMing. So whilst I've never done play by post before I'm not totally bereft of experience. Although it is worthy of note I've never been in a AP before.

I'll post a couple examples of my attempts at PBP at the bottom in spoilers for you so you can see that I am in fact an illiterate cretin and get on with you day.

Class: Psychic 1 (Abomination Discipline)
Race: Human
Alignment: NG

Post concerning making a knowledge skill check

It had been months since Janet last perused a religious text of any kind; however, as her allies pondered the implications of the holy symbol they found around the dead cultist's neck the information came flooding back to her. It was as though the book was before her at that very moment, she was sure, this was the yellow mark of Hastur, and whats more, if any of the marks the party had previously seen strewn across the city were indeed left by the King in Yellow himself then Janet and her allies were in very real danger.

Careful not to arouse undue panic Janet pulled aside (ally in a leadership positions name). ummm -Allies Name- I don't want to cause a panic or anything, but I think I know what this symbol means and its bad. Really Really bad. I wanna get to somewhere private before we discuss it further Janet glanced around nervously as she spoke, suddenly aware prying eyes could be anywhere.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

]Post concerning entering dark half mode in the heat of battle

Janet glanced around frankly, sweat beading on her brow, her allies were in trouble and none of her usual tricks were working, she needed to do something she needed to-
Janet's vision darkened and she she seemed as though for a moment she may collapse, then a complete change of countenance overtook her, she stood up taller, her hair almost seemed to float in an otherworldly manner about her face, a general darkness seemed to pervade her very person. She fixed a steely stare upon -opponents name- and began to pour her consciousness into their head, tearing at their mind.

Janet casts Mind Thrust IV against her opponent
damage role: 8d8 ⇒ (1, 8, 5, 8, 4, 5, 1, 8) = 40
The opponent may role a will save for half and if they fail they're fatigued for one round, DCX

Skalla's orcish mother was a refugee from The Hold of Belkzen, hunted by both Lastwall's soldiers and her former tribe. While usually it was male orcs forcing themselves on human women as a way of terrorizing the small border communities in Lastwall and Varisia, in this case it had been the other way around. An incursion into Belkzen by a small troop from Lastwall; a soldier enraged by grief at the deaths of his comrades and by his own memories of an abused and murdered sister; a scrawny half-orc witch who had been tolerated in the tribe only for her unnatural powers. Exiled by her tribe, the orc barely made it into Nirmathas. Hiding in forests and caves, she gave birth to her daughter. Fearing for both their lives, she traveled south, always south, keeping the mountains on her right, staying away from settlements and roads.

The harsh life took its toll on her already weakened body, and when Skalla was 4 years old, her mother died of a fever after spending several nights in the chilly autumn rain. Skalla would have died as well, had a Kellid hermit not found her and taken her in. She grew up in the ramshackle hut in the woods, foraging for food when the donations of the villagers nearby were scarce. The hermit knew many tales and stories and he told them all to Skalla, teaching her half-forgotten legends and prophecies. It wasn't a bad life, and Skalla was content with the way of things, until the way of things changed abruptly one bloody night.

They never saw them coming, masked raiders on horses, thundering on the forest paths, crushing their herb and vegetable garden under their mounts' hooves, throwing lit torches into their hut and sliding a broadsword over the hermit's throat almost like an afterthought. They took Skalla with them, to serve them and entertain them, although she would not have called entertaining the things they did to amuse themselves. At long last, she managed to escape one night when most of them were drunk, stealing one horse and scattering the others. She rode all night and most of the next day, until the horse collapsed under her. Then she walked until her feet were bloody, scared and alone, seeking shelter and protection.

She would stop in villages and towns, entertaining the crowd for food and a few coppers, singing them the sagas of the north and the fables of the south. It was on the road that she met Alina, a tattoo artist and devotee of Shelyn, who taught her about beauty and love. She was on her way to Phaendar, so Skalla followed, and they settled there - Alina with her little tattoo shop, Skalla teaching at the local school. They had a good life for a few years, until Alina grew restless and bored with the provincial life and left it all behind to join a Varisian caravan headed for
Korvosa. That was a very difficult choice for Skalla - she had built a career and reputation in Phanedar, had found a measure of peace there, which she was not willing to sacrifice for the uncertain promise of an urban future. Alina was hurt by Skalla's indecision and left quite abruptly after a heated argument.

These days, Skalla still teaches, trying to fill the emptiness in her life with other people's children, telling her stories to whomever might listen, and chasing goats away from her flower patch.

Sir Elric Barrow, Hero of the Eighth Span. Elric feels neither like a knight nor a hero even though he is a celebrated veteran of the war against Molthune. In reality he is a young man shaken to his core by the horrors of war - he left Phaendar, signing up to the Nirmathas army when a recruiter came through town and several of the local lads joined up to serve their country and have an adventure.

He didn't get either of them.

Training camp was tough. Sergeant Torgus thought the reedy looking lad with corn yellow hair and freckles was one of the freshest recruits he had ever seen, and he wasn't wrong. Elric's stumbling failures, inability to keep his shield up while swinging his sword, and his annoying nervous laugh all bought the training cadre more than a few extra punishment duties. When Torgus led Elric and their troop out of training and towards the Front, he figured Elric would be a good man to put on the front line to save a more worthy warrior from a crossbow bolt.

The Battle of the Spans, fought across nine craggy outcroppings crossing a river near the border, raged on and off for eighteen days between the Nirmathans and one of the Molthune monster companies, the Ironfang Legion. Elric's company was part of an early charge across the Third Span and were cut down to half before falling back. Elric watched two of his Phaendran friends sent over the edge, one nearly bisected and the other missing his head. The company was sent to the Ninth span two days later and held there in terrified silence for two days, whistling arrows and bolts bringing silent, sudden death to those foolish enough to allow their heads to lift above the natural rock shelf on the Nirmathan side. Finally, on the seventeenth day, after only hours of recuperation, the Ironfang made a push and all hands were called forward. Elric, one of only ten men remaining in the company, followed Sergeant Torgus (who was by now missing an eye, three fingers and possibly his left kidney), to the Eighth span. Three times they were cycled to the front, and three times Elric somehow managed to survive. Covered in the blood of his friends, his entire body shaking from exhaustion, when he heard the word that he was to move to the front line again he nearly sat down and wept. Torgus wouldn't mind any more since Torgus was dead.

Instead he picked up his shield and turned towards the Span again. He vomited on the way, the stale bread and warm water a medic had shoved at him to eat indecipherable from the gore already there. He waited in the line to rush forward, and suddenly there was space in front of him. He was at the front. He was in front. Ten feet away two Irongfang hobgoblins were charging at him, swinging their wicked steel.

Elric screamed as his soul decided yet again that it didn't want to die, and he fought.

Afterwards, they found Elric beneath the body of a particularly heavily armored Irongfang commander, his feet dangling off the lip of what was left of the Eighth Span. They said, as he recovered in the medical tent, that he was a hero. He fought like a god, or was touched by one. Every blow he struck cleaved through enemy armor and bone, his shield turned every strike. He was a master swordsman, an armored behemoth. Men on the Seventh and Ninth had seen him fighting and thought him a Paladin in red-painted full plate, some avatar of Our Lord in Iron leading the men of Nirmathas to victory. The bodies had begun to pile high, the Ironfang needing to climb their own dead and wounded to try and push the span, then the troll was brought forward. Perhaps it was supposed to clear the bodies, but the stupid beast instead tried to emulate the hobgoblins and climb the pile. The span cracked, and split, and down went the rock, and the bodies, and the troll, and another company or two worth of hobgoblins pushing up behind the troll.

Elric was a hero. They had knighted him. Clerics wanted to speak with him, to find out what god had blessed him so. He was brought before the General and nobles of his court and offered whatever he desired as a reward.

"I just want to go home," he said.

And so he went, honorably discharged from the Nirmathas army. At first they tried to convince him that with him at the head of their armies, Molthune would shudder to encroach on Nirmathan lands again. Then they realized the tired look in his eyes, the soul-deep fatigue. They heard his screams at night, echoing from his chambers as he dreamed.

And so he left, honorably discharged. He asked for no gold, no magics or splendor. He took his standard pay for his time served, along with the small pensions for the lads from Phaendar who had died in the battle. For a long time he didn't speak to anyone about what had happened, and only when a traveler came through asking after 'The Hero from Phaendar' did the people at home find out about him, but they saw the look in his eyes and heard the screams echoing from his small cottage at night as he slept, and they quickly stopped asking.

Sir Elrik works occasionally, taking on odd jobs when nearby farmers need an extra hand. He's stronger than he was when he left, and he still knows how to till a field or seed a crop. It's harder now though since he never leaves home without his sword and shield strapped to his back. "Just in case," he mutters whenever someone questions him, or stares for too long. "It's for just in case."

Forward-thinking for crunch, I don't plan on really diverging from Fighter unless something in the game pushes Elric towards a god (most likely Gorum) and multi-classing into Cleric/Warpriest/Paladin. I've never gotten to play a simple Sword/Board fighter before so I'm looking forward to a simple, classic feel.

Character-wise I think short-term Elrik is going to have a brief arc of finding his footing as the war comes back to him and then a longer arc of realizing that the little things he does lead to bigger things, and it's maybe he can be the hero Nirmathas needs after all.

I am in EST (Ontario, Canada) but my posting times are frequent and varied throughout the day/evening/later into the night. My job has lots of downtime, no travel and accessible wifi so I'm good to post frequently.

While I've played and GM'd Pathfinder for years I only recently got into PbP so I've only really got one thread to pull examples out of. Each of the below posts are from a Starfinder Society pbp I'm in playing Isho Ishi, an ysoki mechanic/medic...

http://paizo.com/campaigns/StarfinderSocietyGMAmsheagar/gameplay#20

http://paizo.com/campaigns/StarfinderSocietyGMAmsheagar/gameplay#35

Gregory Tiller, the phantom thief.

He's come to town not too rob the people of their riches, but to steal the heart of the girl he once yearned for, Veronica Nym'uk, half orc daughter of the half orc cobbler Krom Nym'uk. Krom disliked Gregory for many reasons, his closeness with veronica, his family's easy lifestyle and most of all, his cowardice. For before his family was whisked away on the whims of a wealthy uncle as he fell sick without an heir, Gregory was a cowerdly child. Running from bully's, refusing to kill animals while he hunted with his father, the works really. This reputation was fin with Greg though, because every time he ran crying from a bully, veronica would be there. Everytime he came home from a compulsory hunting trip, she would be there to cheer him up.

So, ripped from the company of his best friend and childhood crush he, devoted himself to becoming the perfect gentlemen. Dashing, kind, intelligent and utterly devoted to good. All in order to impress his love when they finally meet again. That day, Gregory knew, was here as his horse trotted towards his childhood hometown

Gregory is slender and short with just a little muscle, he wears thin glasses that he has slight trouble seeing without as well as relatively fine looking studded leather. He carry's a short sword on his back and sap at his waist along with a dagger he keeps up his sleeve "Just in case". Aside from the obvious he has a small burn scar on his left shoulder from an unfortunate night of sleepy study by a candle, he was lucky to escape with something so concealable.

His only hope is too finally meet the woman he loved, he is however, unsure of her current appearance other than "Beautiful half orc girl". He'll just have to ask around.

About myself now! I am and EST Kinda guy. Most posting will be done late at night due to work (Though my employment situation may be changing soon as to make my posting time Evening, rather than Night)

While I'm not new to PBP, all the games I've been in have fizzled due to either GM life problems, GM abandonment or lack of player interest. Sad really.

Michael Tataru
Male human (Varisian) brawler (shield champion) 1 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 23, 86)
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +6
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Defense
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AC 19, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+4 armor, +3 Dex, +2 shield)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +2
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee heavy shield bash +3 (1d6+2) or
unarmed strike +3 (1d6+2)
Special Attacks martial flexibility 4/day
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Statistics
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Str 14, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 7
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 16
Feats Improved Shield Bash, Improved Unarmed Strike, Point-Blank Shot
Traits affable, world-weary
Skills Craft (armor) +7, Diplomacy +2 (+4 to gather information.), Knowledge (local) +5, Perception +6, Sense Motive +6, Survival +6
Languages Common, Dwarven, Varisian
SQ brawler's cunning, martial training
Other Gear chain shirt, shield spikes heavy steel shield, backpack, bedroll, masterwork armorsmithing tools, waterskin (2), weapon cord[APG], winter blanket, 1 gp, 9 sp, 7 cp
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Special Abilities
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Brawler's Cunning (Ex) Count as Int 13 for the purpose of combat feat pre-requisites.
Improved Shield Bash You still get your shield bonus while using Shield Bash.
Improved Unarmed Strike Unarmed strikes don't cause attacks of opportunity, and can be lethal.
Martial Flexibility (move action, 4/day) (Ex) As a Move action, gain a combat feat for 1 min. More gained for greater actions.
Martial Training (Ex) Brawler levels count as fighter/monk levels for feat/item pre-reqs and effects.
Point-Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.

CALLISTRA WILLOWBARK

Female Changeling witch 1. NG medium humanoid (changeling)

Init +2; Senses Darkvision (60 ft.), Perception +3,

Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Orc

AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11

hp 8. Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +3

Ranged crossbow, light +2 (1d8/19-20)
Melee claw +0/+0 (1d4)
Melee dagger (cold iron) +0 (1d4/19-20)
Ranged dagger (cold iron/thrown) +2 (1d4/19-20)

Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 12

Prepared Spells Prepared Spell List
Witch (CL 1st):
1st - cure light wounds (DC 14) , mage armor (DC 14)
0th - detect magic , mending (DC 13) , spark (DC 13)

Abilities Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 12, Cha 12

Special Qualities Cantrips, Claws, Darkvision, Elements Patron, Familiar's Alertness ability active, Green Widow (Green Hag), Hag Racial Trait, Herb Lore, Hex, Natural Armor, Patron, Witch's Familiar, Witch Patron Spells,

Feats Alertness, Skill Focus (Profession (Herbalist))

Skills
Heal +6,
Knowledge (Nature) +9,
Perception +3,
Profession (Herbalist) +8,
Sense Motive +3,
Spellcraft +7,
Stealth +5,
Survival +6.

Possessions outfit (traveler's); Crossbow, Light ; Wrist Sheath [ Dagger (Cold Iron); ]; Belt Pouch [ Sewing Needle; String (50 ft.); ]; Backpack, Common ;

Cantrips You can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.

Claws (Sp) Changelings get two claw attacks.

Darkvision Changelings can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Elements Patron

Familiar's Alertness ability active (Ex) PC has a familiar that has the Alertness (Ex) ability and it is within arms' reach, the master gains the Alertness feat.

Frontier Healer: You make your way in life by putting people back together after the rigors of the world take their toll—brewing herbal remedies, setting broken bones, and treating diseases. You gain a +1 trait bonus on all Heal and Knowledge (nature) checks, and one of these skills is always a class skill for you. Any time you restore hit points using the Heal skill or a cure spell (but not with channeled energy, lay on hands, or a magic device such as a potion or wand), you restore 1 additional hit point, plus 1 for every 2 class levels you have beyond 1st.

Green Widow (Green Hag) You gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff checks against creatures that are sexually attracted to you.

Hag Racial Trait (Ex) Changelings inherits a trait from her mother.

Herb Lore (Ex) An herb witch can attempt a Profession (herbalist) check in place of any Craft (alchemy) check and gains a +0 bonus on Profession (herbalist) checks. In addition, herb witches can prepare 6 remedies. A remedy becomes inert if it leaves the herb witch's possession, reactivating as soon as it returns to her keeping. A witch can never have more than 6 remedies. As a standard action, the herb witch can administer a remedy to herself or a creature within reach. This consumes the remedy, and the herb witch attempts a Profession (herbalist) check against the save DC of any one disease or poison currently afflicting the consumer. If the check is successful, the effect immediately ends. If the disease or poison doesn't allow saving throws, the remedy is ineffective. An herb witch can also use a remedy to attempt to end the blinded, deafened, fatigued, nauseated, or sickened conditions. This requires a Profession (herbalist) check with a DC equal to the spell or effect that caused the condition, or a DC 25 check if the condition was caused by an effect that doesn't allow for a saving throw. If successful, the condition ends. Only a single condition, disease, or poison can be removed with each application of a remedy.

Hex Witches learn a number of magic tricks, called hexes, that grant them powers or weaken foes. At 1st level, a witch gains one hex of her choice. She gains an additional hex at 2nd level and for every 2 levels attained after 2nd level, as noted on Table 2-10. A witch cannot select an individual hex more than once. Unless otherwise noted, using a hex is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The save to resist a hex is equal to 10 + 1/2 the witch's level + the witch's Intelligence modifier. Witches learn a number of magic tricks, called hexes, that grant them powers or weaken foes. Unless otherwise noted, using a hex is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The save to resist a hex is 13.
Know the Land (Green Faith) (Survival) Your familiarity with the plants and animals of a variety of environments gives you a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks, and one of these skills is a class skill for you.

Natural Armor (Ex) Changelings have a +1 natural armor bonus.

Patron [NOT IMPLEMENTED] An herb witch must choose a patron with a theme compatible with the needs of the natural world, selected from the following list: ancestors, animals, death, elements, healing, plague, plants, strength, time, water, winter, or wisdom.

Witch's Familiar You form a close bond with a familiar, a creature that teaches you magic and helps to guide you along your path. Your familiar also aids you by granting you skill bonuses, additional spells, and help with some types of magic. These special abilities apply only when you and your familiar are within 1 mile of each other. The familiar stores all the spells that you know.

Witch Patron Spells At 1st level, when a witch gains her familiar, she must also select a patron. This patron is a vague and mysterious force, granting the witch power for reasons that she might not entirely understand. While these forces need not be named, they typically hold influence over one of the following forces. At 2nd level, and every two levels thereafter, a witch's patron adds new spells to a witch's list of spells known. These spells are also automatically added to the list of spells stored by the familiar. Spells marked with an asterisk (*) appear in Chapter 5 of this book. The spells gained depend upon the patron chosen. Each patron is listed by its theme. Its actual name is up to the GM and the witch to decide.

Callistra Winton
Female Changeling.
Witch (Herb witch archetype)

Callistra isn’t native to Phaendar, but has lived there for the last six years since being found alone in the woods as a child of twelve. She’s never spoken of why she was alone in the woods and refuses to discuss her parents.

Callistra is a slender girl, her skin never seems to tan and her ink black she keeps cut short. She insists on wearing an eye patch, claiming that that eye is allergic to sunlight. She also wears gloves almost constantly. This time stating that gathering the various herbs and plants she uses to brew her remedies can be dangerous to bare skin.

When the subject isn’t about her past Callistra is a cheerful and helpful girl, always ready to aid others and happy to brew the various mixtures that people ask for. She makes her living from a small hut, surrounded by the gardens she keeps filled with herbs. Brewing the teas, remedies and drying herbs for cooking to sell.

While she’s primarily a minor healer at the moment I see her becoming more offensively inclined as she progresses. The Elements patron gives her a number of offensive spells to go with her Hexes. She loses her 1st level Hex to get Herb lore. Combined with the Frontier healer trait she will always be a backup healer. Depending on who else is in the party, and if she’s selected I will take the Healing Hex next if we’re light on healing.

I also see her becoming a skilled poison user as a backup to her magic when her skill in the Profession (Herbalist) and Craft (Alchemy) get better.