Reign of Winter with Evillain

Game Master Evillain

Elements:

1) Bright, blonde hair, nearly gray, with piercing blue eyes. Physically fit, though stocky and carrying a little extra insulation, roughly the shape of a lumberjack, and about as hairy.

2) After being hexed with a soul-chilling cold from a winter witch and left to die in the tundra (Survivng a Hoarfrost hex by the skin of his teeth), Tio began exhibiting his strange powers over ice and snow.

3) His powers left him ostracized in his home community, regardless of how he attempted to help people. Even his mother feared him, though they tried to conceal it, and even learn to accept him and his "gift".

4) Tio's Magnum Opus, though he doesn't know it, tends to resemble his father, who was struck down by the same witch when he was just a young boy. This fact is what truly frightened his mother.

5) Tio exhibits outward warmth to people, but his emotions tend to be fleeting. While he may show friendliness and compassion, he's had enough people exclude and fear him that, unless some actual kinship is formed, he cares little what they think of him, though it doesn't mean he won't go out of his way to help others when he can.

Goals:

1) First and foremost, Tio wants to return to the favor to the frozen witch who left him alive with his affliction and turned his village against him.

2) While I would love for Tio to get vengeance upon the witch, I'd also like for him to learn more about his father, about the affair that he and the witch had partaken in, and potentially learn to forgive her.

Secrets:

1) Tio, even though he can't admit it to himself, appreciates the gift the witch had given to him. Whereas before, he was to grow up in his village, barely scraping by each winter through hard work, he now has an excuse to adventure, and to send aid anonymously to his mother and village, in the form of supplies and such bought with money earned from adventuring.

2) His "Mother", though she raised him from a young age, is actually his adoptive mother. While his father said that he had found the child nearly frozen to death, the truth is that he was the child of said witch, Armina Cane, brought to the human village to escape the freezing cold, and have a chance at a normal life.

People:

1) His village. Technically, yes, more than one person, but he truly cares for the people he grew up alongside, even if they don't accept him. While they may have thickened his skin with the balls of ice and harsh names, he had still lived a fairly comfortable life, all things considered.

2) His father, Porangi Ringa, who had angered Armina by attempting to leave her. While an overall good man, who had worked hard to provide for his family, he was easily tempted. After years of Armina's embrace, however, even siring a child with her, he had come to terms with his age and wished to break things off.

3) Armina Cane, the witch who he believes took his father, along with any possibility for him to have a normal life. When she had come across him in the wilderness, he so resembled his father that she attacked him outright in a fit of rage, and realizing what she had done, and that she had, almost without a doubt, killed her only son, fled.

Memories:

1) His earliest memory, and one of his fondest, is also one he remembers the least clear. Hazy visions of his mother and father, along with the warmth of a loving embrace from his parents are all that remain, a true feeling of being loved.

2) Children are mean. After his near-death trek out into the wilderness, and subsequenet, frost-bitten return, his abilities started manifesting, and without control, he was an easy target for name-calling. "Rimy Ringa", they had called him.

3) His first taste of adventuring. During a particularly cold year during his teens, a lone wolf had been spotted stalking, and occasionally killing, what little livestock his village had claim to. While the adult hunters were unable to track it down, he instead used himself as bait, bringing his Opus to bear as the wolf snuck upon him, or tried to, from afar. Though he was injured, he was left much better off than the wolf, to be sure.

Jötunfolk Brawler (Winding Path Renegade)

Str 16
Dex 14
Con 16
Int 9
Wis 14
Cha 12

HP 13
AC 15
Ref +4
Fort +5
Will +3(+1)
CMB +5
CMD 17

BaB +1

Skills:
Adventuring skills
7-Climbing
6-Perception
8-Intimidating
4-Knowledge local
Background Skills
2-Perform
4-Knowledge Geography

Languages: Giant, Common, Skald

Feats:
Improved shield bash
Equipment:

Large Spiked throwing Klar 72gp
Hide shirt 20gp

Traits:
Shield-Trained
Restless Wayfarer
Adopted Trait:Carefully Hidden

Drawback:Anxious

Racial Traits:
Lowlight Vision
Intimidating Prowess
Thrallsoul
Healer's Curse
Giant's Appetite
Towering Build

Religion:Gorum

Arcane:
Zartana - Winter witch
Serena Morgannan - witch
Neil Vesper (Green Smashomancer) - sorcerer

Divine:
Bryna (Wanderer82) - cleric
Pyros Goldenfire (Ouachitonian) - oracle
Imealla Evaril (Bimpnottin Daergel) - inquisitor
Garran Oakthorn (Waterhammer) - cleric
Domitian Albercoft (dwilhelmi) - Sacred Servant paladin
Folka Bjarnveðr (Gummy Bear) - Arctic Druid

Psychic:
Godric Emberwise (TPK) - pyrokineticist
Tio Ringa - Avant Guard kineticist

Melee:
Celestine Silverstar (rungok) - swashbuckler
Malgrim Habrak (Demon Lurking) - barbarian
Valax Soars-on-Land - Mad Dog barbarian
Pearl the Mighty - Brawler

Ranged:

Skills/Other:
Ashling Frostwing - Dark Lurker rogue
Alec Fuornkiln - Trapper ranger
Julio - Charlatan rogue

Garran Oakthorn
Male human (Ulfen) cleric of Iomedae 1
LG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +0; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +2 shield)
hp 10 (1d8+2)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +5
Resist cold 2
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee club +4 (1d6+4) or
. . dagger +4 (1d4+4/19-20) or
. . longsword +4 (1d8+4/19-20)
Ranged light crossbow +0 (1d8/19-20)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 5/day (DC 14, 1d6 [+1 vs. undead]), sun's blessing
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +6)
. . 6/day—touch of glory (+1)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 1st; concentration +6)
. . 1st—bless, protection from evil, shield of faith[D]
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, light, resistance
. . D Domain spell; Domains Sun (Day subdomain), Glory (Heroism subdomain)
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB +4; CMD 14
Feats Alertness, Lightning Reflexes
Traits focused mind, northern ancestry
Skills Acrobatics -6 (-10 to jump), Diplomacy +6, Heal +7, Knowledge (religion) +5, Perception +5, Sense Motive +9
Languages Common, Skald, Varisian
Other Gear scale mail, heavy wooden shield, blunted bolts (10), club, crossbow bolts (10), dagger, light crossbow, longsword, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, candle (10), flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), holy text[UE], mess kit[UE], pot, soap,
spell component pouch, torch (10), trail rations (5), waterskin, wooden holy symbol of Iomedae, 13 gp
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Special Abilities
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Cleric Channel Positive Energy 1d6 (5/day, DC 14) (Su) Positive energy heals the living and harms the undead; negative has the reverse effect.
Cleric Domain (Day)
Cleric Domain (Heroism)
Energy Resistance, Cold (2) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Sun's Blessing (Su) +1 to channel damage vs. undead and they don't get channel resistance.
Touch of Glory +1 (6/day) (Sp) Grant +1 to a CHA-based skill or ability check.

Garran is 6' 3" tall and weighs a muscular 230 lbs. He is 28 years old. He has blue-green eyes and a penetrating gaze. His ash-blond hair that is typically slicked back in a pompadour that is square-cut in back. Garran's face is ruggedly handsome. His pale, Ulfen, skin has been darkened by the Southern sun and wind.
Garran's scale armor is a dull matte gold in color. His large teardrop shaped shield is flat white with a gold rim. Iomedae's radiant sword is painted on the shield in gold color. Garran's leather gear (boots, belt, gauntlets, backpack) are glossy black. His tunic and trousers are worn under his armor, and are dove gray, with yellow trim. Garran wears his holy symbol around his neck on a leather cord. The cord is long enough that the holy symbol hangs below the center of Garran's chest. For travel, Garran wears an ankle length, hooded cape of dove gray.

Garran's father, Ulrick was one of the Taldan Prince's Ulfen guards. Ulrick met Garran's mother, a Varisian dancer, while her troupe was entertaining for the prince. Her name was Velda, and Ulrick was entranced by her dark luminous eyes and flowing dark hair. Velda, for her part, found the hulking northman to be witty and dashing. Soon enough, the two were married and had children.
Garran is their third child, he has an older brother, Sigurd, and an older sister, Siglinde. Garran's younger brother, Vharkas, is doted on and spoiled by all his family, Garran included. Vharkas is the black sheep of the family, often finding himself in trouble. One escapade involved Garran. The young cleric was sent by his father and mother to pay off a gambling debt of Vharkas'. Vharkas' bookie, a slithery man called Lemnor Gurks was shaking down some street urchins, as Garran arrived. Extorting them into working as pickpockets for him, to be precise. Garran paid the man his money, then proceeded to pound Lemnor into a pulp with his fists. Garran was able to take one of the waifs to the shelter of Iomedae's temple. The rest had run off. Gurks, a footsoldier of the Graefler family, still holds a grudge against Garran. The cleric expects that Gurks would stick a knife in his back, given half a chance. So far Gurks has not had the opportunity. The Oakthorns run a fighting school, there are always too many warriors about. The temple of Iomedae is likewise well guarded.
Garran was expected to help with the family business, a fighting school called The Slash and Sting. Ulrick's axe and dagger fighting style was taught to wealthy Taldans. Garran had no objection to this, he had a natural ability for fighting. He did feel a longing for something undefined. An urge to be outside when the weather was cool. A restlessness.
One winter night, driven by this restless urge, Garran was outside the city walls, in an old abandoned cemetery. A glint caught his eye in the moonlight. Garran drew close and saw the blade of a sword, half covered in leaves and soil. Using his dagger and fingers Garran unearthed the weapon, a good solid double edged sword. The sort of blade a knight would wield. The blade was a bit rusted, but some work with stone and oil would put the polish right back on it. Garran knew he could sell it for a fair amount. On a whim, Garran took the hilt in his hand and raised the sword point to the sky. As he did this, he felt a presence surround him, washing him in a glow of gold and white. In the distance Garran beheld a lady, most beautiful, in resplendent gold armor. About her shoulders was a shimmering cloak of purest white. "Fate has placed my holy sword in your hands. Take it, and strive for justice. You are a natural warrior, and your heart is true. The life of a sell sword will never satisfy you. You know this is true."
The vision faded, and Garran sat upon the cold ground. He spent the night there,in contemplation, and in the morning, he sought out his mother and father. "I am going to pledge my life to Iomedae." He told them. "It is my true calling."
Velda, as always, was loving and supportive, telling Garran she would keep his room for him, for whenever he returned. Soon she hoped. And to visit often.
Ulrick was clearly disappointed that Garran did not want to follow the family trade. He had fostered hopes that Garran would follow his footsteps in the Prince's Guard. Still, cleric was a highly prestigious calling as well. With a clap on the back, Ulrick gave his blessing.

The clergy at the temple of Iomedae welcomed Garran, they recognized the sword he carried as one of of their order. When tested, Garran proved to have the aptitude and desired temperament. Garran was accepted as an acolyte and began his studies.
Garran's studies were nearing completion when the incident with Lemnor Gurks occurred. About this time, at an upscale party, Garran met a young, beautiful, black haired lady. Her name was Alice Thurdanhelm. In the evening of dancing, and conversation Garran found himself quite smitten with the sophisticated lady. She seemed to feel the same about him, for as they parted ways after the party, she pressed a note into his hand. A note detailing a time and place for a second meeting.
Garran was preparing for this second meeting, when Weslynn Draime, the lead Priestess of the local temple knocked at his door. Garran let her in with a bow. "How may I be of assistance, my lady?" he wondered. "I saw you with Lady Alice Thurdanhelm last night." She said. "She is married you know." Garran frowned as he digested this bit of information. Adultery was frowned on by Iomedae. "I think I love her." he confided. "Sometimes it's best to remove one's self from temptation." Weslynn replied. "You have a solid grasp of the faith. Perhaps it's time you left here to broaden your experience. Perhaps find a village that could use a priest."
Garran took the advice of the Second Sword. He met with Alice, but only to tell her he was leaving. Then he took his leave of his family, and set off down the long, dusty roads of Taldor.

Background Concepts:
1. Son of an retired Ulfen guard and Varisian sorceress.
2. Family business is a fighting school.
3. Left family to be a cleric, because he saw a vision of Iomedae.
4. Lived with his family in Zimar. Interfered with crime syndicate in city.
5. Is sent out to minister to the people of Taldor and find or found his own church.
Goals:
1. To spread the teachings of Iomedae through deed and word.
2. To combat evil in the world. Garran is no fool though. He is willing to use subtle means as needed.
3. To achieve personal power, the better to carry out his first and second goals.

Secrets:
1. Garran is infatuated with a wealthy, married Taldan Noblewoman. She is fond of him as well, or is at least leading him on. The woman's husband is very powerful and could cause Garran a great deal of trouble (death) if he were to find out.

2. Garran has surviving relatives in Irrisen, that he does not know about. His father's sister or some such.

People:
1. Father- Ulrick.
2. Mother- Velda.
3. Older brother- Sigurd.
4. Older sister- Siglinde.
5. Younger brother- Vharkas.

6. Weslynn Draime- Second Sword of Iomedae.
7. Lemnor Gurks- Thug of the Graefler family (crime syndicate.)
8. Lady Alice Thurdanhelm.
9. Lord Lastron Thurdanhelm

Memories, mannerisms, quirks:
1. Projects a stern demeanor. Though he is really not so gruff.
2. Goes out at night or in cold weather and stares to the north.
3. The vision from Iomedae. Otherwise, Garran has many memories from his life and childhood. Most of them happy. Garran dwells on his evening with Alice Thurdanhelm, but this is likely to fade as he moves on.

Tio was born in a small village, no more than a week's travel from whitethrone, close enough, and small enough, that the Jadwiga considered the community no more than a source of labor, often pulling carpenters, masons and such from its ranks for the benefit of the city. His father was one such worker, pulled away from his wife to help with the reconstruction of Winter Wolf housing after an outraged, reckless young man decided he'd had enough of Winter Wolves and their ilk living alongside humans.

During his time in Winterthrone, he caught the eye of a younger witch, Armina Cane, a (very) distant cousin of the house of Elvanna. After a particularly long shift, she sent for his audience, whereupon one thing led to another, and thus was Tio conceived. Armina, while happy to have offspring to call her own, knew she would be ridiculed by her family if news was to spread. After a heavily expedited pregnancy, the child was sent home with Porangi, to be raised as his own, albeit allegedly adopted, son.

All was well, for a time, Porangi and his wife happily raising their son, interrupted occasionally by calls for workers, always Porangi included, where he would meet with Armina, on one or two occasions, even bringing Tio to meet her, though he was far too young to remember. His guilt, over time, got the better of him, and for once in a long time, Armina was refused that which she desired, which outraged her. Porangi was smote with a soul-rending cold by the fickle witch, slowly numbing his body until he was no more, his body sent back to his village for burial the next day.

Tio nonetheless had a moderately happy childhood, though lonely. He often wandered in the snow, enjoying the cold far more than any of the other children, for which he was occasionally teased. Between his fascination with the weather of Irrisen, The White Witches, and Whitethrone, he was a most odd child indeed, always asking to accompany workers and merchants to the capital, but never quite old enough to join them.

At barely the age of ten, however, he finally got his wish. A trip to whitethrone, to assist with a shipment of lumber, boring work though it be. Assuredly, a single visit to the capital, his mother mistakenly assumed, would rid him of his silly fascination with the arcane masters of Irrisen. In fact, it was nearly his downfall, as Armina always kept an eye turned towards travelers from Porangi's village. When she saw the last of his line, she froze, recognizing her spawn immediately, and enraged by him! How dare the little bastard come to whitethrone! Surely, he was there to upset what station she had in the city, she had thought, irrational as her assumptions were in her anger.

Like Porangi, Tio was pulled aside to meet with one of the nobles of the city, though he had barely a moment to see her face before his chest was wracked with cold. The last shred of her motherly feelings toward him couldn't let her watch him die, and so she departed, knowing full well that she couldn't stop the hoarfrost from killing him now, anyway. Miraculously, however, he survived, fallen into a snowdrift as he was. He awoke hours later, inexplicably pulled into a nearby, albeit abandoned, house, a pool of water underneath him. He would soon come to learn that this was the will of his Magnum Opus, awakened by his near-death at the hands of his mother, which would both be the source of much power and much hardship, through the next several years of his life. It would protect him from errant arrows and wolves, and it would earn him many terrible nicknames from his peers, but it would always keep him company.

Background Concepts:
1. Daughter of Duchess Anelisha Elvanna.
2. Has traveled nearly the span of the continent.
3. Very meticulous and forward thinking.
4. So broke she can barely afford food.
5. Silver tongued. To survive she had to spin lies on a regular basis.
6. Her real name is Nerissa Tanaru Elvanna.

Goals:
1. To escape the clutches of Irrisen. She has traveled far and seems to be in the clear, but she's still wary of any possible agents of her mother or the queen coming to claim her. Few spit in the eye of the Jadwiga and fewer survive it.
2. To create a legacy for herself. Like any Jadwiga, Nadya wants to be remembered for something. To leave her mark so, death or not, she will not be forgotten.

Secrets:
1. She knows her uncle Ghrathis Elvanna is her true father and she is the product of her mother's incestuous liaisons. To be fair, it's probably the most poorly kept secret in all of Hoarwood.
2. Others were with her when she made her escape. They all perished to the border huts and the dolls. Her fear caused her to abandon them in their last moments. She carries the guilt of her cowardice.

People:
1. The Jadwiga, collectively. They're all terrible and deserve what Great-Grandmother has in store for them. Outside of her mother and father, she (luckily) hasn't had much contact with her immediate or extended family outside of seeing them ruin the lives of others. Most were too old or too wrapped up in affairs of state to pay her much mind. Except for Leistele.
2. Leistele Sorvos Elvanna. She's always worked to keep a thumb on her little sister. Leistele saw something useful in Nadya and wanted that potential for her own. Leistele suffers from hallucinations on occasion and only finds relief in inflicting them on others.
3. Alsolvo Meid. Chelish devil-binder. His expensive charms betrayed her at the border.
4. Nadya Olik. The real one. Deceased. Her best friend.
5. Old Tey Wolf. Varisian/Kellid trader that got her from Irrisen's border all the way to Ustalav. Probably the person she respects most in the world.
6. The Three Riders. She's never met Day, Sun, or Night. She dreams of them hunting her.
7. Wyrmeer Pinion. Traveled with her from Andoran to Heldren. They're close, but Wyrmeer somehow manages to fritter away their money all the time. Nadya is sure he changed his name to sound more impressive than he actually is.

Memories, mannerisms, quirks:
1. She hates her family and dislikes most witches on principle.
2. She's proud of her mastery of magic. Though it isn't great, she did it on her own without having to rely on family or legacy.
3. The heat of summer. For the fist time in her life she felt warm.

Serena Morgannan
Domitian Albercoft
Ashling Frostwing
Alec Fuornkiln
Celestine Silverstar
Tio Ringa
Neil Vesper
Imealla Evaril
Garran Oakthorn
Julio
Dragos Mirceanu

Open with a smile. Give him something warm and a bit worried. Second part should be easy enough. Lighten the mood, but do it tastefully. He already looks upset. ”Er, hi there sir. Can I help you? I’m afraid I’m not one of the workers here.” I’d look around at the Tian festival going on again, but honestly the whole thing’s like the decoration equivalent of comfort food. I’ve heard dad describe “back home” plenty of times. This whole thing feels like a case of homesickness gone wild. Oh I can’t blame them really. Starting to feel the same way and it’s only been a month.

”That’s quite alright, I just need you to answer some questions for me. Are you the Tian-min boy named Neil Vesper? An assumed name I take it?” This guy’s not even trying to hide how much of a guard he sounds like. Ah well. I didn’t do anything wrong. Innocent Act activated.

”Yep, That’s been the family name since my elder brother was born. Helps us fit in. I wouldn’t say boy though.”

“Alright then boy,” What, do middle-aged guys just feel better when they call me a child? I’m twenty! ”My name is Lawrence Jodun. I need you to tell me where you were three days ago. See, we had an incident at Heldren, lot of valuables stolen from the mayor's home. I have eye witnesses that gave a detailed physical description matching you perfectly.” That’s strange. I’d seen that place on my map before, it was pretty close by, but I hadn’t gone that far north yet. The officer wasn’t done.

”Furthermore, they also report that you’d left a card at the crime scene with your name. Is this your handwriting?” Indeed, he did have an embossed card with a signature on it. It matched mine perfectly.

“...Yes… But sir please, I’ve never been that far north. Only time was when I was a kid-” This is bad. Gotta lose him in the crowd. First, look past him, as if something has your attention.

”Slow down sport. Tell you what. You seem like a good kid. If you can give me an alibi-”

“No, sir! The cart behind you is being overturned!” Don’t overplay the part, when he turns around…

”Hm?”

That brief glance was all I needed. A moment later, I came out of the other side of the parade, I hit a little snag when a local lady I’d met earlier caught sight of me. Marie? I think was her name? Time to replace the whole innocent act with the ladies man routine. I like this one the most anyway. A minute of talking and I heard Jodun shout from the crowd.

”Stop! That man has violated the law!” Aww, already?

I barely remember the next few events. First, I broke away from Mary, had to use the bathroom. Probably can’t come back here for a while now, might as well make my run. Second, I book it to an outhouse. They had some nice ones for this festival, leg-room even. And in this one, someone left his cane. That’s a shame. So, third, I had an idea. I had just enough of a moment to disguise myself as a well-off man, a local too if I could remember what the last one looked like. If I come across the owner of this thing, I should hand it to him. For now…

The investigator tears open the door, stumbling in both surprise and confusion. Perfect. Now for the angry old rich guy act.

”Harumph! I never, ever have been disrespected so in all my days.”

“Sir I apologize. Please understand, there’s a thief on the loose-”

“Well what are you waiting for? You don’t need an invitation to find him.”

“Yes! Have you seen him?”

“Would that be the rakish foreigner? He ran to the western road. Go!”

And with that, investigator Jodun was no longer a problem. For now. If he managed to find me here, he’ll be back.

I should… definitely go now. But who impersonates a farmhand? Who frames him? I’m only gonna get an answer if I go to Heldren. Right? Boy, voices in my head, you’ve been awfully silent today. You only do that when I’m doing something “right.” Okay. Next stop north. Heldren.

I think that was my best “harumph” yet. Good rebound, me.