Rise of the Runelords Redux

Game Master Loup Blanc

So should I not take the Scholar of the Ancients trait? Because it gives you Thassilonian as a language.

The two of them left her parents to research ancient Thasolonian magics, Cale'anon noticed That she had been burning herself out when he heard about the festival and eventually managed to convince her to live a little and join the party

Quirks
he taps his fingers together when excited,
he waves his arms a bit when he talks sometimes
he paces back and forth and talks to himself and/or his familiar when thinking hard on something in particular
he frequently flips a coin when bored

Very interesting background; it seems more tied to Carrion Crown than Rise of the Runelords in some ways (Doc Lorr in particular). Still, it includes a reason he'd make his way to Sandpoint, so that's fair--although I'd love a little more on why he's come here, and if the Swallowtail Festival has any importance to him.

Thanks! Raj was indeed built for Carrion Crown but I thought the Dusk Men angle was a good hook for chasing down any 'nefarious group campaign' and leaving CC as part of his background. I haven't read the Runelords modules, so I'm not sure how much information the Dusk Men would reasonably have about the Runelords or earlier threats in the campaign. For that reason, I left it kind of vague. I will take a look at the available info for players and see if I can tie him a little more firmly to Sandpoint... even if the 'lead' he's following is nothing more than a false rumor. And his arrival in time with the Swallowtail Festival would probably be coincidence... unless I can figure out an interesting Dusk Men & Festival overlap.

Mechanically you look fine, although as an unchained rogue you can pick a weapon to gain Dex to damage--daggers seem like the natural choice.

Oh, I thought that bennie was gained at 3rd level so I didn't declare it at this point. Or is that part of the changes to the existing feats and I just missed it? In answer to your question - daggers will absolutely be my first pick. And if I could do Dex DAM at 1st level, that would be awesome.

Also, I don't know if you're interested, but the Heretic archetype for the Inquisitor seems like a nice fit for the character and the Dusk Men as a whole; if you didn't take it because it technically overlaps with Sanctified Slayer, know that I don't care about that.

I saw Heretic and thought as you did - that it would be a good fit. But the clash with Sanctified Slayer made me rule it out. If you don't have a problem with it, I'll absolutely add it to Raj's profile.

Thanks for the thorough critique, I appreciate it.

Anjelica, better known as Anjie to her family and friends, was a lovely and likable child. Her family were acrobats and dancers, traveling with the Umbral Circus… she spent her childhood traveling Varisia, frequenting not only the large cities, but many of the smaller towns as well. She stayed with the circus until she was almost 19, three years after she met Alexander Morgan when the circus went through Sandpoint on its seasonal circuit. Alexander was a local artist and craftsman, working in wood, making master-crafted instruments and occasional fashioning fancy inlaid bows for local hunters and even some occasional visiting elves who coveted his beautiful workmanship.

On her return to Sandpoint, she reunited with Alexander. He’d never really expected to see her again, and had another young lady he was courting. Anjie and Kamala vied for Alexander’s affections, a heated and discordant rivalry that went on for several months. In the end, Alexander wed Kamala and Anjie left Sandpoint and traveled to Raven’s Mark, where she met up with the Umbral Circus once again. But something was missing from her life, something she didn’t realize was wrong until she’d returned to rejoin her family. After a month of travel with the circus, as much as it was and always would be her true home, she packed up and left again, this time traveling to Kaer Maga, where she entered the Temple of the Endless Step as a novice monk.

Anjie stayed at the monastery for several years, not leaving until she was 26. Seven years cloistered with the monks was calming and enlightening for her and she learned not only to focus her energies, but to use, and eventually master, use of the longbow, a specialty of the Temple. Her mentor, Faelin, a half-elven bowmaster, became much more than a mentor to her… He became her lover as well. When the Master of their order discovered the affair, despite their extreme discretion, he suggested that she leave the Temple. The suggestion was made circumspectly, but it was firm, nonetheless, and Anjie knew her time at the Temple of the Endless Step was ended.

After 3 months of travel, she arrived back at the Umbral Circus to visit her parents. Her thought was to travel from Varisia to Absalom and perhaps join the Pathfinder Society, where her talents would be put to good use. But luck, fate or perhaps even the gods, had other ideas for Anjie, for the Circus’ next stop was Sandpoint, where she learned that Alexander was recently widowed, his wife dying in childbirth bearing their third child.

Anjie visited Alexander to pay her respects and offer him condolences for his loss. He was so melancholy and overwhelmed by the needs of his young family, that she stayed to help him out, and their love burgeoned again. After just a few months, they became engaged and married just a month after that. Anjie became stepmother to three young children and her life changed drastically practically overnight. Caring for three youngsters and a husband was something new to her, but she quickly learned the ropes, and it wasn’t long before they had a fourth and a fifth to care for as well. Anjie became a fixture around Sandpoint, and quickly grew to know just about everyone in town. Once every couple of months, the whole family would take the trip to Magnimar, where Alexander would sell his products to support the growing family.

One one of those trips, on a cool autumn day, they were attacked by a small family of hill giants with ogre guards. Alexander was killed trying to protect the two youngest children… the three oldest clustered around Anjie and she held off the attackers for some time with her bow… but eventually, she and the three oldest, two girls and a boy, were overwhelmed… one of the girls was killed by a blow to the head, but the other two and Anjie were taken prisoner. They were kept by the hill giants for several weeks, forced to work and brutally treated. Eventually, the weather turned colder, and food became scarcer. The hill giants took the children first, but not without valiant efforts by Anjie to protect them. Finally, they turned their attentions to Anjie and decided her use as food far surpassed any use as a slave. When they came for her, despite her despair and dejection, she fought like a wounded animal, and managed a daring escape into the woods. They came after her, and looked not only up in the trees, but around them all… but it never occurred to them to look underground, and she managed to evade their notice by burrowing under some leaves in a hollow under the roots of a massive old oak.

It was almost a full day before she was sure they were gone and she slipped out of the hollow. She was empty and aching inside. Her husband and all five of their children were gone. She had nothing left to live for, and yet survive she did. Roots and berries kept her alive until she made her way into Magnimar, ragged, filthy, cold and so depressed she just wanted it all to end. Staggering into town, she ran into Caridwen, the local priestess of Erastil. Caridwen took Anjie home with her, where she listened to her tale and gave her food, clothes and a place to stay. Anjie stayed for a month, recovering not only physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well. It didn’t take long for Anjie to decide that serving Erastil might be own road to survival.

She headed back to Sandpoint to try to rebuild her life. She’s since spent her time helping Sandpoint deal with the growing goblin and giant incursions, her hatred of giants festering within her, and finding outlet in her protection of the town.

Both began training at a young age, and both excelled in arcane. Though Wren was more adept at sorcery it was clear to see that Wesh held some hidden power that had yet to be fully understood. Both were at their most powerful when they had their sibling nearby. It seemed that the power dwelled in their blood drew strength from their ancestry as much as from each other. Over the years, however, it became more of a psychological thing than arcane.

Sorcery wasn’t their sole focus, however, and although they had a few hours study every week, they spent their childhood as most Varisians do; wandering from settlement to settlement, trading, entertaining, and occasionally stealthier jobs. Wesh and Wren would perform together, dancing and singing for coin, other times, they would barter, or one would distract while the other would find someone’s unfortunately abandoned coat, or coin purse.

Sometimes, their clearly inhumane appearance would work for their benefit, other times, not so much. But they were happy, they had their family, and most importantly, each other.

Their time in Sandpoint was, for the most part, fun and enjoyable. They would watch the sun set over the Sandpoint Cliffs whilst making lists of all the places and things that they wanted to see. They would laugh and watch the goblins rummaging in the junk piles below, see them cursing to themselves, or leaping with glee when they found something. Campaign Trait: Goblin Watcher

They would talk about venturing to the Bloodsworn Vale, or maybe the Storval Stairs! All while exploring the outside of the Old Light ruins.
When they turned 12 years old, they even shared the experience of getting their first tattoos, around opposite wrists. They weren’t skilled enough yet to get the Thassilonian spell focus tattoos, but were both excited to have something to work towards.

A year later, people started dying. It became dangerous, even for Varisian wanderers, to venture out alone, and never at night. Wesh bought his sister a bladed scarf to help keep her safe, and as an early birthday present. She, in turn, bought him a reinforced one, with inverted colours. They stopped going to see the goblins – as frequently…

Just before their 13th birthday, a local artisan was revealed as the murderer, and killed in the ensuing conflict. Wesh and Wren stayed out until midnight that day, watching goblins and exploring deeper into the Old Light to celebrate things returning to normal.

The day the fire happened, that day was burned into Wesh’s mind. Sandpoint lost half the town, and he lost half of himself.

It was chaos, people running in all directions, screaming, shouting, carrying buckets of water or young children. The twins had been on the cliffs, as they normally were at that time of day, when they heard the bell. Then noticed the smoke.

Running back into town, they began trying to make their way to the Varisian Camp, where they hoped to find their parents and family.
Fire was engulfing everything, and people began to throw accusatory claims at them as they ran.

”Those fire devils did this!”

”We should have never let you in!”

”How could you do this to us!”

Still they ran, even as Wesh could feel the tears down his face. This was their home. How could they think that?

As they ran down a vacant alley, the flames too intense for normal people to handle, the buildings on either side began to collapse. Even as Wesh and Wren pushed themselves, dodging debri, and trying to guard their eyes from the soot and smoke, Wesh suddnely got dragged to the ground by Wren.

He looked back to urge her on, but there was only a flaming pile of wooden beams and tiles. The house had caved into the side, and buried his sister.

Desparately he dug at the wreckage; calling out for help, for his sister, for anyone to help him.

It was going to be a surprise. I didn’t want the town to see. But please, I need you to be ok

Wesh summoned his eidolon, a beautiful and terrifying Azata.

”You summoned me with legs?” she queried, looking at her form “You decided on fire resistance? I learn that myself over time. What a waste.”

”My sister! Wren is under here! Get her out! I had to choose resistance or you’d get hurt too! Please! Just get her out!”

His eidolon reached down, and with great effort hefted the main beam enough for the sobbing, shaking Wesh to pull his sister out from the debri.

”Wesh, I’m sorry, but I think…”

”Carry her.” Wesh’s voice was quite, but determined. ”If I can get her home, there are people there that can save her” he wiped his face with his scarf, only to be reminded it had been reinforced.

”Take her there without me! I’m not fast enough! Just tell them that Wren is badly hurt and needs help” he looked down at his sister, her lifeless eyes barely visible through the blood, burnt skin, and smoke from the fire.

”She needs help…” he whispered, threading his finders through his twins hair, no longer alive and dancing like a flame.

His eidolon, cautious but compassionate, pulled her small master into a tight embrace, looking down at his lost sibling.

The fire continued to rage behind them, the ordered continued to be shouted over the din.

But for Wesh, his world had stopped when his sister had pulled him to the ground.

Wiping his eyes, he pulled away from his eidolon and stood solemnly.
”We must still take her home”

His eidolon nodded, gently picking up the small body she could’ve sworn she was only just sobbing in her arms.

So this is a twin. she looked up at the back of her summoner walking away from the chaos. And this must be loss

Quietly, she followed her Summoner, her Wesh, to the campgrounds.
They were immediately rushed to by the elders that couldn’t help with the fire. Wesh and Wren were taken into a tent, and the eidolon waited patiently outside, with many children and older or injured people gawking at her.

”Why are you crying? she startled at the voice, before touching her face. She hadn’t realised that she had been.

Must be part of the link, or maybe I am truly sad for Wesh

”I cry, because Wesh cries”

A few days after the fire had been extinguished, Wesh and his family’s group left Sandpoint. They had buried Wren on the cliffs beneath the Old Light, where she and Wesh had spoken about all the places they would see together.

Five years later and Wesh has returned to Sandpoint or the first time since the fire.

He has come hoping that what has been spoken of as closure for the town might also be closure for him. He has come to see his sister, and to let her know that he has finally started their journey, to see all the strangest and most mysterious places in Varisian, and then the world.

Lore of Escape (Ex) Add WIS bonus on Bluff and Stealth
Guileful Lore (Ex) Add WIS bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy

I updated my profile on the assumption that you DON'T want me double-dipping on the WIS bonus to Bluff. If I'm wrong on that, let me know.

Also, Since I lose all Judgements with Sanctified Slayer and gain Judgement Escape with Heretic, my guess on your ruling would be that I have Escape as my only Judgement. The other option is that I lose that Judgement as well... which would be fine. Just let me know how you'd rule on it.

I've also tweaked the end of Raj's backstory to explain more about why he's in Sandpoint and specifically chose to arrive for the Festival.

FYI - I'm going to tweak his gear a bit to better fit with his cover story.

Also, would it be permissible for me to take the Quantium University Graduate trait (+2 concentration with arcane spells) but reflavour it so that is due to his tutelage under his mother?`

Bumo Talvo began his meager life in a family of fisherman toiling away helping his father on the docks. But one fateful day a group of pirates ransacked his village. Fearing the worst, Bumo’s parents hid him in a barrel as he was only 14 at the time. After raping and pillaging the land the pirates found Bumo in his barrel, but not until he had already become a stowaway. The captain decided that they could use another hand and put him to work.

Bumo’s life was hard as he was forced to clean all day and serve the pirates at night. His reward for a job well done would be a dogs’ leftovers or anything he could find in the garbage. Malnourished and cursing his life after enduring for years Bumo decided to take his own life as he wagered death could be no worse. Yet as Bumo went about looking for a shiv he noticed a creature the likes of which he had never seen. It looked of a man floating in the sky, but as it came more into view he saw that it had multiple heads of various different creatures. But then just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Assuming it was his mind playing tricks, Bumo decided to ignore it. Finally Bumo found a shard of glass and held it against his neck. He thought of his family, his friends, the love he would never have. Bumo found a dark corner between two barrels under the deck, and as the first bit of blood tickled down his neck he felt a hand stop him, Bumo froze in fear. A voice caressed his ear as it said "Would you take your own life and be forgotten? Or take their life but live as a monster, never to be loved?". The boy turned and saw the creature again, he tried to scream but no sound came out. Losing patience the creature snarled "Quickly boy! I have chosen to save you, I will not wait another moment, speak or die!". The thoughts of his life that once was, and could have been, went from inciting despair to now causing rage to burst from his heart, rage for the people who took away his peaceful life, His family. If he had to become a monster to get revenge then so be it, these pirates are the true fiends. Bumo spoke, "If you can give me the power, I will turn into the most hideous monster you can imagine". The creature laughed "Oh my dear, I said nothing about a hideous monster, no you shall have beauty but seen as a monster. When my voice calls out to you, do not turn away, accept my embrace" the next moment the creature drew it's scimitar and lopped off Bumo’s head in a fell swoop. Bumo, lost in the void, laughed at himself for believing such a dream. Yet as he headed towards judgment a sultry whisper reached out to him "come back with my blood, drink and you shall be a half breed giving new fear to the name rakshasa!”

Reality fell back into focus, Bumo felt he wasn't himself, he was stronger, more agile, more cunning, he could take on the world. The creature giggled and tossed the boy a wakazashi “May your justice be swift and your vengeance sweet my love. Just remember you asked for this". Bumo not knowing what these cryptic words meant, thanked the creature and then it winked out of existence with a snear. Bumo went on to do the task set before him. He moved as the pirates did, swiftly and with precision, attacking while they slept and showing no mercy.

Finally with the captain's head at his feat, rage began to roll off of his shoulders. Bumo surveyed the room and was startled by a monster behind him! Yet it was only a mirror, It only took him moments to realize that the creature was a reflection of himself. He had gained a tail with a bulbous end, insecticide features resembling a scorpion in a book once read as a child. The boy sobbed tears that mingled with the blood on his hands. He woke days later, the ship had been boarded by the navy and Bumo was detained for questioning. He told them what had happened and pity was taken upon him.

However he was now considered an adult and was required to fend for himself. Bumo took to drinking and doing odd jobs only long enough to support his habit. One day he found himself waking up in a church having been freshly bathed and wearing new clothes. As he awoke an acolyte closed the scripture he was reading and greeted him with a smile. "Welcome to the church of Cayden Cailean. We heard of your story...or that's not fully truthful here let me take you to the head priest" as he was lead he saw he was in a small Temple and while everyone kept there distance it wasn't out of disgust but rather out of respect and reverence. The head priest was a strong gentle looking man he looked similar to Bumo’s father but as he shook those thoughts the priest spoke "welcome my son I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now. You see our God has shown me a vision of a man that would come to me having betrayed his humanity and I am here to restore it. You may have sold your sole for vengeance but I can give it back to you. You need not even follow on the service of our God though I hope you will once you learn about him." The priest went up to Bumo and spoke some words. Bumo would later come to know that this was a spell to show the gods his atonement for what he had done and ask their forgiveness. As the spell completed something happened that surprised both the priest and Bumo the room was filled with a holy light and they heard a voice "welcome Bumo I have been expecting you for quite some time now. I am Cayden Cailean and I need your help you will be my new champion working in worship of me you shall go and spread the good of my name. While I won't fix you of your bodily affliction as you must remember your past transgressions and never forget where you came from I will tell you that there may be a way to fix your predicament. Go to the city of Sandpoint your answer lies there." The voice disappeared and the priest sobbed with joy he had never heard his God's voice before and he doubted he ever would again. Bumo waited for the priest to compose himself before speaking. He asked how to get to Sandpoint.

The priest responded that it was not a far travel from there and that he would escort the new disciple of Cayden Cailean to the town himself. On the way to Bumo was taught about Sandpoint. Upon hearing about “The Sandpoint Devil” he gained a great interest believing that this creature would be the key to solving his problems. At night he would read book and listen to stories about “The Sandpoint Devil” and other fantastical creatures believing that killing this beast would give him the answers that he was seeking. The priest reminded him that he is a scion of Cadyen Calien now and to not squander his life for something that he had no real reason to believe was the answer to his problems. When they were one day from the city the priest returned to his temple wishing Bumo luck on his endeavor and telling him that the Swallowtail Festival is next week. He should be sure to attend it.