Hell of a Summer (PF1 Eberron)

Game Master karlprosek

Feats: Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus: Longsword, Skill Focus: Perception,
Special Abilities: Speed: 30; Low-Light vision; Elf Blood; +2 Sv vs enchantment and sleep spells; Keen senses +2 perception checks; Fey Sighted- Perception and Sense Motive are class skills (Replaces Multitalented)
Languages: Common, Elven
Traits:
Sword Scion (+1 Trait bonus on Attacks and CM with Longswords; begin play with a longsword)
Nonchalant Thuggery (+4 Bluff to keep others from noticing hostile actions)
Equipment:
Longsword, Breastplate, shortsword, 4 chakrams (1d8), Dagger x2, Fighter’s Kit (backpack, bedroll, pouch, flint and steel, iron pot, mess kit, rope soap, torches (10), rations (5 days), waterskin); signet ring, spring loaded wrist sheath (Dagger), traveler’s outfit x2, hollow heeled boots, 49 GP 9 sp 10 CP

Defense
AC 17 (Dex +2, Dodge +1, Wis +4) Touch 117 FF 10
HP 12 (1d10+2)
Fort +3 Ref +4 Will +4 (+2 vs Mind Affecting)

Offense
Melee: unarmed strike +4 (1d6+3)
Ranged:
BAB 1 CMB +4 CMD 20

Statistics
Abilities: Str 16 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 10 Wis 18 Cha 8
SQ: Favored Class (Monk; HP), Skilled
SA: Stunning Fist (1/day, DC 15), Flurry of Blows (+1 attack)
SLA: Mage Armor (2/day, CL 1), Remove Fear (1/day, CL)
Traits: Survivor (+1 Initiative/Sense Motive), Sound of Mind (+2 vs Mind Affecting Spells)
Feats: Least Dragonmark (Mark of Shielding; mage armor), Dragonmark Prodigy (), DodgeB
Skills: Acrobatics +6, Climb +7, Knowledge (History) +4, Knowledge (Nobility) +4, Perception +8, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +7
Combat Gear:
Equipment: backpack, belt pouch, blanket, rope (50’), soap, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), waterskin, dagger, quarterstaff, sling, sling bullets (10)
Coin 39gp 9sp
Description Hal is a muscular and well-groomed human man of 23, with unassuming features, short brown hair and a trimmed beard. He wears simple traveling clothes, well made but obviously worn from use, heavy-soled walking boots, and carries no weapons beyond a belt knife and quarterstaff. He walks with poise and excellent posture, and speaks with a soft voice and slight Brelish accent.
His clothes hide his most distinguishing features, two large, multi-colored tattoos of arcane patterns that cover his shoulders. They nearly meet one another between his shoulder blades, with a small area of well-defined muscle remaining unmarked (for now).
Background
Half has spent his entire life this far in the care of education of House Deneith. Born to mid level clerks working in the House's Sharn enclave, he showed an aptitude for physical exertions and the simple self-defense techniques afforded the scions of Deneith. At 16, when his dragon marks first began to appear, his overjoyed parents shipped him off to one of the advanced defense training enclaves set in the mountains of Breland. While there, Hal spent the next 7 years drilling in combat skills, both armed and unarmed, as well as learning all about the other Houses and political factions of the Kingdoms.
Armed with the experience imparted by almost a decade of monastic training, and with the full expression of his Dragonmark realized, Hal was tasked with the next phase of his House employment; set out into the world and gain the knowledge necessary for proper bodyguard work as well as the contacts needed for the House to continue to expand and thrive. He finds himself moving on his own directive for the first time, and relishes the thought that he is now the master of his own fate.

Pierce is different from most Warforged, he never fought in the last war as one of the last of his “kind” to be created by House Cannith before the forges were ordered to be closed by the Treaty of Thronehold. Pierce was in training to become a Ranger but perhaps due to an accident in his creation his mind was much sharper than many other members of his “kind”.

In addition to ending the Last War, the Treaty freed all Warforged leaving them without purpose. Pierce was left disillusioned, only weeks after stepping into the world from, wherever his kind gained sentience, he was now alone. No friends, no allies, no family. Pierce wandered from the Sharn Enclave of House Cannith into the streets of Sharn.

For months he wandered around the city gaining insight into its layout and the beings that dwelled there. All the while, he kept his form as hidden as possible from the “living” who seemed to despise his kind. Warforged do not sleep and Pierce used that time well spending many nights reading on numerous topics in Morgrave University. Professor Dash Dannigan on the faculty approved Pierce's nightly ventures in part to get to know on a personal level a Warforged as they were fast becoming more than mere servitors and in part because a Warforged attached to the Library would make an excellent night watchman and one for whom no payment would be required.

History, Engineering, Nature, of Sharn itself, Geography, Magic and finally of Religion. These books though did not provide Pierce the answers he sought, what was his purpose?

In interactions with the Warforged who did return to Sharn – Pierce did not gain any further insight from them but certainly the bitterness he felt was mirrored in these poor constructs. With all avenues exhausted, Pierce sought out High Priest Phthaso Mogan of the Pavilion of the Host to seek the Dwarves wisdom. While Pierce found few answers he did hear the call of the Sovereign Host, most specifically Aureon seemed to whisper directly to Pierce.

Perhaps it was because Pierce was not present at House Cannith long enough to be warded away from religion like others of his kind but he took to the religious duties as few Warforged have. His calling was not that of a Cleric but of an Inquisitor, he was too aloof and disliked to be a member of the clergy proper. The life of an Inquisitor though suited the Warforged quite well.

For a few years Pierce served the Sovereign and the High Priest by default. However, his view of the Gods were much different than others of his order. He saw himself in a partnership with the Sovereign and more specifically with Aureon, after all, was Pierce not immortal unlike the “Breathers” who made up the vast portion of Sharn and the world at large. Perhaps House Cannith was merely a vessel for the Warforged to be created?! Such discussions led to censure by the High Priest.

Pierce, not one to worry overmuch about such things, began operating on his own. In such a large city it was easy to serve the Host and Aureon the way he saw fit, the Order itself be damned.

His work has recently begun as an Inquisitive for Information Acquisitions, run by Kalaash’arrna, a half-orc with the Lesser Mark of Finding. While dour in nature, Pierce is perceptive and knowledgeable, his spells granted by the Sovereign only heighten his abilities. In the course of his dealings he has come into contact with the dwarven associate of Abraxus Wren, Torin.

Torin has utilized Pierce on matters too small for Wren's attention or in matters tangential to cases Wren is working on. Pierce has yet to meet the famous and somewhat reclusive Wren, he has little interest in doing so really, after all, he is just another Breather who counts his life in shorter and shorter amounts of breath.

In addition to his acquaintance with Turin, Pierce has also struck up an unlikely friendship with Dorius Del Davandi, a charasmatic Gnome reporter of the Sharn Inquisitive. As with all of Pierce's other relationships, this is one of quid pro quo. Pierce assists in questioning witnesses for the gnomes articles in places where the gnome fears to tread while the gnome feeds Pierce information on cases where necessary.

Recently Pierce joined a group of Inquisitives, the Wandering Eye. After his first successful mission with the group uncovering a Professor seeking to usurp the findings of an associate Professor one of his old acquaintances, Dorius approached him with a new assignment away from Sharn in Throneport...

-------

Here is where I would like a hook from you GM, a rationale as to why Pierce is heading to Throneport. I am happy to make up my own reasons but I figured if there was a plot point you had that you wanted to insert into a PC Background, this is as good a way as any to do so right off the bat.

From a build perspective, I am going to do Inquisitor/Investigator (probably taking 2 levels of Inquisitor for every 1 level of Investigator I take as we advance.

I will have the crunch ready later today or tomorrow.

Also, I finally got around to putting up pages about the common races. The half-elf one is here. The long and short of it is that half-elves have their own dragonmarked houses (Lyrandar and Medani) and their own culture. But there are still, obviously, half-elves conceived of human and elven parents rather than being trueborn half-elves- that's your guy. I'd like you to give some thought to how Ilendur sees these 'khoravar' and what he thinks about how he fits into Phiarlan/elven and khoravar culture.

Thanks!

Name: Jixel Klukfren
Class: Witch (1) Race: Ratfolk
Size: Small Gender: Female Alignment: CG

Age: 13
Height: 4'
Weight: 75lbs
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black
Skin: Pink

Appearance / Personality: A dainty silvery shawl is draped around a rodentia's neck, as her dark-furred form runs upon pink claws in the night. Born to an urban nest, to a waterside clan of ratfolk and their pets, she is a creature well adapted to tight corners, secret holes and sections of architectural conglomerations rarely spied. Her long pink ears perk up and twist, to the sounds of a streetside wagon rattling along. Her tiny nose twitches, at the smell of a passer by's pie-in-hand.

Perhaps, unlike many ratfolk, young Jixel has retained more of her verminious heritage than most. Rather than being observed as a hairy mouse-headed human, she is more of a typical rat, though oversized and capable on two feet.

Her rounded body sees no purpose to the benefits of garb. Instead, she completes her tasks equipped more with tools, than with the comfort of clothes. A belt and dagger. A small leather case gripped in a tight clawed hand. The other, holding a long leather strap, attached to... yes... a chicken. Peekee is her best friend in all the lands. An avian creature once destined to be dinner, is now this ratfolk's path to survival and maybe even a vestige of power.

Background: Born in Estaby to a poor family of harbour rats, some of Jixel's older siblings quickly found themselves unknowingly assisting the Tyrants. Small and alert, perceptive and shrewd, her kind were perfect low ranking workers in a greater outfit's corrupted and criminal machine. Estaby, a known haven for smuggling and tax evasion was surely a worthy place for The Tyrants to take care of less Throneport-centric affairs. Who better to take responsibility and blame for some mundane yet risky tasks, than cash-strapped and oblivious locals? Without knowing, Jixel became part of an illicit, dangerous business.

She grew to be quite good at it, being a criminal and all. Mainly because she was smarter than most might assume. Knowledge and understanding were paramount, as was an ability to read between lines. The ratfolk girl was soon to be a true agent of The Tyrants. The practice of some of her family's traditions played a role in determining her future too. Jixel did her very best to learn the basics of alchemy, magic artifact operation, and even augury. It was the latter, that would eventually lead her to Throneport, and Peekee. Though unboastful and easily ignored, Jixel had proven her worth. She was offered a better future, and the prospect of "more valueable" work, should she relocate to The Tyrant's true capital.

Potential Hooks:
* She is caught up in a new mission for The Tyrants, that she does not fully understand. If she were to unravel the truth of her current operation in Throneport though, she would be presented with a challenging realisation. Perhaps her actions are indirectly harming her kin in Estaby? It could be about land aquisiton, simple exortion, or something else.
* One of her family might have recently gone to the "authorities" in an attempt to become a double agent. This brother or sister may have fled Estaby, and is actively looking for Jixel to warn her that some in The Tyrant's ranks, would see her dead, merely through association.
* Peekee is the ex-familiar of a powerful witch, who transferred her soul into the chicken at time of death (perhaps a murder in Undercliff). Peekee desires to bond with Jixel to a point that is strong enough for her to request some favors (centered around a proper burial for mortal remains, and a bit of revenge).

HP: 10
Speed: 20'

Str: 10
Dex: 18
Con: 12
Int: 18
Wis: 11
Cha: 10

Armor: 10 (base)+4(Dex)+1(Size)+4(mage armor) =15/19

Saves Total Base Mod
Fort: +1 +0 +1
Ref: +4 +0 +4
Will: +0 +2 +0

Weapon Attack Damage Critical Range
TBC

Languages: Common

Feats: Extra Witch Hex

Abilities: 60' Darkvision
Cornered Fury
Chicken Familiar
Flight Hex
Minor Prophecy Hex

Spells available: 2x 1st Level
Spells prepared: Mage Armor, Cure Wounds, Mount, Mudball, Charm Person, Identify, Summon Minor Monster

Skills Total Ranks Mod Misc
Appraise 8/1/4/-
Craft (Alchemy) 10/1/4/2
Intimidate 4/1/4/-
Know Arcana 8/1/4/-
Prof (Soothsayer) 4/1/0/-
Use Magic Device 6/1/0/2

Equipment: Cost Weight
XXXXXXXX XXgp XXlb

Total Weight:XXXlb Money: XXXgp Xsp Xcp

Lgt Med Hvy Lift Push
Max Weight: XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

Being associated with the Tyrants is perfect, story-wise, though I'm not quite sure a non-changeling would be let in on the secret. I love the idea of her working for the Tyrants, but what if she thought she was working with the Boromar Clan instead? She might even think she's met multiple members of the Clan but really it's just been 1 changeling (or hell, it could be the inverse- maybe she thinks she has just 1 handler but it's really been multiple changelings taking on the role).

Witch healer is perfect- there's a distinct lack of arcane casters and healers so far. Looks good!

He chose to study the blade rather than the mystical arts because his human half gives him a stockier build than the others in the house, and his build gives him an advantage against the other elves who pick on him for being so much younger, less experienced, a disgrace, etc.

Illendur wants to get recognition from his father, a knowledgeable and powerful man, but doesn't know how. So he feels indebted to the house and does what they ask of him. He winds up being used as a bodyguard and protector, since he doesn't have the mind or charisma to be trusted with intrigue or performance. He observes and learns, waiting to be of use at some point. Illendur's father, Llewel d'Phiarlan is a behind the scenes person in the entertainment side publically. Illendur doesn't necessarily believe in the stories of the spying, assassinations, and other unseemly activities, but with his gifted perception, he's starting to suspect that something more is at work within his father, and the house at large. Whether his father is more directly involved in anything beyond his role as a programming talent manager is unknown to Illendur, but something is happening, and as he has matured, he's seeing the odd clue or two that maybe suggests the rumors may be grounded some in reality.

He's a great pawn for the house to have, and plays the stoic guard well when being tasked with something important. Among others his guard is down unless he's specifically working on an assignment. He values companionship, which is something he lacks in his day-to-day life; and values perfecting his craft as a blademaster. He is fascinated by the interplay between people; having grown in a cold, unforgiving childhood. His day to day operative role is that of a 'stage manager/agent' which involves prepping the talent, ensuring the performances go as planned, accompanying the talent to events, and interfacing with the event hosts/planners. Given his youth and background, Illendur doesn't handle any high level talent, just assisting where ordered to go, with the admonition to stay out of the public eye.

He envies the members of House Medani, he feels a connection to their martial prowess, and sense of togetherness, but is distant to them. Jealous of what they have, and the acceptance within their own communities that the half elves have there. He works hard to gain acknowledgement, but members of those houses appear given the respect and dignity of just being who they are. He hasn't interacted much with the members of House Lyrandar, but he also idealizes the members of that house, making assumptions that they have two parents, and aren't ostracized by their peers in the house. He would be fascinated to talk to those half-elves raised in those houses, and to wistfully know their experiences, but that would only come with getting to know someone, and wouldn't be the first thing out of his mouth.

That's the basic background I was thinking, again I don't know a lot about the setting, so the character purposefully was raised on the outside of things. That gives both the character and the player opportunity to explore and uncover things in the world which are happening. Llewel can work where ever fits the story best, I imagine the members of the house have covers if they are on the clandestine side of affairs, but there need to be many folks who are also legitimately involved in the publicly facing side of the house. If selected I may tweak things some to fit the new idea for the profession, but it would be minor adjustments in skillsets.

This sounds neat! Oh, I'm totally down for her not actually knowing who her employers are. The handler(s) just "handle", and don't discuss higher level stuff with the grunts :-). This is another hook we could fiddle with, as she tries to investigate who is actually paying her, in an effort to understand the larger implications of what she is tasked to do.