GM TBD's War for the Crown

Game Master Veltent

Gione believes that Princess Eutropia is the best path to that future and has travelled to Oppara for this year’s Grand Day of Exaltation in high hopes that the much-anticipated vote on primogeniture will allow her to become heir.

Gione has little use for the many of the current noble factions as he holds a burning grudge against them for the illegitimate treatment his father received in the past. Gione will use whatever means necessary to see through his father’s goals for Taldor.

Ranged
Ranged Touch +3
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SPELLS PREPARED
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1st: color spray, grease
Cantrips: acid splash, detect magic, prestidigitation, read magic
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STATISTICS
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Str 8, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 10, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB -3; CMD 9
Traits Charlatan, Young Reformer
Feats Casual Illusionist
Skills (5 points; 2 class, 3 INT)
ACP -0
(1) Bluff +11
(0) Diplomacy +3
(0) Disguise +4
(0) *Fly +4
(1) Knowledge (arcana) +7
(1) Knowledge (local) +10
(1) Linguistics +7
(0) Perception +4
(0) Sense Motive +2
(1) Spellcraft +7
(0) *Stealth +6
*ACP applies to these skills

Non-Standard Skill Bonuses
+4 Stealth (size)
+3 Bluff (familiar)
+2 Bluff, Disguise, Sleight of Hand (racial)
+2 Fly (size)
+2 Knowledge (local) (racial)
+2 Perception, Sense Familiar (familiar)
+2 Perception (racial)
+1 Bluff, Diplomacy (racial)
+1 Disable Device, Knowledge (local) (trait)
Languages Common (Taldane), Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Halfling, Kellish, Sylvan

Lotti tuts softly as she pours the tea and passes the cup to Lady Emisel, ignoring the countess’s laughter at her guest’s witty comment that echoes off the polished stone floor and dances amid the crystal chandeliers. She wheels her trolley over to another guest, placing a steaming cup on the gilded table before bowing meekly and pushing a few stray hairs back out of her face. “Would the madame like cream and sugar?” Her voice trembles with the weight of decades, her frail old hands rubbing each other nervously before clutching the cart for support.

She pours the wine, not a single red drop falling on her simple grey skirt and blouse nor on the white bear skin that decorates the floor of the Count’s office. “May I bring the monsieur a fresh napkin?” He ignores her, face as red as the liquid in his glass, but after all these years it does not seem to bother the gnome anymore. “I’ll let the kitchen know to prepare more of those candied fruits - those always cheer you up.” He does not respond as she closes the door behind her.

“Shall I see if the cooks have any fresh pastries for the young mistress?”

“Would the young master like his bath drawn now?”

“May I bring the madame her nightcap before she retires for the evening?”

They say that the appearance of victory is a battle half won.

At last, she closes the last door of the night and sits down on her tiny bed - taking care not to disturb the spotted cat already asleep there. With a heavy sigh, she relaxes. A few red splotches appear on her blouse as if by magic as she hangs it up next to the tiny window that only the youngest servants could squeeze out of. She hums softly, and a soft breeze carries what looks like glowing bubbles from her hand to pop delicately against the stains. The elderly gnome pets the cat as she watches the show, eyes twinkling with delight. With her uniform clean, she nods in satisfaction and pulls out a small serving tray carrying an envelope, a sheet of the household’s stationary, and an inkpen.

She has written many letters like this before - one for the nurse, another for the stableboy, two for that poor witless cook that always managed to burn something whenever she worked in the kitchen - but never one for herself. Until now. She’s done all she can for the small folks in this household, and now she was the only one left. Best to move on before the nobility got too suspicious, before they noticed how their son’s spellbook replaced with a tome on proper dining etiquette (just goes to show how little he read either of them), how the sheets she cleaned always seemed to become dirty again after a few hours, how things just never looked as nice when Lotti wasn’t there to oversee them.

She looks down at the letter again, trying to imagine reading the words written there as if for the first time. What this young noblewoman wants with her, she doesn’t know. But Bikki wouldn’t have risked getting caught back here to give her a note if it wasn’t important. She recites the words out loud, testing their tone for any awkward hiccups that would reveal her deception, or the hidden message written between the lines.

“It is with great regret that we must inform the Lady Martella Lotheed that we can no longer afford the services of one Lotti Qebs, and hope that she might find employment in your household. May she serve you as faithfully and skillfully as she has served us.”

They say people see what they wish to see - show them that, and they’ll believe anything you say.

Despite her focus and talent as a dancer, it was Mirann's singing that got her noticed. The Marquess Charlotte Deschamps, former Senator of House Cato, heard her on the street and instantly hired her to sing and dance in her own home, even paying for surgery to brighten and improve Mirann's voice, giving it a certain golden quality.

Martella knew the diva was a vishkanya like her sister, and had heard of the girl's desire to join the Lion Blades, offered her a chance to act in much the same manner. Besides, it was always good to keep a wary eye on anyone with poison in their blood.

Skills (9/Rogue):
-Acrobatics +3 (0 rank, 3 DEX)
Bluff +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 CHA, 2 racial)
-Diplomacy +3 (0 rank, 3 CHA)
Disable Device +7 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 DEX)
Disguise +7* (1 rank, 3 class, 3 CHA, 4 racial to pass as human)
-K. Arcana +1 (0 rank, 1 INT)
-Perception -1 (0 rank, -1 WIS)
-Sense Motive 0 (0 rank, -1 WIS, +1 trait)
Stealth +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 DEX, 2 racial)
-Survival 0 (0 rank, -1 WIS, +1 trait)
UMD +7 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 CHA)

Background Skills (2/level):
Appraise +5 (1 rank, 3 class, 1 INT)
Craft (Alchemy) +5 (1 rank, 3 class, 1 INT)
K. History +5 (1 rank, 3 class, 1 INT)
K. Nobility +5 (1 rank, 3 class, 1 INT)
Perform (Dance) +14 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 CHA, 2 trait, 2 racial, 3 feat)
Perform (Sing) +10 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 CHA, 1 trait, 2 circumstance)
Sleight of Hand +7 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 DEX)

Languages: Common, Vishkanya, Draconic

Equipment:
Courtier's Outfit (free)
Padded Tunic 5 gp
Masterwork Singing Tool (Vocal Chords?) (free)
Poison Tattoo 50 gp
Masterwork Backpack 50 gp
Dagger 2 gp
Thieves' Tools 30 gp

3 gp
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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-Racial Abilities-

Low-Light Vision: Vishkanyas can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
Keen Senses: Vishkanyas receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
Limber: Vishkanyas receive a +2 racial bonus on Escape Artist and Stealth checks.
Poison Resistance: A vishkanya has a racial bonus on saving throws against poison equal to its Hit Dice.
Poison Use: Vishkanyas are skilled in the use of poison and never accidentally poison themselves when using or applying poison.
Toxic: A number of times per day equal to his Constitution modifier (minimum 1/day), a vishkanya can envenom a weapon that he wields with his toxic saliva or blood (using blood requires the vishkanya to be injured when he uses this ability). Applying venom in this way is a swift action.
Vishkanya Venom: Weapon—injury; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the vishkanya’s Hit Dice + the vishkanya’s Constitution modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 1 save.
Weapon Familiarity*: Vishkanyas are always proficient with blowguns, kukri, and shuriken.

Alternate Racial Traits:
Deceitful: They gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff checks. This racial trait replaces the racial bonus on Escape Artist checks.
Sensual: You gain a +2 bonus on any one Perform skill. This racial trait replaces keen senses.
Subtle Appearance: You have normal (humanlike) eyes, and your beauty is more conventional. You gain a +4 bonus on Disguise checks to look fully human. This racial trait replaces low-light vision.

-Class Abilities-
UnRogue:

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My Dear Dean,
A summary of Ms Moonflower’s academics follows.

Ancient History (Dr Strepfon): Ms Moonflower is an engaged and extremely capable student. Her most recent essay on the Founding Wars was meticulously researched and accurate. However she must learn to stick to the established facts and spout unorthodox theories as to the motives of Taldaris and other historical figures, no matter how passionate her own political views.
Suspension not recommended.

Modern History (Dr Paleogus): The student has missed the last three lectures and has not attended a seminar this term. When questioned on the subject she said “Since you just want to teach out-dated tripe your course isn’t worth my time.” Her latest essay ‘Senatorial Reform under Stavian I’ was a thinly disguised political tract and was not worth the paper it was written on.
Suspension strongly recommended.

Applied Politics and the Art of Diplomacy (Professor Medveyan): Adriel is an excellent student who is deeply committed to the class and subject. She is always a vocal presence (occasionally too much so) in our debates and has achieved some of the highest scores in her cohort. Her most recent work on normalising diplomatic relations was interesting and insightful, although Qadira was an unfortunate example and she would have been better served to choose a less contentious target – such as Brevoy or Kyonin (which would have reflected her heritage).
Suspension not advised – it would be a waste of a promising student.

General reflections (Professor Zelvran): Overall there seems to be no grounds for academic suspension. Ms Moonflower’s grades are generally high and her teachers, with the exception of Dr Paleogus, speak well of her.
However the university has ample grounds based on her conduct. Her association with the radical student body ‘The Children of Taldaris’ has had a most unfortunate influence on her thinking. Whether or not she is being led astray by other, more influential, students is irrelevant as the discretion, humility and respect for both the University of Oppara and our great nation has been sadly lacking for well over a year now. Since we cannot expel Lord Laverton I recommend that Ms. Moonflower’s time here be terminated immediately unless she publically renounces The Children and conforms rigorously to academic orthodoxy until the end of the year.
I remain your humble friend,
Demetrius Zelvran.

Adriel Lemenasis spent nearly thirty years trying to fulfil her dream of attending the University of Oppara. Born to respected, but not wealthy, elven artisans she had to combat ‘aptitude tests’, ‘academic investigations’ and the institutionalised racism and inertia that characterises Taldan bureaucracy. Once she was finally accepted into the University Adriel changed her difficult elven name to the more melodious ‘Moonflower’ and stuck rigidly to academic orthodoxy until a fateful lecture in her second year.

Princess Eutropia, the Universities most famous alumnus, visited to deliver a lecture to the students entitled ‘Taldor, past, present and a glorious future’. It was not the bland sycophancy that the university had expected however. Eutropia delivered a rousing speech, laying out her sweeping vision for a revitalised Taldor, freed from the constraint of the past, and by the time she left the Princess had made a radical out of Adriel.

Adriel immediately joined The Children of Taldaris, a student ‘debating society’ which advocated radical reform and weren’t afraid to make their views heard. Soon Adriel was at the vanguard of the student radical movement, putting up posters, joining protests in the streets and painting ‘pro-democracy’ slogans over every public building, and more than a few private ones.

Her best friend, Lord Vincent Laverton, had entrée to all the best parties and the two would often attend as a couple, before shocking the assembled nobility with mock-debates, high flung speeches and the occasional dramatic protest. Unfortunately ‘reform’ is a dirty word in Opparan high society and Adriel’s political convictions had left her on the brink of expulsion when a letter arrived from one Martella Lotheed…

When his father stood up against Maxillar Pythareus' opinion of attacking Qadira, things started to go bad for the nobleman. Eduardo de Vega was accused of not being of Taldan noble blood. He had to demonstrate that despite his father only being a rich Taldan trader, her mother (Lope’s grandmother) who came from Brevoy, was an Aldori sword whose bloodline could be traced back to Baron Sirian First, former Taldor nobleman and founder of the Aldori Order.

As Eduardo was winning the public opinion, Pythareus plotters attacked trying to ruin the reputation of Lope’s grandmother, seeking proof that Magdalena Aldori had contacts with the Great Beyond and the entire family was under its influence and plotting against Taldor. Eduardo acknowledged that her mother’s sword, which latter passed to him, was forged in the Axis but that the sword’s will was tied to recover and expand the greatness of Taldor.

Finally, when Eduardo was still on the defense, Pythareus came up with a final plan that could be definitive. With well forged documents, Pythareus demonstrated Eduardo de Vega had been deviating money from the army into the trading ventures of his family, and moving part of its wealth out of Taldor’s reach at Andoran and Absalom banks. Not finding many supporters this time, Eduardo and his family were dishonored and their properties seized, including ‘Taldstar’ the aldori sword heirloom of the family.

Dishonored and with little else left than a few loyal servants, Lope had to follow his father and mother and leave Taldor for decades. Still young, the diaspora of his family made Lope fall very ill. Without access to medicine the disease caused him terrible scars in his face but ultimately survived. It was a disrupting event that changed his family forever.

The family took refuge in the nation of Brevoy, among the Aldori swords friends of her grandmother Magdalena. Although Lope was granted a place to train among the Aldori, his father Eduardo did not want him to lose ties with his Taldan culture. He put the young boy under the mentorship of Eldon García, one of the few people that remained loyal to Eduardo and followed the family diaspora. Eldon had been professor of magic in the Kitharodian Academy and taught Lope on magic, arts and knowledge of Taldor traditions and history at the same time he was being trained by the Aldori.

Knowing what losing all and being at the edge of death meant, Lope showed from an early age an extreme discipline and a cunning mind. The boy was not easily distracted by child games and quickly mastered subjects as diverse as swordplay, magic and poetry. When his father Eduardo de Vega passed away, he promised Lope none of the accusations made against him were true, and requested that Lope would not be as naive as he was in his youth and to help Taldor recover its greatness from the shadows.

Once his mother also died, Lope decided to return to Taldor shortly after completing his wizardry and Aldori training. Now a man, he wanted to restore the rightful position at Taldor for his family, and recover the richness that was stolen from them. Fearing Maxillar Pythareus influence he decided to reunite with his merchant grandfather at Yanmass, far from the capital Oppara and closer to his Aldori friends. Followed by his mentor, Eldon Garcia (a former Lion Blade, but this has been kept secret from Lope), he served protecting the caravans that bolster trade in the area while helping run his grandfather’s trade business. But not all is hard work, Lope had fun and infiltrated the high class circles demonstrating his cunning tongue on something he calls magical poetry, an art that combines prestidigitation effects with rhymes.

Lady Martella Lotheed found Lope at a club in Yanmass making rhymes while trying to charm the hearts of young maidens. Interested, she started to talk with the young man and finally discovered his ascendancy as a member of the Vega family. Thinking she might profit of the young man for her intrigue network, she has invited Lope to the Exaltation Gala.

Although reticent at first to expose himself, Lady Lotheed probed convincingly and beautifully enough for Lope to decide it was the right time to relocate to Oppara and clean the name of his family.

His first mission is to recover the blackblade of his family which was taken by the people who set a trap to his father. The mission of this blackblade might be to see Taldor become the most prosperous country in the world, to defend the true bloodline of Taldor royalty, to recover his old glory, or maybe to make his family into the most powerful ones of Taldor. Or all ensemble.

Lope follows the opinion of his father that the Empire should focus on seeking a lasting peace with Qadira, while boosting the trade openness with Absalom and Andoran, opening sea routes with the distant Taldan nation of Amanandar in Tian Xia, and expanding the Empire territory to the north, seeking to reunite and civilize now ruined regions like Iobaria in Casmaron.

Lope enjoys bullfighting and plans to open a restaurant in Oppara with the best grilled meats of the capital.

DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 mage armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge canny defense)
hp 10 (1d8+1+1)
Fort +3 (2 class, 1 Con), Ref +3 (0 class, 3 Dex), Will +2 (2 class, 0 Wis)

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee aldori dueling sword +4 (1d8+3) 19/×2 slashing
arcane pooled aldori dueling sword +5 (1d8+4) 19/×2 slashing (1 minute, 3/day)
Ranged light crossbow +3 (1d8) 19/x2
arcane pooled light crossbow +4 (1d8+1) 19/x2

STATISTICS
Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 10
Ability increments +2 Dex (racial)
Base Atk +0; CMB -1 (+3 to Disarm, Sunder and Trip); CMD 13
Feats Weapon finesse, Slashing Grace*, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (aldori sword)*, Weapon Focus (aldori sword)*
* = Bonus feat
Traits
Disgraced Noble: Your noble family used to matter, until your father took a stand against Maxillar Pythareus, the commander of Taldor’s military. True or not, the accusations Pythareus leveled against your family in return destroyed your reputation and isolated you from the society you grew up in. You’ve had to practice deception as you began working your way back into Taldan social circles; +2 trait bonus on Bluff, +2 bonus on Linguistics, and one becomes a class skill for you [Bluff]. Once each day, you can choose a single humanoid involved in the conspiracy; you gain a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage against that NPC for 1 round/level. At 10th level, this bonus increases to +2.
Savant: From a very young age, the ability to master performance types has come quite naturally to you. Choose a performance type (Oratory). You gain a +2 trait bonus on all Perform checks made using that performance type. Perform is always a class skill for you. Requirement(s) Kitharodian Academy
Skills (2 class, 3 Int, 1 skilled = 6/level x 1 = 6 ranks; 0 ACP) Bluff +6 (0 Cha, 1 rank, 3 class, 2 trait), Climb -1 (-1 Str, class), Disable Device +5 (4 Dex, 1 rank), Fly (4 Dex, class), Intimidate +4 (0 Cha, 1 rank, 3 class), K. arcana +7 (3 Int, 1 rank, 3 class), K. dungeoneering (3 Int, class), K. planes (3 Int, class), Ride (4 Dex, class), Spellcraft +7 (3 Int, 1 rank, 3 class), Swim (-1 Str, class), Use Magic Device +4 (0 Cha, 1 rank, 3 class)
Background skills (2x1 = 2) Craft (3 Int, class), K. nobility +4 (3 Int, 1 rank), Linguistics +5 (3 Int, 2 trait), Profession (0 Wis, class), Perform Oratory +6 (0 Cha, 1 rank, 3 class, 2 trait; specialized on poetry)
Languages Common, Draconic, Azlanti, Celestial (next: Elven, Vudrani, Osiriani, Hallit)
Favored class (magus): HPx1

SPECIAL ABILITIES AND RACIAL TRAITS
Ability score +2 Dex
Bonus Feat Slashing Grace (Aldori Sword)
Skilled Humans gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever they gain a level.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A kensai is proficient in simple weapons and in a single martial or exotic melee weapon of his choice. A kensai is not proficient with armor or shields and suffers normal arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while armored.
Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Aldori Dueling Sword, level 1 Kensai bonus feat
Weapon focus: Aldori Dueling Sword, level 1 Kensai bonus feat
Canny Defense (Ex): At 1st level, when a kensai is wielding his chosen weapon, he gains the canny defense ability. This is identical to the duelist prestige class ability of the same name (Core Rulebook 382), save that his chosen weapon may be of any type: When wearing light or no armor and not using a shield, a duelist adds 1 point of Intelligence bonus (if any) per duelist class level as a dodge bonus to her Armor Class while wielding a melee weapon. If a duelist is caught flat-footed or otherwise denied her Dexterity bonus, she also loses this bonus.
Spells: A magus casts arcane spells drawn from the magus spell list. A magus must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time.
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the magus must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a magus's spell is 10 + the spell level + the magus's Intelligence modifier.
A magus can learn spells from a wizard's spellbook, just as a wizard can from a magus's spellbook. The spells learned must be on the magus spell list, as normal.
Diminished Spellcasting: A kensai may cast one fewer spell of each level than normal. If this reduces the number to 0, he may cast spells of that level only if his Intelligence allows bonus spells of that level.
Arcane Pool (Su): At 1st level, the magus gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his weapon. This arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 his magus level (minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per day when the magus prepares his spells.
At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves.
At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal. Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property's base price modifier (see the Magic Weapon Special Ability Descriptions). These properties are added to any the weapon already has, but duplicates do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added. These bonuses and properties are decided when the arcane pool point is spent and cannot be changed until the next time the magus uses this ability. These bonuses do not function if the weapon is wielded by anyone other than the magus.
A magus can only enhance one weapon in this way at one time. If he uses this ability again, the first use immediately ends.
Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.

SPELLS
CL 1, Concentration +3 (2 Int, 1 CL)
Cantrips (3/level)
detect magic
dancing lights
prestidigitation

Level 1 (1/day)
silent image (Will DC 13)

SPELLBOOK
Cantrips (all known)
daze (daze then trip)
acid splash
arcane mark
mage hand

Level 1 (6 known)
color spray (Wil CD 13)
enlarge person
frostbite
silent image (Will DC 13)
shield
unseen servant

EQUIPMENT
silken ceremonial armor, 30 gp 4 lbs (+1 AC, max Dex -, 0 ACP, 0% ASF)
aldori dueling sword, 20 gp 3 lbs
cold iron dagger, 4 gp 1 lbs
light crossbow, 35 gp 4 lbs
bolts x10, 1 gp 1 lbs
rope (silk), 10 gp 5 lbs
grappling hook, 1 gp 4 lbs
flint and steel, 1 gp
spell components pouch, 5 gp 2 lbs
scroll case, 1 gp ½ lbs
scroll of mage armor [x1], 25 gp (UMD DC 21)

Gold earned: 140 gp + 30 gp for tailor shop
Gold spent: 21(starting gear)+35(crossbow)+1(bolts)+4(dagger)+20(sword)+30(armor)+25(scrolls) = 136 gp
Gold remaining: 170-136 = 34 gp

Total lbs: 24.5 lbs (light encumbrance)

Light encumbrance: 26 lbs
Medium encumbrance: 53 lbs