Curse of the Crimson Throne: On a Knife's Edge (Inactive)

Game Master Vanulf Wulfson

Gerinel is a tall, lithe man, garbed in leathers and scarves like many Varisians are, along with a voluminous blue cloak. He has the olive skin-tone typical of his people, as well as colorful Varisian tattoos. His long, dark hair has occasional streaks of blond running through it, and he wears it loose most of the time. At his side are both a longsword and a starknife, while around his neck he wears a wooden amulet of Desna's holy symbol, one that looks like it was split and repaired, with a large crack still visible across it.

Gerinel usually tries to make good impressions on anyone he meets, as one never knows who'll they'll be sharing the road with, and it it always pays to make friends. He does, however, not flinch when it comes to standing up against bullies and the cruel, never wanting another innocent to suffer like he had at Gaedren's hands, and a bully with a badge or a uniform is no exception. His faith in Desna is unshakeable, and he is ever grateful for the turns of fate she blesses him with. When bad luck comes his way, he takes it in stride, knowing it is inevitable that his fortune will turn good just as quickly. He also greatly enjoys singing and watching the stars at night.

Gerinel's childhood was like that of many Varisians and many orphans in Korvosa: a second-class citizen forced to turn to crime just to survive. He barely remembers his parents and the series of uncles, aunts and cousins he bounced around from after their untimely deaths, until he came into the "care" of Gaedren Lamm. Life among the "Little Lamms" was harsh and painful, but in Gerinel's eyes, any night he went to sleep with a meal in his stomach and bruises that weren't too painful was a blessing. He couldn't imagine another life...at least not until someone showed him one.

A caravan of Varisian wanderers was passing through Korvosa, and Gerinel watched them curiously. He'd never seen or met Varisians from outside Korvosa, ones who hadn't been broken by the city, and he was entranced by their vibrant dances, their joyful music and the clear love they shared for one another, a love that Gerinel had never had a chance to know. One of the caravan's elders noticed him watching, and asked him to sit by her. She asked him questions about himself, what his life was like and how his family fared. When Gerinel informed her he didn't have one, the elder was saddened, and told him "No child of Desna should have to face the shadows alone." She offered him an amulet of a wooden butterfly, and told Gerinel that even as the shadows gathered, the stars would still light his way.

The experience changed Gerinel, and over the course of the next year, he found himself staying out later, seeking any vantage point he could find over the haze of the city where he could see the stars. He began to feel a sense of awe, as if he'd never noticed their beauty before, and in time discovered local faithful of Desna willing to share more of her way with him. That this world was dark and frightening, but Desna had given mortals the ability to dream of a better world, and the power to make those dreams real in the waking world. For the first time in his life, Gerinel felt like he had a future.

Unfortunately, one night, Gaedren had Gerinel followed to see where he went at night, and upon discovering the boy's clandestine meetings with priests and wanderers, began to beat him savagely, cursing him and the priests who'd filled his head with such foolish dreams, raging that this life was the best an orphaned moth brat like him could hope for, and that no one was going to save him. Gerinel took the blows, fixing his gaze on the sky above and the stars watching over him, even as Gaedren screamed for the boy to look at him, even as he ripped the amulet from his neck and cast it to the cobblestones, breaking it like a cheap bauble. It was only when strangers investigating the noise came that Gaedren ran like a frightened hare, leaving Gerinel lying bloodied in the street, but mercifully still alive.

It was around this time that the caravan Gerinel had watched the year before had returned to Korvosa, and he immediately sought out the elder who'd spoken to him before. He showed her the broken amulet, showed her the still-healing wounds he bore and he begged her to take him with the caravan. He feared that if he stayed in the city even one more night, Gaedren would make sure he did not see the next sunrise. She reassured the wailing boy, and spoke with her kin, who welcomed Gerinel as if a long-lost cousin, and when the caravan did depart, he came with them.

In his years with the wanderers, Gerinel grew into a handsome and proud man. His adoptive family taught him more of Desna's ways, as well as how to defend himself and his new family from the dangers of the road, and he was surprised when his dreams turned prophetic and he came to see how Desna's blessing had been with him all his life, keeping him from the worst of Gaedren's wrath and allowing him to survive. As he grew into manhood, his dreams began to manifest in the waking world with the powers of a priest, a day of joyous celebration for the caravan. In time, they returned to Korvosa once more, a time Gerinel used to dread, but now welcomed, as he felt it was now time for Gaedren Lamm's luck to run out. When a letter came to him shortly after his arrival asking to meet someone else Gaedren had wronged, he smiled a grim smile, for it seemed fortune was guiding him towards the justice he sought...

Dwarven Spiritualist 1
NG Medium humanoid (Dwarf)
Init +7; Senses Darkvision 60 ft Perception +2

Defense
AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 14 (1d8+6)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +4

Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee Kumade +3 (1d6+4/x3) or
Melee Sickle +3 (1d6+3)

Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks None

Spiritualist Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +3)
. . 1st (2/day)— Shield, Cure light wounds
. . 0 (at will)—Detect Magic, Stabilize, Guidance, Light

Statistics
Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 7
BAB +0; CMB +3; CMD 13

Feats Toughness, Improved Initiative
Traits Orphaned, Reactionary

Skills
Heal +6 (2 Wis, 1 Rank, 3 Class)
K. Local +4 (0 Int, 1 Rank, 3 Class)
Sense Motive +6/+9 (2 Wis, 1 Rank, 3 class, (3 Skill Focus))
Survival +7 (2 Wis, 1 Rank, 3 Class, 1 Trait)

Background Skills
Slight of Hand +2 (1 Dex, 1 Rank)
Profession (Herbalist) +6 (2 Wis, 1 Rank, 3 Class)

Languages Common, Dwarven

Wooden Armor, Kumade, Sickle x2, Vest (Tweed) (5gp), Broach (Silver Mother Seal) (20gp), Signet Ring (Family Seal) (5gp)

Wealth
3gp

Encumbrance
Light 0-76 lbs.
Medium 77-153 lbs.
Heavy 154-230 lbs.
Current Load 35 Ibs.

Class Abilities
Phantom (dedication foci)
Shared Consciousness
Etheric Tether

Racial Abilities
Unstoppable Some dwarves train from a young age to outlast orcs on the battlefield. They gain Toughness as a bonus feat and a +1 racial bonus on Fortitude saves. This racial trait replaces hardy
Lasting Grudge Dwarves are notorious for their long-lasting grudges. Those who live up to this racial reputation gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against any individual creature that has attacked them 1 day ago or longer. This racial trait replaces defensive training and hatred.
Stability Dwarves gain a +4 racial bonus to their Combat Maneuver Defense when resisting a bull rush or trip attempt while standing on the ground.
Greed Dwarves gain a +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks made to determine the price of non-magical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones.
Stonecunning Dwarves gain a +2 bonus on Perception checks to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone walls or floors. They receive a check to notice such features whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking.
Darkvision Dwarves can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.
Weapon Familiarity Dwarves are proficient with battleaxes, heavy picks, and warhammers, and treat any weapon with the word “dwarven” in its name as a martial weapon.

Haine Autrefois was born in Midland to Sabine a moderately wealthy dwarven herbalist, his father left before he was born. Sabine made medicinal tinctures for the nobility and common folk throughout Korvosa but unbeknownst to Haine most of her money came from selling tinctures and poisons to petty criminals throughout the city. Nonetheless, she taught Haine the more benign aspects of her trade well dealing with all who had the money for her fees.

Most of Haine’s early youth was fairly idyllic, he helped with growing plants and grinding herbs well playing with friends. But his fates would change significantly when he was 13. Sabine had been dealing with Gaedren Lamm a new crime lord in the city who was on the rise creating tinctures that put drinkers to sleep. Gaedren came into the Autrefois’ shop and Sabine sent Haine out. This was not unusual, Sabine generally delt with customers alone. What was unusual however was that after 2 hours Sabine still had not come to bring Haine back in.

After three hours Haine came back to the door of the shop and found it locked, he snuck around trying to break in but couldn't find a way so he reported the incident to Guards who came and eventually broke into the shop, finding no one there. He stayed there by himself that night and the next morning was called by the guard. When he reported to them they said they had found a body that they needed him to identify. They took Haine to the Gray, where he saw three pieces of his mother, half buried in a makeshift grave. He identified her and rushed back to the shop to morn.

That night he snuck back to the Grey and looked at the sight. When he arrived, a light blue ghostly figure began to rise from the ground where Sabine’s body had been, it looked like Sabine but slightly off, Hanie couldn’t initially put his finder on how but started to run. As he did he heard a voice in his head, Sabines voice, calling for him. He turned back and the voice said ”I couldn’t leave you here alone, not with him” Haine felt strangely comfortable, he began to approach the spirit, as he got closer it floated towards him and when they touched it disappeared into him. He heard his mother again whisper to him ”I will be here with you, always”

Despite his newfound ally Haine found his life upended, as he was under age he couldn’t own property, so the town took the store he had lived in for all his life leaving him homeless and orphaned. He quickly learned to live on the street, he begged borrowed or stole his way to food whenever he could and when he couldn’t learned to make do or hunt the vermin of the town with the aid of his mother. He also found that he was able to heal his wounds when he was bitten by rats simply by focusing on them and asking his mother. He found himself adapting becoming more and more resilient and faster to react every day and week and year that passed.

Haine spent the next 25 years scavenging for food and goods, creating tinctures from what he remembered as his mother lost much of her mind when she died even though she stayed behind. He found his way to some basic armor and makeshift weapons stolen from farmers in order to try and get enough to fight his way though the crime of the city to Gaedren himself to make him pay for his mother’s life.

Haine’s personality is quite underdeveloped, he stopped having traditional developmental paths at 13 leading to him sometimes reacting to things as a child might, still well in his adolescence. He has trouble relating to others but is quite polite. He often accidently puts his foot in his mouth when speaking not knowing social faux pas. He also has become a bit jumpy from his time on the streets and is very protective of Sabine.

Haine is a young Dwarf standing at 3’11” with black hair and a small beard. He has scars all up his arms and a few on his face, one long one under his left eye as well as a chunk taken out of his chin on the right side of his jaw. He has green eyes and wears clothes that clearly are cobbled together from scraps he found around the city. His armor seems homemade from pieces of wood he found that seemed to fit together.

Phantom (Devotion) 1
NG Medium Outsider (Phantom)
Init +2; Senses Darkvision 60 ft Perception +4

Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Natural Armor, +2 Dex)
hp 14 (1d10+4)
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +4

Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Slam +2/+2 (1d6+1/x2)

Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks Dutiful Strike

Statistics
Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 7, Wis 10, Cha 13
BAB +1; CMB +2; CMD 14

Feats Toughness, Iron Will
[spoiler=Skills:]
Skills
Diplomacy +5 (1 Cha, 1 Rank, 3 Class)
Intimidate +5 (1 Cha, 1 Rank, 3 Class)
Perception +4 (0 Wis, 1 Rank, 3 class)
Sense Motive +4 (0 Wis, 1 Rank, 3 Class)

Languages Common, Dwarven

None

Wealth
None

Encumbrance
Light 0-43 lbs.
Medium 44-86 lbs.
Heavy 87-130 lbs.
Current Load: None.

Class Abilities
Dutiful Srike
Darkvision The phantom has darkvision out to a range of 60 feet.
Link A spiritualist and her phantom share a mental link that allows for communication across distances (as long as they are on the same plane). This communication is a free action that can be performed even when it isn’t the spiritualist’s turn, but the spiritualist and the phantom must both be conscious to communicate in this way. This allows the spiritualist to give orders to her phantom at any time. Magic items interfere with a spiritualist’s connection to her phantom; as a result, the spiritualist and her phantom share magic item slots.
For example, if the spiritualist is wearing a magic ring, her phantom can wear only one magic ring. In the case of a conflict, the items worn by the spiritualist remain active, and those worn by the phantom become dormant.
The phantom must possess the appropriate appendages to utilize a magic item.
Share Spells The spiritualist can cast a spell with a target of “you” on her phantom (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on herself. A spiritualist can cast spells from the spiritualist spell list on her phantom even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the phantom’s type (outsider). This ability does not allow the phantom to share abilities that aren’t spells, even if they function like spells.

Sabine kept some of her personality from life but mostly kept the nurturing aspects of it. She largely cares for protecting and supporting Haine. She can be persuasive to people she speaks with but most cant get past her appearance.

Sabine looks like an older dwarven woman with kind eyes and long hair, she stands around 4’5” tall but her entire body and clothing are made of a light blue ectoplasm. In addition, something feels off about her appearance. She looks like she’s been drowned, her eyes are sunken slightly too far, her body looks slimy, her fingers are wrinkled and all of her skin is sagging slightly.

Haine and Sabine fit in well as tanks, they have quite high Hit points and are both quite passable in combat. Haine also is a half caster and will come into himself casting later in the game as a supportive caster

Second son of a successful merchant family. With an insatiable desire for knowledge and with his brother set to inherit the family business, Carl focused on more scholarly pursuits, eventually applying for the Korvosan Academy.

He quickly became disillusioned with the way things were ran at the Acadamae and dropped out during his first year, instead applying to the Theomanexus college. And while he did keep a bigger focus on the subject of divination magic, he did appreciate the more holistic approach to the practice and study of magic proposed by the College, and eventually got a position as an assistant professor after graduation.

During his college years, he would often spend his time studying at the courtyard of the Sanctuary of Shelyn, appreciating the music often played by the more musically inclined accolytes. It was here that he met Lisa, the acolytes whose music always seemed to impact him the most. After some time, they eventually fell in love, and had two children. The oldest, Peter, takes after his mother and is becoming a talented musician, while their youngest, Alicia, seems a bit more interested in learning magic.

Alicia went missing one dreadful day at the market. With the Korvosan Guard occupied with "more important matters", Carl took a leave from his work and set out on his own to do whatever he can towards reacuing his child. Things seem to point towards a particular criminal called Gaedren who seems to focus on kidnapping children to have them work as pickpockets at the markets. Not being a fighter himself, he started looking for other people who might have suffered at the hands of this criminal, hoping they can join forces and bring him down.

Like most Korvosans, Carl presents himself as a confident and well-dressed man, with a short beard and a pair of glasses.

Contrary to what his appearance might suggest, however, he is easy to talk to, knowing how to pick his words to ensure he is understood and eager to share his knowledge with anyone who is interested.

Ever since his daughter went missing, however, his demeanor has darkened a bit and he has been extremely focused on getting her back.

Although he now carries a couple of weapons with him, careful onlookers will notice he doesn't seem at all confortable carrying them.

Neutral Good Medium Human Wizard 1;

Init 2; Senses Perception: +1

DEFENSE

AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10

hp 8

Fort 1, Ref 1, Will 3

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee Dagger -1 (1d4-1 19-20),

Ranged Light crossbow +1 (1d8 19-20),

STATISTICS

Str 8, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 19, Wis 10, Cha 10

Base Atk + +0; CMB -1; CMD 10

Feats Orator; Scribe Scroll; Skill Focus: Linguistics;

SQ Forewarned; Prescience; Spellbooks; Opposition Schools: Enchantment; Necromancy; Schools: Specialized: Foresight;

Skills Knowledge (arcana) +8; Knowledge (dungeoneering) +8; Knowledge (history) +8; Knowledge (local) +8; Knowledge (nature) +8; (religion) +8; Linguistics +11; Perception +1; Profession(Teacher)+4; Spellcraft +8;

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DEFENSE
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AC 10, touch 10, flat-footed 10
hp 7 (6 +1 fcb)
Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +3

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OFFENSE
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee Dagger -1 (1d4-1 19-20),

Ranged Light Crossbow +0 (1d8)

Prepared Spells (CL 1; (3/3+1/0/0/0/0/0/0/0), concentration +6)
1st (3+1/day)- Grease x2, Mage armor, Heightened awareness
0th (at will)- Daze (DC 15) (2 slots); Detect Magic

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STATISTICS
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Str 8, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 9
Feats Orator; Scribe Scroll; Skill Focus: Linguistics;
Traits Missing Child (Son or Daughter), Tireless Logic
SQ Arcane Bond: Bonded Object (Ring); Forewarned; Prescience; Opposition Schools: Enchantment; Necromancy; Schools: Specialized: Foresight;

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Skills (8 + 2 background per level - 8 ranks, 2 background ranks)
Knowledge (Arcane) +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int));
Knowledge (History) +9 (1 background rank, 3 class, 5 int));
Knowledge (Local) +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int));
Knowledge (Nature) +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int));
Knowledge (Religion) +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int));
Knowledge (Planes) +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int));
Linguistics +12 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int, 3 focus));
Perception +1 (1 rank, 0 wis);
Profession (Teacher) +4 (1 background rank, 3 class, 0 wis);
Spellcraft +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 5 int));

Equipment
5 gp, 4 sp, 4 cp
10x Bolt(s), crossbow (10); 5x Torch; Backpack, common; Chalk (1 piece); Flint and steel; Outfit, Scholar's; Potion of Cure light wounds; Pouch, spell components; Spellbook; Waterskin;

Extra costs: 12,5 gp scroll of daze, 5 gp add to spellbook
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Spellbook
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Spells
0th level: All Wizard except Necromancy and Enchantment + Daze
1st level: Feather Fall; Grease; Heightened Awareness; Liberating Command; Mage Armor; Monkey Fish; Obscuring Mist; Silent Image;