GM Peachbottom's War for the Crown

Game Master Peachbottom

Most of Tychus's early memories revolved around the constant feeling of hunger. The Narrows can be quite inhospitable to the weak, but the family was accustomed to it. They made do by skipping meals, performing menial labour for copper coins, gambling, or in the really hard months, theft.

Tychus's father, Albern, was a tinker of unusual talent, especially considering his family. He developed clocks and other tiny mechanisms for his shop in the Narrows, along with his gnomish colleagues. They didn't make much money after paying for the material costs, but at least it was something.

After some nobles happened upon his shop by accident, they were enthralled by the beauty and quality of his work, and offered to sponsor a workshop for him in Grandbridge. The family was ecstatic, finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. No longer would they have to scrape by, saving every copper for foods and necessities. For a while they thrived, living a comfortable life they were unaccustomed to.

This was short lived, however. As business started to boom, other merchants in the area started to take notice. At first it was just competing sales and aggressive counter-advertisement. But soon legal notices started appearing, accusing his father or copyright violations or other nonsense offences. Regardless of his obvious innocence, he was quickly inundated in legal proceedings and fines. The system that was supposed to be there to protect the people was being used to oppress it. And no one cared.

One fateful night, Tychus came home to find his father's workshop ablaze. Once the flames were put out, he discovered that his parents had perished inside, his father's remains sitting at his usual worktable. He couldn't prove it, but he had the awful nagging feeling that the arson was self-inflicted.

Thus, parent-less and homeless, he had no choice but to return to his family's ancestral grounds, the Narrows, with nothing but a few gears and gadgets left over from his father. Luckily his years there had hardened and honed his ability to stay alive.

A few years later, a merchant cart happened to get stuck in the mud near his hovel. He offered to help the old man leading the cart with getting the cart moving. Within the man's cloak he noticed and odd golden key hanging from his neck. Upon looking into the cart, he noticed several sacks bulging with what he assumed was gold. In a moment of weakness, he sneakily tucked one of the sacks into his clothes. Once the old man was on his way, he peeked inside the sack, and saw several silver pieces, and a single golden coin bearing the same odd key shape from the man's necklace.

With hunger gnawing at his thoughts, he started to head to the nearby market, when his attention was caught by some men huddling in an alley. He could hear the sound of dice clattering, and his heart started to race. If he managed to double (or even quadruple!) his money, he'd be eating nicely for the next little while.

So off he went. He emptied the entire contents of his newly acquired sack. The men eagerly accepted his wager and the game was off. But the gods had decreed that on this day, luck would not be on his side. With one fel swoop of the dice, his money was gone. He shuffled off dejectedly, and lay on the ground with his back against the wall as the rain started to pour.

His vision started to blur, and he raised his hand to the sky, rejecting his fate in life. As he lowered his hand, he noticed, sitting in his palm, the very same golden key coin from earlier, somehow still in his possession. A voice, as if coming from the coin, beseeched him on a deep level, to stand. Not only out of the mud he was wallowing in, but to stand against them. The corrupt. The greedy. Those misusing the law for their own benefits.Those who took his parents from him. And so Abadar bade him.

His legs, acting as if of their own mind, stood him up and started walking. He didn't stop until he found himself at the entrance of a cathedral. The doors bore a now familiar golden key. Inside he found the old man from before, bearing a knowing smile. He spread out both of his arms, in one he collected the golden coin, and the other, took Tychus by the hand.

His next few years were at least filled with meaningful work and a full belly. His fathers gears he managed to put to use in a wonderfully crafted crossbow, a reminder of what he was fighting for.

He spent his days at the church, but at night he sought to right the wrongs of Taldor. He wouldn't rest until the corrupt systems that propped up this rotting government were torn down. Whether through due process or through a bolt from his crossbow, he aimed to free his poor countrymen from years of oppression.

Through this, he gained the attention of Lady Lotheed.

A large crossbow can usually be found strapped to his back, with several pommels sticking out of his clothes at odd angles.

While most Abadarans sport clean and bright clothes, his rarely stay that way for long. Grime and mud seem to cling to him, regardless of his efforts. His gold and silver vestments are covered by a dark cloak bearing Abadar's golden key symbol.

While not conventionally charming, he still has a way with words, especially with those of lower standings. Upper-class families find him off-putting and awkward.

Oddly well learned for a kid from the streets, he uses his analytical mind to figure out the best course of action in all situations. He maintains an increasing knowledge of Taldor and her laws. Those who break these laws for personal gains are greeted with cold contempt.

• -30 years old
• -I live in EST
• -I've been playing PF for over a decade now
• -Used to be in quite a few in-person groups, but due to the birth of my son I had to scale back to 1/month
• -Finished several in-person APs, but have yet to finish a PBP AP

While she studied, she drifted over to a nearby temple of Shelyn. The group were interested in beautifying the Narrows as to help liven up the district. It was difficult work, but she managed to pass both schools at about the same time.

It was shortly after she graduated that she came in contact with Martella. The investigator was impressed with her skills with magic and knew that bringing in an unknown could work to her advantage. While Trac would prefer to abolish the monarchy, she would rather have Eutropia in power than anyone else who are less inclined to reform Taldor. She has learned that compromise is the best strategy to achieve one's goals, and she plans to keep her current goals aside in the hopes of steering Taldor to a better future...

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Statistics
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Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 11

FEATS
Improved Initiative, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Diplomacy)
TRAITS
Young Reformer: Perhaps you were born at the bottom of Taldan society and you’re tired of seeing your friends and family toil endlessly with no hope of a better life, or maybe your privileged outlook was shattered by empathy or tragedy. Either way, you know the system is broken, and you’ve dedicated your life to fixing it. But tradition rules Taldor as much as any Grand Prince, and change requires more influence than you have... so far. You’ve got a few friends and allies, and plenty of determination, but while you work toward the power you need to change the nation, you’ll have to resort to more discrete ways of righting wrongs and curbing the abuses of the upper class. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Disable Device and Knowledge (local) checks, and one of these skills is always a class skill for you. Once per day, you can call upon your coconspirators to have “made arrangements” on your behalf, allowing you to attempt a Knowledge (local) check in place of a single Bluff, Disable Device, Intimidate, or Sleight of Hand check. The DC of this Knowledge (local) check is equal to the DC of the skill check it replaces. Whatever arrangements you make—for doors left unlocked, guards strong-armed out of your way, stolen keys left for you to find—must be reasonable to have anticipated and achieved beforehand; you could arrange to have a noble convinced you’re a very important diplomat traveling in disguise, for example, but if a fight breaks out you could not rely on your network of contacts to feint for you in combat. You don’t have to use this ability in advance; you can announce its use as you encounter a challenge, implying you foresaw this challenge and made arrangements prior to your arrival.

Ease of Faith: You gain a +1 bonus on Diplomacy checks, and Diplomacy is always a class skill for you.

Skills: +7 Appraise, +10 Diplomacy, +8 Knowledge (arcana, nobility, religion), +9 Knowledge (local), +8 Linguistics, +3 Sense Motive, +8 Spellcraft,

Languages Common, Celestial, Elven, Hallit, Kelish, Tien-Han

dagger, light crossbow, 50 bolts, amulet
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Special Abilities
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Arcade Bond

At 1st level, wizards form a powerful bond with an object or a creature. This bond can take one of two forms: a familiar or a bonded object. A familiar is a magical pet that enhances the wizard’s skills and senses and can aid him in magic, while a bonded object is an item a wizard can use to cast additional spells or to serve as a magical item. Once a wizard makes this choice, it is permanent and cannot be changed.

Hand of the Apprentice (Su)

You cause your melee weapon to fly from your grasp and strike a foe before instantly returning to you. As a standard action, you can make a single attack using a melee weapon at a range of 30 feet. This attack is treated as a ranged attack with a thrown weapon, except that you add your Intelligence modifier on the attack roll instead of your Dexterity modifier (damage still relies on Strength). This ability cannot be used to perform a combat maneuver. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.

Though she is a master jeweler in her own right, her skills in negotiating, trends, and the market has made the family business grow. They have two shops in Oppara and her brother Galdur XXI recently opened a third in Absalom. While there, he befriended one Lady Moriella(sp?) and learned some interesting things about the Taldan nobility which he shared with his sister. As surprised as Bragidis was to learn of these, the signs were clear to see once she knew where to look. Her noble cliental and her reputation for fine jewelry have provided ample opportunity for her to look ever since. Eventually she discovered a kindred spirit in Lady Martella Lotheed.

Afraid that her second child was becoming too comfortable being noble-adjacent she sent the young dwarf to Absalom. The recent death of her father meant Bragidis is no longer the eldest child, but now is the head of the family. The role has been difficult as many of her father’s contacts only see her as the ‘jeweler’s daughter.’

Freed of the many responsibilities of a mother she is taking on more responsibilities of the family leader. And that means it is her responsibility to bring nobility back to the nobles.