Meet the Iconics: Adowyn

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Today we introduce the next of the new iconic characters from the Advanced Class Guide: Adowyn the hunter. Adowyn will also be a playable character in the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Wrath of the Righteous set due for release in February 2015.

There’s always a need for a skilled hunter, someone who can track down a threat and put an end to it. And when a quarry is particularly dangerous or elusive, there’s only one hunter the people seek: Adowyn.

Born to a pair of skilled woodworkers in the quiet town of Crowstump on the northern border of Nirmathas, Adowyn was always a wild child, more comfortable sneaking around in the mud chasing the town rooster than practicing her letters or learning to carve. She grew up surrounded by peoples from far-away lands, merchants and traders who had come to make deals with her parents. Fascinated by their stories, Adowyn was eager to see the world beyond, and when a journey with her father finally gave her that chance at the age of 14, she was overjoyed.


Illustration by Wayne Reynolds

That joy was short-lived, however. Not a day after Adowyn and her father left home for the dark forest trails of the Fangwood, a diseased bear charged into their camp, savaging Adowyn’s father before she could even cry out. Using the bow her father had carved for her, she sank arrow after arrow into the beast, tears streaming down her cheeks. At last the bear fell. The creature was dead—but so was her father.

Lost in the woods, Adowyn found herself in the Blight, an area of the Fangwood where the trees grew thick with disease and rot. Worse still, she found that no matter which direction she walked, all paths led back to her meager camp. She spent six months alone there, hunting and scavenging what food she could find and honing her skills at the hunt. The beasts of the Blight were cunning and deadly, and making her the prey nearly as often as she was the predator. Yet all of that changed when she found Leryn.

Wounded by a fight with a rotting treant, the lean gray wolf was limping through a clearing when Adowyn chanced upon him. She knew right away that the wolf was not from this place, but rather was trapped in the Blight like she was. She approached him with a scrap of meat from her most recent kill, earning his trust. Over the following month, she nursed the wolf back to health and named him Leryn, after her father. She soon found that she could sense his mood, knowing instinctively when he was hungry, angry, or excited. They shared much with each other in those first months. She exulted in his feral appetites, his thrill of the hunt, and he learned to calm his urges, gaining her patience and determination.

Years passed, and the two became an inseparable team, learning to anticipate each other’s moves and hunting together as one. Now the whole of the forest was their prey, but still they could not escape the Blight. Indeed, the rot in the wood seemed to be growing worse by the day, and neither hunter could shake the sense of something just beyond their reach, stalking them but never revealing itself.

For months the tension grew. Adowyn and Leryn slept in shifts, keeping watch over their small hovel. Finally, in the dead of night, their mysterious watcher revealed itself, smashing the side of their home while unleashing a terrifying howl. Rolling out of the debris, Adowyn and Leryn rose to face the threat.

A gigantic bear rose up before them. Like the beast that killed her father, this one too was poxed, but it was far larger, with a sickly green foam spilling from its lips. Leryn leapt upon it, clawing and biting at its flank while Adowyn drew forth her bow. Taking aim, she sunk a shaft deep into its left eye. With an agonizing growl, the bear shook loose the wolf and tore off into the woods, with Adowyn and her friend in hot pursuit.

The chase lasted until dawn, when the Leryn's fangs finally managed to sink into the bear’s throat, bringing it down. The pair stopped over their kill to admire their work, and it was only then that they realized they were no longer in the Blight.

It was by sheer chance that they found their way to Crystalhurst, a community of druids in the southern Fangwood. They stayed there for a while, regaining their strength and sharing what they had learned with the druids, who swore to put an end to the Blight. The druids thought that Adowyn might make a fine disciple for their order, but her bond to Leryn perplexed them, as it was stronger than any they had ever known. In the end, they excitedly concluded that the pair must be something new entirely, and were eager to study them. Yet while Adowyn learned a great deal in her short time there, Crystalhurst was not a place she meant to stay. Soon, she and Leryn set out once more, intent upon returning home to see Adowyn’s mother and sister.

The young woman who returned to Crowstump was nothing like the girl that had left. The townsfolk kept their distance from her and the fierce wolf that padded along behind her. Returning to her home, she found only strangers. It seems that her mother and sister, heartbroken after the loss of Adowyn and her father, had left years ago to start a new life somewhere less troubled by painful memories.

In the years since that day, Adowyn has wandered the Inner Sea with Leryn at her side, working as bounty hunter. She’s stalked a naga through the bleak wastes of Osirion, brought back a master thief from the sewers of Oppara, and even managed to recover the tail feathers of the elusive Jade Hawk without harming the reclusive bird. The only quarry she hasn’t managed to track down is her own family, but that search never ends—one day, she’ll be reunited with her loved ones.

Adowyn is never found without Leryn by her side. To others, she is quiet and brooding, but she can frequently be found having animated conversations with her wolf, as if he were responding in kind. She wears the armor and garb of the rangers of Nirmathas, a gift she was given after hunting down a patrol of Molthuni regulars that were stalking behind the lines terrorizing small villages. The bow she carries is her father’s, a weapon she treats with reverence. In battle, Adowyn and Leryn single out their foes with grim determination.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer

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Tags: Hunter Iconics Meet the Iconics Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Wayne Reynolds
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Ambrosia Slaad wrote:
TOZ wrote:
Canon is fluid.
{ponders "printer ink ooze"}

imagines a medium-sized ooze that drops down a size category every time it moves across a square occupied by a lone sheet of paper


Deadmanwalking wrote:
WolfenFenris wrote:
Wonderful story, but I hate to see the people of Golarion consider the ACG classes as "something new".

I don't think they're new so much as they're rare...and thus seen as new by a particular isolated community who hadn't seen one before.

And I quite like Adowyn and Lykir. They seem like very solid Iconics.

Classes being a "thing" in universe is jarring especially since it's usually not brought up. If they just said "it seemed like she was more attuned to her animal companion than nature magic, an unique trait they had not encountered before" then it'd have thrown a bone to her rare-ness but wouldn't acknowledge classes as an in-universe thing.


Love the artwork. Nice story too. Looking forward to the book next week.

Grand Lodge

3 people marked this as a favorite.

I don't see anything there acknowledging classes, since druid is also a profession in world. And they don't say anything about her class, just her bond.

I just hope WizKids gets her mini right when the time comes.


Generally not a fan of Wayne Renolds art. However, I like this piece, best of the new classes.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Backstory is meh, much like the class.

However, I think Adowyn is now my waifu.

Spoiler:
Ow! Ow! Stop it! Those rocks hurt!


3 people marked this as a favorite.

Not only redheaded, but properly dressed too. So I can have a big picture of her without the wife complaining.

Still got weird feet, though. I think Wayne's parents were killed by heels or something.

Scarab Sages

Funny to see all the Ygritte references, since last fortnight I introduced a (playtest version) Hunter as my new PFS character, and upon having to deal with a particularly naive NPC, I gave him the old "YOU KNOW NOTHIN' [inset NPC name here]!", which came out during a pause in the background noise, and carried across the room to some amusement.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Lemmy wrote:
The art is great. The character's background story, OTOH, is not very creative or interesting, IMHO.

Yeah, not my favorite backstory to date. It reminded me too much of Merida from the movie, Brave, right down to her father getting attacked by a bear...

The class didn't strike me as too exciting during the playtest either, so here's hoping it got some nice revamps.

Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to making Kristoff and his trusty reindeer companion, Sven.

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I want the mini, with wolf please.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Fitz and Nighteyes! I am now 100% sold on Hunter fitting into a niche fluff-wise.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Ravingdork wrote:
Lemmy wrote:
The art is great. The character's background story, OTOH, is not very creative or interesting, IMHO.

Yeah, not my favorite backstory to date. It reminded me too much of Merida from the movie, Brave, right down to her father getting attacked by a bear...

The class didn't strike me as too exciting during the playtest either, so here's hoping it got some nice revamps.

Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to making Kristoff and his trusty reindeer companion, Sven.

Not sure if there will be an ice merchant archetype though...

;)


James Sutter's posts from the future are messing up the thread.


I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.


Trent formaldehime wrote:
I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.

Did you drink too much cough medicine earlier?

Ravingdork wrote:
Lemmy wrote:
The art is great. The character's background story, OTOH, is not very creative or interesting, IMHO.

Yeah, not my favorite backstory to date. It reminded me too much of Merida from the movie, Brave, right down to her father getting attacked by a bear...

Huh... Totally didn't catch that...


I like the story a lot. I am curious, though. While her time in the forest and with Leryn explains a big part of her hunter abilities, what about the divine magic? I assume she ended up learning that either instinctively from being stuck in the Fangwood or she learned it from the druids?


Ya know, I read this story on my lunch hour and thought it was great. But I was in a hurry and I moved on. As my day has gone on, however, I have continued to think about it. I think this is my favorite of the ACG iconics' backstories yet. It is the first one that made me think "Yeah! I'd love to play that character!" The Blight in those woods was a really cool setting to imagine and now I want to adventure there, too. Kudos to Bulmahn.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
WolfenFenris wrote:
Trent formaldehime wrote:
I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.
Did you drink too much cough medicine earlier?

A crow is a nickname for a member of the Night's Watch


Rynjin wrote:
James Sutter's posts from the future are messing up the thread.

Time travel ruins everything.

Shadow Lodge

She looks awesome, but I bet she was a Wildcaller once though because wolves don't normally gave symbols on their foreheads...


Dragonborn3 wrote:
She looks awesome, but I bet she was a Wildcaller once though because wolves don't normally gave symbols on their foreheads...

That makes me wonder... Does any iconic use archetypes?


4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Trent formaldehime wrote:
I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.

Oh?

Dark Archive

Trent formaldehime wrote:
I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.

She looks more wildling than crow I think, but either way pretty awesome picture and interesting background, can't wait to get my hands on the book and check it out.


Lemmy wrote:
Dragonborn3 wrote:
She looks awesome, but I bet she was a Wildcaller once though because wolves don't normally gave symbols on their foreheads...
That makes me wonder... Does any iconic use archetypes?

I would say yes and no. Though by the NPC Codex and the old Pregenerated Character listings, they're usually vanilla. Though it seems like some of the archetypes, Giant Slayer Barbarian and Tattooed Sorcerer for example, seem to be based off them.

On the other hand, Animal Archive does have Alain specifically done as that hunting Cavalier archetype.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Ooooo, loving the art and backstory! My favorite new iconic, hands down.


Set wrote:

Woo! Big-hipped red-haired warrior woman is on the prowl! Back away all you white-haired bundles of twigs!

Are you referring to Seoni and Feiya, and possibly Seltyiel too? :D

Dark Archive

Bellona wrote:
Set wrote:

Woo! Big-hipped red-haired warrior woman is on the prowl! Back away all you white-haired bundles of twigs!

Are you referring to Seoni and Feiya, and possibly Seltyiel too? :D

Yeah, but not Ezren. He's got a valid reason to have white hair (he's old!) and, for a dude with Str 10, he's got some guns (or maybe that's just him cheating with disguise self...).


I do like the art for Adowyn, although her right foot in particular looks wrong.

Her backstory sounds fairly standard. Yet more dead/missing family members. :(


How does she have a level 1 stats block? The two bears alone puts her at level 2.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Mudfoot wrote:

Not only redheaded, but properly dressed too. So I can have a big picture of her without the wife complaining.

Still got weird feet, though. I think Wayne's parents were killed by heels or something.

I think he just plays too much Fire Emblem: Awakening. But hey, after that Lucina/My Unit reveal I think a lot of people picked the game up again.

And for the record, I love the art (and character) even if she does have weird heel-less feet.


Great art. At least a red-haired Iconic.

Shadow Lodge

Cool but I'm surprised it wasn't a male Elf. As it stands I thought that was the 1 sex race combo we were missing, unless the Alchemist is supposed to be a full blooded elf?


Lemmy wrote:
The art is great. The character's background story, OTOH, is not very creative or interesting, IMHO.

Concur with this.

The art really does remind me of Ygritte, too. And I think there are enough animal companions and familiars for a module where you play as them, in the vein of We Be Goblins.

Liberty's Edge

doc the grey wrote:
Cool but I'm surprised it wasn't a male Elf. As it stands I thought that was the 1 sex race combo we were missing, unless the Alchemist is supposed to be a full blooded elf?

Damiel is indeed a full Elf. And looks it. We have no race/gender combos missing.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Deadmanwalking wrote:
doc the grey wrote:
Cool but I'm surprised it wasn't a male Elf. As it stands I thought that was the 1 sex race combo we were missing, unless the Alchemist is supposed to be a full blooded elf?
Damiel is indeed a full Elf. And looks it. We have no race/gender combos missing.

Male Half-Orc?

EDIT: Oh derp the Warpriest. For some reason I was picturing the Bloodrager as both...well...the Bloodrager and the Warpriest.

Lantern Lodge

Trent formaldehime wrote:
WolfenFenris wrote:
Trent formaldehime wrote:
I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.
Did you drink too much cough medicine earlier?
A crow is a nickname for a member of the Night's Watch

You know nothing, Jon Snow...


Love the art of this one! First time I find an iconic female with a beautiful face; I don't know why but Adowyn's face reminds me of those beautiful faces that Larry Elmore did. I think it must be the way the eyes were drawn here.

Though the background uses usual tragic family death, I still love it here. I like the idea of hope here (both for Adowyn & her family).

My top 3 for me now are Zadim,Quinn & Adowyn.


I just have to love all of the animal friends we have so far. Leryn is a great addition.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

It's mostly the wolf animal companion (iconic in more ways than one!), but Adowyn puts me in mind of 3e's druid iconic.


Zark wrote:
Great art. At least a red-haired Iconic.

I meant: At last a red-haired Iconic :)


Ravingdork wrote:
Trent formaldehime wrote:
I think if the armor was a different color, she would look like a crow.
Oh?

*slowly claps*

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

She's gorgeous. Ginger with freckles, soooooo fricking HOT. Jirelle and Adowyn are my two fave new iconics.

Dark Archive

2 people marked this as a favorite.

So a red head that is really good with a bow that kills bears... is it me or is that just a remake of brave? :P


Nice artwork I like it and the character.
Except for the bow which as an archer looks all wrong to me. So how to make the picture work?
Guess her dads bow is now very worn out so she can't use the top notch anymore (must be magic or it would have broken). And the arrow is knocked so far down so she can add a second one on top and shot two arrows at once.


Lemmy wrote:
Dragonborn3 wrote:
She looks awesome, but I bet she was a Wildcaller once though because wolves don't normally gave symbols on their foreheads...
That makes me wonder... Does any iconic use archetypes?

I think by default they don't, but occasionally we see theoretical archetyped 'versions' of them to illustrate a particular concept. (like the Tattooed Sorcerer artwork)


The moment I saw her name I knew she was from Nirmathas. Nothing says generic fantasyland quite like gratuitous Welsh.

(Don't worry, there's not much depth or passion to my mini-rant.)


James Jacobs has said the "Ask Merisiel" thread that all the iconics have to vanilla or else they wouldn't be "iconic." In fairness though, he did say that back when only the core was out...

Scarab Sages Contributor

DeciusNero wrote:

Her and Lini need to have some small story together! :D

Ooh, agree with this!

Really love this iconic, by the way. :D Adowyn rocks.

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