No-Prep Character: Gristleburst

The goblin alchemist Gristleburst is the fourth and final member of the protagonist adventuring party in the Pathfinder novella, The Shroud of Four Silences, by Pathfinder Tales veteran Liane Merciel. You can find the No-Prep Character (NPC) entries for his compatriots, Eleukas, Lisavet, and Wendlyn, on previous blogs. Check out the party’s full adventure here on paizo.com or on the Kindle bookstore.

Gristleburst, Inquisitive Pyromaniac

Gristleburst grew up among the Gullcracker goblins outside of Otari, but he was always a loner. His irrepressible curiosity and keen mind for chemistry earned him few friends among the goblins, even though his firebombs were always a source of good fun. When the Gullcrackers were killed and reanimated as zombies, Gristleburst took on the lonely, sad task of putting down each one of his former kin. He now wanders the world as an alchemist-for-hire, just as eager to investigate unusual mysteries as he is to set things ablaze.

Gristleburst is an unreliable ally. He’s quick to make friends—particularly because he’s otherwise all alone in the world—but he frequently pursues his own ideals without consulting his allies and hurls his bombs with reckless glee.

Gristleburst, illustration by Valeria Dryzhak

Gristleburst — Creature 2

Unique, CN, Small, Goblin, Humanoid
Male goblin alchemist
Perception +7
Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Acrobatics +7, Crafting +8, Intimidation +6, Nature +7, Stealth +7, Survival +7
Str +1, Dex +3, Con +1, Int +4, Wis +1, Cha +0
Items alchemist’s tools, dagger, formula scraps (as formula book), goggles, infused reagents (2), studded leather
Infused Items Gristleburst carries the following infused items, which last for 24 hours or until the next time he makes his daily preparations: lesser acid flask (2), lesser alchemist’s fire (4), lesser eagle-eye elixir (2)

AC 18; Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +6
HP 30; Resistances fire 1
Speed 25 feet

Melee [one-action] dagger +9 (agile, versatile S); Damage 1d4+1 piercing

Ranged [one-action] lesser alchemist’s fire +11 (range increment 20 feet, splash); Damage 1d8+1 fire plus 2 persistent fire damage and 1 fire splash damage

Ranged [one-action] lesser acid flask +11 (range increment 20 feet, splash); Damage 1 acid plus 1d6 persistent acid damage plus 1 acid splash damage

Ranged [one-action] dagger +11 (agile, thrown 10 feet, versatile S); Damage 1d4+1 piercing

Quick Bomber [one-action] Gristleburst draws an alchemical bomb with an Interact action and throws it as a ranged Strike.

Quick Smoke Bomb [free-action] Cost 1 batch of infused reagents; Effect Gristleburst mixes up a short-lived lesser acid flask or lesser alchemist’s fire without attempting a Crafting check. It remains potent only until the end of his next turn. When he throws this bomb, in addition to its normal effects, it creates a cloud of smoke in a 10-foot radius burst. Creatures in that area have the concealed condition, and other creatures are concealed to them. This smoke lasts for 1 minute or until dissipated by a strong wind.

Plot Hooks

Game Masters might consider the following plot hooks as a means of integrating Gristleburst into any Pathfinder Second Edition game.

• When the heroes are following a treasure map through a dangerous wilderness, Gristleburst agrees to show them a safe path in exchange for a share of the loot.
• The heroes are hunting an arsonist, and Gristleburst can help identify blast patterns and accelerants the arsonist used to set the blaze.
• Gristleburst’s reckless alchemy inadvertently sets a stand of trees or a building on fire, and he needs urgent help to put the fire out before it spreads.

Ron Lundeen
Development Manager (Pathfinder)