About Aison BirosIntro:
Jared Stavros walked up the stairs quickly, his eyes scanning his surroundings. A shop in the Midlands district with an entrance on the second floor wasn't exactly like braving the Shingles, but it was closer than he'd like. He wouldn't be here if his friend hadn't given the place such a shining recommendation.
The store certainly looked the part. Dimly lit, the shelves were crowded with magical bric-a-brac that Jared couldn't recognize, but knew better than to touch. He instead occupied himself with trying to identify the incense suffusing the store, and examining one of the small paintings on the wall. The painting was vivid, even fantastical. A knight in armor was confronting a loathsome beast. The creature floated in midair, it's enormous eye matched by its fearsome jaw. The most disturbing thing about it, though, were the tentacles surrounding its face, each topped with another eyeball. Jared was trying to decipher how what purpose such a thing could possibly serve when a voice broke him out of his reverie. "An interesting selection." Jared spun around, barely suppressing the urge to cry out. Before him was the man he had come here to see: tall and foreboding, with a knowing look in his eye. A fine tracery of scars started at his right temple and decorated much of the side of his face, contributing to his intimidating appearance. He seemed pleasant enough, for now, but Jared had a feeling he didn't want to be on his bad side. "What is that thing?" "Ah," the man said, stepping up to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jared and gaze companionably at the picture, "now that is something of a mystery. Some say it is a creature from the time before time, a beast that used to terrorize adventurers before Golarion was even conceived." "Is that what you think?" "I think it's more likely a painting by a very creative artist. I do enjoy collecting such things," the man said, before clapping Jared on the shoulder. "But enough chit-chat. You're here about a very important contract negotiation." Jared gaped at the man for a moment, before the copper piece dropped. "Tavi told you about me." The man smiled as though Jared had passed some sort of test. "Indeed he did. I can grant you good fortune, but good fortune is little good to a fool." Jared wasn't quite sure how he felt about that, but held his peace as the man led him to a small table. They sat facing each other, and the man directed Jared to hold out his hands. Taking Jared's hands in his, the man began a low, sonorous chanting. Moments after he began, the light in the shop dimmed noticeably. Jared shifted slightly in his chair, but held steady. A scuttling sound seemed to come from just outside of his sight. Jared startled back, but found his hands held in an iron grip. He looked up in shock to see that the man's eyes had rolled back into his head, leaving only the whites visible. "The spirits are here! Focus on nothing but your goal!" Jared did his best to obey the command, focusing his every thought on the importance of securing the best possible deal for his family. With any luck this could be the contract that moved them up to the Heights. The man started chanting in the harsh syllables of a language Jared didn't understand. A moment later he stopped, and the light gradually returned to normal. He released Jared's hands with a sigh, then favored him with a friendly smile. "It is done. The spirits have blessed your endeavor." Jared didn't know quite what to say to that. He reached for his pouch, but the man held out a hand to stop him. "No. Once your bargain is struck, pay me what you feel is right." ooOoo Aison chuckled to himself as the young noble hurried out of the shop at a pace that was only just short of a run. With any luck the lad would credit him with all of the success his venture enjoyed, even though Aison was providing him with only a little nudge in the right direction. That poor lad was just begging to be conned by somebody; Aison felt downright virtuous to be providing an actual service to go with the dog and pony show. Of course, selling the whole act was a lot easier now that he had the power to back it up. He felt a twinge of an old sympathetic ache at the thought of the old days with Gaedren. A bump on his shins brought him back to the present, and reminded him of the partner who was the other reason things were better these days. "Yes, yes, you've outwitted a Korvosan noble." The scorpion standing by his boot stretched out, seeming to preen under his gaze. That done, it began capering from side to side until he laughed and tossed it a mealworm from the jar he kept by his desk. "Don't act like you're the first familiar to ever pull that off," Aison said, shaking his head. After years of scrimping and saving to afford the deposit on a storefront, and then more years of building up a reputation, he finally had an in with the nobility. Minor nobility, but still. If things went well, Aison could really start moving up in the world soon. Of course, moving up would be a lot easier without the anchor of Gaedren Lamm's continued existence dragging him down. Background:
Aison spent his childhood as one of Gaedran's "Little Lamms." He didn't much care for the work, but Lamm certainly didn't care much about Aison's thoughts. Aison attempted to escape as a teenager, but Lamm soon tracked him down.
The ensuing beating changed Aison's life. He experienced a spiritual awakening as he neared death, forging a strong affinity with the spirit world. He also forged a bond with his spirit animal, a scorpion living in the refuse pile on top of which Lamm left him for dead. Aison has spent his life since that day trying to use his abilities to help other people... while also doing well for himself, of course. He does have a special little place in his heart that would rejoice at the news of Lamm's death, though he does his best not to dwell on it. Staff of Spells: Aison enjoys collecting magical knick knacks, even if they appear to be useless. One such item is a "magical staff" that a traveling peddler insisted used to belong to a powerful wizard. Aison bought it, but wasn't able to detect anything magical about it. Fortunately, the staff was the perfect size to replace his broken closet rod, so he has gotten some use out of it. Once Aison gets trained in spellcraft I think it would be cool to have the GM do a daily spellcraft/perception roll to recognize the potential of the staff. Numbers:
Shaman 2 (Unsworn Shaman)
STR 11
Racial traits: Silver Tongued
Feats:
Floating hex(1): Soothsayer
Skills:
Swag:
MW Light Crossbow
20 Bolts 15 Cold Iron Bolts Dagger mithril chain shirt backpack,
Familiar:
Aison is usually accompanied by his greentail scorpion familiar. His name is a series of clicks and whistles that the human voice isn't really capable of repeating. Aison just calls him Happy. The day that the two met was the happiest of his life: despite the beating he suffered at the hands of Gaedran Lamm, it was on that day that he finally earned his freedom from Lamm and gained the power to make his own way in the world.
The name is also an accurate description of Happy's demeanor. The little scorpion always seems to display a carefree attitude no matter what challenges life may bring. Hex-Spirit Association:
Ancestors: Wisdom of the ages
Battle: Battle Ward Bone: Grave Sight Fire: Gaze of Flames Heaven's: Heaven's Leap Life: Life Link Lore: Arcane Enlightenment Mammoth: Mammoth's Hide Nature: Entangling Curse Stone: Crystal Sight Waves: Mist's Shroud Wind: Sparking Aura Wood: Nature's Gifts |
