Alexi "Crocodile" Montague's page

I have recently acquired and read through "Blood of Fiends". I'm curious to know whether you think Alexi's personality displays his nature as a Beastbrood Tiefling. Should I change his personality to more accurately reflect his Rakshasa heritage, or is it fine as it is? Additionally, I would like to change my 1st level feat from Improved Initiative to Spell Focus (Conjuration) in preparation for taking the feat Augment Summoning at 3rd Level and Superior Summoning at 5th level. I think as a talented Summoner Alexi will provide the party with some extra melee power, allowing him to more meaningfully contribute and perhaps fill another role. Also, I thought it would be interesting if as Alexi advances in levels of sorcerer his head became more and more like that of a saltwater crocodile, in honor of his Rakshasa heritage. The idea is that as he taps deeper and deeper into his bloodline, his Rakshasa blood has a stronger and stronger effect on his appearance, and possibly also on his personality. Finally, in answer to your questions...

First, Alexi is terrified of anyone discovering his Hermaphroditic Nature. He figures, and not without good reason, that those around him would be so alienated by his mixed sexuality in addition to his Tiefling Heritage that no matter what steps he were to take it would be impossible for him to gain acceptance or even tolerance. But his hermaphroditism gives him a certain mutability that reinforces his talent for taking on a variety of personalities. Within him is both a male and female aspect, and he expresses these different aspects by taking on different aliases. Part of the reason why his aliases are so convincing is because they are expressions of opposing pieces of his personality. Alexi feels that there is a part of him that is male and a part of him that is female, but he is incapable of embracing both of these parts of himself at once. Whenever anyone acknowledges what Alexi truly is, he is overcome with a deep sense of self loathing and isolation. However, if he was amongst people who accepted him as a Tiefling, he would also eventually feel comfortable sharing with them his mixed sex. Sharing his hermaphroditism willingly with others would go a long way in allowing Alexi to heal the psychological pain he has experienced in his past. However, if he is outed as a Hermaphrodite against his wishes by someone who views it as grounds to abuse and ridicule him, he will stop at nothing to mercilessly and completely destroy them, piece by piece. While Alexi views his hermaphroditic traits now as a source of shame, they could develop into a source of personal pride or a strong motive for revenge depending on what happens to him over the course of the adventure.

Second, the more I thought about your comments on how Mengkare would react to an attempt by Rakshasas to infiltrate his grand experiment, the more I realized that your comments made a lot of sense. I think Mengkare would kill the Rakshasas and the Rakshasa blooded children if they were on the island, but if any of them fled they would be beyond the reach of the grand experiment, and thus not worthy of his concern. I originally had Alexi be hunted by Mengkare's agents because I thought it would explain well why Alexi is constantly on the run and why he takes on so many personalities. Human prejudice against Tieflings across Golarion is such that he would have more than enough reasons to try to blend in and his fear of being discovered is a great reason why he constantly keeps moving on and thus assuming new aliases. I don't think much of my core character concept for him will need to be changed without the Hermean assassins on his back. Perhaps after escaping the island of Hermea, the Rakshasa blooded children landed in Cheliax and were promptly enslaved and split up. Perhaps Alexi was able to disguise himself when this happened, or perhaps Alexi spent a brief amount of time in captivity himself before escaping. Perhaps he's not on the run from Hermean Assasins, but rather from Chelish slavers. Regardless, I'll have to change my backstory a bit before the character is truly complete. Also, I don't quite know what you meant when you stated that you thought my character's backstory was a little too accomplished for a first level character. If you could clarify what you meant by that comment, that would be great. Let me know if you have any more questions about the character. I'd like to wait until I get feedback from you before I change anything concrete.

Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Cha 19, Wis 10

Rakshasa Bloodline Sorcerer, Rakshasa Bloodline Tiefling

Skills: Diplomacy +9, Bluff +8, Disguise +10
Traits: Hermean Paragon (+2 to Initiative checks), Barroom Talespiner(+1 to Perform (oratory) checks, Diplomacy as a class skill)
Feats: Improved Initiative

Alexi was born on the island of Hermea in the captial city of Promise. Watched over by the magnanimous golden dragon Mengkare and the Council of Enlightenment, Hermea is a utopian experiment in the use of eugenics and strict government within a controlled setting to ensure that the best of humanity is brought forth into the world. However, a small cell of Rakshasa agents infiltrated Hermea's shores through stealth and trickery. They intended to use the breeding program put in place to their own evil ends. When a human and a Rakshasa mate, the result is sometimes a human, sometimes a Rakshasa, and sometimes something in between. By ensuring that they propagated their own seed amongst the genetically exceptional residents of Hermea, the Rakshasas intended to create an army of genetically perfect Rakshasas and Rakshasa blooded sorcerers capable of conquering the entire Inner Sea Region. They were wildly successful, and several sorcererous children and Rakshasas were born as a result of their efforts. However, a number of strange and unforeseen birth defects occurred as a result of their covert breeding program, including animalistic and hermaphroditic traits. When Mengkare investigated the cause of these strange birth defects, he uncovered the Rakshasa plot. Furious at the corruption of his grand experiment, Mengkare eradicated the Rakshasas and almost all of the Rakshasa blooded children on the island. However, some of the children were able to escape with their servitors. Mengkare sent several of his agents out into the Inner Sea region to ensure that all of the remaining children would be tracked down and killed.

Alexi "Crocodile" Montague isn't Alexi "Crocodile" Montague's real name. It's merely his, or possibly her, current alias. Alexi has been on the run from Mengkare's agents ever since the Rakshasa conspiracy was uncovered when he was eight years old. Hunted across the globe, he's watched his siblings and protectors die at the hands of Hermean agents, one by one. Only he was able to survive due to his inborn talents for disguise and deception. Now twenty, he has escaped to The Shackles in hopes of finally finding a place where the vengeful agents of Hermea won't be able to track him down. He's been able to support himself thus far by going from town to town, running various confidence schemes and pulling various heists, robbing the town blind, and then leaving as soon as possible, never to return again. He has a quick tongue, fabricating elaborate yet believable lies swiftly and without conscience or remorse. He even goes so far as to fabricate entirely new personalities when the mood strikes him. Currently he's pretending to be a noble from Cheliax deposed by house Thrune who's seeking his fortune in the Port of Peril. Quickly after acquiring stolen capital, Alexi spends it recklessly on gambling and in bars and pleasure houses, indulging in vice as a way to fill the wound of being attached to no one and being constantly afraid of his death because of his heritage. Because of this, despite pulling off many lucrative heists Alexi is currently broke. Alexi entered the Formidably Maid in order to amend this state of affairs. Impersonating one of the new waitresses, he planned to poison the drinks of the patrons and then steal everything from the bar while they were knocked out. Little did he know that his plan had the potential to backfire horribly.

Ever since Alexi was eight years old there have been constant attempts on his life. He has watched as one by one all of the people he was close to died at the hands of those he once regarded as his kin. He is aware that the Inner Sea Region regards Tieflings as no better than the fiends that they were spawned from. When the Hermean agents came for his fiendish brothers and sisters there was nothing he could do but run and hide. He often found himself in positions where he was forced to abandon those he loved in order to save his own skin. The world has given Alexi no quarter because of what he is and Alexi treats the world in kind. His early experiences broke down whatever moral compass Alexi may have once had, leaving him capable of committing unspeakable atrocities in order to ensure his own survival. Lying, stealing, and murdering have been constant fixtures in his life ever since he was forced out of his homeland. He is extremely paranoid, viewing every human as a potential Hermean agent waiting for the right chance to strike. He has cultivated his talent for duplicity as a defense mechanism against a hostile world, developing elaborate aliases both to conceal his own identity from Hermean agents, survive in the threatening human society surrounding him, and protect his core self from the pain of rejection and isolation he feels due to his lack of loved ones. Because of his talents he is able to ape human emotions in a social setting without opening himself up to the possibility of real vulnerability. But beneath the veneer that Alexi projects is an individual who’s simultaneously constantly calculating and cruel but also constantly terrified and lonely. Deep within, Alexi desires respect and friendship from true peers, but he believes that such a thing is not possible within the world that he lives in, and so chooses to hide himself instead. Alexi steals from others, indulges in vice, and seeks power both in order to protect himself and to fill the gaping wound that years of isolation have inflicted upon him. Possibly, kinship with fellow Tieflings will bring out a side of Alexi that’s been dead for a long time.

Alexi’s aliases tend to fall in one of three camps. First, there’s the mysterious gentleman, a man in his early thirties who dresses fastidiously and is overbearingly polite to all that he meets. He tends to speak in flowery language and attempts to impress all that he comes across with his wit as well as his nobility. When taking on this alias Alexi will often tell outlandish stories of fantastic lands and wondrous experiences that seem a bit hard to believe but likable nonetheless. Yet when questioned about where he comes from or what his name is, he will always refuse to answer fully, dropping only the very subtlest of hints. Alexi takes on this alias when attempting to infiltrate high society events, to seem impressive in a public place, or to go whoring, drinking, or gambling after procuring ill gotten gains. Second, there’s the bawdy maid, a woman in her early twenties with a winning smile and a friendly demeanor. This alias is usually meant to be a woman of common station yet well endowed with natural charms that make her desirable and noticed by all. When adopting this alias Alexi will often crack wise and make sarcastic comments, acting in a flippant but somewhat flirtatious manner. Always handy with an anecdote taken from personal experience or an old wives tale, the bawdy maid has a piece of advice for anyone and everyone. Alexi takes on this alias whenever he wants to gain the confidence of someone, pry a choice piece of information from someone, or infiltrate an organization as a maid or a server in order to complete a heist. Finally, there’s the dejected youth, the alias most in step with Alexi’s own personality. The dejected youth is a male or female teenager dressed in rags and covered in grime. When Alexi assumes this alias he typically dresses himself in ragged clothing and with dark tones. Sullen and hostile, the ragged youth is reserved and distant to all who approach. Putting on an intimidating exterior, the ragged youth exudes an aura of depravity and of ferocious strength. This is the alias Alexi assumes when leaving a town, travelling on the road, attempting to go unnoticed on the streets of a big city, or when attempting to find work of an illegal nature.

Alexi is both comfortable with and capable of stealing from others, regardless of the morality of such actions. Furthermore, deep down he seeks a substantial connection to a group of kindred souls, the sort of connection being a part of a pirate crew could potentially provide for him. Alexi views himself in opposition to a hostile society who seeks to destroy him. Becoming a pirate is a good way to establish his freedom from such a society and to oppose it. In addition, there's a powerful pull coming from his Rakshasa Heritage towards wealth and the accumulation of power over others that's difficult for him to ignore. Becoming a pirate offers endless opportunities for both wealth and power. Likely, if he came into his own within a pirate crew, he would eventually want to make himself its captain.

Before they were all killed Alexi's fiendish brothers and sisters bestowed upon him the nickname "Crocodile" due to his webbed feet, his claws, his pointed teeth, and his crocodilian left eye. Alexi's mother was a Rakshasa with a saltwater crocodile head, and so Alexi has inherited many of her natural traits. Additionally, due to the taint in his bloodline Alexi is neither male nor female, but rather a hermaphrodite. His face is androgynous leaning a little more on the side of the masculine, with a sharp jawline, distinctive nose, high cheekbones, large eyes, long eyelashes, thin arching eyebrows and a shock of black hair that covers his face. His right eye is a deep purple color, resembling the eyes of the ancient Azlanti. He's fairly thin and his skin is extraordinarily pale except for a few patches where green scales break out across his body. His body betrays what looks to be a slight feminine curvature, and there's evidence of a small pair of breasts around his chest. He manipulates his physical qualities by mundane and arcane means every day in order to hide his tiefling features and appear best as whatever alias he's attempting to impersonate at the time. He identifies slightly more as a man than as a woman.

Still Blackbeard. But Anne Bonny's also pretty cool.

Alexi "Crocodile" Montague
NE Hermaphrodite Rakshasa Spawn Rakshasa Bloodline Human Sorcerer 1
Medium Outsider (Native)
HP 8
Initiative +8
Str 8
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 10
Cha 19
Wis 10
BAB +0, CMB -1 CMD 11
AC 12, Touch 12, Flat Footed 10
Resistances: Cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
Fort. +2, Will +2, Ref. +2
Move Speed 30 ft.
Skills: Diplomacy +9, Bluff +8, Disguise +10
Traits: Hermean Paragon (+2 to Initiative checks), Barroom Talespiner(+1 to Perform (oratory) checks, Diplomacy as a class skill)
Languages: Common, Infernal
Feats: Improved Initiative
Racial Features: Fiendish Sorcery, Darkvision 60 ft, Detect Thoughts 1/day
Class Features: Eschew Materials, Bloodline Arcana (add half your sorcerer level to the Spellcraft DC for others to identify spells you cast. If their checks fail by 5 or more, they mistakenly believe you are casting an entirely different spell selected by you when you begin casting)
Silver Tongue (at 1st level, you can draw upon your outsider heritage to spin amazingly convincing lies. Activating this ability is a swift action. You gain a +5 bonus on one Bluff check made to convince another of the truth of your words (similar to using glibness). If a magical effect is used against you that would detect your lies or force you to speak the truth, the user of the effect must succeed on a caster level check (DC 10 + your sorcerer level) to succeed. Failure means the effect does not detect your lies or force you to speak only the truth. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier)
Sorcerer Spells Known
0th Level Spells (4): Drench, Prestidigitation, Light, Detect Magic
1st Level Spells (2): Sleep, Disguise Self
Spells Per Day:
1st Level Spells: 4
Items On Person: Disguise Kit concealed in boot, all other items in Backpack, in Belt Pouches, or in Coat Pockets.

Alexi was born on the island of Hermea in the captial city of Promise. Watched over by the magnanimous golden dragon Mengkare and the Council of Enlightenment, Hermea is a utopian experiment in the use of eugenics and strict government within a controlled setting to ensure that the best of humanity is brought forth into the world. However, a small cell of Rakshasa agents infiltrated Hermea's shores through stealth and trickery. They intended to use the breeding program put in place to their own evil ends. When a human and a Rakshasa mate, the result is sometimes a human, sometimes a Rakshasa, and sometimes something in between. By ensuring that they propagated their own seed amongst the genetically exceptional residents of Hermea, the Rakshasas intended to create an army of genetically perfect Rakshasas and Rakshasa blooded sorcerers capable of conquering the entire Inner Sea Region. They were wildly successful, and several sorcererous children and Rakshasas were born as a result of their efforts. However, a number of strange and unforeseen birth defects occurred as a result of their covert breeding program, including animalistic and hermaphroditic traits. When Mengkare investigated the cause of these strange birth defects, he uncovered the Rakshasa plot. Furious at the corruption of his grand experiment, Mengkare eradicated the Rakshasas and almost all of the Rakshasa blooded children on the island. However, some of the children were able to escape with their servitors. Mengkare sent several of his agents out into the Inner Sea region to ensure that all of the remaining children would be tracked down and killed.

Alexi "Crocodile" Montague isn't Alexi "Crocodile" Montague's real name. It's merely his, or possibly her, current alias. Alexi has been on the run from Mengkare's agents ever since the Rakshasa conspiracy was uncovered when he was eight years old. Hunted across the globe, he's watched his siblings and protectors die at the hands of Hermean agents, one by one. Only he was able to survive due to his inborn talents for disguise and deception. Now twenty, he has escaped to The Shackles in hopes of finally finding a place where the vengeful agents of Hermea won't be able to track him down. He's been able to support himself thus far by going from town to town, running various confidence schemes and pulling various heists, robbing the town blind, and then leaving as soon as possible, never to return again. He has a quick tongue, fabricating elaborate yet believable lies swiftly and without conscience or remorse. He even goes so far as to fabricate entirely new personalities when the mood strikes him. Currently he's pretending to be a noble from Cheliax deposed by house Thrune who's seeking his fortune in the Port of Peril. Quickly after acquiring stolen capital, Alexi spends it recklessly on gambling and in bars and pleasure houses, indulging in vice as a way to fill the wound of being attached to no one and being constantly afraid of his death because of his heritage. Because of this nasty habit, despite pulling off many lucrative heists Alexi is currently broke. Alexi entered the Formidably Maid in order to amend this state of affairs. Impersonating one of the new waitresses, he planned to poison the drinks of the patrons and then steal everything from the bar while they were knocked out. Little did he know that his plan had the potential to backfire horribly.

Alexi "Crocodile" Montague
NE Hermaphrodite Rakshasa Spawn Rakshasa Bloodline Human Sorcerer 1
Medium Outsider (Native)
HP 8
Initiative +8
Str 8
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 10
Cha 19
Wis 10
BAB +0, CMB -1 CMD 11
AC 12, Touch 12, Flat Footed 10
Resistances: Cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
Fort. +2, Will +2, Ref. +2
Move Speed 30 ft.
Skills: Diplomacy +9, Bluff +8, Disguise +10
Traits: Hermean Paragon (+2 to Initiative checks), Barroom Talespiner(+1 to Perform (oratory) checks, Diplomacy as a class skill)
languages: Common, Infernal
Feats: Improved Initiative
Racial Features: Fiendish Sorcery, Darkvision 60 ft, Detect Thoughts 1/day
Class Features: Eschew Materials, Bloodline Arcana (add half your sorcerer level to the Spellcraft DC for others to identify spells you cast. If their checks fail by 5 or more, they mistakenly believe you are casting an entirely different spell selected by you when you begin casting)
Silver Tongue (at 1st level, you can draw upon your outsider heritage to spin amazingly convincing lies. Activating this ability is a swift action. You gain a +5 bonus on one Bluff check made to convince another of the truth of your words (similar to using glibness). If a magical effect is used against you that would detect your lies or force you to speak the truth, the user of the effect must succeed on a caster level check (DC 10 + your sorcerer level) to succeed. Failure means the effect does not detect your lies or force you to speak only the truth. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier)
Sorcerer Spells Known
0th Level Spells (4): Drench, Prestidigitation, Light, Detect Magic
1st Level Spells (2): Sleep, Disguise Self
Spells Per Day:
1st Level Spells: 4
Items On Person: Disguise Kit concealed in boot, all other items in Backpack, in Belt Pouches, or in Coat Pockets.

And with that, he exits the bar. He finds himself a dark alley, and then removes from his boot a disguise kit. From out of the pack on his back he removes a fairly common women's peasant outfit. He uses prestidigitation to change the color of his hair to blond, uses it again to style his hair correctly, and then he dons the peasant clothing. He then casts the spell disguise self to make himself appear to be one of the serving girls who works at the tavern. His hair suddenly extends in length, both of his eyes change into a vibrant blue color, and his features fill out in order to suit the contours of the dress.

Disguise Self Check Result:
1d20 + 9 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 10 + 2 = 41

With that, he walks to the door and reenters the bar.

Alexi "Crocodile" Montague
NE Hermaphrodite Human Chelaxian Rakshasa Blooded Human Sorcerer 1
Medium Humanoid (Human)
HP 8
Initiative +7
Str 7
Dex 12
Con 12
Int 12
Cha 20
Wis 8
BAB +0, CMB -2, CMD 9
AC 11, Touch 11, Flat Footed 10
Fort. +1, Will +1, Ref. +1
Move Speed 30 ft.
Skills: Diplomacy +10, Bluff +12, Disguise +9, Perform (oratory) +7
Traits: Hermean Paragon (+2 to Initiative checks), Barroom Talespiner (+1 to Perform (oratory) checks)
Languages: Common, Infernal
Feats: Skill Focus (Bluff), Spell Focus (conjuration), Improved Initiative
Class Features: Eschew Materials, Bloodline Arcana, 1st Level Bloodline Power Silver Tounge 8 times/day
Sorcerer Spells Known
0th Level Spells (4): Drench, Prestidigitation, Light, Detect Magic
1st Level Spells (2): Sleep, Disguise Self
Spells Per Day:
1st Level Spells: 5

Alexi was born on the island of Hermea in the city of Promise. Ruled by the magnanimous golden dragon Mengkare and the Council of Enlightenment, Hermea is a utopian effort to by the use of eugenics and strict government ensure that the best of humanity is brought forth. However,even the noblest of intentions can be corrupted by sinister forces. A small cell of Rakshasa agents infiltrated Hermea's shores through stealth and trickery. They intended to use the breeding program put in place to their own evil ends. When a human and a Rakshasa mate, the result is sometimes a human, sometimes a Rakshasa, sometimes something in between. By ensuring that they propogated their own seed amongst the genetically exceptional residents of Hermea, the Rakshasas intended to create an army of genetically perfect Rakshasas and Rakshasa blooded sorcerers bent upon world conquest. They were wildly successful, and several sorcererous children and Rakshasas were born as a result of their efforts. However, a number of strange and unforseen birth defects occured as a result of their covert breeding program, including animalistic and hermaphroditic traits. When Mengkare investigated the blight upon the gene pool of the island, he was able to eventually uncover the Rakshasa plot. He eradicated the Rakshasas and almost all of the children on the island. However, some of the children were able to escape with their servitors, the only remaining result of the Rakshasa plot. Mengkare, enraged at the betrayal of his grand experiment, sent out several of his agents to ensure that all of the remaining children would be killed.
Alexi "Crocodile" Montague isn't Alexi "Crocodile" Montague's real name. It's merely his, or possibly her, current alias. Alexi has been on the run from Mengkare's agents ever since the Rakshasa conspiracy was uncovered when he was eight. Hunted across the globe, he's watched his siblings and his protectors die at the hands of Mengkare's agents, one by one. Only he was able to survive due to his inborn talent for lying and disguise. Now sixteen, he has escaped to The Shackles in hopes of finally finding a place where the vengful agents of Hermea won't be able to track him down. He is extraordinarily paranoid, believing that practically anyone could be an agent of the Hermeans. Still, he hides his paranoia well, never letting off his fear to anyone. He's made a small living going from town to town, beguiling others with sorcery and trickery and then stealing whatever he can, leaving as soon as possible and never returning again. He has a quick tounge, fabricating lies swiftly and easily without conscience or remorse. In the past, he's worked for a variety of different thieves guilds in order to score ever more impressive prizes. So far, he's been fairly lucky, leaving just before things go sour. Quickly after acquiring stolen money, Alexi spends it recklessly on gambling and in bars and pleasure houses, indulging in vice as a way to fill the wound of being attached to no one and being constantly afraid of death because of his heritage.
Alexi has grown tired of constantly running from his past. He craves the stability of a singular occupation, an occupation that will offer him security. He craves the strength to fight against those who would do him harm, strength to revenge himself on those who killed his entire family. He is also aware of his Rakshasa heritage and his sorcerous ability. He knows that his bloodline offers him unique power to achieve greatness. Ever since reaching The Shackles about a year ago, he's collected tales of the Free Captains from news periodicals and local bars. He's grown to admire the resourcefulness and grit of the Captains, as well as the daring of their exploits. He sees possibility in a life of piracy, possiblity for greatness as well as profit, security as well as strength. Alexi wandered into The Formidably Maid in Port Peril seeking more tales of high piracy as well as a way to part with a few stolen coins. He is, however, unaware as of yet of the destiny that is to await him.
One name that stuck with Alexi since his birth is "Crocodile" because his left eye does not appear to be the eye of a human, but rather that of a crocodile. Alexi naturally looks like a somewhat scrawny Chelaxian youth with deathly pale skin, jet black hair, a sharp and strikingly beautiful face, and a thin frame with long elegant fingers. His body betrays what looks to be a slightly feminine set of curves, and there's evidence of a pair of budding breasts around his torso. The crocodilian eye on his left side is green, while the other eye on his right side is a deep blue bordering on the color purple, resembling the look of an ancient Azlanti. However, he's currently done much to abscure his features, and looks about ten years older than he actually is with no hint of his ambiguous gender. He periodically uses prestidigitation to change the color of his right eye and the color and style of his hair. He wears an eyepatch to cover his crocodilian left eye. He wears baggy clothes to hide his more feminine features and covers his face with soot to make himself less distinct. Right now, he's pretending to be a deposed trader from Cheliax who's seeking his fortune in the Port of Peril.