Alleria Starfrost's page

Master of Deception (Ex): A sandman gains a bonus equal to half his level on Bluff, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth checks. He may also disarm magical traps with Disable Device as a rogue's trapfinding ability. This ability replaces bardic knowledge.

Bardic Performance: A bard is trained to use the Perform skill to create magical effects on those around him, including himself if desired. He can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Charisma modifier. At each level after 1st a bard can use bardic performance for 2 additional rounds per day. Each round, the bard can produce any one of the types of bardic performance that he has mastered, as indicated by his level.

Starting a bardic performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. Changing a bardic performance from one effect to another requires the bard to stop the previous performance and start a new one as a standard action. A bardic performance cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the bard is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round. A bard cannot have more than one bardic performance in effect at one time.

Countersong (Su): At 1st level, a bard learns to counter magic effects that depend on sound (but not spells that have verbal components). Each round of the countersong he makes a Perform (keyboard, percussion, wind, string, or sing) skill check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard's Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the bard's Perform skill check result for the save. Countersong does not work on effects that don't allow saves. Countersong relies on audible components.

Distraction (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to counter magic effects that depend on sight. Each round of the distraction, he makes a Perform (act, comedy, dance, or oratory) skill check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself) that is affected by an illusion (pattern) or illusion (figment) magical attack may use the bard's Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform skill check proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the distraction is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous illusion (pattern) or illusion (figment) magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it sees the distraction, but it must use the bard's Perform skill check result for the save. Distraction does not work on effects that don't allow saves. Distraction relies on visual components.

Fascinate (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and capable of paying attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creatures affected. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents this ability from working. For every three levels the bard has attained beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with this ability.

Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature's saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on all skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect.

Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability. Fascinate relies on audible and visual components in order to function.

Stealspell (Su): A sandman can use performance to steal spells from his foes and add them to his list of spells known. Once the performance is started, the bard can steal a prepared spell or a spell known from another creature with a touch attack as a standard action. The target receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Cha bonus) to negate the effect. The sandman may choose a spell to steal, but if the target does not possess the spell, the bardic performance immediately ends. Otherwise the spell stolen is random, but it is always of the highest level that the bard can cast, if possible. The target loses the prepared spell or spell known and the sandman adds it to his list of spells known for as long as the performance continues, after which it reverts to the original recipient. While stolen, the bard can cast the spell using his available spell slots. This use does not consume the stolen spell. If the bard steals another spell while a spell is stolen, the previous spell immediately reverts to its original owner. This ability requires visual components. This performance replaces inspire courage.

Orphans have it hard, even within a righteous kingdom like Talingarde. A street urchin in Ghastenhall from her earliest days Alleria quickly learned that wits, cunning, and daring were a far better formula for success than hard muscles or overwhelming spells. There was more hunting the streets than cruel pimps and aggressive watchmen; the criminal, the prostitute, and the uncared for often disappeared in the night, victims of a shadowy legend and his cruel 'Blood Tax'.

Despite the adversity Alleria learned early on that simply surviving wasn't enough for her, she burned with curiosity and desire. She wanted to know the truth of the world she lived in, she wanted to know other's secrets, she wanted riches, she wanted power, she wanted everything the world could conceivably offer and then some.

With her charm and wit she gathered other urchins around her and formed what essentially turned into a surprisingly effective ad hoc thieves guild. With little more than charisma and daring she stole from the well guarded rich as they moved through the streets, successfully performing shockingly bold cons and thefts rogues twice her age and ten times her skill would never attempt. Still it wasn't enough for her, at dawn she would sometimes stare up at Ghastenhall's castle, dreaming of being a princess or queen.

Perhaps it was her fierce spirit that called out to it, for somehow it knew where to seek her out. Approaching her in the guise of a well known assassin it tempted her with an offer of professional training.
Leaving her wealth to her friends she accepted.

"Righteousness may exist in the hearts of men." It told her, as it taught her the ways of the bard, the courtesan, and the assassin. "But it is not the truth of this world. In this world the strong live and the weak die. The strong were born to feed on the flesh of the weak, no matter what men may say, this eternal fact always holds true."

Alleria was loyal to her new patron, and greedy for the training, comfort and wealth he offered. Still, her first kill was difficult, sliding her blade through the throat of the sleeping noble she had seduced left her feeling sick inside and upon returning to her patron she vomited at his feet.

"What you're feeling now is compassion for your victim." He informed her dispassionately. "Strike it from your heart. If he had known your purpose he would have slain you without a moments thought and never regretted it. For even those who considered themselves good are often killers. Take what you want in this world, no matter the cost to others and never feel a moments pity, for all men are in fact Devils and this is Hell itself."

"If all men are Devils undeserving of compassion or pity, who can I rely on then? No one can survive all alone in this world." She informed her mentor as she rose to her feet and wiped her mouth.

He grinned. "If you are so weak as to require friends I suggest you find those who know they are Devils, only they are honest enough with themselves to be trustworthy." He replied.

As she grew older she kept her pity but her ambitions allowed her to move past it when necessary. In addition as her talents grew so did her curiosity over the true identity of her master. She had gleaned over time that he was a shape-shifter who wore many guises and whom had command of some extremely powerful magic. 'Borrowing' an artifact from his collection that granted true seeing she spied upon him one night and discovered that her master was not...human. Despite her precautions to not get detected he revealed to her upon their next meeting that he knew what she had done.

"Did you like what you saw?" He asked her with sly amusement.

"What are you?" Alleria asked, fearlessly looking her mentor in the eye. "Are you the legendary Prince Gaius? Is that what that monster truly looks like?" She boldly inquired.

"Gaius..." Her mentor chuckled. "No, I am nothing like that pathetically weak blood sucker. I am the Malgarn. I am unique in the multiverse and as old as time. I have servants across the planes and near infinite resources."

Alleria narrowed her eyes as she listened, certain that this grotesque thing's grandiose claims were lies.

"If that is true why waste years personally training a street urchin?" She inquired.

"Because I am not the star of this particular play but I never the less want to laugh as I watch this holy kingdom implode." It informed her. "And you are my contribution to it's death, small contribution though it is. I think you are ready, all that remains is to put you on the board, my favorite pawn." It declared, laughing as it turned away from her and left.

Alleria knew she had to act soon if she was to betray her patron and escape his grasp but the very next night, as she drove her blade into a sleeping nobles neck to fulfill her latest orders, the town guard burst into the bedroom and beat her into a semiconscious daze.

"Caught you red handed murderer." One guard declared hatefully. "The magistrate will send you to Branderscar prison for this!"

Another guard leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear with a voice she had come to associate with the Malgarn. "Remember my lessons well, gather some fellow Devils, destroy this kingdom and become powerful. Then one day we will meet again and one of us will make a delicious meal for the other."

The Malgarn plans to destroy Alleria if and when she succeeds in destroying Talingarde, simply for the pleasure of devouring a strong opponent who is flavored with the spiritual spice of the betrayed. Alleria both wants revenge on her betrayer and to enjoy the fruits of becoming powerful. When the day comes that they meet again she will be prepared.

GM's note: What the Malgarn actually is and what his resources actually are are left for the GM to determine=)