Anežka Tzvana's page

Vexus
Male Greensting Scorpion (Bestiary 4)
N Tiny animal
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9

Defense
AC 18, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +3 natural, +2 size)
hp 7 (2 HD) / Current 7
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +3

Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee sting +6 (1d2–4 plus poison)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks poison

Statistics
Str 3, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +1; CMB +1; CMD 10
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Climb +7, Perception +9, Stealth +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Climb, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth

Ecology
Environment warm or temperate forests
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–6)
Treasure none

Special Abilities
Empathic Link (Ex)
Improved Evasion (Ex)
Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 10; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect sickened for 1 round; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Share Spells

23 lbs light load (26 lbs with masterwork backpack)
Masterwork Backpack (+1 Str carrying capacity only), Explorer's outfit, Dagger, Light Crossbow, 20 Crossbow Bolts, Pearl of Power (1st), Waterskin, Trail Rations (3 days), Ink, Inkpen, Parchment, Flint&Steel, Chalk, Scroll Case, Spell Component Pouch, Spellbook, 52sp 28cp. 22lbs total.

Author's Note: Since Anežka's story as is presented here is very long and might be tedious to some, I'm putting at the end the 'bullet points' of her background for quick reference. Thank you for reading and beware the unforgiving wall of text!

Among the travelling families of Varisian natives, tradition dictates every child has to be helped from the youngest age to find her proper path in life. Usually this is an easy and straightforward process, as the adults expose the child to various trades and professions, observe hers reactions, and encourage her to pursue the path that seems most suited. For young Anežka, however, it wasn't nearly as simple.

From the earliest age, Anežka showed a propension and understanding of magical matters rarely found in one so young, and when the clan's fortuneteller, Old Madame Anca, took notice, asked her parents to send the girl to her for tutoring, everyone was confident she had found her call in life.
Soon however, Old Anca came to understand that while the girl's talent and rapid progress in learning the Art was undeniable, Anežka's power came not from within, as was the case for the old fortuneteller, but was the result of the young child's impressive mind unlocking magic's secrets one after another.
She needed books, and scrolls, and tomes of knowledge, not the words of an old sorceress about how to 'harness the power in her blood'. Most of all, she'd be in need of a competent teacher, someone who mastered the Art with his mind, not his spirit.
Those were not things she could provide, nor could anyone else in her clan... No, but there were places where she could find the help she needed to learn and grow, places where others likewise inclined went for the same purpose. Old Anca knew of but one, and that had to suffice.

After speaking to the girl's parents, and Anežka herself, they traveled to Korvosa, where Anežka took the admittance test for the prestigious Acadamae, and passed with flying colors.

Unfortunately, tuition for such a prestigious college is expensive indeed, and what little money her parents managed to give Anežka before enrolment wasn't going to last long. Desperate to find a way to come up with the gold, and determined not to further burden her family, she made a mistake she would regret for years to come.

A dangerous man, mockingly called 'The Baron' by rivals and underlings alike, leader of a small but vicious thieves gang, was known to be willing to loan gold to those in need... Just so he could extort from them many times as much when the time was right. Those who could pay would be left alone, those who couldn't, invariably 'disappeared' soon after... When young Anežka come to him asking for a loan, promising she'd give back to him double the money after her graduation, the cunning Baron saw an opportunity hard to pass by.

The young girl was talented, he could tell as much, and she'd surely become a prominent mage. He could easily loan this naive girl the gold, and set a final payment so high she'd be in his pocket for many, many years, becoming a powerful pawn in his schemes to expand his influence in the city. He agreed to the girl's terms, biding his time to return and collect his due.

For almost ten years Anežka attended the Acadamae. The place was harsh and unforgiving, the professors uncaring and the other students, generally older and scions of prestigious families, tended to avoid or even sometimes bully the young girl without a drop of 'noble blood' in her veins. For her part, Anežka didn't care in the least, so focused she was on her studies and researches.

She would however, from time to time sneak out of the school and go to the city docks, to play with the street urchins hanging out on the piers, observe the grand naval vessels entering or leaving the city, and admire the mysterious vastness of the sea.

When her graduation day finally came, Anežka was elated. Not a girl anymore, but a young woman, proud and confident in her abilities and impatient to see the world outside of the city that had been her whole world for the previous ten years.

That's when the Baron showed up, reminding her of her debt; he spoke of hidden clauses in the contract they stipulated that many years ago, and piled up interests, and scaling rates and more. The sum Anežka owed went from hefty to astounding, impossible to repay if not with many years of servitude.

She tried to reason with him, then to plead, then threaten, but in vain, as the Baron's only interest was to get the girl to serve him. He thought he had the girl in his hands, for the girl had all her friends, connections and even family nearby, and she had no hope to hide anywhere in Varisia without his network of thugs and spies letting him know... But he underestimated Anežka's spirit, for she valued her freedom above all else, and if the price she had to pay to retain that freedom was to make a mortal enemy, leave behind friends and family and flee the city, and even the very country, that had been her home for her whole life, so be it.

Not two nights after her graduation ceremony, unbeknownst to everyone, Anežka was swiftly sailing away from Korvosa, stowaway on a mercantile ship headed west, towards the Varisian Gulf.

A combination of skill and blind luck allowed Anežka to remain hidden inside the ship's hold for the entire trip, and when the vessel finally docked, she slipped away during the unloading operations, unnoticed.

Now free for the first time in many years, Anežka was euphoric, but she quickly came to realize what little money she had wouldn't have lasted long. It was then that the gambling tournament “Cheat the Devil and Take His Gold", held at the recently reopened Gold Goblin Gambling Hall, caught her eye.

Running in the tournament itself would prove too risky, but surely with such a huge event on his hands the owner of the "Goblin" would need quite a few new staff members? All she needed to do was attend the event, show her skills and talents, make a good impression and then ask for a job!

Her mind set and with renewed hope for her future, Anežka spent one of her last gold pieces and secured a spot in the upcoming tournament.

Story highlights
Anežka was born in Varisia, by varisian travelers, and showed great promise in the magical arts.
Despite her clan's help, she couldn't develop her talent without proper guidance.
With her parents consent, she was brought to Korvosa, where she took the admission test for the Acadamae, and passed.
Needing money for tuition, she unwisely accepted a loan from a dangerous and shady character, know mockingly as 'The Baron'.
During the long years of study, she discovered her fascination for the endless ocean.
The day of her graduation ceremony, the Baron confronted her with her debt, now inextinguishable due to hidden terms and other frauds.
To retain her freedom, she decided to escape Korvosa as a stowaway on a mercantile ship, without anyone knowing.
After arriving in Riddleport, she decided to participate in a local gambling tournament in the hopes to show her talents and be offered a job.

Anežka stands slightly taller than average at just over five and a half feet tall, with light skin and an elegant build that helps show off her generous assets nicely. Her features are delicate and pleasant, with a small, slightly upturned nose, soft cheeks, pouty lips, perfectly shaped eyebrows, and big, penetrating hazel eyes framed by long eyelashes. She usually keeps her long raven-colored hair loose, down to the small of her back.

Usually calm and thoughtful, Anežka tends to get excited easily if something catches her interest. Her laugh is contagious, and she always sees the bright side in every situation. At her best, she is open and friendly, pleasant and charming, and eager for new experiences. At her worst she can be moody, sarcastic and headstrong to a fault. Fortunately her 'bad moments' tend to come up rarely and go away quickly. She treasures her friends and holds family in the highest regard, and becomes fiercely protective when either is in danger.

She bears the same name as her beloved grandmother.
She taught her familiar how to play cards (and how to cheat).
Unlike virtually every other adult member of her extended family, She doesn't have any tattoos whatsoever.
She holds her family in the highest regard, and takes extreme offense if they come to be insulted in any way.
She loves gambling.
Her favorite colour is blue, in any shade, from the tints of the lightest terse sky to the reflections of the darkest pure sapphire.
She dislikes gray, she finds it dull.
She favors practical dresses, but loves to wear lots of ostentatious jewelry.
Despite being trained in that art, she has never performed an harrowing.
Her spellbook doubles as a personal diary. To date, she hasn't shown what's written inside to anyone (her familiar being the only exception).
She left a precious family heirloom, an harrow deck passed down in her family for generations, as collateral to the Baron when she contracted her debt. She is determined to get it back, eventually, by any means necessary.

Core Rulebook (General Build, anything not mentioned below)
Advanced Player's Guide (Teleportation Focused School, Shift, Summoner's Charm, Dimensional Steps)
Ultimate Campaign (Reactionary)
Ultimate Equipment (Masterwork Backpack, Trail Rations)
Curse of the Crimson Throne Player's Guide (Acadamae Graduate)
Second Darkness Player's Guide (Looking for Work)
Bestiary 4 (Greensting Scorpion Familiar)

SPA Gold Ticket: A full day of relaxing beauty treatments! Anežka will be back happier and more beautiful than ever. +2 Bonus to Charisma Score.

Christmas Songs All Year Long: Singing so many holiday songs has made Anežka amazing at performing using her melodious voice! +1 Skill Point per level, to be put in Perform (Sing).

Designer Clothing: The gift every girl wishes to receive, a full wardrobe of the most fashionable clothes and accessories imaginable! No mechanical bonus, they just look incredible!