About Aroden the ReturnedBackground:
Once, he had another name. Sarnax, named after a great saint of the Church of Aroden. Sarnax was an orphan, his parents Riftwardens who had never returned from a mission to the Worldwound. The infant was raised in Kenabres by a foster family, and the Sign of the Seeker's Spiral marked him as a child touched by powerful planar energies. Sages advised that the boy should study magic, so he did. In Absalom. Then... something. He remembers walking across the bridge to the Starstone Cathedral. But why would a mere apprentice mage do that? And in his memory he walked across the Aroden bridge, destroyed years ago in an earthquake. Did he enter the Cathedral? Did he merely hallucinate the whole thing? Whatever the truth, that was, on waking, the only clear memory he had. He wandered Absalom. Nobody seemed to recall him. No instructors from the Arcanamirium sought out the missing pupil. He wandered the world. More memories came back to his mind, but some were of godhood. Of weeping over the fate of Arazni, knowing the reason he could not intervene. Of watching Iomedae pass the Test of the Starstone with bittersweet pride. Of smiting the demon lord Deskari, driving him from Sarkoris. Of hushed discussions and shouted arguments with Pharasma. Is he a delusional amnesiac who became possessed by a vestige, a fragment of Aroden's soul?
He knows that this form was once a man named Sarnax. That memory came back, though as if a fact read in a book. He feels like he is Aroden, so he dresses as Aroden and says his name is Aroden. He is not the first soul to have taken up the mantle of the Last Azlanti. He causes no trouble, and is a kind and generous soul (if odd and a little patronizing at times). He is strangely persuasive, despite not appearing so at first. Aroden has been pulled back to Sarnax's home of Kenabres. The memories of battling Deskari have grown more prominent; Aroden's business with the demon lord is not done.
His Best Guess:
His best guess is that the first theory is largely correct. Sarnax became possessed by fragments of Aroden's soul. But this is no delusion, and it isn't random. Some powerful entity formerly in Aroden's service has a plan here, and he thinks it is a celestial entity. There was a great deal of good in Aroden; he had orders of paladins, and saints such as Iomedae, Arazni, and Milani. And so the patron directed some of the more benevolent soul-fragments into a mortal shell that was itself, once, a kind soul with magical potential and a rare ability to accept the required planar energies. The patron's purpose is to strengthen those more goodly fragments of Aroden's soul, so that if the deity ever is truly restored to power, he will be capable of rectifying his errors and not committing such in the future. Yet, the darker fragments of Aroden's soul are still out there, and it is possible they may find him a suitable host... if his mortal mind can withstand the growing burden of such a powerful presence. Appearance:
Aroden is a tall human male with long black hair and a goatee. He carries a longsword of ancient design, wears robes of Azlanti fashion, and he looks exactly like classical depictions of Aroden. Personality:
Aroden is far more compassionate, patient, and considerate than any would expect. He seems to bear the weight of tragic but necessary decisions, and there is often a deep sadness about him. And yet, when he rallies others for a good cause, there is a commanding presence, a sense of earnestness, and a courageous zeal to do what is right. Virtually nobody believes that he actually is Aroden, and he is fine with that. Some take the opportunity on meeting him to lambaste the deity Aroden for one mistake or another, and he is generally fine with that - but every now and then he hears an angry voice shouting How dare they! They don't know the truth of what I did, why I did it, and what I sacrificed for them. That voice troubles him, but he has managed to master it so far. He suspects it is a fragment of another part of the Last Azlanti's soul, a fragment that was further from Lawful Good. Character Sheet Level 7 (Tier 2):
Aroden Human Wizard 6 (Foresight Diviner, Pact Wizard); Opposition Schools Illusion, Necromancy / Cavalier 1 (Constable) // Evangelist 2 LG Medium Humanoid Init +6; Perception +9 ----------------- DEFENSE ----------------- AC 20, touch 15, flatfooted 16 (+3 Dex, +5 Armor, +1 Deflection, +1 Dodge) HP 62 (6d6+1d10+20, +10 Mythic) Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +6 ----------------- OFFENSE ----------------- Speed 30 ft. Melee Evil Outsider Bane Longsword +7 (1d8+3/19-20x2) or Dagger +6 (1d4+2/19-20) Ranged MW Composite Longbow +8 (1d8+2/19-20x2), Dagger +7 (1d4+2/19-20x2), or Bolas +3 (trip) ----------------- STATISTICS ----------------- Str 14, Dex 14 (16), Con 14, Int 20 (22), Wis 10, Cha 10 BAB +4; CMB +6; CMD 20 Feats Auspicious Birth (Conjunction), Skill Focus (Knowledge - Planes), Allied Spellcaster, Improved Unarmed Strike, Inspiring Sword, Spell Penetration, Deific Obedience (Iomedae), Yuelral's Blessing Traits Riftwarden Orphan (+4 to beat demon SR, recharge magic items), Clever Wordplay, Magaambyan Arcana (Spear of Purity) FCB Wizard +6 Hit Points Skills (8 or 10 per level, 58 total) Knowledge (Arcana) 6 +15 Knowledge (Religion) 1 +10 Knowledge (Planes) 7 +19 Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1 +10 Knowledge (Nature) 1 +10 Knowledge (Local) 1 +10 Spellcraft 7 +16 Diplomacy 6 +21 (+6 Rank, +6 Int, +2 Racial, +3 Class, +4 Sacred) Perception 6 +9 Bluff 5 +10 Heal 6 +9 (+10 when used on others) Sense Motive 7 +10 Climb 1 +6 Swim 1 +6 Stealth 1 +7 Use Magic Device 1 +4 Background Skills Knowledge (History) 3 +12 Knowledge (Nobility) 1 +14 Knowledge (Engineering) 1 +10 Knowledge (Geography) 1 +10 Linguistics 5 +14 Appraise 3 +12 Languages Common, Thassalonian, Azlanti, Celestial, Abyssal, Draconic, Undercommon, Infernal, Necril, Elven, Dwarven, Aklo Equipment Spell component pouch, spellbook, Evil Outsider Bane Longsword (attuned), dagger, bola, light crossbow, 10 bolts, backpack, wineskin, traveler’s outfit, scroll of Mage Armor, scroll of Shield, Mithral Chain Shirt (attuned to +1), 4 flasks holy water, Righteous Medal of Clarity (Int), Righteous Medal of Valor (Str) Special Silver Tongue, Focused Study, Forewarned (always act in surprise round, +3 Init), Foresight (9/day), Arcane Bond (ring), Effortless Magic, Patron Spells (Endurance: Endure Elements, Bear's Endurance, Protection from Energy), Challenge, Tactician, Order (Shield), Apprehend; Possessed (-2 Concentration, concentrating provokes AOOs, roll twice and take the better on possess/dominate), Obedience, Skilled (Stealth, Use Magic Device) Cantrips Prepared Daze (DC 15), Detect Magic', Light', Open/Close Spells (* prepared, ^ opposition, ' Yuelral); Concentration +8) 1 (6+1): Mage Armor, Shield, Protection from Evil, Burning Hands (DC 16)*, Magic Missile*, True Strike*, Thunderstomp*', Feather Fall*, Liberating Command*', Heightened Awareness', Long Arm, Endure Elements' 2 (5+1): Resist Energy*', Human Potential, See Invisibility*, Invisibility^, Bear's Endurance', Gust of Wind', Burst of Radiance*', Darkvision*, Force Sword, Spider Climb', Scorching Ray, Spear of Purity* 3 (3+1): Haste*, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance*, Fly, Communal Resist Energy*', Daylight', Keen Edge, Heroism 4 (2+1): Dimension Door**, Arcane Eye* Other spells in Dwarf's Spellbook: Detect Secret Doors, Fog Cloud', Grease, Shocking Grasp, Silent Image Other spells in Damaged Spellbook: Alarm, Dismissal, Dispel Magic*, Magic Circle Against Chaos, Versatile Weapon Pending spells to scribe (from Aravashnial): Magic Circle Against Evil, Summon Monster III, Acid Arrow, Levitate, Summon Monster II, Sleep, Summon Monster I Current encumbrance: 53 lbs (light) Money 50 PP, 5 SP Automatic Bonus Progression +1 Resistance, Armor Attunement +1, Weapon Attunement +1, Deflection +1, Mental Enhancement +2 Mythic Hard to Kill, Surge 2/day (+1d6), Prestige Class (Evangelist) Character Sheet Level 8 (Tier 2):
Aroden Human Wizard 7 (Foresight Diviner, Pact Wizard); Opposition Schools Illusion, Necromancy / Cavalier 1 (Constable) // Evangelist 2 LG Medium Humanoid Init +6; Perception +9 ----------------- DEFENSE ----------------- AC 21, touch 15, flatfooted 17 (+3 Dex, +5 Armor, +1 Deflection, +1 Dodge, +1 Natural) HP 69 (7d6+1d10+23, +10 Mythic) Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +7 ----------------- OFFENSE ----------------- Speed 30 ft. Melee Evil Outsider Bane Longsword +7 (1d8+3/19-20x2) or Dagger +6 (1d4+2/19-20) Ranged +1 Composite Longbow +8 (1d8+3/19-20x2), Dagger +7 (1d4+2/19-20x2), or Bolas +3 (trip) ----------------- STATISTICS ----------------- Str 14, Dex 14 (16), Con 14, Int 21 (23), Wis 10, Cha 10 BAB +4; CMB +6; CMD 20 Feats Auspicious Birth (Conjunction), Skill Focus (Knowledge - Planes), Allied Spellcaster, Improved Unarmed Strike, Inspiring Sword, Spell Penetration, Deific Obedience (Iomedae), Yuelral's Blessing Traits Riftwarden Orphan (+4 to beat demon SR, recharge magic items), Clever Wordplay, Magaambyan Arcana (Spear of Purity) FCB Wizard +7 Hit Points Skills (8 or 10 per level, 58 total) Knowledge (Arcana) 6 +15 Knowledge (Religion) 1 +10 Knowledge (Planes) 8 +20 Knowledge (Dungeoneering) 1 +10 Knowledge (Nature) 1 +10 Knowledge (Local) 1 +10 Spellcraft 7 +16 Diplomacy 7 +22 (+7 Rank, +6 Int, +2 Racial, +3 Class, +4 Sacred) Perception 7 +10 Bluff 6 +11 Heal 7 +10 (+11 when used on others) Sense Motive 8 +11 Climb 1 +6 Swim 1 +6 Stealth 2 +8 Use Magic Device 1 +4 Fly 1 +7 Background Skills Knowledge (History) 4 +13 Knowledge (Nobility) 1 +14 Knowledge (Engineering) 1 +10 Knowledge (Geography) 1 +10 Linguistics 5 +14 Appraise 4 +13 Languages Common, Thassalonian, Azlanti, Celestial, Abyssal, Draconic, Undercommon, Infernal, Necril, Elven, Dwarven, Aklo Equipment Spell component pouch, spellbook, Evil Outsider Bane Longsword (attuned), dagger, bola, light crossbow, 10 bolts, backpack, wineskin, traveler’s outfit, scroll of Mage Armor, scroll of Shield, Mithral Chain Shirt (attuned to +1), 4 flasks holy water, Righteous Medal of Clarity (Int), Righteous Medal of Valor (Str) Special Silver Tongue, Focused Study, Forewarned (always act in surprise round, +3 Init), Foresight (9/day), Arcane Bond (ring), Effortless Magic, Patron Spells (Endurance: Endure Elements, Bear's Endurance, Protection from Energy, Spell Immunity), Challenge, Tactician, Order (Shield), Apprehend; Possessed (-2 Concentration, concentrating provokes AOOs, roll twice and take the better on possess/dominate), Obedience, Skilled (Stealth, Use Magic Device) Cantrips Prepared Daze (DC 15), Detect Magic', Light', Open/Close Spells (* prepared, ^ opposition, ' Yuelral); Concentration +8) 1 (6+1): Mage Armor, Shield, Protection from Evil, Burning Hands (DC 16)*, Magic Missile*, True Strike*, Thunderstomp*', Feather Fall*, Liberating Command*', Heightened Awareness', Long Arm, Endure Elements' 2 (5+1): Resist Energy*', Human Potential, See Invisibility*, Invisibility^, Bear's Endurance', Gust of Wind', Burst of Radiance*', Darkvision*, Force Sword, Spider Climb', Scorching Ray, Spear of Purity* 3 (4+1): Haste*, Clairaudience/Clairvoyance*, Fly, Communal Resist Energy*', Daylight', Keen Edge, Heroism*, Protection from Energy' 4 (3+1): Dimension Door*, Arcane Eye*, Conjuration Foil*, Stoneskin, Spell Immunity Other spells in Dwarf's Spellbook: Detect Secret Doors, Fog Cloud', Grease, Shocking Grasp, Silent Image Other spells in Damaged Spellbook: Alarm, Dismissal, Dispel Magic*, Magic Circle Against Chaos, Versatile Weapon Pending spells to scribe (from Aravashnial): Magic Circle Against Evil, Summon Monster III, Acid Arrow, Levitate, Summon Monster II, Sleep, Summon Monster I Current encumbrance: 53 lbs (light) Money 50 PP, 5 SP Automatic Bonus Progression +2 Resistance, Armor Attunement +1/+1, Weapon Attunement +1/+1, Deflection +1, Mental Prowess +2, Physical Prowess +2, Toughening +1 Mythic Hard to Kill, Surge 2/day (+1d6), Prestige Class (Evangelist) |
