"Difficult to say without actually testing... lemme see if I can discern it..." Athraz replied, leaning close to the water and sniffing at it, staring hard.
Religion:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
"I'm with you. I think, with about... say, 8 hours of work, maybe less if I had help, I could make this a much more sanctified place. Perhaps, with some luck, it would draw Apsu's favor and give us some relief. I'd love to know a bit more... but as it stands, the majority seems interested in getting to the surface... myself included, but... this would certainly make a good place to retreat to if things got bad. Perhaps later..."
"Personally, I'd like to stay and clean up the temple. Perhaps a show of faith in these dark times would draw the eyes of an able patron... but, I hate to waste such time when the surface needs us." Athraz frowns at his dilemma. Every fiber of his being was telling him to stay and be safe down here... but he knew, realistically, that it would not be safe for very long. They would come down here eventually, he was sure...
"Leave that to me." Athraz speaks up at Alekto's words. "I may not be proud of my heritage, but it does give me... advantages down here. I can stay low and quiet, and I see perfectly in the dark. Let me lead the way; if you can carry Anevia, milady, I will gladly stay ahead and keep us safe."
Athraz loosened up as the undead fell to the ground. "...today is going to be a collection of crises, isn't it?" Kneeling down, Athraz spied the gold ring amid the remains, quietly picking it up and pocketing it. He knew he shouldn't horde things, but... it was so shiny! "Someone else could likely make better use of these potions than myself. I can heal already."
'...yeah, I could see this being a temple to Apsu. Already kinda carved out, just need to tidy it up a bit, sweep away the undead...' The kobold pondered as he looked around the room. "This seems like a good place to rest and retreat to, if need be. Hopefully, we won't have to, but... a haven is a haven."
Looking up at the elf, he tugged his robe to get his attention. "Tall one. I'm trying to put my claw on it, but I can't recall these holy symbols. Would you happen to recognize a symbol that looks like..." Athraz described the symbol from the door in detail, hoping perhaps the elf would remember what he could not.
Athraz growls in frustration as he focuses a bit more. Come on! You're a dragon! Dragons do cool things... like beating up monsters! Be a dragon! His claws shimmer a bit more brightly as launches another barrage of blows, ending with a smack from his tail as he twists tightly to swipe at the monster's face.
Athraz's claws glow with faint light, both on his hands and feet (and even his tail!) as he steps in to close the gap between himself and the undead. "Eat dragon punches, demon!"
If able, Athraz will 5 foot step to stand next to the huecuva and flurry on it. Otherwise, he'll just move in and punch it.
The kobold bows, placing his palms together. "Master Horgus, I understand your haste. And we will get you there as soon as possible. But if we stick together, we have much better odds of getting out of--" Athraz stops as the sound of battle rings out.
Rushing to the side of his allies, Athraz readies his fists as he peers into the darkness. "What is that..?"
Making a knowledge check on the undead to see if it can be identified. Also readying an action: if the undead comes toward them, Athraz will cast Magic Fang on himself (gives him a +1 enhancement to attack and damage with his fists, also makes them count as magic, if that matters... typically doesn't at low levels).
Athraz recovered from his failed push at the stone door and returned to help Anevia move along. Guiding her to a bench to let her sit down, he helps her to her seat before turning to investigate the chamber. 'I will have to remember this place... perhaps I could come back and clean it up, turn it into a temple to Apsu. It IS far from the sun, so other kobolds could worship here without the glaring rays...'
His thoughts interrupted, Athraz turned back to the bickering duo of Anevia and Horgus. He quirked a brow at the noble as he folded his arms. "No. We will not be leaving anyone behind. I am the new dragon of Kenabres, and I will not fail in my duties." The kobold looked back to Anevia, still quirking a brow as he spoke. "However, if you two have any past tensions that will be a problem in the future, I suggest you air them now while we have nothing after us. I'd rather find out now that someone used to side with the demons or really does know where we are than in the middle of battle, when I can't address it properly."
Athraz stares up at the giant holy symbol on the front. He's seen it somewhere...
Kn. Religion:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
...but for the life of him, he can't recall what it is! But he had a bad feeling about what was on the other side. Stepping forward, he braces to push up against the door. "Let me see if I can't... ASSIST!" he said, before heaving himself into the hefty stone.
If he can't, I'm readying a Venomous Stare at the viper Alekto doesn't shoot. Hopefully, it will be enough to knock it unconscious with nonlethal damage. If not, maybe it will fascinate him long enough for us to pass by.
"In a sense, yes... levitation is more accurate, but it's more than I can fly on my own. I'm betting I can reach the pack with it. Only one way to find out, right?"
Athraz will aid Anevia and Aravashniel in moving forward along the path Alekto points out to be the one with the pack. Once they get to the indicated point, Athraz will pass the pair off to others and use his scale to cast Cloudwalk so he can move up and reach the pack before bringing it back down.
Athraz finishes the splint and aids Anevia to her feet, handing her the makeshift crutch. "Lady Espera would be far better at this than I am... but this should help some... I hope..." Athraz frowned as Alekto ventured into the dark. "Take great care! You are not humble - your life means a great deal. I would be hurt if I failed to save the few under my direct protection."
...failed. I could not even protect the lone soul I was supposed to watch over. Now I have a whole city to watch over, and already, I am unable to do so. Some dragon I am... As he takes one of Terendelev's scales in hand, however, a sense of calm washes over him. "Cloudwalking... even in her death, Terendelev is teaching me. One step closer to becoming a true dragon..."
Athraz stays at the ready for battle, but looks back at the other characters down there with them. "Giant maggots! But... it looks as if our companions have them well in hand. Save your magic. Just stay behind me, I will ensure your safety!" he recommended.
Eyeing Anevia's leg, he moved back to aid her, allowing her to use him as a support... or as much as he could, given how small he was. "You are favoring your leg... is it broken?" The kobold raced through his mind as he tried to think if he had anything to help. He didn't think he had the magic to fix it... that would take something stronger. But perhaps he could aid her injury a little.
Athraz nods back to Selene, evidently grateful to the relocation of her light. "It will be. I have to get back and set things right." The kobold looked at the others down with him, particularly the loud noble fellow. He reminds me of my old chief... bluster belies insecurity.
Pressing his fists together at the knuckles, Athraz bowed to the elf. "My name is Athraz, Redeemed Champion of Apsu... only champion of Apsu, that I know of... I've spent a great deal of time at the temple of the priestess Espera, who saved my life from the city guard when I was little. I owe her and the woman who guided me back from the Worldwound my life... and so far, I have failed to repay them for their kindness. I have studied and trained to become a dragon like- ...like Terendelev... now that she is gone, I am the only dragon Kenabres has left... lowly as I am. I have to return to the surface and drive back the invaders in her stead. I can fight claw to hand, and I have some divine magic at my disposal... I may be small, but I would be best at the front."
"NO! NOOOOOOO! Must! Get! Back! Up!" From nearby, the sound of a yappy voice, accompanied by a multitude of scrapes and gnashes against stone, sounds out. Athraz appears to be desperately trying to clamber back up the cavern wall. "I have to get back! I have to! She's my ward! I have to protect Lady Espera and her church, noooooo!!!" After a few more tries, the kobold just stares back up at the wall silently, before clenching his hands and yelling angrily at the ceiling.
"...I failed. I had one task, and I failed her." Athraz plops down on a large chunk of debris as he hangs his head. "She saved my life, and after all my training, my studies, my devotion... Apsu, I tried. So why? Why wasn't I strong enough?" He sits alone and silent for a few more moments, before standing up and clenching his claws. "I have to get back up there. No matter the cost."
Athraz turned to eye the others, moving closer, but clearly uncomfortable around the light. "...I will." he stated, looking at Rukzha. "If... If her majesty, Terendelev, is gone, then as the only other dragon of Kenabres, I will take her place... somehow..." Looking at the others, he assesses them for a moment before pressing his palms together. "Gather around. I will do my best to heal your wounds." Athraz inhaled deeply, before exhaling out a long burst of cooling wind, circling it around to encompass everyone.
Once everyone is in range, I'll use a Channel to try and heal as much as possible. Channel Positive:1d6 ⇒ 6
"A good sign, isn't it? So many souls willing to beat back the darkness that threatens the world." An elderly female's voice pipes up from behind Turt, and it belongs to an old, but still toughened priestess of Iomedae. Behind her, a kobold with dirty red-orange scales pants lightly as he jogs up behind the woman. "I take it you are not used to Kenabres proper, hm? I hope you don't have to leave so soon, the opening ceremony will be starting, and I would hate for anyone to miss it. Do you have a seat for the event? I'm sure we could find you a seat with us, if you care to join."
Athraz eyed the human warily as his priestess made small talk with him "I don't know, milady... he looks shifty to me. I bet he's looking to start something any minute - just look at those furrowed brows!" The priestess chuckled as she waved off the kobold's accusation. "Don't mind Athraz too much. He's always so serious, and he truly means well. He may not be Kenabres' largest champion, but I would be hard pressed to find another soul more dedicated to defending her." The kobold bows his head as if bashful of the compliment.
Athraz counts himself lucky to have such a good sight of the jousting matches, thanks in part to the elderly priestess he travels with enlisting him as her bodyguard. Most would consider having a kobold to be a poor choice of bodyguard, and the number of stares he gets confirms the suspicion. Still, Athraz is quietly hoping somebody starts something, if only for the chance to finally prove his worth as a warrior. His devotion had let him tap into the draconic blood he carried... now, in front of the whole city would be a fine time to show it off.
However, most seem content to let the elder holy woman pass by unmolested. After all, she was clearly a devotee of Iomedae, and in this city, attacking or swiping from someone like her would no doubt yield a mob ready to lynch the offender. However, Athraz kept his eyes peeled, because the old woman told him something fascinating: today's Armasse festival was supposed to be attended in disguise by none other than the silver dragon herself, Terendelev. That would be SO cool to meet her. And then she could take me under her wing, and teach me more stuff, and I'll become a true dragon, and than I can wipe out the whole Worldwound and become a cool hero and- oops!
Athraz had become so enraptured at his daydream that he forgot he was supposed to be keeping up with his "ward", pushing through the crowd to catch up to her.
Also I absolutely love this backstory. Well done! As a fellow Desnian, I hope we can play together.
Nice to know someone likes my Novella ;)
Seriously, I was a little surprised that I wrote over 3000 words, and that I am planning on revising that last bit to make it more in line with the others, and that's likely going to add length.
@ the GM (Mister Will Pratt): I apologize if it's too long. I can give you the cliff notes version if you prefer.
I know my kobold would have some queries, seeing as the one saved him years ago was Desnian. So his first question would be who Deana is. :P
He'd also wonder why she thinks she's a monster, because... well, just look at him! I can see them generating some intriguing conversations.
All set now! Presenting Athraz the Redeemed for consideration!
Stats:
Athraz the Redeemed
Male Kobold Monk/Cleric/1
LG Small Humanoid (Reptilian)
Deity: Apsu
Init +3; Senses Perception +8
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Defense
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AC 18 Touch 18 Flat-footed 12
HP 9/9
Fort +3 Ref +6 Will +4 (+2 vs. sleep or paralysis)
Domains Scalykind (Dragon)
Favored Class Monk (+1/3 AC bonus)
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee Unarmed Strike +5 (1d4/x2)
Special Venomous Stare (DC 12) 1d6+1 nonlethal + fascinate
Channel Positive Energy (DC 11) 1d6 pos energy, 4/4
Flurry of Blows (-1/-1)
Elemental Fist +1d6 fire/cold/acid/elec (1/1)
Spells
1st (DC 13) - Magic Fang (domain), Blessed Fist, Firebelly
0th (DC 12) - Create Water, Detect Magic, Read Magic
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 12
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 15
Feats Snatch Arrow, Weapon Finesse
Traits Chance Encounter, Blood of Dragons
Skills Acrobatics +8, Heal +6, Kn. Religion +5, Perception +8, Stealth +12
Languages Draconic, Common
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Equipment
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History:
A former member of Woundstrider tribe of kobolds,who make their warren on the brink of the Worldwound, Athraz was once a lowly little adolescent among his kind. As to be expected, he sought to prove his dominance over his kin as best as he could, and one popular such way of proving so was for younger kobolds to venture as far into the Worldwound as they could and bring back something from their trek. If they made it back, it proved they were mighty warriors... failure resulted in obvious consequences.
Regardless of the danger, Athraz, at only age 8, undertook the task and ventured far into the treacherous land. Too far, in fact, as when it came time to make his way back, he found himself lost and his path cut off. Scared and alone, he was rescued in his darkest hour by a very striking female archer. She showed him kindness and bravery, taking him to the edges of the Wound and guiding him towards Kenabres, before vanishing back into the dark lands as strangely as she appeared. Athraz had not seen such cunning, grace or generosity before, and her act opened his eyes to far bigger and grander things.
Upon reaching Kenabres, Athraz sneaked his way into the city, finding his way into a temple of Iomedae before the city watch was alerted. Again, the young kobold was saved by the kindness of an old priestess of Iomedae, claiming the kobold was a refugee of the temple and that he was her responsibility. Twice, his life had been saved by the kindness of larger species, and he vowed to walk the most righteous path he could to repay them. They believed he could be far greater than anyone, even himself, thought possible, and he refused to let them down.
Since that day, Athraz has resided in the temple of the priestess who saved his life, helping when he can and constructing his own shrine to Apsu, the dragon god creater. He has studied divine practices and martial regimens, pushing his mind and body to their limits constantly to make himself a proper dragon. In doing so, he has unlocked incredible powers and appointed himself the unofficial guardian of the Iomedaen temple and its elderly priestess, a task which he takes quite seriously.
Personality:
As the only devotee of Apsu in Kenabres (that he knows of, anyways), Athraz feels obligated to hold himself with a certain degree of dignity and authority. After all, he is Apsu's only representative in the battle for the Worldwound, and he must show that the few devotees Apsu does have are just as willing to aid in the fight against evil. Even so, Athraz has something of an immature side to him, and can occasionally become distracted planning his moves based on how cool he thinks they will be.
Athraz much prefers to fight by himself, not out of dislike for teamwork, but because he is consistently trying to test himself and his skill in battle, as he has yet to have a true challenge with a real foe (few take a kobold warrior seriously, and when they do, they do not anticipate fair fights). Although he knows he shouldn't be eager to pick fights, he is itching for a chance to put his skills to real use. In spite of his face of confidence, Athraz has very low value for his life, seeing himself as a monster among heroes and not worthy to stand beside them without great struggle. However, two people have risked themselves to save him, which means that he must have something worthwhile inside him. And if his life is worth something, the life of every larger being around him must be worth even greater!
Athraz constantly hopes that one day, he will have the power to venture back into the Worldwound and find the woman who saved his life first, so that he may show her that her risk was not in vain. He also hopes to one day return to his tribe and show them the value of Apsu's teachings and the words of metallic dragons; though their scales differ, their power is no less, and he is living proof that they can achieve mighty things under their watch.
Meet Athraz the Redeemed, a reformed kobold who reveres Apsu and trains in monastic ways to perfect himself into the dragon he believes he is. He is a mix of the Monk of the Four Winds with the Qinggong monk archetypes plus the Theologian cleric archetype, using the Dragon subdomain. He specializes in buffing, unarmed combat and being an overzealous hero. He wandered off from his tribe when he was younger and was rescued by a female archer who guided him to safety, opening his eyes to greater things with her kind demeanor. Now, he trains relentlessly to unlock his draconic heritage, hoping to one day journey back into the Worldwound, find the archer woman (if she still lives) and repay her for her kindness (or rain down destruction on her killers).
I still have to flesh out his history and personality completely, but mechanically, he should be mostly set.
Presenting, for consideration, Athraz the Redeemed. A kobold saved by a paladin who finds himself oddly inspired to tread in his footsteps. He is a master of ambushes and traps, and considers making them to be a divine act rather than cowardly tactics.
Stats:
Athraz the Redeemed
Male Kobold Cleric/1
LN Small Humanoid (Reptilian)
Deity: Apsu
Init +4; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 18 Touch 14 Flat-footed 15
HP 8/8
Fort +1 Ref +3 Will +5
Domains Artifice (Trap)
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee Longspear -1 (1d6-2/x3)
Special Artificer's Touch -1 (1d6) 6/day
Channel Positive Energy 1d6 (7/day)
Spells
1st - Animate Rope, Firebelly (DC 14) x2
0th (at will) - Create Water, Detect Magic, Spark (DC 13), Mending
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Statistics
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Str 6, Dex 16, Con 8, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 13
Base Atk +0; CMB -2; CMD 12
Feats Redeemed Kobold
Traits Westcrown Firebrand, Kobold Faith
Skills Kn. Arcana +5, Sense Motive +7, Spellcraft +5
Languages Draconic, Common
Combat Gear Longspear, Studded Leather
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Equipment
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Longspear
Studded Leather
Cleric's Kit
-backpack
-bedroll
-belt pouch
-candles (10)
-cheap holy text
-flint and steel
-iron pot
-mess kit
-rope
-soap
-spell component pouch
-torches (10)
-trail rations (5 days)
-waterskin
-wooden holy symbol.
History:
Originally a cleric of Asmodeus for the Rocktredder tribe, Athraz was revered and respected by his kind, held up as a symbol of how a kobold should act. While the Rocktredders never bothered much with their Westcrown neighbors, given how hard it was to even get in the city to begin with, they could still be seen from time to time scrounging for resources at the edges of the city. It was one such expedition to gather materials that turned Athraz's life around.
As they rummaged for edible plants and scrap items thrown out by the city's residents, a small band of Hellknights happened along and opted to make sport of them. The group was lead by a knight clad in red armor, trimmed in silver, and sporting a large silver horn from his helm's forehead. Unable to withstand the slaughter, Athraz was resigned that this would be his end... when, unexpectedly, he was saved by a paladin wearing olive green armor that bore an uncanny resemblance to a green dragon. Stepping in to save the kobold, the paladin demanded the Hellknights to withdraw and promptly handed one of the more arrogant ones their metal-plated rear ends. Although still not fluent in Common, Athraz recognized the tone of a threat spat by the red and silver warrior, before turning and stomping away. Then, without another word, the paladin left Athraz and the survivors to return to their snarl safely.
Athraz returned to his tribe's warren being hailed as a hero for bringing back kobolds alive, but something within him seemed to have switched. In spite of his best efforts, his thoughts continued to return to the paladin who had saved him and his kin. Why? What would prompt a softskin to risk themselves like that for a bunch of kobolds? Who was this strange warrior?
Unable to suppress his curiosity anymore, Athraz began regularly sneaking into the sewers of Westcrown and spying on the locals, Much to his surprise and pleasure, he often saw his green clad savior walking the streets, standing up to thuggish guards and seemingly keeping the citizenry safe. Over time, he learned this knight's name - Steel Maximo. A former war hero and now champion of the downtrodden and mistreated. A man who used his strength to fight for the weak, because they had no strength of their own. Athraz couldn't fully grasp why or what would motivate him to save a little batch of kobolds, though.
Unfortunately, his hero's days of roaming the streets were numbered. The silver horned soldier returned one day, confronting Maximo in the streets and taunting him into attacking by threatening a little girl. To Athraz's surprise, Maximo instead bargained with the warrior in crimson and silver, agreeing to submit to arrest in exchange for the girl's safety. Athraz watched in horror as his new hero was led away in chains, bound for destinations unknown. The little kobold's questions were not only unanswered, but now, Westcrown had lost one of it's few remaining champions for the weak and pathetic was gone.
Athraz crept back home, unable to focus on anything else, but the tearing down of his new idol. Not for his caring for the weak or saving him, but of someone who had so much strength, he could spare it to the weaker. Something had been altered in the kobold - he could not bring himself to uphold the duties that his devotion to Asmodeus called for. He didn't want to bargain for strength - he wanted to have it for himself! To have so much, he could afford to lend it to others!
That night, Athraz packed up his meager possessions and slipped away from the tribe's warren. He couldn't pursue this new path among his kin - they would likely not approve of it. Returning to the sewers of Westcrown, Athraz began to gather bits and pieces scrap metal and other objects over the next few days, cobbling them together to form armor, weapons and a new home. After nearly a week of scavenging, he was finally ready, and that night, slipped up to the surface of Westcrown's streets.
The following morning, a couple of guards called out a beggar with insults, and the crowd parted to avoid getting caught in the ensuing beating. But before the two guards could harass the poor man, a patchwork of triggers and ropes suddenly snapped up and ensnared the guards, allowing the old beggar time to get away to safety.
Westcrown had a new knight. And he would not rest until he'd repaid the debt he owed the paladin who inspired him.
Personality:
Athraz is still learning how to be more like the paladin who saved his life. While his intentions are (generally) good, his methods can be somewhat problematic in their execution. His racial heritage also shows through at times, especially when he has someone at his mercy - often, Athraz forgets to show restraint and gets too enthusiastic in extracting "justice" from his fallen foes.
Athraz knows that while he seeks to be strong like Steel Maximo, he hasn't quite reached that point yet. His racial instincts also demand that he deal with threats via traps, tricks and the like. Athraz does not consider such tactics cowardly, but rather, divine - it is a testament to his mind and wits to defeat a foe without throwing a single punch. He recognizes that perhaps his hero may not approve of such tactics, but also understands that such dangerous ingenuity is part of who he is, and to completely turn his back on that would deny him a very useful weapon in his arsenal. Besides, his new deity, Apsu, is a god of creation, and in creating traps, he is performing a divine act, with a very meaningful purpose - to protect the weak. He cannot be everywhere to protect others... but he can ensure their safety by creating tools to do the task in his absence.
Athraz has a very defined goal: find the location of his hero and free him, or learn who killed him and make them pay for their actions. Beyond that, he wants to bring low the crimson and silver knight who locked away his idol. He does not know his name, but he knows his calling card: a silver unicorn horn wreathed in snowflakes. This symbol is one that Athraz is constantly on the lookout for, and hopes to one day make him pay for his thuggish and cowardly behavior. To Athraz, threatening others to subdue enemies is true cowardice. Trapmaking at least has a purpose - to ward and protect. But to hide behind another? Utterly shameful.
Athraz snarled as the holy fires attacked him. So THAT'S what that felt like! He'd always been on the attacking end of those spells... that hurts! He'd keep that in mind next time. Not now, though.
Bracing himself against the attack, he panted as he felt his energy being drained. Looking to Hu, he planted his staff into the ground as prayed. "Lady-Of-Mercies! Grant your unworthy servant the power to protect!" Tapping his staff into the fish, a wave of divine energy swept over his nearby allies, but swiftly moving around the flies.
Athraz cocked his head to one side under his robe as he approached. This seemed decent easy enough... the biggest problem was going to be trying to get the maggots into the wagons without upsetting them, or their flying parents...
Athraz approached closer to the giant fish, climbing cautiously up the side and to the closest grub possible. He examined the wriggly little thing, grimacing a bit before poking it with his scimitar to gauge it's reaction.
Moving to I14 and readying an attack action. If the golden flies come close and try to attack, I'm striking back at them with my scimitar.
Do you guys think it would be completely bad form to start a new thread for this game? I didn't realize it would go in the direction it did and I have a lot of ideas for how to organize it better.
Specifically what I'm thinking is have the first recruitment post direct people to the various sections, with the actual recruitment section being exclusively for people posting character aliases with the intend of joining. OOC discussion could be in a linked Discussion thread, then we could put all crafting, shopping, and maybe tavern RP or what have you in a linked gameplay thread. Then all the new player information/lists/whatever goes in the campaign tab, so we can edit it forever if we need to add/change things.
That would also have the added benefit of allowing us to chat in the way we have been without making it so that new players have no idea where to dig the info they need out of this mess.
I could always rework my cleric to be more of a battle cleric (or, less preferably, not a kobold. I love the challenge, but I'm sure it makes it tougher for everyone else). Assuming we need a good frontliner.
Okay... I may have lied. I'm switching my class to Oracle, because that looks like more of a Cleric with Sorcerer mechanics, which I am faaaaaaaar more familiar with. The story still stands ("Praise to Aroden! The mighty gopher of the gods!"), but mechanically, it'll be far more sane.
I'll get to working on that stat crunch in a bit...
As for his background and personality?
History:
Athraz was once a lowly miner, a part of his tribe that nobody expected to go anywhere. He would spend his days mining, digging and generally serving the tribe as best as he could.
That all changed, when the duergar attacked.
Beset by a huge contingent of the dark dwarven reflections, Athraz's tribe was caught offguard and virtually wiped out. Athraz himself was fleeing into deeper tunnels when they collapsed on him. Caught in a hopeless situation, Athraz did something he'd never done before: prayed. He prayed for some deity, any deity, to rescue him from his cramped, pitch-black, slowly-losing-oxygen death chamber. And that the moment, a gopher appeared.
Happening upon Athraz's tunnel, the gopher was startled back into it's own, tunneling a way up and out to safety. Athraz was stunned by this turn of events, and more so by the fact the gopher bore a very strange mark on it's head: a lone eye. (Or so he thinks. Given he was low on oxygen, it was pitch dark, and he was terrified out of his wits, it could've been anything.) Following the gopher to freedom and survival, Athraz fell to his knees and thank whatever deity had saved him. But he wasn't sure which one to thank.
Athraz spent month after month pilfering books, sneaking into libraries and learning all he could to thank whatever deity had saved him, seeking that eye he saw on the gopher's head. Finally, an answer came to him: the dead god Aroden. Athraz was initially shocked by this news, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense to his little mind. Praying to the original dragon Apsu long and hard, Athraz was struck by divine powers and had everything answered. Aroden was not dead, not truly; after all, Apsu was the father of all creation, and the creator of many worlds. Who was to say he couldn't bring back a dead being, even a god? After all, such powers existed for mortals, so surely the lord of all existence could do it on a grander scale! And Aroden was known for his many disguises travelling the world; but who was to say that a god had to look like a mortal alone? Why not an animal? Like a gopher?
Athraz has since spent years preaching this great knowledge and good joy; Aroden was not dead, not truly! It was all a perspective of time. True, he may not have existed for some time, but he still did exist, technically! Athraz has used his newfound powers to aid those in need of assistance since then.
Here is Athraz's stat crunch, at the moment. I'll hammer out his personality and backstory when I have more time later. (This is probably not the best way to jump into my first time using a Cleric, but... gotta jump sometime!)
Stats:
Athraz of the Revived
Male Kobold Cleric/7
LN Small Humanoid (Reptilian)
Deity: Aroden, Apsu, Faction: None, Homeland: Underdark
Init +2; Senses Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 21 Touch 15 Flat-footed 19 (+4 Armor, +1 Light Shield)
[dice=HP]6d8+8+7[/B]
Fort +6 Ref +4 Will +7
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee Longsword +6 (1d6+1/19-20) or Morningstar +6 (1d6+1/x2)
Ranged Light Crossbow +7 (1d6+1/x2)
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Statistics
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Str 10 (+2), Dex 14, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +5; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Two-Weapon Fighting, Dodge
Traits Called, Spellcaster Sneak
Skills Languages Draconic, Undercommon, Aklo
Combat Gear Morningstar, Longsword, Light Crossbow (20 bolts), Chain Shirt, Light Wooden Shield
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Equipment
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Bracers of Armor +2
Muleback Cords
Bag of Holding I
Wand of Magic Missile (9th)
Wand of Cure Light Wounds
Belt of Giant Strength +2
Cleric's Kit (minus torches)
Vest of Surgery
Ring of Sustenance
424 gp 1 sp
I'm throwing out a kobold cleric (because who doesn't love a challenge?), in service of a majestic and mighty gopher. Yes, a gopher... sort of.
When his tribe was beset by duergar, Athraz was trapped in a collapsed tunnel and almost buried alive. However, by the luck the gods, he was rescued by a tunneling gopher that looked like it had an eye imprinted into it's head (it was dark, and there wasn't much oxygen). Following the gopher, Athraz tunneled his way to safety and hiding. Believing he was saved by an emissary of the gods and recognizing the eye at a symbol of Aroden. Yes, Aroden is dead, but Athraz is certain of what he might have possibly seen etched into the head of a gopher in a pitch-black tunnel, and concluded that Aroden must somehow still be alive, perhaps by favor of Apsu himself. After all, the dragon is supposed to be responsible for the creation of the world and all the realms, at least partially, so who's to say he can't bring back Aroden like he did with all those dragons? And Aroden was known for his many disguises, so he MUST have disguised himself as a gopher to lead Athraz to safety and a higher calling! Surely!
So yeah, a kobold cleric of a dead god disguised as a gopher. Should be fun.
