Braedan's page

About Braedan

Braedan Lucius McGovern is the youngest son of King Coffee McGovern of Largay. Braedan had an older brother, Colin who died of the fever a few years back. His only other family are his mother (Luíseach), his brother Fintan and Aoife (who also lived with them in Largay).
As children, the three of them would run off and have adventures together. Fintan was usually getting into the most trouble and Braedan would stand up for him as much as possible or pull him from danger at the last minute, but in the end, used his own tact and guile to avoid recriminations. Aoife normally played along with whatever the boys were doing.
Braedan (though not weak) had to rely on his wits, his words and his silver tongue to get by in the world. This made Braedan not very popular with folks as they claim that his 'honeyed words' are just empty and lack depth, love or true meaning. Therefore, Fintan was always the favored son and loved by everyone. King Coffee always seemed to favor Braedan over his older son and always seems to be putting his interests first. Braedan could never understand why his mother always favored Fintan and paid little heed.
For about 5 years, Braedan was sent off to learn classical music and history from one of the great masters in Dublin. This meant miles of travel for the young man as well many lonely nights away from hearth and home. Since Dublin was in the hands of the Danes, Braedan learned much of their language and lore as well. Being an outsider in Danish lands, the young bard learned many ways to avoid trouble. Without Fintan's strength and Aoife's fiery temper, he had to rely on his quick wits and his own intuition to keep himself safe.
Though trained in music, Irish literature, history, and Brehon law, Braedan is an Irishman through and through. His most famous work to date is called the 'Oath-Breaker of Ulster' detailing the solemn oath made to Bishop of Armagh by High King Murtach Maclochlain of Ulster to treat his captives well but in the end, had Eochaid Mac Duinn Sléibe, King of Ulaid, seized and blinded. The people of the other clans in the Ulaid (except, of course, those of Ulster, who go into fits of rage at the hearing of it) love the song and in the last day or two have begun signing it as a celebration for the unpopular and now dead, high king.

St: 10
Dx: 13 (3)
Co: 10
In: 14 (5)
Wi: 12 (2)
Ch: 18 (10pts)(+2 Human)

Initiative: +3
AC: 13 (14 w/Shield)
Melee: +1
Ranged +2

Saves:
Fort +0
Reflex +4
Will +4 (+8 vs Bardic, Sonic and Language dependant effects)

Spells per day: */2
Spells Known 5/3

HP: 16

Languages: Common (Middle Irish), Latin, Danish

Skills: Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Disguise +9, Perception +7, Perform +9, Knowledge (Nobility) +7, Knowledge (Irish History) +7, Knowledge (Local) +7, Knowledge (Irish Culture and the Arts/Arcana) +7, Knowledge (all) +3, Sense Motive +5, Spellcraft +5, Stealth +5, UMD +8

Cantrips: Ghost Sounds (DC 14), Dancing Lights (none), Lullaby (DC 14), Prestidigitation (none), Detect Magic.

Spells: Sleep (DC 15), Charm Person (DC 15), Ventriliquism (DC 15)

Feat: Lingering Performance (+2 rounds of effect after performance)

Abilities: Bardic Performance: 8 rounds/day, Bardic knowledge, Cantrips, Countersong, Distraction, Fascinate, Inspire Courage +1, Versatile Performance, Well Versed.

Equipment: Basket-Hilted Broadsword, Leather Armor, Small Round Shield, Short Bow, Trumpet, Hornflute.

Trait: Reactionary: You were bullied often as a child, but never quite developed an offensive response. Instead, you became adept at anticipating sudden attacks and reacting to danger quickly. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Initiative checks

Bonus Feat: War Singer (Advanced Player's Guide, Pg 173)
Your songs draw upon the savage chants and brutal ways of your people, inspiring those around you to new heights of violence and savagery.
Prerequisites: Cha 13, bardic performance class feature
Benefit: When you use bardic performance with audible components on a battlefield (any area where a combat involving a dozen or more combatants is taking place), the range or area of your chosen performance is doubled. In addition, the DC for saving throws against your bardic performance is increased by +2 for Men of Ulster.

Bardic Knowledge(Ex): A bard adds half his class level (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skill checks and may make all Knowledge skill checks untrained.

Versatile Performance: Perform(Sing)-Bluff, Sense Motive

Well-Versed(Ex): At 2nd level, the bard becomes resistant to the bardic performance of others, and to sonic effects in general. The bard gains a +4 bonus on saving throws made against bardic performance, sonic, and language-dependent effects

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), mindaffecting ability. Fascinate relies on audible and visual components in order to function.

Inspire Courage (Su): A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard’s performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 5th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. Inspire courage can use audible or visual components. The bard must choose which component to use when starting his performance.