Damiel

Deresh O'kar's page

14 posts. Alias of electricjokecascade (RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16).


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Here is my submission, a Daring Champion Cavalier of the Order of the Flame. His focus is going to be both on combat and nurturing the relationships in the caravan, with an eye to building morale and relationships.

Crunch:

Deresh O'kar
Male NG half-elf (varisian) cavalier (daring champion) 1
Init +6; Senses: low-light vision, Perception +

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DEFENSE
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AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +4 Dex)
HP 11 (1d10)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +0, +2 vs. enchantment spells and effects, +2 trait bonus on saving throws against charm, compulsion, and emotion effects.

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OFFENSE
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee rapier +6 (1d6+1/18-20)
Melee dagger +2 (1d4/19-20)
Ranged dagger (thrown) +5 (1d4+1/19-20)
Space 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks challenge
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STATISTICS
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Str 13, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 14
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 16
Feats Precise Strike, Weapon Focus (Rapier)
Skills Acrobatics +2 , Bluff +6 , Climb -1 , Diplomacy +6 , Disguise +3 , Escape Artist +2 , Fly +2 , Intimidate +6 , Perception +4 , Ride +2 , Sense Motive +5 , Stealth +2 , Swim -1
Traits principled, reactionary, childhood crush (Ameiko)
Languages Common, Elven, Varisian
SQ champion's finesse, edicts, elf blood, elven immunities, human-raised, integrated, low-light vision, multitalented, order, order of the dragon, tactician (precise strike), wary
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds; Other Gear chain shirt, rapier, dagger (4), explorer's outfit

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Special Abilities
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Challenge (Ex) 1/day [Swift Action], you can challenge a foe to combat. Choose one target within sight to challenge. Your melee attacks deal 1 extra damage whenever the attacks are made against the target of the challenge. Challenging a foe requires much of the cavalier's concentration. The cavalier takes a -2 penalty to his Armor Class, except against attacks made by the target of his challenge. The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious or until the combat ends. Each cavalier's challenge also includes another effect which is listed in the section describing the cavalier's order. His allies receive a +1 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls against the target of his challenge whenever he is threatening the target.
Champion's Finesse (Ex) A daring champion gains the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, and he can use Charisma in place of Intelligence for the purpose of combat feats prerequisites. A daring champion also counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for the purpose of meeting feat requirements.
Edicts The cavalier must remain loyal to his allies and must always work to further the aims of the group. He must protect his allies from harm and defend their honor when called into doubt.
Elf Blood (Ex) Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
Elven Immunities (Ex) Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and get a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
Human-Raised These half-elves were born and raised into accepting human communities, often raised by generations of a single family, or through the charity of churches and temples. These half-elves have the integrated and wary racial traits.
Integrated Many half-elves are skilled in the art of ingratiating themselves into a community as if they were natives. Half-elves with this racial trait gain a +1 bonus on Bluff, Disguise, and Knowledge (local) checks. This racial trait replaces the adaptability racial trait.
Language Half-elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Half-elves with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic).
Low-Light Vision (Ex) You can see x2 as far as humans in low illumination. Characters with low-light vision have eyes that are so sensitive to light that they can see twice as far as normal in dim light. Low-Light Vision is color vision. A spellcaster with low-light vision can read a scroll as long as even the tiniest candle flame is next to her as a source of light. Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day.
Multitalented (Ex) Half-elves choose two favored classes at first level and gain +1 hit point or +1 skill point whenever they take a level in either one of those classes.
Order (Ex) A cavalier must pledge himself to a specific order. The order grants the cavalier a number of bonuses, class skills, and special abilities. In addition, each order includes a number of edicts that the cavalier must follow. If he violates any of these edicts, he loses the benefits from his order's challenge ability for 24 hours. The violation of an edict is subject to GM interpretation. A cavalier cannot change his order without undertaking a lengthy process to dedicate himself to a new cause. When this choice is made, he immediately loses all of the benefits from his old order. He must then follow the edicts of his new order for one entire level without gaining any benefits from that order. Once accomplished, he gains all of the bonuses from his new order. Note that the names of these orders might vary depending upon the campaign setting or GM's preference.
Order of the Dragon Whenever an order of the dragon cavalier uses Survival to provide food and water for his allies or to protect his allies from harsh weather, he receives a +1 bonus on the check.
Principled You hold yourself to a strict code of behavior that guides all of your decisions and actions. You take a -2 penalty on Bluff checks and gain a +2 trait bonus on saving throws against charm, compulsion, and emotion effects.
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.
Tactician A cavalier receives a teamwork feat as a bonus feat. He must meet the prerequisites for this feat. As a standard action, the cavalier can grant this feat to all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear him. Allies retain the use of this bonus feat for 3 rounds. Allies do not need to meet the prerequisites of these bonus feats. The cavalier can use this ability 1 times per day.
Tactician (Precise Strike) (Ex) A cavalier receives a teamwork feat (Precise Strike) as a bonus feat. He must meet the prerequisites for this feat. As a standard action, the cavalier can grant this feat to all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear him. Allies retain the use of this bonus feat for 3 rounds. Allies do not need to meet the prerequisites of these bonus feats. The cavalier can use this ability 1 times per day.
Wary Many half-elves have spent their long lives moving from place to place, often driven out by the hostility of others. Such experiences have made them wary of others' motivations. Half-elves with this trait gain a +1 racial bonus on Sense Motive and Bluff checks.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency Daring champions are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light and medium armor, and bucklers. This replaces the cavalier's weapon and armor proficiencies.


Roadmap:

I'm going to play him straight Daring Champion all the way.

So: Fencing Grace -> Combat Expertise -> Chain Challenge

Background:

Deresh grew up in Sandpoint, a shadowy waif of a child who never managed to hold anyone's attention for long. His mother, having dallied with an elf and returned home in shame, spoke nothing to him of his heritage, and so he had nothing with which to resist the barbs of his bullies.

But in his heart he yearned for glory, to perform great deeds, and to earn the love of a fair damsel who would pine for him as he quested and killed monsters without end. These childish dreams were put to the test when a passing cavalier of the Order of the Flame came though Sandpoint. Seeing his chance, Deresh ran away from home and dogged the cavalier for two months, begging to be his squire. The cavalier spurned him, but when Deresh was able to help him defeat a goblin ambush by rolling rocks down on the ambushers, he was finally taken on.

What followed was five years of travel and martial training, until at last Deresh was made a full member of the Order of the Flame himself. When his mentor was injured and retired from the field, the young cavalier found himself free at last to go where he would. His feet took him home, to Sandpoint, in part to see his childhood town with fresh eyes, in part to impress upon the locals how far he had come, and in part to see Ameiko once more, the charismatic and beautiful inn keeper for whom he'd always harbored a flame.


Hello! Life has grown increasingly hectic this past month, and promises to remain so for the foreseeable future. Fortunately this seems a good moment to have Deresh fade into the crowd without disrupting the storyline.

Thank you for the rp and best of luck to everyone!


Deresh sits back, sipping on his brandy and enjoying Argyri's song. It's a dramatic night to be sure, with the weather filled with deviltry and the mood within the tavern rising to a fever pitch. Or is that the brandy getting to him? Determined to double down, he drains his cup and sets it spinning across the table.

Should he return to his lonely vigil by the fireplace? Resume his assault upon Mount Drifr? Or simply sit back and watch his new companions as they laugh and sing and play merry?

Sit back. It's the easiest option when your legs aren't feeling too steady.

However, when Barazi points animatedly out the windows, he perks up, thinking to see some kind of brawl taking place outside.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5


"Girl," says Deresh, leaning in close with a gleam in his eye. "As the priest said to the prostitute, by all the demons in hell I would if I could." And he gives her a wink.

With a sigh he straightens up and sips his brandy. "But damn. I didn't even bring my climbing gear tonight. A large lady like that needs proper equipment if she's going to be scaled, if you catch my meaning."


Perform: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Deresh quietens down as the playing grows more complex, staring intently at the strings now as he seeks to play as quickly as Ruach.

Alas! The speed undoes him; while he's able to follow the chord progressions, it's a passable imitation at best.

This doesn't faze him, however; he laughs, delighted by Ruach's skill as he straightens up, and doffs his hat. "And that is why you are being showered in gold coins for your performances, while I sit by the fire with my cup of brandy. To you, good sir. Yours is a wondrous talent."

With that, he sips from his cup and smacks his lips. "Are you staying in Thornleaf long? More importantly, what do you know of that stunning goliath lady over yonder?" So saying, he turns and raises his cup in her direction, hoping that she hasn't already forgotten him.


Deresh throws his feathered hat up onto the back of his head, kicks a boot up onto an empty chair and with a smirk plays the slow opening notes right back at the inebriated bard.

"I learned my way around the lute from Helsinger Fremonte the Divine Bustier himself," he says, pitching his voice nice and loud for the benefit of those listening in. "Of course he was in jail at the time, but I believe that helped hone his notoriously wandering focus on that task at hand. Me!"


It takes Deresh a moment to flow with this abrupt change of attitude, but he is nothing if not willing, so he takes up his newly filled cup of brandy with a smile.

"A soothsayer? Who can say whether soothsayers are aught but fortunate in their prognostications? If I was but fortunate in being brought into your -"

That's when the wild elf appears by his side, with her fey-haunted eyes and intense manner. He half turns to accomodate her within his field of vision, eyebrows rising, and for a moment can't for the life of him think what she means.

Play? As in - children's games? Or -?

Then he realizes what she's pointing at and feels himself the fortunate fool. "Play? My dear elfen lady, I was born strumming chords with one hand and singing an aria that deafened the heavens. I -"

It's not often that he's caught flat footed twice in such quick succession. When the illusory hand appears before his face, beckoning him toward the bard, and the elf takes him by the arm and hauls him to his feet, he looks back at Drifr with hapless apology. "Did I foresee this? Not at all!"

And then he's stumbling in the excited elf's wake, trying to balance his brimming cup of brandy as he weaves through the crowd, only to set it atop Ruach's table with a palpable sense of relief as he pulls his lute around and plays an unsteady waterfall of notes, buying himself, in the process, a moment to take in his new companions.

Perform: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Greetings! Your performance before was a thrilling experience, and one I did not look to enjoy this far out in the wilderness! My name is Deresh O'kar, seducer of titans and willing flower to the bee of outre experiences. I am honored to have been summoned to your table!"

He signs off on this declamation with a much more forceful and confident strum of his lute, a branging, brash cascade that for but a moment lifts up over the general clamor.

Perform: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16


"Drifr," breathes Deresh, leaning back in his chair and crossing an ankle over the other knee, "A name that falls most pleasantly upon mine ear, a boon, a benediction." He smiles, the expression languorous, and spins his hat around his finger so that the feather continues to whisper through the air.

"And I am afraid you shall have to suffer through another barrage of flattering comments. Such is the effect that your mien has upon my impressionable soul. Unless of course you wish to stand before the barred gates of your essence, depriving me of all entry like a grave keeper might ward away the errant and naively curious."

His smile grows a fraction more broad, and then he raises his empty flagon in the bartender's direction. "Yet crushed as I am no doubt soon to be, both by your cutting disregard and your mighty foot, I shall assay a toast if my flagon be refilled. A toast to strangers well met upon the road of life, to beings of utterly different natures who are thrown together, limbs intertwined, gasping and confused and yet tickled by curiosity as they extricate themselves slowly, with great care and affection, to regard each other with eyes clouded - perhaps - by the desire to drink deep of all new and thrilling experiences."

His flagon filled, he brings it to his lips, clearly enjoying himself at his own expense. "To you, my dear Drifr at the Threshold, and the fortune that has brought us together."


A quick roll to identify as best I can the provenance of either the silver medallion or the obsidian wolfhound. Do they have any significance beyond the decorative? Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, and Religion are all at plus one, so please apply the rolls below to whichever is best suited.

Silver Medallion identification: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Obsidian Wolfhound: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15


Apologies for the mess; I used OrcPub to help generate my character and it inserted a number of standard half orc attributes.

I should be in better shape now, but don't have access to the Background selections. Are those listed online anywhere?


There's a grand chair set before one of the Crown's carved pillars, close to the fire but not overly so, and in this leather upholstered throne Deresh has ensconced himself, one leg hooked over a chair arm, the other curled beneath him. Half turned to the fire, lute in his lap, he plucks strings quietly for himself alone, trying some of the melodies that Ruach had played, exploring the songs and extemporizing variations upon their themes.

An easy smile rests upon his Forn'orc features, and his florid yellow shirt is opened near to his sternum. A number of necklaces and charms hang over his chest, gleaming in the torch and firelight, and are matched by the rings that glimmer as he fingers play over the strings.

Deresh plays a flourish, losing patience with his own tinkering, and then looks up, eyebrows raised, searching for some new form of entertainment. The Crown is a finer establishment than he'd expected for such a modest town, and the brandy is equally fine; not knowing when next he'd stumble across such a quality venue he's determined to make the most of the night.

For that matter, there are a number of fascinating strangers on hand. This is no mean and mind numbing collection of dull witted farmers. From the jocose gnome that had just entered and taken possession of his throne at the bar to the wild looking elf who was accosting her relation to–

Ah.

Deresh rises to his feet, abandoning his luxurious chair with a flicker of regret, and weaves his way through the crowd on nimble feet to pause before the goliath, whereupon he doffs his floppy hat and bows low over its feathered brim.

"My lady! Stay your annoyance! I pray, suffer my predilection for overlong introductions with steadfast forbearance! I saw you here, looming like an alluring crag over the small folk of this inn, and thought to myself: Deresh, never was there a cliff face more in need of scaling. Might I join you, fair stranger? Might I offer you a glass - or mug - of whatever it is you are drinking?"

Smiling warmly, Deresh pulls out a seat and leans forward, twirling his hat about one finger so that the blue feather flutters through the air.

"Your name, gentle lady? And if I may, what wondrous chance brought you to the Crown, and thus into my orbit?"


Hmm. Here's my first stab at crunch. Can you check where I've gone wrong?


I'm slowly cobbling together my character sheet as I'm not familiar with 5E rules. Progress is slow but certain.

I'm unsure about the setup here - does the adventure start in Thornleaf?


Greetings all, thanks for having me on. I've read through the Recruitment pages and while my understanding of what's coalescing here is still a little uncertain, I'm excited to jump in and take part.

I'm going to be playing Deresh, a Forn'Orc of a decidedly civilized bent, a connoisseur of the finer things in life who is cursed with a morbid curiosity for the darker corners of the world. I'm still working on the crunch, but should have him spec'd out soon. His background is still pretty fluid, and I'd be happy to work out some connections with the others in the group if anyone is amenable (Jubal?).

Either way, glad to be here. Cheers!