Diego Vallenci's page

Diego Vallenci
Male Human Bard 2
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +4
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Defense
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AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12(+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 14 (8+6)
Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2;
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee Scorpion Whip +3 (1d4) (Disarm, Trip, Reach) and
. . cestus +3 (1d4/19-20)
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 13
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Combat Expertise
Traits: Auspicious Tattoo, Barroom Talespinner, Prehensile Whip
Drawback: Attached
Skills: Acrobatics +7, (Bluff +8), Craft (Tattoo) +6, (Diplomacy +9, (Disguise +8), Escape Artist +6, Knowledge (History, Local, Religion) +7, Knowledge (All others) +3, Perception +4, Perform (Oratory) +9, *Perform (Act) +8, Profession (sailor) +6, Swim +6
Languages Common, Orc, Elf
Other Gear: lamellar cuiras armor, scorpion whip, whip (x2), cestus, dagger, bard's kit (This includes a backpack, a bedroll, a belt pouch, a book of sea shanties, a flint and steel, ink, an inkpen, an iron pot, a journal, a mess kit, a mirror, rope, soap, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), and a waterskin.), artisan's tools (common, tattoo), entertainer's outfit, ink and pen, ivory pipe and loose tobacco. 21gp
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Special Abilities
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Racial:
Heart of the Sea - +2 Profession (Sailor), +2 Swim, both become CS. Can hold breath twice as long as normal.

Class:
Bardic Knowledge
Bardic Performance

• Inspire Courage +1
  
• Countersong
  
• Distraction
  
• Fascinate

Versatile Performance (Act)
Well-Versed
Cantrips
Spells (3 lvl 1 per day - Known: 5 cantrips, 3 lvl 1)

Cantrips (5):
Ghost Sound
Dancing Lights
Message
Lullaby
Mending

Lvl 1 (3):
Cure Light Wounds
Cause Fear
Charm Person

Quick Story:
The sound of splintering timber pierced the wails and waves that filled the air. A large, amber tentacles burst from the water, wrapped itself around the main mast, and snapped it like a reed, while three others pulled the brigantine ship below the churning waters. Several good men and women had been wrenched down to the deep as well, hooked by the barbed tentacles and quickly lost between the creature's beak.

Two lifeboats fought the current and waves that tried to draw them back to the massacre, rowing furiously against the grisly fate. In the center of one was a young lad of only twelve, lying face down in a growing pool of his own blood - his back flayed open by the creature's vicious barbs and barely a breath left in his frame.

...

"That's a lot'v gold ta be wastin' on the boy." chided the dwarven matron, her red hair clasped tightly behind her head and hands bloody up to her elbows. Before them is a large tank of deep blue liquid, in which the boy is suspended. Tubes and harnesses protrude from his body in a manner that greatly resembles the terrible beast that caused his trauma.

An older gentleman, white white hair and large mutton chops nods in agreeance. He slowly pulls the ivory pipe from between his teeth and looks down at the dwarven surgeon with sympathetic eyes. "Yes, but I'm afraid it's my fault he's in there."

"Fault or nay, Mr. Filligree," she continues, "yer likely ta waste a fortune on patchin' him up, and still watch 'is body shrivel from the poison." Sure enough, the young boy's body was streaked with grey lines that marked where the kraken's venom had coursed through his veins - in addition to the massive scars than stretched across his back and shoulders.

Mr. Filligree continued to nod, taking another puff and blowing out a small ring of smoke. "Fortune's are meant to spent, I believe. It's just rare to find something for which it is worth doing so."

...

"Gah!" comes a shout of surprise from the other side of the bar. "Is that your arm, boy?! You look like a damned jellyfish!"

Diego quickly pulls down the sleeve of his cloak to cover the arm streaked with grey veins. He grabs his drink in embarrassment and draws the hood about his head a bit tighter as well.

"Didn't mean to startle you, boy." the half-orc explains, grinning wide with a splintered tusk and ink covered face. "But you really shouldn't be surprised to hear that you're an ugly son-of-a-b****."

Now Diego's embarrassment is overcome by his anger. He spins around and hurls the loaded tankard at the mocking sailor, only to see it easily batted aside. The half-orc reaches out and grasps the young man around the neck and lifts him a foot off of the ground. "I'm not trying to fight you, jellyfish." The half-orc snarls between his teeth. "I'm actually tryin' to help you. I can cover those scars and streaks if you'd like... make it look pretty sharp too. But you're going to owe me a few drinks. Especially after that stunt."

Background:
Diego's the son of a Port Peril prostitute and who-the-hell knows. His mother, Giana Vallenci, took care of him the best she could but most of his upbringing was spent in taverns and inns. Without other forms of entertainment, he was fascinated by the musicians and story-tellers that packed those locations on a regular basis. It's also where he met Sir Pontis Fillagree - a portly but rather wealthy treasure seeker (he prefers the term archaeologist) and philanthropist.

Mr. Fillagree often stopped by the Formidably Maid, and would swap tall tails with the child over a pint and a smoke. When the lad's mother fell sick, and it was pretty clear her end wasn't far away, Mr. Fillagree offered to take the child on his next expedition. It was an easy sell as Diego had often pleaded for such an opportunity and his mother wanted to save him the sight of watching her pass.

That trip, though initially successful, met a gruesome end at the hands of a Kraken. Lured by the artifact Mr. Fillagree had "recovered", it made quick work of his ship - the "Untimely Pursuit" - and took the treasure to the depths with most of his crew. Diego was badly injured in the struggle and only survived because Mr. Fillagree insisted on bringing his body with the few that survived and sunk vast amounts of money into his rehabilitation.

Though Diego survived it, he was badly scarred by the experience (physically and mentally). He refused to take to the seas again after that and hasn't accompanied Sir Fillagree on any more expeditions. Though the two still spent time together whenever Mr. Fillagree was in port, where he would hear more fantastic stories of the man's exploits. The treasure hunter also taught Diego to use a whip, showing him several tricks and flourishes that made the implement so much more than a humble weapon. "Every weapon is really just a tool," he would say, "but most only have one use... the whip however is almost limitless."

Diego also built a strange sort of fellowship with a tattoo artist at the port named "Three Strike" McGunners. The abrasive half-orc covered the boy's scars with the intricate tentacle tattoos that now adorn much of his body. In exchange for the service, Diego has worked as a sort of apprentice under the half-orc's tutelage for the past 8 years. In this capacity he has stretched his talents beyond story and poem to other artistic pursuits of design and detail, as well as a degree of military prowess thanks to McGunners.

He has been frequenting the Formidably Maid Tavern again recently, sharing tales as he loves to do and hoping to see the return of Mr. Fillagree. The aged treasure hunter was supposed to return from his latest expedition nearly six months ago, and no word of he or his ship have reached the port. He had given Diego his ivory pipe (possible attachment item?) for safe keeping in the mean time, which is all the young man has of his father-figure.