Evan Markhale's page

DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +2 Dex), possible AC 17 or 19 vs. ranged attacks due to gunslinger's dodge
HP 17 (d10 + 1/2 d8 + 2 + 1 favored bonus)
Saves Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +1
Defensive Abilities resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee whip +0 (1d3+1 nonlethal, 15' reach/x2) or short sword +0 (1d6+1/19-20), or chakram -1 (1d8+1/x2, reflex DC 15)
Ranged (standard) pistol +3 (1d8/x4), 20' range increment or chakram +3 (1d8/x2), 30' range increment
Ranged (with focused aim) pistol +3 (1d8+3/x4)
Special Attacks bardic performance (countersong, distraction, fascinate, naturalist)
Naturalist: +1 insight bonus to AC and attack rolls, +1 insight bonus to saving throws vs. (Sp), (Su), (Ex) abilities of creature identified with an appropriate Knowledge check.

Bard Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +4; arcane spell failure 0%)
1st (2/day) — abundant ammunition, jury-rig
Cantrips (at will) — detect magic, ghost sound, mending, read magic

Str 12, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 16, Wis 9, Cha 17
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 14

Feats Magical Aptitude, Rapid Reload (pistol), Gunsmithing, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firearms)

Flaw Noncombatant: -2 to melee attack rolls

Skills Acrobatics +6, Craft (alchemy) +7, Disable Device +9, Diplomacy +9, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (local) +8, Knowledge (other) +4, Perception +1, Perform (act) +7, Perform (sing) +7, Spellcraft +9, Use Magic Device +9 Racial Modifiers Diplomacy +2, Perception +2

Languages Common, Celestial, Draconic, Elven, Halfling

SQbardic knowledge (+1), bardic performance, grit 3/day, deeds (deadeye, focused aim, gunslinger's dodge), traits (armor expert, vagabond child)

Gear pistol, 29 alchemical cartridges (paper), 8 firearm bullets, 1 powder horn w/ 8 doses of black powder, gunsmithing kit, short sword, masterwork backpack, masterwork thieves' tools, studded leather armor, 3 chakram, whip, waterskin, flint & steel, bedroll, traveler's outfit, 3 days of trail rations, 7 gp 4 sp remaining

BARDIC PERFORMANCE ROUNDS: 7 per day

Favored Class Bonuses: +1 skill point, +1 HP

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

Bardic Performance: Evan knows the following bardic performances, and may use them for a combined total of 7 rounds per day:
Countersong(Su): Evan may make a Perform (sing) skill check; any creature within 30 feet of Evan (including Evan himself) affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use Evan's Perform check in place of its saving throw, or gains another saving throw vs. an ongoing sonic or language-dependent magical attack. Countersong relies on audible components.
Distraction(Su): Evan may make a Perform (act) skill check; any creature within 30 feet of Evan (including Evan himself) affected by an illusion (figment or pattern) magical attack may use Evan's Perform check in place of its saving throw, or gains another saving throw vs. an ongoing illusion (figment or pattern) magical attack. Distraction relies on visual components.
Fascinate (Su): Evan can cause one creature within 90 feet to become fascinated with him, as long as the creature can see and hear the bard (and can pay attention), and Evan can see the creature. Nearby combat or dangers prevent use of this ability. Targeted creatures receive a DC 14 Will save to resist, or watch the performance as long as it continues. This is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability relying on audible and visual components.
Naturalist (Ex): After identifying a creature with a Knowledge check, Evan can use performance to share strategies for defeating it with allies in combat. Evan and any allies within 30 feet gain a +1 insight bonus to AC and attack rolls, and on saving throws against (Ex), (Su), and (Sp) abilities used by that specific kind of creature (e.g., frost giants, not all giants). This language-dependent ability requires visual and audible components.

Grit: Evan gains 3 grit each day. He may replenish grit by confirming a critical hit with a firearm attack, or dropping a creature to 0 HP or less with a firearm attack.

Deeds: Evan knows the following deeds. Costs (if any) are listed after the deed's name:
Deadeye (1+ grit): Evan can resolve a firearm attack vs. touch AC when firing beyond the first range increment; costs 1 grit per range increment beyond the first, and range increment penalties still apply.
Focused Aim (1 grit): As a swift action, Evan can gain a +3 bonus on all firearm damage rolls (his Charisma modifier) with all firearm attacks made until end of turn.
Gunslinger's Dodge (1 grit): When a ranged attack is made against Evan, he can move 5 feet as an immediate action and gain a +2 bonus to AC against the attack. This movement is not a 5-foot step and provokes AoO. Instead, Evan can drop prone to gain a +4 bonus to AC against the attack. Evan can only perform this deed while wearing medium armor or less, and carrying no more than a light load.

Traits: Evan has the armor expert and vagabond child traits: he treats Disable Device as a class skill, and reduces ACP of any armor he wears by 1. These changes are factored into his attributes.

Acrobatics +6 (1 rank, 2 Dex, +3)
Craft (alchemy) +7 (1 rank, 3 Int, +3)
Diplomacy +9 (1 rank, 3 Cha, 2 racial, +3)
Disable Device +9 (1 rank, 2 Dex, 1 trait, 2 masterwork tools, +3)
Escape Artist +2 (2 Dex)
Knowledge (arcana) +8 (1 rank, 3 Int, 1 bardic knowledge, +3)
Knowledge (local) +8 (1 rank, 3 Int, 1 bardic knowledge, +3)
Knowledge (any other) +4 (3 Int, 1 bardic knowledge)
Perception +1 (-1 Wis, 2 racial)
Perform (act) +7 (1 rank, 3 Cha, +3)
Perform (sing) +7 (1 rank, 3 Cha, +3)
Spellcraft +9 (1 rank, 3 Int, 2 feat, +3)
Use Magic Device +9 (1 rank, 3 Cha, 2 feat, +3)

Appraise, Bluff, Disguise, Intimidate all +3
Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, Stealth all +2
Climb, Swim both +1
Heal, Sense Motive, Survival all -1

Born to a mother who only saw his value in platinum pieces, and a father who didn't want much to do with him, Evan began life raised, in fairly decent accomodations, by servants of the wealthy Martel household in Alkenstar. As an aasimar born to two seemingly human parents, the Martel family saw Evan as a potential boon capable of being exploited.

His father, Stannin Martel, was the black sheep scion of the Martel family, who engaged in a seven-month love affair with a Taldan 'entertainer', only to lose interest in her when she informed him she was with child. Eagerly accepting a monetary offer by the Martel family to relocate to Taldor and never return, the woman left soon after Evan's birth. Stannin made a few paltry attempts to serve as father figure, but was usually too distracted by his alcoholism, gambling, and other vices to be present, often gone for days at a time. With a touch of irony, Evan was given his mother's surname, Markhale.

Things would have gone much worse for Evan had it not been for Ryle Martel, Stannin's elder brother, and the third of four Martel sons. Acting more as a father than an uncle, Ryle was Evan's sole model of human kindness and compassion, and Ryle ensured Evan was given a proper education. This including knowledge of use in firearms and their crafting, which Ryle oversaw, as he was quite the gifted gunman.

It was at 13 when Evan's magical abilities began to manifest, which caused some problems in Alkenstar, as magic rarely behaves as it is supposed to within the Mana Wastes. Fortunately for Evan, Uncle Ryle helped mollify aggrieved parties however he was able, but Evan had little ability to safely dabble in his powers.

At age 15, Stannin Martel died in a stupid, avoidable accident at the Gunworks, and the Martel clan suddenly had no further need of Evan. Ryle Martel was fairly sure what this would entail, and arranged for passage for Evan out of Alkenstar and to the city of Quantium, where Evan spent a great deal of time at a bardic college (paid for by Ryle). Ryle impressed upon Evan that it would be wise for him to never return to Alkenstar -- at least not for a couple of decades -- and departed after giving Evan one final gift: the first pistol Ryle ever crafted himself. Despite its slight patina and minor flaws, Evan holds it as his proudest possession, absently running a finger across the monogrammed letters in its hilt when troubled.

When the funds to remain at the college finally ran out, Evan took odd jobs here and there, but often could not afford lodging for weeks at a time, and became used to life on the street -- and knows it is not a life he wishes to return to. Eventually, he applied to become a Pathfinder initiate. So far, the Pathfinder Society has been good to him, but Evan realizes he needs to pull a couple of huge scores -- lost knowledge or lost items -- in order to maintain their good graces. Any job that pays well and gives Evan a chance to uncover such knowledge is a job he'll readily accept.

Evan's a lover, not a fighter. He's capable with a gun, and with a variety of other weapons as well, thanks to training given him by his uncle, but Evan would prefer to use his quick wit or quick smile -- or his bardic abilities -- to solve any problem.

Curious by nature, Evan admires those with vast knowledge far more than those with money or power. Knowledge is power, after all, and Evan's learned how to use it to best enemies in combat. He seeks out knowledge voraciously, but sees it as something that must be shared with others: the idea of blackmail is abhorrent to him, and secrecy is a sometimes necessary evil. That being said, he's very quiet about his own past, and most people have been told shades of the truth, if that.

When dealing with strangers, he sinks into his most practiced persona: a folksy Alkenstar traveler to be trusted, and incapable of any level of guile or cunning. When working with others on a task at hand, Evan does not mask his abilities, and is regularly impressed by what others can do that he can't. But Evan will try almost anything once -- just to see if he can do it, too. He is especially kind to commoners, beggars, and others on the lowest rungs of society, because he understands them.

Evan's not a religious man. He knows the gods exist, and they even seem to assist other people, but clearly Evan's not gotten any such help in his life, and he doesn't expect any. A man has to stand on his own two feet, after all. Evan believes in magic, instead. It's real, and he can feel it. He also believes in the physics behind a well-built firearm, trajectories, and a warm gun in hand when there's trouble around. Lastly, he believes in himself -- someone's got to.