Fofin Sternforge's page

Fofin Sternforge
Dwarf Fighter 1
CG Medium Humanoid (dwarf)
Init +0; Senses darkvision; Perception +1
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Defense
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AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+5 armor, +2 shield, +1 natural)
hp 12 (1d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +0; +2 vs. poison, spells, and spell-like abilities
Defensive Abilities defensive training
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee Heavy Shield Bash +4 (1d4+3/x2) and
Boar spear +4 (1d8+4/x2) and
Heavy pick +5 (1d6+3/x4)
Special Attacks hatred
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Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 14 (14 vs. Bull Rush, 14 vs. Trip)
Feats Ironhide, Weapon Focus (Heavy pick)
Traits Armor Expert, Tunnel Fighter
Skills Acrobatics -5 (-9 jump), Appraise +1 (+3 to determine the price of nonmagic items with precious metals or gemstones), Climb -2, Craft (sculpture) +5, Escape Artist -5, Fly -5, Intimidate +5, Perception +1 (+3 to notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors in stone walls or floors), Ride -5, Sense Motive +1, Stealth -5, Swim -2
Languages Common, Dwarven, Giant
SQ greed, hardy, slow and steady, stability, stonecunning +2
Other Gear Scale mail, Heavy steel shield, Boar spear, Heavy pick, Mug/tankard, 71 GP, 9 SP, 8 CP
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Special Abilities
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Armor Expert -1 Armor check penalty.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Defensive Training +4 Gain a dodge bonus to AC vs monsters of the Giant subtype.
Greed +2 to Appraise checks to determine the price of nonmagical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones.
Hardy +2 Gain a racial bonus to saves vs Poison, Spells and Spell-Like effects.
Hatred +1 Gain a racial bonus to attacks vs Goblinoids/Orcs.
Ironhide Your skin is thicker and more resilient than that of most of your people.

Prerequisites: Con 13; dwarf, half-orc, or orc.

Benefit: You gain a +1 natural armor bonus due to your unusually tough hide.
Slow and Steady Your base speed is never modified by encumbrance.
Stability +4 Gain bonus to CMD vs bull rush/trip while standing on ground.
Stonecunning +2 +2 bonus to Perception vs unusual stonework. Free check within 10 feet.
Tunnel Fighter +2 Initiative and +1 critical damage while underground.

"Makin' another dainty, priss-polished statue again, boy?" The words of a shamed father would echo through the halls of the clanhold and carry into the son's mind forever.

Though the city itself welcomes traders from all over Varisia, a few of the dwarves that call Janderhoff home are as xenophobic and traditional as a greybeard from Highhelm. Eldaghar Sternforge was one such individual and nearly all the members of his clan tended to have the same mindset. His third son, Fofin, proved to be the exception and grew to be an embarrassment in his sire's eyes. When the misunderstood, young dwarf finally walked out from beneath the mountain, his elder neither sighed nor wept.

While certainly not what people would think an outcast among dwarves, Fofin had but one hobby his clan's patriarch thought more than peculiar. He carved small figurines; sculptures exquisitely cut from pieces of stone that he found appealing when chipping away at the walls of Janderhoff's mines. Others of his kind seemed content to toil away beneath the earth, repeating their lives nearly down to the very last detail, one day after another. He thirsted for something different and expressed his yearnings through his carving. This, of course, led to many arguments with his father and in time, the younger dwarf grew callous.

Combat training was another excellent way of expression that he could pool his frustrations into. Most distressing to his trainer, though, was Fofin's unorthodox manner of fighting. Several times, the master reprimanded him for leaving himself open whilst charging head-long into the fray. The young dwarf reasoned that his armor would provide the cover he needed and his companions would make up for everything else. Of course, he was scolded still with old dwarven ideals and told to fight the right way, something he never came to understand.

When he had a chance to break free from the rigorous trappings of the mines, he made his way into the bustling surface side of Janderhoff. Strained and dour when dealing with his own people, he found speaking with outsiders refreshing. Many times he was reported late when called back to work, busy laughing and sharing a pint with Shoanti traders or similar folk he found interesting. Eventually, his mind had to be made up and his choices were placed before him when a confrontation with his father grew far too heated.

The subject of his pastime and refusal to become compliant with his clan's strict traditions were naturally the topics that turned the altercation into an all-out clash as the two shouted until they both became hoarse. Gathering up the very few possessions he had, the young dwarf left the mountain halls with resentment practically dripping from his figure. From Janderhoff, he set out into Varisia with little more than his pick and a few provisions to find the life of excitement he had dreamt of for nearly half a century. Determination to prove himself to both his people and hard-hearted father drive him ever farther to make a new name for himself, one that even his clan will recognize.

After managing to leave Janderhoff with very little to his name, the dwarf gravitated toward Sandpoint, hearing about its many opportunities. Setting off, the young dwarf was nary prepared for the road. Along the way, he suffered the miseries of ill-weather and treacheries of traveling.

A deluge left him squatting in the Varisian woodlands with a cold, sniffling and grumbling until the very next day when his sneezing attracted a group of highwaymen. With nothing of worth to be taken, the bandits merely ruffed up the outnumbered dwarf and left. Battered, sick, and more than irritated, his patience was nearly extinguished when he spotted the town in all its glory from atop a nearby hill.

"Sandpoint at last!" the dwarf exclaimed, rushing toward the coastal settlement with a wide grin from beneath his straggly, unkempt beard.