Grunhild's page

Also, a few errors I noticed. Someones backstory doesn't really fit, mostly because of the goblins and timeline. Someone made a level 4 character. Another a level 1 character. A few peoples profiles are really hard to read and will get a better look once it is cleaned up a bit.

Aside from that keep the submissions.

Can't wait to see the Earth Mage and the Monk submission.

Also, I really like Rahkeg's background. It's very unique. Unique is good as well!

Like I said, this character comes from a dead game which is why he's at 4th level. I was planning on restating him but I don't think I'll bother now since my chance of getting in seem pretty low. Have fun with the game.

I love dwarves and the whole idea of the game (fighting to restore their ancient kingdom). I have a concept for a dwarven bard that I've used in 2 (dead) previous games. I'll have to modify him a bit to fit the needs of this game but the basic idea is there.

Backstory:
Grunhild's clan were smiths who suffered greatly during Ordrik's reign. They were forced to endlessly create plain tools and weapons with no regards to artistry and culture. Grunhild himself hated his first days toiling at the forge. Always headstrong and curious, he earned for more. He fled the Five Kings Mountains, going out into the world to live amongst other people and learn their culture. During this time, he also researched all information he could find on Dwarven legends and culture thus learning how much had been loss during the reign of Ordrik. When Bruagh came to power after Ordrik's death, Grunhild decided it was time for him to return home. He had traveled and seen good parts of both Avistan and Garund and he wanted to help the dwarves return to their past glory. King Bruagh selected Grunhild for this expedition because of his knowledge of both the surface and the dwarven past.

Grunhild is tempted to loudly play his brass horn ... Maybe it will wake some.

"...But I can and will provide you with supplies for your expedition. The ship was flying plague lights, after all - it makes much sense to assume that it was the spark that lit this flask of oil."

"Most excellent!" replies Grunhild with some restrained enthusiasm. Somehow, it didn't seem right to express much joy and excitement in this Gothic church of the Lady of Graves. "We will, in turn, keep you informed of what we may find. I'm eager and curious to see this plague ship. Now, since the ship is at the bottom of the harbor, I presume we will need to dive do explore it. Perhaps you can help us with this with your 'supplies'? Some magical way to breath underwater would indeed be helpful."

Grunhild responds to the priestess. "I'm rarely content speeding anyone's death to be honest. Living people are usually much more interesting then their corpses. Besides, the ghost Alandra spoke of warned us of this disease and said 'the healing will come' or some such. Perhaps it's our fate to find a cure for the city."

"What about the priests of Abadar? They seem pretty eager to help, from what the good captain said."

"Do you have any proof for this? Anything we might go by?"

"Only vague omens and prophecies I'm afraid, Captain." Grunhild says while holding his bearded chin. "But the disease, at least, is true enough. It's also very contagious if Alandra's and Elian's feelings as well as ... your own coughing are to taken as early stages of it."

"Not too good."

She looks at Elian closely. "Yes, i think we might have caught what that girl has."

"Really? That's an unfortunate turn of events. I suppose our quest has just become very personal for the 2 of you ... Hopefully, we can find a cure quickly."

Grunhild looks pensive as he looks at Zalen. "I can't say I've known you for much longer then Narsel, but I would also like to see the end of this story and the meaning of Zellara's prophecy. Now that I've heard it, I can't help but wonder what's in store for us. Hopefully, we'll make a better future then what she showed us. In any case, I'll be here tomorrow." Grunhild quickly gathers his things and prepares to leave the store.

"I don't pretend to have understood everything she told us but she said we visited the source ... The source of what ? With all her allusions to plague and disease it has to be the source of an outbreak. Could it be the sister of the sergeant that visited the business earlier ? Didn't he mentioned she was sick and in pretty bad condition ? Maybe she can at least lead us to the source. Also, there were a lot of mentions of keys unlocking clues and all that. Perhaps this was her cryptic way of saying we should seek the help of the grand Abadar, father of civilization and master of vault and key."

While Grunhild loved listening to the ghost's dire warnings, if only to satisfy his anthropological research and curiosity, he was getting a bit frustrated with her cryptic answers. "So, you say an epidemic threaten the city ? That can't be good ... I thought Korvosa had already had enough trouble for at least a year. Is there something you would have us do ? Somewhere we should search ? Surely your metaphorical serpent left some traces."

Grunhild listens intently as the ghost spins her tale and vision of the future. He's so focused that he almost forgets to breathe and to swallow his saliva. After a clear and audible gulp, he clears his throat and speaks. "Fascinating ! If a bit cryptic and gloom, but I suppose that would be the way of a dead Varisian cartomancer. Death, disease, pain, blood and tyranny, you paint a dark picture lady Zellara." He turns to the rest of the group. "Any of you know this Korvos ? It would seem like the name of someone."

Without a word, Grunhild take the seventh card. He reveals it and takes some time to examine the colorful art of the cards.

Grunhild is fascinated by the vivid appearance of the ghost. He had read so many stories involving lingering spirits but to be part of one was certainly special. He just wondered why they always had to speak in such cryptic ways. "A test of fortitude and constitution ? What do you mean ? Will the city be attacked ? Do you really only do this to help your city ?"

"Well, Narsel, I've heard weirder tales in my time. I, for one, believe that our host is telling the truth." Or at least believes he is telling the truth, he thinks to himself. "I'm curious, however, why would this spirit still linger here after her revenge had been sated. And what does she want with all of you ? In any case, I'll stay here tonight. I want to see this 'Zalera' for myself."

Knowledge(nobility): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Crud, no luck...

Grunhild thinks a moment before adding: "Perhaps she's interested in your business and wants to make you 'dependant' on her protection ... However, this would mean what we witnessed was a total and complete set up. Let's hope she's not that dishonest."

Perception check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Grunhild bows his head low at the departing noblewoman. "It would be hard to forget the visit of a member of such an old house, my lady."

Once she and all her lackeys are gone, he murmurs to Zalen. "Well, this can't be good. Does she has any reasons to dislike you or your name ? Or was that completely random ?"

I rolled a 25 on knowledge(local) previously, perhaps a knowledge(nobility) check would help more ?

Grunhild removes his spectacles and clears his throat. "Ahem ... If I may interject, my lady Arkona, Mr. Candorian is an honest business man. I can assure you that this vile ship wasn't there to supply this establishment. You implied there were many urns while we have but one. Perhaps this is only a simple mistake. They could be different urns. Didn't you just said you only heard that some were salvaged ?"

I'm not sure you want dice rolls, but here goes. Perform(oratory) as diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Grunhild silently follows Zalen and looks at the item causing so much commotion. Maybe his own knowledge can help shed some light on the trouble. Grunhild knows he has to thread carefully around nobility, especially those with lots of wealth.

Appraise to get an idea of the item's worth 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 (+2 if the item contains metal or gemstones), Knowledge(history) for any info on the item, if it's relevant 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18, Knowledge(local) for some info on the noble or her house 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25.

As sergeant Grau tale begins to gather more and more attention, Grunhild finally turns away from the small clay sculpture and listens to Grau's description of his niece's sickness. While he is no healer, Grunhild remembers reading about some famous sickness outbreaks in the past. He thinks back and tries to remember if there was anything similar to what the man is describing.

It's a bit of a shot in the dark but who knows ? Knowledge(history) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 or knowledge(whatever is relevent) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24.

Grunhild was glad to have found Gern and his family in these trouble times. They had proven to be much friendlier then the rumors lead him to believe. Grunhild also meet Zalen and he was more then happy to help him with his new business. For a small pay, he was evaluating the various items, checking for false seller claims and helping set prices. He also helped selling merchandise to clients by telling them grand tales from the item's country of origin. He wasn't lying to the clients but usually did some exaggerations.

Today, Grunhild was busy studying a small Gorilla clay statue under a magnifying glass. The seller pretended it came from the Mwangi Expanse but the dwarven scholar wasn't so sure. He was so absorbed by his work that he didn't really noticed Gern's warning signs about sergeant Grau.

Grunhild insists on paying his own beer. "I'm broke, but not totally 'coinless' yet." As he happily follows his cousin, he starts telling him about the legend of Kurli Mops, the dwarf commoner who supposedly invented beer a few decades after the end of the Quest for Sky by using grain traded with humans.

"You sure can't always find good dwarven ale like this in these Varesian wilds." Grunhild says while putting his mug down. "I ain't in Korvosa for the beer, however. You see, I'm a bit of an historian, story teller and scholar of various cultures. I came here to view the Grand Mastaba with my own eyes. I've soon discovered that this place as much more to offer ... It surprising that a city of this size has so many scholarly institutions. So far, I've mostly spent my time at the Jeggare's library and museum. You wouldn't believe all the books they have there, cousin ! Sadly, living in the Heights isn't cheap and there are some ... fees to consult the rare bookz section. So, here I am, broke and hoping your family could use my services." Grunhild pauses to think for a moment. "I can entertain people with legend and stories of the glorious exploit of past heroes and I'm also pretty good with numbers and words. I've actually helped a few dwarven merchants smooth out their dealings with the wild Shoanti. I can also handle myself in a fight if it comes to it ... but I have to say I prefer to avoid those."

"Thank you, lass." Grunhild says to the human woman before making a formal dwarven greeting gesture to the sitting dwarf. "Well met ... Gern is it ? I'm Grunhild, sometimes called 'Silvertongued'. From what I hear, you and I are kin, well, distant kin at least. My mother's mother, who now forges with Torag, bless her soul, was a Hammerfold, Greda Hammerfold. She died being a Deepholm of course ... but I digress. Can I take a seat so we might share a few words and some ale ?"

Grunhild sighed as he was counting the too few coppers in his hat. It's not that the Korvosan in this small inn of the old quarter didn't enjoyed his glorious recounting of field marshal Korvosa's victories over the Shoanti, but they sure weren't paying him well for it. This was not even enough to pay his room and board. The recent death of the king and the subsequent trouble that plagued the city had not only robbed him of his employer but also made the population stingy with their coin. The dwarf knowledge seeker had come to Korvosa to study in the city's many schools, bookshops and museum but it was getting hard to find money to pay the various fees and bribes needed to access the rarest books and artifacts. He was fascinated by what he had learned so far, so he wasn't about to leave just yet. Besides, the mages of the Acadamae were still closing their doors to him.

Grunhild pocketed the coppers and started thinking about who he could call on for a favor or some employment. Greydom Amek had been killed in one of the riots and Darvar Goldbeard had run back to Janderhoff but there was still the Hammerfolds. In her last letter, Grunhild's mother had mentioned that a few of them lived in Korvosa and she insisted he payed them a visit. They were distant cousins of hers (and so of him too) through her own mother's family. All he'd heard was that they were a quiet, closed and weird bunch, but he was getting a bit desperate for funds. He gathered his things and started to mingle with the Korvosans, telling a few stories while asking questions about the local dwarves in hope of finding someone who knew about them and their whereabouts.

Grunhild will use his perform(oratory) (+10) as diplomacy to 'gather' some information about the Hammerfolds. He will visit other watering holes if necessary.

I just thought I would make myself known in this thread also. I present to you Grunhild, dwarven seeker of knowledge and secrets extraordinaire! Ok, so he's maybe not that fantastic but sometimes it's fun to go against the grain.

In any case, one suggestion I have for integrating my character into the party would be that he's curious about the identity of those that saved Trinia from decapitation (ie Blackjack and the PCs) and he seeks them out. Then again, if he manages to find the PCs, why wouldn't the authorities find them as well ?

Maybe somebody else has a better idea ?

I think I'm pretty much done with my character. Feel free to review the stats and correct/comment.

If it's not too late, I'd like to join this. This dwarf bard was for another game that never got off the ground but I can retool him for this game. He would be a scholar from Janderhoff perhaps acting as a scribe/linguist for an important dwarven merchant or just in town to research at the various arcane schools and learn more about the varisian, chelish and shoanti cultures.

Now in sight of Mirror City, Grunhild blows a few notes on in his horn to announce his presence. He just smiles and laughs at the nearby startled merchants.

Also, bump :)

I've added the masterwork horn to my character sheet. Let's say it's a gift from someone in another clan of dwarves that Grunhild visited.

I've added some info about Grunhild's personality and background. Feel free to comment/suggest.

OK, here's my bard (see the profile). I still need to write up a background but he's pretty much done.

The traits are an optional rule they released in the adventure path's players' guides and in this web supplement of the rpg : Pathfinder traits

Basicly they are "half a feat" based on background.