Hadrian Smythe's page

About Hadrian Smythe

HP (d8) 12

AC 15 (+2 Dex, +2 Wis, +1 Dodge)

CMB +3 = BAB 0 + Str 3 + Size 0
CMD 17 = BAB 0 + Str 3 + Wis 2 + Dex 2 + Size 0

Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +4

Flurry of Blows +2/+2 1d6+3

Skills: Acrobatics 1 (+9), Climb 1 (+6), Knowledge (history) 1 (+5), Perception 1 (+6), Perform (act) 1 (+5), Sense Motive 1 (+6), Swim 1 (+6)

Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike (monk); Stunning Fist 1 day per monk level, DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + Wis bonus (monk), Dodge (monk bonus feat), Toughness, Skill Focus (acrobatics)

Traits: Child of Infamy (CoT Player's Guide) +1 Perform (act), well known actor due to family connections, 300 gold nest egg; Resilient (core Traits) grew up in rough neighborhoods and having to travel through hostile territories in order to perform, +1 to Fort saves

Possessions: a copy of Unbinding the Fetters, Irori's holy text kept in a hidden compartment of a travel locker, 20 throwing daggers, backpack, bedroll, winter blanket, chest, hooded lantern, average lock, 100 ft silk rope, 2 lbs. soap, traveler's outfit, entertainer's outfit x2, 3 healing potions

240 gold saved up

Background:

Hadrian was born in Andoran and is clearly of Taldan descent. Standing nearly six foot tall with a strong beard his broad shoulders make a striking appearance when he is on stage playing the role of a tough guy of some kind. His parents were the lead actor and actress in a traveling theater company famous for their comedies throughout the region but crossed a line when they eventually wrote a dark and risque comedy that made fun of a very powerful merchant family under a thinly veiled disguise of fake names. Normally, this might have earned them some minor grief and a steady crowd ... except the outrageous and fictional events of the whoring wife and illegitimate children turned out to be too close to the mark. A scandal broke out as the patriarch of the family whipped his son in public ashamed that their secrets had been revealed. The patriarch in his senility also let slip more lewd and scandalous details that remained the talk of Andoran for years to come. In the meantime the Carpenden Players found it best to relocate quickly. Being closest to the Cheliax border they made their way there when Hadrian was barely nine. Since then the performing company has done well though the vices of Cheliax have done their damage on the performers. The company has continued to perform original comedies (written by the company's resident playwright and the occasional special commission) as well as doing pastiches of Tian acrobatic displays, simple Chelixian operas and anything else that would pay the bills. Fortunately, Chelixians have a strong appetite for rowdy and dark comedies and the very play that got them run out of Andoran was immensely popular with the noble houses of Cheliax and put them on strong footing there.

Hadrian himself grew up a child of the company taught how to move scenery and memorize lines. As young as five years old took the part a child in plays with simple lines. As he grew older he proved himself to be introspective amongst the chaos of backstage. While his mother hoped to bring him out of his shell and see him become a great lead like his father this was made more unlikely when their sudden exodus sent them to an unfamiliar and dangerous land where he was repeatedly cautioned to be stay quiet lest he inadvertently break a serious law. Hadrian never developed a talent for makeup or costumes but as he grew older and he worked backstage he quickly filled out. His father said that Hadrian reminded him of his grandfather, Jonas who had been a blacksmith. His physical aptitude lead him to working with many of the Tian performers on acrobatic routines, exotic combat performances and eventually into fight choreography. Hadrian himself had found himself beat up and defending himself a lot as a youth as a a child in an acting troupe was seen as fair game by cruel local youths, certainly only one step better than gypsies. Taught to defend himself with his fists in eastern martial traditions by the Tian acrobats of the company he found staging fights on stage barefisted and later with weapons natural. Never fated to be the leading man Hadrian has found himself in demand as a fight coordinator and invaluable on stage for being able to stage dangerous fights and able to avoid being hit even if the other actor isn't as good as he should be. For several years now Hadrian has worked with not only the Carpenden Players but other acting groups in Cheliax expanding his experiences. Today his father (Iacob), mother (Kale) and little sister (Iona, 15) still work with the Carpenden Players and travel the major cities of Cheliax. Most of the original company has left over the years and a few have fallen to the dangers of Cheliax's civilization but as principal players they have reaped a lot of the reward of the company's success. His father and mother are devout worshippers of Abadar and though they dislike the diabolism of Cheliax they find the lawfulness pleasant and their dislike of the infernalism is tempered by the stroking of their egos they receive as popular performers. Hadrian himself does give thanks to Abadar but reserves his true devotion to Irori, the Master of Masters whose teachings he was exposed to early in life and spoke to him in a way that he has never been able to explain to others. Even today when not working at he can be found reading, boxing at amateur matches or otherwise pushing himself. He lacks the ego of his parents that drove them to the stage and may leave it one day himself but for now acknowledges that it has played an important part of him being who he is though he will not let it limit who he may become.