| HP 10/10 | AC 16, T 12, FF 14 | CMB +3, CMD 15 | F +3 R +2 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +3 SM -1
Classes/Levels
| Speed 30ft | raging song 11/11; spells: 1st 2/2 | Active Conditions: None
Gender
”Hakon” | male NG human skald 1
About Hakon - Skald Iconic
To keep the tales of heroes he hopes to emulate fresh in his mind, Hakon embroiders representations of their stories into cloth badges sewn along the hem of his long coat. His retellings fill his companions with unparalleled battle spirit and combat prowess, further cementing Hakon’s own growing legend.
Hakon
Male human skald 1
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +3
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 10 (1d8+2)
Fort +3 (+4 while performing), Ref +2, Will +1
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee handaxe +2 (1d6+3/×3) and handaxe +2 (1d6+1/×3)
or handaxe +4 (1d6+3/×3)
Ranged sling +2 (1d4+3)
Special Attacks raging song (inspired rage +1 [+2 Str/Con]), 11 rounds/day
Skald Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +3)
1st (2/day)—saving finale, timely inspiration
0 (at will)—detect magic, guidance, light, prestidigitation
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Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Extra Performance, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (handaxe)
Skills Bluff +6 (+7 vs. Ulfen), Intimidate +8, Knowledge (all) +2 (+3 about dwarves), Perception +3, Perform (wind) +6 (+7 vs. Ulfen), Profession (sailor) +3, Use Magic Device +6; Armor Check –2
Traits glint-tongued, warrior poet
Languages Common, Dwarven, Skald
SQ bardic knowledge
Combat Gear alchemist’s fire; Other Gear chain shirt, handaxe (2), spell component pouch, sling with 10 bullets, backpack, horn, 5 gp 9 sp
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Special Abilities
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Inspired Rage As a standard action, Hakon can give all allies who accept it a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution, a +1 morale bonus to Will saves, and a –1 penalty to AC. Allies can accept the bonuses and penalties on a round by round basis, but while accepting the song, they can’t cast spells, use abilities requiring concentration, or use Intelligence-based skills, Dexterity-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, and Ride), or Charisma-based skills (except Intimidate). Once this song is active, he doesn’t need to spend any action to maintain it but can end it at any time. He can use this ability for 11 total rounds each day, which need not be consecutive. Allies who have their own rage or bloodrage can use their own bonuses and penalties if they choose, but they can’t use any of their other abilities like rage powers or blood casting.
Warrior Poet Hakon gets a +1 to Fortitude saves while performing (already included).
Detect Magic Hakon can notice magic in a 60-foot cone. If he concentrates, he can find how many magic auras there are on the next round and then attempt to find out more on the round after that.
Guidance Hakon can give a touched target a +1 competence bonus that the target can use on any attack roll, saving throw, or skill check in the next minute.
Light An object Hakon touches sheds light for 10 minutes. He can’t have more than one copy of this spell active at once.
Prestidigitation Hakon can perform simple magic tricks for 1 hour, such as cleaning his outfit, chilling his ale, or flavoring his meat.
Saving Finale Hakon can spend an immediate action and end his inspired rage to allow an ally who was affected by inspired rage to reroll a failed saving throw.
Timely Inspiration Hakon can spend an immediate action to add a +1 competence bonus to a failed attack roll or skill check, which may allow it to succeed retroactively.
Background:
Past the Ironbound Archipelago, across the Steaming Sea, lies the Broken Bay, haven of scoundrels, raiders, cutthroats, and killers in the bloodiest viking traditions of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. As a youth, Hakon waited impatiently to come of age and join the seasonal southern raids of his countrymen, eagerly absorbing the tales of distant lands they brought back with the plunder. The proud raiders boasted of desperate battles at sea, of ceaseless storms and sea monsters and foreign towns cloaked in sheets of cascading flames. Hakon committed these stories to memory, adding his own embellishments to create an oral history for his people—vowing to one day make a place for himself within it.
Key to Hakon’s youthful mythology was Hrolf Harfargr, one of the few honorable huscarls of Broken Bay’s despicable King Ingimundr the Unruly. Hakon was Hrolf ’s personal lorekeeper, and composed epic poems of the huscarl’s encounter with the brine dragon Kelizar, his crushing victory at sea over Styrbjorn Threefingers, and his romance with his greatest rival, the viking hero White Estrid, with whom he joined forces on a legendary run through a blockade at the Arch of Aroden.
To keep the memories fresh in his mind, Hakon embroidered representations of the stories into cloth badges sewn along the hem of his long coat. As he moved from badge to badge, Hakon added to the legend of his shipmates, who looked on in excitement with each of his tellings. The smiles and encouragement stung Hakon’s heart, however, and what should have been pride was instead replaced with regret and shame—for Hrolf Harfargr intended that his personal skald would survive to tell his legend, and thus kept Hakon as far from danger as possible, always a witness, and never the participant he yearned to be.
Upon their return to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings from the extended Absalom expedition, the king ordered Harfargr to sea without his official lorekeeper and recorder of his legendary deeds. Instead, Ingimundr assigned Hakon’s younger brother, Ostog, to take the skald’s place at the oars.
Hrolf Harfargr, Ostog, and Hakon’s old companions Bolgi and Bjarni set out on Girt Bearwearer’s ship among a great armada of raiders with hungry eyes on the rich lands of the distant south. They never returned to the Broken Bay, but soon stories made their way to Hakon of a mutiny at sea in which Hrolf Harfargr and his allies attempted to take the longship from its wicked captain. Other stories made their way back to Bildt, too. Tales of a brash young warrior named Ostog the Unslain, a survivor of treachery at sea who somehow washed ashore in the Varisian town of Sandpoint and who immediately set about creating a legend of his own. Hakon had to know if the tales of Ostog’s distant deeds were true, so he set off on a ship of his own to Sandpoint in an attempt to reunite with his brother.
Hakon and a band of companions followed Ostog all the way down Avistan’s western coast, tracing his brother’s footsteps in the drying blood of the young barbarian’s dismembered enemies. Though Hakon has not yet caught up with Ostog, the skald’s journeys have brought him his own measure of renown. In Nisroch he slew the dark druid Roverud. His twin axes—Hagrum’s Keel and Limbrender—struck down the marsh giant Fogulnur, gaining Hakon the legendary Horn of Valenhall, a mystical artifact he only partially understands. Tales of these victories fill his companions with unparalleled battle spirit and combat prowess, further cementing Hakon’s growing legend. Now the badges of Hakon’s own exploits stand beside those of the true heroes of the Broken Bay, but the skald knows that his journeys must continue until his deeds shine like those of Hrolf Harfargr, White Estrid, and Ostog the Unslain. Only then will the Saga of Hakon be complete, daring those who come after him to even greater feats of bravery and legend.
