This is a 2nd submission apart from Maynard Blackburne. A similar yet dissimilar concept that's more of a Toolbox and stronger focus on Alchemy rather than Maynard's Arcane inclinations. I do hope one of the two will make it into the game's roster. Thanks for reading.
Artemis Blackwell:
Artemis Blackwell
Human Alchemist 1/Investigator 1
NE
Init 3; Senses ; Perception 9
DEFENSE
AC 13; Touch 13; Flat-Footed 10
HP 8
Fort 2 ; Ref 5 ; Will 2
CMD 13
DR —; Immune —; Resist —; SR —
Artemis Blackwell's hand firmly gripped the edge of the crenal as he effortlessly pulled himself onto the rampart. He stood upright as both feet found stone beneath them. Impulsively, his hand went into the small belt-pouch compartment containing his alchemical compounds, they would be of great help tonight. Although he had done this very thing he was about to do countless times before, this mark was nothing like the others. This was personal.
Artemis walked past the waving banners on the battlements, displaying an all-too-familiar coat of arms. The Lord High Steward, Reginald Armstrong, Talingarde's face of so-called "Justice". The man was responsible for the sentencing of hundreds of accused every year and was seemingly in too much of a hurry to measure his vast wealth to be bothered by any sort of due process. Those accused rarely, if ever, got their day in court. Reginald represented everything that Artemis had grown to hate about Talingarde's incumbent government: avarice combined with inscrutable power. Reginald, however, was worse than most, he had a racket that even Artemis fought hard not to envy. Reginald was a gambling derelict and when his debt to the house became too great he would simply organize a raid and have the promoters sentenced without trial. But one such raid claimed Artemis' beloved, a buxom wench who only served the drinks. Alas, there could be no witnesses, no one to implicate Reginald and certainly no one to spread vicious rumors of the Lord High Steward, so an expeditious death sentence saw to those loose ends.
It had taken Artemis almost the full year to discover who had been responsible for his beloved's demise, and the information had not come easy, even for one as skilled as himself. The information did come though, and it had led him here this night. Determination backed by rage fueled his steps now as he raced towards the wall's tower. He glanced around, looking for patrols, as he pulled out his alchemy supplies. He put a few pinches of powder into a dark unguent and swirled the small vial before swallowing it's contents. He could feel the effects immediately. From the vantage atop the tower, he took two small steps back and then rushed forward springing into the air in a death-defying jump onto a covered parapet below, tucking into a roll as his mass collided with the castle's. He sprang up, unscathed, and immediately sprinted for the keep ahead of him, time was of the essence now. In a full sprint he came up to the keep's outer wall and sprang unnaturally high into the air, and clung onto the side of the wall with an inhuman grip. He scaled the wall in seconds, scrambling onto a window some 30 feet above his point of contact. He spilled inside, allowing a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dimly lit passageways. He was close now.
It took only a matter of a minute for Artemis to make his way into the main corridor and up the small stairwell to Reginald's personal quarters. He pressed his ear close to the door and listened intently: silence. With the hands of a surgeon he tested the door's handle and found it to be unlocked. Curious, he mused, and quietly cracked the door open and peered through. There Reginald lay, snoring softly, the room lit by a pair of dimly glowing oil lamps mounted to the wall. Artemis entered the room, careful to close the door behind him. He took a moment to examine the sleeping Lord as he pulled out his dagger. He crept to the side of the bed, the snoring grew louder. He smiled, satisfactorily, as he raised the dagger to the sleeping man's throat, braced his grip, and then plunged the dagger deep into flesh. Or so that's what he thought he had done, but the lack of tactile resistance made it feel as though he had stabbed a cloud. Suddenly, the floor erupted with man-sized black tentacles sprawling forth in every direction and all latching onto the thoroughly surprised Artemis. Their grip tightened around the would-be assassin and he felt the breath leave his lungs. His head began to spin and the room grew dark. He had one last thought before the blackness took him, Artemis, you vainglorious fool...
Background/Goals:
The Anti-Sherlock Holmes
Artemis, an orphan of the Mitran church, spent his youth tasked with various chores, often on "guard" detail, or some such rubbish. He hated their rules and all their chants and songs and prayers. It wasn't long before he escaped the orphanage and lived a life of petty crime on the streets. It wasn't much, but it was all his! He much preferred doing things his way. Very early into his independence he became fascinated with Alchemy, the thought of turning Lead into Gold fascinated the young boy. Since then, it's become his life's purpose to fashion the famed and wondrous Philosopher's Stone! And so he found a way to fund his research while honing his skills at the same time. He was a self-styled "Consultant of Truth", hiding it as often as finding it. He made it his business to concern himself with what people find concerning. Extortion, Kidnapping, Arson, Forgery, Planted Evidence, "Accidents" on the job site and many more services he offered to those willing to pay the price. It sustained him, but not defined him. His true passion was in Alchemy and it's many wonders. Alchemy was the one true religion as far as he was concerned. With it, he will achieve true liberation and be delivered from this insipid kingdom of mindless vermin.
STATISTICS
Str 9, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 20, Wis 14, Cha 13
Base Atk 0; CMB +0
Racial Traits Dual Talent: Some humans are uniquely skilled at maximizing their natural gifts. These humans pick two ability scores and gain a +2 racial bonus in each of those scores. This racial trait replaces the +2 bonus to any one ability score, the bonus feat, and the skilled traits.
Feats Scribe Scroll, Brew Potion, Improved Initiative, Fast Learner
Traits Reactionary, Greater Purpose, Consorting with Dark Powers(Witchcraft)
Maynard Blackburne stared at the heavy chains binding his hands and feet, a gracious gift from the famed Sir Balin of Karfeld. If only they had listened, they might have understood. He meant only to procure information from the demon, nothing diabolical! But none of his so-called "Judges" cared to understand. There isn't much outside of their self-righteous and arrogant doctrines they understand, especially the greatness Maynard wished to achieve. He had come so close but was sloppy in covering his tracks, an unfortunate side effect of sleep deprivation. He had to keep up appearances, no one at the infirmary could suspect the aging and docile orderly of any errant behavior. That's why he conducted all his research and experiments at such late hours. It had grown to a full obsession and in his lust for progress he never saw the incriminating bread-crumb trail he was leaving behind. He stared now at his aging hands, remorseful that he started his studies so late in life. If only he had more time. Immortality seemed only a fevered dream of this caged and doomed man, but even know it dominated his every thought. Sitting there, lamenting his carelessness, there isn't anything Maynard wouldn't do for just a little more time...anything at all.
Character Notes:
I'd like to point out that I am using the Internal Alchemist Archtype from Ultimate Magic and the Sin Magic Specialist: Gluttony from the Rise of the Runelords Campaign, because I feel the Internal Alchemist focuses on his motives for learning Alchemy in the first place and the Sin Magic clearly represents his willingness to forsake goodly principles in the pursuit of immortality. Go to Sin Magic to see where I found the ruling on the archtype. If I understood the creation guide I chose 2 traits as per normal and in addition one from the crime traits you presented. I also didn't mark any Alchemical Extracts as prepared because I assume I would be missing the necessary components to use them if I am in chains and rags. Should you rule that the circumstances are such that I can have them prepared, I will notate which ones I want to prepare. Also, he was built with the 'Middle Age' template added in (-1 STR/DEX/CON +1 INT/WIS/CHA). I can retrofit his stats if you do not approve of the age template
Character Goals:
Immortality. Plain and simple, no matter the cost. Maynard has spent years now, working as an orderly in an infirmary watching men and women, young men and women, die every day and it has taken it's toll on the aging man. He has lived his life in quiet complacency, always doing as told, but now he grows more and more anxious, fear of his own mortality driving him to find any possible way to stave the effects of old age. His growing obsession led him to begin studying Alchemy, having heard rumors that eternal youth was possible for the most dedicated alchemists. Alas, he also explored all avenues Arcane, knowing many necromancers to have achieved immortality through lichdom. Not even the irreversible damnation of undeath could make the panicked orderly flinch. However he was to achieve it, he would not turn down any possibility nor any cost. Maynard is a man with nothing left to lose.
Maynard Blackburne stared at the heavy chains binding his hands and feet, a gracious gift from the famed Sir Balin of Karfeld. If only they had listened, they would have understood, he meant only to procure information from the demon, nothing diabolical! But none of his so-called "Judges" could understand. There isn't much outside of their self-righteous and arrogant doctrines they understand, especially the greatness Maynard wished to achieve. He had come so close but was sloppy in covering his tracks, an unfortunate side effect of sleep deprivation. He had to keep up appearances, no one at the infirmary could suspect the aging and docile orderly of any errant behavior. That's why he conducted all his research and experiments in late hours. It had grown to a full obsession and in his lust for progress, never saw the incriminating bread-crumb trail he was leaving behind. He stared now at his aging hands, remorseful he started his studies so late in life, if only he had more time. Immortality seemed only a fevered dream of this caged and doomed man, but even know it dominated his every thought. Sitting there, lamenting his carelessness, there isn't anything Maynard wouldn't do for just a little more time...
(Middle Aged Human Male Wizard/Alchemist Traits: Consorting with the Dark Powers, Fast Learner) I've put together the whole character sheet if you want to take a look at that, but this is a pretty good preview, anymore info you'd like me to post, just ask!
