Katerina the Maid's page

Katerina was a street urchin until two years ago. The day was like any other, she could not tell them apart, really. Some were cold, some were hot. All were hungry days. The group of boys rounded the corner before she realized they were there; they were looking for trouble. One of the boys barked at her, "Come here, street rat!" When she turned to run she found that two of the others had blocked her escape. Taunts of rat, urchin, scum and worse rained on her head for minutes until finally one of the boys said, "Let's show this worm what we learned today." The gang laughed as their leader, a boy a couple of years older than Katerina took off his cloak exposing a fine dueling doublet and training sword. The boy, Gradock, tightened the straps on the rattan to make it tight, so it would hurt more when he hit her. Katerina stopped being afraid and glared at the boy, "Who do you think you are to beat a girl half your size? A coward that will not fight fair? If it's a duel you want, give me a fighting chance!" More laughter until at last the oldest boy, Ramond said, "She's right, little brother. Give her a stick and prove you know what you're doing." A stick was tossed on the ground at Katerina's feet and without hesitation she snatched it up and charged at Gradock. Her shouts and his clumsy defenses had the other boys howling with laughter. It wasn't long before Master Petyr came around the corner into the alley and grabbed both Katerina and Gradock by their hair and shook them till they both dropped their weapons. "What is this? A student of mine is attacking a vagrant girl? And losing!?" With a disdainful snort, Master Petyr threw the boy onto his face in the alley's filth. He looked at the girl, her feet dangling several inches above the ground and said, "For you, maid, we will find out what you can do with real steel in your hand. Can you clean?" A bare nod was Katerina's only response. "Do you have any family?" Katerina shook her head because she never knew her father and her mother had died three winters before. Without warning, Petyr dropped the girl and said, "Come with me if you want warmth and a chance to learn steel."

In the intervening years Katerina took to her training not seen by many. She found that her small size and her natural grace (that she did not even know she had) suited her better than brawn did. She was fast like a viper and wily in the dueling ring. The other boys stopped teasing her after she finally got her fair fight with Gradock. His bruises spoke of her skill in only a few short months. By the end of the year, she had even challenged and defeated Ramond in the ring.
Katerina was had just finished washing up after her training when she heard Master Petyr talking in the hall. She donned her sarafan and stepped into the hall. Petyr was there, talking to another man that she had never met; when she appeared they stopped talking. After a pause the stranger said, "We will talk more later my friend." With that he turned and walked purposefully down the hall, his boots click-click-clicking on the stone floors.

A broad smile crossed Petyr's face, "It is so nice when my pupil saves me from politics!" he raised his hand and clasped hers, forearm to forearm.

"Sir, I don't want to disappoint you," No, not ever, "but I wanted to talk to you about politics..." her voice trailed off, a bit embarassed to be bringing up a dull topic to her mentor.

Petyr's smile turned to a slight frown and he asked, "What is bothering you then, little one?"

She tried to smile, to lighten the mood, but instead blurted, "I want to join the charter to salvage the stolen lands!" She kept on, before he could answer and tell her no: "I mean, I have to prove that your faith in me is well placed and that I can bring glory to the Sword Lords else why am I here? Besides, I have an idea. I want to..."

Petyr raised his hand to stop her, and she cut off her spigot of words. "Yes."

Katerina started to plead her case, "If you let me take this charter, everyone... did you say yes?" Her eyes lit up like House Surtova's annual dragon-rockets. "I can go? When can I leave?"

With a boisterous laugh, Petyr said, "When? You are already late, little one..." He had hardly finished his sentence and Katerina was already running to her room to pick up her meager belongings and start the journey to the south of Restov.

That evening, after dinner her friends found her working her blade forms in the training room. Katerina had not even bothered to change into practice garb, she moved through her numbers wearing her dress. Gradock *ahemed* loudly behind her. "I know you are there. Did you need something, or just come to avoid your chores?"

The boys all chuckled, and Ramond said, "We have come to say goodbye of course!"

She turned away, smiling beneath her hair, "Then grab a trainer and let's give you something to remember me by."

Ramond turned to Gradock and said, "You go first, after all, you found your little street rat."

Gradock grinned, still embarassed that he had been so foolish that day years ago. "Today will be the day I show our little Maid to respect her betters" he announced with a false bravado that no one present believed.

Once he was armed, and had entered the ring, Katerina turned to him, saluted him wordlessly and charged. The bout would have been short, and one sided, but Gradock did something unexpected. At one point he had maneuvered corps'a'corps and used his wieght to push down her guard. Katerina tried to pull her blade free and so focused on her foot work and Gradock's blade she completely missed his coup de'gras. He planted his lips squarely on hers and kissed her. Blushing and cursing Katerina tried to jump back, but found herself tripping on Gradock's boots. With a thump she hit the mat-backside first. Gradock reached out with his blade and tapped her lightly on the head, *bonk* At first Katerina was angry, very angry, but when she saw all of her friends grinning, she understood this was part of what they came to tell her.

Ramond stepped into the ring and without offering her a hand, he said, "It's a dangerous place out there sister; be on your guard against bandits and serpents alike. We would hate to see the best among us die an ignoble death in a harsh land." With a round of agreements the other boys stepped into the ring. Gradock offered his hand and Katerina accepted his help getting back to her feet. Each of the other boys gave a handshake and a hug; and all asked her to bring them tales of glory and honor. Except Ivan. He asked for some Kellish Delight candies; there was a reason he was called 'Grub'.

The next morning there was a small crowd gatehred to see her on her way; her friends that may or may not have broken into the vodka stash at their ad hoc going away party, Petyr, and the stranger.

The stranger looked at the tiny slip of a girl sitting astride the warhorse and then looked to Petyr, "Are you sure you choose this one?"

"Of course." Petyr explained, "She is small, but that is her strength. Would you expect a bite from a mouse?" He turned to his pupil and said, "I am pleased that you asked me before I had to come and find you."

When Katerina leaned over to hug him, he whispered into her ear, "You make me proud every day, little one. I pray Adabar return you to us soon."

With a wordless nod, Katerina spurred her horse towards the courtyard gates. Her friends cheered, and she thought to herself, I owe them all so much. I cannot fail my brothers and my... father.

Katerina is small, barely over 5' and just over 100 pounds. However, her lithe frame is well suited to fencing. She is toned and graceful, her strides precise and steady. Katerina wears the traditional sarafan (pinafore dress over a blouse of the Brevic peoples, the dress in black over a red blouse. She prefers to wear her fair hair open, draping to her beltline. She ties small weights into her locks and has been known to use them in a fight. Her blue-grey eyes are the color of the sky before a gathering storm. She has a sly smile, one that plays without ever being rowdy. When she laughs it is seen mostly in her eyes; follow them and you will know if she finds the joke funny or if she is playing along. Her hands are calloused from working with her swords day after day.

Katerina is bold, some would say foolhardy. She is confident in her abilities and willingly accepts challenges. Daring her to do something is as good as guaranteeing it is attempted. She is careful in one sense, though; she will not accept a 'challenge' that would impugn her honor. She is loyal to her friends and family, but cool towards folks she does not know. Because she was not raised in a close family she stays as distant from people as they stay from her; she does not usually initiate physical contact. Her past has taught her that trusting the wrong person can have fatal consequences so she tends to stay with people she knows, taverns she knows, and she avoids going places alone, especially strange places. She is often looking over her shoulder. Her saavy has saved her a lot trouble in the past. For all of this apparent aloofness, Katerina embraces her world and strives to master everything she can, be it steel or relationships. However, for this desire for discipline she falls short. Katerina finds that out of the fighting ring she grows angry or excited far too quickly; she makes bad decisions in haste.

Katerina the Maid
Human (Taldan) swashbuckler 12/aldori swordlord 1 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 56)
NG Medium humanoid (human)

Init +11; Senses Perception +16
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Defense
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AC 31, touch 22, flat-footed 22 (+7 armor, +2 deflection, +6 Dex, +3 dodge, +1 insight, +2 shield)

hp 120 (13d10+38)

Fort +9, Ref +19, Will +9 (+3 bonus vs. mind-affecting effects); +2 trait bonus vs. fear

Defensive Abilities charmed life 5/day, evasion, nimble +3, uncanny dodge
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Offense
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Speed 40 ft.

Melee +2 holy aldori dueling sword +23/+18/+13 (1d8+23/17-20+12 Precision plus 2d6 vs. evil) or
. . +2 keen dagger +20/+15/+10 (1d4+13/17-20+12 Precision) or
. . mwk dagger +19/+14/+9 (1d4+11/17-20+12 Precision)

Ranged mwk composite shortbow +21/+16/+11 (1d6+1/×3)

Special Attacks deeds (bleeding wound, derring-do, dodging panache, evasive, kip-up, menacing swordplay, opportune parry and riposte, precise strike, subtle blade, superior feint, swashbuckler initiative, swashbuckler's grace, targeted strike), panache (5), swashbuckler weapon training +2
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Statistics
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Str 13, Dex 25, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 16

Base Atk +13; CMB +10; CMD 37

Feats Aldori Dueling Mastery[ISWG], Combat Reflexes, Dazzling Display, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (aldori dueling sword), Extra Panache[ACG], Greater Weapon Focus (aldori dueling sword), Greater Weapon Specialization (aldori dueling sword), Iron Will, Power Attack, Steadfast Personality[ACG], Weapon Focus (aldori dueling sword), Weapon Specialization (aldori dueling sword)

Traits courageous, sword scion

Skills Acrobatics +23 (+27 to jump), Bluff +7, Climb +7, Diplomacy +12, Escape Artist +13, Intimidate +19, Knowledge (geography) +2, Knowledge (local) +7, Knowledge (nobility) +7, Perception +16, Ride +11, Sense Motive +15, Sleight of Hand +11, Swim +7

Languages Common, Elven

SQ deft strike, swashbuckler finesse

Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds (3); Other Gear +3 mithral chain shirt, +2 holy aldori dueling sword[ISWG], +2 keen dagger, arrows (20), mwk composite shortbow (+1 Str), mwk dagger, belt of incredible dexterity +4, blouse of the boastful bastard[ACG], boots of striding and springing, cloak of resistance +3, dusty rose prism ioun stone, headband of alluring charisma +2, ioun torch ioun stone[APG], ring of protection +2, ring of seven lovely colors, candle (2), chalk, hammer, masterwork backpack[APG], piton (4), sack (2), silk rope (50 ft.), sunrod (3), tindertwig (4), 138 pp, 2 gp
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Special Abilities
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Aldori Dueling Mastery Gain combat benefits when using Aldori dueling swords

Charmed Life +3 (5/day) (Ex) Choose to add Charisma bonus to save before roll is made.

Combat Reflexes (8 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.

Dazzling Display (Aldori dueling sword) Intimidate check to demoralize can affect those within 30' who see you.

Deeds

Deft Strike (Ex) Can apply DEX bonus instead of STR with Aldori dueling sword.

Evasion (when Panache left) (Ex) If succeed on Reflex save for half dam, take none instead.

Nimble +3 (Ex) +3 dodge bonus to AC.

Panache (Ex) Gain a pool of points that are spent to fuel deeds, regained on light/piercing crit/killing blow.

Power Attack -4/+8 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.

Swashbuckler Finesse Use Dex for att with light/1-hand pierce wep. Use Cha instead of Int for combat feat pre-reqs.

Swashbuckler Weapon Training +2 (Ex) +2 attack and damage with swashbuckler weapons.

Uncanny Dodge (Panache left) (Ex) Retain Dex bonus to AC when flat-footed.