Keekles's page

Zan Dawnbringer
Male Human Ranger 1
CG Medium Human, Age 26
Init +3; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12
Hit Points 11 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Ranged +3 Composite Longbow 1d8+3 (20/x3) 110ft
Melee +2 Battleaxe 1d8+2 (20/x3)

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Statistics
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Str 14(+2), Dex 16(+3), Con 13(+1), Int 10(+0), Wis 13(+1), Cha 8(-1)
BAB +1; CMB +3; CMD 16
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot
Traits: Bastard, Bounty Hunter
Skills (6): Heal 5, Knowledge (Nature) 4, Perception 5, Stealth, 7, Survival 5, Climb 6
Languages Common

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Special Abilities
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Favored Enemies: Magical beast +2
Track: Adds half level to Surrival checks
Wild Empathy

Point Blank Shot: +1 attack and damage on targets within 30 feet
Rapid Shot:One extra arrow/round, all at -2 to hit

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Equipment
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Wealth: 19 gp, 9 sp, 8 cp
Composite Longbow 1d8+3 (20/x3) 110ft
Arrows (20) x 2
Battleaxe 1d8+2 (20/x3)
Backpack
Outfit (Traveler’s)
Cloak
Pouch (Belt)
Rations (6 days)
Torch (2)
Flint and Steel
Hunting Knife

A scream. Eyes open. A dream, maybe? The moonlight doesn’t reach far through the canopy above and the campfire is all but a faint orange glow. Zan stares at the smoldering flame, listening closely.

Again, a scream. His heart beats faster and he sits up to let his eyes adjust to the darkness surrounding the camp. Alec, a childhood friend and fellow hunter, is not on his bedroll and nearby dirt and broken branches lay disturbed. He fears the worst.

Zan, 17 years of age at the time, grabbed his bow, but he knew his skills lacked. Alec was more of the fighter, Zan the tracker.

A blood-gurgling scream rings out from the west.

At first, he thinks of the fear and loss of his mother, and wants to run back home to the only family he has left: his father, Rodan. But is Alec not more than a friend? A brother?

He musters the courage and begins his walk into the darkness, making sure to step lightly with eyes wide open.

The screams have stopped but he’s sure that he’s on track and the thick smell of blood confirms his direction.

As he reaches a clearing the smell becomes unbearable, it’s not the smell of a corpse but that of a beast. He would have moved forward if it were not for the bright yellow eyes staring at him a mere 20 yards away.

The darkness envelopes the beast save for its eyes. Zan readies his bow, shaking softly as he raises it, aiming for the only part of the beast he can see: the eyes.

The beast huffs through its nostrils and lets out of a fearful roar, and Zan’s courage is lost.
With a regret that will stay with him for many years, Zan lets loose an arrow with a shoddy aim, and runs, never looking back. He runs for hours until he reaches a familiar riverbed.

That night was the last time he had seen Alec.

Ever since that night he saw Bright Eyes in the Gronzi Forest, Zan has been determined to avenge the death of his friend. He lost his innocence then and vows to better himself so that when he comes face to face with the beast again he’ll be ready.
This motivation has led him to lead a stoic life, focused on training and always searching. At times he’ll remain quiet until he has something to say and he’ll say it with force. When he travels with a band on a hunt, his companions often think he’s daydreaming, quietly staring off into the forest. But he’s always watching and listening.

As a human whose family come from Taldan, Zan has a pleasant appearance with bronze-colored skin and dark brown hair cut short and clean. A light beard covers the bottom half of his face, the color matching his dark eyes.
Zan is often seen wearing a dark blue hood and cloak that covers his family leather, which is nicked and scratched for years of use. If you look closely as he walks - his slow and calculated steps - you might catch the glimpse of a axe attached close to his hip.

Zan burst through the wooden door, sweat pushing the dirt down his face. He had been running for two hours with only his bow in hand, and the bright yellow eyes in his mind. Oh Kelethia, the eyes!
Breathlessly he looks to his startled father, who seems to have been preparing lunch at the dining table.
“What is it, boy? Why are you home so early? asks his father
“Bright eyes,” Zan replies before he crumples to the wooden floor. Darkness.

--
When Zan awakes his eyes takes a moment to focus, he sees the familiar ceiling marked with scratches of his bedroom. With a slight tilt of his head, he notices a surprised boy sitting next to his bed.
The boy scrambles to his feet and rushes out of the door, knocking over his wooden chair.
Zan takes a moment to look at his surroundings. The world outside the window is dark, but he’s not sure how long he has been asleep. Hours? Days?
The candlestick on the nightstand flickers as he sits up and swings his feet onto the floor.
Suddenly, two men and his father, now dressed in family leathers come into the room. Oh Alec, how will I tell them?

Zan’s father takes uprights the wooden chair and takes a seat. The two men, who Zan now recognizes as Alec’s father Merius and the town constable, push further into the room.

Unable to hold out, Merius asks: “Zan, what has happened to my son?”
Bright Eyes. “I do not know. We were hunting game overnight in the Gronzi Forest as we were told to do. I awoke to screaming in the distance, and Alec was gone.”
The memories begin to shake Zan, his hands trembling slightly.
His father lays his rough hands on Zan’s shoulder.
“Tell me son, what is ‘bright eyes’?”
Yellow, blood gurgling screams. No…
“I...I can’t say.” Zan looks to Merius with fear in his eyes. “It was a beast with eyes as bright a flame in the night. I’m sorry Merius, but there was nothing I could do but run.”
“Coward,” Merius replies.
Yes, coward.