Without further ado: Dare Ashborn, please check into the Gameplay and Discussion threads!
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To everyone else, thank you so much for applying.
In submission order: Lucanor would've been the winner in a ranked-choice situation; all of us thought you were a top contender. Tocash would've been really cool to see in action (I like tricksters and illusionists), you just needed more roleplaying info. Oscur Kompros was my top pick when it came to mechanics; your build would work well in this campaign, and even with this party. Ultimately, it came down to who we thought would be the most interesting if they joined these existing characters.
See you all on the boards!
Well, that's very flattering! Thanks folks
And congratulations to Dare Ashborn ala DeathQuaker!
Ridge here, This is Lucanor! Human Transmuter Wizard with the Bastard trait. I can change which house he is a bastard of but I never see House Khavortorov get much use so I thought I'd try that :)
Mechanics in profile but as for the backstory and such?
Wall of text awayyyyy
Backstory:
House Khavortorov is not of the greatest Noble Houses of Brevoy, rather it was a Rogarvia subject House of once minor status that served well that now vanished ruling House. While it is known, when it is known at all, for its fine knights and warriors; it hovers below such Houses as the Garess, Lebeda, Medvyed, Orlovsky, and Surtova. It is now showing ambition as it seeks to rectify that. They hope one day their motto of “We won’t be saddled” will be as acclaimed as any. This is important to know if you wish to comprehend why a pie-bald bastard child was so unwelcome by at least a few members of House Khavortorov.
Lucanor was not born to some harlot for hire, or even high class mistress, but rather an honest merchant woman who attended a masked gala wearing, by chance, the same mask as Hadrian Khavortorov’s wife Klementine. Indeed, Klementine meant to visit her husband there but got decidedly ill from bad crab. She sent a message saying she might cancel, but when Hadrian saw a woman wearing a Raven mask as his wife as supposed to, he assumed she had made it after all. Morgalla, Lucanor’s mother, did not intend to play any other woman false, and only knew that a man in an eagle mask was quite Amorous and charming and thought it but his play. One night of bliss, and she’d be done. Only after the event, when masks were pulled off, did the two realize the horrible mistake they had made.
Of such stuff are farces and tragedies alike conceived from. SPEAKING of conception, while it was just one tryst, that proved enough. Morgalla found herself pregnant with a nobleman’s child. In a panic, she did approach Lord Hadrian and Lady Klementine. Hadrian had already told his wife of his indiscretion, and begged her forgiveness. In this, Lady Klementine took this news like a champion, pondering only for a moment the murder of her husband, before she managed a cooler head and forgave him thinking it one and done. Naturally no one was happy when complication in the form of pregnancy arose! This could shame the house, but Lord Hadrian, and his wife, were people of honor, true to their knightly heritage. They agreed that the child would not be abandoned or denounced and might present himself when he came of age and perhaps given a small tower on an acre or two. Come what may. They did however, ask it be kept under wraps for a few years and only a handful of people knew the truth. This skittishness about immediate transparency was to cause no end of trouble for Lucanor. But then, trouble marked him from the start, quite literally.
The sages and scholars called the condition that afflicted the boy Vitiligo; a skin condition where stark pale patches weave great patterns through darker skin. Not long after his birth, Lucanor, a perfectly healthy child in many ways, began to exhibit this to greater extremes. The rich olive hues he had gotten from his mother were rendered abstract by near albino like displacement. Morgalla raised her son to stand strong and proud against bullies and such, reminding him that he was of a noble line, and noble men do not cry save when it is fashionable to do so or perhaps when posing for melodramatic sculpture! The young boy took this to heart, stiffened his discolored upper lip, and endured the sleights and insults of ignorant boys and girls his age who sought to mock him with it.
He was above all that. Besides, one day he’d have a tower or a manor or something and rub it in their faces! So there!
Unfortunately for all involved, save one rotter we’ll get to in a minute, Lady Klementine and Lord Hadrian died in a carriage accident during a surprise storm! Without their verification, it would be hard to press a claim of Lucanor’s true heritage, or the land promised him. He considered making his plea anyway, using the one token of proof he’d been given. That was, of course, when his half Brother Trajan Khavortorov sent a message that might be summed up thusly: “Show yourself in our halls and press your claim, and your mother won’t live another week.”
Trajan might have been born of an honorable lord and a gracious lady, but his proverbial apple had fallen so far from the parental trees that it arguably fell off a cliff, bounced twice, and got lost in a swamp. He HAD learned from his parents notes that he had a half brother, but he was not going to lose one acre, one SHACK to some speckled bastard.
Lucanor, already knowing his chances to sway the rulers of the hot headed house that he was kin to them and promised a small estate was somewhere between chances that ran slim chance to fat chance; would not risk his mother’s life. He went on, finished an apprentice ship with a wizard rankling at the treachery of his dishonorable half brother. Recently though, he received another letter. One that claimed that it knew his secret, and while it could not help him directly, it could advise him how to help himself. There was trouble in the stolen lands, and a bandit lord needed slaying! Do that, and more, and being a hero might wash away the stain of his birth, and his ‘deformity’.
And so our young hero to be has hastened to the Stolen Lands to do just that. He is unsure who sent that second letter, but he believes they are right. His mother, still a merchant, has since moved on from Brevoy and is out of Trajan’s reach, or so Lucanor believes. Now is the time to prove himself every inch as honorable and good a noble as his late father was!
Personality: Lucanor is angry, angry at his treacherous half brother, angry at his lost birthright, and angry at a world that took a father he idolized even if he only met the fellow twice that he recalls. Like any decent young man, he bottles it up DEEP inside for processing or breakdown later. He is dignified, honorable, and practices noblise Oblige when he can. He gives his word rarely but keeps it when he does. Lucanor prefers to treat others with justice and feels responsible for those that put their trust in him.
He also is fascinated by transmutation because it lets him quite literally change his spots. There is some self loathing in him he hides right along side his anger. While Lawful good, he may eventually 'lighten up' in the right company
Description: Lucanor 's mother was of mixed heritage, but chiefly Varisian, and Lucanor reflects that with his platinum blond hair and what would be olive skin if not for the Vitilgo. While it shifts over the course of the year, it rarely eases, and there is a crescent moon of albino like flesh on the right side of his face. This causes many to top and stare, but he is not hideous by any means. He tends to wear robes as befits a wizard, or fine clothes as befits a noble.
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
I'm going to put this in spoilers to keep it from being a wall o Text
What might happen to Lucanor:
Lucanor seemed boneweary and soul tired when he returned to Falcon's Hollow, and some say he never did completely lose the habit of expecting the worse to arise, even as things got better. His spirits picked up when Hecktor asked him to come down to Almas for a wedding. He did so gladly, performing a blessing and ceremony over bride and groom.
When he returned to the Hollow, he ran into a surprise. No less than three members of the Church of Iomedae had come to town looking for him, and all for different reasons!
Belmont had come here in official capacity to see if the rumors of a local high priest owning a brothel were true! He was flummoxed and mortified to find the "Bishops' Blindspot" thriving in its trade.
It did not surprise Lucanor that the officials of the Church had a faster reaction time to potential scandal than helping the beleaguered hollow. Belmont was less thrilled, and might have brought Lucanor up on a full reprimand.
However, it was the other two members of the Church that came to his defense. Druvan was a paladin member of the Knights of Ozem, come here to investigate the seal that had been broken, and pay his respects to a fallen sister. He had heard from her letters and reports of the heroism of the adventuring group, and came to find the temple restored, Drazmog fled, and the word of Iomedae in surprisingly good standing compared to what it had been.
With the threat having moved on, Druvan did not hide his association, and thus, in a sense, pulled 'rank' on Belmont turning what could have been a repudiation into a commendation (With the understanding that the Bordello would have to be released into other hands).
But it was a woman called Candle that Lucanor was most grateful to meet. For she had the best news. She had been passing through the south cities where she encountered Hollin, a young boy whose damaged mind and soul had been saved and healed in no small part because of Lucanor's aid. Talking to Ralla, she heard of the heroes of the hollow, and how Lucanor had arranged for a better life for them because the Church in Falcon's Hollow was in no shape to aid.
Candle wanted to meet these heroes and see the area for herself, and agreed to pass on Ralla's and Hollin's thanks. Only to come into the middle of the odd drama that was unfolding because of a Church in need of a 'real cleric', a heroic but weary Inquisitor, and a ...oh dear, was that a Brothel?
Regardless, Candle informed Lucanor of Hollin's complete recovery and how the boy was even considering a life in the Clergy. Lucanor whooped and hugged her on the spot, causing the younger woman to blush a bit. Lucanor pointed out to the others that they now had three members of the church besides himself ready to take over or better yet help grow the temple. He spoke of a possible Cathedral, plans of expanding the temple even further to help with healing, education, and more but it would need a real cleric such as Candle to run it.
And just like that, Candle found herself drafted as the new high priestess of the hollow by a vote of three to her. Rather than whine about it, she took to the task. And she had help. Belmont stuck around long enough to 'make sure' that that Bordello was no longer a Church problem. Druvan's focus was on making sure Drazmog did not return, but as he used the expanding temple as a home base, he was of great aid.
The Bishop's Blindspot was turned over to its current manager by Lucanor, with certain provisions ensuring its policies of fair play and fair treatment of any working there were ironclad. While no longer owned by or even associated with the Temple of Iomedae, it did pay for the next two years ten percent of all proceeds to construction of a proper orphanage and school.
And much to Belmont's fury, while folks dropped the 'Bishops' part, they kept calling it the Blindspot. That part of the name had stuck.
As for Lucanor, he 'retired' which is to say he ended up with a large house to rest in not so far from the temple. However, Candle, while a kindly woman, wasn't about to let him rest on his laurels, and he found out that she was not above sending him on local tasks for the Church.
He was even drafted to take on an apprentice years later... one of the very children they had saved had grown, and felt a calling to be an Inquisitor of the Goddess.
Lucanor would later claim fighting undead was less stressful than educating wet behind the ears trainees, but the truth was he was proud.
True to his work to Jaxom, Lucanor pushed to respect the rights of the fae, not because he loved the fae, but because it was just. He tried to coordinate with the Freejacks, so that they'd adopt a policy of planting two seeds for every tree they had to fell. He also promoted forms of trade not so reliant on lumber.
One idea that worked was a pilgrimage of sorts... the resting place of a Knight of Ozem, the location of the once great seal now under careful watch, the very places of so many horrors became sites of curiosity and even reverence to some of the faithful, and when they came to the Hollow to see, they brought their good coin from the big cities which helped the economy.
Lucanor tried to stay out of politics beyond that, but more than once he was asked his opinion on this or that candidate. After all, Lucanor could see into souls. Some lickspittles running for office even tried to curry his favor, which was usually the fast way to get told off.
Eventually, the women of the increasingly civilized town, irritated by one of the most famous members of the town getting away with being a bachelor, conspired to arrange a match for him. Known in tavern talk as "The Great Lucanor Hunt" Lucanor found himself besieged and introduced to nearly every single woman close to his age in a hundred miles over a period of three months. He complained to his friends, but some of them were less than sympathetic.
Yet, with the Consortium's power waning thanks to deals made, Lucanor found a woman seeking him out, not for matrimony, but for aid. The woman, a thief and a rogue, had been framed by the consortium for a murder she did not commit. Who better than an Inquisitor to help find the evidence? Stunned at the woman's audacity, Lucanor helped her all the while telling her she would still have to pay for her other crimes. She informed him that for a former Bordello owner he was awful high and mighty. A love hate relationship was formed... but in the end, her innocence of the murder was proven, and love won out.
Against his better judgement, Lucanor even arranged a pardon for her on account of the good deeds she had done, and decided he better marry the girl just to keep her out of trouble. How well that worked was the subject of much debate but two boys and one girl were born of the arrangement, another girl and boy each not of their blood were adopted, and Lucanor smiled more.
The year Lucanor turned sixy, a great fire would engulf the new orphanage, Lucanor, no longer at the height of his prowess, went into the deepest parts of the flames to rescue children that didn't even know him. Invoking the judgment of healing one last time, the Inquisitor burned and regenerated and burned again as he got the children out one by one. He had survived the flames and saved many, but the smoke? The smoke had been too much, and his old lungs gave out. He died ten feet from the smoldering orphanage he had emptied.
No attempt to resurect him was made, as per his will. However, the church did put up a statue of him and many visited it as part of the pilgrimages. Local whores would come and pat it for good luck and protection. Children referred to the statue as 'Good Uncle Luc' and spun stories of how he was now a ghost hunting other ghosts so they could sleep soundly.
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Well, I Hope all the kids become better thanks to the aid. I'd really like Hollin and Ralla to prosper and have a happy ending. Lucanor worked like the devil for that.
Savram becoming a mediator between mortals and fae sounds pretty cool.
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
GM Niles wrote:
Well, if someone wants to tie up various plot lines
IE: What happens to the kids? Does the Iomedaen Church come to Falcons Hollow? What are the long term effects of the deal with the Andoran government?
There's about 30 of them that I'm working on in bullet point, and trying to construct some sort of narrative. It's also state test time for me at work, so that is dominating most of my time.
Well, I'm very late, but working on something for Luc. I can tell you that yes, I think the church should come in force to the hollow, particularly with an open seal left by Drazmog.
I'll put up more of the take regarding Luc in a bit
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
I'll work on an epiloque...
I think once Lucanor lets the Church realize that a #@#$#ing Lich was in the area, and there's an open seal, they will finally get off their duffs and send more clerics and other support.
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
"Easy Silas. Iomedae loves you, it seems. Either that or fate has decided we need a really good bard to tell this first hand account of this well into his old age." Lucanor tries to calm their friend.
He looks to Jaxom, "Phylactry is a possibility. Let's look around some."
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Knowledge Religion with Class bonus:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26 "It's a soulwarded undread dragon...whatever it takes from us in pain or it's breath will recharge that ward."
Lucanor runs after Gilmork and fires as well
Do not get full attack since moving...1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 Dmg if that hits:1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11Bane2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
His brain is scrambling, wondering what good anything they've gathered could do here. Seals, how to close... no idea. Damn damn damn
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Lucanor continues to fire his arrows , preferring to strike at the lich, a little damage being better than none at all
Same as before, bane effect against undead on bow/arrows If lich out of range/line of sight, then firing at the next closest undead not in melee. Prayer now included To hit1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 Dmg:1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9plus Bane2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 To hit:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 Dmg:1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9plus Bane2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 Edit: Possible crit on first arrow, to confirm1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 If confirmedDmg:1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9plus Bane2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 Dmg:1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10plus Bane2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9 Not sure if the bane counts on the X3
Lucanor is about to share his knowledge, only to see their oracle is already ahead of him. With a nod he chants "Drazmog, we've come to put an end to you. If you were anything close to human, I'd offer you a chance to turn yourself in. Instead, we'll be sending your tattered soul to the hell it's earned a hundred times over." He releases two arrows against the lich.
Bane Effect on bow to make it work against undead. to hit:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33 Dmg:1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14Bane2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6 To hit #21d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Dmg:1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14Bane2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
"Thy peace be eternal, may kind lights draw you from damnation..." Lucanor prays over the remains.
"I used to think maybe I was being too hard on this man, thinking his son would be better away from his influence. Now I wonder if I could have stopped all this by pressing."
Looking at the runes, "Death. Huh. Might wwant to detect magic on that, someone."
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Lucanor gasps as he's seized before he can even act. In response, his eyes glow with a holy light. Judgement of healing 3 hp per round "I'm sorry it came down to this..." He wheezes, "I feared you'd take dark paths, but hoped your son would give you reason to hold onto humanity. Now he's going to be..." A cough "Alone. After we help you onto the next world, Vade."
CMB with bard bonus to break free1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Lucanor didn't frown much himself, having a history of seeing things go from worse to terrible, "You've all been good friends and fine allies. We don't always see eye to eye, but sometimes, when I lost faith... not in my goddess, but in people, I just looked around you lot and realized there were a lot of fine ones who for their own reasons, were always trying to make things better.""Iomedae willing, may we see that tomorrow. If not, well, can't think of finer folks to spend my last day with. Cheers and blessings."
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Not sure if I get that ID for free, but in case I don't ;)1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Lucanor makes a motion with his hand, indicating the others to slow their approach, and whispers low back to them, "Ambush ahead. Vade has joined the undead too. And golems, lots of flesh golems. Do not use lightning on them. Just heals em up. Damn near immune to magic. Fire slows em a bit I think. "
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Whoops. I crossposted.
Lucanor had odd dreams himself, dreams of dark gates and strange symbols that threatened to swallow all... still, he wakes restored.
"Thanks," He tells Jaxom as the spell is cast upon him.
When they get to the door, Lucanor nods at Silas' suggestion, and casts the Deathward blessings.
Quote:
The party moves down into the lowest level, as they arrive at the bottom of the stairs, a voice speaks to them from the room beyond
Go back. Turn away from this task before you are broken and forced to join my army. You have no power compared to that of Drazmorg the Undying.
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Lucanor glowed, his body mending even as he put himself into the fray... at least in a way. His blows slash, but are meant more to drive the foe into Hecktor's stronger wake
Healing Judgement Aid attack Round 11d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 Aid Attack Round 2:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
HA! Double20s... on aid rolls. Of course. Ah well ;)
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
Quote:
He then asks, "Lucanor, are you good to go?"
"Second," He drinks down a potion, some of his wounds healing, but not by much.
CLW potion:1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 "And to answer your question, Silas. I feel like I needed a week long vacation starting an hour ago, but I suppose I'm not alone in that . So no point in letting me slow folks down. I don't have much that can hurt these things myself, but maybe I can help Hecktor line em up."
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
"Stone or metal cogs seem to denote some sort of mechanism," Lucanor ponders aloud, "Course, given our track record, I wouldn't be surprised if the wax figures were to somehow wake up if we got close."
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
"Pardon me, Jaxom..." Lucanor will attempt to swap places with Jaxom if he'll allow, and switch to melee, "I ain't sure, but I think I can take a hit better than you if only by a little."
Male Human (Varisian Heritage) Wizard (Transmuter) -2; HP: 14/14; AC: 11; tch 11, ff 10; F+1, R+1, W+5; init +1, Perc +1 (more with familiar)
If I am reading the map right, Lucanor is blocked off from melee. Lucanor follows Silas and Jaxom and fires an arrow at the only foe he can currently see.
