Mannius Dogwood's page

About Mannius Dogwood

LN Middle-aged male Chelaxian human Fighter 3 / Expert 2
Init. +; Senses Perception +2

AC 18 (-1 Dex., +9 armour)
hp 42
Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +7 (+8 vs. fear)
Speed 30 ft.
Melee
+9 Longsword; 1d8+4 damage; 19-20/x2
+8 Pitchfork; 1d8+4 damage
Ranged
+8 Pitchfork; 1d8+4 damage
Str 16, Dex 9, Con 13, Int 11, Wis 15, Cha 11
Base atk +4; CMB +8; CMD +17
Feats
Catch Off-Guard
Mounted Combat
Skill Focus: Profession (farmer)
Throw Anything
Toughness
Weapon Focus (Longsword)
Skills
Climb +8 (1 skill rank, +4 Str., +3 class skill)
Handle animal +8 (5 skill ranks, +0 Cha., +3 class skill)
Heal +6 (1 skill rank, +2 Wis., +3 class skill)
Knowledge (engineering) +4 (1 skill rank, +3 class skill)
Knowledge (nature) +5 (2 skill ranks, +0 Int., +3 class skill)
Linguistics +3 (3 skill ranks, +0 Int.); +4 to create forgeries (3 skill ranks, +0 Int., +1 trait bonus)
Perception +7 (2 skill ranks, +2 Wis., +3 class skill)
Profession (brewer) +6 (1 skill rank, +2 Wis. +3 class skill)
Profession (farmer) +12 (4 skill ranks, +2 Wis., +3 class skill, +3 Skill Focus)
Ride +10 (3 skill ranks, +4 Str., +3 class skill)
Traits
Glib Barrister
Indomitable
Languages
Common, Infernal, Shoanti, Varisian
SQ
Armour training 1
Bravery +1
Skilled

Equipment
Full plate armour
Longsword
Pitchfork

Background
Currently a middle-aged ex-soldier, Mannius spent his early youth in the Chelaxian countryside, being ordered around by his father and older brothers as if he were a mere hired hand. He joined the army out of a misguided desire to see the world and make his fortune, only to wind up exchanging one life of hard work and being ordered around for another. His new masters even shipped him off to distant Varisia, to serve in Magnimar as part of a diplomatic arrangement. He was never an exceptional soldier and would probably have died sooner or later in a minor skirmish, a mere footnote in history, if his unit had not been sent to mop up a party of Kellid raiders who were making a nuisance of themselves in the farmland close to Magnimar.
To his astonishment, one of the Kellids, a pretty young girl at that, surrendered to him personally and begged for his mercy. Mannius was overcome by feelings he had not experienced in years. Pity for another human being was part of it, as was desire. He claimed the young woman as his share of the loot on the spot, and brought her back with him to Magnimar as his slave.

Having the pretty young Shelka waiting on him hand and foot did Mannius good. It made him consider how he might make his life better, rather than continuing the dreary routine of army life, and he tried to recall when he had actually been happy. The only memories that suggested themselves were his days on the farm, back when his mother had still been alive and he had been a young boy. Soon enough, Mannius retired from army life and used his savings to buy a farmstead and some cattle of his own. The farm did better than Mannius had expected. He had kept his sword and armour handy in case of Goblins or bandits, but danger seemed to avoid his home. His crops and animals flourished. Within the year, he freed his slave-girl and married her in hopes of siring a legitimate heir.

Current Sketch
Mannius enjoys being his own master, and the proceeds from his acres and his few heads of cattle provide him with all the comforts he desires. The only thing that bothers hima little about his current life aree the freak storms that sometimes spring out of nowhere, often bogging down innocent travellers. Sometimes he worries that evil spirits may be hiding in the nearby woods; he hears worrying rumours about lights and noises on the night of the full moon from his neighbours, but has never witnessed any because he has slept like a log every night since he left the service. He puts this down to healthy country air, decent food and the nocturnal attentions of his wife.

Mannius always welcomes the unfortunates caught by the odd weather into his home; they invariably bring stories of the larger world he had once hoped to travel and are frequently grateful, providing him with free labour or coin. He dislikes the fact that his young wife is frequently unfaithful to him with some of the men who visit his farm, however, and sometimes when he catches her his temper gets the better of him. Several times now, Mannius has taken a swing at Shelka or run her off his farm, only to take her back later. While theirs is not a grand romance, he appreciates the comforts she brings to his life. He continues to forgive her adultery because has had to grudgingly accept that he is no longer capable of siring children. If he were, Shelka would surely have borne him either a son or a daughter by now. Should she manage to conceive by one of her lovers, Mannius would at least have an heir to his farmstead. If he has a grand ambition, it is to prevent his property from falling into the hands of one of his brothers or their sons.