About Marcus ValereMarcus Valere
Climb +7, Fly +4, Intimidate +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (planes) +5, Profession +3, Ride +4, Swim +7.
At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks. Quarterstaff Master (Ex): At 1st level, the staff magus gains the Quarterstaff Master feat as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the normal prerequisites. He only gains the benefit of this feat when wearing no armor or light armor. Spells Known:
Background
They made plenty of money, enough to enroll Marcus in both a prestigious school of arcane magic and the local noble boys' school for martial training. He excelled in his studies at both locales, and was a figure of both envy and intimidation. Marcus was unaware of any of this, focused only nominally on his training and school work. Marcus was primarily a daydreamer. What he dreamed about, however, was something unbeknownst to anyone but him. While this piqued many interests in what might be going on behind his glower, he was unforthcoming with the information. In truth, he simply lacked the concentration or interest necessary to continue a conversation or partake in other activities. He didn't contemplate, he didn't dream, he didn't philosophize. One day, while stuck in one of his lapses, he was discovered by a Vudrani man, new to Absalom. This man felt a kindred spirit in Marcus, though he was mistaken. The inner calm he felt emanating from the boy was not, as he thought, an early indicator of sagely potential. Despite this, Marcus accepted his invitation of training in the ways of meditation and the staff. While Marcus did not fully understand the monk's teachings in patience and the virtues of asceticism, he did appreciate the unexpected martial potential of the quarterstaff. He devoted many an hour to the weapon. The monk was surprised by this development, viewing the staff as a tool to unite ones mind and body. Eventually Marcus began to pay more attention to the monk's teachings on things other than the quarterstaff. Previously the quiet nature of his teacher suited him well, as he was not one to speak without cause. But as his questions grew about these lessons, he desired answers. His teacher wasn't forthcoming with the information. Marcus grew impatient. He began to talk more, to ask questions and to try and goad the monk into talking. The monk began to respond. He had realized his mistake when he met Marcus, but was almost appreciative of this when he realized he had brought Marcus to talking. They had long conversations, and Marcus began to open up. He was still taciturn, and his personality turned out to be grumpy, as if irritated at having been brought out in a fashion as undignified as curiosity. The second summer after their meeting, Marcus entered the monk's home only to find it empty. It had been sparse before, but there was no longer anything there except for a note tacked to the opposite wall. It said only that the monk had returned to Vudra. Marcus was... disappointed by this turn of events. The following month, he packed his belongings and left Absalom, seeking work as a bounty hunter and enforcer. His various mercenary jobs have included working as a hunter of unruly Fey for the Lumber Consortium of Andoren, fighting the goblins of the Brinestump marsh, and yeti-hunting in the Kodar Mountains. Appearance
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