Maxim Kanterhaus's page

About Maxim Kanterhaus

Maxim Kanterhaus (Neska)
Varisian human fighter 1
LG Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +5 (+3 Dex, +2 trait); Senses Perception +0

Defense
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +2 shield, +3 Dex)
hp 12 (1d10+1+1 favored class)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +2; +2 vs fear effects

Offense
Speed 20
Melee warhammer +4 (1d8+3/x3) or warhammer +2 (1d8+3/x3) and heavy spiked shield +0 (1d6+1)
Ranged short spear +4 (1d8+3/x3)

Statistics
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats: Iron Will, Improved Shield Bash, Two-Weapon Fighting
Traits: Courageous, Chance Savior
Skills: Craft (carpentry) +5, Intimidate +4, Knowledge (engineering +5, nobility +2), Ride +1
Languages: Common (Taldane), Varisian
Combat Gear: scale mail, heavy spiked steel shield, warhammer, short spear x2, holy water; Other Gear Backpack, Bedroll, Winter Blanket, Rations (1 day) x5, Sacks x2, 8 gp, 2 sp

10-Minute Background:
Step 1: Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind. 5 is just a minimum...more elements are encouraged!

Character: Maxim Kanterhaus

1) He's the oldest son in his family; his father is a native of Ustalav, but his mother is a retired Varisian bard.

2) Based on his mother's stories from far off lands, he knows that fear keeps the populace oppressed, and has vowed to be an example of human bravery.

3) He is agnostic - he knows the gods exists, he just doesn't particularly care for them.

4) The sash of red, orange, and green that he wears around his waist is his mother's scarf that she wore whilst adventuring. The colors symbolize long life and inner strength (red), resourcefulness (orange), and wisdom and self-control (green).

5) Maxim bears a set of bite scars on his upper arm from the time he saved a travelling professor from monsters, around the time he turned 15.

Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.

1) Maxim would like to improve the lives of the common folk in his home province of Barstoi; unfallowing The Furrows would be a particularly epic expression of this goal.

2) While Maxim isn't really set up to be a leader, I would like to see him develop into a good second for a leader character.

Step 3: List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves him but that he is not actually aware of yet. This will help me in creating plots that center around your character. I will also be creating a third secret which you as a player will not be aware of, so expect some surprises!

1) Maxim's great-uncle on his father's side is actually Count Aericnein Neska of Barstoi. Maxim's father Sasha decided to change his last name to create some distance between himself and his uncle; Maxim continues the tradition to stand on his own, and to distance himself from his family should anything go awry.

2) Unknown to the family, Count Neska keeps watch on them from afar. While he has his own heirs, they are proving to be as cold and power hungry as he, and the Count wants to keep his options open in case he has to prune his own line before they prune him.

3) (Example of a secret I might make up about your character): Professor Lorrimor was secretly attracted to Maxim, but decided not to follow a romance primarily due to their age difference at the time of their meeting.

Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.

1) Maxim's mother, Caramelizza, is afraid for her son going out in the world and adventuring, especially given the mysterious summons from a scholar he saved some years ago. Still, she understands the call all too well, and has done her best to prepare him for life outside their small village.

2) Lizbetta, Maxim's young sweetheart, has had her heart poisoned by the fact that he chose adventuring over her. While she may not be able to strike at his family directly, given their higher status in the village, she can certainly spread nasty rumors about them while he's away.

3) Georg Schwartzwald, the head of the village's militia, was the one who initally recognized Maxim's martial potential and began his training. Georg favors the axe, so whem Maxim brought in his family's hammer, it was a relatively easy fit.

Step 5: Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor.

1) Maxim is very proud of his thick, black moustache (especially given that the rest of his family is clean-shaven), and takes care to wax it to a fine shape when rising in the morning.

2) When at rest, Maxim often rests his hand on the head of his warhammer. This is to cover up the faint crest of House Neska that is etched into the weapon.

3) Caramelizza would often use her cantrips to create "firework displays" for meal breaks or signals to her family. When ancitipating danger, Maxim will more often check the skies than the ground first, purely out of reflex.

Appearance & Personality:
Appearance: Maxim Kanterhaus is a tall human, with dark hair and elegant waxed moustache that contrasts with skin that remains pale and refuses to tan (only burn) regardless of exposure to sun. He tends to remain quiet and watchful, speaking in a soft deep voice only when addressed or when urgent matters arise. His scale mail rattles against his shield when he shifts, and his hand rests on a warhammer at his hip - it seems old but well-used, like a family heirloom.

Personality: Maxim is a good and honorable man, something that isn't terribly common in Ustalav. He is a strong proponent of individuals making their own way as much as possible, relying only on supernatural help when no other choice is available. He's not a smart man, and tends to stay quiet among the well-educated, but offers support and encouragement to others in low moments. He's modestly handsome, but not terribly outgoing.

Background:
Maxim is the oldest son of a well-off carpenter and a retired adventuring bard from Varisia. He is from a modest-sized farming village in the northern part of Barstoi, near the Odranto border. His family is well-to-do and of high social standing in the village, due to a combination of his father's craftsmanship and his family's wealth. There is still gossip among the family-values-strictness set about "one of their own marrying that Varisian outlander", but as she is a healer and entertainer, there is little that comes of it.