Nicholas Sparrow's page

Nicholas was orphaned at a young age; though he was most likely kidnapped or traded away. His 'guardian', otherwise known as Gaedren Lamm, simple told him that his real parents died and left him in the man's care. Looking back, he is sure that the man was lying, but not sure at all about finding out how. Well, aside from poking the information out of Gaedren with his rapier.

Nicholas was raised along with several other orphans of various ages to act on Gaedren's orders, which mostly consisted of theft, muggings, and sneaking about. During a mugging gone wrong, Nicholas managed to pick up a rapier that their target had dropped. While focusing on slicing up orphans left and right with previously hidden daggers, their target didn't notice the blade until it was poking out from his chest.

Seeing potential, Gaedren 'promoted' Nicholas to a guard, and had the boy trained to use his new found weapon. Along with this position, Nicholas was given actual nourishment and a clean place to sleep, something he thought was only for nobles; Nicholas believed these small luxuries to be a gift from the gods themselves and strove to perform his duties to the best of his abilities. He soon rose to being Gaedren's personal bodyguard, a position that made Gaedren's second-in-command, Yargin, jealous.

Being part of the guard, Nicholas was exposed to the mechanics of diplomacy and intrigue involved in running a gang. Able to retain the constant stream of information from the orphans that acted as spies, Nicholas soon became Gaedren's information source for happenings around the city, another reason for his promotion. His final ability was being able to focus on one thing when studying something, making up for his lack of talent in other areas.

He didn't get much experience at being Gaedren's personal bodyguard, however, as a raid soon happened upon Gaedren's current headquarters. With the guard bearing down on them, Gaedren and Nicholas fled out the secret escape in back. When they came out, they found the spot guarded. Gaedren shoved Nicholas right into the two guards and rushed past, ignoring Nicholas' screams for help.

Nicholas spent days in a prison cell, in which he festered bitterness at having the man who had given him meaning betray him. The captain decided to have a chat with the young man, believing the lad to just be misguided. While Nicholas did not like the sympathy being shown to him, the captain finally came to the conclusion that Nicholas was just an orphan used by Gaedren like all the others. After taking an oath from Nicholas that he would not commit crimes inside Korvosa, the captain let the boy go with his meager belongings.

On the streets once more without a home, Nicholas found himself working in a tavern to earn a living. His time working for Gaedren had exposed him to other languages, and the many customers of the popular tavern called the 'Crimson Dragon' helped him to gain a basic understanding of them. His main purpose in a tavern, though, was to find rumors about Gaedren. A year went by without any word.

Then, rumor spread of Gaedren attempting to gain power again a district over. His old anger coming to the surface, Nicholas prepared his equipment, took what coins he had saved up, and took after the rumor with a vengeance. After all this time, Nicholas' sword would be wet with blood once more.

Nicholas wears the regular rags of the poor common people of Korvosa. Saving solely toward his goal of dispatching Gaedren, he has mised every coin and has not spent the least bit on his tattered clothes. The tavern keeper's wife has taken pity on him, though, and at least patched up the holes for him without her husband knowing. His leather vestment, however, is in much better condition, as he knows having well-kept armor is necessary to fight.

Nicholas is rather young at only 17, but his lack of care and hard lifestyle gives him both the look and maturity of a man in his mid-twenties. When he has his equipment with him, he openly shows his sword and shield, not afraid of attracting attention anymore. He has short-cropped black hair and roughly-trimmed facial hair.

Nicholas was greatly influenced by his lack of family and community. Struggling to follow the ganster Gaedren, many of the gathered orphans died during mishaps. Nicholas is used to others dying, and has even killed after becoming Gaedren's bodyguard. The constant lies and deception Gaedren used have given Nicholas a deep suspicion when concerning intrigue and politics.

When Nicholas was picked out to be a guard, he began to feel a sense of pride and graditude build in him for the opportunity at what he thought was a better life. He stroved to please Gaedren, longer to prove himself. Though he knew Gaedren was evil and malicious to others, he felt himself the sole exception to this rule. He didn't know all his feelings were one-sided until he was cast off when Gaedren fled. These feelings quickly turned negative afterward.

Nicholas is focused when it comes to following his goals, and doesn't worry if his actions cross the law or not. He was raised with the motto 'Look out for yourself first'. The reality of it hit when Gaedren threw him away. After that betrayed, he doubts he can trust fully again; then again, Nicholas could not honestly say he 'fully' trusted Gaedren either.

While Nicholas doesn't mind helping out others, he doesn't go out of his way often, and has been taught that mercy gets one killed. However, he does not kill out of spite, with the exception of Gaedren, of course; in fact, he does not plan to have to kill again after he gets his hands on his old master. The only goal he sees past Gaedren is trying to somehow find a normalized life. But first, he has to find out what 'normalized' is.

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Nicholas Sparrow
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Male Human (Varisian) Swashbuckler (Inspired) 1; Age 17
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +5,

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Defense
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AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 armor, +1 shield, +3 Dex)
HP 16
Fort +0, Ref +6, Will +0

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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee mtk rapier +6* (1d6+3/18-20)
Ranged light crossbow +4 (1d8/19-20)
*+1 with AoO

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Statistics
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Str 8 (-1), Dex 17 (+3), Con 10, Int 14 (+2), Wis 10, Cha 14 (+2)
Base Atk +2; CMB +1; CMD 14*
*+2 for Disarm if panache point remaining

Racial
Focused Study - Changes out bonus feat at level 1 for Skill Focus feats at levels 1, 8, and 16.

Traits
Fencer, Hungry for Revenge

Feats
Fencing Grace - Use Dex instead of Str for damage rolls with rapier; +2 to CMD for disarm attempts while having a panache point.
Skill Focus (Knowledge (Local)) - +3 to Knowledge (Local) checks.
Weapon Focus (Rapier) - +1 on attack rolls with rapiers.

Skills (20 Ranks - 8 Class, 4 Background, 2 Favored Class, 2 Human: Skilled, 4 Int)
Acrobatics +7* (1 rank, 3 class, 3 Dex)
Bluff +7 (2 rank, 3 class, 2 Cha)
Diplomacy +7 (2 rank, 3 class, 2 Cha)
Disguise +3 (1 rank, 2 Int)
Intimidate +7 (2 rank, 3 class, 2 Cha)
Knowledge (Engineering) +3 (1 rank, 2 Int)
Knowledge (Local) +10 (2 rank, 3 class, 2 Int, 3 Skill Focus)
Knowledge (Nobility) +6 (1 rank, 3 class, 2 Int)
Linguistics +3 (1 rank, 2 Int)
Perception +5 (2 rank, 3 class)
Perform (Oratory) +6 (1 rank, 3 class, 2 Cha)
Sense Motive +5 (2 rank, 3 class)
Sleight of Hand +8* (2 rank, 3 class, 3 Dex)
*-1 while wielding his buckler

Favored Class Bonuses
Swashbuckler - 1 Bonus Skill Point

Languages
Common, Varisian, Shoanti, Thassilonian

Archetype
Inspired Blade

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Possessions
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Inventory
masterwork rapier, buckler, leather, light crossbow, bolts (8), masterwork dagger (Key-Lock Dagger)

Inventory Weight and Load
Current Load - 26 lbs (light)
Light 26 lbs, Medium 53 lbs, Heavy 81 lbs

Wealth
2 pp 42 gp 29 sp 10 cp

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Special Abilities
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Charmed Life (Ex) - At 2nd level, the swashbuckler gains a knack for getting out of trouble. Three times per day as an immediate action before attempting a saving throw, she can add her Charisma modifier to the result of the save. She must choose to do this before the roll is made. At 6th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the number of times she can do this per day increases by one (to a maximum of 7 times per day at 18th level).

Inspired Panache (Ex) - 4 per day; gain by critting.

Deeds (Ex) - Derring-Do, Dodging Panache, Opportune Parry and Riposte.
Changes from Inspired Archetype

Inspired Finesse (Ex) - Weapon Finesse (rapier) and Weapon Focus (rapier)