Nobutaka's page

Skills Marked * are at -3 for AcP
Acrobatics* (Dex) -1
Appraise (Int) 0
Bluff (Cha) 1
Climb* (Str) 5 (1 rank, 4 skill, 3 trained)
Craft (Int) 0
Diplomacy (Cha) 5 (1 rank, 1 skill, 3 trained)
Disguise (Cha) 1
Escape Artist (Dex) -1
Fly* (Dex) -1
Heal (Wis) 0
Intimidate(Cha) 1
Linguistics (Int) 1 (1 rank)
Perception (Wis) 0
Ride (Dex) -1
Sense Motive (Wis) 4 (1 rank, 3 trained)
Spellcraft (Int) 0
Stealth (Dex) -1
Survival (Wis) 4 (1, 0, 3)
Swim* (Str) 1

Challenge (Ex)

Once per day, a samurai can challenge a foe to combat. As a swift action, the samurai chooses one target within sight to challenge. The samurai’s melee attacks deal extra damage when made against the target of his challenge. This extra damage is equal to the samurai’s level. The samurai can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every three levels beyond 1st, to a maximum of seven times per day at 19th level.

Challenging a foe requires much of the samurai’s concentration. The samurai takes a –2 penalty to his Armor Class, except against attacks made by the target of his challenge.

The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious, or until the combat ends. Each samurai’s challenge also includes another effect, which is listed in the section describing the samurai’s order.

Order (Ex): Ronin

Edicts: I must never draw my blade in haste, least I slay another innocent.
I must never forget my shame, least I forget why I am here.
I must never leave a debt unfulfilled, least I shame myself and those who aided me.
(subject to GM Approval)

Challenge: Whenever a ronin is the target of a challenge, a smite, a quarry, or similar effect, and he issues a challenge against that character in return, the ronin receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made against the target of his challenge and a +1 dodge bonus to his AC against attacks made by the target of his challenge. These bonuses increase by +1 for every four class levels the samurai possesses (to a maximum of +5 at 20th level).

Skills: A ronin adds Knowledge (local) (Int) and Survival (Wis) to his list of class skills.

Resolve (Ex)

Starting at 1st level, the samurai gains resolve that he can call upon to endure even the most devastating wounds and aff lictions. He can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every two samurai levels beyond 1st. Whenever the samurai defeats the target of his challenge, he regains one daily use of his resolve, up to his maximum number of uses per day. Defeating the target of his challenge usually involves reducing the target to 0 hit points or fewer, but the GM might rule that an enemy who surrenders or flees the battle is also defeated. He can use this resolve in a number of ways.

Determined: As a standard action, the samurai can spend one use of his resolve to remove the fatigued, shaken, or sickened condition. If the samurai is at least 8th level, he can alternatively remove the exhausted, frightened, nauseated, or staggered condition. If the condition has a duration longer than 1 hour or is permanent, this ability removes the condition for 1 hour, at which time the condition returns.

Resolute: Whenever the samurai is required to make a Fortitude or Will save, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to roll twice and take the better result. He must decide to use this ability before he rolls the saving throw.

Unstoppable: When the samurai is reduced to fewer than 0 hit points but not slain, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to instantly stabilize and remain conscious. He is staggered, but he does not fall unconscious and begin dying if he takes a standard action. He does fall unconscious if he takes additional damage from any source.

Iaijutsu Strike (Ex)

A sword saint can perform a lightning quick iaijutsu strike against the target of his challenge to inflict devastating wounds while drawing his sword. After the sword saint has challenged a foe but before he has attacked the target of his challenge, he may choose to use his iaijutsu strike as a full-round action, making an attack roll with his weapon as normal. In order to use this ability, the sword saint’s weapon must be sheathed at the start of his turn. If he successfully hits his opponent with an iaijutsu strike, his attack deals an additional +1d6 points of damage. This bonus damage increases by an additional +1d6 at 3rd level and every two levels thereafter to a maximum of +10d6 damage at 19th level. Any extra damage as a result of a successful iaijutsu strike is not multiplied by a critical hit.

After making an iaijutsu strike, a sword saint takes a –4 penalty to his AC until his next turn, but his weapon is now drawn and he may continually to fight normally. Regardless of whether he hits his opponent with the iaijutsu strike, a sword saint cannot use this ability on the same foe more than once per day.

At 10th level, a sword saint learns to focus faster and is able to make an iaijutsu strike as a standard action, and the penalty to his AC is reduced to –2. This ability replaces a samurai’s mount.

Katana (50gp 6lbs), Kikko Armor (30gp 25lbs), Monk's Outfit,Backpack (2gp 2lbs), Bedroll (1sp, 5lbs), Flint and steel (1gp), 50ft Silk Rope (10g, 5lbs)(1pp, 1gp, 9sp)

+2 to One Ability Score: Human characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
Medium: Humans are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Humans have a base speed of 30 feet.
Bonus Feat: Humans select one extra feat at 1st level.
Skilled: Humans gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever they gain a level.
Languages: Humans begin play speaking Common. Humans with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic).

Before you stands a man of small stature, no taller than five and a half feet. He has dark black hair that is shorter in the front than the back as if his head had previously been shaven, tan skin, and almond shaped eyes with red-orange pupils filled with a deep sorrow. The man is hesitant at first, keeping to himself and staying detached, though he is also highly formal and opens up with persistent conversation. He speaks of honor and how it is of utmost importance but seems to be hiding something.

The Birth
Nobutaka, Fourth Son of Nobushida of the Iyori clan was born in the early Autumn. His father was not proud. Born with black hair as opposed to white meant that the boy was not destined for greatness, the father would have to try again.
Early Years
Nobutaka grew up in a large clan surrounded by brothers, sisters, and cousins, while not the youngest child he was often ridiculed for being a fourth son, far from being his father's heir. The ridicule sprouted from his eldest brother Motochoka and his cousin Tadanaga, the heir to the clan. The two would often choose Nobutaka as a training partner, striking him down full force as he could not fight back, else danger risking the heir to the clan as well as his father. Not being able to fight back he had to devise a way to win without fighting, and he was successful. He studied his brother and cousin while they fought and it soon became easy to identify danger before it reached him. His studying of the way his family acted worked on others as well, by reading a person's actions closely he could tell their true intent, this was a skill normally obtained by warriors much older than a young child. His skills would go unnoticed for years, for his mother gave birth to a daughter, she had hair as white as snow, his father was proud.
Young Adult Hood
Nobutaka honed his senses and his skills, mastering the art of weaponry and the use of the Katana by age fifteen. It was at this time that he was in first duel, against a man nearly five years his senior. To Nobutaka the man moved sluggish and was cut down the second he attacked. The dead samurai had lineage however, and to be killed by a fourth son brought a great shame to his household, which would cause problems for Nobutaka. He was blamed for starting the fight and said to have brought dishonor by stepping out of his place. His sword was stripped from him by his father and he was forced into seclusion with only books. Nobutaka had the will of the warrior and could not confine it with words, he had also been a man of action not caution. The seclusion lasted over a month with no interaction other than the servant bringing him his meal. In this time he was forced to read, and although he was not fond of it, he did find one subject interesting. It was the alternative ways of warfare, stories of how armies would get ready for battle only to be stopped because a messenger brought a few words. His battle lust died down and he became infatuated with the thought of started and ending wars with only a few words. It was raining the day his sister died, at least that was what he thought because his fathers face was wet.
The Solider
Nobutaka was brought out of seclusion a few months short of his sixteenth birthday, he was to continue his training as he was appointed to be a vassal of the clan leader, his cousin Todonaga, who was raised to head during his seclusion. His training was long and he did not see much action. in the years to come.
The Samurai
Nobutaka was twenty-four when his father was poisoned. His elder brother was made head of his family, and Nobutaka was promoted to one of Todonaga's personal guard. It was here he met Yomato Daigo, heir of one of the lesser clans united with the Iyori. Nobutaka was nearly ten years senior to Yomato, yet they shared the same position as personal guard to the head of the Iyori clan. While Yomato was there by birth Nobutaka was there by skill, and as such was tasked with improving Yomato's swordsmanship.
The Incident
It was dark, the man who assaulted Todonaga was fleeing. Yomato was not to be seen and the rest of the guard were tending to their lord. Nobutaka took to the pursuit of the attacker. Running full speed through the streets Nobutaka never lost sight of the pursuer as he raced from the rooftops. The attacker dropped from the roof into an ally, Nobutaka turned the corner and attacked without hesitation. The attacker had been cut down, by the man Nobutaka has just blindly slain. In the dark he recognized the body, it was Yomato he had been following the attacker from the next street over and cut him down the second he landing. Now Yomato's head looked pale as his throat was wide open, it was the perfect cut though Nobutaka took no condolence in that. He had to run.
The Trip
Nobutaka had escaped and dropped his clan name before boarding a trading ship as a hired sword. He left his homeland setting off for the area known as the Inner Sea. It was on this journey that the traders taught hims the basics of the language the men of the west used most commonly as Tien would not get him very far. The trip went without any major incident and upon arrival he departed, a stranger in a new land ready to start a new life.
The Debt
Making his way inland was not an easy task. The flora and fauna were different than his homelands' and he feared things would not end so well for him. He calmed himself though, he relaxed and did the only thing he could do, observe. In the first week in this strange land he has already discovered which plants were harmful and which were safe. He also discovered which animals would flee and those that would attack. His ability to survive in this new land seemed like second nature to him after a month of travel with minimal time stopping in towns. He felt like nothing could stop him, until he fell. He awoke with a sharp pain in his leg as he sat in the bottom of a pit, a sharp stake though his leg, a hunter's trap and he had become the pray. He sat in the hole almost and entire day, his wound worsening. Nobutaka got ready to end his life with what little honor he could say he had left before he heard a voice. It was that of an old man, a man who promised to aid him if he agreed to repay the favor. With no other option Nobutaka quickly agreed and a rope was lowered. In pain Nobutaka climbed his leg limp as he made it to the top, an old man helping him out of the pit. The old man asked for his name and he gave it before succumbing to the pain. Nobutaka woke sometime later in a bed, he had been brought to the inn by a group of men and he had a letter waiting for him. He was astonished to see his leg was perfectly fine, and he departed with his letter. Professor Lorrimor was the man who he owed his life to, the letter told him that much, it also told him to seek him until the time was right. He felt uneasy that the man disappeared as suddenly as he had come, but Nobutaka respected the man's wishes, no matter how uneasy he felt.
The Death
It was nearly two years since the incident with the pit trap and the old man, though he had nearly forgotten about the incident he still had felt uneasy, he always expected the old man would show up one day out of the blue, or be the man behind the counter at an inn he would stay at. Recently though Nobutaka had thought less of the old man, he had traveled to Ustalav, a country that seemed to be filled with the taint of evil. He had a strange feeling, his senses told him he should leave but something about this place felt as if it was calling to him. He could not shake this feeling of uneasiness until he overheard two men talking as they left an inn Nobutaka had planned to enter. 'Ya hear? They say ole' Professor Lorrimor done went and passed. Funerals not to far, up in Ravengro I heard.' Cold sweat ran down Nobutaka's body. The old man had died, without a chance for Nobutaka to help him, or ever properly forgive him. Nobutaka knew why he was drawn to this land, and he knew what he had to do. He set out for Ravengro to pay his last respects for the man who owed his life to.