Ol' Pike's page

The Dornhammers were a proud clan of prominent dwarves, their prestige built on generations of mining. But times change. And so did the ways and techniques of the other mines, employing new inventions and fancy tools to pull the ore from the earth. But Grim Dornhammer wouldn't hear of such in his mine. He taught his oldest son, Pike, to stick to the old ways that had served him and his family well for generations. "Hard work and grit serve every dwarf better than a fancy plan. We don't need steamshovels any more than we need Elven wizards" he would say during the long hours overseeing the mine with the scion of his house. A dutiful son, Pike took these truths and buried them deep in the mountains of his soul, folding to them with firm tenacity.

But Mine Dornhammer began falling behind in production, lagging the new-model operations where machines carried the bulk of the load. To keep up, Grim ordered longer shifts, deeper tunnels, fewer supports, and the exploitation of every vein, no matter where it was located. But this fervent effort only served to bring half a mountain down on Grim and two of Pike's brothers. The fall of the mine brought Clan Dornhammer low, stripping them of nobility, income, and patriarch at once. To support his mother and sister, Pike began taking any job that a strong back could do as a loader, guard, or mercenary. He learned many hard lessons in this time but the tough, stubborn dwarf persevered, taking good care of his mother into her old age and seeing his sister married well enough.

No one left to care for, Pike let his jobs take him further and further from the Five Mountains, eventually finding steady employ with the Tetrad. As he traveled, he saw more and more of the new-fangled inventions and despised them all the way. A strong dwarf needs no magic, no machines, and no help.

Note: I am interested to see to what extent Pike's beliefs are challenged. Faced with the right magic, I think he'd be convinced it wasn't a waste of time. Same for technology. He could even come to respect them, in time. But he's a stubborn old goat and that would be quite the journey for him.

20 questions for deep character creation:
What emotion best describes your character? Determination.
What emotion does your character evoke in others? Scorn or confusion in those who despies his old-fashioned ways.
What does your character need most? Pike needs to feel like the world makes sense to him, that the old ways he clings to are the right way of looking at the world.
What is your character’s goal in life? To be a hero and success without compromising and following the new ways.
How does your character believe this goal can be accomplished? Dogged determination, letting everyone have a piece of his mind, and fighting or working ferociously hard when necessary.
Where did your character come from? Pike came from an old noble mining family in the Five King Mountains. It was hard for his family to compete with the new ways of mining but they labored hard together as a clan, mining faster than was safe to keep up.
When did you grow up? Eventually, the family mine collapsed, killing Pike’s father and two younger brothers. Their source of income lost, family shattered, and prestige destroyed, Pike’s mother and sister relied on Pike, who began taking jobs as a guard, bounty hunter, or whatever would pay to support the family until his sister got married and his mother passed on at a ripe old age.
What values does your character hold? Loyalty, faith, and self-sufficiency.
How does your character dress? Pike wears dwarven chainmail under a leather tunic, cinched at the waist, and cotton pants, and sturdy leather boots. When he’s expecting trouble, he holds his trusty longhammer in a tight grip and dons his boulder helmet.
What are your character’s means? Pike is strong, determined, and has a deep well of common sense and grit. But he isn’t particularly well off, winsome, or intelligent.
What are your character’s personal tastes? Pike loves a hot meal, a good brew, and a fine piece of old craftsmanship. He dislikes loud music, new-fangled contraptions, and fancy magicks.
What are your character’s opinions? Pike thinks that society is making a mistake running headlong into technology it doesn’t really understand or need. He thinks magic is about as risky as technology but at least it has been around a little bit longer.
What is your character’s comfort zone? Pike is most comfortable when things make sense to him. A bare-knuckle fight, a hard days work, a good meal. But if things are complicated or fancy, he doesn’t know what to do with himself.
Who has had the biggest impact on your character’s life? Pike’s father, Grim Dornhammer, had the biggest impact on his life. As the oldest, Pike worked alongside his father from a young age and imitated Grim’s hard work, determination, and commitment to the old ways.
What are some of your character’s unexpected quirks? Pike secretly likes some of the stronger modern brews but would absolutely hate to admit to it. He seems like a slow, plodding dwarf but can move surprisingly quickly when the occasion calls for it. And lastly, his dogged, intuitive mind is surprisingly good at mathematics, though he doesn’t exercise this talent much at all.
What kind of story does your character belong in? Pike should interact with characters who vary in whether or not the new ways should be embraced. He belongs in a story of changing times where some cling with honor to the old ways.
What role does your character fill? From a RP perspective, Pike is a grumpy uncle who is very goal-oriented and wants to help move the group forward. From a mechanical perspective, he is an overly-protective grumpy uncle who wants to keep those he is loyal to safe by hammering anyone who tries to harm them.
What should the other players know about your character? Pike acts meaner and gruffer than he actually is. Also, he doesn’t have much trust for magic and almost no trust in new technology.
What is your play style? I like heavy character immersion but also like to stick to the rules. I try to make sure there is always at least a bit of descriptive flavor in what I am doing but don’t tend to write long, flowing posts.
How do you want your character to die? Pike would be most content dying like John Henry in the American folktale, during a great feat of strength and determination that proved that living muscle, blood, and bone were still a match for any combination of gears and fire.
Questions from: http://www.plus1gaming.com/2011/07/20-questions-for-deep-character-creation /

Dwarf:
Slow and steady
Darkvision 60 ft
Dwarven weapon familiarity
Hardy
Stability
Stonecunning
Alt racial traits: Iron within (grants a ki point), Lorekeeper (Knowledge of dwarves), Xenophobic (bonus against mind-affecting effects except fear)

Traits:
Axe to grind (+1 dam to foes threatened only by me)
Glory of old (+1 against spells, slas, and poison)
Grounded (+1 reflex and +2 to balance acro)
Headstrong (drawback: Feel compelled to corret every action and argument that contradicts your worldview. If I don't try or fail to stop it, I am shaken 1 hour)

Feats:
Improved trip (from blood conduit archetype)
Power attack (lvl 1)
Raging vitality (lvl 3)

Climb: 2 ranks+3 str +3 cs-5 ACP = +3
Perc: 3 ranks +2 wis +3 CS = +8
Sense motive: 3 ranks +2 wis = +5
Survival: 2 ranks + 2 wis +3cs = +7
Swim: 2 ranks +3 str +3 cs -5 ACP = +3

Bckgrnd skills:
Handle animal: 3 ranks -1 cha +3 CS = +5
K hist: 1 rank + 0 int = +1 (+3 total if related to dwarves or their enemies)

Mwk composite longbow (+3 str)
Mwk dwarven longhammer
Dwarven boulder helmet

Chainmail

Cloak of resistance
Ioun stone

Artisan's outfit
Backback, mwk
Bear trap x 3
Bedroll
Block and tackle
Caltrops x 3
Canteen
Cold weather outfit
Marbles x 3
Rope
Waterskin x 2

Medium load: 159.8 lbs
183 gp

Init: +2
Boulder helmet: +5 for 1d4+5
Mwk dwarven longhammer: +6 for 2d6+7
Mwk composite longbow: +5 for 1d8+3
Cmb: +6 or +8 if tripping (one lower if PA)
Speed: 20 ft
+1 melee dam if I'm the only threatener

AC 17 T 11 Fl 16
HP: 37/37
Saves: +8 +4 +4
+3 if against poison, spells, or SLAs, +2 against cast by self or ally, +1 vs mind-affecting non-fear
CMD: 17 or 16 Fl, +4 if against bull rush or +6 if against trip