Olmek's page

NAME: Doji Himeko
CLAN: Crane
SCHOOL: Doji Courtier
RANK: 1
Age: 18 Sex: Female Height: 5'2"
Description: Simple, wholesome but not stunning features, self-confident pose and voice but not of attention-getting stature; think of Jodie Foster in Contact.
FIRE 2 (Agility 2; Intelligence 2)
AIR 3 (Reflexes 3; Awareness 4)
EARTH 2 (Willpower 2; Stamina 2)
WATER 2 (Perception 3; Strength 2)
VOID 2
GLORY 1
HONOR 6.5
STATUS 1
INSIGHT 124
INITIATIVE 4k3
TN TO BE HIT: 20
Health/Wounds x2
Healthy (+0) 10
Nicked (+0) 14
Grazed (+2) 18
Hurt (+7) 22
Injured (+12) 26
Crippled (+17) 30
Down (+37) 34
Out 38
TECHNIQUES
The Soul of Honor: So long as you maintain your Honor Rank at 6.0 or better, you gain a Free Raise on all Courtier, Sincerity, and Etiquette rolls. Also, by conversing with another person for a few minutes, you can make a Contested Roll of Courtier (Manipulation) / Awareness against the target’s Etiquette / Awareness to learn whether they are in need of favors or assistance.
ADVANTAGES
Ancestor: Doji, Servant (Artisan)
DISADVANTAGES
Sworn Enemy (Mirumoto Tobezu), Sworn Enemy (Soshi Yasamari), Unlucky (Rank 2)
SKILLS
Calligraphy 1
Commerce 1
Courtier (Manipulation) 3
Etiquette 2
Investigation 1
Jiujutsu 1
Lore: Heraldry 1
Lore: History 1
Lore: Law 1
Perform: Oratory 1
Perform: Storytelling 1
Sincerity 2
Tea Ceremony 1

EQUIPMENT

One life can make the difference.
-- Kakita

HISTORY
Himeko’s Family
Himeko’s father Giichin had her late in life, and that is perhaps the saving grace of her dealings with him. He was a courtier who specialized in inheritance law, and was understandably acid-tongued. Not that he was unkind to Himeko, but he was not easily impressed. And when she turned out to be his only child, and a daughter at that, it made for some rough nights.

To top it off, Himeko was not a stunning beauty, and the Crane practically have a cult around pretty faces, which disgusted her. All the boys were training to be bushi like the world depended on them. And the girls? Giggling fools. It seemed crazy. But Himeko’s ninth and thirteenth winters at the Bayushi court brought it all together. The world did depend on her; it was her peers who did not realize the responsibility of privilege.

Just before Himeko’s gempukku, her father retired, leaving her mother to arrange her acceptance to the Doji Courtier school, something that would give Himeko a chance for a life that is not dependent on the man she might marry. When put against that alternative, she was happy to go. The school was almost nauseatingly polite; Himeko soon realized it was a test to see how much dross she could move aside and manipulate to get to the real political action underneath. Through mizu-do, she trained herself not to panic under stress and learned that the competition and give-and-take exhilarated her in a way nothing ever had. The martial training also taught Himeko to maintain her authority in the face of death, and she soon found out how important that would be.

Becoming a Magistrate
At the School, Emerald Magistrate positions were given according to who your father was, or by establishing and maintaining a reputation even through the constant turn-around and fresh faces of the week. Getting an appointment was not as difficult as Himeko imagined, but that was only because of the location of her first job: Ryoko Owari. The "City of Lies" didn't bother her...it was that the place should have been called "City of Cheap, Available Assassins." Every smuggler she busted had a boss, every Scorpion she manipulated came back in the form of a dozen stalkers. Himeko made heaps of enemies in the process. In her first months on the job, she unearthed an opium smuggling ring with ties to the Soshi family. Soshi Yasamari, a hulking brute of a courtier, covered the whole thing up, including the indirect involvement of Soshi Bantaro, the daimyo of the family, and he despises Himeko for it. She can’t prove it, but Yasamari is also responsible for the death of one of Himeko’s associates: Ide Meiko.

Another notable enemy is Mirumoto Tobezu, a taisa of the Mirumoto peacekeepers. A temperamental and ill-mannered man with wanted to duel Himeko’s cousin, Doji Satoshi, who traveled to Ryoko Owari for help. Himeko refused to sanction the fight: Tobezu had just come from a war, and considering his reputation, she had no reason to believe that the Dragon would stop at first blood. She suggested that Tobezu take a cooling-off period where he trained in control. He claimed that Himeko had insulted him, caused a physical alteration, and was jailed by the Scorpion for a week. After his release, Tobezu headed north and Himeko hasn’t heard from him since.

NAME: Akodo Ryuko
CLAN: Lion
SCHOOL: Seppun Guardsman
RANK: 1
Age: 18 Sex: Female Height: 5'9"
Description: Unusually tall, with a steady, attentive gaze (trained herself out of blinking). She never sits except crouched on the balls of her feet. Hair tied into a maiden’s ponytail.
FIRE 2 (Agility 3; Intelligence 2)
AIR 2 (Reflexes 3; Awareness 2)
EARTH 2 (Willpower 2; Stamina 2)
WATER 3 (Perception 3; Strength 3)
VOID 2
GLORY 1
HONOR 6.5 (7.5 with Akodo Blade)
STATUS 1
INSIGHT 124
INITIATIVE 4k3
TN TO BE HIT: 20 (25 in armor)
Armor Reduction: 3
Health/Wounds x2
Healthy (+0) 10
Nicked (+0) 14
Grazed (+2) 18
Hurt (+7) 22
Injured (+12) 26
Crippled (+17) 30
Down (+37) 34
Out 38
TECHNIQUES
Never in Darkness: Any time you are rolling to resist a Social Skill roll which could tempt or lead you away from your duty - such as Temptation, Intimidation, or even Courtier - you roll additional unkept dice equal to your School Rank. You gain a +1k1 bonus to any time you are making an Investigation roll to detect an ambush or surprise attack.
ADVANTAGES
Clear Thinker, Different School, Sacred Weapon (Akodo Blade)
DISADVANTAGES
Compulsion (Rank 2; to protect her ward’s honor), Dependent (Seppun Ichiko), Lost Love (Grand Master Seppun Oyama)
SKILLS
Athletics 1
Battle 1
Defense 2
Etiquette 1
Iaijutsu 1
Investigation 1
Kenjutsu (katana) 3
Kyujutsu 1
Lore: Bushido 2
Lore: Theology 1
EQUIPMENT
Akodo Blade, wakizashi, yumi w/ 10 willow leaf arrows, aiguchi & tanto, light armor, sturdy clothing, traveling pack containing a blanket, chopsticks, a daisho stand, a miniature go set, a personal chop, a small tent, three fine kimonos, a pair of sandals, a tatami mat, and a week’s rations. 3 koku, 4 bu, 8 zeni.

Excuses are the bane of justice.
--The Lady Seppun

HISTORY
Ryuku’s Family
Ryuku was a gift to her parents, and that is most noble thing she will say of them when asked. Her father was a loyal Akodo who served in the Emerald Legions in order to avoid petty Clan politics, but Ryuku and generations of her ancestors know that Clan disputes are anything but petty. Just as a samurai's words are his actions, a daimyo's command is a statement meant to live up to his ancestors and the thousands more of each samurai under him. Every war, every declaration, serves its place as an instrument of celestial destiny.

Ryuku’s mother was hesitant when her father's valor earned him a rare honor -- his next son would be welcomed at the Seppun's own school of Imperial Guards. The midwives had warned that another child could kill her, for giving birth to Ryuku’s sisters Kyoko and Giriko had been difficult. Ryuku remembers her sacrifice on the first of every month when she burns incense and offerings.

Ryuku’s father was aghast when she was only another girl, but once she realized the problem, she solved it simply. If what was needed was a son, Ryuku would be his son. When he said that was against tradition, she pointed out that by Akodo's own words, Ryuku was already his doshi -- his brother.

Ryuku’s Training
In her early years at the Akodo-ryu, the sensei sometimes beat Ryuku, but she knew that the soul of a samurai must be pounded in fire thousands of times to be forged correctly. She kept count of the number of times she was hit from the time she was five to when she was eleven: 1,533.

Before Ryuku’s gempukku, she was lined up with a half-dozen other Akodo to perform her kata before Sensei Seppun Toshifumi. All executed the moves with precision, but when questioned about bushido, about ethics and honor, about duty to the Empire, none but Ryuku considered their answers carefully. Most were bored by hours of lecturing, even on the most sacred of subjects. Ryuku was worthy of the honor her father had earned, he declared, and performed her gempukku himself, on the stairs of Seppun-ryu, under the watchful eyes of grandmaster Oyama.

But there were delays before she could train in earnest. The Akodo warred with the Matsu, and Ryuku’s birth and position required her to serve as a lieutenant, though she was only thirteen. Eager to lead with only minimal advice, she acquitted herself honorably for her age... but she will always remember the three hundred men who died in Toshi no Senchi. The Lion congratulated her, but Ryuku’s arrival at Seppun-ryu felt oddly hollow.

Ryuku is forbidden to speak of the techniques of the Seppun, but she doesn't mind saying that working until she vomited was considered a compliment to the sensei. She trained from the time she woke to the time she slept, and often students were attacked with shinai in the night. Oyama watched her practice and said that her body type (tall, with flexible wrists) was best for the Osaboro kata. It is her duty to practice it until perfection or her death. It was quite a compliment: Osaboro is difficult, and requires Ryuku to practice with three other people: one to be the target, and two to shoot the arrows at her. Trust is...important.

Ichiko
Ryuku’s time was so taken with training, that it was not until he fell ill that she learned Oyama-sama's interest in her came in part because he was her grand-uncle. He had been Ryuku’s guiding force in the school; it seemed impossible that he could waste away in his bed while surrounded by men who would give their lives for him. In the dojo, the old light would still come into his eyes and he would throw off the yojimbo helping him walk, or move a paving stone Ryuku could not lift. But when alone, at the end, he would ask her to fetch him water, when it was too much.

His last request was that Ryuku care for his nine year-old granddaughter, Seppun Ichiko, whose parents were in Violence Behind Courtliness City, a Crane holding which has been besieged by the Lion since the spring. If Ichiko's parents were alive, they would have been released by now. She is a Seppun child: obedient, cultured, and capable of withstanding more than most adults think possible. She bores easily, and Ryuku is trying to teach her to retreat sideways from a situation, rather than in straight lines. She often chooses not to listen, and claims to want to attend a courtier school, but that path lacks purity, and Ryuku is certain she will grow out of it.

Ichiko has recently expressed an interest in visiting Ryoko Owari for their famed Bon Festival. Reluctantly, Ryuku petitioned for, and received, permission to undertake a pilgrimage to the City of Lies.

HER DAISHO
Ryuku's katana is more glorious than Ryuku. Shobatsu ("Rewards and Punishments") took the swordsmith Yajishi four years and nine thousand folds to create. It was immortalized in an Ikoma play, "The Shouts of the Sun," though few people remember its name. It dates back to Hantei Yugozohime (Hantei VII), an Empress born in a time when the Phoenix, Crane, and Scorpion tried to keep her isolated on the throne from birth. Yugozohime challenged them, choosing Seppun Mizato to defend her honor. He came to the duel with the still red-hot Shobatsu as a political statement -- at that time, it was believed swords were best quenched in the blood of convicted criminals. Shobatsu passed through 28 generations of Seppun since, including Oyama-sama's wife Narumi, who died at the Battle of Kyuden Kitsune.

Shobatsu's saya is velvet-lined teak, its tsuba mirrored chrysanthemums beneath a silver filigreed Lady Sun (rare art, since such depictions were outlawed in 606). Its hilt wrap is made from the under-tail skin of three albino manta rays called from the sea by Imperial shugenja.

Its mated wakizashi was used for seppuku once, so its new companion, Hittan ("Brush Tip") was named to honor such the decision. In calligraphy, each stroke is final and indelible, showing every success and error without going back; swords are the same.

Male human rogue (sanctified rogue) 1
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +4
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 19, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 10 (1d8+2)
Fort +1, Ref +8 (+9 vs. traps), Will +2
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Spd 30 ft.
Melee short sword +6 (1d6+3/19–20), dagger +6 (1d4+3/19–20)
Ranged shortbow +6 (1d6/x3), dagger +6 (1d4+3/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 17, Dex 23, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 15
Base Atk +0; CMB +3; CMD 19
Feats Weapon Finesse
Traits Child of the Crusade, Child of the Temple
Skills Acrobatics +9, Bluff +6, Climb +6, Disable Device +9 (+10 vs. traps), Disguise +6, Knowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (religion) +7, Perception +5, Sleight of Hand +9, Stealth +9
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common
SQ child of the temple, dual talent, trapfinding +1
--------------------
Gear
--------------------
Studded leather armor, short sword, dagger, shortbow w/ 20 arrows, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, thieves' tools, trail rations (5 days), traveler’s outfit, waterskin, whetstone, winter blanket, wooden holy symbol, 42 gp, 8 sp, 8 cp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Child of the Crusade (Ex) Several generations of Loric's family have served in the crusades, and the righteousness of their cause sometimes feels like it runs in his very blood, hardening him against demonic influence. He's heard many tales of their bravery, and his strong family ties bolster his mind and sense of belonging to the crusade. Once per day when he fails a saving throw against an effect created by a demon which would possess or mentally incapacitate him, he may immediately reroll that saving throw as a free action. He must take the second result, even if it is worse.

Child of the Temple (Ex) Loric has long served at a temple in a large city, picking up on many of the nobility's customs while also spending many hours in the temple libraries studying his faith. As a result, he gains a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (nobility) and Knowledge (religion) checks, and Knowledge (religion) is always a class skill for him.

Dual Talent (Ex) Loric’s family has always excelled at maximizing their natural gifts. Unlike a typical human, he picks two ability scores to gain a +2 racial bonus. This human racial trait replaces the normal +2 bonus to any single ability score, the bonus feat for being a human, and the skilled trait.

Step 1: Six Concepts Important to Loric

1) The youngest son of a noble family in Taldor, Loric comes from a long tradition of serving in the crusades. He and his brother both sought to honor their ancestors by joining the holy templars of Iomedae and marching to war in the Worldwound. While there, they expected to distinguish themselves so one of them could gain their father's blessing and inherit the family's holdings upon his passing. Yet, the templars chose only his brother to join their ranks, and Loric's exclusion caused a jealous rift between them.
2) Forced to watch his sibling march north three years ago, Loric turned to alternate methods in an effort to follow and upstage him. The young noble built his social circle and practiced the 'game' of Taldoran politics, involving himself in all the intrigues that entails.

3) Eventually, he the eye of the declining priesthood of Aroden, the dead god of humanity. A once powerful force in containing the rise of demon cults in the north, the organization no longer has the resources to raise hosts and wage war. Instead, they rely on more subtle methods to aid the Crusades. The Church recognized his useful, if somewhat morally ambiguous, talents and gladly welcomed and sponsored Loric, sending him to the front lines as their sanctified agent.

4) Once he reached the front lines, Loric established himself as a member of an exclusive and secretive group of spies and operatives working to safeguard the sanctity of crusade. Prepared to cull anyone who falters in their devotion—or who succumbs to demonic temptation — he keeps a watchful eye for enemies both within and beyond the crusader ranks.

5) At times, this role puts him in contention with his brother. The two have reached an uneasy truce at best, keeping a watchful eye on one another as they carry out their respective duties. At the same time, Loric is still beholden to his sponsors within the church of Aroden. Though he has his own reasons for fighting in the Worldwound, Loric's masters occasionally assign him missions, as well — mostly to seek out and return various artifacts, insights, and lore linked to their god. While these assignments certainly help the crusade, they're also meant to increase the prominence of their faith back to the heights it once knew.

6) Loric wears stylish, dark gray, studded leather armor provided by the church, overlaid by a black tabard with gold trim depicting a downward-pointed longsword on his chest and a single, four-pointed star to its left. His weapons include a double-edge shortsword, dagger, and shortbow with a full quiver of arrows. He's tall and agile with sharp muscle definition honed through combat and rigorous exercise. His hair is dark and shoulder-length, but his face remains clean-shaven. At the age of 19, he stands 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 170 lbs.

Step 2: Three Goals for Loric to Achieve

1) Loric’s association with Aroden's church puts him at odds with some crusaders. Those who honor his faith's history of combating demon cults openly accept his involvement, while others view his presence among them with curiosity and distrust — believing his faith should have turned to the Iomedae when she welcomed his clergy into her fold. No one feels this more strongly than Loric’s own brother and their differing opinions have led to no small amount of arguments and tension between them. I've left the identity of Loric's brother some what vague, as I think the conflict there could achieve maximum impact if it were another player. If you wish, I could flesh this out better.

2) Part of Loric’s charge as a sanctified rogue for his sect of the Aroden's church should involve secret assignments, meetings, and messages outside the normal chain of command. While these activities mostly focus on feeding information back to his superiors, there’s also an element of spying on his fellow crusaders and carrying out tasks which the more pious paladins and inquisitors might otherwise consider forbidden. Though this role puts him at odds with some of his fellow companions, he always believes the ends justify the means, and he serves his distant masters with the same unquestioned zeal as a devout paladin.

3) Aside from the normal tasks of a crusader, Loric’s priesthood may also assign him tasks to retrieve ancient relics and divine magic associated with the Aroden. These items could help the crusade, but might also shore up his temple's declining influence in the absence of their deceased god.

Step 3: Two Secrets for Loric, One He Knows and One He Does Not

1) While participating in the intrigues of Taldor's capital, Oppara, Loric was set upon by a masked assassin. A struggle ensued, and the attacker was thrown down a set of stairs. Removing the dead man's mask, Loric was horrified to see that it had been a former friend of his. He covered up the death and renounced political life, seeking the duty of the church as a useful avenue for his talents.

2) Loric's failure to be selected by the templars was not entirely his doing. His father, ever favoring his elder brother and resenting Loric's less honorable path, pulled strings to ensure that Loric would never join the prestigious order.

Step 4: Three People Loric has Relationships With

1) His Brother - Loric and his brother grew up close, always thinking that they would be serving together as templars. That bond has been tested, and strained, in a number of ways since then, but they remain blood. It would take much for Loric to turn on his brother.

2) Mather Kendall, his handler - A cleric of the Last Azlanti, Mather is Loric's connection to the rest of the church in the outside world. Although Kendall looks out for Loric as best he can, he sometimes loses sight of Loric's safety when it comes to missions of importance within the church.

3) Shepherd Adlem, rogue mage - A relatively inexperienced mage once loyal to the Crusade. The demonic corruption of his lover drove the young man to recklessly search for magic capable of curing her. To this end, he taps into forbidden magic and often steals and damages the magical research of other mages. So far, he has managed to elude Loric with a surprising amount of luck.

Step 5: Three Memories, Mannerisms, or Quirks Unique to Loric

1) Loric has a quiet, focused demeanor about him, as if judging those around him while calculating his odds and next steps for engaging them (whether verbally or in battle). He's a man of action and his poised body posture belies that to anyone with the good judgment to notice.

2) He takes an active interest in circumstances others may miss, ever watchful for demonic aggression as well as corruption and betrayal from within the crusader ranks. Studious and always prepared, he prides himself on making a difference in ways others can't, working outside the chain of command, if necessary, and asking forgiveness later.

3) Despite this, his formerly rakish nature sometimes shines through, particularly with a love for the finer things in life: comfort, food & drink, and most of all, women.

His brother wouldn't let him walk away easily. The knight reached out and caught him by the wrist. "What are you doing here, Loric. This is no place for your games."

Loric spun around and tore his hand from his brother's grasp. "I didn't come here to die, brother. I'm not here to throw away my life on some foolhardy charge into the teeth and claws of the horde just to look good in the eyes of the church."

Stepping forward, Loric pokes his brother right in the breastplate, finger stabbing into the emblem of the templar order. "There's more than one way to win this war. If I've learned anything, fate rewards ingenuity. The templars didn't think I have what it takes, so I found somebody who did."

Loric backs off, his eyes softening. "The noble always begin a fight with pure heart and clear purpose. This war though... it changes people. Warps them into a mockery of their true intent. I'm here to try and stop that."

Loric will multi-class with fighter, pursuing a two-handed fighting style. He will either fill into the Trickster or Champion path, whichever seems best for the group.

Loric Solnebren
Male human rogue (sanctified rogue) 1
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +4
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 10 (1d8+2)
Fort +1, Ref +5 (+6 vs. traps), Will +0
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Spd 30 ft.
Melee short sword +3 (1d6+1/19–20), dagger +3 (1d4+1/19–20)
Ranged shortbow +3 (1d6/x3), dagger +3 (1d4+1/19–20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 13, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Atk +0; CMB +1; CMD 14
Feats Weapon Finesse
Traits Child of the Crusade, Child of the Temple
Skills Acrobatics +4, Bluff +5, Climb +2, Disable Device +6 (+7 vs. traps), Disguise +5, Knowledge (local) +6, Knowledge (religion) +7, Perception +4, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +4
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common
SQ child of the temple, dual talent, trapfinding +1
--------------------
Gear
--------------------
Studded leather armor, short sword, dagger, shortbow w/ 20 arrows, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, thieves' tools, trail rations (5 days), traveler’s outfit, waterskin, whetstone, winter blanket, wooden holy symbol, 42 gp, 8 sp, 8 cp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Child of the Crusade (Ex) Several generations of Loric's family have served in the crusades, and the righteousness of their cause sometimes feels like it runs in his very blood, hardening him against demonic influence. He's heard many tales of their bravery, and his strong family ties bolster his mind and sense of belonging to the crusade. Once per day when he fails a saving throw against an effect created by a demon which would possess or mentally incapacitate him, he may immediately reroll that saving throw as a free action. He must take the second result, even if it is worse.

Child of the Temple (Ex) Loric has long served at a temple in a large city, picking up on many of the nobility's customs while also spending many hours in the temple libraries studying his faith. As a result, he gains a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (nobility) and Knowledge (religion) checks, and Knowledge (religion) is always a class skill for him.

Dual Talent (Ex) Loric’s family has always excelled at maximizing their natural gifts. Unlike a typical human, he picks two ability scores to gain a +2 racial bonus. This human racial trait replaces the normal +2 bonus to any single ability score, the bonus feat for being a human, and the skilled trait.

Step 1: Six Concepts Important to Loric
1) The youngest son of a noble family in Taldor, Loric comes from a long tradition of serving in the crusades. He and his brother both sought to honor their ancestors by joining the holy templars of Iomedae and marching to war in the Worldwound. While there, they expected to distinguish themselves so one of them could gain their father's blessing and inherit the family's holdings upon his passing. Yet, the templars chose only his brother to join their ranks, and Loric's exclusion caused a jealous rift between them.

2) Forced to watch his sibling march north three years ago, Loric turned to alternate methods in an effort to follow and upstage him. The young noble built his social circle and practiced the 'game' of Taldoran politics, involving himself in all the intrigues that entails.

3) Eventually, he the eye of the declining priesthood of Aroden, the dead god of humanity. A once powerful force in containing the rise of demon cults in the north, the organization no longer has the resources to raise hosts and wage war. Instead, they rely on more subtle methods to aid the Crusades. The Church recognized his useful, if somewhat morally ambiguous, talents and gladly welcomed and sponsored Loric, sending him to the front lines as their sanctified agent.

4) Once he reached the front lines, Loric established himself as a member of an exclusive and secretive group of spies and operatives working to safeguard the sanctity of crusade. Prepared to cull anyone who falters in their devotion—or who succumbs to demonic temptation — he keeps a watchful eye for enemies both within and beyond the crusader ranks.

5) At times, this role puts him in contention with his brother. The two have reached an uneasy truce at best, keeping a watchful eye on one another as they carry out their respective duties. At the same time, Loric is still beholden to his sponsors within the church of Aroden. Though he has his own reasons for fighting in the Worldwound, Loric's masters occasionally assign him missions, as well — mostly to seek out and return various artifacts, insights, and lore linked to their god. While these assignments certainly help the crusade, they're also meant to increase the prominence of their faith back to the heights it once knew.

6) Loric wears stylish, dark gray, studded leather armor provided by the church, overlaid by a black tabard with gold trim depicting a downward-pointed longsword on his chest and a single, four-pointed star to its left. His weapons include a double-edge shortsword, dagger, and shortbow with a full quiver of arrows. He's tall and agile with sharp muscle definition honed through combat and rigorous exercise. His hair is dark and shoulder-length, but his face remains clean-shaven. At the age of 19, he stands 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 170 lbs.

Step 2: Three Goals for Loric to Achieve

1) Loric’s association with Aroden's church puts him at odds with some crusaders. Those who honor his faith's history of combating demon cults openly accept his involvement, while others view his presence among them with curiosity and distrust — believing his faith should have turned to the Iomedae when she welcomed his clergy into her fold. No one feels this more strongly than Loric’s own brother and their differing opinions have led to no small amount of arguments and tension between them. I've left the identity of Loric's brother some what vague, as I think the conflict there could achieve maximum impact if it were another player. If you wish, I could flesh this out better.

2) Part of Loric’s charge as a sanctified rogue for his sect of the Aroden's church should involve secret assignments, meetings, and messages outside the normal chain of command. While these activities mostly focus on feeding information back to his superiors, there’s also an element of spying on his fellow crusaders and carrying out tasks which the more pious paladins and inquisitors might otherwise consider forbidden. Though this role puts him at odds with some of his fellow companions, he always believes the ends justify the means, and he serves his distant masters with the same unquestioned zeal as a devout paladin.

3) Aside from the normal tasks of a crusader, Loric’s priesthood may also assign him tasks to retrieve ancient relics and divine magic associated with the Aroden. These items could help the crusade, but might also shore up his temple's declining influence in the absence of their deceased god.

Step 3: Two Secrets for Loric, One He Knows and One He Does Not

1) While participating in the intrigues of Taldor's capital, Oppara, Loric was set upon by a masked assassin. A struggle ensued, and the attacker was thrown down a set of stairs. Removing the dead man's mask, Loric was horrified to see that it had been a former friend of his. He covered up the death and renounced political life, seeking the duty of the church as a useful avenue for his talents.

2) Loric's failure to be selected by the templars was not entirely his doing. His father, ever favoring his elder brother and resenting Loric's less honorable path, pulled strings to ensure that Loric would never join the prestigious order.

Step 4: Three People Loric has Relationships With

1) His Brother - Loric and his brother grew up close, always thinking that they would be serving together as templars. That bond has been tested, and strained, in a number of ways since then, but they remain blood. It would take much for Loric to turn on his brother.

2) Mather Kendall, his handler - A cleric of the Last Azlanti, Mather is Loric's connection to the rest of the church in the outside world. Although Kendall looks out for Loric as best he can, he sometimes loses sight of Loric's safety when it comes to missions of importance within the church.

3) Shepherd Adlem, rogue mage - A relatively inexperienced mage once loyal to the Crusade. The demonic corruption of his lover drove the young man to recklessly search for magic capable of curing her. To this end, he taps into forbidden magic and often steals and damages the magical research of other mages. So far, he has managed to elude Loric with a surprising amount of luck.

Step 5: Three Memories, Mannerisms, or Quirks Unique to Loric

1) Loric has a quiet, focused demeanor about him, as if judging those around him while calculating his odds and next steps for engaging them (whether verbally or in battle). He's a man of action and his poised body posture belies that to anyone with the good judgment to notice.

2) He takes an active interest in circumstances others may miss, ever watchful for demonic aggression as well as corruption and betrayal from within the crusader ranks. Studious and always prepared, he prides himself on making a difference in ways others can't, working outside the chain of command, if necessary, and asking forgiveness later.

3) Despite this, his formerly rakish nature sometimes shines through, particularly with a love for the finer things in life: comfort, food & drink, and most of all, women.

Faunlara “Faun” Daedys
Female elf druid (treesinger) 3
NG Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +4
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Defense
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +2 shield)
hp 24 (3d8+6)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +6; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune sleep
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Offense
Spd 30 ft.
Melee club +4 (1d6+2), dagger +4 (1d4+2/19–20)
Ranged composite longbow +4 (1d8+1/x3), dagger +4 (1d4+2/19–20)
Druid Spells Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +5)
2nd—barkskin, wilderness soldiers
1st—entangle, goodberry, shillelagh
0 (at will)—create water, guidance, light, stabilize
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Statistics
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 13
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Natural Spell, Toughness
Skills Climb +6, Diplomacy +7, Handle Animal, +5, Heal +7, Knowledge (geography) +5, Knowledge (nature) +9, Perception +4, Ride +1, Stealth +4, Spellcraft +5 (+7 to identify magic item properties), Survival +9; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception, +2 Spellcraft to identify magic item properties; Class Modifiers +2 Knowledge (nature), +2 Survival
Languages Common, Druidic, Elven, Sylvan
SQ elven magic, forlorn, green empathy +2, nature bond (plant companion), pioneer, trackless step, weapon familiarity, woodland stride
Gear leather armor, heavy wooden shield, club, dagger, composite longbow (+1) w/ 20 arrows, cloak of resistance +1, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, fishhook, flask (empty), trail rations (5 days), traveler's outfit, pearl of power (1st), wand of cure light wounds (50 charges), wand of lesser restoration (5 charges), waterskin, whetstone, winter blanket, 5 gp
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Special Abilities
Forlorn (Ex) Having lived outside traditional elven society for much of her life, Faun knows the world can be cruel, dangerous, and unforgiving of the weak. She gains a +1 trait bonus on all Fortitude saving throws.
Medic (Ex) As a druid well-versed in the healing arts, the Swordlords recruited Faun because for her ability to keep others alive. As a result, she gains a +1 trait bonus on Heal skill checks. She begins play with an antidote kit, a healer's kit, and a wand of lesser restoration with 5 charges. The first Alchemist, Herbalist, or Hospital built in any city you control may be built at a discount.
Pioneer (Ex) Faun has long lived on the southern border in the shadow of the Stolen Lands, coaxing crops from the freezing earth to feed her friends. With the wilderness ever at her door, she also learned much about its denizens and the wild creatures lurking in that unwholesome place. Her elven family claims an ancient grove there, with her elders telling stories of being driven from beautiful orchards among the standing stones. Because of her personal expertise and familiarity with the borderlands—and in order to reclaim her family’s lost holdings—she’s joined an expedition headed south to tame the Stolen Lands. As a result, she begins play with a horse and gains a +1 trait bonus on Ride skill checks.
Trackless Step (Ex) Faun leaves no trail in natural surroundings and cannot be tracked. She may choose to leave a trail if so desired.
Woodland Stride (Ex) Faun may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at her normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. Thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion, however, still affect her.

Ornmeil’lon, Sapling Treant Companion
N Medium plant
Init +0; Senses low-light vision; Perception +5
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Defense
AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+1 dodge, +3 natural)
hp 19 (3 HD; 3d8+6)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +2
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Offense
Spd 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee 2 slams +5 (1d6+3)
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Statistics
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 15
Feats Dodge, Toughness
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +5
SQ double damage against objects, Evasion

Background: Faunlara Daedys (FAWN-lah-ruh DAY-diss) typically shortens her name to “Faun” when introducing herself. Having grown up on the southern border of Brevoy, Faun aids several human settlements, using her unique powers with plants to aid in agriculture. With her aid, these towns have begun to thrive and provide the druid with a place to stay when she visits.

Unlike many of her kind, she’s lived most of her years apart from traditional elven society. Some of this stems from her ancestors moving north from the River Kingdoms in order to take shelter in human settlements when bandits and barbarians drove them from their forests. But much of it also results from her fey lineage. In ancient times, members of Faun’s family often communed and consummated with powers from the First World, developing relationships with many magical creatures there, including dryads, nymphs, and the eldest of the fecund fey. As a result, Faun is part dryad, feeling an immediate connection and affinity for the groves and forests of her people, even though she’s never seen them.

After devoting herself to the Green Faith, Faun’s dryad heritage manifested in a unique way—the notable path of the treesinger. Unlike a typical druid, this tradition allows her a bond with a plant companion—namely, a young treant sapling she calls Ornmeil’lon (ORN-may-YONE), which means “high branches” in the elven tongue. The two have become inseparable now and she treats him more as a trusted friend and family member than a pet. As his caretaker, she believes they must mature together in order to reach their full potential.

To that end, Faun craves a life of exploration and adventure, especially south, into the Stolen Lands. Somewhere in wilds exists the grove of her ancestors, where the veil to the First World grows thin and her family existed in harmony with the fey. She believes that reclaiming this lost world and reconnecting with the dryads that linger there will teach her more of her dormant powers, including the cultivation of Ornmeil’lon. When she caught wind of the Swordlords of Brevoy offering resources for the exploration and conquest of the Stolen Lands, Faun lept at the chance, offering her talents as a healer and expertise in wilderness survival and agriculture to better the expeditions odds of success. With a heavy heart, she bid her human friends farewell and set off on the road south, to her destiny.

Physical Description: Having lived 145 years already, Faun still has an otherworldly quality and youthfulness to her pale complexion, dark eyes, and long, autumn-red hair. She stands quite tall at 5 feet, 9 inches, but weighs a very modest 115 pounds. Typically, she dresses in elegantly-tailored, soft leather clothing and armor of varying shades of brown, and a green traveling cloak keeps her warm. Aside from the well-made elven longbow she has strapped to her back, she also carries a heavy wooden shield and an ornately-carved club bearing the likeness of a lithe dryad.

Personality: Words fall from Faun's lips in a mesmerizing fashion, with her tone and timbre both soothing and enchanting at the same time. Yet, she actually speaks very little, preferring to remain quiet and still as she listens to the sound of her friends and the natural world around her. She has an unparalleled love for plants, especially trees of all kinds, sensing a kindred spirit within them which only she seems to understand. Faun recognizes that civilization often encroaches upon the forest lands and she strives to do everything she can to strike a balance between the two while encouraging her friends to do the same.