Ozak "Badaxe" Daggertooth's page

Ozak Daggertooth is a hulking half-orc, who stands 6'5" in height (almost 2 meters) and weighs around 270 pounds. His skin is a pale grey that is a common coloration among the orcs of the Ice Steppes to the north. He has long straight hair, intense blue-grey eyes, and scars on his face that mark him as belonging to a Gorumite warrior cult. His hair is either black or grey depending on the season (like the orcs of the north, Ozak's hair turns pale in winter). He has long tusks jutting upwards from the sides of his mouth, and the tusks themselves have been engraved with shallow scrimshaw-like carvings depicting sinuous dragons coiling around them.

He wears armor made of thick leather plates stitched together; the plates are coloured maroon and black, and seem to have bite marks around the edges. Typically he hefts a large orcish double axe over one shoulder; the blade is worn and notched but it looks to be of good metal, and strange crude runes adorn it, while the haft is wrapped with lengths of white scaly leather. Otherwise he wears warm clothing fashioned of caribou skin with furred fringes, and he has a long tattered grey woolen cloak.

Like his father before him, deep down Ozak feels lost and without purpose. Rejected by this orc tribe, and likewise rejected by the humans of his father's demesne, Ozak feels that he has lost his place in the world, and is currently adrift, simply taking whatever work comes his way. He considers that he wouldn't mind being rich or powerful, but hasn't really thought about how to achieve that. At the moment he considers his best prospect to be a that of a soldier in a large army marching in a land war, and his acceptance of the Swordlords' charter is in part motivated by the idea that he might be able to provoke a war between Brevoy and one of the River Kingdoms.

In his dreams he seems himself as a great warlord, and his mother taught him that this was the best thing a man could ever be. Likewise his mother also taught him that only the mightiest warriors ever mastered the orc double axe, so this is his ambition, and when his grandfather gave him his great-great-grandfather Kolthax Daggertooth's double axe, he felt as if it was his destiny to follow in his ancestor's footsteps, and he cherishes his double axe above all things.

Ozak is easygoing and friendly towards strangers, though they tend not to take him too seriously as his somewhat simplistic language and sentiments make him seem foolish or stupid. But Ozak is anything but stupid, and when he becomes angry he suddenly gets everyone's attention. He is perceptive and cunning, and not easy to fool. But most of the time he masks this with a boisterous and even playful exterior.

Ozak, like many Gorumites, does not consider battle a particularly bad thing, and he enjoys it, even to the point where he would be happy to get into fights with friends for fun, though he has long since figured out that most others don't feel this way. But for him, an act of violence against him doesn't mean that he becomes angry at the perpetrator. However, he does not approve of violence against "unworthy opponents" such as those who cannot defend themselves, and he is disgusted by those who pick on people smaller or weaker than them.

However, Ozak becomes grim and intense when faced with what he sees as danger to his friends. While he will risk his own life without a thought, he becomes cold and calculating if the lives of his friends or those under his command are in danger, and can be utterly ruthless when he is respoonsible for the lives of others. Though Gorum's doctrine teaches that lives do not matter and acting simply to preseve the life of one's soldiers is weakness, after the battle of Harthost Ozak has felt that a commander has an obligation to make their deaths valuable and not waste men on fruitless endeavours.

Flight From Issia
Anton Zelovsky was on the run. Once a powerful Count in service to Duke Lebeda, he had held wealth, power, and status. And now it was all ruin, his house burnt, his family dead, and he an outlaw. He was a fool to have trusted Count Vorkylas. His part in the plot against house Rogarvia had cost him everything; his once honorable liege Duke Lebeda had denounced him as a traitor before the royal court, after leading to believe that the plot had his support.

Anton had been raised with the ideal that valor and strength in battle were what mattered, And his family had been firm and faithful followers of Gorum. Anton was known for his wild and reckless rage in battle, but never for any kind of political savvy. Too late he realized that he was ill equipped to be more than a pawn in the schemes of Brevic nobility.

Anton fled along the coast of the Lake of Mists and Veils to Orlov, where he called upon the local lords to recognize his title and bargained with them for assitance in recovering his domain. But the Iobarian nobility considered him a buffoon with no prospects, and bounty hunters from Brevoy continued to seek him. After a few bloody incidents, Anton fled to Franax, and then on to Okormirr, each time with worse results. Soon he found himself in the wilderness north of Okormirr, marching out into the trackless wastes of the Ice Steppes.

Anton was an accomplished hunter and did not fear for his chances on the Steppes, but his life seemed pointless and without meaning. So when he encountered an orcish war party he did not run; rather he threw himself upon them with wild abandon, expecting to die a glorious death.

Among the Orcs
Anton's attack startled and dismayed the orcs, as did his bestial fury. His greataxe cut down one orc after another, until chief One-Eye Daggertooth called back his orcs; they withdrew to reveal Anton, standing atop a heap of dead orcs, unbowed despite bleeding from a dozen wounds.

Chief Daggertooth was suitably impressed, and he noted the token of Gorum that Anton wore at his throat, one that matched his own, as the Daggertooth tribe revered Gorum above all others. "You cannot win," said the chief. "You are brave and strong, but against so many you must eventually fall. Why not come with us? Aid us against the Rhemoraz tribe, and you will live to fight an even greater battle than this. And help us attain victory, and you will be rewarded greatly!"

Anton shrugged. One death was as good as another, but a greater battle than this? Yes, Gorum would be pleased. So Anton joined the Daggertooth tribe on their raid against the Rhemoraz tribe, the Daggertooths were victorious, carrying off much plunder and many slaves.

So Anton became one of the Daggertooth tribe, and over time he grew in might and renown, until he became the chief's right-hand man. And when the Rhemoraz tribe ambushed chief Daggertooth it was Anton who came to his aid and pulled him from the Rhemoraz Orcs' trap. After this, chief Daggertooth offered Anton the hand of his eldest daughter in marriage. Knowing that to refuse would be a deathly insult, and missing his old family, Anton accepted.

Ozak is Born
Yakina Daggertooth was a passionate orc, both loving and cruel. She had a hot temper to match Anton's and she feared nothing living (though she shuddered when hearing the howls of the ice ghosts in winter nights on the steppes). Despite their differences they made a good couple. So soon after her and Anton were married, Ozak was born.

Anton and Yakina had different influences on Ozak. Anton raised Ozak on stories of Brevoy, and the honour of the noble ideal. Anton taught Ozak to be unflinching in the face of danger. Anton was proud to show Ozak the martial skills he had learned under his own father, and often spoke of the beauty and wealth of Brevoy as well as the treachery of its aristocrats.

Yakina venerated the heroes of the Daggertooth bloodline, including her father, believed by many to be the mightiest warrior among the Daggertooths, as well as Kolthax Daggertooth the Great; a double axe-wielding warrior and her great-grandfather. She taught Ozak that one must crush one's enemies utterly, and that the greatest destiny for any Orc was to be the Warlord of a tribe.

Though the viewpoints of Anton and Yakina differed widely, the one thing they shared was a love of Gorum. Both devout Gorumites, Anton and Yakina could not help but pass their devotion on to Ozak. Anton died in battle when Ozak was thirteen and was buried with full Gorumite honours (at least as far as the orcs were concerned); the reverence they gave to the ceremony further deepened Ozak's faith. Then, at the Stoneblade festival (a coming of age ceremony among orcs of the Daggertooth tribe), Ozak's blade struck nine sparks when striking the stone at the culmination of the festival. This was seen by all as a good omen, and Ozak entered the service of Gorum, pledging that he would forever be fierce in battle.

Mercenaries
Though the orcs of the Daggertooth tribe were hunters and lived off the herds that ranged over the ice steppes, they also (like most orc tribes) sometimes hired themselves out as mercenaries to the squabbling human cities of Iobaria to the south. In this way they obtained goods not available in the far north and profited off of the squabbles of the humans and others further south. And while the humans never particularly trusted the orcs of the north, they were always desperate for any advantage they could gain in their struggles with their neighbours.

Upon coming of age Ozak joined an orc mercenary band. After his ninth battle, Chief One-Eye gave Ozak his great-great-grandfather's worn but trusty double axe to carry in battle. Though still young, Ozak was known for carrying about him an aura of dread that made other orcs quake with fear. He seemed to know exactly how to strike fear into the heart of his enemy. Other orcs were pleased to travel with him, not only believing that he could pull his weight in a battle but also that he was somehow chosen by Gorum.

Ozak continued marching with the mercenary company until the day when his company bit off more than it could handle. Ozak's company contracted out to the city of Veka in their struggles against Orlendas and Myrnorosk.

Betrayal and Revenge
At the battle of Harthost (a modest town north of the Coreth Wood) the Komar of Veka sent Ozak's company along with other forces to storm the town. The battle turned sour as a force of dwarves from Myrnorosk arrived to reinforce the town and threatened to cut off Veka's forces.

At the time, Ozak's company was in the process of storming one of the town gates and suddenly found itself fighting on all sides. The battle became more and more bloody as the orcs got more and more desperate. Eventually Ozak found himself to be the only one of his company left alive, and he managed to slip out along the inside of the wall.

He won his way free of the city and made his way to Veka's command tent, just in time to overhear a messenger report to the commander that Ozak's company had been wiped out by the dwarves. He overheard the commander say "Good... then we don't have to pay them."

Full of rage at the commander's wanton disregard for Ozak's company, Ozak burst into the tent and cut down the commander while he was unawares, and then turned on his aides, killing one and wounding another before the guards were called. With the sun setting Ozak was able to run off into the night.

Coming Home
Ozak fled back to the Ice Steppes. Though the army was busy investing Harthost and was unable to pursue him, word quickly spread that the Komar of Veka wanted him dead. He returned to the Daggertooth tribe and appeared before Chief Cromdarr (One-Eye had died a few years earlier and Cromdarr was Ozak's uncle), bearing news of the commander's betrayal and his actions.

Expecting to be welcomed, and praised for his actions in avenging orc deaths, instead the tribe's priest of Gorum censured Ozak, saying: "It is not for a soldier to question the will of his commanders. Those who serve the Lord in Iron do not fear death and die gladly in battle, knowing they die honorably. There is no merit at being angry over the deaths of your companions, nor was it your place to punish your leader."

In addition, Chief Cromdarr further censured Ozak, saying: "I should kill you for offending our friends the Vekans, whose gold we often take. But you are the grandson of One-Eye, even if you are a half-breed. So I give you one day to go from here. If we see you again after that, we will give the Komar of Veka your head and collect the reward. Now go!"

Banished from his tribe, Ozak wandered westwards, towards Brevoy, planning on seeing his father's old lands, and perhaps pressing his claim to them. If his mother's people gave him no inheritance, perhaps his father's would.

But when he reached Issia he found that even though House Rogarvia had disappeared (Ozak assumed it was due to a plot similar to the one his father was involved in) the name Zelovsky was reviled as the name of a traitorous lineage, and Anton Zelovsky was seen as a coward who had fled justice. When Ozak claimed to be the son of Anton Zelovsky, he was faced with laughter or violence.

He moved on, travelling along the shore of the Lake of Mists and Veils through Numeria, and found himself in Mendev, where for a time he hired himself on as a soldier in the crusade. But the worldwound seemed to be a great place for pointless death with little chance for glory or spoils, so Ozak headed south. Having heard of Belkzen, he decided to see what fortune he could make for himself in a land full of orcs.

STR 16 (10 points) +2 Race +1 Level +2 ABP = 21
DEX 14 (5 points)
CON 14 (5 points)
INT 12 (2 points)
WIS 14 (5 points) +2 ABP = 16
CHA 08 (-2 points)

+2 to One Ability Score: Half-orc characters gain a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature. (chose STR)

Medium: Half-orcs are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Normal Speed: Half-orcs have a base speed of 30 feet.

Darkvision: Half-orcs can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Intimidating: Half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate checks due to their fearsome nature.

Orc Blood: Half-orcs count as both humans and orcs for any effect related to race.

Toothy: Some half-orcs' tusks are large and sharp, granting a bite attack. This is a primary natural attack that deals 1d4 points of piercing damage. This racial trait replaces orc ferocity.

Weapon Familiarity: Half-orcs are proficient with greataxes and falchions and treat any weapon with the word "orc" in its name as a martial weapon.

Languages: Half-orcs begin play speaking Common and Orc. Half-orcs with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Abyssal, Draconic, Giant, Gnoll, and Goblin.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A slayer is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as with light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).

Studied Target (Ex): A slayer can study an opponent he can see as a move or swift action. The slayer then gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks attempted against that opponent, and a +2 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against it.

Stalker (Ex): At 7th level, a slayer gains his studied target bonus on Disguise, Intimidate, and Stealth checks against his studied opponent.

Track (Ex): A slayer adds 1/2 his level (minimum 1) to Survival skill checks made to follow tracks. Traded out for Bonus Feat: Intimidating Prowess, per GM permission

Slayer Talents: As a slayer gains experience, he learns a number of talents that aid him and confound his foes. Starting at 2nd level and every 2 levels thereafter, a slayer gains one slayer talent.

Sneak Attack: At 3rd level, if a slayer catches an opponent unable to defend itself effectively from his attack, he can strike a vital spot for extra damage. The slayer's attack deals extra damage anytime his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the slayer flanks his target. This additional damage is 1d6 at 3rd level, and increases by 1d6 every 3 levels thereafter. Should the slayer score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this additional damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.

With a weapon that deals nonlethal damage (such as a sap, a whip, or an unarmed strike), a slayer can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. He cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual –4 penalty.

The slayer must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A slayer cannot use sneak attack while striking a creature that has concealment.

4 traits +1 Drawback +1 trait
Giantslayer Scion (Campaign): You grew up listening to tales of a famed ancestor’s mighty battles against giant foes. Just the mention of your ancestor’s name is enough to strike fear into the heart of the most stalwart giant warrior, and you’ve resolved to follow in your forebear’s footsteps. You take no penalty on Intimidate checks against creatures with the giant subtype that are larger than you, and you gain a 1 trait bonus to the DC of any fear-based effect you use against a creature with the giant subtype.

Armor Expert (Combat): You have worn armor as long as you can remember, either as part of your training to become a knight's squire or simply because you were seeking to emulate a hero. Your childhood armor wasn't the real thing as far as protection, but it did encumber you as much as real armor would have, and you've grown used to moving in such suits with relative grace. When you wear armor of any sort, reduce that suit's armor check penalty by 1, to a minimum check penalty of 0.

Scrapper (Race: Half-Orc): A childhood spent scrabbling for every possession and scrap of food has made you fierce and wary. You receive a +1 trait bonus on all Intimidate checks made to demoralize opponents and a +1 trait bonus on all Perception checks to avoid being surprised.

Veteran of Battle (Religion): You have fought in several battles, and each time felt the presence of Gorum guiding your sword-arm, making you ready to act at a moment’s notice. You gain a +1 trait bonus on initiative checks, and if you are able to act during a surprise round, you may draw a weapon (but not a potion or magic item) as a free action during that round.

Indomitable Faith (Faith): You were born in a region where your faith was not popular, but you still have never abandoned it. Your constant struggle to maintain your own faith has bolstered your drive. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Will saves.

Attached (drawback): You have a strong emotional attachment to an object (Grandfather's Orc Double Axe) that you're terrified of losing. The GM chooses the object of your attachment. Whenever the object of your attachment is either threatened, in danger, or in someone else's possession, you take a —1 penalty on Will saves and a —2 penalty on saves against fear effects. If the person or object to which you're attached is ever lost, killed, or destroyed, exchange this drawback for the Doubt drawback.

Overall Plan for Feats and Slayer Talents

This section needs to be updated

Level 1 Feat: Weapon Focus (Orc Double Axe), Intimidating Prowess (intimidate +6)
Level 2 Slayer Talent Ranger Combat Style: Two Weapon Fighting (intimidate +7)
Level 3 Feat Dazzling Display (intimidate +12)
Level 4 Slayer Talent Rogue Talent: Weapon Training: Orc Double Axe (this will allow retraining of the original feat to Power Attack)
Level 5 Feat ??? (intimidate +14)
Level 6 Slayer Talent Ranger Combat Style: Improved Two Weapon Fighting (intimidate +15)
Level 7 Feat Skill Focus: Intimidate (intimidate +19)
Level 8 Slayer Talent Rogue Talent: Combat Trick: Shatter Defenses (possibly fast stealth or slowing strike or surprise attack) (intimidate +20)
Level 9 Feat ? (possibly Orc Weapon Expertise (defender) or Cornugon smash) (intimidate +21)
Level 10 Slayer Talent Ranger Combat Style: Two Weapon Rend (intimidate +25)
Level 11 Feat ? (possibly Hurtful or Combat Reflexes) (intimidate +35)
Level 12 Slayer Talent ? (possibly Evasion or Opportunist) (intimidate +38)
Level 13 Feat ? (intimidate +39)
Level 14 Slayer Talent ? (intimidate +42)
Level 15 Feat ? (intimidate +43)

Feats I'd like to fit in:
Improved Initiative
Quick Draw
Dreadful Carnage

Allowed Wealth: 12,250 gp

4200 gp Mithral Breastplate
2500 gp Cloak of elvenkind stealthy orcishness
2500 gp Eyes of the eagle
_660 gp Masterwork Orc Double Axe
__50 gp Battle Mask
__50 gp 1 x War Spirit Pouch
__12 gp 6 x cold iron chakra
__10 gp 1 x Acid Flask
___2 gp Backpack
___1 gp 50' Rope
___1 gp Flint & Steel
___1 gp Grappling Hook
___8 gp Mule
___5 gp Pack saddle
__50 gp Potion of enlarge person
_300 gp Potion of invisibility
__30 gp 30 days Orc Trail Rations

7930 gp

__5 sp Bedroll
__5 sp Bandolier
__2 sp 2 x Sack
__2 sp Mess Kit
__6 sp 3 gallons ale
_16 sp 1 gallon whiskey
__8 sp 2 gallons applejack
__1 sp Marbles
__1 sp Haggis
__1 sp Hard Cheese

47 sp total

_18 cp 6 x clay jug
__2 cp 100' Twine
__3 cp Flask
__1 cp Chalk
__1 cp Whetstone
__2 cp 2 Sacks
__2 cp 2 Bags of Powder
__1 cp Soap

30 cp

65 gp left over

Carried:
15.0 lbs Mithral Breastplate
15.0 lbs Orc Double Axe
_6.0 lbs 6 x Chakra
_4.0 lbs 4 x Acid Flask
_1.0 lbs 2 Bags of Powder
_2.0 lbs Marbles
_1.0 lbs Flask
_0.0 lbs Chalk
_1.0 lbs Whetstone
_0.0 lbs Bandolier
_2.0 lbs Backpack
_0.0 lbs flint & steel
_2.0 lbs Battle Mask

Total: 50
Carrying Capacity (light load): 133 lbs.

On Gertrude (Mule):
15.0 lbs Pack saddle
_8.0 lbs Saddlebags
10.0 lbs 50' rope (knotted)
_4.0 lbs Grappling Hook
_5.0 lbs Bedroll
_1.0 lbs 2 x Sack
_1.0 lbs Mess Kit
54.0 lbs 6 x clay jug (3 gallons ale, 1 gallon whiskey, 2 gallons applejack)
_1.5 lbs Haggis
_0.5 lbs Hard Cheese
_1.0 lbs 100' Twine
_0.5 lbs Soap
30.0 lbs 30 days Orc Trail Rations

Total: 131.5
Carrying Capacity (light load): 153 lbs.