Rei Sugimatu's page

Rei
Female human investigator (cipher) 3/slayer 3/gestalt 3 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 30, 53, Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Intrigue 32)
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +4; Senses Perception +6
Aura nondetection (DC 14)
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Defense
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AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+5 armor, +1 deflection, +4 Dex)
hp 36 (3d10+6)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +4
Defensive Abilities evasion, inattention blindness (1 targets max, 30 feet)
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 naginata +8 (1d8+7/×4)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with +1 naginata)
Special Attacks sneak attack +2d6, studied target +1 (1st, move action)
Investigator Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd; concentration +7)
Constant—nondetection
Investigator (Cipher) Extracts Prepared (CL 3rd; concentration +7)
1st—disguise self, fabricate disguise[UI], heightened awareness[ACG], shield
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Statistics
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Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 12
Base Atk +3; CMB +7 (+9 dirty trick, +9 disarm, +9 reposition, +9 steal, +9 trip); CMD 18 (20 vs. dirty trick, 20 vs. disarm, 20 vs. reposition, 20 vs. steal, 20 vs. trip)
Feats - Custom Feat -, Accomplished Sneak Attacker, Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise, Deadly Aim, Deft Maneuvers, Enforcer[APG], Power Attack, Skill Focus (Disguise)
Traits clever wordplay, cunning liar (any city), - custom trait -
Skills Artistry (choreography) +10, Bluff +10, Craft (alchemy) +10 (+13 to create alchemical items), Diplomacy +11, Disguise +10, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (arcana) +10, Knowledge (history) +10, Knowledge (local) +11, Knowledge (nature) +10, Knowledge (nobility) +10, Knowledge (planes) +10, Knowledge (religion) +10, Perception +6, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +9
Languages Common, Elven, Minkaian, Tien, Undercommon
SQ alchemy (alchemy crafting +3), combat style (manacing[UI]), finesse weapon attack attribute, inspiration (5/day), keen recollection, slayer talent (ranger combat style[ACG]), track +1, unassuming
Other Gear mwk chain shirt, mwk naginata[UC], alchemy crafting kit[APG], backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, flint and steel, ink, inkpen, investigator starting formula book, mess kit[UE], soap, trail rations (5), waterskin, 750 gp, 9 sp
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Special Abilities
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Agile Maneuvers Use DEX instead of STR for CMB
Alchemy +3 (Su) +3 to Craft (Alchemy) to create alchemical items, can Id potions by touch.
Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Deadly Aim -1/+2 Trade a penalty to ranged attacks for a bonus to ranged damage.
Deft Maneuvers You don't provoke attacks of opportunity when tripping.
Enforcer If you deal nonlethal damage with a melee weapon, make a free Intimidate check to demoralize.
Evasion (Ex) If succeed on Reflex save for half dam, take none instead.
Finesse Weapon Attack Attribute Finesse weapons use Dexterity on attack rolls.
Inattention Blindness (1 targets max, 30 feet, DC 17) (Su) Nearby creatures ignore your presence unless they succeed at a Perception check.
Inspiration (+1d6, 5/day) (Ex) Use 1 point, +1d6 to trained skill or ability check. Use 2 points, to add to attack or save.
Keen Recollection At 3rd level, an investigator can attempt all Knowledge skill checks untrained.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Sneak Attack +2d6 Attacks deal extra dam if flank foe or if foe is flat-footed.
Studied Target +1 (move action, 1 at a time) (Ex) Study foe as a Move action, gain +1 to att/dam & some skills vs. them.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to Survival checks made to track.
Unassuming (Ex) Use inspiration on Disguise, Escape Artist, Knowledge (local), Sleight of Hand, and Stealth check without expending use

Rei grew up under the care of the Kaijitsu family. Rei never really knew what happened to her mother and father – why they suddenly passed away or how exactly she came into the care of the Kaijitsus. As young children often do, Rei asked many questions on the topic, but neither Atsuii nor Lonjiku wold be drawn on the topic, saying that to bring it up would be bringing up old wounds. Rei took this to mean that the Kaijitsu family had been relatively close to her own family, and therefore explained the adoption that led to her being in the families care. Rei decided not to push the matter further, but did however make herself a firm promise that she would investigate her family tree at a later date, when she was outside the eye of the Kaijitsu family so that she could satisfy her own curiosity without causing distress.
Having so many questions about family, and not receiving concrete answers had a side effect – it imprinted a thirst for knowledge within Rei. She devoured books on as many topics as she could find, hoping to learn more or solve questions. In essence, the frustration of not knowing the answers to simple questions about her family fuelled a desire in Rei to always have the answers to as many questions as she could across a variety of subjects.

Unknown to Rei, this recent development greatly troubled the Kaijitsu family. Ideally, they wanted Rei to be ignorant of the truth they were shielding her from. On the other hand, straightford lies and deceit wouldn’t work – if Rei every found out her heritage, or they were forced to tell her – she would never be able to trust their advice after that fact. It was one thing to give vague statements or misleading answers that could be misinterpreted, but obvious untruths could cause problems down the road. Furthermore, Rei had shown a strong desire to be someone of significant, even pursuing an occupation that would put her into the public eye – the infamous Opera Singer argument she had held with Atsuii was just one such example, and Rei being in the public eye was exactly the opposite of what the Kaijitsu family had been fighting for. Therefore, a hasty meeting was held between Atsuii, Lonjiku and Ameiko to decide how to tackle the problem. It was eventually decided that instead of giving Rei free reign to persue what she wanted, each of them would take a specific facet of society and work with Rei towards mastery. They would direct and narrow Rei’s thirst for knowledge into topics that it was safe (or advised) for her to know.

Being a hard taskmaster, Lonjiku took the task of the physical acts. Running, lifting, chopping wood, combat and other similar tasks fell under his scope. Skilled in the knowledge of the samurai, Lonjiku also took over topics of honour and discipline as well as the art of answering challengers and navigating a duel.

Atsuii took over Rei’s schooling – an exceptionally difficult task giving Rei’s voraciousness on the topic. She also focused on tutoring Rei on the art of diplomacy, courtesy and respect. The ability to read a given situation and see peoples true motivations. Both Atsuii and Lonjiku were hard taskmasters and were harsh on failure. This wasn’t to say that praise, love and care wasn’t shown, but during Rei’s education, the gloves would come off. This wasn’t born out of cruelty, but because there was a third aspect they wanted Rei to adopt and it wasn’t something that Rei could learn from her parents and still maintain the required levels of obedience. So, as planned and predicted for, whenever Rei was bruised from Lonjuki’s combat training, or upset at a stinging rebuke from Atsuii after a failed answer, Rei would always turn to her sister Ameiko for a sympathetic ear.

Ameiko knew her role, always be by Rei’s side. Closest to Rei in age, it meant that she could understand and empathise with Rei far easier, and in building that trust could nudge Rei in a desired direction that Atsuii or Lonjiku wanted her to go. When Rei wanted to lash out, to rebel a bit, to disobey out of the strict education topics, Ameiko would always be there with something to teach her sister – always in the guise of creating mischief. Ameiko taught Rei how to lie, so she could bluff responses under Atsuii’s schooling. She taught Rei the art of disguise and silent stealth, to creep around unseen or undetected and avoid being given a particularly unpleasant household chore or task. She taught Rei that combat wasn’t sometimes about straightforward fighting and running into each other – sometimes the unexpected strike could be devastating. Sometimes a shift in footwork could lead to a trip attack, a loose hold on a weapon might open up a strike at the wrist to drop a weapon, or maybe a swift kick to the groin to temporarily impair an opponent.

In addition to the above, the family also committed to further activities that Rei had to learn to shoulder. Deciding that a possible ruler should learn respect, humility, empathy, Lonjiku and Atsuii insisted on Rei completing certain household tasks. The chores were everyday events that needed to be completed in any case, but the Kaijitsu family didn’t want Rei to ever be spoilt or entitled as a child. It meant that cooking, cleaning, waitressing, labour and - of course, the ever precious and symbolic tea ceremony - were all activities that needed to be taught and mastered by Rei. Atsuii would also use some of the household chores to drive home a social exercise she had been trying to teach Rei, such as perhaps persuading a customer at the tavern to purchase a slightly more expensive drink or predicting an order. The family did know the value of rest though, and one a month would visit Magnimar to stock up on tavern supplies, but also serving as an opportunity for Lonjiku and Atsuii to listen out for any news that might be significant or relevant as Sandpoint could occasionally be a little sheltered. The trip also ensured that Rei would be used to travel if it ever became necessary while giving Rei a much needed break from an intense schedule.

Initially Rei found things very hard, particularly combat. She hated standing in close quarters fighting toe to toe, blade to blade with Lonjiku, and his charge attacks were scarily fast. His sheer physical strength was overwhelming for Rei to stand up to. Eventually though, Rei understood the topic she was learning from each of her informal ‘teachers’ could be freely applied in different situations. She realised that by using Atsuii’s teachings on observations and ‘reading’ people, she could better predict how would move, react and fight therefore allowing her to strike more accurately and with harder force. She learnt that Lonjiku imposing and sometimes intimidating presence could be equally put to good use in what Atsuii was teaching her in social situations, influencing people to fall into line or to behave in a desired way.

As Rei developed progress, the Kaijitsu family found their own ways to reward the strides she was making. Lonjiku gave Rei a weapon that he said had been in her family generations – a naginata. Rei was overjoyed at the close but distant connection to her family, but also proud at the ease she was able to use it, as well as repel Lonjiku’s irritating charge attacks. Atsuii taught Rei the study of potions, poisons, and alchemy topics that had limited research compared with the study of magic. Rei exceled in the area, quickly mastering her own custom ‘potions’ she could use to gain an advantage in deception or combat. Seeking to repair the only bitter conversation Rei had had with her mother, Atsuii also taught Rei the ability to dance, or create certain dance steps, the ability to move quickly, effortlessly occasionally in an agile manner. For her part, Ameiko taught Rei how to best use the naginata family heirloom, teaching her a style that combined the ferociousness aggression that Lonjiku was looking for, with the grace and agility of the dancing steps Atsuii had taught Rei, combining them both into a fluent style that Rei adored.

In the end, with Rei finally learning to combine her education from her various tutors, the family grew closer together. Rei embraced her foster family, referring to them as true family members, mother, father and sister. She enjoyed the idea of taking on the various challenges set before her, and for their part, her foster family were pleased that they had not only contained Rei’s thirst for knowledge, but also giving her a vast background in particular skills that she would need to draw on at some point. Things would have continued their natural course, had not an unfortunate event happened on one trip to Magnimar…

Rei is a slim, dark haired, dark eyed human female of about average height. Time spent out of the sun has left her skin lightly tanned. She is a little lacking in pure body strength, but otherwise makes up for it with lithe grace and agility thanks to her combat training. Rei prefers to leave her hair long and unbound, stopping just below her shoulders. Rei dislikes wearing accessories such as any items of jewelry, or perfume for a variety of reasons. Traditionally such items are expensive and in short supply, but equally Rei doesn't personally place great stock in them - wearing them only if persuaded to or to achieve a particular goal or point.

Traditionally, Rei prefers close fitting garments, usually of dark coloring. This exasperates Atsuii a little bit, who feels Rei should expand her style, but Rei feels self conscious in a dress or gown and finds it too restricting. Likewise Rei shuns heavy armor - due to its weight, restrictions, and confining feeling. When forced into bright colors, Rei favors red, but otherwise tries to adopt black, brown, or greed, dull colors that allow her to easily blend into her surroundings the way Ameiko taught her.

In terms of personality, Rei is friendly, outgoing, curious. She tries to observe everything and study anyone she's in proximity with in a few quick glances, absorbing what information she can, before deciding how best to use it. She's always polite and respectful, and attempts to be thoughtful as well, trying to understand different opinion and attempting to reconcile differences. Atsuii (privately) thinks that she could be quite the capable diplomat, although she does fret that Rei can occasionally be a little naive.

If Rei has a vulnerability, a temper is probably her primary one. While she is prepared to be friendly and welcoming, she dislikes direct rudeness or intentional offence and frequently struggles to keep this in check. Atsuii has spent long hours working with Rei on this, and up to a point Rei can control it but if anything its served to teach Rei to hold grudges for slightly longer! Rei did occasionally channel her anger in combat, but Lonjiku has largely trained her out of this, encouraging her to use her sharp intellect to observe and study opponents while maintaining a calm demenour - teaching Rei that anger clouds the mind rather than clearing it. Rei has seen the sense of this and tried to remember that in social situations as well, but it is a slow process.