Rha'ziz's page

About Rha'ziz

Background:

Born to the Gordini family of southern Varisia, Rha'ziz enjoyed and took for granted the social benefits of being a Sczarni - the people of his neighborhood left him alone. His fall from grace came at the age of 11 when his father, a dreaded patriarch who ruled the family and its business with an iron fist, was murdered by a rival.

With his father gone and his family in chaos, Rha'ziz was forced to stand on his own two feet. On one occasion, after a severe beating at the hands of youths from the rival family, Rhaz confronted their leader at a popular hangout. He calmly approached the smug boy in front of his own cohorts and stabbed him in the abdomen several times with a long dagger. This experience, especially the way in which the boy called for his mother in between dying breaths, greatly disturbed the young Varisian. Before long he went numb inside and found a strange new feeling: a rush that gave him a sense of power and removed all fear. The recurring nightmares never went away though.

After a long discussion with his elders about self control and a brewing war between the families, Rhaz was shipped off to Korvosa and enlisted in the local military. Less than a year later he broke his commanding officer's nose and went AWOL to avoid execution.

By the time he returned home his once proud house was a dwindling shadow of its former self. Needing support, they hired him on as an enforcer and he performed well in this capacity. Consistent results eventually led to his official initiation into a made crew and his first assignment as a Soldier: travel to Absalom and meet the enigmatic Guaril Karela. Upon Rhaz's arrival, Karela presented him with a set of Pathfinder Society membership papers and instructions to remain on standby.

Description:

Rha'ziz is shorter than average and somewhat stocky. Well groomed and surprisingly articulate, the Sczarni goon gives off an air of refinement and command. Underneath this composure, however, is a brooding well of rage that seems to take on a life of its own at times. His facial features give off a slightly bestial appearance and some of his associates jest - behind his back - about the possibility of orc heritage. Rhaz also bears a tattoo of a beautiful naked woman with cold eyes on the back of his left shoulder. He claims it to be a symbol of Calistria.

He is feared and well known for his brutality, but Rha'ziz considers his profession to be 'just business' and does not go out of his way to needlessly harm people or engage in wanton destruction - he has even been known to show generosity to those in need, particularly orphans and widows. Surprisingly, he gets along very well with children and has never so much as raised his voice at one.

It is a known fact that Rha'ziz financially supports a multitude of single mothers who are acquainted with his brother, Nishi. Though Rhaz is unaware of this, the entire setup is a moneymaking scam that the scheming sibling has concocted in response to Rhaz holding back on a past score.

Since his relocation to Absalom, Rha'ziz has been working as a collector for Karela. On paper, however, he is just a simple longshoreman who gets jobs here and there guarding Pathfinder Society expeditions.

In his spare time Rhaz enjoys long walks on the pier and is an avid reader.

Motivations:

Rhaz has a great deal of contempt for the current state of society as a whole, which he views as a glorified farm for humanoids. Enforced laws (outside of his family and the general code of silence among those in his trade) mean nothing to him. The Varisian actually sees these and similar devices as crutches for people who are too afraid to step into their own and take charge of their lives - and as ways of controlling other people.

His loyalty is reserved for his family and for individuals who have proven themselves worthy of it. Rhaz's long term goal is to eventually return to southern Varisia and restore his own family to what it was in previous generations.

In contrast to the unprincipled personality that he projects to those whom he does not know, Rhaz does have a coherent worldview: he envisions a world where the ideals of the family and local community are held highest and where merit is respected over rank.

On a more personal level, Rhaz's greatest challenge is in overcoming his violent temper and the brutal lessons of his past. This is an ongoing battle in which he does not always succeed, much to is dismay. Though he does not show it or even admit it to himself, for he is currently too pessimistic and cynical, he yearns deep down for a future in which he can settle down and live the good life.

Perhaps in another decade he will be ready for such things.

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Rha'ziz 'Rhaz' Gordini
male human (Varisian) fighter (brawler) 1
CG medium humanoid
PFS #: 128039-1; Faction Sczarni
Initiative +5; Senses Perception +0

DEFENSE:
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17
HP 16/16 (1d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +0

OFFENSE:
Speed 30ft (20ft in armor)
Melee flail +5 (1d8+4/x2), dagger +5 (1d4+4/19-20/x2)
Ranged light crossbow +2 (1d8/19-20/x2/80ft), dagger +2 (1d4+4/19-20/x2/10ft)

STATISTICS:
Str 18, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Attack +1; CMB +5; CMD 16
Feats Toughness, Intimidating Prowess, Improved Initiative
Traits Bad Reputation, Killer (additional die for critical hit damage)
Skills Acrobatics -5, Appraise +0, Bluff +1, Climb +2, Diplomacy +1, Disguise +1, Escape Artist -5, Fly -5, Heal +0, Intimidate +11, Perception +0, Profession (Enforcer) +4, Ride -5, Sense Motive +0, Stealth -5, Survival +0, Swim -2
Languages Common, Varisian

EQUIPMENT:
Money 8gp, 6cp
Gear scale mail, heavy wooden shield, flail, light crossbow, 17 bolts, 2 daggers, backpack, bedroll, 5 days' rations, waterskin, hemp rope, belt pouch, flint and steel, 3 torches, small steel mirror, explorer's outfit, soap, ink and pen, 5 sheets of paper, 2 compact books - The first, written by an Andoren scholar, is titled 'The Great Experiment: Andoren Democracy' and is a primer on the writings of Darl Jubannich and Hosetter, written in the context of Andoran's recent upheaval; the other is a small, unmarked black volume that begins with a statement of purpose and proceeds to outline a series of anarchistic ideas. The author of the second book is unknown. Witch-doll's eye, wrapped in cloth.
Encumbrance 90lb total (light load)

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NPCs for GM use:

Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Napaciza II, Hellknight of the Order of the Nail - LE Male Human(Chelish) Cavalier

Captain Napaciza II during Rha'ziz's stint as a private in the Korvosan Guard, this calculating strategist is as manipulative and conniving as they come. Sadly more common among Chelish elite these days, Brendan is secretly squeamish of hand-to-hand combat outside of the tourney yard or training gym. He prefers to settle his scores from a distance with as few ties to himself as possible. In garrison, he is a petty tyrant who is constantly amusing (sometimes annoying) his superiors with a steady stream of demerits for infractions fit for cadet candidates. His higher ups toy with him like older puppies testing the runt of the litter, his subordinates despise him, but nobody cannot deny his capacity for political intrigue and his appetite for revenge.

He is not a good enemy to have and Rha'ziz earned this privilege when he broke the young Captian's nose during an inspection in response to one of the officer's tirades. Rhaz's fellow soldiers, the ones with clout who had survived combat outside the city walls, respected his courage and fidelity during his time in field and so they surprised even themselves. In that moment they decided that they would remain loyal to each other and would only truly accept the authority of a commanding officer who deserved to be followed into battle. They helped Rha'ziz escape before the authorities came to investigate and corroborated on a story.

The entire incident was a personal humiliation for Brendan - the investigating team ruled that he slipped and fell on his nose, as the entire barracks claimed, and he was promoted after a psychiatric evaluation to be remembered as the laughingstock of the first and only company under his command. All records of Rhaz were simply destroyed to avoid the administrative hassle of a real investigation and its risk of painting a picture of Chelish officers who couldn't control their men. That was at a time when a strong commander, who has since retired on account of failing health, kept Brendan in check.

Now a skilled planner behind the scenes at high command, the Chelish noble has become obsessed with finding and exacting revenge upon Rha'ziz. So far he has seen to it that Rhaz is a wanted man in the city of Korvosa and has hired a bounty hunter to retrieve the Sczarni, dead or alive. Brendan's ego is fragile and his resources are vast. He is prepared to chase Rha'ziz to the edge of the planes to avenge this ancient insult if need be.

Perhaps the most amusing aspect of this vendetta is the fact that Rhaz is not even aware of it.

Nishi Gordini - NG Male Human(Varisian) Rogue

Rha'ziz's older brother by about ten years. Nishi has always looked after Rhaz and is probably the only reason the stubborn hothead is still alive. In line to be promoted to Caporegime, Nishi is the polar opposite of Rha'ziz - cool, calculating, methodical and, most of all, patient.