Happy to go to Taldor, if it helps
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Thanks katataban; I'd be happy to switch over to Taldor if needed.
Here's my Holy Tactician for submission Sam'hain:
Init +2; Perception + 0
-------------------- DEFENSE -------------------- AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 hp 13 Fort + 4, Ref + 0, Will + 2 -------------------- OFFENSE -------------------- Spd 20 ft. Melee: + 5/ 2d6 +3 --------------------
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 13
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Weal's champion: Cha bonus att vs evil; add 1/2 level to damage / allies get 1/2 cha bonus on att and +1 competence bonus on damage for 1 round after Holy tactician hits
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Languages Common Combat Gear: Breastplate, greatsword
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Background:
Wanting was one thing that Sam'hain did very little of as a boy. Growing up in a Lord's family, he was far removed from the worries of the common man. His meals were bountiful and fine, he was rarely too cold or dirty. No, his life was one of ease, but by design. His father was a pious Lord, dedicated to the teachings of Iomedae. He believed in duty, and in finding closeness to his shining mistress through helping the common man. Thus, faith, duty, and fellowship were instilled in Sam'hain at an early age.
As Sam'hain grew, any around him knew that there was only one life for him - one of service. He was caring nearly to a fault, and wanted to save any whose cause he found to champion. His path took him to the place where he thought that he could do the most good - the military. His first days were life changing indeed, as Sam'hain was put through brutal training with common men, and even thieves and liars as his fellows. How could he trust such people with his life, or with the safety of those that he so desperately sought to protect? It was among the first days out of his initial training when one such rogue, a prostitute's daughter named Liandra Nightwind, pulled Sam'hain from a fire that surely would have left him crippled, if not sent him to Iomedae's sheltering embrace. The Nightwind girl was born from lust and sin, but Sam'hain saw a nobility in her that most couldn't hope to match. After that, Sam'hain found himself with a more open mind and heart, willing to admit that there is good in any man...or woman; it may just be harder to find in some. He now acts as a leader among the Andoran military, providing front line support and bolstering the lines of defense against any who might harm his land, his charges, his people. His savior, Liandra, was always present in his thoughts, reminding him to take full measure of someone before rushing to judgement. Appearance: Sam'hain is a large man, of working muscle, not muscle for show. His skin is well tanned from days spent on horseback with little cover from the sun. His eyes are the cold gray of steel and his hair, cut short, is dark brown. He is clean shaven, showing a hairline scar that runs vertically from the cleft of his chin to his bottom lip. He is handsome, but sometimes stern and implacable.
Sam'hain is very difficult to anger, but can be quick to judge. He is trying to temper his severe nature, but at times slips into an attitude of superiority in faith. He's often naive, and doesn't seem capable of telling a lie
Still here; awaiting signs of life
Sam'hain leads the group with the strong and sure gait of a warrior comfortable in his abilities. He keeps his face stony and focused, not letting the distractions of the inn get to him as he plunges out of the door and into the town proper. When he sees the captain, he hails him. Greetings sir; I was wondering if I may have a moment of your time. I assure you, my concerns are for the well being of this town.
Sam'hain smiles warmly and bows his head in a deep nod. He seems not to notice what effect his presence may have on Iridae. Of course, Iridae, your presence would be more than welcome. You have a gentle way about you, and would no doubt put any who would fight first at ease. He waits for Zafir and Omaz to either go with him or not, then proceeds to head out into the common room and beyond, seeking out said captain.
Very well; I will address the captain directly while Liandra focuses on this apparent spy that plagues us. What will the rest of you do while we focus on this? While I'm loathe to divide our forces too much, it may be necessary to accomplish our goals quickly. And...it doesn't seem as if we've much time.
Sam'hain raises an eyebrow at Omaz, then clucks in disapproval. In the midst of all of this, and he thinks of.... I would of course speak to the captain; we may be of like mind after all. We should go know then, as you said. We cannot wait for him to become engaged in some new endeavor. Liandra, will you take someone with you, should this pursuer turn hostile?
How, then, shall we get this captain away from the eyes and ears of the Baron's people and discover his allegience without ruining our cover? Should we ask about to discover where he works or lives? I'm sure that someone of his rank would have an office wherein we could have a more private conversation.
Sam'hain flushes, and looks down. Yes, I'm sorry...it's not in my nature to be discreet. We should continue this upstairs.. I'll never get used to these lies...but, it's for the greater good; I must come to terms with that.
Sam'hain looks down at his sleeve, then up at Iridae, and he sighs heavily. Of course, my lady...I'm sorry for my urgency; you're right, sharing information should be our first concern. He gets in closer to Iridae, his right shoulder providing a reassuring sturdiness as it touched up against her left. The owner of the Well has a particular distaste for the Baron, and his patrons seem to look up to him as a leader. He may be of Andoran blood, and lust for freedom flows in his veins. We... He looks ashamed. ...gambled a bit, and found that some of the Baron's men had taken a particular interest in us. There was also a quite odd man...dressed in garish colors; he seemed a bit detached when he entered the inn. He looks to Zarif to add anything he may have missed.
Sam'hain shrugs as he returns to the others. Not much there. They're setting up posts; planning to fend off an invasion is what it looks like.. He leans in closer to whisper. If that spy is any indication, then we've been pegged as unusual. We'll need to tread carefully; we won't be able to do anything if we're locked away behind bars. I will go and check on Gaskar; do any of you want to come as well? Perhaps he knows more than we do about this. Even if not, maybe I can draw our spy away. . He leans back a bit, raising his voice slightly, as if he didn't care who heard his next words. We should check on our employer. He wasn't prepared for a prolongued stay here in town. I'm not even certain that he'd have the wages to pay us for an extra day! As he prepares to make his way across the street to the general store, Sam'hain quickly scans the room for any of the mistletoe and ribbon badges that would identify their allies.
Sam'hain grunts, but is subtle enough not to turn around and look for the man. As he nears the others, he shares their low tone to keep their words from any curious ears. A spy for whom, the baron? The tall man in plate mail there bears the symbol of one high in the baron's forces, so it may seem that we're very much surrounded by our potential foes. Did you hear the proclamation? I think that we need to find out more from this fellow. He tries to remain subtle as he moves closer to the mailed man, attempting to listen to the question and answer session while remaining in the background of the gathering.
Sam'hain leans in close to Zarif. One of the baron's men; probably high up too. Watch yourself. Then, he heads over to their companions to see what they'd found.
The well: Sam'hain nods his agreement, and looks warily about the common room. He tracks down Ben and thanks him for the fine drink and finer company, then gives a fine tip. Promising to frequent hos establishment while in town, Sam'hain and Zarif make their way back to the Blade and to their companions.
The Well: Sam'hain leans in close to Zarif in the ensuing confusion. I think that we've learned all that we can here. Is there something else that you wish to ask, or shall we make our way back to the others?. He stays out of the rumor-mongering, but keeps his eyes and ears attuned to the now frightened townsfolk in an effort to gain any new information.
The Well: Some trepidation threatens Sam'hain as he plays a "card" that could be disruptive. He glances towards the two men in an obvious manner. His men? Are they here to watch you? Why put up with such distrust? A wise ruler would realize that it is his charges that give him any real power.
The Well: Sam'hain looks at Ben in slight surprise. Sounds like he makes it hard for an honest man to make a living. I only wonder, as my own employer is just such a man as you, Ben. He's here to trade and sell his wares at fair prices and without harrassment from others. Do my friend and I have anything to worry about while our boss sells his goods in town?
The well: Sam'hain tries to hide his revulsion from the man, though he fears that he may have let it show. A blessing...from a temple to that dark god...despicable.. He quickly offers a smile instead and calls for a new round for the entire table, though he was barely through half of his first. The guards here seem to run a tight ship; are they the baron's own men?
The Well: Sam'Hain takes a seat opposite Ben and offers the others at the table a warm smile. He tries to follow the game to the best that his limited experience with card games would allow, making small talk and gently nipping with curiosity at the background of each of the players.
During the game, he'll bring up the following topics in an effort to gauge the opinions of the locals:
Sense motive
The Well: Sam'hain nods his thanks to Ben. Well, Zarif, shall we lose some of our hard-earned wages to these fine gentlemen?. He gives Ben a friendly grin as he walks over to the card table. As he walks across the room, he tries to watch the pair of men that seem interested in them out of the corner of his eye.
At the table, Sam'hain clears his throat politely when it looks like the players are between hands. Pardon me, gentlemen, but have you room for two more?
@Zarif - If I'm driving you nuts with my seemingly unending questions, please let me know. Feel free to reign Sam in in-character; he needs that every now and again:)
The Well: Sam'Hain nods in a seemingly disinterested manner, though his eyes track the Bumbo fellow for a bit. He glances around the common room for the games that Ben kept mentioning. So, what games do you actually host here? How does kne get into them...should we feel the pull of Lady luck?
The well: No, my friend, the ale is fine, I assure you. My friend here and I just seem to spend too much time in idle gossip. Being that we just arrived in town, we like to get a feel for our surroundings before we can really relax. Besides, it's not every day that one sees a cloak like that one; I wonder what that fellow does, go warrant such extravagance.. He offers an easy grin, hoping that he was coming off as likeable and not aloof.
The Well: Sam'hain gives Zarif a brief nod, then motions for Lucky Ben and directs the barkeep to their table. When he arrives, Sam'hain nods towards the two in the corner and speaks to Lucky Ben in a hushed tone. My apologies for bothering you sir, but those two there...they look very familiar, but I'd hate to embarass myself by walking over them without being correct. Do you know who they are, or work with? Perhaps we'd been on the same guard detail in the past. When Lucky Ben turns away, Sam'hain looks as if his drink had soured, though it was probably the lie he'd told that left a bad taste.
The well: Sam'hain peans forward slightly, his drink raised to his lips, and speaks quietly to Zarif. Should we confront our watchers? It would keep with our disguises, as guardsmen aren't likely to let such scrutiny go unquestioned. They may give us a good idea of how these people will view outsiders.
The Well: Sam'hain nods at Lucky Ben and returns the grin, then lifts the mug to wet his lips. Not a drop passes his lips and makes it to his gut, though he swallows air to make it look like he'd drunk.
After a quick look at the newcomer and his outlandish garb, Sam'hain turns his eyes to their two new friends, to see what their opinion of the man might be.
Just so I follow convention; should we all put our respective posts while separated into spoilers?
Sam'hain returns the nod and sits himself at the table as he takes a visual measure of the man. He turns the seat ever so slightly to afford him a view of the far corner of the room. Ale, if you please good sir When the barkeep turns away, Sam'hain leans in close to Zarif. It seems as if we've already caused a stir. The two in the corner, they look to be perturbed at our entrance.
Sam'hain gives Zarif a quick nod. Good idea, Zarif, but I wouldn't like you to go without someone to watch your back. He glances over to where Gaskar had gone. He knows these people...I must assume he will be alright, for there are bigger responsibilities here. I will go with you, and the others can find out what you can at the Conquerer's Blade. Let us make haste, before any wonder why us strangers are milling about.
With a grin that reflects his clarity of purpose, then turns to Gaskar. We'll be at the tavern, then, should you need us. Let us know where you wish to stay; we can make accomodations if you haven't.. Then, Sam'hain offers his companions a resolute nod and heads towards the tavern to get a seat and catch up on gossip.
Sam'hain smiles genuinely. I'd doubt you could drink less than me, my friend. I'll keep a drink for pretense, but my faith leaves little room for inebriation. He looks at Liandra, almost as if seeking her approval. Do you think that the Tavern is a good place to start?
Sam'hain grunts. Would it not be unseemly for guards to leave their charge while he transfers goods? If you feel it's safe, perhaps we could visit the conquerer's tavern to find out what gossip is to be had. You'd still be within our sight.. He looks to each of his companions. What say you? Shall we visit the tavern, or is there a better option to start?. He turns to Gaskar. where will we be spending the night? We should stay under the same roof.
Sam'hain's brows furrow, and he offers the guard a stern look, until Gaskar lightens the tension. Ah, a jest. I must be aware of such men and their ways. This is not the quiet inner sanctum of my church, and the men at arms here will be much like the soldiers I've led in the past. The large knight draws up near the guard, his eyes scanning the wall and its inhabitants. He forces a smile at Gaskar's words, even though he wasn't paying much attention to the mens' banter. Catching the eyes of the others, he nods, then sits atop his horse to one side of Gaskar, awaiting their entry into the town.
Sam'hain inclines his head to Zarif, thogh his eyes were still on the gate before them. We must first find out the allegience of the most notable and respected people in town, in accordance with the list that Gaskar has provided. If we start at the top, those who trust their leaders will see the truth of our ways. The knight seems sure of himself and his faith, and little could sway his conviction. He leans towards Zarif, almost as if he were speaking to a co-conspirator, though his booming voice only barely decreases in volume. There may be a...problem, that I can see. I fear I'm not very accomplished at...well, at telling a lie. This falsehood has me bothered, though I understand that it's necessary. I fear that one who doubts us could see through me. Have you a practiced tongue at such things, Zarif? He looks to the entrance, and drifts slightly away from Zarif, then turns to the man. We are the guard; we should introduce ourself and explain our goods. He draws his heels into his horse's flank, urging the beast forward and fully expecting his companions to fall into line. When he reaches the guards at the gate, he hails them. We bring goods for trade; a wide variety of them. What is the process for entering through your gates?
Sam'hain nods at the wise suggestion then offers, not unexpectedly; I will take the front
Sam'hain eyes Omaz with obvious displeasure, though he grudgingly nods his head at the man's observation. His mouth tightens as if he had tasted something foul, then he turns to Gaskar. Indeed; it should seem commonplace for us to be at your side; a fine ploy. I'm certain that the veil of evil over that place will blind those loyal to the Baron's cause, and they will not see through our...ruse. It's obvious that Sam'hain would much rather challenge the Baron to individual combat to set the matter to bed, instead of employing subterfuge. I will need food, but want for little else. If, that is, you are providing saddle and feet as well as mount.
Sam'hain grimaces. That's...unfortunate. I would prefer to ride, and am ready now, if my companions are as well.
Sam'hain nods slowly at the information about the baron, his face drawn down in a look of distaste. He looks at Iridae with resolve. If this Baron is devoted to the vile god of the diabolists, then we have nothing to fear from him or his kind. The true light of the Shining Mistress pierces through the darkest veils, and his false control over this town is no different. Fear not, for his people will see the light of our ways, and we'll find our share of allies. He nods to Gaskar. You have my thanks for the map, Sir; it will be put to good use. Do you know if the Pact hall is manned by any of Asmodeus's priests?
Sam'hain stands stoically throught the briefing, his posture rigid and his eyes focused. As the General closes, Sam'hain steps forward and, in typical knightly pomp, takes a knee in front of the general and bows his head. My lord, you have my sword for your cause, as always. With the Shining Mistrss as my sheild and holder of my honor, I will not allow Cheliax to gain a foothold in our lands. He stands, then turns to glance back at the men and women with whom he'd been speaking. With allies such as these, my victory is ensured.. The burly knight seems to think for a moment, then adds. Our victory, rather...a victory for all the goodly folk who would not be trampled under the boots of oppression! Might I ask, sir, if you have any information as to why the Baron plans to hand over the town? Is he of fiendish descent, or is he a thrall? Or, is he simply a greedy man who was offered the right price?
@Iridae
Spoiler: Some of us have to cheat to look this good...
@Tarlane
Spoiler: Great! I'll finish up with the feats and spells. Stinks about grayflame, though. I may change up the equipment slightly.
@Iridae
Spoiler: No kidding; too bad RP romances are so hard to pull off; we'd make for quite the pair!
Tarlane: figured you'd have some notes; stupid character creation. I adjusted the abilities a bit; here's how I got to where I am: 10 pts ea for 16 str and cha, 5 pts to get wis and con fo 12 and dex to 11. Then, added 1 to dex for my level and 2 to cha for being human. Then, added 2 more to cha for my silly headband. Sound okay?
I'll add the skill pt to perception, and will pick another feat and spell today. For the weapon, I assumed that I could get +1 or grayflame; does it need to be +1 before I add grayflame, or can the sword just be a grayflame greatsword, no +?
Sam'hain nods at Zarif, though he watches the exchange between Liandra and Iridae with interest. He frowns slightly, his gaze taking in the men to which the women were gesturing. There must be no strife in an officer's tent; I will have to watch those ones. He curls his hands underneath the wide belt that holds his scabbard tight to his back, then waits for the officers to arrive.
Sam'hain nods to Zarif, whom he had seen before and trusted in a "we're on the same side" manner. He looks suspicious when Zarif switches to a language unknown to him, and he turns his stern gaze away, as if he didn't want to listen in on a conversation to which he wasn't included. I have no idea, though I can only imagine it's a mission of no minor importance, with those gathered. We've a rather capable force here.
Sam'hain smiles at Liandra warmly and offers a rigid nod. A head that wouldn't have been there if not for you, Liandra. I've learned more lessons than I can count since last we met - only to realize that there's more to learn than I ever could. Humbling... He trails off at the introduction, and reaches past Liandra to shake Iridae's hand. The big knight, quite obviously unused to dealing with anyone but military, nearly crushes her hand with the greeting. His eyes widen at Liandra's admission. Indeed? So, the savior's been saved, as well...the shining mistress has a pattern for us all it seems. Well met, Iridae, and you have my thanks for saving a fellow servant of Iomedae.
Okay; think I'm good. Please let me know if you see errors; character creation is definitely a weakness for me. |