Shane Driscol
Male tiefling illusionist 4 (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 264)
NG Medium outsider (native)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+1 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 25 (4d6+5)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +6
Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee mithral dagger +3 (1d4/19-20)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +4)
. . 1/day—darkness Arcane School Spell-Like Abilities (CL 4th; concentration +8)
. . 7/day—blinding ray
Illusionist Spells Prepared (CL 4th; concentration +8)
. . 2nd—acid arrow, glitterdust (DC 16), invisibility, web (DC 16)
. . 1st—color spray (DC 16), disguise self, grease, silent image (DC 16), summon monster I
. . 0 (at will)—acid splash, detect magic, mending, prestidigitation
. . Opposition Schools Evocation, Necromancy
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Statistics
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Str 11, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 19, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats Acadamae Graduate, Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (illusion)
Traits family honor, suspicious
Skills Appraise +8, Bluff +9, Craft (bookbinding) +8, Fly +6, Knowledge (arcana) +11, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +9, Knowledge (engineering) +8, Knowledge (geography) +8, Knowledge (history) +8, Knowledge (local) +8, Knowledge (nature) +8, Knowledge (nobility) +8, Knowledge (planes) +9, Knowledge (religion) +9, Linguistics +10, Perception +2, Profession (scribe) +5, Sense Motive +8, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +5; Racial Modifiers +2 Bluff, +2 Stealth
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Halfling, Infernal, Shoanti, Varisian
SQ arcane bond (arcane bonded ring), extended illusions (2 rounds)
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds (2), scroll of dispel magic, scroll of false life, scroll of feather fall (CL 3rd), scroll of identify; Other Gear mithral dagger, arcane bonded ring, bracers of armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ioun torch ioun stone[APG], bedroll, blanket[APG], bookbinding tools, ink, inkpen, masterwork backpack[APG], parchment (10), spell component pouch, wizard starting spellbook, 1,576 gp, 2 sp, 6 cp
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Special Abilities
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Arcane Bond (Arcane Bonded Ring) (1/day) (Sp) Use object to cast any spell in your spellbook. Without it, Concentration required to cast spells (DC20 + spell level).
Blinding Ray (7/day) (Sp) As a standard action, ranged touch vs. foe in 30 ft blinds for 1 rd (dazzles if more HD).
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white only).
Energy Resistance, Cold (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Cold attacks.
Energy Resistance, Electricity (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Electricity attacks.
Energy Resistance, Fire (5) You have the specified Energy Resistance against Fire attacks.
Evocation You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Evocation school.
Extended Illusions (+2 rds) (Su) Increase duration of illusion spells by 1/2 level (permanent at 20).
Illusion Illusionists use magic to weave confounding images, figments, and phantoms to baffle and vex their foes.
Necromancy You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Necromancy school.
Spell Focus (Illusion) Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC.
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History: My name is Shane Driscoll. My name belies my appearance, in that my appearance shows connections with the lower and thus untoward planes. I'll answer any inquiries on the details of that later, if they weren't quite obvious to all but the most obtuse; for now, let's return to the subject of my name.
My surname comes not from my paternal side. By process of elimination, it is the name of my mother. My mother is ... was, a mistress of a wealthy merchant. He wanted someone beyond the level of your standard harlot for hire. He wanted discretion and yet another woman who he had sole carnal access to. This double standard of fidelity does not speak well of him, I know. Then again, accepting such a set up doesn't exactly exult my late mother either. In their way, each tried to do right by me.
I really don't know from whence my outside heritage came from. I know who took the fall. My mother had been most careful on preventing conception, mind you. However, one night, my father and she played with certain alchemicals meant to enhance pleasure. They did not know that, ironically, they also countered certain herbal protections against accidental procreation. Ergo, I was born months later. I suspect mother and father were, after years of this arrangement, getting a bit tired of each other, which is one reason I was allowed to come to term. Father fancied himself an 'honorable' man, for all his failings. And swore to my mother that if the babe was a son, he would see to costs for my upkeep and would even take me in at age 10 as "a servant or apprentice or something."
There was nothing in the oath specifying if the child was born a tiefling, the contract was null and void. Mother then, expected me to be provided for anyway, and threatened my father to make arrangements due me, or else things might get public and he had a lot more to lose reputation wise than she did. Father couldn't afford to have it known that he MIGHT have the blood of some demon or devil ,so he arranged for not just her secrecy, but an apprenticeship or schooling of SOME Sort to make my future a prosperous one.
My mother was bold in this. She also was totally blind to the fact that while my father considered himself honorable, his wife, his LEGALLY married wife, was beyond that. The word of some 'presumptive strumpet in fine clothes' was not enough for her liking, and she had much to lose should my mother blab and 'ruin everything'.
A certain crimelord was reached out to by the vindictive merchant wife, to arrange my mother's framing for a crime she did not commit. A fisherman testified to seeing her take part in a murder. A lie, of course. Mother was many things, but not a killer. But when your son looks like the devil (or demon, few had the knowledge to tell the difference), well, that certainly doesn't help your reputation. She was a devil blooded harlot, obviously! Her execution was as swift as it was unjust.
My father never cheated on his wife again. He did defy her in one way. To prevent me from ending up in indentured servitude, he kept to his word. Strings and favors were pulled, and he put me in the one place only a fool dares tread if they aren't invited: The Acadamae. Many apply, many are declined. Competition was stiff, but when you're a youth who is worried he'll be knifed in the street by a crimelord's agent or a vindictive merchant wife who would like to make sure your assocation with her husband NEVER becomes public, well then my friend there is no greater motivation for academic excellence.
Of course, the school itself is a death trap filled with tyrannical teachers, narcissistic conniving students, and wandering imps. I have learned things there that chilled my bone. And I've graduated. I Summoned my lemure and gotten the hells out of there.
Now, I am a free man, my own wizard as it twere. Yet, despite her failings, I still recall mother, who died because of a crimelord's frame job. I found the fisherman years later. Tricked him over drinks into confessing his falsehood. Then there's the Merchant's wife who paid him to make it happen. I'd like to blame the urge for revenge on my blood. Inside of me , as the Shoanti say, are two wolves. Oddly for me? One wants justice, the other will be happy with revenge. And I? I'm tempted to feed both.
Appearance: Shane is a Tiefling, but they come in a lot of shapes and styles. Shane's particular features are hard to conceal up close without a hooded cloak and a bit of shadow. His skin is a mix of whites and very pale blues. He has horns that spike out the sides of his forehead, and inhuman ears. His features aren't entirely unappealing, but his face is a bit gaunt, and sometimes he looks as if he doesn't get enough sleep. He does tend to wear that hooded robe to hide all this, plus dark gloves. Under the gloves, at his right small finger is a rather elegant looking ring. As it works as his arcane object whether exposed or not, he wears the gloves over them.
NPCS:
Friends and mentors:
Jessica L'Morie - Shane and Jessica go way back. She saw past his 'cursed blood' when few did. There is some light flirtation there, but then Jessica flirts as a default. Rarer is the debates they often have regarding magical theories etc. It is safe to say one mentored the other on some subjects ,and vice versa. It is possible they have been or are lovers, but mostly it is friendship. She is by FAR his superior with Alchemy (A subject he's always found frustrating)
Grumby Hale- Another magical student, but Grumby Hale is a halfling who attends the less famous and less respected Theumanexus College. A universalist wizard, Grumby is no slouch in magic either. It wasn't enough to stop him from being out numbered by some Academae bullies... but a friendship was formed when Shane created a diversion. The Hale family, like many halflings, is involved in sailing and shipping, some in positions of management or even captaincy. The two are good friends, though Grumby is fonder of his college far more than Shane is of the Academae.
Old Broom- Old Broom works hard at the temple of Aroden as the custodian/janitor/handy man to keep the nigh deserted worship halls from crumbling. A tiefling himself, Old Broom is at least as ancient as the priests he serves but as healthy as if he were thirty years younger. Shane is no worshiper of Aroden, even if Aroden was alive still, Shane would find him too rigid a god to follow, but he sees the building as a historic landmark worth preserving. Old Broom approves of this, and once or twice, the Church has been a place to set up a mat when prices were too expensive elsewhere. Old Broom offers some good advice when asked, and sometimes when not asked.
Foes high and low
Devargo Barvasi, also known as the King of Spiders is a crime lord. And depending on the GM whim, he maybe THE Crime lord who helped frame Shane's late mother years ago. Suffice to say, Shane is not fond of the man. He suspects Devargo has forgotten the tiefling child who's mother he undid, but Shane has not forgotten him. Shane does not see himself as chivalrous, but having seen how Barvasi treats some of his 'soiled doves', Shane thinks removing Barvasi from power might help at least one bordello have better lives even if they stay in the trade.
Gissperia DeGuidice, of the DeGuidice Merchant family was right to be offended her husband had taken a mistress. However, arranging for the death of said mistress through a crimelord's help was a bit over the top. Her actions have cowed her husband, and solidified both his fidelity to her, and her position as the true power in the family using him as a figurehead. The first was her goal, the latter? A pleasant surprise. Over time, it has gotten to her head a bit. She is beginning to think it might be possible for the DeGuidices to go from Upper Class Merchants all the way to Aristocrats. She has two daughters ready for marrying into some of the lower noble families as a stepping stone, and one unmarried son. The DeGuidices deal in semi precious stones, and have come close to cornering the Crystal market....which might not be impressive until one remembers that magic schools often need crystals of various sizes for their material components.
Egeo Courenero was just one bully attending the Academae, but he certainly kept trying to take lead in the category of most unpleasant person. With a strong disdain for anyone who wasn't of Chellish Human nature, he looked down on Varisians and Shoanti, but he loathed tieflings like Shane. Egeo specialized in conjuring, and as that is the Academae's pride and joy, he thought the Illusionist would be nothing but a victim. This backfired when , in a duel, Shane managed to use his 'weak ' illusions to fool one of the creatues Egeo summoned into attacking the conjurer instead. Shane won glory from that one but Egeo lost his pride... and he would gladly attack the 'lucky horned freak' if he could find reason.
Others in the middle...
Tristayn DeGuidice is officially the head of the DeGuidice Merchant family. Unofficially he now lives in fear of his wife. He is Shane's father, and is actually proud (And surprised) his bastard did so well even as he is still ashamed of the idea of hellish or Abysal blood being in HIS family line. While he must publicly shun his bastard son, he doesn't want the boy DEAD, and feels very guilty for what happened to Shane's mother.
Toria Driscoll (Deceased) was what she was. An opportunist who thought herself better than the average doxie. She was not a great mother, but she did try to provide for her son.But she grew too greedy, and made the mistake of miscounting a woman above her in station and far more ruthless. She was executed, and her main legacy is that the ring Tristyn bought her as a bit of pretty jewelry now rests on her son's small finger as the arcane bond item by which he works magic. If Shane had access to reincarnation or resurrection, he might give his mother a second chance. He knows where she is buried after all. He doubts her spirit is content with its current reward. Was she ever content with what she had?
Asillare the Crier- "EXTRA EXTRA, HEAR ALL ABOUT IT!" Asillare's voice is piercing. He sells news. News is... well, gossip, rumor, and sometimes actual event. He would prefer to sell the latter. Less chance of the ten year old getting his ass beat by angry customers. Well, how do you get interesting news? Why, follow interesting people. And the boy has decided Shane and some of the people he interacts with might be news, or lead to news, or at least make for a decent story. So he is trying to tag along.. much to Shane's annoyance. The boy isn't stupid, he won't press a wizard too hard, but he will try again later.
Some more questions answered:
The Acadamae is not a nice place by any stretch, so how did they survive in there?
The right amount of Paranoia and luck chiefly, but also the help of a few friends. Some of those friends did not survive the education.
How were they able to afford tuition?
Say what you want about Shane's father, Tristayn DeGuidice , but the man used his connections and some of his wealth to at least give Shane a chance into the school. Of course, Shane also had to work hard and show some hustle on the inside.
Have they made any friends and/or enemies while inside?
Egeo was probably his biggest foe and bully in the Academae, but was not the only one.
It is possible at least one teacher or Dean in the Illusion department saw merit in the tiefling and guided him, in true illusionist fashion, behind the scenes.
As for friends, besides Jessica? There was his friend and fellow illusionist Kevwyk. Alas, Kevwyk died in a test gone wrong about a year and a half ago. There was Callibrie, a lovely half elf lass. She was in Necromancy, hoping to learn of its healing applications. At first, she and Shane were great friends, and even infrequent lovers. But in time, her interest became less in 'white necromancy' and more in the power darker spells and options could give her. They parted ways (her alignment went south) amicably enough. There was also Krakka, a half orc girl interested in transmutation. Krakka left Korvosa after the graduation for a job in Andoran, but is something of a penpal to this day when possible.
Do they have family in Korvosa, or other connections?
See the NPC section for bits on family. In truth, Shane has no living family that is on his side... that he knows of! While his father is cowed by his wife, and said wife is a possible foe for Shane in the long term; Shane does have half siblings. Should ANY one of them transform into a tiefling (Rare, but not unheard of) or even manifest a sorcerous bloodline of fell nature, then they might need his help/guidance. Even if that doesn't happen, one might get curious.
Why do they want to study magic?
At first, it was both a matter of survival, and providing for his own future. If not for the Acadamae housing him, the law might have rounded up a much younger tiefling and put him in a workhouse or orphanage at the least. For all the nightmare that the school was , and the trauma it gave; Shane discovered he did LIKE Magic even if he didn't get along with some of his peers. He was driven to illusion because, in part, when your 'inhuman features' are seen by society as a failing, magic that lets you hide and conceal becomes a haven. It's also an in game explanation for his skills of both bluff and sense motive. Shane thinks Deception is a weapon, and you need to be ready to use it, and protect yourself from it. Like a weapon, you shouldn't go striking at innocents with it, but keep your hand near your proverbial hilt just in case.
Does Shane have any goals?
Shane wants to advance in magical power. He would be lying to say part of it wasn't power for its own sake. Power will keep him safe, after all. But mostly that power is to keep him free. He is a voraciaous student of knowledges of all sorts, and enjoys learning period.
His more immediate goal is avenging his mother against those who set her up. Devargo Barvasi actually angers him more than his father's wife. SHE at least had reason to be angry even if she took it out on the wrong target. Devargo? That man ruins lives for mere coin. More than that, Shane has learned enough to realized Devargo Barvasi hurt and continues to hurt a lot of people.
Lastly, there is getting his old home back. Shane's mother was a rich man's mistress. That means she was set up in a fine home she even held the lease on. Nothing too large, mind you, but rather nice. When she was framed for murder, the city took that property for itself. By now, it may have been sold or rented out to another. Having tricked the fisherman into confessing he lied at court those years ago, Shane could go through legal channels to make a claim for it, but that could take years and then be ignored. Regardless, he feels he is due a residence.
(Player's note, given he has 400 gold left over, roughly, He might be able to buy at least a nice shack depending on Korvosian costs)
