About Shug-ShoggarethA black leather jack boot pressed painfully down on Shug's neck. "I speak for the Black Sovereign. Tell me where to find the Vel-volqhuh tribe and I'll spare your miserable life!" Shug gritted his teeth and attempted to free his arms in vain from the steel manacles. Above him loomed soldiers in black tunics adorned with silver gear insignia. The Technic League! Gorum, grant me the strength to persevere. But there was no surviving this trap - the Technic-League had already won the day. A black clad sergeant crouched down and whispered with a raspy voice. "You filthy savage! Answer the captain's question or we'll let the gearsmen have their way. Where are the Vel-volqhuh?" Shug suppressed the pain and growled back at the soldiers in hallit. "You will find the Vel-volqhuh in Starfall, in Urion, in Chesed in Jajoth Hakados. Where ever you are - that is where you will find us! We will fight until this land is free. We will kill you and all those whom serve the traitor Kevoth-Kul. Your technology won't save you from Gorum's retribution!" The captain now leaned down. Shug could see the electronic glow of implants blinking rapidly under the taut skin of his shaved head. "We'll see what you think about our technology after a couple of weeks in the Black Sovereign's dungeons. You'll find that we have new ways of amplifying pain and compelling your obedience. In the end, you will serve us too, as will your Vel-volqhuh brothers. All Kellid will bow down and serve the Technic League. Don't you see fool, we have discovered power beyond your comprehension under Silver Mount! We are now gods among men!" Shug smiled and revealed his bloody, broken teeth. "You have ceased to be men. You have become the same as the soulless machines that walk among you. You will answer to the true gods for your crimes." The soldier brought a steel gauntlet hammering down on Shug. The world faded to black. Stats:
Shug-Shoggareth Human (Kellid) barbarian (savage technologist) 1 (Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Technology Guide 13) CG Medium humanoid (human) Init +4; Senses Perception +4 -------------------- Defense -------------------- AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +2 Dex) hp 18 (1d12+6) Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0 -------------------- Offense -------------------- Speed 40 ft. Melee greataxe +5 (1d12+6/×3) Special Attacks rage (6 rounds/day) -------------------- Statistics -------------------- Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10 Base Atk +1; CMB +5; CMD 17 Feats Power Attack, Toughness Traits against the technic league (weapons), reactionary Skills Acrobatics +5 (+9 to jump), Diplomacy +4, Handle Animal +1, Knowledge (local) +4, Perception +4, Profession (soldier) +1, Survival +4 Languages Common, Hallit SQ fast movement Other Gear studded leather, greataxe, 60 gp -------------------- Special Abilities -------------------- Fast Movement +10 (Ex) +10 feet to speed, unless heavily loaded. Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage. Rage (6 rounds/day) (Ex) +4 Str, +4 Dex, +2 to Will saves when enraged. Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Background, Part I:
Shug watch with trepidation as his father completed the ritual to Gorum."Father, I can't do it!" His father was a bear of man. The other Vel-volqhuh called him Kel-Queth-Khan, which translated to "He who eats the darkness" in the old hallit tongue. His father, Shig-Shoggareth, had been famous for driving out the Cult of Yog-Sothoth that had infiltrated the northern tribal lands. Defeating the darkness had irrevocably altered his father. He had come back from the war a changed man. The darkness in his father's eyes often scared Shug. He was scared now. "Father, is there not another way?" The elder Shoggareth pulled a red hot blade from the fire. "Our Lord in Iron demands strength from his faithful. My father sacrificed, as did I." He paused to once again show Shug the long scars across both of his forearms. "And now, so shall you. In time you will understand." Shug closed his eyes and thought about his mother. In times of stress, her memory was his anchor. He thought about how they would walk in the snow covered Narlmarches. The silence of the wood made the falling snow seem unearthly. His mother would turn to smile at him with piercing blue eyes. "You have a pure soul, my darling Shug. You must rise above the madness of all the killing and do what is just and right. You must unify our people and bring peace to the tribes. When you see the darkness ... you must reach for the light." Tears streamed from Shug's clenched eyes. You must reach for the light. He opened his eyes and looked up. Through the forest trees the sun pierced the clouds. He kept his eyes locked on the sun as his father's glowing blade cut through his forearms. The smell of searing flesh filled his nostrils. He could feel the blood dripping down from his arms. He would not cry out. He would not show his weakness. "You are a man now, my son. Rise, and take your weapon."
Background, Part II:
Shug marveled for several minutes at the purple flame rising from the central hill of Torch before finally walking through the door of the small tavern. Within, several patrons nursed their ales while speaking in guarded whispers. Slowly, Shug's eyes adjusted to the shadowy darkness. A young woman watched him from behind the bar. Shug walked over and laid down a heavy, hand sized piece of metal and composites onto the varnished bar surface. "We recovered this from the tundra after a skirmish with ... bandits. I'm told a man name Khonnir Baine understands such devices. Is he here?" The woman looked wide eyed at the weapon and then quickly scanned the bar room to see if any of the patrons had taken notice. "Possession of this technology is forbidden. Does anyone know you brought this here?" Shug looked the woman in the eye for several seconds before answering. "No. I personally recovered the weapon. No one will know that you assisted me." The woman returned Shug's stare and then smiled grimly. "I will get my father." A moment later a wizened man appeared with long grey hair and wearing spectacles. He possessed the air of intelligence and competency. "Well, what do we have here? It's quite amazing what one finds in the wilderness, is it not? Please do not tell me how you recovered this." He held the pistol in the air and then proceeded to disassemble components. "It is quite old, but still functional. Its been recently used also, I would say. Hopefully, not on you?" Khonnir looked pointedly at Shug. Shug smiled nonchalantly. "The Vel-volqhuh seek to overthrow the oppressors whom enslave our land. I hear that you are sympathetic to our cause? If so, we would happily provide you the technology that we recover from the field in return for your assistance." Khonnir smiled. "I'm an engineer. I don't get involved in politics." He offered the pistol back to Shug. "Would you like to learn how to use this zero pistol?" Shug paused before taking the weapon. The technology always fascinated him and how could he pass up an opportunity to master his enemy's weaponry? "I am your student, Master Baine." Personality:
Shug slammed down the empty shot glass onto the bar. He could feel the fire of the liquor streaming into his belly. "Shia is my world. I tell you, my brothers, since becoming a father, I've found that nothing else matters but my beautiful daughter." The other warriors nodded solemnly. Shug, as usual, was being entirely too honest. And his friends were obviously too drunk to disagree with him. Shug continued on in his normal gregarious manner. "I am thankful for my wife for giving me such a bueatiful family. For years, I thought that life was nothing but battle. But now, thanks to Shequa and Shia, I've discovered new reasons to live." He paused and stared into space. "It almost makes me want to give up my life as a soldier. It seems that hatred begets hatred. The vicious cycle of violence is never ending. Do you think our sacrifice is worth it?" He stopped to appreciate the men around him. Their mutual loyalty to each other was unquestioned. Shug would gladly lay down his life for each man at the table. The fellowship of battle forged a family unto itself. Shug sighed. "Still, unless we destroy the evil that taints this land, there will be nothing left for our children's families. I'm afraid, my friends, that it is our duty - we have no choice but to fight."
Appearance:
Shequa traced her finger along the long scar on Shug's muscled forearm. She paused to examine the elaborate tribal tattoos that adorned both his arms and chest. "What do they mean?" Shug smiled pointed at the interwoven skulls and vines that covered his shoulders. "The iron thorn vines signify Gorum's inexorable grip over this world. Nature, like Our Lord in Iron, is ruthless in its brutality." He then pointed at the crossed swords tattooed on his chest. "The bastard sword was my grandfather's weapon - deragos. Which translates to bringer of winter in the old hallit tongue. The serrated falchion is my father's weapon. He took it from an orc chief that he slew in the Hold of Belkzen." Finally, he pointed to the blazing sun on the scars covering his stomach. "The sun represents my ever lasting hatred of the Technic League. Like the sun, my hatred burns forever." He paused and considered the torture that had led to the scars. "I can never forget what they did to me in the dungeons of Starfall..."
Feat Progression:
T1 Reactionary T2 H Cleave F Weapon Focus 1 Power Attack 2 Improved Grapple 3 Improved Unarmed Strike 4 Weapon Specialization 6 Great Cleave 7 Vital Strike 8 Greater Weapon Focus 9 Improved Critical 10 Critical Focus 11 Improved Vital Strike 12 Greater Weapon Specialization 13 Staggering Critical 14 15 16 Greater Vital Strike 17 18 19 20 |
