About 'Sir' Lesmond DavenportBackstory:
"You are a travesty! An affront to all the gods and their domains!" "Well, maybe if you'd accepted me anyway I wouldn't have to do this now," Laer bitterly thought as he dug the grave. Not his own, though perhaps that'd have been for the best. It'd be easier than having to face the possibility of being hunted, as well as his failure - failures , he corrected himself, looking at the girl. She was unusually pretty for a half-orc. Even now, her skin had a vibrancy to it that reminded him of himself. If only she wasn't dead. He'd been too late. Bandits and pretty girls did not mix well. His innate healing ability hadn't been enough. Not for this. maybe if he'd had mroe training. Maybe he shouldn't have blamed himself - this was pretty far off the road, after all, and he himself was only here by chance - because he came looking for trouble. And for what? To mend his bruised ego? He snorted. Yeah, that had worked out so well. Maybe the inquisitor was right. Maybe he didn't have the affinity to be a paladin after all, freak of nature or not. He gasped for breath and paused, looking back. There lay a number of bandits who might have disagreed with that sentiment. He was a decently skilled fighter, had his teacher's armor and inverse glaive and his own healing. He'd just worn them down over time. And wasn't that exactly how a paladin was *supposed* to fight? But now, even that small victory somehow felt empty. His eyes fell to the body. The rat next to her hadn't moved from her side. A pet? He wasn't sure. He didn't know anything of her except the strange, seven-pointed symbol on her hand. It looked like a weird constellation or such. Well, and a journal in orcish, which he couldn't read. "Why aren't you running?" He asked, unsure if he was adressing himself or the rodent. Both of them were standing around in the open, being vulnerable. To his surprise, the mouse seemed to turn around to stare at him accusingly. He sighed. "Well, suit yourself. Want some food? Plenty of it to go around in camp Prig." What could it hurt? He thought as he bowed down to hand it a hunk of bread. He'd seen rats in the pantry often enough to know they ate pretty much anything. So why didn't this one? It just kept staring at him as the seconds went by. "Weird. Is that the same tattoo as-" Then it moved . "Gah! Did- did you just bite me through my gauntlet!?" He managed from the jolt of pain as mister Rat had apparently reconsidered and now munched happily on his snack. His teeth were working just fine. "But- how-" No damage to the glove. Just the same blood and battle damage. But that pain just now. He took it off. Staring happily on his own hand was the exact same tattoo as the one on the dead girl and the rat. "Oh, f*ck me." He could sense the rat's amusement along with its grief and knew that, somehow, he'd gotten himself into even more trouble. Background:
Laer Sawyer was born in a small, mostly human and half-elven settlement near the Mierani forest in northwestern Varisia named Isethyr. Ever since his birth, he had an unusual ability to heal wounds which quickly saw him apprenticed to the local herbalist (and sticher). However, like many boys his age, his real passion had always been a fascination with tales of glorious knights in shining armor saving the day. The town watch could only teach so much. Thus, when an old knight settled in the rural town for his retirement, he seized his chance. Whether it was for his perserverance, a belief in his innate ability, or because his healing power was seen as a sign of favor from one of the gods, he was taken on as an apprentice. Eventually, when his teacher Raymond figured him ready, his advice was to join one of the temples in the major cities to the (far) south. Not finding an answer for his magical ability or a temple willing to claim him in Ravenport, he eventually used most of his money to secure a boat to the major city of Magnimar. ...Where his dreams were crushed. An inquisitor informed in no uncertain terms that his healing drew positive energy from the positive energy plane directly, bypassing the blessing of the gods. And thus, on the side, making his very existence heresy to all the gods and an affront to the natural order of the world. It was only the momentary confusion of the moment by other bystanders and his immediate decision to flee that spared his life, or so he believes. In the days following, he roamed the foresty countryside of varisia to the east, partially in hiding, partially in reckless determination to prove himself worthy regardless. He eventually had a chance meeting with bandits, a dead half-orc girl and her familiar, the latter of which which decided to make him his new human against his will. Ever since, Laer has been slowly transcribing the girl's journal as well as the rat's thoughts. He learnt that they had come here from the east on omens of dread, believing their presence was needed to prevent some oncoming disaster somehow related to Thassilon. From then on he donned the fake persona of Sir Lesmond Davenport, pretending to be a seasoned paladin in service to the Shining Crusade, doing good where he can whilst following the desire to learn more about his own 'gift' and Thassilon. Eventually, rumors of trouble in Sandpoint reached him and, going on whatever signs of trouble could spell the start of this prophecy, he headed there. He hopes that by lending his service, he can prevent the as yet vague disaster as well as find a church willing to still accept him as a paladin. Also, perhaps by being in the center of the action, no one would peek *too* closely as his background, or figure him deserving of being hunted down as an anomaly... Personality:
Laer is a generally kind-hearted and good-natured individual, though being pressed hard can bring out more a more sacastic version of himself. He tries to maintain the code of chivalry where he can to the best of his ability, even if feelings of disillusionment over his recent trials and failures can cloud his thoughts. His persona of Lesmond Davenport pretends to be sworn to Iomedae and hers is the code he projects himself to, hoping that by actually following it, that would save him from the goddess' wrath. He knows his actions might not be enough to deter anyone who may or may not be hunting him over his healing anomaly, but he does his best. Any and all spells and healing he does, he claims are from paladin abilities or granted to him by the gods. I.E. the lore spirit ability is him pretending to use Smite Evil, healer's hands is him pretending Lay on Hands etc. If pressed, he would say that he doesn't know how his magical abilities work, simply that they are granted to him by his goddess. Even if he himself is desperate to understand that himself. On travels, he makes it a point to try and hide how much of the knowledge of 'a seasoned paladin' actually comes from his Rat familiar Raavu, whom he usually hides in a sleeve pocket. When he draws his tome, his mumbled readings of it are usually conversations with him, asking him for advice. In camps, he is a pretty good cook, compliments of his mother, and he will try and serve the group delectables as much as he can along with proper descriptions of said dishes. Appearance:
Laer is a young half-elf, who the the scrutinizing eye seems just a tad too small for the fullplate he's wearing. While, his combination of dark, tall(ish) and muscular is handsome by most standards, he lacks the truly divine or angelic beauty paladins are often known for. He hopes that his half-elven features compensate for this to at least some degree. His magical fullplate and Fauchard are gifts from his mentor, Raymond the Brave, and -while well-mentained- are full of battle damage. There is a dichotomy between his age, his yet fair face and the amount of abuse it has apparently taken. Otherwise, he looks the part of the knight, standing (hopefully) tall and proud, hs cape flowing in the wind and his greaves leaving deep marks in the soil. Some npc's:
Laer's parents and mentor are still alive. Wyll and Rebecca Sawyer are respectively a hunter and cook from Isethyr while his mentor, Raymond, is a retired knight. He also has two younger twinsisters named Gwynn and Elanor. He hasn't written them since his arrival in Magnimar, partly not to worry them, partly because he doesn't want to admit his failure to them and partly because he thinks writing them puts them at risk from anyone poentially after him. He has a familiar, Raavu, whose former master Sorogar is a half-orc/ half-shoanti who died in a bandit attack on her. He hasn't sent any message to the Shoanti as he hasn't had the opportunity or peace of mind (and, more practicaly, money) to do that yet. I've left open the identity of the inquisitor and church he belongs to to give the GM more design freedom here if they want to include him/her as an antagonist in the story. Secrets:
Known to him and me: His innate healing ability allows him to draw magical positive energy directly from the positive energy plane, which is often at best frowned upon by many religious factions and their followers. Laer thinks he might be hunted by at least one of the churches over this. Another one: Deep down, the reason he hasn't been accepted yet into any order or church, prior to the truth of his healing ability being discovered, is that his mindset is ultimately flawed. The most important driving factor in wanting to be a paladin for him isn't to help others, but to achieve his childhood dream and gain admiration for his deeds. In short, he is ultimately (as yet) too selfish to be a paladin. Known to me but not him: The Rune he gained upon forming a pact with his familiar Raavu, which the Rat's previous master and Raavu have as well, is the Sihedron Rune, the symbol of Thassilonean rune magic. What this means or signifies, he doesn't know. Unknown to me: GM decision! Statistics:
'Sir' Lesmond (Larry) Gifford
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Fauchard (magic) (10ft reach): +7 vs ac, 1d10+5 (18-20/x2)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 3/day (DC 14, 3d6)
. . S spirit magic spell; Spirit Life Wandering Spirit Lore
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 16 Traits Outsider > Missionary (Shield of faith, Divine favor, Barkskin), Fate's Favored. Feats Heavy Armor Proficiency, Exotic Weapon proficiency (Fauchard) (Replaces skill focus), healer's hands, incredible healer. Skills Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Heal +16 (+2 when using healer's hands), Knowledge (nature) +6, Knowledge (planes) +10, Knowledge (religion) +8, Perception +15. Background: profession (cook) + 11, Lore (Chivalry) +10. Survival +7; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception Familiar Skills and stats (Rat familiar named Raavu, sage archetype) Arcana +8, local +8, nature +8, dungeoneering +8, history +8. Geography +6, religion +6, planes +6, engineering +6, linguistics +4. -Always inactive, grants +2 fort.
Languages Common, Elven, Thassilonean, Varisian. SQ elf blood, monstrous insight, spirit animal Other Gear +1 full plate, cloak of resistance +1, +1 Fauchard, healer's gloves, belt of strength +2, longsword, heavy mace with alchemical silver, coldiron longspear, dagger, masterwork tool heal (channel pendant, + 2 heal when using healer's hands), MW tool Bluff (prayer books and heraldry to pass as a paladin), Starter kit and rations, CI Javelin x 10, scroll of obscuring mist, scroll of divine favor, spring loaded wirst sheathe x 2, potion sponge with touch of the sea, smoked goggles, swimming fins. 14.5g. --------------------
Deliver Touch Spells Through Familiar (Su) Your familiar can deliver touch spells for you. Elf Blood Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race. Elven Immunities - Sleep You are immune to magic sleep effects.
Cleric spells known (FBC level 3-5) Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Ashen Path. Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in dim light, distinguishing color and detail. Monstrous Insight (5/day) (Su) As a standard action, attempt know check to ID monster and gain +2 to att & AC vs. that foe.
Share Spells with Familiar Can cast spells with a target of "You" on the familiar with a range of touch. Hexes Healing Hex, Lifelink. Speak with Familiar (Ex) You can communicate verbally with your familiar. Spirit Animal If spirit animal is slain, cannot use spirit magic or prepare new spells. Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at https://www.wolflair.com
What he provices to the group:
Laer is a healer/support character who starts of with lots and lots of healing between his channel energy, lifelink, healing hex and healer's hands/incredible healer combo. While he doesn't have a wand of cure light wounds, my experience from playing as Sorogar (another life shaman in a campaign that ended) in the past is that with this much healing, the wand is never used. Healing hex is a free cure moderate on everyone once per day, channel is a good ouf of combat heal mostly and Incredible healer heals someone for 1d20+18 along with an extra up to 6 healing five times per day as a fullround action. Lifelink passively heals others at the cost of health and combines with incredible healer to heal party damage outside of it. When healing isn't needed, he is decently tanky with his fullplate and can hit decently hard with his two handed weapon, especially with divine favor as a buff. His real value lies in the other buff and debuff abilities he can be built to get from here, though. He has access to Barkskin and the cleric buffs through base shaman and the favored class bonus, and can I.E. take the arcane enlightenment hex at level 6 to also grant haste to the group. From there, most of his levels and feats he will probably take extra hexes, either to buff allies (fortune hex, chant etc) or debuff enemies (evil eye, misfortune etc). He can however also be built to be a frontliner by taking combat feats like power attack and combat reflexes if we don't want those. Campaign trait question:
Reading missionary, it states that I have to pick 3 spells on my spell list. The human FBC adds cleric spells to the shaman spell list. Can Laer/Lesmond pick cleric spells as he starts at a higher level? If not, that is no problem and I'll pick Exile instead. On a power level scale, missionary is mostly good early on while exile is always good. |
