Union Jack's page

At 1st level, when an opponent makes a melee attack against the swashbuckler, she can spend 1 panache point and expend a use of an attack of opportunity to attempt to parry that attack. The swashbuckler makes an attack roll as if she were making an attack of opportunity; for each size category the attacking creature is larger than the swashbuckler, the swashbuckler takes a -2 penalty on this roll. If her result is greater than the attacking creatures result, the creatures attack automatically misses. The swashbuckler must declare the use of this ability after the creatures attack is announced, but before its attack roll is made. Upon performing a successful parry and if she has at least 1 panache point, the swashbuckler can as an immediate action make an attack against the creature whose attack she parried, provided that creature is within her reach.

 Swashbucklers spend panache points to accomplish deeds. Most deeds grant the swashbuckler a momentary bonus or effect, but some provide longer-lasting effects. Some deeds remain in effect while the swashbuckler has at least 1 panache point, but do not require expending panache to be maintained. A swashbuckler can only perform deeds of her level or lower. Unless otherwise noted, a deed can be performed multiple successive times, as long as the swashbuckler has or spends the required number of panache points to perform the deed.
Derring-Do (Ex) At 1st level, a swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point when she makes an Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Fly, Ride, or Swim check to roll 1d6 and add the result to the check. She can do this after she makes the check but before the result is revealed. If the result of the d6 roll is a natural 6, she rolls another 1d6 and adds it to the check. She can continue to do this as long as she rolls natural 6s, up to a number of times equal to her Dexterity modifier (minimum 1).
Dodging Panache (Ex) At 1st level, when an opponent attempts a melee attack against the swashbuckler, the swashbuckler can as an immediate action spend 1 panache point to move 5 feet; doing so grants the swashbuckler a dodge bonus to AC equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 0) against the triggering attack. This movement doesnt negate the attack, which is still resolved as if the swashbuckler had not moved from the original square. This movement is not a 5-foot step; it provokes attacks of opportunity from creatures other than the one who triggered this deed. The swashbuckler can only perform this deed while wearing light or no armor, and while carrying no heavier than a light load.
Opportune Parry and Riposte (Ex): At 1st level, when an opponent makes a melee attack against the swashbuckler, she can spend 1 panache point and expend a use of an attack of opportunity to attempt to parry that attack. The swashbuckler makes an attack roll as if she were making an attack of opportunity; for each size category the attacking creature is larger than the swashbuckler, the swashbuckler takes a –2 penalty on this roll. If her result is greater than the attacking creature's result, the creature's attack automatically misses. The swashbuckler must declare the use of this ability after the creature's attack is announced, but before itsattack roll is made. Upon performing a successful parry and if she has at least 1 panache point, the swashbuckler can as an immediate action make an attack against the creature whose attack she parried, provided that creature is within her reach. This deed's cost cannot be reduced by any ability or effect that reduces the number of panache points a deed costs.

 More than just a lightly armored warrior, a swashbuckler is a daring combatant. She fights with panache: a fluctuating measure of a swashbucklers ability to perform amazing actions in combat. At the start of each day, a swashbuckler gains a number of panache points equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Her panache goes up or down throughout the day, but usually cannot go higher than her Charisma modifier (minimum 1), though feats and magic items can affect this maximum. A swashbuckler spends panache to accomplish deeds (see below), and regains panache in the following ways. 

Unlike other swashbucklers, a picaroon regains panache when she confirms a critical hit or makes a killing blow with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon or a one-handed firearm.
This ability alters panache.

 At 1st level, a swashbuckler gains the benefits of the Weapon Finesse feat with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons, and she can use her Charisma score in place of Intelligence as a prerequisite for combat feats. This ability counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for purposes of meeting feat prerequisites.

Rapier
Studded leather
Crossbow
Dagger
Explorer's outfit (Union Jack outfit and gear)

Tristan Baddock has sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. His long hair is bound at the nape of his neck with a short pony tail hanging past his collar. He has yet to shed his childhood pudge but is athletic. At close inspection his clothing has been repaired many times and bares the stains and marks of a rambunctious boy and a thrifty attentive mother. He wears a dingy pair of once white knickers that hang a little long on his leg as they were not initially bought for him. His jacket is navy blue with the trailing tails like a soldiers uniform. The deep blue of his coat is chased in a red criss-cross of strips resembling the stripes of the English flag a look that seems both garishly patriotic or irreverent all at once. He has a beat up leather wide brimmed hat that has seen better days, one side of the hat is pinned up (though it was not made to) and is stuck with a white feather. When not managed by his mother he wears a wool cap pulled down over his face with eye holes cut out like a mask beneath his hat like a highwayman or commando. Hung from his repurposed tool belt with pouches and pockets is a curved wooden toy sword. Those who fancy trash fiction stories recognize that young Tristan has made a costume for himself depicting the hero Union Jack.

A dashing young figure with a wide brimmed musketeer's hat with a white feather. He wears a mask obscuring his face but charming and daring eyes look out from the navy blue. He wears a blue calvary coat that opens at the waist for lithe movement its tails trailing behind him. The deep blue of his coat is chased in a red criss-cross with bold red strips unmistakably like the English flag. A short fencer's cape is drapped off his left shoulder bound with a gold broach of a lion rampant. His sword is a rapier rakishly slung from his belt.

Shy even melancholy at times when he is managed by adults, when he is not allowed to drop his mask. He is kind, soft spoken and well mannered. He is clearly accustomed to dealing with gentle folk above his station. When not allowed to drop the mask he reads voraciously though he favors adventure stories, Robin Hood, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Treasure Island though his favorite is the tales of Union Jack. He much to his mother's chagrin has made himself an outfit or costume so he can dress like Union Jack. When allowed and often not Tristan takes from his beat up hat an old wool hat and pulls it over his face completing his "Union Jack" costume. His friends jokingly chide this as "dropping the mask." Once behind the mask the shy boy takes on new life. He squares his shoulders as though on parade and moves swiftly. He speaks brazenly with a touch of cheekish charm. He spends what time he can playing with those who call him friend playing at swords and other heroic exploits.

Tristan was born a dozen years ago to the Baddock family in York his father, Brian, was a retired soldier. He remembers his father a happy man who told him brave stories of glory and war. Tristan's mother, Helen, was a kind woman and took care to run a tight household. While they were not rich they were comfortable and his father was respected in business. When news of war broke out in Crimea Brian was asked by a more well off family friend, James Falsworth to serve as an advisor. He was offered a commission and he went to war. He never returned. The loss of his father was deeply felt by Tristian though he was coached by those close to the family to see his father's death as a mark of honor that he would give his life in service to the queen and to mother England. This seemed to cushion the blow for Tristan. In the months that followed there was an erosion of his families status. No longer the son of a business man. They began to struggle for money. An uncle Gavin, his father's elder brother arrived to "look after things." He stepped in to Trista's father's affairs and righted the ship so to speak. Tristan and his mother were provided for but never felt secured. Gavin was a hard man and while his mother insists even now he was a gentlemen and never treated her ill Tristan grew to hate and fear the man. Gavin rarely spoke to Tristan except to inquire how his studies were going and to criticize if they answer was poor. Gavin was given to drink. There were nights where the man would yell and Tristan suspected right he was abusive to his mother. Tristan feared for his mother and defying her instruction he attempted to interfere when Gavin struck his mother. Tristan picked up a cricket bat and leveled it out before him like a fencer's challenge. He remember a story from the pages of the tales of Union Jack. Where Jack defended a woman set upon by brigands. "You'll not touch her lecherous knave," he called as he charged the man. He remembers little a fury of activity, pain and his uncle's bloody tooth knocked loose. In the days that followed Tristan's uncle put them on the street and sullied his mother's reputation. Tristan's mother regrets her harsh words to the boy that more than anything led to what seemed sudden shyness, "your uncle lost a tooth and we lost a home to your foolishness." Tristan and his mother moved and settled in the region 2 years back. The two were dirt poor but Tristan's mother works now as a live in servant and earns keep for she and Tristan who runs errands and helps to look after the grounds. All manner of odd jobs around the property. Tristan is both charming and odd he seems fawned on by some and viewed unfortunately by others. When he arrived in town he was shy and seemed sad. Over time he reluctantly made friends with the other children. He grew more and more outgoing the more "complete" his Union Jack costume became.

Union Jack was a hero of the Napoleonic Wars. William Grinstaff was a minor lord in central England whose holdings were worked by oppressed peasant farmers. Grinstaff ruled fairly and treated people of the lower caste far better than other Lords of the day. When wars against Napolean called for more conscripts Grinstaff was obliged to rally men from his lands. He called for volunteers but the numbers raised were few. More prominent nobles conscripted far more of the peasants of the region. Grinstaff was chastised for his resistance to the conscription. He was also called to service which he dutifully responded being a servant of the crown. Rather than take a cushy job like many nobles with high commissions he demanded the command of the conscripts forced from his lands. His exploits earned him and his unit decoration. Which angered some of the petty nobles whom Grinstaff embarrassed with his daring. He and his men were disavowed after they were framed as traitors. His unit remained in the fight harassing Napolean's forces, and fighting some of the French dictators stranger sinister allies. Because he was a wanted criminal he took to wearing a mask and was declared by many low born British soldiers was the true mark of English patriotism and fighting spirit. They took to calling him Union Jack giving him the same nickname as the English flag. His adventures pitted him against traitorous British lords, vampires (who of course aligned with Napolean), French solders and other weird occult creatures. The stories themselves were considered low brow and dismissed as derivative of other authors.