Varia Helensis's page

Varia was raised by a fairly well-off family in Kintargo - not nobility by any means, but she’s rarely lacked for much. Her family were, and still are, devout followers of Asmodeus’ teachings, and took the birth of a Tiefling in their family as a sign of great things to come. Though her family had a strong connection to the arcane arts, largely scholars and wizards themselves, they were insistent that Varia was meant for a life in the clergy, and enrolled her in religious schooling almost as soon as she was able, and Varia was blowing off those lessons almost as quickly. She never took quite as well to Asmodeus’ teachings as her family did, mostly allowing her mind to wander during lessons, and just following through the motions for any worship. She always had a bit too much energy to really sit through a class, and any day she didn’t end her lessons either escaping or being punished was considered a good day in her book.

As much as her parents would have loved to say their daughter was the kind of elegant and poised individual they wanted her to be, the energy that prevented Varia from paying attention in her lessons also kept her out on the streets when she could manage, making trouble with the other children. In her case, what this meant more often than not, was getting into fights. Either friendly matches with other kids too rowdy for their own good, or less well-meant attacks from someone she’d annoyed or gotten on the wrong side of, she’d jump in with reckless abandon, all for the fun.

As she got older, the troublemaking never really stopped. Instead, the penchant for getting into fights turned into a very real interest in the martial arts, taking lessons from and sparring with whoever she could talk into teaching her something. However, her parents’ insistence that she join Asmodeus’ priests never quite lessened, either, despite Varia’s consistent disinterest in the faith. Her inability to sit through a lesson turned into less energetic acts of rebellion as a teenager, questioning and talking back to her would-be mentors, though the end result of being kicked out of classes or punished never really changed. Before long, she stopped trying to attend her lessons at all, instead wandering the church while her family expected her to be there. So long as she was in the building, she was at least sort of complying with their wishes, right? Of course.

It was during one of these days spent wandering the church that she overheard a particular conversation - some familiar voices, some now - discussing plans for an upcoming ceremony. Varia heard her parents voices, discussing her own disobedience, how utterly not equipped she was to handle the position they wanted her to fill, how the only way they could see for her to serve Asmodeus at this point was as sacrifice. How little her parents tried to argue to save her.

Her temper got the better of her. The anger, on top of her lifelong reckless streak, propelled her to burst into the room, ready for an immediate confrontation. When they tried to subdue her, she fought back on instinct, fueled by years of scrapping in the streets and by a new, almost electric kind of energy that this new level of anger seemed to bring out in her. She seemed stronger than usual, more brutal than any of them were expecting, and once she’d broken free of her attacker’s hold - and broken several of their bones in doing so - the adrenaline carried her out, as far away as she could manage, leading her to Kintargo’s harbor.

This was a few years ago now, and Varia’s drive to be anywhere but home led her to find work on a ship, travelling wherever her crew would take her, putting her all into whatever work they could throw at her, and continuing to hone her martial skill over the years. She’s held on to her distaste for Asmodeus and his worshippers, fed both by her own experiences and by those she’s heard from others over her years travelling outside of Cheliax. This distaste has grown over time, from the rebellious dislike of a child to an utter hatred of the order and what they stand for, and a strong belief in freedom and choice.

Varia would have been happy to never again say she lived in Cheliax, until a brief, well-timed stop back in Kintargo’s port had her overhearing the news of the new Lord-Mayor, of the city under martial law, and of the growing resistance from Kintargo’s residents. She easily could have left, but something in her conscience wouldn’t let her, and she gathered the equipment she’d earned over the years, left her ship and crew, and returned to the city in a hope to find and aid whatever resistance there was. If she can help remove the influence of Asmodeus, and give some semblance of freedom back to the people, it will all be worth returning.

Varia’s small, smaller than one might expect, standing only at five feet tall, and though she’s clearly athletic, her muscle is built on a deceptively slim and lithe build. She lacks some of the more obvious tells of Tiefling blood, instead of horns or hooves or a tail sporting odd, almost grey skin and sclera, and pale yellow irises. Her hair is a deep blue-black and cut roughly short, as if it was done by herself. She sports a number of piercings in her face and ears, and any visible skin from her neck down displays intricate tattoos of chain, looping and crossing over what seems to be most of her body.

For all that her appearance might lead one to expect a gloomy attitude, Varia’s expression is usually one of amusement, an almost smug kind of expression that seems to invite a fight.

Disruptive Bloodrage(Su): At 1st level, the DC to cast spells defensively increases by 2 for enemies within your threatened area. This increase stacks with that granted by the Disruptive feat.
Bloodrage(Su) (10 rounds/day): The bloodrager’s source of internal power grants him the ability to bloodrage.
At 1st level, a bloodrager can bloodrage for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Constitution modifier. At each level after 1st, he can bloodrage for 2 additional rounds per day. Temporary increases to Constitution (such as those gained from bloodraging or spells like bear’s endurance) don’t increase the total number of rounds that a bloodrager can bloodrage per day. The total number of rounds of bloodrage per day is renewed after resting for 8 hours, although these hours need not be consecutive.
A bloodrager can enter a bloodrage as a free action. While in a bloodrage, a bloodrager gains a +4 morale bonus to his Strength and Constitution, as well as a +2 morale bonus on Will saves. In addition, he takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class. The increase to Constitution grants the bloodrager 2 hit points per Hit Die, but these disappear when the bloodrage ends and are not lost first like temporary hit points. While bloodraging, a bloodrager cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.
A bloodrager can end his bloodrage as a free action. When the bloodrage ends, he’s fatigued for a number of rounds equal to twice the number of rounds spent in the bloodrage. A bloodrager cannot enter a new bloodrage while fatigued or exhausted, but can otherwise enter bloodrage multiple times during a single encounter or combat. If a bloodrager falls unconscious, his bloodrage immediately ends, placing him in peril of death.
Bloodrage counts as the barbarian’s rage class feature for the purpose of feat prerequisites, feat abilities, magic item abilities, and spell effects.

Uncanny Dodge(Ex): At 2nd level, a bloodrager can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He cannot be caught flat-footed, nor does he lose his Dexterity bonus to AC if the attacker is invisible. He still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. A bloodrager with this ability can still lose his Dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully uses the feint action against him.

Blood Sanctuary (Su): At 3rd level, due to the power of his blood, a bloodrager can stand confidently amid the effects of spells cast by himself or his allies. He gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells that he or an ally casts.

19 gp 9 sp
Masterwork Cold Iron Ranseur, Composite Longbow (+2 str), 20 arrows, Mwk Agile Breastplate, Wand of Long Arm (50 charges), Masterwork Backpack, Bloodrager’s kit (includes blanket, belt pouch, flint and steel, iron pot, soap, 10 torches, 5 days of trail rations, waterskin), bedroll.