Von-Dai Cress's page

Von-Dai Cress
Male human wizard (runesage) 7
N Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +8 (+12 to notice statue-like creatures)
Favored Class: Wizard
FCB: +2 Skill Points, +5 spells added to spellbook
DEFENSE
AC 12 16, touch 12, flat-footed 12 16 (+2 Dex, +4 Mage Armor)
HP 38 (6d6+10)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +7
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft
Melee quarterstaff +4 (1d6)
Melee dagger +3 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Ranged light crossbow +5 (1d8, 19-20/x2)
Ranged dagger +5 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Special Attacks hand of the apprentice 8/day (quarterstaff +9, 1d6)
Spellcasting (CL 7th, Concentration +12)
4th-level (4/day) - acid pit (DC 21), black tentacles, warp metal (DC 20, 2)
3rd-level (5/day) - dispel magic, extended darkvision, fireball (DC 18), haste (2)
2nd-level (6/day) - glitterdust (DC 19), darkvision (2), create pit (DC 19), spider climb, see invisibility
1st-level (8/day) - burning disarm (DC 17, 2), mage armor, grease (DC 18), magic missile (2), ray of enfeeblement
0-level - acid splash, detect magic, light, mage hand
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 21, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +3, CMB+3, CMD 15
Traits Influence (Diplomacy), Ruin Raider
Feats Extend Spell, Greater Spell Focus (Conjuration), Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Conjuration, Transmutation), Spell Penetration
Skills (ACP -0) Appraise* +13, Diplomacy +10, Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +14, Knowledge (geography)* +13, Knowledge (history)* +17, Knowledge (local) +14, Knowledge (nature) +14, Knowledge (nobility)* +11, Knowledge (planes) +15, Knowledge (religion) +15, Linguistics* +17, Perception +8 (+12 to see statue-like creatures), Profession (scribe)* +10, Spellcraft +17
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Infernal, Necril, Orc, Varisian, Shoanti, Thassilonian, Undercommon
SQ Cantrips, Runic Focus (Greed)
Combat Gear potion of cure serious wounds, potion of cure moderate wounds, wand of dimension door (14 charges), wand of shield (50 charges); Other Gear bag of holding (type II), cloak of resistance +2, ring of sustenance, Boots of the Cat, sleeves of many garments, Shard of Pride, scarlet and blue ioun stone (Knowledge (history)), darkwood quarterstaff, dagger, light crossbow with 20 bolts, bandolier, wizard’s kit (masterwork backpack, a bedroll, a belt pouch, a flint and steel, ink, an inkpen, an iron pot, a mess kit, soap, a spell component pouch, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), and a waterskin), journal, 3 scroll cases, scroll of comprehend languages, waterproof bag, 11 sheets of parchment, 304 gp, 2 sp

0-level - all
1st-level - ant haul, burning disarm, burning sands, comprehend languages, enlarge person, feather fall, grease, mage armor, magic missile, magic weapon, ray of enfeeblement
2nd-level - bull's strength, cat's grace, create pit, darkvision, flaming sphere, glitterdust, scorching ray, see invisibility, shatter, spider climb
3rd-level - aqueous orb, arcane sight, clairaudience/clairvoyance, dispel magic, fireball, fly, haste, spiked pit
4th-level - acid pit, black tentacles, dimensional anchor, warp metal

Von-Dai was born to a wealthy Magnimarian merchant who desperately sought to climb the social hierarchy. Realizing that marrying his son into a noble family was his best way to do so, he spared no expense in hiring tutors and trainers to groom Von-Dai into a suitable match for a noble’s daughter. He wasn’t concerned about which noble house - just so long as he married into one. Because of how wealthy his father was, Von-Dai was able to grow up in a great deal of luxury. He rarely wanted for anything - except for socialization. His father was so focused on grooming him into the perfect suitor that he rarely had the opportunity to socialize with children his own age. When he did, it was at formal functions where nobles would be present so that his father could make sure they knew Von-Dai was there, and to show off his education.

As he grew older, his father realized that he needed to ensure Von-Dai was also ready to take over the family business. He began teaching his son how to handle the books and how to price wares in between his other lessons. Von-Dai had a keen eye, although he was never good at bargaining, being somewhat awkward with a tendency to stumble over his words, and stubbornly insisting that the price he had evaluated the merchandise at was the correct one.

When Von-Dai was 10, his father hired a tutor named Gavin Helscar. Gavin Helscar was a retired Pathfinder and wizard who thought tutoring would be an easy way for him to earn money to fund his research. What he found instead was that Von-Dai was intelligent, curious, and well-suited to the study of Wizardry. Von-Dai was careful enough he wouldn’t rush too far ahead in his lessons, but curious enough that he would never give up the pursuit of Wizardry. Gavin began to teach him the fundamentals of magic, and after three years, spoke to his father about permanently apprenticing Von-Dai to him. Gavin wasn’t a typical stodgy researcher - he knew how to wheel and deal. He tried convincing Von-Dai’s father that by allowing Gavin to apprentice to him, he would eventually have a reliable source of magic items. That the skills of wizardry would pair well with being a merchant, and that his control of magic would increase his suitability as a match for a noble family. Von-Dai’s father refused, and fired Gavin on the spot.

When he learned what his father had done, Von-Dai was upset. Gavin had been the most reliable teacher, and Von-Dai had felt Gavin would unlock his potential. So, he waited for his father to leave on business, then packed some of his belongings, took some money and other valuables, and slipped out of his bedroom window. He went to Gavin’s cottage and said he wanted to learn more about being a Wizard, and that he would leave home if he had to. Gavin agreed to take him on as his apprentice, and, in order to avoid any trouble with the law, they left the city that night. Their journeys took them across Varisia, to Riddleport and Roderic’s Cove, and then to Korvosa. There, Gavin opened a small shop to buy and sell scrolls and various trinkets, both magical and not, to the residents of the city. Von-Dai would help in the shop, and Gavin would teach him magic when they could. Though Von-Dai would sometimes miss his father and the life of luxury he’d know, he felt his studies in wizardry were worth the sacrifice, and one day he would return to Magnimar, to figure things out.

One day, twelve years after having left home, Von-Dai decided that day had arrived. Gavin agreed, saying that Von-Dai would have to learn on his own from here on out. Before he left, Gavin handed him a letter, saying that if he found himself in need, he should give the letter to the owner of a tavern called the Blue Whale down in the Shore district of Magnimar. Taking the letter, Von-Dai booked passage on a ship to Magnimar, looking forward to returning home. Unfortunately, it was not the homecoming he’d thought it would be.

Upon arrival, he went to his father’s house, only to find it dark, with a member of the guard posted out front. When he inquired as to what was happening, he was directed to a guardhouse, where he learned his father had been murdered. His body was found in bed with a seven-pointed star carved into his chest. Von-Dai was shocked. How could this have happened? Who could have killed him? Von-Dai didn’t know what to do. He took a room at an inn, to wait until he could return to his childhood home. Alas, even that was not to be. His father’s will was found, and it appeared that his father had, instead of leaving the estate to Von-Dai, left it to a group called the Brotherhood of the Seven. Von-Dai had never heard of them, and tried to fight the will in the courts, but the justice in charge of the case, an elf named Ironbriar, said there was nothing they could do, and everything appeared to be correct.

Desperate, Von-Dai remembered the letter, and took it to the Blue Whale. The owner, a half-orc named Kragar Redbelt, read the letter, then told him it was a letter of recommendation for joining the Pathfinders, and that if Von-Dai wished, he could board a ship bound for Absalom tonight. Not knowing what else to do or where else to go, Von-Dai accepted, and went to the Pathfinder Grand Lodge in Absalom.

During his training to become a Pathfinder, Von-Dai came across some information about the seven-pointed star that had been carved into his father’s chest. He learned that it was called the Sihedron Rune, and that it had been of great importance in ancient Thassilon. Von-Dai began to focus much of his efforts on studying Thassilon, on learning what it had been and its traditions. He learned of their magic, and eventually returned to Magnimar once Heidmarch Manor opened as a Pathfinder lodge. It was only in Varisia, where the Thassilonian ruins were located, that Von-Dai could learn why his father had been killed, and what had happened to cause it. In his studies, he learned of how the Runelords had embodied what had become the seven deadly sins, and, using a discarded ioun stone as his focus, began figuring out how to replicate their form of magic in some small capacity. Perhaps because he still longed for the wealth he’d grown up with, he chose to focus on the rune of wealth and greed.

Once back in Varisia, he saw just how the Pathfinder Society would allow him to accumulate wealth, and that he could accumulate more wealth much more quickly by exploring ancient Thassilonian ruins than he could just by being a merchant. He studied up on known ruins, of the dangers that had been encountered in them. He felt he was ready. Now, he had only to wait until his Venture-Captain, Sheila Heidmarch, gave him his assignment. Hopefully it wouldn’t be long.