About Yao MiharaYao Mihara
Appearance: -------
Age :25 Size : • Medium, 5' 0", 115 lbs (Human Form) • Medium, 4' 8”, 95 lbs (Kitsune Form) Type : Fey Mihara appears to be a Tien woman in her mid-twenties, with dark, free-flowing shoulder-length hair. She is lean and fit, of somewhat short stature, but not quite scrawny. Make-up in deep earthy tones highlight her traits strikingly, emphasizing a sharp glance and a sly smile. In her true kitsune form, she is slightly shorter, and of an even lighter build, with the dark hair of her human form translating into equally somber fur, a distinctive trait of the Yao Clan. Not one, but two tails swish behind her as she walks, denoting her strong innate magic. In both cases, she favors luxurious yet comfortable clothing in traditional Tien styles. Ornate silk, fine linen, and tasteful jewelry compose her usual attire even in more adventurous settings, mostly due to her prized possession of a pair of the fabled Sleeves of Many Garments. Under these glamered outfits, she wears simple, comfortable silken clothes, usually a long-sleeved light dress. She chooses this outfit for practicality, but detests to be seen in it. Unless in disguise, Mihara always wears a wooden holy symbol of Daikitsu and a signet ring marked with the Yao clan's emblem. Mihara's demeanor is cheerful and polite, with frequent smiles and a light step. At times, it takes her great concentration to remember that, as a human, her feet are supposed to touch the ground as she walks, and that humans cannot simply glide about.
Personality ------- Personality: -------
Mihara is motivated by freedom, joy, and discovery. She cares little for matters of good and evil, and often considers such conflicts none of her business. However, she is not unfeeling. She has no qualms with settling conflicts that concern her or those she holds dear, and does not tolerate those who would cause gratuitous suffering. Mihara prides herself on keeping an even head and thinking before acting. She is careful not to underestimate adversity, a lesson taught to her, in her youth, by one Zhen Halfblood. She enjoys the finer things in life: good food, good drink, good company, and fine clothing and jewelry. She holds a particular fondness for songbirds, and in fact keeps several as pets at home on Moon's Whisper. In times of peace, Mihara is an easygoing, playful soul, eager to discover new things. She picks up easily on social cues and, true to her shapeshifter nature, is a social chameleon, able to blend in with different groups. That being said, Mihara has little patience for those who would disrespect her. As the sister of a kitsune clan patriarch and herself in a position of noblesse there, she has her pride, and will not hesitate to speak her piece. Mihara does not like to resort to violence, but will do so without remorse if threatened. She is not afraid to use her weapons and, in kitsune Form, her sharp teeth. In non-Kitsune society, Mihara prefers to stick to her human form. She knows that keeping her innate magic and kitsune form a secret gives her the advantage of surprise. Furthermore, her kitsune form has time and time again proven to make an efficient disguise in a pinch, to go about unrecognized. To this end, she has been working on learning to channel a unique gift of the kitsune, that of taking on the fully animal form of a fox, though she has yet to attain this goal.
Background ------- Background:
Half a day's sail from the coasts of Tian Xia stands the island known to local sailors as the Moon's Whisper, for the mysterious noises heard upon its coasts at night. "The rustle of trees in the breeze", some say. "The sound of the waves washing upon the beach", others affirm. Those who are well informed know it to be the murmurs of the Yao Clan.
The descendants of Ancestor Yao Makaru, known for his nine tails, for allegedly being a descendant of Daikitsu herself, and for quite literally walking upon the evening breeze without diverting its course, the Yao Clan was known to be benevolent despite their reclusive nature, wishing for peace and freedom and desiring no more than to be allowed to do as they pleased within their land. The current patriarch of the Yao clan, the seven-tailed Yao Saroku, was a kitsune of great renown amongst his peers, and of some fame amongst local sailors as well, for granting hospitality to those who approached his island with respect and good intentions. He and his kin appreciated the finest things of exterior society, be it fine food and drink, art, poetry, or tools and weapons of fine craftsmanship. He was happy to barter with his guests, gladly trading the help of his clan's magical gifts for such goods. As such, magical trinkets given from the Yao Clan were known to circulate in the region, and it was well known that, should one need the service of the kitsune, the Yaos could be trusted. Yao Saroku had five children: the elder son, Hakeru, the second born, his daughter Mihara, the middle child, Chakosu, the fourth child, Saraki, and the youngest, Kiromu. Three sons and two daughters, in alternance. They were the pride of their father but, as was tradition, the eldest son was to be the next patriarch, upon their father's passing. This meant little, of course, as, much as their uncles, each of the siblings knew that theirs was a role just as important as that of the eldest brother. A small ferry came to the Moon's Whisper one day. A brave warrior by the name of Zhen Halfblood, involved in a quest that had brought him to the distant coasts of Tian Xia from his home in Golarion, was in search of a unique magical charm meant to ward away vile spirits from an accursed town. He had learned from merchants in the region that the Yao clan would know where to find such a thing, and had sought them out. As a gift, he had brought a crate of fine dwarven ale, an exotic concoction in the kitsunes' eyes. Yao Saroku invited Zhen and his companions to join his family over dinner to discuss the creation of his charm. The seating arrangement that night found the young Mihara, then merely a kit, sitting across from the large man. As dinner was eaten in a jovial atmosphere and platters began to empty, the warrior and the girl found themselves reaching for the same fish dumpling. Mihara's chopsticks grasped the morsel before the warrior's fork could spear it, but the kit's mischievous taunt, as she stuck out her tongue to playfully mock her defeated opponent, was her undoing. The warrior raised the utensil and tapped the dumpling right out of her grasp, sending it leaping through the air into the warrior's plate. Defeated, Mihara swore to herself, amidst the laughter and through her own, that she would find a way to get back at the warrior before the latter left the island. The next day, Zhen was to trek through the island's forest, guided by Yao Hakeru, the elder son. Mihara spent much of the evening and early morning preparing to follow them, unseen. She was going to have revenge, whatever the cost to her pride. Little did she know what she was getting into. Mihara used her entire repertoire of tricks to try and catch the warrior off guard. Sneaking excessively spiced fish jerky into his rations, stalking through the trees to startle him, attempting to spook the man with mysterious dancing lights. Nothing worked. Zhen was always one step ahead, anticipating her every move. As the day grew older and the return trek from the lucky shrine came to a close, Mihara grew irritated and impatient. More than once, her increasingly clumsy tricks had led her to fall out of trees and, in one instance, take a plunge into a chilly lake. As the warrior and his guide sat to have a snack to hold them over before dinner, Mihara realised that she had not eaten in a while. She watched as Zhen attempted to master the use of chopsticks, seeing in them an interesting local custom. As the warrior struggled with a piece of food, Mihara saw a chance to strike. She drew her own chopsticks from her pocket and leapt out of the undergrowth, snagging the morsel from the man's shaky hold, and vanishing into the bushes, immediately biting into the food. As fate would have it, it was the spicy fish jerky, sending her running, eyes watering, for the nearest lake. What a lesson she'd been taught. A lesson in hubris and in never underestimating a foe. That night, Yao Saroku and his family bid farewell to Zhen Halfblood and his men. As the vessel that had brought the latter along sailed to the horizon, back to its western homeland, the kitsune thought to themselves that it was a shame they would likely not see their new friends again. For their father, this would be the truth. Yao Saroku would pass away some years after Zhen Halfblood's travel to their island. For Mihara, however, the old warrior would have far more impact on her life than she could ever have expected, though it would be years before this would materialize. In the years that followed Zhen's visit, Mihara began developped an interest in the western continent of Avistan. She took a few trips to visit the foreign land through the years. One of those trips, however, would prove quite troublesome. Mihara's travels had taken her to the ports of Katapesh. There, she had met a merchant of rare and exotic teas, and traded a sizeable sum for several crates of his finest wares, to bring back to the Moon's Whisper as a treat for herself and her kin. As misfortune would have it, her fate would cross that of less savory individuals. A ring of smugglers operated within the port, dealing in exotic products much in the same vein as her recent purchase. Local authorities, finding her purchase highly suspicious, detained her under suspicion of being involved with the smugglers, and seized her tea. In other circumstances, Mihara would have laughed the situation off as a comical mistake, escaped with the help of her skills and magical gifts, and been gone before anyone was wise to her disparition, but by the nine tails of Daikitsu, she had bought that tea fair and square, and she was going to enjoy it. She demanded to be allowed to prove her innocence by helping seize the true smugglers. With some convincing, a local judge agreed to that much, seeing that the smugglers had been evading the authorities for quite a while. Banding with other adventurers, who had suffered similar losses to the smugglers' wrongdoings, Mihara's quest eventually led to the successful arrest of their leader and the dismantling of the entire traffic. Her name cleansed and her tea reclaimed, Mihara eventually bid farewell to her new companions and sailed back to her homeland, with quite the story to tell. She wondered if she would see some of them again. Perhaps, if fortune was on her side, their paths would cross again. One evening, as Mihara and her entourage were enjoying a quiet drink by the coast, a small merchant ship came to the Moon's whisper. The captain explained that he had been asked to deliver an important message in addition to bringing some trade goods Yao Hakeru had requested. The letter, sent by none but Zhen Halfblood, was respectfully addressed to the old patriarch. On behalf of their father, the five siblings opened the letter in private. The words within asked for the help of the kitsune with the warrior's final request. "Making the acquaintance of your kin was a fascinating experience," the letter said, "I believe your clan's unique gifts would prove to be a great help." The letter politely requested the presence of the patriarch or one of his children, making particular note of "the feisty eldest daughter." Though she had mellowed out in adulthood, Yao Mihara was touched that Zhen had remembered her. Seeing potential for an interesting journey, wishing to pay her respects to the old warrior, and perhaps hoping for a chance to get payback after all these years, she agreed to go. Bidding farewell to her siblings, and promising to return soon, Mihara left the island with the merchants the next day, headed to the faraway city of Katapesh... ------- Defense ------- AC 20, Touch 16, Flat 14; (10 + 6 dex + 4 armor) HP 53 (6d8+12+8 Mythic) DR 5/Cold Iron Resistances Cold and Electricity 10 Fort +4; Ref +13; Will +2 (+6 vs. Mind-Affecting) ------- Offense ------- Speed 30 ft, Fly 45 ft (Good Maneuverability, Fly +19) (40ft, Fly 60ft , Fly +25 in fox shape) BAB +5 Melee • 2x +1 Short Sword +15 (1d6+9; 19-20 x2; P) (+13 as part of a full attack) (1 is Called) • Bite +13 (1d4; x2; B/S/P) (+5 as part of a full attack) • 2x Dagger +13 (1d4; 19-20 x2; P or S) • 2x Sap +13 (1d6; x2; B, NL) Ranged • +1 Shortbow +14 (1d6+1; x3; 70 ft; P or B) • Dagger +13 (1d4; 19-20 x2; 10ft; P or S) CMB +5 CMD 23 ------- Statistics ------- Statistics:
Str 10; Dex 26; Con 14; Int 12; Wis 10; Cha 22 Feats • Two-Weapon Fighting • Realistic Likeness • Weapon Focus (Short Sword) • Fox Shape • Extra Rogue Talent (Underhanded) • (M) Realistic Likeness: Benefit: You gain a bonus equal to your mythic tier on Disguise checks to fool others with your impersonation. If you expend one use of your mythic power, you can emulate the effects of misdirection with the impersonated human as your target, as long as the human is within 30 feet of you when you make the transformation. This effect lasts for one hour per mythic tier you possess. Traits
Drawbacks
Class Features • Sneak Attack (4d6)
Mythic Powers (7/day)
------- Fox Shape ------- Fox Shape:
• Abilities: +4 to dexterity, -2 to strength • Armor Class: 24 (Touch 24, Flatfoot 12) • Attack: Bite +16 (1d3-1, x2) • Low-Light Vision, Scent ------- Skills ------- Skills: -------
(8 + 1 int + 2 background + Focused Learner = 12) [Fox Shape]
• Acrobatics +20, not flatfoot [+24 to jump]
Languages Spoken: (2 racial + 1 int) • Common
Equipment ------- Equipment:
• 2 +1 short swords (1 called) • +1 shortbow • Mithral shirt • Robe of the Master of Masters (Haste 1 round per day, 5 minute dance 1 per day = heal up to 7 allies within 30 feet for 1 hp) • Glyphbane gloves • 20 arrows • 20 blunt arrows • 20 whistling arrows • 2 saps • 2 daggers in spring-loaded sheaths • Pocketed Scarf • Everburning torch, • Sleeves of Many Garments • Holy Text of Daikitsu • Holy Symbol of Daikitsu • Grooming Kit • Rogue's Kit (This kit includes a backpack, a bedroll, a belt pouch, caltrops, chalk (10), a flint and steel, a grappling hook, an iron pot, a mess kit, a mirror, pitons (10), rope, soap, thieves' tools, torches (10), trail rations (5 days), and a waterskin.) • Thieves' Ring • Signet Ring (Emblem: A stylized tea leaf, the emblem of the Yao clan) • Masterwork Backpack • Limited wish rock • 15117.9 gp Encumbrance: Medium, Light without backpack. ------- The Diadem of Yunet ------- Spoiler:
1st - Crown of a Ruler - The Diadem functions a +2 Headband of Charisma. 3rd - Huli-Jing's Revolt - As a full round action, call up a creature similar to an Eidolon at half the characters, but it is always Tiny. It takes the shape of a small fox. While Summoned, the owner may see through the creature's senses. 5th - Always a Weakness - While many creatures natural magics and abilities negate the normal methods sneak attack, the Diadem can target those very magics. On the first attack of each round, a Rogue can do their Sneak Attack damage as usual, even on targets that would normally immune.
------- Innate Powers ------- Innate Powers:
• Change Shape (Su): A kitsune can assume the appearance of a specific single human form of the same sex. The kitsune always takes this specific form when she uses this ability. A kitsune in human form cannot use her bite attack, but gains a +10 racial bonus on Disguise checks made to appear human. Changing shape is a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as alter self, except that the kitsune does not adjust her ability scores.
------- Favored Tactics ------- In combat, Mihara prefers to stand back and pick off disadvantaged targets, making use of flanking and stealth as necessary. She is unlikely to confront a martially inclined foe head on, unless an ally provides her with an advantageous flank. She can, and will, use her kitsune fangs when necessary. Mihara knows that she can't absorb much damage, and will retreat when direly threatened. Out of combat, Mihara is quite familliar with the advantages of stealth and scouting. Her gift for disguises can prove very useful for gathering information. Her most potent weapons, she claims, are her sharp wit and her silver tongue. |