8471-704| Male (He/Him) CN Uplifted Bear Beastblood Vital Evolutionist 1 | Portrait | SP 8/8 HP 0/0 | RP 3/3 | EAC 14; KAC 15 | Fort +4; Ref +4; Will -1(-1)* | Init: +2 | Perc: +3, SM: -1 | Speed 40(+5)ft; climb 20ft | Mutation Points 3/5 | Active conditions: Low-light vision.
The bear echoes the sentiment into the vesk's thoughts. "There was no actual harm done, lasting or otherwise," he points out. "If Minqalli gets out of hand, I will personally grab them and sit on them."
He can't help but wonder if his attempts at humor will be adequately conveyed, or if he misread the room--again--and tried an approach that the Amyik will not appreciate. He simply cannot tell.
8471-704| Male (He/Him) CN Uplifted Bear Beastblood Vital Evolutionist 1 | Portrait | SP 8/8 HP 0/0 | RP 3/3 | EAC 14; KAC 15 | Fort +4; Ref +4; Will -1(-1)* | Init: +2 | Perc: +3, SM: -1 | Speed 40(+5)ft; climb 20ft | Mutation Points 3/5 | Active conditions: Low-light vision.
Artaius, not really able to speak to most of the displays, opts to go assist the First Seeker. Since his compatriots didn't want to hear what he had to say, maybe the gala attendees would.
Answering questions, he watched as people listened with actual interest. It gave him renewed purpose, and he found himself struggling not to be unnecessarily verbose in his excitement. "The exploration and settlement of this region was only natural despite the Godshield. A veil of aurum energy was not enough to keep that trinary star system from being one of the most interesting parts of the Vast."
"With five terrestrial planets orbiting Agillae in the Goldilocks zone, five more orbiting Bastiar--not to mention a gas giant with more than 36 moons, as well as two ice giants, and two tidally locked planets on either side of Callion, the ecosystems developed vicious fauna that precipitated dangerous behavior pattern development among its inhabitants," he explained.
"It's little wonder that other than the faction of jinsuls with their fanatic worship of the Covetous Protector under the leadership of his Master of Conquest, Dhurus, most of the other natives of the Scoured Star fled to other areas," he continued. "The izalguuns on Izalraan, the mentrasi of Bastiar-2 who sadly went extinct after moving to Kukanou-2b, and the nelentus, thyrs, and other of the Kreiholm Freehold who colonized several planets in the Saaruq-Ruaan system... can you imagine the evolutionary changes brought on at the physical level by the migration, not just in the settlers but the other organisms in their microcosms? Contained exposure would take millennia or more to produce the mutations that will now be seen in just a few generations--maybe less."
He smiled. "Culturally, there's certain to be impact, but those changes are expected and ultimately minor in significance when compared to what lasting alterations all of this has wrought. You can see in your own lifetime what normally happens so slowly as to be imperceptible except in the hindsight of scientific research."
8471-704| Male (He/Him) CN Uplifted Bear Beastblood Vital Evolutionist 1 | Portrait | SP 8/8 HP 0/0 | RP 3/3 | EAC 14; KAC 15 | Fort +4; Ref +4; Will -1(-1)* | Init: +2 | Perc: +3, SM: -1 | Speed 40(+5)ft; climb 20ft | Mutation Points 3/5 | Active conditions: Low-light vision.
Artaius isn't accustomed to the finery of the ship. They're nice indulgences, but they aren't strictly necessary. He would just as soon be outdoors. You can take the bear out of the woods or some such. Aside from having been born Castrovel (and leaving it years ago), he could not, for the life of him, figure out why anyone thought he belonged at a museum or at any sort of party.
Artaius understood what made up countless species across the universe, yet he had not the slightest mastery of what made any one of them act the way they do. Social cues and subtlety were all but completely lost on him, and he had a tendency of saying and doing the wrong thing outside of academics and athletics. As such, he had the distinct impression that this party was about to become the latest addition to FUBAR.
He distracted himself with working out, fight simulations, and competitions with Radaszam. Artaius was making an effort, and he was proud of himself for it. He didn't do people. He didn't people at all. That was why he'd left Castrovel in the first place. Even when he moved to Greenview, Fumark became too "metropolitan" for his tastes, so he moved to Ursana. So far, it was home, but was its growth inevitable? Even among others of his kind, he was antisocial. His abilities embraced his feral nature, making him impulsive and all-but-bereft of empathy.
Artaius blamed that for his unease around others, though he knew his lack of efforts to change anything were equally to blame. Even his voice was less growl and more whisper, simply from lack of use. If he needed to convey his thoughts, projecting them into someone else's head was a far easier way of communicating that would not be tainted by language barriers, vocal inflections, or misperception. He liked the cleanliness of it all, but people? People were inherently messy.
8471-704| Male (He/Him) CN Uplifted Bear Beastblood Vital Evolutionist 1 | Portrait | SP 8/8 HP 0/0 | RP 3/3 | EAC 14; KAC 15 | Fort +4; Ref +4; Will -1(-1)* | Init: +2 | Perc: +3, SM: -1 | Speed 40(+5)ft; climb 20ft | Mutation Points 3/5 | Active conditions: Low-light vision.
Artaius considers the conversation carefully before chiming in. "As far as surviving in space without protection, there is the possibility that she could have been an android," he points out. "I don't have much use for such artificial constructs, but despite likelihood, it remains within the realm of reason."
"Additionally," he continues, "there are certain mystics that seem blessed with some sort of supernatural ability to not only survive in the vacuum of space but thrive. They are able to move about the void with ease, albeit not as quickly as your own kind, Soarin. That being said, they remain immune to its effects without regard for duration, whereas the sarcesians will eventually need to draw breath, causing their lungs to burst, killing them instantly."
He realized he was being unintentionally morbid. "Forgive me, I am a student of the natural workings of other species, not their social limitations. I find the biological processes of organisms more fascinating than tedious banal considerations for their sensibilities, and that applies as much in death as in life. For instance, watching a sarcesian explode is purely theoretical, and while I do not advocate for any member of that race nor any other to suffer such a fate, should such befall them, I would be interested in seeing it for academic purposes."
It really sucks trying to do a bot when the Paizo website wants to log out every 37 seconds :)
8471-704| Male (He/Him) CN Uplifted Bear Beastblood Vital Evolutionist 1 | Portrait | SP 8/8 HP 0/0 | RP 3/3 | EAC 14; KAC 15 | Fort +4; Ref +4; Will -1(-1)* | Init: +2 | Perc: +3, SM: -1 | Speed 40(+5)ft; climb 20ft | Mutation Points 3/5 | Active conditions: Low-light vision.
Next to walk in is a hulking figure. The massive brown bear is upright, standing over ten feet in height and easily weighing close to a ton. He wears the armor popularized by the Free Captains of the Diaspora, the breastplate light enough to allow mobility and the gloves open at the tips to expose his claws. He carries no obvious weaponry.
He pauses upon entry, looking around at his environs and those within it. A strange group, to be sure. A half-orc, a sarcesian, a human, a pahtra, and himself already. Definitely an interesting--if odd--mix. Looking around for a sturdy place to sit, he doesn't see one that inspires confidence, so he opts to lean against the wall.
CN Male (he/his) Vourinoi Half-Elf sorcerer (elemental fire) 2 | HP 24/24 | AC 16| Fort +6; Ref +6; Will +7, Fire Resist 1 | Perc: +5 (Low-light vision) | Speed 25ft | Hero Points 1/3 | Focus Points 1/1 | Active conditions: None.
I just made my first Ancestry purchase after PaizoCon. I’m now the proud owner of a bouncing baby Beastkin :) An odd choice for a Witch mechanically, but I like the concept.
Full Name
Lukasz Piden
Race
Human
Classes/Levels
Cleric 1 (Unholy Barrister)
Gender
Male
Age
24
Alignment
Lawful Evil
Languages
Common, Dwarven, Infernal, 1 language
Strength
14
Dexterity
11
Constitution
12
Intelligence
14
Wisdom
17
Charisma
14
About Lukasz
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180 lbs
Hair: Light Brown
Skin: Light tone
Eyes: Brown
(Crime)Heresy: You have denied the supremacy of Mitra and been condemned for it. For this to be a crime, you were not content to keep your heresy to yourself. You tried to sway others. Likely you were captured by the famed witch hunter Sir Balin of Karfeld. The last thing he said to you was: “Mitra may forgive you yet for your lies. Talingarde will not.” If only you could get a chance at revenge!
Punishment: Death by burning.
Benefit: You receive a +1 trait bonus on all saving throws against divine spells.
Flames of Hell: +1 to the DC of saving throws made to resist the effects of your channel energy ability.
Trustworthy: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Bluff checks made to fool someone. You also gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks, and Diplomacy is always a class skill for you.
Racial:
+2 Wisdom
Bonue Feat: Human's gain one extra feat at 1st level.
Skilled: One bonus skillpoint per level
Favored Class: Cleric
Class Abilities:
Hell’s Corruption (Su): You can cause a creature to become more susceptible to corruption as a melee touch attack. Creatures touched take a –2 penalty on all saving throws and must roll all opposed skill checks twice, taking the worse result. This effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum 1). You can use this ability for a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
Sudden Shift (Sp): In the blink of an eye, you can appear somewhere else. As an immediate action, after you are missed by a melee attack, you can teleport up to 10 feet to a space that you can see. This space must be inside the reach of the creature that attacked you. You can use this power a number of times each day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
Demanding Channel (7/day): At 1st level, the unholy barrister gains the ability to channel energy like a cleric of his level. This functions just like channel negative energy, allowing the unholy barrister to deal damage to all living creatures within 30 feet. The unholy barrister cannot use this ability, however, to heal undead creatures.
Instead, the unholy barrister can spend two uses of his channel negative energy class feature to heal all evil living creatures within a 30 foot burst. To receive this bonus, the creatures must each spend an immediate action, swearing loyalty to Asmodeus.
In addition to the damage healed, creatures that swear loyalty gain the Devil's Pact feat for a number of minutes equal to the cleric's level, but can only use that feat once during that time. If the creature already possesses that feat, they can use it one additional time per day, as long as they use it during the duration of the demanding channel.
Regardless of when the power is used, the creature's soul is bound to Asmodeus for the entire duration and if that creature dies during that time, it cannot be brought back to life by any means aside from a miracle or wish. Even if it is brought back to life, it gains three permanent negative levels (just as if it had the Devil's Pact feat).
This ability otherwise copies and replaces channel energy.
The Blessed Order of St. Macarius House Pavo was a dominant, if small noble family during the time before House Darius’ rise to the throne. It held a fair amount of political clout and was respected for its understanding and practice of the law. However, siding with the opposing House Barca in the war of succession, House Pavo was left in shambles and was only able to survive in part due to it holding much of the nation’s legal history. Cutting a deal, House Pavo gave up that history in exchange for the survival of the family name.
Many years later, Lukasz was born to what remained of the now politically weak House. Unbeknownst to the Pavo's however, A pact made in secret by his great-grandfather caused Lukasz to be born with tainted blood that he would not discover until later in life. Though still able to afford an affluent existence, it was only due to his father’s keen legal skills and long hours assisting the stronger Houses that Lukasz could live such a life. As the lad grew, he neglected physical pursuits in favor of academic study. Fond of listening to his grandfather’s tales, he also learned about the way things were before the rule of House Darius, when his family name had influence in Talingarde. When he was old enough, Lukasz apprenticed under his father, training to be a barrister for rich merchants and minor nobility alike. In truth, his life was full of work but it was profitable and followed the tenets of the Shining Lord, a patron adopted by his House after House Darius took the throne. However, his ambitious nature forced many confrontations with people above his station and would ultimately lead him into the Lord of Hell’s grasp.
A few days after his 23rd birthday, one year after his father had passed from old age, Lukasz discovered that Heldric, the incompetent distant cousin of King Markadian V, was chosen as a barrister for the royal court, a distinction that Lukasz had been denied on many occasions over the past several years. One night, brewing in his own ambition and frustration, Lukasz began hearing words whispered in his mind by an unknown voice. At first resisting the sweet talk of revenge and the promise of ambitions fulfilled, Lukasz’ pride and ambition slowly got the better of him and he began to follow those words. As he listened more and more, Lukasz found himself discovering hidden arcane talent locked away within his own blood. Realizing that this power did not come from Mitra, Lukasz nearly gave up that power. After reflecting on the many times he had been denied his desires through circumstances he couldn't control, Lukasz decided to use his new found power to obtain the success he had been searching for for all these years. As such, he began listening more closely to the whispers he heard at night, his mind channeling words from Hell, providing counsel that sounded better and better with each passing day. Following the advice of these voices, Lukasz took up the pen name Tomas D'Aquina and began to write scathing articles criticizing the corruption of House Darius. His articles not becoming popular among the citizens of Talingarde, Lukasz' growing desperation and infernal blood convinced him to seek out hellish aid. Setting up room in his quarters to summon fiendish creatures, he restricted anyone from entering his quarters and the adjoining rooms. However, one of his cousins, fearful for Lukasz' growing secretive nature, asked a messanger to violate the man's rules. Slipping into the room, the messanger happened upon Lukasz as a fiendish creature suddenly appeared in the room. Shocked at what he saw, the messenger fled to summon the Watch.
Several days later, a contingent of guards, headed by Sir Balin, came to inspect the ground of the Pavo residence for evidence to his misdeeds. Finding the house empty of life and a study marked with a foul pentagram, Sir Balin posted a watch on the house, in case Lukasz returned. However, startled by the messanger's intrusion and subsequent escape, Lukasz, realizing that he was most likely found out, fled into the night.
Leaving this open to work the character into the current campaign.
Personality:
“In your self-righteous ignorance you may condemn me, because you fear the truth I represent. I am a child of the legacy you have wrought. All I ever wanted was opportunity, a chance, but I did not fit the glorious mold your dogma and traditions hold up as the standard. I did nothing more than pull at the seams and wedge open the cracks of dissatisfaction. I am illumination in the darkness of your ignorance. Though you think I am wrong and evil for consorting with infernal powers, it is for exposing the inadequacies of Mitra's doctrine and the Crown that you condemn me. You can hide behind your scriptures and prayers, shield yourself with crown and flag, but it will not, cannot change the simple truth – Your faith is flawed and broken, your dynasty is corrupt and decaying and only by embracing the truth can you be saved.” — Lukasz Piden, writing as Tomas D'Aquina.
His career as a barrister has instilled in Lukasz a cool and calm demeanor. However, this is an exterior that hides ambition and frustration that is as intense as the hellish power that flows through his blood. A firm believer in law, he doesn’t see his action as unlawful or evil. A legitimate rule shouldn’t be determined by the blood in ones veins but by the crown’s ability to keep order. The House of Darius was a corrupt monarchy that granted favor to blood over those who would earn it through merit. In Lukasz' mind, only by riding the kingdom of House Darius' influence and replacing it with strict adherence to law can Talingarde continue to prosper. He has become a man willing to use his experience as a barrister and his new found power to achieve his goals. Possessing a natural charisma, Lukasz has a way with words, which he uses to mask his frustrations and work towards his goal of the downfall of the Church and the Crown.
Description:
Lukasz's frame is straight backed and tall, his life of pouring over legal text leaving him with a slim form that lacks muscle. His skin well tended and his appearance normally clean, Lukasz seems to come from a wealthy background though the frayed edges of his clothing suggests that his is a family accustomed to wealth that no longer has it. Attractive and confident, Lukasz is always seen with a kind smile, though those perceptive enough can see a coolness in his brown eyes that betrays a less warm nature.
Favored class distribution
Spoiler:
Level 1: skill point
Background
Spoiler:
Born the youngest son to a minor noble family, Lukasz was raised under the stern eye of his father and mother and the shadow of his older brother. However, his family treated him with love and he grew up respecting his father. As the youngest of the family, Lukasz was sent to the Mages Academy in Talingrade to learn the ways of wizardry while his older brother apprenticed under their father.
After many years of study, Lukasz prepared for his exams to become an invoker feeling that his sturdy frame, intelligence and strength would make him a strong candidate for the Talingrade Wizards Corp. However, the sudden death of his father from a mysterious disease would cause the young man to start down a completely different path. Hearing the news of his father's death, Lukasz entered the wizard's exam with scattered thought and a heavy heart. His devastated state of mind caused him to fail the exam, thus dooming Lukasz to another three years of preparation before he could next test. Uncertain of what he could do to get back on to the right path, Lukasz grew more distant from his family, his father having been the one person that the young man went to for advice and guidance. Now lacking that pillar of guidance, Lukasz keen intellect but dull wit started to get the lad in trouble. In the years that followed, his father's death continued to haunt him, so much so that he spent his days scouring the library for studies on necromancy. As his research continued to lead to dead ends, the young wizard went to greater extremes to find the means to contact his father's spirit.
One night, in the Academy library he came across a particular ceremony that promised contact with the dead but required ingredients of a dark nature in it execution. In the process of gathering such ingredients, Lukasz was found out by one of his class mates and, not wanting to be found out, lashed out at the poor wizard, dumbfounding him and preventing him form speaking on what he saw. His superiors, master wizards all of them, used their magics to find out what happened and cast Lukasz out from the Academy. Lukasz was determined to contact his father however and, after returning to his family and establishing himself as an herbalist, he continued to perform his research in secret, occasionally using the knowledge he learned at the Mage's Academy to secret away customers he believed wouldn't be missed for use in his research.
Desperate to once more speak with his father and seek the man's advice, Lukasz's research began to turn to experiments where we was able to successfully control minor undead creations. However, unsatisfied with his progress, Lukasz turned to supplications to a variety of gods that held sway over the dead. When none answered his call, he decided that he needed to revoke the Lady of Mitra, who he saw as having failed him in letting a simple disease take his father, to gain the notice of other godly beings. Therefore, he formulated a plan of flagrant desecration. One night after all other worshipers had left the church, he entered under the pretense of individual prayer where he approached the main alter and, intoning a desire to see his father once more, summoned an array of magical incantations to blast the alter with arcane energy. Though the well constructed and blessed alter only received very minor damage, the wall behind it was blasted and pockmarked with the holy scripture that rested on the podium charred and burned. Before the man was able to make his escape however, he was spotted by a priest and a chase ensued which resulted in his capture and sentencing to Blackscar Prison.
Currently shackled in a cell in Blackscar Prison, Lukasz seeks a way to escape, However, his familiar now dead, with only the spells he has memorized to help him, his chances for escape are looking bleaker and bleaker by the day. Any who pass by his cell hear the whimperings of a man who has lost much and the muttering of what he would give to be free of his imprisonment.
Personality
Spoiler:
Description
Spoiler:
Lukasz's solid frame is decked out in normal traveling clothes consisting of a blue shirt and dark brown pants. As his hip can be seen the sheathe and pommel of a dagger. On his other hip rests a few small pouches and a case of bolts can be seen hanging close-by. Hanging from a bandoleer is a new looking crossbow. Around his shoulders is a durable, red cloak and his feet are covered with a pair of black boots. While not garbed in the traditional dress of a necromancer, Lukasz's coldly intelligent eyes gives away the man's familiarity, if not experience with death. His well tended skin and fair complexion as well as the quality of his clothing suggests that he is a man of minor nobility or comes from a affluent merchant family.