Need One Replacement For Carrion Crown (Book 5)!

[Sundakan]

Aldizog wrote:

Still interested with Osric, the Angel of Aroden, from above.

Repost it, I can't find it easily.

[Aldizog]

Appearance:

This is a statue of a winged humanoid, bearing a shield marked with the holy symbol of Aroden. A longsword is at his side, and his hand is outstretched. Upon closer inspection, it greatly resembles depictions of Osric, the Angel of Aroden, a legendary Aasimar cleric who disappeared while fighting with the Shining Crusade against the forces of the Whispering Tyrant. At its feet is a skeleton, apparently of an orc, wearing tattered robes.

Background:

Arazni had fallen. She would be avenged.
Osric was a priest of Aroden, working a missionary in Varisia during much of the war against the Whispering Tyrant. He was a kind and gentle soul, devoted to ensuring that humanity took its place among the great races of the multiverse. As to the Shining Crusade, the Knights of Ozem had summoned Arazni, and she would lead them to victory. His work was elsewhere.
Then disaster struck. Tar-Baphon slew the demigod, and the call went out among the faithful. Every cleric, every paladin, every soul devoted to Aroden descended upon Lastwall, to strike back at the Whispering Tyrant. Osric trained with armor and sword, studied all that was known about undead, and marched with General Arnisant against the lich.
In battle after battle over the next four years, Osric earned his legend. Legions of the undead fell to his spells, sword, and angelic power.
As General Arnisant moved to the final battle, he sent Osric and a band of paladins to deal with one of Tar-Baphon’s lieutenants, a half-orc necromancer named Balgar, lest he catch the Crusade army from behind. Osric and his band broke through Balgar’s defenses and destroyed his army of reinforcements. When all others had fallen, it came down to Osric and Balgar. Osric’s Holy Smite mortally wounded the half-orc, but Balgar’s bestial ferocity allowed him to strike one last blow before dying – the final Calcific Touch that petrified the angel.
The Knights looked for Osric and his band, but could not locate Balgar’s keep. Some magic that had kept it hidden has now worn off.

Five Things:

1) Aroden’s death will be a shock to him. He will need to find a new deity. He does remember Iomedae, and although it will be strange to worship someone that he knew as a mortal, she is the most likely choice. If she will have him.
2) The turmoil in the world since he was petrified will also be shocking at first, then a topic of study. He will have a lot of questions for other PCs, and will start taking ranks in Knowledge (History) to catch up.
3) Had he been fully human, Osric might have been in line to be High Priest of Aroden someday, but he did not resent his divine heritage. He was happy to use his angelic powers to aid humanity, without seeking to steal their glory for himself.
4) He is partial to humans. He likes elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings, but humans are his favorite race. A legacy of being a priest of Aroden. He is, perhaps unfairly, suspicious of tieflings, though not overly hostile.
5) The First World intrigues Osric greatly. A land where death and undeath are virtually nonexistent (at least for the natives). While he understands that death gives life meaning, he wonders if that is the only way.

Two Goals:

1) Ensure that the Whispering Tyrant remains imprisoned.
2) Rescue Arazni and either restore her to life or set her soul to rest.

Two Secrets:

1) He had odd dreams while petrified. DM’s choice. Maybe something about this AP, or about another PC’s secret, or the potential Mythic follow-on?
2) Although he claims not to be, he is somewhat resentful of the Knights of Ozem (including Iomedae) for leaving him behind.

Three Memories:

1) In Varisia, his proudest moment was mediating a conflict between rival Shoanti tribes, averting bloodshed.
2) A favorite memory is flying over Vigil, in Lastwall, when his wings emerged. The armies of the Shining Crusade arrayed beneath him, ready to march.
3) In battle alongside General Arnisant, calling on the power of Aroden to divert a death blow from a skeletal giant’s scythe (first use of Divine Interference).

Character Sheet:

Osric
Aasimar (Deathless Spirit) Cleric 11 (Divine Paragon of Iomedae); Domains Heroism (spells only), Sun
LG Medium Humanoid
Init +3; Perception +25
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DEFENSE
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AC 27, touch 12, flatfooted 26 (+2 fullplate +11, +2 heavy shield +4, Dex +1, deflection +1)
HP 106 (11d8+44)
Fort +16, Ref +9, Will +19 (+3 cloak of resistance, +2 from Stone of Good Luck); +2 vs necromantic/death, +2 vs evil
-----------------
OFFENSE
-----------------
Speed 20 ft., fly 20 ft.
Melee +1 Adamantine Longsword +11/+6 (1d8+3/19-20x2)
Ranged MW Heavy Crossbow +10 (1d10/19-20x2)
-----------------
STATISTICS
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Str 13 (15), Dex 10 (12), Con 14 (16), Int 12, Wis 20 (24), Cha 16
BAB +8/+3; CMB +10; CMD 22
Feats: Angelic Blood, 3rd-level feat (retrained at 10th to Divine Interference), Heavy Armor Proficiency, Heavenly Radiance (Wandering Star Motes), Heavenly Radiance (Sunbeam), Angel Wings, Deific Obedience (b)
Traits: Gifted Adept (Greater Dispel Magic), Fate’s Favored, Resilient
FCB Cleric +1 Hit Point
Skills (3 per level): Perception +25 (11 ranks, +7 Wis, +2 racial, +5 eyes of the eagle, +2 luck), Diplomacy +21 (+25), Knowledge (Religion) +17
Languages: Common, Celestial, Varisian
Equipment
+2 fullplate (5,650)
+2 heavy steel shield (4,170)
+4 headband of wisdom (16,000)
+2 belt of physical perfection (16,000)
+3 cloak of resistance (9,000)
+2 ring of protection
+1 adamantine longsword (5,015)
Eyes of the Eagle (2,500)
Luckstone (20,000)
Special: Daylight 3/day (can also use for Sunbeam or Wandering Star Motes; Channel 6d6 6/day (DC 18); +11 damage channel vs. undead; Nimbus of Light 11 rds/day; Searing Light 1/day, Righteous Strike 1/day.

[Zone]

Re-submitting Zone again.

[rungok]

I still have Orvus available, as well.

[Sundakan]

@Osric: How do you imagine he was freed and is now finding his way to Caliphas? How LONG has he been freed? Would he be a complete fish out of water, or have had a few months to a year to adjust?

@Rungok: Did you ever make a backstory for Orvus? I see his character sheet (Wayang Void Kineticist), but few further details beyond "He's not a villain".

@Zone: What WAS your latest job that brings you to Ustalav? What would drive you to be a vampire hunter?

[drbuzzard]

Thinking I don't have enough desire to work up a background, so I might as well bow out.

[Zone]

One of the officials of the church that he formed a close bond with was murdered by one. Since then, he frequently partook in vampire & undead hunts either by requests from the pub or church to atone for his failure of protecting him. His work in Ustalav is to vanquish the Whispering Tyrant's undead minions when word got out that they resurfaced in the region and are actively working to free him from his prison.

[Aldizog]

I had imagined that Osric is petrified when the PCs find him. Perhaps his last battle with Balgar took place in or near Caliphas. Once you are adding legendary (11+) characters into an ongoing game, there's the question "Where have they been while we've been trying to save the world?". So that's why I have this scenario. Perhaps they get word from a lower-level party that explored the ruins of Balgar's Keep. Maybe he was hauled back on a wagon, or maybe he's still in the keep.
He would have had a dream at some point when Iomedae told him that Aroden was gone and she was the Inheritor. Basically, while petrified and dreaming, he retrained through the favor of Iomedae. So he can contribute right away. However, he knew Iomedae as a mortal friend and ally in the Shining Crusade, with human flaws and imperfections. To now be a Divine Paragon of Iomedae will take some getting used to, as will the other changes in the world, as he realizes his dream was true, but hopefully it will all be for fun RP that draws on the lore and contributes to the story.

[Sundakan]

Aldizog wrote:

I had imagined that Osric is petrified when the PCs find him. Perhaps his last battle with Balgar took place in or near Caliphas. Once you are adding legendary (11+) characters into an ongoing game, there's the question "Where have they been while we've been trying to save the world?". So that's why I have this scenario. Perhaps they get word from a lower-level party that explored the ruins of Balgar's Keep. Maybe he was hauled back on a wagon, or maybe he's still in the keep.

He would have had a dream at some point when Iomedae told him that Aroden was gone and she was the Inheritor. Basically, while petrified and dreaming, he retrained through the favor of Iomedae. So he can contribute right away. However, he knew Iomedae as a mortal friend and ally in the Shining Crusade, with human flaws and imperfections. To now be a Divine Paragon of Iomedae will take some getting used to, as will the other changes in the world, as he realizes his dream was true, but hopefully it will all be for fun RP that draws on the lore and contributes to the story.

It's a really interesting idea, it's just hard to work in. Why would anyone believe you are more than a statue? Even if anyone in the party had access to Stone to Flesh, they wouldn't go around just casting it on random statues. If anybody in the party worshiped Iomedae, I could justify a divine vision of some sort, but you're in Sarenrae town now boy.

Actually, I just did some checking and some of the logical problems could be fixed by a slight change to your character build. One of the new Mercy options is Petrified. Perhaps you sense or are told in another vision that the people you are in the presence of are trying to stop Tar-Baphon's rise? And Iomedae bids you to free yourself.

For some reason I thought you were a Paladin. Nevermind me. It was just an idea in any case, I'm just trying to figure out a logical way you could be freed from the stone.

Zone wrote:

One of the officials of the church that he formed a close bond with was murdered by one. Since then, he frequently partook in vampire & undead hunts either by requests from the pub or church to atone for his failure of protecting him. His work in Ustalav is to vanquish the Whispering Tyrant's undead minions when word got out that they resurfaced in the region and are actively working to free him from his prison.

Cool. The group hasn't quite sussed out what the Whispering Way connection here is yet, though they do know they're operating here somewhere. Would your character be fine working WITH vampires like the party did? The main guy who knows what's going on is a vampire himself.

[Zone]

If he has information and is sane, tentatively.

[Aldizog]

Sundakan wrote:

It's a really interesting idea, it's just hard to work in. Why would anyone believe you are more than a statue? Even if anyone in the party had access to Stone to Flesh, they wouldn't go around just casting it on random statues.

The idea is that, as a long-lost legendary hero of the Shining Crusade, a Knowledge check could tell an onlooker who this statue is. Maybe even knowing that he disappeared in this area. The long-dead half-orc in tattered robes at his feet, and probably Osric's not-quite-statuesque facial expression, suggest this is not merely some work of art. A curious party might try a Deathwatch spell at that point to tell he is alive. Break Enchantment will serve to free him.

If the party recognizes and frees him, then he would be indebted and have a reason to accompany them. And since they chose to free him, perhaps they respect his reputation enough to ask him to join them.
The three main problems with introducing high-level PCs are:
1) Where have you been all this time?
2) Why should we trust you?
3) Why should you trust us?
So this background tries to address those issues.

[Sundakan]

I think I'm going to go ahead and okay both Osric and Zone. That'll put us at 4, 5 if LizardWizard wants to come back, and 6 if Endoralis shows back up, which is plenty manageable.

I have a solid idea for bringing Osric in now because of an interesting decorative detail I forgot about in the very room the PCs just entered. I'm going to update soon and make a very slight amendment to the room's contents.

Side note: Technically speaking, you can be a Cleric of an ideal. If, instead of changing patron deities to Iomedae, you would like to gain your Cleric powers from the ideals that Aroden espoused (and/or a steadfast faith that he is not dead, merely gone) you could do that. His Domains are listed on the wiki if you're interested.

Zone, how do you feel about being contracted by the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye? You can take the place of a Dhampir vampire hunter with a similar backstory to your own and get worked in that way.

[Zone]

I left his background open so go ahead.

[Osric the Shining]

Alias made! Made a couple of slight changes on feats and traits. Will finish doing the spell selection and tinkering with gear tonight.
I actually like the idea that his former comrade in arms is now his goddess, who has chosen him to be a divine paragon. And while he somewhat resents that even once ascended she did not free him from his condition, he may come to see a purpose in it.

[Zone]

Should we post on the discussion thread?

[Idiot Cube]

Hey guys, I'm one of the current players. Sundakan was recently banned from the forums for no discernible reason.

We're trying to figure out a solution, but in the meantime, I'd say just post in the discussion thread so we know you exist.