Zaporavo, Captain of the Wastrel (circa The Pool of the Black One) Medium Human Male 17th level 5th level rogue/7th level fighter/5th level dualist Hit Dice: 5D6 + 12d10 +51 (135 hit points) Inititiative: +3 (Dex) Speed: 30 ft. Armor Class: 18 (+3 Dex, +4 Samnite Armor, +1 dodge) Attacks: Sabre +20/+15/+10 Melee Damage: Sabre  1d6+3 Special Attacks: Sneak Attack +3d6 Special Qualities: Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, Canny Defense, Precise Strike +1d6, Enhanced Mobility, Grace, Acrobatic Attack Face/Reach: 5 ft x 5 ft/ 5ft Saves: Fort +10, Ref +15, Will +5 Attributes: Str 16, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 14 Skills: Appraise +9, Balance +16, Bluff +22, Climb +12, Gather Information +9, Swim +11, Perform +10, Profession (sailor) +9, Tumble +11, Intimidate +10, Knowledge (Arcana) +4, Jump +8, Spot +11 Feats: Dodge, Ambidexterity, Mobility, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (sabre), Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Disarm, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Improved Critical, Power Lunge Climate/Terrain: Pirate ship Wastrel Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 17 Treasure: None Alignment: Neutral Evil Advancement: by character class

Related Links Sancha Conan The Black Ones Pool of the Black One

Zaporavo was the harsh, tacitern, gloomy commander of the privateer Wastrel when Conan, running from the Barachan Isles (swimming away, actually) climbed on board.  He was generally engrossed with his broodings, which had become blacker and grimmer as the years crawled by, and with his vague grandiose dreams.  Even Sancha, the girl he possessed, was just a bitter pleasure, for all his pleasures were bitter. Zaporavo was a tall man, tall as Conan actually, though of leaner build.  His face was dark, saturnine and hawk-like.  His armor and garments were rich and ornate, after the fashion of a Zingaran grandee.   Zaporavo did not consider any pirate or seaman to be a menace to him.  He had stood in the high places so long, and had ground so many foes underfoot, that he unconsciously assumes himself to be above the machinations of inferior rivals.  This attitude is what doomed him. His nickname was the Hawk and the only law aboard the Wastrel was his will.  No one knew what he planned next. He would tramp the poop by day and night in gloomy majesty; but many times he could be found poring over ancient charts and time yellowed maps, reading in tomes that were crumbling masses of worm eaten parchment.  Sometimes he would talk to Sancha, wildly it seemed to her, of lost continents, fabulous isles dreaming unguessed amidst the blue foam of nameless gulfs, where horned dragons guarded treasures gathered by prehuman kings, long, long ago.   It is known that at some point he had even read the iron bound Book of Skelos.

Combat A master swordsman, his hand was never far from his sword-hilt.  The veteran of a thousand fights by sea and by land.  There was no man in the Hyborian world more deeply and thoroughly versed than he in the lore of swordcraft. Sneak Attack: Zaporavo strikes a vital spot for extra damage  whenever he catches an opponent flat footed or when he flanks an  opponent. Evasion: If exposed to an effect that allows a Reflex save  for half damage Zaporavo takes no damage if that save is successful. Uncanny Dodge: Zaporavo retains his dexterity bonus to his AC even when caught flatfooted or surprised.  He can sense danger before it even becomes apparent. Canny Defense: When not wearing armor, duelists add their intelligence bonus to their dexterity bonus to modify armor class while wielding a weapon.  As with normal dexterity AC modifiers, positive modifiers are lost when the duelist is caught flat footed. Precise Strike: At 2nd level, the duelist gains the uncanny ability to strike precisely with a light piercing weapon, gaining a bonus +1d6 points of damage added to her normal roll.  When making a precise strike, the duelist cannot attack with a weapon in her other hand, although she can defend with it (or, if she has the proficiency, a shield).  Like critical hits and sneak attacks, precise strike is ineffective against constructs, undead, oozes, and fortified armor.  Every four dualist levels gained thereafter, she increases the extra damage by +1d6.  If the duelist also has the rogues sneak attack ability, the precise strike damage stacks with the sneak attack damage. Enhanced Mobility: When not wearing armor, the duelist gains an additonal +4 dodge bonus to AC against attacks of opportunity caused when he moves out of or within a threatened area. Grace: At fourth level, the duelist gains an additional +2 competence bonus to all Reflex saving throws.  This ability functions for the duelist only when wearing no armor. Acrobatic attack: At 5th level, if the duelist attacks by jumping at least 5 feet into his opponent, jumping down at least 5 feet onto his opponent, or swingin on a rope or similar object into his opponent, he gains a +2 circumstance bonus to attack and damage rolls.  This is an extraordinary ability.

"The Pool of the Black One" by Robert E. Howard first appeared in the October 1933 issue of Weird Tales.  It can be found also in the Lancer/Ace collection "Conan the Adventurer" and in Donald M. Grant's "The Pool of the Black One."  It is currently available in the British "Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle". All the artwork on this page comes from the Donald M. Grant edition of this story.

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