I'd like to play a human knight: a Knight of the Light. I imagine a paladin (or fighter), but one with a past that darkens his standing in his order. On a quest to redeam himself, perhaps, or to find himself? Thus he will be more tolerant of non-human races and wizardry than most of his fellow knights.
[sblock=character implementation, subject to change] Anniston Van Aalorn, LG Male Human Paladin[10]
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=679254
STR 18
DEX 13
CON 13+1@4th=14
INT 14
WIS 11+1@8th=12
CHA 16
hitpoints: 73 + 19 = 92
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=679312
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=684517
Skills: 65 total
Animal Handling: 5+3=8
Diplomacy: 13+7=20
Heal: 4+1=5
Knowledge, Nobility: 8+2=10
Knowledge, Religion: 5+2=7
Profession, Lawyer: 4+1=5
Ride: 13+3=16
Sense Motive: 13+1=14
Languages: Illum, Northern Illum, Northern Gaullic
Feats:
[1] Combat Expertise
[1] Dodge
[3] Endurance
[6] Mounted Combat
[9] Improved Disarm
Spells prepared (unless otherwise specified):
Magic Weapon
Protection from Evil
Bull's Strength
Appearance:
Anniston is tall and athletic (6' 200lbs), handsome in a noble-ish sort of way, strong chin, wavy dark brown hair cut short, calm honest-looking brown eyes, clean shaven, carries himself with confidence, well spoken. He wears a heavy brown pilgrim's cloak with an iron holy symbol of the Light showing plain as day (your experienced eye determines that there is some kind of light or medium armor under the cloak, but it is well concealed). He carries a cudgel that he uses as a walking stick and he looks like he knows how to use it. When travelling he has a light pack on his back and a battered shield slung over his shoulder. He could be a noble out roughing it on a religeous pilgrimage, or he could be a monk or priest of some sort.
History:
Anniston Van Aalorn is of noble birth, the second son of an honorable family in the Northwarden famous for its powerful knights. He grew up with all of the advantages, but was spared the familial responsibilities that fell primarily to his older brother, Robert, a preeminent ranger knight of the Brotherhood.
He always felt a connection to the Church of the Light and in his heart he knew he was destined to serve the faith. As a boy he felt called to an ordained life, but his body was built for combat and his father pushed his "saintly" son into the Order of the Light, rather than allow him to enter the priesthood. His early career was brilliant. His skills as a paladin were identified early and encouraged by both the priesthood and the Order of the Light.
While still a young man he was sent south to the Valley of Light so that his religious formation could be properly maintained. Eventually he was accepted into the Order of the Defenders of the Faith. In addition to his martial duties, Anniston was trained as a diplomat and lawyer by his charge and mentor, the Monsignor Nicolai d’Varlier. Thus groomed by the monsignor, Anniston participated in various diplomatic missions of the Church.
Anniston Van Aalorn was on a promising career path with the Defenders of the Faith due to both his ability and the political influence that could be brought to bear on his behalf by various Borderlords. For over three years he was considered to be an eventual contender for the Preceptorship of the order itself which caused much grumbling and discontent among the various factions of the valley in the southern lands. Assigned to escort a senior prelate to an important meeting, Anniston and Primate Korlon, were ambushed by unknown parties. As the guards fell defending the Primate, Anniston successfully won free and fought his way back to the Primate’s side just before a figure struck from the shadows laying the Primate on death's door. Seeing their prey fallen, the attackers quickly vanished rather than face the wrath of a Paladin in fury.
Giving what aid he could to the Primate, Anniston proved unable to save his life, despite calling forth his own healing powers. With the death of the Primate, a huge outcry was raised by Anniston’s foes from within and without the church. A trial was held but despite obviously biased and manufactured evidence the ecclesiastical court ruled that while the Knight Anniston did fail in his charge of protecting the Primate, dereliction of duty and malfeasance could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt. Having failed his charge, the court further ruled, the Knight Anniston was to be suspended from the order and charged with presenting proof of his innocence by either proof of divine favor or bringing the individual responsible for the Primate’s death to justice.
Many pressed for Anniston to be forcibly released from his vows and remanded to the civil courts for prosecution but this movement failed. Unwilling to return to his family in disgrace, Anniston chose to make his way as best he could. He would seek the proof he needed to rejoin his brethren.
Anniston was forced to relinquish his sword as a symbol that he no longer had the right to bear arms in the name of the Defenders of the Faith. Furthermore, his tabard was confiscated and his shield was ceremoniously stripped of the coat of arms that signified a full member of the order in good standing. Thus he no longer enjoyed the rights and privileges he might have had while serving under that banner. As he was still technically a member of the order he was allowed to keep his signet ring which attested that his vows were intact.
Before leaving, Anniston went to visit his mentor and friend, the Monsignor Nicolai d’Varlier in his lavish apartments overlooking the city.
Nicolai received him, saying, “Anni, you are like a son to me. If I could execute the atonement myself you know I would do it. But the Archbishop himself has signed the order and none may release this sentence save His Grace.”
“I know you would, Father. Do not trouble yourself so.” Anniston said gently, taking the old man’s hands in his own.
Nicolai continued, “Of course you still have your family armor, but I see they have stripped your shield. Do not fear, my boy, there remain many here who know your heart is true and will remember this day as an injustice. The Light will ensure that you find friends when you need them. Take this.” Nicolai hands Anniston a sealed leather sleeve used to transport and protect important documents. “It is a letter written in my own hand bearing my personal seal. Use it if you need help.”
“Thank you, my friend. But I cannot accept it. If this letter should fall into the wrong hands you would suffer.”
A well-tended fire begins to reveal itself in Nicolai’s voice, “Nonsense, I can take care of myself. I insist that you take it. It will bring me some measure of peace and I could not bear it if you left with nothing.”
“Very well, I will take it,” replied Anniston, pushing the envelope deep into his pack.
“What else can I do for you, my son?” asked the priest.
“I ask only your blessing,” Anniston said as he kneels before the monsignor.
“Of course you will have my blessing, and my prayers, but there must be something more I can do. You have only to name it and you will have it if it is in my power to give.”
Anniston pauses in thought and then says, “I have no sword. You have spoken to me often of your journeys as a mendicant priest in your youth. I ask for your walking stick, which according to your stories has served you faithfully and perhaps will serve me as well. In any case it will remind me of you and the reason for this journey that I must make.”
Nicolai steps back in surprise, “All these years I have kept it to remind me of my younger days. But it does not wish to sit in a corner gathering dust. I can see that it was meant for greater things.”
Nicolai retrieves the walking stick which is too short to be a proper quarterstaff and perhaps a bit too heavy as well. It is a heavy wooden cudgel, able to be wielded with one hand or two. Its age is shown clearly by its darkened color and by its handle worn smooth from countless hands, but it is still sturdy and hard as iron, carved with religious symbols of Saint Cuthburt and of the Light. It is a rugged walking stick of the sort that a poor pilgrim might use on his journey. Nicolai continues, “You know from my stories that this cudgel is special. It is said that this is a finger bone from Saint Cuthburt.” He points to a light-colored bump in the wood, no longer recognizable as bone or anything else for that matter; it might just as well be a knot in the wood. “I have tried, but it resists any attempt to accept an enchantment. Nor could I obtain any information through divination. It is said that miracles have been attributed to this relic, though in my experience I know of only one power: when the Light is channeled through it, the cudgel is surely endowed by the spirit of Saint Cuthbert. Take it, with my blessing. And now you must go, my friend. Go in the Light; may it ever show you the way through the darkness.”
Equipment:
Travel Essentials in pack (food, drink, comb, mirror, flint/steel, eating knife, etc)
A fair amount of coin
Iron holy symbol of the Light
Everburning Torch, in convenient carrying pouch
Signet Ring, The Eternal Order of the Defenders of the Faith
Letter from Monsignor Nicolai d’Varlier (contents unknown)
Large Steel Shield +2 (4159gp)
Cudgel of Saint Cuthburt (relic, value unknown)
-- Non-magical, 1d8 damage, x2 crit, can be used one-handed or two-handed.
-- Special power: As a swift action, the wielder can expend one turn undead attempt to cause the weapon to be under the effect of a Bless Weapon spell (as per the 1st level Paladin spell) for 1 minute per divine spellcasting level of the user.
Armor of the Hand (family heirloom item)
-- Full Plate Armor (1650gp)
-- Enhancement +3 (9000gp)
-- Mithral (9000gp)
-- Glamered (2700gp)
-- Silent Moves (3750gp)
-- Total cost: 26,100gp
History of the Armor of the Hand:
Primate Porton, in his wisdom, drew upon the might and resources of the lands under the Light and beyond. From the province of Northwarden in the warring and schismatic Borderlands, in the year of the Light 812, he called Freyadin Van Aalorn, now known as Freyadin the Hand, to serve the Light. The Knight Freyadin become known by all to be selflessly loyal to the Primate and to the Light. In the fullness of time, Primate Porton recognized the service of Freyadin and took him into his inner circle. Their relationship was an enigma. Freyadin did not take the holy orders but he served Primate Porton as body guard, diplomat, and trusted councilor. So unusual was his role and so trusted their relationship, that eventually the Primate created a title for Freyadin that had never been used before and has not been used since: The Hand. As The Hand, Freyadin was allowed to carry out personal directives from the Primate and had considerable latitude with respect to executing this office. When speaking as The Hand, ex cathedra, it was understood that Freyadin represented the office of the Primacy. It is widely considered among ecclesiastical historians that as a result of this influence, the primacy of Porton became more secular in its precedent.
In gratitude for this service, Primate Porton commissioned an exquisite suit of full plate armor, made primarily of mithral. This suit was fashioned with enchantments such that the wearer could change the appearance of the armor. The armor was further enchanted to not make any sound when moving. Thus the wearer could appear to be and sound as if he were wearing simple robes or even the finest of courtly dress and yet always remain diligent and able to discharge his knightly duties.
As a gift from his father upon being accepted into the Eternal Order of the Defenders of the Faith, Anniston Van Aalorn, Freyadin's direct descendant 10 generations later, now wears the armor.
[/sblock]
