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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BLACKDIRGE" data-source="post: 664493" data-attributes="member: 1953">Sorry for the delay on updates on Grummok, but I wasn't quite sure where i wanted to take the story. I think I chose the right direction, I love reintroducing old characters. Hope you like it.Dirge**************************************************Grummok (age 70): Male Gargoyle Rog 4/Asn5; CR 13; Medium Magical Beast; HD 4d10+9d6+78; hp 136; Init +8; Spd 45 ft., fly 75 ft. (good); AC 27 (+6 Dex, +4 natural, +5 studded leather armor, +2 ring); Atk +18 melee (1d4+6/19-20 x2, 2 claws), +14 melee (1d6+2, bite), +14 melee (1d6+2 gore) or +17/+12 melee (1d4+7/19-20 x2, +3 fleshgrinding dagger); SA sneak attack +5d6, death attack, poison use; SQ darkvision 60 ft., uncanny dodge (Dex to AC, can’t be flanked, +1 vs. traps), +2 saves vs. poison, DR 15/+1, freeze, evasion; AL NE; SV Fort +14, Ref +16, Will +6; Str 18, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 12.    Skills (97 pts): Bluff +6, Craft (poison making) +8, Disguise +10, Escape Artist +12, Gather Information +10, Hide +29, Intimidate +5, Listen +10, Move Silently +24, Open Lock +12, Search +10, Spot +10, Tumble +12.  Feats: Multiattack, Weapon Finesse (claw, bite, gore), Exotic Weapon Proficiency (garrote), Improved Initiative, Improved Critical (claws)     Languages: Undercommon, Terran, Drow  Possessions: +2 shadowed studded leather armor, boots of elvenkind, wire garrote, ring of magic fang +2, belt of giant strength +4, +3 fleshgrinding dagger, +2 dagger, ring of protection +2, head band of intellect +2, gloves of dexterity +4, ring of minor elemental protection (fire)  Assassin Spells Prepared: (2/2/1; save DC 13 + spell level): 1st -- change self, angry ache. 2nd – alter self, darkness. 3rd -- invisibilityFreeze (Ex): Grummok can hold himself so still that he appears to be a statue. An observer must succeed at a Spot check (DC 20) to notice Grummok is really alive.Evasion (Ex): If exposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage, Grummok takes no damage with a successful saving throw.Death Attack: If Grummok studies his victim for 3 rounds and then makes a sneak attack within the next 3 rounds with a melee weapon that successfully deals damage, the sneak attack may also paralyze or kill the target (Grummok's choice). A victim who fails his or her Fortitude saving throw (DC 18) against the kill effect dies. If the saving throw fails against the paralysis, the victim's mind and body become enervated, making him or her completely helpless and unable to act for 1d6+1 rounds.Poison Use: Grummok is trained in the use of poison and never risks accidentally poisoning himself when applying poison to a blade.Grummok has hunted and slain every member of the cult of Baalzebul he could find. None of the secretive society’s pathetic members offered him any challenge, which has led him to believe that Shebon Mot, his former mentor, must have been their leader. With his thirst for vengeance slaked at last Grummok has turned his attention to other pursuits, now a veteran assassin Grummok must perform the duties assigned to every guild member that reaches the gargoyle’s status, he must find and recruit an appropriate apprentice. The gargoyle was less than pleased with this mandate, having no interest in improving the station of anyone but himself, but he was left with little choice. Grummok began his search for an apprentice in the Ghetto of Outcasts, thinking the desperate population of that district might offer him what he was looking for. Disguising his form with magic Grummok entered the ghetto under the guise of a drow noble with the hope that his apparent wealth might draw out a likely candidate. Strolling casually through the main thoroughfare, Grummok dangled a large purse laden with gold coins on his belt and his disguise masked his weapons and armor. The gargoyle did not have to wait long before his apparent wealth and vulnerability attracted a motley group of humans and other humanoid refuse who assembled en masse to make the most of this rare opportunity. The group was seething with menace but they were all cowards at heart and none of them wished to initiate the conflict, all save one. A tall bearded human clad in a patchwork suit of leather armor shouldered his way through the throng of beggars and thieves, his eyes were full of malice and he gripped a short bladed throwing dagger in his left hand. The man was strangely familiar to Grummok and if he had seen the man before, long ago.  “What are you fools waiting for!” the bearded man shouted. He was now standing in front of the throng of cast offs and with snarl of disgust turned and hurled his dagger in one smooth motion at GrummokGrummok made no move to avoid the missile, letting his disguise drop at the last possible instant to allow the gathered group of would be marauders a good look at his terrifying natural form. The dagger thudded off of Grummok's skin, leaving no mark on the gargoyles stony integument and clattered harmlessly to the ground. The manifestation of Grummok’s true from sent a ripple of fear through the crowd and they shrank back from the gargoyle’s malevolent glare. The bearded man, however, displayed more than fear, his face went pale and his features twisted into a rictus mask of absolute horror. “You…!” he gasped, eyes wide with surprise and terror. A flash of instant recognition crashed into Grummok’s brain as the bearded man fought his way through the crowd, frantically trying to escape. The crowd that had assembled to rob and murder a lone drow noble wanted no part of a gargoyle assassin and rapidly dispersed, its members fleeing in all directions. Grummok paid no heed to the deteriorating mob and vaulted into the air after the bearded man who was racing down the street away from him. The gargoyle caught up with his quarry quickly and circled overhead, while the bearded man let out a howl of terror and ducked into the remains of a crumbling building. Grummok landed in the street before the structure in which the bearded man had sought refuge and drawing his dagger, cautiously crept inside the ruined building.Grummok’s first step into the bearded man’s hiding place was instantly met with a hurled dagger from the concealing darkness. The gargoyle’s keenly honed senses warned him of the danger well before the dagger reached him and he casually slapped away the missile with one spade clawed hand. “That was a good cast, Hek” Grummok spoke into the still silence. “You would have had any lesser creature dead to rights with that toss.” Grummok moved further into the building listening intently for any sign of his quarry. The building was once a single story residence that had been abandoned years ago, the front room had a single hallway that led to what Grummok guessed were bedrooms and possibly a larder and kitchen. Hek was likely hiding behind one of the warped doors that lined the narrow hallway.“You’ve learned a lot since last we met, Hek” Grummok called out, moving to the edge of the hallway. “I must say that I am quite impressed that you managed to survive this long. I mean, a young boy alone in a city like this is hardly a candidate for lasting health.” “Leave me alone!” a hoarse voice echoed back to Grummok through the silence. The voice came from behind the last door to the right at the end of the hallway; the door was off its hinges and hung drunkenly to one side. Grummok moved silently to the doorway and peered through. The room was plain, windowless and contained nothing but Hek, poor disheveled Hek, huddling in one corner a dagger held out before him.“Come now, Hek. I am not here to harm you. I want to help you.” Grummok said softly from the doorway, his voice dripping with sympathy. “I don’t want your help! I saw what you did to Shebon.” Hek screamed, tears running down his face as the terrible boyhood memory resurfaced. “You ate him, while he was still…still alive.” The last part came out in a horrified whisper.Grummok had moved to within a few paces of the cowering human, his dagger sheathed and his hands held out wide before him. “Shebon got what he deserved, boy. How can you shed any tears for that bastard after all he did to you? The pain he endured was miniscule compared to what you suffered.” The gargoyle had sunk down on his haunches and was edging closer one hand held out beckoning before him like a beast tamer attempting to pacify a recalcitrant animal. “I …I can remember” Hek muttered. “He hurt me over and over, until you came. I thought you were going to take me with you when…when you were done.” Hek turned his tear stained face up to Grummok a frantic plea etched across his beaded face. The years had been remarkably kind to Hek, Grummok guessed that he must be close to forty but he looked like a man in the vigor of his mid twenties. Perhaps Hek had a trace of elven blood, Grummok mused.“Hek, I am truly sorry” Grummok whispered soothingly his voice still thick with mimed sympathy. “I should have taken you with me, I though the gold I gave you would allow you to leave this hellish place and return to the surface, I had no idea you would remain in Erelhei-Cinlu.” Grummok was now sitting on the earthen floor directly in front of Hek, one taloned hand resting on the human’s shoulder. Hek was staring into Grummok’s eyes hoping against hope that the gargoyle spoke truth. “Hek, I see that you have become skilled with your daggers, and to survive so long alone you must have developed quite a few other talents as well. I want to take you away from here. I want to train you to be my apprentice.”“Your apprentice?” Hek said. “You want me to be an assassin?” the disgust was obvious in Hek’s last statement, but still he did not shrink from the gargoyle’s touch and continued to listen.“Yes, that’s right. I will teach you how to kill, and kill well. You will have the opportunity to strike out at all of the Shebon Mots of this wretched city, and you will grow rich and powerful in the process. Let me do this for you Hek, let me make amends for the wrongs you have so unjustly suffered. Please.” Grummok had him and he knew it. The gargoyle had judged his prey correctly; Hek wanted nothing more than to belong and to have a place to call his home, even if it was a simple cot at the assassin’s guildhall. Grummok had now secured himself the perfect apprentice simply because he was the only creature to ever show Hek any kindness, be it real or imagined, and for that Grummok had bought the human’s undying loyalty.  There was no fight left Hek and he lowered his dagger and climbed wearily to his feet. “ I will come with you.” Hek’s voice shook with emotion, but Grummok could not tell if it was fear or gratitude that filled the humans words.“Good. Thank you for letting me do this, Hek. I promise you will be well looked after under my care. You have my word.” With that Grummok smiled disarmingly and threw a scaly arm around the Hek’s shoulders leading him from his lonely life as a beggar and thief and into something far, far worse.</blockquote>

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