Help me fluff out my Half-Orc Alchemist

[LogantheBard]

The character in my upcoming Carrion Crown game is going to be G'nes't'ruk "Nester" the half-orc alchemist (lawful neutral).

I took the Chirugeon (gives up most poison related abilities) and Vivisectionist (gives up bombs) archetypes, and plan to go heavily into the "Mr. Hyde" aspect of alchemists, eventually going with Master Chymist. I also took the Bestial half-orc trait, giving up ferocity. I'm also considering adding Internal Alchemist, also. It really fits the flavor of the character I'm trying to build, but I'm worried that three archetypes might be a little overboard (they are all legal RAW, none of their abilities overlap.)

I want to play Nester as a witch doctor or shaman, who is traditionally a loner, due to extreme prejudice against half-orcs in the heavily civilized lands, and due to his distaste for the extreme savagery of his orcish ancestors. I plan to refluff his alchemy, infusions, and extracts as more shamanistic voodoo, sort of like herbal salves. This strays away from the alchemist's traditional "scientist" theme, but I think fits my character concept.

Nester is usully a reserved, quiet person, eager to learn all things anatomical (hence the Chirugeon and Vivisectionist), he's a academic, albeit non-traditionally, foremost. He wants to be accepted by the masses, and wishes people would look past his ferocious appearance and see him for his generally peaceful nature.

Nester also is wise enough to know that in such a savage land, pacifism can't solve all things, and violence is a necessary evil. He uses his mutagens to tap into an ancient orc spirit, Bruu'kaal (need to fill out more personality for this guy), and channel his might and rage to handle violent situations. I plan to use Bruu'kaal as Nester's alter-ego when he gains levels in Master Chymist.

Nester has taken skill ranks in Disable Device, Heal, Knowledge (Nature), Perception, Spellcraft, Survival. He has Iron Will as his feat. Accelerated Drinker and Chance Savior as traits.

At the time we were all brewing character ideas, I was the only person thinking of playing a class with Disable Device as a class skill, so I felt I needed to take one for the team and put points into it. How could I work this skill training into Nester's background? As I'm imagining him in my head, he isn't interested in most manufactured things, preferring anatomy to mechanics. He doesn't want to have a strong association with mechanical things, because he's afraid that it'll weaken the connection with his spiritual side.

Hopefully when we sit down for our first session on Saturday, someone will have decided on a class with disable device, and I can just change it. If that is the case, what do you suggest I put points in? Probably another knowledge, but which one fits best?

I took accelerated drinker mostly because it seems like that is the go-to trait for alchemists. What other traits would fit this character well? I really want to create my character to be fluff oriented rather than combat optimized, which is really hard for me to do.

Please provide any insight you can, both constructive and destructive. I really want my character to be believable.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I would drop Chirugeon for Internal Alchemist if you like the latter (I do, too). The former gets rid of your poison resistance and immunity, which in turn wipes out a good portion of the benefits of Internal Alchemist.

I don't know how to explain Disable Device with his background, but if you don't need it, would you consider Intimidate? Feral mutagen gives you a +2 in it and it seems appropriate for "Mr Hyde" to use.

Why do you have Heal ranks when you can use Knowledge (nature) in place of Heal?

Other traits: If you'd like a certain skill as a class skill, any trait to help with that is nice.

Finally, I recommend you not go Master Chymist, it's really unimpressive to me, by RAW doesn't advance sneak attack (easy houserule to fix that, though), and you give up on a lot of solid high level discoveries.

 

[LogantheBard]

I've thought a lot about switching up chirugeon for internal alchemist. It definitely seems to fit better, and chirugeon only provides a small benefit. I might possibly switch out heal for intimidate. I love the dazzling display feat, so might pick up that to compliment it. Intimidation doesn't fit Nester's natural state, but definitely fits his alter ego.