I had a spare handful of minutes so I wrote a brief story to give a feel for how I envisioned him, also I stated him up (mostly) to give you an idea of what I am thinking. It also gives me a feel for what the character is to stat him up
[sblock=Story]Chenet was in fact a little surprised to see his client at the appointed meeting spot. Working with new people in the wastes was always a gamble, but he had a good sense about people, and the hulking figure, wrapped in cloth had struck him as honest, a rarity in the desert. Besides, he had paid half in advance, paying far more than what he asked. Still the desert is a dangerous place, no matter what the intention of his client, the wastes quite often drank nomad’s final water, making dealing with them a risky proposition.
The trader talked to his security chief and he went to one of the pack animals retrieving a bundle. He and a handful of guards made their way to the large stone sometimes called The Finger of Grinth-Shal by those who knew it, where the nomad took shelter from the sun. Chenet had no idea who or what Grinth-Shal was, but if the large rounded rock was his finger, he would have had a hard time manipulating anything with stubs like that. Still it was large enough that it provided shade, so in that regard he mentally thanked whatever Grinth-Shal was or had been for holding his finger up to the sun.
Arriving in the shade, Chenet dismounted, as did his guards and he approached his client. The man was a towering figure, almost eight feet tall, wrapped in gauzy cloth to protect from the searing sun. His features were obscured. In practiced motions, he unwrapped his head as Chenet approached, revealing the bald gray skinned head of a Goliath. His blue glittering eyes seemed to smile, even if his face did not.
Chenet held his open hands wide, demonstrating he carried no weapons. A traditional nomad greeting, “It is good to see you well.”
The Goliath held his hand to his for, bowing his head forward. A gesture Chenet did not recognize, marking him as someone not born a nomad. His deep voice intoned his own greeting. “I am happy to see you as well, trader. Apparently you reputation for honesty is well deserved.”
Chenet smiled at the compliment, “Honesty has nothing to do with it, I assure you. I am but a greedy trader and you pay well.”
“Were you able to get what I asked for?” The Goliath asked,
“I was indeed.” Chenet produced his bundle handing it to the nomad, “As you know, traders such as myself are not permitted within cities, but deal with intermediaries, I was able to hire one of them to speak with a scholar inside the city. He returned this information.”
He unwrapped the bundle carefully, looking through the pages of information, “Yes, this was even more than I had hoped for.” He continued to look through the pages for a moment and then he rewrapped them. “You have more than earned your payment trader.” He went to the pack, placing the bundle of pages inside and pulling out an urn made of precious green stone, an exact match for the other urn that the Goliath had given him to secure his service.
Chenet smiled as he took the urn, “Then our business is concluded, to the satisfaction of both. May the God-Kings smile at our transaction.” he intoned formally, handing the urn to one of the guards, “With that out of the way, perhaps you will share my water.”
The goliath did the strange hand to forehead gesture again, “You honor me.”
Chenet produced a bowl and poured water from a skin, “As you may have heard, my parent’s chose to honor me with the name Chenet, though they chose not bless me with a family name.” A lack of a family name marked him a bastard or an exile, neither of which held the same stigma in the wastes as it did in the cities.
“My name is Thalnil Agathuma, Far Strider.” He responded politely. An exchange of names was the first step in a solidifying a business relationship.
Chenet drank from the bowl and then offered it to the Goliath, showing it was not poisoned, “It is unusual to see one of your kind so far from your mountain home.”
“I suppose that is true, my people do not usually care for the deep desert.” he drank from the bowl, accepting the hospitality, “My quest, however, brings me here.”
“Ah, this is the Talariic Codex that you are looking for. If you do not mind my asking, what is this book?”
“It is no secret, I suppose, though some look upon it with suspicion. In the time of the Old Gods it was a book that described how to achieve an enlightened state through the pursuit of martial skill. Some few still pursue this state, I am one.”
“The problem is that my understanding of the writing are incomplete. I have searched high and low for someone further down the path of enlightenment than I, but I have failed. My original teacher believes the only way to achieve the next level of enlightenment is to find the original text.”
“So you search for enlightenment in the ruins of the Old Gods? Surely there are safer philosophies.”
Thalnil chuckled, “I imagine there are, but my feet walk this path.”
“If you would like, I could see if it was possible to gather more information on this text in the other cities on my stops. Though, you understand that this information could be blasphemous.”
“The Talariic Codex is not a text of magic, divine or otherwise. It is a way of understanding the world and oneself. It does not bear what the Ur Priest would call the taint of the Old Gods, but I understand that delving into history could draw unwanted attention. I would not place you in danger.”
“Doing what I do, friend, I know how to be discrete when necessary. I would be happy to gather what information I can for you. Of course something to cover my expenses would be expected and times being what they are, payment in advance would be very motivating.”
“Of course. I do not have anything as extraordinary as the urns, but perhaps now that we can trust each other a lesser payment might do?”
“I will admit that they will fetch a handsome price and as you say that the trust between us is greater, the price may be less. Perhaps if you show me what you are willing to part with.”
A bit of haggling later, Chenet smiled, in possession of a set of ancient ivory carvings, “You have quite a collection my friend. I will be back this way in two fortnights.”
“I can not predict where this new information will take me, but hold on to the information you gather, I will find you when I can.”
Chenet bowed, “Of course my friend, of course, that could work to both our benefits. I had best hurry, before the caravan gets too far ahead, the drive master is terrible cruel to the animals if someone isn’t their to rein him in. It was a pleasure Thalnil, I believe we will meet again.”[/sblock]
[sblock=Stats]Thalnil Agathuma, Far Strider
Male Goliath
Ranger 1/Psychic Warrior 4/War Mind 8/LA 1
Alignment: Neutral Good
Str 30 (17 Base +4 Race +3 Level +6 Enhancement)
Dex 14 (12 Base -2 Race +4 Enhancement)
Con 20 (14 Base +2 Race +4 Enhancement)
Int 10 (10 Base)
Wis 16 (14 Base +2 Enhancement)
Cha 9 (9 Base)
Abilities
Goliath: +4 Str -2 Dex +2 Con
Medium Monstrous Humanoid
Powerful Build: Treated as large for most beneficial ways except for space and reach
Mountain Movement: Standing high jumps and long jumps are treated as running, can engage in accelerated climbing without penalty
Acclimated: Does not take acclimation penalties in the mountains
+2 Racial Bonus to Sense Motive
Favored Class: Ranger
Ranger:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A ranger is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with light armor and shields (except tower shields).
Favored Enemy: Giants(Ex): Gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival and +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against Giants.
Bonus Feat: Track
Wild Empathy
Psychic Warrior:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Psychic warriors are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields).
Bonus Feat (2)
War Mind:
Chain of Personal Superiority (Ex): Gain +4 Insight Bonus to Strength and Constitution for 1 minute 3/day. Activation is a free action.
Chain of Defensive Posture (Ex): Gain a +4 Insight Bonus to AC for 1 minute 3/day. Activation is a free action.
Enduring Body (Ex): Damage Reduction 2/-
Sweeping Strike (Ex): On each melee attack a war mind makes, he can choose squares he threatens that are adjacent to each other, and his attacks apply to creatures in those two squares equally. A war mind can use this ability on any attack, even an attack of opportunity or a cleave attempt.
A war mind cannot use this ability if he has moved more than 10 feet since the end of his last turn. If a war mind drops one or both of his foes with a sweeping strike, he can attempt a cleave normally; however, he makes only one cleave attempt per sweeping strike, even if he drops more than one foe.
HP: 1d8 +4d8 +8d10 + 78 (148)
AC 23 (10 + 10 Armor +2 Dex +1 Deflection) (+4 Shield +4 Insight)
Saves:
Fort +19 (12 Class +5 Con +2 Resistance)
Refl +13 (9 Class +2 Dex +2 Resistance)
Will +10 (3 Class +3 Wis +2 Feat +2 Resistance)
BAB: 12
Jovar: +28/+23/+18 (12 BAB + 10 Str + 5 Enhancement +1 Feat)
Damage: 3d6 + 20 (+15 Str +5 Enhancement) 15-20/x2
Languages Known: Common, Gol-Kaa
Feats:
1. Power Attack
1. Bonus: Track
2. Bonus: Cleave
3. Iron Will
3. Bonus: Improved Toughness
6. Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Jovar
9. Weapon Focus: Jovar
12. Improved Critical Jovar
Skills (24 Ranger, 8 Psychic Warrior, 16 War Mind):
Concentration +21 (16 Ranks +5 Con)
Hide +3 (4 Ranks +2 Dex -3 ACP)
Knowledge (History) +2 (2 Ranks)
Knowledge (Psionics) +8 (8 Ranks)
Listen +7 (4 Ranks + 3 Wis)
Move Silently +3 (4 Ranks + 2 Dex -3 ACP)
Sense Motive +5 (0 Ranks +3 Wis +2 Race)
Spot +7 (4 Ranks + 3 Wis)
Survival +7 (4 Ranks + 3 Wis)
Armor Check Penalty: 3
Equipment:
36,000 Belt of Giant Strength +6
16,000 Shirt of Health +4
16,000 Gloves of Dexterity +4
4,000 Periapt of Wisdom +2
14,500 Mithral Full Plate +2
53,500 Large Adamantine Jovar +5
2,500 Ring of Sustenance
2,000 Ring of Protection +1
4,000 Cloak of Resistance +2
1,500 1,500 unspent
Psionics:
Power Points: 58
Psychic Warrior: Level 4
Powers Known:
1. Chameleon
1. Force Screen
1. Thicken Skin
2. Hustle
War Mind
Powers Known: Level 8
1. Offensive Prescience
1. Offensive Precognition
2. Body Adjustment
3. Hostile Empathic Transfer
4. Psionic Freedom of Movement[/sblock]
Made several assumptions:
-Favored Class: Barbarian on Goliath replaced by favored class Ranger.
-the Jovar (from the Planar Handbook) was an acceptable weapon (it is a greatsword with a crit range from 18-20). The theory being, in a ruins he was exploring he came across the blade next to a fallen Celestial and taught himself how to use it
-Custom Item: Shirt of Health (as amulet of health, but Shirt) are acceptable. Shirts have an affinity for physical improvement, so Con should be acceptable there.
[sblock=Story]Chenet was in fact a little surprised to see his client at the appointed meeting spot. Working with new people in the wastes was always a gamble, but he had a good sense about people, and the hulking figure, wrapped in cloth had struck him as honest, a rarity in the desert. Besides, he had paid half in advance, paying far more than what he asked. Still the desert is a dangerous place, no matter what the intention of his client, the wastes quite often drank nomad’s final water, making dealing with them a risky proposition.
The trader talked to his security chief and he went to one of the pack animals retrieving a bundle. He and a handful of guards made their way to the large stone sometimes called The Finger of Grinth-Shal by those who knew it, where the nomad took shelter from the sun. Chenet had no idea who or what Grinth-Shal was, but if the large rounded rock was his finger, he would have had a hard time manipulating anything with stubs like that. Still it was large enough that it provided shade, so in that regard he mentally thanked whatever Grinth-Shal was or had been for holding his finger up to the sun.
Arriving in the shade, Chenet dismounted, as did his guards and he approached his client. The man was a towering figure, almost eight feet tall, wrapped in gauzy cloth to protect from the searing sun. His features were obscured. In practiced motions, he unwrapped his head as Chenet approached, revealing the bald gray skinned head of a Goliath. His blue glittering eyes seemed to smile, even if his face did not.
Chenet held his open hands wide, demonstrating he carried no weapons. A traditional nomad greeting, “It is good to see you well.”
The Goliath held his hand to his for, bowing his head forward. A gesture Chenet did not recognize, marking him as someone not born a nomad. His deep voice intoned his own greeting. “I am happy to see you as well, trader. Apparently you reputation for honesty is well deserved.”
Chenet smiled at the compliment, “Honesty has nothing to do with it, I assure you. I am but a greedy trader and you pay well.”
“Were you able to get what I asked for?” The Goliath asked,
“I was indeed.” Chenet produced his bundle handing it to the nomad, “As you know, traders such as myself are not permitted within cities, but deal with intermediaries, I was able to hire one of them to speak with a scholar inside the city. He returned this information.”
He unwrapped the bundle carefully, looking through the pages of information, “Yes, this was even more than I had hoped for.” He continued to look through the pages for a moment and then he rewrapped them. “You have more than earned your payment trader.” He went to the pack, placing the bundle of pages inside and pulling out an urn made of precious green stone, an exact match for the other urn that the Goliath had given him to secure his service.
Chenet smiled as he took the urn, “Then our business is concluded, to the satisfaction of both. May the God-Kings smile at our transaction.” he intoned formally, handing the urn to one of the guards, “With that out of the way, perhaps you will share my water.”
The goliath did the strange hand to forehead gesture again, “You honor me.”
Chenet produced a bowl and poured water from a skin, “As you may have heard, my parent’s chose to honor me with the name Chenet, though they chose not bless me with a family name.” A lack of a family name marked him a bastard or an exile, neither of which held the same stigma in the wastes as it did in the cities.
“My name is Thalnil Agathuma, Far Strider.” He responded politely. An exchange of names was the first step in a solidifying a business relationship.
Chenet drank from the bowl and then offered it to the Goliath, showing it was not poisoned, “It is unusual to see one of your kind so far from your mountain home.”
“I suppose that is true, my people do not usually care for the deep desert.” he drank from the bowl, accepting the hospitality, “My quest, however, brings me here.”
“Ah, this is the Talariic Codex that you are looking for. If you do not mind my asking, what is this book?”
“It is no secret, I suppose, though some look upon it with suspicion. In the time of the Old Gods it was a book that described how to achieve an enlightened state through the pursuit of martial skill. Some few still pursue this state, I am one.”
“The problem is that my understanding of the writing are incomplete. I have searched high and low for someone further down the path of enlightenment than I, but I have failed. My original teacher believes the only way to achieve the next level of enlightenment is to find the original text.”
“So you search for enlightenment in the ruins of the Old Gods? Surely there are safer philosophies.”
Thalnil chuckled, “I imagine there are, but my feet walk this path.”
“If you would like, I could see if it was possible to gather more information on this text in the other cities on my stops. Though, you understand that this information could be blasphemous.”
“The Talariic Codex is not a text of magic, divine or otherwise. It is a way of understanding the world and oneself. It does not bear what the Ur Priest would call the taint of the Old Gods, but I understand that delving into history could draw unwanted attention. I would not place you in danger.”
“Doing what I do, friend, I know how to be discrete when necessary. I would be happy to gather what information I can for you. Of course something to cover my expenses would be expected and times being what they are, payment in advance would be very motivating.”
“Of course. I do not have anything as extraordinary as the urns, but perhaps now that we can trust each other a lesser payment might do?”
“I will admit that they will fetch a handsome price and as you say that the trust between us is greater, the price may be less. Perhaps if you show me what you are willing to part with.”
A bit of haggling later, Chenet smiled, in possession of a set of ancient ivory carvings, “You have quite a collection my friend. I will be back this way in two fortnights.”
“I can not predict where this new information will take me, but hold on to the information you gather, I will find you when I can.”
Chenet bowed, “Of course my friend, of course, that could work to both our benefits. I had best hurry, before the caravan gets too far ahead, the drive master is terrible cruel to the animals if someone isn’t their to rein him in. It was a pleasure Thalnil, I believe we will meet again.”[/sblock]
[sblock=Stats]Thalnil Agathuma, Far Strider
Male Goliath
Ranger 1/Psychic Warrior 4/War Mind 8/LA 1
Alignment: Neutral Good
Str 30 (17 Base +4 Race +3 Level +6 Enhancement)
Dex 14 (12 Base -2 Race +4 Enhancement)
Con 20 (14 Base +2 Race +4 Enhancement)
Int 10 (10 Base)
Wis 16 (14 Base +2 Enhancement)
Cha 9 (9 Base)
Abilities
Goliath: +4 Str -2 Dex +2 Con
Medium Monstrous Humanoid
Powerful Build: Treated as large for most beneficial ways except for space and reach
Mountain Movement: Standing high jumps and long jumps are treated as running, can engage in accelerated climbing without penalty
Acclimated: Does not take acclimation penalties in the mountains
+2 Racial Bonus to Sense Motive
Favored Class: Ranger
Ranger:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A ranger is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with light armor and shields (except tower shields).
Favored Enemy: Giants(Ex): Gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival and +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against Giants.
Bonus Feat: Track
Wild Empathy
Psychic Warrior:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Psychic warriors are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (except tower shields).
Bonus Feat (2)
War Mind:
Chain of Personal Superiority (Ex): Gain +4 Insight Bonus to Strength and Constitution for 1 minute 3/day. Activation is a free action.
Chain of Defensive Posture (Ex): Gain a +4 Insight Bonus to AC for 1 minute 3/day. Activation is a free action.
Enduring Body (Ex): Damage Reduction 2/-
Sweeping Strike (Ex): On each melee attack a war mind makes, he can choose squares he threatens that are adjacent to each other, and his attacks apply to creatures in those two squares equally. A war mind can use this ability on any attack, even an attack of opportunity or a cleave attempt.
A war mind cannot use this ability if he has moved more than 10 feet since the end of his last turn. If a war mind drops one or both of his foes with a sweeping strike, he can attempt a cleave normally; however, he makes only one cleave attempt per sweeping strike, even if he drops more than one foe.
HP: 1d8 +4d8 +8d10 + 78 (148)
AC 23 (10 + 10 Armor +2 Dex +1 Deflection) (+4 Shield +4 Insight)
Saves:
Fort +19 (12 Class +5 Con +2 Resistance)
Refl +13 (9 Class +2 Dex +2 Resistance)
Will +10 (3 Class +3 Wis +2 Feat +2 Resistance)
BAB: 12
Jovar: +28/+23/+18 (12 BAB + 10 Str + 5 Enhancement +1 Feat)
Damage: 3d6 + 20 (+15 Str +5 Enhancement) 15-20/x2
Languages Known: Common, Gol-Kaa
Feats:
1. Power Attack
1. Bonus: Track
2. Bonus: Cleave
3. Iron Will
3. Bonus: Improved Toughness
6. Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Jovar
9. Weapon Focus: Jovar
12. Improved Critical Jovar
Skills (24 Ranger, 8 Psychic Warrior, 16 War Mind):
Concentration +21 (16 Ranks +5 Con)
Hide +3 (4 Ranks +2 Dex -3 ACP)
Knowledge (History) +2 (2 Ranks)
Knowledge (Psionics) +8 (8 Ranks)
Listen +7 (4 Ranks + 3 Wis)
Move Silently +3 (4 Ranks + 2 Dex -3 ACP)
Sense Motive +5 (0 Ranks +3 Wis +2 Race)
Spot +7 (4 Ranks + 3 Wis)
Survival +7 (4 Ranks + 3 Wis)
Armor Check Penalty: 3
Equipment:
36,000 Belt of Giant Strength +6
16,000 Shirt of Health +4
16,000 Gloves of Dexterity +4
4,000 Periapt of Wisdom +2
14,500 Mithral Full Plate +2
53,500 Large Adamantine Jovar +5
2,500 Ring of Sustenance
2,000 Ring of Protection +1
4,000 Cloak of Resistance +2
1,500 1,500 unspent
Psionics:
Power Points: 58
Psychic Warrior: Level 4
Powers Known:
1. Chameleon
1. Force Screen
1. Thicken Skin
2. Hustle
War Mind
Powers Known: Level 8
1. Offensive Prescience
1. Offensive Precognition
2. Body Adjustment
3. Hostile Empathic Transfer
4. Psionic Freedom of Movement[/sblock]
Made several assumptions:
-Favored Class: Barbarian on Goliath replaced by favored class Ranger.
-the Jovar (from the Planar Handbook) was an acceptable weapon (it is a greatsword with a crit range from 18-20). The theory being, in a ruins he was exploring he came across the blade next to a fallen Celestial and taught himself how to use it
-Custom Item: Shirt of Health (as amulet of health, but Shirt) are acceptable. Shirts have an affinity for physical improvement, so Con should be acceptable there.
Last edited: