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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stalker0" data-source="post: 718363" data-attributes="member: 5889">Phew, just got this done before my game tonight. I kind of rushed, so I'm sorry if there are any spelling errors are small errors or what not. All stat blocks are at the bottom, enjoy!!Constraints:NPC Levels: 2, 6, 10, 14NPC Race: HumanIngredients:- Urban Decay- Crystal Blade- "Snake People"- Misread Prophecy- Pipes of Pain- Conflict of InterestLevel 2    Soranex “The Snake Killer” Gysbon was a 10 year old orphan of a mother and father killed by Yuan-Ti, dark snake people whose temple lies miles north of the local area.  He wandered the streets of his home for many years after that, depending on his own wits and the generosity of others. At the age of 15, he encountered a man named Alkarai. Alkarai appeared not much older than Soranex, about 18 or so. Alkarai had been born partially deformed, and had been abandoned by his parents to die when he was little. Clerical magics could not erase his hideous shape. Alkarai always wore a dark cloak that nearly completely masked his appearance out of shame for his horrible look. He was planning a pilgramidge to the northern temple of Heironious, where he had hoped to live out the rest of his days. This appealed greatly to Soranex, as the promise of a new life and a free place to stay was something he could not refuse.     The welcome at the temple was more than could have ever been expected. The mark that Soranex had upon his hand, a dark and a white lightning bolt crossed in an X shape, was foretold in a page of prophecy uncovered long ago by the clerics there. The prophecy showed the symbol on Soranex’s hand, and stated: “A bearer of this mark, aided by his best friend, will bring swift death to all enemies.” Before anyone even knew his name, Soranex became a legend at the temple and the “Snake Killer” was born.    Four years past, but the time was not always peaceful. Yuan-Ti raiders would strike the surrounding areas of the temple and pillage the goods there. But all the while, Soranex grew stronger, and his friendship with Alkarai grew closer. As Alkarai found his home and became the groundskeeper of the temple, Soranex found a calling and trained to become its champion. At the end of those four years, Soranex stood ready, an 19 year old man dedicated to wiping out the evil of the Yuan-Ti. Alkarai wished him well, and as a going away present, presented him with a crystal dagger. “I crafted it myself, I guess my gift with magical craft hasn’t completely faded. Its magic is attuned to Yuan-Ti, and it will always seek their blood.”    With the blade at his side, and arms at the ready, Soranex mounted his horse Pantheron, and rode off into destiny.Level 6    The stench of death was everywhere in the dim room. It had been seven days since the men had been taken, and Soranex believed he was the last one alive. The room was unearthly quiet, although the constant buzzing of flies was painful to his ears. He remembered riding with his group, and remembered hearing eerie music. He saw what looked to be a Yuan-Ti holding some instrument. Next was blackness, and after that, this infested room. He took a painful look over to the corner, and saw the pile of blood and flesh that was once his proud horse, the flies having their way with him now. More painful were the teeth marks embedded in the horse’s flesh, a painful reminder of what hunger can do to a man.    At that moment he felt a painful sting from his left hand, looking down he saw the long, jagged crystal sword that was once the beautiful crystal dagger his friend had given him. He had awoken in this dungeon, with the sword literally attached to his arm, and it had been growing ever since- both longer and tighter around his arm. Soranex was not sure what dark magics the Yuan-Ti had put upon the blade, but he smiled noticing the black pulse the crystal was giving off. At least the crystals detection of Yuan-Ti was still working. Moments later, a Yuan-Ti pureblood entered the room, threw a pan of rotted gruel near his feet, and left. The crash of the pan upon the floor screamed in Soranex’s ears, and he collapsed to the floor. He then rushed the door, pounding and screaming upon it to no avail. He slumped to the floor in a heap, as hope left his eyes.    And then he could hear the sounds of battle outside. It was very faint, but someone was definitely coming. He quickly stood up, and with a heavy sigh moved the remains of his horse towards the middle of the room, to create some cover if need be. He picked up the pan as a makeshift weapon and shield, and readied his sword. He thought, “If they are enemies of the Yuan-Ti, then they will find themselves a sword to their aid. But if they are enemies, then they will know my vengence!!” Then… the door opened.Level 10Soranex woke up the same as he always did, pondering the past. It had been a year since those dwarven adventures had found him in that dungeon. A year since he had found that strange instrument which he later discovered were pipes of pain on the body of a dead Yuan-Ti. And eleven months and 22 days since those dwarven adventures and he had been captured by a Yuan-Ti patrol scout. Eleven months and 21 days since the near constant torture began, Ten months since he had lost his faith in Heironeious, and a month since he had finally escaped after his captors were attacked by a pair of hill giants.    The sword had finally stopped growing after so long, the length of a bastard sword now, with a thick crystal spiky covering over his entire left arm. For the longest time, Soranex had feared the sword would never stop growing, and encase him in a permanent crystal cocoon. Fortunately, whatever dark business was put upon the sword seemed to have finished its work.    Over and over again thoughts echoed in his head, how would his life have turned out if only that patrol scout hadn’t found him? Would he still be a champion of Heironeious? Would he not feel so bitter about life? Would he have been able to stop the invasion of his Temple city home, now a pile of rubble and urban decay.    Just then Alkarai came from around his side, and it was obvious he had been trying to talk to him. It seemed he had still not gotten used to Soranex’s deafness. Soranex had lived with the constant torture the pipes of pain had put above him for so long, but eventually the only course was to remove his own ears. Now in safety, Alkarai had asked him several times to have them regenerated, a relatively simple procedure for a strong cleric. But always, Soranex’s answer was the same, “Everything that I have ever been told is a lie. Better to leave things as they are.” However, at least Alkarai was still his friend. How he had been able to find out in the wilderness was practically a miracle, for Soranex was nearly dead from starvation and thirst. Alkarai had always replyed that it was Heironeious’ blessing that had found him, but Soranex could never stomach that response.    Alkarai started to mouth something, and as he did the realization flared in Soranex’s mind. A Yuan-Ti city had been discovered. A chance to strike back!! He jumped out of bed, as Alkarai smiled and opened the door. Soranex gasped at what he saw. An army of humans stood before him, many in armor. They all cheered as they saw him at the door and screamed his name. Alkarai smiled and mouthed, “These are the men of many families who have been threatened and harmed by the Yuan-Ti. They have heard of your legend, Snake Killer, and they are ready to serve.”    With a shout of pure joy, he hugged Alkarai firmly. He suited up in a full suit of armor his new men had provided, and grasped a large steel shield with a symbol of Heironeious on it. Frowning, with his crystal sword he cut at the symbol on the shield, and scratched into, “Personal Power brings True Victory.” He led his men close to the edge of the first Yuan-Ti city. With a smile, he pulled out the pipes of pain that he had managed to keep for so long. He moved towards the town playing as he went. The inhabitants started to feel the enchantment and were stunned while Soranex without his ears was unaffected. With an ironic smile, he held up his hand, and his army charged.Level 14    For a year and two months, his campaign wore on. Dozens of Yuan-Ti towns had been obliterated and everytime, not a single one remained. Finally, his army found the great temple of the Yuan-Ti. With its destruction, the Yuan-Ti in this area would scatter and disperse. His army fought bravely throughout the day and night, and by the dawn of the second day, the temple was burning in flames.    “Alkarai, we’ve done it!! We have broken the Yuan-Ti, they will never threaten this area again!!” Soranex got off his horse and kneeled at the ground, the whole of it overwhelming to him. Alkarai stood there smiling, but with a twisted smile that Soranex had never seen before. “Thank you very much Snake Killer, or should I say… Human Killer.” With a wave of Alkarai’s hand, the crystal sword started to burn and his vision became blurry. When he recovered, Alkarai had removed his cloak, and he WAS YUAN-TI!! “You have done more than I could have ever hoped for Soranex, you are truly my best friend..ha ha ha.”    Soranex’s heart became heavy, and it became difficult to breathe. “What!!…No… what is this? What is…no… can’t be, this isn’t real!! A trick, a trick!!” But then Soranex turned to look at the burned city, and realized with horror that the whole of the city changed. What was once Yuan-Ti monoliths were now cottages and farms. And the great Yuan-Ti Temple that he had burned, was none other then the Temple of Heironeious he had grown up in.    Soranex could barely think, and finally stuttered out, “www…wwwwhyyyy?” With that, Alkarai pulled back his robe. On his wrist were a pair of lightning bolts in the shape of an X. “You did not think you were the only one with destiny, Soranex?” The prophecy did say that the bearer of the mark with the aid of his best friend would kill his enemies, but it didn’t say which bearer. Your stupid clerics never investigated that possibility. They assumed that you would be the one to kill the Yuan-Ti. Tisk tisk, what damage a misread prophecy can do. We knew there was two possible people for the prophecy, and that the other was human. It’s a conflict of interest you see. We want you dead, and you want us dead. So we made sure we got to you first. I didn’t stumble into you that day long ago Soranex, I was TRACKING you!!”    Soranex just looked both ways confused. He looked back at Alkarai. Alkarai then spoke up, “It was very easy to get into your temple and fool you all. I’m a pureblood you see, so I look fairly human already. Add the cloak and a few aura altering spells, and noone suspected. And with my little crystal gift, you saw what I wanted you to see. Humans that look like Yuan-Ti, Yuan-Ti that look like humans.” With that he mentions to his left, and Soranex with horror sees his army is a huge mass of Yuan-Ti, slithering about. “It took some time in that dungeon to attune you to that thing, but eventually it worked perfectly. And now, you have fulfilled your prophecy Soranex, you have helped your best friend eradicate his enemy. Thank you.”    Soranex started crawling on the ground trying to get away, and then bumped into a corpse. With horror he saw the face of the head cleric who had fathered him all those years. He got up and screaming, ran out into the forest, and was never seen from again…    There are stories, that moving about the ruins of the old human cities from the north, that have decayed into almost nothingness as the years go by, is a lone hermit. Nobody knows his name, and nobody cares to. The hermit is blind and deaf, and so stumbles about endlessly. They say that as he walks, often a loud moaning can be heard, a voice of infinite sadness. Other times eerie pan pipe music can be heard from the area. Travelers are always warned to leave that area alone.Soranex Gysbon, Male Human Pal 2. Size: M. Type: Humanoid. HD 2d10 + 4; HP 20; Init: +4 (improved init). Spd: 30 ft (20 in full plate). AC 20 (+8 full plate, +0 dex, +2 shield). BAB: +2. Attacks: Longsword +4 (1d8+2, x2), Crystal dagger +5 (1d4+3, x2). Vision: Normal. AL: LG SV: Fort +7 Ref: +3 Will: +4. Detect Evil, divine grace, lay on hands (6 hp per day), divine health, aura of courage, smite evil (+3 attack, +2 damage). Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 17.Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +8, Ride +5, Knowledge (religion) +5, improved initiative, mounted combat.Possessions: Full Plate, Longsword, +1 Crystal Bane (Yuan-Ti) dagger- pulses black whenever a Yuan-Ti is within 90 feet, large steel shield.At this level: Soranex is an outgoing and triumphant paladin. He is a bit cocky considering the prophecy, but otherwise is ready to serve good in any way he can, especially against the Yuan-Ti.Soranex Gysbon, Male Human Pal 6. Size: M. Type: Humanoid. HD 6d10 + 12, HP: 52, Init: +4 (Improved Init). Spd: 30 ft. AC: 12 (+2 deflection). BAB: +6/+1. Attacks: Crystal Longsword +10/+5 (1d8 + 4, x2). Vision: Normal. AL: LG SV: Fort +11, Ref: +6, Will: +7. Detect Evil, divine grace, lay on hands (24 hp per day), divine health, aura of courage, smite evil (+4 attack, +6 to damage), turn undead, special mount (dead), remove disease 2/week. Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 18.Spells: 2 1st level per day: Create Water, Create Water.Skills and Feats: Knowledge (Religion) +9, Knowledge (Yuan-Ti) +2, Ride +9, Handle Animal +8, improved initiative, mounted combat, trample.At this level: You could encounter Soranex at any dungeon that is run by Yuan-Ti or that has them as allies. If there are any humans in the party, he will immediately attack, thinking they are Yuan-Ti. If not, he will offer to join your group and help you as long as you’ll have him. Soranex is at a –2 to attacks, skills, and saves if there is any noise, and will wince when people talk.Possesions: Crystal Longsword +2 bane (human). The sword covers a part of his arm, giving a +2 deflection bonus to AC. The sword is one with his arm, and cannot be removed. It gives him a –2 to skills requiring that hand, like climb. The sword can be considered a natural weapon. It pulses black whenever a human is within 90 feet. It also makes Soranex think any human looks like a Yuan-TISoranex Gysbon, Male Human Ex-Pal 6 Ftr 4. Size: M. Type: Humanoid. HD 10d10 + 20. Hp: 84. Init +0 (+4 improved int, -4 deaf). Spd. 20 ft (full plate). AC 24 (+8 full plate, +2 shield, +4 deflection), BAB: +10/+5. Attacks: Crystal Bastard Sword + 16/+11 (1d10 + 7, x2). Vision: Normal. AL: N. SV: Fort +11, Ref: +3, Will: +5. Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 18.Skills and Feats: Knowledge Religion +9, Knowledge (Yuan-Ti) +4, Ride: +9, Handle Animal +8, Read Lips +4, improved init, mounted combat, trample, ewp (bastard sword), weapon focus (bastard sword), weapon specilization (bastard sword), leadership.Possessions: Crystal Bastardsword +3 bane (human). The sword cover his whole left arm, granting a +4 deflection bonus. It gives a –2 to skills that require the use of the left arm. It pulses black whenever a human is within 90 feet, Full plate, Engraved Steel Shield, pipes of pain.At this level: Soranex is deaf, but has coped with it by making read lips a crossclass skill. A party would find him leading a large group of Yuan-Ti. The Yuan-Ti will react hostily to anyone getting near Soranex. Soranex will react favorably to the group is there are no humans, and ask them if they know about where the Yuan-Ti are. If there are humans, he will put them on public display and then attempt to kill them. Soranex nevers leaves his army for fear of being captured, unless he could be given a great reason why. Towns in the general area will speak of Soranex as a brutal slayer of humans.Soranex Gysbon, Male Human Ex-Pal 6 Ftr 8. Size: M. Type: Humanoid HD 14d10 + 28. HP: 116. Init +0 (+4 improved init, -4 deaf). Spd 20 (blind). AC 14 (+4 deflection), BAB: +14/+9/+4. Attacks: Crystal Bastard Sword +20/+15/+10 (1d10 +7, x2). Vision: Normal. AL: N. SV: Fort: +13 Ref: +4, Will: +6. Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 18.Skills and Feats: Knowledge Religion +9, Knowledge Yuan-Ti +4, Ride +9, Handle Animal +8, Read Lips +6, Sense Motive +6, Improved Init, Mounted Combat, Trample, ewp (bastard sword), weapon focus (bastard sword), weapon specilization (bastard sword), leadership, skill focus: sense motive, blindfight, power attack.Possessions: Crystal Bastardsword +3 bane (human)- they make anything human look Yuan-Ti, and anything Yuan-TI look human, pipes of pain.At this level: Soranex has lost all faith in the world. He miserably walks among the ruins of those he’s killed. Soranex is blind and deaf, and so will distrust anyone near him as possible Yuan-Ti. However, if you can make him believe you are not Yuan-Ti (perhaps through telepathy or touch, he can give you valuable information about Yuan-Ti tactics and locations. It is possible, but extremely difficult to bring Soranex back into the good fight, as he mistrusts everything around him.</blockquote>

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