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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WayneLigon" data-source="post: 825828" data-attributes="member: 3649">Red Wolf, Male Human DruidRed Wolf is a member of the Stone Dance, a druid circle located not too far from the large mountain city of Irongate; the circle is located in a high alpine mountain valley only reachable by either flying or a treacherous goat path.Red Wolf was originally named Tiir, and was the youngest son of a prosperous Irongate merchant. The eldest son and heir fell ill with a wasting disease that threatened to kill him; the local priests refused to heal him, claiming the fever that ravaged the man was the will of the gods and it would be ill-omened to do so. In desperation, they turned to an herb-wife they knew, who gave their name to the Stone Dance.One night, two robed and hooded members of the Stone Dance came to the family townhouse, claiming they bore medicine. The man and woman entered, as did their wolf-companions, and knelt by the eldest sons bedside. Herbs and magic drew out the poisons and soon the man’s forehead was cool and he ceased his raving.Then the mention of payment came up. The man from the Stone Dance started to name a price, but then saw the baby of the family rolling around on the kitchen floor with the two savage still-wild wolves, laughing and ruffling their fur. The man looked to the woman, and both nodded. The man turned to the merchant. “He is our price,” he said simply. The merchant’s wife became hysterical, but the merchant looked to his eldest son, who would bear his name and business, and then to the unwanted baby his wife had gifted them with last year. “Done,” the merchant said, and the druids disappeared into the night with their newest member. Tiir grew up in the vast mountain chain surrounding Irongate, a son of the great woodlands and deep misty valleys. He went to Irongate itself a few times, so he’s not totally unaware of what goes on in a large city but it’s not something he likes a great deal. His childhood was one of peace and learning, growing up among the wild things. He did well in both games and studies, and grew to be a tall, strong young man. Each member of the Dance must undergo a trial in the wilderness, where they are tested by the forces of nature to see if they are worthy of wielding nature’s power. When he was 17, Tiir took his trial; an elder of the circle shifted shape and took Tiir many miles to the north, saying that he must make his way back to the Dance within the span of a Moon or not come back at all. Vaguely, Tiir knew that he had also been taken across the Empire’s northern border, and now he was within the barbarian Free Kingdoms. The journey back took everything the boy had. Simply surviving  off the wilderness is no great trial to someone who knows the ways of the woods, but the approaching winter and the fierce mountain goblins were another thing. The defining point of the young man’s journey, though, was an encounter with elements of a mounted Imperial patrol that thought it would be fun to hunt a pack of wolves.The patrol was protecting a northern mountain pass, watching for any suspicious persons and they were bored, bored, bored. One of the scouts had spotted wolf spoor in the area, and a few men decided to ride out and hunt the beasts. They needed the furs and trophies, and it would be a way to break up the monotony. They harried the small pack through the high vales, their powerful horses bulling through undergrowth and snow alike, not letting the pack rest or stray very far. The men made a game of it, harrying the wolves as much as they could until one would drop from exhaustion. Then a crossbow bolt would end its life and they’d hurry on to take the rest. Tiir rashly attacked the lead warrior, swinging down from an overhead branch and knocking the man from his horse. The man cracked his skull open on an exposed rock and died, which set into motion a series of unfortunate events… the man was the force commander, and his brother saw the ‘murder’. Tiir fought well but he was a boy armed with a spear and they were half a dozen armored men of the Empire. Tiir managed to slash a couple more warriors before he was overwhelmed and taken captive. Elras Dorn, the brother of the dead, claimed the right to kill the boy in whatever manner he chose and none of the troop opposed him, just like they didn’t oppose him taking over as force commander. Dorn already had a pair of wolves he’d captured and put in a pit, so the troops could take part in skinning them later. Now, he took up the boy. “Since you like wolves so much, then die by their fangs!” he growled, and tossed Tiir into the pit. As the boy fell, he lashed out with his teeth, caught hold of a thong around Dorn’s neck, hoping to drag the man down with him. The worn leather parted, though, and Tiir had only a length of leather and a silver key to show for his troubles. The wolves were almost mad with hunger and began to stalk Tiir. Tiir, whose hands were still bound, pressed himself against the pit wall and pleaded with them with his eyes, a chuff and a growl coming from deep in his throat. The wolves moved forward and Tiir chuffed again, straightening his shoulders and crouching – a dominance position. I am alpha here, he postured to them. The troops watched as the wolves and boy circled each other, screaming bets to each other. Two of the troopers jabbed spears down into the pit, gouging at both wolves and boy to make each attack. Suddenly the wolves lunged at Tiir and bore him to the ground as the troops screamed. Tiir cried out, but he was smiling; the wolves tore at his bonds instead of his flesh, though his wrists were bloody when they were done. His muscled arms surged and the ropes parted, then he jerked one of the spears down into the pit, along with the wielder. Tiir picked up the key talisman and stuffed it into his loincloth. As the wolves tore apart the guardsman, Tiir used the spear to spring from the pit. Elras drew his sword, but Tiir managed a lucky strike, slashing the man across the face with the spearpoint. Tiir stole a horse and fled, the other horses of the troop scattering from the scent of wolf on him.A few days later, Tiir managed to finally elude pursuit and he realized that the spirits of the forest had accepted him; the wolves had obeyed him, and aided him. Just before the moon turned, he rejoined the druids of the Dance as their newest member. He took the name Red Wolf both from the wolves that aided him, and the red blood they spilled in doing so. The rest of the winter, he spent in sacred rituals that tied him to the land, and the beasts. His personal totem is the wolf, since he dreams of them so often. When it came time to call his first companion., Now, Red Wolf has come down from his mountain valley to walk among other men. The elder of the Dance told him that he must do this thing, to grow even as a vine grows. The key, he wears around his neck, and sees as a sacred talisman that will lead him where the Elder says. Red Wolf, Male Human Dr1,CR 1; Medium Humanoid; HD (1d8)+1; hp 9; Init +1 (+1 Dex); Spd Walk 30'; AC 13 (Leather +2, Dex +1, flatfooted 12, touch 11), *Shortspear +2 0'/P (1d8+2 20/x3) or Sling +1 50'/B (1d4 20/x2 Neither S ) or ; SA: Animal Companion, Nature Sense; Vision: Normal AL: NG; Sv: Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +4; Str 14, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 14Skills and Feats:  Animal Empathy +6, Climb +4, Diplomacy +4, Handle Animal +4, Heal +4, Perform +3, Spellcraft +3, Spot +3, Wilderness Lore +8; Skill Focus (Wilderness Lore), TrackSpells: (3/2); 0- Know Direction, Cure Minor Wound, Resistance; 1- Cure Light Wounds, Magic FangPossessions: 2 Shortspears (one carried, one across his back),  Sling with 50 Bullets (in belt pouch) a backpack with a Bedroll, Map Case, 3 Fishhooks and twine,  2 set of flint and steel, 7 days of trail rations, and 4 torches. One belt pouch with the sling, etc, plus a whetstone, his holly and mistletoe, and a ‘Pan flute’ made from river reeds. Another pouch with 53 gold. A silver key on a thong around his neck. Leather armor.Red Wolf is a handsome 18-year-old man with a wild look about him; his clothes and armors are worn but very serviceable and durable; he dresses in browns, grays and black except during winter or high summer, when he changes to more grays or to various greens respectively. He usually has some bits of bone or feathers about with him, tied to his clothing or boots. He sometimes wears swirling designs on his arms, chest or face, daubed on with his fingers; temporary dyes made from herbs and boiled bark. He will also dye the faint scars on his wrists red when going into battle.Blood: Female Wolf, Medium-Size Animal, HD: 2d8+4 (13 hp), Init: +2 (Dex),  Speed: 50 ft., AC: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural),  Att: Bite +3 melee, 1d6+1, SA: Trip, SQ: Scent, Sves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1, Abilities: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15    Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6Skills: Hide +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +4, Spot +4, Wilderness Lore +1*; Weapon Finesse (bite)Wolves receive a +4 racial bonus to Wilderness Lore checks when tracking by scent.Blood is a young red wolf, slightly smaller than the more common Gray Wolf; hardy and strong, Blood goes off and hunts by herself a lot, often bringing back a bird or rabbit for Red Wolf when he’s done feeding herself. She’s a playful animal, always eager to run and jump and snap.Elras Dorn, Male Human Ar2 Ftr2  CR 3; Medium Humanoid; HD (2d8)+(2d10)+4; hp 37; Init +0; Spd Walk 30'; AC 14 (Chain Shirt +4, flatfooted 14, touch 10), Longspear +5 0'/P (1d8+2 20/x3) or Shortbow (+1 Mighty/Composite) +3; AL: LE; Sv: Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3; Str 15, Dex 11, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 14Skills and Feats:  Bluff +7, Diplomacy +9, Handle Animal +6, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (Arcana) +3, Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty) +3, Perform +3, Ride +9, Spot +2, Swim +-6, Wilderness Lore +4; Combat Reflexes, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Quick Draw, Ride-By Attack, Skill Focus (Ride)Possession: Chain Shirt, Small Steel Shield, Longspear, Shortbow (+1 Mighty Comp), throwing axe.A once-handsome man, now bearing a savage puckered scar across face, slashing from one cheek, up through one now milky eye, into the scalp; the hair there now grows out white. Dresses all in black. Dorn has risen fast and far since his encounter with the savage Red Wolf; he now commands a small group of Imperial soldiers that make raids into the Free Kingdoms, trying to start the war everyone knows is coming. He hates wolves and commonly wears a wolf-skin cloak. He offers 10 silvers for the corpse of every wolf brought to him. If he should ever catch sight of Red Wolf again, he’d try his best to kill him and everyone with him.The Elder, Female Wood Elf Druid10  CR 10; Medium Humanoid; HD (10d8); hp 64; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd Walk 30'; AC 13 (flatfooted 10, touch 13), / ( /x ) or ; SA: Animal Companion, Automatic Search check if within 5' of secret/concealed door, Immunity to sleep(Ex), Nature Sense, Resist Nature's Lure, save +2 vs enchantment spells, Trackless Step, Venom Immunity, Wildshape 4/day, Wildshape Large, Woodland Stride; Vision: Low-light,Normal AL: TN; Sv: Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +11; Str 14, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 19, Cha 13Skills and Feats:  Animal Empathy +14, Diplomacy +5, Handle Animal +4, Heal +8, Scry +14, Spellcraft +14, Swim +4, Wilderness Lore +17;Dodge, Leadership, Silent Spell, Spell Penetration Spells: 6/5/5/4/4/2The Elder is the leader of the Stone Dance, the circle of druids that trained Red Wolf. She meddles in all sorts of areas, generally local politics and such in the Irongate area. She has a special fondness for Red Wolf, and sometimes will send him omens of where he will find greater spiritual growth. =====<img src="http://webpages.charter.net/wligon/Misc/redwolf.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> =====OK, I do think that meets all the criteria; Toe, let me know, OK? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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