I thought I'd post some characters I made using rules from the Mongoose Publications PDF, The Quintessential Aristocrat.
Most of these will be actual characters I use for the game I DM, but slightly modified to take out the world-specific flavor so they can be more easily inserted into other campaigns.
CEDRICK ARVINO, Patron of the Universal Church
Cedrick Arvino, male human Ari6 (Church Patron Character Concept) / Clr3:
CR 8; Medium humanoid; HD 6d8+3d8+ 18; hp 59; Init +0; Speed 30 feet; Space/Reach 5 ft./5ft.; AC 16 (+0 Dex, +5 armor, +1 deflection) touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Attack +6; Grapple +7; Attack +8 melee (1d8+1, masterwork heavy mace); Full Attack +8/+3 melee (1d8+1, masterwork heavy mace); SV Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +13; AL LN; Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 17, Cha 19
Languages: Common, Elven, Dwarven
Skills and Feats: Concentration +7, Diplomacy +22, Intimidate +15, Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +11, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perform (oratory) +13, Sense Motive +16, Spellcraft +5; Aristocratic Title*, Aura of Command*, Born to Wealth*, Leadership, Negotiator
Possessions: +1 chain shirt, masterwork heavy mace, cloak of resistance +2, ring of protection +1, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, potion of eagle’s splendor, potion of owl’s wisdom, wand of hold person (17 charges), noble’s outfit, jewel-encrusted cloak clasp, symbols of office (signet ring bearing the sun & anchor symbol of the Universal Church**, silver collar with inlaid gems, silk sash), Holy Canon of the Universal Church, book on the history of religious artifacts and relics, ring with black onyx stone, 237 gp
Cleric Domains: Law, Knowledge
Cleric Spells (4/3+1/2+1, DC 14 + spell level): 0 – detect magic, guidance (2), read magic; 1st = Cause Fear, Command, Sanctuary, Protection from Chaos; 2nd – Enthrall, Undetectable Alignment, Calm Emotions
* New Feats described in the Quintessential Aristocrat
** This ring bears a ‘Family Icon’ component, described in the Quintessential Aristocrat. In particular, while wearing this ring, any compulsion spells cast by Cedrick Arvino gain +2 to the save DC.
Explanation of Skills & Feats:
Cedrick Arvino has bonuses to some of his skills based on his Character Concept, the Church Patron, as well as from some of his feats.
Cedrick Arvino’s Leadership score is actually slightly higher than just his level plus his Charisma bonus, based on bonuses he gets for being a popular patron within the church. His total score is 15, which affords him a 7th level cohort (the maximum allowed for his level) as well as 20 1st level followers, two 2nd level followers, and one 3rd level followers. His cohort, Ernan Siico, is a multi-class Ari 1/ Exp 5/Adept 1 who acts as Arvino’s personal attendant. His followers are a mixture of adepts and experts (lay priests) as well as commoners (cooks, tailors, groomers, etc.). The 3rd level follower is a historian with knowledge of the history of the church and its saints, relics, and past leaders.
The 'Aristocratic Title' feat gives Cedrick more power within his chosen affiliation, the Universal Church. It enables him to do things such as reqeust favors, contacts, ask for loans, purchase discounted goods and services, and so forth. The Universal Church is a large organization with a substantial wealth, size, history, and prominence. Full details on affiliations are in The Quintessential Aristocrat. If you don't have this PDF, replace 'Aristocratic Title' with 'Skill Focus (Diplomacy)' or another feat of your choice.
Background
Cedrick Arvino is a minor noble from a modestly wealthy house. Far down in the line of succession with little hope taking over his family’s estate, he decided to use religion as his stepping-stone to power and joined the clergy at a young age.
While he is a member of the church’s governing council, Arvino concentrates on improving his secular powers of leadership and persuasion rather than his spiritual duties. Although well versed in the history and theology of the Universal Church, he prefers diplomacy, oratory, and intimidation versus channeling divine power into his spells.
Arvino’s rise in the church has been fairly quick. He is quickly becoming known for his skills in diplomacy and has been sent on several missions of conversion, both to the barbarian kingdoms of the east and among the heretical splinter groups of the south. While he excels in these missions, Cedrick prefers being back home in the capital, where he can use his strength of personality and charisma to affect change as an advisor to the king’s court. In addition, his ability at oratory is powerful, and with his charming, boyish good looks, the 39-year-old Arvino has become quite popular with the female worshippers of the church. His ambition and aggressive behavior have made him quite a few enemies among the rest of the church leadership, who as a general rule are soft-spoken and more contemplative in nature.
Arvino attaches quite a bit of importance to his dress and appearance, outfitting himself with the richest fabrics available. His hair is slightly beginning to gray at the temples, and he wears a neatly trimmed mustache and short beard which he grooms with oils and perfumes, as is the custom amongst the leadership of the Universal Church. Shortly after joining the priesthood of the church, he had a signet ring made especially for him that bears the Sun & Anchor symbol of the Universal Church on its face. In all of his grooming and mannerisms, Arvino acts as a priest much higher than his actual station in the church hierarchy.
Although he enjoys his status within the church and the access it grants him to the upper echelons of society, Arvino also has a powerful thirst for gaining more personal power. Lately, he has become interested in researching the ancient relics of his faith. With the money at his disposal, he could quite easily mount an expedition to begin recovering these artifacts of a bygone age. Given his lust for power, is it unknown what Arvino would do with such objects at his command.
Most of these will be actual characters I use for the game I DM, but slightly modified to take out the world-specific flavor so they can be more easily inserted into other campaigns.
CEDRICK ARVINO, Patron of the Universal Church
Cedrick Arvino, male human Ari6 (Church Patron Character Concept) / Clr3:
CR 8; Medium humanoid; HD 6d8+3d8+ 18; hp 59; Init +0; Speed 30 feet; Space/Reach 5 ft./5ft.; AC 16 (+0 Dex, +5 armor, +1 deflection) touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Attack +6; Grapple +7; Attack +8 melee (1d8+1, masterwork heavy mace); Full Attack +8/+3 melee (1d8+1, masterwork heavy mace); SV Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +13; AL LN; Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 17, Cha 19
Languages: Common, Elven, Dwarven
Skills and Feats: Concentration +7, Diplomacy +22, Intimidate +15, Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +11, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perform (oratory) +13, Sense Motive +16, Spellcraft +5; Aristocratic Title*, Aura of Command*, Born to Wealth*, Leadership, Negotiator
Possessions: +1 chain shirt, masterwork heavy mace, cloak of resistance +2, ring of protection +1, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds, potion of eagle’s splendor, potion of owl’s wisdom, wand of hold person (17 charges), noble’s outfit, jewel-encrusted cloak clasp, symbols of office (signet ring bearing the sun & anchor symbol of the Universal Church**, silver collar with inlaid gems, silk sash), Holy Canon of the Universal Church, book on the history of religious artifacts and relics, ring with black onyx stone, 237 gp
Cleric Domains: Law, Knowledge
Cleric Spells (4/3+1/2+1, DC 14 + spell level): 0 – detect magic, guidance (2), read magic; 1st = Cause Fear, Command, Sanctuary, Protection from Chaos; 2nd – Enthrall, Undetectable Alignment, Calm Emotions
* New Feats described in the Quintessential Aristocrat
** This ring bears a ‘Family Icon’ component, described in the Quintessential Aristocrat. In particular, while wearing this ring, any compulsion spells cast by Cedrick Arvino gain +2 to the save DC.
Explanation of Skills & Feats:
Cedrick Arvino has bonuses to some of his skills based on his Character Concept, the Church Patron, as well as from some of his feats.
Cedrick Arvino’s Leadership score is actually slightly higher than just his level plus his Charisma bonus, based on bonuses he gets for being a popular patron within the church. His total score is 15, which affords him a 7th level cohort (the maximum allowed for his level) as well as 20 1st level followers, two 2nd level followers, and one 3rd level followers. His cohort, Ernan Siico, is a multi-class Ari 1/ Exp 5/Adept 1 who acts as Arvino’s personal attendant. His followers are a mixture of adepts and experts (lay priests) as well as commoners (cooks, tailors, groomers, etc.). The 3rd level follower is a historian with knowledge of the history of the church and its saints, relics, and past leaders.
The 'Aristocratic Title' feat gives Cedrick more power within his chosen affiliation, the Universal Church. It enables him to do things such as reqeust favors, contacts, ask for loans, purchase discounted goods and services, and so forth. The Universal Church is a large organization with a substantial wealth, size, history, and prominence. Full details on affiliations are in The Quintessential Aristocrat. If you don't have this PDF, replace 'Aristocratic Title' with 'Skill Focus (Diplomacy)' or another feat of your choice.
Background
Cedrick Arvino is a minor noble from a modestly wealthy house. Far down in the line of succession with little hope taking over his family’s estate, he decided to use religion as his stepping-stone to power and joined the clergy at a young age.
While he is a member of the church’s governing council, Arvino concentrates on improving his secular powers of leadership and persuasion rather than his spiritual duties. Although well versed in the history and theology of the Universal Church, he prefers diplomacy, oratory, and intimidation versus channeling divine power into his spells.
Arvino’s rise in the church has been fairly quick. He is quickly becoming known for his skills in diplomacy and has been sent on several missions of conversion, both to the barbarian kingdoms of the east and among the heretical splinter groups of the south. While he excels in these missions, Cedrick prefers being back home in the capital, where he can use his strength of personality and charisma to affect change as an advisor to the king’s court. In addition, his ability at oratory is powerful, and with his charming, boyish good looks, the 39-year-old Arvino has become quite popular with the female worshippers of the church. His ambition and aggressive behavior have made him quite a few enemies among the rest of the church leadership, who as a general rule are soft-spoken and more contemplative in nature.
Arvino attaches quite a bit of importance to his dress and appearance, outfitting himself with the richest fabrics available. His hair is slightly beginning to gray at the temples, and he wears a neatly trimmed mustache and short beard which he grooms with oils and perfumes, as is the custom amongst the leadership of the Universal Church. Shortly after joining the priesthood of the church, he had a signet ring made especially for him that bears the Sun & Anchor symbol of the Universal Church on its face. In all of his grooming and mannerisms, Arvino acts as a priest much higher than his actual station in the church hierarchy.
Although he enjoys his status within the church and the access it grants him to the upper echelons of society, Arvino also has a powerful thirst for gaining more personal power. Lately, he has become interested in researching the ancient relics of his faith. With the money at his disposal, he could quite easily mount an expedition to begin recovering these artifacts of a bygone age. Given his lust for power, is it unknown what Arvino would do with such objects at his command.
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