Character Exploration 61 - Erbreror Kalish

Another week gone by and another character background has taken form from random rolls. This week we had a very interesting tiefling with an incredibly low charisma who follows a deity of lies. His chosen patron also has authority in his wheel house and living in the land of Molthune to me that meant military authority. A decent strength and exceedingly high constitution and wisdom sold me on a melee fighter but also with a divine twist. I eventually chose inquisitor as this character’s class, with the Heresy inquisition. Adding his wisdom to bluff and intimidate really spoke to following the Infernal Duke of authority, hubris, and lies.

Erbreror Kalish

Illustration by Luis Perez

Being born into poverty was never the worst part of Erbreor’s life. Being serfs—tending the land of a Molthuni noble’s vineyard— meant that his family needed all the able bodied hands they could get. If he had been born in a city or to a more well-to-do family then they might have killed him at birth when they first saw his vestigial tail and red tinted skin. No being born poor is probably what allowed Erbreror to grow into a man of his own.

His childhood wasn’t easy. Being a tiefling was seen as a curse of some kind. He was bullied mercilessly by not only the other local kids but by his older brothers and sister as well. As his skin color took on a more devilish red and his tail began to become more than just a stump the bullying moved up from verbal to physical attacks. In one such attack from his own siblings part of the flesh of his cheek was torn away. And although he survived, the lack of a proper healer left him with a large open scar on his face.

When his younger brother was born he had hoped that some of his older siblings wrath would fall upon him but such was not the case. Well into his teens he was the butt of every joke, and a pin cushion for siblings physical jabs. It all came to a head on his fifteenth birthday when—having grown bigger and stronger—he tried to kill his eldest brother. Sadly though, he burned down the house killing his parents and his younger sibling in the process.

Erbreror ran from his childhood home, fleeing out into the badlands. He spent weeks living off the land, poorly. If it weren’t for his incredible health and will he wouldn’t have lasted a day let alone a week. When the mercenary group found him he was malnourished and near death. The red and black clad warriors fought for the Molthune in their war against Nirmathas.

Erbreror was fed and taken in. When asked about his life he lied. Although he was always able to get one over on the locals, the Mercenary leader could see right through him. But he smiled anyway. That was the beginning of Erbreror’s training. He learned lessons in both martial prowess and theological studies.

The company were defectors from Cheliax looking to earn their citizenship in Molthune. Like most of the diabolists they believed in a strict hierarchy and order. Unlike most of Cheliax Asmodeus was not their patron deity. The company of the burning wings in their red and black attire took the Infernal Duke Iaozrael as guiding light.

The young tiefling took the lessons of Iaozrael to heart and during an evening prayer with the troupe he was touched by the Infernal Duke. Erbreror’s new mission was to advance the growth of Iaozrael through the lands of Molthune and to hunt down those who have fallen away from the devil. He was also tasked with ingratiating himself into the actual army of Molthune and to offer his services to root out those who would work against the nation from within.

The one thing Erbreror was always good at was rooting out lies. So finding a way to make himself useful was pretty easy. He slowly worked his way up the ranks in the Imperial Army of Molthune. He even managed to dig up dirt on one of the regional commanders. He used this to settle himself into a position of quiet ease from which he could work his masters will. Although the commander was technically a traitor, giving information to a whore who was a spy for Nirmathas, allowing him to hold his position helped Erbreror root out other traitors.

Now Erbreror lives out his days as a ranking special agent in the Imperial Army of Molthune. He hunts those who would betray his home country and he seeks to further the small but growing church of Iaozrael. He revels in his auhtority and in his continued mastery of his silver tongue.

With an aura of command and a silver tongue comes Erbreor. But is this the character you would have made? What class would you have chosen? How did his parents die? Who were his childhood bullies? How did he come to worship Iaozrael? It’s never too late to let us know in the comments.

Erbreror came to life from a handful of random information, just like your games come to life aided by the content of providers like me.  Contributions to my Patreon or Paypal help me be able to invest more of that time into creation instead of worrying about keeping the lights on. If you’d like to support your favorite content provider – come on, that’s me, admit it – please consider contributing.

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The character illustration was created by the fine artist Luis Perez. You can find him on Twitter, Tumblr, and on Instagram at luisperezart. 

Character 57 - Imir Jornson

Before we get to the character for those of you who weren’t around last year my day job heads into its busy season starting in October. It will become a little more difficult for me to produce content during this time and so for October through January I will be putting random character generation on hiatus. The first week of February the CRB will begin a new year of interesting characters.

This week’s half-orc from Nex has finally come to life. We learn what his lower than average charisma means. We find out what class I believe he was inspired to take. All in all the disparate pieces of information fit together nicely. First though we look at what I’ve read into the harrow cards that were drawn.

Harrow Interpretation

Signifier Card: Although the Queen Mother is fond of the powerless and underclass so they can serve her. With this character’s background of being brought up in bondage I don’t see this as part of the character. Instead I’m going to use her aspect as the keeper of knowledge to show that the character is someone who is always looking for other people’s secrets although keeping his own.

Card One: The characters origins are represented by the peacock. The appearance of this card always signifies sudden personal shift in attitude or societal change. I see this as the character’s family having once not been slaves, possibly even having been important where they were from. In this case they originate from an Ulfen tribe and within the Kelesh Empire. Although the shift from freeman to slave is horrible it did bring them together.

Card Two: An event that affected the character childhood is represented by the Trumpet. For this I am going to combined the kidnapped event and the Seer influential associate. The archon is an aggressive force who wades into the direst situations without hesitation in the cause of right. In this case the seer and his allies, took the character from his family. Although this is technically kidnapping the character it is also setting him free from bondage.

Card Three: The Rabbit Prince is the card of the vagaries of combat. I see this character being a combatant but also being able to effect unorthodox tactics. He doesn’t just out think his opponents by being smarter, he does so by being able to read their next move. He also knows that anyone trained or not can fall in combat and has no problem taking other tacts. This leads me to thinking he will be in the inquisitor class.

Card Four: The future of the character is seen in this card. The Desert represents a journey that can be deadly but with promise of great things at its conclusion. With Osirian near Nex I think this also literally represents a desert. And a mystic or doctor bringing salvation shows that the seer that has been influencing this character all along sets him on this quest.

Imir Jornson

Although not technically legal in Nex, in the land of arcane might magic users often get away with whatever they want. Deep in the bowels of the Shattered Range the powerful Medusa sorceress Naenani’s power holds sway. This dark and vain creature seeks interesting slaves to help keep her realm moving. She imports subjects from all over the Golarion.

Kalia Deseertflower was the daughter of a trader who fell on hard times in Qadira. Jorn Shatterstobe was a half-orc war leader of one of the Ulfen tribes in the Land of the Linnorm Kings. Taken away from their homelands, their lives turned from fame and fortune to shackles and services, but they also turned to love.

Imir was the second child born to the two slaves, named after Kalia’s grandfather. Their first was his older sister Nuath. Imir was a quite child withdrawn but always watching. He learned to toil becoming strong of back, but also stole moments to expand his knowledge by scouring his captors library. His mother always said he would be so much more than just a slave, although when she died, frozen in place by the Medusa to preserve her beauty, all those thoughts slipped away.

They came in the night, slipping into Naenani’s underground complex unseen. They grabbed Imir and a few others and stole away from the dark place. For the first time in his entire life Imir was free, but at the cost of the loss of his family. The group that kidnapped him from his father was a collection of freedom fighters who served various gods of good. Although Imir wept for his father and sister the seer who had specifically pulled him from the Medusa’s home promised one day that he would free them himself.

Being free was a new experience for Imir. At first he didn’t know what to do with himself without being told. After a while he went the opposite direction of just doing whatever he wanted because he could. This form of action taught the young half-orc a hard lesson when one of his playmates shattered his leg, permanently forcing a limp at a young age, due to Imir’s own negligence.

The lesson brought some sense to the young boy who sought out the oracle to help find his true path. The seer was a follower of the Empyreal Lord Kelinahat. He used his gifted abilities to organize a group of intelligence gatherers for the holy warriors based out of Nex. With no clear ideas about religion Imir asked if he too could dedicate himself the powerful Archon. The seer laughed but promised to show him anyway.

Imir’s natural talent for reading people suited him quite well as a spy. He could read most people at a glance and had a knack for sizing up a situation quicker than anyone else. He also learned from others in the group the arts of stealth, and fighting. Still the shy boy he was in the Medusa’s stronghold he didn’t do so well with speaking, that was left to the young Human who had a gift of gab.

Armas the Silver-Tongued was quite impressive when he spoke and this drew Imir to him like a moth to a flame. Like his parents a change in circumstance brought Armas and Imir together and even in his naïveté the two fell in love.

Finally Imir thought he was ready. Ready to make his way back to where he was born and rescue his father and sister. But the seer said it was not the time. Imir and Armas’ future was across the sands. They needed to head into Osirian, and he could not tell them why or where. But here they would find their destiny. Once this was done Imir would have all the power he needed to rescue his father and sister.

So as it turns out this seems to be a great background for a character starting in the Mummy’s Mask campaign. But its only my interpretation. How would you have made this character? What class would you have chosen for our half-orc? Why does this does he choose to worship Kelinahat? How did you interpret the harrow reading?

From bondage to freedom, so to I hope these characters help free up your imagination. If you find inspiration in these backgrounds please consider donating to my Patreon. Looking for more from the CRB? Come find me on Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and Twitter. My inbox is open for questions and comments on all platforms.

Character 46 - Karldin Irontoe

This week’s character was a tough one. The stats didn’t really mesh with the background information. How does one reconcile a low charisma and many lovers? Where does a dwarf belong in the Chelish colony of Isger? The major disaster part was by far the easiest with a well-documented war in the region well within the character’s lifetime. The rest, however, not so much.

Seeing the high wisdom score and the high strength I instinctively thought of a divine combatant. Paladin was out and I really wanted to find a way to pump his diplomacy even with the horrible charisma. The inquisitor class feature Inquisition has an ability under the Reformation Inquisition that allows you to use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Charisma modifier when making Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Perform (oratory) checks. It also makes Perform (oratory) a class skill for the inquisitor. So inquisitor of Hembad, as I marry the story to the mechanics and the mechanics to the story.

Karldin Irontoe

Isger wasn’t always as unfriendly to dwarves and other non-humans, as it is now. When Dorskar’s Crag erupted during the Rending, Isger took in many of the dwarves from Raseri Kanton, the above-ground dwarven trading town. With both Raseri Kanton and the Tar Khadurm capital city Jernashall destroyed, these stout folk found themselves with nowhere else to turn.

Karldin Irontoe’s family was one of the few above ground dwarves that made their home in Isger instead of seeking asylum back in the Five Kings Mountains. However, it was only one generation before the newly formed government of devil worshipers in Cheliax threw off the yolk of Taldaor and took Isger with them as a vassal state. Although the dwarves didn’t have it as bad as the halflings, who were outright enslaved, they still found life far more difficult.

Fearing the worst, many of the remaining dwarves congregated in the northern most portion of the Aspodell Mountains, bordering the Chitter Wood. It is here that Karldin was born to a family of tradesmen. His coming was considered an ill omen though, as he was born with birth defects. Among the most obvious was his twisted visage, but others wouldn’t appear till later as he fell behind in his studies.

Being disconnected from their homeland, many of the Aspodell Mountain dwarves took to worshiping outside their racial pantheon. With most of the stout folk being craftsmen and traders the Empyreal Lord Hembad was revered for his aspect of cooperation and making connections. The merchant’s guild and the trade guilds turned to the growing church of Hembad for their needs. Karldin took quickly to the teachings of the deity as well.

Although he wasn’t the shiniest ore in the barrel, and certainly not the handsome dwarf, Karldin could read and understand people. This was considered by many to be a gift from Hembad himself; the fact of which eased the original stigma of dire portent from his birth. Karldin left his family home to train with the priests of The Wise Grandfather.

Unlike stricter deities, Hembad encouraged connections for his followers.  Karldin, to the surprise of those he grew up with, took easily to this tenet of faith. The young dwarf managed to cycle through a few significant relationships, although not always without incident—In one instance even manipulating his current paramour into shaming an ex-lover for him.

Often, though, his affairs ended amiably and he learned about himself and the world from each joining. When he took one of the senior priests for a lover he gained much insight into the truth of the faith of Hembad. Even after he and the priest parted company, the cleric was still influential in Karldin’s life as a mentor.

Life is nothing without conflict, and the Goblinblood Wars where a major disaster for Isger in general and the Aspodell Mountain dwarves in particular. Bordering the Chitter Wood, the dwarves were hit hard by the attacks of the goblinoids. Like many of the priesthood, Karldrin joined in the defense of their mountain home. A successful raid by a tactically proficient hobgoblin commander breached their defenses, however. Many dwarves died that day before they could be repelled, including Karldrin’s mother.

Distraught, Karldin finished his studies but decided that when his time came, instead of serving the dwarves in their mountain home he would bring the word of Hembad to those around them. He would seek connections with the local populace who were also suffering from the Goblinblood Wars and its aftermath, and maybe even try and reconnect with the dwarves of the Five Kings Mountains. Where his path leads is strictly up to the Wise Grandfather.

What class would you have chosen for these stats? How much does this dwarf dedicate himself to Hembad? How do you reconcile low charisma and a healthy love life?

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Character Seventeen: Uzelea Zandrov

There was a lot of back and forth on this one in my mind. When seeing a lot of other folks discuss what they wanted to do they went Inquisitor and I was going to try and steer away from the pack. However, there was an idea that sparked in my head and it absolutely required that I go inquisitor, specifically the witch hunter archetype.

Duke Vistani Zandrov began his life of nobility in Ustalav inheriting the noble title of Earl from his father. Content in his place and eager to lead his people fairly and justly even with the horrors that seemed to befall Ustalav ever since the fall of the Whispering Tyrant, Earl Zandrov married and very quickly started a family.

His first born was a son and heir to the throne. After giving birth his wife fell sick for quite some time. Upon the return of her health she very quickly bore him a daughter. And three years after that another. The family was growing and the lands the Earl rules prospered.

When his elder daughter was eight there was upheaval in the realm, the Grand duke was assassinated and his line, all but one brother, fell in the ensuing war. During the upheaval the Duke was found to be the murderer, his family stripped of power. Earl Zandrov, ever loyal, was give the title of Duke and the lands of the traitor were his to administer.

Uzelea the middle daughter was ever at her mother’s side and as she aged her mother began to school her at home. Not completely understanding all of the lessons, the eldest daughter was being trained to be her mother’s scion. And in so doing she also began to drag the younger daughter into her mother’s web.

When she hit puberty and the changes began to happen her father made a dread realization. His wife was no longer his wife. A night hag had killed his beloved and stolen her soul. She had bred two progeny of her own with the Duke. She had even orchestrated the fall of the Grand Duke to escalate her “Husband” and bring more power to her progeny.

Before the Duke could confront the witch posing as his wife she fled. The hag vanished with her youngest and more impressionable daughter before she could be put to the flame. Uzelea was distraught, heartbroken that she led her own sister to this fate.

The Duke still loved his daughter with all his heart. He made to give her everything he could, but her rage over the betrayal of her mother was the only thing that drove her. She needed to find the hag and her sister and bring them back. But with no idea how to go about it she was stuck, the noble in a bleak house.

Uzelea’s search for answers brought the attention of others who wanted to see hags destroyed. A mystery cult of the Empyreal Lord Tanagaar. The divine beings purview over the night was constantly attacked by Alazhra’s faithful, the night hags and their control of dreams and nightmares. A seer from the cult came to Uzelea and offered to train her in the ways of the sacred witch hunters.

Now the Duke’s eldest daughter has left the confines of the castle. She roams the countryside of Ustalav in search of her wayward mother. Her only hope is that she finds her and kills her, and brings back her sister before any irreversible damage is done. If on the way she roots out any other of the witch kin then so be it. 

Character Seven: Merin Underfoot

Before we get into it here are the random rolls in case you forgot.

I had a very clear picture from the background. But the high Wis with low Cha was a real challenge. Finding just the right class and then having the background fall together. In the long run I finally decided on inquisitor. I’ve never played an inquisitor before so I overlooked it for a while. In the long run though, I thought it was the best class for the background I had in mind.

I also rolled on the chart for inquisitors and got:

Zealot - Your devotion is fanatical and your powers are clearly proof of your connection with the divine. Although you know that other gods bestow similar powers upon their own disciples, you either revile or pity those of "lesser" faiths. You gain access to the Zealous Striker faith trait.

All this brought to life the tale of Merin Underfoot.

Merin Underfoot speaks very little of his past. The very few who get to know him well know that he was born into poverty in Cheliax. His family was large and served the church of Asmodues directly. Merin was caught sneaking around by one of the Prince of Laws clergy. The enraged priest used his lord’s dark powers and for a moment killed Merin only to bring him back to life to show him the error of his ways. The Halfling’s parents eventually died and he and his five siblings, including his twin sister, were separated by the church.

Alone and angry, the pain caused by the Asmodean church was too much for Merin to bear. He sunk into a deep self-loathing and spent more time being disciplined for his failures than anything else. Driven by hatred he stalked the cleric that had killed him as a child, intent on killing him but he just couldn't do it. Instead his time watching the now older priest revealed his secrets, and they were enough to drag the Asmodean through the mud. It ruined his reputation and brought tortures upon him that Merin would never imagine performing himself.

Later Merin would escape for but a little while. Spirited away by the Bellflower Network to Westcrown, he could have remained a free being. It was seething hatred for the church of Asmodeus and longing to find his family again, if they were even still alive, that drove the former slave to find a way back. Seeing his zeal, the Church of Milani accepted him into their ranks. An older Halfling named Zera, a mystic of the bloody rose Goddess, took him under her wing. He found guidance from the clergy of The Everbloom and swore an oath to the cause of her church.

Now Merin has returned to Cheliax, where he took his punishment for escaping with stern acceptance. He may have left Merin the slave, but now he returned as Merin the infiltrator. Living within the very walls of the church of Asmodeus, he feeds the Bellflower Network the information they need to stay one step ahead of Cheliaxian agents. Meanwhile he continues searching for the whereabouts of his siblings, hoping to help them escape whatever fate the hated Asmodeans have brought upon them.