Vaeril - Human Male | Hexblade | Rogue + Avenging Executioner

[Thramzorean]

Status: ready for review

 

(Character Sheet linked to image)

Basics

• Name: Vaeril (no family name provided)

• Gender: Male

• Race: Human (amphibious)

• Classes: Hexblade 9 | Rogue 5, Avenging Executioner 4

• Alignment: N

• Role: Front line combatant who is a debuffer with skills.

• Office: Bosun (that's Boatswain to ye land lubbers), Master at Arms would also work.

Appearance

• A man entering the prime of life, a tanned weather-beaten complexion, long red-brown hair loosely held with a scarlet headband, he looks every part a buccaneer, the marlinspike in his belt as ready for action as the long spiked chain wrapped around him and the rapiers at his belt. A light brown finely worked leather jerkin, strangely scaled on close inspection, and a collared, ruffed, white silk shirt open at his neck gives him a rakish look, a gentleman sailor of fortune.

Personality

• A debonair individual with a burning fire in his dark crystal blue eyes, whose flamboyance is quickly recognised as a facade over an intense personality that you do not wish to cross.
  Vaeril endears a universal tinge of fear, which breeds resentment, grumbling between decks, snide comments on the afterdeck. Yet there is not a man or woman who would not follow him over the gunwale to board an enemy ship. Vaeril's tough but fair, he's tough on everyone including himself. As the go-between the officers and the crew, the officers like him because it takes a brave crewman to bring a trivial complaint to Vaeril, while the crew like him because when there is some silly idea dreamed up in the officer's mess Vaeril has no problem telling them to pike it.
  There is an anecdote that has followed Vaeril around, regarding an encounter with actual pirates, the black flag raised with no quarter to be asked or given. So the tale goes it was Vaeril who went about methodically slitting the throat of every fallen pirate, then forced off the plank any that were left walking. Nobody doubts the story.

Background

• Vaeril first came to some repute in the Andorani navy with the raid on the Iverina lumber yards. At the time it had been considered a suicide mission, suitable only for penal volunteers. That they got in no small achievement, that the ship and crew then got out considered nothing less than miraculous. For those in the know, it was Vaeril who had played a significant part in the success, keeping the crew in line and devising the escape strategy out of the estuary on the falling tide.
  Since then he has served on a select few missions and ships, suddenly popping up after a short absence of shore leave. His sailing and shipboard professional expertise is well recognised, his martial capabilities equally so. He looks for no cushy assignments, safe patrols or diplomatic voyages. Trouble and violence seems to attract Vaeril like a bee to honey. Then again, his commanding officers have never had any issue with him, the reverse in fact, he understands orders and sees to it they're efficiently carried out. He is also valued as a boarder, the terrifying swath of bloody havoc he leaves behind him swiftly convincing the enemy that surrender is the better option. He may not be universally liked but he demands respect and in truth is a companionable enough shipmate, good for a shanty or hornpipe and no more adverse to a swig of grog as any. What you see is what you get, which for sailors and their conservative ways is fine, always preferrable to a duplicitous officer wannabe.

 

---

 

Storyline

There was a curious sight that greeted the first mate as she came to take her turn on watch. A crewman was crawling along the side of the deck on his hands and knees, his head bobbing up and down. The rest of the crew were going about their duties as if nothing out of the ordinary was occurring, studiously avoiding the man, or even glancing in his direction.

The mate stepped over to speak to the bosun, the individual who was responsible for delegating the tasks of each of the deckhands.

"Vaeril, what is that man doing?"

"He's cleaning out the scuppers with his tongue, ma'am," came the prompt reply.

There was a short patient pause, a harder edge now in the first mate's eyes.

"Why is he cleaning out the scuppers with his tongue, bosun?"

"He preferred that to the alternatives."

There a slight jingle of metal, the bosun had tapped the long spiked chain that was wrapped around his body. Vaeril's skill with the weapon was notorious. He could, literally, flay the skin off a back in long strips while keeping the man alive. Vaeril was infamous for not bothering with a scourge but preferred to make an object lesson when the occasion called for it.

"That was not my question as well you know bosun. Why is he being required to do this?"

"He wanted to complain to the Captain about weevils in the ship's biscuit, ma'am."

There was a long steady stare.

"He won't do that again will he." It was not a question.

"No, ma'am."

 

---

 

The surface of the deep blue ocean bubbled and hissed as the sahuagin heaved themselves out of the sea, scaling the low sides of the deeply laden ship. Already panic had set in amongst the crew, the terror of the sea devils, the tales of their feasts on living creatures and pity-less slaughter a matter of legend. Only around the wheel were there a small group of more composed individuals, a steady hand at the tiller not just a euphemism.

"Lash the wheel, bosun. We must hold this course before the wind."

A mop of unruly red-brown hair bound in a scarlet headband bent down to skilfully go to work, the steering wheel quickly tied taut to fix it in place.

"It is our duty to protect Envoy Chealth to the last. We will make our stand here."

Beside them was a demur Aventi woman, richly clad in seasilk and pearls, calm and dignified despite their impending doom. That she should die while under the protection of Andora more than just a common tragedy.

Her lady-in-waiting, in fact a bodyguard, was already preparing for battle, vials of enhancing liquid swiftly drunk, an oil rubbed along the serrated edge of her sawtooth blade.

"Spells, we need some form of magical attack," came a muttered comment, even as finned heads and webbed hands bearing weapons began to appear over the gunwales. The sahuagin feared the arcane.

A series of flashing bolts spat from a finger-tip to smack into their scaled foes. The Envoy was not defenceless.

Yet there were too many of them, barbed nets, grapples, pitons, by any and every method the sea devils were climbing aboard on all sides, the ship effectively surrounded.

Screams, weird hissing whistling, yells and wailing, clangs of metal, the pandemonium of battle was upon them.

A small clump of marines, only a quarter of the proper compliment denuded by war stood over the forehatch, exchanging blow for blow guarding the passengers below, slowly crumpling one by one as spears and tridents thrust, claws slashed and black ichor joined red blood flowing across the deck.

Around the envoy the sahuagin were being beaten back, the captain and lady-in-waiting having no small skill at arms. There was a blaze of fiery shards from the envoy and the sahuagin wavered. Then from the poop above them a harsh call to a god of the depths was heard, a flickering power reached out to the envoy and she in her turn fell prey to magic, now standing as stiff as the mast beside her, immobile and helpless.

There were renewed hissing whistles of jubilation and the sahaugin swarmed forward.

Over the envoy an enlarged figure suddenly loomed, the red-headed bosun now twice his normal size, a thick-bladed spiked chain scything back and forth, wielded with incredible precision amongst the rigging and spars, a circle of scaled death.

Still the sahaugin came, the lady-in-waiting went down, pierced by a dozen crossbow bolts.

A massive four-armed sea devil champion crashed past the captain, to seize the still figure of the envoy. Even as the spiked chain came down on the sahuagin's broad back the statue was hurled overboard.

Without a moment's hesitation the bosun and his long chain dived after the envoy to slip under the swirling waves and to be left behind in the wake.

Freed of his duty to guard the envoy, the Captain had closed with the sahaugin priestess on the poop. Cutlass against trident, a clash of arms that was suddenly rendered one sided when the captain produced a short metal rod that covered the sea devil in a goop that stuck the webbed feet to the wooden planking.

On the deck below, the felled corpse of the lady-in-waiting arose, wounds closing and a deadly light in her eyes.

There were squawks of disbelieving alarm.

Then back on the deck appeared a battered, torn and bloody figure, a shark bite had almost severed a leg, yet he was standing, with the stiff body of the envoy on his shoulder. As he sunk to the deck, the envoy recovered from the spell, there was a gasped word and flicker of fingers and a green gas descended on the large group of sahuagin preparing to charge. Rasping coughs and croaks - the surviving enemy scattered, and fled back to the sea below.

*

"I'm missing a first mate, you'll be granted the position as a battle promotion Vae," stated the Captain, "Then we'll see about making it permanent on our return to Andora,"

"And we'll be having a very good look at that mysterious illness that overcame Stitri in the last port," came a vicious mutter.

"Thank you Cap'n. Happy to act as first mate, but I'll stay a bosun, belong with the crew I do," replied a still heavily bandaged and recuperating Vaeril.

Captain blinked in surprise but said nothing more, there was little to say except respect Vaeril's wishes on the matter.

The Envoy Cleath laid a gentle hand in Vaeril's, her own gratefulness tacitly understood to never be forgotten.

 

 

Stat Block

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Vaeril
M N Human Hexblade 9 | Rogue 5, Av. Ex. 4, Level 9, Init 7, HP 126/126, DR 2/Cold Iron, Speed 30 // 35
AC 25*, Touch 25*, Flat-footed 22, Fort 11, Ref 12, Will 14, Base Attack Bonus 9/9   
Sudden Stunning, Reach, Disarm +1 Spiked Chain +18/+18 (2d4+13, x2)
 MW Rapier +18/+18 (1d6+9, 15-20/x2)
 (+4 Shield, +3 Dex, +8 Misc)
Abilities Str 24, Dex 17, Con 18, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 18
Condition +4 on saves vs. spells and spell-like effects
Mettle
Evasion
+3 on saves vs. Enchantments
+4 on Trip and Disarm
+4 vs Grapple, Disarm, Trip, Bull Rush and Overrun*
+2 AC vs ranged attacks*


*varies on weapon set wielded.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 2 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

Scratchpad

Character Points: 19

4 x CP on Abilities

1 x CP on Template

2 x CP on extraordinary skill unlocks (Cha, Wis)

12 x CP on Feat buys

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Abilities

45 Pts, +2 Str Race, +2 all abilities Lvl 4+8, -2 Dex Template

Base Abilities: Str 22, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 16

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Feats

Level 1: Combat Reflexes, Rapid Swimming [Stormwrack] Game bonus, Fey Heritage [Com Magic] Human Bonus, 1 Character Points to feats = Fey skin, Skill Focus: Intimidate, Ability Focus - Curse. (the premise behind the character is a nymph descendent); 1 x Character Point to Template = Amphibious template [Stormwrack], 1 x Character Point to Abilities

Level 2: Weapon Focus: Rapier, 1 Character Point to feats = Vexing Flanker [PHBII], Intimidating Strike [PHBII], Blind Fight; 1 Character Point to Abilities.

Level 3: Adaptable Flanker [PHBII], 1 Character Point to feats = Skill Focus: Bluff, Skill Focus: Spot, Skill Focus: UMD; 1 Character Point to Abilities.

Level 4: Combat Expertise, 1 Character Point to feats = Exotic Weapon Prof: Spiked Chain, Weapon Focus: Spiked Chain, Skill Focus: Profession - Sailor; 1 Character Point to Abilities.

Level 5: Cleave, 1 Character Point to feats = Skill Focus: Heal, Iron Will, Endurance; 1 Character Point to ExSG. Hexblade: Combat Casting

Level 6: Staggering Strike [Com Advn], 1 Character Point to feats = Mage Slayer [Com Ar], Elusive Target [Com War], Indomitable Soul [PHBII]; 1 Character Point to ExSG.

Level 7: Improved Initiative, 2 x Character Points to feats = Lucky Start, Fortuitous Strike, Unbelievable Luck, Better Lucky than Good, Dumb Luck, Make Your Own Luck [Com Sco]

Level 8: Improved Critical: Rapier, 2 Character Point to feats = Two-weapon fighting, Improved Buckler Defence, Shield Specialisation: Buckler, Shield Ward, Precise Swing [ECS pg58], Power Critical: Rapier

Level 9: Pierce Magical Concealment [Com Ar], 2 Character Point to feats = Oversized TWF [Com Arc], Telling Blow [PHBII], Steadfast Determination [PHBII], Leap Attack, Pierce Magical Armour [Com Ar], Survivor's Luck [Com Scoun pg81]

Associated Feats: Mobility, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Improved Feint, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Two Weapon Defence, Weapon Specialisation: Spiked Chain and Rapier.

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Class Abilities

Hexblade: Hexblade's greater curse 7/day, Arcane Resistance +4, Mettle, Dark Companion, 1 x feat

Rogue: Sneak Attack 3d6, Evasion, Trap Sense, Disruptive Attack

Avenging Executioner: Bloody blade, Sudden Strike 2d6, Rapid Intimidation, Dread Blade

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Skills
Skill Points: 16 x 4 = 64 + 16 x 4 = 64 + 13 x 4 = 52. Total: 180 -10 for skill tricks (check out the character sheet and its auto-counting for this spread)
Skill Focus x 6: Intimidate, Bluff, Spot, Heal, Profession-Sailor, UMD
Skill Tricks Base Maximum: 5
Skill Tricks: Group Fake Out, Never Outnumbered, Collector of Stories, Timely Misdirection, Nimble Stand
Lore Skills: 2 x 9 = 18

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Contacts
4 from class + 3 from Cha (could be 4 if items are included)
Chealth - Aventi envoy (female)
Gregan Mackle - Andora bursar (Ostmouth harbour supply master, halfling, male)
Admiral Xanthil - Andora navy admiral (human, male)
Sheena Atila - Andora operative (half-elf, female)

 

Edited March 9 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

Vaeril

This text should start at the top.

 

Edited February 28 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[Thramzorean]

@dalamb I'll call Vaeril ready for review at this stage. Not done done, I could still swap a couple of feats in and out depending on the rulings, but far enough along that I think it meets the criteria you'd set out.

Regards the character he's probably on the edge of the allowed alignment spread but that's deliberate, something for a bit of colour, shouldn't have any specific game aspect, he's a team player.

Otherwise the build is relatively straight forward, again deliberate per your request not to get carried away with optimised dipping. I've gotten greedy and looking to build out two different weapon styles, a reach and a TWF structure. Fun times 🙂

I'm not sure if the background elements and storyline there constitute lore but I've tagged it so just in case.

Edited March 2 by Thramzorean (see edit history)

[dalamb]

My initial very quick skim says this is looking good so far, but I need to try to make time to read everyone's threads in more detail very soon.

 

[Thramzorean]

Understood. @dalamb

 

[dalamb]