Yuki Shimada - Winter Witch

[Faeryl_]

I basically have everything planned out already, but I'll wait awhile to post it all and make it look pretty. Concept is as the title suggests: A Winter Winter Winter Witch. That is, a Witch with the Season Witch and Winter Witch archetypes prestiging into the Winter Witch class at level 6.

If this doesn't fly in some way, shape or form, or you don't think it'll work well in this campaign should Yuki be chosen, please let me know now so I can suggest alternative characters. (I have a bunch of ideas just sitting in storage that shouldn't be too hard to pare down for this game's much more reasonable power level.)

[paladinred]

A winter witch will be fine, I was toying with the season being winter anyway lol.

[Faeryl_]

Yuki Shimada ♫Emotional Theme Song♫ | ♫Combat Theme Song♫ | ♫Additional Song♫ Age: 18 Gender: Female Height: 5'4" Weight: 110 lbs Hair Color: White Eye Color: Blue Race: Human Class: Witch (Season Witch {Winter}/Winter Witch) 5/Winter Witch 1 Alignment: NG Deity: None %5BURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.myth-weavers.com%2Fsheet.html%23id%3D2896468%5D%5BB%5D%5BSIZE%3D%2B1%5DYuki%20Shimada%5B%2FSIZE%5D%5B%2FB%5D%5B%2FURL%5D%0AFemale%20NG%20Human%20Witch%20(Winter%20Witch%2FWinter%20Witch)%205%2FWinter%20Witch%201%2C%20%5BB%5DLevel%5B%2FB%5D%206%2C%20%5BB%5DInit%5B%2FB%5D%201%2C%20%5BB%5DHP%5B%2FB%5D%2034%2F34%2C%20%5BB%5DSpeed%5B%2FB%5D%2030%20ft.%0A%5BB%5DAC%5B%2FB%5D%2014%2C%20%5BB%5DTouch%5B%2FB%5D%2010%2C%20%5BB%5DFlat-footed%5B%2FB%5D%2014%2C%20%5BB%5DCMD%5B%2Fb%5D%2011%2C%20%5BB%5DFort%5B%2FB%5D%203%2C%20%5BB%5DRef%5B%2FB%5D%203%2C%20%5BB%5DWill%5B%2FB%5D%206%2C%20%5BB%5DCMB%5B%2FB%5D%20%2B1%2C%20%5BB%5DBase%20Attack%20Bonus%5B%2FB%5D%202%20%20%20%0A%5BB%5D%20%20Ray%20of%20Frost%20%5B%2FB%5D%20%2B3%20(1d3%2C%20x2)%0A%5BB%5D%20%20Mage%20Armor%5B%2FB%5D%20(%2B4%20Armor)%0A%5BB%5DAbilities%5B%2FB%5D%20Str%208%2C%20Dex%2013%2C%20Con%2012%2C%20Int%2021%2C%20Wis%2010%2C%20Cha%2010%0A%5BB%5DCondition%5B%2FB%5D%20None%20 Yuki Shimada Female NG Human Witch (Winter Witch/Winter Witch) 5/Winter Witch 1, Level 6, Init 1, HP 34/34, Speed 30 ft. AC 14, Touch 10, Flat-footed 14, CMD 11, Fort 3, Ref 3, Will 6, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 2 Ray of Frost +3 (1d3, x2) Mage Armor (+4 Armor) Abilities Str 8, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 21, Wis 10, Cha 10 Condition None Role Ice Blasting and maybe some BFC.

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"Most witches don't believe in gods. We know that the gods exist, of course. We even deal with them occasionally. But we don't believe in them. We know them too well. It would be like believing in the postman." - Paraphrased quote from Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad

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Appearance

See picture.

Personality

Somewhat aloof, but when angered, her wrath is legendary; like a winter storm. Her rage is cold and ruthless, but starts slow. It's difficult to get under her skin. Mess with the people she cares about though, or destroy/damage books and she'll go on the warpath.

She'll hold a grudge forever if you wrong her.

Background

Yuki grew up as an only child to her loving, if distant parents in a remote settlement. She was a fairly normal child until approximately age ten, when she awakened her magic. She always knew there was a strong possibility she would have magic; her mother does after all. The weird part was that nobody would talk about it. Not even her parents. Once she proved to have inherited her mother's gift, however, this changed. She was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of knowledge suddenly made available to her. Magical theory, ancient rituals that required multiple witches working in tandem to perform, the meaning behind the special holidays only a few people in town seemed to celebrate (her family included)? It was both too much and too little all at once.

The little girl devoured books like they were going out of style. When she wasn't reading, she was practicing her newfound magic. This proved less than fruitful until her mother helped her perform a special ritual to call for a familiar. To make a Pact with a Patron to further her power. To be more than a simple mage. She was to be a Witch. Her Patron, like her mother before her, was called 'Winter'; like the season. She was taught to not stress the details here. This pact was benevolent, she was assured. She trusted her mother (she was ten, why wouldn't she?), so she made the pact. Her familiar arrived within a few days. A large and lovely cat that Yuki named "Daisuke" (大輔 - Great Helper). She loved him to bits.

As time passed, Yuki grew more powerful as Winter granted her further magics. She went on a few adventures; mostly things that involved hunting for old books and lost knowledge. She had developed a hunger for such things, and always longed for more. When some fool on one of her missions was found attempting to actively destroy/deny knowledge to others, she flipped out.

Oh, she didn't kill him, no. She cursed him. She cursed him (through her patron) to never feel the warmth of hearth and home again. To never be granted shelter from a winter storm. At least, that's what she claims she/her patron did. She scared the idiot so badly with her glowing eyes (evoked via a simple cantrip) and a light fear spell cast by one of her erstwhile companions who enjoyed the chaos she was going to create with this threat and he was practically begging Yuki and/or anyone else to take the books. To spread knowledge and educate the (in his mind) worthless masses. They left shortly after this, their original job done, so Yuki does not know this man's fate. She likes to think that he did end up cursed... by his own mind. That his paranoia kept him up at night on occasion; especially in winter. Does that make her a bad person? She's not sure...

Other Notes

Image is just some random AI art I found online that I liked. Can be changed if desired.

Don't mind the currently visible stat block. It's a holdover from copying this template.

Edited April 10 by Faeryl_ (see edit history)

[Faeryl_]

Sheet Link

Most things are written directly on the sheet. I'll have a MW sheet later specifically for the [insert statblock] feature of the site, but that function has to be enabled for the game first. If you have questions about the layout of the sheet, just ask and I can answer questions, but a lot of "missing" stuff might be hidden in cell notes, so check those first!

Point Buy: 8, 13, 12, 18, 10, 10 (in order)
Human bonus: +2 Int
4th level increase: +1 Int
FCB: +2 HP (levels 1-2), +1 spell known by familiar (levels 3-5)

Spells Known
1st level: All Cantrips, three (3) 1st-level spells plus an additional 3+Int Modifier spells. So Yuki/her familiar, Daisuke, know 18 Cantrips and 11 1st-level spells at 1st level.
2nd level: Yuki automatically gains 2 spells to add to any level she knows. She picks to "learn" the cantrip Ray of Frost (added to her list by the Winter Witch archetype but not automatically "known") and a 1st level spell. At this level, she also gains her first Patron spell.
3rd level: Yuki gains two more spells of any level she can cast, this time both will be 2nd level spells given they're newly available. She gains an additional spell from the Human favored class bonus.
4th level: Two more 2nd-level spells here plus the FCB and the next Patron spell.
5th level: Third level spells are on the table, so we're picking some of them for the freebies.
6th level: Winter Witch drops a spellcasting level at its first level, so we get nothing new here.

Spells learned

0th - All Witch cantrips + Ray of Frost
1st - Mage Armor, Frostbite, Ill Omen, Mount, Obscuring Mist, Unseen Servant, Enlarge Person, Cure Light Wounds, Snowball, Wave Shield, Web Bolt, Sure Casting, Reduce Person, Chill Touch, Ear-Piercing Scream
2nd - Frost Fall, Glitterdust, False Life, Web, Resist Energy (Cold Only), Unshakable Chill, Spectral Hand, Web
3rd - Ice Spears, Howling Agony, Ice Storm, Sleet Storm, Stinking Cloud

Hexes Known

1st level - Healing Hex (bonus from Season Witch Archetype)
1st level - Misfortune
2nd level - Slumber
4th level - Replaced
6th level - Frozen Caress

Class Features - Witch

Cantrips: Witches can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again. Cantrips prepared using other spell slots, due to metamagic feats for example, are expended normally.

Hex: Witches learn a number of magic tricks, called hexes, that grant them powers or weaken foes. At 1st level, a witch gains one hex of her choice. She gains an additional hex at 2nd level and for every 2 levels attained after 2nd level, as noted on Table 2–10. A witch cannot select an individual hex more than once.

Unless otherwise noted, using a hex is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The save to resist a hex is equal to 10 + 1/2 the witch's level + the witch's Intelligence modifier. (Yuki's Hex DC is 23)

Witch's Familiar (Ex): At 1st level, a witch forms a close bond with a familiar, a creature that teaches her magic and helps to guide her along her path. Familiars also aid a witch by granting her skill bonuses, additional spells, and help with some types of magic. This functions like the wizard's arcane bond class feature, except as noted in the Witch's Familiar section.

A witch must commune with her familiar each day to prepare her spells. Familiars store all of the spells that a witch knows, and a witch cannot prepare a spell that is not stored by her familiar. A witch's familiar begins play storing all of the 0-level witch spells plus three 1st-level spells of the witch's choice. The witch also selects a number of additional 1st-level spells equal to her Intelligence modifier to store in her familiar. At each new witch level, she adds two new spells of any spell level or levels that she can cast (based on her new witch level) to her familiar. A witch can also add additional spells to her familiar through a special ritual. (Yuki has a lovely Maine Coone cat. He's big and beautiful and the bestest boy and she shall hear no words of disparagement towards him. His name is Daisuke (大輔 - Great Helper).

Patron Spells: At 1st level, when a witch gains her familiar, she must also select a patron. This patron is a vague and mysterious force, granting the witch power for reasons that she might not entirely understand. While these forces need not be named, they typically hold influence over one of the following forces. At 2nd level, and every two levels thereafter, a witch's patron adds new spells to a witch's list of spells known. These spells are also automatically added to the list of spells stored by the familiar. The spells gained depend upon the patron chosen. Each patron is listed by its theme. Its actual name is up to the GM and the witch to decide. (Yuki's Patron is Winter)

The Winter Patron grants the following spells: 2nd — unshakable chill, 4th — resist energy (cold only), 6th — ice storm, 8th — wall of ice, 10th — cone of cold, 12th — freezing sphere, 14th — control weather, 16th — polar ray, 18th — polar midnight.

Season Witch Features

Season of the Witch (Su): A season witch observes the cycles of life through symbolic festivals and the very real passage of time. Their covens celebrate the seasons and their impact on magic. These seasonal cycles alter their magic and mind-set, focusing their spells and hexes on a predominant energy type and philosophy.

A season witch makes a commitment to embody the sacred symbolism of a season year round, and learns her spells through communion with nature, divining secrets from shapes in the clouds or the play of leaves on the wind. At 1st level, a season witch chooses the season that defines her abilities as her patron; this choice also provides her certain benefits.

A winter witch has dominion over hearth and home. The save DCs of her spells that deal cold damage increase by 1. At 1st level, she gains either the healing hex or ward hex as a bonus hex.

This alters patron and the hex gained at 1st level.

Winter Witch (Archetype) Features

Familiar: Winter witches must choose a familiar that is native to the frozen north, even if they themselves operate in other regions. Traditionally, this limits winter witch familiar choices to bat, cat, fox, hawk, owl, rat, raven, or weasel. A winter witch who gains the Improved Familiar feat can select any familiar she desires, save for familiars with the fire subtype.

Cantrips: A winter witch adds ray of frost to her spell list, but does not automatically learn this cantrip.

Patron: A winter witch must choose her patron from one of the following patron themes: ancestors, deception, enchantment, endurance, moon, occult, portents, stars, transformation, trickery, vengeance, water, winter, or wisdom.

Ice Magic: When a winter witch casts a spell with the cold descriptor, the save DC of the spell increases by 1. A winter witch cannot learn or cast spells with the fire descriptor at all.

Hexes: A winter witch can select the following hexes:

Frostfoot (Su): This ability works like the spider climb spell, but the surfaces the witch climbs must be icy. The witch can move across icy surfaces without penalty and does not need to make Acrobatics checks to run or charge on ice. She can move across regular snow without penalty, and heavy snow costs her only 2 squares of movement instead of 4.

Frozen Caress (Su): Whenever the winter witch casts a touch spell, she can infuse the magic with cold as a swift action. This grants the spell the cold descriptor, and adds 1d4 points of cold damage to the spell’s effect. If the touch spell allows a saving throw, a successful save negates this additional cold damage.

Winter Witch (Prestige Class) Features

Hyperboreal Patronage: A winter witch’s patron reveals an icy aspect. A winter witch adds the following spells to her spell list at the listed class levels, but does not automatically learn them: 3rd—wall of ice, 5th—icy prison, 7th—freezing sphere.

Winter Witchcraft: Levels of the winter witch prestige class stack with witch levels for determining when a witch learns new hexes, the effect of her hexes and other witch class abilities (including archetype abilities), the abilities of her witch’s familiar, and the level at which she can select major hexes or grand hexes.

Spells per Day: At 2nd level and every level thereafter, a winter witch gains new spells per day and patron spells as if she had also gained a level in the witch class. She does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained except for additional spells per day and an increased effective level of spellcasting.

Edited April 4 by Faeryl_ (see edit history)

[Faeryl_]

Monetary Concerns

Wealth by Level (6th): 16,000 gp

Kit, Witch's - 21 gp

Pearl of Power (2nd) - 4,000 gp

Cloak of Resistance +1 - 1,000 gp

Headband of Vast Intelligence +2 - 4,000 gp (Grants [Character Level] ranks in a single Knowledge skill; Local in Yuki's case.)

Handy Haversack - 2,000 gp

Satchel, FamiliarThis armored case provides total cover to any Tiny or smaller creature contained within it. It includes air holes (which can be plugged with cork stoppers if you need to go underwater) and two receptacles for food and water. - 25 gp

Ring of Protection +1 - 2,000 gp

Dusty Rose Prism Ioun Stone, Cracked - 500 gp

Rod of Rime Spell, Minor - 3,000 gp

Remainder: 454 gp

Edited April 4 by Faeryl_ (see edit history)

[Faeryl_]

Okay, everything save the official MW statblock should be complete and up to date now. Including the updated music choices as specific to Yuki as I can make them! The statblock could be added via BBCode upon request, but otherwise doesn't seem important right this minute.

[Steel Warrior]

@Faeryl_ also the Ring of Protection +1 is 2,000 Gp (1,000 to craft)

[Faeryl_]

Huh. I must've misread it somehow. In which case, time to reduce my resistance cloak to legally save money.

ETA: Okay, I see how I messed that up. I was looking at a guide for item suggestions and the person who wrote it either copy+pasted some text or got the price wrong for the Ring of Protection. Fixed it now and swapped Rime Spell feat for a minor metamagic rod of the same. Because I just remembered witches have to prepare spells with metamagic beforehand and I'll never remember to do that.

Edited April 4 by Faeryl_ (see edit history)