Kaine the Imbiber, Virtuous Bravo (Paladin) of Cayden Cailean

[Shadowstarr]

Application

Kaine The Imbiber 

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	Basics Gender: Male Age: 22 Eye Color: Grey Hair Color: Dusty Blond Height: 6'2 Deity: Cayden Cailean Alignment: CG Profession: Hero, Role Model, Paragon of Virtue, Party Host Region:  Race/Class: Human / Paladin
	Stats HP 11 / 11 Speed 30ft Init +5 AC 18 Fort +3 Ref +3 Will +2 CMB +4 BAB +1 Rapier +4 (1d6+3, 18-20/x2) Hand axe +3 (1d6, 20/x2)   ~[ - Abilities - ]~ STR [11] DEX [16] CON [12] INT [12] WIS [10] CHA [16]

 

Backstory

Kaine Azerel had always known he was different. As a child, he had been found by a Taldorian patrol, the lone survivor of his family's brutal attack in the BorderWood. He was taken in by a couple who ran the Silver Stout, a small tavern in the nearby village of Heldren.

Over the years, Kaine grew up in the tavern, learning the business and listening to the stories of the god Cayden Cailean. The more he heard, the more he knew that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of the god of ale, bravery, freedom, and wine. He dreamed of becoming a hero, just like Cayden Cailean.

When Kaine turned sixteen, his parents funded his passage to Absalom, where he would become a Pathfinder Initiate. There, he received training in combat, strategy, and survival, as well as being immersed in the faith of Cayden Cailean.

Years passed, and Kaine became a skilled warrior and devout follower of his god. He longed to complete his confirmation ceremony, but before he did, he knew he had to return home for a visit.

Kaine arrived in Heldren to find that the village was in turmoil.

Personality

Has a live and yet live personality with some hard red lines.  Has no tolerance for slavery or those who would deprive agency to others.  Outgoing, friendly, unashamed, and flirtatious, more so after a few drinks.   Kaine would rather mediate a conflict over a few drinks than escalate to a fight. 

Description

Kaine is tall with a slight build,  long dusty blond hair and greyish-blue eyes.  95% of the time he has a genuine smile.

Class / Archtype

Although no less a beacon of hope and justice than other paladins, virtuous bravos rely on their wit and grace rather than might and strong armor.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Virtuous bravos aren’t proficient with heavy armor or shields (except for bucklers).

This ability alters the paladin’s armor proficiency.

Bravo’s Finesse (Ex): A virtuous bravo can use her Dexterity modifier instead of her Strength modifier on attack rolls with light or one-handed piercing melee weapons (though if she carries a shield, she applies its armor check penalty to such attack rolls), and she can use her Charisma score in place of her Intelligence score to meet prerequisites of combat feats. This ability counts as having the Weapon Finesse feat for the purpose of meeting feat prerequisites.

Bravo’s Smite (Su): When using smite evil, a virtuous bravo doesn’t gain a deflection bonus to AC.

This ability alters smite evil.

Nimble (Ex): At 3rd level, a virtuous bravo gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC while wearing light armor or no armor. Anything that causes the virtuous bravo to lose her Dexterity bonus to AC also causes her to lose this dodge bonus. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 paladin levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of +5 at 19th level).

This ability replaces mercy.

Panache and Deeds (Ex): At 4th level, a virtuous bravo gains the swashbuckler’s panache class feature along with the following swashbuckler deeds: dodging panache, menacing swordplay, opportune parry and riposte, precise strike, and swashbuckler initiative. The virtuous bravo’s paladin levels stack with any swashbuckler levels when using these deeds.

This ability replaces the paladin’s spellcasting.

Advanced Deeds (Ex): At 11th level, a virtuous bravo gains the following swashbuckler deeds: bleeding wound, evasive, subtle blade, superior feint, swashbuckler’s grace, and targeted strike.

This ability replaces aura of justice.

Bravo’s Holy Strike (Su): At 20th level, a virtuous bravo becomes a master at dispensing holy justice with her blade. When the virtuous bravo confirms a critical hit with a light or one-handed piercing melee weapon, she can choose one of the following three effects in addition to dealing damage: the target is rendered unconscious for 1d4 hours, the target is paralyzed for 2d6 rounds, or the target is slain. Regardless of the effect chosen, the target can attempt a Fortitude save. On a success, the target is instead stunned for 1 round (it still takes damage). The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the virtuous bravo’s paladin level + her Charisma modifier. Once a creature has been the target of a bravo’s holy strike, regardless of whether or not it succeeds at the save, that creature is immune to that bravo’s holy strike for 24 hours. Creatures that are immune to critical hits are also immune to this ability.

This ability replaces holy champion.

Church of Cayden Cailean

Cayden Cailean is one of the Ascended, a mortal man who became a god after passing the grueling tests of the magical Starstone. Three days after entering the Cathedral of the Starstone on a drunken dare, the good-natured sellsword emerged a living god, baffled and amused. His behavior changed little after his ascension: he continued to fight for just causes, sample various drinks, and avoid things he didn't want to do. Thus, Cayden Cailean became the patron of brave souls, alcoholic spirits, and the freedom to choose your own path in life. He expects his followers to be brave in the face of danger, though there is no shame in necessary retreat—he's the god of bravery, not reckless stupidity. Although many assume his faithful will accept any dare, the god's focus on freedom keeps his heroes from being manipulated so easily, and even the dullest hero of Cayden Cailean has the sense not to accept an impossible or suicidal challenge—though it is not uncommon to accept a risky one after a swig or two of “liquid courage.”

Cayden Cailean is outgoing, friendly, boisterous, unashamed, and flirtatious, even more so when he indulges in fermented delights. He loves good-spirited toasts, friendly bar brawls, bawdy songs, and standing up for the underdog. He loathes slavery, mean-spiritedness, bullying, teetotalers, and restrictive laws and customs. He believes that everyone would get along better if they could all just sit down and have a drink, preferably in the company of attractive companions. A former mercenary, he believes in fair pay for a job well done, whether in coin, drink, or a tumble in the hay with an enthusiastic paramour.

Cayden Cailean's direct intervention in the mortal world isn't frequent, but he has been known to prevent a keg from emptying (often to help good folk survive a siege or convince them to congregate a little longer in a place of safety) or to push someone especially meek to show courage at a key moment. Having had his share of hard times as a mortal, he's not above helping someone for free now and then, or leaving an extra-generous tip for someone in need. This simple and welcoming philosophy makes him popular with adventurers, philanthropists, revelers, and those who fight for good, and it is traditional among his adherents to toast his name with the first drink of the evening.

As the god of wine, Cayden's interest is in the merriment and socialization alcohol can facilitate rather than attempting to drown or forget sorrows, and he despises mean drunks or those who allow their drunkenness to hurt innocents. He has been known to inspire tipsy revelers to confess secrets better aired than left to fester, and he encourages his worshipers to push each other to greatness via friendly dares. A “Cayden's dare” is any foolish-seeming thing that turns out to have beneficial consequences, and at Caydenite weddings, it's common to tell jokes and stories explaining how the bride or groom is only present because of a drunken dare (especially if they're true).

Although his other divine concerns are flexible in interpretation, Cayden is as hard as nails when it comes to a person's right to freedom. Coupled with his love of drink, his refusal in his mortal days to go against his own beliefs for the sake of mere coin gave him a somewhat unreliable reputation. He believes there is no justice in a law that oppresses one person to benefit another, and over the centuries he has worked to counter slavery and the plots of deities who see human misery as a fair price to pay in pursuit of their goals. In places where the peasantry suffers from harsh taxes or demoralizing practices, he helps them topple their oppressors or at least aids them in escaping to more friendly lands. Though often seen as a god of righteous rebellion, he doesn't believe in vengeance or coups for their own sake, and is not a god of destructive chaos or madcap frivolity—his followers must take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Those who go against Cayden's simple tenets may find themselves ill the next time they drink, intoxicated when clarity is needed, or frightened by common animals or shadows. When he is happy, drinks are more delicious, the night air feels brisker and smells sweeter, and courage burns white-hot. An unexpected windfall of alcohol is a common sign of favor, yet can just as easily turn to vinegar or sewage in the mouths of the unworthy.

When Cayden Cailean appears to his followers, he usually looks much as he did in life: an average-looking bronze-skinned human with a tankard in one hand, often wearing chainmail. In grander art, he is sometimes shown fending off a swarm of devils with his well-worn rapier, all while holding his tankard high. Some artists portray the Drunken Hero with broken shackles hanging loosely from his wrists or fallen at his feet, representing breaking free of mortal concerns— though in areas where his faith has brought freedom from oppression or slavery, the shackles have a more literal interpretation.

Cayden Cailean is the only major god who uses a surname. In his early years as a god, he insisted that his last name be included in all forms of address, an unusual habit for someone normally so relaxed about formalities. The prevalent opinions on the matter are that he wished to distance himself from another mortal named Cayden (perhaps someone of evil intent) or to honor his parents, said to have died when he was young. This second theory is corroborated by his interest in sponsoring orphanages, perhaps as a thank-you to the long-gone orphanage that raised him. He ignores questions about the matter, insisting that it was decided long ago and there are more important things to talk about.

Cayden's holy symbol is a tankard of ale, with or without a rich head of foam on it. He is called the Drunken Hero, the Lucky Drunk, and many other affectionate nicknames. He's amused rather than offended by those who use his name as part of colorful oaths, and thus many of his clergy can be creative and prolific in their swearing. Most of his true “clergy” are clerics, but he is also honored by hordes of good-natured rogues, barbarians, and fighters who—despite not receiving any direct boons from the god—seek to spread his faith and emulate his relaxed attitude toward a mercenary or adventuring life. His priesthood also includes some inquisitors, mainly those questing to free slaves and overturn tyrants, as well as a handful of druids who attend to sacred vineyards and the other agricultural aspects of brewing.

Goals

Kaine's ultimate goal is the follow in the drunken footsteps of Cayden Cailean and meet his fate at the Test of the Starstone.  He is well aware he is not ready and intends to become a pathfinder as a means to get repaired.  Once Kaine passes his confirmation, he wants nothing more than to see the world, meet worthy comrades, have great adventures, and do some good along the way.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by Shadowstarr (see edit history)

[Shadowstarr]

Actions

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Stat Block

Kaine the Imbiber, male CG Human Paladin (Virtuous Bravo,) 

Level 1, Init 5, HP 11/11, Speed  
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, CMD 14, Fort 3, Ref 3, Will 2, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 1   
Rapier (--)  +4 (1d6+3, 18-20)
hand axe  +3 (1d6, 20 x3)
Lamellar (leather) armor,   Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 16
Condition None 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Shadowstarr (see edit history)