Please note that these are his stats as he appears at the beginning of the book.  They most definitely go up as the book goes on.

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

Tarn Nohmahl

Fighter 4 / Ranger 2

STR: 16

DEX: 14

CON: 14

INT: 10

WIS: 13

CHA: 10

Hit Points: 57

Armor Class: 17

Saves: Fortitude +9, Reflex +6, Will +2

Base Attack: 6/1

Full attack: Great sword +11 / + 5 2D6+5

Masterwork Mighty Composite Shortbow + 9 / +4   D6+3

Dagger  +9/ +3   D4+3

Feats: track, improved initiative, power attack, cleave, weapon focus: great sword, weapon focus,: shortbow, weapons specialization: great sword

Skills: climb +7, Handle Animal +6, Listen + 3, Ride +10, Seatch +4, Spot +5, Survival +5

Languages: common, Narvic, Orcish

Special Qualities: Animal Empathy, favored enemy: orcs

Possessions: Masterwork Mighty Composite shortbow, Masterwork great sword

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

Shieldbrother Tordek

Cleric 9 of Voluge

STR: 15

DEX: 11

CON: 16

INT: 9

WIS: 20

CHA: 9

Hit Points: 83

Armor Class: 18 (armor +8)

Saves: Fortitude +9, Reflex +3, Will + 13

Base Attack: +6/+1

Full attack: Great Axe: + 12 / + 7 – (1D10 + 5)

Ranged touch +6 (by spell damage)

Feats: Weapon focus: dwarven waraxe (bonus), Iron will (bonus) combat casting, power attack, extra turning, craft magic arms and armor

Skills: Concentration: +7 (+11 on the defensive), Diplomacy +3, Heal +10, Knowledge religion +4, spell craft +6

Languages: common, dwarven, dwalish (old dwarven)

Special Qualities: turn undead 6/day; spontaneous cure spells

Possessions: dwarven waraxe +3, mithril full plate armor, periapt of wisdom +2

Domains: war, strength

Memorized Spells: 0th: read magic x2, detect magic, light
1st: bless x 2, remove fear, shield of faith, sanctuary, enlarge person
2nd : bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, shield other, resist energy, spiritual weapon x2
3rd : searing light x2, daylight, dispel magic, magic vestment
4th : restoration, discern lies, neutralize poison, divine power
5th : flame strike, righteous might, scrying

Please note that these are his stats as he appears at the beginning of the book.  They most definitely go up as the book goes on.

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

Shieldbrother Logan

Cleric 4 of Voluge

STR: 14

DEX: 11

CON: 14

INT: 12

WIS: 16

CHA: 12

Hit Points: 35

Armor Class: 15

Saves: Fortitude +6, Reflex +1, Will + 9

Base Attack: 3

Full attack: Battleaxe: +6 – (1D8 +25)

Heavy Crossbow: +3 - (1d10)

Ranged touch +3 (by spell damage)

Feats: Weapon focus: battleaxe (bonus), Iron will (bonus), combat casting, brew potion

Skills:  Concentration: +7 (+11 on the defensive), Heal +8, Knowledge Dwarven culture +3, Knowledge history +3, Knowledge: religion +7, spell craft +5

Languages: common, dwarven, Narvic

Special Qualities: turn undead 4/day; spontaneous cure spells

Possessions: masterwork battleaxe, masterwork breastplate, 2 potions of cure moderate wounds

Domains: war, strength

Memorized Spells:  0^th: read magic x2, detect magic, light

1^st: shield of faith, bless, magic weapon x2

2^nd: aid, delay poison, bulls strength

Please note that this is Nyla as she appears at the very beginning of A Dance With Demons. Early Nyla, if you will. She definitely gains power as the story goes on.

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

Nyla Ferrek

(As of the beginning of A Dance With Demons)

Rouge 2 / Sorcerer 3

STR: 11

DEX: 16

CON: 12

INT: 11

WIS: 10

CHA: 17

Alignment: Chaotic good

Hit Points: 23

Armor Class: 19 (armor +8. Dex +1)

Saves: Fortitude +2, Reflex +7, Will + 3

Base Attack: +2

Full attack: Dagger (melee)+3 (1D4)

Dagger (thrown) +6 (1D4)

Ranged touch +5 (by spell

Feats: combat reflexes, combat casting

Skills: bluff +5, climb +2, concentration +3 (+7 on the defensive), diplomacy +5, gather information +5, hide +7, jump +1, knowledge arcana +3, knowledge nature + 4, listen + 1, move silently +9, search +7, spellcraft +3, spot +8, tumble +6

Languages: common, Narvic

Special Qualities: Sneak attack 1D6, trapfinding, evasion

Possessions: 2 Masterwork daggers, spell pouches & components.

Spells Per Day: Level 0: 6
Level 1: 6

Spells Known: Level 0 : (5) Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Mending, Read Magic, Ray of Frost,
Level 1 : (3) Grease, Sleep, Ray of Enfeeblement

A FEW NOTES ON MAGIC IN AROMATHUS:

First, I must say that the magic “system” of Aromathus does not work like that in a standard D&D world. This was one of the first things I decided when I began writing the novel – I wanted a system that was both more versatile and yet less powerful overall than D&D. In other words, “low level casters” are relatively common, but casters above tenth level or so, in D&D terms, are exceedingly rare. So I created a system where mages would use spells in combat, and be countered b y other mages, but would not spend their days teleporting about the planet.

Second, Magic works differently in that Aromathian mages are much more similar to D&D sorcerers than D&D wizards. I stated Ulric as a wizard because he had vast experience and a wide spell library. Nyla, at the beginning of the story is an apprentice mage, and does not. Therefore, I stated her as sorcerer. (Keep in mind she does gain power _fast_).

Third, and most important, magic itself works very different as a system, and here’s how: If I were to design my own RPG, the most important stat for a mage would be Constitution. Why? To cast spells, it takes the energy of the caster. Remember how Nyla gets tired after battling the Soul Stealer? That’s because her energy is exhausted – just as a warrior tires after a fight.

This is seen in the way spells are cast. In D&D a fireball is a fireball. But on Aromathus, a mage tailors her fireball as the situation requires. Thus, a mage can spend her daily “power” casting a lot of little fireballs (or lightning bolts, in Nyla’s case), or a few big ones, or lots of little ones with really long range – or perhaps one really big one with really long range. In short, a spell has two components – range and damage – that are mixed as the situation dictates.

Maybe I’ll make a post on that later – but for now, that gets the point across, and enjoy the character.

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

Ulric Icethorne

Wizard 9

STR: 10
DEX: 15
CON: 10
INT: 18
WIS: 12
CHA: 12

Alignment: chaotic good

Hit Points: 25

Armor Class: 19 (ring +3, dex +2, mage armor +4)

Saves: Fortitude +3, Reflex +5, Will + 7

Base Attack: +4

Full attack: quarterstaff +4 (D6 damage)

Ranged touch (Spell) + 8 (damage by spell)

Feats: Dodge, scribe scroll, improved initiative, silent spell, combat casting, extend spell

Skills: concentration + 11, decipher script +10, knowledge arcana +16, knowledge history +12, knowledge nobility +7,
knowledge planes +14, listen +3, search +7, spot +2, spellcraft +14

Languages: common, Mailinari elvish, Narvic, celestial, draconic, dwarven

Possessions: Ring of protection +3, Comiantha Nofis (elven calling sphere). In addition, Ulric is head of the Mage’s Guild of Traazon Keep, and has access to many potions, wands, and scrolls provided for or made by the Guild.

Ulric’s Spell Book:

1st Level: Mage Armor, Identify, True Strike, Burning Hands, Magic Missile, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, Color Spray, Chill Touch

2nd Level: Melf’s Acid Arrow, Web, See Invisibility, Scorching Ray, Invisibility, Knock, Bulls Strength, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Touch of Idiocy

3rd Level: Dispel Magic, Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Blink, Haste, Fly, Gaseous Form, Vampiric Touch

4th Level: Stoneskin, Dimension Door, Ice Storm, Globe of Invulnerability, Greater Invisibility

Character Notes:

1. Ulric’s spell book was created using only the Player’s Handbook. In terms of my fiction, he has access to many other spells and abilities, as the magic system of D&D and Aromathus aren’t identical. However, I am trying to keep these characthers simple, creating them with only the orginal 3.5 edition D&D core books.
2. Ulric is a generalist wizard. However, Before he became head of the Mage’s Guild of Traazon Keep, he served as a mercenary and adventurer, and was relied upon to provide the “firerpower” to both those groups.
3. The Elven Calling Sphere is a magical device rare among the Malinari elves, and almost unheard of elsewhere. As such, it’s value outside the elven lands is almost beyond price. Where the mages of Malinar ever to discover Ulric’s possession of it, the consequences would be…. unpleasant for him at best.

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

Sir Alec Neuvall

Fighter 9

STR: 16
DEX: 12
CON: 15
INT: 13
WIS: 8
CHA: 12

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Hit Points: 73

Armor Class: 19 (armor +8. Dex +1)

Saves: Fortitude +8, Reflex +4, Will + 2

Base Attack: +9 / +4

Full attack: Great Sword: +15 / + 10 – 2D6 + 7 (+1D6 damage vs. orcs)

Short bow: +10 / + 5 – 1D6 + 3

Feats: Weapon focus: power attack, cleave, mounted combat, mounted archery, ride by attack, point blank shot, precise shot, weapon focus - great sword, weapon specialization – great sword

Skills: handle animal +9, intimidate + 7, jump +8, ride + 12, knowledge: nobility + 5; knowledge; orc customs +4, knowledge: military law +3, spot +3, listen +1

Languages: common, Narvic, orcish

Possessions: +2 orc bane great sword, suit of banded mail +2, masterwork mighty composite shortbow (+3)

Take a quick glance here, or download the Character Sheet PDF to print out for your own notes.

GROM TEN-KILL

Barbarian 7 / Druid 5

STR: 20

DEX: 10

CON: 16

INT: 11

WIS: 18

CHA: 13

Hit Points: 116

Armor Class: 20 (+2 hide, ring of protection +3, barkskin spell, +1 wooden shield)

Saves: Fortitude +12, Reflex +3, Will + 10

Base Attack: +10 / +5

Full attack:

Great Axe: +19 / + 14 – 1D12 + 8

Shortbow: +10 / + 5 – 1D6

Spell (Ranged touch) +10 / +5

Feats: Weapon focus: greataxe, power attack, cleave, spell focus: conjuration, augment summoning

Skills: Concentration: +16, Diplomacy +9, Heal +12, Intimidate +6, Knowledge nature: +10; knowledge orc lore & history +7, knowledge: orc tribes & clan law +9, spell craft, survival + 14

Languages: orc, gnoll, Malinari elvish, common

Special Qualities: fast move, rage 2/day, improved uncanny dodge, trap sense, damage reduction 1/-; nature sense, wild empathy, woodland stride,resist natures lore, wildshape 1/day, animal companion (Gazak)

Possessions: Great axe +3, Ring of Protection +3, Hide Armor +2, wood shield +1

Memorized Spells:

0th: read magic, detect magic, light, cure minor wounds x2, purify food & drink

1st: endure elements, magic fang, produce flame, summon natures ally I

2nd barkskin, bulls strength, cure moderate wounds

3rd call lightning, summon natures ally III

Animal Companion: Gazak: As a normal wolf from the monster manual with the following changes: Two bonus Hit Dice, Armor adjustment +2, Str & dex +1. Gazak and Grom also share any spells cast on each other, and they share an empathic link. Further, Grom can speak with and understand Gazak as a person; this is a supernatural ability that can be used at will.

First, a little background: The Knights of Narvith have two major influences. The first of these is the Knights of Solamnia from Dragonlance. I’ve thought they were a cool concept from the very first time I read about them fifteen years ago, and when I created Aromathus, I wanted to have something different. The second major influence is the Arthurian Knights of the Round Table. That concept, of a knighthood loyal to each other – a brotherhood of heroes fighting against injustice and evil? Well, If you’ve read anything I wrote, you can see that I’ve always been a sucker for that concept as well.

Yet, as with all borrowed concepts, the Knights are much more than that. The Knights of Narvith are all elite soldiers, yes, but they are bestowed with several gifts which allow them to succeed at their primary function, and that is essentially wandering policeman – at least, that is how they have appeared in D&D campaigns that I have run.

In fact, the knights date back hundreds of years. Formed by the Narvic Emperor to help him police the far-flung empire, they can cast some defensive spells, wear armor attuned specifically to a single knight, and have talents that make them very formidable in combat. And all of these things help them to fulfill the Narvic code (which, I admit, I stole from the movie Dragonheart…. But it fits VERY well.) And all these abilities rest on their following that code, for their powers and abilities are gifts from the gods, based on their loyalty to king, country, and the powers of good.

So, if you are looking to game in Aromathus, or just looking for a fun prestige class for your own game or world, take a look. The people I know who have played this class have enjoyed it, and I hope you will to.

NOTE: The class is for use with Third edition D&D (3.0 or 3.5), or with the Pathfinder RPG.

“A Knight is sworn to valor;

His heart knows only virtue;

His blade defends the helpless;

His might upholds the weak;

His word speaks only truth;

His wrath undoes the wicked.”

RACE: human, half-elf, minotaur

ALIGNMENT: lawful and non-evil

TOTAL ATTACK BONUS: +8

FEATS: weapon focus: longsword, tracking, improved initiative

Specialties & Requirements:

1. A Knight of Narvith must follow the code of conduct listed above. He must be of lawful or good and non-evil in alignment. Should he fail in this requirement, he is stripped of his knight-hood and looses all the magical benefits of his knighthood, and is rejected by his armor as well.
2. A knight, upon being initiated into the knighthood, receives a suit of Narvith Chain mail. This armor is magical in nature, and weighs only half as much as normal chain mail. It is considered light armor with a maximum dexterity bonus of +4 and an armor check of -2. Further, as a result of a pact between the Narvith emperor and the god of magic, it has no chance of spell failure when casting knight spells. Finally, it is bonded to its wearer at creation; anyone other than the knight who owns it suffers 1d6 damage per turn.
3. The second symbol of the knighthood is his sword. All knights receive a +1 masterwork longsword when they are initiated into the knight by the Lord High Commander of the Knights.

LEVEL BENEFITS:

Specials:

1^st level: Defensive stance once per day

2^nd level: Smite Evil once per day

4^th Level: Defensive stance twice per day

5^th Level: Damage reduction (3)

7^th Level: Defensive stance thrice per day

10^th Level: Damage reduction (6)

Knight Spells:

1^st Level: alarm, shield, protection from evil, mount, detect undead, comprehend languages, true strike, jump, magic weapon, spider climb

2^nd Level: Detect Thoughts, locate object, see invisibility, continual flame, daylight, cats grace, endurance, knock

3^rd Level: Magic Circle against evil, languages, wind wall, halt undead, gust of wind, haste, slow, water walking

4^th Level: stoneskin, detect scrying, wall of ice, Ice storm, remove curse

SPECIAL ABILITIES:

Defensive Stance: When he needs to, a knight can become a stalwart bastion of defense. In this defensive stance, a knight gains phenomenal strength and durability, but can’t move from the spot he is defending. He gains the following benefits: +2 STR, +4 CON, +2 on all saves, +4 dodge bonus to AC.

The increase in CON increases the Knights hit points, but these are lost at the end of the defensive stance when his CON returns to normal. These extra HP are lost first the way temporary HP are. While defending, a knight can’t use skills or abilities that would cause him to shift his position, such as jump or move silently. A defensive stance last for 3 rounds + his improved CON modifier. The defender may end the stance voluntarily at any time. At the end of the stance, the Knight is winded and suffers a –2 penalty to STR for the duration of the encounter. The Knight is limited in the number of times per day he can take a defensive stance by his level – see above. Taking the stance takes no times, but can only do so during his action (e.g.; a knight can’t take the stance only when struck by an arrow to get the extra HP)

Smite Evil: at 2^nd level, a Knight may, once per day, attempt to smite evil with one normal melee attack. He adds his CHR modifier (if positive) to his attack role and deals one extra point of damage per class level. For example, a 7^th level Knight armed with a longsword would deal 1d8+7 points of damage, + any additional modifiers that normally apply. If the Knight accidentally smites a non-evil creature, the smite has no effect but is still used up for the day.

Damage Reduction: At fifth level, the knight gains the extraordinary ability to shrug off some amount of injury from each blow or attack. Subtract the reduction number from damage taken. Damage reduction can reduce the damage to 0 but doesn’t allow the knight to actually get HP back

These are the bad guys from my last campaign, modified into a PRC.  I used just the base class in the campaign, but saw a PRC in a Forgotten Realms Book and modified it to make it both world specific and in need of only the Core PHB / DMG.

THE PAIN MASTER

The god Larathane is the embodiment of Chaotic Evil in the world of Aromathus. He delights in cruelty and suffering for its own sake, and also in the pain inflicted both by disease and any other means. The ultimate sadist, and as the patron of both sadists and masochists, the clerics of the “Mad God” are dedicated to pain and punishment – and they enjoy it.

The elite members of Larathane’s clergy are known as Pain Masters. Fundementally warped in a way that most beings – divine or mortal – can never understand, the veritably feed off of the pain and suffering of others. Operating outside of even Larathane’s normally secretive church, the Pain Master (or mistress) often functions as a spy, saboteur, or assassin for their church. At other times, the Pain Master simply plots to expand suffering in general, seeking to bring pain and suffering to mortals – and thereby glorify the Mad God.

REQUIREMENTS

Skills: Intimidate 4 ranks, knowledge: anatomy 2 ranks

Feats: The character must be proficient with the whip

Spells: Ability to cast the spell Contagion as divine spell; ability to spontaneously cast inflict wounds spells

Patron Deity: Larathane

CLASS SKILLS

The Pain Master’s class skills are: Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge: Arcana, Knowledge: Anatomy, Knowledge: Religion, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Use Rope.

Skill Points Per Level: 4 + Int Modifier

CLASS FEATURES

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Pain Masters gain proficiency with no weapons, and clerics of Larathane may not wear armor (They like pain, remember? ;) )

Spells Per Day / Spells Known: Beginning at 2^nd level, the Pain Master gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if they had gained a level of their base class. They do not gain any other level abilities from their base class, such as control of undead, etc. This essentially means that they may add their Pain Master Level - 1 to their base class level for determining spells per day and caster levels.

Extra Domain: At first level, the Pain Master gains access to a third of Larathane’s domains. They gain access to the granted power of this domain as well as access to that domain’s spell list when choosing their domain spell(s) each day. They still can’t cast more than one domain spell per day.

Lasher (Sp): A pain master can use their whip to deliver touch spells. This effectively gives them a 15 foot radius with touch spells, or with their pain touch ability. If they desire, the Pain Master may make a normal attack rather than a touch attack with their whip, but they then must make a melee attack rather than a touch attack. Further, a Pain Master may deliver a touch spell with their whip eve against targets that are normally unaffected by whip attacks.

Pain Touch (Su): Once per day, a 1^st level Pain Master may make a melee touch attack to inflict racking pain on an apponent. If the attack succeeds, the opponent must make a Fortitude save of (DC 10 + Pain Master level + Pain Master’s Wisdom Modifier). A creature who fails the save is stunned for 1 round, until just before the Pain Master’s next round action. Constructs, oozes, plants, undead, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to critical hits can’t be stunned. The Pain Master may use this ability 1/day at first level, t2/day at fourth level, 3/day at seventh level, and 4/day at tenth level.

Weapon Focus: Whip. At third level, the pain Master gains this feat as a bonus feat.

Improved Trip: At 6th level, the Pain Master gains this feat as a bonus feat when using their whip. They don’t have to meat the requirements for this feat.

Improved Weapon Focus: Whip. At ninth level, the Pain Master gains this feat as a bonus feat.

TABLE: THE PAIN MASTER