Gildas Arowan

Gildas Arowan
human male scout (9th level)
XP: 36.000/45.000

Physical description
Age: 28, Height: 5'8, Weight: 163, Alignment: LG
Picture:


Abilities:[/b]
str 20 (+2 gauntlets)
dex 16
con 14
int 12
wis 14
cha 10

Basic stats:
HP: 69
Current HP: 69
AC: 17 (10+3(dex)+4(Armor)), Flat-footed 17, Touch 13
INIT: +8
Speed: 40ft.

Saves:[/u]
Fort +6
Ref +9
Will +5

Attack:[/b]
Melee +11/+6
Ranged +9/+4
Grapple +11/+6

Weapons:[/u]
MW Greatsword (+12/+7, 2d6+7, 19-20/x2, S)
MW Longspear (+12/+7, 1d8+7, x3, P, reach)
Dagger (+11/+6, 1d4+5, 19-20/x2, 10ft., P/S)
Throwing axe (+11/+6, 1d6+5, 20/x2, 10ft., S)
Javelin (2x) (+11/+6, 1d6+5, 20/x2, 30ft., P)
MW Shortbow, composite (+3str) (+10/+5, 1d6+3, x3, 70ft., P)
Quiver and arrows (40x)

Armor:
MW Chain Shirt Armor Bonus +4, Max dex +4, Check penalty -1

Skills:[/u]
Climb: +16 (+12 ranks, +5str, -1armor)
Craft (Carpentry): +7 (+6 ranks, +1 wis)
Hide: +14 (+12ranks, +3dex, -1armor)
Jump: +20 (+10ranks, +5str, +2syn, +4speed, -1armor)
Knowledge (Yexuhl): +13 (+12ranks, +1int)
Listen: +14 (+12ranks, +2wis)
Move Silently: +14 (+12ranks, +3dex, -1armor)
Ride: +11 (+8ranks, +3dex)
Spot: +14 (+12ranks, +2wis)
Survival: +16 (+12ranks, +2wis, +2circ)
Tumble: +14 (+10ranks, +3dex, +2syn, -1armor)

Feats:[/b]
Simple weapon proficiency (plus hand axe, throwing axe, short sword and shortbow)
Martial Weapon Proficiency (Greatsword)
Simple and Medium armor proficiency
Endurance (+4 bonus on checks or saves to resist non-lethal damage)
Improved Initiative (+4 bonus on initiative checks)
Dodge (+1 dodge bonus to AC against selected target)
Point Blank Shot (+1bonus on ranged attack and damage within 30ft.)
Mobility (+4 dodge bonus to AC against some attacks of opportunity)
Spring Attack (move before and after a melee attack)
Improved Skirmish (+2d6dmg and +2AC when moving at least 20ft.)
Shot on the Run (move before and after a ranged attack)

Special Abilities:[/u]
Skirmish (+3d6, +2AC)
Trapfinding
Battle Fortitude +1
Uncanny Dodge
Fast Movement +10ft.
Trackless Step
Evasion
Camouflage

Language:[/u]
Common
Yexuhl

Equipment:[/b]
Body:
Traveler’s Outfit
Backpack
Belt pouch
Gauntlets of Ogre Power (+2str)
Boots of Speed (10rounds/day haste as free action)

Backpack:
Bedroll
Flint and steel
Small steel mirror
Rope, silk (50ft.)
Inkpen
Ink (2x 1oz. vial)
Everburning Torch
10x Parchment
4x Rations, Trail
1x Potion (CLW)
10x Cold Iron Arrows

Belt pouch:
1x Potion (CLW)

Wealth:[/u]
Gp: 27
Sp: 7
Cp: 10

Carrying Capacity:
Light: <133, Medium: 134-266, Heavy: 267-400
Weight: 80 (Light Load)

Background

Day 146 at Spikerock, the Outer Post
Provisions are running out. Morale is low among the few loyal men left with me. Yesterday, even our captain Astigot abandoned the post, telling us he would go back to seek provisions, leaving me as second-in-command to keep order among us. I doubt he will ever return to this forgotten and godforsaken place.

Day 149 at Spikerock, the Outer Post
Still no news of Captain Astigot or anyone else for that matter. Yesterday, we lost Tamrin. His leg wound had caught a terrible infection and he died of shock during our attempted amputation. It was horrible and I only remained at his side, not turning my eyes away, to hold Tamrin in place and keep up the morale of the men. We are left with four now, including me: Stefin, Lucor, Mavirik and me. I overheard Lucor this evening trying to convince Mavirik and Stefin to abandon me here. Perhaps I am stubborn about staying here, but we have our duty to the army, which relies on us.

Day 154 at Spikerock, the Outer Post
We have now truly hit the bottom of our provisions chest. The journey home will be too long to endure even for toughened men like us. Too many miles of barren wastelands lie between us and our salvation. I am surprised to find all three of my companions still with me, and today we have debated on our next step. I have upheld my view that it is better to wait here dutifully and hope for some form of reinforcements brought to us by Captain Astigot than to leave and die of thirst or by Yexuhl attacks in the wastelands.

Speaking of the enemy, wonder has grown in my mind about the fact that they have still not finished us off after their humiliation in our previous confrontation now nearly two weeks ago. Then we were with sixteen disciplined warriors, now we are with four hungry and lost souls. Do they even bother to take Spikerock by force, or are they simply waiting until we too starve to death or abandon our post?

Day 157 at Spikerock, the Outer Post
Our lips are dry and our throats coarse. I can take none of this any longer. Yesterday I even began to hallucinate, as a vision came to my mind of my girl back home. Sweet Madilèn. She was swimming in a pool of wine at the base of Spikerock and I kept on staring until the hand of Lucor clasping my shoulder brought me back to reality.

But for her, I will cling to life and to hope. For her, I will persevere.

Day 158, location unknown
Curse all the Gods under heaven! Curse my own stupidity! I had lost consciousness, even when I really should’ve kept watch. I do not know what exactly has happened, but I woke up and found myself caged and being carried by the Yexuhl along with Lucor. I have no idea where Mavirik could be, but I must fear the worst…

Now we have been brought to an unknown place in Yexuhl territory and I have just discovered a nasty flesh wound in my shoulder; how I got it is a mystery to me. Lucor is locked up apart from me. It is night, so I write in the dark, with only a distant torch-fire of the Yexuhl camp to shed some light on my journal. I fear for our safety, but as for now, we have been kept alive, and this could mean that they do not want us dead. I have even been given food and drink, so for some reason, the Yexuhl actually saved us.

Day 159, Yexuhl prisoner
We traveled further into Yexuhl lands, where I had never been before. I was blindfolded and after at least half a day of travel, I felt my cage being put down on the ground. I heard many voices; we were in a village or something. I still cannot tell where exactly I was, as my blindfold was never removed, but someone took me from my cage with a firm hand and tended to my wound. Again, I received bread and water.

A voice spoke to me, feminine but very coarse. Perhaps she was old. She spoke in the Yexuhl language, at first as if testing my understanding of her tongue. I nodded to mark my understanding. Around me, I suddenly heard many Yexuhl people uttering exclamations of relieve and joy. I felt as though watched with great curiosity.

The woman voice then told me I was to be their translator. Apparently, they had a need for someone understanding both the tongue of my people and that of theirs, but I never learned the reason why.

I was brought close to a fire; I could feel the warmth. Around me, I heard wild singing and shuffling of many feet, as if a dance was taking place. I heard the fire sparking wildly. And then I heard Lucor.

I can still hear him screaming my name: ‘Gildas! Gildas!’ I struggled wildly, shaking my head in vain to find him. My hands were tied to my back, my blindfold wouldn’t come off. I heard struggling coming from the place where I heard Lucor scream; the dancing and singing had become more excited. ‘Don’t! Please don’t do it!’ I tried to stand up and walk to Lucor, but two pair of hands pushed me down.

I shall never forget it. The smell of burning flesh, accompanied by the screams of terrible agony coming from Lucor. The dancing and singing was at its wildest and went on all the while as Lucor burned. Then, a deep laugh was breathed into my ear from up close, followed by a deep Yexuhl voice: ‘You must be glad today to know our language…’

Day 162, Yexuhl prisoner
The horrors of three days ago still play vividly in my mind. I doubt they’ll ever be erased from it. I was thrown in a prison cell with only a stack of hay to sleep on and that was it. My blindfold was removed and so were my hands untied, but I could see nothing from my cell nor do anything with my hands but clasp the iron bars of my cell door. I was not called upon to translate anything, nor would I have ever agreed to do anything for these barbarian savages even if they’d put me to the same fate as Lucor.

Day 168, the road home
Praise the gods, I am saved! I woke up today at the sounds of hundreds of hooves thundering over the steppes, followed soon by screams and clashing of steel. The army had come! I immediately recognized their clear clarions sounding as they charged. They dealt with the surprised Yexuhl swiftly and burned the village. I was nearly killed myself as my prison was set on fire, but luckily one soldier entered and found me. He was a friendly young man who took me with him, letting me take support on his shoulder while walking. I finally saw the village, but it was nothing special. It burned and corpses lay everywhere.

Apparently, Captain Astigot had returned after all to Spikerock Post with reinforcements. He found it deserted and ravaged. Spotting the tracks of the Yexuhl warriors, he immediately began his pursuit. I of course asked for Mavirik, but the captain reported that he had found no trace of him. I have often wondered what his fate became.

Day 171, Army Headquarters back home in Tertia
And so I was brought back to the headquarters after the Yexuhl town had been thoroughly cleansed. General Radóakar promoted Captain Astigot for his proven valor in battle to the rank of major. I myself? I could become the new Captain of Spikerock, but refused. I wanted to return home and stay there, for now. My return to Madilèn, Sibrand and Galidas, our five years old twin sons, was the best day of my life.[/i]

And so ends my journal concerning this story in my life. I hope to enjoy my peace time for as long as I may, but war seems to be upon us sooner or later, whether we want it or not, and when that time comes, I will not hesitate to take up my duty once more. For now though, I enjoy my life as a simple carpenter, husband and father. It gives me some time to restore the house that I built myself for our family and to teach my sons how to be dutiful, honest and good young men. I still win from them today, but I fear with this rate of progress soon they will outmatch their father in swordsmanship!