[A to Z April] D is for Duk (npc)

Duk’s earliest memory was of a ferocious battle in which her parents were brutally killed by a band of filthy dwarves. The fact that her father was human did not deter the dwarves; the simple fact that he was living with elves was his crime. The marauding dwarves would likely have killed her too, but a more powerful being intervened: she insists to this day that her life was saved by an angel.

Above her in the air she saw a female elf of blinding beauty: bronzed skin, black hair, and eyes the color of the night sky. This figure towered over her, red and aquamarine robes fluttering in a non-existent breeze. The figure held out her hand to Duk and lifted her from the ground, encircling her in her arms, and before Duk knew it, she was alone in a glade of trees. The angel pointed and Duk saw a village. This village, a conglomerate of outcasts from various races, became Duk’s home.

The people of the village were considered barbarians by those in the nearby cities. It was a difficult existence; farming was nearly impossible and animals were nearly non-existent for hunting. It was a dirty, spare, hardscrabble existence. But they survived, largely by their worship of the dark elven goddess, V’rixus. In fact, although Duk has not yet realized it, it was V'rixus herself that saved Duk from the dwarves.

Duk’s talent with hunting and thievery has brought her great respect and trust within the small community. She has grown to love V’rixus and entered the service of the Goddess of Avarice, Strength, and War with great fervor. However, she is sought after--with a price on her head--by members of the Hammer and Shield guild. She finds protection within the arms of the village; her neighbors warn her, hide her, and lie for her when strangers come into town.

Her hatred for dwarves and extreme avarice drives Duk in her daily life. She fears all that is Good-oriented. Her cynicism has amplified that fear; she will now flee if confronted with too much Good. Despite her fear of good, her experience has made her an easy mark for individuals in distress.

She remembers a massive gemstone that belonged to her parents. Her mother would set it in the window and let Duk “chase” the rainbows cast by its prisms. She is convinced the gemstone contained magic; unfortunately, when she returned as a young woman to the ruins of her family home, the gemstone was nowhere to be found. She knows in her heart that the dwarves took the gemstone with them. More than anything else in her life, she wants that gemstone back; not only does she seek its magic, she seeks to recover that connection with her mother. She also believes that between that gemstone and her devotion, V’rixus will somehow restore her mother to her.

Duk is considered to be mildly attractive; she is nothing that would start a riot, but neither is she homely. Her brown eyes are deep pools of pain set off by her striking blonde hair. She is average height, thanks to her father, but stands out in a crowd because of her unusual thornbush-like tattoos that wind their way up both arms and up her neck turning into mystic shapes that appear as lines of power on her face.

Duk CR 7

Female Half-Elf Barbarian 5/Cleric 4
Chaotic Evil Medium Humanoid
Init: +1
Senses: Low-light Vision
Languages: Common, Elven
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AC 15 (Dex +1, Hide +4), touch 11, Flat-footed 14
hp 68 hp
Immune: Sleep
Resistance: Enchantment +2 save
Fort +10, Ref +3, Will +6
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Speed: 40
Melee: +12 Scimitar 1d6+4 or
Ranged: +9 Sling 1d4
Full Attack: +12/7 Scimitar 1d6+4
or +9 Sling 1d4(range 50)
Space/Reach: 5/5
Base Atk 8; Grp 11
Atk Options: Rage (+4 Con, +4 Str, +2 Will save, -2 AC) 2 per day; Turn Undead (3 +Cha bonus / day)
Combat Gear: Scimitar, Sling, Hide Armor
Spells Known: (CL 4)
2nd — (DC 13): Bulls Strength*, Silence, Sound Burst
1st — (DC 12): Bane, Doom, Enlarge Person*, Entropic Shield
0 — (DC 11): Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Guidance, Inflict Minor Wounds, Light
*Domain Spell. Domains: Strength, War
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Abilities: Str 17, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 9
SQ: Fast movement, Illiteracy, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense, Uncanny Dodge
Feats: Blind-fight, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Heavy Armor Prof., Light Armor Prof., Martial Weapon Prof., Read/Write Languages, Shield Prof., Simple Weapon Prof., Weapon Focus (Scimitar)
Skills: Climb 6, Concentration 4, Diplomacy 1, Gather Information 1, Heal 3, Intimidate 5, Jump 5, Know arcana 0, Know history 0, Know religion 2, Know the planes 0, Listen 6, Search 1, Sense Motive 3, Spellcraft 0, Spot 5, Survival 6, Swim -3
Possessions: Combat gear plus Acid (flask), Bag of Holding (1), Boots of Elvenkind, Flint and steel, Potion of Bull’s strength, Potion of Cure light wounds, Potion of Cure moderate wounds, Waterskin, Whetstone, 207 gp, 9 sp, 9 cp

**Many thanks to WotC's "PC Portraits" Archive for the image.


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Previous "D"s:
2012: D is for D’leth Inemas
2011: D is for Drake, Carrion