[A to Z April] H is for Helzak, Darthen (npc)

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

Darthen Helzak is named for the wasteland, his hearthland, translated roughtly into the Common tongue as “God’s Anvil” (known to most as the Ashwaste). They believe that the hardships imposed by the wasteland upon their people is a refining forge, the anvil upon which their God beats and shapes their souls into a divine form.

He was born in the Wasteland, in God’s Anvil. His grandfather, Huragram, was a water miner who discovered a subterranean river, becoming a wealthy individual and a powerful leader of the tribes of God’s Anvil. Huragram wielded a khopesh which he named “Beldorida” meaning, roughly, “Breath of the First Gem.” The sword is graceful and slender, crafted of steel, ivory, and gold. Sapphires and rubies are set in her hilt. First impressions leave the impression of a noble’s showpiece, something made for looks and attention rather than for utility. Those who have met Beldorida’s edge and tested the wielder’s mettle quickly learn that she is perfectly balanced and eminently deadly. Her grip is wrapped in copper and silver wire, providing a perfect grip even when the wielder’s hand is slick.

Darthen now wields the khopesh of his forefathers. The source of the blade is unknown, although she is rumored to have come from one of the great mythical cities in the east full of powerful magic. Huragram found the blade while on a personal vision quest out in the barren lands of God’s Anvil. She was entombed within a nodule of stone found deep within the sands; the nodule also contained a portal to the Plane of Earth. He took the discovery of Beldorida as a sign and returned to the stronghold, although he was weak, weary, and near death. He kept an unbreakable grip on Beldorida during the entire time of his recovery. Upon returning to health, he carved out for himself a powerful position among the tribes. He ruled the tribes of the Anvil for nearly a century; when he died of natural causes, his skaalds buried Beldorida with him.

After a century of ruling over chaos and hardship, Darthen’s father disinterred Beldorida after seers told him that the powers of the buried weapon of Fire and Air were being suppressed by the powers of Earth. He recovered Beldorida and wielded the blade with power as he strove to link the Anvil’s dwar together again. He was not as successful as Huragram at the task, and never as powerful. Darthen was raised on stories of Beldorida, a blade that practically thrummed with power, as if the steel was scarcely able to contain the sorceries placed upon it. Darthen’s father was never able to learn the secrets of the blade.

Darthen’s father and his seers feared that the spirits of Earth and Stone had, in fact, subsumed Beldorida’s power. Darthen has been entrusted with the blade and exiled from the Wastelands. Where Beldorida was once meant to be his hearth’s last line of defense, Darthen is now her only protection.

Darthen stands somewhat taller and leaner than a normal dwarf. His hair and beard are braided and matted, resembling dreadlocks. He wears simple leathers and cotton garments, his undertunic spun from subterranean spider silk, with his armored shirt composed of long bones tied together with plaited leather. Leather gauntlets protect his hands from the sand and sun; they double as weapons, with small metal spikes set above each knuckle.

Darthen Helzak, Ashwaste dwarf barbarian 3CR 3

XP 19, 200

CG Medium humanoid

Init +2; Senses Darkvision 60, Perception +7

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 armor)

hp 47

Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +3
Immune Fire
Damage Reduction 1/bludgeoning or slashing (spidersilk undertunic)
Weakness Acid

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.

Melee +1 khopesh +9 (1d8+7/19-20/x2) or Dagger +6 (1d3+5) or Gauntlet, spiked +6 (1d4+3)

Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

STATISTICS

Str 17, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 15, Cha 13

Base Atk +3; Grapple +6

Feats: Armor Proficiency (Heavy, Light, Medium), Cleave, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Power Attack, Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency

Skills: Climb +9, Intimidate +7, Jump +9, Knowledge (History) +3, Knowledge (Nature) +4, Perception +7, Survival +7

Languages Common, Dwarven, Goblin

EQUIPMENT

Bonesplint Armor, Gauntlets, spiked, +1 khopesh, Dagger, Belt pouch, Sun Goggles, Acid, flask (1), Waterskin

Note:  As an Ashwaste Dwarf, Darthen does not receive a bonus to Appraise checks on metal-, gem- or stonework. Darthen also does not have the Stonecunning ability.

Please note: All my NPCs are free for you to use. Please, feel free to use them. All I ask is a note to let me know if, where, when, and how it was used.

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

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Previous "H"s:
2014: H is for Heart Filth (poison)
2013: H is for Heth's Jeacky Fleter (beverage)
2012: H is for Happy Birthday!
2011: H is for Hargrim, the Soulhammer

[A to Z April] C is for Cactus, Skull (item)

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

The skull cactus is a species of cactus indigenous only to the Ashwastes. To most, they have little to no value. Their skins are incredibly thick and hard and their spines are mildly poisonous; most creatures find the small amount of moisture within completely undrinkable. They are a subspecies of barrel cactus; when small, the dimpling and wrinkles make the plant resemble a humanoid skull--uncannily so.

One race has found a use for these succulents; the Ashwaste Dwarves carve these cacti and treat them with certain spells in order to create for themselves a type of spiked helm. The dwarves that wear these helms use them in conjunction with a wild, headlong charge at their targets. This special attack is only possible as part of a charge, as it requires the specific, directed force that results from this  maneuver.

The red, barbed spines on the crown of the skull cactus helm break off in their foes, causing 1d2 points of damage and injecting the mild hallucinogenic poisons into the target’s bloodstream. A failed save (DC 20) versus the poison causes an immediate 1 point of temporary (1d6 hours) Wisdom damage, thereafter confusing the target for the 10-round duration of the poison’s effect, or until a successful save.

Such an attack is possible 1d4 times per day, as a number of the colored spines magically re-grow each day.

Skull cactus helm
1d2 + poison (skull cactus sap, injury, DC 20 , 1/rd. for 10 rds. (Initial: 1 Wis, thereafter confused).)

Minor transmutation, Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, plant growth; Market Price: 6,000 gp; Cost to create: 3,155 gp +241 XP


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Previous "C"s:
2014: C is for Cradle, Exotic (spell)
2013: C is for Cleft Helm (item)
2012: C is for Charred Brimstone Mist (beverage)
2011: C is for Chiala Ereand