Arash of Kashgar

Name Arash of Kashgar Concept Dispossessed Nobleman

Tall and rangy of build Arash stands straight and quite tall [5’11”]. He wears his hair long but takes especial care to maintain it, he also wears a well trimmed beard/moustache. There is a hardness to this man despite the fact that he is outwardly friendly and laughs often, it is something not easily defined, he will show courtesy and good manners, he makes no deliberate attempts to intimidate unless he feel there is some dire need. Yet many feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

A skilled spearman and horseman, he has few peers, his origins are a mystery to his fellow mercenaries. Although his accent and manner betray his origins in Eranshaahr.

Level 6 Class Man-at-Arms 6

Stats

• Str 14 (+2)
• Dex 15 (+2)
• Con 14 (+2)
• Int 16 (+3)
• Wis 14 (+2)
• Cha 12 (+1)

Combat mods/saves

• BAB (melee) +6
• BAB (ranged) +6
• BAB (favored) -
• BDB +5
• Defense 17 (active 17, passive 10)
• Init +6 (no armor, as yet)
• Speed 30 (no shield)

DR ???

• Fort +8
• Ref +8
• Will +8

• Hit points 67 (6d4+48)

Languages 3 - Persian/Iranian + 2

Traits

• High Born (well educated)
• Master of Lore

Feat masteries Armor 3 Defense 3 Finesse 3 Lore 3 Power 3 Projectile 3 Social 3 Tactics 3

Special abilities

Bonus feats (2) Wild card feats (1)

Weapon stats

• Composite Shortbow +8 ranged (1d6+2/x3)
• Dagger +8 melee (1d4+2/19-20)
• Longspear +8 melee (1d8+3/x3)
• Shortsword +8 melee (1d6+2/19-20)

Feats

• Improved Initiative
• Beast Lore
• Combat Reflexes
• Hafted Weapon Mastery I & II
• Healing Lore I
• Mounted Combat

Token pools

Lore

Skill group ranks

• Academia 0
• Agility 0
• Athletics 9
• Mysticism 0
• Perception 9
• Robbery 0
• Social 0
• Stealth 9
• Theatrics 0
• Wilderness Lore 0

Skills [Total (rank + stat + synergy + misc)]

• Appraise 6 (3 3 0 0)
• Balance 4 (2 2 0 0)
• Bluff 7 (6 1 0 0)
• Climb 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Concentration 2 (0 2 0 0)
• Craft (Master Armorer) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Craft (metal/structures) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Craft (metal/tools) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Craft (rock/structures) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Craft (rock/tools) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Craft (wood/structures) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Craft (wood/tools) 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Decipher Script* 6 (3 3 0 0)
• Diplomacy 6 (3 1 2 0)
• Disable Device* 7 (4 3 0 0)
• Disguise 3 (0 1 2 0)
• Escape Artist 5 (3 2 0 0)
• Forgery 3 (0 3 0 0)
• Gather Information 8 (7 1 0 0)
• Handle Animal* 3 (2 1 0 0)
• Heal 10 (4 2 0 4)
• Hide 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Intimidate 7 (4 1 2 0)
• Jump 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Knowledge (arcana)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (architecture)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (dungeon)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (geography)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (history)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (local)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (nature)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (nobility)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (religion)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Knowledge (the planes)* 6 (3@ 3 0 0)
• Listen 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Move Silently 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Open Lock* 5 (3 2 0 0)
• Perform (acting) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (comedy) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (dance) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (keyboard) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (oratory) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (percussion) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (singing) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Perform (string) 4 (3 1 0 0)
• Perform (wind) 1 (0 1 0 0)
• Ride 7 (5 2 0 0)
• Search 12 (9 3 0 0)
• Sense Motive 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Sleight of Hand* 6 (2 2 2 0)
• Spot 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Survival 3 (1 2 0 0)
• Swim 11 (9 2 0 0)
• Tumble* 6 (2 2 2 0)
• Use Rope 2 (0 2

Background

A child of earth am I, far far removed from the blessed perfection of spirit and the wiseone's teachings, yet I try, mightily do I try but I am weak, chained to the flesh, forever tempted by the dark.

Lord Arash of Kashgar I was befall my fall, before my sin, now I am but Arash, a wandering mercenary, star-crossed, doomed before death has had a chance to take me, and unto death I go with fear and loathing. How did I fall from grace you ask, oh that is a sad, sad tale and I will tell you some but not all of that tale my friend.

Picture if you will a child, son to Pernaz, Lord of Kashgar as was, a true member of the Azadan was this man-child, trained in war he was and in the wisdom of the lord of ages, trained in the lore of the eternal war between Ahura Mazda, lord of light, and the dark one who shall remain nameless. A happy child loved by his father and his dear mother Lady Afali.

And as suited a child of such noble birth he was betrothed to a beautiful girl child, of high birth was she, Sanaz of Merv, oh great was her beauty, with eyes like jet and skin as soft as silk, such a gentle loving soul she was in life.

This young lord soon rode off to war and quickly showed himself a skilled warrior and in time found himself a member of the Shahanshah’s retinue. A favourite of the Spahbod of the Eastern provinces Lord Mehrdad .

Aye, I was that young lord once upon a time not so very long ago, and I soon found myself an agent of the King of Kings. Many enemies has the great king and together with Lord Mehrdad I was able to foil devious plots and treacherous acts against the sacred person of the king.

And yet I hear you say what of your sin? Be patient my friend for all shall be revealed in time. With reward comes grief I have found, sweetness mixed with bitterness, like to honey laced with the juice of the lemon. News came to me one day as I was travelling as escort to Mehrdad’s wife, a fever had broken out and laid waste to the city of Kashgar, and worst yet my beloved father and mother lay dead, thus did I come into my title.

When I had fulfilled my obligation and delivered the lady to her destination I begged leave to return to Kashgar. This was granted to me and as a loyal son must I saw my fathers affairs put in order and his entombment achieved with all pomp and ceremony. In due time I took into my hand the heirloom of my house, the symbol of our power, the Spear of Roshan, it is naught but an ancient spear, modelled after the Dailami’s Zupin with its twin prongs of shining death yet it holds my family’s honour within it.

Thus was I doomed all unbeknownst to me. Yet I was happy for a short spell, my lovely Sanaz would soon be mine I knew. And soon she was brought to me, our union planned, and events set in place. My happiness amidst the bitterness of loss was a burden and a gift, may the Lord of Light forgive me.

Lord Mehrdad arrived soon after my wedding, a mere 10 days had I been wed, my friend and mentor, closest of friends almost a brother he was and yet I did not see the hate that he carried within. News he brought, amidst my nuptial bliss, he had proof he said that my wife was with child. Another man had seduced her and impregnated her.

Fury took me and I seized Mehrdad, yet soothing words he spoke, solicitous, sad and sympathetic. A broken thing was brought before me, a man I recognised, a soldier of the retinue of Sanaz’s father.

It was too much, in my rage and humiliation, I raised my hand against my wife, and disgusted by her perceived treachery I gave her to my guards to do with as they would. The supposed father of her child I had impaled. Mehrdad left soon after, words of regret and support upon his poison lips.

May I be cursed for all time for my stupidity and weakness, for I believed Mehrdad, why would he lie what would he gain? Aye, so simple a riddle in the solving, yet so obtuse was I that I may as well have been blind.

I later learned that Sanaz had taken her own life in shame and ignominy, her body was removed and thus my last memory of her is of her bruised and terrified face as my soldiers dragged her away. I was left a hollow thing, nothing drove me, for all that I held dear was gone.

A month and a day passed before the Lord of Merv besieged my city, he summoned me to parlay and at his side stood Mehrdad, a smile upon his hateful face. I realised then I had been betrayed, yet why?

Mehrdad played his part well, denying any blame, he swore by the Amaraspands that he had merely witnessed my madness whereby I had accused an innocent man, Sanaz’s cousin no less, of an affair with her and then cruelly had him executed and Sanaz thrown to the common soldiery as a whore.

His words near broke my spirit, could there be any more treachery, could more evil be heaped upon me? Lord Sohrab, Sanaz’s father, cursed me and called upon me to surrender myself for judgement. To my undying shame I rejected Sohrab’s demands and seeing that I was betrayed with all hands turned against me I fled back to Kashgar, quickly I ordered my soldiers to defend the city until dawn of the next day. In my own hand I wrote orders for the captain of my guard, he would surrender in my name at dawn, yielding control of the city to Sohrab.

I in the meantime would be gone. Like a thief I would fly, a purse of coin I gathered, humble clothing, with armour and weapons befitting a common soldier. Bound in silk I took the Spear of Roshan, not so low had I fallen that I would surrender the honour of my ancestors.

To the sounds of battle I fled into the sewers, a fitting exit for one fallen so low. By the grace of the Lord of Light I evaded Sohrab’s patrols and headed east to the Kushan to plot and to plan, to somehow some day destroy Mehrdad.

And as time went by I realised the truth, it was simple greed that had motivated Mehrdad, for he managed to have Kashgar ceded to his brother, all revenue from trade which passed through Kashgar would now pass through his family’s coffers. Aye, simply that, the glimmer of gold had made my closest friend an enemy, and myself a broken honourless vagabond.

As I sit now about the camp fire, amid this group of cutthroats and murderers I have a simple wish, a desire, to heaven I look and ask the aid of Spenta Armaiti, by all that is holy may I destroy this man, and somehow gain redemption, let there truly be a heaven so that one day may it please the bounteous immortals I may meet Sanaz again and somehow beg her forgiveness. Yet I know that these things shall never come to pass for I do not deserve redemption, yet in my weakness I crave them above all other things save vengeance.