Posts from Ad aspera

Origin: Arhaimar +2 to Strength, +2 to Will. All damage taken (final) is reduced by (Will*2)%, cap 50%. Final damage from Water and Cold is halved, free Warriors of the North skill. Conviction: Acer Upon first taking or dealing damage, the character gains +100% to final damage and +25% to Melee Defense in close combat, an additional attack, but always attacks the nearest character, not distinguishing between enemies and allies. Bloodlust Each kill grants an additional turn and restores 50% health Attributes Strength: 22 Endurance: 20 Agility: 17 Perception: 10 Intellect: 10 Will: 12 Skills Two-Handed Weapon I. +2 to Strength, +30 to Accuracy and Evasion. II. +2 to Speed, +2.5% to damage per point of Strength. III. +1 to Endurance, +1 to Strength, additional attack. IV. +2 to Accuracy per point of Strength, a successful attack has a chance (Strength vs Strength) to paralyze the opponent. Specialization: Two-Handed Hammer I. +3 to Endurance, armor penetration rating is doubled. II. Attacks cannot be parried or blocked. Armored Combat Warriors of the North Charge The character instantly closes the distance to the opponent; the attack, if it hits, paralyzes for 1 turn (Strength vs Strength). Equipment Two-handed hammer, armor (medium), jerky.

Krait was born in one of the few villages of Arhaimar. He was the third son — the youngest, the biggest, the strongest, and the gloomiest. He was also known for his hot temper, his contempt for those around him, and for himself. He was quite sullen and not accepted by the community. Mostly, he bickered and quarreled with everyone around him, drank heavily, and got into brawls with neighbors and his own brothers. He also loved tearing across the countryside with other Arhaimarians, carrying out raids. The brute's favorite weapon was a big maul. The other raiders loved Krait because with him around there was nothing to fear — they could always send him in like a mad dog into the meat grinder while they helped themselves to the victims' belongings and had fun with their women. By the time the warrior shook the fragments of the last skull off his weapon, nothing valuable was left in the vicinity, so he was always poor. And so he grew up, swinging his club, smashing the heads of Fens, Yars, and Divs, burning villages, quarreling, and beating the faces of his comrades. At some point, his cup of frustration overflowed, and he decided he would find no glory or wealth at home, so he left the village and set off for other lands. There, his strength and ferocity could be put to use. And Krait himself was glad, for his brothers and all the other leeches, snakes, ticks, fleas, scum, vermin, creatures, and non-humans who had taken advantage of his simple nature and claimed his achievements for themselves were left to rot miserably in their native land. And that is how he ended up in another city.

Unus Antinish

- Unus?
- Yes, father.
- Do you admit that you disobeyed me and did what you were told never to do again?
- Yes, father.
- Are you ready to repent before the Lord our God, the Almighty?
- No, father.
- Reason?
- The covenants of our all-good Almighty God have not been broken by me.
- Fair enough. In that case, are you ready to accept punishment for disobeying me, your father, your provider, your support?
- Yes, father. That is fair.
- Then go, - the man handed the boy a large waterskin. - Try not to frostbite your fingers.
- Yes, father.

Winter was not the best time of year for such punishment. It would have been easier for Unus if he had simply been flogged like all the other children. But his father, Onus Antinish, was an opponent of physical violence and believed that the best weapon in any conflict was the power of words. Unus did not think so. If bandits attack you, it is better to send them to the Almighty's judgment before they manage to commit another sin by killing and robbing you. Otherwise, why did the Lord grant us iron, if not to defend ourselves with weapons, to spare others from sins and innocents from sinners? But today Unus was punished not for killing bandits. He was still too young, and despite his stature, he would not have had the strength to stand against robbers. The lad went to the shed, found a sled, piled firewood and brushwood onto it, took a shovel and an axe with him, and set off into the forest.

As he trudged through the snowdrifts, he pondered his deed. Unus wondered why his father considered contact with fallen women so dangerous. After all, if your faith is strong, no woman can frighten you. Even if they are sorceresses or demon worshippers. And Unus's faith was strong.

 - The Almighty is my Father; I shall not be in want. You make me lie down in green pastures and lead me beside quiet waters, You restore my soul, You guide me along paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Though I walk through the valley of absolute darkness, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your gaze and Your sword — they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Almighty for many days, - Unus began reciting his favorite prayer. It surfaced in his mind on its own. The lad repeated it until he reached the forest. The youth noticed how the moonlight slowly dimmed. A storm was approaching. He needed to dig out a dugout as quickly as possible, furnish it, and build a fire.

For some reason, Unus felt that saving lost sinners was his calling. Despite their apparent joy and merriment from the outside, he considered them deeply unhappy people who, out of hopelessness and despair, indulged in the poison of their vices. He remembered well how happy and serene his mother had been. How she gave that peace and care to him, his brothers, and sisters. Sinners are incapable of that. All they can do is satisfy their own and men's base needs, the pleasure from which is so fleeting that the briefest moment of communion with the Almighty in prayer seems like eternity. Moreover, women are weak. Their will is frail and unreliable. And without proper guidance from a righteous man, they cannot fight their passions. Saving their souls is an extremely virtuous deed. For upon women the Almighty placed an important function — the continuation of the human race. The race of righteous people. And a sinner can only give birth to more sinners just like her.

Digging the dugout took considerable time. The frozen ground yielded with difficulty. The rags Unus had wrapped around his hands provided poor protection against friction. By the time he finished, his extremities were badly chafed and bleeding. And he still needed to build a fire. The lad began praying mentally and continued working. When everything was ready, he settled onto pine branches, curled up, and fell asleep. The youth was awakened by someone's voice and bright light shining in his face.

- Unus, my son!
- Father? Why are you here? – the lad mumbled through sleep, trying to open his eyes, but the bright light would not let him.
- I am your Heavenly Father! - at that moment Unus experienced incredible shock. Could the Almighty Himself truly be speaking to him, a mere mortal? The youth jumped up sharply and opened his eyes. But he saw nothing except bright light. He fell to his knees and cried out.
- Almighty! My heavenly Father!
- Hear me, Unus Antinish, son of Onus! Your heart is compassionate, your soul is pure and blameless, your faith is firm and strong! From now until the end of ages, you shall carry my light into the darkest corners of vice! Your lot is to save sinners and set them upon the true path! But remember, this is dangerous! Treat a saint as an ordinary woman, an ordinary woman as the worst sinner, the worst sinner as absolute evil! Then vice shall not overcome you, and you shall save thousands of souls and protect your own! I bless you, Unus!
- Heavenly Father, Almighty, my God, I will not let you down! I swear it! – having said these words, the lad felt a terrible cold burning his entire body.

Unus woke up. The fire had gone out, a storm had begun, and lightning was cutting across the heavily cloud-covered sky. First of all, the youth knelt down and began fervently praying to the Almighty. One after another, he recited every prayer he could remember. And at the end, he swore to fulfill the Almighty's will until death. After that, he checked his fingers. Fortunately, nothing critical had happened yet — he had woken up in time. Or rather, he had been awakened. Upon returning home, Unus made a firm decision to join the order of paladins. His mission would be preaching; he would travel from settlement to settlement and save the souls of sinful women. So the Almighty commanded.

Twenty years have passed since then. The 35-year-old virgin Unus continues to bear the burden of a healer of human souls. He guides not only fallen women, but also anyone who requires it. He also teaches children reading and writing. This time, the Almighty has brought him to Tyrren.

- A big city means great vices. Almighty, my Heavenly Father, save and preserve, - whispered Unus and strode firmly toward the gates of Tyrren.

Characteristics:

Strength: 22
Endurance: 25
Agility: 15
Perception: 15
Intellect: 19
Will: 20

Origin:
Ardor: Order of Paladins: free paladin specialization

Beliefs:
Church of the Almighty
The character gains full immunity to mind-affecting effects, consecrated weapon effects, and active abilities of other religions

Skills:
Paladin

Requirement: Church of the Almighty
Asceticism
Free trait. +5 to endurance, agility, perception, and intellect, +10 to will. Inability to use money for anything other than covering the character's basic needs
Holy Protection [5]
+10 to barrier per unit of will. Damage to the barrier bypasses all resistances; while the barrier is active, instant-death effects do not work. After destruction, it restores within a day
Second Chance [6]
In the event of the character's death, he revives with full health. Once per phase. Does not work in exceptional cases (dismemberment, decapitation, etc.) but works against instant-death effects
Antimagic [6]
Spell damage (final) is halved, resistance to effects is doubled
Undead Slayer [3]
The character deals double damage to undead and demons

Scholar

Literacy[5]
+4 to intellect, the character knows how to read and write. Required for all scholar skills except blacksmith and musician

Two-Handed Weapon

I. +2 to strength, +30 to accuracy and evasion [3]

Equipment: medium paladin armor, paladin helmet, paladin cloak, consecrated (that's allowed, right?) paladin warhammer (two-handed maul), Holy Scripture (written by hand), hardtack, modest savings.

 2 units of OU remaining.