Legacy of the Dragons
Abalan the Wayward Spy JUSTIN JACOBSON
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It is rarer than a dragon’s scale that War Marshal Rasham, leader of the chorrim, hand picks a child from one of the training camps to serve in the Black Bolts, an elite branch of the chorrim reconnaissance machine. But Abalan was no ordinary child. Less brawny but more agile than his kin, Abalan’s greatest gift was his cunning and guile. Perhaps it was this cleverness that Rasham saw in the boy. It did not hurt that Abalan was the offspring of two respected officers. In just three years, the boy rose through the ranks of the Black Bolts to command their primary squad. Time and again, he proved his worth, finding and exploiting the weaknesses of the chorrim’s enemies. Yet, at the heart of it all, Abalan could not ignore the tinge of doubt that lingered in his psyche. The chorrim (see Chapter Four: Creatures in The Diamond Throne) are not “dirty” fighters; they abhor the chaos that such tactics yield. Regimentation, precision, and militaristic order are prized. It is curious how, with but a subtle shift, a tenet can be turned on its head. For Abalan, the indoctrination of these ideals became distorted. What, in most chorrim, is a mere appreciation for exactitude became in him a sense of honor and fair play. To the chorrim way of thinking, such concepts impede victory, so it was only a matter of time before this crisis of character became a matter of military security. It was a week before Landsmilk in the Common Year 1748. Abalan received orders to scout a string of villages on the eastern shore between the towns of Khorl and Ravadan. His squad carried out this duty with the completeness and skill that had come to be expected of them. He reported to his superior’s quarters and relayed the tactical information: The time for an attack was ripe. The men of these towns had made a trip for supplies, and the other townsfolk were distracted with plans for the upcoming festivities. Captain Hagatta commended Abalan, informing him that he would recommend a full assault on the very eve of the harvest festival. Something in Abalan snapped, and he barked a protest. Taken aback by the sudden impudence of the prodigy, Hagatta swung the back of his mailed fist at Abalan’s cheek. Abalan dodged the blow easily and threw a counter-punch to the officer’s midsection. With that single blow, his life changed forever. Hagatta called for his personal guards, and Abalan beat a hasty escape. He ran first to the towns to warn them of the coming assault. Then he headed into the wilderness to lose himself. War Marshal Rasham would not suffer such effrontery. He sent the most skilled chorrim assassins to hunt down the traitor. But he had trained Abalan too well—the very skill that had sent him up the ranks now kept him hidden from his trackers. Abalan underwent a disavowal ceremony, forever severing his ties with his race. For a time, he lived a life of seclusion, reflection, and study. But the chorrim’s attacks upon the people of the realm did not stop, and he could no longer sit idle. He turned his vast skill to the task of thwart-
ing his own people, swearing an oath to protect the wild lands of the Far South from their unyielding tide.
Combat A natural spy, Abalan prefers not to enter into direct melee combat when possible. When he must, however, his martial upbringing and natural sense of honor come to the fore—he won’t attack a foe unawares. Although like most chorrim he is a natural swordsman, he never uses a weapon, but he remains skilled at fighting those who wield swords.
Using Abalan Abalan stands a hair under 8 feet tall and weighs a relatively slight 310 lbs. Preferring to work under cover of darkness, he has spent much less time beneath the southern sun than most folk, and the tinge of his skin is greener than that of most chorrim. He rarely speaks, and when he does it is in a whisper of a voice. He dresses in drab, nondescript garb, including a black cloak and tunic, preferring to keep his identity a secret. Abalan does not partake of fortified drink or other indulgences. He finds pleasure in the recovery and reading of ancient books, bird-watching, and the crafting of Suherlennish courtesy masks. In fulfilling his oath, he has taken a few mercenary jobs and often offers his protection for free. Much of the time, he simply gathers intelligence on chorrim activity and passes the information to others for a response. On several occasions he has worked in defense of the lands with a local chapter of the Order of the Axe—the largest and most powerful knighthood in the realm. Abalan, male chorrim Wrm2/Osn9: CR 14; Large giant; HD 4d8+12 + 2d12+9 + 9d10+27; 121 hp; Dying/Dead –4/–16; Init +4; Speed 50 feet; AC 24 (–1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural, +5 insight, +2 deflection), AC 25 against foes with swords, touch 20, flat-footed 20; BAB +11/+6/+1; Grapple +19; Attack +15 melee (1d12+6, unarmed); Full Attack +15/+10/+5 melee (1d12+6, unarmed) or +13/+13/+8/+3 (1d12+6, flurry of blows); Space/Reach 10 feet/10 feet (Face/Reach 5 feet by 5 feet/10 feet); SA Unarmed strike, flurry of blows, throw object, objects as weapons, shattering strike; SQ Darkvision 60 feet, natural tactician, welltrained, eschew food, evasion, minor adaptation, refuse fatigue, refuse fear, eschew water, refuse wounds; Hero Points 2; SV Fort +14, Ref +11, Will +11; Str 18, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 17, Cha 9 Languages: Common, Giant Skills and Feats: Balance +6, Climb +7, Concentration +5, Craft (mask-making) +3, Escape Artist +6, Handle Animal +1, Intuit Direction +4, Jump +6, Knowledge (history) +3, Listen +11, Ride +12, Sneak +14 Spot +14, Tumble +12, Wilderness Survival +7; Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (heavy), Night Owl, Skill Application (Sneak
