Vo-Tarran

HOLLY GRAY

Vo-Tarran grew up north ofNavael,a city ofartists.Most of his family worked for the Navael watch,protecting the people ofthat delightful city.Vo-Tarran traveled that path for a while,using a keen and clever tongue to defuse many hostile situations.He was more used to using his mind than his strength in his duties.But when the young giant went above and beyond the call ofduty in rescuing a swordsmith’s apprentice from his own folly—taking a grievous wound in the process—his life took an abrupt turn.

Ti-Kerras,the master swordsmith,wanted to thank VoTarran for saving his apprentice.As a token ofhis appreciation,he offered to train the young giant in the swordsmith’s art,ifhe was willing.Having been a traveling warrior in his youth,Ti-Kerras wanted to nurture the raw potential and clever mind he saw in Vo-Tarran.Since Vo-Tarran was participating in the ceremonies ofShu-Rin,through which giants can attain even greater height and power,Ti-Kerras knew he had the skills to be both an excellent fighter as well as a decent weaponsmith.Vo-Tarran accepted and spent many off-duty hours in the forge and in the yard behind Ti-Kerras’ smithy,learning both to make swords and to use them.

The older swordsmith filled the younger giant’s head with tales ofhis travels and adventures,ofhis righting ofwrongs and seeing things that no one ever had.He also revealed that,unlike most ofhis giant kin,Ti-Kerras practiced a form offighting that focused on the freedom ofmovement instead ofheavy armor.Intrigued,as Ti-Kerras’ style complemented his training as a city watchman,Vo-Tarran was delighted to learn from him.Also,he increasingly began to yearn for the far-offplaces his teacher spoke of.The idea of being able to span the land,fighting evil wherever he found it,seemed wonderful.

Vo-Tarran had a strong sense ofduty to protect others, but he began to wonder ifhe could better protect them by going to the places where trouble was,rather than staying put.With this thought in mind,he decided to resign from the city watch.Taking with him two swords he had forged and a bit ofgold,he set offsouthward,traveling where he felt the most needed.He would question caravans that showed signs ofattack,then set out to find those responsible.He aided towns troubled by rhodin or inshons,fighting alongside people ofmany different races in order to capture those lawless raiders.

His experiences quickly taught him that using the more rigid structure offighting he learned as a boy would quickly get him killed.Indeed,he was wounded several times before he began to adapt.Relying heavily on Ti-Kerras’ teachings, Vo-Tarran developed an acrobatic style that baffled and confused the outlaws he fought.Few could believe that one as large as he could move so fast and so well.

Vo-Tarran continued to test himselfas he traveled,consulting with other giants in the towns he traveled through in order to keep himselfon the right track.He underwent the grueling tests ofthe Ghi-Nammor to continually remind himselfofthe reasons he was traveling and fighting alone. The youthful exuberance in which he had started on this quest became tempered as he fought,developing into a more focused purpose to help others wherever he can.

Combat

In combat,ifhe is trying to bring a person to justice,VoTarran will forsake his swords and grapple,using his size to bring down the target,then bind the foe with rope.Ifit comes to killing,he makes full use ofhis Tumble skill to avoid attacks ofopportunity and uses his Speed Burst feat to attack,move,and spring away again.He brings his full attack to bear on whoever seems to be the leader,hoping to use the leader’s fall to help Intimidate the others into breaking off their attacks,surrendering,or running.However,generally he tries to use Diplomacy or Intimidate to get lawbreakers to surrender before he attacks.

Using Vo-Tarran

Vo-Tarran is a neatly and fashionably dressed giant ofawesome proportions.Tall even for those giants that have gone through the rite ofGhi-Nammor (see “The Giant Paragon” in Chapter Two of The Diamond Throne),Vo-Tarran towers over any crowd.He usually dresses fashionably,appearing ready to attend a noble’s court or party,even ifencountered in the middle ofthe Southern Wastes or atop the Bitter Peaks.He prefers bold colors ofred and blue,with gems ofa differing hue.He wears his hair slightly long for a giant, bound back at the nape ofhis neck with a silver ring.His skin,tanned from a life spent traveling,is striped with the occasional thin white scar.He has a deep blue cloak flung over his clothes.

He carries Flamekiss on his left hip, Storm’s Embrace on his right,and his bow on his back.His backpack is usually neatly packed,but strapped on in such a way as to allow him to drop it in a second,should he need to fight.He generally has a smile on his face whenever he meets someone,as he likes to assume the best ofpeople unless given a reason to believe otherwise.But when roused,his face becomes like a tempest: dark and terrible to behold.

Vo-Tarran is a man ofstrongly held beliefs.He has a very powerful sense ofduty both to his people and to virtually anyone he encounters who has suffered at the hands oflawless people.He considers himselfa wandering champion of all those wronged,bringing his combat skills,clever tongue, and considerable physical presence (with the dedication and power that implies) to bear on those who dare break the law within his purview.

However,Vo-Tarran also enjoys life to the fullest.He loves a good joke and a well-told tale,and will gladly sit on the ground outside the stoop ofa farmhouse and listen to a farmwife or greybeard spin a yarn.He enjoys good food and drink,and never hesitates to lavish praise upon a talented cook or brewer.Because he sees himselfas a man of the law,he knows the importance ofkeeping an impeccable appearance in order to make a good impression on the local steward.Because few inns can handle someone ofhis size,he makes do with a large tent and a warm bedroll, often setting up his traveling “home” just outside town.He favors encounters out ofdoors where he doesn’t have to stoop.Also,as no normal mount can carry his large form, he walks with a free and easy stride,often hiking alongside travelers on horseback that he is protecting as they journey through treacherous lands.

Part Two: Characters of the Diamond Throne 151 Vo-Tarran, male giant Unf9/Giant3/Giant Paragon5: CR 17;

Huge giant;HD 9d8+18 + 8d10+16;hp 141;Dying/Dead –3/–14;Init +3;Speed 40 feet;AC 22 (–2 size,+3 Dex,+5 armor,+2 deflection,+4 dodge),AC 23 against one opponent,touch 17,flat-footed 15;Space/Reach 15 feet/15 feet (Face/Reach 10 feet by 10 feet/15 feet);BAB +14/+9/+4;

Grapple +28;Attack +21 (2d8+10 plus 1d6 fire,17–20/×2, giant’s sword);Full Attack +21/+16/+11 (2d8+10 plus 1d6 fire,17–20/×2, giant’s sword) and +21 melee (2d8+7 plus 1d6 electricity,giant’s sword),or +16/+11 ranged (2d6+1, 20/×3, giant’s bow,);SA Sneak attack +2d6;SQ Parry (including ranged attacks),evasion;Hero Points 3;

SV Fort +15,Ref+18,Will +14;Str 23,Dex 17,Con 14,

Int 13,Wis 17,Cha 14

Languages: Common,Faen,Giant

Skills and Feats: Balance +17,Craft (weaponsmith) +12,

Diplomacy +10,Intimidate +11,Knowledge (ceremony) +13,

Knowledge (nobility and courtesy) +12,Sense Motive +11,

Tumble +24;Ambidexterity,Chi-Julud,Improved Critical (giant’s sword),Massive Two-Weapon Fighting,Two-

Weapon Fighting,Speed Burst,Stomp,Weapon Focus (giant’s sword),Weapon Specialization (giant’s sword)

Parry (Ex): Vo-Tarran can choose to add his Intelligence modifier (+1) to his Armor Class against a single opponent.

Evasion (Ex): Ifexposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for halfdamage,

Vo-Tarran takes no damage following a successful saving throw.

Possessions: Beauty Hurts(+3glamered damage absorbing leather jack), Flamekiss(+2 fire energy giant’s sword),

Storm’s Embrace(+2electrical energy giant’s sword), cloak ofresistance+4, ring ofprotection+2, stone ofgood luck, +1 giant’s bow, arrows (40) in a quiver,backpack,bedroll, sunrods (5),50-foot silk rope,signet ring,soap (2 lbs.), masterwork dagger with silver blade,waterskin,flint and steel,trail rations for two weeks,courtier’s outfits (2) with 100 gp worth ofjewelry,belt pouch,huge tent, Laws of

Dor-Erthenos (book ofKnowledge [nobility and courtesy, specifically laws ofvarious cities and regions] +5), bowl of health†,74 gp,9 sp

New Magic Item

Bowl ofHealth†: This small ceramic bowl is a shallow base 5 inches in diameter,decorated with a blue glaze depicting waves.When filled with water and used in a cleansing ritual (to wash the face,rinse out the mouth,clean hair,etc.) it casts hygiene on the user.It can be used three times per day in this manner.

Dim transmutation;Caster Level 1st;Craft Constant Item, hygiene; Price 600 gp;Weight 1 lb.