"Shining Talon" Mandus

From Stormravengaming

"Shining Talon" Mandus is a monk from the Shining Phoenix Monastery, high in the crags of the Whitefang Mountains. He is a model of virtue, honor and self-discipline. Despite the prejudices he has faced, Mandus is usually willing to give others the benefit of the doubt, even when faced with what is likely to be boasting or outright lies. Unusual among martial artists, he wields the edge of fire, a greatsword of great – though sealed – power, the only legacy left to him by his draconic father.

Combat

Mandus is a front-line fighter who favors the power of his greatsword but is equally adept with grapples and throws. In fact, he prefers to grapple spellcasters, who can rarely hope to escape his crushing grip. His great strength, natural armor and speed make him a daunting foe. Though he favors holding his breath weapon in reserve, he can unleash its fury when pressed by great numbers of foes.

Breath weapon: 1/day – 30-foot cone of fire, 6d8, Reflex DC 12 half.

Evasion: When wearing light or no armor and subjected to an attack that deals half damage on a successful Reflex saving throw, Mandus instead takes no damage with a successful save.

Purity of body: Mandus is immune to all diseases except supernatural and magical diseases.

Slow fall: When falling within arm's reach of a wall, Mandus takes damage as though the fall were 20 feet shorter than it actually is.

Still mind: Mandus gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects from the school of Enchantment.

Possessions

The edge of fire (15 lb.), masterwork silvered shuriken (20, 2 lb.), shadowy cloak and gloves (1 lb.), traveler's outfit

Belt pouch (½ lb.):

• Flint & steel, potion of cure light wounds, potion of mage armor
• Onyx (50 gp, 10), topaz (400 gp), blue diamond (2000 gp)
• Coin: 143 gp (3 lb.)

Description

Physical

Mandus has a blend of human and draconic features. Where he appears human, he has dark, smooth skin and a healthy, muscular build. Mandus is bald and has no facial hair. Most striking are the signs of his draconic heritage, however. Portions of his body are covered in shining gold reptilian scales. This pattern of scales starts at the crown of Mandus' head, almost at the brow ridge, and goes down his back and across his shoulders. The scales cover much of Mandus's arms and legs as well, and his fingers and toes end in retractable golden claws, giving him his moniker, "Shining Talon." His eyes are golden with vertically slit pupils.

Though most of the rest of Mandus' body is covered in human-looking skin, the skin and the muscle and bone under it are of tougher stuff than human flesh, and this becomes apparent with anything more than a casual touch.

Mandus usually wears monk's robes that cover most of his body, but he does not attempt to conceal his draconic heritage, as he leaves head, hands and feet open to easy view. He usually travels barefoot. The robes are in the favored colors of his monastic order, white and red. Mandus carries on his back a long, narrow bundle wrapped in white cloth: the greatsword left him by his father.

Attitude

Mandus usually appears humble, controlled and introspective. Those who catch his interest, though, feel the immediate weight of his piercing, almost demanding gaze. In combat, he is intense and bold, shouting his battle cry, "No one can beat my Shining Phoenix form!"

Personality notes

• In addition to his martial arts, Mandus enjoys painting and fishing. He is not very good at either, however.

• Mandus has little experience outside the monastery, so while not really fearful, he is somewhat uncomfortable in crowded, rowdy, disorderly places (like most cities, bazaars, race tracks, tavern common rooms, and so on).

• Mandus wants to avenge his mother's death to give her spirit rest. He desires to find the gnolls responsible and mete out justice, or at least see that the authorities of the kingdom have the opportunity to do so. Mandus has a strong prejudice against gnolls.

• Mandus also hopes to find his father, though what he'll do when and if he does so, he doesn't really know.

Background

Mandus' mother is Aralae, a woman from Vellen, a tiny fishing village that used to be northwest of Danloc. In her youth Aralae was a beautiful and talented dancer, and so she caught the eye of Mandus' father, a gold dragon in human guise. He charmed and beguiled her, they had a tryst, and she never saw or heard from him again. She never even learned his name. After he had vanished, though, Aralae discovered that he had left behind a greatsword. She considered selling it, but when she realized she was with child, she chose to keep it to hand down to her son so that he might have it as a clue to one day find his father.

Aralae was both poor and common. It was all she could do, when Mandus was three, to take the journey from Vellen to the Shining Phoenix Monastery, high in the crags of the Whitefang Mountains, to give him into their care and training. The marks of his draconic heritage were beginning to appear at that time, and she knew that she could not protect Mandus from the prejudices and violence of the other villagers, who would react to Mandus' appearance out of superstition and fear. She gave him over to the monastery both to protect him and to make him strong enough to protect himself and find his father.

Aralae died nine years later, along with most of the population of Vellen, when the village was raided, sacked and burned by a troop of gnolls from the hill country south of the Grimspire.

Mandus never grew to know his mother well, being raised almost his entire life in the monastery. He looks on Master Kwai, the head of the monastery, as a father figure. Master Kwai trains his pupils with a mixture of strict discipline, deep wisdom and heartfelt compassion. Though he appears human, Mandus secretly believes Master Kwai to be well over 200 years old.

Mandus rarely left the monastery before his teenage years. All of his friends and role models are people who lived in or visited the secluded grounds:

• Master Thurgold, a dwarven monk, impressed Mandus with his determination and patience tempered with quick and hearty laughter.
• Wa Ping was a human monk who spent his time in quiet contemplation, setting the model for Mandus to develop patience and introspection.
• Mandus's best friend was Tara Brightgem, a half-elf who shared classes (and punishments) with him. They met when she felt bad for him having to fast as punishment for running through the monastery and knocking down Master Cho-Lun, and she tried to sneak him some bread from dinner. She wound up having to share in his punishment, and they distracted themselves from their hunger by telling each other stories.
• Mandus and Tara were also good friends with Winnit, a human disciple a few years younger than either of them.

Upon completion of his training and his coming of age, Mandus set out to seek a master to teach him how to use his father's greatsword. None of the Shining Phoenix monks was skilled with the weapon, and they suggested he travel to Danloc to seek a teacher.