Katsurou, Captain of the Black Banner

[Mr_Praetorian]

Katsurou the Blackheart, Captain of the Black Banner
Lawful Neutral Male Human Samurai 9

Abilities
Str: 16 (14(base) +2(level))
Dex: 14 (13(base) +1(lvl)
Con: 14 (11(base) +2(racial) +1(level))
Int: 13
Wis: 10
Cha: 13
[+5, +3, +1, +3, 0, +3]

Stats
Initiative: +6 (+4(dex) +2(trait)
Hero Points: 2
HP: 72/72 (9d10+18)
AC: 23 (10(base) +4(armor) +4(dex) +5(BDB))
[T-AC: 19] [FF-AC: 14]
DR: 4/Piercing, 4/-

Party Buffs:
+1 morale vs mind-affecting
+4 morale vs fear
+3 morale on charge attacks

Combat
BAB: +9/+4
BDB: +5 ((+9(BAB) +2(Base Ref))/2)
CMB: +15 (+9(BAB) +6(STR))
CMD: 29 (10(base) +9(BAB) +6(STR) +4(DEX))

Glaive: +18/+13, 3d10+10
[Attack Bonus: +8(BAB) +6(STR) +1(Mwk) +1(Weapon Training) +1(Weapon Focus)]
CE: +15/+10, +3 dodge to AC
PA: +15/+10, 3d10+19

Katana: +17/+12, 3d8+11
[Attack Bonus: +8(BAB) +6(STR) +1(Mct) +1(Weapon Training)]
CE: +14/+9, +3 dodge to AC
PA: +14/+9, 3d8+19

Saves
Fort: +10 (6(base) +4(Con))
Ref: +7 (+3(base) +4(DEX))
Will: +5( +3(base) +2(feat))
+4 morale vs fear, +1 morale vs mind-affecting

Skills (4(class) +1(Int) +1(Human)= 6/lvl)
Diplomacy: +12= 9(ranks) +3(CHA)
Heal: +3= 3(ranks)
Intimidate: +12= 9(ranks) +3(CHA)
Knowledge (History): +7= 4(ranks) +3(INT)
Knowleddge (Politics): +7= 4(ranks) +3(INT)
Perception: +6= 6(ranks)
Profession (Solider): +9= 9(ranks)
Sense Motive: +9= 9(ranks)
Survival: +3= 3(ranks)

Traits
Natural Born Leader (+1 to Leadership, +1 morale vs mind affecting for all followers)
Exile (+2 to Initiative)

Favored Class Bonus:
+1/4 to bonus to Banner Ability

Feats
Hu: Iron Will
HD1: Combat Reflexes
HD3: Weapon Focus (Glaive)
HD5: Dazzling Display
Cav6: Initiate of Two Orders
HD7: Improved Demoralize
HD9: Furious Focus

Class Abilities
1st: Order: Order of the Black Banner
1st: Challenge (Swift, +1 dodge to ac vs target, +3 morale to attack vs target if target attacks another creature, 1/day)
1st: Resolve (4/day)
1st: Stand Firm (+2 to CMD vs Bullrush, Overrun, Trip, and vs Trample)
2nd: Primary Order Ability: Aid Allies (Aid other bonus increases by +4)
3rd: Weapon Expertise (Glaive)
4th: Challenge (2/day)
4th: Weapon Training (Two-Handed)
5th: Banner (+4 morale vs fear, +3 morale on charge)
6th: Bonus Feat
7th: Challenge (3/day)
8th: Primary Order Ability
9th: Greater Resolve


Equipment (1047/1750)
Mastwerwork Glaive
+1 Katana
Katana
Great Armor (+4AC, DR 4/P, 4/-)

[Mr_Praetorian]

Born in the small village of Setouchi, deep in the territory of the Hojo Clan, Katsurou was brought up in a Samurai's family. While not the most wealthy, the family carried a proud reputation for a long line of honorable warriors who had fought (and sometimes died) in service to their clan. Katsurou was no exception, eagerly taking up the sword at a young age in preparation for service to Hojo, just as almost all of the men in his family had done before. From early on, Katsurou demonstrated the focus, leadership, and honor befitting a proud warrior. Visiting dignitaries and family would often comment (rather cattily) that with his traits, he "aught to have been born into a clan with a stronger military tradition". Katsurou never indulged such though, his almost obsessive notion of honor and justice had aligned him with the Hojo Clan's mission to police the supernatural.

Given the Hojo Clans general lack of melee infantry leaders, Katsurou's charisma and conviction were well met as he began to climb the ranks. Though the concept of grand strategic planning never seemed to click, his ability to lead and coordinate smaller groups lent itself well to the Hojo Clan's overall strategy.

Additional fluff about old relationships
---
Lead in: War and Honor

Finally, after a five week pursuit, his unit managed to chase the Katana Saints back to their hideout; an ancient temple to a long lost religion. Unfortunately, the location provided Katsurou with less that favorable scenario: While his unit was larger, more organized, and less fatigued, the fact that the main confrontation would be inside the shrine meant that the assistance of spellcasters would be too risky. For the next the few days, Katsurou tried numerous times to persuade, intimidate, or trick them out, but to no avail. In the end, they would need to be "pryed out".

On the dawn of the third day of the stand off, Hojo magi unleashed the most awesome display of destructive magics they could conjure. The ground shook, and magic detonations did considerable damage to the already crumbling temple. Then, with a great shout, Katsurou ordered his loyal Samurai forward, through the still clearing smoke, and directly towards the enemy. The first wave of defenders, already demoralized from the magical bombardment, broke even as the samurai were approaching the temple's outer reach. The second wave, slightly more experienced, and having suffered fewer casualties thus far, warily stood their ground, but quickly broke under the weight of more experienced blades. As the defenders continued to brake and run, Katsurou and his warriors believed the battle would end quickly.

Yet, as the Hojo Samurai fought their way into the temple's inner sanctum, they were finally confronted by the true elites of the Katana Saints. These men, who had long ago surrounded their humanity and sanity in exchange for fiendish power, were fearless, and prepared to fight to the death. A brutal melee broke out between the two sides as the climax of the battle ensued. At the first, the samurai were taken aback by the sheer ferocity of their foes, but Katsurou's unrelenting courage, even in the times their foe's seemed to have the upper hand, kept them together and maintained morale. In the end, and at the cost of half their unit, the Hojo Samurai were victorious. As cries of a Hojo success rang throughout the keep, the few surviving Katana Saints attempted to flee the temple, only to be cut down by archer and spellfire.

Continuing: Many casualties + tainted ground + pools of tainted blood = cursed samurai unit. Ensuing nightfall sees breakout of insanity and rage, and following realization of tainted status. Group decides that they need to leave, but are ambushed by archers and mage. Of the remaining, Katsurou plus few others are survivors.

[Zanaikin]

[Mr_Praetorian]

Beta Run Change Log:
1/13/2011: Feat, Skill, and Talent Adjustment
Skill Focus (Guard) lost.
Piledriver lost.
Skill Focus (Reflex) acquired.
Polearm Expert acquired.
Armed Deflection now free, remaining points invested into Initiative, Perception, and Reflex.

[Mr_Praetorian]

Change Log
2/3/2010: Changes in Abilities, Stats and Skills to reflect new rules system.

[Mr_Praetorian]

Orders

Primary:
Order of the Black Banner
Edicts: Formed in the wake of the arrival of the demons, the warriors who claim to carry the Black Banner are the cavaliers who were exiled from their previous orders for bearing the taint of fiends. In theory, the uniting cause of the Black Banner is to protect the tainted from persecution. However, with no centralized leadership or formal organization, the individual practices and tactics employed by its warriors vary greatly. It is rare, but cavaliers of the Black Banner have been known to clash with one another.

Challenge
Whenever an order of the black banner cavalier issues a challenge, he receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made against the target of his challenge if the target makes an attack against a target other than the cavalier. This bonus lasts for 1 minute. The bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the cavalier possesses.
Skills
An order of the black banner cavalier adds Heal and Survival to his list of class skills. In addition, whenever an order of the black banner cavalier uses Survival to provide food and water for his allies or to protect his allies from harsh weather, he receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1).

Order Abilities
2nd:
8th:
15th:

Secondary:
Guardians of the Glaive
Edicts: The Guardians of Glaive are smaller order known primarily for their single-minded, almost fanatical, devotion to their weapon of choice. However the Guardians also teach that just as one must be passionate in their training, they must also find a cause share that passion with. As to what this other cause might be is left to individual Guards to decide. Thankfully, many choose defense of the weak, and go on to become great bringers of justice. However, more than a few have become so consumed in their devotion to their favored weapon, that they have been become sentient weapons themselves; seeking battle after battle, in a hopeless search for perfection that no normal can hope to achieve. Often leaving a trail of misery and slaughter in their wake.

Challenge:
Whenever an order of the glaive cavalier issues a challenge, he receives a +1 dodge bonus to his AC against attacks made by the target of his challenge. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the cavalier possesses.

Skills:
A Guardian of the Glaive adds Knowledge (History) and Perception to the their class skills. In addition, he adds his Charisma modifier to the DC of another creatures attempt to demoralize him/her through Intimidate (in addition to Wisdom).

Order Abilities (See Order of Glaive)

[Mr_Praetorian]

Note: Clarification of Aid Allies and Mass Aid Other

+4 (Aid Allies ability) -2 (mass aid) + 1 per 5 points you beat 10

[Mr_Praetorian]

06/20/2011
Level-up Completed

Estimated Completion of Backstory: Tuesday Night