Meet the Cast: Damien

Damien was the character of one of my friends when we originally started the Savage Tide Adventure Path. When I decided to move the adventure up to the final confrontation with Demogorgon, I had to basically create him from whole cloth. My first character ever was a ranger, so they’ll always hold a place in my heart, so the work wasn’t really all that bad.

Keep in mind that Damien’s stat block is for the fight with Demogorgon, and so his improved quarry and favored enemy bonuses are factored in. He was designed to be an archer, and then I realized that his minor artifact Olman Hero’s Bow (the one from Dungeon Magazine #145 that isn’t OGL) wouldn’t be able to bypass Demogorgon’s damage resistance. His backup weapon, however, would work fine, just without the entire career of archery perfection that goes along with the recovery of the artifact. Of course, going into the Abyss he probably could have traded the item with the Mercanes, but I don’t think his personality would have let him. He would probably have taken it back to the Olman people of the Isle, though. Maybe I’ll swap it out with something else to let him benefit from his profession.

Damien

Male human (Oeridian) ranger 20
CG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +8; Senses Perception +38

DEFENSE
AC 33, touch 21, flat-footed 25 (+9 armor,+3 deflection, +8 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 286 (20d10 +160)
Fort +22, Ref +24, Will +15
Defensive Abilities freedom of movement, improved evasion

OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee +5 cold iron demon bane holy battleaxe +48/+43/+38/+33 (1d8 +24/x3, plus 2d6 vs. demons, 2d6 vs. evil)
Ranged Olman Hero’s Bow +43/+38/+33/+28 (1d8 +20/18-20)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks favored enemy (aberration +2, magical beast +2, monstrous humanoid +2, outsider (evil) +10, undead +2), master hunter (DC 25)
Ranger Spells Prepared (CL 17th; concentration +22)
4th—commune with nature, cure serious wounds, nondetection, tree stride
3rd—cure moderate wounds, darkvision, neutralize poison, remove disease
2nd—barkskin, bear’s endurance, protection from energy, snare, spike growth (DC 17)
1st—alarm, animal messenger, endure elements, longstrider, pass without trace, resist energy

STATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 26, Con 22, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 8
Base Atk +20; CMB +27; CMD 45
Feats Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Deadly Aim, Diehard, Endurance, Far Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Pinpoint Targeting, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Quick Draw, Rapid Shot, Shot on the Run, Toughness, Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Skills Climb +15, Handle Animal +15, Heal +19, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (Geography) +15, Knowledge (Nature) +24, Knowledge (Religion) +7, Profession (Sailor) +15, Ride +17, Spellcraft +20, Stealth +32, Survival +28, Swim +14
Languages Common, Elven, Keoish
SQ camouflage, favored terrain (jungle +6, plane (Abyss) +4, urban +2, water +2), hide in plain sight, hunter’s bond (companions), improved quarry, swift tracker, track +10, wild empathy +19, woodland stride
Combat Gear adamantine arrows (50), boots of speed, potions of cure serious wounds (2), greater arrows of slaying (dragon, human, outsider (evil), undead), ring of freedom of movement; Other Gear +5 mithral chain shirt, +5 cold iron demon bane holy battleaxe, Olman Hero’s Bow, amulet of natural armor +3, belt of physical perfection +6, Damien’s cloak (as cloak of elvenkind and cloak of resistance +4), efficient quiver, golembane scarab, greater bracers of archery, handy haversack, headband of inspired wisdom +6, instant fortress, ring of protection +3

Damien grew up outside of Sasserine, and spent his youth navigating the jungles there. When Lavinia put out the call for help getting into her family’s vault, Damien answered along with his friend Adolan, and also met Oloma there. Along the way, he developed a romantic interest in Lavinia, and the two became lovers while they lived in Farshore. When she was captured by her brother and taken to Scuttlecove, Damien was relentless in his pursuit to get her back.