Usk'cer Skeltur:

Name: Usk'cer.

True Name: Usk'cer Skeltur.

Alignment: Anarchist (Selfish) - Aberrant Tendencies.

Hit Points: 55. S.D.C. (Physical): 101.

Attributes: I.Q.: 15, M.E.: 8, M.A.: 10, P.S. : 36 (+21), P.P.: 18 (+2), P.E.: 23 (+16%/+4), P.B.: 9, SPD: 21

Weight: 1525 lbs (691.7 kg). Height: 10 feet 3 inches (3.12 meters).

Age: 38 years. Race: Troll. Sex: Male. P.P.E.: 14. Horror Factor: 12.

Disposition:

Very important to him is discipline, including self discipline. It dismays him to see just how little most other trolls actually care about discipline. It is often almost impossible to get them to operate in a disciplined manner. Sees this as costing unneeded lives. As he is often put in charge of other trolls, getting them to follow his discipline often requires extreme force. Seems like many trolls only understand brutality.

Quite intelligent, he has always be one to consider how to deal with problems in a logical fashion and is a surprisingly good small unit tactician. While he is most skilled with trolls, he is also capable with regards to dealing with the smaller races. Incredibly rare also is the fact that he can read and write both the Elven and Western Languages.

While he does enjoy fighting and gets pleasure from killing others in battle, he does not particularly enjoy torture. Sees it as a tool he might need to use once and a while however. Not afraid to use force when he needs to keep others in line, trolls or not. Still, he is capable of using a softer hand when needed.

Surprisingly fastidious, he is definitely quite different from the lazy and slovenly image many thing of with regards to trolls. Keeps himself quite clean and well groomed. Usk'cer also spends quite a bit of time keeping his gear clean and well maintained. His concentration on grooming has caused a number of other trolls to consider him effete requiring him to disabuse them of the opinion. Luckily for him he is as strong as he is, actually stronger than most trolls.

While calling him truly loyal to anyone is a stretch, he realizes that the appearance of loyalty is the coin of a mercenary as much as their fighting skills. As well, if you betray an ally, what is to stop them from betraying you. Of course, in return those who betray him will find his wrath turned on them.

Even though Usk'cer has problems with the undisciplined nature of many other trolls, he does find them more comfortable socially. He is pretty popular among female trolls and is believed to have quite a number of children scattered around especially within the Yin-Sloth Jungles. Otherwise he is most comfortable with Kobolds and Ogres. To a lesser extend, he deals well with goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, and similar races as secondary allies.

Still, he is far better able than most trolls to work with humans, elves, and other races often considered enemies of his race. A number of times has hired himself as a mercenary to them. They do tend to pay better than trolls. Does not mean that he does not feel apathy towards them in many cases although reasonably good at hiding his feelings about them. Of course this apathy is often mutual.

Even though he is different in several key areas, he still shares many things with other trolls. Respects strength and power. Does not mind using brute force to deal with a problem when he can. Quite willing to spill blood as well and does enjoy fighting. Loves the collection of treasure as well including keeping grizzly souvenirs.

O.C.C.: Mercenary Warrior. Experience Level: Fifth (5).

Combat Skill: Hand to Hand - Martial Arts.

Attacks per Melee: Seven (7)

Bonuses, Combat: Critical Strike: Natural 20 Knock Out: Natural 20 Bonuses: Damage: +21, Strike: +4, Disarm: +4, Parry: +7, Dodge: +7, Roll (with Punch, Fall, or Impact): +6, Pull Punch: +5, Initiative: +0.

Kick Attacks: Backward Sweep (Knockdown), Karate style kick (3D6+21), Tripping/Leg Hook (Knockdown), and Jump Kicks (all).

Bonus; Save: Lethal Poison [14] +4, Non-Lethal Poison [16] +4, Harmful Drugs [15] +4, Insanity [12] +0, Psionics [15] +0 (+1 with Amulet), Magic [12] +4 (+1 with Amulet), Horror Factor +5.

Special Abilities:

Racial (Troll): In addition great strength and size, he has night vision 60 ft (18.3 m), excellent day vision (equal to a human), are instinctive climbers with a base skill of 75%/65% and swimming at 60%.

Bonuses: +3 vs horror factor, one additional attack/action per melee round. Clawed hands inflict 2D6 damage + 21 P.S. bonus, kick 3D6 + 21 P.S. bonus, and bite 2D4 damage but no P.S. bonus is applicable.

O.C.C. (Mercenary) Bonuses: +2 to pull punch, and +1 to save vs horror factor at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12.

O. C. C. Skills: Communications: Language: Elven (+10%) 70%, Language: Giantese / Troll [Native] 98%, Language: Western (+10%) 70%, Physical: Hand to Hand: Martial Arts, Athletics - General, Climb/Scale Walls (+10%) 70% / 65%, Wilderness: Wilderness Survival (+10%) 60%, Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Blunt (+2 [+6] Strike / +2 [+9] Parry / +1 [+8] Throw), W.P. Shield (+1 [+5] Strike / +2 [+9] Parry), W.P. Sword (+2 [+6] Strike /+2 [+9] Parry / +1 [+8] Throw), W.P. Targeting / Thrown Weapons (+3 [+7] Throw)

O.C.C. Related Skills: Communications: Sign Language (+5%) 50%, Espionage: Detect Ambush (+5%) 55%, Intelligence (+5%) 51%, Track Humanoid (+5%) 50%, Military: Camouflage (+5%) 45%, Field Armorer (+5%) 55%, Rogue: Streetwise (+4%) 42%, Scholar/Technical: Language: Southern [Gained at Third Level] (+10%) 60%, Literacy: Elven (+10%) 60%, Literacy: Western (+10%) 60%, Lore: Demon & Monster (+10%) 55%, Masonry [Gained at Third Level] 40%

Secondary Skills: Medical: First Aid 50%, Physical: Body Building [Gained at Fifth Level], Boxing, Running [Gained at Fifth Level], Wrestling, Technical: Gemology 45%,

Racial & Background (Nomad) Skills: Communication: Language: Gobblely 98%, Medical: Animal Husbandry (+4%) 59%, Wilderness: Land Navigation (+4%) 50%, Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Paired Weapon - Sword and Shield.

Appearance:

While quite tall, he is not among the tallest among trolls at just a bit over ten feet tall and weighs over fifteen hundred pounds. He actually is quite impressive in his build, appearing to be made from virtually solid muscle. Even though he has white almost corpse like skin which is blotchy, he is not as ugly to human eyes as many trolls. Does have the red eyes common among trolls as well as the large uptruding canines. Interestingly, he does take far better care of his appearance than most trolls, keeping both his hair and his beard both combed out and trimmed. While some trolls have tried to call him effete, his muscular form puts a lie to that and those who have said it often have regretted it.

He actually prefers leather armors over heavier types of armor. Usually wears a nice set of manticore studded leather armor which is extremely well kept. Otherwise, he carries a bastard sword and shield for weapons with a quiver of throwing javelins carried for good measure. Similar to his armor, his weapons are kept quite clean and are extremely well cared for.

Magical Weapons of Note:

Bastard Sword (Giant): Weight: 13.5 lbs (6.3 kg)

Kobold forged and made for somebody of troll sized. Used one handed by him. High quality Kobold construction; +2 (+11) to parry, +1 (+7) to strike, +3 to damage, and +2 to initiative. Enchantments: Additional Damage (1D6), Eternally Sharp (+3), and Indestructible, Damage: 5D6+5 (5D6+26 Including strength) for Hand to Hand attacks.

Non-Magical Weapons of Note:

Twelve (12) “Kobold Quality” Light Throwing Spears: Weight: 2.2 lbs (1.0 kg) each.

High quality Kobold weapon with +1 (+8) parry, +1 (+5) strike, +2 (+9) throw, +3 damage, and +2 initiative. Damage: 2D4+3 (3D4+26 Including strength / skill) for Hand to Hand attacks. Throwing Range: 100 ft (30.5 m).

Two (2) “Kobold Quality” Kinjal Daggers: Weight 1.1 lbs (.5 kg) each Length: 1.6 feet (0.5 m)

One is silver plated. High quality Kobold weapon with +2 initiative, +3 damage, +1 (+5) strike, +2 (+9) strike when thrown, and +1 (+8) parry. Damage: 1D8+5 (1D8+26 Including strength) for Hand to Hand attacks.

“Kobold Quality” Round Shield (Giant): Weight: 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg)

Kobold forged and made for somebody of troll sized. High quality Kobold shield with +3 (+12) to parry. Damage: 3D6 (3D6+21 Including strength) for Hand to Hand attacks.

Armor of Note:

“Ward Scored” Manticore Hide Studded Leather: A.R.: 14 S.D.C.: 116 Weight: Effectively weightless.

Enchanted with spell of “Weightless” using ward of permanency. Reinforced, Increased AR Rating, Double S.D.C.

Other Equipment:

Magical Items:

Amulet of Charm: Adds +1 to save vs magic and psychic attacks.

Crystal of Light: Many Faceted gem that is about the size of a Golf Ball, It emits light equal to about 2 candles.

12 Potions of Healing (Superior): Recover 2D6 hit points and S.D.C.

Other Equipment:

Clothing: Two (2) sets of clothing, leather boots, pair of soft gloves, leather belt.

Containers: Backpack, two (2) large sacks, two (2) small sacks, sword scabbard, two (2) leather dagger sheath, javelin quiver (twelve javelin capacity), two (2) waterskins (one gallon capacity).

Field Equipment: Bedroll, sharpening stone, climbing gear, 200 feet of rope.

Lighting: Flint and tinderbox, eight (8) treated torches.

Writing Equipment: Twelve (12) sheets of parchment, two (2) quill pens, 6 oz ink.

Provisions: Four (4) weeks trail rations.

Miscellaneous: Wooden comb, soap, medical supplies.

Jewelry, Gems, and Valuables: 30,000 gold in coins and 80,000 gold worth in precious gems.

Usk'cer’s History / Background:

Usk'cer is originally from the Yin-Sloth Jungles, a member of a nomadic group which wandered the lawless land. They never stayed in a single place for too long although did often visit the Yin-Sloth Periphery. Often the tribe would raid these Western Empire settlements, even bringing their children along during the raids. There was a fair amount of bloodshed involved in these raids and while annoying, the raids were generally not considered serious to concern House Glaverius.

Even so, some of the other nobles as well as merchants did often hire or bring their own forces in attempts to ambush the raiders coming across from the jungles. In one of these ambushes, They managed to ambush his band he belonged to. Even though many of the trolls did manage to escape, several trolls were killed and a number were captured. Included in those captured were a number of young trolls including Usk'cer.

As captives, the trolls, including the children, were put to work doing hard labor. It was his first exposure to civilization. Of course, most of the Western Empire considers the Periphery barely civilized with House Glaverius considered corrupt even in comparison to the other noble houses of the Empire.

Still, he could see that the soldiers and mercenaries were extremely disciplined especially in comparison to most troll warriors. While trolls often fight raggedly without any organization, the soldiers fought in an extremely organized fashion. During his captivity, Usk'cer also learned the first rudiments of the human Western language enough to understand some of what his captors were saying.

Of course, even though civilization fascinated him, he also hated being a captive. As a result, he began to plan how he might escape. While the soldiers were quite disciplined, some of those guarding the captives were far less so. The guards also assumed that none of the prisoners could understand any Western and the trolls were barely more than dumb brutes. Even though young, Usk'cer was able to come up with a cunning plan to escape. A few weeks after being captured, the escape was sprung. Several of the guards were killed in the escape with Usk'cer able to escape into the jungle.

During the next few years, he grew to be extremely strong even compared to most trolls and became a skilled warrior. Interestingly, he always preferred studded leather armor over heavier armor types such as chain, scape, or plate armors. As well, saw how dangerous archers can be so decided to learn the use of thrown javelins or short spears so he might have some ability to engage at range.

At the same time as learning how to fight, he actually attempted to learn how to read and write, concentrating on the Western and Elven languages. Usk'cer considered it one of the human secrets. Sometimes he could learn a little bit from a human or members of other races within the jungles. Few trolls ever become literate, making him extremely unusual.

In the early days, Usk'cer often hired himself as a mercenary fighter usually to the various warlords within the jungle. Did not particularly concern himself with the actual cause, being far more interested in getting payed. Just as often worked for humans as other races. Even though a slave himself for a short time, worked for slavers a number of times as well.

Compared to many other troll warriors, he is reasonably loyal to his paymaster. While he does not particularly care about the well being of whom hires him, Usk'cer realizes that at least the appearance of loyalty is an important coin for mercenaries.

With so few trolls considered loyal by their paymasters, many times he has gotten put in command of other trolls because of his apparent loyalty. It helps that he is extremely strong and is able to dominate other trolls and will get brutal with them if needed. It was at this time that he also showed an aptitude in small unit tactics. Even though especially skilled with troll troops, also shows genuine skill with other races even understanding when a softer hand is required.

The nobles, merchants, and mercenary companies within Yin-Sloth Periphery often pay far better than the warlords within the jungle itself. Having no particular loyalty has even worked for them against other trolls raiding into the Empire controlled lands. His own experiences as a raider allow him to understand the raids far better than most humans.

As the years went by, he decide to travel even father afield than the Periphery. During his travels, he learned the human Southern language although has yet to lean how to read and write in the language. Of course, many of the races of the Palladium world treat trolls with suspicion if not outright hatred and he has often felt the disdain of other races. While the feeling are often mutual, he goes through great pains not to reveal his own disdain.

Even while fighting within the Yin-Sloth Jungles, he made a special effort to replace his original gear with high quality Kobold made weapons. Some after working as a mercenary in the Yin-Sloth Periphery, he commissioned an enchanted giant Bastard Sword. A little later on, was able to get a custom set of enchanted “Ward Scored” Manticore Hide Studded Leather made for him. Managed to otherwise collect a number of other enchanted items.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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