Torg Cudean (3.5e NPC)
NOTE: Torg is an NPC in the Years of Gold setting, and the entry reflects that. He should be easy enough to adapt to games and campaigns in other settings, but remember to add a second domain and the excluded cleric powers (aura, turn or rebuke undead etc.) to him.
| Male dwarf cleric 4 | |
| LE Medium humanoid (dwarf) | |
| Init/Senses | +0/darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +4, Spot +4 |
| Languages | Maridian, Luskan, Gutnisk |
| AC | 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+8 armor) |
| hp | 30 (6 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +7/+1/+8; +2 against poisons, spells and spell-like effects |
| Speed | 20 ft. (4 squares) |
| Melee | Sundown Avenger (heavy flail) +6 (1d10+4 plus 1d4 fire plus blindness on critical hit/19–20) |
| Base Atk/Grp | +3/+5 |
| Special Actions | spells |
| Spells Prepared | (CL 4th): 0—create water, guidance ×2, light, read magic |
| Abilities | Str 15, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 13 |
| SQ | domains (Sun), darkvision 60 ft., stonecunning, stability |
| Feats | Combat Casting, Weapon Proficiency (heavy flail) |
| Skills | Concentration +10, Heal +11, Knowledge (religion) +8 |
| Possessions | Sundown Avenger, masterwork full plate, five pouches of expensive incenses |
| Patron Deity | Auri |
| Weapon Familiarity (Ex) | Torg may treat dwarven waraxes and dwarven urgroshes as martial weapons rather than exotic weapons. |
| Stability (Ex) | Torg gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground). |
| Ascend (Su) | When Torg dies, his entire Judgmental Retinue dies or the group is somehow trapped or hindered so that they can't continue to fight, ascend triggers: the entire Retinue and Torg spout wings of golden energy, and their skin beings to glow with blinding inner light. They gain a flying speed (40 ft., maneuverability good), take on the celestial template, heal to half their maximum hit points (or stay at current if above half), recover from any and all conditions placed on them, and restore their daily allotment of spells and abilities. |
| Male dwarf cleric 4 | |
| LE Medium humanoid (dwarf) | |
| Init/Senses | +0/darkvision 60 ft.; Listen +4, Spot +4 |
| Languages | Maridian, Luskan, Gutnisk |
| AC | 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+8 armor) |
| hp | 30 (6 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +7/+1/+8; +2 against poisons, spells and spell-like effects |
| Speed | 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 40 ft. (8 squares, good) |
| Melee | Sundown Avenger (heavy flail) +6 (1d10+4 plus 1d4 fire plus blindness on critical hit/19–20) |
| Base Atk/Grp | +3/+5 |
| Special Actions | spells, smite 1/day |
| Spells Prepared | (CL 4th): 0—create water, guidance ×2, light, read magic |
| Abilities | Str 15, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 13 |
| SQ | domains (Sun), darkvision 60 ft., stonecunning, stability, damage reduction 5/magic, resistance to acid, cold and electricity 5, spell resistance 9 |
| Feats | Combat Casting, Weapon Proficiency (heavy flail) |
| Skills | Concentration +10, Heal +11, Knowledge (religion) +8 |
| Possessions | Sundown Avenger, masterwork full plate, five pouches of expensive incenses |
| Patron Deity | Auri |
| Weapon Familiarity (Ex) | Torg may treat dwarven waraxes and dwarven urgroshes as martial weapons rather than exotic weapons. |
| Stability (Ex) | Torg gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground). |
| Smite (Ex) | Once per day, Torg can make a normal melee attack to deal 4 extra damage. |
History
Born as the only son to a family of dwarven outcasts from Carag Vorn, Torg was a weak and dependent child. He was sickly all through his childhood, and despised by his stern father, who believed in the stamina of the dwarven race. Torg was raised a devout follower of Auri, as the Cudeans were positively fanatical about the sun god - this was the reason they were cast out of Carag Vorn in the first place.
In his childhood, the only two things young Torg could lean to were his spoiling mother and the teachings of Auri. But the words of the preachers and the phrases of the sun gods' tomes meant little to Torg, who learned to read and write at an early age. He had his own view of the true meaning of Auri: justice will be served. This, perhaps, can be attributed to his dwarven heritage, and his oppressive father.
In the more-or-less multicultural city of Redford, race meant little to anyone. Dwarves were somewhat rarer, seeing as they preferred the nearby mountains, and Torg quickly gained popularity as a pleasant oddball, especially among children somewhat younger than him. Among his friends, he took the role of a judge: distribution of sweets, the laying of law and judgment were all jobs given to him, and he completed them justly. This earned him his nickname, the Fair, which he holds to this day with pride and nostalgia.
Torg's father died before he had reached his 20th birthday, and was still considered a child among dwarves. At first, Torg showed few signs of distress, but he gradually distanced himself from his mother and his friends, which had grown fewer and fewer as the years passed. Eventually he moved in to the Temple of the Rising and began the rigorous training of a cleric. Torg far surpassed all other trainees, but the teachers showed since of worry as to the cold-hearted and judgmental nature of his.
It was the Long Year of 3204 when Torg finished his training, over ten years earlier than his peers. He set out to study the world and spread the word and love of Auri. What he saw embittered him: people flocked to false prophets and deities, betrayed their religion for a few copper pieces, and laughed at the teachings of the sun god. Some were outright atheists. Two years later, Torg returned to Redford, never to leave again. He has a vision, and this little town would be the first to see the fair change, and by every rise of the sun, Torg knows his moment comes closer.
Appearance and personality
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|---|
| No forge's fire can challenge the fire of his heart. |
Torg is an average-height dwarf at 4' 2'', but is bulky and heavy-framed, weighing 158 lb. His hair is still blond, although gray strands have begun to appear on his plaited beard, and his eyes are a yellowish-brown. Torg commands a masterous voice: at times thundering, at times soft and heavy. With this voice he recites prayers of Auri, and his singing-voice is renowned. He often sings in chorus with his Retinue, all of which have their roles in chant as well as in battle; Torg is a baritone. The arms of the zealous dwarf are hairy and muscular, and often wield his heavy flail, the Sundown Avenger. This flail is actually a heavy lead censer, filled with smoldering incense and casting out a thick, dizzying smoke.
Torg's religious zeal is the most prominent feature of his nature. His devotion to Auri, and to the law and order he (in Torg's mind) represents, goes beyond that of any other fanatic. He lays down the law as he sees fit, and considers his viewpoint the only one. This belief has reincarnated his old nickname "the Fair" among the citizens of Redford, not as a pet name, but a mockery of his one-sided justice. However, Torg has done a deal of good to the city as well: an invasion of ghouls was reflected by him and his retinue, and the poor and homeless always find aid and shelter in the Temple of the Rising.
The domain of Auri Torg devotes himself to is Sun, wielding his divine magic with ease. Torg views all wizards and sorcerers as heretics, and acts accordingly: he has already wrestled the right to persecute sorcerers that openly display magic on the streets of Redford. His political influence has increased with the religious one, and he continually disrupts the careful policy of Redfordian nobles.
Followers and allies
The most trusted priests of Torg Cudean serve as his bodyguard. They are called the Judgmental Retinue, a choir/tribunal/enforcer team, made of four individuals. Individual might be the wrong word, however: the retinues' devotion to Auri is surpassed only by their loyalty to Torg, their adopted father-figure. They have given up their personal life and even their personality in his service. Each and every member of the retinue is an abandoned mutant, saved by Torg in their early childhood. They have no names, except the titles that show their position: Judge, the Paired Jury, and the Executioner.
The following of Auri is strong in Redford, and has always been, thanks to the good that the Temple of the Rising has done. Never has the popularity of the sun god been as strong as currently, however; Torg is a charismatic leader, and his commanding voice calls people to him like lost lambs. The clerics and priests working in the Temple of the Rising, while technically under the supervision of the Archbishop, answer directly and of their own free will to Torg.
Recent activity and plans
High Minister Cudean has been as busy as ever as of late. He has ordered several new executions, directed more and more openly against members of other faiths. Torg has also opened contact with several nearby villages, sending clerics to aid with harvest and healing. New followers are converted every day. The latest success of Torg is the banning of holy symbols other than those of Auri in the Old Town area, and the establishing of clear borders between different churches; the largest areas belonging, of course, to Auri.
Being a dwarf destined (he believes) for greatness, the plans of Torg are great as well: a sudden upheaval is being organized in the secrecy of the Temple of the Rising. On the morning of Midsummer's Day, the Holy Day of Auri, the revolution will begin, and the devotees of Auri shall rise with the rays of the sun to thwart the heretics and non-believers. Torg has long dreamed of this day, and will allow no one to meddle with the preparations. Help, however, is greatly appreciated.
Combat
Torg usually starts the fight with a repetoire of spells: bless, shield of faith and aid are all common choices to boost both himself and his retinue. This is followed by hold person and cause fear, after which Torg charges into melee. Whilst in melee, Torg fights his enemies with iron resolve, but also casts bull's strength and boosts his allies in various ways.
Torg always fights to the bitter end, prefering direct confrontation and power attacking to fancy techniques and tricks. The fact he invariably fights with his Judgmental Retinue means he is rarely taken by surprise, is a huge challenge to overcome and can, with the help of his ascend ability, count as twice the challenge.
When Torg and the Judgmental Retinue ascends, it signals their swan song. The energies of Auri the High Minister summons to their bodies are destructive and the ascension means they'll all perish, whether or not they manage to defeat their opposition. This makes them even more desperate and offensive, especially Torg, who wades into the thick of melee.
Sundown Avenger: This censer-weapon is a +1 heavy flail, withe the following features: attacks dealt with the Sundown Avenger deal 1d4 extra fire damage per hit, as the smoldering censer burns the foes. On a critical hit, a struck creature must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude check or be blinded for 1d4+1 turns. In order for the weapon to function, it must be fueled with expensive incenses (costing at least 25 gp). Lighting the censer is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. The censer burns for 1 hour.
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