Brinian

Defense

Offense

Statistics

Description

Male human fighter 6

Before Combat: Brinian ordinarily calls out his opponent to set up a fair fight, preferring to duel until first blood is drawn, though he is willing to duel until one participant lands three hits. He only ambushes opponents in dire circumstances or if he can be convinced that the indignity is absolutely necessary.

During Combat: Outside of a duel, Brinian enjoys closing with spellcasters to make use of his Disruptive feat. Otherwise he attacks the most powerful melee opponent and attempts to shame his enemies into fighting him one-on-one, using vulgar comments, slights against his foe’s appearance, skill, favorite foods, liaisons with sisters and mothers, and anything else he can determine about his opponent.

Morale: Brinian’s air of bravado is quite sincere and doesn’t crack until he reaches 5 hit points or fewer, at which point he flees. If humbled in this fashion, he remembers the face of the one responsible and plots revenge.

At age 25, Brinian is young for an accomplished member of the Aldori Sword Pact. The second son of a minor noble in Rostland, he was apprenticed at an early age to another swordlord and knows nothing of life beyond swordsmanship, dueling, and the simple pleasures of wine, women, and song. Since he rarely meets a swordsman who can match him, Brinian has an arrogant disposition and is likely to slight people without thinking about it.

For the last 7 years, Brinian has made his living as a retainer to an elderly Rostlandic noble who allows him to pursue his martial and romantic interests as long as he’s available as a champion in the event the old man is challenged to a duel. His master has taken to traveling to all the great cities in Avistan, allowing Brinian a chance to sample delights from across the continent.

Brinian is lithe and wiry— his life of constant training keeps him in top physical shape. His high forehead and aquiline nose give him a genteel air which is regularly disrupted by a roguish grin, and his sandy hair is permanently tousled where it’s not held back in a short queue. Brinian favors the latest fashions, though he pays for none of them himself. His master’s long-suffering chamberlain sees to Brinian’s outfitting, using style and cut to send a clear message that this man is deadly, and his master is not to be trif led with.

An essentially lazy man, Brinian has settled for a comparatively unambitious career—most Aldori swordlords would be doing something much more important than championing an old man. He’s thus become something of a black sheep to his family and the community of nobles within Brevoy. Brinian’s storied laziness evaporates in the face of anything he considers leisure, no matter the actual effort expended. Consequently, any request to Brinian is more successful if the act in question is presented as being frivolous, extravagant, or outrageous—even if the actual goal carries the risk of death.

Boon: Brinian can be persuaded to throw in with the PCs on a mission involving a goal that he sees as suitably gallant or amusing; rescuing a maiden or thwarting a group of bandits through single combat with their leader is right up his alley. Brinian is primarily motivated by fun and excitement. If the promised heroism doesn’t come to fruition, he can get dangerously riled and is prone to abandoning those who anger or bore him; however, he is more tolerant if in the company of attractive women.

Source: NPC Guide, p. 8