Vaylen Goldfield
Defense
AC: 18, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor,, +1 deflection, +3 Dex)
HP: 27 (5d8+5)
Fort: +2 Ref: +7 Will: +6, +4 vs. bardic performance, language-dependent, and sonic
Offense
Speed: 30 ft.
Melee: mwk dagger +3 (1d4–1/19–20)
Ranged: mwk heavy crossbow +7 (1d10/19–20)
Special Attacks: bardic performance 13 rounds/day (countersong, distraction,, fascinate, inspire competence +2, inspire courage +1)
Spells Known: (CL 4th; concentration +7) 2nd (2/day)—alter self, invisibility 1st (4/day)—charm person (DC 14), cure light wounds, undetectable alignment (DC 14), ventriloquism 0 (at will)—daze (DC 13), detect magic, know direction, mage hand, message, read magic
Statistics
Str: 8 Dex: 16 Con: 12 Int: 13 Wis: 10 Cha: 16
Base Atk: +3 CMB: +2 CMD: 16
Feats: Arcane Strike, Mounted Combat, Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Reload
Skills: Bluff +9, Craft (calligraphy) +5, Diplomacy +9, Disguise +11, Intimidate +11, Knowledge (history) +8, Knowledge (local) +7, Knowledge (nobility) +9, Perception +8, Perform (sing) +11, Profession (herbalist) +4, Ride +7, Sense Motive +6, Sleight of Hand +7, Spellcraft +5, Use Magic Device +7
SQ: bardic knowledge +2, versatile performance (sing), well-versed
Combat Gear: potion of cure moderate wounds, potion of eagle's splendor, scroll of animate rope, scroll of summon monster I
Other Gear: masterwork chain shirt, masterwork heavy crossbow with 20 bolts, masterwork dagger, ring of protection +1, light combat- trained horse with riding saddle, wooden mask, 360 gp
Description
Male human bard 4/aristocrat 1
Before Combat: Valyen sends minions into combat first. He casts invisibility on himself, drinks his potion of eagle’s splendor, and moves to a tactically and defensively superior position.
During Combat: Vaylen casts summon monster I to conjure a fiendish viper and targets melee-focused opponents with charm person. He then tries to use fascinate and attacks with his crossbow.
Morale: Vaylen fights to the death, knowing that his fanatical followers will stop at nothing to resurrect him.
Born to wealth and privilege in Galt, Vaylen Goldfield had known only entitlement, comfort, and luxury during his youth. His family had for generations been members of the pompous nobility, receiving generous incomes from their numerous holdings in vineyards; spice, acorn, and dye exports; and investments in mines and quarries.
Galt’s uprising left his house in ruins and his family slain. Old enemies the family had wronged attacked, looted, and burned their various holdings, hanging their retainers and bodyguards. Even lifelong servants whom Vaylen had trusted with his life betrayed him, citing years of previously unvoiced abuses and slights they had suffered under his family’s patronage. Vaylen watched his world crumble and burn before fleeing for his life. He disguised himself and feared every footstep and shadow.
Eventually he found a band of wandering Varisians who let him sing for his dinner. The leader, impressed with Vaylen’s voice, showed him a yellowed parchment scratched with musical notation, asking him if he could read it. Vaylen, who had studied music in his pampered youth, was able to read the notations easily. He taught the Varisians how to play the tune—and unlocked ancient and terrible powers.
The music, written by an ancient and long-dead composer, invoked a strange magic when played, sweeping up its audience in sensations of boundless euphoria and bliss. The tribe of wanderers, the leader explained, were descended from a cult devoted to the composer, comprising members of his troupe who called themselves the Twilight Symphony. After the composer’s death, the sheets of music were lost, and when the cultists later recovered a portion of his ancient symphony, they were unable to read the notation—only the chosen could unlock the composition’s harmonic powers.
Vaylen was ordained the Twilight Symphony’s high priest and soon led his cultists toward Galt, gathering loyal followers along the way and filling the twilit forests with haunting melodies and roaring bonfires. Vaylen now searches for more information on the remaining undiscovered sheets of music, which will unlock the symphony’s greatest destructive powers; when they are found, he will rise up and reveal himself to the world, reclaiming his lost lands.
Boon: Vaylen offers obscure secrets of Galt—particularly of regions near his family’s old holdings—and a method of safe travel for those who do not wish to be found. He knows plenty of dirt about various Galtan families (including those living in exile in the River Kingdoms) and which of his many enemies are the most dangerous or pliable.
Source: NPC Guide, p. 11