[Hourglass of Zihaja] Chapter 10: Adventuring

[Zeta Kai]

Ghada izud-Haqara

Quotes

• “This city has seen much in its day, & its walls have weathered every storm. It is my duty to see it through to the next dawn.”
• “You must understand what we’re fighting for. There is more at stake than you know.”
• “I cannot abide the Circle’s influence. They must be excised, lest they corrupt our beloved home.”
• “We are accustomed to receiving guests. And it is not uncommon for welcome guests to become neighbors.”

Background
Ghada izud-Haqara was born in Maisan, & has lived there all her life. The only daughter of the previous bey, she was raised from any early age to rule the city & its people. At the age of 19, her father was killed in an accident, leaving her to take up the Scepter & Miter. That was 15 years ago, & she has been the ruling bey of Maisan, as well as the face of the local church of Adimas, ever since.

Ghada has had to deal with a lot since becoming bey. Maisan is constantly in a state of recovery from the latest disaster, be it a dust storm, a dragon attack from Azhan, or a deadly mining incident. She has also faced a personal tragedy, when it was discovered that she could not bear children. The frequent calamities have taken their toll on the city’s people, including the bey, even though she still works hard to help the city prosper. The Church of the Falling Feather (as Adimas’ church is known here) assists her with this goal, but they can only do so much in face of such adversity. It seems that it is all that they can do just to hold their ground & keep the city from sliding further into chaos & despair.

Personality
Ghada deeply loves her city, & feels an all-consuming responsibility towards its wellbeing. She is very driven & focused, & cares very deeply & honestly about her citizens. This can sometimes get in her way, clouding her judgment as to the best course of action, as short-term concerns can get in the way of the city’s long-term interests. When she was a younger & greener bey, she made some decisions that she has come to regret, & those still trouble her to this day. She is pleasant & courteous, but is usually quite serious, to the point of being a bit grave.

Appearance
Ghada’s face is weathered & slightly wrinkled, making her appear older than she actually is. She rarely smiles, as she is seldom pleased or amused. Her hair is tightly tied back in a severe bun, which is often hidden by her cloak’s hood. Her body is very thin & angular, with a bony frame & a somewhat awkward gait, as though she were unused to moving.

Goals
As with any head of state, Ghada has many objectives, both large & small. She would like to restore Maisan to its former glory, when the city was young, before it was plagued with a constant series of woes. She is working to secure enough water to supply the citizenry, both now & in the future. She is trying to find a force strong enough to clear out the local mines, which have been overrun with monstrous creatures. But her most critical concern is the Circle of Jalud, which worries her greatly. A single mage can be cause for alarm, so a group of them actually working together has her very afraid for the future of her city & its people.

Combat Tactics
Ghada is a surprisingly-able combatant, having been trained by the best warriors in the region. She deftly wields a mighty-cleaving falchion in one hand & a balanced throwing falchion in the other. She is adept at several martial forms, including the sweeping finisher & the overcoming finisher. She usually doesn’t rely on magic items, preferring to maintain a simple-yet-effective repertoire of combat maneuvers & her own martial prowess.

3E Stats

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RACE: Human female
CLASS: Fighter 6/Ranger 3
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good
DEITY: Adimas
SIZE: Medium
AGE: 34 (born 321 AF)
HEIGHT: 5’6”
WEIGHT: 124 lbs.
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Black
LANGUAGES: Common & Draconic
HIT DICE: 10+5d10+3d8 (51HP)
INITIATIVE: +6
SPEED: 30’
ARMOR CLASS: 20 (+2 Dex, +7 armor, +1 shield); touch 12; flat-footed 18
BASE ATTACK BONUS: +9
GRAPPLE BONUS: +10
ATTACK: +11 Mighty Cleaving Falchion (2d4+2, 18-20/×2, slashing) or +11 Throwing Falchion (2d4+2, 18-20/×2, 10’ range increment, slashing)
FULL ATTACK: +11/+6/+1 Mighty Cleaving Falchion (2d4+2, 18-20/×2, slashing) or +11 Throwing Falchion (2d4+2, 18-20/×2, 10’ range increment, slashing) & +6/+1 Mighty Cleaving Falchion (2d4+2, 18-20/×2, slashing)
SPACE/REACH: 5’/5’
SAVING THROWS: Fortitude +11, Reflex +10, Will +8
ABILITIES:

• Strength 13 (+1)
• Dexterity 15 (+2)
• Constitution 10 (+0)
• Intelligence 12 (+1)
• Wisdom 14 (+2)
• Charisma 10 (+0)

SKILLS: 60 points

• Diplomacy +12
• Intimidate +12
• Knowledge (Nobility) +13
• Listen +14
• Sense Motive +14

FEATS: Cleave, Diehard, Endurance (bonus), Great Cleave, Improved Critical, Improved Initiative, Parry**, Power Attack, Tempest Assault (all techniques)**, Track (bonus), Two-Weapon Combat**
WEAPON:

• +1 Mighty Cleaving Falchion (8,375gp, 2d4+2, 18-20/×2, 8 lbs., slashing)
• +1 Throwing Falchion (8,375gp, 2d4+2, 18-20/×2, 10’ range increment, 8 lbs., slashing)

ARMOR: +1 Spell Resistance (SR13) Banded Mail (9,400, +7, maximum dexterity bonus +1, check penalty -5, 35% AFC, speed 20’, 35lbs.)
EQUIPMENT:

• 850gp
• Cloak of Resistance +3 (9,000gp)

CLASS FEATURES:

• Favored Enemy (Native Outsider): +2.
• Wild Empathy.
• Combat Style (Two-Weapon Combat).