[Hourglass of Zihaja] Chapter 10: Adventuring

[Zeta Kai]

Master Khaled

Quotes

• “I’m just looking for answers, the same as you.”
• “We’ll get to the bottom of this. The truth always comes out, eventually.”
• “Well, if you remember anything else, just let one of my men know, alright?”
• “As the pharaoh wills it, to be sure.”

Background
Born the second son of a carpet weaver, Khaled was drawn at an early age to stories of glory & valor on the battlefield. Rather than follow his father’s footsteps & go into the family business, like his older brother, he joined the city militia in his hometown of Mushayar. He quickly learned that the tales of his youth were far different from the gritty mundane realities of martial life. But he persevered, & even excelled at his duties after a fashion, & he was promoted to the pharaoh’s guard. He eventually rose to become master-captain, the leader of the city’s armed forces.

While most of the day-to-day operations are handled by his able lieutenants, Khaled is still heavily involved in the ground-level issues of the city & its people. His hands-on approach may be irksome to some of his subordinates, but it has served him well over the years, earning him respect & admiration while noticeably strengthening the city’s defensive capabilities. He often gets personally involved with security matters & criminal investigations, as he reports directly to the pharaoh, King Tutra.

Personality
Khaled is a stubborn yet kind man, a dogged pursuer of justice. He always does what he thinks is right, even if it is difficult of dangerous. He wants what is best for the people in his charge, & will do whatever it takes to protect them. He won’t break the law, but he will bend it a bit, if the greater good demands it. He is a pious follower of Daq, & therefore attempts to seek balance in his life & the world around him. He is cheerless & solemn since the death of his eldest son ten years ago, but he has never let that tragedy interfere with his duties.

Appearance
Khaled is muscular & thickly-built, making him appear very solid. His skin is tanned & weathered, with more wrinkled than you’d expect from someone his age. His eyes are weary-looking, but intense, with a hard withering stare when he wants to. He wears his captain’s helm whenever he is on-duty, unless he is in disguise as a civilian.

Goals
Khaled has an entire city to look after, & its people’s wellbeing is his highest priority. He is currently investigating the mysterious collapse of the Genumel Causeway, which killed 38 people & destroyed a great amount of property. The circumstances are peculiar & suspicious, so the investigation is ongoing. He is in charge of the inquiry, but there are few clues, & even fewer reliable leads, so he is growing anxious. It has been two months since the bridge’s collapse, & he is no closer to a cause than he was the day it fell. If he cannot solve the case soon, the pharaoh may question his competence, & harsh measures could be taken to assign blame & resolve the matter.

Combat Tactics
Khaled is a simple man, with simple tactics; they are effective, though, which is why he still relies on them. He wields a greataxe with surprising grace & speed, & his shield floats before him, protecting him while freeing both hands for his mighty axe swings. He uses his horse, Haqiqa, to great effect, riding her wherever he goes (she could be called his only true friend). And he is not above using invisibility potions to sneak about during his investigations or to evade overwhelming foes, which many paladins don’t realize that they are allowed to do.

3E Stats

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RACE: Human male
CLASS: Paladin 10
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Good
DEITY: Daq (The Path of Providence)
SIZE: Medium
AGE: 39 (born 316 AF)
HEIGHT: 6’1”
WEIGHT: 195 lbs.
EYES: Brown
HAIR: N/A (Bald)
LANGUAGES: Common & Gnoolun
HIT DICE: 10+9d10+20 (79HP)
INITIATIVE: +4
SPEED: 30’
ARMOR CLASS: 22 (+9 armor, +3 shield); touch 10; flat-footed 22
BASE ATTACK BONUS: +10
GRAPPLE BONUS: +12
ATTACK: +13 Holy Greataxe (1d12+3, ×3, slashing)
FULL ATTACK: +13/+8/+3 Holy Greataxe (1d12+3, ×3, slashing)
SPACE/REACH: 5’/5’
SAVING THROWS: Fortitude +11, Reflex +5, Will +11
ABILITIES:

• Strength 14 (+2)
• Dexterity 10 (+0)
• Constitution 14 (+2)
• Intelligence 13 (+1)
• Wisdom 18 (+4)
• Charisma 11 (+0)

SKILLS: 65 points

• Diplomacy +15
• Gather Information +15
• Intimidate +13
• Search +16
• Sense Motive +18

FEATS: Improved Initiative, Investigator, Iron Will, Negotiator, Zealous Prayer**
WEAPON: +1 Holy Greataxe (18,320gp, 1d12+3, ×3, 12 lbs., slashing)
ARMOR:

• +2 Half-Plate (4,750, +9, maximum dexterity bonus +0, check penalty -6, 40% AFC, speed 20’, 50lbs.)
• +1 Animated Heavy Steel Shield (9,170, +3, check penalty -1, 15% AFC, speed 30’, 15lbs.)

EQUIPMENT:

• 660gp
• Cloak of Resistance +2 (4,000gp)
• Horseshoes of Speed (3,000gp)
• Periapt of Wisdom +2 (4,000gp)
• 4 Potions of cure light wounds (200gp)
• 3 Potions of invisibility (900gp)

SPELLS: 2/2 (Caster Level 5th, save DC13 + spell level)
CLASS FEATURES:

• Aura of Good.
• Detect Evil.
• Smite Evil 3/day.
• Divine Grace.
• Lay on Hands.
• Aura of Courage.
• Divine Health.
• Turn Undead.
• Special Mount.
• Remove Disease 2/week.

MOUNT: Haqiqa, a heavy warhorse (8HD, 60HP, AC20 (-1 size, +1 Dexterity, +10 Natural Armor), BAB+6, 2 Hooves +11 melee (1d6+5) & Bite +6 melee (1d4+2), Fortitude +9, Reflex +7, Will +3, Intelligence 7 (-2), Empathic Link, Improved Evasion, Improved Speed (60’), Low-Light Vision, Scent, Share Spells, Share Saving Throws, Endurance, Run, Listen +7, Spot +6).