Mélisande
by Greg WeatherupI'm statting up an adventuring party using some random rolls to get the framework of the characters (ie randomly determining the race, culture, and/or class then trying to justify a character with that combination) and I wanted to include a martial adept.
For the party I got a female darokinian half-orc Swordsage. I struggled to determine how to make that Mystaran appropriate - until I rolled her height. She came out very short (4'11") and when I saw how many of the swordsage disciplines work with Unnarmed strikes, is when the character concept all came together. Let me know what you think:
The few half-orcs in Darokin suffer lots of discrimination. Most get through life in human lands by playing on their size and image, taking positions as thugs or bouncers or whatnot. Given Mélisande's small size and low Strength (by half-orc standards), she knew she couldn't do this so she took a diferent approach. She purposfully trys to get-by by appearing completely unthreatening, unarmed, almost pitiful. But when that doesn't work, she can defend herself just fine without weapons, using surprising speed and ferocity.
here's what I got so far:
Mélisande, Half-orc, Swordsage-1
Str 10, Dex 17 (+3), Con 8 (-1), Int 9 (-1), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 6 (-2)
HD: 1d8-1, hp: 7, initiative +4 (+3 Dex, +1 quick to act)
Fort-1, Ref+5, Will+4
Attacks: Unarmed Strike+1 (1d3) (Thanks to gaining Discipline Focus: Weapon Focus {unarmed strike} & taking the Improved Unarmed Strike as her 1st level feat.), Combat Maneuvers
Known Stances: Stonefoot Stance
Known Maneuvers: Charging Minotaur, Sapphire Nightmare Blade, Stone Bones, Sudden Leap, Wind Stride, Wolf Fang Strike
Things got interesting when one of the other party members turned out to be a Kara-Kara (from a random roll in the demographics table), but that's getting off-topic.
I'm thinking she needs to get Weapon Finess as her next feat at 3rd level.