Main» Nikolai

Show category trails

  Kai | Characters | Sanjak-bey Alisher  

Nikolai

User page

Nikolai was an orphan taken in by the main chapter of the now defunct Spellkeepers of Odin. He was raised and taught by them, and it seemed eventually he would join the order as a cleric of Odin. However, when he was about 7 or 8 years old, Ragnarok occurred, spelling the end of the Spellkeepers.

Nikolai's motivation for his quest is to reclaim the power he was promised as a child, which was lost when Odin died during Ragnarok.

Nikolai’s Story

Prologue

Nikolai was orphaned at an early age in northern Novgorod. He was taken in by a kind local Cleric, who belonged to a order called the Spellkeepers of Odin. This cleric taught him to read and write, and when he was old enough, took him north to the central stronghold of the Spellkeepers, Sigurd's Keep. Sigurd and his Clerics saw Nikolai's keen mind, and intended to raise him as one of their order. Years later, Nikolai was to begin his training as a Cleric of Odin, under Sigurd's tutelage. But before he had even learned to channel the smallest of Odin's divine power, Ragnarok occurred. The gods were dead.

With the gods slain, the Spellkeepers lost not only their powers but much of their resolve, and Nikolai was furious that his calling had been snatched away from him before he could even learn his first spell. Nikolai stayed with the Spellkeepers for some years after Ragnarok, but he could see that they were not the same men they had been before. After Sigurd's death, Nikolai fell into a deep depression and decided it was time to move on. He travelled south to Novgorod and found that his education came in handy. He worked as a scribe for years, each letter he wrote reminding him of the opportunity he lost because the damned Aesir couldn't win one lousy war. His anger and despair mounted...

Years later, Nikolai had a dream, or a vision you might say. A luminous being that called itself Zorayan came to him. Zorayan spoke of ways to master divine magic without the gods, and told Nikolai that there were those on Earth who could accomplish this feat. But before he could become one of them, he would need to train, and learn more of the secrets of the arcane. The next day, Nikolai found an old Wizard and became his apprentice.

Once Nikolai was satisfied that he knew enough about arcane magic to strike out on his own, he left for Kiev, to continue his research.

Meeting Vasily

Nikolai's teacher in the arcane arts was a gruff old wizard named Yevgeny Tupolev. He was well respected in Novgorod's magic community, but not very well liked. He was crotchety, rude, and had a general hostility towards the world. He would often go on long rants about the state of Novgorod, Russia as a whole, the arcane community, the general state of humanity, and his hatred for all of the aforementioned things.

This is probably why Nikolai got along with him so well.

In any event, Nikolai was one of the few people Yevgeny actually liked, and the only person he ever took on as his apprentice. Because of this, Nikolai was surprised to see a strange young man browsing and studying in Yevgeny's library one day. When he went to ask his master about this, he was greeted with a rare smile. "Oh, that's just Vasily. He's a good kid, so I let him look through my books every so often." Impressed that there was actually someone else who managed to befriend the master, Nikolai decided to meet this man. Vasily was sharp and charismatic, and got along well with Nikolai, as it seemed he did with everyone. It turned out he was studying the arcane arts on his own, for he could not afford an apprenticeship. So he just wandered around town, making friends with all of the wizards and reading through their libraries.

Nikolai decided this was a clever tactic, and wished he had thought of it himself.

Over the next few years of his apprenticeship, Nikolai and Vasily grew to be friends. Vasily spent more and more time studying books of history and lore, while Nikolai continued to master various arcane spells. They grew to trust each other enough to share a few secrets, such as Nikolai's past with the Spellkeepers and Vasily's interest in the history of Ragnarok and Loki.

When Nikolai ended his apprenticeship, he decided to head south to Kiev. The city was quickly rebuilding after the Mongol invasion many decades prior, and there were many business opportunities there for a scholar of the arcane. Not to mention many opportunities to increase his own knowledge of spellcraft. As it turned out, Vasily had been contemplating the very same journey for his own reasons, so they ventured forth together.

Nikolai Grasps The Divine

as told by the Dungeon Master

During the night you spend at the fortress of the Mongol prince, your demonic patron, Zorayan, appears to you in a dream. The light from her fiery red sword plays over her pale greenish skin as she beckons you to her side. In a blink of an eye, you are standing beside her, dwarfed by her imposing stature, and the two of you look out over a shadowy landscape that you somehow recognize as being all of Midgard, stretched out before you. There is no sun, no stars or moon, yet you can see clearly; Zorayan points her sword, and you follow it with your gaze; you look out beyond the horizon itself, and are surprised to realize that you can see past the edge of Midgard, across the Rainbow Bridge - not colorful but jet-black in this perception - to the domain of Asgard.

There, standing out starkly as the only color in a vista of endless black and grey, are currents, rivulets of bright azure - currents of uncontrolled, remnant magic, flowing out from the ruined fortress of Valhalla, spreading out across all of Asgard. Zorayan turns to you expectantly, and almost as by instinct, you reach out and grasp at one current, as if the vast distance to it was but a mirage. You feel the power flowing into you, feel the trace of its divine origin, the tiniest spark of the magic's immortal origin, as the current of blue stretches out across two worlds.

"What god did you bow before to receive this power? What sacrifices did you perform? What prayers did you utter? None! All that was a lie. Now do you see the potential I can reveal to you? There is much more for the taking, much more that those who demanded your worship hoarded for themselves! In time, all that will be yours. I am your guide to the truth."

Advanced Learning

"Ok, how did you do that?" asked Vasily, as the group made camp after narrowly escaping the wrath of Archbishop Satyros.

"Hm? What are you talking about?" responds Nikolai.

"You opened a Dimension Door to get us out of the church. I am fairly sure you never memorized that spell from my book, and I am certain it isn't in yours. How did you manage it?"

Nikolai chuckles at his friend's confusion. "Come now, Vasily. A true master never reveals all his secrets."

After hearing Vasily's sigh of disapproval and watching him roll his eyes, Nikolai continues: "Let us just say that the power of divinity can be used in more ways than the paltry few spells granted to priests by their gods. It is... something I have been experimenting with."

Transcendent Learning

The party rested comfortably in the Cult's lair after their trying expedition to Cherkessia. With the dragons secured, they had all earned a brief respite. However, sleep has a way of abandoning those who may need it most.

"Of course!" Nikolai shouted abruptly from his bed. "It's all the same! All the same!" With a rarely used spring in his step Nikolai leaps out of bed and heads out of his room, walking purposefully down the hallway to Vasily's chamber. Not even bothering to knock, Nikolai barges right in to Vasily's room while shouting "It's all the same!"

From his bed, Vasily turned a half-asleep eye on the intruder. Nikolai continued, not noticing or not caring about Vasily's slumber. "They are the same, you see. Arcane, divine, it doesn't matter! They all draw from the same source. The energy can be used to power any spell of either--"

"Nikolai," Vasily interrupted. "You are crazy. Please let me sleep. We can talk in the morning."

"Hmph," Nikolai muttered. "Fine then. I'll just keep this to myself." But his petulance fell on deaf ears, for Vasily had already returned to his sleep.

The Book, with the Eye of Odin embossed on the cover

Nikolai nearly trembled with both intense excitement and abject terror. In his arms he held what he believed to be the last hidden legacy of his broken and scattered order -- the Spellkeepers of Odin.

He almost could not bring himself to open it.

The former Spellkeeper, Leonid Fokin, had told Nikolai that the book was very dangerous, and for that reason Sigurd ordered it hidden. Nikolai was unconcerned for this so-called danger. The word almost had no meaning for him after he had the audacity to steal magic directly from the divine power source. However, in this particular case, it gave him pause. This was an order from Sigurd himself, the man who raised Nikolai as a child. It was nearly impossible for Nikolai to simply ignore this fact. At the same time, a voice inside him continuously insisted: "This is my legacy. I deserve to know what was taken from me by Ragnarok! I deserve all the power the Spellkeepers once had!"

In the end, it was this voice that Nikolai followed.

As Nikolai read the first page of the book, he came to a conclusion. The book had not been safe in Muspellheim. Despite poor Ingmar's best efforts, the book had been found by that monstrous planar creature, and was being abused. This is exactly what Sigurd wished to prevent. As the one of the last members of the Spellkeepers, and almost certainly the last to retain any measure of magical power, it was Nikolai's responsibility -- nay, duty -- to safeguard this book, and the knowledge it accesses.

Regarding the barriers in deep Shadow

Sabin at work:  so
Sabin at work:  is it possible for Nikolai to get in contact with Zorayan
 Obormót/Gaia:  It is
Sabin at work:  so
Sabin at work:  this feels like something I should be asking her
Sabin at work:  re: the key and the shadow realm
Sabin at work:  because for some reason this whole thing feels relevant to
Nikolai's goal
 Obormót/Gaia:  Ok
 Obormót/Gaia:  Want to conduct that conversation now?
Sabin at work:  yeah.
Sabin at work:  if you're up for it
 Obormót/Gaia:  Ok
 Obormót/Gaia:  Absolutely
 Obormót/Gaia:  So
 Obormót/Gaia:  As with all previous contact with the Iron Triad, this happens
in your dreams, while you sleep
 Obormót/Gaia:  You are floating in a black void
 Obormót/Gaia:  Same deal as before
 Obormót/Gaia:  Around you are the three members of the Triad; you are facing
Zorayan
Sabin at work:  (actually this may be a better question for Karayan, who knows)
 Obormót/Gaia:  In her fiery gaze is something like... expectation, anticipation
<<< Sabin at work is now known as Nikolai >>>
      Nikolai:  //ok that feels better
 *** Nikolai nods respectfully
 Obormót/Gaia:  Out of the corner of your eyes you see the other two; Arakel
looks impassive, while Karayan narrows his eyes; you think you notice a sly
smile tugging at the corner of his mouth
      Nikolai:  Arakel, Karayan, Zorayan... *nodding to each in turn* I do not
know what to make of this endeavor involving the Cult of the Fallen Trickster. 
      Nikolai:  This barrier in the deep parts of the Plane of Shadow... they
seem somehow relevant to me.
      Nikolai:  s/they/it
      Nikolai:  And the key described in Zmei Gromovoi's journal will break it
down... but for some reason I am apprehensive.
 *** Nikolai pauses
 Obormót/Gaia:  Zorayan glances at Karayan, who bows his head to her slightly
      Nikolai:  If you can share any insight that I am missing...
 Obormót/Gaia:  And the world, including the Triad, rotates around you
 Obormót/Gaia:  You are now facing Karayan
 Obormót/Gaia:  And he speaks up, in a conspiratorial whisper:
 Obormót/Gaia:  "In Deep Shadow hides the past. Since time so ancient that it
predates even us, there have been refugees into the depths of shadow. Beyond the
closed pathways, even we cannot see. But there is power there that exceeds even
that which you've drawn upon."
 Obormót/Gaia:  And then
 Obormót/Gaia:  The world once again rotates around you
 Obormót/Gaia:  And you're facing Zorayan again
 Obormót/Gaia:  Who says
 Obormót/Gaia:  "To shift the foundations of the realms is the work of gods. The
Demon of Fire and Storm was a mortal; and though the beings that play with his
remnant power, who are your allies, count immortals among their number, they are
likewise not gods themselves."
 Obormót/Gaia:  Finally, the world rotates again
 Obormót/Gaia:  And now you're facing Arakel
      Nikolai:  //and arakel is like "hmph."
 Obormót/Gaia:  And he says
 Obormót/Gaia:  "What of the one who looks upon the power to do the work of
gods, and gains such understanding of it that he himself can wield it? What is
he?"
 Obormót/Gaia:  And then your dream ends.
 *** Nikolai wakes up
      Nikolai:  Thanks guys
 *** Nikolai thumbs up

Divine Mechanics

You have attained divine rank (DvR) 1, which makes you a demigod; the following powers are yours immediately:

Speed: +10 ft.

Armor Class: You add your divine rank as a divine bonus to AC. This bonus stacks with everything and is effective against everything. Also, you add your divine rank to your natural armor.

Attacks: You gain your divine rank as a divine bonus on all attack rolls.

Saves: You gain your divine rank as a divine bonus on all saving throws.

Divine senses: As a standard action, you can perceive everything around any of your worshippers, holy sites, or other objects or locales sacred to you, to as great a radius/resolution/etc. as your normal perception. (Note that currently, the set of such objects/places is limited to Valhalla and Sigurd's Keep.) This effect may also be centered on any place where someone speaks your name or title, for up to 1 hour after it is spoken, and at any location where an event related to your portfolio occurs (see Portfolio).

Portfolio: You now have the knowledge and magic portfolio elements, and the following associated powers: Portfolio sense: You automatically sense any event related to your portfolio, that takes place in the present and involves one thousand or more people. You know that such an event is occurring and where it is, but no other information. Automatic actions: When performing an action within your portfolio, you may do so as a free action and without making a check, so long as the DC is 15 or less. You may do this once per round. Create magic items: You may create magic items related to your portfolio, up to a market price of 4,500 gp, without needing the required item creation feat. All other requirements and limitations apply.

Domains: Select one domain appropriate to your portfolio. You can use its domain power once per day per divine rank (or more often, if the domain normally allows its associated power to be used more often); your "cleric level" for the purpose of this power is equal to your divine rank.

You can also grant this domain, and its associated powers and spells, to your worshippers (see Grant Spells, below).

Grant Spells: You now automatically grant spells to mortal clerics who pray to you; you can also grant your chosen domain (see Domains, above). You may withhold spells from a particular mortal as a free action; once a spell has been granted, it remains in the mortal's mind until expended.

Spontaneous Casting: You can spontaneously cast the domain spells of any domains you can grant. This works like a good cleric's ability to spontaneously cast cure spells.

Remote Communication: As a standard action, you can send a communication to a remote location. You may speak to any of your worshippers, and to anyone within one mile per divine rank away from a site dedicated to you, or within one mile per divine rank of a statue or likeness of you.

The creature being contacted can receive a telepathic message that only it can hear. Alternatively, your voice can seem to issue from the air, the ground, or from some object of your choosing (but not an object or locale dedicated to another deity of equal or higher rank). In the latter case, anyone within earshot of the sound can hear it.

You can send a manifestation or omen instead of a spoken or telepathic message. The exact nature of this communication is yours to determine (you should select one which is appropriate to your portfolio), but it usually is some visible phenomenon. This communication power can cross planes and penetrate any barrier. Once communication is initiated, you can continue communicating as a free action until you decide to end the communication. You can carry on one such remote communications at one time (a number that, like many of these abilities, will increase if your divine rank grows).

Salient Divine Ability: Select two that you qualify for.

And the following powers are yours to acquire by "spending" XP or Salient Divine Ability slots on them (mechanics and amounts to be elaborated):

Armor Class: Gain a deflection bonus to AC equal to your Charisma bonus. (10,000 XP)

Checks: Gain your divine rank as a divine bonus on all skill checks, ability checks, caster level checks, and turning checks. (10,000 XP)

Immunities: Gain immunity to one of the following: (15,000 XP)

Spell resistance: 32 + divine rank (10,000 XP)

Fire resistance: 10 + divine rank (5,000 XP)

Enhanced perception: special

Improved divine senses: special

Divine aura: special (15,000 XP)

Communication: Gain the ability to understand, speak, and read all languages. (5,000 XP)

More domains: Select an additional domain, up to a total of three. (Additional domains beyond this limit may be acquired by selecting the Extra Domain SDA.) (5,000 XP)

Notes

Nikolai's Divine Focus is a Holy Symbol of Odin.

Custom item plans

everybody's doing it!

Staff of the Darkcaster

This staff is a single unbroken piece of highly polished darkwood. It has two black iron bands encircling it at the top and bottom, and is wrapped in dark leather around the center. When wielded, black energy crackles slightly across its length.

This staff grants the use of the following powers:

This staff is heavily attuned to negative energy, and channels it almost continuously. If the wielder is not properly experienced in handling negative energy, it will course through their body unchecked. The staff bestows one negative level on any creature attempting to wield it that does not possess the ability to turn or rebuke undead. The negative level remains as long as the staff is in hand and disappears when the staff is no longer wielded. This negative level never results in actual level loss, but it cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the staff is wielded.

The staff's natural channeling of negative energy grants the wielder an additional power. While casting a spell of the Necromancy school, or using one of the staff's spells, he may spend a turning attempt to increase the caster level of that spell by 1, or increase the save DC by 1 at his discretion. This requires no action; the wielder chooses to do it as a part of casting the spell.

CL 17th, Cost 79,000gp 

pricing notes
750 x 256 x 0.25 x 1.0 = 48000
750 x 32 x .5 x 1.9 x .75 = 17000
750 x 2 x 2.8 x .5 = 2100

I am pricing the additional power as flat 12000.

48000 + 17000 + 2100 + 12000 = 79100 = ~79,000 gp.

Ascension

Nikolai is trying to ascend to godhood, filling the seat and portfolio left behind by the late deity Odin?.

Note that this is not a fact he shares casually, even with his closest comrades. Even knowing the deepest secrets of the universe, the goal of succeeding a major deity is so lofty as to be considered completely insane, and as such, Nikolai pretty much does not share it with anyone.

Progress

Categories: Characters · Player Characters