Realms Personalities : Kang Yu
By Christopher Lindsay (Web)
Born to roam the plains of the Hordelands among his Tuigan brethren, Kang Yu was raised and trained as a scout among the warriors of his people. Kang Yu's father, a powerful warrior in his own right, proudly taught his son the way of the bow and the horse. As a young Tuigan lad, Kang Yu reveled in the lessons his father had to teach, though in his heart of hearts, he yearned for power -- the kind of power that would make beings quake with fear just to hear his name.
Having become overly ambitious, Kang Yu made his bid for power by attempting to assassinate his father and then supplant his leadership within the ranks of their people. Kang Yu failed miserably. Rather than execute his only son, Kang Yu's father had him banished to the west lands forever. Kang Yu stumbled out of the Hordelands and across the Golden Way, narrowly escaping the witches and berserker warriors of Rashemen, and finally found himself on the docks of Milvarune in the land of Thesk. Once there, Kang Yu became a dockworker, unloading ships that came to port and earning a pittance, which he drank away before the next day found him once again at the docks. It wasn't long before Kang Yu decided that this was not the life for him.
Having grown increasingly bitter, Kang Yu devoted a great deal of energy to mastering the exotic spiked chain, a weapon previously unknown to him. In particular, he was attracted to the fear it caused in others. Since no one knows precisely who taught Kang Yu how to use the horrible weapon, it is commonly whispered that Kang Yu's teacher must lie in an unmarked grave somewhere. It wasn't long before Kang Yu began gathering a war band of his own. Though, rather than a gathering of warriors worthy of the mighty Tuigan people, Kang Yu put together a collection of thieves and murderers whom he has kept in check through an absolute fear of his wrath.
Kang Yu Today
Roaming the streets of Milvarune, Kang Yu and his gang find daily entertainment in minor street battles they fight against the good people that dwell within Shou-town. They also delight in extorting hefty sums of money from the merchants and innkeepers whose businesses are unlucky enough to reside along the docks. While their activities have not yet come under the direct notice of Prince Auvur Mindosel, Kang Yu has made himself a nuisance to the local constabulary. Each time it looks as though Kang Yu may be caught, he and his gang members disappear like fog on a windy day. Some believe that Kang Yu wields magic gained through a pact made with the Red Wizards. Others believe that Kang Yu has made deals with otherworldly creatures that are far more sinister. The truth is much simpler.
Kang Yu uses money gotten from his illegal dealings to buy up properties around town. In each of these properties, he and his gang members create a connection to the sewers underneath the city, and they travel from there to a secret lair that is known only to Kang Yu and his men. The properties owned by Kang Yu are kept up and rented out to newcomers in the city, who are down on their luck. The rent is cheap, and Kang Yu requires that the residents keep the property in good shape at their own expense, and that they must allow Kang Yu access at a moment's notice. The good people living in these homes think of Kang Yu as their protector and friend, though they do not know what evil truly lurks within his heart.
In addition to furthering petty rivalries with the Shou and extorting monies from the less protected merchants in town, Kang Yu has been known, among the underbelly of the city, to hire himself out as an assassin. None living can attest to this, since Kang Yu works strictly through indirect intermediaries and messengers.
Kang Yu: Male human Rog3/Ftr7; CR 10; Medium humanoid; HD 3d6+6 plus 7d10+14; hp 68; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 19; Base Atk +9; Grp +10; Atk +15 melee (2d4+2 plus 2d6, plus 1d6 to self, +1 vicious spiked chain) or +14 melee (1d6+1/19-20 masterwork short sword) or +14 ranged (1d6/x3, masterwork shortbow); Full Atk +15/+10 melee (2d4+2 plus 2d6, plus 1d6 to self, +1 vicious spiked chain) or +14/+9 melee (1d6+1/19-20 masterwork short sword) or +14/+9 ranged (1d6/x3, masterwork shortbow); SA sneak attack +2d6; SQ evasion, trap sense +1, trapfinding; AL CE; SV Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +4; Str 12, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 10. Age 38, height 5 ft. 10 in., weight 173 lb.; Patron Deity Mask.
Skills and Feats: Balance +12, Climb +14, Escape Artist +10, Gather Information +8, Hide +10, Intimidate +10, Jump +14, Knowledge (local) +7, Move Silently +10, Ride +16, Tumble +12; Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain), Mobility, Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (spiked chain), Whirlwind Attack.
Evasion (Ex): If exposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage, Kang Yu takes no damage with a successful saving throw.
Trap Sense (Ex): Kang Yu gains a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps.
Trapfinding: Kang can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a DC higher than 20.
Languages: Common, Tuigan.
Possessions: +1 mithral chain shirt, +1 vicious spiked chain, masterwork short sword, masterwork composite shortbow [+1], 20 arrows, cloak of resistance +1, gloves of Dexterity +2, 4 potions of cure moderate wounds.