Steiner Barnabas Melville Pembrook is a professional listener. A studied astronomer, a dabbling enchanter, a crossbow sniper, and amateur gastronome, but vocationally, he listens.
Most Fey Corgi have attention spans that would make a sparrow blush. Mr. Pembrook always considered this a shortcoming, and spent many of his years as a puppy training his mind into fierce discipline to overcome it. It helped that he was always fascinated by the stars, by astrology -- and, since this is the Reaches, the associated geology -- to explore. Not exactly the most gripping or exciting of subjects, but stargazing led him to calming meditation, and through it he developed the remarkable (for a corgi) ability to sit still and pay attention to a single subject for hours on end.
Telescopes and astrolabes are expensive tools, however; commissioning exploratory vessels to take him to other planetoids to look out further into space even more so. Mr. Pembrook needed a job.
Upon applying at the Academy for a professorship, he noticed something about the teaching staff, similar to the tenured professors in any large university on any world: very few actually taught anything. Most had their own pet projects and research, and all of it was far too complicated to bother explaining to mere students. Instruction and grading was left to assistants. And not one person was interested enough in any others' research to study it themselves.
Mr. Pembrook saw his opportunity.
As a professional Listener, Mr. Pembrook has sat through hundreds (if not thousands) of lectures on a variety of subjects. He takes studious notes, and within a week returns a fair critique and observation on the subject matter from each lecture. His fees for this service are quite fair, and the knowledge he has accumulated is vast indeed.
Mr. Pembrook is a bit small even for a fay corgi, and developing a bit of a paunch as he reaches middle-age. He dresses well, in a silk surcoat and trousers, and wears spectacles. His fur, already caramel-brown and white, is starting to gray.
Despite his willpower and discipline, Mr. Pembroke still gets excited -- perhaps overly so -- about new places to explore, new theories to study, and charcuterie.
---
Steiner Barnabas Melville Pembrook
Fay Corgi Rogue 13, Jack-of-All-Trades
Size S, age 43, gender M, height 3', weight 30#, unaligned, prays to Ioun or Avandra
STR 9
CON 13
DEX 20
INT 18
WIS 13
CHA 16
AC 26 (ranged attacks from 5+ squares are at -5 to hit)
Fort 19, Ref 26, Will 21
Speed 5/7
Passive Insight 24, Passive Perception 24, Low-Light Vision
Languages: Common, Canine, (Supernal, Abyssal via item) (can read any language via item)
HP 85
Bloodied 42
Surge Value 21, 7/day
---
Racial features:
Occasional Quadruped: Can push/pull/drag 25% more weight by STR
Guard Dog: +5 to saves vs. Fear
Class/Path features:
Sneak Attack: +3d6 damage vs. CA targets
First Strike: CA vs. opponents who haven't yet moved
Cunning Sneak: No penalty to Stealth checks for moving more than 2 squares. Stealth penalty for running is -5. Moving at least 3 squares allows a Stealth check to hide if there is any cover or concealment.
Sharpshooter Talent: +1 to hit with crossbows. Bonus feat: Far Shot
Dabbler: +2 to all skill checks
Expert Assault: When spending an action point, +5 to all skill checks UEOT
---
Skills: (+6 level, +2 Dabbler to all)
+15 Acrobatics (+5 Dex, +2 item)
+17 Arcana (+4 Int, trained)
+9 Athletics (-1 Str, +2 item)
+21 Bluff (+3 Cha, +2 racial, +3 item, trained)
+19 Diplomacy (+3 Cha, +3 item, trained)
+9 Dungeoneering (+1 Wis)
+9 Endurance (+1 Con)
+9 Heal (+1 Wis)
+17 History (+4 Int, trained)
+14 Insight (+1 Wis, trained)
+11 Intimidate (+3 Cha)
+16 Nature (+1 Wis, +2 racial, trained)
+14 Perception (+1 Wis, trained)
+17 Religion (+4 Int, trained)
+20 Stealth (+5 Dex, +2 item, trained)
+16 Streetwise (+3 Cha, trained)
+18 Thievery (+5 Dex, trained)
---
Feats:
Far Shot - Increase range of missiles by 5. (Hand Xbow: 15/25)
Two-Fisted Shooter - Hand Xbow is an off-hand weapon. Reloads as a free action.
Ritual Caster
Weapon Expertise: Hand Xbows - +2 to hit
Multiclass: Wizard (trained in Arcana, gain Magic Missile as encounter power)
Multiclass: Ranger (trained in Nature, gain Hunter's Quarry as encounter power)
Multiclass: Bard (trained in Diplomacy, gain Majestic Word as encounter power)
Multiclass: Monk (trained in Religion, gain Centered Flurry of Blows as encounter power)
Multiclass: Psion (trained in History, gain Memory Hole as encounter power)
---
Magic Items:
Sniper's Hand Crossbow +3.
+3d8 damage on crit.
No attack penalty for distance (effective range 25).
1/day: Add +WIS to next attack roll
Defensive Dagger +3
When using a second wind or total defense action, +3 to all defenses UMNT.
+3 Leather Armor
Bracers of Archery
+2 crossbow damage.
1/day: Can ignore cover on next shot
Sandals of Precise Stepping
+2 Athletics, Acrobatics, Stealth
Hedge Wizard's Gloves
Can Prestidigitation and Mage Hand at will
Gem of Colloquy
+3 Bluff, Diplomacy
+2 Languages (Supernal, Abyssal)
Cloak of Distortion +2
+2 Fort, Ref, Will
Ranged attacks from further than 5 squares are at -5
Reading Spectacles
Can read any language. Must remove Gem of Colloquy to use.
Bag of Holding
Filled with research/astronomy equipment and assorted tools. Mr. Pembrook always seems to have the right tool for the job!
Blinding Bomb x3
Throw for +16 vs. Fortitude. On hit, any creature nonadjacent to target has concealment.
Tanglefoot Bag x3
Throw for +15 vs. Reflex. On hit, target is immobilized UEOMNT. At end of next turn, target is Slowed UEOMNT.
Rituals (all of these are level 6 or lower, and have their costs cut in half from Experienced Arcana utility power):
Arcane Lock
Comprehend Languages
Discern Lies
Disenchant Item
Enchant Item
Endure Elements
Eye of Alarm
Hand of Fate
Knock
Secret Chest (between this and his bag of holding, Mr. Pembrook ALWAYS has the right tool for the job.)
Make Whole
Silence
Sending
Traveler's Feast
---
- At-Will Powers:
Deft Strike
Melee/Ranged
Move 2 squares, then Dex vs. AC. 1W+5 damage.
Preperatory Shot
Ranged
Dex vs. AC
9 damage, target grants CA UEOMNT
False Bravado (Bluff Utility Power)
Unmark self
Experienced Arcana (Arcana Utility Power)
Performing a Ritual of 6th level or lower costs 1/2. Can reroll Ritual check at +4.
Hedge Wizard's Gloves power: Prestidigitation
Can perform minor tricks.
Hedge Wizard's Gloves power: Mage Hand
Limited TK. Carries 20# up to 5 squares. Sustain minor.
- Encounter Powers
Shadow Strike
Melee/Ranged
Dex vs. AC - if hidden, make a Stealth check to remain hidden.
1W+5 (MP2)
Fleeting Spirit Strike
Melee/Ranged
Shift 3 and make a Stealth check to remain hidden. Dex vs. AC for 2W+5. Then shift 3 and Stealth to remain hidden.
Snap Shot
Ranged
Dex vs. AC
(This ability is a minor action.)
Navigate Crowds (Streetwise Utility power)
Shift up to normal speed. Can move through enemy spaces.
Scoundrel's Philosophy
Melee
Dex vs AC
3W+5
Secondary: Dex vs. Will to daze UEOMNT
Always a Natural
Reroll a skill check
Multiclass Wizard power: Magic Missile
Arcane, Force, Implement
Int vs. Reflex (wand implement gives +1 hit/damage, +1d8 on crit)
2d4+4 damage, push the target one square if using wand
Multiclass Ranger power: Hunter's Quarry
Designate nearest enemy has quarry. Hitting that enemy does +2d6 damage.
Multiclass Bard power: Majestic Word
Arcane, Healing, close burst 10 (targets me or ally in burst)
Target regains 2d6+3 HP and slides 1 square.
Multiclass Monk power: Centered Flurry of Blows
Melee, free action. Trigger: another attack power hits its target. Target: one or two creatures adjacent.
Targets take 5 damage and slide 1 adjacent square. If targets hit by Flurry are different from target of attack that triggered Flurry, targets of Flurry may slide to any square.
Multiclass Psion power: Memory Hole
Range 10, INT vs. Will
1d6+4 damage, and I am invisible to the target USOMNT
Puppy Eyes (racial)
Interrupt, trigger: hit by an attack
CHA+2 vs. Will
Negate the attack. Use of the attacking power is not expended.
- Daily Powers
Scattering Shot
Ranged
Dex vs. AC
2W+5, adjacent enemies -2 attack (save ends) and pushed 1 square away from target.
Miss: if used while hidden, not expended. (MP2)
Go For The Eyes
Melee/Ranged
Dex vs. AC
2W+5 and blinded/can't shift.
Until end of encounter, whenever I damage target, -2 attack rolls/can't shift UEOMNT.
Miss: If used while hidden, not expended.
Agonizing Shot
Ranged
Dex vs. Reflex
1W+5 damage/slowed/ongoing 10. On save, slowed/ongoing 5.
Miss, 1/2 damage/slowed.
Fitting Demise
Melee/Ranged, targets a creature I am hidden from
3W+9, make a Stealth check to remain hidden.
Sniper's Crossbow power
Next attack is at +1 to hit
Master's Wand of Magic Missile power
Arcane, Force, Implement
Int vs. Reflex (wand implement gives +1 hit/damage, +1d8 on crit)
2d4+4 damage, push the target one square.
Bracers of Archery power
Minor action. Ignore target's cover.