Morpheus Unbound  |  Supporting Cast |  D&D

Onyx Warhammer (3e)

Neutral Good Human Fighter 8, Ranger 1

Str 19 (see below), Dex 13, Con 17, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 12, Hit Points 85

Skill Ranks:  Climb +4, Craft (armorsmithing) +6, Craft (blacksmithing) +8, Jump +4, Listen +2, Profession (Gambler) +5, Ride +4, Speak Language (Common), Speak Language (Dwarvish), Spot +2, Swim +4

Feats:  (Ambidexterity), Endurance*, Far Shot, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Point Blank Shot, Power Attack, Precise Shot, (Two-Weapon Fighting), Weapon Focus (warhammer), Weapon Specialization (warhammer)
She does not actually have Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting, but as a Ranger she can fight as if she had these proficiencies when wearer light or no armor. The Endurance feat replaces the Track feat normally granted to Rangers because it is more appropriate to the character background.

Other Notes: Base Attack +9/+4, base Fort save +8, base Ref save +4, base Will save +4, Favored Enemy (Giants +2)

Special Abilities:   Dream Travel (Su): Onyx has zero control over this supernatural ability.  Depending on the day, she considers this gift from Thor as a serious curse. It is a plot device similar to the power of the same in AD&D The Complete Psionics Handbook. Onyx always arrives carrying her hammers and rings, and frequently has other equipment as well.  Usually, but not always she has some knowledge of people to contact, and usually but not always those people have been notified somehow to expect her. Rarely does she get to keep anything other than experience points gained when she returns home. (View this power as Thor loaning Onyx out to other divinities.)

Special Hindrances:  None

Equipment:  studded leather +2 (deflection and resistance), ring of protection +2 (deflection and resistance), belt of major giant strength (+6 to Strength), gauntlets (wearer gains automatic benefits of resist fire/resist cold at all times, and all unarmed attacks can cause normal or pummeling damage as wearer desires), dwarven thrower ×2, ring of the dwarves (grants wearer all dwarf racial abilities (but not attribute modifiers) and she counts as "having dwarven blood"; allows her to use special properties of her hammers), potion of protection from arrows, high hard boots, large pouch ×2, tinder box, 1d6+9 gems (minimum 100gp each), fine cloak, fine robe, fine breeches, gold and silver cloak pin, medium war horse with chain barding

Background: Onyx had been helping her blacksmith father at the forge since she was old enough to charm customers.  At sixteen, several members of Onyx's family grew ill in a plague, and they incurred a great debt with the healers at the temple of Thor.  To help repay the debt, Onyx was sent to the smithy at the temple.  Despite her youth her early training as a blacksmith apprentice had given her great strength and endurance.  Onyx might have stayed at the forge except one of the prize warrior-apprentices felt it his special duty to taunt Onyx mercilessly.  He was a noble-son and his views of women did not include hard work and the forge.  After enduring four months of verbal abuse, Onyx snapped and challenged her tormentor to a duel. He readily agreed and proceeded to humiliate Onyx as she tried to use the unfamiliar practice sword. Bruised and dirty, Onyx appeared defeated when she left the practice yard.  However, her trek was short and she returned quickly from the construction area flailing about with the 20-lb. wooden construction mallet.  A few minutes later, Onyx had routed her tormentor and three of his friends.  No one ever picked on her again. Immediately after the incident, the instructors began Onyx's warrior training. However, the incident had created tension in the ranks of the students, and less than a year later Onyx was sent to the mountain frontier to smith for the garrisons and complete her training "in the field."

Her early training was in the city, where she was taught all manner of weapons and armor. A few months later, she was transferred to the mountain territories. It was there she came into her own with the trackers and berserkers.  These warriors realized they could not fight toe-to-toe with the giants and employed sniper and guerilla tactics. These philosphies left their mark on Onyx, and to this day she won't wear armor heavier than chain mail and much prefers the sinister look of leather.

From the very first time Onyx heard the tales and legends of Thor felling giants by throwing his enchanted hammer (and having it return to his hand), Onyx had a mission. Her entire self-concept became directed toward emulating Thor and being a fierce warrior.  Since completion of her studies, she has teamed up with her sister to spread the word and the name of Thor.

Years of loyal service and adventuring earned Onyx enough privilege and cash to receive her first dwarven thrower and her dwarven ring as gifts from the dwarves. Her second hammer, much later, was recovered from a long-forgotten battle site.

Campaign Use:  Onyx is a religious zealot and highly paid mercenary (typical fee 15gp per day). Note that when using her hammers HTH she has three attacks at +16/+11/+16 and 1d8+12 / 1d8+12 / 1d8+8 damage (respectively). She can throw both hammers in the same round with attack +13/+8 for 2d8+10 damage each, with +1d8 when thrown against giants and giant kin (also note her dwarven combat modifiers against giants and giant kin, and attack and damage bonuses at 30' or less).