Pathfinder Society Record
- Known Name: Iaome Dorethain (adopted family name)
- Race: Human (Azlanti)
- Apparent Age: early-mid 20s
- Birthday: 13 Erastus [July] (assumed)
- Height: 5'2"
- Alignment: Neutral Good (gearing towards lawful)
- Affiliations: Pathfinder Society
- Religion: Brigh (predominantly, but also respects and pays service to Torag and Desna)
- Character Class: Mechanist [Gunslinger]
- Place of Origin: Unknown birthplace; raised in Alkenstar, Mana Wastes
- Player/Type: NPC
Appearance
Iaome is short in stature but striking. She admits to believing that the ancient Azlanti heritage runs strongly in her family, and has inherited classic Azlanti features that many other Azlanti descendants would love to have to strengthen their claim of purity of blood to their bygone ancestors: classically-Azlanti angular features and lightly tanned skin, and her eyes are a striking purple shade, the clearest indicator of her Azlanti heritage. Her natural red hair is kept around shoulder length and usually hangs loose. It is naturally slightly wavy, but Iaome likes to curl it with a hot iron when she has the chance and styles it in fashions common at Alkenstar City. Her hairline recedes slightly at the front, but her hairstyles hide this well - although she would claim this is a coincidence and that she has no need to hide. Most would describe her as being highly beautiful, but she thinks of herself as "plain and skinny" at best as she was predominantly raised in a dwarven society and is a far cry from what was considered the feminine ideal of her society.
Since re-entering human society, Iaome has found she enjoys "being a lady" - wearing appealing and good-quality clothing and applying cosmetics. Whilst she is usually encountered wearing her glamered armour (see signature equipment), she almost always modifies its appearance to appear as complimentary and fashionable (or at least socially-appropriate) clothing. In it's natural form, her armour looks like a red tanned hide work coat, common to engineers and others who work around machinery. It is made from the hide of an eel that (somehow) survives in Alkenstar's magically-polluted river, and then alchemically treated to make it more durable than normal boiled leather, but keeping it extremely flexible. Iaome is very fond of hats, especially brimmed hats for social occasions, and tricorne hats whilst adventuring.
Background
Iaome claims to not remember her early childhood, and states that as far as she is concerned her life began when Morgrym Dorethain, a Forgemaster of Torag, stumbled across her unconscious form whilst travelling across the Shattered Range mountains whilst on a trade visit to Kibwe in the Mwangi Expanse. Dorethain had lost his own wife and daughter two years prior to the forces of the Gorilla King, and seeing this presumed-orphan resonated with him. At first he merely rescued her, taking her with him back to his home of Dongun Hold in Alkenstar where, in time, he ended up adopting the feisty youth as his own daughter. Iaome is one of the few non-dwarves to therefore have experienced the dwarven fortress-town, although she spent much of her youth and adulthood in adjacent Alkenstar City itself, where she was principally educated. She grew up becoming a respectable riflewoman and, like her adoptive father, became a good engineer, graduating from the University of Alkenstar with acclaim in both history and engineering, after which she achieved employment at the Gunworks factory for a time.
Growing up, the mystery of her past, and learning about the descendants of lost Azlant, of which heritage of she so obviously shared, awoke in her a curiosity and desire to learn more about her heritage and Azlant. This, in turn, led to a general interest in the history of bygone civilizations and Golarion history and mythology as a whole. Whilst Morgrym tried to dissuade this interest, saying it was in the past and that her future was at Alkenstar, the desire was too strong in her - and many expeditions with her father to ruins in the Mana Wastes and across northern Garund did little to dissuade this. In Morgrym's own words "seeking the past, and adventure, is in your blood... stupid lass." In the end, Iaome decided to leave behind her promising career as a gunsmith and engineer to become a full-time archaeologist. Various archaeological adventures in Osirion, for some of which she aided members of the Pathfinder Society, led to her receiving a field commission by the Quantium Pathfinder lodge in Nex. This emboldened her to travel first to Absalom, and then later to Avistan in order to pursue her interest in learning more about Azlant and Thassilon.
Unfortunately this aim became askew when the ship she was travelling on from Absalom to Taldor fell prey to slavers, and she was sold into slavery in Cheliax, where she was ultimately bought by a chelish innkeeper who cared nothing for her azlanti heritage other than that they made her look exotic, which would appeal to the clients.
Fate sent her a second stroke of good fortune when a group of Andoran adventurers working with a Hellknight passed through and sheltered at the inn. The adventurers disapproved of slavery, and quickly learnt that the helpful and uncommonly-intelligent maid was a slave, and wanted to help - although they could not risk doing any act that might result in further straining Andoran-Cheliax relationships. Iaome explained to the adventurers that in a few days was the annual Dies Irae - the Days of Wrath spectacle; a series of gladiatorial blood-sports in which any slave was allowed to participate. Although most would die or be seriously injured, the prize was highly vaunted as the winner was entitled to be pardoned of any crime, have any and all debts owed nullified by the state, or gain their freedom from slavery. She stated that she felt confident she could win, and that it was illegal for her slave-master to prevent her participating, but he had always managed to prevent her taking part by keeping her unable to earn sufficient coin to properly equip herself for the event. She promised the adventurers that if they lent her the coin, she would make her own weapons and win - and repay the money, first in coin and later in service until her debt was done. Inspired by her boldness, the adventurers lent her the (substantial) coinage she asked for and in an unexpected twist of events, managed to prove to the Hellknight that her slavemaster was illegally attempting to prevent her participation; for which her slavemaster was publicly flogged with a barbed whip.
Iaome had an ace no-one expected. Firearms were uncommon in Avistan, and she was no normal gunsmith. Working at the Gunworks, Iaome knew the construction methods for firearms far ahead of those used outside Alkenstar, and created a rifle. Opponents expecting a weak female opponent to stand still and rely on the use of a slow and cumbersome musket found themselves facing a fast-moving and highly accurate riflewoman capable of reloading metal cartridges at speeds comparable to elven archers; and who, armed with a backup sword-bayonet, was not vulnerable when engaged in melee either. Whilst it was not easy, and she suffered some serious wounds, this gave her an edge and became the Dies Irae champion, and won her freedom.
She travelled with her rescuers awhile to repay her debt, although none of them acknowledged any debt from her (other than repayment of coin, which she did with her winnings, spending the remainder on equipping herself further). As she was raided by dwarves, and thus held honour in high regard, she adventured with them and participated in their quests to satisfy her own need to fulfill her oath - which meant putting aside her own ambitions awhile. Over time the group composition changed. First the swashbuckling privateer Alexite West left to pursue his fortunes. Later Armand Garamont, the Eagle Knight Paladin, left the group when duty required him. Then later the khellid barbarian Khan left them to pursue private matters with his recently-reconnected witch sister. Finally, their most recent travelling companion, the elven Alchemist Quaroth, returned to his position at the Alchemical Society of Albis. To her sadness, of the original group of companions, only the Sarenite cleric Tamina remained with her, plus the elven magus Lysanthir with who they had recently become acquainted during their adventures with the Tribe of the Red Devil in the Aspodel mountains. It has been several months since then, and Iaome and Tamina have become close friends, although both friends fear that the time is coming when they must part as their fates seem to drive Iaome further northwards, whilst the pull of Qadira and unresolved affairs call Tamina southwards. Perhaps Lysanthir, new events or new companions may determine what occurs.
Personality
Most people would describe Iaome as feisty. Some would derogatorily say that Iaome was a man with pretty skin. Raised by dwarves in a magic-bereft, hard-working society in a magic-blasted wasteland, Iaome's personality has naturally been influenced by the gruffness of dwarven and Alkenstar culture. She has a sharp mind and wit to match, and would rather spend her free time in the inn challenging the locals to drinking competitions than she would doing embroidery and having tea parties with respectable women... much to the chagrin of other azlanti descendants and historians who feel that Iaome brings shame to the name. When this is thrown at her, Iaome's usual retort of "well they're all dead, so am pretty sure they don't give a troll's ass what I do" doesn't help the situation either...
Despite the fact that Iaome gets inebriated so frequently that she rarely has need to pay for (or use) an inn room as she usually ends up passing out in the common area from too much drink, Iaome is not an alcoholic. She believes in the dwarven lifestyle of working hard and partying equally hard. She believes life is precious and fleeting and can end at any moment, and so one should live like there's no tomorrow. Like most dwarves, she holds honour, personal pride and (to a lesser degree) tradition in great regard. She is known to always keep her word when given and takes offense easily when her sense of pride and honour are insulted. She makes acquaintances easily, but is slow to truly let people in and become close to her. When she does, however, she becomes remarkably overprotective of them. There have been various instances where Iaome has ended up causing tavern fights which erupt when she clobbered the ogre-dung that deserved it protecting Tamina's honour after Tamina walked away from an aggressor in an attempt to avoid conflict. Indeed, whilst she is usually popular with locals, Iaome regularly seems to spend as much cooling off time in the local jail-house as she does in the inn.
Iaome loves knowledge, of almost any kind, and is knowledgeable in various fields - often causing others to erroneously assume that she is a bard; especially as she loves telling tales (and is a respectably decent storyteller) of ancient cultures and legends. But pride of place in her scholarly interests are the fields of engineering - she loves learning and understanding how things work, from majestic statues and buildings, to clockwork devices, and hopes to someday be able to go see the legendary rumoured technological wonders of Numeria - and history, including arcane myths and legends, with special focus on the bygone human Azlanti and Thassilonian civilizations. Tamina, in particular, often has many historical and mythological discussions with her. Not only do both women enjoy these conversations, but Tamina often states that to have an academic conversation with Iaome on these topics is the best way to prevent her unwinding by drinking herself into another stupor and ending up in the jailhouse (and someone else in the infirmary).
Contradictory to her boyish attitudes towards drink and entertainment, Iaome enjoys refinement. She enjoys fine clothing, cosmetics, hot baths, steam rooms and being pampered, although she will downplay these tastes. If accused of the possibiity of a noble origin, she will admit her adoptive father has theorised that she may have come from noble blood; and that perhaps she may yet have living relatives in Taldor.
Despite being a former slave, Iaome does not have any particular intolerance of slavery beyond that of most good-hearted people, but ironical for an Azlanti descendant, she actually (usually) dislikes other Azlanti descendants. She claims that they are mostly effete falsebloods who expect extra recognition and prestige simply because they can lay claim to be descended from the ancient empire. She claims that whilst the Azlanti may have been the most advanced human civilization in history, they should be a cautionary tale rather than something to emulate, stating after all if they had been so perfect, they would have, as a culture, survived Earthfall like the Elves did, and the descendants are nothing but a parody of that once-great civilization, and their attempts to garner grandeur and emulate their ancestors are a mockery.
Religion
Iaome is quite religious, but is considered strange about it in various ways. Firstly, she reveres three different deities (and of late, with Tamina's influence, that is fast becoming four). Most people usually revere just one faith (or may respect many but not worship any particular deity) which relates strongest to their outlooks or needs, and so many consider this to be false worship. Iaome does not believe respecting several good faiths is false worship, although she's not exactly devout either. She states that various of the good deities get along and work with each other, so why should they mind mortals respecting them the same way? Her principal belief is in Brigh, the goddess of invention, who is a minor deity with her largest following and temple in Alkenstar, but often little known outside.
The second strange thing, at least to those who do not know her background, is that one of the deities she respects most and pays service to is the dwarven god Torag. To those in the know this is unsurprising as Torag is the not only the head of the dwarven pantheon, and she was raised in a dwarven culture, but Torag is also another deity of invention.
The second reason is the third oddity - whilst Iaome has great respect for several religions, especially that of Brigh, Desna (her other favoured deity), Torag and Sarenrae, she puts little respect for many of the younger deities such as Iomedae and Cayden Cailean. She claims this is because as a historian she appreciates that these new, ascendant gods are powerful beings, indeed, but not primordial and ancient deities. Torag, Desna and Sarenrae (to a lesser degree, as she was not an original goddess but ascended to it eons ago) were around since the birth of Golarion, and even worshipped by the ancient Azlant and elves. She says she considers it easy to respect, but hard to worship beings that became god-like through attrition, rather than being ancient entities.
Combat Style
Iaome is often thought of being a pistolier, but she is in fact a riflewoman (or as she would say, the correct term is a rifler although few people are educated enough to know that). Whilst she is quite capable and competent with using any firearm, her specialty is using her rifle, an advanced firearm that uses metal cartridges instead of barrel-loaded black powder and shot. As would be expected for a ranged combatant, Iaome prefers to keep her distance in combat, usually behind some form of cover if possible, and support her allies with effective fire - not always intended to kill enemies, but often to aid allies. She is a highly accurate rifler, capable of striking targets at great distances, or accurately shooting into melee without endangering her allies.
Even when approached into close quarters, Iaome's first recourse is to quick-draw two more firearms; usually wielding a dragoon pistol in one hand and a dragon pistol (a form of pistol that fires a spray of pellets over an area instead of a solid single shot at one target) in the other. She likes to use these weapons as breathers, pushing immediate threats away, rather than as consistent close-ranged weapons.
Whilst she claims that she is proficient with martial weapons, she rarely carries any, although in her early days since earning her freedom used a rapier for a time until she was able to procure equipment better suited for her. She does however carry a sword bayonet - a large bayonet that is easy to mistake for a short sword, except designed for piercing rather than slashing, and thus not as versatile a weapon. She uses this bayonet out of combat as one would a dagger or knife, and in combat she can attach it to her rifle or pistol and use it to deadly effect; although the moment the immediate threat has passed and she has a suitable position, she will revert to using her rifle.
When fighting hordes of weaker enemies, such as goblins, Iaome prefers to speed-reload (sometimes with magical assistance - see signature equipment) and fire as fast as she is capable. Against less powerful opponents where a single shot is unlikely to take an opponent down, she tends to prefer firing less often but taking careful aim to have more accurate, and more deadly, shots than plastering opponents with various less-effective shots.
Social Style
Anyone who is honorable and/or willing to have theological, historical or mythical discussions with her will generally find it easy to get along well with Iaome. She respects honour, friendship and loyalty as key traits, and people who encompass those virtues will quickly gain her friendship. Inviting her to drinks (and good-spirited friendly barroom competitions) all help endear her.
She enjoys being playful, and can be regularly seen flirting with tavern wenches and tavern patrons alike, but there is no malice in her intent. She simply enjoys having fun and being around others; despite not overtly respecting Cayden Cailean as a deity, she counts his followers amongst her favourite people. She particularly enjoys comedy, limericks (even if not especially crude and dirty limericks) and storytelling; and people who can help her have an entertaining few hours in any of these ways will quickly endear themselves to her. Those who attempt to push themselves on her in a domineering, sleazy or similar manner will quickly find that the only thing they get pressed against them is a tankard smashed against their face.
Signature Equipment
Armour and Weapons
- Crimson Jacket - One of two of Iaome's most prised posessions, Iaome was determined never to be caught off-guard and imprisoned against her will again, and had this armour created both for practical use, and to fool others into assuming helplessness, whilst providing the means for future escape. Made from the hide of an eel that lives in the magic-polluted Alkenstar river, and alchemically treated to be supple and flexible, whilst highly protective, it was then magically enhanced in Quantium. The armour feels as comfortable to wear as normal clothing and does not restrict Iaome in any way, as well as aiding her in avoiding encumbrance, and remaining immaculately clean and dry, warm or cool no matter the weather conditions. On command, the armour takes a glamer to appear like a normal set of clothing; allowing Iaome to use this armour socially as well as for adventuring, with few ever the wiser. If need arises, the armour empowers her to produce lockpicks from her fingertips.
- Black Vera - her principal weapon, this mastercrafted, bolt-action breech-loaded single-shot rifle is made out of darkwood and black iron, and so dark in colouration it is easily mistaken as being coloured black. It is magically enhanced to be able to fire further than a normal rifle can, and to accurately strike targets who have concealment. It is magically warded from damage and decay - the wooden parts cannot rot, nor the metal parts rust, neither via mundane or magical means.
- Dragoon Pistol - this mastercrafted flintlock pistol is made in the style of the Alkenstar dragoons, and although not magical, is extremely reliable and effective.
- Golden Dragon - this mastercrafted dragon pistol has the barrel opening adorned with a gold dragon head. It is capable of using single shot like a flintlock pistol, or (most commonly) fire powdered shot that can affect targets within an area. Iaome has some alchemical cartridges that add more utility and flexibility to this weapon.
- Sword Bayonet - this shortsword-like bayonet is often used as an emergency melee weapon, at first stabbed by hand to create a breather, then attached to Black Vera's barrel for added effect. Iaome often employs it out of combat like an oversized dagger.
Magic Items
- Rifler's Bandoleer - this bandoleer has many pouches (for pellets) and loops (for cartridges) that can hold 200 rounds of ammunition, with the belt altering itself to accomodate both, as well as places for a powder horn and gunsmith's kid; but the belt's weight never changes. Additionally, every few seconds Iaome can command a single round of ammunition from the belt to teleport into a firearm that she is wielding.
- Far-Reaching Sight - firearms are known to have armour-penetrating impact at close range. These sights allow Iaome to spend additional time aiming and allow this impact to occur at any range.
- Traveller's Any-Tool - this 12-inch iron bar is lined with small plates and spiked. It can be folded, twisted, hinged and bent to form any known tool that contains only limited moving parts, functionally counting as a set of masterwork artisan's tools for most crafting and profession needs.
- Oil of Silence - this single-use oil is kept for a rainy moment when non-detection matters. When applied, it renders a firearm silent for 1 hour.
- Wayfinder - given to her by the Quantium Lodge when she became a member, this is a traditional magical tool given to members of the Pathfinder Society. At will it can shine light as powerful as a torch, and the mundane compass assists the user in avoiding getting lost. It has an empty slot that can hold one ioun stone, if Iaome ever finds one.
Mundane Equipment
- Large assortment of metal, silver, salt shot and tracer cartridges (for rifle)
- Large assortment of bullets, paper bullet alchemical cartridges, silver bullets and tracer bullets (for pistol)
- Respectable assortment of pellets, alchemical cartridge paper pellets, and Dragon's Breath alchemical cartridges (for dragon pistol)
- Powder Horn
- Gunsmith's Kit
- Keg of black powder
Signature Quotes
- "Aztlanti descendants? Pff! Effete falsebloods are what they are. Nothing but a mockery of the once-great Azlant civilization."
- "Mead! Hehehehehe!"
- "My friend Tamina here, she's a good person. Even though you're an arrogant piece of troll-dung, she won't strike you because her belief says it's better to turn the other cheek and forgive." *smashes tankard over person's face* "I have a different set of beliefs!"
- "She's NOT a musket!" *turning to rifle* "There there Vera. I'm sure the ignorant man didn't mean to insult you."
Gallery
Iaome adventuring
Iaome socialising