The Dust Devil

Pathfinder Society Record

• Known Name: Kellan Westfall
  
• Race: Human
  
• Apparent Age: Early 30s
  
• Birthday: 18 Neth, 4677 AR.
  
• Height: 5'9"
  
• Alignment: Chaotic Good.
  
• Affiliations: Pathfinder society.
  
• Religion: Cayden Cailean.
  
• Character Class: Desperado (Bard/Gunslinger)
  
• Place of Origin: Alkenstar City, Grand Duchy of Alkenstar, Mana Wastes
  
• Player/Type: NPC

Appearance

The Dust Devil

Kellan is a young man actually barely into his thirties, but his tanned and dry skin and beard often make him appear older than he is, especially as he tends to carry himself with a gritty, mysterious roguish manner. He has light brown almond-shaped eyes and dark brown hair and beard, which indicate his mixed Keleshite-Garuni heritage. His hair is usually somewhere between short and medium-length, depending on when the last chance he had to go to a Barber was (or when he remembered/bother to, more like). He has no particular style and leaves it natural, so it tends to be straight after he's groomed and a bit more wind-swept and wild whilst he'd out on the road.

His signature appearance is to wear black trousers with a white shirt, typically with a black leather vest over it and his signature bandolier belt, black boots, and a long black riding coat, typically with a black cowboy hat on his head. But he uses his magical sleeve to change his clothing as needed, and in formal events turns his outfit into a black suit with white shirt and slender black tie. Although he can (and does) change it into other outfits as needed, these two are by far the most common outfits that people have seen him in. When he is not using his magical sleeves to transform his clothing (in which case the sleeves change to become part of the clothing set), in their natural form the sleeves resemble black leather bracers with round brass rings for adornment.

He always keeps his black revolver holstered on his hip. He has been known to keep this on even whilst sleeping or being intimate (especially when said intimacy is with a married woman, whose husband could arrive quite upset by surprise).

Background

Kellan Westfall grew up in the shadow of Alkenstar’s towering factories, where his father and older brothers worked long hours forging the firearms that powered the city’s reputation. His father (Kalen), a stern but fair man of Garundi descent, expected Kellan to one day join him on the factory floor, hammering out gun parts and ensuring Alkenstar’s industrial empire continued to run like clockwork. But while Kellan learned the basics of firearms from his father—how to shoot, clean, and care for a gun—his heart was always drawn to a different rhythm. Although he loved his three brothers (Rylan, Jaren, Darin), they brawled a lot for fun or over the slightest thing, and Kellan became handy with his fists. Overall, Kellan recalls his upbringing as tough and full or hardship, but also full of love and respect.

His mother (Layla), a vibrant and warm-hearted woman of Kelish heritage, was a performer who sang in taverns across the city. Kellan loved how her music could lift the spirits of even the weariest factory worker, and he spent most of his free time learning to play the guitar she kept in their small home. From a young age, he’d sneak into taverns and perform alongside her, picking up tips from the locals while sharing a pint with those who’d listen. He learned how music could move people—just as powerful as any gun in the right hands. He also learnt how a confident and charming manner, being light on his feet on the dance floor, and a song and a smile could make the ladies swoon.

The pivotal point in his youth occurred when Kellan was 15, and a gang tried to extort his father and brothers. Not ones to cave in to threats or extortion attempts, he father and brothers resisted and the tension escalated. When the gang came for them to set an example of them to strike fear into others that might be encouraged to follow suit, Kellan didn’t hesitate. His father had taught him to shoot since he could hold a gun, and when the moment came, Kellan took down the gang leader with a single, precise shot. Though his father wanted him to stay in Alkenstar and live a safe, predictable life working in the factory, Kellan knew in that moment that the path of a gunsmith wasn’t for him.

Instead, he took to the road, his mother's guitar slung over his shoulder and revolver at his hip, travelling as a wandering performer, gambler, and gunslinger. The Pathfinder Society gave him a reason to wander beyond the Mana Wastes, offering him work, adventure, and stories worth telling. Known as the “Dust Devil,” Kellan gained a reputation for blowing into town, charming the locals with his songs, cleaning the gambling tables with his skill and luck, and leaving behind a trail of toppled tyrants and freed souls. He may not have followed in his father’s footsteps, but he lived by the lessons learned at home: fight for what's right, and never forget the power of a good story—or a well-aimed shot.

The Lady With the Iron Smile

The Lady with the Iron Smile

After a few years on the road and getting a reputation as a bounty hunter and desperado, equally a hero or a villain depending on the area and who you asked, he met and fell in love with Saffron Lacey ("the Lady with the Iron Smile") and travelled with her hunting bounties together. Then eventually she revealed that he had a bounty on his head for a drunken shootout in Martel over a gambling argument. All the time she had been travelling with and bedding him was just to get to know him. They duelled at high noon, where Saffron expected that Kellan's love for her and heartbreak about her deception and betrayal would affect him enough to slow and confuse him to give her the upper hand. She was wrong, and the Iron Smile faded forever. The irony is that the truth of events came to light soon after and the bounty was removed when it was proven Kellan acted in self-defence. But this second pivotal event hit Kellan hard. Ever since, Kellan makes friends easily and loves women liberally but was unable to let anyone truly in, secretly afraid (though he won't admit it) of being betrayed and hurt once again by those he lets in. Thus he travelled the roads with many friends across many settlements, but always alone.

Golden Eyes on a Desert Wind

Image of Tamina, the cleric of Sarenrae.

Two events caused this to change somewhat. Whilst travelling through Qadira, chasing some slavers that had captured people for the Katapesh slave market, he came across Tamina, a Sarenite cleric. They worked together to help free the captured slaves and secrete them to freedom, and they travelled together for a few weeks after, helping innocents who needed a sword or a gun for protection or against injustice, and bringing freedom to the oppressed. During this time together, Tamina's beauty - both her physical beauty and the beauty of her heart and personality - warmed Kellan's long-cold heart. Their love was tender and beautiful and made him able to love again. Although soon their respective paths diverged once again, their parting was sweet sorrow and amicable, and he still sings a song about her and secretly hopes their paths may cross again one day. Whilst he is still a womanizing scoundrel, his heart has softened once again and it is now more that he cares for women but doesn't want to get too attached as he is constantly on the road, rather than an inability to get emotionally attached because his hurt was broken.

The Little Lady of Mist =

Kellan performing with "The Little Lady of Mist"

Whilst in Absalom's famous Ivy District, renown for it's musical heritage, theatres, and famous White Grotto bardic college, Kellan visited the infamous Ivy Inn, one of the oldest in the Ivy district and a renown parlour house frequented by the rich and famous, including potential employers, theatre and musical group managers and agents, and even staff from the White Grotto who sought out potential applicants. It's reputation as a place that could make or break musical/theatrical careers had also led to it becoming a place renown for a highly "passionate" audience that was quick to break into a mass brawl simply over whether a performance was good or not. Many of the prospective fame-seekers who braved that stage left to cheers and applause, and quickly found themselves getting job offers or making valuable connections, whilst others found themselves subject of ridicule and physically thrown out the door, carried on a wave of hands over the crowd, ending their hopes for fame.

On one such night as he was enjoying the evening, he was amazed at a little halfling female with crow's feet around her eyes indicating her age, going up onto the stage with a violin and a blue dress with white lace accents. He was amazed at how this petite little thing got up there in front of this wild crowd, fearing they would tear her apart. But he noticed the warm smile and confidence in her eyes - she stood there like the calm before a storm, then when she began to sing "she unleashed a voice like a thunderstorm!" Her performance was electric and bold, and he marvelled at how she was larger than life. Undeniable talent and charisma in both singing and playing the violin, accompanied by amazing use of magic to enhance her performance - magical spotlights illuminating her whilst dimming the stage, illusory backing singers singing in perfect harmony, making her violin sound like different instruments or having illusory instruments playing along with her as though she had a ghost band with her. Her performance "brought the crowd to its knees" and she graciously entertained several encores. On one such song, Kellan, taken by the moment, joined her on stage and provided her backing vocals and the accompaniment of his guitar. They danced and laughed and brought joy to themselves and the crowd.

After, they sat and had drinks, and she told him the harrowing tale of her past, of love and loss, and how the song of the stars had saved her from certain death by bringing her to this world, and how she now served the Starsong. Although she was now retired from adventuring, and living a comfortable life as a music professor at the White Grotto (although she mentioned her twin daughters were "too much like her" and would be destined to follow "the echo across the stars" in her footsteps into adventuring). Obtaining a cleaning cloth from one of the maids, they wrote a song together "Of Mist and Iron" that respected their pasts and varied origins, whilst celebrating their new friendship and shared love for music. They performed it on that stage to much acclaim, and that night and moment has always held a special place in his heart. He hopes to return to Absalom and visit his "little lady of mist" friend once again, when his journey and the road takes him back there.

Personality

The Dust Devil performing for the ladies at a saloon.

Kellan describes himself as a lover, a gambler, a wanderer, and a gunslinger. Usually, in that order. He loves games of chance and flirting with the ladies (and more, if they give him the chance). A night of gambling and drinking, followed by dancing and bedding a pretty lady is pretty much his perfect evening. He lives for the road and adventure, having a near-religious zeal about being constantly on the road. He makes friends easily as he has an amiable nature, especially if they are friendly, enjoy sharing a drink with him (especially if they're paying), and share his love of music and dance; but he is proud and overconfident. Though he can be (and frequently is) dishonest and lie a lot, he considers himself quite honourable (when and how it matters) and stands by his friends and allies, keeps his word, and fights honourably when it's a fair fight (though he will fight dirty without a whim when he feels it's not a fair fight or the person he's fighting doesn't deserve the respect of a fair/honourable fight).

Whilst Kellan loves the sound of his voice, he also enjoys hearing others' tales and songs. Whilst many bard-types become naturally competitive when they meet other musicians (sometimes a playful competitive rivalry, and sometimes quite deadly), Kellan does not have this. He loves music and song and is a good singer, dancer, and plays guitars and various other instruments well, but his reaction to seeing a bard performing would normally be a desire to join in with them, rather than assert superiority. By the end of the duet, he'll have made a new friend.

Those who become Kellan's friends earn that status for life. Friends often only see Kellan months (or years) apart due to his wandering, but he will greet a person he met in a tavern one night years ago as though they were lifelong friends. However, he is quite unforgiving and quick to violence to those who betray him. There is a very short list of people who have betrayed or turned on Kellan, mostly because few live to tell the tale. Minor betrayals would likely simply end up with their friendship in tatters, but serious betrayals would likely end up with a duel at high noon.

Other Notes

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Combat Style

The Dust Devil fighting against a mechanical beast in Numeria

Kellan is a gunslinger, and an experienced one at that. His primary weapon is his revolver - an advanced firearm uncommon even in Alkenstar where it was made, and not available in most of Golarion, which still considers flintlock pistols to be modern weapons not in common use. Its higher capacity and fire rate over normal firearms is something those unused to facing him (or at least, such a weapon) do not expect, and gives him an edge, as they often either don't know what weapon he is using, or expect him to take time to reload after firing, only to be instantly met with another shot.

However, making ammunition can be time-consuming and expensive, and stray shots can easily kill bystanders, so Kellan is not flippant or wasteful with his shots (usually, he has been known to waste bullets showing off or to make a point). Nonetheless, he is a good shot and skilled with firearms as a hole, though he only carries his Gun With No Name with him, which is particularly suited towards harming creates of the giant type such as the giants and ogres common in the Mana Wastes, though most of the time he uses it to help improve his own natural "grit" abilities. As magic is unreliable at best in the Mana Wastes, Kellan innately does not rely or trust on magic - seeing it as a bonus but not depending on it. If someone cast a spell to disable his magical items, it would not slow or reduce Kellan's effectiveness much, unlike other pistoleers who rely heavily on magic to reload quickly, hit targets, and so forth. Kellan likely has some alchemical ammunition or other method he can use if required.

In the Mana Wastes it doesn't matter how tough you think you are, there's always something bigger and stronger and tougher. So speed is what saves you. Better to not get hit than rely on your armour or magic to save you. This explains why, ironically, his main source of "armour" is a magically-enhanced jacket (giving the protection of a Mage Armour spell, whilst being simply unobtrusive clothing) - which would be useless in his home region... but Kellan relies on dodging and using cover for protection, rather than hardened clothing. In combat against tough opponents or superior numbers, he will usually therefore seek protective cover and shoot from there, supporting any allies who rely on melee by protecting them as they move into melee range. In one-on-one combat (or similar odds he fancies he has good odds against) he will just rely on "shoot first, shoot last" ideology, ensuring that first shot matters, or running around defensively avoiding shots.

Kellan carries a knife for backup, and if engaged in melee will usually resort to it, and he is surprisingly skilled with it - but he's built for speed and durability, not power, and would suffer in grapple against brute opponents, though his slipperiness can make him a hard target in melee. His boot knife can be used for surprise, but is usually only employed to escape from rope bindings or desperate surprise attacks.

Despite his lack of strength, Kellan is actually skilled using his fists. Sure, his punches may not be as hard-hitting as most orcs or dwarf, but his fists are quick and accurate, and he has been witnessed punching unconscious would-be attackers who have pulled a knife on him, whilst most who try that would have ended up stabbed. Whilst Kellan is not keen on melee combat, he is surprisingly ok with unarmed combat in bars, especially when it's non-lethal, which he sees as a bonding activity between men, entertainment, and "a little stress relief."

Social Style

The Dust Devil enjoying a Flaming Whiskey.

It is easy to get along with Kellan - simply be friendly and invite him to a few drinks. They don't even need to be alcoholic (though it helps) - it's the act of sharing a drink and conversation with him that he finds bonding and entertaining.

Anyone who can share interesting tales and stories will have a big advantage. The bolder and more ridiculous, the better. He appreciates more than most that serious over-exaggeration of stories just makes them more entertaining - though there's a fine line between over-exaggeration, and outright lies. Someone claiming "so there I was, just me and 20 armed goons!" when they really fought 3 bandits is ok, but that claim when they ran or the situation never occurred, would be seen as despicable. There has to be a kernel of truth in the story, no matter how exaggerated. Stories that are fun and bold deserve over-embellishment. Stories of hardship and grit, deserve hard facts and truth. If they can dance, sing, or have some kind of musical or artistic ability, even better.

And of course, if they are a pretty lady, they may even have to tell him to back off as he'll want little more than to get as close to them as possible, intimately so. He respects consent though, and may frown and claim a broken heart if told no, but ultimately whilst he is a womaniser, cad, and has no qualms with seducing and bedding a married or otherwise partnered woman, he will only do so when he knows she is interested. To his eyes, he is not doing anything wrong, it is the lady choosing to cheat, and the great thing about freedom is having the ability to decide what to do and what mistakes to make for yourself, not what others tell you to do.

Signature Equipment

Armour & Weapons

• Gun With No Name: This magical revolver is enhanced and does greater damage against creatures of the Giant type, and also enhances his natural Gunslinger "grit" abilities. Additionally, at times of need he can use his personal energy reserves to magically reload the weapon, and the weapon makes him (and the revolver itself) immune to scrying and any form of divination that attempts to ascertain his location, thoughts, or alignment whilst the firearm is carried.
• Belt Knife: A slender utility knife kept on a leather sheath on Kellan's belt. Whilst a versatile backup weapon if needed, it is mostly used for cutting ropes, cleaning fish or skinning animal pelts, and other sundry tasks.
• Blade Boot: A gift from his friend "Kip", Kellan's right boot has a spring-loaded dagger embedded in the toecaps. With a click of his heals he can extract it. Used as a surprise weapon or desperation, or to help escape from ropes or similar,

Magic Items

• Gunman's Duster: s long, loose-fitting black leather coat is magically protected to grant protection as though wearing armour, and provide a luck bonus against firearms attacks and his own natural ability to dodge attacks.
• Beneficial Bandolier: This belt has slots and small pockets capable of holding up to 200 rounds of ammunition and a gunsmith's kit in extra-dimensional space. On command, the belt magically teleports a round of ammunition into a firearm he is wielding.
• Hat of Shadowy Disguise: This black gunman's hat on command twists and melds with the darkness, becoming as black as coal in even the faintest shadow. While worn, it hides Kellan's appearance, masking his features with shadowy illumination making him harder to both recognise and be perceived, especially in dim light, or darkness. Onlookers never discern that he was wearing a shadowy disguise, and those that see him whilst in dim light or darkness are unable to discern any but the most general information about his appearance or actions.
• Bracers of Many Garments: Kellan is social but travels light, and relies on these black leather bracers with brass ring adornments. When he removes and puts the sleeves back on, Kellan can transform the appearance of his current garments into any other nonmagical set of clothing. These new clothes fit him perfectly and are always clean and mended unless he specifically designates otherwise. This allows him to always be ready when he needs to have a smart suit for a social event, or something more socially appropriate as required.

Mundane Items

• Mother's Guitar: a masterwork but otherwise normal guitar that once belonged to his mother, a gift for the road. Well-worn from age and years on the road, but still one of his most prized possessions.
• Gunsmith's Kit: for maintaining his firearm and crafting new powder and ammunition.

Signature Quotes

• "Dust on the Wind, that's all I'll ever be"
• "We’ll laugh and we’ll joke, but don’t take the mick... I’m a man of my word, and my fists and trigger fingers are quick."
• "As tiny as a child, crow's feet startin' to betray her age. But her smile was bright, her eyes were warm... and she unleashed a voice like a thunderstorm!"

Gallery

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  The Dust Devil

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