The Nuwickys Edward Nuwicky was born in Paridon in the year 697. He married Marissa Lovecraft in 730, and she soon bore him a son, Michael. The couple adored their child, and raised him with excesses of love and attention. However, at the age of 11, Michael fell victim to a tragic accident involving a stray house pet, a horse-drawn cart, and lack of attention. Edward had been studying the ways of alchemy long before he met Marissa, and figured that even if Michael died, he could restore his son to life. He took a small sample of Michael's tissue, combined it with some of his own blood, and brewed an alchemical child. Michael did die after lingering for several weeks, and Edward used the opportunity to extract his memories and transfer them into his "new" son. The process seemed to have worked perfectly, and the new Michael resembled the real one so much that nobody could find any difference, except his father. Unfortunately, something had gone terribly wrong; Michael could hear his father's thoughts, especially the ones regarding the minute differences between him and the real Michael. The endless subconscious comparisons drove Michael to hate his father; he believed that Edward thought he was imperfect. At the age of 18, Michael went to his father's basement lab, where he found Edward deep in study. In a sudden fit of rage, Michael attacked his father, throwing him across the room with his unnatural strength. He hit a cabinet of chemicals, and the resulting mix caused a massive explosion that ripped through the basement and shook the foundations of the house. Michael disappeared into the night, and Edward survived, albeit barely. The incident left him with terrible burns, for which he is searching for an alchemical rememdy. Marissa, who nursed Edward back to health, left in search of Michael; although she knows he is her son (at least in part), she has hardened herself to the possibility of having to destroy him. Michael Nuwicky Male human dread alchemical child Rog5: CR 7; Medium-size construct (lifelike); HD 5d10; hp 40; Init +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved Init.); Spd 30 ft.; AC 20 (+4 Dex, +6 natural); Atk +5 melee (1d6+2, slam); SA Constrict 2d6+2, improved grab, sneak attack +3d6; SQ Acid resistance 20, construct, evasion, mental link, uncanny dodge (Dex bonus to AC), zeitgeiber; AL CE; SV Fort +1, Ref +8, Will +3; Str 15, Dex 19, Con --, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 14. Height 5'5" Skills and Feats: Balance +12 (8), Bluff +10 (8), Climb +10 (8), Disguise +10 (8), Escape Artist +12 (8), Hide +12 (8), Intimidate +10 (8), Jump +10 (8), Listen +12 (8), Move Silently +12 (8), Swim +10 (8); Alertness, Improved Initiative, Power Attack (up to +3). Possessions: Nothing significant. Michael looks completely normal; blond hair, dark eyes, average height and build, but he is anything but normal. He dresses in a combination of his old clothes (he has not grown significantly), a travelling cloak, and a pair of black gloves. Background (see above) Current Sketch Michael is totally unpredictable. He is also totally devoted to destroying his father. The only problem is finding a new way to do it. He wants to ruin him in every way imaginable, and when he has reduced his father to a gibbering wreck, Michael will kill him. With the intimate mental link between him and his father, Michael knows that his "mother" is seeking him out to destroy him. In his deranged mind, Michael plans to entrap her and destroy her, allow his father to believe he has been destroyed, and then return home and ambush him. In his eyes, he has a disturbing look, a look of undiluted evil. He will kill without a second thought, and he enjoys it. Combat Michael fights barehanded, and he prefers to kill by strangulation. Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, Michael must hit a Medium-size or smaller opponent with a slam attack. If he get a hold, he can constrict. Mental Link (Ex): Although Michael can convey everything he sees and hears to Edward, and Edward can send commands to Michael when they are within 500 yards of each other, Michael has no compulsion to obey the commands. Michael is completely aware of all Edward's thoughts and emotions, regardless of distance; this ability cannot be impeded. Zeitgeiber: Michael developed his zeitgeiber shortly after attacking his father. Alchemical apparati (such as test tubes, beakers, and boiling liquids of various colors) enrage him, and he stops anything he is doing in order to destroy them. Edward Nuwicky Male human Wiz5/AlP7: CR 12; Medium-size humanoid (human); HD 5d4 plus 7d4; hp 41; Init +0; Spd 30 ft.; AC 10; Atk +4 melee (by weapon) or +5 ranged (1d10, MW pistol) or +4 ranged touch (by spell); AL N; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +10; Str 9, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 18, Wis 13, Cha 14. Height 5'5" Skills and Feats: Alchemy +21 (15), Concentration +15, Heal +16 (15), Knowledge (arcana) +19 (15), Knowledge (construct lore) +12 (8), Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +18 (14), Profession (bookkeeper) +11 (10), Profession (scribe) +10 (9), Spellcraft +19 (15); Brew Potion, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firearms), Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus (Alchemy), Spell Focus (Transmutation). Known Formulae: Alchemical Homunculus, Corporeal Purifier, Essential Coagulant, Innocence Coagulant, Memory Coagulant, Philosophical Child, Quintessence, Regenerative Salve. OR 3 (scarring). Wizard Spells per Day: 4/4/3/2. Base DC = 14 + spell level (16 + spell level for Transmutations). Caster level 5th. Possessions: Masterwork pistol, alchemist's lab, Van Richten's Guide to the Created. Few people see Edward Nuwicky these days; burns cover most of Edward's body, and he masks them with a white high-collared shirt, a white waistcoat and breeches, and white gloves. Brown hair with streaks of grey covers his head and is pulled back in a short tail; his scalp was mostly untouched by the chemicals. Background (see above) Current Sketch It has been six years since Michael attacked, and while Edward's body has healed, the wounds in his soul are permanent. Edward now aids his wife as best he can, supplying her with alchemist's fire, gunpowder, potions, and anything else that he believes will assist her in tracking down Michael. However, he does not approve of her attempting to track Michael down, and constantly tries to get her to come home and stay, while he finds somebody more suited to hunting creatures of evil. Although he has a well-read copy of Van Richten's Guide to the Created, the knowledge it contains has not helped either Edward or Marissa; he had created their son alchemically, not in the way that van Richten was most familiar with. Combat Edward does not enter combat. Marissa Lovecraft-Nuwicky Female human Ari2/Rgr3: CR 5; Medium-size humanoid (human); HD 2d8 plus 3d10; hp 38; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 14 (+1 Dex, +3 armor); Atk +5 melee (1d8+1, +1 long sword) or +6 ranged (1d10, pistol); SQ Favored enemy (constructs +1); AL N; SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +6; Str 10, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 14. Height 5'2" Skills and Feats: Craft (gunsmithing) +6 (5), Diplomacy +8 (5), Intuit Direction +6 (5), Knowledge (construct lore) +8 (7), Knowledge (history) +6 (5), Knowledge (folklore) +7 (6), Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +8 (5), Search +7 (6), Wilderness Lore +6 (5); Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firearms), Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Skill Focus (Knowledge [nobility & royalty]), Track. Possessions: +1 long sword, pistol, 20 bullets, gunpowder horn, studded leather armor, standard adventuring gear, Van Richten's Guide to the Created. Despite having the appearance of a delicate aristocrat, Marissa is a dedicated hunter of evil. She keeps her blonde hair in a ponytail, and armors herself with studded leather armor, a sword and pistol in her belt. She wears a mantle over her gear to protect herself from the elements as she travels. Background (see above) Current Sketch Like the Weathermay sisters, Marissa is often accused of "playing" a monster hunter, but those who make such claims do not know her motivation. She hunts her alchemically resurrected son, praying that she can destroy him before he causes too much damage. Unfortunately, because she has hardened herself in order to carry out her self-appointed task, it is unlikely that she can return to the way she was before her hunt started. She is privately afraid that that is what will happen. Combat If she has her pistol loaded, Marissa will shoot first, and then go in with her longsword. Otherwise, she uses her sword first.