Valeros was born on a quiet farm, and grew up dreaming of adventure and exploration. Though this longing only increased as he grew older, so did the responsibilities of agricultural life. Finally, just a month before a marriage of convenience to a local farmer's daughter could lock him into place, Valeros came to the realization that the door to a life of adventure was closing for good. Seized by a desperate need for a larger life than cattle and corn, Valeros packed quietly and left in the middle of the night.
In the years since, Valeros has come a long way from the wide-eyed young man who sought only the joy of exploration (and maybe a pretty girl or three). Life on the road is much harder than the bards' tales suggest, and adult Valeros has the scars to prove it. Discovering himself to be a deft hand with a sword, Valeros quickly fell in with the mercenary crowd, learning the dirtier, grittier facts of warfare. After acting as hired muscle for dozens of different employers, Valeros finally realized that it was time to go into business for himself as an adventurer.
While admittedly not the best at following orders, Valeros is an extremely talented two-blade fighter, easily earning his keep in any group through the tenacity and absolute fearlessness—some might say thoughtlessness—with which he flings himself into combat.
Despite his reputation as a bruiser and scofflaw, Valeros has picked up a fair bit of education during his travels, and can even read (something his "respectable" parents never learned to do). Valeros takes an easy-come, easy-go approach to life, wealth, and relationships. Though a fan of fine weapons and creature comforts, the only object he's never without is the tankard on his belt (as you never know when someone might offer you a drink). Noble at heart and fiercely loyal to those few who earn his affection, Valeros nevertheless hides such sentiments under a jaded and crass demeanor, frequently observing that there's nothing better than "an evening of hard drinking and soft company."
Valeros CR 1
XP 400
Human fighter 1
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +0
Defense
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 16 (1d10+6)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +0
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee longsword +3 (1d8+3/19–20), short sword +2 (1d6+1/19–20) or longsword +5 (1d8+3/19–20)
Ranged shortbow +3 (1d6/×3)
Tactics
During Combat Valeros always attempts to attack with both his longsword and short sword each round. He uses the longsword alone if he cannot take a full attack action or has difficulty hitting a target when wielding two weapons.
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 11
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Toughness, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (longsword)
Skills Climb +3, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Ride +2, Swim +3
Languages Common, Goblin
Combat Gear acid flask, alchemist's fire; Other Gear scale mail, longsword, short sword, shortbow with 20 arrows, throwing axe, backpack, bedroll, caltrops, crowbar, flint and steel, grappling hook, hemp rope (50 ft.), smokestick, tankard, torches (4), trail rations (5), waterskin, 10 gp
Valeros CR 7
XP 3,200
Human fighter 7
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +7; Senses Perception +0
Defense
AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 20 (+7 armor, +1 deflection, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural, +1 shield)
hp 71 (7d10+28)
Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +3; +2 vs. fear
Defensive Abilities bravery +2
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 longsword +13/+8 (1d8+9/19–20), +1 short sword +10 (1d6+5/19–20) or +2 longsword +15/+10 (1d8+9/19–20)
Ranged mwk shortbow +11/+6 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks weapon training (heavy blades +1)
Tactics
During Combat Valeros always attempts to attack with both his longsword and short sword each round. He uses the longsword alone if he cannot take a full attack action. Unless he absolutely must wield a weapon in two hands to gain the additional damage potential, he wields both swords to take advantage of his Two-Weapon Defense feat.
Statistics
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 11
Base Atk +7; CMB +11; CMD 26
Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Double Slice, Improved Initiative, Toughness, Two-Weapon Defense, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (longsword), Weapon Specialization (longsword)
Skills Climb +13, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +11, Ride +12, Swim +13
Languages Common, Goblin
SQ armor training 2
Combat Gear potion of bear's endurance, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of enlarge person, potion of fly, acid flask, alchemist's fire (2), holy water; Other Gear +1 breastplate, +2 longsword, +1 short sword, heavy mace, masterwork shortbow with 20 arrows, amulet of natural armor +1, belt of giant strength +2, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, antitoxin, backpack, bedroll, crowbar, everburning torch, grappling hook, hemp rope (50 ft.), tankard, trail rations (2), waterskin, 88 gp
Valeros CR 12
XP 19,200
Human fighter 12
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +8; Senses Perception +0
Defense
AC 29, touch 17, flat-footed 24 (+9 armor, +2 deflection, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural, +1 shield)
hp 130 (12d10+60)
Fort +14, Ref +11, Will +7; +3 vs. fear
Defensive Abilities bravery +3, 25% chance to negate critical hits and sneak attacks
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee +2 keen longsword +21/+16/+11 (1d8+13/17–20), +2 short sword +18/+13 (1d6+8/19–20) or +2 keen longsword +23/+18/+13 (1d8+13/17–20)
Ranged +1 shortbow +17/+12/+7 (1d6+1/×3)
Special Attacks weapon training (heavy blades +2, light blades +1)
Tactics
During Combat Valeros activates his boots of speed, using the extra movement to get into a position from which he can take a full attack action in the following round, and maintaining the effects of haste as long as he can continue to benefit from an additional attack each round. When he's unable to make more than one attack, he prefers his longsword and utilizes Vital Strike to increase his damage output. Unless he absolutely must wield a weapon in two hands to gain the additional damage potential, he wields both swords to take advantage of his Two-Weapon Defense feat.
Statistics
Str 20, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 11
Base Atk +12; CMB +17; CMD 34
Feats Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Double Slice, Greater Weapon Focus (longsword), Greater Weapon Specialization (longsword), Improved Initiative, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Toughness, Two-Weapon Defense, Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Rend, Vital Strike, Weapon Focus (longsword), Weapon Specialization (longsword)
Skills Climb +18, Intimidate +13, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +12, Ride +17, Swim +18
Languages Common, Goblin
SQ armor training 3
Combat Gear necklace of fireballs (type V), potions of cure serious wounds (2), potion of fly, potion of heroism, acid flask, alchemist's fire (2), holy water; Other Gear +3 light fortification breastplate, +2 keen longsword, +2 short sword, +1 shortbow with 20 arrows, masterwork heavy mace, amulet of natural armor +2, belt of physical perfection +2, boots of speed, cloak of resistance +3, ring of protection +2, antitoxin, backpack, bedroll, crowbar, everburning torch, grappling hook, hemp rope (50 ft.), tankard, trail rations (2), waterskin, 288 gp