Diego Martinez

Knowledge is power, they said. It's easy to say that if you have both. My father, my siblings, step-​mother, uncles, aunt, all other relatives have. They are giants. Sand ones. But I'm not, I'm half-​breed. Well, you say, that isn't common, but that happens. Not as strong as giants, but stronger than humans and as smart as humans are, right? Wrong! My father isn't just a sand giant, he is one of the primordial breed. Slightly weaker than regular. Slightly for giants. Regular sand giant could lift about two thousands pounds, my father lifts a little less than one and a half thousand. Regular human could lift one hundred pounds, average half-​breeds - about one and a half hundred pounds, my limit is... sixty pounds! Maybe sixty five if I try hard! Power! Yeah!
My childhood was a freaking hell! I lived in a world where I could do nothing, even eating was a challenge! A spoon that weighs five or six pounds. Lightweight spoon that was made specially for me. I don't know how different it could have been if I was a regular half-​giant. On the one hand three times stronger, on the other - one and a half hundred versus thousands still is too few.
I don't know my mother. All say she abandoned me when I was almost a newborn baby. I don't know the details and, to be honest, don't want to know. Maybe she had a good reason or maybe father lied to me and it was completely different. I can't figure it out now and it means it doesn't matter. Maybe if we ever meet, I'll ask her. But I don't even know her name nor how she looks.
Now I try to cross the sands in order to reach out to the Dar Qat, find a ship and swim out to somewhere a little more civilized. Somewhere where I could found enough knowledge to make it into power.

TN Primordial Half-Giant Beguiler 1/Shadowcaster 6/Noctumancer 10/Paragnostic Apostle 2

Spoiler: Tables
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Spoiler: Stats
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Abilities Initial Half-Giant Primordial Giant Levels Total
STR 8 2 -4 6
DEX 12 -2 10
CON 14 2 -2 14
INT 16 4 20
WIS 10 10
CHA 16 4 4 24

Spoiler: Build
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Level Class BAB Fort Reflex Will Skills Feats Class Features New Mysteries
LA+1 Primordial Half-Giant - - - - - - Low-light vision, fire acclimated, powerful build, naturally psionic, psi-like ability (1/day—stomp) spell-like ability (at will - invisibility), magical knack -
2nd Beguiler 1 0 0 0 2 44: {+2} Decipher Script: 2; {+4} Disable Device: 4; {+4} Hide: 4; {+4} Knowledge (arcana): 4; {+2} Knowledge (religion)*: 2; {+2 CC} Knowledge (geography): 1; {+4} Move Silently: 4; {+2} Open Lock: 2; {+4} Search: 4; {+4} Sense Motive: 4; {+4} Sleight of Hand: 4; {+4} Spellcraft: 4; {+4} Use Magic Device: 4; Heighten Spell (1st) Armored mage, trapfinding -
3rd Shadowcaster 1 0 2 0 4 7: {+1} Concentration: 1; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; {+1} Hide: 5; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 5; {+2} Knowledge (the planes): 2; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 3; Knowledge (geography): 1; Move Silently: 4; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 5; Use Magic Device: 4; Fundamentals of shadow, apprentice mysteries Steel Shadows (1st, Cloak of Shadows); Arrow of Dusk, Sight Obscured, Umbral Hand (Fundamentals)
4th Shadowcaster 2 1 3 0 5 7: {+1} Concentration: 2; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; {+1} Hide: 6; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 6; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 3; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 4; Knowledge (geography): 1; {+1} Move Silently: 5; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 6; Use Magic Device: 4; Versatile Spellcaster (3rd), Extend Mystery (S) Bonus feat; see text Voice of Shadows (1st, Ebon Whispers)
5th Shadowcaster 3 1 3 1 5 7: {+1} Concentration: 3; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; {+1} Hide: 7; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 7; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 4; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 5; Knowledge (geography): 1; {+1} Move Silently: 6; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 7; Use Magic Device: 4; Umbral Sight (darkvision 30ft) Sight Eclipsed (2nd, Cloak of Shadows)
6th Noctumancer 1 1 5 1 7 7: {+1} Concentration: 4; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 7; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 8; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 5; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 6; {+2 CC} Knowledge (geography): 2; Move Silently: 6; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 8; Use Magic Device: 4; Bonus fundamental, capture magic's shadow Congress of Shadows (2nd, Ebon Whispers); Black Candle (Fundamental)
7th Noctumancer 2 2 6 1 8 7: {+1} Concentration: 5; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 7; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 9; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 6; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 7; {+2 CC} Knowledge (geography): 3; Move Silently: 6; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 9; Use Magic Device: 4; Sudden Extend (6th) Innate counterspell 1/day Flicker (3rd, Ebon Whispers)
8th Noctumancer 3 2 6 2 8 7: {+1} Concentration: 6; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 7; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 10; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 7; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 8; {+2 CC} Knowledge (geography): 4; Move Silently: 6; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 10; Use Magic Device: 4; Quicker than the Eye (1st, Night's Long Fingers)
9th Shadowcaster 4 3 7 2 9 7: {+1} Concentration: 7; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; {+1} Hide: 8; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 11; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 8; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 9; Knowledge (geography): 4; {+1} Move Silently: 7; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 11; Use Magic Device: 4; Extend Mystery (S) Apprentice mysteries (spell-like), initiate mysteries Warp Spell (4th, Black Magic)
10th Noctumancer 4 4 8 2 10 7: {+1} Concentration: 8; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 8; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 12; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 9; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 10; {+2 CC} Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 7; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 12; Use Magic Device: 4; Improved Initiative (9th) Bonus Fundamental Shadows Fade (4th, Unbinding Shade); Caul of Shadow (Fundamental)
11th Noctumancer 5 4 8 2 10 7: {+1} Concentration: 9; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 8; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 13; {+3} Knowledge (the planes): 12; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 11; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 7; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 13; Use Magic Device: 4; Innate counterspell 2/day Unravel Dweomer (5th, Unbinding Shade)
12th Shadowcaster 5 4 8 2 10 7: {+1} Concentration: 10; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; {+1} Hide: 9; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 14; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 13; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 12; Knowledge (geography): 5; {+1} Move Silently: 8; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 14; Use Magic Device: 4; Enlarge Mystery (S) Sustaining Shadow (eat 1 meal/week) Step into Shadow (4th, Ebon Roads)
13th Noctumancer 6 5 9 3 11 7: {+1} Concentration: 11; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 9; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 15; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 14; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 13; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 8; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 15; Use Magic Device: 4; {+2} Swift Concentration; Sudden Widen (12th) Eldritch disruption Pass into Shadow (5th, Ebon Roads)
14th Noctumancer 7 5 9 3 11 7: {+1} Concentration: 12; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 9; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 16; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 15; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 14; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 8; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 16; Use Magic Device: 4; {+2} Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Bonus Fundamental, innate counterspell (retain power) Shadows Fade, Greater (6th, Unbinding Shade); Liquid Night (Fundamental)
15th Noctumancer 8 6 10 3 12 7: {+3} Concentration: 15; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 9; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 17; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 16; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 15; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 8; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 17; Use Magic Device: 4; Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Apprentice mysteries (supernatural), initiate mysteries (spell-like), master mysteries, innate counterspell 3/day Prison of Night (7th, Ebon Walls)
16th Shadowcaster 6 7 11 4 13 7: {+1} Concentration: 16; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; {+1} Hide: 10; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 18; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 17; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 16; Knowledge (geography): 5; {+1} Move Silently: 9; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 18; Use Magic Device: 4; Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Improved Counterspell (15th), Quicken Mystery (S) Unlimited use of fundamentals Grasping Shadows (7th, Shadowscape)
17th Noctumancer 9 7 11 5 13 7: {+3} Appraise**: 3; Concentration: 16; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 18; Knowledge (the planes): 17; {+3} Knowledge (religion)*: 19; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 9; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 19; Use Magic Device: 4; Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Tomb of Night (8th, Ebon Walls)
18th Noctumancer 10 8 12 5 14 7: {+2} Appraise**: 5; Concentration: 16; Decipher Script: 2; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 10; Knowledge (arcana): 18; {+1} Knowledge (the planes): 18; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 20; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 9; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 20; Use Magic Device: 4; {+2} Magical Appraisal, Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Bonus fundamental, eldritch vortex, shadow's persistence Menagerie of Darkness (8th, Shadowscape); Mystic Reflection (Fundamental)
19th Paragnostic Apostle 1 8 12 5 16 9: Appraise**: 5; {+2} Concentration: 18; {+1} Decipher Script: 3; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 10; {+2} Knowledge (arcana): 20; {+2} Knowledge (the planes): 20; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 21; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 9; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 21; Use Magic Device: 4; Magical Appraisal, Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Reactive Counterspell (18th) Holy texts, knowledge is power (penetrating insight), lore Consume Essence (9th, Ebon Walls)
20th Paragnostic Apostle 2 9 12 5 17 9: Appraise**: 5; {+2} Concentration: 20; {+2} Decipher Script: 5; Disable Device: 4; Hide: 10; {+1} Knowledge (arcana): 21; {+2} Knowledge (the planes): 22; {+1} Knowledge (religion)*: 22; Knowledge (geography): 5; Move Silently: 9; Open Lock: 2; Search: 4; Sense Motive: 4; Sleight of Hand: 4; {+1} Spellcraft: 22; Use Magic Device: 4; Magical Appraisal, Collector of Stories, Swift Concentration; Knowledge is power (spatial awareness) Black Labyrinth (9th, Shadowscape)
S - bonus feats from Shadowcaster.
* - Knowledge (religion) is in-class due to the Primordial Giant template.
** - Appraise is in-class due to the Paragnostic Assembly affiliation. ECL 17 is the level when I guaranteed take "Seeker of Unseen Words" rank with One-Time criterions only.

Spoiler: Beguiler magic
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Level Class 0th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
2nd Beguiler 1 5 3+2
6th Beguiler 2 6 4+2
7th Beguiler 3 6 5+2
8th Beguiler 4 6 6+2 3+1
10th Beguiler 5 6 6+2 4+1
11th Beguiler 6 6 6+2 5+1 3+1
13th Beguiler 7 6 6+2 6+1 4+1
14th Beguiler 8 6 6+2 6+1 5+1 3+1
15th Beguiler 9 6 6+2 6+1 6+1 4+1
17th Beguiler 10 6 6+2 6+1 6+1 5+1 3+1
18th Beguiler 11 6 6+2 6+1 6+1 6+1 4+1


Spoiler: I should say
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Eberron isn't a setting I know well. I read almost nothing about it and could do stupid mistakes. I beg your indulgence.


Spoiler: Highlighted Levels
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Spoiler: ECL 5
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I always was weak. Weakest of all around. Of course I need something that helps me and doesn't require physical strength. Yes, it's magic. As my father says knowledge is power. But I didn't select usual way. Many of my family are warlocks. It's very popular magic craft among primordial giants. I decided to go more hard way, more like spellcasters. Unfortunately I couldn't become wizard, all magical books we have... Six pounds spoon, remember? Same with books. I tried, and books gave me basis, but I wanted to rely on myself, not on the pages pound in each. I'm smart and talented, I managed to do what I want. Spells were born in my mind without any books, good and varied spells. It were at most illusions and enchantments, I definitely had a natural gift for it. But then I found something unusual. Book of Shadow path magic! It didn't look especially powerful, but I knew I found pearl in empty bag. It was something forgotten, obscure and very very rare. This is possibly nobody knows this magic art. True secret weapon!

Well. First five levels, or rather four levels and one LA.
I'm not a powerhouse here. Now the foundation is only laid. Casting as first level Beguiler, three low leveled mysteries, weak stats... Okay, I'm giant and have all martial proficiency, but it isn't something gamechanging. At least I have not bad skill variety.

Spoiler: ECL 10
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I had found a way to combine my gift for illusions and enchantments and my secret way of the Shadows. The longer I advance, the more powerful mysteries I perceive. Yes, it weren't as diverse as my spells or especially as spells of some wizard, but it... It grabs hold of me and I can't... I won't shake it off. It's my way of magic! I don't kill enemies with a fire or summon hordes of monsters to rip them to pieces. I hide in the shadows and disrupt them. Break their spells, confuse or charm their warriors and run away. Well, killing foes isn't what I was made for, but I at least can protect myself now.

With Versatile Spellcaster and Heighten Spell I entry Noctumancer early. This PrC gives me all I want from Shadowcaster plus Beguiler progression, plus some counterspelling tricks. Yeah, I have to level up into Shadowcaster if I want (I want) to get bonus feats from new paths, but it isn't something problematic. Now my spells and mysteries repertoire expands, I have not only options to hide, but tactical mobility and not bad debuffs.

Spoiler: ECL 15
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I am a terror to any caster now! Only the most powerful of them could resist my disruptions and counterspells. I took their power and turned it against them. I could counter almost anything from their repertoire. And I found something really deadly. Mystery that creates a solid prison of darkness. Anybody who tries to break out starts to die. Amazing power!

Master mysteries come. Well, one mystery, but still. Two Greater Dispels, two plus up to twelve (additional from beguiler) regular Dispels, two Warp Spells, and three innate counterspells. It's a headache for most of the enemy casters. And that's not even mentioning Eldritch disruption. Prison of Night is a good immobilization and even has some killing potential. Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Greater Mirror Image and Solid Fog are good for defending.

Spoiler: ECL 20
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I was almost unbeatable by spells now. I grasped the nature of a very Shadow's deep. I can take the enemy's shadows away to kill them. Can bring shadowrealm into material world for weeks! Oh! It clearly wasn't a mistake to start exploring magic of the Shadow!
And... I found my mother... It was an accidental and hard encounter. I wasn’t gonna lie, I was looking for her. It wasn't my priority, but still. I managed to find out her name. Nothing more. But in my research, generally on the magic topic, I joined the Paragnostic Assembly and advanced in ranks. At the ceremony of granting me the Seeker of Unseen Words rank we were introduced to each other. It was a shock. I think I was embarrassed. I went into a stupor and missed the chair. At my ceremony! But it all worked out for the best when I explained myself. Then we were talking. She told me why she does what she does. She was an explorer of the Xen'drik's secrets. Meeting with my father was... a flash. She was young and didn’t realize the consequences. When I came... she didn't know what she should do and she was afraid - a baby isn't something that helps if you are an explorer. A simple and somewhat ordinary story. Story about me. It was hard, but at the end of the day I was able to forgive her. In the end, I understood and shared her passion for research and why she did so. Perhaps I would have done the same thing.

Improved and Reactive Counterspell, Quicken Mystery, 9th level mysteries, it all sounds very cool. I could cast Black Labyrinth for eighteen (with Extend Mystery or Sudden Extend) or even twenty-seven days (with Extend Mystery and Sudden Extend if they work together) within a two mile radius (with Sudden Widen). I could kill anybody with swift action via Consume Essence mystery and Quicken Mystery feat. Shadows Fade, Greater gives me Dispel with +20 CL (thanks for magical knack and knowledge is power - penetrating insight). Versatile Spellcaster plus Innate counterspell means I could counter any spell up to 6th level.


Spoiler: Sources
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Type Name Book Page
Race Half-Giant Expanded Psionics Handbook 12
Template Primordial Giant Secrets of Xen'drik 79
Class Shadowcaster Tome of Magic 111
Class Beguiler PHBII 6
Prestige Class Noctumancer Tome of Magic 125
Prestige Class Paragnostic Apostle Complete Champion 94
Feat Extend Mystery Tome of Magic 136
Feat Versatile Spellcaster Races of the Dragon 101
Feat Heighten Spell PHB 95
Feat Sudden Extend Complete Arcane 83
Feat Improved Initiative PHB 96
Feat Enlarge Mystery Tome of Magic 136
Feat Sudden Widen Complete Arcane 83
Feat Improved Counterspell PHB 95
Feat Quicken Mystery Tome of Magic 137
Feat Reactive Counterspell Player's Guide to Faerûn 42
Skill Trick Collector of Stories Complete Scoundrel 85
Skill Trick Swift Concentration Complete Scoundrel 90
Skill Trick Magical Appraisal Complete Scoundrel 87
Organization and Affiliation The Paragnostic Assembly Complete Champion 72
Mysteries and Fundamentals All (almost) Tome of Magic Varies
Mysteries and Fundamentals Shadowscape and Night's Long Fingers paths Cityscape Web Enhancement, Part 2 Urban Magic
Beguiler Spells All PHB & PHBII Varies