Voran Ashgray
Standing at an imposing 6'5", this green-skinned Altered radiates an aura of both practicality and mystique. Their lean, muscular frame is clad in tactical gear adorned with glowing green accents, which pulse faintly like veins of energy coursing through their outfit. A respirator mask, crowned with neon-green goggles, obscures their face, giving them a detached, enigmatic demeanor while hinting at their adaptation to toxic or hostile environments. Their short, neatly styled brown hair contrasts sharply with their otherworldly skin tone, and elongated, pointed ears further emphasize their altered nature. Strapped to their form is an array of specialized equipment: a harmonic blade, plasma pistol, and pouches brimming with vials of volatile glowing liquid, suggesting their dual role as a healer and a weapon of destruction. Their entire appearance is a seamless blend of rugged utility and technomantic innovation, making it clear they are as capable in a lab as they are on a battlefield.
Years of wandering the desolate wastelands have honed his unlikely talent as an expert cook, a skill born of necessity and sharpened through creativity. In the unforgiving ruins, where fresh ingredients are scarce, he learned to transform scraps and the unlikeliest of materials into meals that are not only edible but surprisingly satisfying. Whether it’s roasted mutant fungus spiced with salvaged herbs or a stew crafted from scavenged protein packs and desert roots, his dishes carry a unique blend of survivalist ingenuity and genuine culinary artistry. His cooking has earned him a reputation among his companions, who often joke that his ability to make a feast out of scraps is more magical than his technomantic skills. For him, cooking is more than survival—it’s a way to bring comfort and a semblance of normalcy to the bleak world around him.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Medium humanoid
- Armor Class 12
- Hit Points 9d6+9
- Speed 35 ft.
- Initiative +0 1d20
- Blindsight out to 20 ft.
- Vessel 25
- Vigor Regeneration 7
- River 4
- Exploit save DC = 16
- Exploit attack modifier = 8
Ultra Max Modifications
- Armor Class 10
- Hit Points 6/5/5/5
Stat Block
Strength 8 (-1), Dexterity 10 , Constitution 12 (+1), Vigor 18 (+4), Intelligence 18 (+4), Wisdom 13 (+1), Sanity 17 (+3) and Charisma 12 (+1).
Saving Throws
Strength -1, Dexterity 0, Constitution +1, Vigor +4, Intelligence +8, Wisdom +5, Sanity +3 and Charisma +1.
- resistance to poison and acid damage
Special abilities
Skill Proficiencies
Induce +8, Commune +8, Detection +8, Medicine +8, Computer Use +8, Engineering +8, Demolitions +8, Investigation +5, Sciences +8, History +8, Perception +8, Arcana +8
- advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell or hearing
- disadvantage with all checks involving Charisma.
Proficiencies
Light armor, Simple weapons, one-handed small arms, Poisoner’s kit, all ground vehicles and aircraft, Alchemist’s supplies
Other Abilities
- as a bonus action, you can take a Dash action or Disengage action.
- if you don’t make an Attack action on your turn, you gain a +3 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn.
- you can use your vessel to recharge energy cells
Specialized Equipment
Poisoner’s kit, Medical kit, Drug kit, Hermonic Blade, Battery Cell M x2, plasma pistol, Alchemist’s supplies
Mental characteristics
Education
His knowledge is a patchwork quilt of fragments collected over years of scavenging, listening, and learning. Self-taught and relentlessly curious, he has pieced together an impressive breadth of understanding by eavesdropping on conversations, salvaging scraps of information from the ruins of the past, and haunting abandoned libraries in search of lost knowledge. Though the texts were often incomplete or deteriorated, he learned to read between the lines, extrapolating meaning from fragments and filling in the gaps with his own intuition. He has even bribed his way into the Dark Lore more then once.
This relentless pursuit of understanding eventually led him down The Dark Path , and has allowed him to touch upon a mysterious and dangerous force. Through his research, he unlocked secrets that allowed him to open his mind to its alien truths, crafting devices and concoctions that border on miraculous and terrifying. His creations—half technological, half mystical—are a testament to his ingenuity and his willingness to embrace the knowledge in pursuit of progress. Regardless of where the understanding comes from. Though his methods may seem unorthodox, and his sources questionable, his discoveries have become his legacy, proof that even in a world of decay, knowledge remains a powerful tool for those brave enough to wield it.
Forbidden Lore
During his long years of wandering the wastelands, he stumbled upon a relic from the Time Before—a hidden research lab buried beneath the rubble, untouched and brimming with secrets. Within its shattered halls and dimly lit terminals, he uncovered fragments of forbidden lore, knowledge so profound and dangerous that it changed him forever. Among the crumbling files and rusting machinery, he pieced together evidence of a potential cure for the virus that had ravaged humanity and altered him into what he had become. Yet, with this discovery came a heavy burden: the realization that such knowledge would not be welcomed by all. None in Necropolis would consider the cure to the virus to be be desirable for they have embraced the new world and do not seek to return it to what it was. This knowledge has made him wary of others, carefully guarding what he has learned and revealing it only to those he deems trustworthy. And thus far, that has been no one. The cure the greatest threat he has ever known, promising to undo everything that he has worked to obtain and to break the grim world he inhabits. So he keeps this knowledge to himself, shadowed by the weight of secrecy and the fear of betrayal.
Employment
From the time he was young, he knew his path was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps as a Collector. The Collectors were more than an organization—they were a calling, a sacred duty to serve the dead and preserve the remnants of the past. He grew up watching his father meticulously recover corpses, artifacts, and ancient technology, treating each find with a reverence that deeply imprinted on him. When he came of age, he joined their ranks without hesitation, embracing the purpose that had been ingrained in him since childhood. Most of his service as a Collector has been spent in the unforgiving wastelands, where he traverses desolate landscapes to gather what remains—human bodies to honor, and lost technology to reclaim. Each scavenging mission is fraught with danger, but he shoulders the responsibility with a quiet determination, knowing that every artifact or relic might hold the key to understanding the past or ensuring humanity's survival in the future. In serving the dead, he finds not only purpose but also a connection to the world that was, and perhaps, a glimpse of what could be.
Intellectual Characteristics
- I’m oblivious to etiquette and social expectations.
- Greater Good. My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit. (Good)
- Nothing is more important than the other members of the Collectors
- I harbor bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation and meditation failed to quell.
Voran's intellectual prowess is rooted in an insatiable curiosity and a sharp, analytical mind that thrives on solving complex problems. He is a master of self-guided learning, constantly seeking out new sources of information, whether through eavesdropping, scavenging ancient texts, or simply observing the world around him. His ability to synthesize disparate pieces of knowledge has led to groundbreaking discoveries, particularly in the realms of ancient technology and forbidden magic. Voran approaches problems with a mixture of caution and creativity, preferring to explore unconventional methods and solutions. He is resourceful, often finding ways to adapt and innovate when faced with limited tools or information, and his inquisitive nature drives him to delve into areas others might fear to tread.
Despite his natural brilliance, Voran's intellect is often shadowed by the weight of the knowledge he has uncovered. The Dark, which he has opened his mind to, enhances his cognitive abilities but also creates a dissonance within him—an internal struggle between his rational understanding and the unsettling truths he has uncovered. This has led to moments of intellectual isolation, where he contemplates the moral and philosophical implications of his discoveries. Though he possesses great wisdom, Voran is acutely aware of how little he truly understands, often feeling like a student of the unknown. His mind is both his greatest asset and a source of personal conflict, as the pursuit of knowledge constantly pulls him toward the edge of reason and madness.
Morality & Philosophy
His morality is a delicate balance between pragmatism and an underlying, almost buried, sense of compassion. He views survival as the ultimate priority in the harsh wastelands, where sentimentality can be a death sentence. However, his decisions are not without thought or consequence; he weighs the cost of every action, often opting for the lesser evil if it means preserving life or knowledge. This utilitarian approach is guided by his belief in the importance of the greater good—ensuring that humanity, or what remains of it, continues to exist and thrive. Yet, his exposure to forbidden knowledge has made him deeply wary of others, seeing them as both potential allies and threats. Trust does not come easily, and his isolation has further sharpened his instinct for self-preservation. Despite this guarded nature, his rare moments of kindness reveal a man who still hopes, deep down, for something better than mere survival.
Philosophically, he is a firm believer in the idea that knowledge is both power and responsibility. To him, the past holds the keys to the future, and it is the duty of those who uncover its secrets to wield them wisely. His connection to the Dark has profoundly shaped his worldview, as he perceives it not as inherently evil but as a tool that reflects the intent of its wielder. This belief drives him to embrace the morally gray, rejecting the dichotomy of good and evil as simplistic in a world that demands complexity. To him, morality is fluid, shaped by circumstance and necessity, and he accepts that sometimes terrible sacrifices must be made for meaningful progress. Yet, for all his practical detachment, he is haunted by the weight of the knowledge he carries—knowledge that could heal the world or destroy it entirely.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Voran's motivations are driven by a deep desire to preserve and understand the remnants of the world that once was, believing that through knowledge, humanity can not only survive but possibly rebuild. His years spent in the wastelands have made him keenly aware of the fragility of life, and he feels a profound responsibility to safeguard the lost knowledge of the past, particularly the secrets of the Time Before. The discovery of the potential cure for the virus has further fueled his determination, but it also weighs heavily on him, knowing that such power could either heal or unravel what little is left of civilization. At his core, he seeks to find balance in a fractured world—preserving life, uncovering truth, and wielding the ancient powers he’s unlocked with caution. Yet beneath these rational pursuits, there is also a more personal drive: a need for redemption and the hope that, despite his isolation and the darkness he’s embraced, he can still be a force for good in a dying world.
Social
Mannerisms
Despite his whispering habit, his interactions with others often take on a blustering tone, an odd mix of quiet words delivered with exaggerated bravado. Years of surviving alone in the wastelands have left him awkward in social settings, and he compensates by projecting an air of confidence that doesn’t always match the volume of his voice. He has a tendency to over-explain his ideas, wave his hands dramatically, or puff himself up when his knowledge or skills are questioned, as if trying to make up for his reserved nature with sheer force of personality. This dichotomy between his whisper-soft voice and his blustering demeanor makes him a curious figure—both endearing and perplexing to those who meet him. While some see it as a defense mechanism born from years of isolation, others chalk it up to a colorful personality shaped by a harsh and unforgiving world.
Speech
Years of traversing the hostile wastelands have ingrained in him the peculiar habit of whispering when he speaks. In a world where silence often meant survival—avoiding the attention of predators or raiders—he grew accustomed to keeping his voice low, almost inaudible. Even now, among allies in safer spaces, his speech rarely rises above a hushed tone, as if he fears the wasteland might overhear. This quiet demeanor adds to his enigmatic presence, compelling those around him to lean in and listen closely to catch his words. While some find his whisper unsettling, others recognize it as a mark of his adaptability and the constant vigilance bred by life in the wastelands. For him, it is less a quirk and more a subconscious survival instinct that has become second nature.
English, French, Spanish
Ladder: Occultist
Regardless of state-run agencies and cults, the manners of magic are known to few. It is hidden, often in plain sight. It is knowledge of the immeasurable, alien wisdom bleeding into our reality from another world, a dimension so foreign as to drive those who look too deep insane. So many people peered into that darkness with the smallest of candles. You were born with a flashlight.
- Key Abilities. Intelligence, Vigor
Class: Medic
The medic’s job is to keep people alive, usually after they’ve been shot, stabbed, trampled, gored, poisoned, infected with an unknown disease, or some combination of the above. For those operating in the field, this requires extensive knowledge of biology, chemistry, and pharmacology.
Archetype: Technomancer
In this decidedly non-traditional fantasy, you have emerged as a decidedly non-traditional fantasy wizard. Your specialty falls with the blending of magic with technology. It’s naïve to think that if magic were to exist in the real world that no one would attempt to mix the two in some way. As long you’re not inhabiting that annoying setting where magic breaks down technology, there would be those wanting to combine them. Already, there are spells employing technology in some way, you focus on melding the two in personal ways. While everyone else tries to hide what they can do, you brandish it openly
Race: Altered
Despite what comic books claim, radiation is not known to create functional mutations that would benefit an affected creature, and even if it could, the subsequent DNA damage would kill that same creature in a matter of days. But there are certain viruses that could potentially result in a functional mutation. The end result is a creature once considered human.
Level 10 (+1 Level adjustment)
Mechanical Homunculus
Faction
Comments
Author's Notes
Images created using Hero Forge.