Player character

Kharzug Ironbound (2e)

Kharzug Ironbound

Male Hobgoblin Barbarian 1 (Bloodrager Archetype) · Abyssal Tunnel Veteran

LN Medium Humanoid Goblinoid

Kharzug Ironbound marched beneath the earth long before he ever saw the Castrovin Sea. Born in a harsh inland militarized hobgoblin enclave near broken volcanic territory, he spent years fighting subterranean predators, tunnel raiders, and things his commanders refused to name. During one disastrous campaign, his cohort uncovered a deep cavern filled with impossible carvings and unnatural black stone. Only Kharzug returned alive.

Since that expedition, rage has lived beneath his skin like buried fire. In battle his muscles swell unnaturally, his eyes burn with abyssal fury, and something ancient seems to awaken in his blood. Kharzug does not trust prophecy, sea legends, or cults.  He fills the party's missing hard-frontline role. He protects the witch, bard, and gunslinger while creating flanking opportunities for the rogue and hunter. 

Level 1 Character Sheet — Pathfinder 2e

Defense

AC 19 (21 while raging)

HP 19 (12 + Con 3 + Ancestry 1 + Toughness 0?)

Perception +3 (trained) · darkvision

Fort +8 (expert) · Ref +4 (trained) · Will +3 (trained)

Scale mail · Dex +1 · level 1 · Bloodrager archetype

Offense

Speed 25 ft. (20 ft. in armor)

Melee glaive +7 (1d8+4 S, reach, deadly d8, forceful)

Melee (Rage) glaive +7 (1d8+7 S, reach, deadly d8, forceful) +4 damage from Rage

Melee fist +7 (1d4+4 B, agile, nonlethal)

Bloodrage 1 focus point · Rage +4 damage, -1 AC

Statistics

Str 18 (+4) · Dex 12 (+1) · Con 16 (+3)

Int 10 (+0) · Wis 10 (+0) · Cha 12 (+1)

Class DC 17

Languages Common, Goblin, Undercommon

Ancestry Hobgoblin · Heritage Ironbound Hobgoblin (custom – +1 natural AC)

Background Abyssal Tunnel Veteran (custom)

Skills (Trained)

  • Athletics +7
  • Intimidation +4
  • Lore: Abyssal Tunnels +3
  • Lore: Military +3
  • Perception +3
  • Survival +3
  • Stealth +4
  • Religion +3

+3 trained · +5 expert (Fort)

Feats & Archetype

Ancestry: Hobgoblin Weapon Familiarity

Class: Rage, Bloodrage (Archetype), Power Attack

Skill: Intimidating Glare

Background: Additional Lore (Abyssal Tunnels)

Custom Background: Abyssal Tunnel Veteran — ability boosts: Str, Con; trained in Athletics and Survival; Skill Feat: Intimidating Glare; Lore: Abyssal Tunnels

Class Features & Key Abilities

Rage: Kharzug enters a violent rage for 1 minute. While raging he gains +4 damage with melee Strikes, a +2 status bonus to Fortitude saves, but takes a -1 penalty to AC. He can Rage for 3 rounds per day at 1st level (4 at 3rd, etc.).

Bloodrager Archetype: This class archetype replaces the Barbarian's Instinct with a Sorcerer bloodline. Kharzug gains the Abyssal Bloodline and a focus spell: Abyssal Rage (1 action) — he gains a +1 status bonus to damage and resistance 1 to acid, cold, and electricity while raging. He also gains Bloodrage Action: when he uses Rage, he can cast a 1-action bloodline spell (like shield).

Power Attack (Feat): Kharzug can spend 2 actions to make a single Strike that deals an extra die of weapon damage (2d8 instead of 1d8).

Hobgoblin Ancestry: Darkvision, +1 circumstance bonus to saves against fear (Formidable Resistance), and training with all simple and martial weapons (via Weapon Familiarity).

Ironbound Heritage (custom): Kharzug's skin is unusually resilient; he gains a +1 status bonus to AC against critical hits from non-magical weapons.

How to Play Kharzug at Level 1

Control space with reach. The glaive allows Kharzug to threaten corridors, gangplanks, tunnels, and chokepoints while protecting fragile allies.
Rage at the correct moment. Save rage for elite enemies, ambushes, or boss fights rather than random skirmishes. Use Power Attack for devastating single blows.
Advance aggressively once combat starts. Kharzug excels when forcing enemies backward into bad terrain, flanking zones, or kill corridors.
Do not split from the party. Kharzug is durable, but he works best as the anchor around which the others maneuver. The -1 AC from Rage means he needs allies to heal and flank.

Recommended Feat Progression (Levels 1–14)

Level Feat / Feature Recommendation Reason
1 Ancestry Hobgoblin Weapon Familiarity Proficiency with glaives and other martial weapons.
1 Class Power Attack Devastating single-target damage.
2 Class Feat Knockdown Use Athletics to trip with your Strike – great for control.
3 Skill Feat Titan Wrestler Better Athletics for grappling larger creatures.
4 Class Feat Cleave Hit two adjacent enemies with reach weapon.
5 Ability Boosts +Str, +Con, +Dex, +Wis Boost key stats for damage, HP, and saves.
6 Class Feat Furious Sprint Move double speed while raging – great for closing distance.
7 Skill Feat Intimidating Prowess Better Intimidation in combat.
8 Class Feat Whirlwind Strike Attack all enemies in reach – perfect for crowded tunnels.
9 Ancestry Feat Hobgoblin Warmonger Bonus to initiative and Demoralize.
10 Class Feat Raging Athlete Climb, swim, and jump better while raging.
11 Skill Feat Legendary Survival Master survival in the Darklands.
12 Class Feat Quaking Stomp AOE crowd control.
13 General Feat Fleet +5 speed, helps offset armor penalty.
14 Class Feat Rage Power: Terrifying Howl Demoralize all enemies in 30 ft. while raging.

Bloodline Spells (from Bloodrager Archetype)

Level Spell Use
1 shield (cantrip) Emergency +1 AC as a reaction.
1 abyssal rage (focus) +1 damage and resistances while raging.
2 enlarge (via scroll/feat) Extremely powerful with reach tactics.
4 mirror image (via archetype) Massive defensive upgrade.
6 blur Excellent against dangerous melee enemies.
8 haste Late-game offensive power spike.
10 displacement Critical survival spell in abyssal acts.

Gear, Sidequests, and Roleplay

Starting Gear

  • Glaive – ideal for reach control and defensive tunnel warfare.
  • Scale mail – practical military protection.
  • Dagger – backup weapon and utility tool.
  • Adventurer's pack – rations, rope, and essentials.
  • Military insignia – a faded badge from his lost legion.
  • Darklands lantern – fits his subterranean military identity.
  • Whetstone and repair kit – maintains his weapon and armor.

Conversion Notes: This PF2e version uses the Barbarian class with the official Bloodrager Class Archetype (available on AoN) to replicate the PF1e Bloodrager's hybrid nature. Stats (Str +4, Dex +1, Con +3, Int +0, Wis +0, Cha +1) reflect his military prowess and abyssal corruption. Custom background Abyssal Tunnel Veteran grants training in Athletics, Survival, Intimidating Glare, and Abyssal Tunnels Lore. He is a durable, high-damage frontliner with reach control and limited spellcasting.