Player character

Vaelith Sunsong (2e)

Vaelith Sunsong

Male Elf Bard 1 (Maestro Muse) · Lorekeeper of Lost Casmaron

NG Medium Humanoid Elf

Vaelith Sunsong is an elven scholar‑performer who has spent decades collecting sailor songs, Keleshite route‑poems, locathah trade chants, and ruined fragments of Ninshaburian verse. To most tavern audiences he is merely a graceful singer with old stories. To the expedition, he is something far more useful: a living archive of the Castrovin Sea's strangest legends.

Vaelith fills the party's support, lore, diplomacy, and morale role. He helps the group survive social scenes in Kridorn, negotiate with Keleshite traders, identify ancient references, interpret maritime folklore, and keep the party fighting through long expeditions. Late game, his knowledge of ancient catastrophe, Rovagug's Spawn, and Darklands legends becomes just as important as his songs.

Level 1 Character Sheet — Pathfinder 2e

Defense

AC 16

HP 14 (8 + Con 0 + 6)

Perception +3 (trained) · low‑light vision

Fort +2 (trained) · Ref +6 (expert) · Will +4 (trained)

Leather armor · Dex +3 · level 1

Offense

Speed 30 ft.

Melee rapier +4 (1d6 P, finesse, deadly d8)

Ranged shortbow +6 (1d6 P, deadly d10, range 60 ft.)

Composition Cantrip inspire courage · Focus Spells lingering composition (feat)

Statistics

Str 10 (+0) · Dex 16 (+3) · Con 10 (+0)

Int 14 (+2) · Wis 12 (+1) · Cha 18 (+4)

Class DC 18

Languages Common, Elven, Aquan, Kelish, Undercommon, Azlanti (or Cyclops)

Ancestry Elf · Heritage Seer Elf (or Ancient Elf)

Background Lorekeeper (custom)

Skills (Trained)

  • Acrobatics +6
  • Arcana +5
  • Deception +7
  • Diplomacy +7
  • Lore: Ancient Civilizations +5
  • Lore: Sailing +5
  • Occultism +5
  • Performance +7
  • Society +5
  • Stealth +6
  • Thievery +6

+3 trained · +4 expert (Reflex)

Feats & Muse

Ancestry: Elf Weapon Familiarity (rapier, longbow)

Class: Maestro Muse, Composition Spells

Class Feat: Lingering Composition

Skill Feat: Additional Lore (Ancient Civilizations)

Custom Background: Lorekeeper — ability boosts: Int, Cha; trained in Occultism and Society; Skill Feat: Additional Lore (Ancient Civilizations)

Class Features & Key Abilities

Muse (Maestro): You are a master of performance. Your composition spells are more potent. You gain the inspire courage composition cantrip and the lingering composition focus spell (from your feat).

Composition Spells: Inspire Courage (cantrip) – allies in a 60‑ft. emanation gain a +1 status bonus to attack and damage rolls for 1 round. This is your primary combat contribution.

Lingering Composition (Feat): When you cast a composition that lasts 1 round, you can spend 1 Focus Point to make it last for 3 rounds instead. This dramatically extends your song's effect.

Bard Spellcasting: You are a spontaneous occult caster, using Charisma. Your spells are primarily support, illusion, and utility.

Elf Ancestry: Low‑light vision, +2 to saves vs. enchantment, and trained in longbow and rapier (via Weapon Familiarity).

How to Play Vaelith at Level 1

Start fights with Inspire Courage. A +1 bonus to hit and damage across the whole party is huge, especially with multiple attackers.
Be the lore engine. Ask what old songs, ruined inscriptions, sea‑stack carvings, pirate ballads, or Ninshaburian fragments might reveal.
Handle diplomacy before knives come out. Vaelith is ideal for Keleshite traders, locathah negotiations, suspicious captains, salvage guilds, and nervous villagers.
Do not stand on the front line. Vaelith wins by making everyone else better, not by dueling monsters alone.

Bard Spells (Occult)

Support, Lore, Illusion, and Expedition Utility

Spell DC 18 · Spell Attack +8

Cantrips (5 known, 5 prepared): detect magic, ghost sound, light, message, inspire courage (composition)

1st‑Level Spells (2 slots per day): soothe, grease

Focus Spells (1 Focus Point): lingering composition (from feat)

Core Spell Notes

Spell Use
Soothe Backup healing – target regains 1d10+4 HP, no mental effects for 1 round.
Grease Excellent control on docks, ship decks, bridges, stairs, and tunnel chokepoints.
Fear Powerful debuff – if you want a control option instead of grease.
Illusory Object Great for ambushes, distractions, false cover, and maritime trickery.
Command Simple but versatile control.

Recommended Spells by Tier

Level Spell Tier Recommended Spells Purpose
1–3 1st soothe, grease, fear, illusory object, command Healing, control, illusion.
4–6 2nd invisibility, heroism, sound burst, dispel magic Major party support and utility.
7–9 3rd haste, slow, hypnotic pattern, tongues Signature bard power tier.
10–12 4th freedom of movement, dimension door, greater invisibility Escape, mobility, major combat support.
13–14 5th shadow walk, song of discord, greater dispel magic Flexible late‑game problem solving.

Recommended Progression Through Level 14

Level Feat / Feature Recommendation Reason
1 Class Feat Lingering Composition Best early bard economy feat – extends inspire courage.
2 Class Feat Inspirational Performance or Versatile Performance More performance options or skill consolidation.
3 Skill Feat Quick Identification Identify magic and lore faster.
4 Class Feat Melodious Spell Cast spells subtly in social situations.
5 Ability Boosts +Cha, +Dex, +Int, +Wis Boost primary stats and skills.
6 Class Feat Dirge of Doom Powerful debuff composition (frightened 1).
7 Skill Feat Legendary Performance Master your art.
8 Class Feat Inspire Heroics Boost inspire courage to +2.
9 Ancestry Feat Elven Weapon Expertise Better proficiency with weapons.
10 Class Feat Shadow Projectile Ranged support option.
11 Skill Feat Loremaster's Etude Recall knowledge with performance.
12 Class Feat Harmonize Maintain two compositions at once.
13 General Feat Toughness Extra HP.
14 Class Feat Eternal Composition Make compositions last longer.

Preferred Gear

  • Masterwork instrument – shell‑harp, silver flute, or sea‑bone lyre (grants +1 item bonus to Performance).
  • Leather armor – light and mobile.
  • Rapier – finesse weapon.
  • Shortbow – ranged option.
  • Cloak of resistance – essential.
  • Headband of alluring charisma – primary caster/support item.
  • Handy haversack – scrolls, maps, song fragments, ink, rubbings, and relic notes.

Performance Priorities

Performance Use
Inspire Courage Default combat composition for most fights.
Dirge of Doom (later) Frightens enemies – excellent for debuffing.
Inspire Competence Boost allies' skill checks out of combat.
Counter Performance (focus) Protect against auditory and visual effects.

Campaign Quote

"Legends are not lies. They are warnings sung long after the witnesses died."

Conversion Notes: This PF2e version uses the Bard class with the Maestro muse to emphasise performance and support. Stats (Str +0, Dex +3, Con +0, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +4) reflect his scholarly and charismatic nature. Custom background Lorekeeper grants Occultism, Society, Additional Lore (Ancient Civilizations), and a focus on knowledge. He uses inspire courage as his primary composition and lingering composition to extend it. His spell list focuses on healing, control, and utility. He remains a fragile but vital support character throughout the campaign.