TTRPG: The Sundering:
Characters: Jalani Xavier

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The Sundering is set in a domain called The Zwari Nation, itself an island ripped off the side of a continent and dropped on to a different world. There are many varied personalities who inhabit the Nation. Here is a sampling, with more to come in the upcoming sequel NPC compendium, The Sundering: It's Nation Time.

DESIGNATION: Adventurer
RACE: Human.
LEVEL/CHALLENGE RATING: 9
HIT POINTS: 67 (9d10+18)
ARMOR CLASS: 17 (breastplate and armor)
SPEED: 30 ft.
ABILITY SCORES: STR 16, DEX 13, CON 15, INT 11, WIS 16, CHA 20
SAVING THROWS: STR* +8, DEX +6, CON* +7, INT +5, WIS +12, CHA +14
SKILLS: Acrobatics +1, Animal Handling +3, Arcana +0, Athletics +7, Deception +5, History +0, Insight +7, Intimidation +5, Investigation +0, Medicine +3, Nature +3, Perception +3, Performance +5, Persuasion +9, Religion +3, Sleight of Hand +0, Stealth +0, Survival +3
SENSES: passive perception 13
SPELLS: As a paladin of Irin, Jalani Xavier is a 9th level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). The following list represents Jalani Xavier’s typically prepared spells:
1st-level (4 slots): bless, charm person, heroism, shield of faith
2nd-level (3 slots): aid, calm emotions, detect thoughts
3rd-level (2 slots): bestow curse, remove curse
EQUIPMENT: Keen Halberd, Consecrated Armor of The Veil, Dagger, Bag of Holding (items within)
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
LANGUAGES: Common, Primordial, Dwarvish, Halfling, Orc
PROFICIENCY BONUS: +3
EXTRA ATTACK: Jalani can attack twice, instead of once, whenever he takes the Attack Action on his turn.
SPELL ATTACK MODIFIER: +9
SPELL SAVE DC: 17
SPELLCASTING ABILITY: Charisma
OATH OF SYBARITISM: Jalani Xavier is dedicated to living life to its fullest and in the moment in the name of the god Irin. He is immune to the frightened, charmed, and confusion conditions, and all allies within 30 feet have advantage on saving throws versus those conditions.
AURA OF PROTECTION: Allies within 10 feet of Jalani Xavier add his Charisma bonus to any saving throw they make, as long as he is conscious.
DIVINE SMITE: Jalani Xavier may enhance melee attacks with divine power. On a successful hit he expends an unused spell slot and adds +2d8 radiant damage for a first level slot and +3d8 for a 2nd level slot.
LAY ON HANDS: Jalani Xavier has a pool of a total of 45 hit points he may heal by touching a willing creature. He may heal as many points as he wishes with one action, up to the hit points remaining in the pool. The pool refreshes when Jalani Xavier finishes a long rest.
DIVINE SENSE: Jalani Xavier may use an action to detect the presence of any celestial, fiend or undead, or hallowed or unhallowed object or location, within 60 feet. He may use this ability up to 6 times per long rest.
DIVINE MAGIC: As a paladin of Irin, Jalani Xavier is a 9th level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with spell attacks). The following list of prepared spells represents Jalani Xavier’s typically prepared spells:
1st-level (4 slots): bless, charm person, heroism, shield of faith
2nd-level (3 slots): aid, calm emotions, detect thoughts
3rd-level (2 slots): bestow curse, remove curse
KEEN HALBERD: Melee Weapon Attack. +8 to hit. Range 5 ft. Hit: 10 (1d8+6) magic slashing damage. A hit with a roll of a natural 19 is a critical hit with this attack.
JAVELIN: Ranged Weapon Attack. +5 to hit. Range 30/120 ft. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) piercing damage.
REVEL IN THE STRUGGLE: If Jalani Xavier fails an ability check or saving throw, or takes damage in combat, he may choose one of the following effects: regenerate his Lay on Hands pool by 5 hit points, regain a 1st level spell slot, or immediately heal 5 hit points. He may use this ability 4 times per long rest.
TRUST IN DON’T-TRUST-ME: As a bonus action, Jalani Xavier may order his animal companion to use the Help action to aid an ally within 30 feet.
BACKSTORY: While the worship of Irin is not forbidden in the Nation, like the banned faith of the Ivory Betrayer, its followers are few and far between, and often regarded with extraordinary suspicion. Despite that, people take notice when the dreamborn paladin of Irin, Jalani Xavier, makes an entrance with his bat, Don’t Trust Me. In addition to cheating on half of the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in his hometown of Mayaro, just north of Kente, word is that he’s evaded the long arm of the Protectors by offering up evidence of greater criminal threats in return for absolution in fifteen townships up and down the Nation. Operating primarily out of an inn called La Ultima Oportunidad in a ramshackle eastern town called Los Peors, Jalani has a middling moon rating on the Nation’s Pley Boards, as despite completing a number of successful jobs, most of his clients and collaborators feel they somehow got the short end of the stick.

The Sundering is an insultingly inclusive fantasy world with intricate politics, economics and of course adventure. One of the very few Black-owned offerings in the Fifth Edition TTRPG space, this work was created by Hannibal Tabu and Damion Poitier and published by Laguna Studios.
Artwork by Moonie and Quinn McGowan.