Dr. Archimedes Steller

[Dr. Archimedes Steller]

Name: Archimedes "Archie" Steller

Age: Old as balls

Race: Human (Imperial)

Title: Doctor in the fields of Natural History, Zoology, Herbology and Alchemy; Fellow of the Imperial Magician's Academy

Class: Academician

Attributes:
Strength 30
Agility 40
Health 30

Skills:

Fighting
Crossbow 40

Physical abilities
Observation 70

Knowledge
Medical 70
Survival 70
Painting (Drawing) 40
Languages
- Native 20
- Elvish 20
- Dwarvish 20

Magic Schools
Alchemy (All) 80



Background:

This is the story of an intrepid explorer, a legend in the fields of discovery, one who braved the darkest corners of the world... No, bloody hell, this is not the story of Sir Nigel Thornheart, for god's sake! That man is a sham, all glitter and no substance. All of his conquest are flukes. This is the story of a true explorer, Dr. Archimedes Steller, thank you very much.

No, Dr. Steller didn't strangle a mummy with it's own wrappings. Neither did he have intercourse with a demon paladin. But he has classified uncountable new specimens of flora and fauna. At least four species of flatworms are named after him, that's fun too isn't it?! Yes, he did publish books of his adventures. Did they sell well? Well, you can't judge a book by their numbers. You see, his tomes are very well regarded by the academic community. 

Hear, kid. Dr. Steller has been in the business for much longer than the red headed charlatan, ok?! When Thornheart was born, Steller was already old. Doesn't seem to stop, the old man. It's those damn potions, you see, they keep the man going. He might not get the same credit as that buffoon, but he's got some experience under his belt. The man invented a whole new method of empirical research on zoology with his polymorph potions. And he might have a loose screw or two in the had, but these days, who doesn't?! Trust me, you will like him, just wait and see.

Discoveries and Namesakes:

Golden Imp Monkey - Leontopitechus Aureus
Clouded Leopard Gerbil - Gerbilis Neofelis Nebulosa

Crystal Macaw - Ara Macao Crystalis

Giant Insular Rat - Hydrochoerus Insularis

Steller's Northern Bull-Flatworm - Platyhelminthes Bo's Stellerensis
Steller's Elephant Antelope - Saiga Elefas Stellerensis
Steller's Ginger Juggling Gibbon* - Hylopates Zingiber Stellerensis

*Most elusive of simians, the Ginger Juggling Monkey inhabits the forests south of the continent. The animal was described as being around five feet, or one and a half meters long, with a dog-like head, long drooping whiskers; an elongated but robust body. According to sightings by the Professor, though rare, the Ginger Juggling Monkey is a highly social creature and males of the species like to show off to their peers. This is the reason the Juggling Monkey receives his name, as they like to put on a show by juggling their own feces. The name "Shit Juggler" was considered to be unacademic, but ended up being adopted informally. There have been many reported sightings of this primate, but no living nor dead specimen has ever been brought to be studied at the Imperial Academy.**

** According to the Professor, the most accurate depiction of a Ginger Juggling Monkey can be found in his  Simians of the Empire Vol. 2 pg. 234

[Dr. Archimedes Steller]

Steller's Book of Brews

Soft Infusions (Level 1)
Elixir of the Nightstalker: This Elixir grants anyone who consumes it heightened senses and reflexes..

Elixir of the Steadfast: Similar to the Nightstalker, with the exception of some key different ingredients, this Elixir grants anyone who consumes it increased strength and health. Taking it for extended periods of time may result in extensions of the users life.

Oil of Transmutation: Once the dream of every Alchemist, the Oil of Transmutation has now become a mundane substance, easily found for cheap in any establishment of repute. As the name states, the Oil allows for the alchemist to transmute almost any material into another, by adding just a small quantity of the desired substance to the base mix. Despite ease of availability of the base substance, some more complex materials require great skill and only the most respected of Alchemists are able to achieve a successful transmutation.

Steller's Infusion of a Thousand Flavours: A special recipe invented by the Professor himself after an accident that resulted in the mental scarring of at least two interns. This curious substance does not have any single specific effect, always resulting in an unique, often unexpected, outcome. It can be employed either in the form of a Elixir or as a Grenado. It is also known as "Chaos in a Bottle".

Mild Concoctions (Level 2)
Potion of Greater Healing: If you don't know what this does, you shouldn't be reading this book, much less going out on an adventure.

Elemental Grenadoes: Little glass balls with colorful liquids inside, the grenadoes are the bread and butter of an Alchemists arsenal. They come in several different flavours, but due to their unstable nature, most brewers opt to specialize in only a few varieties. Though he rarely puts them to use, Dr. Steller sowas carries a couple Fire (carrying an extremely flammable substance that ignites when in constant with the air) and Frost (slow targets down) grenadoes.

Intense Distillates (Level 3)
Elixir of Polymorph: No way to better study an animal than to live as one of them… literally. Dr. Steller ist renowned in the academic world for being the main proponent of what he calls "insertive zoological empiricism", and all thanks to the his own distillations of this Elixir. It can also be used to turn oneself into another person, but what kind of depraved mind would do that?!

Most Potent Brews (Level 4)
Flubber Flask: Only break the flask in case of an emergency.

[The Forgotten God]

Special Abilities:

Old as Dirt: decades of study allow Archimedes to begin with more spells than usual

Intrepid Explorer: A party with Archimedes May use his survival skills for every member and has a 25% lower chance of random encounters

Cryptozoology: Archimedes may use his observation skill on strange animals and monsters to attempt to discern weaknesses. If allowed to study a dead specimen this skill is modified by +30

[Dr. Archimedes Steller]

Fauna and Flora of Innuria

“The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth.” - Lord Dafydd Attenshire, Founder of the Natural History Department of the Imperial Magician Academy.

Imperial Cheetahs and the Thessalian Shepherd


Art stolen from: FelisGlacialis

"The Thessalian Shepherd (Acynonix Catus); is a breed of domestic cat originally descended from Imperial Cheetahs (Acynonix Imperialis). The Imperial Cheetah is a large cat native from the grassy plains of Innuria. It is one of the fastest, non-demonic, animals in the continent, being able to achieve speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, being second only to the True Cheetah (Acynonix Jubatus), wichh can reach up to 80 mph. Both wild breeds have evolved several adaptations for speed including long thin legs and a long tail. The features that differentiate the Acynonix Imperialis to the Acynonix Jubatus;is the former's larger build and the presnce of a proemient mane in males. Moreover, the Imperialis;only feline species where both males and females have adapted to hunt in packs, while in the Jubatus;species, only males do so. They also have are the most social of the big cats, promoting a highly structured hierarchy inside their clans. The Acynonix Imperialis;isthe the only species of big cats that humans have been able to domesticate. After centuries of selective breeding, the Empire was able to develop the Acynonix Catus;a highly intelligent animal, with somewhat more canine features, and widely employed for shepherding. Unlike shepherd hounds, the Shepherd cat is much more active at night and can protect herds while they sleep. Phenotypic changes after the domestication of the Acynonix Catus;include: loss of the spotted fur pattern and of the manes, shorter and wider face, floppier ears and tails becoming slightly shorter and more curved. " - Steller, Archimedes. The Domestication of Felines, vol. 1, pg. 152