OOC: NPC gallery

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Graybeard
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OOC: NPC gallery

Post by Graybeard »

With the action beginning to heat up a bit, and following Impy's example, I thought it might be a good idea to create an OOC section for NPCs that will be encountered from time to time. The idea is to make a gallery of characters available for the "main" characters to interact with that are well enough developed for the interactions to be sensible and consistent, without having them "owned" by participants. There are several advantages to that.

Thus far I've created six of these, one of whom (Lennie) has shuffled off this mortal coil and is of no further interest unless someone figures out how to speak to the dead. The others:

Name: George
Occupation: Gewehr thug
Description: Your basic large, violent Farrelite meat shield -- or so he appears. He's a 25-year-old member of the Gewehr who was sent to Kiyoka on a murder mission, the reason for which hasn't been disclosed but is known to one or more, but not all, of the players. Has no magical skills and is only moderately proficient with firearms, but is a very nasty fellow in a close-combat situation (i.e., brawl). Somewhere around 6'4", 230 pounds, with close-cropped, dark hair and coarse features. He speaks both human languages (as do all of the following NPCs), using a thuggish accent that conceals the fact that he's a bit smarter than he sounds, but only a bit. Surprisingly cautious for someone whose main role is muscle, and despite his appearance and profession, disinclined to use violence unless he's getting paid for it. Also more temperate than you'd expect; he rarely drinks to excess, becomes closed-mouth and withdrawn when he does, and avoids the illicit substances available in the seedier parts of Kiyoka. Doesn't know his way around Kiyoka very well. Superstitious; he's heard the "Springheel Jack" myth and believes it.

Name: Curley
Occupation: Gewehr thug
Description: More Gewehr, but partly of Kiyokan ancestry, the result of a one-night stand involving a Kiyokan entertainer and a Farrelite barmaid. No magical skills; a much better shot than George; usually hides behind his larger colleague (Curley is only about 5'7", 150#) in a hand-to-hand fight, but dangerously dexterous with a short sword/dagger. He's fairly intelligent and would rank higher in the Gewehr at his advanced age (early 30s) than he does, except for one serious problem: he's an ADHDer who has a very hard time staying on task. The Powers That Be sent him on this mission thinking that he'd be the one to get himself killed first by doing something impetuous, but it didn't work out that way. Will happily drink his fill and then start on the stuff that George declined to drink, but intoxication doesn't change his personality much. Needless to say, he's bald, although there is a fringe of reddish hair around his ears.

Name: Sister Margaret
Occupation: Nun of the Veracian Church
Description: A Veracian woman who's in her forties and has been with the Church for a long time -- long enough to know what's really going on with the mission in Kiyoka, at least in broad outline. She's short and dumpy, with graying hair, thick glasses (her eyes have resisted magical treatment for who-knows-what reason) and a round, pale face, which however disguises the fact that she's seen some serious combat in her life and hasn't forgotten it. She has the usual Veracian Church magical skills (healing, some attack and defense spells, nothing too advanced), and it is conjectured, but not proven, that she rather incongruously packs heat. Abstemious and ascetic in temperament; she also basically believes in her religion, although she's world-weary enough to have reached certain accommodations with it. Generally measures her words very carefully.

Name: Sister Eva
Occupation: Nun of the Veracian Church
Description: Eva is a very young (20 or so) nun of Veracian ancestry who joined the mission recently, after undergoing unusually careful examination by the Powers That Be in the Veracian Church. She's not fully read in on the Kiyoka mission and retains a rather naive view of her religion, but is startlingly worldly-wise in some regards: for example, she's a martial-arts fighter of near-Ensigerum skill, which is one of the reasons why the Church picked her for this mission, although she's unaware of that fact. She has the standard magical skills, as yet not well developed, but she has plenty of aptitude and will learn. She's short (5 feet) and slender, with brown hair and a heart-shaped face that would be more attractive than average if not concealed by nun's robes. This said, the Veracian Church does not demand chastity of its young nuns, or if it does, Eva hasn't noticed (and Margaret, her superior, ignores it). However, she hasn't been in Kiyoka long enough to have developed any ... relationships ... there. Surprisingly musical.

Name: Father Egbert
Occupation: Priest of the Veracian Church; second in command at the Kiyoka mission
Description: Another long-time Church figure who was mysteriously able to acquire some skills in Tsuirakuan magic (particularly transmutation/polymorph magic) along the way, via means that no one wants to talk about. These skills made him a natural to post to the Kiyokan mission, where his duties include what might euphemistically be called "security." (Note that this function is distinct from the weekly smitings, where he takes his turn but doesn't preside; smitings are downplayed in Kiyoka anyway, at least until the church is more entrenched.) He's in his forties, short and rotund, with a fringe of brown hair and a florid complexion. He is well aware that there is more to the Kiyoka mission than meets the eye, but does everything in his power to maintain the appearance of normality, even with other people in the know such as Margaret. He became cynical about the religious practices of the Church long ago, but pays them lip service while he goes about his real business.

Others?
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

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Name: "Ayiee"
Occupation: Advanced Theory Golem
Description: One of the better surprises Lucas encountered after being magically flung into the realms beyond Northern Territories. Light blue skinned and female in appearance, Ayiee was found deactivated in a long-abandoned temple along with several others of her kind which were not in as good a shape. Having just completed a class on golems at the academy before his accident, Lucas was able to repair her to the point of function (however some of the more delicate intricacies of her repair and programming may have been lost on him) and took her with him as extra muscle and protection, as well as rudimentary company.

As a golem, Ayiee is is strong but often very slow, and is disproportionately heavy for her size. Her programming is advanced (despite it's somewhat damaged nature) and she will usually to follow orders given to her by anyone she recognizes as an "authorized user", however upon occasion she appears to assert self-will, choosing which orders to follow or not to flow or re-assigning herself tasks which she deems more appropriate to a situation. Her magical golem programming also includes the ability to cast several low-level spells, usually based on pre-installed "charm processors" which employ common magical talismans with spells captured in them (the sort the Tsuirakkans regularly sell to the Farellians). She is solar powered, recharging through small crystals built into her blue skin, which means that in order to recharge properly she really ought to wander around naked, however Lucas usually insists on at least rudimentary clothing, since she is more-or-less anatomically correct... because of this, she requires a 2-3 hour recharge cycle each night to top off her batteries.
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

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Name: John Stagpoole
Occupation:Sport fishing guide and marine, well, entrepreneur
Description:Mr. Stagpoole (only his closest friends call him John, and hearing anyone else use the name is such a big-time warning signal for him that it's dangerous to use it) is a studiedly nondescript-looking man of Veracian extraction, although he very clearly does not buy into the rigamarole of the Veracian Church. He's about 60 years old, but looks considerably younger, and behind his entirely average height, build, hair length, etc., is a body that is exceptionally fit, hard as a rock, and heavily scarred, although only on parts that he takes care not to expose. In other words, this is a guy who's extremely skilled at not looking as dangerous as he is. He projects the image of a moderately well-to-do entrepreneur who has made his living at sea, and he owns two boats based at Kiyoka, a modest houseboat where he lives and a sport-fishing rig that he uses for legitimate business. However, he also has another boat, moored in a cove up the Tsuirakuan coast and protected with powerful magical wards, that is superficially identical to his fishing boat but is most emphatically NOT identical to it on the inside. Few people see the interior of this vessel unless they have a lot of money or a lot of power, are in a lot of trouble, or are about to die -- possibly, although not invariably, at Mr. Stagpoole's own hands. He's a crack shot, lethal in hand-to-hand combat, and has more magical skill than he lets on. In short, this is one very dangerous cat, although he doesn't go out of his way looking for trouble. Has a handyman-servant named Keyes who also is considerably more than he appears to be. More what? Good question.
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

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Name: Keyes
Occupation: Servant/caretaker
Description: Keyes is Mr. Stagpoole's right-hand man. His origins are murky, but he came to Kiyoka with his employer, whom he now serves as caretaker and deck hand, living on the (overt) fishing boat while Stagpoole lives on his houseboat. He is a tall, slender young man with long black hair that partially covers his ears -- which are reputed to be unnaturally pointy on top, although it's hard to be sure as his hair is secured by a headband that he never removes. He rarely speaks at all, speaks only the language of Veracia and Farrel when he does, and has a distinct speech impediment in the form of inability to form sibilants ("s", "z", etc.), which either aren't voiced at all ("snow" would sound like "know") or come out as a "t" sound ("face" would become "fate," "saw" would be "taw"). He's clumsy in hand-to-hand combat but is reputed to be a potent spellcaster, although he rarely uses magic except to mend things on the boats. He constantly carries a small, glowing figurine of a lizard or crocodile, on a chain around his neck, that is reputed to have fearsome magical powers, although no one has ever seen those powers used -- no one who has survived, anyway. He is utterly dedicated to his employer and avoids dealing with any of their clients if possible -- with the single exception of Grope, who's saved his life more than once.
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

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Name: Soapy (aka "the drunk")
Status: NPC; wandering somewhere in Kiyoka
Occupation: Day laborer on the docks; homeless person; wino
Description: A nondescript Kiyokan with a drinking problem, he hangs around the dock area doing odd jobs to earn enough money to drink his next meal. Basically, everything he owns, he has scrounged from the boats and carries on his back. He's probably in early middle age, but looks older through lack of care and general dissolution. He's drunk most of the time, but when sober (and to some extent, even when drunk), knows his way around the yards and knows who is moored where. He carries a dagger that he has occasionally had to use to defend himself from similar vagrants, but otherwise has no weapons, and no known magical skill, although it's not a good idea to assume that Kiyokans can't do magic. He's of middling height and sturdy build, although years of inebriation have cut into his fitness. He wears laborer's clothes, cheap and of no note; his one bit of adornment is a sash that he wears over his shirt and that he scavenged from somewhere on the docks -- and that also happens to be part of the working uniform of a Gewehr Wraith, which he most definitely is not.
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

Post by Viking-Sensei »

Name: Kureji Mesuinu
Status: Secondary Character
Occupation: Heiress, adventurer, crimefighter, problemsolver, nutcase
Description: Following the events depicted in "Fun With Familiars" (which is going to continue, as some point, I promise) Kureji has retired from her educational career and is living off of her family's vast wealth whilest trying to find and define herself as a person. In love with the classical noir motif, she sings regularly at a local nightclub and has opened a detective agency, hypothetically populated by her, Mr. Snugglesworth and Rokku (despite his constant absence). Kureji is on the outs with her family, not that she realizes it, and is sort of the joke of Tsuirakan polite society.

Her relationship with Rokku isn't much better... one of Kureji's spells (a simple Command spell modification she called the Command Prompt) has more-or-less given her the power to make Rokku do whatever she wants him to do. Oddly enough, she's never used this ability for overt personal gain or to take advantage of him romantically (possibly because being ordered to do something far out of his own comfort range will weaken and eventually break the spell's effect)... instead she usually uses it when she doesn't feel like listening to him object to a plan or an idea she is attempting to assert to be true.

The root of Kureji's problems is that she is a woman of strong opinions... so strong that, once set, they tend to warp the fabric of reality... at least her own perception of it. If Kureji believes or, subsequently, doesn't believe in something, she will continue to act in the manner of her belief despite all evidence to the contrary. Also, aiding to her various problems, she's incredibly absent minded, distractable, and probably very near-sighted, not that she'd ever admit (or be aware) that she has a problem.

In dealing with Kureji, remember... she's crazy. The motto I have for Kureji when writing her is "Wrong place, wrong time, wrong idea."
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

Post by Graybeard »

Since this guy has shown up in more than one locale, it might be handy to have some basic public data on him. He is NOT "my" character, but rather intended for community use -- and abuse:

Name: Oskar Tenrael
Occupation: Gewehr hit man
Description: Oskar is the large side of beef that Layla and Rokku encountered in the farm house outside Kiyoka, after returning from a successful "hit" on a stevedore in Port Lorrel. He's about 6'5", 240#, generally fit but with the beer gut that comes from a life of drinking too much. He isn't the guy shown looking over the priest's shoulder in this episode of the main story, but same general idea. (Actually, he conceivably could be that guy, but it wasn't planned.)

He's large, violent and thuggish, but not as dumb as he looks. In the loose hierarchy of the Gewehr, he wasn't qualified as a Wraith when he left Kiyoka, but with the successful job behind him, he has a reasonable case for being promoted, which is what's taking him to Port Lorrel. Unfortunately, he's still a bit short on the hide-and-vanish skills of a good Wraith. He was out of town when the merriment at the docks in Kiyoka unfolded, and has no direct knowledge of Jamie, Roger, Grope, etc. (Does he have any relevant indirect knowledge? I dunno, that's up to you folks.)
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

Post by LordofNightmares »

Name: Kay / Aluzard the Dark One
Full Name: Keiichi Yugawa
Full Name: Aluzard Regailyia (Reg-Gail-ea-yah)
Occupation: Aluzard (Necromancer/ Cult Leader) Keiichi ( Archeologist / Mage )

Graduated First in his class at Suchu Dentoapashi Community Mage College

Eight years ago Kay was in the Southern Cont. as part of an Archeological dig for lost ruins and tombs. There he met Tsubasa.
The rest of the story will be told durring the game.

Kay is possessed by Aluzard a 1000 +yr old spirit that was sealed away in a Tomb by one of the Shade and the Nine Preist Kings. Like I said the rest will be told by Tsubasa.

He also Cursed Tsubasa, When he is near her she tends to go berserk and that is when he takes control the last time he did, an entire town was wiped off the map.

Aluzard made some cosmetic adjustments his right arm is just bone and tendons so is half his head now.
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

Post by Graybeard »

By popular demand, here's character information for Elke, who's an important NPC in the stuff happening in Farrel. I'll put this up on the wiki shortly (got most of a morning off owing to snowstorm...).

Name: Elke Sonnenschein
Occupation: Shipping-company administrator, Eisenfaust big shot
Description: Elke is in her mid-to-late thirties, blonde and fair, with a rather severe, yet by no means unattractive, countenance. For some odd reason I've always thought of her as looking like a slightly older version of pro tennis player Sybille Bammer. She's a big shot in the Eisenfaust, one of the Farrel guilds that broadly parallel the better-known Gewehr (although there are occasional hints that she has ... other ... loyalties), and works out of a shipping company in Port Lorrel as cover. One might think, given this resume, that there are numerous parallels between her and Layla, but in fact there are fewer than meet the eye. The Eisenfaust are more into racketeering and less into assassinations than the Gewehr, and her skills are correspondingly more those of an administrator (although Layla is a plenty good administrator as well) and less those of a ninja, although she's still a crack shot who'd just as soon kill you as look at you if the price is right. Notwithstanding this "profession," she is generally fairly temperate in her habits, with no addictions nor any significant problems with alcohol, etc. She's not a mage herself, but like most of the Eisenfaust, she has embraced Tsuirakuan thaumato-technology more enthusiastically than most Farrelites, and uses it proficiently; she just can't cast spells without assistance from gadgets.

She may or may not be pregnant following an (incredibly) extended roll in the hay with Mr. Stagpoole.
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Re: OOC: NPC gallery

Post by Graybeard »

Since Sister Rose's cousin Brad is starting to become significant in the Veracia threads, I thought I'd write a little about him here. Note that Brad is a non-player character, not a PC. He is available for players to put words in his mouth and otherwise do things with, as long as it's consistent with the personality described below.

Name: Bradford Nuria (or Brother Brad, usually just Brad)
Occupation: Priest in the Reformed branch of the Veracian Church
Description: Brad is a rather nondescript man (apart from the typical Nuria green eyes) in his mid-thirties, of brown hair and rather average height and build. While traveling he generally wears ordinary "civilian" clothes of no distinction, although he is after all a Veracian priest and wears robes of a priest of the Reformed branch when performing duties for the church. Other than his eyes, there is very little about him that stands out in a crowd.

Like his cousin Rose (and, for that matter, many other priests in the Reformed church), Brad is a descendant of the great Bishop Nuria, one of the founders of the Reformed branch quite a few generations ago. The Bishop's heirs generally have high intelligence, unusual magical skill for a Veracian, and quite a bit of personal dynamism and charisma. However, except for the intelligence, Brad seems a bit underendowed with most of the Nuria traits, as though Rose had got his share of them as well as her own. He is a very low-level spellcaster with only the magic capabilities of any normal Veracian priest (rudimentary defensive spells, healing magic, etc.), and certainly lacks anything as well developed as his cousin's shape-shifting skills. Having been a priest his entire adult life and never having had the military training that Rose has, he has no combat capabilities of any note, although he does carry a dagger for self defense and can use it without hurting himself. The episode with the handgun in Lorenzel should make it clear that that's about as formidable as he gets.

In terms of personality, he's something of a milquetoast, generally staying in the background and keeping a low profile, even in church functions where he much prefers to defer to other priests and even nuns. He nonetheless managed to attract and marry a girl from Saus, where he grew up, named Annie, an acquaintance of Rose's as well in years gone by. Alas, as detailed in the Veracian threads, his marriage has broken up, as the result of his wife being seduced away by an as-yet unnamed interloper, the man whom Brad came south to kill, after which he himself would commit suicide. However, he couldn't bring himself to follow through on this plan, leaving him completely drifting, at least until his chance encounter with his cousin at Ramanzel. His claim to have been looking to plant a Reformed church there is in fact valid, and is about the only time he's ever ventured outside his comfort zone as a priest in a small-town Reformed temple somewhere in northern Veracia. His superiors in the church were surprised that he would agree to undertake such a mission and didn't expect much to come of it, although they had no idea that he had the ulterior motive of murdering his romantic rival if he could.

Lest this all sound too terribly unsympathetic, be it noted that he's a true believer in the doctrine of the Reformed church and has a sincere desire to do Luminosita's work. Having realized that his murderous plans were a Very Bad Idea, he's now trying to put his shattered life back together (he still does love his wife despite the wrong she did him) and figure out what to do next. In general he will let his considerably more dynamic cousin do most of the planning and thinking for him, although who knows how he'll react if he ever runs into Annie and her lover.
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