Thursday, March 26, 2009

NPC Sit-In Sheets for Libri Vidicos

We had two guests for the Libri Vidicos game on Friday-- here's the background I gave them for their characters (established NPCs)

Leather Blunt

Leather's an Orc from the Kingdom of Golotha-- the only Orcish land on the continent. Historically tense relations with neighbors have diminished over the years, but some still regard them warily. While Golotha has moved into the “Steam Industrial” age, it does remain somewhat crude and backwards. Leather himself grew up as an orphan in the gladiator pits until his victories earned him a place in a household and eventually education and a scholarship to Libri Vidicos. He almost never talks about these times.

He's tried to make himself as 'civilized' as possible. He has very good manners and works to restrain his baser impulses. It helps that he himself is a fairly calm person. He worries that everyone around him is a little fragile and fears being the proverbial bull in a china shop. Therefore he acts with some caution and restraint (though his uptightedness and fear of being put in awkward situations has loosened up somewhat).

Being in Darsksoul has certainly changed him. His comrades have often gotten themselves into jams, shenanigans, and capers-- usually with him in tow. He now reluctantly accepts that there's little he can do to avoid their plots, and so simply sighs and goes to get his sneaking around cloak.

He has a religious background, and plans to become a teacher-priest when he finishes his training. He's a member of the order of S'ave-Knor, the knowledge god of the Pentauch. Again, he doesn't like to bring it up or make a big deal about it. He's enrolled in the various culinary and manners courses at the school and well-liked by most of the staff.

PC's
Sergei, a noble son of heroes who has family from several countries. He's cut in the heroic mold. Leather has a good deal of respect for him, especially since he's always been generous towards him. Sergei clearly has a lot to live up to and sometimes that weigh shows upon him. Sergei also seems to have girl-trouble, though often of his own making.

Lucy, a slightly over-enthusiastic inventor and part-time mage. Leather likes Lucy at the same time he is wary of her. Her people see the gods as uncontrolled spirits who manipulate humans. They kill priests and missionaries who dare enter into Aoniae. Lucy herself simply tut-tuts about religion, but Leather tries to avoid bringing it up.

Beletan, a somewhat fey elf who people often mistake for a girl. Beletan, as all elves, makes Leather slightly nervous though he's always shown himself to be true. The Elf/Orc conflict has a long history, and Orcish mothers still tell stories of point-eared boogey-elves who steal into caves and eat babies. Leather knows this isn't true (anymore) but he still doesn't like to be alone with Beletan. Leather does have a certain amount of sympathy for the elf as he always seems to be the butt-end of the humor of the group.

Cerise, one of the Shaddai, a race of nigh-immortals (who look a little like elves) who arrived here only a few centuries ago. Leather likes Cerise because she's actually much taller than him. She moves with a grace Leather can only admire. She doesn't seem to worry about things breaking around her, a more present fear in his own mind.

Sokka, he's the darting heart of the Wickets and Imps team. Apparently raised in some kind of horrific circus that he fond of, but Lucy regards with terror.

Valmont, a gentleman from Atlantae. However, for a gentleman, he has a real knowledge of crime, sneaking and the kinds of low-brow activities that one might regard as beneath him.

Notable NPC's
Kimberly Wince, a good friend from House Thorns who is in most of Leather's classes. She's quite nice and they get along well. She does have a problem in that she has a very, very, very, soft voice. Also her brother, Sebrador Wince (a fourth-year from House Zaramar), has taken an intense dislike for Leather.

Beleflorous, a fellow second-year from Darsksoul. She's pretty brave and clearly plans on being an adventurer some day, if she can get the courage to tell her parents.

Dentinas, 2nd-year Darsksoul, mostly seems occupied writing complaint letters.

Saberhagen, the much put-upon master for the second-years of House Darsksoul. He's a hero of the Autocthonian War, but despite that seems a little cowardly about knowing exactly how much trouble his students might actually be getting into.

Samiir Achmed Ajbach Tracy IX

Samiir's descended from the lines of two great heroes of his homeland: Samiir Ajbach and Achmed Tracy. Ajbach helped to until the various desert realms of Harad, Far Harad and Sirayn into the modern nation of Samara. Tracy fought in the wars against the Court of Ardor and the necromantic threat of Murkavan. Though both men had greatness in them and served the same ends, they often dealt with each other as rivals. It would be left to their descendants, several generations later, to unite the two lines.

Samiir grew up in a mixed atmosphere-- a blend of privilege and intense expectation for his future. His brothers and sisters each took up roles in the religious and political life of his nation. Samiir, despite his great name, found himself without purpose. Then he discovered old journals of his ancestor, Tracy. He spoke of the hunt for wrong-doers, the pursuit of justice and the need to strike against the criminals who fed at the soft and vulnerable underbelly of society. Samiir decided he would likewise become and investigator and detective, trying to right wrongs and uncover secrets.

The invitation to the hidden academy of Libri Vidicos came first as a surprise, and then as a confirmation of the correctness of his path. He joined mid-semester last year after the fatal accident of another classmate. He is a member of House Gallaen, the lorekeepers and one of five houses at the school. Samiir has a high opinion of himself and usually puts his nose in whenever anything odd seems to happen. He has been keeping careful record of happenings at the school-- trying to discren a pattern.

One of those patterns has been the involvement of the second-year students of House Darsksoul in a number of strange events. You've tried to figure out exactly what they're up to. You don't think they're doing anything nefarious, but you suspect they know a great deal more about the school than you do. Recently, you were approached by one of the staff, None-so-None about some contacts you made in the past-- and anything you might know about a place called the Codici Malefactus. Apparently the information you gave panned out, as you have been asked to join a field trip looking in to some of these matters.

PC's
Sergei, a noble son of heroes who has family from several countries. You have a hard time getting a read on him-- on the one hand, he seems a likely hero, but on the other hand he does seem to be mixed up in a number of questionable events around school. He notably escorted a young woman of questionable reputation to the last dance. Her aunt is on the school's staff but is known to be evil. He's a good fencer and popular around school. Sergei also seems to have girl-trouble, though often of his own making.

Lucy, a young woman from Aoniae, a country with a legendary reputation for producing evil sorcerers. Yet she seems to be less of a mage than some kind of gadgeteer. You suspect her apparent air-headedness masks some more sinister or cunning plan. She, like the rest of the Darskoul students seems to be in the middle of every strange happening on the school grounds. Whatever the case may be, she does have incredibly fine taste in cheese of the fragrant variety.

Beletan, a somewhat fey elf who people often mistake for a girl. Beletan comes from the Elves of Terrat. In the past, his people and yours had strong relations, but those have become increasingly tense in recent years. Some suspect that Samara and Terratis may come into open conflict in the near future. Beletan himself seems to want to assimilate himself into human society. Perhaps if you tried harder to show him the benefits of human society versus his, he might grow as a person.

Cerise, one of the Shaddai, a race of nigh-immortals (who look a little like elves) who arrived here only a few centuries ago. The Shaddai are strange-- and as you've learned in the past, you can't judge the behavior of non-humans by the same yardstick you use to gauge others. Still she's amazingly tall and quite stunning. Generally that kind of attractiveness rules out her being evil, maybe just a little misguided.

Sokka, he seems young for his age. He apparently was raised among carnival folks-- which means he's probably quite sophisticated by their standards. Rumor has it that he's quite the powerful mage, but you haven't really seen that. Still he recently put on a fairly amazing circus show that wowed the student body. You're a little bothered that you had to be a clown in that, but it was a chance to shine on stage. Sokka's also a whiz at Wickets and Imps...and you have to grudgingly admit that he might be better at it than you.

Leather, Leather's an Orc from the Kingdom of Golotha-- the only Orcish land on the continent. Historically tense relations with neighbors have diminished over the years, but some still regard them warily. While Golotha has moved into the “Steam Industrial” age, it does remain somewhat crude and backwards. He seems a decent and religious fellow...but he's still an Orc which makes him at least a little suspect.

Valmont, your good friend at school-- and probably your best friend outside of persons in your own house. Like you, he shares a thirst for justice and a desire to uncover villainy. You and he work closely together in the Hall Monitor Student Club. You know that with him on the job, Darsksoul can't really be doing anything bad.

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