A Pacifist Bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Pacifist Bard [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Arkonth
08-18-04, 11:11 PM Taxle Shine
Human Bard Chaotic Good
Primary Weapon: Merciful Whip+2

Taxle is a bouncy and jumpy person who varies acting like a happy child, to a serious storyteller, to a well-mannered diplomat. He’s not the average freedom loving chaotic good character in that he doesn’t value freedom but rather life above all else and will use all means possible to conserve it in all creatures he encounters. His mastery of stories allows him to tell a tale to fit almost any circumstance and he loves nothing more than to do so.

Taxle Shine was born the son of an innkeeper and one of his serving girls. His father, a married man, had to remove of Taxle and his mother or face much public shame.
While not entirely honest, the innkeeper was a kind man and could not bear to kill the servant and his son. So instead he found another innkeeper willing to take the servant and her child.
However this man had none of the morals of Taxle’s father and abused them both, taking advantage of the woman and forcing her son to work as soon as he could lift wood to fill the fireplace. This existence went on for several years and Taxle started to show an aptitude for storytelling. He managed to catch every story, whether a fish story from a drunk or an epic from a wandering minstrel. However one story most affected him.
A wanderer wearing a cloak that marked him as a cleric entered the inn. Taxle was serving and became intrigued by this man. He revealed himself to be a cleric of Iridal traveling to spread her teachings. He spoke of her truths of kindness to Taxle who took them in as a story. However this “story” had a profound impact upon his life.
When he went to his corner to sleep he first called on his mother, and found her dead. Standing over her was the innkeeper who was drunk and wielding a bloody club. Taxle screamed and leaped to attack him. As he did words cam unbidden to his mind and a spell fell from him onto the innkeeper. The innkeeper became confused and stunned simply sitting even when Taxle went to take his club.
Taxle raised the weapon to break in his head and was surprised when something restrained his hand. The cleric stood behind him. He saw the remains of T’s mother and turned to Taxle and asked him simply if he felt he did right. A story sprang unbidden from the boys mind and he found comfort in it. Iridal’s teachings saved him from violence. He dropped the club and fell to his knees looking down at his mother and back to the innkeeper. He began weeping.
When his head cleared and his tears dried he found the innkeeper and the cleric gone, the latter have taken the former to the Guard’s jailhouse. He looked down at his mother and swore that no one would ever die by his hand, as she had the innkeeper’s. He would do no violence. Yet he also promised that by his words and stories he would try to stop others from doing as the innkeeper had done.
He left the inn with what food he could take from the kitchen and what money he could scrounge. Taxle traveled the city, telling his stories on the street to earn enough to stay alive. Eventually he found that he craved more and boldly decided to ask an inn if he might entertain within. It so happened the inn he chose was that of his father.
His father, now a widower, answered the door and was shocked to see the face of his son. However the boy seemed not to know him so he took pity (as he was wont with his kind nature) and let him tell his stories. Taxle told his tales in exchange for a few coins, food and a room.
After three such his father, impressed with his skill, asked him to remain permanently and Taxle did. They soon developed a friendship and their true bond was revealed.
Taxle was overjoyed to meet his father and remained for a long time but began to feel wanderlust and a desire to see more of the world. So his father outfitted him with what he could afford and Taxle left promising to return one day with new tales.
So began Taxle’s life as an adventurer championing the fight against cruelty and death wherever he could.
Kitt-su
08-19-04, 08:03 PM :bow: :love: :bow:
BRAVO! Change nothing its wonderful!
Arkonth
09-03-04, 07:16 PM Well I was hoping for more feedback so I'll jsut give this a :bump:
Mancer
09-04-04, 12:46 PM Have you considered taking Vow of Peace/Non-Violence? They are both excellent choices for this character.
Owiercyn
09-04-04, 03:35 PM I think what you might want to move towards actually would be an Apostle of Peace. This is an excellent back story, but you might want to include a couple more specifics about the teachings of Iridal, as she is a more obscure deity than the main deities out of the Player's Handbook. The Exalted theme fits perfectly with this character (though you may want to also include some kind of flaw for him also, just enough for a temptation and the character development and grow that could result). If you do decide to move towards Apostle of Peace, the feats Vow of Peace and Non-Violence fit perfectly, but the Vow of Poverty would need to be a well-thought out step for a bard (no instrument), and for any character for that matter.

Good luck, it's a great concept!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arkonth 08-18-04, 11:11 PM	Taxle Shine Human Bard Chaotic Good Primary Weapon: Merciful Whip+2 Taxle is a bouncy and jumpy person who varies acting like a happy child, to a serious storyteller, to a well-mannered diplomat. He’s not the average freedom loving chaotic good character in that he doesn’t value freedom but rather life above all else and will use all means possible to conserve it in all creatures he encounters. His mastery of stories allows him to tell a tale to fit almost any circumstance and he loves nothing more than to do so. Taxle Shine was born the son of an innkeeper and one of his serving girls. His father, a married man, had to remove of Taxle and his mother or face much public shame. While not entirely honest, the innkeeper was a kind man and could not bear to kill the servant and his son. So instead he found another innkeeper willing to take the servant and her child. However this man had none of the morals of Taxle’s father and abused them both, taking advantage of the woman and forcing her son to work as soon as he could lift wood to fill the fireplace. This existence went on for several years and Taxle started to show an aptitude for storytelling. He managed to catch every story, whether a fish story from a drunk or an epic from a wandering minstrel. However one story most affected him. A wanderer wearing a cloak that marked him as a cleric entered the inn. Taxle was serving and became intrigued by this man. He revealed himself to be a cleric of Iridal traveling to spread her teachings. He spoke of her truths of kindness to Taxle who took them in as a story. However this “story” had a profound impact upon his life. When he went to his corner to sleep he first called on his mother, and found her dead. Standing over her was the innkeeper who was drunk and wielding a bloody club. Taxle screamed and leaped to attack him. As he did words cam unbidden to his mind and a spell fell from him onto the innkeeper. The innkeeper became confused and stunned simply sitting even when Taxle went to take his club. Taxle raised the weapon to break in his head and was surprised when something restrained his hand. The cleric stood behind him. He saw the remains of T’s mother and turned to Taxle and asked him simply if he felt he did right. A story sprang unbidden from the boys mind and he found comfort in it. Iridal’s teachings saved him from violence. He dropped the club and fell to his knees looking down at his mother and back to the innkeeper. He began weeping. When his head cleared and his tears dried he found the innkeeper and the cleric gone, the latter have taken the former to the Guard’s jailhouse. He looked down at his mother and swore that no one would ever die by his hand, as she had the innkeeper’s. He would do no violence. Yet he also promised that by his words and stories he would try to stop others from doing as the innkeeper had done. He left the inn with what food he could take from the kitchen and what money he could scrounge. Taxle traveled the city, telling his stories on the street to earn enough to stay alive. Eventually he found that he craved more and boldly decided to ask an inn if he might entertain within. It so happened the inn he chose was that of his father. His father, now a widower, answered the door and was shocked to see the face of his son. However the boy seemed not to know him so he took pity (as he was wont with his kind nature) and let him tell his stories. Taxle told his tales in exchange for a few coins, food and a room. After three such his father, impressed with his skill, asked him to remain permanently and Taxle did. They soon developed a friendship and their true bond was revealed. Taxle was overjoyed to meet his father and remained for a long time but began to feel wanderlust and a desire to see more of the world. So his father outfitted him with what he could afford and Taxle left promising to return one day with new tales. So began Taxle’s life as an adventurer championing the fight against cruelty and death wherever he could.
Kitt-su 08-19-04, 08:03 PM	:bow: :love: :bow: BRAVO! Change nothing its wonderful!
Arkonth 09-03-04, 07:16 PM	Well I was hoping for more feedback so I'll jsut give this a :bump:
Mancer 09-04-04, 12:46 PM	Have you considered taking Vow of Peace/Non-Violence? They are both excellent choices for this character.
Owiercyn 09-04-04, 03:35 PM	I think what you might want to move towards actually would be an Apostle of Peace. This is an excellent back story, but you might want to include a couple more specifics about the teachings of Iridal, as she is a more obscure deity than the main deities out of the Player's Handbook. The Exalted theme fits perfectly with this character (though you may want to also include some kind of flaw for him also, just enough for a temptation and the character development and grow that could result). If you do decide to move towards Apostle of Peace, the feats Vow of Peace and Non-Violence fit perfectly, but the Vow of Poverty would need to be a well-thought out step for a bard (no instrument), and for any character for that matter. Good luck, it's a great concept!