Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Apupunchau 05-24-07, 08:10 PM	So I've been playing the same character in a campaign for well over a year now a drow who I do really like and had a lot of fun actually role playing the slow change from Lawful Evil to Chaotic Good but the time has come for a change. The game is set in Faerun and the new character is from Calimshan and I'm doing a whole Arabian Nights theme thing going and I'm moving from being a roguish originally brooding drow to a very out going warrior type. I have the bio and the character sheet all set up and it's pretty set but I'm trying to get some other mannerisms and things to say that will complete the feel. I've already had a friend transliterate some Arabic words for me like Sadiq for friend but any other ideas would be helpful. Name: Nasseem Husaam Saariyah Ibn Ra’'ed Meaning (Fresh Air, Sword, Clouds at Night, son of Leader) Air Genasi Fighter Level 5/Dervish 5/Tempest 3 Deity: Sharess Alignment: Chaotic Good Height: 6’ 2” Weight: 136 lbs Skin: Dark Brown Eye: White Hair: White STR: 16 +3 DEX: 22 +6 (24 +7) CON: 11 INT: 18 +4 WIS: 11 CHA: 13 +1 Background In the Calim Desert hidden away from the rest of the world exists a nomadic tribe known as the Midnight Dancers. The Midnight Dancers are a small ecstatic sect of Sharess worshipers. They embody here tenet of living life to the fullest. They use sex, drugs and dancing to reach a state that brings them closer to their goddess. The sect also has a group of elite warriors, protectors of the tribe, called the Order of the Sandstorm Blade. The Order of the Sandstorm Blade’s blades elite warriors are almost all descendant from the ancient Efreeti who helped shape Calimshan. Each of the warriors is trained to harness his air elemental nature and turn into a whirlwind of blades. The orders fighters are trained in the use of two scimitars. The highest ranking warriors can cut through an entire army moving from target to target as they fall with blades flashing. The head of the order is also the leader of the tribe. Although technically the position of head of the Order of the Sandstorm Blade can be challenged; the position of leader of the order and the tribe has gone down one family line for centuries. The current leader of the tribe is a man named Ra’ed. Ra’ed is by far the most powerful warrior in the Order of the Sandstorm Blade and rumor among the tribe is that he has actually communed with Sharess herself. Ra’ed has many children but only his oldest son has held the Djinn blood in his veins. It is widely believed when Ra’ed steps down his son Nasseem will take command of the Order of the Sandstorm Blade and leadership of the Midnight Dancers. The Midnight Dancers are a reclusive tribe and are all but a myth even in Calimshan but young Nasseem has always questioned his father about the outside world. Ra’ed, how has always loved his son as only a father could, always wished for his son to succeed him. With his wanderlust Nasseem may not be ready for the position of leadership. On his 18th birthday Ra’ed took his son aside and spoke with him quietly. The Midnight Dancers have never been one to speak unneeded words so Ra’ed was straight with his son. Ra’ed voiced his concerns and asked if Nasseem truly wished to leave the tribe. Nasseem’s answer was a resounding yes, if only for a time. With his sons mind made up Ra’ed spoke before the tribe. Ra’ed explained that his son would be going on a quest for the good of the tribe. He claimed that Sharess believes that the outside world will soon encroach upon them and they should be ready. Ra’ed has requested of his son to explore the world and bring back news of the outside. Father gave son a few gifts; the ancestral blades, Howa Berd (Cold or Icy Wind) and Ahtarak (The sound of thunder), and a rouge fly carpet he found wandering the desert as transportation. Now with his temperamental carpet and twinblades Nasseem travels Faerun in search of adventure and friendship.
Prom 05-29-07, 06:13 AM	Hi Apupunchau, What do you want help with? Prom
Apupunchau 05-29-07, 07:18 AM	I'm looking for affectation and mannerisms to play with the character. Little quirks he should have. I have a friend who speaks Arabic so I've gotten a few words and small phrases to say. Like caling the enemy son of a dog and the word for fly to say to the carpet both in Arabic. Actually now that I'm thinking of it except for the basics, hiehgt, weoght, Skin, hair and eye color I haven't come up with a physical description either, backgrounds I'm good at physicall descriptions I'm kind of not so good at.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 05-31-07, 02:57 AM	Keep an eye out for holy men. In an Arabian Knights type setting they probably hold a lot more authority and its up to you whether you want to avoid them all together or get as close as possible as they are closer to god. Foriegn gods in particular should hold great interest for you. Since you are supposed to be experiencing the wider world look for "new" foods and drinks. For you an apple may be a strange new food to be savored. Perhaps you have never eaten Rothe'. Dwarven Ale and Elven Wine are now sought at any cost. Even go so far as to seek foreign women who are not so restricted as your own.
Apupunchau 05-31-07, 07:27 AM	All very good. Since Shares is an aspect of Bast and one of the player's happens to be dating a werefeline of sometime priestess of Bast I'll make sure to play that up. The group he is from as an ecstatic cult of Shares so gods are very important. I like the experiencing the wider world especially since his sect follows the Sharess tenet of living life to the fullest. His sect is big on drinking, drugs and sex to reach a divine state so actually I think Foreign Women will be a lot more restrictive than the women is tribe, but I see how that could be interesting as well. I'll remember to eat and drink anything I can get my hands on. I need to find rules on drugs for the game I'm sure their are some but at this point all the books I've finsihed fade together. Mostly likely in DMG and/or DMG II though I'd assume. I can see him taking hallucenagens to expand his mind and maybe something else he thinks gives him an edge in batle as he goes into an ecstatic state for combat.
Fithero 05-31-07, 09:27 AM	Just a strange point, but did anyone ever notice that the only guy who looks middle eastern in Aladdin is the bad guy? Also, the fact that the two heroes look white? (Its depressing to know, but the appearance of Aladdin was based on Tom Cruise....) As for your character, get a set of traditions down in stone, then comment when the ways of others in the wider world conflict (or are just diffent) with your own. eg: Showing '5' via your hand is considered acceptable if your palm is facing yourself, but rude if your palm is facing outward (at another person) (Im not sure if thats middle eastern, but i know its a no no...somewhere) Small stuff like that adds great detail to your character.
Apupunchau 05-31-07, 10:31 AM	That's definitely what I'm looking for I don't quite have his culture exactly sorted out. He's from Calimshan but from a reclusive sect so it's arabain in nature but not quite what average Calashites are like. I'm defiantely gonna use the showing "5" on the hand thing that's really useful. If anyone has any other Taboos that might be fun to play, not something that'll just get annoying quickly but little things that might make some thing mundane into an insult and trying to deal with adapting to that culture.
Fithero 05-31-07, 10:55 AM	The left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene and is considered dirty, all transactions with others are done with the right hand. (also, you eat with your right hand, never touch food with your left) Public displays of affection are no no. Standing close to someone is considered a show of respect, dont step away if they are stepping towards you. At times, communicate in ways in which others would consider you to be angry or upset (your not actually, to you it just suits the mood of the current conversation) Elderly people come first. Stand when greeting them (greet them frist) serve them frist ect. Showing or touching someone with the soul of your foot is considered offensive. Take your shoes off before entering a private abode. The 'thumbs up' is pretty much the equal to our 'giving the finger' Im not sure if all of these are actually real or not (seeing as my reference is Wikipedia... oh the shame) but they should help you with the character. Peace
Prom 05-31-07, 04:34 PM	Hi Apupunchau, Looks like you already have the mannerisms you wanted. I have some experience with combat (have been doing unarmed combat for 20 years) and with drugs (work in the area of rehabilition). I don't really see how drugs will improve your characters combat skills. Unless you use adrenaline or steriods. Still it is your character, make it how you want. Prom
pyro_cat 05-31-07, 05:04 PM	Hi Apupunchau, I have some experience with combat (have been doing unarmed combat for 20 years) and with drugs (work in the area of rehabilition). I don't really see how drugs will improve your characters combat skills. Unless you use adrenaline or steriods. Still it is your character, make it how you want. Prom I guess you've never seen someone dancing on e. I dunno, I'm not one with a penchant for fist fighting, but my experiences with drugs have definately opened my eyes to their physiological effects. Anything that reduces pain reception and inhibitions is going to make you a more dangerous fighter, at least, especially if your training is based around being intoxicated. Muscle relaxants, stimulants, and sensory enhancers can all also have a positive effect on combat capability. I'm just a kid; a first year university student, but I've seen enough to know you don't try to fight someone on speed, or someone who's all coked up, or someone strung out on dope. I've also had a bit of experience in martial arts and athleticism, and I can attest to situations where drug use has increased my capabilities in those areas. I have a video of myself, tripping fairly hard on mushrooms, running, hurtling to the top of an industrial garbage can (about 5 feet high), running along a line of six of them without falling, then grabbing the lip of the roof of the building beside me, and one handed valuting up another five feet or so to land on the roof, on my feet. I'm not saying that my physical capabilities were increased; I've always been a fit person (on the track team, working out, etc) but drugs can certainly stimulate you to do things that you CAN do, but were mentally blocked from doing sober. I probably could have jumped that building sober, but I never would have had the courage or focus to do it. I've always likened a good high to being "in the zone". You have a lot more martial arts experience than I do... I'm not even twenty years old, so you'll know what I mean. Sometimes when you're sparring, everything just... clicks. You're always where you're supposed to be, your blows always land, and a certain preternatural awareness guides all your actions. You stop thinking - that ceaseless little internal voice shuts off, and the next thing you know, your partner's on the ground in an arm bar. You can get that focus and clarity, especially when focusing on purely physical pursuits, from a variety of substances. Of course, the best warriors can put themselves into that mindspace all on their own. But for the rest of us, drugs can sometimes work. Even playing wallball after smoking a joint is smoother; I've seen this kind of phenomena from both a high and sober perspective.
Prom 05-31-07, 10:22 PM	Hi pyro_cat, I will respond to your above post pyro_cat. First sorry Apupunchau, if this steers off topic. It is correct that p, opiates, illegal and legal drugs can reduce the feel of pain, but this is generally used by professional soldiers when they have been injuried. None of these drugs improve hand and eye co-ordination or reaction time. The drugs I have talked about will make a person less inhibited, making them feel more alert but they really aren't. You have a feeling of power which is false. A person trained in any combat will always have the advantage over a person with similar skills who is on these drugs. Against untrained people a person on p, opiates etc would have an advantage. The armed forces do not use drugs to improve combat performance. Apupunchau, maybe your character takes some form of pain-killer when baddly injuried. Hallucinogens are taken by some tribal cultures to communicate with the spirit world (don't really know if it works), so if this is your characters goal that would make sense to your character I imagine. Prom
pyro_cat 06-01-07, 07:11 PM	Hi pyro_cat, I will respond to your above post pyro_cat. First sorry Apupunchau, if this steers off topic. It is correct that p, opiates, illegal and legal drugs can reduce the feel of pain, but this is generally used by professional soldiers when they have been injuried. None of these drugs improve hand and eye co-ordination or reaction time. The drugs I have talked about will make a person less inhibited, making them feel more alert but they really aren't. You have a feeling of power which is false. A person trained in any combat will always have the advantage over a person with similar skills who is on these drugs. Against untrained people a person on p, opiates etc would have an advantage. The armed forces do not use drugs to improve combat performance. Yeah... sorry for taking things off track there. Here's a tie-in. @ the OP: you're probably referencing the whole Assassin thing, and it might be noteworthy to mention that they were never given drugs explicitly to make them better fighters. They were given drugs so they'd be more willing to go on suicide missions. That aspect of the whole thing clearly isn't what you're going for. There are rules in the BoVD that explain drugs and drug use (obviously I'm not one to condone their inclusion in the Book of Vile Darkness... that's a little simpllistic for my tastes, but I'm biased), and there are certainly some drugs in there that will help your character out from a mechanical standpoint. @ Prom: As for real life drugs and performance... well, I don't know the science behind it, but I know that your statement about the armed forces is patently untrue. Methamphetamines, for example, were used extensively by the German airforce in WWII to improve reaction speed and fatigue resistance. Furthermore, even something as simple as weed is commonly (relatively) used in sports such as archery or rifle shooting to relax muscles and increase accuracy. There IS a reason these things are refered to as "performance enhancing drugs" in the world of professional sports I'm not quite sure where you're getting your information from, but some of it sounds a little sketchy. I know how hard it can be to find impartial information about such a loaded topic.
Apupunchau 06-01-07, 07:23 PM	American Studies and drugs are so messed up because they basically only publish the things about how bad drugs are for you. There are a number of foreign studies that tell you both the, I don't want to use good here but maybe non detrimental effects and the detrimental effects. Anyway back on topic I found the book of vile darkness listings, my DM point them out this morning. There are a few things I may be using for the character but the list is very short. Has anyone made an online resource that can be pointed to. My DM may not let me use them but he may so its worth a look for me.
pyro_cat 06-01-07, 07:42 PM	Anyway back on topic I found the book of vile darkness listings, my DM point them out this morning. There are a few things I may be using for the character but the list is very short. Has anyone made an online resource that can be pointed to. My DM may not let me use them but he may so its worth a look for me. Um, I haven't seen anything, but remember, there are also plenty of alchemical substances that enhance performance, and are only a quick flavour tweak away from being drugs. There MUST be a list somewhere. I remember seeing something on the CharOp forums. Try digging around over there for a thread about good alchemical substances.
Southernskies 06-02-07, 08:07 AM	I saw a documentary (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_zulu/clues.html) on the Battle of Isandlwana during the zulu wars. They had two judo experts sparring as a demonstration and then they gave one of them the "hero powder" that the zulu used in battle (when analysed, it was contained hallucinogens and morphine-type painkillers). The level of aggression of the taker went up, but their skill level went down. Matching it to the game rules, it would be like drinking a potion of Rage for effect. At 750gp each for the Wiz version, a bit expensive, but the Bard version at 400gp is more palatable (but the duration is still extremely short).
pyro_cat 06-02-07, 08:48 AM	I saw a documentary (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_zulu/clues.html) on the Battle of Isandlwana during the zulu wars. They had two judo experts sparring as a demonstration and then they gave one of them the "hero powder" that the zulu used in battle (when analysed, it was contained hallucinogens and morphine-type painkillers). The level of aggression of the taker went up, but their skill level went down. That's pretty cool. I suppose the OP's character could have different drugs that produce different highs, depending on what's appropriate for the situation... Something like this for fights against lots of less skilled opponents, something like marijuana as a muscle relaxant for ranged combat, something like meth or some modern day pharmaceuticals for a robo-high when he's up against something that will demand a higher skill level on his behalf. These could be the drugs from the BoVD and alchemical substances, or it could be a purely flavour and roleplaying thing, too. I've been tossing around the idea of a drug based character for a while, so you'll have to forgive my interest. Matching it to the game rules, it would be like drinking a potion of Rage for effect. At 750gp each for the Wiz version, a bit expensive, but the Bard version at 400gp is more palatable (but the duration is still extremely short). Good idea. I think there MIGHT be alchemical substances somewhere that do the same thing. Seems familiar to me.
Fithero 06-02-07, 09:31 AM	Well, considering the fact that this is a fantasy setting and people dont have the capabilities to produce drugs such as speed or LSD, i think this topic is moot. It was only a minor aspect of this guys character anyway. I think that playing a character who will be in a society not of his own is a pretty interesting challange. Best of luck to you. May i enquire though, to the fact that your characters eyes are white.... do you know how bizarre that will look? Peace
pyro_cat 06-02-07, 09:41 AM	Well, considering the fact that this is a fantasy setting and people dont have the capabilities to produce drugs such as speed or LSD, i think this topic is moot. Again, I should chime in and mention that even something like methamphetamine exists in the natural world - very little extraction or refinement is necessary, in many cases. But yes, there will, of course, be a limit to what can be produced. Don't forget however, that there is even a spell published that is designed to extract a drug that you couldn't get otherwise. A low level spell like this might make drugs as common as the are now; with magic replacing technology.
Apupunchau 06-02-07, 02:20 PM	May i enquire though, to the fact that your characters eyes are white.... do you know how bizarre that will look? Yes it is a stand out look but White Hair and White Eyes were to traits mentioned in the Air Genasi description and I decided on them both. I figured they would be a trait common to all those of Elemental Blood in his tribe.
pyro_cat 06-02-07, 02:26 PM	I like the flying carpet thing. How much were you going to put into that? Item Familiar rules in Unearthed Arcana might be an interesting way to expand on a flying carpet with personality.
Apupunchau 06-02-07, 05:51 PM	Well my DM basically gave me the base flying carpet but because I couldn't afford it he gave it a weird personality. I have to egg it on into combat and coerce into doing anything special. He made a random chart to decide the carpets current mood so it's going to be interesting. The story behind it is that it had lost it's first master and had been wandering around the desert for awhile before my father found it. He gave it to me as a gift when I was leaving but it hasn't totally be broken in.
Brok_the_Ranger 06-02-07, 06:51 PM	From my experiance as a soldier in Iraq I can say this on the mannerisms. MOst Locals were very friendly if anything. MOst would offer water or even just company because of the language barrier. I have been invited to Chi (Tea) and it is almost a ceramony (sp?). I had the opertunity to see a wedding and it was full of livly revalry and music, those screeching hornes. As to mannerisms most men squat to pee and it is rude to use youe left hand in any way to another as has been mentioned above. To show the bottom of your foot or to turn your back is very rude. Often during patrols we would be greeted with the word "sah-lom" thats a phonetic spelling. Another thing was Holding out the left arm palm facing up and using the right hand in a choping motion just above the elbow twords the wrist ment please. This was often used by refugees who wanted help or water. I still see the old ladies begging for help dooing this. I have others but I think this is good for now. Brok
Apupunchau 06-02-07, 11:17 PM	Thanks a lot for that Brok it's all very helpful. I hope your home and done with Iraq and if you're not I hope you're done soon.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 06-03-07, 12:12 AM	From my experiance as a soldier in Iraq I can say this on the mannerisms. MOst Locals were very friendly if anything. MOst would offer water or even just company because of the language barrier. I have been invited to Chi (Tea) and it is almost a ceramony (sp?). I had the opertunity to see a wedding and it was full of livly revalry and music, those screeching hornes. As to mannerisms most men squat to pee and it is rude to use youe left hand in any way to another as has been mentioned above. To show the bottom of your foot or to turn your back is very rude. Often during patrols we would be greeted with the word "sah-lom" thats a phonetic spelling. Another thing was Holding out the left arm palm facing up and using the right hand in a choping motion just above the elbow twords the wrist ment please. This was often used by refugees who wanted help or water. I still see the old ladies begging for help dooing this. I have others but I think this is good for now. Brok :D Sallaam -- peace (arabic) Do not reply with Shalom -- peace (hebrew) :D
El_Shawno 06-03-07, 12:25 AM	That's definitely what I'm looking for I don't quite have his culture exactly sorted out. He's from Calimshan but from a reclusive sect so it's arabain in nature but not quite what average Calashites are like. I'm defiantely gonna use the showing "5" on the hand thing that's really useful. If anyone has any other Taboos that might be fun to play, not something that'll just get annoying quickly but little things that might make some thing mundane into an insult and trying to deal with adapting to that culture. I also remember somewhere that Arabs regard a contract or agreement as being just the beginning of the whole negotiation process. That attitude would fit nicely with a Chaotically aligned character, I think. Also, IIRC, pre-Islamic Arabia was a place where tribal ties defined one to a huge degree. In terms of current-day etiquette, I believe Arab, like most Muslims, place the most important guest closest and to the right of the host. This then progress in order of importance. Maybe your character could cause a ruckus becuase he believes his honor has been insulted by host who doesn't follow this ethic. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun campaign.
Apupunchau 06-03-07, 01:58 AM	Hmmm that's a good one too. I'll have to figure somethings out I want to be interesting without constantly disrupting the party be being truly odd. As for a good campaign it has been. It' sbeen well over a year of weekly play and I've enjoyed it all.