Post/Author/DateTime	Post
arcady 11-23-03, 12:09 PM	I posted this under 'What's a player to do' but it probably fits in better here. Situation is turning out that my chaotic neutral PC is the only viable option for party leader. A short on the cast: Tanakar: the lawful evil rogue. A crafty manipulative noble on the run from his father. Galthunk: the 'neutral'? half-orc barbarian. Bajyr: the CN Druid with an as-yet unnamed wolf companion. Sisi: my CN Bard dancer. The players of the druid and barbarian are the semi quiet types, and the rogue is a more 'in the back character'. The middle two are a little lighter on backgrounds. That leaves Sisi - she'sshallow, self centered, but charming and manipulative. I'll give her detailed background and personality in a moment. We're in a city, on the southern end of an Imperial Client-state. Specifically we're in Pagalido, a southern city of Tarisato -a client state to Kalamar- on the edge of the Obakasek jungle. A large portion of the city population are Hobgoblin citizens of the empire, and assorted other humanoids who profess loyalty. It's a coastal city of -I think- around 8,000 with a very large imperial garrison to fend of jungle invasions from hostile humanoids. I need to figure out exactly how I should play Sisi, as someone who's going to be the leader of this group, within that framework -given her essentially selfish, amoral personality. Thoughts? Usually I play LN, N, or NG, and I'd wager I'm closest to LG in terms of how DnD frames the alignments. This is my first CN from the player end of the table (I usually GM). Here's the detailed version of her background and personality: Sisi-Minona Aziri, half-elven bard level 1. Strength 10, Dexterity 14, Constitution 12, Intelligence 14, Wisdom 8, Charisma 16 (28 points) Align: Chaotic Neutral, Hit Points:7 Fort: +1 Ref: +4 Will: +1 Background: Born a slave in Vrandol, Sisi-Minona was trained for a life as a concubine. At 19 she was sold for 130 gold and set to be shipped off to Bet-Kalamar. Her ship was taken by pirates along the way, and Sisi-Minona found herself bound for the markets in Prompeldia after some time among the pirates. An asault by The Brotherhood of the Broken Chain however won her freedom. Sisi was given clothes, a handful of silver, and dropped off at the nearest port. She had no idea what to do with herself -having never been free- so she sold herself as an indentured servant for a period of five years to a band of traveling entertainers. There she honed her singing and dancing as well as concubine skills until her contract was at an end, and she was let go in Pagalido on the southern border of Tarisato. It was during this time that she also made careful observation of her free companions, in order to learn the basics of surviving on her own. She is now 26 and a cross in appearance between a wood elf and a Svimohz-human (looks sort of like a mix of african and korean with pointy ears). Personality: Sisi-Minona uses the family name of her mother's master, Aziri. She is not fully comfortable with being on her own, and is thus a little unwise to the ways of the world. Sisi views her sexuality as a commodity -it is not a source of joy, pleasure, pain, or remose -merely of gaining advantage. She likewise sees people mostly in terms of what they want from her or what she can get from them. She has no set goals other than surviving and improving her lot. Some would say she is shallow, and this is a product of her background. For Sisi, morality is a non existant concept -everyone's just out to get advantage over everyone else, people are both users and get used. Feat: Extra Bardic Music (Ult. Feats and Song & Silence) Special Abilities: the usual half-elf and bard stuff. Bardic Music 5/day Skills: 32 pts Bluff +7[4], Diplomacy +8[3+2], Perform [Dance] +7[4], Perform [Sing] +6[3], Appraise +3[1], Balance +3[1], Deciper Script +3[1], Gather Info +7[2+2], Hide +3[1], Knowledge [Art/Music] +3[1], Listen +2[2+1], Move Siltenly +3[1], Ritual +3[1], Sense Motive 3[4], Search +3[+1], Spellcraft +3[1], Spot 0[+1], Tumble +3[1], Use Magic Device +4[1] Spells (2/-): Level 0-Filtch (R&RII), Summon Specific Critter [small monkey] (R&RII), Mage Hand, Daze Equipment: Entertainer's outfit (*2), traveler's outfit, Shoulder bag , waterskin, sap, Shortbow, arrows [20], dagger whip, spell component pouch, Mirror, Sewing Needle, Soap (1 lbs), Mule, Riding Saddle, Saddlebags, belt pouch, 8gp, 0sp, 46gp in jewelry. Languages: Svimohz, Brandobian, Low Elven, Kalamaran [b]d20 notes: Filtch lets you have a nearby diminutive object disapear and reapear in your had. Summon critter - monkey lets her get a 'circus monkey' for 1 hour/level. Ritual is a skill in Relics and Rituals that lets a spell caster cooperate with others to boost caster level at the cost of time (and maybe hit points) or burn time/goods instead of spell levels to put metamagic on spells - provided you know the metamagic. dagger whip is from sword and fist - it's a whip that does 1d6 damage.
Morka 11-24-03, 12:08 PM	It is curious that a CN person honnor a contract of 5 years (whatever the contract), no? So in the beginning, she should start to ask the people she met things only for her. Then, probably the half-orc will tell her something like:"Herr... you kind, not me. Ask the innkeeper for a room for me, he will do you a better price than me..." Then, the rogue will "decide" that you will be the official group speaker. Each time, you should do the busy waitress: "Bah! Ok now, what each of you want?" You can work it Out of Character with the other players, or play the selfish bard until they react in character. And be sure to forget someone once a day. Another suggestion is to stay polite, but if the merchant you speak to doesn't satisfy you, suddenly begin to scream and yell at him, and as soon as he lower his price, you return with a true smile: "Thank you, dear sir, you were very kind." That is a very chaotic way to do business.
LiXinjian 11-25-03, 08:49 AM	I can imagine Sisi answering questions in the name of the group, without first discussing the reply with them. She also keeps overlooking the other pc's motivations and alignment, of course. King: would you do this, then do that? Sisi: Yeah, sure. It sounds like fun. Barbarian: Whut??! You crazy?! Rogue: that's stupid do-gooder stuff! I don't want to waste my time with that! Sisi: Oh, come on guys! We can do that! Sure beats lying around doin' nothing, like we've been doing for the last two weeks. King(oblivious): I am relieved. No one else wanted to do it. I also imagine she would be very cautious with people, always wary some would try to take advantage of her. At the same time, when she wants something, she uses guile and charm to get it. "Oh, why don't you be the good boy and fetch it for me, okay? I'll wait for you at the Inn That Never Sleeps. That a boy!" If confronted on the fact that, as a party leader, she doesn't pay attention to the others' needs, she just shrugs and says: "Do better. I didn't ask to be put in charge, you know." The point is that she doesn't truly care about being the leader of the group. In fact, it would probably be more fun not being the leader, but who else could fill these shoes? All of the others are either too dumb or too focused or too confused or too anything else to do the job. Also, I personaly find it possible for a CN to honour a five-year contract. If she was enjoying herself with those circus clowns, why would she leave, especially if she's afraid of being alone?
Arilou_skiff 11-25-03, 12:44 PM	Ever read psychology? Well, there's basically three types of leader, the "Democratic" leader, the "Authoritarian" leader and the "Laissez Faire" Leader. The Democratic leader always confers with everyone before making a decision he(or she) tries to guide the group towards consensus. The Authoritarian leader does not really care about the others, his way or the highway so to speak. While the Laissez Faire leader basically ignores his group, he is generally passive and does not really get himself involved in what the group does unless absolutely neccessary. Of course, if you want to play *really* Chaotic, (aka. Xaotisect Chaotic) you change leadership styles frequently and drastically :D
arcady 11-26-03, 03:36 AM	Just a note on the 5 year 'contract'. It was indentured servitude - which means she was a slave in all manners save that there was a pre-established condition for it to end and the person who put her into it was herself. In US history, this was the means by which many poor colonists arrived - as indentureds to the wealthier Yeoman class that paid their way over from Europe. Often part of the contract would put them into a trade, but sometimes it was merely a labor contract (to include into brothels - which is the most common use of this system today though not legally). Anyway, Sisi put herself into that deal out of a lack of any better idea over what to do with her new found freedom - she had at the time no idea how to survive as anything but a slave. I've been writing her journal of the first session, once I finish it I may post it here somewhere, or link to it in this thread. As I write it I've been expanding a lot on her history, and learning more of who she is now as I reflect on her actions in the first session. Two weeks till the next session though... :D
MoogleEmpMog 11-27-03, 12:09 AM	As the longtime player of a party leader TN/CN (shifts often enough, and frankly there's been some NE in there as well;) ) dwarf mercenary with a Cha of 9, all I can say is that it makes for a much more interesting experience interacting with the NPCs :D Just for example: Displaced King: If you help me back to the throne, I'll grant you each a dukedom. Other PC #1 (LG and muttering): He's a good guy. I did Detect Evil on the usurper - he's actually a demon in disguise! Other PC #2 (CG and muttering): Agreed. Besides, we're on the run as it is. Other PC #3 (NG and muttering): That settles it, then. Party Leader (CN and doing the talking): Give me one good reason why it wouldn't be more cost effective for us to haul your pasty rear in to the new king, let him execute you, assassinate him when his guard's down, and take the kingdom for ourselves? Displaced King (and the rest of the party): :eek: Since I'm the most aggressive role-player and my character has been doing the talking from the start (he's the only one of the original PCs to survive, too), this is the sort of thing we actually attempt. Needless to say, we have a somewhat lighthearted campaign.:smirk:
arcady 11-29-03, 08:24 PM	I put my character's journal on my website: http://arcady0.topcities.com/Kalamar/asPlayer/Sisi.html It's all 'PG-13' as are our games in general. You can find it through the Kalamar link in my signature as well.