Human Rogue [Archive] - Wizards Community

Human Rogue [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lezales
10-18-06, 03:39 PM A series of unfortnate events gave Victor of House Krane the name of Victor the messenger robber. Listen well to this story about the power of pen and paper...

The Downfall
Victor was still very young, merely two years of age, when it fell upon the wrong ears that his great grandfather, Duke Edward of House Krane, had betrayed the kingdom during the war. The allegations were that he had financed the rebel army in hopes they would obtain independance. It had been a bold move to gain greater influence, but it had failed and his descendants would pay the price of treason.

It was not long before the whole family was branded as traitors and all their wealth stripped from them. The kingsmen lead a quick and devastating raid to capture as many Krane as they could. Victor's father stayed behind to buy time for their escape, he was captured and later executed or emprisoned for life, no one knows.

Broken Hopes
Victor's mother, Amelia, had taken refuge in a neighboring country with the family; Victor, Ariann and Kathe. Amelia had managed to take jewlery along with her and sold the lot to buy a small house in the lower parts of the city, it's all they could afford if they wanted to eat for some time.

There, Victor and his sisters helped their mother to make ends-meet with what they could. Less than honorable things were done for a handful of coppers. In time they met with a man named Angus, he was of some influence in the streets and offered protection and a more comfortable life in exchange of work from the family. So, for the next few years, Victor learned to steal from merchants and bully minor aristocrats into giving him and his gang their money.

Comfort there was but a shadow of what it was once, but at least now the family could afford everything they needed. Victor's gang was a financial success, especially for Angus and Victor's sisters and mother seemd to be doing fine.

But everytime it was a torture, Angus' smile as Victor gave him the day's "findings", it was a troture because he knew. He knew what his sisters had to do to get their share*of money. He didn't know if it was worse for his mother since Angus kept her for himself. Nonetheless, they stayed strong through this and Victor prayed everynight to get them out of this.

Everyone's trash is Victor's treasure
One night, the gang was out in the upper part of town to catch a noble or a wealthy merchant's purse. In time they met with a group of nicely dressed and armed men carrying unusually large bags. Daggers flew, swords were drawn and the shadows fell on the unsuspecting group. What the gang discovered in the bags were nothing more than letters and none of them knew how to read, except Victor, he cleverly hid that fact.

They all left the scene empty handed, but he hid the bags and convinced the group not to tell Angus blood was spilled for mere paper, they agreed out of fear of Angus' fury, especially since the day's findings were thin that day.

The weeks that followed were nothing but reading for Victor as he discovered the power of ink on paper and sealed wax. He studied them for long nights and eventually tried to copy some of them and used them to "legally" acquire items from stores and to get invited to the Count's ball. The possibilities were endless and he used them. Everything he earned on his own was carefully hidden from Angus. The time for retribution had come.

Freedom
One night, Angus was drunk and furious, times were grim and he was loosing sight of what he was doing. Like so many previous nights before, he'd hit them and treat them like mere servants, only to apologize and shower them with sorrys the following morning. But that night he violently slapped Kathe for talking back to him. "You little *****!" he said as he swipped the alcool off his lips. He took a few steps towards crying Kathe "I'm gonna beat you sensele..." But he never finished that sentence, nor did he get a chance to get that second slap to Kathe's face, blood was dripping from his throat, Victor's dagger had stroke true. Angus clasped the dagger but it was firmly planted across his neck, Victor, ignoring the suffering Angus, helped Kathe up, she was in tears and completly shocked. Ariann was loosing it, screaming to her brother he had just ruined everything they had. His mother was silent, as she had been for far too long. Without a word he lead them all out free from Angus's hold.

The Calm
He took his family to the house of a man who had disapeared from the records, he had acquired it with a falsified deed. Victor's masquerade went on as he tracked even more messengers for new seals and writing styles. New names, new orders, new invitation, new transfers, he took them all. People paid a lot to get their friends out of jail, to get permission to build a new house, to get soldiers to escort them and any service ink and paper can get you...

Victor (Based on the character Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist)
Before you is a young handsome man, in an old brown wool trenchcoat, wearing his studded leather under it. His eyes catch most women's attention, but his short brushy brown hair and delicate maners give him all the charm he needs. Cleanly shaved and wearing that confident smile that puts most people at ease around him. Just as old as his coat, the high-hat he wears from time to time gives him the look a noble of the slums would have. Attached to his belt, on the right side, you can see a scabbard holding a rapier. His left hand often reaches for it, but it only touches the hilt and comes back.

Deep inside, Victor is emotionaly unstable, but generaly indifferent towards everything. The problem doesn't lie there, it's all in his passions. When Victor ventures passed his indifference, he doesn't go halfway, it's everything or nothing, be it good or bad. Killing others for the safety of his family or to obtain something his family needs or even, really wants, has become trivial.

Some good values are still anchored in him though. No children or women will ever come to harm by him, he has seen enough of that. Helping children and women in need is also priority to him, but little to no pity is given to grown men in the same situation.

Level 1 (Standard Point Buy (25))
Stats
STR 10, DEX 14, CON 10, INT 16, WIS 8, CHA 13
Feats
Combat Expertise, Improved Feint
Skills (ranks only) (4) + ((8+3)x4) = 48 ranks
Forgery (+4), Bluff (+4), Decipher Script (+4), Desable Device (+3), Gather Information (+4), Hide (+4), Knowledge:local (+4), Knowledge:nobility (+2), Listen (+1), Move Silently (+4), Open Lock (+4), Sleight of Hand (+4), Spot (+4)

So here you have it, the character I made after I realised how important letters were in medieval times. As the only mundane communication method, a stranger with letters from afar could enter any foreign town and pretend to be anyone or to own anything (given it's done with some planning). Eagerly awaiting what you all think about how I tried to link as much mekaniks to how my character is in his story.
Grizzled Gryphon
10-19-06, 12:16 PM Nifty back story. I never really considered the power of pen and ink from the time period of D&D. However, after a fairly low level of "power", for lack of a better word, then ink and paper would be used rarely, or with some sort of magical proof. For example, The Captian of the Guard has a +3 sword made for him. Some guy in livery showing up at the shop where it was made wouldn't be able to just show a peice of paper and say I am here to get his sword for him. The maker of the sword would just laugh at him.

However, there are some interesting ideas that are brought to mind with this... Thanks for that!!
Lezales
10-19-06, 07:07 PM Of course, if you decide to use it to gain access to magical or otherwise powerful items (i.e. secret royal information) then there's more to it than ink and paper. Like I mentioned, some of his cons would take a lot more planning, people don't usually give anything to a stranger and a signed letter. But a high standing seal might do...

I doubt the guard that checks invitations at the Countess' ball would require magical proof of who you are and the local stable will not require more proof than the king's seal to lend you a pair of good horses. Which brings me to mention he loves stealing signet rings, especially when he invites himself to any high society meeting.
Grizzled Gryphon
10-20-06, 12:04 PM LOL, how true. There really are just too many things that wouldn't require magical proof. However, there is always the problem of someone catching wind of this happening, or figureing it out, and deciding it needs to be stoppped. Eventually, this could get to the point that the kings court wizard and some powerful royal cronies come knocking on the door with some hard to asnwer questions...

Sounds like an adventure in the making!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lezales 10-18-06, 03:39 PM	A series of unfortnate events gave Victor of House Krane the name of Victor the messenger robber. Listen well to this story about the power of pen and paper... The Downfall Victor was still very young, merely two years of age, when it fell upon the wrong ears that his great grandfather, Duke Edward of House Krane, had betrayed the kingdom during the war. The allegations were that he had financed the rebel army in hopes they would obtain independance. It had been a bold move to gain greater influence, but it had failed and his descendants would pay the price of treason. It was not long before the whole family was branded as traitors and all their wealth stripped from them. The kingsmen lead a quick and devastating raid to capture as many Krane as they could. Victor's father stayed behind to buy time for their escape, he was captured and later executed or emprisoned for life, no one knows. Broken Hopes Victor's mother, Amelia, had taken refuge in a neighboring country with the family; Victor, Ariann and Kathe. Amelia had managed to take jewlery along with her and sold the lot to buy a small house in the lower parts of the city, it's all they could afford if they wanted to eat for some time. There, Victor and his sisters helped their mother to make ends-meet with what they could. Less than honorable things were done for a handful of coppers. In time they met with a man named Angus, he was of some influence in the streets and offered protection and a more comfortable life in exchange of work from the family. So, for the next few years, Victor learned to steal from merchants and bully minor aristocrats into giving him and his gang their money. Comfort there was but a shadow of what it was once, but at least now the family could afford everything they needed. Victor's gang was a financial success, especially for Angus and Victor's sisters and mother seemd to be doing fine. But everytime it was a torture, Angus' smile as Victor gave him the day's "findings", it was a troture because he knew. He knew what his sisters had to do to get their shareof money. He didn't know if it was worse for his mother since Angus kept her for himself. Nonetheless, they stayed strong through this and Victor prayed everynight to get them out of this. Everyone's trash is Victor's treasure One night, the gang was out in the upper part of town to catch a noble or a wealthy merchant's purse. In time they met with a group of nicely dressed and armed men carrying unusually large bags. Daggers flew, swords were drawn and the shadows fell on the unsuspecting group. What the gang discovered in the bags were nothing more than letters and none of them knew how to read, except Victor, he cleverly hid that fact. They all left the scene empty handed, but he hid the bags and convinced the group not to tell Angus blood was spilled for mere paper, they agreed out of fear of Angus' fury, especially since the day's findings were thin that day. The weeks that followed were nothing but reading for Victor as he discovered the power of ink on paper and sealed wax. He studied them for long nights and eventually tried to copy some of them and used them to "legally" acquire items from stores and to get invited to the Count's ball. The possibilities were endless and he used them. Everything he earned on his own was carefully hidden from Angus. The time for retribution had come. Freedom One night, Angus was drunk and furious, times were grim and he was loosing sight of what he was doing. Like so many previous nights before, he'd hit them and treat them like mere servants, only to apologize and shower them with sorrys the following morning. But that night he violently slapped Kathe for talking back to him. "You little ****!" he said as he swipped the alcool off his lips. He took a few steps towards crying Kathe "I'm gonna beat you sensele..." But he never finished that sentence, nor did he get a chance to get that second slap to Kathe's face, blood was dripping from his throat, Victor's dagger had stroke true. Angus clasped the dagger but it was firmly planted across his neck, Victor, ignoring the suffering Angus, helped Kathe up, she was in tears and completly shocked. Ariann was loosing it, screaming to her brother he had just ruined everything they had. His mother was silent, as she had been for far too long. Without a word he lead them all out free from Angus's hold. The Calm He took his family to the house of a man who had disapeared from the records, he had acquired it with a falsified deed. Victor's masquerade went on as he tracked even more messengers for new seals and writing styles. New names, new orders, new invitation, new transfers, he took them all. People paid a lot to get their friends out of jail, to get permission to build a new house, to get soldiers to escort them and any service ink and paper can get you... Victor (Based on the character Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist) Before you is a young handsome man, in an old brown wool trenchcoat, wearing his studded leather under it. His eyes catch most women's attention, but his short brushy brown hair and delicate maners give him all the charm he needs. Cleanly shaved and wearing that confident smile that puts most people at ease around him. Just as old as his coat, the high-hat he wears from time to time gives him the look a noble of the slums would have. Attached to his belt, on the right side, you can see a scabbard holding a rapier. His left hand often reaches for it, but it only touches the hilt and comes back. Deep inside, Victor is emotionaly unstable, but generaly indifferent towards everything. The problem doesn't lie there, it's all in his passions. When Victor ventures passed his indifference, he doesn't go halfway, it's everything or nothing, be it good or bad. Killing others for the safety of his family or to obtain something his family needs or even, really wants, has become trivial. Some good values are still anchored in him though. No children or women will ever come to harm by him, he has seen enough of that. Helping children and women in need is also priority to him, but little to no pity is given to grown men in the same situation. Level 1 (Standard Point Buy (25)) Stats STR 10, DEX 14, CON 10, INT 16, WIS 8, CHA 13 Feats Combat Expertise, Improved Feint Skills (ranks only) (4) + ((8+3)x4) = 48 ranks Forgery (+4), Bluff (+4), Decipher Script (+4), Desable Device (+3), Gather Information (+4), Hide (+4), Knowledge:local (+4), Knowledge:nobility (+2), Listen (+1), Move Silently (+4), Open Lock (+4), Sleight of Hand (+4), Spot (+4) So here you have it, the character I made after I realised how important letters were in medieval times. As the only mundane communication method, a stranger with letters from afar could enter any foreign town and pretend to be anyone or to own anything (given it's done with some planning). Eagerly awaiting what you all think about how I tried to link as much mekaniks to how my character is in his story.
Grizzled Gryphon 10-19-06, 12:16 PM	Nifty back story. I never really considered the power of pen and ink from the time period of D&D. However, after a fairly low level of "power", for lack of a better word, then ink and paper would be used rarely, or with some sort of magical proof. For example, The Captian of the Guard has a +3 sword made for him. Some guy in livery showing up at the shop where it was made wouldn't be able to just show a peice of paper and say I am here to get his sword for him. The maker of the sword would just laugh at him. However, there are some interesting ideas that are brought to mind with this... Thanks for that!!
Lezales 10-19-06, 07:07 PM	Of course, if you decide to use it to gain access to magical or otherwise powerful items (i.e. secret royal information) then there's more to it than ink and paper. Like I mentioned, some of his cons would take a lot more planning, people don't usually give anything to a stranger and a signed letter. But a high standing seal might do... I doubt the guard that checks invitations at the Countess' ball would require magical proof of who you are and the local stable will not require more proof than the king's seal to lend you a pair of good horses. Which brings me to mention he loves stealing signet rings, especially when he invites himself to any high society meeting.
Grizzled Gryphon 10-20-06, 12:04 PM	LOL, how true. There really are just too many things that wouldn't require magical proof. However, there is always the problem of someone catching wind of this happening, or figureing it out, and deciding it needs to be stoppped. Eventually, this could get to the point that the kings court wizard and some powerful royal cronies come knocking on the door with some hard to asnwer questions... Sounds like an adventure in the making!!!