Ran Ainuan [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Ran Ainuan [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Firaeki
04-17-08, 11:56 AM (Based in a self-made world, where the desert lands of the south are based on a mix of ancient Chinese, Arabic, Ancient Egyptian, and non-historic culture.)

Ainuan was never the sort to like conflict. As a boy, he didn't fight or argue with other boys unless he was pressed to do so. Most of his time was spent with his parents at home or among the girl children as a youngster, learning about music and the world from his mother--a bard from the northlands who had settled down--and the craft of tailoring from his father.

When Ainuan grew, another thing that set him apart from other boys happened: As puberty set in, strange phenomena surrounded his house. Originally suspecting a haunt, it was soon discovered that sorcerous powers lay within the quiet youth. Embracing these as a gift, like many of that nation did, Ainuan was sent away from home to a school for potential spellcasters, where he learned of arcane secrets, how to control the energies he was born with, and how to manipulate them to his will as spells, privately continuing his practice of making clothing, designing fashions, and playing a guqin (wiki it).

While he made friends with people in this school easier than he had elsewhere, Ainuan was still a quiet, relatively shy, and peaceful young man, having learned only one spell for his personal defense, seeking to use his other spells for what he deemed more useful purposes. When he left the school at the age of eightteen, he bought himself a clawed gauntlet (a typical, simple weapon which is commonly used by travelling merchants for protection), a few supplies and bits of equipment, and returned home.

It was here, after three months of working as his father's apprentice, that he began to feel a deep sense of wanderlust, thinking of his mother's stories of the wide world, and all the strange and magnificent things and people. When his next year passed, he asked his parents for one gift on his birthday: To give him permission to leave home, to see the world and one day start a home, business and family of his own. With their blessings, and a few materials gathered by friends of the family in the village, he waved goodbye and made his way north.

~~~At this point, Ran Ainuan has just began as a level one sorcerer. Heading north into the kingless region called the Badlands, Ainuan is now in a foreign land among foreign people, the only common language between them a broken and mixed vocabulary which even the proficient must adjust to with each new place they visit.~~~

Well, there's a character I've built. His mechanics are below.

Ran Ainuan
Neutral Good Human Sorcerer 1
Str 13, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 16
Skills: Concentration +4, Craft (clothing) +9, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Perform (guqin) +7, Spellcraft +6
Feats: Skill Focus [Craft (clothing)], Scribe Scroll
Traits: Easygoing, Polite (+1 Diplomacy, +1 Gather Information, -2 Intimidate, -1 Sense Motive)
Spells Known: 0-Read Magic, Ghost Sound, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation. 1-Unseen Servant, Shocking Grasp.

Really the reason I post this is just to get some opinions on the starting background, and perhaps to detail what happens to our little hero here as he develops, whether or not he stays a peaceful guy or if he gets lost to the tides of conflict, how his life plays out, that sort.
elliott20
04-17-08, 12:19 PM I like this write-up. His background is simple, but chokeful of character. I just get this image of this clean shaven young man sitting by a river while he plays a lonely tune, little bits of incense smoke wrap around his head, etc.

I say don't make too many plans on how you want him to develop. Let him grow organically and if you see it fit, you can always really sell the entire Guqin aspect.
Firaeki
04-17-08, 08:33 PM Thanks elliott, I like the image that came to your head. Its actually fairly similar to what I was thinking for him.

I like the guqin thing I put in, those are some really pretty instuments, and I thought it'd fit his personality rather well, since it has a calm and peaceful quality to it.
elliott20
04-18-08, 10:44 AM I'm not sure how RAW this might be, but I often like the idea of a sorceror casting his spells through a medium of some kind. I once created a sorc who would manifest all of his powers through his pipe in some way. Hold person became smoke rings that turn into shackles, mage armor was the direct result of his smoke forming around him and condensing itself into armor. I argued that it's just description and that I wouldn't gain any mechanical advantages for this fluff, so the GM ran with it. (In the event that he wasn't cool with it, I was willing to offer up a feat for it)

I know it might be unorthodox, but I somehow saw him using his guqin as a medium for some castings too. (Though, I'm not sure how appropriate that would be as a guqin is a little cumbersome to be played in the heat of combat)

though, admittly, he mechanically would sound more like a bard when you go that route. still, fluff is what you make of it.
Firaeki
04-19-08, 07:52 AM I wouldn't make his guqin the medium for his spells, because he'll basically become more and more bard-y if I do. He's enough of one as-is I think, but I do appreciate the idea. It got me thinking that since sorcerers need 8 hours of rest and then the traditional 1 hour of meditation in order to collect the energies required to cast spells, maybe he does that through the whole, playing his instrument thing. Not that he needs it to do so, of course, just that's how he likes to.
elliott20
04-19-08, 07:49 PM I say go find a piece of guqin music and familiar yourself with it. That way, you can also use it to make his dramatic entrance. while you're at it, you can also use it to segway into backstories.
Master_Vega
04-27-08, 02:26 PM I didn't realize that instrument was called a guqin (never thought to look it up before).

Anyhow, 'tis indeed a very cool concept. I agree with elliot20, let Ainuan grow organically and become what he needs to be; that seems to have been his life-long attitude thus far (well, save for going off and adventuring.) If you want him to step out a little bit socially, have him try to resolve any party conflicts that arise. He dislikes arguments, so I think it makes sense. :P
He also seems like a very helpful character, though to strangers (and the party at first), he would probably only help when asked to.

With only a single combat spell, he seems to not expect a violent life. What will happen the first time he is forced to kill (if your DM is running a game with a decent amount of combat, that is)? Will he try to escape in his music? Will he try to justify it, or pretend it never happened? Will he simply accept that he has killed and then move on?
Firaeki
04-27-08, 03:03 PM I didn't realize that instrument was called a guqin (never thought to look it up before).

Anyhow, 'tis indeed a very cool concept. I agree with elliot20, let Ainuan grow organically and become what he needs to be; that seems to have been his life-long attitude thus far (well, save for going off and adventuring.) If you want him to step out a little bit socially, have him try to resolve any party conflicts that arise. He dislikes arguments, so I think it makes sense. :P
He also seems like a very helpful character, though to strangers (and the party at first), he would probably only help when asked to.

With only a single combat spell, he seems to not expect a violent life. What will happen the first time he is forced to kill (if your DM is running a game with a decent amount of combat, that is)? Will he try to escape in his music? Will he try to justify it, or pretend it never happened? Will he simply accept that he has killed and then move on?

I'd have to answer the question thusly: More than likely, Ainuan's first kill will be something he will try to justify when it occurs, likely to be a little confused and nervous for a while as he adjust to what he's just done. Eventually he'll get over it, and if he kills more and it becomes frequent, he will likely come to terms with this, but that is something which will take time and energy to get used to for him.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
05-02-08, 08:14 PM Not bad. I think the wanderlust could use a bit more to spark it but te character is very nicely designed. It's always nice to see, though often difficult to do, to have a character who doesn't start off in some extraordinary circumstance.
Firaeki
05-02-08, 11:10 PM Yeah, that's really the part I'm not too sure on how to make believable Mr. Terjon.

I tried thinking of more rational explanations, but for some reason I can picture one that suits him. ^^;
Terjon of the Blue Rose
05-03-08, 01:24 AM The simplest options are he developes the wanderlust after deciding to go visit a few friends he made at school (having time to travel gives him a chance to see far more of the world than he even did on his way to school) or that he was pushed to take some travel time by his mother.

Of course if you want to make him really simple you could start him off with a simple journeyman's travels. He has finished his apprenticeship and is now traveling in the old tradition to find his own place in the world.
Firaeki
05-06-08, 06:00 PM I actually like the idea that his mother, given her being a former adventurer, pushes him to go out to see the world.

Thank you Terjon for the idea.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Firaeki 04-17-08, 11:56 AM	(Based in a self-made world, where the desert lands of the south are based on a mix of ancient Chinese, Arabic, Ancient Egyptian, and non-historic culture.) Ainuan was never the sort to like conflict. As a boy, he didn't fight or argue with other boys unless he was pressed to do so. Most of his time was spent with his parents at home or among the girl children as a youngster, learning about music and the world from his mother--a bard from the northlands who had settled down--and the craft of tailoring from his father. When Ainuan grew, another thing that set him apart from other boys happened: As puberty set in, strange phenomena surrounded his house. Originally suspecting a haunt, it was soon discovered that sorcerous powers lay within the quiet youth. Embracing these as a gift, like many of that nation did, Ainuan was sent away from home to a school for potential spellcasters, where he learned of arcane secrets, how to control the energies he was born with, and how to manipulate them to his will as spells, privately continuing his practice of making clothing, designing fashions, and playing a guqin (wiki it). While he made friends with people in this school easier than he had elsewhere, Ainuan was still a quiet, relatively shy, and peaceful young man, having learned only one spell for his personal defense, seeking to use his other spells for what he deemed more useful purposes. When he left the school at the age of eightteen, he bought himself a clawed gauntlet (a typical, simple weapon which is commonly used by travelling merchants for protection), a few supplies and bits of equipment, and returned home. It was here, after three months of working as his father's apprentice, that he began to feel a deep sense of wanderlust, thinking of his mother's stories of the wide world, and all the strange and magnificent things and people. When his next year passed, he asked his parents for one gift on his birthday: To give him permission to leave home, to see the world and one day start a home, business and family of his own. With their blessings, and a few materials gathered by friends of the family in the village, he waved goodbye and made his way north. ~~~At this point, Ran Ainuan has just began as a level one sorcerer. Heading north into the kingless region called the Badlands, Ainuan is now in a foreign land among foreign people, the only common language between them a broken and mixed vocabulary which even the proficient must adjust to with each new place they visit.~~~ Well, there's a character I've built. His mechanics are below. Ran Ainuan Neutral Good Human Sorcerer 1 Str 13, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 16 Skills: Concentration +4, Craft (clothing) +9, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Perform (guqin) +7, Spellcraft +6 Feats: Skill Focus [Craft (clothing)], Scribe Scroll Traits: Easygoing, Polite (+1 Diplomacy, +1 Gather Information, -2 Intimidate, -1 Sense Motive) Spells Known: 0-Read Magic, Ghost Sound, Arcane Mark, Prestidigitation. 1-Unseen Servant, Shocking Grasp. Really the reason I post this is just to get some opinions on the starting background, and perhaps to detail what happens to our little hero here as he develops, whether or not he stays a peaceful guy or if he gets lost to the tides of conflict, how his life plays out, that sort.
elliott20 04-17-08, 12:19 PM	I like this write-up. His background is simple, but chokeful of character. I just get this image of this clean shaven young man sitting by a river while he plays a lonely tune, little bits of incense smoke wrap around his head, etc. I say don't make too many plans on how you want him to develop. Let him grow organically and if you see it fit, you can always really sell the entire Guqin aspect.
Firaeki 04-17-08, 08:33 PM	Thanks elliott, I like the image that came to your head. Its actually fairly similar to what I was thinking for him. I like the guqin thing I put in, those are some really pretty instuments, and I thought it'd fit his personality rather well, since it has a calm and peaceful quality to it.
elliott20 04-18-08, 10:44 AM	I'm not sure how RAW this might be, but I often like the idea of a sorceror casting his spells through a medium of some kind. I once created a sorc who would manifest all of his powers through his pipe in some way. Hold person became smoke rings that turn into shackles, mage armor was the direct result of his smoke forming around him and condensing itself into armor. I argued that it's just description and that I wouldn't gain any mechanical advantages for this fluff, so the GM ran with it. (In the event that he wasn't cool with it, I was willing to offer up a feat for it) I know it might be unorthodox, but I somehow saw him using his guqin as a medium for some castings too. (Though, I'm not sure how appropriate that would be as a guqin is a little cumbersome to be played in the heat of combat) though, admittly, he mechanically would sound more like a bard when you go that route. still, fluff is what you make of it.
Firaeki 04-19-08, 07:52 AM	I wouldn't make his guqin the medium for his spells, because he'll basically become more and more bard-y if I do. He's enough of one as-is I think, but I do appreciate the idea. It got me thinking that since sorcerers need 8 hours of rest and then the traditional 1 hour of meditation in order to collect the energies required to cast spells, maybe he does that through the whole, playing his instrument thing. Not that he needs it to do so, of course, just that's how he likes to.
elliott20 04-19-08, 07:49 PM	I say go find a piece of guqin music and familiar yourself with it. That way, you can also use it to make his dramatic entrance. while you're at it, you can also use it to segway into backstories.
Master_Vega 04-27-08, 02:26 PM	I didn't realize that instrument was called a guqin (never thought to look it up before). Anyhow, 'tis indeed a very cool concept. I agree with elliot20, let Ainuan grow organically and become what he needs to be; that seems to have been his life-long attitude thus far (well, save for going off and adventuring.) If you want him to step out a little bit socially, have him try to resolve any party conflicts that arise. He dislikes arguments, so I think it makes sense. :P He also seems like a very helpful character, though to strangers (and the party at first), he would probably only help when asked to. With only a single combat spell, he seems to not expect a violent life. What will happen the first time he is forced to kill (if your DM is running a game with a decent amount of combat, that is)? Will he try to escape in his music? Will he try to justify it, or pretend it never happened? Will he simply accept that he has killed and then move on?
Firaeki 04-27-08, 03:03 PM	I didn't realize that instrument was called a guqin (never thought to look it up before). Anyhow, 'tis indeed a very cool concept. I agree with elliot20, let Ainuan grow organically and become what he needs to be; that seems to have been his life-long attitude thus far (well, save for going off and adventuring.) If you want him to step out a little bit socially, have him try to resolve any party conflicts that arise. He dislikes arguments, so I think it makes sense. :P He also seems like a very helpful character, though to strangers (and the party at first), he would probably only help when asked to. With only a single combat spell, he seems to not expect a violent life. What will happen the first time he is forced to kill (if your DM is running a game with a decent amount of combat, that is)? Will he try to escape in his music? Will he try to justify it, or pretend it never happened? Will he simply accept that he has killed and then move on? I'd have to answer the question thusly: More than likely, Ainuan's first kill will be something he will try to justify when it occurs, likely to be a little confused and nervous for a while as he adjust to what he's just done. Eventually he'll get over it, and if he kills more and it becomes frequent, he will likely come to terms with this, but that is something which will take time and energy to get used to for him.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 05-02-08, 08:14 PM	Not bad. I think the wanderlust could use a bit more to spark it but te character is very nicely designed. It's always nice to see, though often difficult to do, to have a character who doesn't start off in some extraordinary circumstance.
Firaeki 05-02-08, 11:10 PM	Yeah, that's really the part I'm not too sure on how to make believable Mr. Terjon. I tried thinking of more rational explanations, but for some reason I can picture one that suits him. ^^;
Terjon of the Blue Rose 05-03-08, 01:24 AM	The simplest options are he developes the wanderlust after deciding to go visit a few friends he made at school (having time to travel gives him a chance to see far more of the world than he even did on his way to school) or that he was pushed to take some travel time by his mother. Of course if you want to make him really simple you could start him off with a simple journeyman's travels. He has finished his apprenticeship and is now traveling in the old tradition to find his own place in the world.
Firaeki 05-06-08, 06:00 PM	I actually like the idea that his mother, given her being a former adventurer, pushes him to go out to see the world. Thank you Terjon for the idea.