The lying mechant [Archive] - Wizards Community

The lying mechant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Schiz
05-30-06, 07:11 AM His name is Mickey Silkanon but they call him Mickey Slick. He’s a Gnomish Thief of the worst kind. Taking your money while your watching and you don’t even notice what he did until it’s too late. He’s a lying merchant.

Stealing your dagger.. polish it, and sell it to your neighbor, repairing a broken sword and sell it as masterworked to unknowing tourists or selling a crossbow as an automated shortbow for double the price. Although he’s specialized in small weapons, he’ll try to sell everything he doesn’t need for himself at the moment.

Abilities:
Str: low, Dex: med, Con: med, Int: high, Wis:med Cha:high

Skills:
Appraise, Bluff (maxed), Craft (blacksmithing), Diplomacy, Forgery, Sense motive, Sleight of hand

Family situation: Lived with his family for a long time, learning the blacksmithing trade from his father and especially helped at the market, selling the small weapons. His father never let him near the bigger weapons because at that age they were just too big for him.
Although his father got more experience, he did get older.. and for that the business was getting worse. Mickey wanted to help so he went to the authorities to talk about loans and exclusive trading possibilities. There he found out that every time he wanted something, the ‘boss’ or the ‘mayor’ had to sign for everything. And your could wait months for a signature. So with a little ‘creativity’ Mickey forged his first documents.
For a few more years business was going much better, but at the age of 52 his father dies and he takes the business over with his brother. Because Mickey always lived with his father, he didn’t know what to do, so his brother came live with him. His brother had a wife and 2 children so it became a busy house.

Mickey, being not the best weapon-smith, made himself busy with the sales side of the business, while his brother did the smiting. But Mickey found out that with a little lie, he could sell more and more. He started forging more and more documents, and if his brother couldn’t produce the amount of weapons ordered, he started stealing. He always saw it like ‘boring from the competition’. He always was intended or bringing it back after his brother would have produced it. But because his brother never made the products, he just ‘forgot’ about it.

Making more and more slips of the law, Mickey was getting some enemies. And slips in the business wasn’t the only thing. One day the wife of his brother came home with the story that she was pregnant again. While being happy about it, Mickey knew there was something wrong about it. It was his child…….
Not ever telling his brother, he needed to get out. He couldn’t live in the same house while being remembered every day of his betrayal to his own brother. So he decided to go travel. “International Trade is the future” he told his brother.

----------------------------------------

while this is summary of the whole story, i do need some game stats for this character. + some hooks about how he got into fighting. i want to use bluff and improved feint as his main combat style, using his sneak attack. + how has he became a rogue?
after his first lvl i want to make him a sorcerer. while traveling he finds his 'gifts of nature' very handy for trade (although he already knew magic because he's a gnome). + the familiar gives him some extra detail i like. after that he won't gain any new lvl's in sorcerer because he's not THAT interested in magic.
Hastifer
05-30-06, 12:43 PM 1 i do need some game stats for this character. Trust me, you don't want MY help on that. He'd die at half ECL just from the poor optimization... But you have plenty of skill points to max out the ones you picked. (Go to the character optimization boards, they'll wing this much better, plus it's the right forum)

2 some hooks about how he got into fighting. You've already got a good start on that. He has enemies from all his shady dealings. One of them came to 'collect their dues'... but they were stupid enough to come alone? In a dark alley? And Mickey offed him/her in the ensuing fight. But this person was some relation to the mayor, and now there's a manhunt. Err... gnome hunt.

3 i want to use bluff and improved feint as his main combat style, using his sneak attack. I'll refer you to #1 there but it sounds fine to me. (That's a fair warning)

4 + how has he became a rogue? How he became a rogue is already pretty clear from your background story. But besides that, there's several more reasons for him to be on the run (as in #2) and you can add to that: (a) eventually his brother finds out who the father is, or (b) why there are so many customers when he knows he can't keep up, and finds out Mickey has been cheating his customers or (c) = (a+b) for the double cheating b****** story.
Schiz
05-30-06, 02:25 PM 1 i do need some game stats for this character. Trust me, you don't want MY help on that. He'd die at half ECL just from the poor optimization... But you have plenty of skill points to max out the ones you picked. (Go to the character optimization boards, they'll wing this much better, plus it's the right forum)with stats i meant things like what kind of craft skills or 'don't forget to get forgery because he copies documents'. but thanks for the advice, i'll post a topic in the CO forums

2 some hooks about how he got into fighting. You've already got a good start on that. He has enemies from all his shady dealings. One of them came to 'collect their dues'... but they were stupid enough to come alone? In a dark alley? And Mickey offed him/her in the ensuing fight. But this person was some relation to the mayor, and now there's a manhunt. Err... gnome hunt. ok, maybe i asked this one wrong. i meant: Where did he learn to fight? As strength will be his lowest ability he won't win a barfight.

4 + how has he became a rogue? How he became a rogue is already pretty clear from your background story. But besides that, there's several more reasons for him to be on the run (as in #2) and you can add to that: (a) eventually his brother finds out who the father is, or (b) why there are so many customers when he knows he can't keep up, and finds out Mickey has been cheating his customers or (c) = (a+b) for the double cheating b****** story. thank you for these ideas. although i'm leaving the 'finding out'-scenario to the DM.
the question was more about 'where did he learn to sneak attack?' and 'how did he learn to find traps like that?'
a merchant hates thiefs most of the times........

*suddenly have some ideas he's going to work out*

ideas are still welcome ofcourse ;)
Reversefigure4
05-30-06, 07:12 PM I'm not really sure why Craft: Blacksmithing is on his skill list - from the sounds of the backstory, he wasn't very good at it, and has since gotten worse. Consider dropping it off the list, or only putting a single point into it.

Where did he learn about traps? Two methods: as a theif, he's run into them before and learned to disable them; or; as a merchant, he's learned to set them up (Craft: Trapsmithing!) and as a result learned a lot about finding and disabling traps.

Where did he learn to sneak attack? Knowing he was prone to end up in trouble, and knowing he wasn't much of a fighter, he went to a local duelist for some basic instruction on learning weak points in an enemy that he could exploit (this would also explain where he gets proficiency with whatever weapon).
Cifer
05-30-06, 07:24 PM Where did he learn to fight? As strength will be his lowest ability he won't win a barfight
Maybe a customer got a bit angry, so he employed a bodyguard and learned at least some underhanded tricks of him? Maybe his late father taught him how to use what he has, believing that there is no such thing as a honourable fight - which might have influenced the son into believing that honour, honesty, etc. are stupid concepts altogether.
Schiz
05-31-06, 05:17 AM Where did he learn to sneak attack? Knowing he was prone to end up in trouble, and knowing he wasn't much of a fighter, he went to a local duelist for some basic instruction on learning weak points in an enemy that he could exploit (this would also explain where he gets proficiency with whatever weapon). Maybe his late father taught him how to use what he has, believing that there is no such thing as a honourable fight - which might have influenced the son into believing that honour, honesty, etc. are stupid concepts altogether.
Combining these I think I'm going to use:
Every time his father finished a weapon it had to be tested. Although most weapons were flawless, his father never wanted to disappoint a good paying customer. So he sent Mickey, with weapons of noble people, to a local duellist. In a time where business was going good, Mickey was there almost twice a week.
When Mickey was there he always watched as Morideth, the duellist, tested the weapons. Striking a hay dummy with deadly precision or slashing it in places where Mickey commiserated with the dummy. Sometimes, when the weapon wasn’t as big, Morideth taught Mickey some skills. “if anyone ever wants to hurt you my boy, just hit them right there.. and they won’t bother you again.”. although the tactics Morideth used weren’t the most ethical methods, it did get the job done. “its doesn’t matter how you get it done, as long as you get it done. That counts for a lot of things in life. You're on poor grounds if you let society dictate the basis of you principles”
Mickey liked those lessons because that was the only time he could play with the weapons his father made. So every time Morideth let him play with those weapons, he practices as hard as possible to make Morideth a proud teacher.
Reversefigure4
05-31-06, 11:59 PM :thumbsup:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Schiz 05-30-06, 07:11 AM	His name is Mickey Silkanon but they call him Mickey Slick. He’s a Gnomish Thief of the worst kind. Taking your money while your watching and you don’t even notice what he did until it’s too late. He’s a lying merchant. Stealing your dagger.. polish it, and sell it to your neighbor, repairing a broken sword and sell it as masterworked to unknowing tourists or selling a crossbow as an automated shortbow for double the price. Although he’s specialized in small weapons, he’ll try to sell everything he doesn’t need for himself at the moment. Abilities: Str: low, Dex: med, Con: med, Int: high, Wis:med Cha:high Skills: Appraise, Bluff (maxed), Craft (blacksmithing), Diplomacy, Forgery, Sense motive, Sleight of hand Family situation: Lived with his family for a long time, learning the blacksmithing trade from his father and especially helped at the market, selling the small weapons. His father never let him near the bigger weapons because at that age they were just too big for him. Although his father got more experience, he did get older.. and for that the business was getting worse. Mickey wanted to help so he went to the authorities to talk about loans and exclusive trading possibilities. There he found out that every time he wanted something, the ‘boss’ or the ‘mayor’ had to sign for everything. And your could wait months for a signature. So with a little ‘creativity’ Mickey forged his first documents. For a few more years business was going much better, but at the age of 52 his father dies and he takes the business over with his brother. Because Mickey always lived with his father, he didn’t know what to do, so his brother came live with him. His brother had a wife and 2 children so it became a busy house. Mickey, being not the best weapon-smith, made himself busy with the sales side of the business, while his brother did the smiting. But Mickey found out that with a little lie, he could sell more and more. He started forging more and more documents, and if his brother couldn’t produce the amount of weapons ordered, he started stealing. He always saw it like ‘boring from the competition’. He always was intended or bringing it back after his brother would have produced it. But because his brother never made the products, he just ‘forgot’ about it. Making more and more slips of the law, Mickey was getting some enemies. And slips in the business wasn’t the only thing. One day the wife of his brother came home with the story that she was pregnant again. While being happy about it, Mickey knew there was something wrong about it. It was his child……. Not ever telling his brother, he needed to get out. He couldn’t live in the same house while being remembered every day of his betrayal to his own brother. So he decided to go travel. “International Trade is the future” he told his brother. ---------------------------------------- while this is summary of the whole story, i do need some game stats for this character. + some hooks about how he got into fighting. i want to use bluff and improved feint as his main combat style, using his sneak attack. + how has he became a rogue? after his first lvl i want to make him a sorcerer. while traveling he finds his 'gifts of nature' very handy for trade (although he already knew magic because he's a gnome). + the familiar gives him some extra detail i like. after that he won't gain any new lvl's in sorcerer because he's not THAT interested in magic.
Hastifer 05-30-06, 12:43 PM	1 i do need some game stats for this character. Trust me, you don't want MY help on that. He'd die at half ECL just from the poor optimization... But you have plenty of skill points to max out the ones you picked. (Go to the character optimization boards, they'll wing this much better, plus it's the right forum) 2 some hooks about how he got into fighting. You've already got a good start on that. He has enemies from all his shady dealings. One of them came to 'collect their dues'... but they were stupid enough to come alone? In a dark alley? And Mickey offed him/her in the ensuing fight. But this person was some relation to the mayor, and now there's a manhunt. Err... gnome hunt. 3 i want to use bluff and improved feint as his main combat style, using his sneak attack. I'll refer you to #1 there but it sounds fine to me. (That's a fair warning) 4 + how has he became a rogue? How he became a rogue is already pretty clear from your background story. But besides that, there's several more reasons for him to be on the run (as in #2) and you can add to that: (a) eventually his brother finds out who the father is, or (b) why there are so many customers when he knows he can't keep up, and finds out Mickey has been cheating his customers or (c) = (a+b) for the double cheating b****** story.
Schiz 05-30-06, 02:25 PM	1 i do need some game stats for this character. Trust me, you don't want MY help on that. He'd die at half ECL just from the poor optimization... But you have plenty of skill points to max out the ones you picked. (Go to the character optimization boards, they'll wing this much better, plus it's the right forum)with stats i meant things like what kind of craft skills or 'don't forget to get forgery because he copies documents'. but thanks for the advice, i'll post a topic in the CO forums 2 some hooks about how he got into fighting. You've already got a good start on that. He has enemies from all his shady dealings. One of them came to 'collect their dues'... but they were stupid enough to come alone? In a dark alley? And Mickey offed him/her in the ensuing fight. But this person was some relation to the mayor, and now there's a manhunt. Err... gnome hunt. ok, maybe i asked this one wrong. i meant: Where did he learn to fight? As strength will be his lowest ability he won't win a barfight. 4 + how has he became a rogue? How he became a rogue is already pretty clear from your background story. But besides that, there's several more reasons for him to be on the run (as in #2) and you can add to that: (a) eventually his brother finds out who the father is, or (b) why there are so many customers when he knows he can't keep up, and finds out Mickey has been cheating his customers or (c) = (a+b) for the double cheating b****** story. thank you for these ideas. although i'm leaving the 'finding out'-scenario to the DM. the question was more about 'where did he learn to sneak attack?' and 'how did he learn to find traps like that?' a merchant hates thiefs most of the times........ suddenly have some ideas he's going to work out ideas are still welcome ofcourse ;)
Reversefigure4 05-30-06, 07:12 PM	I'm not really sure why Craft: Blacksmithing is on his skill list - from the sounds of the backstory, he wasn't very good at it, and has since gotten worse. Consider dropping it off the list, or only putting a single point into it. Where did he learn about traps? Two methods: as a theif, he's run into them before and learned to disable them; or; as a merchant, he's learned to set them up (Craft: Trapsmithing!) and as a result learned a lot about finding and disabling traps. Where did he learn to sneak attack? Knowing he was prone to end up in trouble, and knowing he wasn't much of a fighter, he went to a local duelist for some basic instruction on learning weak points in an enemy that he could exploit (this would also explain where he gets proficiency with whatever weapon).
Cifer 05-30-06, 07:24 PM	Where did he learn to fight? As strength will be his lowest ability he won't win a barfight Maybe a customer got a bit angry, so he employed a bodyguard and learned at least some underhanded tricks of him? Maybe his late father taught him how to use what he has, believing that there is no such thing as a honourable fight - which might have influenced the son into believing that honour, honesty, etc. are stupid concepts altogether.
Schiz 05-31-06, 05:17 AM	Where did he learn to sneak attack? Knowing he was prone to end up in trouble, and knowing he wasn't much of a fighter, he went to a local duelist for some basic instruction on learning weak points in an enemy that he could exploit (this would also explain where he gets proficiency with whatever weapon). Maybe his late father taught him how to use what he has, believing that there is no such thing as a honourable fight - which might have influenced the son into believing that honour, honesty, etc. are stupid concepts altogether. Combining these I think I'm going to use: Every time his father finished a weapon it had to be tested. Although most weapons were flawless, his father never wanted to disappoint a good paying customer. So he sent Mickey, with weapons of noble people, to a local duellist. In a time where business was going good, Mickey was there almost twice a week. When Mickey was there he always watched as Morideth, the duellist, tested the weapons. Striking a hay dummy with deadly precision or slashing it in places where Mickey commiserated with the dummy. Sometimes, when the weapon wasn’t as big, Morideth taught Mickey some skills. “if anyone ever wants to hurt you my boy, just hit them right there.. and they won’t bother you again.”. although the tactics Morideth used weren’t the most ethical methods, it did get the job done. “its doesn’t matter how you get it done, as long as you get it done. That counts for a lot of things in life. You're on poor grounds if you let society dictate the basis of you principles” Mickey liked those lessons because that was the only time he could play with the weapons his father made. So every time Morideth let him play with those weapons, he practices as hard as possible to make Morideth a proud teacher.
Reversefigure4 05-31-06, 11:59 PM	:thumbsup: