A thread for discussing character concepts, bouncing around ideas and, ultimately, introducing the characters.

Hello!

I should probably start with my pitch, since that's Step 0 for chargen. ;)

Name: Sislau Nelovky.

Elevator pitch: Sort of folkloric Ussuran muzhik character. RL Russian folklore has all kinds of stories about, basically, peasants who become fortune's fool- going on all sorts of outlandish adventures and probably ending up not only empty-handed but late for dinner and behind on chores. ;)

Here's some guideposts I'm using for Sislau:

-When I was a kid, we played a storytelling game called "Fortunately/Unfortunately". ("Fortunately I woke up." "Unfortunately, I woke up late." "Fortunately, I got a ride." etc). where it just kept escalating so that no "fortunately" or "unfortunately" ended the story.

So, Sislau might win a gem for being kind to someone, but he gets in a jam where (fortunately) he meets some talking crows who (unfortunately) need the gem to get him out of it (etc).

Character archetypes: Sancho Panza (Don Quixote), Planchet (The Three Musketeers), Podrick Payne (A Song of Ice and Fire), Arthur Dent (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) (in the sense that he just keeps bouncing from situation to situation). If he gets home, nobody will believe him.
 He'd be a decent fit for Discworld.

So, he might get into the PC group's orbit in a "Of COURSE we're going back to Ussura. We'll drop you off on the way back" way (where Sislau "works for his passage home") only some stupid thing keeps interrupting them.

The trick is that he hangs on by his teeth in basically all the situations offered.

Progression: Picaresque. That is to say "one damn thing after another". His village was near a river, he was washing some rags out when he got 'nabbed' by riverine pirates, they got attacked by bandits, they 'traded' him to a ship...

He's remarkably unpanicked by all this. He has no expectation that stuff like this won't happen. Any long-term gains he gets are gonna be temporary, he suspects.

20 Questions:
1) What nation is your hero from? Ussura. Tiny village named Chernyy Pen'.

2) How would you physically describe your hero? Solid, hardy. Unruly dark hair, light eyes. A bit on the short side, wears typical peasant clothing.

3) Does your Hero have recurring mannerisms? He somehow manages to look even shorter than he is. He speaks with a typical Ussuran accent, and occasionally quotes proverbs he's learned (as relevant). He is unfailingly courteous (especially to people more powerful than he is), though he occasionally lets out a wry comment or two.

4) What is your Hero's main motivation? He wants to go home, but is in no great hurry. He diligently tries to do right by people in the situations he finds himself in (through generosity, respect and honoring his promises), not people in the future or far away.

5) What is your Hero's greatest strength/weakness? Sislau has a bone-deep sense of persistence. If he's given his word to do something and can still move to carry it out, he'll give his all. [Hubris: Loyal]

His other weaknesses are a bit more situational- for instance, if he were in noble company, he'd err on the side of deference and silence, since even minor nobles can (in his experience) get you killed. He has a bit of a fatalist streak, as well.

His 'ace in the hole' is sheer dumb luck. [Virtue: Wily]. He rarely comes out ahead on his adventures, but he'll come out in one piece.

6) What are your Hero's most and least favorite things?: 1) The warmth of the hearth on a cold evening and knowing you're done, for the day. 2) Flying insects that won't go away (mosquitos, flies, etc).

7) What about your Hero's psychology?: He's what you'd call an accidental hero. But he is heroic, in his way. The world is large and unfair, both Mother Earth and the Czar are far away. The best thing to do is be honest, shoulder in, and keep going. He's unfailingly respectful (though he knows nothing of courtly etiquette), and generous in the Ussuran fashion. He finds the idea that 'good things happen to good people' to be very unsupported, but isn't surprised by this state of affairs enough to complain about it.

8) What is your Hero's single greatest fear? He has a great many fears, most of them healthy and well-supported by evidence. Right now, it's the fear that he never gets home. (This isn't enough to make him not participate in adventures, but the idea that he might be buried in soil that the Mother never touched is concerning to him.)

9) What are your Hero's highest ambitions? His greatest love? When he dies, he wants to be remembered (if at all) as [basically] a "solid guy". Didn't leave anyone behind the eightball, as it were. He might want a small hut of his own and maybe his own children, someday, but fortune keeps dragging him other places. (He has no one particular in mind right now.)

10) What is your Hero's opinion of his country? "The world is large, and the Czar is very far away.". From his perspective, his 'country' is a space of about twenty miles around his village. The idea of "Ussura" is like saying 'the whole, wide world' to him- he's aware it exists, but other than wanting to see some of it and avoid other parts of it, he has no personal relationship to it. Courtly politics and international diplomacy might as well be happening on the moon, to him.

11) Does your Hero have any prejudices? His background just tells him that "foreigners are weird", but nothing that rises to 'prejudice'. Right now, as we begin the story, is the first time he's really met many foreigners.

12) Where do your Hero's loyalties lie? Sislau has a very strong sense of "his people"- nothing so abstract as 'the Ussuran nation', but (up until recently) more like 'the people in my village'. The people in his immediate vicinity tend to be "his people" for most purposes.

13) Is your Hero in love? Married? Betrothed? No. The next time he falls in love will be the first time.

14) What about your Hero's family? [I need to work on that].
15) (Same)

16) Is your hero a gentle? Not in any normal sense of the term. He does try to keep his word, but Sislau also finds many chivalric ideals to be silly.

17) How religious is your Hero? He was raised to offer 'due deference' to things like local spirits and the Mother specifically. But this is different than being in contact with the Orthodox Church- they did that as little as they could get away with.

18) Is your Hero a member of a guild, club or secret society? No.

19) What does your Hero think of Sorcery? Something like how we'd think of nuclear energy or genetic engineering- very powerful, capable of great good or bad, should be handled carefully, best left to experts, and not something you want to stand right next to.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:14, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

Here is my RTJ information and 20 questions

Father Ivan is an ordained Ussuran Orthodox priest who, in his youth, was touched by Matushka learning a lesson that would stay with him his entire life (and also granted some gifts that have helped him as a result).

He's a big, burly man who looks more like a brawler than a learned priest. Indeed in his youth he was just that. Ivan was an intimidating brute who used his physical strength and size to bully people into getting what he wanted. He was a thug and seemed destined to a life of crime.

This was until he met Matushka and was taught an important life lesson. His encounter with Matushka forced him to survive, naked, in the frozen wilderness away from all civilization. At first he tried to go it alone - collecting wood to start a fire, fish in frozen water with his bare hands, etc. He was on the point of starvation and hypothermia when he encountered a small hunting party camped for the night. Ivan dragged himself to the campfire and collapsed. The strangers warmed him up and fed him, giving him a share of their meagre supplies and keeping him from dying. He learned that he could not survive alone in life and that only through the kindness of others could he hope to live. He changed as a result, vowing to always trreat others with kindness no matter what. Matushka, satisfied that Ivan had learned his lesson, gifted him with the ability to turn into a Bear as well as regenerate any damage that he may encounter.

He was so grateful that he wanted to help others learn the errors of their ways as he was shown. He entered the clergy with the goal of spreading Theus and Matushka's words to the masses.

1. What country is your hero from? - Ussura, specifically he grew up in the city of St. Andresgorod in Somojez near the Eisen border. He spent all his life in Ussura and has traveled to various parts of the country and also to Eisen, but he has never made it further west.

2. How would you physically describe your hero? -An Ussruan man in his mid thirties, he cuts an impressive figure with his 6’ height, barrel chest and bulky, athletic frame.  He has a large, neatly trimmed auburn beard that matches his head of thick, curly auburn hair.

He is clearly an ordained member of the Ussuran Orthodox Church, as evidenced by the cut and style of his fur trimmed coat, matching hat, and Ussuran Cross of the Prophet that he wears around his neck.

Father Ivan always has a smile on his lips, and projects a friendly, hearty, lust for life that one doesn't expect to see in members of the Vatacine or Objectionist clergy.

3. Does your hero have recurring mannerisms? - Despite his education and facility with other languages, Father Ivan tends to speak with a heavy Ussuran accent. He does this partly to give others the sense that they are dealing with an 'ignorant Ussuran' and partly because he's proud of his heritage and likes to flaunt it wherever possible.

4. What is your hero's main motivation? - Ivan wants to make sure that the world is headed in the proper direction, both spiritually and secularly and knows that if he doesn’t help make it happen it may never happen. He tries to set a personal example, showing people that the First Prophet (and only the first) in partnership with Matushka has paved the way from mankind to prosper. He tries to lead by example, showing people that if you follow the words of the Prophet that you can enjoy a fruitful and enjoyable life. He's also not happy with the unjust way some of the governments treat their citizens.  e's a voice for change, but change through education and enlightenment.

5. What is your hero's greatest strength and weakness? His greatest strength is his faith. Ivan is certain that between Theus, the first prophet, and Matushka that mankind has exactly what it needs to grow and prosper. His greatest weakness is his belief that everyone has some good in them deep down. He refuses to believe that there are any humans who are beyond hope. He is eager to help anyone who is in the least bit repentant. This doesn't mean he is gullible, as he knows people lie and cheat all the time. He just thinks that everyone is fixable.

6. What are your hero's most and least favorite things? - Ivan loves the little comforts in life – good food, a warm hearth, good vodka or wine, and the company of others. He loves his vodka and tends to get a bit randy when he's had a lot to drink. He also loves a good, fair, bare knuckled fight. His least favorite things are bullies. Brutish, thuggish people remind him of himself in his youth, and he hates being reminded of his past and he hates seeing people act like that towards other humans.

7. What about your hero's psychology? Ivan sees himself as needing to lead by example. He is conscious of the fact that he's seen by others as a spiritual leader, but he also wants to show people that deep down he’s just a common man. He extols the virtues of living and encourages everyone to face life with gusto as long as they harm no one. He works hard to come off as a common man and is aware that his choices and actions are being watched by others.

8. What is your hero's single greatest fear? Ivan fears the destruction of the world at Legion’s hands. He is deathly afraid that mankind is not yet ready to stop Legion were he to assault the world and that if that happens soon mankind would be doomed. Ivan knows (from his teachings) that there will be signs leading up to Legion’s arrival. He also knows that if the signs are delayed or prevented then Legion’s arrival will be delayed. Ivan is afraid that the signs will arise and no one will notice them and/or stop them.

9. What are your hero's highest ambitions and his greatest love? Ivan aspires to one day lead the Orthodox Church, not through political machinations, but by his deeds helping mankind. He believes he can have a greater impact the higher he is in the Church's hierarchy. His greatest love is love for mankind. Ivan truly likes people.  All people. It's part of the reason he has yet to marry as he loves being out and traveling. He likes long philosophical discussions over bottles of drink as much as he loves a night of 'no strings attached' passion with a woman.

10. What is your hero's opinion of his country? Ivan loves Ussura. He's not too happy with the current political situation, but he believes that his country is the most genuine and down to earth group of people. He supports Ilya as the rightful Czar, seeing him as a man who truly understands Ussura. He sees Katheryna as an Eisen who is trying to make Ussura something that it isn't. He thinks that other countries would benefit from some simple Ussuran country wisdom.

11. Does your hero have any prejudices? Yes, he's very human centric and sees other beings (Sidhe, etc.) as potential allies to Legion that don't belong to this world. He thinks Matushka and the Leshie are exceptions, as Theus and the First Prophet have said that they are working for the same goals. Other non human entities are seen by Ivan as enemies.

12. Where do your hero's loyalties lie? First and foremost to all of mankind, followed closely by the Orthodox Church. Ussura follows closely behind.

13. Is your hero in love or married? No, as he honestly tends to have feelings for a wide variety of women he meets. He has come to believe that he can't love any one woman as he loves too many woman. He's very honest about this, and explains his situation and feelings to women before agreeing to engage in romance. On more than one occasion he's had to break a young woman's heart by reminding her of his situation.

14. What about your hero's family? His family is back in Ussura. His mother tends the house and his father is a woodsman/craftsman who is a strong supporter of the Church. They are both VERY proud of Ivan. He has a little sister (Mikayla) and brother (Stephan).

15. How would your hero's parents describe him? They consider him the perfect son. He's dedicated his life to the church, is doing well financially as a result, and is a model Ussuran despite his rocky youth.

16. Is your hero a gentle? Not really as he is more of a pragmatist. He strives to take the Orthodox teachings and make them relevant to modern life. He will honor his word, but not to a known cheat and liar. He understands that women have needs as well and treats them as equals in professional and romantic endeavors. He's willing to trick or lie to an evildoer as he recognizes that they will not act honorably themselves.

17. Religion? I think this has been covered elsewhere ;-)

18. Is he a member of a secret society or guild? Aside from the Ussuran Orthodox Church, nope.

19. What do you think about Sorcery? -  He sees some sorcery as a tool of Legion particularly Porte. He doesn't hate all sorcerers, still he would be happier if people rejected sorcery in favor of Theus. Matushka’s gifts are not sorcery – they are an extension of the power of the Leshie and approved by Theus himself ;-)

20. What advice would you give your hero? Don't expect too much from mankind – you will only keep being disappointed. Take small victories where you can get them, but don't expect to be able to initiate large changes without a lot of help.

in process...

Cristina's family is part of a group of wanderers who travel throughout Vodacce rather than establish a permanent residence and loyalty to one prince. They trade labor for food and shelter, and use their natural skills as craftsmen and handymen for their livelihood.

Few outside their lineage know how they identify each other. They use colored patchwork flags to identify villages or confederations, and they use a particular dialect which integrates much of the ancient Thean tongue. They are mistrustful of outsiders and nobility, but have a strong sense of Vodacce honor.

Upon attaining her majority, Cristina began her journey of discovery, to learn more about Theah by traveling to other lands and learn about other cultures.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

The character that I keep coming back to thinking of who Dithyrambos is based off is the Comte de Fere, also known as Athos.
Like Athos, he has taken an assumed name to hide his identity, and he certainly likes his wine.  Unlike Athos, he is not running away from his tragic history. Occasionally, while in his cups, you can see glimpses of who he might have been before whatever event scarred his psyche.

I see him as a tragic and flawed hero, who wonders how much will be left of him if he succeeds.

What Nation is your hero From? Curonian.  He sometimes gets touchy if you call him Sarmatian.

How would you physically describe your hero? Not quite slight, but certainly not a big man.  Dark hair kept relatively short, and dark complexion.
He wears a thin mustache.

Does your hero have any recurring mannerisms?   He dresses, almost exclusively, in deep reds and purples, with gold and black accents.

What is your hero's main motivation? As much as vengeance plays into it, there is a need to make sure people in power can't do to other people what was done to his family.

What is your hero's greatest strength?  Greatest weakness? He has a strong sense of justice, that he hopes he carries into all things.  But then, he starts drinking...

What is your hero's most and least favorite thing? A truly good bottle of wine.  Show him a good '57 Curonian malbec and he is quite content. Least?  BAD wine.

What about your hero's psychology? He wants to see the good in people.  He wants to be able to laugh fully and freely.  The things he has seen in the world don't let him.

What is your hero's single greatest fear? That when he finally gets his revenge, there won't be enough of him left to go back to a normal life.

What are your hero's greatest ambitions?  His greatest love? To have justice for his family, and be able to go back to being a simple wine grower. Greatest love?  He would tell you that was in the past.

What is your hero's opinion of his country? The Golden Liberty could be so much more.  He doesn't want everybody to be a noble, he wants all to be commoners.

Does your hero have any prejudices?He isn't fond of nobles, or of Theus-worshipers.  Yes, individuals may be fine, but as a whole, he finds the nobility and organized religions to be corrupt institutions.

Where do your hero's loyalties lie? With the common people.

Is your hero in love? married or betrothed? Once, he was betrothed.  She died with his family.

What about your hero's family? All dead now.  He doesn't like to speak of it.

How would your parents describe him? Studious, with a love of the land and cultivating grapes.  A fondness of drinking it, as well.  He doesn't
know if his parents would recognize him today.

Is your hero a gentle? You are looking for a duel, aren't you? Please retract your question.

How religious is your hero?  What sect of the church does he follow? He propitiates the Curonian gods, but only out of habit.  He doesn't really think gods could exist in the world that killed his family and destroyed their vineyard.

Is your hero a member of a guild, gentleman's club, or secret society? Once, he belonged to a vintner's guild.  Now, the Rilasciare holds his allegiance.

What does your hero think of sorcery? It is a means, nothing more, to achieve his ends.

What advice would you give your hero? Revenge isn't going to bring anybody back.  Give it up before it destroys you.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

Griselda can be summed up as 'a career soldier getting used to being an aristocrat'.

1. What Nation is your Hero from?

Griselda is Eisen, born and bred.

As an Eisen, her motto could be summed up at 'Endure and Enjoy'. History plays everyone for fools; all anyone can do is endure the bad things and enjoy the good.

2. How would you physically  describe your Hero?

Griselda is tall and pale-skinned, with long blonde hair that's usually loose unless she's preparing for battle. Her dark eyes are a reminder that the light-eyed Eisen stereotype is not true for all Eisen.

In everyday life she wears gowns that hide her arms and draw attention to her neck and décolletage, concealing that she has the muscular arms of an Eisen warrior. Her gowns are also surprisingly easy to move or even fight in: she doesn't expect a battle to break out at a ball, but she's ready for one anyway. She always carries a strip of cloth so she can tie her hair back in a hurry.

3. Does your Hero have recurring mannerisms?

Fancy clothes can't hide that she's a former soldier, which has driven out any aristocratic airs and graces. She strides instead of walking, looks people in the eye, and speaks plainly.

She's fond of saying "Legion won the War of the Cross" if a discussion turns toward religion.

She starts slightly when she hears the name Gabriele, a sign of something from her past.

4. What is your Hero’s main motivation?

Griselda lacks any grand, dramatic motivations. She's out to get as much enjoyment in her life, and to find stability. She's well aware that those goals can often be incompatible!

5. What is your Hero’s greatest strength?  Greatest weakness?

Griselda's biggest strength is in dueling and personal combat. While she's broadening her outlook, there's no denying that much of her life has been devoted to martial training.

Still, not everything has to be a battle, and sometimes the best way to win is not to fight - something that ties in with her attitude to the War of the Cross. Griselda has a knack for making friends easily. [Virtue: The Road - Friendly]

Despite many people's assumptions, Griselda's biggest weakness isn't her pride: Eisen pride is military, so helping each other is part of it rather than a challenge to it. Her flaw is her tendency to be outspoken and to make snap decisions, often favoring whatever would be most exciting. [Hubris: The Hero - Foolhardy]

6. What are your Hero’s most and  least favorite things?

Griselda loves her comforts, but her favorite luxury is... a long, hot bath. After the rigors of campaigning, this was always something she looked forward to.

She also enjoys a good brawl, provided it's the sort of fight where everyone will make up and go for a drink afterwards.

She hates fancy foods and drinks in too-small glasses. Beef and beer, or wine in a glass that's not emptied in one quaff, please.

7. What about your Hero’s psychology?

She doesn't think of herself as a hero, just someone doing their duty.

8. What is your Hero’s single greatest fear?

Something between her and the GM :)

9. What are your Hero’s highest ambitions? Her greatest love?

Griselda aspires to being a powerful noble, making her family name one to be reckoned with again.

10. What is your Hero’s opinion of his country?

Griselda is a 'practical patriot', firmly believing "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right". She's not blind to her country's flaws, and can even find ironic amusement in it ("Look at the wonders that can be accomplished with Eisen pride", while looking at the devastation of an old battlefield). At the same time, "Our land may be mud, but it’s our mud" also applies: the same pride that led to the War of the Cross lets them endure its results.

11. Does your Hero have any prejudices?

Griselda has a strong dislike for the sort of noble who treats their servants badly, and by extension employers who treat their employees badly. Nobility has its responsibilities as well as its pleasures. However, she is firmly not a supporter of the Rilasciare. A world without nobles would be like an army without commanders.

12. Where do your Hero’s loyalties lie?

To herself and the family servants, and to Eisen. In that order.

13. Is your Hero in love? Is she married or betrothed?

Not at the moment.

14. What about your Hero’s family?

Griselda was the youngest daughter of an aristocratic family when she left to serve in the army. Now she's the last surviving member of that family, after disease ravaged it while she was away.

While too young to take part in the War of the Cross, it cast a shadow over her childhood. She can remember the relief when it was finally ended.

15. How would your Hero’s parents describe her?

[TODO]

16. Is your Hero a gentle?

No. While Griselda won't break her word without good reason, at the same time she has no trouble with deception.

17. How religious is your Hero?

Griselda is nominally Objectionist, but generally has a 'different flocks under the same shepherd' attitude towards Vaticines (and other religions that accept at least one of the Prophets, such as the Ussuran Orthodox Church). This is despite the War of the Cross: as noted under mannerisms, she feels the only winner of the War of the Cross was Legion.

18. Is your Hero a member of a guild,  gentle’s club, or secret society?

She's a member of the Duelist’s Guild.

[TODO]

19. What does your Hero think of Sorcery?

Griselda has an inherent mistrust of Sorcery. She knows intellectually that there's more to Sorcery than Hexenwerke, but still has a gut reaction that Sorcery means messing with corpses.

20. If you could, what advice  would you give your Hero?

Everything doesn't have to be decided on the spur of the moment. Look before you leap.

first draft - Cristina is an entertainer. Likely 98% complete...
7. and 20. are objective; others are subjective.

1. What Nation is your hero from?

Vodacce.

2. How would you physically describe your Hero?

Cristina has a medium build, height and weight. Her hair is dark brown with red highlights, her eyes are light brown, her face is expressive, and she is light on her feet. She dresses from full brightly colored dresses, to functional spare skirts, to sparkling blouses and trousers, to dark brown leather or black armor. She is rarely without a sword and main gauche, and often wears or bears accessories to her entertaining profession.

3. Does your Hero have recurring mannerisms?

She has a smile on her face and a tone to her voice while her eyes search.

4. What is your Hero's main motivation?

She wants to be the best that she can be, to watch, to listen, to study, to learn, to practice, and to succeed.

5. What is your Hero's greatest strength? Greatest weakness?

She has reached Journeyman Entertainer. She is all too aware of the many things that she must yet master and attain.

6. What are your Hero's most and least favorite things?

She loves being an entertainer. Those times when she is not must be waited out.

7. What about your Hero's psychology?

She needs to try for a more balanced life, that there can be pleasurable pursuits other than entertaining.

8. What is your Hero's greatest fear?

She is afraid that she may never succeed at becoming a Master Entertainer.

9. What are your Hero's highest ambitions? Her greatest love?

She wants success as a master entertainer, and recognition from other master entertainers.

10. What is your Hero's opinion of her country?

As far as she is concerned, Vodacce is pretty much like anywhere else.

11. Does your Hero have any prejudices?

In her fairly narrow viewpoint, she has none.

12. Where do your Hero's loyalties lie?

She is loyal to Ma and Da, and to her folk.

13. Is your Hero in love? Is she married or betrothed?

No time for that.

14. What about your Hero's family?

Her family does not have a name. She is Fiora's Daughter or Modesto's Daughter. She grew up learning weapons from Fiora and entertaining from Modesto. Both are role models and excellent at what they do, including teaching.

15. How would your Hero's parents describe her?

She is a good daughter.

16. Is your Hero a gentle?

What is a gentle?

17. How religious is your Hero? What sect of the Church does she follow?

Her group follows a sort of Vaticine theology, rather simplistic really.

18. Is your Hero a member of a guild, gentle's club, or secret society?

That sort of thing would take time, which should be used for more important things.

19. What does your Hero think of Sorcery?

Everything is ok in its place.

20. If you could, what advice would you give to your Hero?

It would be alright to spend some of your valuable time beyond what you are doing now. Life is not so narrow.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

I've got Sislau's stuff down except his Stories (he gets two). Working on them, the format's a bit new to me.

I’m happy if you want to have one story in motion to start and then you can create the other in reaction and to something that interests you in game (or just if you think of something good in due course). Save you coming up with two right off the bat.