FrivYeti/LaughingWind
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Laughing Wind, God of the Gudi
One of the many minor gods that spreads across Creation, Laughing Wind was, until recently, a carefree god of simple pleasures. Patron of the Gudi Vine, a plant that grew in certain areas of the North, he spent centuries drifting through the position; his plant was clearly unimportant, and for the duration of the First Age, he was one of the vast bulk of gods who never had much contact with the Exalted at all. The Usurpation was a frightening concept, but a distant one to him, for despite the many battles that raged across Creation, none reached his own sanctum. The Shogunate was equally unimportant - while some Dragon-Blooded found the Gudi intriguing, none cared enough to do much to it.
The Contagion changed things for Laughing Wind. As his trees sickened and died, and his powers were insufficient to save them, he grew determined to save something. Human villagers fled into his forests as the Fair Folk marched, and he used his meagre powers to conceal them beneath the trees, nestled safely among the vines. The arrangement could not have lasted indefinitely, and would have faltered before a true lord of the Fair Folk host, but they were fortunate, and no such lord approached. The hobgoblins swarming the region ignored it as unimportant, and Wind's actions were sufficient to save almost two hundred-odd mortals from death.
In the aftermath of the invasion, as the world tottered back to its feet and Laughing Wind took stock of the situation, the former civilians gradually adapted to life in the forests. As towns were rebuilt to the south, they chose the safety of the woods, and slowly shifted to a barbarian way of life. Although they began to pray to other gods, spirits of the hunt and the forest walkers, they kept a place in their hearts for Laughing Wind, thinking of him as a lifebringer, and began to use his vines as instruments for their music. Touched by their devotion, Laughing Wind has spent the last several centuries keeping watch over them, and using what little influence he has with other gods on their behalf.
Recently, the Guild has discovered Wind's vines, and is beginning to farm them and ship them around the world. The god is more than willing to suppor these actions, but has won concessions from the Guild not to spread harmful or addictive substances to his tribesman (an easy task, admittedly, seeing as they number only a few thousand people). He enjoys the idea of growing stronger, but remains a pastoral god at heart, and his people are still dear to him.
Appearance
Generally, Laughing Wind appears to be a tall man, his body wrapped in a leafy toga, and a vine running along up his neck to perch its flower behind one ear. His voice is musical but distracted, and he gives the air of a being that is a little bit vague at all times. His skin is a faint green year-around, although it pales towards white in the winter, and his eyes are deep brown.
Character Sheet
Motivation: Look after his tribes
Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 5, Charisma 5, Manipulation 2, Appearance 4, Perception 4, Intelligence 3, Wits 3
Virtues: Compassion 3, Conviction 3, Temperance 2, Valor 2
Abilities: Awareness 3, Athletics 2, Crafts (Wood) 2, Dodge 3, Integrity 3, Linguistics 2 (Native: Old Realm, Other: Skytongue, Barbarian Tongues), Lore 2, Medicine 3, Performance 4, Socialize 3, Survival 4
Backgrounds: Allies (Guild) 1, Cult 2
Charms:
- General Charms: Hurry Home, Materialize, Measure The Wind, Essence Plethora x1
- First Excellencies: Medicine, Performance, Socialize, Survival
- Third Excellencies: Performance
- Infinite Masteries: Performance, Socialize
- Eye of Inspiration (Blessing): If Laughing Wind is impressed by a performer, he can grant them the use of his Performance Excellencies, which he will activate on the target's behalf.
- Intrusion-Sensing Method (Divination): Laughing Wind can sense damage to any Gudi vine reflexively.
- Impromtu Messenger (Sending): Laughing Wind can use guid vines to speak through without materializing or being present.
- Paper Tiger Arrangement (Eidola): As the vines hide beneath trees, Laughing Wind can mask areas to make it appear as though no one is present.
- Landscape Travel (Relocation): Laughing Wind can travel quickly through forests, doubling his land speed for such travel.
- Stoke The Flame (Enchantment): Laughing Wind is particularly good at inducing joy in his followers.
- Malediction (Curse): Laughing Wind abhors violence, and can inflict 1-die penalty on offensive combat rolls. He can also spend 1 willpower to affect a Magnitude 2 unit with this Curse all at once.
- Words of Power (Edge): Laughing Wind uses Charisma + Valor to attack with his angered songs, dealing a base 2B damage. He rarely unleashes this power, weak though it is, but those afflicted become woozy and disoriented. The attack is considered a Crippling effect.
Join Battle: 6
Attacks:
- Words of Power: Speed 5, Accuracy 7, Damage 2B (ignores armor), Defense --, Rate 3
Soak: 9B/6L/4A (Leafy Clothing 4B/4L)
Health Levels: OK, -1, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -4, Inc
Dodge DV: 5, Willpower: 6
Essence: 3, Essence Pool: 70
Other Notes:
Laughing Wind's entire panoply consists of his elegant gudi flute. This tool reduces the MDVs of anyone who listens to its playing by 3 (Gudi's Compassion rating) for the duration of the scene in which it is played, against his social attacks or Charms. (This is considered an Emotion effect that can be resisted by spending 1 Willpower per MDV dot; most save their Willpower for his actual attacks.) The flute is also exceptional, providing +1 die to Performance rolls made using it.
