Ketrus/Tyro
Trained from a young age in the arts of meditation and occult lore, body hardened by Solar Exaltation, and equipped with a serenity and power unknown to mortal ken, Tyro is a fitting champion of the Unconquered Sun. Just ask him.
"What, me? No, no, I didn't mean to make any trouble at all, honestly. In fact, I was just headed the other way. Yes, that way. Um... then the other way? Which way is good for YOU? ... Ahahaha, yes, I am rather plump. Ah, well, I'll just be leaving then... please..?" - Tyro, confronting a belligerent townsguard.
( I apologize for the simplistic and unexpressive prose. One of these days, if I can ever muster the effort to give a damn, I'll rewrite it. )
Contents
Introduction
Basic Description
A smiling packrat, Tyro's a slightly portly man in dirty armor. With the help of his pocketed belt and a truly voluminous backpack, stuffed nearly to its bursting point, he carries a seemingly endless supply of wards, charms, books, and knick-knacks. His face is round and jolly, his chin unimposing, and his eyes typically bright with some unspoken mirth. In short, he looks absolutely nothing like the beautiful but terrible demon Anathema most would assume a Solar to be, much less the dark and humorless shadows of the Night caste. The only hints to any possible danger hidden behind his silly grin is the bow strapped to the side of his rucksack, and the loaded quiver on the other side.
Tyro is from the small towns in the Hundred Kingdoms, and it shows. There is a rural tone to his accent, and a blithe acceptance in the way he greets all people. He is not stupid, however, and he has a good head for spotting and avoiding trouble. Those that watch his bright eyes carefully will note they rarely stay still, and those that take the time to analyze his stance will see he is rarely truly relaxed. Despite his background and appearances, he is an experienced apprentice to an active thaumeturge and ghost sweeper, and more importantly, an Exalt of the Unconquered Sun. He is not unused to danger, nor to adventure.
The things Tyro enjoys most of all are the anticipation just before a truly delicious meal, especially one he prepares himself, and the contentment one finds in the drifting moments between wakefulness and sleep. He has not yet learned to trust his skills, no matter how superlative they may be, and fears conflict. If it is inevitable, well, he practices archery for a reason. Bravery is much easier to muster two hundred yards from the enemy.
People and Gods of Interest
- Radabhast of the Hundred Kingdoms, late Thaumeterge and teacher of Tyro
At the time of his death, Radabhast appeared to be a man in his late sixties, near the twilight of life but still in possession of strength and vigor. The truth of the matter was that he lived well over one hundred years of age, retaining unnatural youthfulness through various divine gifts, negotiations, and not a few alchemical and ritualistic practices. By any measure, he was an accomplished mortal, possessing an awakened essence and mastery over many arts and sciences. Many were his adventures and intrigues, but such a life left a heavy toll on the heroic man. The fortunate among his many old friends and contacts died of old age long before he met Tyro, and most of them met unspeakable ends at the hands of Creation's supernatural forces. In time, the resulting loneliness led him into the arms of Venerable Seamstress, the goddess of silk. She tarried in the mortal domain with him from time to time, for a number of years. One day, she revealed to Radabhast her pregnancy by him, and the day after, left him forever. His grief nearly drove him to suicide in the weeks that followed, and only devotion to his craft kept his desire for death at bay. He resolved to find an apprentice deserving of his secrets, and swore to himself he would not take his own life for another thirty years at least.
In time, his path crossed with that of young Tyro. Somehow sensing the powerful Destiny residing in the young boy, and intuitively deciding that in him lay the potential for true Essence mastery, Radabhast took him away for training and education. The training, it was decided, would come first. The deadly politics and constant struggles of a mortal magician were too risky for someone so timid, in Radabhast's eye. He therefore began meditation instruction first, introducing Tyro to the ancient and deeply personal rituals that would allow him to unlock the tiny Essence residing within. Someone with Radabhast's experience could, perhaps, haggle or cheat such power out of a powerful and friendly spirit, but such things, in the old man's eyes, were better earned. If in fifteen years Tyro did not make significant progress towards spiritual development--as Radabhast almost certainly knew he would not--then would begin more formal occult initiation. At least, then, after such a long time of training, he would 'have muscles to fight with'. Radabhast had nothing if not the memories of the undisciplined and untrained dying like flies at the hands of their betters.
Time would cheat him, then, in a way he could not have foreseen, and he met a tragic end. At the time of his death, he was a mortal of Essence 2, and almost immediately achieved Lethe. Despite his many old alliances with various spirit courts, no one petitioned for divinity on his behalf.
At least, this is the story that savants, friends, and storybooks might tell. It is the one remembered by those who knew him, but those who knew him may have known nothing at all. As with all things, it is completely up to the storyteller. Who is to say, after all, that he was not a god, a demon, or worse, a Sidereal in disguise?
- Venerable Seamstress, Goddess of Silk
Patient, and even compassionate as far as moderately powerful divinities go, Venerable Seamstress is nonetheless an ambitious and cunning politician in the courts of Yu-Shan. Coordinating alliances with various divinities of spiders, worms, tailors, and clothiers among dozens of others, she has painstakingly worked her way up rung by rung on the celestial ladder. To her, all of Creation is nothing more than another resource in a heavenly struggle, and she is not afraid to use or abuse those who call it home to realize her driving passion, her dream. This fantasy of hers is an ever-changing thing, but it revolves constantly about playing a turn in the Games of Divinity, which she has witnessed from the onlooker's seats a number of times. Sometimes she does so as a reward for dutiful service, sometimes she is clothed in glorious rainments woven of the Creation's own threads, the Unconquered Sun dead at her feet. The details change, but the focus remains the same.
Sensing some undescribably quality in the mortal thaumeturge Radabhast, she took him as a lover to win what she knew would become powerful God-Blooded scions. Birthing twins, appropiately named Unremorseful Forsaking and The Spear Called 'Desire', she at length decided to test their valor and loyalty by pitting them against their own mortal father. It was Unremorseful Forsaking that summoned the demons who slew Radabhast, and The Spear Called 'Desire' who drew Tyro away from the slaughter--whether out of pity for the boy, or to simply remove a potentially dangerous factor in the conflict, only she and Jupiter can say.
To Tyro, Venerable Seamstress is nothing more than one of an uncountable number of unknown gods. He's never known of her relationship with his late master, and perhaps will never learn. If he does, he will likely feel some degree of kinship with her until he also learns the full truth of her abandonment, and her death mark on his late master. Then, he will most likely see Seamstress meet a fitting vengeance.
- Unremorseful Forsaking, God-Blooded Sorceress, daughter of Venerable Seamstress by Radabhast of the Hundred Kingdoms
It is no exaggeration to say that this flint-hearted witch is without any sense of humor--hers was quite literally ripped from her being by a Fae Noble during a conflict in the bordermarches. Sacrificing herself in a calculated move to lower the Raksha's defenses, this coincidentally finalized her initiation into Terrestrial Sorcery. Using her mastery of Emerald Countermagic and First Circle Summoning, she slew her own father to further prove her dedication to her mother's cause, and she ever seeks to increase her already formidable power. Despite this strength, Unremorseful Forsakening has no illusions about what she witnessed on the eve of her father's murder, and knows with certainty that direct conflict with Radabhast's apprentice would be suicide. The bitter envy stirred by the young man literally stumbling into the strength of Creation's greatest champions churns deep within her heart even now. As of yet, she has received no orders to confront the displaced apprentice of her late father, but who can say whether or not she might try to undermine him in one of a hundred possible ways, and to what extent?
To Tyro, Unremorseful Forsaking has introduced herself as Pensive Owl, and he knows of no connection between her and Venerable Seamstress. He does, however, strongly suspect that she is the one who summoned the demons that killed Radabhast. Whether she did so out of incompetence or malice, he is unsure, and his forgiving heart is inclined to believe it a mistake. How Tyro would react if he learned Radabhast's death was murder, much worse, one premeditated by his own daughter, is completely uncertain.
- The Spear Called 'Desire', God-Blooded Warrior, daughter of Venerable Seamstress by Radabhast of the Hundred Kingdoms
While her sister was educated in the occult, Desire developed more martial talents. Despite the strict regimen of combat training and endless lectures in honor, duty, and servitude, Desire is far more outgoing and altogether cheerful than her sister. This is an issue of some consternation for Desire, as she is constantly rebuked by the stoic sorceress, and always puzzled by Forsaking's dark demeanor. Largely, she owes this to the ravishing by a very, very dead fae noble, slain by her own cold iron. This has festered into a deep and hateful distrust of all fae and their kin, uncharacteristic of her largely friendly personality. If this could be considered a vice, though, it is one shared by many, and not considered odd by most. Like her sister, Desire is armored in silken garments stronger than steel, woven by her own divine matron, and bears a thrice-enchanted icy spear into combat. She is currently undergoing initiation into the Root of the Perfected Lotus, in the hopes of mastering terrestrial martial arts. Unlike her sister, who pursues appointment as a goddess, Desire has felt no particular inclination towards joining her mother in divinity. If anything, she dreams the unlikely dream of Exalting, although she knows the chances of such a thing are nigh impossible. Her lot in life, as far as she reckons it, is a series of good fights and good parties followed by a worthy death.
To Tyro, The Spear Called 'Desire' has introduced herself as Seven Blades Conqueress, and he knows of no connection between her and Venerable Seamstress. Taken as a fling lover for a very brief period of time, Tyro still holds great affection and some small ember of passion for the god-blooded warrior, even though his heart is weighed down by the suspicion that "Conqueress" had some part in his master's death. What Desire's intentions towards the recently Exalted Solar are remain unknown, even to her tutors, mother, and sister.
- Wheat Father Bibelot, Spirit of Ancelo
God of a small village in the Hundred Kingdoms, Bibelot is far better connected than one might suspect. Though few remember it, Ancelo is built over the ruins of what once a grand university in the First Age, and Bibelot benefits from age old pacts and alliances from days long past. Now, though, his lot is that of a farmer and a god of farmers, and he sees his guardianship of their fields and cattle as a sort of retirement from the hectic times of the last age. He still keeps abreast of the goings on in the spirit courts of the area, and 'knows a friend' in nearly every court, political or divine, within several hundred miles. This is Tyro's major contact in the Hundred Kingdoms, and the details of his abilities and relationships are left to the storyteller.
Character Sheet
Name: Tyro Concept: Displaced Apprentice
Player: Ketrus Nature: Survivor
Caste: Night Anima: Creeping Vines
XP: 20/51
(=Attributes=)
(Physical) (Social) (Mental)
Strength [XXXX.] Charisma [XXX..] Perception [XXX..]
Dexterity [XXXXX] Manipulation [XX...] Intelligence [XXX..]
Stamina [XX...] Appearance [XX...] Wits [XXX..]
(=Abilities=) (Dawn) (Zenith) (Twilight) .Archery [XXXXX] .Endurance [XX...] .Craft [X....] Brawl [.....] Perform [XXX..] Investigation [.....] Martial Arts [X....] Presence [.....] Lore [X....] Melee [.....] Resistance [X....] Medicine [.....] Thrown [.....] Survival [X....] .Occult [XX...]
(Night) (Eclipse) .Athletics [XX...] .Bureaucracy [X....] .Awareness [XXX..] Linguistics [XXX..] .Dodge [XXXXX] Ride [.....] .Larceny [.....] Sail [.....] .Stealth [XX...] Socialize [.....]
Languages: Forest-tongue, Riverspeak, High Realm, Old Realm Archery: +2 When Using Archery Charms Occult: +2 Folk Arts
Blessings from god o' river dragons: +2 to all athletics pools involving swimming, or holding your breath. Major Ward against River Dragons
(=Charms=) (Athletics) Graceful Crane Stance (3m, scene, ref) No balance checks (Archery) Wise Arrow (1m/d, inst, supp) +1d/m to archery attack Sight Without Eyes (1m, inst, supp) No visual penalties Accuracy Without Distance (1m1w, inst, supp) Perfect attack Fiery Arrow Attack (2m, inst, supp) +Ess damage, sets objects aflame, consumes arrow (Craft) Flawless Handiwork Method (3m/suc, inst, supp) Up to Ess+succrolled autosucc, 3m per (Dodge) Reed in the Wind (1m/2d, inst, ref) +2d/1m to dodge Shadow Over Water (2m, inst, ref) Dodge @ Full Pool Seven Shadow Evasion (6m, inst, ref) Perfect dodge Reflexive Sidestep Technique (2m, inst, ref) Dodge unaware @ Ess*2 Flow Like Blood (5m1w, simp, scene) Dodge All @ Full Pool Shadow in the Wind (2m, inst, ref) Allows a dodge when dodging is impossible (Performance) Masterful Performance Exercise (2m/suc, inst, supp) Up to Ess+SuccRolled autosucc, 2m per (=Backgrounds=) (=Virtues=) Artifact [XX...] Compassion [XXXX.] Temperance [XXX..] Manse [XXX..] Conviction [XX...] Valor [XXy..] Resources [XX...] Virtue Flaw: Compassionate Martyrdom Contacts (HK) [X....] Condition: Essence [XXXX......] Bow: 8 spd, 11 acc, +6L dam, 200 ran, 3 rate Willpower [XXXXXXxx..] Fist: 8 spd, 7 acc, +6B dam, 8 def, 5 rate Limit [>>>......!] Kick: 5 spd, 7 acc, +9B dam, 3 def, 3 rate Dodge: 17, Soak: 7/10, BInit: 8 Personal Ess 19/20 Periph Ess 25/47 43
Health Levels:
-0: [ ] -1: [ ] [ ] -2: [ ] [ ] -4: [ ] Incap[ ]
Backgrounds:
Merits:
Hidden Manse - 2 pts Lucky - 1 pt Heirloom - 1 pt
Flaws:
Debt - 4 pts Vice (Temperance: Food) - 1 pt
Equipment:
Strength and Subtlety, Companions of the Chosen These orihalcum hearthstone bracers were discovered within Tyro's first age Manse, relics from a previous incarnation. He is sure to always wear them under thick, long sleeves, and their slender design lends them to this simple disguise. Intentionally left unadorned, they are minimilistic to the extreme for orihalcum artifacts of the First Age, although not so simple as starmetal bracers might be. Tyro has set the right bracer, Strength, with the Sphere of the Revolutionary Dog found within his Manse. Attuned for four motes, the bracers give him +2 damage to all attacks, and +3 to his dodge pool. The Sphere grants him an extra temporary willpower point whenever he would normally regain a point of temporary willpower.
Exceptional Lamellar, Heirloom of Radabhast Its name forgotten with Radabhast's passing, this suit of armor was first forged by his father one hundred twety years ago, and has been enchanted, dispelled,
re-enchanted, redispelled, and so on countless times. Now completely mundane, thanks to Unremorseful Forsaking's Emerald Countermagic, it possesses no notable qualities besides its exceptionally light and well-designed fit. Customized slightly by Tyro for fit, he keeps it in excellent repair, even if he neglects proper polishing. This suit of exceptional lamellar has 6/8 Lethal/Bashing soak, no mobility penalty, and a fatigue value of 1. This is enough of a fatigue value to occasionally trouble Tyro, but he's usually able to handle it.
Bacon for Breakfast, Longbow When his master made such a commotion out of the ritual and importance of a meditative archer's first bow, Tyro rebuked his seriousness with this silly title. Nothing more than a simple longbow of unexceptional quality, Tyro keeps it still as a fit tool, and more importantly, a reminder of days long past. Bacon for Breakfast has +1 accuracy, 3 rate, and a range of 200 yards.
Whistler, a wooden flute Given to him when he was but a boy by a village elder grateful for Radaghast's services as a ghost sweeper, Whistler has been Tyro's secret joy since he was eight years old. While he displayed no real talent as a musician, a decade of practice does not go without reward--his Performance ability reflects this, as well as his capability with ritual and prayer.
An assortment of trinkets and possessions
Besides basic survival gear, Tyro has a collection of books and charms of his own make and Radabhast's, as well as his master's old athame. Mechanically, these should have negligible effect, and the athame could perhaps be wielded as a knife in an emergency. Tyro usually carries little food and water, as the East is an abundant giver for those who know how to ask correctly.
Other Backgrounds
Winter's End, the 3-dot Manse, is detailed in Tyro's Introduction. It is hidden by occult means that forbid any to enter unless they are properly attuned, and even then can only be opened by the burning of flesh. Centered about underground lava currents, its themes are 'hidden strength', and 'might through unseen struggle.' Crafted entirely by the two hands of the First Age Night of Tyro's past incarnation, none then knew of its exact location save him alone, and its secret, by the grace of Jupiter and Saturn, should be kept even now.
Tyro achieves his unimpressive resources score through playing the role of a traveller and servant. His thaumeturgy is as of yet unexceptional, but he supplements what little he makes with his wards and charms by cooking and performing for the inns at which he stays. A fair chef and flutesman without magic, his Charms raise him to a transcendent level that lets him belt out one truly magnificent song and one exceptinally delicious meal every night, at the very least.
His Contacts in the Hundred Kingdoms are various acquaintences introduced to him by Radabhast during his apprenticeship. One in particular formed a rapport with young Tyro, Wheat Father Bibelot of Acelo. Perhaps this ancient diety recognized the strength of Tyro's destiny, or maybe he just enjoyed the company of a boy with a similar outlook on life. Either way, he remains friends with Tyro and occasionally exchanges polite correspondence to check in on Radabhast's young heir.
His luck should be obvious. He's led a charmed life so far, not entirely due to destiny, and definitely not due to skill.
His vice is self-explanatory: Tyro simply enjoys food. Its preperation, its presentation, and its consumption are all equally important to him; he considers himself a bit of a connoisseur.
His debt is where I hope the story begins. As it turns out, Radabhast's account at the Guild Bank in Nexus is overflowing with debt, and Tyro as his heir is stuck with the bill. The reason for this giant burden is left up to the storyteller. It could simply be that Radabhast was a bit of a bum when it came to financial matters, and accrued way too much interest with his overly comfortable travelling expenses. It could also be the result of manipulation, or even a simple bank error. In any case, I suspect it'll be fun.
Notes
The 'Folk Arts' specialty for Occult is a custom one meant to reflect Tyro's knowledge of practical, every day thaumeturgy. He knows how to whistle up game, and can find water when he needs it. NOT included in his informal training of picking up little tricks are the Sciences proper, demon summoning, and other dangerous pursuits. The most Tyro can enchant is a stationary ward, and he never summons anything deadlier than small game and maybe a lesser elemental or two when the firewood is too wet to burn.
A word on his attributes: Appearances are deceiving. Even before his Exaltation, I would place his dexterity around four, as my mental image of him is someone with deft hands and quick feet, despite a considerable girth. His strength was three, definitely, as he was used to some manual labor. Stamina I kept at two to reflect the fact that he is a bit overweight, and easily tired. Moreover, he was and remains pretty lazy, and will use
shortcuts to bypass repititive jobs. He looks at this as 'working smarter, not harder.'
He was mostly average socially and mentally before Exaltation, with slightly better perceptions thanks to his meditative practices and awareness training. The Second Breath lets him think quicker and deeper, and has given him an odd, benign charm.
A word on his abilities: I really wish I could've raised craft a little, but I couldn't really afford it. It was a choice between craft and perform, and perform made better sense given his training in minor prayers and rituals. Craft to 3 will be among the first things XP buys, as he loves the art of cooking. Right now, he is trained as a campfire chef and a very basic bowyer. The dot in Martial Arts reflects what little hand-to-hand training Radabhast was able to put him through, and of course pales to his ability with a bow--Tyro prefers to fight from very, very far away. Dodge was probably 3, Archery 4 pre-Exaltation, for anyone who cares to keep score.
Formerly Z'Rel, circlemate of Trav'N'Kil the Twilight, Crimson Terror the Dawn, and Voice of the Sun, Zenith and Head of the Solar Deliberative. Also: He had boobies.
Appearances
Musings
XP Record
48 Total Earned 1 Endurance 2 1 Occult 2 1 Athletics 2 1 Stealth 2 8 Reflexive Sidestep Technique 3 Valor 2 8 Flow Like Blood 8 Shadow in the Wind
17 Remaining
