Meet Maarif Clousen, Watersoul Genasi tactical warlord devotee of the Red Knight.
"Remember, dearest brother, that while a knight is more powerful than a pawn... that pawn has much greater potential. Oh, and checkmate." - Maarif Clousen while playing chess with an elder brother backgroundShow
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Maarif is the youngest of twelve children and the seventh son of a seventh son (he has six brothers and five sisters). He is also one of two genasi, his father remarried a watersoul genasi after the death of his first wife. One of his sisters is also a watersoul genasi and his only "full" sibling.
Maarif is the only one of his siblings to venerate the Red Knight over Tempus. He is also the only one that does not channel divine power (though his half-sister Daelnae is almost as odd as he is since she's a cleric, not a paladin). He was drawn to the Red Knight's more tactical way of thinking and felt that the best veneration of his deity was through the exercise of sound tactical judgment.
Maarif's father, Orfil Clousen is a human paladin of Tempus and his mother, Maarnii Clousen, is a watersould genasi artisan (classless, not an artificer). Maarif's father is slightly put off by the fact his son chose the Red Knight, but as the Red Knight is practically Tempus' daughter by adoption he didn't protest too much. Orfil is really put off by the fact that his son is so much smarter than he is but usually shrugs it off with "the boy got it from his mother, obviously."
Maarif earned the nickname the "Red Pawn" after one of his siblings told him he'd never be worthy of the title "knight." "Very well," he responded, "then I shall simply be the greatest pawn on the board."
Maarif delights in games of strategy and will pay exorbitant amounts to purchase a strategy game he's never seen before and be taught to play.
"Idiot, all you have left are your pawns and king!" said the nobleman, gloating over the chessboard. "Perhaps," replied Maarif, hardly phased by his apparent lack of position, "but not for long, for you see it's all about tactics and strategy, not brute force..." goalsShow
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His highest goal is to show his faith and devotion by leading an assault against great foes and triumphing through superior tactics and strategy.
Maarif would also like to show his siblings that he's a greater knight than they could ever hope to be. He loves them but is still competitive.
"Secrets? What military mind would keep something like a secret?" - Maarif on keeping secrets. secretsShow
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The secret he is most ashamed of is that he is in love, and not in the normal sibling sense, with his sister Daelnae the cleric. He was drawn to her since they both are "different" from the rest of the family in terms of career choice. He knows it's not right and will never be but cannot help his feelings.
Maarif looks down on his father and siblings, except for Daelnae, for their mediocre intellectual capabilities. He feels the same about other "average" people as well, though he hides it (mechanics note: anyone without at least a fourteen in either intelligence or wisdom is considered "inferior").
What he doesn't know is that one of his older brothers, Aievdo, has fallen and is now a blackguard (evil paladin) of Bane.
"Let me tell you about Daelnae, my sister. She is both wise and beautiful..." - Maarif extolling the virtues of Daelnae relationshipsShow
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Daelnae Clousen is fourth daughter and is Maarif's human half sister and a cleric of Tempus. She feels great sisterly love for Maarif, but nothing more. She will always help him if it is at all possible for her.
Aievdo Clousen is the second son and is now a(n un)holy warrior of Bane. He hates Maarif for being more intelligent than him and causing him to suffer several ignoble defeats at chess and other strategic games. Could be convinced to help Maarif in certain situations, however.
Viinz Clousen is the fifth daughter and Maarif's full sister. She too is a paladin of Tempus but feels closer to Maarif due to their shared otherworldly heritage than to her other siblings.
"What game is this?" asks Maarif, leaning over the shoulder of a male drow. "Sava, now back off or I gut you." Maarif thinks for a second, "how about you teach me how to play instead. Then we'll play a game, if you win you can gut me." "And if you win?" Maarif smiles broadly. "Why, we get to keep playing, of course!" memoriesShow
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His first game of chess at the age of four. Aievdo, ten at the time, taught Maarif how to play. And was soundly defeated by the second game, the first being a stale-mate. Maarif has never lost a chess match to a member of his family.
Maarif's mother made him his own chess set when he turned seven (seven year old seventh son of a seventh son. very lucky year for the family). He has it with him still and considers it a personal treasure (although finely crafted it was made as a child's toy so lacks the ornamentation of more decorative sets).
Maarif's most traumatic memory is when he realized how much smarter than his father he is. It was a terrible blow to his faith and may be why he chose the Red Knight over Tempus for worship.
Thank you for the character, and for changing the subject.
No, really. I find the dynamic between the superstructured Red Knight and the unpredictable Tempus an interesting scenario, in that conflict and strategy are opposed. It's always nice to see it personified. This marks the second character (by my count) with incestuous aspirations in TMB form. Good times. For anyone wondering, Boscombe is the first.
Thank you for the character, and for changing the subject.
No, really. I find the dynamic between the superstructured Red Knight and the unpredictable Tempus an interesting scenario, in that conflict and strategy are opposed. It's always nice to see it personified. This marks the second character (by my count) with incestuous aspirations. Good times. For anyone wondering, Boscombe is the first.
Thank you, I always liked the Red Knight better and never felt she got enough "love," so to speak. Torm, Tempus, Tyr, Helm and them were all great and all, but they were so... brute force.
I think I might redo my other characters with flavor text. I think it adds a lot to the character.
What I find most frustrating about 4E is that I can see it includes the D&D game I've always wanted to play, but the game is so lathered in tatical combat rules that I have thus far been unable to coax the game I want out.
I decided to do another retroactive TMB - this time, I'm doing it for Raxila Kaarone, [S]Jagermonster Orc Mercenary and Vunderer. The world is very human-centric and low-magic, so playing a fey is gonna be fun.
"Hy am Raxila, dam goot fighter and a vunderer. Hyu hirink? CharacterShow
1. Raxila Kaarone was the daughter of the chieftain of the Kaarone tribe of Orcs, Jarn in the Fey-Speech. When he died, she assumed that she'd become the new chieftain, but the wild orc hunter Keyl challenged her and defeated her. 2. Raxila barely escaped with her life. She took her armor and her "heirloom" sword Drakbane, stolen from a Nordlander generations ago. She headed into the human lands of the Rhodok Confederacy. 3. Raxila was often shunned and feared by the superstisious humans, but her quick blade and quick temper earned her respect among the "Free Companies" she traveled with as a mercenary. 4. In her travels across Calradia, she ran into a mortal scoundrel called Danion Illia. She was quite taken by the human's charm and poise, and decided that he was the only mortal for her. They traveled together for two years before they were forced apart during the battle of Canar's Wharf. She still wears the dark blue fedora Danion gave her in Swadia, and will hurt anyone who tries to take it from her. 5. Now, Rexila is still traveling among the Free Companies, and is still looking for Danion. She is falling on hard times, and desperately needs a contract. She is traveling in parts of Calradia where few recognize her as a fey, despite her dark green skin and long fangs.
"Dere are zum dreams Hy schtill klink to..." GoalsShow
1. Find Danion! It has been nearly a year since the battle of Canar's Wharf, and she misses the charming mortal deeply. She mentions him to few, and simply keeps her senses keen. 2. Rexila has seen the great Knight-Commanders riding across the battlefields she's fought on, and after hearing about their priveliged status Rexila would like nothing more than to become a Knight of Swadia or Vaegirhold. Her non-human ancestry and low status work against her, but this Jarn is determined. When Jarn get determined, things get broken.
1. Raxila owes a big favor to Gilamede Hadyne, a nobleman of Rhodok. Gilamede saved her life when a mob of Rhodok serfs tried to hang her for being a fey monster. Raxila swore her sword to him, whenever he might need it. He dismissed her kindly, and told her that when he needed her services he would send for her. Though she is far from Rhodok, her Jarnpact still reminds her she has a duty to stay alive for Gilamede. 2. Danion had no idea that Raxila loved him, but is still looking for her as well. He's currently in another Free Company, watching out for her.
"Hy don' hef mhenny friends, und Hy don' leaff enemies." Spoiler:Show
1. Danion. Need I say more? They traveled together as best friends (and a bit more for Raxila) for over two years across Calradia. 2. Garika de'Mote, an innkeeper in Rhodok who treated Raxila well when Raxila staggered into the "Dark Haven", half-mad with pain and infection. Garika is actually half-fey, and entrusted Raxila with her secret. The Dark Haven is on the Rhodok border, and Garika is still waiting for Raxila to come again, as she has several times before. 3. Yosef Erikson is a Nordish warlord that was humiliated and defeated by Danion and Raxila. Yosef is just waiting for either of the duo to fall into his hands again, that he may return the humiliation tenfold.
"Hy don' talk about de past. De future iz so much more eksitink!" MemoriesShow
1. One of Raxila's most vivid memories is her first hunt, tracking down a huge boar with only a spear. She skewered it, mostly by luck, and dragged it back to the Kaarone tribe. 2. Raxila remembers vividly the relief she felt when Gilamede saved her life, and her rash decision to swear a Jarnpact. 3. Raxila loves the memory of one of her last moments with Danion, before Canar's Wharf, where they came within inches of kissing. Danion backed off at the last second, excusing himself to bed. Raxila was crushed.
Most of my characters are a mixture of two of my favorite characters. I mixed the love-struck Order of the Stick character Therkla with the Jagermonster Maxim from Girl Genius. The PbP game is about to start, and I think I'll really enjoy playing the character.
What I find most frustrating about 4E is that I can see it includes the D&D game I've always wanted to play, but the game is so lathered in tatical combat rules that I have thus far been unable to coax the game I want out.
:lightbulb Oh, and I've posted this in my native GiantITP forums, with a link to this thread. I hoped ye wouldn't mind, especially because I did it out of admiration fer this system.
What I find most frustrating about 4E is that I can see it includes the D&D game I've always wanted to play, but the game is so lathered in tatical combat rules that I have thus far been unable to coax the game I want out.
1. The Jewelmane family were always renowned for their skills in shipwrighting and sail-making. Khania was never like her brothers - she wanted to sail on the sea, not to make ships for it. At the age of twelve, she finally got her chance to join the crew of a merchant ship. 2. Go ahead seven years to Captain Khania Jewelmane of the Firebelly. Khania, now with her own ship, was sometimes a honest merchant, sometimes a smuggler, and sometimes a pirate. She hated to kill whenever she boarded a ship, and tried to convince crews to give up peacefully. 3. Sailing in the Newsea, Khania finally got what was coming to her. A Qualinesti battleship recognized the Firebelly and set it ablaze with burning arrows. Khania - despite her pyromania - was forced to jump overboard as the Firebelly's ruined hulk sank down to the bottom of the Newsea. 4. Khania had a change of heart when she washed ashore. She mourned her crew and realized her wild ways had been their death sentance. Vowing to make sure she could handle any trouble that she caused in the future, she set out across the Abasanian plains. Now, a year later, she is hiding in Solace after the Haven Incident. You don't ask about the Haven Incident. :angelhide 5. Khania is passionate, wild and firey. She has a seemingly limitless supply of energy, and is very self-confident and daring. She gravitates towards leadership naturally. She is often flippant and loves to joke around - she's a brilliant actor and changes emotions easily. However, she's vengeful to a fault and very greedy.
1. To find adventure, riches and [s]lust true love. Really, would I lie to you about that? 2. As a player, I'd love to see Khania's satchel of items and skills come into play creatively. Especially the two bottles of fine Solamanic wine.
1. The Haven Incident. You don't need to know about the Haven Incident. (I don't even know what the HI is. :thinks 2. Tarvek Stormhold, first mate of the Firebelly, is still alive. The devious and brilliant mage is quickly gaining some power where he was shipwrecked, and Tarvek holds no love for Khania.
1. The Kender tactitian Las Duntel literally ran into Khania in Gateway during a frantic chase - Khania running from some disgruntled soldiers she had tricked, Las running from soldiers chasing after the "thief." Khania just picked Las up and kept running. Once they were outside the city, Las thanked her greatly and promised her service in the future if they ever crossed ways again. 2. Duthel was first mate of a trading ship, but after the dwarf's leg was blown off by magic fighting pirates, he's been forced to settle down. Khania befriended the old sailor, and Duthel liked the energetic Minotaur lass enough to share his home with her while she was staying in Solace. 3. Tarvek Stormhold both loves and hates his former captain. He hates her for driving him to the edge of ruin, and would certainly act upon that hatred if he ever met her. On the other hand, he adored the wild, charming captain and still holds some of that love in him.
1. Khania remembers fondly her family's workshop, filled with the smell of freshly cut wood and the sound of hammering and sewing. She was always welcomed there when she wasn't staring off to sea. 2. Khania loved her days as captain of the Firebelly, even if they ended poorly. She loved her clever, charming first mate and the crew respected and truly liked her. 3. The Haven Incident. Let us never mention the Haven Incident again.
You should be able to guess who the first mate was based on, but Khania I really pulled out of thin air.
Once again, I'm playing an energetic scoundrel. And once again, I'm playing a gal. I seem to come back to the same character types, apparently.
What I find most frustrating about 4E is that I can see it includes the D&D game I've always wanted to play, but the game is so lathered in tatical combat rules that I have thus far been unable to coax the game I want out.
