Metropolis - The Weight of the World (and Found Wanting)

[Phoenix]

Here's an idea I have for my aforementioned insurance agent.

K:
[SBLOCK]K spends most of his time either working at the offices of his employer, Konietzko Commercial Insurers, or commuting between there and the small room he calls home. Despite the company's name, he has no relation to anyone of any import -- he is merely a clerk who completes and files reports based on information gathered by other employees.

That has changed recently, however. A message was received at the offices from somewhere else in the city -- a message that spurred his superior to direct K on an excursion of his own, to a suburb none of the Konietzko employees had ever visited, or even heard of. Apparently there is a claim of some importance to be processed, and K was specifically requested to be the adjuster who gathered, rather than filed, the information. The nature of this claim, and who made the request, is completely unknown to K. It is none of his concern.

But he is concerned, and these headaches keep getting worse the further afield he travels...[/SBLOCK]

Sounds interesting, I'd like to hear more...

 

[Phoenix]

Here is background Jazick Shador a chaotic good rogue. Mechancial details to follow. Let me know what you think. [sblock]Appearance: Jazick Shador is a tall thin young man of twenty-two summers. His skin is fair and his hair black. He has fine features suggesting a highborn birth and bright eyes of green that carry a hint of sadness. He carries scars of the fire on his back and the left hand. There are other scars earned more recently—a product of his life on the street. Fingerless gloves of black kidskin are perhaps the finest and least worn of his clothes. He wears a worn gray tunic over a light mail shirt. Brown leggings and soft low comfortable boots cover his legs. A once fine black cloak lined with a russet and silver herringbone swallows Jazick’s narrow shoulders. A careful observer will spot sword and bow under the cloak. He wears a low brown felt hat with a broad brim at a rakish angle on his head. He can move with grace and speed, but more often his movements are furtive as his slips from one shadow to the nest. He works to appear ordinary and anonymous on the streets. When he speaks his voice is surprisingly cultured and educated.

History/Background: Jazick Shador is the son of a once prominent family in a once prosperous neighborhood. Candlestick Lane was a thriving district of artisans. The area produced candles, torches, lamps, scented oils, soaps, and other goods sold in fine storefronts and to other shops in neighboring areas. The area was known for its beautiful old wooden building with ornate carvings, elegant shops and sidewalk cafes. Situated on the northern bank of a major canal, trade was good. Though a small community, it was a relatively happy successful one. The Shador family ruled with a gentle hand, settling disputes, encouraging trade and protecting the neighborhood from their large chandlery and the adjacent stone tower on the waterfront. Things changed dramatically for Candlestick Lane on a hot dry night ten summers ago. No one is sure how the fire started. Any number of banked forges or cook fires could have thrown a spark in the hot breezes blowing that night. The people acted quickly, but the canal was low from the long dry season and the buckets of water had to be hauled up the steep bank. A dry wind drove the fire deeper into the neighborhood igniting tallow, wax and oil in the old wooden buildings. The blaze devoured every wooden structure in the region. Only the brick and stone buildings of abutting districts stopped the flames. In the dawn all that was left of Candlestick Lane was heaps of smoking ash and the stone tower, its interior walls and floors largely burned away. Many of the citizens perished as well, most fighting to save their neighborhood. The families of Candlestick Lane lost everything they had.

Some moved on chasing the prosperity they had once known while others stayed digging charcoal from the ashes and selling it for coppers where they had once earned gold and silver. A shantytown of lean-tos and tents replaced the fine houses and buildings. Rabble from other areas poured into the vacant space. Soon the area was just a lawless pit. A few businesses rose from the ashes-brothels, taverns and less savory businesses crept into the lawless region.

Young Jazick survived the blaze along with his mother who was burned badly yet lived. His father, siblings and all other family were lost. His mother turned to drink to ease her pain and heartache. She and Jazick were alone in the burned out tower. In the early years like everyone else, Jazick struggled just to survive and find enough for them to eat. As he grew into a man his mother became increasing out of touch with reality. She expected Jazick to be a proper lord ruling his people. She talked endlessly of honor and duty to the son who caught her rats for dinner. In the remains of the tower he found a few things that survived. I fine shirt of mail and a rapier were untouched by the flame. Jazick would have sold them for money to buy food and healing for his mother, but she insisted that they were Shador family heirlooms that were his birthright. As ruler they were signs of his office and he must preserve them.

The armor saved his life on more than one occasion as he prowled the warren that had been Candlestick Lane. He ran afoul of cutpurses and muggers, but his agility and fine armor and knowledge of every alley and rooftop allowed him to escape. As a lad he had been educated and knew how to fence, but quickly learned the rougher arts of fighting for your life. He grew strong, but never bold. Jazick was not a violent youth and preferred to avoid a fight. If he was forced to fight he would strike with speed and stealth. While Jazick at first just fought to survive, his mother’s words began to haunt him as he roamed. He saw many injustices and finally began to take action. He fought to defend others and even worked to drive evil men from the district. He rarely confronts others directly preferring to act from the shadows. In order to further his causes and help the people Jazick will collect ‘taxes’ from wicked men profiting from the people of the neighborhood. He keeps little for himself given most of what he steals to help the people of the neighborhood. He considers his territory all the area that falls under the shadow of his burned out tower as the sun makes its way across the sky. After his mother died a few years ago, Jazick took to living near the top of the tower where he restored a floor. This was both for safety and to provide a vantage point from which to watch the surrounding neighborhood.

Jazick is sometimes referred to as ‘Lord Shadow’ at first mockingly, but now with some reverence among the simple folk of the neighborhood. He has many friends: Judith Tulley daughter of a once wealthy family that has regained some small part of their former wealth as sellers of charcoal and torches. They are of an age and Jazick is given to romantic notions about her. Willie a simpleminded begger boy orphaned and disabled in the night of the fire. Rory a baker who’s oven survived the fire. He often gave young Jazick day old bread in the difficult days after the fire. Another is Margra an old woman who discovered that flowers grew well in the soil enriched by the ashes. She scrapes by selling flowers from a stand on the corner at the edge of the neighborhood. Father Lunley a homeless sidewalk preacher who also works tirelessly to help others. [/sblock]

I like it, stat me up!

 

[Scotley]

I like it, stat me up!

Cool, I'm working on it. I have a busy weekend, so it may be Monday before I finish.

 

[Bront]

Great Bront, stat yourself up. Urban Ranger is good (mainly cause you've got an online source for me to look at), and I have no problem with the Assassin PrC (I won't even require an Evil alignment for it).

Im debating the alignment, LE or LN. We'll see.

I'll go a little more in detail with the names and such as well, and of course I'm building off of a little of what you have as well

Oh, I need to know what I can use as far as poison.

 

[Bront]

Oh, how you doing HP?

 

[Komodo]

Corbin Deeppockets
[sblock]

[b]Name:[/b] Corbin Deeppouch
[b]Class:[/b] Rogue 1/Druid 4
[b]Race:[/b] Halfling
[b]Deity:[/b] ?

[b]Age:[/b] 26
[b]Gender:[/b] Male
[b]Height:[/b] 3'1"
[b]Weight:[/b] 35 lbs
[b]Eyes:[/b] Green
[b]Hair:[/b] Brown
[b]Skin:[/b] White

[b]Ability Scores:[/b] 
Str: 12   
Dex: 16   
Con: 10  
Int: 14  
Wis: 14+2 = 16  
Cha: 10  

[b]HP:[/b]
[b]AC:[/b] 18 = 10 + 4 armor + 3 Dex + 1 size
[b]Init.:[/b] +3
[b]BAB/Grapple:[/b] +3/+0
[b]Saves:[/b] Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +7

[b]Attacks:[/b]
Single Dagger at +7 for 1d3+2
Two Daggers at +5/+0 for 1d3+2/1d3+1
Sling at +8 for 1d3+1

[b]Racial Abilities:[/b]
+2 vs. fear
+1 with thrown weapons

[b]Class Abilities:[/b]
Sneak Attack +1d6
Trapfinding
Nature Sense
Wild Empathy
Woodland Stride
Trackless Step
Resist Nature's Lure
Spontaneous Rejuvenation*
Shapeshift* (Predator Form)

[b]Feats:[/b]
Two Weapon Fighting
Weapon Finesse

[b]Skills:[/b]
Skill: Total = Ability + Ranks + Misc
Concentration:	 6 = 0 + 6 + 0
Balance:	 4 = 3 + 1 - 2
Climb: 		 2 = 1 + 1 + 0
Decipher Script: 6 = 2 + 4 + 0
Hide:		 9 = 3 + 4 + 2
Jump: 		 3 = 1 + 2 + 0
Knowledge (Local)6 = 2 + 4 + 0
Knowledge (Nat.) 8 = 2 + 6 + 0
Listen		11 = 3 + 6 + 2
Move Silently:   7 = 3 + 4 + 0
Open Lock:	 5 = 3 + 2 + 0
Search:		 6 = 2 + 4 + 0
Sleight of Hand: 5 = 3 + 2 + 0
Spot:		 9 = 3 + 6 + 0
Spellcraft: 	 7 = 2 + 5 + 0	
Tumble:		 5 = 3 + 4 - 2
Use Mag. Dev.:	 3 = 0 + 3 + 0 

[b]Spells per day:[/b]
level 0: 5
level 1: 4
level 2: 3

[b]Languages:[/b]
Common
Halfling
Dwarven
Orc
Druidic

[b]Gear:[/b]

[b]Gear:[/b]
Dragonhide Shirt       	(500 gp)[12.5 lbs]
Two +1 daggers 	       	(4604 gp)[1 lb]
Masterwork Sling       	(300 gp)
30 sling bullets       	(3 sp) 	[7.5 lbs]
Periapt of Wisdom +2   	(4000 gp)
MWT hieves' Tools 	(100 gp)[2 lbs]
Backpack 		(2 gp) 	[.5 lbs]
Lantern, bullseye 	(12 gp) [3 lbs]
Rope, silk: 50 ft 	(10 gp) [5 lbs]
2 sacks, medium size 	(2 sp) 	[1 lb]
4 belt pouches 		(4 gp) 	[.5 lbs]
30 platinum 			[.3 lbs]
166 gold 			[1.66 lbs]
13 silver 			[0.13 lbs]
20 copper 			[0.2 lbs]
Total weight: 35.7 lbs
Description:  Corbin is an average-sized halfling, standing at just a smidge over three feet tall.  He is slender in build, and has dark brown hair that he keeps tied up in a short topknot.  Corbin has a friendly looking face with light brown eyes and a wide smile.  He wears an armored shirt made from the scales of a green dragon, its color signifying, at least to him, his devotion to the natural world, and sports fancy brown leggings.

*replacement class features from [i]PHBII[/i].

[/sblock]

Edit: finished character sheet

 

[Bront]

Woho! Another Halfing Druid

(Taran was a halfling druid in the previous metropolus. Now he's something more)

 

[Bront]

Here she is, still have some money to spend, pending your answers to some questions

[sblock=Jasmine]

[B]Name:[/B] "Jasmine" [spoiler]Jenny Paige[/spoiler]
[B]Class:[/B] Rogue 3 / [url=http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#rangerVariantUrbanRanger]Urban Ranger[/url] 2
[B]Race:[/B] Human
[B]Size:[/B] Medium
[B]Gender:[/B] Female
[B]Alignment:[/B] LN (with Evil Tendancies)

[B]Str:[/B] 10 +0 ( 2p.)	[B]Level:[/B] 5	[B]XP[/B]: 10,000 / 15, 000
[B]Dex:[/B] 18 +4 ( 8p.)	[B]BAB:[/B] +4		[B]HP:[/B] XX (3d6+2d8+5)
[B]Con:[/B] 12 +1 ( 4p.)	[B]Grapple:[/B] +4	[B]???:[/B] XXXX
[B]Int:[/B] 14 +2 ( 6p.)	[B]Speed:[/B] 30'	[B]???:[/b]
[B]Wis:[/B] 10 +0 ( 2p.)	[B]Init:[/B] +4	[B]???:[/B] XX
[B]Cha:[/B] 14 +2 ( 6p.)	[B]ACP:[/B] 0		[B]???:[/B] X%

[B]	Total	Base	Armor	Shld	Dex	Size	Nat	Misc[/B]
[B]Armor:[/B]	15	10	+1	+0	+4	+0	+0	+0
[B]Touch:[/B]	14	[B]Flatfooted:[/B] 11

[B]Spell Res:[/B] None
[B]Dmg Red:[/B] None

[B]	Total	Base	Mod	Misc[/B]
[B]Fort:[/B]	+5	4	+1	--
[B]Ref:[/B]	+10	6	+4	--
[B]Will:[/B]	+1	1	+0	--
[B]Notes:[/B]

[B]Weapon			Attack	Damage	Critical	Range[/B]
Dagger +1		+9	1d4+1	19-20/x2	10 ft
Dagger			+8	1d4	19-20/x2	10 ft
Short Bow		+8	1d6	20/x3		60 ft
[B]Notes:[/B]
Favored Enemy Damage may apply

[B]Languages:[/B] Common, XXX

[B]Abilities:[/B]
Human Raical Abilities
- Bonus Skill Points
- Bonus Feat
Rogue Class Abilities
- Trapfinding
- Sneak Attack: +2d6
- Evasion
- Trap Sense +1
Urban Ranger Class Abilities
- Favored Enemy: Human +2
- Wild Empathy +1
- Combat Style: Two Weapon Fighting

[B]Feats: [/B] Combat Expertise, Improved Feint, [url=http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#urbanTracking]Urban Tracking[/url], Weapon Finesse

[B]Spells prepared[/B] (Save DC XX + spell level; XX/XX): 0 - XX, XX; 1st - XX, XX
[B]Domains:[/B]
[B]Spellbook/Spells Known:[/B]
	0 - XX, XX, XX;
	1st - XX, XX, XX;

[B]Skill Points:[/B] 84	[B]Max Ranks:[/B] 8/4
[B]Skills		Total	Ranks	Mod 	Misc[/B]
Balance		+9	5	+3	+2
Bluff*		+9	7	+2	
Diplomacy	+10	6	+2	+4
Disguise	+11	7	+2	+2
Gather Info	+12	8	+2	+2
Hide		+11	8	+3
Intimidate	+4	0	+2	+2
Jump		+2	0	+0	+2
KN: Local	+7	5	+2
Listen		+5	5	+0
Move Silently	+10	8	+2
Perform: Dance	+7	5	+2
Search		+7	5	+2
Sense Motive*	+5	5	+0
Spot*		+5	5	+0
Tumble		+8	5	+3
[B]Notes:[/B]
* Favored Enemy Bonus may apply

[B]Equipment:			Cost	Weight[/B]
+1 Dagger			2302	1
Shortbow			1	3
4 daggers			10	4
20 arrows			30	2
Anklet of Dexterity +2		4000	
Bracelets of Armor +1		1000	
Earings of Disguise		1800	
[B]Total Weight:[/B]10lb	[B]Money:[/B] 857gp Xsp Xcp

[B]		Lgt	Med	Hvy	Lift	Push[/B]
[B]Max Weight:[/B]	33	66	100	200	500

[B]Age:[/B] 
[B]Height:[/B] 
[B]Weight:[/B] 
[B]Eyes:[/B] Almond Shaped Emerald Green
[B]Hair:[/B] Dark Auburn
[B]Skin:[/B] Medium Tan

Appearance:
Jasmine is an extremely attractive and exotic young woman. With dark auburn tresses, medium tan skin, and emerald green eyes that pear out from long lashes through their almond shaped slit. Luscious pouty lips, hide a brilliant smile. A modest bosom compliments her shapely hips, and well-toned legs walk her gracefully thought the streets and around the dance floor.

Personality:
Jasmine is a woman of many moods and personas. Sometimes she can be polite, sometimes she can be raunchy, and she can be introverted or extroverted to all extremes. However, she is calculating at heart, and those few who know her well enough really aren’t quite sure how cold she is. Truly, she is first and foremost worried about herself.

Background:
Fate in Metropolis can be fickle. The girl now known as Jasmine is a perfect example. Orphaned at adolescence, parents dying of some unknown disease, she set out on her own. Knowing little of the city, she set out for shelter. Had she turned north instead of south, she might have found herself at one of the Church of the Heart’s orphanages. Instead, she turned south, and was offered refuge in one of the many red-light districts.

Underneath the shadow of The Apartments, the young girl was made a servant, and then quickly used for dancing and other acts no child should have to endure. She was forced to pay to live in squalor in a small room and rarely got to keep most of her money, and named Jasmine by those who kept her. She was moved around, from being passed as a Gnome or Halfling, to being the oddity in a Dwarven club, she learned some of the seediest sides of the city first hand. Despite this, she managed to keep from being physically scarred, and the mobster Jaron Devries purchased her for his harem.

Devries was the head man of the Black Guild, also simply referred to as The Organization, a group with far reaching power in the underworld. In his harem, she lived in what was, comparatively, exotic luxury, with time to rest, food, and a fairly clean place to live. Jasmine only She was only occasionally called on to perform at first, and was taught by the harem about the organization. The women of the harem were many, but they changed quite often, as Devries was a man of fickle tastes, and The Organization often used the harem to barter and bribe with as well. Jasmine only became close to one other woman, an older half-elf named Ruby. However, it was not long lived, for Ruby had displeased Devries, and was eventually gifted to a noble named Brandor Du’Vei. Jasmine had became well aware that Brandor’s “gifts” never lasted too long early on in her stay, and for the first, and perhaps only time, Jasmine mourned a loss. Jasmine swore to take revenge on Brandor for this.

With newfound drive and a maturing body, Jasmine quickly became a favorite of Devries and his associates, and in particular, a half-elf named Damon. Devries never trusted Damon, and decided Jasmine could be used to his advantage. Devries had her schooled in the arts of poison and assassination, with the intent on having her take Damon out. Damon, on the other hand, grew to trust Jasmine, and spoke of overthrowing Devries in The Organization. Jasmine, meanwhile, hatched her own plan. At a dinner between the two, Jasmine was to be the entertainment, as was one of the other girls of the harem. Jasmine brought out the food and wine, but got sick after just a few sips. The other three died of a rather nasty poison that was in all the wine. Jasmine seemed to have gotten the break she needed to get free.

There was some jockeying for position in The Organization, and Jasmine made her move. She offered her support to a crafty human named Riki Tori, on the condition he allow her freedom and independence. With some influence, plotting, and precise strikes, Jasmine helped Riki climb to the top of The Organization, and a man of his word, and fearing her wrath, let he go.

Jasmine is now mostly independent, working through contacts she has made and a good reputation she has built. She still works with The Organization on occasion, being a favorite of Riki to use, as well has having contacts in some of the upper nobility circles. She’s been linked to Riki romantically by rumors, though she is a favorite for ‘in house’ jobs in The Organization. She has a lavish “entertainment” pad, as well as a private residence where she never takes business, and a few places she feels comfortable ducking for the night scattered though out the city. She hires herself out for many different things, from a simple escort, to “playmate”, to information gatherer, to assassin. She’s also quietly done some research on Brandor, hoping to extract her revenge.

Jasmine acquired her magical dagger during her assassin training in The Organization, as a gift from Devries.

Jasmine’s earrings are magical and allow her to appear in any form of clothing she wishes, and were a present from Damon.

Jasmine’s Bracelets are something she had fashioned once she began working independently, so she could be discrete about her defenses.

Jasmine stole the anklet from Ruby, just before the girl was gifted to Brandor Du’vei.

[sblock=Advancement]
Human: Combat Expertise
1: Improved Feint
3: Weapon Finesse
4: +1 Dex
[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

Oh, how you doing HP?

d4 = 3
d6 = 4
d8 = 5
d10 = 6
d12 = 7

 

[Phoenix]

Corbin Deeppockets
[sblock]
Class: Rogue 1/Druid 4
Race: Halfling
Deity: ?

Age: 23
Gender: Male
Height: 3' 6"
Weight: 38 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Brown
Skin: White

Ability Scores:
Str: 12
Dex: 16
Con: 10
Int: 14
Wis: 14
Cha: 10

HP:
AC:
Init.:
BAB/Grapple: +3
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +7

Attacks:

Racial Abilities:
+2 vs. fear

Class Abilities:
Sneak Attack +1d6
Trapfinding
Nature Sense
Wild Empathy
Woodland Stride
Trackless Step
Resist Nature's Lure
Spontaneous Rejuvenation*
Shapeshift* (Predator Form)

Feats:
Two Weapon Fighting
Weapon Finesse

Skills:
Skill: Total = Ability + Ranks + Misc
Concentration: 6 = 0 + 6 + 0
Balance: 6 = 3 + 1 + 0
Climb: 4 = 1 + 1 + 2
Decipher Script: 6 = 2 + 4 + 0
Hide: 11 = 3 + 4 + 4
Jump: 5 = 1 + 2 + 2
Knowledge (Local)6 = 2 + 4 + 0
Knowledge (Nat.) 8 = 2 + 6 + 0
Listen 9 = 1 + 6 + 2
Move Silently: 9 = 3 + 4 + 2
Open Lock: 5 = 3 + 2 + 0
Search: 6 = 2 + 4 + 0
Sleight of Hand: 5 = 3 + 2 + 0
Spot: 3 = 1 + 6 + 0
Spellcraft: 7 = 2 + 5 + 0
Tumble: 7 = 3 + 4 + 0
Use Mag. Dev.: 3 = 0 + 3 + 0

Spells per day:
level 0: 5
level 1: 4
level 2: 3

Languages:
Common
Halfling
Dwarven
Orc
Druidic

Gear:
+1 hide armor
+1 dagger
+1 dagger
Periapt of Wisdom +2

*These are replacement class features found in the PHB2. If you have any questions about them, let me know and I will explain them in-depth. They were chosen because I felt that they better suited the character concept.
[/sblock]

He's not quite finished yet, but I'm seriously about to pass out at the computer, so I'm going to go to bed and finish it in the morning.

I have never read PHB2, if you thooughly describe both abilities, I will consider it, but still reserve the right to veto it.