Arabic Legends, Themes & Phrases

[Nahat Anoj]

I'd XP you if I could. I didn't know ghouls came from Arabic myths...and that could help fill in some spots in his background.

An interesting and perhaps at least tangentially interesting bit of trivia: the star Algol comes from the Arabic "al ghul," which means "the ghoul."

 

[TarionzCousin]

Introduce the other characters to the concept of "zero." It will blow their Western minds.

 

[tuxgeo]

Re: Holy Symbol vs Weapon

Probably going weapon. I haven't looked too closely at what Holy Symbols have to offer, but most of the Pally powers I'm taking and/or considering are Weapon, not Instrument based. This means I'll probably look for Implements that bolster Rigel's arcane side.
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Both of the two options that you mentioned in your OP include Hybrid Sorcerer (i.e. Pally/Sorc or Sorc/Starlock). The rule for Hybrid armor proficiency is restrictive: you only get the armor proficiencies that your two hybrid classes have in common.
Hybrid Sorcerers have proficiency with Cloth, and nothing else. If Rigel wants to start out being armored, that's going to take his single, solitary 1st-level Feat to get Armor Proficiency: Leather.
This means that he would have to take Hybrid Talent later than 1st level, if at all.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Hybrid Talent is definitely on the list as the 2nd level feat.

The probable deciding factor of what option he'll be taking with HT will be the Paragon path he aims for. There are several that could work thematically, but only a few he could qualify for:

1. Celestial Scholar AP p 43 (Prereq: HT- SotCC feat);
2. Scion of Arkhosia PHB2 p25 (Prereq: none);
3. Ninefold Master PHR p12 (Prereq: Draconic Spellcaster feat);
4. Platinum Templar PHR p15 (Prereq: HT- CD feat);
5. Slayer of the Dead DP p105 (Prereq: none);

I think the first 2 are thematically the most appropriate, but all have their merits...and who knows what may happen in campaign?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

An interesting and perhaps at least tangentially interesting bit of trivia: the star Algol comes from the Arabic "al ghul," which means "the ghoul."

THAT I knew. I was just surprised that the legends of ghouls originated in Arabic legends.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Introduce the other characters to the concept of "zero." It will blow their Western minds.

That would be easier if Rigel were a rogue:

*thievery* "See, now you have zero gold."

 

[Quickleaf]

Yeah- I had heard something along those lines. That was a good part of what made me add MC: Starlock to the mix. I had even considered aiming for Master of the Starry Night, but too many of it's abilities are tied to Warlock's Curse mechanisms. (As it is, Celestial Scholar and Scion of Akhosia are frontrunning the paths.)

What's your character looking like so far? Have you considered picking up invoker? That would be very appropriate to the concept.

I don't really have any specific questions, just trying to spackle in some flavor/mechanic gaps.

Fair enough. I think I still suffer from some scholar-itis on the topic since it is such a vast area for me that when asked the simpering question "what's it about?" I am left stammering.

An important thing to keep in mind is that astrology (divination) and astrometry (proto-astronomy) were often merged at the time. Though the differentiation of the two has interesting story potential. And what we think of as astrology, well the Arabian philosophers really had some extraordinary ideas.

For example, medical astrology. With sufficient information about a subject's astrological chart a skilled practitioner was believes to be able to perform remote healing - a combination of faith healing and supernatural diagnosis (with a speedy messenger to communicate the astrologer's findings).

A common thread among astrological thinkers was the concept of fate, a divine plan governing mortals which was immutable. Thus there was an opportune moment for everything. Know and act on it and you would likely succeed; fail to take it into account and your endeavor was likely to fail.

An interesting conflict arose when a group of philosophers (which typically went hand in hand with alchemy, astrology, and poetry) questioned the supremacy of fate. Basically they argues that "destiny" existed and "fate" did not, which could be seen as a heretical idea. The astrological idea is that the stars could lead an individual to what they were put on this earth to accomplish, but that was entirely mutable by the individual's actions.

In the first case the stars are surely divine, but they can also be oppressive.

In the second case the stars are a mix of divine but since they're not perfect windows into the future they would also be arcane/magical entities. Interestingly they are not usually seen as oppressive. If you went with this idea (which fits better for a pious warlock), interpret the pact as something not laced with evil, but your PC could be at odds with the religious heterodoxy.

The most poetic description of astrology from Arabian philosophers I've heard is "destiny from eternity foreordained."

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

What's your character looking like so far? Have you considered picking up invoker? That would be very appropriate to the concept.

Well, I think he's solidly a Paladin/Sorcerer multiclassing into Starlock. As a warrior/caster with an elite scholarly bent, I think I'm going to use Ahmad Ibn Fadlan (the movie verision) as a template.

I get what you're saying about the Invoker, but i'd more likely use that class in combo with the Avenger for a PC like this. I actually thought about going that route, but I felt Pally fit my vision better than Avenger. To me, Avengers have an obsessive focus & zealotry that goes beyond what most Paladins exhibit.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In the intrest of helping others:

I was surfing Wikipedia looking for some info on Arabic weapons, and found their entry on a curve-bladed sword similar to a saber called a Kilij had a table with the Tukish words for parts of the sword. Thought I'd share!

Kilij

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Rigel is coming into sharper focus.

Sorcerer & Warlock Feats under consideration: Arcane Spellfury PHB2 p184, Battle Caster Defense PHB3 p177,Focusing Spellfury AP p127, Versatile Expertise PHB3 p184, Twofold Pact DMA p50

Compared to the larger number of Draconic and especially Paladin feats I'm considering, it's looking like he is more Warrior than Scholar (Caster).

That being the case, HT: Paladin Armor Proficiency looks like the obvious choice. Meaning Scion of Arkosia would be the probable Paragon Path. That may also mean I should take HT at 1st level, leaving his Warlock pact for 2nd level.

OTOH, HTAP would only save me 1-3 feats: AP: Leather, AP: Hide and SP: Light (depending on whether I go 2hd or S&B). And the model I keep going back to was more scholar than warrior...

HT: Soul of the Cosmic Cycle at 2nd lvl it is!