Expendable

Dwarves!

Yalmastr Redforge stood in front of the mirror, her beard in her hands as she studied her face. The face that had cost her so much - a marriage and the life of one of her students. Not to mention the enmity his clan, the Trollhoods, who made a big production whenever their paths crossed. The whole spitting, the cursing her name, the turning of backs, it was ridiculous and too time consuming. Especially at the start of practice! Why seek her out when it came time for weapons training when there were others?

"After all this time, do you think you're going to suddenly sprout a beard, Yal?"
"It's not that!" she denied, feeling her cheeks burning. "Everyone knows I'm.... beardless. Why should I wear this to the Great Hall? What's the point of it all?"

"Oh, my dear," Branae sighs, rushing over from the doorway to give her daughter a hug. "If you don't wear the beard, they'll stop singing, stop the feast, and everyone will be yelling at everyone else. And you'd still be leaving tomorrow but with a bunch of angry long-beards knotting and twisting their chin hairs and calling out doom and misfortune on you, and that's not good for anyone."

She paused, leaning back to study her daughter. "So, for the good of your group, and for the good of Thrillem, wear the beard, listen to the old songs, nod when the long-beards speak their nonsense, meet the people you're going on the road with, and eat your fill. I mean that, you never know on the road where your next meal will come from, so eat when you can."

"I've never been away from Thrillem before," Yal said, shaking her head. "Why didn't they pick anyone who's been outside to do this?"

"Our long-beards have spoken," Branae sighs, stroking her whiskers. "The fact they're all rock headed loons who couldn't tell quartz from granite is besides the point."
A chuckle escaped Yal.
"Oh dear, you're developing a sense of humor," her mother sighed mockingly. "Tongues will be wagging, I wager."
"I am not!" Yal stomped her foot, but feeling her mouth quirk.
"Best cover that up if you're trying to hide that," Branae smiled. "Your father and the others want to see you before you go."
"But they're dead!"
"So? At least they won't talk your ears off."

---

Yal eyed Thorfinn as he spoke.
"Yeah, grand feast," she managed, fighting the urge to scratch under her false beard. Why did it have to itch so? "I'm Yal, Yal Redforge. You are...?"

Interest Check for Blackguards!

@Expendable The seals are very nice and all, perhaps as a backup, but the Warden will have no trouble controlling her on her own. That's why she's the Warden, after all.

@Red Wizard

The warden's a krusnik or demon lord, aren't they?

In any event, the seal is more for the protection of the guards.

Interest Check for Blackguards!

I'm giving you two ways to control her - a geas whose command word is engraved in an ancient language on the lid of her coffin, and three ancient Seals of the Dead God, one of which is hung around her neck on a breakable necklace. I pity the poor fool who tries to take away this pagan emblem from her.

I should mention, pronunciation is very important for the geas to work.

Glad you like my Dairy flaw.

I'm figuring the Maw may have had a rat problem before she showed up.

Interest Check for Blackguards!

If that is what you truly wish...

Cian WIP

Cian

"Forgive me, but I'm so terribly thirsty..."

---

---

Name: Ciannait Duanei
Race: Dark Elf Vampire
Gender: Female
Age: Two centuries
Appearance:
This girl reminds you of a dangerous spider. She has almond-shaped eyes the color of blood. Her fine, straight, neck-length hair is the color of fine china, and is worn in a severe style. She is tall and has a lithe build. Her skin is a bluish-gray. She has thick eyebrows, pointed ears, and thin lips hidden by an iron half-mask covering the lower half of her face. It keeps her from feeding or talking above a whisper, and it locks in the back.

Cian wears a strangely repellant metal seal as a pendant on a necklace. A hard tug on the necklace will cause it to break away, she is forbidden from removing the seal herself.

Her wardrobe is a dark hooded woolen cloak, leather armor styled in some ancient pattern, and an adventurer's satchel, with pockets along its wide strap.

Personality:

Behavior/Quirks/Likes/Dislikes/Whatever
Background:

Parents/Childhood/Education/Adulthood/Livelihood/Crimes against the Kingdom/Downfall/Whatever
Talents:

Supernatural Strength

With the strength of five men, Cian is able to lift a horse, or she can punch her way through a stone wall.

Hypnotic Eyes

If she locks eyes with another, Cian can slowly pull them into a light hypnotic state, able to obey basic commands. However, if contact is lost before that state is achieved, or the subject is shaken or experiences sharp pain, the hypnosis is broken and they wake up.

Poison bite

A vampire's bite can quickly numb and paralyze their victim, leaving them helpless as the vampire feeds.

Immunity to Disease

They're unaffected by viruses or bacteria, but it can make the blood taste strange. The black plague gives blood a smoky flavor.

Regeneration

A vampire can recover from even grave injuries. Small injuries may be completely healed in a few days, a stake in the heart a month or two. Eyes and limbs may take a couple years. It's why they do not age.

Flaws:

Geas

A word in an ancient language was engraved into the lid of her iron coffin. On hearing that word, she must obey any command given to her. However, pronunciation is important.

Sunlight

Exposure to full sunlight, a vampire's flesh will start to smoke. After a few moments, their flesh catches fire, burning them to ash if they are unable to find shelter or a body of water. However, if a little blood was to fall on the ash, they will be revived. Some vampires keep a small vial of blood on their person for just this purpose.

Blood

While a vampire can hibernate for many years after a heavy feeding, an active vampire must feed on a pint of blood at least once a week to maintain its strength. Blood from a heavy drinker or habitual drug user will affect the vampire as well. If starved for blood, a vampire can become a wild thing, driven by its unquenchable thirst. The smell of blood can be mildly intoxicating, one has to guard their reaction around minor cuts.

Food

While a vampire can tolerate water, wine, tea, and coffee, most food tastes disgusting to them. For the unprepared, they can become violently ill.

Dairy

Lactose intolerant.

Equipment:

Seal of the Dead God

A small medallion that resembles (yet isn't) lead, bearing the ancient mark of the Dead God. It feeds constantly on magic, or perhaps the soul? It makes the skin crawl if one gets too close. To wear one is an almost unbearable torture. There were three on Cian's iron casket. One is enough to make her as weak as a child.

Iron Casket

This heavy metal coffin has chains to keep it locked up, preventing Cian's escape and allowing her to be safely transported. A shallow bowl in the lid allows blood to drip into her mouth.

Miscellaneous:

Stake

It's often believed that a wooden stake driven through the heart of a vampire will kill it. As they're undead, you've only pissed them off. Do you know how hard it is to find a seamstress or tailor willing to work after dark?

Mirror

Vampires can see themselves in mirrors - they just hate them. If the vampire has cast a glamor on itself to hide, their actual appearance is revealed when glanced at in a mirror. One of the forgotten reasons why mirrors are often placed in entryways.

Crusnik (Krsnik)

Some vampires believe themselves to be on the top of the food chain. They're not. A Crusnik is a type of vampire that preys on vampires.

Calling all the Monsters

Do Bad Well

Shatter Me

Interest Check for Blackguards!

Rizx (Rejected)

Name: Rizx
Race Gnome
Gender Female
Age 19
Appearance

picture

This tiny goblin puts you in mind of a clockwork device. She has narrow brown eyes that are like two acorns. Her silky, straight, black hair is short and ragged, hidden partially under a ragged and faded brown cloth. She is short and has a wasp-waisted build. Her skin is olive drab. There are flogging scars on her back that can ache in cold weather, itch when it's muggy.
Personality
Angry, resentful, but wary, having had her trust betrayed a few times. However, once you’ve won her trust, she’s very true.

Background

It isn't easy being a goblin. You find some isolated place to settle, do a little farming, a little hunting and gathering, make a little goblin ale (glah), some seed cake, and the next thing you know, the big people are storming the village. The survivors move on to some new place to hide, start to fill in their numbers, and the whole thing starts again. They did learn, however, that the big people had a strange fascination for chests and began leaving one in the center of the village. They'd then fill it with bits of armor, weapons, shiny rocks and what coins they manage to scrounge or loot from small venturing parties. It worked, more of the villagers escaped the raids as the distracted big people began digging through it.

The big people concerned Rizx. She searched out their huge sprawling villages and would creep around at night, watching and listening, hoping to find out why they would attack them. She learned enough of their language to speak to them, sometimes talking to the little big people, the children, becoming their "imaginary" friend - although she learned to stay away from the long ears, the tricky ones. However, it did little to tell her why the big people would raid their village.

Then, one day a strange town of tents appeared in a field, filled with strangely dressed big people, and even some who were more her size yet not goblins or children. This, she learned, was a circus. She managed to sneak into the tents and watch from under the stands as they did their acts. Rizx overheard some children talking about running away with the circus, and wondered if she could, too. When they left, she followed. It took some time, but the circus people began noticing how little things were being done, like mending the canvas, sorting out the ropes, but never touching their food supplies. It was hard to avoid their sharp eyes, but the long ears told the ring master about Rizx, and eventually she spoke to him, asking to join.

She became another of their acts in the side show, the Tamed Goblin, which made her laugh as it was the big people who needed tamed, she thought. She also worked with the roustabouts, doing minor repairs, helping with the rigging, and various jobs a circus needed her to do. Then, part-way through the season, a lord appeared with his troop of men, and ordered all the circus folk to line up and pass beside his wagon. He wasn’t interested in any of the men, flicking them away irritably, but his attention lingered over the women, even herself. The lord seemed particularly interested in the owner’s young daughter. Rizx noticed the owner’s son, who did this weird act where he and his sister would rapidly change places on the stage, was noticeably absent.

She thought it was all over with after the lord departed, but within the month the lord bought out all the outstanding debts the circus had and demanded payment. Or the owner’s daughter, as an indentured servant. It was a few nights later she saw the owner’s son, running across the fields, away from the circus. An hour later, the troops of the lord came, demanding payment or the owner’s daughter – who was nowhere to be found. They went through all the wagons, then began questioning everyone. When that didn’t work, the lord ordered them all arrested for conspiracy.

Sent to a rehabilitation mine for re-education, she escaped from that and has been traveling from town to town stealing what she can, until the night she tried a bottle of rum and woke up in chains. Probably should have waited until she escaped the house.

Talents

Brawler (mind the teeth)
Climbing (free climbing or ropes)
Cooking - very basic. Just don't ask where she got the meat, dislikes picky eaters. Can brew ale, Glah (fermented catch of the day, will make you gag), field tea, seed cake, scrab (don't ask what's in them), pemmican, jerky, biscuits, flapjacks. She can also make Glee, used as cement for composite bows, sealing holes, waterproofing roofs, and a poultice for wounds. (Smells a bit)
Digging (she's like a tunnel rat. mind the teeth.)
Hearing - can hear noises at higher range than humans, good at tracking by sound.
Hiding in the shadows (Good at it except when it's the warden, what, does she have eyes at the top of her head or something?)
Hunting (spear, composite bow, knife, snare, fishing line, tracking)

Nightvision

Can see in dim light for up to 60 feet as if it was day, can see in darkness up to 30 feet like it was dim light

Rigging

Has some experience with rope and tackle, as well as the working of canvas.

Surivival (wilderness)

can live off the land, not a picky eater (technically, not a cannibal since they're not gnomes. Mind the teeth.)

Streetwise
Swimming (she's a piranha of the water. Mind the teeth)
Theiving ability (pick pockets, pick locks, sleight of hand, some second story work)

Flaws

Fears/Vulnerabilities/Vices/Whatever
Equipment

The Stuff your Character checked in with (Nothing Stupid)
Miscellaneous

Whatever

Under the scorching sun (Fantasy western)

Pity. I thought up a medicine man who's a divvy, paired up with a gnome (if allowed). He can do some doctoring, some dentistry, make up pills using the ingredients in his medicine cabinet, and prepare special magical ammo. A jack of all trades, although he likes to avoid manual labor. uses drowsing rods to find water, can sense the presence of antiques, or a glimpse of the history of an object by touch. Wears a lot of gloves. has spent some time locked up, seems his wagon helps him to keep moving to avoid the law.

The gnome's a pint-size thief, second-story work, picking pockets or locks, or shilling his patent medicine. She's a scavenger of the desert who knows how to survive. This includes corpses - since they're not gnomes, technically it's not cannibalism. Leathery undead gunslingers may be gnawed on.

Dwarves!

@Red Wizard

Yal Redforge

Picture:

Pending

Name: Yalmastr Redforge

Age: 92

Gender: Female

Appearance:
This woman reminds you of a proud lion. She has wide eyes the color of smoke. Her thick, wavy, chestnut hair is braided (contrary to rumor, she does not dye it), however she does wear a false beard. She is tallish (for a dwarf) and has an athletic build. Her skin is ruddy. She has small ears and thick eyebrows.
Skills and Flaws:
Weapons Trainer (Axe, battle axe, mining axe, spear, short sword, dagger, crossbow)
Fiddle (violin) player
Knows a bit about wine and alcoholic spirits.
Speaks and is literate in Dwarf, Elf, and the local human tongue.
Materialistic, aloof, anger issues, loquatious, some vanity, know-it-all.

Background

Newlyweds Tutroug Redforge (his clan is known for their fine forge work) and Branaebena Whitbuster (travelling merchant) decided to celebrate their marriage by taking a long honeymoon while looking for trade goods to bring back to Thrillem. Yal was born midsummer in a field beside the road. When the proud parents returned to their wagon, they found their goose had laid a golden egg, clearly a boon from their ancestors - and spent weeks afterward arguing over whose ancestor it had been.

Their return two years later was not triumpant. Yal crying in a basket on the seat beside her mother, who was already pregnant with her brother Snazzak, and her father in one of the casts of wine. They had been attacked on the road by goblins, and afterwards Branae found him slumped over their daughter's basket. The Redforges took them in, but while Branae was allowed to travel for her wine business, her children had to stay in Thrillem.

In Yal's twelfth year, Branae brought back Jofean, a human toddler of some customers of her, farmers, who had died in a goblin raid, along with many others. While the clan was afronted by this alien invader, they reluctantly agreed to let him stay until such time as she could return him to the humans.

Branae also brought back Yal a violin, arranging for lessons. Snazzak turned down the lute as he preferred precussion - drums and anvil.

Yal's fiftheen year, she noticed that unlike her friends, her beard wasn't growing in - and dwarves were beginning to talk. Eventually she learned the secret shame of the Redforges - they had problems growing beards, and would blame the scraggly look on them catching fire as they worked at their trade. Yal raided her mother's library and tried various noxious unguents and remedies, but none of them worked. Finally, her mother used some of Yal's hair to make her a false beard, which itched terribly but she endures.

In her seventeenth year, when she was planning to join the rest of her clan at the forges, her mother took her aside and explained she had arranged an apprenticeship with the dour Badmeac Flintbrow, the weapons master. Weapon training, she hoped, would allow her to join her mother on the road and she could teach her the wine trade and see more of the world than the halls of Thrillem. Furious, Yal fled the clan's tunnels, hiding out in some of the darker spots of the mines. While she didn't mind it so much with the Dark began to whisper, errant echos or wind blowing past cracks, but the fifth night, she got creped out when she felt that the Dark was staring at her, and she fled home.

Badmeac the Weapons Master, while not cruel, was an exacting task master, training her before his students showed up and for hours after they left, each mistake getting a whack with his practice blade. The one good thing that seem to make it worthwhile was Detmeak Gravelbasher, a handsome muscular dwarf with a fine beard who was a student. More than once did Badmeac had to use the flat of his sword on her backside to shift her attention upwards. He, however, thought Yal was just another part of the wall. His mother Groustreda was not so blind, and well aware of the wealth of Yal's mother.

They were briefly married, but divorced two years later. While she had been most willing at first for children, her false beard slipped off on their wedding night and Detmeak was so repulsed by her naked face that he threw her out of their bed chamber. Despite all her attempts to reconcile the two, including trying to blindfold her son, Groustreda reluctantly had to pay back Yal's dowery to Branae, scolding Detmeak the entire time. Fortunately, neither one of them wanted to spread the story of her deformity.

Returning to the RedForge clan and her apprenticeship with Badmeac Flintbrow, the weapons master eventually allowed that she could start teaching her own students. One of them was Noggeas Trollhood, and in practice with her, accidently knocked her beard off. She was embarrassed, but Noggeas found her naked face appealing, and asked if they could get a drink together.

On their way, he suddenly pulled her into an alley, pulled off her beard, and began passionately kissing her. A guardsman on patrol, seeing what he thought was an adult dwarf molesting an unbearded child, ran him through with his spear, killing Noggeas instantly. Then, spotting the false beard discarded on the ground, realized his mistake. Word soon spread about her lack of a beard. Even her mother's and Snazzak's beards got a tug, and the Redforge clan denied any knowledge. As a result, no decent family would even consider her.

But her students got quite the work out in their practice sessions.

Miscellaneous:

1

Being beardless has raised the old rumors that Yal might not be a proper dwarf. She was taller than most, able to look males her own age in the eye. Mostly, it's just malicious gossip. It takes two dwarves of opposite sex to create a dwarf. The hard part is figuring out which sex the other dwarf is.

2

Yal is also slightly lucky. The Redforges do not beleive in "luck."

3

Branae has a cabinet containing carvings of her ancestors, as well as one of her husband Tutroug. She likes to pull them out from time to time to have conversations with them. Sometimes there are offerings - whiskey, wine, bread and cheese, sometimes a treat. The Redforges believe it's a flippant way to interact with one's ancestors, and there must be mice or rats eating the offerings.

4

There is a rumor that every few months, a ghost appears to Branae to do battle. Each wall of her rooms has a weapon on them, sometimes a shield. The Redforges, of course, do not believe in ghosts. They're also not going to enter her room when the fighting starts.

5

Jofean on one of his trips with Branae met a human girl and decided to stay in her village. Branae arranged for him to be hired by the winery. He's a great-grandfather now.

Mining Axe

A battle axe with a mining pick on the opposing side. Useful for mining gems or precious minerals, and for defending oneself from the owner of the land you've been mining on.

The Mummer's Dance

Dwarves!

Under Background, you asked for details about family - parents, siblings, spouses, children - so I'm generating that. Her history is next, although the suggestion is she may be a bit more travelled than the usual dwarf. I hadn't planned on any half-dwarves or adopted brothers of other races. I imagine they would bump their heads a lot, if they existed. Like Gandalf in a hobbit hole.

Forgot about the ancestor worship, I can work with that.

Oh, and Happy Birthday.

What Are You Listening To?

Dwarves!

@Red Wizard

A was raised by her mother, a wealthy wine merchant who supplies both the common wines for the taverns as well as the more expensive wines for the nobles and wealthy families. Her mother is also said to be very religious. (some suggestions of the type of dwarven gods in this world would be helpful)

There's still scandalized talk of that trip, about how Mother dragged her husband out with her, how he died on that trip, how she came back with A, a young infant, and pregnant. And her mother still goes out on trips - but what people talk about is how she flirts shamelessly with males; some of them aren't even dwarves!

And there's whispers that a ghost haunts her, appearing every few months to do battle all night long with her. It would explain the weapons mounted on the wall in every room. Some suggest the ghost is her husband, A's father.

When A was born, a goose laid a golden egg - and she still has that egg. A's also said to be lucky, and has two younger brothers.

Still working on details of A's life. How do you like what I've got so far?