We Carry On-Character Sheets

[Dracos]

Startin' this up.  Believe I have everything.  If I should delete this or am missing something, just tell me to correct it brian. =)

Name: Kesir Fenrik

Concept:
   A monk who focuses on the rules of reality and, to a lesser degree, combat.  A great focus on understanding himself and the world around him, of following the rules that bind it, knowing which are real and which are an illusion that only binds fools and knowing what is allowed within them.  Combat to him, is an eternal game of go, a constant struggle for the position within reality in which he is the victor and his opponents have been bent before him.

Notes about the monks:
   The monks of Zenia are a largely benevolent organization, willingly teaching those who want to learn and often using their influence to help out.  Many of their former students rise to great prestige in Eastmoore, aiding the Exalted Son of Heaven as advisors or generals.  Notably though, they are not 'honorable' in the common sense.  They do not play by 'assumed rules' as they would call them.  While generally benevolent and willing to help their common man, they are generally regarded as good friends and very dangerous foes to have.

Character Story:

   Rules, Logic, Reality.

   To the Eastmoore monks of Zenia, these are more then simple words.  These are the three gods to whom they pay worship.  The world to them is built of rules, laid down by the gods above from time immemorial.  These rules are not obvious.  But they bend for no man and no beast.  They may shift, they may change, but any who seek to break them would be shattered against unshakable will of the gods.  This is not to say that the rules are exactly what people think them to be.  They follow a logic.  A complicated yet elegant logic that defines them and the world through them.  Each one having a purpose, a reason for being there.  Perceived alone, they seem almost random, arbitrary and fragile.  Perceived together, they are an elegant web stronger than the strongest steel.  This is not to say that everyone sees these rules.  Or even that the rules they believe are the truth.  In Zenia, they hunt for reality.  The truth beyond the assumptions on how the world works.  They train their minds, their bodies, and their souls in a constant struggle for understanding of the reality that they exist within and the freedom that comes with true understanding of what can be done within it.  Of knowing just exactly how far they can traverse along the web of rules and logic that makes up the world, dancing upon it with the grace of a spider dashing along it's web.  To this end, do they study and train.  Exploring the limits of their minds, challenging their reasoning abilities through games of insight and positioning, strengthening their body through journeys through the world and matches between themselves; the monks of Zenia are known far and wide for their prowess and dedication to their estoric arts.

   It is said that there are no finer players of mind games in all Eastmoore, most especially of their current master, the honored elder Oki Bi, who for the past fourty winters has lead the monks of Zenia and the finest go player in all of Eastmoore.  Only one monk at any given time bears the title 'master', for it is held by the single individual who has progressed furthest down the road of enlightenment.  It is said that the first master, Kensai Artuza, forged two blades from the heart of the earth, using only his fists, his heart, and his understanding of the world.  These swords, have been passed down through the ages, carried always by the master of the monks and the senior student, the one who was the next furthest along the path.  Oki Bi, as master, bears the blade, crimson, simply called for it's reddish hue, a tint that goes along the engraved metal, covered with mantras of thousands of 'masters' of the monks.  Originally, it is said, this blade was plain, bearing nothing upon it when it was forged within the hot magma of the earth's blood.  When the blade was drawn forth though from the magma and put to cool, a single line was visible, in tiny perfect script just above the hilt of the blade: "Nothing is truly impossible."  With every passing generation, with each master that has taken the blade, rising to guide the monks further into the future, another truth has appeared upon the blade, giving rise to a second name, the sword of unbreakable truths.

   The second sword was passed to Kensai's student, and forevermore was passed along to be carried by the foremost student under the master, he or she who was most likely to one day surpass the master and become the next master of the monks of Zenia.  This blade was called blues, for matching the crimson hue of the first sword, it was a tinted with the brightest of blues, looking as if it was pulled straight from the skies above.  In contrast to the first blade, blues was unmarkable.  The most powerful blows would fail to leave even a scratch upon it's plain, undecorated surface.  It is said that this is a representation of what the student knows, a single reminder that to truly learn, you must be as a blank slate to the lessons of the world.  This blade too, bears a second name, the sword of enlightenment, known as such as it is carried during the period of greatest learning by the student, as he attempts to bridge the tremendous gap between being the most enlightened of the students, and truly becoming a master of the world around him.

   It is Kesir, third son of the Fenrik family, that now carries this blade as he continues the studies that have dominated the last twenty five years of his life, since his family sent him there as a child to learn the arts of the Zenia.  Kesir was an apt study, physically capable, bright, and insightful.  A man of few words, he chose rather to listen and learn, rendering the insights he had forged rarely, but with great truth behind them.  He has made the ways of the monks his own, and grown truly capable within the confines of their walls, listening with an old soul to the lessons.  Though, those days seem to be a fragile memory in the coming storm...

Character Physical Description:

   Kesir is a native of Eastmoore, having never left their lands within his lifetime.  Indeed, he spent most of it within the temple grounds of Zenia.  His skin bears an asian cast to it and he tends to dress in simple brown robes that wrap sensible about him.  He wears his long black hair in a pony tail behind his head running down to mid-back.  His facial features are akin to a young hawk with sharp black eyes peering out at the world, bearing also the asian cast that was common of Eastmoore, still devoid of wrinkles, a long black goatee meticulously kept upon orderly upon his chin.  He's a leanly muscular man, tall, but generally not drawing a huge amount of attention.  The type who is obviously very fit upon looking at.  He'll be thirty by the next winter.

Nature: Visionary
Demeanor: Traditionalist
Sidenote: I had trouble here.  I'm open to suggestions of stuff that better fits my concept.

WhiteWolf Numbers stuff:
Physical: yes.      Social: 4 points      Mental: 5 points
Strength:*****           Charisma: ***         Perception:*****
Dexterity:*****      Manipulation: **      Intelligence:**
Stamina:*****      Appearance: **         Wit:***

Talents: 11      Skills:9 (Melee/brawl=free)   Knowledge:7
Alertness;**      Melee:*** (spec:Blues Sword)   Academics: **
Athleticness:***   MartialArts:*            Occult: **
Awareness:***      Ettiquette:***         Enigmas: ***
Dodge:*         Meditation:***
Intuition: **      Stealth:*
         Survival:**

Backgrounds:
Destiny:*
Dream:**
Mentor: ****
Resources:*

Willpower: ******

Masteries:
Kinetics: *
Insight:***
Ceremony:*

Freebies spent:
8 on Perception.
5 on willpower
1 on dream
1 on destiny

Editted: MA is more appropriate than Brawl.

[Carthrat]

Drac, you should make up all the topics.

<->

Karil, of the Serpent Clan
Age: 30

Nature: Leader

<Appearance>
A tall man, Karil has waist-length black hair that he leaves hanging straight down his back. His aquiline face is handsome, accompained by a pair of slate-grey eyes that show a man of iron will and determination.

Usually clad in a long red coat decorated with images of the Serpent, Karil moves with a grace that imitates the symbol of his clan; he seems to glide rather than walk, and when he goes into battle, his movements slide and slither around his opponents attacks to deliver his lethal bite.

Generally, he carries Twilight Echo with him; apart from being his only real weapon, it's a symbol of the office he holds.


<The Myth>
In the ages past, there were two beings: The Dragon and The Serpent. Not quite gods, but all that they could be; incarnations of mortal power, intelligent beings that surpassed the great sages of Kisthador, capricious monsters hunted by many. Truly they were beasts of myth, and their deeds have mostly been lost to history. Yet they spill through the pages of legend, as common as grain, and hardly a story is told in this age which does not have some reference to the strength of the Dragon, or the cunning of the Serpent. Always they are in fervent opposition to each other, for theirs was a conflict that began beyond time.

Where the myth ends and reality begins, nobody knows. But the story of the Clans goes like this:

The Dragon realised the end of it's life was near. It would fall to no blade, and succumb to no illness, but the waste of age would take the spark from it. But it believed the Serpent had many years left to it. Who would keep the earth-bound snake in check?

So the Dragon shed his scales, and from them, the Clan of the Dragon was born. Imbued with the power of the Dragon, they would, once he was gone, be able to suppress the Serpent, and if not slay him outright, contain him until his death.

But this was not so. The Dragon Clan were born, but the Serpent had no need to found a race from his own flesh. He too was near the end of his life, unbeknownst to the Dragon. But the high-flying winged-snake was never close to the people of the land, whereas the earth-bound Serpent was ever in contact with them. He took his fangs; still sharp, but attached to an old body. He placed them in the Celestial Altar, which sees all through the glass walls of the sky.

Forty years passed, and both Dragon and Serpent died. The Dragon clan grew to numbers never seen in this age, and while it did not openly rule the empires of the land, it commanded and dominated all who crossed it. Everyone who was somebody knew who dominated, and nobody seemed to break out.

That is, until one day, when a man whose name has been lost to the annals of time stepped into the Celestial Altar and took the Fangs of the Serpent, which became known as the Celestial Steel. This nameless man brandished the blade, and with only it and his unshakable will gathered warriors to him, and struck a blow against the Dragon Clan, the echoes of which rang out through the world.

Longevity and power the Dragon Clan had, but determination and the Serpent Spirit were on the side of the Serpent Clan, which is what the army became known as. They fought, and fought, and fought. Original leaders died, and new came up to follow. Values rarely remained the same. Both clans are known as heroes. Both clans are seen as villians.

Constant fighting diminished their numbers, but always, it seemed, the Dragon Clan came out with the advantage. For while they were born from the essence of the Dragon, the only true Serpents were those who wielded the Celestial Steel- and there were often more than one.

All people who wield the blade have twins, and the blade splits into two halves for them. In this period of time, it was always the Dragon who would hold the greatest power, as the divded essence of the Serpent made it diluted, and weak. Yet always, one of the twins would die, and the blade would come anew. In this time, the Serpent comes to glory.

Forever will Dragon and Serpent war, until the end of time, when all are made equal and brought into the embrace of the earth.


<The Reality>

The reality of the clans today does little to dispel the myth.

Harken, the clan head of the Serpent, ruled over a small land with his immediate family; an eldest son and two twin daughters.

This is not normal for the Serpent clan. Those of the family of the Swordbearer (who was, in this case, Harken) have, in the past, always come into the world as twins. Never before can any remember a single son being born.

What was more disconcerting was that Celestial Steel, which was all too real, nonetheless split into two forms, Chime of Dawn and Twilight Echo. The eldest son, Karil, selected Twilight Echo for his blade, while Harken continued to hold Chime of Dawn, wondering if it would take his death to reunite the blades.

But even stranger happenstance occured. Harken took a second wife, who died in labor, and produced Karla and Farel, twin sisters. Chime of Dawn split into a further two blades, both radiating the essence of the sun that so exemplifies their power.

Unfortuantely, these twin sisters were less concerned with protecting the Serpent from the Dragon than their own petty foibles. Constantly training and constantly practicing, they were both jealous of each other, for they felt that if one were to die, the other would gain the full power of the Chime of Dawn.

Both were jealous of Karil as well, for he held a more powerful blade than either of them. Yet due to their constant training and powerful will, they both exceeded him in skill within only a few years of being gifted with their blades. Karil was more worried that they would misuse their abilities than slay him, but he had to look after the village rather than train with the fevor that they managed- especially because of his ailing father.

With no intrest in preserving the Serpent or defending from the Dragon, Karla and Farel left the Serpent Village. Harken died of old age shortly after, and he was mourned.

The Serpent Village was not known to many in this age as the last place of the Serpent Clan; indeed, few remember that myth, and so the Dragon and Serpent fight detached from the world. Constant raids on the villiage were a norm, and the Serpent did not retaliate, instead defending themselves as best as they were able- but aside from Karil they were normal humans, albeit battle-hardened ones. The Dragon, however, were the children of a demigod, even if their blood has weakened over the centuries.

Disaster struck, eventually. Karil awoke to discover that Twilight Echo refused to be drawn from it's sheath. The blade would not shift to his hands or any others; in essence, Twilight Echo went from being a powerful, mystical sword to a 6-foot long rod overnight.

Without their greatest weapon to defend them, the Serpent clan were routed by the Dragons. Karil took the survivors of the clan and fled from his ancestral homeland, biting back curses for his sisters neglect of duty, and hatred for the emnity of the Dragon.

To this day, he keeps the remnants of his villiage constantly on the move, and in some places, they have become known as the Nomads of the Snake; skilled warriors, who often act as if they are hunted by someone, lead by a young man of considerable skill with the rod. Already great lords are pondering, in this troubled age, offering them hire as mercenaries. The Dragon Clan are everywhere, apparently having multiplied in number more greatly than Karil could imagine.

And all the while, Twilight Echo remains inert, for reasons Karil cannot identify. He knows only too little about the true nature of the blade, but he does know that his sisters likely play a hand in it. If their motives have not changed, he likewise knows that chances are they would slay him and not look back, simply to gain further power.

Beset by the Dragon, haunted by his family, Karil and the Serpent can only struggle on, hoping to find refuge wherever they can.


Karil still fights with Twilight Echo, even if he cannot draw the blade. He is as skilled with a rod as he is with a sword, and even if his blows do not cut, they nontheless break bones and leave bruises that do not fade for months. As good a leader as he is a warrior, he has skillfully pulled the Serpent Clan through engagements with the Dragon, bandits, and even the armies of lesser lords who seek to bully him. Their numbers are small, but each man, woman, and child of the Serpent can fight with bow, fist and sword, making them a dangerous force to anger. However, more often than not, Karil will avoid a fight; the Serpent's numbers are too small, and while traditionally the Serpent drew men towards him, Karil is more concerned with keeping who he has alive.

He strives towards martial perfection because he will not allow the Serpent to fall to the Dragon's Claw or the treachery of the world- that is all too common in this age of strife. He thought once that simply having Twilight Echo would be enough, but now he sees he is wrong.


Strength: *****
Dexterity: *****
Stamina: *****

Intelligence: ***
Perception: ***
Wits: **

Charisma: ***
Manipulation: ***
Appearance: ***

Willpower: *****


Alertness: *
Athletics: **
Awareness: *
Brawl: *
Dodge:
Empathy:
Expression: **
Intimidation: *
Intuition:
Leadership: *****
Ride: *
Streetwise:
Subterfuge:


Animal Ken:
Crafts: *
Etiquette: ***
Melee: **** (Twlight Song: *)
Performance: ***
Security:
Stealth:
Survival: **


Academics: *
Bureaucracy:
Finance:
Investigation:
Law: *
Linguistics: * (Common, Serpent Tounge. The Serpent Tounge is the ancient language of the Serpent Clan.)
Medicine:
Occult: **
Politics: **
Research:
Science:

Backgrounds

Allies: *

Jaramine Tai'si'Shen is Karil's second-in-command. A cunning man, he is absolutely loyal to the Serpent Clan- but he has aspirations of leadership, and occasionally oversteps his boundaries. His most important task is to keep the clan functioning when Karil is not there. This occurs more frequently than one might imagine- Karil is often venturing to speak with minor lords alone, and these meetings can take weeks to resolve. Without a strong leader to keep the clan organized while Karil is away, it may fall to surprise attack, internal dissent (unlikely, but possible), or simply lose a few members here, a few members there- until the entire clan is nothing but Karil himself.

In combat, he wields a pair of longswords. Unlike many who wield two blades at once, he focuses entirely on the offense, sparing little thought for defense. His aggressive style makes him feared upon the battlefield- it is difficult to score a blow against him without being struck yourself.

Resources: **

The lord of the Serpent Clan lives no better than his followers. Times are hard, and most of what the Serpent owns must be traded for food and supplies. Karil does quite well for himself, personally, but does not live in luxury or extreme comfort- his money is, first and foremost, to aid the clan, and only afterwards for his personal wishes. As a result, he does not have much of it to spend. Any money earned from mercenary work or trade is split throughout the clan, and Karil personally recieves no more than any other member. This equal treatment may detract from his status in the eyes of other lords who cloak themselves in finery, but Karil cares not; it is the right thing to do, and in truth, the reason many stay with him is because of his fairness in this regard.


Followers: *****

Slightly over a thousand men strong, the Serpent Clan willingly bands behind Karil to travel wherever they can survive. Many are part of familes that joined the Serpent long ago. Some are lone vagabonds who found the Serpent Village, and decided to start living there. In recent years, small hamlets and disenfranchised soliders have joined the Serpent, hearing of their incredible victories, their charming leader, or perhaps simply hoping to find a new way of life. Every man, woman and child is trained in arts of combat, and all but the very young, the injured, and those in labor are expected to heed the call to arms at a moments notice.

Considering that the Serpent has no cause but to defeat the Dragon (an estoric enemy, to be sure) and to preserve their clan, the loyalty that clanmates demonstrate to each other is nothing short of amazing. The fact that they stick together through all adversity, even those who have no real stake in the battles that are fought has lead some to wonder if the spirit of the Serpent binds them together in some strange way...



Schools


Power: *

The powerful blows dealt by Karil dent trees, walls, and send people flying away. His harsh style stems from the immediacy of battle- unlike in personal duels, there is rarely time for expert finesse or fancy tricks. One must strike fast and hard. To him, that is all there is to combat. If the first blow can be the last one, it will be quicker for you to move onto the next opponent.

Toughness: *

The Serpent Clan breeds stronger men than most. The frequent fighting is difficult enough, but the recent lifestyle taken up by the clan has forced them to toughen up and resist the elements, random raids by bandits, and new illnesses not seen before. This has served to make the average Serpent hardier than normal, and Karil is no exception.

Insight: *

A wise man said thus: "All warfare is based on Deception." Thus, the ability to determine exactly what an opposing force is crucial, no matter if it consists of one man or a thousand. In both single combat and in warfare, Karil can gauge his opponent, weather general or swordsman, and frequently judge exactly what it is they plan to do next. This talent extends off the battlefield and into the courts of great lords as well; poltical intrigue is simply another form of warfare, after all.

Presence: **

As a leader, Karil goes beyond simply impressive. When he walks down a street, people gather behind him. When he speaks, people listen. When he argues, he invariably draws the support of anyone watching.

And when he commands, he is obeyed. It takes a strong will to argue with his flashing eyes, even for a total stranger. Even more impressive is when he is on a battlefield. Even though his red cape and high stature mark him out for the enemy, he stands tall. His commands can be heard across the battlefield. When it comes to his own men, he rarely has the need for words. He can reprimand them with a raised eyebrow, congratulate them with a nod, and reassure them with a look.

Edit: fixxxxed =P

[Celisasu]

Name: Aliele  

Age: 24

Appearance: Aliele is a tall woman who generally keeps her dark black hair tied in a braid that goes most of the way down her back.  She has no specific clothes she favors instead dressing as her current needs demand.  One day she could be dressed in the finest silk kimonos.  The next she could be dressed as a poor peasant.  When not pretending to be someone else she walks with the grace of the killer that she is.  Her eyes, as black as her hair often shine with mischief when she's not on a mission.


Personality: Aliele is a wild and fun loving individual.  Most people would never consider that this friendly individual who enjoys spending time with children and singing and dancing was a member of the most notorious group of assassin's in the land.  Aliele has a definate hatred of the Emperor who has caused the death of those she loves but her training makes her very good at concealing her true feelings.  


History:  Like many children, Aliele was born to a poor family who could ill afford to have another child.  The Night's Shadow, a powerful guild of assassin's who had a presence in her city gladly took the child off of her parents hands.  They even gave them a few coins as a bonus.  Not that the parents knew that they had just sold their daughter to assassins.  The Night's Shadow were an extremely pragmatic group and believed in getting children as young as possible.  This way they could be completely indoctrinated in the proper way of doing things without those annoying beliefs that parents and religion inflict upon people.  

Aliele thrived under the Shadow.  She quickly learned how to kill with hand, blade, and poison.  Everything is a weapon when used properly.  A smile or a sword, the only difference is how the weapon is applied.  In Aliele's case she showed a natural talent for using the chijiriki(a spear-chain).  Indeed on her 21st birthday she was gifted with Crimson Moon, a chijiriki of exquisite craftsmanship by Kashim, the head of the Night's Shadow.  Aliele lead a happy if someone brutal life in the Shadow.  Members were all taught to view each other as family and no member of the Shadow would ever betray each other.   Unfortunately nothing lasts forever.  

Shortly after her 21st year of life, the emperor decided to take steps to end the people's fear of the night and encourage their confidence in him.  His plan was simple but effective.  For the previous years he'd been compiling a list of known members and contacts of the Shadow.  Finally when he was ready his soldiers decended upon the Shadow throughout the Empire.  In a single night the Shadow was broken and truely sent fleeing into the shadows.  Aliele due to being a relatively young and inexperienced assassin wasn't on the Emperor's list and was among the very few survivors of the Emperor's purge.  It has been three years since that day and the Shadow slowly seeks to rebuild while Aliele seeks vengeance against the one who destroyed her family, all the while not fully accepting that her family were the ones who brought it upon themselves.  


White Wolf Stats:

Nature: Fanatic

Demeaner: Thrill Seeker

Weapon: Crimson Moon

Strength: *****
Dexterity: *****
Stamina: *****
Perception: ***
Intelligence: **
Wits: ***
Charisma: **
Manipulation: ****
Appearance: ***

Skills:9(*** Melee/* Martial Arts free)
Melee: ***(Specialty: Crimson Moon)
Martial Arts: *
Thrown Weapons(Replacing Archery): ***
Stealth: ***
Etiquette: *
Performance: *
Larceny: *

Talents:11

Dodge: ***
Alertness: **
Subterfuge: **
Streetwise: **
Athletics: **

Knowledge: 7

Medicine: **
Law: *
Academics: *
Linguistics: **
Investigation: *


Willpower: ******

Backgrounds:

Resources: **

The Night's Shadow has been basically broken but it still has some resources that the Emperor failed to find.  Aliele can reasonably expect to draw upon a small amount of these remaining resources(hence two dots) but the majority is going into rebuilding.

Contacts: *****

The Night's Shadow have extensive contacts throughout multiple kingdoms.  Many died but many more survived.  

Allies: *

The Night's Shadow is broken.  Right now Aliele can't expect much more than information out of it and the occasional lending of extra resources but this one point represents the odd bit of aid outside of it's contacts that she might get from it.  


Schools:


Kinetics: ***

Super Jumping, Wall Bouncing/Running, Water Running

Insight: *

Awareness of Hidden Enemies

Speed: *

Knife Throwing





Where the Freebie Points Went:

4 Points: +1 Appearance
4 Points: +1 Perception
5 Points: +1 Willpower
1 point: One dot of Allies.
1 point: One dot of Contacts.


I love all the bouncy stuff of the genre(hence putting three dots in kinetics).

[Brian]

Okay.  So, Drac, go to room: The Halls of the Master.

[Brian]

C-rat!  You're up, go to room: The Journey Ends.

[Brian]

Celisasu, go to ... here: Evening Shadows.