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TimP
11-28-2004, 11:24 PM
Concept:
I wanna be an airborne ranger.....

Character Name:
Ainslee

Background:
Young Ainslee was born in the summer of 978 to a simple woodcutter and his wife who lived on the outskirts of the village of Caewin Abbey. He helped his Da, plying the family trade on the fringes of The Fey Wood, until 991 when his father was killed by a rotten 'widowmaker' tree. Ainslee's Ma had died nine years earlier while giving birth to a daughter, Almira, so it fell upon the boy to provide for the remnants of the family. This he did by hunting (and sometimes poaching) with his father's old bow. The Abbot of Caewin Abbey knew of this situation and turned a blind eye, something Ainslee is only just beginning to appreciate.

During this time Ainslee made the acquaintance of Delham, an old retired Ranger living in a simple hut inside the Wood. Delham taught him much about the ways of the woods and the denizens within it. Ainslee grew to love the old man, almost as a second father, and loved nothing more to hear his tales of the glory days of the Rangers.

Almira was a beautiful girl and the miller's eldest son, Garrick, married her in 996 at the ripe old age of 14. Ainslee no longer had much reason to stay within the village, so when Sir Merris, captain of the Wolfshead Company, passed through Caewin he boldly approached the scarred warrior and sought a position amongst the mercenaries.

Ainslee spent the next four years with the Wolfshead Company. He wasn't much good with a sword and was outright clumsy with spear and shield, but he had a real knack for woodcraft and could remember and report back about the lay of the land and enemy disposition. Ainslee quickly became Sir Merris' favorite scout and if that worthy had not fallen to the black shaft of an orc along the Dead River, he would still be serving with the company.

As it is, Ainslee has returned to Caewin still carrying his father's well-worn hunting bow, with an oft-mended traveling cloak about his shoulders and a few copper pieces jingling in his belt pouch.

Lifepaths
Born Peasant, Wood Cutter, Hunter, lead to Pro. Military: Scout

Age: 22

Stats:
Pe: b5, Wi: b3, Ag: b5, Sp: b5, Po: b4, Fo: b5

Attributes:
He: b4, Ste: b4, Re: b5, MW: b10
Hesitation: b7
Movement rates: 1p, 3p, 6p

PTGS:
Su: b3, Li: b5, Mi: b7, Sev: b8, Tr: b9, Mo: b10

Skills:

Firebuilding: b2
Cooking: b2
Orienteering: b3
Treewise: b2
Foraging: b2
Hunting: b3

Stealthy: b3
Observation: b3

Mending: b2

Riding: b1

Knife: b2
Bow: b4

Gear:
Hunting Bow
24 Arrows & Quiver
knife & sheath

Wool tunic & breeches
leather belt and belt pouch
leather boots
tattered cloak
assorted travel gear.

Contacts:

Delham the Ranger, minor contact-loyal, southern Fey Wood
Almira, sister-loyal, Caewin Village at Caewin Abbey
(Ainslee loves his sister, but cannot stand her lout of a husband)

Traits:
Alert
Weathersense
Ranger Envy

Beliefs:
Everything good gets taken away
Orcs are bad
City folk are weak

Instincts:
When under the trees, Assess for danger from above.
Maintain your gear during downtime.
1, 2, 3, shoot (always aim when using bow).

Notes:
Rangers in my campaign are a group of woodsmen/warriors that help to enforce an ancient treaty between man and elf. Basically, man can't intrude (and by intrude I mean cut down trees) in The Fey Wood (original, huh?), but may pass along a certain road and along a certain river as long as they don't stray. This guy has a dour outlook on life, but I could see some sort of redemption occuring as he adventures. Questions, comments, and criticisms are welcome.

edited instinct as per Thor's suggestion
skill point swapping as per Drozdal's suggestion

luke
11-29-2004, 10:44 AM
hi tim,

what does "watch for widowmakers" mean? how is it used in play? how would a player narrate automatic, predetermined behavior based on that instinct?

-L

TimP
11-29-2004, 01:13 PM
A widowmaker is a rotten tree that could fall over at any time (weird trivia from a rural upbringing). Ainslee's father was killed by one. I thought it could translate to a lesser chance of suprise from attacks from above when in the woods (spiders and such), since he would be scanning the tops of trees all the time. Maybe not concrete enough to be an instinct?

Thanks,

Tim

Thor Olavsrud
11-29-2004, 03:09 PM
A widowmaker is a rotten tree that could fall over at any time (weird trivia from a rural upbringing). Ainslee's father was killed by one. I thought it could translate to a lesser chance of suprise from attacks from above when in the woods (spiders and such), since he would be scanning the tops of trees all the time. Maybe not concrete enough to be an instinct?


Hey Tim, that's cool. Try this instinct on for size: When under the trees, Assess for danger from above.

Drozdal
11-29-2004, 04:15 PM
Hey Tim, that's cool. Try this instinct on for size: When under the trees, Assess for danger from above.
I think that paranoid trait would be cheaper :D , and you could use that instinct slot for something more usefull to your character (maybe some elf-related instinct?).

TimP
11-29-2004, 06:24 PM
Hey Tim, that's cool. Try this instinct on for size: When under the trees, Assess for danger from above.

Ahh, perfect wording-thanks!


I think that paranoid trait would be cheaper, and you could use that instinct slot for something more usefull to your character (maybe some elf-related instinct?).

Well, i don't really see him as being crazy or anything. I was in a pretty bad car accident a few ears ago where I was rear-ended by a lady going about 40mph. Now I always at least glance in the rear-view mirror when I'm braking. That's the sort of effect I'm going for.

Tim

Drozdal
11-29-2004, 07:17 PM
Well, i don't really see him as being crazy or anything. I was in a pretty bad car accident a few ears ago where I was rear-ended by a lady going about 40mph. Now I always at least glance in the rear-view mirror when I'm braking. That's the sort of effect I'm going for.

Tim
Ok great - and this instinct pretty good tied to character background. (I also was hit by the car while crossing the street, got two broken bones, two months of vacation, and driver who ran away :evil: ).

Some thoughts on this character:
- I really like sister contact, and hate for her husband
- skills exponents are quite low, you could get rid of javelin and riding maybe even mending, to add some points to Observation and Orienteering. And i strongly reccomend to get Tracking (because this guy want to be an ranger alfter all...).

TimP
11-29-2004, 07:27 PM
Ok great - and this instinct pretty good tied to character background. (I also was hit by the car while crossing the street, got two broken bones, two months of vacation, and driver who ran away ).

Some thoughts on this character:
- I really like sister contact, and hate for her husband
- skills exponents are quite low, you could get rid of javelin and riding maybe even mending, to add some points to Observation and Orienteering. And i strongly reccomend to get Tracking (because this guy want to be an ranger alfter all...).

Ah yes, hit and run drivers, great folks. Sorry about the broken bones! My face just went through the windshield, bloody as hell but pretty quick to heal.

Ainslee already has Tracking B3, I missed it when transferring him to the bulletin board :oops:

I really like the getting rid of javelin suggestion. I'll move that point over to Observation.

Thanks for the help!

Tim