Corporal John Heathfeld Esquire,

Synopsis of;

Call me 'Creature', lostling, half-dragon of the planes; ie Corporal John Hearthfeld, Esq. - Assassin/ Enforcer 'Rat-snake' .

--- Introduction; Excerpts of Scenes ---

As a role-playing an exercise I wrote up how I pictured his entrance to the city for the GM (see Below), as this would go in his memoirs;

I saw him after the scene below, as heading to the temple being met by an impromptu delegation who had been discussing the current situation. the runner had been sent to the temple so they expected someone strange (stranger then normal). As his papers had already been checked; they welcomed this foreign military officer (not local), talked about his experience, and who he was, and mentioned the party forming for a mission. Corporal John Hearthfeld, Esquire, offered his services, as would only be proper.

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Coming through the gate, Creature stopped and looked around, a quite respectable settlement, the few people whose eyes caught his, flinched. The guard at the gate hadn't flinched but had look almost startled to be addressed in the common tongue, and the Arms-men backing up the Officer of the Gate, never let their hands stray to far from their weapon hilts. They had all been alert to begin with, except for a young one, busy staring at him off to the side. He was probably a recruit or rookie, though that one had gone through the gate near the end of the interview maybe a Runner. To admit it, Creature was relieved to be let in, he shouldn't have been surprised that they didn't recognize the uniform, and really he wasn't. The gate Officers puzzled over his documents, they understood some, how much he wasn't sure, because they didn't even recognize the customary forms. To be put in a place where the uniform of the Grey Hart meant nothing made him so angry, and they never even glanced at the black quarter cape, that only made him wistful. There was no one else, he would have to show what the legacy of the Grey Hart and the Clan Landson, meant. These looked to be somewhat a good people, sometime the cruel Wolf might come to town, and maybe at least for a while they could use a vicious Creature to meet it.

John, Sighed, turned back to look up at the man on top of the gate works. The man had watched him the whole time, outside and inside the gate, no weapon in sight, but a horn was on his side and probably a bow covered to keep it dry leaning against the merlons. Creature called up in an Officers voice, 'the tallest building where is it', while the man said nothing, he raised his arm and pointed. The person named Corporal John Hearthfeld, Esquire; Saluted, made a proper about-face in the direction pointed, and left.

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John refused to startle at the woman's voice, he must be rattled more then he thought to allow a stranger into earshot unnoticed especially one talked carelessly about. He bows to her, flipping his ears in moderate submission, as an apology. He silently accepts her advice.

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John, gravely bows to the warrior, accepting the supplies presented. 'Our service to the Mission' Stepping back, he nods to the others and draws his dagger he cuts a piece of canvas off a ragged end included in what looks to be his bedroll lashed under his pack. He then wraps the vial in the canvas putting it in an inside pocket of the pack next to an empty vial, he then grasps the dagger carefully and lightly pokes his wrist drawing a drop of blood, he then wipes the drop off on the blade then the blade on his quilted leggings. He bows to the group then steps to the side waiting for them to precede him.

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Observing the direction the others go, he followings. By habit he openly checks their back trail, and the passage of what mission party members are going to the Inn for suspicious signs.

.....

Arriving John is startled at the battle outpost seeming to masquerade as an Inn, after the others enter John pauses a while studying the construction, if no one abruptly leaves. He enters, if someone does, He smiles Broadly at them, noting their features, then enters.

John enters; it seems almost larger inside then out, almost nervously He fingers a hood attached to the short cape, as he scans the interior, his eyes rest on those of the party still in the great room, then sweep the room eyes pausing occasionally, then continuing. When his gaze returned to the party, he approaches the joins (them), if one of the Inns staff is present, he asks if he might order ale, then does so.

If this Innkeeper is already at the table, and the party introduces the Innkeeper, (then A)

If there is no one remaining downstairs he will sit alone back to a stone pillar, observing those seated similarly, will assume for a time that the Innkeeper will wish to assess for himself a creature such as John (then A)

John will then introduce himself, complement the Innkeeper on the reputation he has in the settlement, for knowledge of the world, .... All through this time he will vaguely glance from side to side to bring into the edges of his vision those sitting near by searching for signs of someone attempting to hide interest in the conversation.

'My service to the Host, I am Esquire Hearthfeld of the Clan Landson, far from the hills of my clan and family, our Patrons whom The Mission Party, met at the temple said that if one needed knowledge of the local lands, the one to come to is your Most Excellent Self. As we are tasked to find 'Goliaths?' is there some small thing you could tell us of their history and location, Though a Militia Skirmish trooper, I myself am not a tracker. So could use help recognizing their; camps, outposts, signs; of scouting, hunting, and especially now War Parties. Knowledge of what they find offensive, and acceptable would be of use to those who must speak to them. As would anything else Your Wisdom would think usefull',

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'Creature' back in day uniform comes down stairs as the Woman addresses, the group. The Suns Dawned; he had wondered where the light haired woman the temple folk and the merchant families factors had talked about was, but no one had mentioned her so he had assume the travails had been to much and she had withdrawn from the mission party. As he politely introduced himself to the 'New' member, He Thought; 'and I thought I had problems', after the introduction, he asked; I am packed and ready to go, if no one minds or needs assistance I will check on the mule.

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When the party is outside looking to the break, John strings his bow, turns to the mule; checks the pack saddle and harness, even the contents of the load to make sure with all the 'help' nothing has been tampered with. He turns to the group and asks 'Who will lead the Mule, and what will be the order of ... 'procession''

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Again Marishandra enjoys sleeping in comfort, she knows that tomorrow she won't be able to sleep in a nice comfortable bed. She tries to get up early so that she'll be ready to go with the others, but some of them seem to be even earlier risers. It takes her a moment to recognize Chess, but she smiles and waves when she does so.

'No need to thank me Chess. I really didn't help much at the tent.' She nods once Chess is done and smiles again. 'Thanks. I'm glad that you agree, and I'm glad that all of you decided to help.'

Kepeskiejir seems to like Chess which is good.

She eats her breakfast quickly but without being messy or looking hurried. Upon finishing she makes a quick check of her gear on the mule. Even though the local children seem to have done a good job and John checked it over, this way she knows where things are if she has to get them out quickly. Once that's done she gives the children a few copper to split amongst themselves.

When John asks about the order, she thinks about it for a second. 'If we have someone that is especially good at tracking and foraging, I think they should go first. Someone who is good with animals should deal with the mule. I would think that good fighters should be in the front and rear once we leave the town.' She takes up a position near the front of the group as they start to walk toward the exit.

If there are no objections, he leads the mule off to one side of the party, tying a large knot in the end of the lead line. He removes 5 five arrows from his backpack fletched in two different patterns, placing them into the mules load so he can draw them quickly as possible, from the side he is standing on. If no one knows the mules name or objects He will call the beast 'Goodman Jack', and will use the name while leading 'Jack'.


Private to GM: {a Jack rabbit of fairy tale fame at home,
{SOP}Two of the arrows are his personal hunting arrows, if the Mule shows signs of Interest or Worry, He will 'ask' him about it {what do you (see, smell, hear) Jack}, being ready himself to draw either a hunting arrow or Unit arrow depending on any arrival, or but refrain from nocking, unless he has a shot he should take, as he must drop the lead rope and stand on it to take it.

Use of a personal arrow in a battle situation at home 'could' lead to personal responsibility rather then Unit responsibility for its use.

{SOP}Creature will keep Jack on the side of the party away from possible close concealment, or in the middle, if on both side. if not he will keep the mule on one side or the other of the party in the hope of a hunting shot, while keeping Jack between himself and trouble, having three battle arrows on either side of the pack. If charged Creature will pull Jack into a diagonal between the attackers and himself Jacks rear 'weapons' toward the 'enemy' and away from friends. He hasn't done this himself before but saw it done against bandits, stepping out to fire, and standing loosely 'on' the lead knot. He will have to decide in close combat to either let go, or aim Jack rear in their direction which he believes would require a hand and a half, not foot.

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'Jack , It is time to go' as Creature speaks he takes a step forward hands on the lead-line held close to Jacks head, as the mules starts, 'if someone will walk ahead', he begins to lead the mule up the hill. John gives the animal more line allowing it to choose its own path as long as it is, up-hill

<quote Katuso>

'Where I am best placed, I will be. Skill I have more at the finding of danger ahead, less in the claw and knife of close fighting.'

He drifts ahead of the group to act as scout, keen eyes and ears alert for any sign of potential threats in the group's path, occasionally returning to confirm the way is clear.

When Creature speaks to him, he looks back in mild surprise before replying in his own hissing tongue.

'Regrettably, I have not. My taking by the slaver-men was shortly after my hunt of maturity and promotion from hatchling to adult, I was long enough among adult circles to learn much of the world outside our clan range.'

Looking back at Katuso, John replied in Draconic; Private to Katuso: Private to Kepeskiejir tibur Kor-Hon: 'it was like with me, as a Hatchling to shelless birthers, I was put in a Warrior House' pointing to the deer's head with silver antlers embroidered on the chest of his padded tunic 'to serve the members; in the lair and when they raided on the Feud Paths, for Clan and Tribe Chiefs. When I Showed the Talent, passed the trials, and my service was done, I was made a Warrior of the War Paths, but as the Pax was strong in our lands, my Mothers; Layer's and Brood's Clans found me a minor place of Great Lair service with the Chief of the Peoples. One with who my Layer mother's clan was at death feud with, bought a senior warrior of the 'Glistening Buck/Bull', I was tricked into a dead Great Shamans Lair, and his trap cast me far from my Lands, Clan and Masters, to be 'ronin' gives me a sick feeling.'

Moving forward with Jack, John bowed and addressed; Sir Leonine LionHeart, and the Dames, (Creature was already thinking of this Knight 'Leo' and the Dames much as one of his asigned 'Bosses, and the Dames as his Personel Staff) 'May we stop and allow Jack a chance to graze, allowing us to rest to be fresh for the next leg of this days travel.'

---=== Inspiration ===---

I came up with this idea, while I was considering what kind of new character I might play on RPOL. I was thinking of making this character a, half-human, half 'something', a 'Lostling' one finding him or herself in a strange world or land, out-of-place and not necessarily knowing the rules (Which seemed appropriate in a mechanistic and cultural sense, as I was learning the 3.5ed systems at the time) Which is why I gave him an operating title of 'Creature' though I must admit seemed to have taken a life of its own, and is became his actual nick/pet name as I was hoping to make him either half-Humanoid of some appropriate type, half-orc seemed to common to go with the concept of 'Creature', though I thought some kind of bloodline might work or a half dragon possibly black?, blue, or green] but was told there might already be a half dragon, I was not sure GMs the would want dragon arrogance butting heads, though it might be fun as the Group is the one to make 'Laws of Engagement'. This being so he would hold back, if required, as long as the other did, and even if the other didn't if it would raise his status with the group. The current DM thought this was fine.

Corporal John Hearthfeld, Esq. - 'Creature'

Rogue / Half-dragon Racial class; (Blue shhhh) Lawful Evil
STR: 10 (2 pt), INT: 14 (6 pt?)
DEX: 16 (10 pt), WIS: 12 (4 pt)
CON: 8 (0 pt?,) CHA: 16 (10 pt)

Born in one Meta Realm one set of game rules. and at the beginning of his travails/adventures transferred to another to another Meta RealmIn this case AD&D E1 to D&D E3.5 by a trap within a trap.

--- Race ---

John's got the blood of an evil dragon in his veins. Believed a Black Dragon, yes (LE) due to the understood situation of his birth.
He believes he himself due to his race, evil In some of my worlds an evil race has a percent of the population at different levels of depression of the pleasure centers {rewards are less effective} he is one at mid range. BUT this doesn't mean John's innate nature would remain so after transference to the second meta-realm this was left to the GMs discretion, but his previous experience will hold him on 'course' for sometime.

John's got a beef with his father, as does everyone else in his family. - YES, the whole rest of his maternal family is in formal Feud with john's father. Only those of his mother's family who stand an actual chance of using it, carry the feud dagger and are legal signatories There were a bunch though, this 'limits' the official exposure of the other family members and retainers to legal counter reprisals.
Basically a human in all normal respects; in his own world there is no Half-dragon race they are born mules. His appearance is quite confused, his father at the time was in the Shape of a bugbear, this Bred 'True', sort of. He actually has the body of a Dragon descendant, long fingernails but no real claws, short horns the color of his hair above the very long pointed ears, vestigial wings, at first actual fit under roomy clothing or a cape, the Bug-bearness appears due to his being covered in coat of hair in the manor of the Bugbear race though the hair is a solid black rare in bugbear circles on his world. As I see this he immediately starts to shed this hair as the racial class takes effect, on arrival I planned to start out looking like a half bugbear, complaining about being cursed by a chest I had been hired to recover.

--- Class ---

Where John or Creature comes from there are both professional military and militia drafted, even slaves are required to join Janissary units in a militia to defend the local area in an emergency.
The Rogue professions are recognized as second only to Rangers as skirmisher/ scouts but are considered prime at deep reconnaissance. So a thief/ rogue type such as Creature would normally find his military place in such a unit

--- Alignment ---

He's will to use any means necessary to defend society, even a good means if he can figure one out and he has to Boss says so. He will avoid Unlawful acts, in that he will uphold the honor of those to whom he 'belongs'. An example; if ordered to bring in an escaped murderer belonging to the Thieves Guild Of which he is a member by, the Barons Court Of which he holds a letter of Reprisal and March. He will bring him in dead to protect the guild and punish the malefactor for failing to stay in the shadows as required. Belonging to a party, or mission will add to the complexity Honor will require.
He's a member of a 'collection' of organizations; Family, Thieves, Military, Reeves, Party, etc. This actually broadens his options as he may do what the Org. allows, As Long as it is within their 'Laws'. One must understand he is very Draconic in that his treasure sense is about groups.

'Creature' is L (E); philosophically a Lawful Neutral, but an active Neutral; Evil to Evil, Good to Good, and Neutral to uncertain: But personally Evil; Evil to Evil, neutral to uncertain for him uncertain is a much broader set of circumstances, and civil though he might make some proverbial good gestures and hope not to be to offensive if he gets it wrong to good.

He is quite Lawful, but much which might in error seem to be with a small 'L', his life is defined by, that to which he Belongs the Draconic 'MINE' i.e. a part of his treasure sense.
But John Hearthfeld Esq. 'Creature' considers himself to be Evil, due to his Mixed heritage and experiences he believes he is ' instinctively/innately' Evil he believes from his observations with his mother that those who are instinctively/innately good or evil are crippled (picture a race whose pleasure centers are limited or even in extreme cases gone and the society that would develop to allow them to exist, or the reverse a race that can only or more readily understand reward) and each can only understand the other by dint of much study and thought depending on how crippled the individual is. That He is evil he makes no bones about, as he considers this to be his fate as the ultimate law reality, means it to be (i.e. A Law of his nature). He believes that, as he understands Evil better than he understands Good, that this is the place he is meant to take in society; He believes the only correct place for evil, in a truly stable civilization is either; Dead, Slave he is not actually a slave taker, but in his land, 'Vermin; a legal term there may be sold if not bought by the March Court' , Bonded or criminals can serve a sentence under 'Bond' this bond can be sold, though mostly limited to within the area of the court, by some courts , Follower, or Champion as he hopes for himself against rogue Evil or those who would destroy, for concept, of stable civilization. His opposed alignment is actually CE, as he believes CG is actually less likely to Damage or Destroy Civilization, he suspects that LG would do better to compete with other LG over heresies. In some ways you could call him a yakuza paladin, defending society and those who are not destroying, against those who would. His tools are; assassination, battle, theft, 'discipline' self and/or others, and domination, under the laws of the civilization. He is also somewhat the Bureaucrat, below with a vague time line is a list of some of his 'documentation' of his 'Groupness' and some aspects of 'Law Principles Learned' involved with them.

--- His-Groups ---

The 'Creature' was born after a raid on a small settlement that happened to be unfortunately close to a Lord of Minor Title's hunting lodge. The raiding party gained more loot from the lodge, though fortunately sent much less time there, then at the settlement. One of the survivors at the lodge was a younger daughter of that same lord who turned up pregnant. The 'humanoid' race that the committed the raid, was blamed The actual leader a blue dragon was slumming as a polymorphed Humanoid black bugbear. , the young lady was somewhat a 'bluestocking' if that is the correct term and probably would, in what could have been, a different world joined a scholarly convent studying and teaching noble children.

{His Fathers loin:

_____'There are those who are innately evil, they destroy well but do not build as well.'

_____he thinks that; 'I am naturally/instinctively Evil'

- Warrant of Feud:
A document filed with court against the 'unknown' father, mother has stated she forgives the raiders for her son's sake, so her name isn't on it but all her brothers, father, several uncles, two aunts, and one sister, are signatories. The last signatory was done in absentia as he hadn't been born yet.
- He carries a notarized copy.
- Along with the document he carries a family Vengeance Dagger to be used ceremonially on the offender, as do all the signatories]
- Court letter of signature; a letter from the Feud Court verifying at Creatures request that the unborn signatory is him.}
But being burdened in this way with such a child, this future would never be. Though the family traditions included some honorably allowable short cuts, that could have legitimately dealt with 'IT'. She could not abandon a child she had borne, no matter the circumstances she was LG herself though not extreme. It was also understood that no man of her station would accept being second to such humanoids as a husband, and so She had accepted and understood that 'The Creature' would be the only child of her life.
--His Mothers heart:
_____'While there are those who are innately good, those who are not limited by an innate alignment understand the whole of the world better' like in his opinion his Mother who though wholly good was also able to understand an evil creature like himself and show him signs of a world he wouldn't have found on his own
_____A hatred of his unknown Father, and the race that it was she saw only humanoids among the raiders believed he was. Until his birth when it was realized the child was in serious danger from his father.
_____A belief that 'much Evil often has a weakness in understanding Good, as Good often has trouble understanding Evil'
_____Use what you have to protect what is 'yours' his nurse on discovering that he was half-dragon, called on help from her widowed mother in-law, Thorp 'hedge-woman' a from a family believed to have distant ties to a Bronze dragon, she took a job in the manor in the garden, the nurse went to visit every few days taking the child with her, the Sorceress played with him, teaching him things about himself and others like him and her. Preparing him to do battle with his father

- Birth certificate: Indicating him as Half-'humanoid?' son of his mother. He wears a ring of his mothers around his neck, as her hands are so small and he will not change it.

Family Honor:
_____'The even those of evil heart can live a life of Honor.'
_____'Concentrate on your strength.'

- 'Certificate of Arms': (I'm blocked as to the correct name) defines the Arms (heraldic) he may bear, though that is usually only this same certificate; with a special crossbar of a half human acknowledged Bastard of the mother's family line, usually issued when it is not expected that the father will survive, so his arms if any are not of a concern.

- Mercenary Guild Memberships: The family enrolled him in a local mercenary unit as a cadet student, much like the midshipmen in the navy, young children of high or better family learning to become officers, when he showed a demonstrable interest in the family business. He served three months on three months off because of his special circumstance, bullies learned quickly not to hassle him about it and he learned not to leave bruises. This extended the training time but that was useful as it continued his family socialization as well as his continued training for vengeance on his father

- A Letter of Reserve Officers commission; on completion of his service as a cadet-skirmisher much like a young midshipman's berth in the Grey Hart's Mercenaries Guild's Skirmisher unit, there is a sword belt buckle shaped like a Hart's Head with silvered Antlers, this is the 'minimum uniform' of a reserve officer of the Grey Hart Mercenaries
- A set of mission orders, I am thinking that he was on a mission for them when he tripped a magical Gate trap and found himself lost in a strange world this would help explain my lack of experience in the mechanics of the world. 'Father' outraged that he had been tricked, bought a lieutenant in the Merc. Guild, who betrayed 'Creature' by sending him into a trap
About six months from point zero. point zero=Start in the new Plane.

- An independent Letter of Royal Reserve Commission:
He was given a Commission in the Rat Catchers Guild, this guild enforces plague quarantines, and member often join the 'Royal Tasters' when 'Creature' joined the guild his 'Father' discovered from a contact in the guild that he was his half-dragon son rather than the son of one of the humanoid raiders, the rat-catchers guild a special black hood on a very short cape 'keeps drips off head and shoulders in the sewers' [SURE, has a pull down mask for government assignments, like Plague, enforcement, guarding public officials the Royal Guards are called his Tasters, 'discipline application' (they are not members of the Guild of the Rod, but like longshoremen to seamen and vise versa, they are considered auxiliaries of each other.), Oh yes don't forget patrolling the public sewers]

- Sworn in and registered in the Guild Book of the Guild of Shadows thieves guild; under his new guild name as an Assassin thug [member of the rat-catchers licensed to carry out guild death contracts] and Enforcer sort of non-commissioned officer or handler of thugs, (think yakuza) the handle of his vengeance dagger, has been wrapped with a kind of black cord reserved for the rat-chers use as 'animal snares' this is the sign of an Enforcer.
[OK; this time his mother goofed The family arranged for what they considered a civil service job, the family knowing that members of the 'royal tasters' were given royal commissions with the Rat-catchers Guild, managed to get him a commission hoping that he could work his way up to that position, not knowing that they were actually recruited from the king's guard and trained as counter-assassins.

What it did was it did was suddenly drop Creature into the Front for the wet-work arm of the thieves guild. The thieves guild was nervous having a sort of high-ranking socially to them, and possibly a Do-Gooding wuss person placed directly into the Thieves guild without warning by government fiat. So they attempted to quietly get rid of him, while no one died the Guild was startled at the thoroughness of his 'discipline' of the apprentice thugs sent to disappear him
He ambushed the four 'mundane' thugs sent to 'disappear' him, taking all four yes they were that dumb, he 'disciplined', them for the attack, then 'interrogated' them, on discovering that they had been assigned to take him by the guild, he first 'disciplined' them for failing, then 'disciplined' the ones who talked they hadn't all been Dumb enough in that way. He then hired a cart and took them to his supervisor in the guild, who interviewed the prisoners, alone. The prisoners were so frazzled by the situation no 'interrogation' was needed, when the supervisor came out he handed him a length of black cord to Creature, and pulled him into the room, told him they're all yours pointing at the trembling thugs. He reassigned the unit to a set of streets that had some youth gangs attempting to set up their own protection racket.

Reever-ship:

- A March and Limited Reprisal Letter; to the Court of Baron High-ridge think a privateer, but not limited to the sea, or outside the boundaries of the court, the limited means inside the Courts boundaries he is limited to serving dusty-foot courts.
- A Reever's Journal; a legal document required by March courts, as evidence and a record of activities taken on the courts behalf.

About one month from point zero The family happy that he had an entry into the Civil Service gave him for his birthday a low-grade Letter of March and Reprisal, to allow him to help make his fortune as a Noble Court Reever from a 'political' baron in exchange for taking one of the nobles sons and a nephew into the cavalry. The letter of march and reprisal is a reserve/associate position like that of the Privateer to a Royal navy, he only met the issuer once luckily, before disappearing, as the baron was CE and was hoping to recruit him for political assassinations.

â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'â€'

The problem with all this that follows is that, from the beginning I have looked on him (creature) as a Lostling, gated or dumped in some manner in a strange world or place this could help explain my mechanistic Unfamiliarity. All the background simply anchoring his personality, he would have no contacts no knowledge of the world, he has the only treasure that he had taken from him His positions in the world he knew he will not release them but will have to create a new social network, who can he trust who can he understand, these may not be the same persons, and where in society does he place himself
Though I must admit did have a thought that if he was Half-dragon and, he realized that someone in the Merc. Guild had betrayed him on his father's behalf by assigning him a mission leading to the trap; he would then have a wonderful revenge motivation, though any thought of carrying it out would be outside of this campaigns purview, and in the extreme long-range.
The 'Creature' was borne after a raid on a small settlement that happened to be unfortunately close to a Lord of Minor Title's hunting lodge. The raiding party gained more loot from the lodge, though fortunately sent much less time there, than at the settlement. One of the survivors at the lodge was a younger daughter of that same lord who turned up pregnant. The 'humanoid' race that the committed the raid, was blamed have been thinking of making him Half-Dragon, the actual leader slumming as a Humanoid , the young lady was somewhat a 'bluestocking' if that is the correct term and probably would, in what could have been, a different world joined a scholarly convent studying and teaching noble children. But being burdened in this way with such a child this would never be, though the family traditions included some honorably allowable short cuts that could have legitimately dealt with 'IT', she could not abandon a child she had born no matter the circumstances she was LG herself though not extreme. It was also understood that no man of her station would accept being second to such humanoids as a husband, and so She had accepted and understood that 'The Creature' would be the only child of her life. She turned her studies from political histories to natural histories starting with the races she knew were included in the raiders and her own child to be. She went to a manor her father had, at a hamlet that raised horses for the king's cavalry to have her child. The mother's nun-midwife when the child was born was rather startled at 'It's' appearance, she managed to assist the mother with the birthing of the child, having some difficulty both with the birth and her emotions at the inhuman appearance of the child and almost dropped it. The mother hoping to avoid any helpful arranged accidents immediately took the child, thanking her midwife for her help, and stating her and the child's nurse would clean off the child. The midwife had quickly examined the child to check that all was well, she couldn't really tell herself that, but it seemed to be mostly healthy. Though the creature might have taken some facial injuries during birthing, its looks gave her the shivers and so was glad to leave the final chore to them. The Nun-midwife filled out the Birth Certificate asked for by the family herself, and passed the child off as a rather ugly Half-'humanoid' whatever type would be considered useful, unless he is a Half-dragon than probably Half-orc or something that might have a reasonably close appearance to a Blue or Green [unless you have a different preference Half-dragon] and so entered it on the birth certificate; this misled the father for some years. Cleaning the Boy Child the mother was startled to realize that some of the caul was apparently attached to the back of the child, I hadn't at first realized that half-dragons have wings and am still not 'Sure' I've got that right, so instead of keeping his secret unknown to almost all but the mother I'm attempting to keep it all but only in the family she almost had the nurse call the midwife back to help detach it. When the matter in her hands, appearance seemed to almost shift before her eyes, her mind suddenly seeing a set of wings entangled in the Caul, her mind snapped quickly to some of the more outré histories, she stroked her boy child's frizz of hair just above both pointed ears and simply said 'my poor little boy'. After the midwife left for the abbey, she examined the birth certificate, smiling then she had the nurse call; for her mother, father, and the Horse-master trainer. As the infant grew the mother realized that though the child might pass as a Half-'humanoid' to the uninitiated the 'creatures' color was rare among 'Humanoids' and the small ragged bumps just above the ears, weren't just matted hair though of the same color. She also realized that he was stubbornly naughty and reacted differently then most children his age, and having decided to remain at the Horse-house Manor for their safety and isolation. she often went to the Horse-masters to discuss training as she had realized that he didn't react as other children to many rewards, to her first despair it seemed only punishment would get her sons attention, and compliance as with other children. But she learned to control him using the minimal necessary. His family was minor nobility much in the military; the soldiers in the family seem to impress her son from a young age, so his mother invited the men of the family to tell him stories. His mother also introduced him to slowly to positive reinforcement, discovering those that had some meaning for him and, introducing to him the concept that others might have some with greater meaning for them than for him. She allowed him to help with the training of horses under the watchful eye of the horse-master trainer. He began to train other animals watched over by his mother. His mother read him poetry, histories, and philosophy, and studies of great battles, after a while being afraid that he would find him self just too different from those around him she bought him servants of the evil races. And assisted him in overseeing their work. Giving him projects to carry out with his 'workers', in some cases he turned them over to his mother saying that as they understood good so well they would be wasted with him, though he and his workers, often found themselves working on the same project with the local peasants and servants. One day she discovered that though her son had finished the assigned project, he and his workers were missing, calling the young Huntsman from his lunch the mistress requested he find her son. He returned not long after that, requesting that she follow refusing to say anything but grinning as he said that 'No Mat'r ut 'e lu'ks lik 'e be wen o' yourn, de bo' es'. She heard her son before they saw him and his mob. The huntsman took her a back way, and led her to the top of a hill overlooking an open area before the grove the woodsman had planted for nuts and hard wood. Her startled eyes saw a small camp, whose tents apparently had been made from assorted bedclothes that she recognized as coming of hers sons own bed. And stamping among them with pikes, spears and swords (well maybe the stalks of tall weeds, long sticks, and broken furring strips from the vacant to cottage that the group had been assigned help dismantled at the road) the obvious soldiers strutting with a discipline recognizable in any goblin or kobold war-camp. It was the Boy's entire work crew, young and old, his rooms house servants, and a set of the hamlet's boys that she knew had been assigned to help take down the cottage. In the middle of the ordered chaos was a grizzled old man taking orders with the aplomb of a veteran sergeant she knew him to be. The mistress said nothing for a 'minute', this worrying the huntsman who looked closer at her. At this his mother made the mistake of looking at the huntsman and broke into helpless giggles, finally collapsing against a nearby tree with the help of the huntsman. After 'they' she could stand again they snuck back to the manor, the huntsman being forced to swear a blood-oath to the mistress, as if they were children again. To never to tell the boy she had laughed. The boy's mother then sent her retired uncle who was staying at the manor as Man of the House, a man once a Captain of light foot for the Duke until an injury to his leg, , down to Inspect the camp. He did this with full gravity, receiving all the required reports and discussing the down fall of using certain types of equipment, like bedclothes and unsanded furring strips, ordered the young lieutenant to lead his troops to an early mess. As the troop marched away in perfect order well mostly perfect the two veterans remaining looked at one another, the Captain glanced down at the Sergeant with a pained look on his face, 'please tell me I wasn't that bad', the older man said 'w'l 'C'ptn, az yourn n't ma Com'ndr na m'r, 'nd ah be 'n h'nest mon', the sergeant smiled and said nothing. The Captain grimaced cheerfully, looking up the road with the sergeant, he said slowly 'the Grey Hart's'? His companion nodded 'culd be, ah sod'jr cum'n 'n da bo' in da b'sh, git scerd da bretchz 'fn 'im. Tink sker'mshr? The Captain suddenly decided to join the troop for that early mess waiting ahead, The Sergeant slowly shook his head smiling grimly wondering if the Mistress and the Lard, new just what they could be releasing on the King's enemy if he lived, straightening back up to his old military bearing he walked of looking for women of the hamlet to tell where their boys had got of to, and to clean up the mess behind him.
The Mistresses family being old blood and low nobility with their involvement in the military, horse breeding and training for the cavalry got him a place in a nearby mercenary unit as a cadet skirmisher gopher/student until he completed his training.
The time served as a cadet scout/skirmisher though over a long period is meant to be like that of a very young midshipman in the navy, due to being located close to home it was also an intermittent service he returned home occasionally to spend time with his family and 'his own kind' servants had been bought for him of races known to be Evil.
the family pulled strings getting him a royal commission in the Rat catchers guild, this is also the group that supplies, troops to enforce Plague quarantine [with poison weapons, and guard, the king this last secretly (not to the volunteers) includes a lethal addiction to the Black Lotus Flower thinking that this was something he might excel at.
Unknown to the Family, the rat catchers guild is a front for the Assassin's guild really? which is a part of the Thieves guild which is usually fronted by a series of local merchant guilds, the normal method for a royal commission was to choose volunteers from the king's normal guard and teach them the ways of the rat-catchers leaving them in the royal household. the thieves guild was nervous having a sort of high-ranking person placed directly into the Thieves guild without warning by government fiat, so they attempted to quietly get rid of him, while no one died the Guild was startled at the thoroughness of his discipline of the apprentice thugs sent to disappear him. The guild assigned him as an enforcer and lower level thug what in first edition would be zero level auxiliaries manager think of him as a kind of yakuza.
The royal commission was written in the last 6 months and most of the time was surviving the assassination attempt and settling into his position with the guild.
The family also arrange for him to get a low-grade Letter of March and Reprisal, to allow him to help make his fortune as a Noble Court Reever from a 'political' baron in exchange for taking one of his sons and a nephew into the cavalry.
The letter of march and reprisal is a reserve/associate position like that of the Privateer to a Royal navy, and was a birthday gift in the last month, he only met the issuer once luckily before disappearing, as he was CE and was hoping to recruit him for political assassinations.

---=== CHARACTER SHEET ===---

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Name : John Hearthfeld Esq.| Race : Draconic Human | Height: 6' 1'

Player: Carl F | Gender: M | Weight: 250 lb

Update: 06/12/09 | Age : 22 | Eyes : HazelGreen

Align :Lawful Neutral | Size : M | Hair : Black

Deity :Lord Hearthfeld; see ! below | Speed : 30 ft | Hand : Left

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Ability | Temporary | Class Level

Score Mod | Score Mod | Rogue 1

STR 12 +1 | |(Draconic class) 2

DEX 16 +3 | |

CON 10 +0 | |

INT 14 +2 | |

WIS 12 +1 | |XP : 1000 Char Level: 1

CHA 18 +4 | |Need: 3000 ECL : 2<b>(3?)</b>

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Total Current Subdual | Total Dex Misc

HP : 6 6 | Init : 3 = 3 +

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Total Armour Shield Dex Size Natural Defl Misc

AC : 15 = 10 + 1 + + 3 + + 1 + +

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Total Base Str Size | Total Base Dex Size

Melee : 1 = 0 + 1 + | Range : 3 = 0 + 3 +

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SAVES Key Ability

Ability Bonus Base Mod Magic Misc

Fort : Con o = 0 + 0 + +

Ref : Dex = 2 + 2 + +

Will : Wis = 0 + 3 + +

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RACE/CLASS ABILITIES & FEATS GAINED

Rogue abilities:

Sneak Attack +1d6 Rogue 1

Trap finding Rogue 1

Rogue Weapon prof; Rouge 1

All simple, hand crossbow, rapier, sap, short-bow, and short sword

Light Armour Prof. Gen. Rouge 1

Feat:

Combat Expertise Gen.

Point blank Gen.

Dragonic racial class

(+2) Intimidate & Spot 1st Level Draconic

Darkvision out to 60' 2nd level Draconic

Dragon subtype 2nd Level Draconic

(+2) Str, Con, Cha 2nd Level Draconic

(+1) Natural Armor Class scales 2nd Level Draconic

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LANGUAGES:

Draconic; Learned from Widow Saelly, mother-in-law of nurses brother.

Goblin; from 'servants'

Orc; From 'servants'

Common; Family tongue

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SKILLS Max Ranks 3 + 1(lvl):4 CC Max Ranks (/2): 2

Skill Point Total = 44 (8 + 2 (int) + 1 (Human))x 4

Max ranks (class /cross-class): (R) 4/ (-) 2

Class

Skill

Final Related Untrained

Mod = Rnk Abl Msc ACP |CC Skills Ability &Apply; A.p

1 = +1 +0 +0 | R Appraise (Int) Yes & Yes

2 = 0 +2 +0 | R Balance (Dex) Yes

6 = +2 +4 +0 | R Bluff (Cha) Yes & Yes

3 = +2 +1 +0 | R Climb (Str) Yes

0 = 0 +0 +0 | - Concentration (Con) & Yes

4 = +2 +2 +0 | R Craft: (Trap making) (Int) Yes & Yes

4 = +2 +2 +0 | R Craft: (Calligraphy) (Int) Yes & Yes

2 = 0 +2 +0 | R Decipher Script (Int) & Yes

5 = +1 +4 +0 | R Diplomacy (Cha) Yes & Yes

4 = +2 +2 +0 | R Disable Devices (Int) & Yes

5 = +1 +4 +0 | R Disguise (Cha) Yes & Yes

5 = +1 +3 +0 | R Escape Artist Yes

2 = 0 +2 +0 | R Forgery (Int) Yes & Yes

6 = +2 +4 +0 | R Gather Information (Cha) Yes & Yes

5 = +1 +4 +0 | - Handle Animal (Cha) & Yes

1 = 0 +1 +0 | - Heal (Wis) Yes

5 = +2 +3 +0 | R Hide (Dex)

8 = +2 +4 +2 | R Intimidate (Cha) Yes & Yes

3 = +2 +1 +0 | R Jump (Str) Yes

-1 = 0 +2 +(-3) | R Knowledge; (Int) & Yes

(Local)

-1 = 0 +2 +(-3) | - Knowledge; (Int) & Yes

(Geography, History, Religion)

1 = 0 +2 +(-1) | - Knowledge: (Int) & Yes

(Nobility & Royalty)

2 = 0 +2 +0 | - Knowledge: (Int) & Yes

(arcana)

2 = 0 +2 +0 | - Knowledge: (Int) & Yes

(architecture & Engineering)

2 = +1 +2 +0 | - Knowledge: (Int) & Yes

(the planes)

2 = +1 +1 +0 | R Listen (Wis) Yes & Yes

5 = +2 +3 +0 | R Move Silently (Dex) Yes

5 = +2 +3 +0 | R Open Lock (Dex) & Yes

5 = +2 +3 +0 | R Perform: (Cha) Yes & Yes

(Oratory)

2 = +1 +1 | R? Profession (Wis) & Yes

(Siege Engineer)

3 = 0 +3 +0 | - Ride (Dex) Yes & Yes

4 = +2 +2 +0 | R Search (Int) Yes & Yes

2 = +1 +1 +0 | R Sense Motive (Wis) & Yes

3 = 0 +3 +0 | R Sleight of Hand (Dex) & Yes

2 = 0 2 | Speak Language: & Yes

2 = 0 +2 +0 | - Spellcraft (Int) & Yes

5 = +2 +1 +2 | R Spot (Wis) Yes & Yes

1 = +0 +1 +0 | - Survival (Wis) Yes & Yes

3 = +2 +1 +0 | R Swim (Str) Yes & Yes

5 = +2 +3 +0 | R Tumble (Dex)

5 = +1 +4 +0 | R Use Magic Device (Dex) & Yes

4 = +1 +3 +0 | R Use Rope (Dex) Yes & Yes

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WEAPON TAB DAM CRIT RNG WGHT SIZE TYPE PROPERTIES

Short Sword +1 1d6+1 19-20/x2 - 2lb M Martial Rogue P

-Piercing

Short Bow +3 1d6+1 20/x3 60 2lb M Martial Rogue-P

-Piercing

Arrows (20) - - - - 3lb -

Dagger +1/+3 1d6+1 20/x3 10' 2lb M Martial Rogue-P

-Piercing or slashing

Whip Greensnake -1 1d2+1s 20/x2 15' 2lb M Exotic non-P

-Slashing

Sap +1 1d6+1s 20/x2 - 2lb M Martial Rogue-P

-Bludgeoning

Dart +3 1d4 20/x2 20' ½lb M Simple Rogue-P

-Piercing

Sling +3 1d4 20/x2 50' 0lb M Simple Rogue-P

-Bludgeoning

- NOT OWNED YET -

Rapier 1d6 18-20/x2 - NA M Martial Rogue-P

-Piercing

Crossbow, hand 1d4 19-20/x2 30' NA M Simple Rogue-P

-Piercing

Bolts (10) - - - NA M

TOTAL WEIGHT: 18 LB(see equip.)

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ARMOUR CHECK MAX SPELL

ARMOUR TYPE BONUS PENALTY DEX FAIL SPEED WGHT PROPERTIES

Padded Armour L 1 0 5 5% 30ft 10

TOTAL WEIGHT: 10 LB (see equip.)

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TREASURE

Monetary:

COIN; PP () GP: (2) SP: () CP: ()

GEMS:

In Kind:

Property:

Real;

Personal;

Document;

Birth Certificate, Warrant of Feud, Court letter of signature, ‘Certificate

of Arms', A Letter of Reserve Officers commission as Corporal,Letter of Royal

Commission in the Rat Catchers Guild, Letter of March and limited Reprisal for

Baron High-ridge's court, Dusty-foot Courts Reaver Journal, Set of Grey Hart

mission orders/

Social:

Patrons;

Memberships; (lost contact)

Personal leaders;

Contacts;

Retainers-

Followers;

Hirelings;

Bond servant;

Slave;

Thrall;

Duty-

Family duty;

Hold; family heritage item Copper Ring on leather cord around neck, Feud

Dagger/

Member duty;

Wear; Hart buckle, Rat-catcher's Cape, black-wrap dagger hilt with

Strangle cord/

Hold; the Secret Rat-cher Guild name 'Rat-snake'/

Vows-

Personal;

Search for way to avenge betrayal whether by, staff lieutenant or whoever

the creator of the false mission/

Member;

Family- Assist in the quest for the Death of his Father, the Black Dragon

of the Foothills Morass/

Promises received;

Temp. social;

TOTAL WEIGHT: 5 LB

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GEAR WEIGHT LB

Backpack (empty):................................................. 2

Flint and steel;............................................... 0

wrapped in canvas, tied with strip of same

tankard, clay;................................................. 1

Orc Make, with thumb top lid, crude battle scene

one day trail ration........................................... 1

5 pounds Flour................................................. 5

Bedroll:.......................................................... 5

Blanket, winter;............................................... 3

Green wool, uses this as ground cloth, a when blanket is not needed

Canvas;(3 sq. yd.)............................................. 3

Vengeance Dagger;................................................. 1

steel dagger satin brass fittings, handle and scabbard is polished

coffin-wood, this handle is wrapped in black twisted cord of the rat-

catchers

Flask; x2......................................................... 0

One hanging from dagger belt, one in courier bag contains ink made

using calligraphers skill

Grappling hook;................................................... 4

Sword, short;..................................................... 2

Short bow;........................................................ 2

Arrows(20):.................................................... 3

three fletched in Landson hunting pattern with Creatures own banding,17

in the Grey Harts pattern with the skirmishers banding

Explorer's outfit:................................................ 8

Sturdy boots; slate grey, moderately soft soles, strap on cleats

Leather Kilt; Blue and brown checks

Hero's Belt; Brown and blue cords in Goblin weave, Doubles as a sling

Shirt; blue chemise thigh length

Vest; multi-brown

Gloves; slate grey w/ green trim, will add inner caps later

Cloak; brown w/ blue trim

Whip; ............................................................. 2

Green 'Blacksnake whip', he has got a green one; because in his land, Rat-

snake the name sake, of his rat-catcher christening as an assassin, is the

same color green

Darts; x6......................................................... 3

slid to leather fletches through weave of belt

Sap;.............................................................. 2

hangs from bronze hook at the waist on his sword belt

Sling;............................................................ 0

see the explorers outfit belt

Bullets, sling; x10............................................ 5

padded armour outer tunic has pocket for bullets

Padded armor;..................................................... 10

Lincoln-green with Grey trim

Sack (empty);..................................................... 0

Oil cloth courier bag w/over shoulder strap

Paper (sheet); x6.............................................. 0

Three of the sheets have been folded in half, in a piece of waxed

canvas of slightly larger size, and roughly bound. Under the wax on the

front cover, is the label 'Dusty-foot Courts Reaver Journal'

Ink pen;....................................................... 0

wooden stylus with bronze nib

Chalk pieces; x3............................................... 0

Torch; x4......................................................... 4

Unlisted Treasure................................................. 5

An Iron pot- On mule

TOTAL WEIGHT: 71 LB

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LOAD: LIGHT MEDIUM (-3) HEAVY/MAX (-6) LIFT (Mx2) PUSH/DRAG (Mx5)

1-43LB 44-86LB 87-130/130 LB 260LB 650LB

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MAGIC ITEMS

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DESCRIPTIONs:

You see a Humanoid shape covered in coarse coal-black fur, where it is

not wearing clothes. The head has long pointed hairy twitching ears, a short

muzzle ending in a black nose, It's top and bottom canines noticeably push

out the slate-grey lips, but do not protrude. The Eyes shadowed under its

heavy bristling brow, are a dark Hazel-green, the furry arms end in large

hands, with long fingers, and the nails are thick and long. Where you can see

the Creature's skin it is a light dusky grey, in spite everything there is

something of human in it's look, erect stance, and definitely clothing.

The Creature will invariably be wearing; heavy slate-grey boots, a

short sword in a Lincoln-green scabbard, and an intricate though loosely

woven macramé cord belt.

The waxed leather boots come up to mid calf, with ties at the calf and

ankle the boot top has loops to tie to the fringe at the leg-bottoms of the

padded armour, there is another tie which is wrapped around the boot between

bronze studs in an ascending and returning spiral

The scabbard and sword having matching satin finished bronze fittings, the

sword hilt being bound in a weave of three shades of brown leather. The

scabbard is carried on an over the shoulder weapon belt, of dark brown

leather. What you can see of the belt, As the belt disappears under the clothing

of whatever the creature is wearing, leaving only 6' of the belt, the scabbard

and an elegantly cast bronze buckle of a Hart's head with silvered antlers,

uncovered.

The belt woven of green twisted cord and black braided leather cord, is

decorated with wooden beads of Blue and three shades of Brown. The belt

appears to help hold in position the last 6' of the sword belt, and looking

closer one will see a number depending on the situation of iron cored

bronze darts pushed through the gaps in the weave of the belt up to their

leather fletches, in easy reach of the creatures left hand. If standing to

the Creatures left one can see the bronze black bound hilt of a short blade.

If The Creature is in full martial splendor, the visible clothes will

be; a quilted green and grey cloth cap cut to fit its head, a short (1/4)

black with thin blue trim cape, the tip of a bow over the left shoulder, an

outer tunic of quilted Lincoln-green trimmed in dark-grey, The tunic comes

down to mid thigh not quite covering the blue and brown checked leather kilt

to the knees, this over quilted, grey with green trim, leggings. The dark

boots are now lashed to what looks like black wooden sandals.

The padded helm seems to have been made by a different crafts'man'; as the

cloth is a darker green, the quilting thread is almost a yarn, is blue and

brown, while the grey trim is actually leather.

The black cape includes a large hood, the blue rope trim covers the fact

that the inner lining is padded, as so is the hood, this has a double lining

one of which can be pulled out and down to create a mask, this does not work

to well as a disguise as ear holes had to be cut and trimmed, through the

hood.

A short bow rides unstrung at Creatures left shoulder it is hanging from a

shield hook on his shoulder belt at his shoulder protruding through and held

in place by a trimmed hole reinforced with leather in the padded armour,

the bow is hung by a leather loop fastened to the bow, a bundle of arrows

tied in two strips of canvas, one strip in a loop over the bow tip, stopping

at the bows own hanging loop of blue and brown braided leather cord.

A small grey hart-head with white antlers is stitched on the right breast

of the tunic, this tunic is but the outer of three more layers making up a

suit of padded armour.

The Leggings are also part of the padded armour but in only three layers.

The green trim includes a rope trim running down the outer seam and a fringe

spilling over the boot tops.

The Wooden sandals are studded with bronze hobnails he usually prefers

not to wear them as it usually takes 'summoning the infernal' to clean them

enough for inspection..

The Creature about town; If the creature is on business the visible

clothes will be; a black with dark blue rope trim short (1/4) cape, an

attached black hood with ear holes cut and trimmed, an outer tunic of quilted

black trimmed dark-grey, The tunic comes down to mid thigh not quite covering

the blue and brown checked leather kilt to the knees, in a coil a Green-snake

whip rides around It's left shoulder and arm like like a Village Mayor's

chain of office, a coarse black fur covers the legs, The dark boots are now

lashed to what looks like black wooden sandals.

Black quarter length cape with dark blue rope trim an attached black hood

with ear holes cut and trimmed.

The outer quilted tunic is the same as the martial one; it is reversed

using the lining as used in the field for night work. Creature wears this

during his 'civil service' work, but usually doesn't wear the heaviest two of

the inner layers, as the lightest inner most layer is easily washable in the

field helps keep the outer fresher.

A Green-snake whip rides in a coil around Creatures left shoulder and arm,

it is hanging from a shield hook on his shoulder belt at his shoulder

protruding through a hole in the armour

The blue and brown checked leather kilt to the knees

A coarse black fur covers the legs; he keeps the fur thoroughly brushed,

when not wearing armour.

The black wooden sandals, are the same as those worn in his military

uniform but only because he didn't think he would need the city version no

hobnails on a mission, the civilian version are much easier to remove as one

does not wear such into dwellings, since the sole purpose is to keep the

shoes and boots from being stained by night soil and other nocuous debris.

The Creature about town; if the creature is not on 'business' the

visible clothes will be; a black with dark blue rope trim short (1/4) cape,

and possibly a brown flat-cap with a blue feather. Under the cape he wears a

blue chemise covered with a brown leather doublet, depending on the weather,

with the arms detached, and without a long grey cape. The doublet covers the

ever present sword belt, and is held in place by two belts, the woven belt

and a thin leather belt holding a black hilted dagger barely seen behind his

left side. He may be wearing, hanging on his shoulder; a Green-snake whip, a

bow, the sleeves of the doublet, or a combination of the aforementioned.

Under the doublets skirt is a leather Kilt of leather panels stained in a

checked pattern of blue alternating with one of three shades of brown. The

dark boots are now lashed to what looks like black wooden sandals.

A brown leather flat-cap, with a long dyed blue feather, three short

fluffy brown feathers in the shades of the family.

Black quarter length cape with dark blue rope trim, with an attached black

hood with ear holes cut and trimmed. But while he will wear the cape he does

not use the hood off duty.

Possibly he is wearing a simple grey three quarters wool cape, which he

wears under the previously mentioned black cape.

The blue and brown leather kilts, inner panels and outer are joined with

blue wool cloth, and the kilt is held in place with a brass buckle.

Coarse black fur covers his legs, he keeps the fur thoroughly brushed, and

usually he has four ribbons tied above each knee; one each of the four of the

family colors, with the ends hanging to mid-calf on each side.

The dark boots are now tightly lashed to what looks like black wooden

sandals, and unfortunately are still the Hobs.

The black wooden sandals, are the same as those worn in his military

uniform but only because he didn't think he would need the city version no

hobnails on a mission, the civilian version are much easier to remove as one

does not wear such into dwellings, since the sole purpose is to keep the

shoes and boots from being stained by night soil and other nocuous

debris.

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PERSONALITY:

'Creature' is L (E); philosophically a Lawful Neutral, but an active

Neutral; Evil to Evil, Good to Good, and Neutral to uncertain: But by choice

and physical inclination personally EVIL; Evil to Evil neutral to uncertain

for him uncertain is a much broader category, and civil to recognized good.

He is quite LAWFUL, but much, which might in error, seems to be with a

small 'L', is that his LIFE is defined by 'that to which he Belongs'.

He believes the only correct place for evil, in a truly stable

civilization is either; Dead, Slave, Bonded, Follower, or Champion as he

hopes for himself against rogue Evil or those who would destroy, stable

civilization. His opposed alignment is actually CE, as he believes CG is

actually less likely to Damage or Destroy Civilization his mother encouraged

the thought that there was some value in the looseness valued by chaotics, he

knew she believed this, but suspected on occasion that, this was like his

belief in Good, observed and accepted but not completely understood, so he

try's to keep this in mind, to respect her, he suspects that LG would do

better to compete with other LG over heresies, and leave Evil to those who

understand it. Facing evil his tools for the most part are what others would

call Evil, for the rest he tries not to be rude or insulting.

If you want to Know what he considers valuable; look to his collected

treasure.

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BACKGROUND: (!)

History;

-!- The Barony of Hearthfeld was created according to legend over 1000years

ago and has out lived one empire, a merchant confederation and is currently a

founding member of the Kingdom of Ronin, Lord Hearthfeld was what the family

call The founder of The Steading, all the rest of the dead are simply called

Baron '?Joe#' Hearthfeld, all family dead warriors are given a courtesy

promotion to Knt. Sir '?Joe#' Landson (the family name claimed by Lord

Hearthfeld, Lord Hearthfeld is the Jarl of the Landson's Steading in the

lands beyond death he rules the baron's their families, the Knights of

Landson and their consorts, and loyal and exceptional members of the Clan

Landson this is made up of family and adopted retainers, Lord Hearthfeld is

the family Demigod, the Barons, and Knights, his Minions, the Women of the

Family a council of those barons wives and others of the family and clan, of

exceptional character look out for to interests of the family and Clan.

There are Clerics Line (family-) that look after the Clans dead even

calling on the Knights bodies in defense of the living, and the sanctity of

the Labyrinth of the Landson Clan.

Etc.

The Black Dragon of the Foothills

BACK-STORY;

The 'Creature' was born after a raid on a small settlement, and a

Baron's hunting lodge. One of the survivors at the lodge was a younger

daughter of that same lord who turned up pregnant. The 'humanoid' race that

the committed the raid, was blamed for the child. his mother would not

abandon a child she had born no matter the circumstances, she had accepted

and understood that 'The Creature' would be the only child of her life.

She turned her studies to natural histories and her own child to be. She

went to a manor her father had to have her child. The midwife had quickly

examined the child to check that all was well, so the Nun-midwife filled out

the Birth Certificate and passed the child off as a Half-bugbear and so

entered it on the birth certificate. But the mother who examined the child

closer, realized the truth.

As the infant grew the mother realized that though the child might pass

as a Half-bugbear to the uninitiated the 'creatures' color was rare among

'Bug-bears' and the small ragged bumps just above the ears, weren't just

matted hair though of the same color, and decided to remain at the Manor for

their safety and isolation. His family was minor nobility much in the

military; the soldiers in the family seem to impress her son. She allowed

him to help with the training of horses under the watchful eye of the horse-

master trainer. He began to train other animals watched over by his mother.

His mother read him poetry, histories, and philosophy, and studies of great

battles, after a while being afraid that he would find him self just too

different from those around him she bought him servants of the evil races.

And assisted him in overseeing there work.

When He demonstrated a gift, the Mistresses family being old blood and low nobility with their involvement in the military, horse breeding and training for the cavalry got him a place in a nearby mercenary unit as a cadet skirmisher gopher/student much like that of a very young midshipman in the navy. Due to being located close to home it was also an intermittent service he returned home occasionally to spend time with his family and 'his own kind' servants had been bought for him of races known to be Evil. his training took some years until his graduation, when he received a reserve rank of Corporal in the guild.

His mother thinking to find him a stable position, possibly leading to Royal service, the family pulled strings getting him a royal commission in the Rat-catchers guild about six months before his accident. Among other things they were known to supply guards, called the Royal Tasters, unknown to the Family, the rat catchers guild was a front for the Assassin's guild. The normal method for a royal commission was to choose volunteers from the king's guard and teach them the ways of the rat-catchers leaving them in the royal household. The Thieves' guild was nervous having a sort of high ranking recruit placed directly into the Thieves guild. The guild attempted to get rid of him, while no one died the Guild was startled at the thoroughness of his discipline of the apprentice thugs sent to disappear him, first for attacking him, then when his interrogation broke them, a second, for failing the task the guild assigned them, then third again, for letting him interrogate the information out of them. The guild assigned him as a Rat-killer [Assassin and Enforcer lower level Thug manager. Most of the time since surviving the assassination attempt has been settling into his position with the guild.

After his family discovered his promotion in his civil service job they arranged for him to get a low grade Letter of March and Reprisal, to allow him to help make his Fortune as a Noble Court Reaver. This letter of March and Reprisal was a reserve/associate position like that of the Privateer to a Royal navy, and was a birthday gift in the last month before his disappearance. He had a few catches for dusty-foot courts in the territory covered by the reprisal section of the Letter.

The Mercenary Guild, sent a mission order signed by a Lieutenant in the Headquarters staff, he was requested to attempt a simple retrieval mission, of a chest of official guild documents accidently left behind in a ruined outpost by another mission. It was only after triggering the Gate trap, did he realize that the chest had to have been in place for centuries. He had been betrayed by the Staff Lieutenant; John's father the Black Dragon had to have discovered his existence and bought his betrayal.

Now he is in a strange world, among a strange people, he has vowed to

search for vengeance, for such betrayal.

His only question is; What Now?

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