New Character Submission - Vaul Tarith

[Lymm Skragga]

Character: Vaul Tarith
Age: 120
Gender: Male
Classes: Rogue/Wizard/Duelist
Race: Elf
Alignment: True Neutral
Deity: Multiple


Biography:

The guard looked up at the stars, and saw with relief that his shift was about to end. As if by cue, he heard footsteps approaching. "You're a bit early, Stahl." The drowsy reply was slow in coming, "Couldn't sleep. This damnable heat...I'll take over. Find what rest ye can." The guard leaving his post was much younger, and had a fire in his eyes. "I'm off to see that redheaded barmaid at the Pig's Ear. I think she's got a thing for me..." As the younger guard stepped swiftly toward the docks, the older guard shook his head and grinned. "She's got a thing for your pouch, more like." Stahl, too, looked quickly to the stars. "Ye Gods, let the night go without incident." He dropped his head and rubbed his neck, missing the nod of agreement and smile from the figure above who quickly finished his climb to the parapets. With the changing of the guard complete, it was time for Vaul to get back to work.

He vaulted over the wall and landed soundlessly atop the walkway. This was a special night for Vaul Tarith: his birthday. Each year he planned and carried out a burglary at the very edge of his abilities as a tribute to another year, and this year was no exception. As he crept silently past the last guard station, he smiled to himself. He was breaking into the barracks of the city guard itself to take something from the Captain of the Watch. He shook his head in disbelief at his own audacity as he timed the patrols of the guards at the station. If only Father could see me now... The thought of his father scowling at his antics brought a new smile to his face. He'd grown tired of sneaking into and out of the government buildings back home at an early age. Once he started bringing back proof of his deeds to his father and older brother, they'd had no choice but to ask him to leave. Fostering a career in politics with a wayward son stealing everything of value in the council chambers would likely prove difficult, his father had reasoned. Just as well: elves know nothing about security...

Vaul slipped his hand into the guard's pouch as he sneaked past, depositing a shred of paper. That done, he proceeded to the barracks below. He'd left home 5 years ago, and it hadn't yet occurred to him that it was time to go home. The second son of an elven Lord, even a minor Lord like his father, had a very boring life to look forward to. Vaul refused to be anyone's second: he would make his own path, forge his own destiny. As he slipped into the barracks he recalled the first time he'd told his father that he'd started sneaking out at night. His father was appalled until Vaul told him that an 'associate' of his father's was planning to have him beaten if he refused to withdraw some piece of legislation his father had proposed. Father flirted with the idea of using Vaul's skills at home, but Vaul would have none of it. I'm no spy, he thought with indignation. I'm a THIEF!

Vaul crept slowly across the barracks floor. The Captain's room was in sight, no light from under the door. No time to relax now, Tarith. The prize is in sight. He forced himself to slow his pace, and study the door. It was unlikely to be trapped, but there are no careless thieves...they are called 'corpses'. He oiled the leather hinges, and slowly opened the door. Immediately he saw that his work was not quite yet done: the Captain had a very spartan abode. It would take some searching to find the right item. After nearly 20 minutes of searching, he could only turn up one item of value. With a smile and a shrug of his shoulders, he gathered his prize and slipped off into the night.

At daybreak, the castle was in an uproar. Alarms were sounded, officials were checked on and hustled off to safety. The business of government didn't start on time. The castle had been infiltrated, came the word. The Captain of the Watch was summoned, and appeared before the Lord of the Manor with a retinue of guards in tow. As the Captain departed, the Lord noticed something odd about the Captain's appearance...but couldn't place exactly what it was. The Captain was furious and raged about the grounds on his way to the docks. As he left the gates toward the city proper, a young guardsman ran up to him holding a scrap of paper. He handed it to the Captain and explained that he was coming off duty and just found this in his pouch. The Captain turned 4 shades of red, and his men instinctively stepped back to give him room. He set off immediately for the docks once again, a sense of purpose in his step.

It was early yet for the Pig's Ear. Suffice to say this was not a place that had a brisk breakfast traffic. A redheaded barmaid was cleaning tables as the Captain threw the doors wide. "Lock this place down immediately! NO one in or out, by my order!" The men of the Watch quickly spread out to follow that order. "Wot's the meanin' o' this, ser?! We've ne'er had issue with the Watch before!" The barmaid looked about fearfully. "Our last customer left just before daybreak, noble sir. The place is empty: I swear it!" The barmaid noticed that the Captain was looking directly over her head, and didn't appear to hear a word she'd said. He walked slowly to the bar and vaulted over, staring at a sword on the wall. "Where did this blade come from?" The barmaid was confused and didn't answer quickly enough. "Where did this blade come from, woman!" She shook herself and back up a step. "It's always been there, ser! It belongs to me father, it does!" She noticed that the Captain wasn't wearing a sword, and realized the blade on the wall was NOT her Father's. 'Trickster's fingers! That's not me da's blade at all!" She snatched the blade from the wall and a piece of paper fell from behind it. The Captain snatched the blade from the girl, and the paper before it hit the ground. The hand was the same as that on the scrap of paper from his guardsman that directed him here. "Return this blade to it's home to find the blade that calls this place it's home." Furious, the Captain threw the note down and stalked out, belting his blade on as he went. He stormed all the way back to his chambers and threw open the door. There on his bed was an old, slightly rusted saber. The Captain shouted incoherently and tossed a desk against a wall. He bellowed for one of his guardsmen to return this Gods-forsaken sword to the Pig's Ear at once.

On the streets below, and shabbily dressed beggar stood in a crowd at the gates of the bastion. The crowd could hear the unintelligible rage of someone inside. The beggar smiled when he heard the outcry, and took a silver chain out of his pouch. The chain held a disk with the symbol of a tower on it's face: the Chain of Office for the Captain of the Watch. I wonder when he'll realize this is missing? The beggar followed the crowd out the gates while casually slipping the chain around his neck. It's a bit too hot here all of a sudden, Vaul smiled as the thought occurred to him, enjoying the double meaning. Maybe I'll head north for a bit...

[Lymm Skragga]

I submitted a character a few months ago, but have not played him. This character is much more fitting with what I want to do on this server. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to your feedback and approval for this character.

[darkstorme]

Hi there!

First, my compliments on the story. Very well written.

Second, a small technical detail - Prestige classes (such as Duelist) are not approved at submission, so that will have to be removed.

Now, for points on the submission itself. Again, very gripping, very well-written. There are, however, a few minor points I'd like to see some clarification on (though they needn't be incorporated into the submission.)

First, did his father suggest that his son leave Voltrex, or is his home elsewhere? Likewise, where does the bulk of this story take place? Given that you're describing castles and town guardsmen, it's really something we have to know.

Second... and it pains me to say this, with as much work as you've clearly put into this... I see no support whatsoever for the wizard class. At this point, once the location and disinheritance is solid, Vaul could be approvable as a Rogue... but definitely not a Wizard/Rogue.

The one remaining issue is that Vaul seems... a trifle too competent. Were it a small town, and a local guard, I'd concede the point - but with a large town, you may want to make his assigned task a little harder for him to accomplish. Remember, the character, as he exists, is first-level. A first-level kleptomaniac adrenaline junkie, clearly, but first level nonetheless.

Once these points have been addressed, I foresee no trouble in approval.

Thanks!

[Lymm Skragga]

Thanks for the quick reply. To clarify your points:

I submitted with Wizard and Duelist so you could see where the character was heading. I understand that I'll have to do CDQ's for both Wizard and Duelist: once I get Vaul established and he decides to become a purist about elven combat, I'll make those requests. Right now, he's just thumbing his nose at Pops.

Yes, he was 'exiled' from Voltrex, but the parapets and castles I describe in the story would be more akin to 15ft walls and 2-story keeps, so any small but fortified town would do. They're only impregnable bastions after a few ales...

I want to do a bit more reading on the background of the world, but I wanted to establish a bored noble-type background, and adrenaline junkie is dead-on. As he grows, I currently envision a 'getting back to elven roots' kind of a thing where he will learn wizardry, then the combat arts that blend wizardry and martial arts (duelist or spellsword...likely duelist). As long as I can get him on as a rogue, I'll make the rest clear and apply as it comes. Thanks for the compliments, also.

[darkstorme]

Alright, one more iteration, and then we should be good to go.

If you're going for a "bored noble" persona, that's fine, but we do need you to acknowledge that Vaul is permanently disinherited - that he can not (as far as you, the player know) ever lay claim to any nobility his family bears. (This is part of the submission rules).

The other problem remains with the description of the town. Given your description of the heat and the direction he intended to go, I'd say Alindor is definitely the location for Vaul's shenanigans, but there are few towns/cities that fit the description you've provided. The population of Layonara was devastated by the Dark Ages, so most towns on the map are in a population range of 500-3000. Dracton, population 1600, might fit your bill - there is even a local militia (since few towns have a formal Guard) The descriptions would still have to change slightly, however: few towns have a Castle proper - due to the lack of labour, even Barons prefer manor houses to castles.

Dracton has stone fortifications (though no keep), and is a port town high on the cliffs of Alindor's southern coast. Shipyards, lighthouses, the usual paraphernalia, with a substantial farming community.

A few descriptive changes, and Vaul should be good to go.

Thanks!

(Oh, and if you could change the classes requested to Rogue, for posterity's sake, that would be great too. )

[Lymm Skragga]

I hereby acknowledge that my character, Vaul Tarith, has, by virtue of exile, forfeited any and all rights to claim the trappings and acoutrements of nobility, and that if said nobility should come into play at a future time it will do so at the sole behest of the Layonara staff without my, the player's, prior knowledge...

Rogue, Lawyer...wuteva.

Here's the new bio with requested changes, as well. I took the liberty of my somewhat sketchy knowledge of military history and placed a wall around the area of town against the cliffs, assuming that would house the military and gentry. The buildings within would be at ground level, which is where I now do my 'sneaking'. The city proper would flow downhill toward the docks unprotected by the wall. It would be just as easy to assume a second wall around the town itself, but it doesn't come into play for my bio. Enjoy!

Character: Vaul Tarith
Age: 120
Gender: Male
Classes: Rogue
Race: Elf
Alignment: True Neutral
Deity: Multiple


Biography:

The guard looked up at the stars, and saw with relief that his shift was about to end. As if by cue, he heard footsteps approaching. "You're a bit early, Stahl." The drowsy reply was slow in coming, "Couldn't sleep. This damnable heat...I'll take over. Find what rest ye can." The guard leaving his post was much younger, and had a fire in his eyes. "I'm off to see that redheaded barmaid at the Pig's Ear. I think she's got a thing for me..." As the younger guard stepped swiftly downhill toward the docks, the older guard shook his head and grinned. "She's got a thing for your pouch, more like." Stahl, too, looked quickly to the stars. "Ye Gods, let the night go without incident." He dropped his head and rubbed his neck, missing the nod of agreement and smile from the figure behind who quickly slipped through the gate. With the changing of the guard complete, it was time for Vaul to get back to work.

Vaul slipped into the shadow of a nearby building to survey his surroundings. This was a special night for Vaul Tarith: his birthday. Each year he planned and carried out a burglary at the very edge of his abilities as a tribute to another year, and this year was no exception. As he crept silently past the a circling guard patrol, he smiled to himself. He was breaking into the barracks of the city guard itself to take something from the Captain of the Watch. He shook his head in disbelief at his own audacity as he timed the patrols of the wandering guards. If only Father could see me now... The thought of his father scowling at his antics brought a new smile to his face. He'd grown tired of sneaking into and out of the government buildings back home at an early age. Once he started bringing back proof of his deeds to his father and older brother, they'd had no choice but to ask him to leave. Fostering a career in politics with a wayward son stealing everything of value in the council chambers would likely prove difficult, his father had reasoned. Just as well: elves know nothing about security...

Vaul slipped his hand into a guard's pouch as he sneaked past, depositing a shred of paper. That done, he proceeded to the barracks near the cliff. He'd left home 5 years ago, and it hadn't yet occurred to him that it was time to go home. The second son of an elven Lord, even a minor Lord like his father, had a very boring life to look forward to. Vaul refused to be anyone's second: he would make his own path, forge his own destiny. As he slipped into the barracks he recalled the first time he'd told his father that he'd started sneaking out at night. His father was appalled until Vaul told him that an 'associate' of his father's was planning to have him beaten if he refused to withdraw some piece of legislation his father had proposed. Father flirted with the idea of using Vaul's skills at home, but Vaul would have none of it. I'm no spy, he thought with indignation. I'm a THIEF!

Vaul crept slowly across the barracks floor. The Captain's room was in sight, no light from under the door. No time to relax now, Tarith. The prize is in sight. He forced himself to slow his pace, and study the door. It was unlikely to be trapped, but there are no careless thieves...they are called 'corpses'. He oiled the leather hinges, and slowly opened the door. Immediately he saw that his work was not quite yet done: the Captain had a very spartan abode. It would take some searching to find the right item. After nearly 20 minutes of searching, he could only turn up one item of value. With a smile and a shrug of his shoulders, he gathered his prize and slipped off into the night.

At daybreak, the castle was in an uproar. Alarms were sounded, officials were checked on and hustled off to safety. The business of government didn't start on time. The castle had been infiltrated, came the word. The Captain of the Watch was summoned, and appeared before the Lord of the Manor with a retinue of guards in tow. As the Captain departed, the Lord noticed something odd about the Captain's appearance...but couldn't place exactly what it was. The Captain was furious and raged about the grounds on his way to the docks. As he left the gates toward the city proper, a young guardsman ran up to him holding a scrap of paper. He handed it to the Captain and explained that he was coming off duty and just found this in his pouch. The Captain turned 4 shades of red, and his men instinctively stepped back to give him room. He set off immediately for the docks once again, a sense of purpose in his step.

It was early yet for the Pig's Ear. Suffice to say this was not a place that had a brisk breakfast traffic. A redheaded barmaid was cleaning tables as the Captain threw the doors wide. "Lock this place down immediately! NO one in or out, by my order!" The men of the Watch quickly spread out to follow that order. "Wot's the meanin' o' this, ser?! We've ne'er had issue with the Watch before!" The barmaid looked about fearfully. "Our last customer left just before daybreak, noble sir. The place is empty: I swear it!" The barmaid noticed that the Captain was looking directly over her head, and didn't appear to hear a word she'd said. He walked slowly to the bar and vaulted over, staring at a sword on the wall. "Where did this blade come from?" The barmaid was confused and didn't answer quickly enough. "Where did this blade come from, woman!" She shook herself and back up a step. "It's always been there, ser! It belongs to me father, it does!" She noticed that the Captain wasn't wearing a sword, and realized the blade on the wall was NOT her Father's. 'Trickster's fingers! That's not me da's blade at all!" She snatched the blade from the wall and a piece of paper fell from behind it. The Captain snatched the blade from the girl, and the paper before it hit the ground. The hand was the same as that on the scrap of paper from his guardsman that directed him here. "Return this blade to it's home to find the blade that calls this place it's home." Furious, the Captain threw the note down and stalked out, belting his blade on as he went. He stormed all the way back to his chambers and threw open the door. There on his bed was an old, slightly rusted saber. The Captain shouted incoherently and tossed a desk against a wall. He bellowed for one of his guardsmen to return this Gods-forsaken sword to the Pig's Ear at once.

On the streets below, and shabbily dressed beggar stood in a crowd at the gates of the northern road. The crowd could hear the unintelligible rage of someone inside. The beggar smiled when he heard the outcry, and took a silver chain out of his pouch. The chain held a disk with the symbol of a tower on it's face: the Chain of Office for the Captain of the Watch. I wonder when he'll realize this is missing? The beggar followed the crowd out the gates while casually slipping the chain around his neck. It's a bit too hot here all of a sudden, Vaul smiled as the thought occurred to him, enjoying the double meaning. Maybe I'll head north for a bit...

[darkstorme]

Approved as straight rogue. People had best watch their purses. (Bearing in mind, of course, that pickpocketing without the target player's consent is a violation of the server rules! )

Your character has been approved.

Server address is west.layonara.com
Password is layoplayer

Some final notes on character creation:

• Please note that racial adjustments for players with subraces are skin based and thus get applied after getting in game.
• Only two ability scores can be less than 10 and only one can be less than 8 after racial adjustments
• Brownies, when selecting a head, the head you choose on the halfling selection will correspond to that numbered head for elves (for example, clicking right 6 times on the head selection during character creation will take the 6th head when clicking right on the elf creation)
• Half-giants and ogres, please ask for a GM (type /dm Anyone here?) if you would like to change to a custom skin.

Have fun!