Category Archives: Character Vignettes

Miscellaneous character history and stories for the Jade Regent campaign

Character: Ivan

Fireside story with Ivan “My friend Skygni”

“I first met my good friend Skygni right after we rescued Amieko from the cell the Oni Kimandatsu used to imprison her and the man named Ulf.  Skygni like the others was captured and being kept imprisoned by Kimandatsu.  Once the door was opened the legend of winter wolfs was no longer just a legend.”

Ivan waves his hand and cast an image spell everyone seeing Skygni walk out of his prison cell.

“Once the great winter wolf had finished feeding, I then helped guide Skygni to freedom. At the time I wondered if we would ever see him again.”

“Once we got back out on the road I noticed that someone was getting to my traps before me. It wasn’t long before I spotted Skygni taking game from a trap. He was eating animals instead of people so I guess it was a fair tradeoff. The thing that cemented our friendship was bacon, we both have a taste for bacon. Even for a winter wolf I could see that he did not care for cooked bacon so his weekly share of bacon was always presented raw. Skygni is not a patient wolf so he would ask me every day if we can have bacon.”

The images change to reflect different scenes with Skygni.

“During our travels north from Kalsguard Skygni taught me as much as he could teach a non-winter wolf about the high ice. He has no real concept of the cold because he is not effected by the cold. Even with in cold his sense of smell is a great asset to him but lacking his sense of smell meant some of this hunting techniques just won’t work for me. He also told me of how his life mate was killed by one of the great worms on the high ice. That made me feel sad but there wasn’t anything I could say or do to help. All that I was able to do was just be a friend and travel companion until we parted ways.”

“When the dragon was killing people in Iqaliat Skygni just kept telling me that you shouldn’t mess with dragons. He liked to tell me that on the high ice you should avoid the things that will eat you and hunt everything else. Skygni traveled with us as we approached the cave of the dragon but he stayed behind with our guide, I did whisper to him that he should not eat the guide. Skygni did remind me that he preferred pork.“

“With the dragon defeated I surprised Skygni with his own chunk of dragon meat. His response was that we are both now eaters of dragon meat. So I have been given the title of Ivan who eats dragons by my friend. I have of course shared this honor with Sesi who is also now recognized by Skygni as an eater of dragon and a friend of Skygni. A lot of the friend part has to do with her providing Skygni with numerous chunks of large hams that she pulled out of my bag of holding.”

“Once the caravan made it to the high ice my good friend Skygni said his goodbyes. Maybe someday our path with cross again. Hopefully this will be as friends.”

The image changes to show Skygni heading off into the snow, disappearing from sight.

Character: Kali

A Discreet Conversation

Pharast 11, 4713 (late night)

Kali got up from her place around the campfire; the sounds of conversation faded behind her as she walked away. She found Miyaro sitting in the dim light away from the group, just on the edge of the trail through the forest.

“Hi, Miyaro. Do you mind if I join you?”

Miyaro looked up at the sound of Kali’s voice. “You may,” she replied. Kali noted that she didn’t so much as even smile. She was still getting used to Miyaro’s mannerisms. Or lack of them, she thought.

She sat down at a polite distance. A long silence passed between them. Miyaro is not one for small talk, she thought. Kali finally broke it, speaking somewhat hesitantly. “Miyaro…” The Tian woman looked at her. “You wouldn’t happen to … be a kitsune, would you?”

Miyaro’s expression didn’t change when she finally answered. Very casually, she asked, “What do you know of these kitsune? Do you know any? Are they good people?”

“I don’t know any, myself. Though I don’t think an entire race of people is good or bad. They are just … people. But, I’ve heard they can be fun to be around. That they enjoy … games.”

When Miyaro didn’t answer, Kali added, “I, myself, used to get into a bit of mischief when I was young. Sometimes I miss those days.” She smirked at the end.

“I always found making up games to be a necessary part of my childhood in the forest. Even now I do enjoy a subtle game or trick. I agree about that being a nice pastime.  I don’t know, though … I’m not sure a kitsune could be trusted.” Her voice turned just slightly bitter. “They’re not human. You know how they all are. Non-humans cause all the problems of human society.”

Kali snorted derisively. “I grew up in a human town, and humans caused plenty of trouble, especially to me. Humans, elves, gnomes, tengu, kitsune … Individuals are good or bad.”

Miyaro turned to face Kali, staring intently while she considered Kali’s reply. “That’s an interesting perspective,” she says. “I don’t usually hear other people talking about their kind that way.”

“Perspective can get beaten into you.”

“Yes, but kitsune deserve it, surely.”

“Why would they? Just because they are kitsune? I find that … offensive.”

Do you?” Miyaro said. Her tone was a bit harsher, almost accusatory. “I don’t know anyone who would be friends with a kitsune. Would you consider such a one to be a friend? Would you still stand by this friend if they were accused of all the usual things by humans who see them?”

Kali looked taken aback by the sudden hostility. She considered her next words carefully. “Why wouldn’t I? Friends are people who share your interests and your values, that help each other, and look out for one another. These things aren’t defined by what we are, but who we are.”

Miyaro sat silently. Kali couldn’t read her expression, but she continued cautiously. “I have spent my entire life living in places where I was different. Where I looked different and acted different. Even now, even here, I am different. I know what it’s like to have people assume things about you because of what you are.”

When Miyaro answered, there was a hint of resignation in her voice. “I’ve been so wrong before with people, I think it’s a problem of living in the forest by myself too much.”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“You are the one who asked.”

The silence stretched on to the point where it was awkward and Kali grew very uncomfortable, worried she had insulted their guide. Finally, Miyaro spoke; so quietly that Kali could barely hear her. “How did you know?”

“The kami didn’t recognize you when we first entered the forest. And, the coloring in your hair. Either one by itself…” She let the thought trail off.

Miyaro nodded. “I’ve been hiding among humans so long I thought I was better at it. I guess not. Can I trust you to keep this a secret?”

“Of course. That’s what friends do.”

 

§

Character: Zosimus

Last Will & Testimony of Zosimus, Magnum Opus

“Varghas you are a genius!” proclaims Barron as their mugs of ale clink in unison. “I don’t know how you convinced that little shit to leave… but I am forever in your debt!”

Julian tears down the last the paper signs littered around the shared labspace. The fire takes hold of the sign proclaiming, “Property of Zosimus” as he rejoins the other two men.

Leaning back in his chair, Varghas assume a visage of self-gratification. “All it took was a bit of ego stroking. Letting him think he was the only one who could help out that pathetic noble on his expedition into the forest.”

The three men continue to laugh and lift several ales throughout the night….


The slamming on the armored walls of the caravan abate. Outside the remaining hobgoblins continue to curse and holler as they circle the armored vardo. “Come out and we’ll kill ya quick like”

Inside the gnome sits in the lower portion of the two level structure. Crossbow bolts expended, useful elixirs consumed, he sits out of options. Nearby a cat weighs its odds as well as only cats can in such tight quarters and under such dire circumstances.

The gnome begins to write in the last page of his formulae book…

“To whom it may concern. If you are reading this then I am most likely dead, or worse. It also means you can through some means magical or mundane read Gnomish. Good on your for that!

This is the last written testimony of Zosimus, Magnum Opus. Outside the armored walls of my mobile lab my patron and his followers lie dead, ambushed by a roaving band of hobgoblins.

At this point my future looks bleak, as they continue to try to gain entry. I was able to fool one into consuming a toxin that I concealed in a healing potion that “accidentally” slipped out a window. Unfortunately it was too fast acting on their brutish metabolism so the rest avoid all bait I drop no matter how tempting I make it.

As I prepare to leave this world, I am thankful for many things.

First and foremost, I am thankful to Master Elias, the alchemist who set me on the path after giving me a chance to redeem myself for past transgressions. I remain forever in his debt and each day seek his forgiveness for blowing him to pieces in our lab.

I am thankful for Mercury, my ever loyal and faithful cat. If he makes it out of this I hope he finds a new owner with a warm hearth and a gentle handle.

I am thankful my patron did not trust my research to anything less than an armored caravan. His fear that one of my experiments would blow up in his face has preserved me longer than the rest.

I am thankful for that dreadful mercenary and his taunts about my size. If he would have made me feel welcome I might have been out drunk by the campfire with the rest of them when they were ambushed. Instead I was in my safe bunker with my smelly liquids and disgusting cat, as he so crudely say so many times.

Should you find this book and this last note, I would ask that you carry it far, far, away from this forest and the stupid men who brought me here. Bury it in a grave near an ocean or a sea, I hear they are lovely to listen to.

All other belongs, are yours free of guilt, if you do this for me.

Respectfully,
Zosimus, Magnum Opus”

The gnome looks up at the door as he hear them working on it.

A hand slips the cat into a hidey hole. He speaks to it, “if they get in, the trapdoor will open, and you can flee. run to a new home.”

His hands clench the crossbow. “Okay…. here goes nothing…”