Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 22 Oct 2008 to 31 Oct 2008 (#2008-66) From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system Date: 01/11/2008, 18:00 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There is 1 message totalling 121 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. PC Backgrounds for a 1000AC Game ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:45:12 -0700 From: Sal Ortega Subject: PC Backgrounds for a 1000AC Game Varis Londinian Varis Londinian was born to a Thyatian family with a long history of=20 warriors and military service. Varis great-grandfather won great reknown=20 in Thyatis as a paladin. Varis=92 father retired from the Imperial Army of=20 Thyatis=92 cavalry and led a mercenary company based out of his ancestral=20 home in the Duchy of Kantrium. The Duke was a friend of Varis=92 father and = welcomed the skilled warriors to help bolster patrols when they were=20 between contracts. Varis=92 father made quite a reputation hunting orc and=20 goblin raiders through the Altan Teppes and Cruth Mountains- ranging from=20 the Emirates of Ylaruam to the Republic of Darokin, all while spending=20 much time in Karameikos. Varis accompanied his father on many of his=20 journeys, learning the skills of a warrior and the talents of a leader.=20 His father passed away last winter, leaving Varis a small parcel of land=20 in Thyatis and the Londinian ancestral sword. Varis travelled west to=20 Karameikos, desiring to wander the world and seek knighthood. His father=20 was knighted after his military service and Varis very much wants to=20 uphold the family tradition. Varis is tall and well-muscled, with rugged features and a ready=20 smile. His skin is the olive tone common to Thyatians and his dark hair is=20 cut short. He wears battered, ancient plate-mail that was worn by his=20 grandfather. He is never far from the massive great-sword that has been in=20 his family for four generations. It is believed that the sword has hidden=20 powers that will reveal themselves to a worthy owner. Varis has a weakness=20 for good ales and has a voracious appetite for hearty food. He can be hot- tempered and quick to fight with his fists in a brawl; but he is otherwise=20 a model soldier and would make a fine junior officer. Varis will always charge to the front of a fight, swinging his=20 great-sword to devastating effect. A skilled rider, he can use a lance but=20 prefers his sword over all weapons. Varis will not fight to the death=20 needlessly, nor will he sacrifice men under his command (or his=20 companions) without great regret. He is a devoted follower of Vanya, the=20 Immortal Patron of Thyatis. Varis has two ultimate goals. First, he wishes=20 to investigate the legends and power of his sword. Second he would wish to=20 be knighted. It is not a measure of vanity, but a true quest to become a=20 hero. Kurien Starsong Kurien is an elf of the Callarii clan, who dwell in the lush forests of=20 central and western Karameiko. Like all of his clan, he was raised in=20 woods lore, philosophy and magic. Having reached the age of nominal=20 maturity, he set about on the Wanderer=92s Path. Leaving his childhood home = of Rifllian, he has spent the last few months as a courier, guide and=20 militia scout for hire in Rugalov. His clan=92s Tree Keeper has asked that=20 he investigate the health of the small Callarii community that took to=20 Alfheim (the elven kingdom to the north) if his travels take him that way.=20 Not wanting to make the journey alone, Kurien wanders Karameikos while=20 waiting for a good opportunity to leave his homeland.=20 Kurien is a young elf of noble bearing. In fact, he is the nephew=20 of the Tree Keeper and he grew up watching his uncle shoulder the=20 responsibility for the clan=92s Tree of Life. He is intensely curious about = the Kingdom of Alfheim (and all elven lands), and intends to visit his=20 clan=92s recently established holdings there as soon as possible. While he=20 gets along well with most people, he grows furious at bullies and=20 oppressors. When in the company of friends and true companions, he is=20 relaxed and jovial. Kurien wears scale-mail made by the dwarves of=20 Highforge, cut for his slender frame, over the traditional green and brown=20 forest garb of his people.=20 Kurien knows he would never be called on to assume the role of=20 Treekeeper because of his older siblings and cousins, but he feels the=20 need to set a fine example and act as a champion for his people. He is=20 hungry for the knowledge of his elven brothers and sisters in Alfheim,=20 Wendar and other places. He would love to study the magic and lore of all=20 these brethren. He is also hoping to make a name for himself as a hero.=20 Like most Callarii elves, Kurien prides himself on his horsemanship and=20 woodscraft. He currently knows no damaging spells and will typically use=20 Faerie Fire to illuminate a target in poor lighting and then use his bow=20 from range. In any combat, Kurien prefers to act as an archer. His=20 swordsmanship is fair but he excels at the longbow. He will strike only=20 if certain he is facing an enemy, otherwise he will remain cautious but=20 take no threatening actions. Yasmina of Tel Ekbir (Female Thief) Yasmina of Tel Ekbir is a very young, impetuous and brave runaway from the=20 Thyatian Duchy of Tel Akbir. A distant cousin to the Duke of Tel Akbir,=20 Yasmina ran away to Ylaurum and then Specularem to flee an arranged=20 marriage. Yasmina had long been an acrobat and tomboy from a young age,=20 but after the theft of her suitor=92s jeweled crown on the eve of her=20 wedding, Yasmina saw she had a knack as a thief. Yasmina has determined to=20 make her own way in the world. She is not a greedy thief, choosing targets=20 based on their difficulty and she will never steal from the poor or the=20 just. She fancies herself a swashbuckler and prefers the lightweight=20 Darokinian Rapier or the scimitar of her Alasiyan ancestry to the more=20 common longsword. Yasmina has been known to disguise herself as a youthful man when=20 travelling, but otherwise appears as a slender girl of 17 with thick,=20 curly hair that is as black as a raven=92s wing. She often wears the=20 trousers, shirt and vest of a Traladaran man but she is quick to throw off=20 possible pursuers with a change of clothes. Yasmina is intensely curious=20 of foreign lands but is constantly afraid of her betrothed sending thugs=20 after her. She has eluded them twice before, with one dying on her knife=20 after an alleyway struggle. It was the first time she killed a human being=20 and it chilled her for a long time. She does not casually take lives but=20 has resolved herself to kill when absolutely necessary or when fighting=20 inhuman opponents. Quick with a disparaging comment or boast, Yasmina often finds herself in=20 some trouble but she is blessed with quick reflexes and the wisdom to know=20 when to run. She is running low on funds and is looking for opportunities=20 for adventure and danger. Her encounters with hired thugs have encouraged=20 her to leave the Capital of Karameikos. She has journeyed into the forests=20 of Karameikos, working as a simple horse tender on a merchant caravan=20 headed toward the northern logging and mining towns of Karameikos. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 22 Oct 2008 to 31 Oct 2008 (#2008-66) ***************************************************************