Yang Shen-Ji

From Dragon
Revision as of 23:34, 6 July 2012 by Starflt (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

Background Information

Concept: Phoenix/Metal Sorcerer

History: Shen-Ji was born to a poor family in the Butterfly Kingdom 23 years ago. He was discovered by a sorceror/diviner at the age of 2 and was adopted by his master (Bai Jing-Zhe) at that time. He has no memories or connection to his birth family.

Shen-Ji is a classic cloistered academic type; he has spent his entire life either studying sorcery or at court. He developed sword skill essentially as an academic exercise and because he is a metal sorceror; he has no combat experience outside dueling. He also doesn't carry a sword normally since it doesn't fit the classic image of a sorceror; if needed he summons a sword. Shen-Ji is comfortable in a civilized setting and has never gone beyond the city gates. Because he has no experience in the real world, his master is pushing him out now to get out and learn how things work outside.

Plot Hook: Shen-Ji's real family is a complete unknown to him. He has been too involved in studying to really miss them so far, but would likely be curious if the subject were to come up. However, he is ambivalent since they could potentially be an embarassment in his current life at court.

Source: Master Bai, a metal sorceror.

EP Data

Stats

Physical Mental Spiritual
Body Reflexes Mind Social Tao
Force/Offense Strength = 6 Accuracy = 4 Intelligence = 7 Charisma = 5 Yang = 9
Precision/Defense Resistance = 5 Dexterity = 7 Wit = 6 Grace = 5 Yin = 9
Reserve Health = 6 Energy = 6 Resolve = 5 Status = 5 Chi = 9
Hit Points HP = (Health + Energy) * 5 = 60
Move Move = (Strength + Energy) / 2 = 6


Schticks

Level 1

  • Lesser Sword of the Earth (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/3/1/1/6)

Summons a normal (x3) metal sword. Effect is that the blade emerges from the ground in front of caster. Sword lasts for duration of scene/combat and then sinks back into the ground.

  • Minor Control of Metal (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/3/1/1/6)

Caster can cause an object of up to Yang successes*5 pounds total weight and having a non-trivial metal component to move/fly at a rate of Yang successes per phase. Not usable as a weapon.

  • Ritual Tweak (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 5/1/1/1/5)

1/run, spend a Yin to get a hint from the GM about a ritual you're working on.

  • Polish Metal (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 1/4/1/1/4)

Caster has the ability to polish and shine a metal object or surface, removing grime, tarnish, surface rust, etc. Also can remove small nicks and dents, sufficient to hone a normal sword. Will not restore or improve structural integrity or give any combat bonuses.

  • Create Coinage (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 3/2/1/1/6)

Caster can create a handful of zhu, allowing him to spend up to 99 zhu on something.

  • Useful Pet (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 3/2/1/1/6)

Once per run, may do something useful.

  • He's Not Molting, He's Pining For The Fjords (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/2/1/1/4)

My pet phoenix sheds a phoenix feather for me to use; does not stack.

  • Finger on the Balance (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/3/1/1/6)

As part of a sorcerous ritual, I can adjust the balance of one element/action/cycle. (Metal, I can adjust all the way; others less so.)

Level 2

  • Flying Disk of Metal (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/5/1/1/10)

Summons a 3' diameter metal disk that the caster stands on; disk will fly via caster's mental control. Damage to the disk may impact speed and ability to fly. Movement rate = Yang successes per phase.

  • Wear Armor (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/6/1/1.5/18)

Can wear metal armor

  • Sense Magic (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 3/4/1/1/12)

Once per turn/10 mins, can sense nearby magic items and effects.

  • Firestorm (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 9/1/1/1.5/13)

Once per run, spend a Yang to do [Yang successes]*3 points of damage to everyone on the map who does not have a Swift Tiger tattoo.

  • Firestorm (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 9/1/1/1.5/13)

Once per run, spend a Yang to do [Yang successes]*3 points of damage to everyone on the map who is not linked to the Butterfly Talisman.

  • Minor Ritual Power

+1 die to Magic Ritual Rolls (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 2/5/1/1/10)

Level 3

  • Wall of Iron (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 4/4/1/1/16)

The caster can cause a wall of iron to rise up from the ground in front of him, Yang successes in hexes long.

  • Firepower (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 3/5/1/1/15)

+3 dice to sorcery rolls.

  • Firepower (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 3/5/1/1/15)

+3 dice to sorcery rolls.

  • See the Strike (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 3/5/1/1.5/22)

Dodge with Yin.

  • Double Sorcery Dice (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 6/3/1/1/18)

Double dice for sorcery

Level 4

  • Sorcerous Ease (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 4/5/1/1/20)

-1 difficulty on all sorcery rolls.

  • Sorcerous Ease (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 4/5/1/1/20)

-1 difficulty on all sorcery rolls.

  • Heavify Weapons (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 5/4/1/1/20)

A metal weapon held by my target (within 8 hexes) becomes extremely heavy and falls to the ground. If the weapon is successfully disarmed, it cannot be picked up until the end of the combat.

Level 5

  • Iron Arrow (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 6/5/1/1/30)

Allows caster to conjure forth a metal arrow and shoot it at a target; damage is 4xYang successes.

Mastery Schticks

  • Professional Courtesy (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 6/3/1(2)/1/18)

Once per scene, may request a favor or consideration from another Master.

  • Reputation (P/F/S/Con/Cos: 6/2/1(2)/1/12)

I have a reputation as a Master Sorceror.

Planned/possible schticks

  • Lvl 1:
    • A Phoenix, Most Impressive (Freq 2, Power 3: +3 dice for social actions, 1/run, only usable on Phoenix aspect people or someone who would respect/be impressed by a phoenix)
    • Carve Stone (Self taught)
    • Know North (Bai/Verity)
  • Lvl 2:
    • Sword's Betrayal (Myeong)
    • Piercing Metal Implement (Bai)
    • Melt Metal (Bai)
  • Lvl 3:
    • Destroy Wood (Verity)
    • Metal Resists (Verity)
    • Core of Steel (Bai)
  • Lvl 4:
    • Skin of Bronze (Bai))
  • Lvl 5:

Potential sequence:

  • Split Sorcery dice unlimited ways (lvl 5)
  • Promote Iron Arrow to lvl 6
  • Increase frequencies of Firepower and Sorcerous Ease

Schtick Want List

  • Fine Control (for Sorcery)
  • Split Sorcery dice (freq 5, power 6 version = lvl 5) [Sorceror named Nest in the Strand (once was a battlemage]
  • Other high level metal schticks
  • Wrath of the Phoenix (from Yanyu) (power 8)

EP Usage

  • Earned: 623
  • Spent: 613
  • Available: 10

Skill Data

Skills

Skill Cost/Rank Ranks Cost
Acting 3 1 3
Alertness 4 5 20
Architecture 2 5 10
Athletics 5 1 5
Bargaining 3 6 18
Blades 5 1 5
Boating 2 1 2
Bureaucracy 2 10 20
Carousing 3 3 9
Chi Mastery 3 1 3
Conversation 5 1 5
Cooking 1 4 4
Dancing 1 3 3
Death Checks 2 1 2
Demon Summoning 3 1 3
Detect Lie 4 2 8
Dodge 5 3 15
Dreamwalking 2 1 2
Fast Talk 4 1 4
First Aid 3 1 3
Gather Information 4 1 4
Heraldry 2 1 2
High Society 3 3 9
Horse Mastery 4 7 28
Inscrutable 3 1 3
Interrogation 3 1 3
Jewelsmith 2 1 2
KS: Flowers 1 1 1
KS: Life Magic 3 5 15
KS: Metal 1 5 5
KS: Myeong Clan 1 1 1
KS: Necromancy 3 5 15
KS: Phoenixes 1 2 2
KS: Savanna of Tears 2 1 2
KS: Sorcerors 2 5 10
KS: Spirit/Demon World 5 3 15
KS: Twelve Kingdoms 3 2 6
KS: Witchcraft 3 1 3
Language: Senatali 1 8 8
Language: Torghut 1 8 8
Magical Item Analysis 3 4 12
Magical Analysis 5 2 10
Magical Ritual 5 7 35
Metalsmith (Broad) 4 4 16
Military Organization 3 1 3
Persuasion 4 1 4
Philosophy 2 2 4
Recruitment 3 1 3
Research 3 1 3
Scrounging ("extra broad") 5 1 5
Sculpture 1 4 4
Sense Motive 4 1 4
Shadow Magic 4 3 12
Shadowing 3 1 3
Sleight of Hand 3 1 3
Sorcery 4 14 56
Stealth 4 4 16
Stonecutting 1 3 3
Strategy 4 3 12
Streetwise 3 1 3
Strong Willed 3 1 3
Survival 3 1 3
Swords 4 2 8
Tactics 3 3 9
Tea Ceremonies 1 3 3
Teaching 2 5 10
Use Fireworks 2 4 8
Wear Metal Armor 3 20 60
Total 610

Inherent Skills (Max 5)

  • Athletics
  • Dodge
  • Persuasion
  • Blades

SP Usage

  • Earned: 619
  • Spent: 610
  • Available: 9

Planned expenditures:

  • More Shadow Magic (3 more ranks)
  • More tactics/strategy (2 more ranks each)
  • More Gather Information (4 more ranks)
  • Convert Magic Item Analysis(3) to Magical Analysis(5) (4 more to convert)
  • Demon Summoning (3) (a few more ranks)
  • Battle Magic(4)

Miscellaneous

Karma: 19/45

Money: 170.74 li

My pet phoenix: 炮, aka cannon/explosive/bomb (pronounced 'pow'). Referred to colloquially as 小 炮 ("Shao Pao" = "little cannon").

My metal horse: 金眼, jìn yǎn, aka Golden Eye.

  • Intelligent: Can follow moderately complex orders
  • Durable: Can self-heal nearly any non-massive damage
  • Combat Prowess: Can attack independently in combat
  • Courier Horseshoes: Extra speed once/run and puttering one country further away

Magic items:

  • Necromancy staff
  • 11 ritual taper (spend 1 Chi, get +1 die on all rolls for that ritual)
  • Leather satchel of ritual powders
  • Potion of Speak to Dead Plants

Regular items:

  • Ordinary sword, Empire manufacture (taken from the aftermath of a battle beyond Northern wall)
  • Star scale armor (4 resistance), repaired for 170 zhu
  • Great armor (10 def)
  • Deluxe hotboat
  • Hopboat repair kit

Returned to the Myeong Clan:

  • Ugly Tiger breastplate (3 resistance), -2 charisma if not dark
  • Ugly Tiger helm (+1 resistance for head attacks, face obscured), -2 charisma, if not dark
  • Ugly Tiger sword
  • Ugly Tiger saddle
  • Ugly Tiger tabard

Favors:

  • Favor from Qing Lu (soon to be a master blacksmith in the Illuminated Precincts)

Shen-Ji's horse farm

Land deeds purchased:

  • Iron Mountain
  • Strand
  • Savanna of Tears
  • Forest of Chin
  • Hon'eth Arcade
  • Qin Chao Steppes
  • Illuminated Precincts

Land purchases in process: (80 li price quoted for these two)

  • Shrouded Isle
  • Isle of Beauty

Land still to be acquired:

  • Roof of the World
  • Jade Taiga
  • Hidden City

Puttering Threads:

  • Sakong estate renovations
  • Remaining land purchases
  • Building the shrines (30-90 li per shrine quoted)
  • Contacting sources for schtick (Nest for split dice)
  • Money making sources (horse farm stuff)

Secret Diary of a Pervy Kung-Fu Fancier