Name:Izumo Race: Kitsune Class: Bard Alignment: Chaotic Good Eastern or Western?: Eastern
Theme MusicAlternate Theme
Traveling bard based off the KoMuSou monks of ancient Japan. Plays the Shakuhachi (flute) with overall somber and calming effects. Primarily relies on the effects of his magic, specializing in enchantments and illusions. Also carries a traditional Naginata (Japanese pole-arm) for melee combat, if necessary. Has a tragic past where he lost his wife in an attack by Yokai, and thus devoted his life to battling the Yokai while sharing his musical gifts with as many others as he can along the way.
As a traveling bard from the far east, Izumo wears the traditional attire of a traveling monk, consisting of robes covering his torso and legs, with additional coverings of soft, leather bracers for his arms and the back of his hands (called Teko). On his feet he similarly wears the traditional Tabi-socks and traveling straw sandals (waraji), native to his homeland. From his neck hangs a pouch, displayed prominently on his chess, decorated with emblems of protection. Arguably the most striking feature of his attire is the basket hat, which covers his entire head, allowing for vision through the slits opened in front of the eyes and conveniently hiding his fox-like appearance from the non-Yokai inhabitants of the world.
Izumo comes across initially as an enigmatic character, since his face is frequently hidden behind his basket hat. This is to hide his fox-nature, since the general population typically distrust such creatures as they are considered the same as Yokai or monsters. Often quiet and reserved, he is caring and good-natured, exuding a serene calmness, which allows others to trust him. The somber, almost sad overtones of his musical performances produce calming effects, which cement the reaction of others towards trusting him. However, though he may thus gain the trust of others, he himself is typically distrustful of strangers, initially. But then Izumo's lonely nature usually pushes him to eventually opening himself to trusting others, at which point he will start to remove his hat and show his face when in relaxed environments. Even still, this is usually done with the activation of magical disguise to take on the appearance of a human male. Only those that truly get to know him learn of his true nature as a Kitsune fox.
Trait #1:Benefit(s): You gain a +1 trait bonus on caster level checks for your racial spell-like abilities as well as those from the Magical Tail feat. Additionally, you can select Magical Tail as a bonus feat whenever your favored class grants you a bonus bloodline feat, combat feat, or metamagic feat instead of the normal type of feat granted by that class. You cannot exchange specific feats granted by a class or race for Magical Tail in this manner; for instance, a monk cannot exchange his Stunning Fist feat for Magical Tail.Nine-Tailed Scion - You are talented with kitsune magic. Trait #2:Benefit(s): You gain a +2 trait bonus on initiative checks.Reactionary - You were bullied often as a child, but never quite developed an offensive response. Instead, you became adept at anticipating sudden attacks and reacting to danger quickly. Drawback(Flaw):Effect(s): You take a –2 penalty on Sense Motive checks and on Perception checks to see through disguises, and on saving throws against charm spells and spell-like abilities.Lonely - You are far too easily convinced of the friendly intentions of others.
Izumo was born and grew up in the woods of Azuma, in the north-eastern area of Fhang Zhi. It was not until he had reached the age of 25 that he first stepped into a human settlement - the city of Jiaozou. Izumo had spent his life until then inhabiting the forests and meadows of the hills and mountains surrounding the city, never venturing near human civilization. Such was the way of the Kitsune, or fox folk, to shy away from humans and their distrust of the supernatural.
~~~
It was a warm, spring day - a little after his 25th year - when he encountered his first human. That day, he was in full-fox form and had ventured beyond his normal range, to the very edge of the forest where the pine trees gave way to a vast meadow. Picking his way carefully among and over the fallen logs buried within the wild grasses, Izumo froze when he suddenly found himself face to face for the first time with an actual human! The Lady Miyako had ventured just into the edge of the woods to gather some of the wild berries, which grew there. At once, Izumo was intrigued by this beautiful creature, the likes of which he had never before seen. At first he scampered back to the forest edge, and hid among the trees. His curiosity got the best of him, however, and so he followed her for a while, watching her from a distance, keeping just out of sight so that he could see her, but remain himself largely hidden. As the evening drew near and she prepared to leave, he sat and waited to see where she would go. "I live just beyond the meadow," she called out to him. Why did she speak to him? How did she know that he would understand? Overwhelmed with curiosity, he paid her a visit that night - the first of many.
~~~
The Lady Miyako lived in a dwelling, with her ailing mother, which was located on the rural outskirts of the city of Jiaozou, bordering the forest. When she was younger, her mother had told her stories about the fox folk. The people of the city were afraid of the supernatural creatures, calling them Tricksters and “evil spirits” - Yokai. But those that lived in the country-side, closer to nature, knew otherwise. Her mother taught her that foxes were sacred guardians, Kami - humanity’s protectors against the truly horrible monsters that dwelled in the dark and sought only to harass good people... or worse. Thus, when she saw the fox that day at the edge of the woods, she knew it was a good spirit when it chose not to attack her. Seeking the favor of such a charming Kitsune, she decided to invite it to her house, that she and her mother may gain its protection. After some time, Lady Miyako and her mother came to accept Izumo for what he was, a Kitsune. As their relationship blossomed, and Izumo revealed his true self to her, the two were wedded in ceremony with Izumo adopting a human disguise so as to avoid the distrust and persecution of the surrounding villagers. Izumo became adept at maintaining his human visage when in the presence of anyone except his wife or her mother, for the human population of Fhang Zhi would not otherwise allow a Kitsune to roam the city streets, fearful and distrustful of their nature as kin to Yokai.
~~~
Izumo adopted the profession of a Bard, gaining accomplishment as a master of the Shakuhachi (flute). His performances, augmented with his innate magical abilities, would often take him on extended trips away from his home. During one such trip, he chatted with the patrons of a local inn and heard the stories of a Nue - a Yokai that has the face of a monkey, the legs of a tiger, the body of a Tanuki and the front half of a snake for a tail. The 鵺Nue was said to have been recently attacking the nearby area surrounding the city of Jiaozou. A wave of dread overcame Izumo as his thoughts flew to his wife, in their home on the outskirts of Jiaozou. He quickly departed to rush back to his home, to ensure she was safe.
What he found was devastating. His wife was in their home, which was all but demolished in an apparent attack by a large beast. Izumo found her body, cradling her mother in her arms, both having been mauled viciously by the tell-tale claw marks and snake bites of the Nue. That evening he dressed their bodies in the white robes reserved for the departed, and with the cremation of their house along with their bodies he sent their souls to rest peacefully in the next world. As he watched the house burn along with the body of his lover, he wished desperately that he also could cross over and be with her! It was not yet his time, however. He needed to attend first to a little matter of the earthly realm of Fhang Zhi: to track down and kill the monster responsible for his personal tragedy and to ensure that no others would suffer the same fate as he did at the hands of such evil Yokai. Adopting the attire of a KoMuSou, he vowed vengeance against the demons and monsters, seeking solace only in what little comfort his music may bring to those fellow-victims and weary travelers he'd meet along the path on his quest for vengeance.
Izumo had been descending all day through the steep mountain pass, when he encountered the Yokai. He had been tracking it for weeks and finally caught up with the beast in the depths of the wilderness. Judging that the time to strike was now at hand, he had engaged the monster in battle. The tables soon turned however as the beast proved more resilient to his attacks than he had anticipated, and soon had him on the defensive.
Meanwhile Kodama had been plodding through forest for days on end, never stopping, not even sleeping. Traveling in a straight line - uncanny in its perfectly unwavering straightness - away from the village he was created to protect, the village he ultimately had to choose not to protect in the now for more certain safety in the future... it was searching. For what? It itself not truly comprehending - outwardly searching for the monsters it was beholden to fight; inwardly searching for a replacement to the singular purpose it had possessed for centuries, but ultimately lost. Unconsciously driving ever forward in unthinking movement, Kodama payed less and less attention to its surroundings, and slowly but progressively retreated inward, into the depths of its own mind. It was near miraculous that the sound of battle nearby drew its attention and caused it to alter its course.
Reaching the source of the noise, Kodama could hardly process what its eyes beheld. A Kitsune! In need of help!? The most primal instincts of Kodama pushed it to act - the Kitsune was being attacked by an evil Yokai, and while it was somehow managing to hold its own, even Kodama could see that it was just barely holding on; another moment and the Yokai would gain the advantage - it would be another Kitsune lost. Kodama could not allow that. Kodama WOULD NOT allow another Kitsune to be lost!
Rushing into the fray, Kodama tore into the evil Yokai with the zeal of an avenging angel. Izumo, the Kitsune, for his part was grateful for the assistance. But he had been tracking this beast for too long, suffered too much to get to this point - he would not be denied his vengeance! And, was this not another monster, anyway? Regardless of the circumstances, the objective was clear. As Kodama occupied the creature’s attention with a brutal, frontal assault Izumo slid back and used his magic to strengthen and enhance the Kodama's attacks, which soon brought the creature to defeat.
With their victory ensured, Izumo took a moment to gauge his would-be ally. The Kodama approached the Kitsune and “spoke” in what started as a simple mumbling noise, a mix of seemingly unintelligible sounds that warped the boundaries between truly alien utterance and bestial cries - but then Izumo heard a ‘voice’ from within the noise - the Kodama was communicating! Discovering a common goal, the two pledged to join forces in their shared quest...
Last edited by Strange2099; Mar 27th, 2021 at 02:22 PM.
Reason: Added shared background with Kodama.
Rin is definitely the black sheep of her family, preferring the pursuit of science and discovery over traditions and mysticism. Still, she has inherited the reserved nature of her kinsmen.
Rin is a very calm, low energy individual. Part of that might stem from her upbringing, but it may also be somewhat due to her unconventional sleep schedule, as she often forgets the time when she’s in the midst of working. She has numerous other traits quite unbecoming of an elf of her pedigree as well; her manners are unrefined, and she’s been known to let her personal appearance and even hygiene go at times when she’s in the midst of work or a mission. Rin has never been a big conversationalist, but she has a dry wit, and it’s difficult to know at times whether or not she’s being serious.
While she may not seem like a team player, Rin prefers to cooperate rather than to argue in most cases, figuring that those who challenge the status quo should be prepared to lead. Rin does not bond with others quickly, but she remembers those who show her loyalty, and tends to reward them with mutual loyalty. Deep down, Rin still loves and is loyal to her family as well, despite being somewhat of an outcast in their eyes. Aside from her close friends and family however, Rin rarely goes out of her way to help others at a personal cost, preferring to stay out of the affairs of strangers.
Background:
Under her dressed-down appearance and unassuming demeanor, Rin carries noble blood in her veins. Born of Nobuma Mikuyo, Daimyō of one of the northern lands, Rin is the middle child of three highborn daughters. Unlike her sisters however, Rin never took interest in a life steeped in responsibility, poise, and tradition. She loved to read, but where her eldest sister was a student of politics, and her youngest a student of Fhang Zhi literature, Rin preferred legends... or, more accurately, rumors, particularly from beyond the borders of her lands.
The elven girl took an early interest in herbalism, but her inventive mind never stopped wanted to go further. She stopped holding to the recipes and techniques of her ancestors; often times, she would emerge from her room smelling of some foul experiment, spouting her recent findings of a new vigor from some far-flung foreign land. A passing merchant had found this. A traveling scholar had told her that. It vexed her parents to no end. The more they tried to correct these behaviors, the deeper Rin dug in her heels. She knew that her place was not at the seat of a noble table, but out in the world, discovering the fascinating place where science and magic combined.
Rin’s father would hear no more about it. When the girl came of age, he arranged to have her wed off; some lord’s son from the southern edge of the realm. Despite her tumultuous relationship with her father, the elvish maiden could scarcely believe that she was being sent away in such a manner; essentially sold off for the purposes of strengthening the bonds of nobility.
She left within the week. With nothing but a handful of scrolls and personal effects, Rin escaped her home under the cover of night and hitched a ride west in the back of an artisan’s wagon. She never looked back, devoting the next several years of her life to exploration and study abroad. Rin became a rising prodigy in the field of alchemy, hungrily learning all she could, and even making some breakthroughs of her own. For once, she was finally self-realized. But life has a funny way of bringing one’s past back around.
Word of increased strife in her homeland eventually reached Rin’s ears. For a while, she thought little of it... she was an outcast by choice, and certainly in some kind of exile for her actions. Still, as news became more frequent of the calls for aid stemming from the rising difficulty with Yokai attacks, Rin’s cold heart felt a touch of warmth. If the woman had any regret in life, it was that she’d departed her home so secretly... she’d never properly said goodbye to her parents. Not even her sisters, who she genuinely loved. Now, Rin realized, there was an escalating chance that she’d never get the chance. If the Yokai threat wasn’t dealt with, the people of Fhang Zhi would be lost forever.
Description: No matter what establishment Kamehn enters, chances are rather good that he will draw attention –whether it be the fact that the green cloak and hood he wears hides any facial features from view, that the person underneath it is almost seven feet tall and built like a boulder even with most of his body hidden from view, or (more than likely) it is that when he sits down, a large dire rat scurries out from the sleeve of the rope with an adorable pink ribbon wrapped around her neck and loudly demands service for her and “the boss” in Common.
While no-one in civilised lands has ever seen what lies underneath the cloak, the occasional flash of skin between the druid’s gloved hands and the sleeves of the cloak reveal a rough, grey skintone that seems almost rocky in the light. Anyone who gets close to A spear is strapped to the tall man’s back, along with a battered brown backpack that holds the essentials for any journey.
Traits: Stoic Dignity
Drawbacks: Attached
Eastern or Western?: Western
Background: WIP
“You mess with the boss, you mess with me!”
Name: Harl
Race: “Half-goblin changeling…What does my adorable furry self look like?”
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Description:
Background: WIP
__________________ "How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some higher principles in his nature, which interests him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it." - Adam Smith
Last edited by DoubleL1987; Jun 11th, 2021 at 05:20 AM.