[PF-1e] La Cosa Nostra - This Thing Of Ours

[CMRawles]

[Imveros]

[Silk]

And Null "The Fist" Breaker is done!

[Exhibit A]

Marco Marconi is complete!

[Silk]

I'm really sorry Preacherwolf, but life has decided to throw me a curveball and I have to drop several games and figured I should withdraw completely from applying for your game. Sorry to make you read two of my character applications and then jet days before you choose.

And thanks to everyone who helped me build Sam. I appreciate it even if nothing came from the effort.

[Preacherwolf]

Silk that sucks to hear but I get it. Real life comes first and can be a real bugger. Good luck with everything on your end!

As a heads up, we're three days out from the deadline so anyone who hasn't finished you don't have long, but also anyone who is lurking and wishes to join you still have time to make my choice harder than it already is

[JackinIrons]

This looks like an interesting game and there are a lot of fascinating characters. I wondered if I could finish before the deadline, and here it is.

Osma Tàmmaro ================================================== ======= Name: Osma Tàmmaro, "The Overseer" | Race: Hobgoblin | Age: 19 Alignment: Lawful Neutral/True Neutral | Class: Brawler 1 / Warpriest 7 ================================================== ======= Description: Osma Tàmmaro isn't someone that is usually noticed or remembered too often. Standing at 5' 4" and weighing 11.5 stone, she is tall and slender for her kind. Her skin is light gray-green and hairless. Some might even notice that her head is smaller than most hobgoblins. Her pale orange eyes look at the world with an cunning coldness. Despite features that are somewhat unusual, her cold nature is marked with a lack of presence which serves her well. Some might see her dressed in holy vestments and bearing a wooden symbol of the clergy, though she rarely displays herself in such a way. Usually she is dressed in drab, shapeless clothing. And while the symbol remains most of the time, the halo of runes that mark her patron goddess is not often recognized. She carries a leather bag and pouches similar to what might be seen on any normal day. The most distinctive part of her are the weapons she carries: a longbow and a leather whip. Background: Osma was born to parents she has few memories of. Just drunken ramblings and abuse before their deaths when she was seven years old. Suddenly alone in the docks, she did whatever she could to survive. She was never very charismatic but she learned how to spin lies, steal and other unsavory things and she did well for a few years. Until she was caught by a dark cultist named Alva Tàmmaro. The man wasn't important and most thought of him as a simple and crazed hobo, but the devil worshipper was cunning. He taught her of Hell and the subtle evils that they demanded. He taught her languages, which he insisted were a path to power. But malice was not natural for her - the figure she was interested in was Erecura, the Queen of Dis. Of all her quiet studies she learned of her and eventually gained access to her symbol and her blessings. Alva taught her but he was an unkind and harsh man whom the hobgoblin grew to hate. At the age of thirteen, just before she would be considered an adult, she tried to escape the man. She was caught and though she was injured, she found herself standing over his corpse. Before she could run away, a well dressed goblin approached her and began asking questions. Questions that she continually lied about until she was painted into a corner. Thinking she might have to fight again, the old goblin introduced himself as Renato La Speranza. And recognizing the name, Osma's fears grew. But Renato explained that he was a cousin of the crime family and he had watched her quietly for weeks, drawn by her quiet studies. He noticed how she succeeded in killing the dangerous man. And her lies, almost believable if he didn't already know the truth. He offered her a job as an associate working the shipping of smuggled goods on the docks. He mentored her, taught her to forge documents to fool the city and others into ignoring the family's movements. She worked for several years and was eventually raised to Capo, replacing her mentor when the old goblin died. Her work, her demeanor and her ways remained the same; not likeable but believed. Forgettable to most, except the powerful of the family and the workers who felt her lash. The Line: Though she isn't a good person, she doesn't delight in pain or evil. She serves subtly among the darker nature of the crime family as her goddess functions neutrally, despite being a Queen of Dis. She prefers things remain quiet. She doesn't mind killing, but crimes are best unseen. She also refuses to move against children or pregnant women. Player Goals: What I want is a good game. Drama, levity and the interplay of people. In power, in desperation. Things and ideas that provoke thought. Rp Sample Osma likes the mornings on the docks. It isn't a quiet place, even before many awaken. The water moves, the wood of the ships and the docks creak occasionally and the grunts of the workers as they deal with their work break the silence. The tall hobgoblin walked calmly to meet the city inspector. She looked at him and spoke to him in an voice that seemed devoid of life, "Good morning. I assume you're inspector Brannan." It wasn't a question but the man nodded anyway, looking at Osma with a dubiously, "You know who I am. This isn't a new thing." His word weren't very friendly but it wasn't overly aggressive either. He looked at her, as if expecting her to react, but Osma remained impassive. She didn't like to deal with people generally and she didn't like to respond any slights people might intend. Let them wonder what she really thought. Before the man could speak she cut him off, "I know. Here are the manifests and the writ of passage that the captains provided. All in order." The hobgoblin knew that half of the documents were her own fabrication and she was depending on her lies. But she didn't rely on charms. She knew what the man expected to hear and gave him what he expected. He didn't know that several crates had been switched. She led him further onto the docks and opened a crate for him to inspect. The man looked and sighed as he checked the documents and the crate she showed him. He nodded and handed the papers beck to her, "No issues then. I'll leave you. " He gave the work one last look then stalked away to overlook some of the other ships unloading. She watched him with a blank visage until he was talking to another captain. Then she turned to watch the poor working souls, men and women indebted to the family and working for scraps. She knew that it might have been her, but she didn't care. She took the whip from her belt and brandished it loudly before raising her voice, "Hurry it up! There's a whole day ahead!" She continued to watch, seemingly dead eyed but thinking about where she might send this particular shipment. And thinking about what else may come.

[Alphaeus]

Zengarro "The Reaper" Aduelati Name: Zengarro "The Reaper" Aduelati Race: Human Age: 30 Alignment: CN Class: Fighter (Titan Fighter) 2 / Order of the PenitentCavalier (Constable) 6 Description: Zengarro is a rugged but well kempt and handsome man. If you were to meet him on his rooftop garden, you would fine a man in a simple linen shirt who is still in his prime, but perhaps the waning years of it. A two week's beard lines his jaw, as dark as the ample hair he keeps combed back. Streaks of early grace lace the raven waves, complementing the deep-set wrinkles that have begun to appear around his eyes and brow of late. The eyes are a piercing green, the light shade of a maple seedling. They are bright, but there is a depth to them, shadowed as they are by the heavy brow. A long scar traces the curve of his cheek down past the edge of his jaw, continuing on his neck -- a lucky blow that barely missed leaving him half-blind. His body is that of a man used to work that requires skill and strength. At 5'11" (181cm) and 190lbs (86kg), he is certainly fit but not particularly imposing from his physical presence alone. The mannerisms speak of a touch that can be as harsh or as gentle as needed. The muscles beneath the shirt, however, ripple with the coiled strength of a predator... In his armor, the appearance shifts. Crimson robes are mixed with a leather harness -- some parts hardened into layered plates, others left supple. Sets of straps wrap around to his back where long, curving pieces of metal trace the edges of his ribcage. Loose trousers are tucked into well fitted boots, soft-soled and strapped tight. A cape drapes over one shoulder, split into pointed sections to flutter softly and become tangled less easily. The upper end is wrapped about his neck twice, with enough material left to serve as a mask when needed. The appearance is set off by a wide-brimmed hat and a set of jewels embedded into the armor. His resting gaze is that of someone always measuring something -- whether it is his own escape routes, the best angles to take down a threat, or simply the demeanor of whoever is across from him. That said, he is quick to smile, and there is a genuine warmth to it at that. Despite his own purse often weighing quite heavy, he lives simply and tends to prefer the company of those who are simple and down-to-earth by nature. The nature of his life has never allowed him the luxury of a family, despite having had a few relationships over the years that could have turned into something more with sufficient cultivation. Time has taken the edge off of his courtship with bloodshed and danger, leaving a man more prone to consideration and compassion than before -- nevertheless, the old fires have not gone out entirely and need only the right fuel to have them flare up in an instant. For him, life is meant to be lived to its fullest with the companionship of friends, family, and neighbors -- a concept that he keeps whether wearing a badge...or wielding a blade. Backstory:   Zengarro grew up on the underside of the city, born and raised in a basement apartment off of Sultan Street, just north of the Leatherworker's Guild of which his father was a member. Education was an afterthought as both of his parents labored to make ends meet, leaving the young boy to grow up mostly left to his own imagination. He was an athletic child, and found the city's web of buildings to be a veritable playground just waiting to be explored. While his parents worked, Zengarro was off climbing, running, and leaping his way wherever his body could take him. As the curiosity of his earliest years slowly gave way to the daring of his teens, he found the skills he had honed were excellent for helping himself to whatever others left unattended. Pickpocketing wasn't for him -- he didn't have the slender fingers that trade needed. Rather, the high windows left open by those presuming themselves carefree were open invitations to the enterprising thief. At first it began with simply food and trinkets. As time passed, he began to pilfer ever more valuable items, fencing them quickly -- part of the gold for himself, and part for the family's savings. Parsantium, however, was a more complicated place than young Zengarro had anticipated. His parents skills were employed in helping run La Speranza sweat shops. Despite being poor, his family had it's connections and as the Aduelati family found their coffers to be unusually full, watchful eyes were laid upon them to ensure this was not at the expense of the La Speranza's interests they were managing. In time, of course, that meant the comings and goings of the teenager drew their attention as well, unbeknownst to him. After a few weeks of observation, he found himself presented with a letter and a request -- put his skills to use for the La Speranza family. The concept -- and money -- more than appealed to him, and soon he found himself being sent on all sorts of exciting tasks. He also found himself being trained to be a button man -- the windows that opened to unattended belongings also opened to stealthy hits. As money began to fill his pockets, the honed his talents, added gear to his arsenal that took him from just an acrobat to a veritable menace. He tracked down rumors of magical items he desired and quietly left empty chests in their place when the time was right. By the time he was twenty four Zengarro had earned several nicknames -- "The Spider", "The Rope," and his personal favorite "The Reaper." A Steadfast Grapple and Arachnid Harness let him cling to the sides of buildings, tossing out the grapple to swing across wide distances to strike targets from above or simply move unseen through the night. Upon finding his quarry, they would be subdued and bound with lightning speed. A collapsible scythe would be extracted from under his cloak, a quiet threat of the instant death facing anyone who refused to comply. Time, however, did gradually wear upon him. Zengarro loved the wild nights spent racing over rooftops, and he respected the Big Cheese for his good character. Nevertheless, the dirty work of the family weighed heavily upon him. He began to quietly reach out to contacts as he contemplated making a shift for the better. After a couple years of legwork, he presented Little Dipper with the situation he had set up -- Zengarro would formally be employed as a constable; in turn La Speranza would now have an extra "man inside" to help keep things a little cleaner for their interests. He ensured the right money went in the right pockets so that no one would look at his work too closely, leaving him free to still do the family's work...except this time with a badge to wear if the situation was right. Two years later, Zengarro has a nice little house on the northeast corner of the Dock Ward with a good view of the water. When not working he often spends time tending to a garden on his roof where he has enlisted the help of a few neighborhood children to help keep it tended on days he has to work. He's not above actually keeping the law, either -- The Poor Ward and the Dock Ward are the Family's territory, and they're the only ones allowed to be working outside the rules. In the end...this is his home, and he likes it that way. Keeping up appearances means that he'll often times work by mock execution, leaving the victim to wake up hours later scared into shape: it leaves less loose ends than a hit and requires less spring cleaning to tidy up the aftermath. Besides, while there are undeniably targets that deserve to die, plenty can be dealt with more gently and leave him with a cleaner conscience. With fifteen years of service to the family under his belt, Zengarro Aduelati is a valuable asset and respected Capo at this point. The Family is indeed his family -- although he has never forgotten his parents, having finally eased their purses with his own success -- and the oath of service he took years ago holds just as strong for him today. The Line: Zengarro doesn't have a set-in-stone line, per se. He is more than willing to kill if need be, but that is the critical factor -- if need be. No longer the ruthless youth he once was, he will happily bring someone to the brink of death, but pushing them across that line he reserves for those who have sealed their own fate by their actions. Though he has done all sorts of reprehensible deeds in his past, nowadays he also tends to be more lenient with children, citing that he was "once a brazen kid making all the wrong choices" himself. He's never seen women as being less than men, but that also means that he doesn't think of them as deserving special treatment -- if they crossed the wrong person, they'll still end up in an impromptu meeting with The Reaper. What I Want Out of This Game: I'm simply looking for a chance to get lost in a world. The theme and flavor of this game strikes so many chords with me in all the right ways. I'd love to see our characters working through both the day-to-day life of a Capo as well as finding their role in the bigger scheme of things. There is so much potential for all sorts of character development and interactions that I find simply tantalizing. RP Sample:   Another Day The sharp echo of his doorknocker had already reached his ears four times now, but the lavender and coriander both needed to be watered and if he left it now he knew he would forget to go back. Once they had their nourishment, he set the water pitcher down next to his trimming shears and vaulted down the stairs, swinging the rooftop door closed behind him. As a single man, he had no need for an excess of rooms -- thus he had removed half of his second floor to give his house a more vaulted ceiling. The house had been in disrepair when he purchased it, but his father had taught him to be good with his hands -- over the years he had repaired it to be a comfortable home, albeit small. The knocking had grown aggressive as he finally reached the door and unlatched the locks, opening it for the wiry man on the other side. His guest eyed him perturbedly. "Gods, Garro, are you deaf? Had me waiting half an hour out there." Zengarro rolled his eyes and flashed a smile, offering a handshake before scanning the street outside and shutting the door again. "It was less than five minutes, Michael...always prone to exaggeration." With a chuckle, he shook his head and walked over to a cabinet. "Some wine, my friend? After you spent so long neglected upon my sunbaked stoop you must have a terrible thirst!" Michael grunted but accepted a glass of wine when offered. The two settled themselves in a set of deep calfskin chairs, the leather carefully tended so much that one might mistake the years of use they have seen. Zengarro kicked his heels up on a footstool and took a sip of the ruby liquid. "Aight, well...what's today's dirt?" His guest took a moment to take a long gulp of the wine before setting down the glass. "Looks like we got ourselves a new treasury agent over at the guilds. Seems he's the 'eager to prove himself' kind that wants some sort of big achievement to get him out of working the Poor Ward assignment. Sooo, boss wants him to have a visit. Help him understand who decides if he gets to stay in this job." Nodding slowly, Zengarro finished his glass while Michael gave him the details he would need to know. Their meeting ended with another handshake and an offer of dinner, which Michael declined. Heading over to a large writing desk, his calloused hands rifled through several scrolls until he found the set he was looking for. They were not so much maps as they were sketches -- his own sketches. He had a veritable library of these, with various notes that would only matter to someone of his particular skills. When it came to the streets he knew as his home, these various sheets of notes and drawings were more crucial to his work than any official blueprints or surveys could ever be. As the sun set after his supper, he unlocked the chest in his bedroom and donned the gear that transformed him into The Reaper. When night fell, it was time to work... Notes and Rambling About the Character: I'm actually quite excited for the chance to bring the concept to life, and to be completely honest I made the character sheet but forgot the application. He's CN rather than evil -- he has a sense of what is good and will lean into that at times, but is also under no illusions about his decidedly evil past and his proclivities for it even now. He has voluntarily chosen to live a more conscientious lifestyle than he did for most of his career thus far -- this is the IC reflection of the "Order of the Penitent" option as a cavalier. Notably speaking, he can lean either direction in his development -- either regressing as events press him back into his old ways, or sticking harder than ever to his standards and becoming more good. I fully expect for him to attempt to uphold the edicts of the Order of the Penitent mechanically, but also realize that his character-consistent IC choices may lead to him suffering the penalty that comes with violating them (notably this is actually a tolerable penalty rather than stripping all class benefits). I'm really looking forward to bringing to life a character that will actually have a struggle maintaining his code and the wonderful RP this can entail. More on the mechanics, he's effectively your "not-so-friendly" neighborhood spiderman, although that was more an accidental development. He's built around mobility, grappling, and coup-de-grace mechanics. Essentially he can climb up/hold onto walls with no hands, grapple reliably from one spot to another, and strike targets from medium range or even high above. He will then progress directly into a grapple and straight into tying up his target, leaving them vulnerable to a coup-de-grace next turn. He can perform lethal and non-lethal coup-de-graces, which fits with his character. He has investigative skills and comes with a great deal of party-wide buffs than can shape a team fight. As a mid-weight fighter he can function as an auxiliary frontline, quickly removing the threat posed by dangerous enemies while also able to take a hit himself. Personality-wise, he's likely similar to Big Cheese -- generally aspiring to be a respectable individual who cares about the Wards under his care, but also keenly aware that keeping the Family running requires dirty work. Growing up in the Poor Ward he is all too familiar with the fact that society isn't all that pleasant at times, and that everyone has secrets.

[Preacherwolf]

And with those two eleventh hour entries. I'm calling it.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Give me a couple of days and I'll announce my picks. This...this is gonna be tough

[Seekr34]

Oh boy! Good luck everyone!

[Imveros]

Good luck everyone!!!

[Ziether]

Originally Posted by Imveros

Good luck everyone!!!

[CMRawles]

Hold on, gotta go make a brief (tax deductible) sacrifice to satan to improve my odds

[Preacherwolf]

Okay, gods help me I've made a decision. There were far too many applications and they were all good that I decided to make the poor choice of going with seven players. They are:

Bruno Larkin - One Darkness

Marco Marconi, aka “Steeleye” - Exhibit A

Azrael Seraph - Barrigan

Lurgoz "Snaps" Ogdugarn - Grouchy

Dennis Crispin - Pianoman90

Zengarro "The Reaper" Aduelati - Alphaeus

Sicily ‘Dead Dog’ Mezzoalto - Ekidnu

I've sent you seven the game link. To everyone else thank you for your interest and the fantastic character's you've all created. Seriously, you all pitched fantastic gangsters and mafioso's and should I need players in the future I'll keep you all in mind.

[Alphaeus]

Originally Posted by Preacherwolf

Okay, gods help me I've made a decision. There were far too many applications and they were all good that I decided to make the poor choice of going with seven players. They are:

Bruno Larkin - One Darkness

Marco Marconi, aka “Steeleye” - Exhibit A

Azrael Seraph - Barrigan

Lurgoz "Snaps" Ogdugarn - Grouchy

Dennis Crispin - Pianoman90

Zengarro "The Reaper" Aduelati - Alphaeus

Sicily ‘Dead Dog’ Mezzoalto - Ekidnu

I've sent you seven the game link. To everyone else thank you for your interest and the fantastic character's you've all created. Seriously, you all pitched fantastic gangsters and mafioso's and should I need players in the future I'll keep you all in mind.

So excited to be playing with everyone who got in, and to those who did not -- I read your stuff, and all I can say is that as a DM myself those were amazing characters! Best of luck in your future gaming!