Mike's Character: Name TBD

[MichaelB]

Mike's Character, to be described here:

Fate Witch, Vodacce, first draft.

Traits - 56 HP:
Brawn - 1
Finesse - 3
Wits - 4
Resolve - 3
Panache - 2

Magic - 40 HP Sorte

Hubris - TBD (-10 HP)

Advantages - 14 HP: Keen Senses - 2, Language (Avalon R/W - 3, Vodacce - 0), Left Handed - 1, Legendary Trait (Resolve) - 3, True Identity - 1, University - 4

Civil Skills - 10 HP + 7 HP
Acrobat - Balance - 1, Footwork - 3, (Footwork +2 HP)
Artist (Drawing) - 3, (+1 HP)
Courtesan - Acting - 3, Fashion - 2, Masseuse - 1, (Acting +1)
Courtier - Dancing - 2, Etiquette - 1, Fashion - 2, Oratory - 2
Criminal - Gambling - 1, Shadowing - 2, Stealth - 3
Forger - Calligraphy - 1, Forgery - 3, Paper Maker - 1, Research - 1, (Forgery +2 HP)
Guide - Climbing - 1, Stealth - 3, Street Navigation - 1
Merchant (Modiste) - 3, (+1 HP)
Performer - Acting - 3, Dancing - 2, Oratory - 2, Singing - 1
Spy - Shadowing - 2, Stealth - 3

Speciality - 3 HP
Attack (Fencing) 3, (Attack Fencing +2 HP)

130 HP

[Black Jack Rackham]

Mike, I did the numbers and you're right, it's 130, BUT you put in the TBD Hubris which would make it 120. Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page. Looking forward to hearing about the Fate Witch that snuck into a Courtesan school

[MichaelB]

BUT you put in the TBD Hubris which would make it 120.
Looking forward to hearing about the Fate Witch that snuck into a Courtesan school

I have had almost no 7th Sea characters with a Virtue, ever, and really wanted to try for likely my last one.

"True Identity" has lots of possibilities. I'm thinking that a mother/aunt/relative might have brought her to Canguine as a child and she is, therefore, a native speaker of Avalon. We have a while to talk about it.

[MichaelB]

Fate Witch, Vodacce, second draft/alternative.

Traits - 40 HP:
Brawn - 1
Finesse - 3
Wits - 4
Resolve - 1
Panache - 2

Magic - 40 HP Sorte

(Virtue - Focused +10 HP)

Advantages - 14 HP: Keen Senses - 2, Language (Avalon R/W - 3, Vodacce - 0), Left Handed - 1, Legendary Trait (Resolve) - 3, True Identity - 1, University - 4

Civil Skills - 9 HP + 4 HP
Acrobat - Balance - 1, Footwork - 3, (Footwork +2 HP)
Artist (Drawing) - 3, (+1 HP)
Courtesan - Acting - 2, Fashion - 2, Masseuse - 1
Courtier - Dancing - 2, Etiquette - 1, Fashion - 2, Oratory - 2
Criminal - Gambling - 1, Shadowing - 2, Stealth - 3
Guide - Climbing - 1, Stealth - 3, Street Navigation - 1
Merchant (Modiste) - 3, (+1 HP)
Performer - Acting - 2, Dancing - 2, Oratory - 2, Singing - 1
Spy - Shadowing - 2, Stealth - 3

Speciality - 3 HP
Attack (Fencing) 3, (Attack Fencing +2 HP)

110 HP

[Sister Sonya]

So, Mark, from Elaine's:

In addition, just to let you know, the way we do Backgrounds is I am going to write 4 adventures for each point you have in your background. You'll get an additional XP for each PA if you play the background (which means you invested the equivalent of 3XP and you'll get 4 back). So having a background of 3 means 12 adventures to get to the end.

Now like I tell everyone who has a background, "I have no problem writing 12 adventures for you." BUT the campaign is only 12 years long, and if you are only coming to GenCon that means you just committed yourself to dealing with that background for the entire campaign (Because I would hate to see you not get to see how it all works out).

If you're not sure, you can always take a 1pt Background and I can have it lead into something else IF you find you're interested... (Because you can always spend XP to add other backgrounds)

So, can I purchase a one HP point background at the start, use it for 4 adventures, then purchase another one point for XP, then another for XP, for the total of the 12 PAs?

[Black Jack Rackham]

So, Mark, can I purchase a one HP point background at the start, use it for 4 adventures, then purchase another one point for XP, then another for XP, for the total of the 12 PAs?

...you can always spend XP to add other backgrounds...

*Eyes the first statement, then pointedly looks from the first to the second (both of which are in the same quote by the way) and then back to the first...*

Yes, yes you can.

[Sister Sonya]

So, let's say that I choose the background "Orphaned". That may increase in importance from the first year to year 12.

At the start, there may be hints of real history, plus speculation and conflicting rumors and talk. As the years progress, My FW Character discovers some new truths, that some heretofore truths are now lies, the tension mounts and her Sorte, along with the usual skills, becomes a bigger and bigger assist as she goes from Apprentice to Journeyman to Master.

Maybe she is not an Orphan at all. There are lots of shady characters en route. Cousins may have stolen her, uncles kidnapped her, Vodacce lords may be involved, Avalon or Vesten pirates might be, etc.

What do you say Mark? Background 1 the start to 4 at year 12? Or just an even keel of 1, 2, 3, or 4?

FYI: I am planning on Vodacce S only (0 HP) and Avalon S/R/W (3 HP) at the moment.

[Sister Sonya]

Version 4, Fate Witch

Traits - 64 HP:
Brawn - 1
Finesse - 3
Wits - 4
Resolve - 3
Panache - 3

Magic - 40 HP Sorte (7)
Arcana -1, Coins -0, Cups -0, Staves -3, Swords -3

Hubris - Reckless (-10 HP)

Advantages – (18 HP) Background -3 (Orphaned) , Keen Senses-2, Trained Spider-tough lines-1, Legendary Trait (Resolve) -3, University -4, Specialty (Attack Fencing) -1, Specialty (Grapple) -1, Vodacce S -0, Avalon S/R/W -3

Martial Skill - (2 HP)
Athlete - Climbing 3, Footwork - 3, Sprinting 1, Throwing -1

Civil Skills – (11 HP)
Acrobat - Balance - 2, Footwork - 3
Artist (Architecture) - 2 +(1) = 3
Criminal - Gambling -1, Shadowing -2, Stealth -2
Engineer - Architecture - 3, Drafting - 3, Mathematics - 1
Forger - Calligraphy 3, Forgery 1, Paper Maker -1, Research -1
Guide(3) - Climbing - 3, Street Navigation -1, Tracking -1
Merchant - (Drafting) - 2 +(1) = 3
Monk - Calligraphy -3, Menial Tasks -1, Philosophy -1, Writing -1
Rahibi - Calligraphy -3, Chanting -1, History -1
Sailor – Balance -2, Climbing -3, Knotwork -1, Rigging -1
Spy - Shadowing -2, Stealth -2

Civil Knacks - (5 HP)
Specialty – Attack (Fencing) - 3 (2HP)
Specialty - Grapple 3 (2 HP)
Footwork -3 (1HP)

130 HP

[Black Jack Rackham]

So, let's say that I choose the background "Orphaned". That may increase in importance from the first year to year 12...

Sorry I didn't respond to this Mike, Yea it sounds like fun! Lets do this thing! Only thing I'd say (and I always say this) is when you write the background, do it first person, don't tell me what the truth is, tell me only what the truth is as your character understands it (and by extension what you believe it to be). That way you'll (hopefully) be surprised when the truth is revealed.

[Sister Sonya]

Once upon a time, Bernouilli son Augustin became low on stamina of an intimate nature, Giuseppe was short on interesting whims, and Dominic was bored with his usual Crescent plants. Each thought it might be a good idea to get together in order to consider some new ideas.

One proposal suggested involved kidnapping a young Fate Witch in Vodacce and trading her and her tutor to a Crescent merchant in the Crescent Empire. A favorite proposal was an all-cash deal, easily split three ways.

There were plenty of Crescent merchants from whom to choose. Eleven proposals were made in short order, ten were accepted, but one had to stay on hold while details could be worked out.

Eleven prospects were determined outside of Bernouilli territory, eleven were kidnapped without a problem, ten were exchanged without a problem, but the last one got delayed. Augustin, Giuseppe, and Dominic were bored with details and delegated the last one to a cousin. That cousin had always had issues with these brothers, often for lack of general follow-through on details. The cousin created some plausible deniability and the eleventh prospect got lost somewhere.

The brothers shrugged their shoulders. Ten deals divided as easily as eleven. The cousin shrugged his shoulders. Getting even with stupid cousins always was good! The eleventh deal soon was forgotten. The eleventh Fate Witch and her tutor landed safely outside of Vodacce but under the control of some Crescent pirates.

These pirates plied their usual trade in the water rather than on land, from the Crescent Empire, to Vodacce, and to other nearby locales. The tutor and the Sorte student were realists. The pirates involved these two into their activities. Skills were learned. Backgrounds were developed. Life went on.

[Sister Sonya]

These Crescent pirates tried to be clever by avoiding the Vestem Isles. Unfortunately, hubris raised itself when they encountered some Vesten pirates on dry land. Somewhere.

Sofane, the tutor, mistakenly thought to fight off the Vestens. Sveva, the pupil, tried to change her mind.

Neither Sofane nor Sveva were without fighting skills. Sofane ordinarily was fairly intelligent and knowledgeable, as a Vodacce woman. Sveva lacked experience, was not yet fully grown, but perhaps had a clearer perspective about the encounter. She and Sofane would be fine, no matter who won. Sveva grappled with Sofane and kept her out of danger.

The Vestens managed to withdraw, herding Sofane and Sveva into their boat. The encounter might be called a draw, depending upon the values of the loot taken from each other. This group of Vestens lacked much knowledge of Sorte, students, and tutors, or, in fact, who Sofane and Sveva were.

The very next day, the Vestens encountered Avalon pirates. Somewhere, not too far away, Sofane and Sveva ended up with the Avalons. Was this on purpose? The next day, the two joined a party of Canguine merchants. Was this Sorte at work? Life went on.

[Sister Sonya]

Version 4: Last edited by Sister Sonya on Mon May 05, 2025 3:18 pm, edited 32 times in total.

I am still editing...

The eleventh Fate Witch and her tutor landed safely outside of Vodacce but under the control of Crescent sea pirates. Some of these pirates speak Vodacce in order to teach the skill Rahib.

[Sister Sonya]

"Let me emphasize that. We want to know what you and your character believe the Background is about.
So, before we can write up your adventures, we need you to write up what you think is going on. Don't
worry it's not a lot of writing (no more than a page, please!). But don't add in information you and your
character couldn't possibly know. For example, don't tell us who the real bad guy is in the story, tell us
who you believe the bad guy is. Once you're done, Email It to me and I can get to writing."

I apologize! My "background' should be what Sveva believes to be true of herself, not a hodgepodge of reality.

Little was known about me prior to my discovery/appearance as a newborn baby in our village. Several locals hinted of shenanigans through their use of sorte magic, but little was defined, proven, or made public. I was apparently related to persons in the village, so therefore was to be raised by them. I was determined to have inherited "magic", but was raised mostly as a normal girl until sorte began to make its appearance during my adolescence.

Sofane, an older unmarried strega, became my tutor. She had been betrothed to a local young man when she was young, but they had never married. She seemed uninterested in marriage now, and seemed to have mostly private thoughts of her own. She called me her niece.

Sofane mostly taught things in a straightforward manner. When I asked her about threads that seemed to go away from me off into the distance, she said we could go and investigate those when I was older. I always tried to be a good student.

In my mid teens, some strange men and women came to our village. They were looking for criminals with rewards on their heads. Sofane hinted that she might know of them. They took her prisoner. I tried to defend her but was taken too.

We were not their only prisoners. The men took us on a convoluted journey westward, searching for these others as well. I learned many new things in the months and years that followed. These pirates seemed mostly to be Avalonian.

Two that they were looking for were a noble, Rik, and a strega, Roberta. Sofane seemed interested in helping these Avalonians trace them. We seemed to be reaching our goal while getting closer to a town called Canguine.

[Sister Sonya]

Version 5, Fate Witch

Traits - 64 HP:
Brawn - 1
Finesse - 3
Wits - 4
Resolve - 3
Panache - 3

Magic - 40 HP Sorte (7)
Arcana -1, Coins -3, Cups -3, Staves -0, Swords -0

Hubris - Overconfident (-10 HP)

Advantages – (19 HP) Background 3 (Orphaned) , Keen Senses 2, Left Handed 1, Legendary Trait (Resolve) 3, Specialty (Grapple) 1, Trained Spiders 2, University 4, Vodacce S 0, Avalon S/R/W 3

Martial Skill - (2HP)
Athlete - 2 (Climbing 3, Footwork 3, Sprinting 1, Throwing 1)

Martial Knacks - (3 HP)
Footwork -3 (1 HP)
Grapple - 3 (2 HP)

Civil Skills – (12HP)
Acrobat - Balance 2, Footwork 3
Artist Drawing 2
Courtier - Dancing 2, Etiquette 1, Fashion 1, Oratory 2
Criminal - Gambling 1, Shadowing 1, Stealth 3
Doctor - Diagnosis 1, First Aid 1
Forger - Calligraphy 1, Forgery 3, Paper Maker 1, Research 2
Guide - Climbing 3, Stealth 3, Street Navigation 1
Hunter - Stealth 3, Tracking 1, Traps 1
Merchant - Forger 3
Performer - Acting 2, Dancing 2, Oratory 2, Singing 1,
Sailor – Balance -2, Climbing -3, Knotwork -2, Rigging -2
Scholar - History 1, Mathematics 1, Philosophy 1, Research 2

130 HP

[Sister Sonya]

Sveva had not developed much muscle during her childhood and adolescence. She was a minor noble, a developing strega , and mostly still a prisoner without responsibilities.

The other kidnapped persons did little: little physical activity, moral compass, or mental development. Having nothing to do was boring. The other prisoners were merely wasting time. Sveva wanted to look to the future.

Most everyone, including Sofane, had left the boat to go exploring. The other prisoners and crew were aiding the pirates to look for things of interest. Food was important. Enemies were always a danger. Potential new targets were possible. The island itself wasn't without interest.

Sveva had been granted the opportunity to stay behind. There were several young children and adult prisoners, two dogs, and one pirate guard also still on board. Sveva had volunteered to examine and try to repair the knotwork on the two sails. She had received instruction on how to do so. Someone would review her work afterwards. If she were successful, more such opportunities could follow.

The ship wasn't large. There were only two sails. There was not much climbing required. However, some was necessary in order to get to the sails, to attach them to the yardarm and to the ropes. She had practiced her knots beforehand. She felt comfortable balancing herself. This was going to work!

The dogs were minding their own business, The guard and prisoners were ignoring her, except for little Jom who was looking on avidly. However, he was only six and not any danger to her or to her activity.

She was very careful and took her time. Retying the knots was not going to be necessary. Fran glanced at her when she climbed back down. Jom began looking elsewhere.

Her arms and legs were a bit sore. But, in her opinion, the job was well done.