Violca Jovanovi's page

Violca Jovanovi
Female human (Varisian) bard 1
CN Medium humanoid (human)
Hero Points 1
Init +2; Senses Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 9 (1d8+1)
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +2; +1 trait bonus vs. charm and compulsion
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)
Melee bladed scarf +1 (1d6+1) or
. . dagger +1 (1d4+1/19-20)
Ranged light crossbow +2 (1d8/19-20)
Special Attacks bardic performance 8 rounds/day (countersong, distraction, fascinate [DC 14], inspire courage +1)
Bard Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +5)
. . 1st (2/day)—charm person (DC 15), grease
. . 0 (at will)—detect magic, light, prestidigitation, read magic
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Statistics
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Str 13, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +0.75; CMB +1; CMD 13
Feats Harmonic Spell[ISWG], Lingering Performance[APG]
Traits charming, friend of the family, varisian tattoo
Skills Acrobatics +3 (-1 to jump), Bluff +8 (+9 vs. characters who could be attracted to you), Diplomacy +8 (+9 vs. characters who could be attracted to you), Intimidate +8, Knowledge (arcana) +2, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +2, Knowledge (engineering) +2, Knowledge (geography) +2, Knowledge (history) +2, Knowledge (local) +2, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (nobility) +2, Knowledge (planes) +2, Knowledge (religion) +2, Perception +5, Perform (dance) +8, Perform (sing) +8, Profession (cook) +4, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +3, Use Magic Device +8
Languages Common, Shoanti, Varisian
SQ bardic knowledge +1, hero points
Other Gear leather armor, bladed scarf[ISWG], crossbow bolts (10), dagger, light crossbow, backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, entertainer's outfit (2), flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), ink, inkpen, journal[UE], mess kit[UE], mirror, pot, soap, spell component pouch, torch (10), trail rations (5), waterskin, 16 gp
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Special Abilities
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Bardic Knowledge +1 (Ex) Add +1 to all knowledge skill checks.
Bardic Performance (standard action, 8 rounds/day) Your performances can create magical effects.
Harmonic Spell Casting spells extends duration of bardic performance
Hero Points Hero Points can be spent at any time to grant a variety of bonuses.
Lingering Performance Bardic Performances last 2 rds after you stop concentrating.

Violca is a very androgynous looking Varisian woman, who uses her flexibility to her advantage. Whether she is performing in front of a crowd of hundreds or talking someone up at a tavern, she ensures that all eyes are focused on her. Her day to day clothing can best be described as a dancer’s clothes, as she favors royal purple harem pants that cut off right at her calves. She also wears an intricate scarf around her waist, the color of crimson; embroidered with gold stars and flowers. Finally to complete her look, she wears a loose cream silk shirt that is cut just low enough to tantalize, but not low enough for her to be mistaken for a fancy girl. She keeps her hair styled in effortlessly large curls, using a stylish dark blue head scarf to keep it out of her eyes. Her hair reaches to her mid back when not curled and is so thick that she has lost several brushes to the curly devil. Violca flaunts her wealth by wearing several bracelets and bangles made of gold, as well as a large hoop earring and a small gold lip piercing. When she wears shoes, which is only when her family has been hired for a job, she favors comfortable well broken in thin soled shoes, crafted of leather, that cling to her feet as if it were a second skin. Ever vain, Viocla will go so far as to contour her chest to make it appear that she has more to ensure extra gold in tips for her performances.

Born the middle of seven children, Violca learned early on how to be the center of attention or how to meld into the background. Her friends and family would describe her as a free spirit. She is always in good spirits and enjoys making others laugh or uncomfortable, depending on how bored she is. Her favorite pass time is to see how far she can push her luck with servants of the gods before she is rebutted, generally laughing off these encounters with a smile. She has learned how to be self-reliant, and takes care to always look her best, even when times are tough. While comfortable enough with chance encounters, Violca has always vanished when relationship start to turn into something more than a warm bed. If ever questioned about it, she generally laughs it off with a “And deny all of Golarion this? I think not.” However secretly the dancer is terrified of commitment and the type of power a lover could hold over her.

Violca Jovanovi was born on the Yondabakari caravan route, to a family of performing Varisians. As the Jovanovi family traveled across Varisia performing to small crowds at festivals, young Violca watched and waited for her day to steal the spotlight. She is the first girl of the Jovanovi family, born after three older brothers (Giovanni, Ladin, and Anton) but before her three sisters (Nicoleta, Luminita, and Catina). While her brothers were taught how to become protectors and providers for their future wives, Violca’s parents were not sure what to do about their first daughter. Her father, Costel, wanted Violca to behave like most of the other women in the caravan: coy, demure, and learn how to run a family, Violeta, her mother, encouraged her daughter to follow her own path. Her father, intent on teaching his daughter a trade to fall back on, would teach Violca how to tell the true value of goods. Her mother, wanting a far safer profession for her oldest daughter would teach her how to dance traditional dances and cook.

On the first of Desna, 4709 AR, Saphir the Magnificent was born. Most of her family was shocked by how well the young woman demanded the crowd’s attention, and that day brought in more coin than the family had seen in several years. While she has left her family to temporarily settle in Sandpoint, Violca has greatly enjoyed these last two years of performing and would not trade them for the world.

Violca is 5'3 with a dancer's build. She has flowing black hair, bronzed skin, and emerald green eyes. She flaunts her wealth with several bracelets and bangles make of gold, as well as large hoop earrings and a small gold lip piercing. She prefers not to wear shoes, but if they are necessary, she pulls on a pair of broken in thin soled shoes crafted of leather that cling to her feet as if they were a second skin. Picture

To call Violca cocksure would be like saying that the Runelords had a firm grasp on spellcasting. While true, it undermines both the Runelords true power and Violca's ego. Where some might find her attitude abrasive, Viocla is careful not to step over the line from cocky to cruel. In a more personal setting, Violca can be surprisingly soft spoken and a good source of advice. She adamantly does not wish to be saddled with the responsibilities of a leader, and much prefers herself best suited as an adviser.

What is your character’s name?
Violca Jovanovi aka Saphir the Magnificent
How old is your character?
Viocla is 19 years old. She has been performing as Saphir for about two years.
What would somebody see at first glance (i.e. height, weight, skin color, eye color, hair color, physique, race, and visible equipment)?
The first thing that most people notice about Viocla is her thick, wavy, black hair which she keeps in effortless looking curls. She has bronzed skin, with stunning emerald green eyes. Viocla has androgynous looking features, which causes some people to mistake her for a young man at first glance. When performing as Saphir, she paints her lips a vivid red, and wears other make up to accent her exotic looking features. She moves with a grace that cannot be taught, helped by her small, nimble frame.
What additional attributes would be noticed upon meeting the character (i.e. Speech, mannerisms)?
Violca has a habit of twirling a strand of hair around her finger when talking to someone she finds interesting.
Where was your character born? Where were you raised? By who?
Viocla was born on the Yondabakari caravan route to a family of performing Varisians. She is the fourth child of Violeta and Costel Jovanovi and is the first daughter.
Who are your parents? Are they alive? What do they do for a living?
Violeta and Costel Jovanovi are both alive and well. When Violca last spoke with them, they were heading to visit some family in Ustalav. They are traveling performers who sing, dance, and put on small minstrel shows to earn an honest living.
Do you have any other family or friends?
Viocla is the fourth child out of seven and the first daughter. Her older brothers, Giovanni and Anton, are both built like traditional Varisian thugs, but have the kindest heart and perform acts of strength to interested crowds. Ladin, the second oldest child of the Jovanovi siblings, also has an androgynous build and was the one to teach Violca how to dance. Of Violca’s three sisters, Nicoleta is the only one old enough to perform at age twelve. Nicoleta is a master of many instruments and prefers to provide music for her siblings to perform to, rather than be front and center. Luminita just turned five and appears to be just as enthusiastic about performing as the rest of her family. Finally, Catina is the baby of the family at 3. Of her siblings, Viocla is closest to Ladin.
What is your character’s marital status? Kids?
Viocla is unmarried, though she treats Catina more as her own child rather than a sibiling.
What is your character’s alignment?
Viocla is Chaotic Good.
What is your character’s moral code?
Viocla strongly believes in you reap what you sow.
Does your character have goals?
Viocla’s goals currently are to become the most popular act in the entire World. She loves to travel and would love to see more exotic locations outside of Varisia if given the opportunity.
Is your character religious?
Viocla practices her faith as best she can. When traveling she often stops to help maintain shrines to her goddess and keep campsites clean.
What are your character’s personal beliefs?
Viocla knows that hard work and determination will only get you so far in life. The rest of the way to success is about who you know. As such, she goes out of her way to make new friends in every city she stops in.
Does your character have any personality quirks (i.e. anti-social, arrogant, optimistic, paranoid)?
As a performer, Viocla has a bit of a dual personality. Saphir is as vain as the day is long, with a presence that commands attention no matter the crowd. When out of her Saphir persona, Viocla is soft spoken and enjoys flirting with those who do not know her stage personality. She is a hard worker who takes pride in a job well done.
Why does your character adventure?
Viocla adventures to see the world, meet new people and experience new things. She loves to travel and is open to trying unusual delicacies.
How does your character view his/her role as an adventurer?
She sees herself more as a performer and an entertainer than as a traditional adventurer. When she travels without her familial caravan, she is more than happy to provide support for those who love to wade into combat.
Does your character have any distinguishing marks (birth-marks, scars, deformities)?
Viocla has a beautiful tattoo fashioned in the shape of a butterfly on her back. It is made up of swooping circles and intricate whorls. She received her tattoo when she reached adulthood..
How does your character get along with others?
Viocla would like to think that she gets along well with others, as she is quite the crowd pleaser. She loves to make others laugh and feel at ease. If someone she is loyal to ever feels threatened, Viocla quickly switches into what her siblings call “mama-bear” mode and uses a mixture of threats, quick knife work, and good old fashion diplomacy to try and help them out.
Is there anything that your character hates?
Viocla hates being treated as fragile and an object to be won.
Is there anything that your character fears?
Viocla’s greatest fear is commitment. Despite the small number of lovers she has taken over the few years she has been traveling alone, Viocla does not want to fathom the type of power a partner could hold over her.

Concept

1. What emotion best describes Violca Jovanovi?

At her core, if Violca was only allowed to express one emotion, her emotion would be confident.

2. What emotion does Violca evoke in others?

Violca evokes awe in those who come to watch her preform. In her friends, she tends to evoke one of two emotions; annoyance or amusement.

3. What does Violca need most?

Violca lives for her performances in front of an attentive crowd. If she were to lose everything in a horrific accident, she would survive. Take away her ability to perform, she would wilt and become a mere shadow of herself.

4. What is Violca's goal in life?

Violca's major goal in life is to become the most famous performer in all of Golarion.

5. How does Violca believe that this goal can be accomplished?

Viocla is aware that hard work is only part of the solution to reach her goal. That is why she works hard at making genuine connections with people in the towns where she performs.

Background

6. Where did Violca come from?

Violca Jovanovi was born on the Yondabakari caravan route, to a family of performing Varisians.

7. When did Violca grow up?

While some argument can be made that Violca has not yet truly grown up, her parents would never have allowed their eldest daughter to travel alone. Violca's first realizations of how the world worked was when the Late Unpleasantness spread throughout Varisia. Violca's family was in Sandpoint for when the heroes emerged and defeated the goblins. She watched, hidden with Nicoleta and baby Luminita in the back of the familial cart, as her family fought off the goblins. Her brother, Ladin was lauded as one of the heroes. Though they parted ways, Ladin and Violca kept well in touch through letters.

8. What values does Violca hold?

Voilca values adventuring and traveling the most out of everything currently going on in her life. She holds her nomadic lifestyle and family close to her heart. She also values her reputation as an excellent dancer.

9. How does Violca dress?

Violca's day to day clothing can best be described as a dancer’s clothes, as she favors royal purple harem pants that cut off right at her calves. She also wears an intricate scarf around her waist, the color of crimson; embroidered with gold stars and flowers. Finally to complete her look, she wears a loose cream silk shirt that is cut just low enough to tantalize, but not low enough for her to be mistaken for a fancy girl. She keeps her hair styled in effortlessly large curls, using a stylish dark blue head scarf to keep it out of her eyes. Violca flaunts her wealth by wearing several bracelets and bangles made of gold, as well as a large hoop earring and a small gold lip piercing. When she wears shoes, which is only when her family has been hired for a job, she favors comfortable well broken in thin soled shoes, crafted of leather, that cling to her feet as if it were a second skin. Ever vain, Viocla will go so far as to contour her chest to make it appear that she has more to ensure extra gold in tips for her performances.

10. What are Violca's means?

Violca constantly describes herself as a jack of all trades. Due to her unique upbringing, she has picked up a bit of knowledge in many different areas, though sometimes her knowledge is woefully inaccurate. As far as material items, Violca currently has her day-to-day outfit and a second entertrainer's outfit for more elaborate performances. She has a small amount of savings, but she is currently saving up for the ability to buy her own horse and wagon, that way she does not need to rely on another caravan to carry to the next town.

Details

11. What are Violca's personal tastes?

Violca loves the smell of a late night campfire, especially just before a new log has to be added in order to keep the hearth going. She enjoys dancing, but can also sing, though she tends save that for doing chores around camp to occupy herself. Finally she favors savory dishes made up of cabbage over fancier Chelexian cusine, but will adapt her cooking for others if requested.

Viocla dislikes the high volume and cramped quarters of cities, she finds it too loud and too claustrophobic to enjoy most of her time in them. She does not like the taste of mango, she finds it too sweet and messy to eat.

12. What are Violca's opinions?

Violca highly supports those who wish to travel the traditional Varisian caravan routes. She believes that too many small hamlets have begun breaking ground on busy campsites, and that these spots need to become better attuned with their roots.

13. What is Violca's comfort zone?

Performing has always come easily to Violca. The thrill of the music and the feeling of her muscles stretching is a difficult to top.

14. Who has had the biggest impact on Violca's life?

Ladin, her older brother has had the largest impact on Violca's life. He is the one to have taught Violca how to dance, and was the one to come up with the name Saphir as a stage name for the girl.

15. What are some of Violca's unexpected quirks?

When Violca believes that she is alone, she begins to sing to herself to pass the time. She also loves to walk around without shoes on, and feel the grass between her toes. She is also a surprisingly talented cook.

Player

16. What kind of story does Violca belong in?

Violca belongs in a story where she can travel and experience new things. She was created with the idea of a high fantasy adventure, where she can mature and grow.

17. What role does Violca fill?

Violca fills the support role. While she has no plans of becoming a leader, she is more than happy to offer her opinion to those in charge.

18. What should other players know about Violca?

Though she may come off as a bratty character, she will stand down if someone requests her to. She is meant to be a light hearted character who starts off as a prima donna and rounds out as the campagin progresses.

19. What is my play style?

I like cooprotive play. I try to stay away from player vs player fights when at all possible. I also will try not to use any spells that I would not want cast upon me. This means that I tend to shy away from anti-magic circles, bestow curse, and dispel magic. I find that these types of spells make high powered villians unenjoyable to fight against.

20. How do I want Violca to die?

If given the option, I would like Violca to die during the final boss encounter, possibly sacrificing herself in order to grant the abilties for her allies to triumph. That way she may find herself turned into a legend whispered about in taverns all around the world.

Who are you and how are you doing?
I am Anna, a 27 year old manager of a friendly local game store. I am doing pretty well, I just recieved a promotion at work and am living happily with my husband.
How often do you tend to post?
I try to post at least once a day. I do check the paizo forums several times a day.
What kind of tone are you looking for in this game?
I am looking for an exciting fantasy adventure where situations can be exciting and full of joy as well as stressful and filled with regret. I would love for the adventure to allow us some time to linger in unusual cities as we work our way to the final destination.
What do you expect out of your fellow players?
I would like my fellow adventurers to get along and post at least every other day, if not every day.
What do you expect out of me (the GM)?
I expect you to be able to adapt the ap in order to facilitate the changes needed for pbp format, while keeping the base story in line. I am fine with a gm who knows when to move people along when the pbp appears to be stalling.
What is your comfort zone? Where's the line for you in RP terms?
With Violca I am trying to play a character out of my comfort zone. She is going to be very sensual, but without being vulgar. As a player I have very bad past experiences with men who play Calistrian Clerics in pbp as they tend to go beyond my comfort zone with sexual overtones. I don't mind if Violca winds up dead, but I do mind if my character is used as a plot device without my permission (Mostly the terrible violated and stuck with a baby plot devices)
How do you see your character progressing as a character?
I see Violca ended up becoming more humble through her travels, and perhaps finding someone that she is willing to protect and trust with her heart. If Violca is to die, I would love it to be in the middle of an intense, difficult boss battle where she sacrifices herself in order to finish off the fiend and grant her allies the last push in order to become victorious.

'Two Months.' It had two long, tiring and stress-filled months that Violca had been in the small town of Sandpoint. When she had received word from her parents that Madame Niska Mvashti was on death's door, Violca did not quite know how to process the information. Her family relied on her to represent them as they were much too far away; called away to celebrate the newest addition to the Jovanovi clan in Ustalav. While not pleased with the turn of events, she had shouldered the burden as best as she could. She naturally canceled all of her performances for the next few months and caught the first caravan headed through Sandpoint. Now with Madame Niska laid to rest, the deceased woman's last request still rattled around in the young Varisian woman's head.

Shaking her head from the morose thoughts, Viocla threw off the covers from her borrowed bed and set about going through her morning routine. With years of practice, she applied various amounts of paints and powders to enhance her features still while milling about her current conundrum. "While I understand the sentiment behind the request, Madame, but why me?" she speaks aloud, mostly to herself as she switches from her make up brushes to her hard bristled hair brush. Throwing a clump of thick, black hair over her should, Violca begins to work out any elf knots and other tangles that had found their way into her mane. "Madame Koya is old enough to be my grandmother, it makes little sense to request me to be her protector. If anything, Sandru should be bending over backwards to offer his assistance." Glancing into the mirror, Violca has to take several deep breaths to work out the furrow in her brow. "Although I suppose I am one of the few travelers who would be willing to take on such a challenge. And after all, a promise is a promise, however odd it may be." Setting down her hairbrush, the young performer quickly twists her hair into a complex bun, before securing it with a small headscarf.

Pulling on a clean outfit, she quickly makes her way down to the tiny kitchen. After a moment of fighting with the shutters, Viocla is able to push them open to welcome in the first rays of morning light as she flits around the cramped quarters. Gathering up enough supplies to provide a hearty breakfast, she strains her hearing in order to learn if her movements had roused the other occupants of the small house. Hearing nothing, Viocla lets out a sigh of indignation, and quickly reignites the hearth. Setting about dicing up the gathered tomatoes, peppers, and onions, she allows her mind to wander. Back when she had first arrived, she had performed in the courtyard in front of the Cathedral and brought in a small crowd and a nice little amount of pay to help make her stay here more comfortable. However as the days stretched into weeks, her performances had attracted less and less people, as everyone grew used to her movements and dances.

In fact she hadn't danced for a crowd in almost two weeks now, and the itch to move was growing more and more unbearable with each setting sun. In the mean time, she had switched her attention from dancing to pursuing more carnal pleasures. She had recently had drinks with Jubrayl Vhiski at the Fatman's Feedbag. The location proved to be more amusing and making her feel more at home than the other drinking establishments in town. While the night had ultimatly lead to nothing, the rush of being with a someone who operated in the gray edges of the law was something hard to top.

Finishing her prep Violca grinned as she threw the vegetables into the hot pan, moving the sizzling pan back and forth with gentle motions. After a few moments she removed the sauteed vegetables from the pan, crack half a dozen eggs, and quickly made up a large amount of scramble eggs for the two other residents. Plating the dish, she balanced the plates in the crook of her arm before heading out to the garden on a hunch. Smiling softly to herself as she viewed the familiar back of an old Varisian woman sitting on a stone bench, Viocla placed the still hot plate next to Koya and moves around to the front. She raises an eyebrow at the spectical of Sandru lounging out on grass by Koya's feet. "Good morning, Koya, Sandru. How does this dawn find you?" Passing one of the remaining plates to the caravan owner, Viocla takes her seat near Koya and waits for the others to dig into their meal.
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[dice=Perception]1d20+5[/dice]