GM Itzi's Jade Regent

Game Master Itzi

They’ve spent the past 100 or so years traveling the country and seeing just about everything it has to offer to one such as themself. Never having known her parents, or any other family (beyond Koya) for that matter, Sera has found themself alone and relying on herself more often than they’d like.

To counteract this loneliness, Sera took up the pastime of traveling and adventuring as much as one possibly can, with a healthy dose of recklessness every now and then. Whether it’s visiting the far off trade markets of Katapesh, trudging through the swamps of Ustalav, or enjoying a fine Chelish wine in Egoiran, Seraphim has seen a lot in her days on the road. But most of this journey has been alone, isolated from any potential rescuers.

So when they were exploring an old wizard’s tower that certainly should not have been a choice of tourism and the entire thing collapsed upon Sera, they were lucky to have found themselves next to Koya’s caravan. The cleric of Desna healed her up right before she passed on to Pharasma’s boneyard and ever since that day nearly twenty years ago, Seraphim has seen in Koya not only a strong ally, but also a good friend.

Sera has spent years traveling with Koya’s caravan and many others just like it, and has picked up a few oddities of her own along the way. They learned more about astrology, including certain ways to determine what the day held in store for their companions using the positions of constellations, and many of the Varisians taught them about the mystical Harrow. The power of the harrow and the stars together have fascinated Sera ever since they heard about it, and they’ve spent a particularly long time exploring the connection between the two forces.

They’ve become a bit jaded from watching her favorite human or other shorter-lived companions age and wither away, even watching more than a handful dying. As a result, they’ve found themselves calling out to gods of travel instead of compatriots more than once before, but one in particular has always stood out more than the others: Pulura, the North Star. Pulura is the patron of lonely travelers, and Sera has always felt like the embodiment of exactly such.

With only the heavens and the North Star herself for company, they’ve spent many a lonely night camping in solitary, mapping the stars and constellations above. Sera has always felt a connection to the heavens above, but now that she has discovered Pulura she feels more in tune with them than ever. So when Koya sent a letter informing Sera of her intent to embark on a grand journey, she made her way to Sandpoint without delay.

These changes in their gender day by day do affect their attitude and appearance, as in his masculine feeling days he is likely to be more aggressive and headstrong, whereas in her feminine days she leans towards a more protective gentle side. It doesn’t go so far as to where they’re two separate identities, just slight changes in demeanor.

Outside of their fluid gender, Seraphim is slow to trust and get close to new people. They have seen more than one close treasured companion slowly wither away to the great equalizer: age. As such, they have problems finding themselves forming close bonds beyond just friendship with the companions they travel with. Deeper connections take extreme experiences or longer periods of time to form, as they do not wish to watch more younglings turn old and grey.

But for those who do gain their trust and friendship, Sera is eternally loyal to. They will give up anything and everything to ensure their closest friends remain safe and happy, which is why they have decided to make this longer trip back home in the first place.

The way they’re feeling (masculine or feminine) influences the way they dress, with feminine days pushing them towards putting hair up and using makeup and masculine days eschewing makeup and looking ‘rougher’, as it were. They prefer simple modest clothing most of the time when adventuring out on the road regardless of gender, but have been known to dress up and wear makeup on a particularly feminine day.

For Reinhart Rowman, the town was always too quiet. Born with the white fur common to kitsune oracles, Reinhart knew from a young age that much would be expected of him, and seesawed between impatience for his life to begin and the urge to shrug off all responsibility and run free.

The wily elders of Malpurdy found ways to channel Reinhart's exuberance, enlisting him to patrol the wilds around the town with the cool-headed rangers that watched for trouble. That's how he first met Shalelu. He'd heard a hundred stories about the heroic elven guardian of the wilds, and how she'd saved Malpurdy and other towns from a host of troubles, and she was even more impressive in person. He developed a kind of hero worship of her common enough among kitsune youth: A nearly obsessive desire to follow her around and prank her incessantly. Fortunately for everyone involved, Shalelu was clever enough to avoid his little schemes and wise enough not to take offense.

Not everyone in Malpurdy was as fortunate, and many breathed a sigh of relief when Reinhart's destiny finally revealed itself. One bright night, he found himself high on a hilltop having a drawn-out conversation with the full moon. Not much of what they said to each other made much sense to him afterwards, but he remembered this much: He should make a pilgrimage to conduct a lunar ceremony for the well-being of Malpurdy during a total solar eclipse. The elders of the town consulted their astrological charts, and realized all the eclipses for the next few years would be in Tien Xia, their people's ancestral homeland.

Reinhart is quivering with excitement at the prospect of such a grand and auspicious journey, especially since learning that Shalelu will be in the caravan as well. He's also enormously proud of the guardian the moon has given him for the trip, a young white tiger whose appearance in the Western continents is a complete mystery. The only thing that would make it better would be if he didn't have to keep Malpurdy's secret...but perhaps he will figure out a way to reveal his kitsune nature without raising suspicions about his hometown.

I prefer building and playing characters for flavor over power or optimization.

I'm on the East Coast (GMT-5), but I can post pretty much whenever. Don't be surprised if you wake up in the morning and it turns out I posted an hour ago.

Backstory of Posh Stemtimple:

Posh Stemtimple was born into a large, exuberant family of gnomes who settled in the outskirts of Sandpoint. His parents, successful toymakers and artisans, brought color and delight to the town with their intricate crafts and festive personalities. Posh, the youngest of their brood, was known for his boundless curiosity and an imagination that frequently outpaced reality. He was a dreamer, often more enamored with the idea of heroism than the practicalities of living in a small town.

As a child, Posh spent hours exploring Sandpoint, captivated by its beauty and the tales of adventurers who passed through. The Rusty Dragon became his second home, where he’d listen in rapt awe to Ameiko Kaijitsu’s songs and stories. Her music, a perfect blend of passion and artistry, struck something deep in his heart. Ameiko’s wit and charm made her a hero in Posh’s eyes, and the two struck up an unlikely friendship. Posh would often bring her his family’s painted wooden figurines, carved to resemble mythical heroes, and regale her with wild stories of his own imagined exploits.

A Turning Point: Discovering Shelyn

When Posh was a young teenager, a traveling priest of Shelyn visited Sandpoint. The priest’s vibrant clothing, melodic voice, and stories of the Eternal Rose’s beauty and compassion enthralled the impressionable gnome. Shelyn’s teachings of love, art, and protecting the innocent resonated with Posh’s longing for a world full of wonder and heroism. The priest gifted Posh a simple wooden holy symbol of Shelyn, carved into the shape of a songbird. It was the first step on his path to devotion.

Later, while helping Ameiko in the Rusty Dragon, Posh overheard her singing a ballad about Shelyn’s champion defeating a hideous beast with nothing but a blade of light and an unshakable faith in beauty. That story sealed Posh’s fate. He declared to Ameiko—and anyone else who would listen—that he would become such a champion, defending the beauty and love in the world from all who would mar it.

His Bumbling Heroics:

Posh began training as a paladin in the backyard of his family’s workshop, using a carved wooden sword and his father’s old shield. His “heroic” exploits around Sandpoint became the stuff of local amusement: rescuing stray cats from imaginary dragons, challenging wayward geese to duels, and attempting to “cleanse” the Hagfish of its supposed curse (much to Jargie Quinn’s annoyance). His heart was always in the right place, even if his execution was... less than graceful.

Despite his quirks, Posh’s dedication to Shelyn was undeniable. He took to painting shields, writing poetry, and serenading villagers with songs of love and courage (whether they wanted him to or not). His zeal, paired with an unshakable belief in the goodness of the world, made him an endearing figure in Sandpoint, though he was often seen as more whimsical than practical.

The Call to Adventure:

Posh’s chance to prove himself as a true hero came when Ameiko began speaking of her restlessness and desire to leave Sandpoint. Sensing that the fates were aligning, Posh vowed to protect his dear friend on her journeys. Though she initially balked at the idea of the bumbling gnome accompanying her, Posh’s earnestness and unwavering loyalty eventually won her over. He crafted an ornate shield adorned with Shelyn’s holy symbol and presented it to Ameiko as a token of his oath.

Now, with his wooden songbird symbol hanging around his neck, a (mostly) polished longsword at his side, and dreams of heroism in his heart, Posh sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. He may stumble, trip, and inadvertently cause chaos, but when beauty or innocence is threatened, the light of Shelyn guides him true—and woe to any foe who underestimates the stalwart gnome paladin.

Personality:

Quixotic Idealist: Posh sees the world as a stage for heroism and beauty, often leading him to misinterpret danger or inflate the significance of minor events.
Bumbling but Capable: Though prone to mishaps, Posh’s heart is pure, and his devotion to Shelyn fuels moments of genuine heroism. He can be surprisingly deadly in combat when defending what he loves.
Hopeless Romantic: Whether crafting poems or admiring the sunset, Posh finds beauty in everything. He often attempts (poorly) to matchmake for others, believing love to be the ultimate expression of Shelyn’s will.

A post per day during the week is no problem.

I've been playing D&D (of various sorts) since the late 1970s.

I've got a fairly proven history of posting on these boards.

Almost always available on Discord, so no problem there.

I can crank out crunch and such once picked and requested. Happy to adjust skills and things to suit what the party needs.

Glaive:+3 1d10+1
Gandasa:+2 2d4+1
Cestus:+2 1d4+1
Dagger:+2 1d4+1

Sling:+2 1d4

Armor:
Armored Coat
Heavy Wooden Shield

Skills:
Diplomacy:+7
Know(Religion)+5
Sense Motive+5
Profession(Cook)+5
Craft:(Calligraphy)+5

Background:
Perform:Storytelling +7
Perform:Dance +9

Feats:Weapon Focus:Glaive, Bladed Brush

Equipment:
Paladin Kit: Backpack,Belt Pouch,Cheap Holy Text,Flint and Steel,Iron Pot, Mess Kit,Soap, Torches(10),Trail Rations(5) Waterskin, Wooden Holy Symbol
Grooming Kit
Gear Maintenance Kit
Cooking Kit
Patchwork Cloak
Explorers Outfit
Entertainers Outfit
Coffee Pot
Coffee
Cup
Eyepatch
Hat
Chroniclers Kit

PP:
GP:15
SP:8
CP:

Traits:
Savant:
Perform Dance(+2) Perform is a Class Skill for you.
Foster Child: Knowledge(Planes)+2,It is a class skill for you

Detect Evil: At Will

Smite Evil: 1/day (7th,13th,20th) +3 att/+1 dmg(+2) +3 AC

Koya fostered him, but the boy rejected the teaches of Desna for the pull of Shelyn and her colorful works and beautiful words. Still he took to the lessons learning what he could. he was a natural dancer and storyteller. Over the next few years he perfected a variety of stories and dances that Koya would smile at his humorous and engaging nature.

Still the lad grew and learned that he would hear the call of Shelyn. Knowing this he began to pester the residents of the town. He would learn weapons and cooking to get favors from the hard working folk via prepping a meal. This lead to him becoming a Paladin.