Castieen proceeds behind Rupert, arriving at the table and setting across from him, confident that his team mates would watch his back."The littles hero was it?" he asks himself more than anyone else.
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off to bed early tonight, starting a new job at 4 in the morning ugh. see you guys tomorrow afternoon.
"a-gatherin' we go then."Castieen remarks gleefully, spinning on his heel and heading away from the balcony." Rupert? Tabby, was it?" The slim elf craned his head slightly over his shoulder as he questioned after his partners. "Yasushi, is there a dark orb in your other pocket for us or is there a door in here somewhere to get back to the dragon?" He turns his inquiry towards their leader as he glanced about the shadowy landscape, a spindly long-nailed finger tapping at the point of his chin.
Southeast Ky here, not much in the way of entertainment, haha.
Castieen pockets the dagger within the folds of his outfit and gives Kyrani and Rupert a nod"Seems like we'll have to put our ears to the ground for this first bit of work. What's the name of this Orphanage?"
Just checkin' in. Today's probably gonna be busy and I'll be having company from tomorrow through the weekend, so I'll post when I can, but expect it to be a little sparse, I apologize! Feel free to dmnpc Castieen however you need to if you have to, but I'll do my best to keep you from having to.
Castieen keeps his cool and nods solemnly" I shall uphold your tenants. I'm sure our relationship will be mutually beneficial friends."
Castieen clenches his teeth together in order to keep his jaw from being unhinged by sheer force of his awe. He does his best to gather himself and searches his memory for any local legend or bit of extracted information he might have heard about this negative reflection while he was working in the city of Absalom,
Si, Senor.
I initially had bluff as that, but seeing as he's much better at intimidating, i made a last second change to sleight of hand, as long as you don't mind.
Although grimacing a sideways smile as the wound heals,Castieen looks noticeably irked by the addition of yet another presence within his considerably crowded psyche. Nevertheless he shakes off the intrusion and skillfully conceals the blade within the favored folds of his fur brimmed fine coat as was his custom.
Castieen nods silently as he mimics the two, gripping the cutting edge of the dagger tightly in his off hand and jerking downward. Blood flows soon after and the encrusted blade absorbs his elven blood and glows faintly, a brighter red than before.
Castieen hardly has time to be surprised by the appearance of the blood dagger before being swept to the large room with the other recipients." You'll not be disappointed, I thank you for the opportunity friends." Castieen smiles smugly, practically beaming. Many years had came and went in his time among the shorter lived species, but now it seemed he was poised to achieve real power and far reaching influence. He steps back and returns the nod to Ragar" Think nothing of it Ragar, We'll do well to look out for one another in this venture I imagine."
Thanks DM/everyone else! I struggled with the alignment as well, as i wasn't too sure where he'd end up, but after playing him i'll probably bring him to NE. Happy early Canada day. I'll get on replying in game.
" You're a man of your word Thiran."Castieen accepts the coins and places the price in an extra coinpurse. " Congratulations friend." He says to Ragar, tossing him the winnings." To replace your lost coinpurse."
Castieen leans forward and places both elbows on the table to hold up a rather fascinated face." Indeed Thiran, that he could, has a hell of a wine stock too." he mutters out matter of factually, never taking his eyes off of the exchange in the middle of the room to notice Thiran's altered appearance. " Jolly good show on that attempted break up doll. Hastened the collection of my winning from good Thiran here." He addresses Natalia smugly but offhandedly, clearly still enthralled by the wicked looking drow as the lady returns to the table.
"Castieen's the name pal, I wouldn't mess with that one she's the steely serious type." He absently sips from his glass and smiles at Natalia's underlying rage."A bet's a bet though, although perhaps we both misplaced our bets. The lady might take em both out with that dagger she's so proud of."
Castieen entertains a smile, quirking slightly at one corner at the betting man's leering eyes."Well hell, ten it is friend." He declares, tipping his glass in his direction
Castieen watches Natalia glance at the the dagger with murderous intent and can't help but laugh, albeit briefly."Masks are well and good, but I have nothing to hide here. Our tall mysterious friend who gifted you with the dagger made sure of that." He allows his eyes to trail off to the blonde female who has kept an eye towards Lady Natalia and offers her a smug smirk." Everyone gathered here has blood on their hands in one way or another. You're among peers, no need to be ashamed of what it is that you are, take pride in it, your maleficence ." He finishes with a winning smile and turns his attention to the dwarf and half-orc" It seems there is even some entertainment scheduled for the night. Three gold pieces on the firemaned half orc!"
Castieen lets out an alarming chuckle, and cuts it off abruptly as he snaps his head back at the crow. At first it is a face of cool determination, not unlike that of a jungle cat about to pounce. This slowly turns into a sneer as he levels his eye on the untouched glass of wine and then finally, obviously with some effort, to a slender smile. His left hand lashes out effortlessly from beneath airy folds of silken sleeve. The glass had shattered on the ground half way across the tavern by the time his hand had returned to his person and he had composed himself." To hell with the wine then. I couldn't tell you the last time it tasted good honestly... although i certainly don't mind the warmer tastes. It's a shame for you to limit your palette in such a way." the elf declares coldly and takes a sip of the wine from his own glass. " One learns very little of motives and tact in under an hour. Methods and morale are things shown in action, Perhaps someday you will learn not to judge so quickly." He offers, perhaps with a fleeting moment of genuine kindness." But i'm sure it's an effective defense mechanism, and you're the one holding the blood kniife, so by all means, have another glass of your ice wine, Enjoy the brief time we have while our blood is inside our veins dear, cheers."
"I dress to impress... men will smile and nod and give you anything you want as long as you look pretty enough. They wouldn't even notice when I take out a dagger and cut off their manhood and feed it to my crow" Her words are said to slightly startle the elf, and to emphasis her point Chaos caws loudly at Castieen. Natalia smiles at her jest. Castieen simply moves his wine glass in a small circular pattern, hoping to stir up a bit more of the body of the wine before he takes another drink."It seems we're cut from the same stock. As long as you look enticing enough, fodder let their guard down. It's true for men and women alike. That being said I'm impressed, but I'm not fodder." his eyebrows arch high for a moment as he tilts his head slightly, and gives Natalia a well meaning wink. He locks eyes with the bird when it caws, with the look of a caged beast observing a caged songbird, it is unclear if the look is one of pity, hunger, or both- but it's altogether unsettling. Castieen lets his actions betray his controlled exterior for a moment and his strong features show obvious surprise." Well it seems you impressed our hosts. Cheers." He finishes rather dryly, and refreshes his palette with a last gulp of the dark red wine. He smiles widely once Natalia slams the dagger into the table, obviously entertained. "Barkeep where's that damn other bottle of wine!" He exclaims over the general murmur of the tavern. a young human barmaiden arrives moments later with the bottle in hand. The girl was no older than 17 or 18 if Castieen was the type to guess and she was obviously frightened. Castieen smiled a knowing smile and took the bottle from the girls hand while slipping her a gold piece. He let his long fingers linger and brush softly against the girls arm for a half of a moment, His dark eyes meeting her bright blue irises in stark contrast." Thank you dear,you may go now." He assured her politely as her face went from that of fear to bewitched by the elf's angular good looks. As if pulled from it suddenly, the girl's already ruddy complexion blushed slightly and she nodded and scampered off. He takes this opportunity to stand and move to Lady Natalia's table, fortune favors the bold, he figured. He refills his glass on the commute over and notices Natalia's empty glass. " Perhaps in moving closer, I'll make myself that much easier to watch Madam." He jests as he busies himself with refilling her empty glass. His eyes turn to the half orc who lingers close." And perhaps this man want's to join us. The wine is yours should you wish to join us, I see no glass or I would fill it up myself friend. " His movements and words seem dual natured, said in such a way that seems oddly friendly and entirely off putting. As he sets his eyes briefly make contact with the Half elf female who was formerly setting with the small cloaked figure at the bar. He gives her a gracious nod and watches her with curious intent for a moment longer before returning his eyes across the table to lady Natalia and her newly filled glass." I suppose it's a wise choice to be so distrusting in a place full of miscreants. Perhaps the knives chose you for such discrepancy."
Castieen sets at a table at the middle of the tavern by himself. Fine dark red silks and multiple silver chains hang off of the elf's strong bone structure. Skin stretched taut over limber muscles shows itself to be light, but obviously touched by the sun. The elf is almost alien in appearance, dark eyes deepened by gaunt cheeks and ashy blonde hair with spots stark white as if blown bright by the sun. His attire is light and flowing and shows a bit of wealth, he wears it imposingly well. There is a bestial quality to the elf's smile, as if something was off just below the surface He nurses a bottle of wine setting at the middle of the table, and is sure to finish off his glass as the shadowy figure vanishes. He'd been around this town and this wasn't his first time seeing a cloaked figure vanish. It would take a little more to unnerve Castieen. " Indeed barkeep, bring me another bottle of your wine. Tonight is a night for revelry if nothing else." Castieen pours himself the last of the current bottle and awaits the arrival of the next, along with the arrival of any newcomers. The Shadowed dragon was already filling with faces he didn't know, faces trying to hide their faces, and a few faces he wouldn't mind getting to know. He maintains an inviting posture, using his charm without restraint on any barmaiden or patron who gives him a second glance. His eyes level eventually on Lady Natalia, offering a sly smile he glances at an open chair across from him" You're about the only one around here who looks like they've graduated from profiteering school" He jests" I'm not sure how long these cutpurses around us have been past stealing bread for their daily keep. Surely the knives seek those like us, more ambitious, as it were." Castieen keeps a wary eye out for danger between sips of the wine and small talk.
Alright crunch is up in profile, no use to post it here, but here's a back story and the answer to your original 3 questions. Also, I'm good with whatever mature content but would prefer limited child stuff. I mean it's cool to be mentioned or whatever but no need to be shocking or anything, I think most people would just be uncomfortable with it. Oh and rape ain't cool. But beyond that I'm down for all the maturity you can muster, mister! Backstory
Spoiler:
Castieen spent his early years in the deserts of Osirion, roaming on burned lands with a tribe of nomadic elves. He trained in the martial ways of his people and thrived in the deepest deserts with his Father and his older sister, their mother had died in giving birth to young Castieen. This would only be his first taste of blood.
Around the time the boy matured into adolescence, a full moon brought on a terrible first contact with his close connection to the beasts of the world. Consumed with murderous rage, and with new-found claws, Castieen tore his father asunder when he tried to calm his lunacy-taken son. Upon seeing the terror stricken face of his sister, he fell out of the rage. He persevered through fatigue and ran as fast as he could through the night, eventually passing out delirious and waking up in chains. The young elf found himself in a katapesh nightstall slave pin. An underground fighting ring had picked up a rare pale, sun touched desert elf, a lucky find passed out in the outskirts . He was a wiry, relatively small specimen and was expected to take a good beating at the hands of a barrel chested Osirian man. A great draw in the nightstalls. He surprised his opponent and the crowd by spinning into a bestial rage and killing the man in a spray of blood. Castieen was successful fighter, but still a slave. His killer instinct attracted unsavory attention from a street gang, who strong-armed the ownership of Castieen from the small time fight organizer. He lived for a year as not much more than an attack dog until he decided he was tired of being owned. Under cover of night, with light from the Full moon once again, Castieen murdered his owner, stole his fine clothes and as much jewelry as he could pull off without being suspicious. He bribed his way aboard a cargo ship to nearby Absalom with the fine gold and silks and set sail to start a new life in the city at the center of the world. He's lived his life here in Absalom for the past 10 years. He's made a living on his own terms through the old familiar pit fight, working as a guard, extortion, and contract killing. His time in the city has dulled his more savage tendencies in everyday life, and he has learned to control his murderous rage. He now taps into the inner reserve of bestial fury with the cold determination of an apex predator. Castieen sees himself as this apex predator in an urban jungle. His high fashion and soft face are necessary camouflage, and admitted points of pride, as a tiger is proud of his stripes. His crimes are beginning to take on a more cerebral angle and he is searching for an organization, of similar predators.
3 Questions Spoiler: 1) What, exactly, can you bring to the Blood Knives? Be as specific and detailed as possible. Castien is a cool, collected killer. Think of him like a deadly wise guy, preferring to keep up appearances and have the finest things his criminal life can offer him. As such, he's constantly profiteering. He's a deadly combatant and when in his controlled rage needs no weaponry at all. Given the fact he wears fine clothes and not bulky armor, he is an unexpected melee force. He's intimidating, and altogether unnerving, a wolf thinly veiled in sheep's clothing. He has a way of moving through crowds and also intimidating groups of people. He has a friend in a high place in Dyrianna, and would likely have access to vital information. He's an effective enforcer, undercover guard, hit man, intel broker. Wildly ambitious and deadly. 2) You're able to survive and thrive quite nicely, where do you see yourself two years from the start of the game? In other words, what personal goals, outside of the anything to do with the Blood Knives, would you like to accomplish?? Castieen is concerned with building his network of contacts. He knows the power of information and seeks to strengthen a relationship with Dyrianna and the Ascendant court district of Absalom. The higher up the friends the better. He pays lip service at the very least to Calistria and doesn't mind to make friends in the church. Two years is practically the blink of an eye to Castieen and he isn't the leading type. He'll focus on being high ranking muscle in the next 2 years. The man that is eventually called on for critical times and strikes fear into the heart of any citizen of Absalom. Until then he's content to carry on his hedonistic lifestyle among the slower lived races and make money that is always to be made. 3) You're caught in the act. How do you get away? Answering "I never get caught" is the wrong answer and will get you feed to my pet Daemon. Depends on the odds. If they're in Castieen's favor he'll always try to bluff his way out of a situation, and if that is called into doubt, he reacts with fury and intimidation. If cornered by 3 or less able bodied men, he'll most likely rage and strike with claws. Also he's never above legging it. He can move through crowds of people unimpeded and can lose almost any pursuer this way. It's also in his experience that if he simply carries on with running/climbing/jumping through the urban jungle, the average guard will simply not be able to keep pace in armor and will be overcome with fatigue before Castieen is. In time he will come to rely on a network of contacts to get him out of trouble but is as of yet relatively low key.
can't wait to see the choices, a lot of good submissions. May have to watch the thread afterwards if I'm not chosenAgreed. I concur
Red here, I'd just like to post in my alias to put a name and face to the character. crunch is coming along and I'll produce a backstory soon after. He is pretty much a literal wolf in sheep's(elf's) clothing essentially brainstorming follows. Spoiler: Castieen is kind of an odd concept, an urban barbarian with a beast totem, as well as a bite attack in addition to claws thanks to the animal fury talent. Rough concept is at a young age (for an elf) after training to be a warrior in some elven community, young Castieen( which may or may not be his true name) was overwhelmed with bestial fury and tore his family asunder with his claws one dark dreary night. The forever scarred elf fled under cover of darkness across the world.After stints as a beggar and thief and years in jails here and there for minor crimes, He winded up in Absalom, carving out a comfortable living as a deadly pit-fighter in the seedy underbelly of the city. After some time he attracted bigger fish with his animal ferocity, hunter's mentality, silver tongue, and golden face. He works as an enforcer, contract killer, and extortionist. He's worked largely on his own but is cunning in his wit and knows when to deal for the greatest gains. He eschews weapons that cannot be easily concealed in his waistline and armor entirely. He prefers to dress in the finest apparel and jewelry his lucrative trade can afford. He doesn't mind to get dirty in his clothes, he'll simply buy new ones( but he'll certainly complain about losing a favorite item). He believes a fool is born every minute, and consequentially, a coin to be made off of said fool.
If no one else steps forward to do it, Rapheal has no problem opening the trunk. He inserts the key and turns it, hearing the tumblers rattle freehe looks around and smiles at the group"Let's see what's inside." If not stopped, he goes ahead and opens the chest.
Rapheal bows low to Kendra before rising back to his full height with a knowing smile."Take all the time you need miss Lorrimor. Once the group is alone Rapheal steps forward confidently."It seems we have been thrown into the same lot by fate."He begins."I'm certain introductions are in order. I'm Rapheal Teofil, a warrior in the service of the Glory of the Risen Rose. As such is is my mission to promote and protect, all that is beautiful,His voice jumps with excitement before his tone dives to a solemn low with his conclusion. And only when there is no other way, to root out the ugliness of evil with the edge of my glaive..." He steps back with a meager smile and glances around the room wondering who would come next.
Rapheal smiles simply." What a generous man. Many good works can be accomplished with that sum of money.
Rapheal is lost in his thoughts as he absorbs the gentle rain. Evas glance is enough to shake him from his trance however and he nods"Indeed, it'd be a pleasure Kendra.
Rapheal smiles solemnly." Today is a beautiful day, as everyday is, so teaches Shelyn. It is a day to remember the professor's beautiful life and rejoice that you had the pleasure of knowing such a gorgeous soul." Rapheal produces a hand carved wooden bird from his belt pouch and places it gently near the headstone." That which cannot be said is Expressed best through music. While the Professor was traveling with my father's caravan, I showed him a few melodies on the flute. This is called " Petals of a Ramblin' Rose" and Lorrimor always liked it. It's only fitting I play it for him one last time." Rapheal moves his hands, now holding a wooden flute, from beneath his cloak to his face. Pausing to take in the look of the gathering, he inhales deeply and plays a beautifully haunting, mournful melody in memory of the departed man with eyes clenched tight. Once it is over he swiftly stows away the instrument and steps aside, looking to Father Grimburrow for what would be the next step
"Eva is right," Rapheal pipes in" There's no need to hold a grudge against a dead man." The words roll off of his tongue with a serenity to match Evangeline's.
Rapheal follows the other's lead and falls in line to carry the coffin." I'm honored." He says with a warm smile as he passes Kendra
A broad shouldered man of 6'3 stands cloaked, in his right hand is a well worn glaive, which bears a wicked hook and a golden leaf design. He wears sturdy traveling boots with simple wool breeches. His shirt is ruffled and his chest is covered only modestly by the deep purple cloak, clasped loosely with a rather crudely carved wooden symbol of the Eternal Rose. As the young lady steps forward, Rapheal pulls back his hood to reveal a strong but youthful face. His hair is dark, but bears a few uncanny streaks of chestnut and blonde and his complexion a warm olive. He exudes an unearthly benevolence, and his handsome skin seems to glow as if lit favorably by candle light, even in the dreary Ustalav rain. As he levels his eyes on hers, his most striking feature is revealed, his left iris a silvery blue in stark contrast to the dark hazel of the right. He Bows his head respectfully" My condolences Kendra." he begins with his head down before returning his unique gaze to the sobbing girl." My time with the Professor was short but his diligence was incredible and and the world's potential for beauty is lessened without such a lovely soul." His words are warm and his mannerisms comforting. " My name is Rapheal Teofil of the Glory of the Risen Rose, and the pleasure of making your acquaintance is all mine."
Here we have an undead scourge paladin of Shelyn with his trusty Glaive. he's not completely done but we're getting there. I really wanted to use the Empyreal Knight archetype given his Aassimar blood, but the benefits are redundant, and I'm counting on "divine grace" to shore up my dismal reflex save at 2nd level rough background is looking like Rapheal was born to the traveling worshipers of the Glory of the Risen Rose(the entry in faiths of purity won me over) and has such grown up in the caravan. The birth of this divinely beautiful babe would have been celebrated and his celestial beauty made him a favorite among the caravan's faithful. Growing up in this environment made his faith in Shelyn devout, and led him to pick up on artistic as well as martial endeavors. His father defended the caravan and he was taught to do the same. While Professor Lorrimor traveled with the Risen Rose, the professor slid off a sheer cliff and would have fell many hundred feet to his death if Rapheal hadn't grabbed him in time. His beckoning to Ustalav is his first time away from the caravan, and he's young and inexperienced, but eager to spread Shelyn's works |