About Mai YoshiroStatistics:
Half-elf Geisha 5 / Noble Scion 2
CN Medium Humanoid (Human, Elf) Initiative +1, Perception +12 -------------------- DEFENSE -------------------- AC 11 , touch 11, flat-footed 10 (1 DEX) HP 51 (9 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7) Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +6 -------------------- OFFENSE -------------------- Speed 30' Metal Fan (1d4 @ x2) --------------------
Trait: Skills: (8 points; 6 Class, 1 INT, 2 background skills, 1 favored class) (1) Acrobatics +5 (7) Appraise +11 (0) Bluff +6 (1) Climb +5 (1) Craft(Calligraphy) +7 (0) Diplomacy (See Perform(Oratory)) (1) Disguise +10 (0) Intimidate +6 (1) Know(Arcana) +5 (1) Know(Dungeoneering) +5 (1) Know(Engineering) +5 (1) Know(Geography) +5 (1) Know(History) +5 (1) Know(Local) +5 (1) Know(Nature) +5 (7) Know(Nobility) +13 (1) Know(Planes) +5 (1) Know(Religion) +5 (7) Linguistics +11 (7) Perception +12 (7) Perform(Comedy) +23 (1) Perform(Dance) +15 (7) Perform(Oratory) +28 (7) Profession(Merchant) +11 (1) Profession(Tailor) +5 (1) Ride +5 (0) Sense Motive (See Perform(Oratory)) (1) Sleight of Hand +5 (1) Spellcraft +5 (1) Stealth +5 (3) Use Magic Device +12 -------------------- SPECIAL ABILITIES -------------------- Geisha Knowledge (Ex):
A geisha adds half her class level (minimum 1) on Craft (calligraphy) checks, Diplomacy checks, Knowledge (nobility) checks, and one type of Perform check (act, dance, oratory, percussion, string instruments, or sing); she may make checks with these skills untrained.
Bardic Performance:
A bard is trained to use the Perform skill to create magical effects on those around him, including himself if desired. He can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Charisma modifier. At each level after 1st a bard can use bardic performance for 2 additional rounds per day. Each round, the bard can produce any one of the types of bardic performance that he has mastered, as indicated by his level.
Starting a bardic performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. Changing a bardic performance from one effect to another requires the bard to stop the previous performance and start a new one as a standard action. A bardic performance cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the bard is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round. A bard cannot have more than one bardic performance in effect at one time. At 7th level, a bard can start a bardic performance as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a bard can start a bardic performance as a swift action. Each bardic performance has audible components, visual components, or both. If a bardic performance has audible components, the targets must be able to hear the bard for the performance to have any effect, and many such performances are language dependent (as noted in the description). A deaf bard has a 20% change to fail when attempting to use a bardic performance with an audible component. If he fails this check, the attempt still counts against his daily limit. Deaf creatures are immune to bardic performances with audible components. If a bardic performance has a visual component, the targets must have line of sight to the bard for the performance to have any effect. A blind bard has a 50% chance to fail when attempting to use a bardic performance with a visual component. If he fails this check, the attempt still counts against his daily limit. Blind creatures are immune to bardic performances with visual components. List of Bardic Performances: Tea Ceremony: By spending 10 minutes preparing an elaborate tea ceremony, a geisha may affect her allies with inspire courage, inspire competence, inspire greatness, or inspire heroics. The ceremony’s effects last 10 minutes. The geisha must spend 4 rounds of bardic performance for each creature to be affected. Countersong (Su): At 1st level, a bard learns to counter magic effects that depend on sound (but not spells that have verbal components.) Each round of the countersong he makes a Perform (keyboard, percussion, wind, string, or sing) skill check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard's Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a non-instantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the bard's Perform skill check result for the save. Countersong does not work on effects that don't allow saves. Countersong relies on audible components. Distraction (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to counter magic effects that depend on sight. Each round of the Distraction, he makes a Perform (act, comedy, dance, or oratory) skill check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself) that is affected by an illusion (pattern) or illusion (figment) magical attack may use the bard’s Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the Distraction is already under the effect of a non-instantaneous illusion (pattern) or illusion (figment) magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it sees the Distraction, but it must use the bard’s Perform check result for the save. Distraction does not work on effects that don’t allow saves. Distraction relies on visual components. Fascinate (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and capable of paying attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard has attained beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with this ability. Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard’s level + the bard’s Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability. Fascinate relies on audible and visual components in order to function. Inspire Courage (Su): A 1st level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard’s performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 5th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. inspire courage can use audible or visual components. The bard must choose which component to use when starting his performance. Inspire Competence (Su): A bard of 3rd level or higher can use his performance to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the bard. The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on skill checks with a particular skill as long as she continues to hear the bard’s performance. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the bard has attained beyond 3rd (+3 at 7th, +4 at 11th, +5 at 15th, and +6 at 19th).
Suggestion (Sp): A bard of 6th level or higher can use his performance to make a suggestion (as per the spell) to a creature that he has already fascinated (see above). Using this ability does not disrupt the fascinate effect, but it does require a standard action to activate (in addition to the free action to continue the fascinate effect). A bard can use this ability more than once against an individual creature during an individual performance. A Will saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 bard’s level + bard’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature (but see mass suggestion, below). Suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language-dependent ability and relies on audible components. [spoiler=Versatile Performance (Ex)]
The types of Perform and their associated skills are: Act (Bluff, Disguise), Comedy (Bluff, Intimidate), Dance (Acrobatics, Fly), Keyboard Instruments (Diplomacy, Intimidate), Oratory (Diplomacy, Sense Motive), Percussion (Handle Animal, Intimidate), Sing (Bluff, Sense Motive), String (Bluff, Diplomacy), and Wind (Diplomacy, Handle Animal). Well-Versed (Ex):
At 2nd level, the bard becomes resistant to the bardic performance of others, and to sonic effects in general. The bard gains a +4 bonus on saving throws made against bardic performance, sonic, and language-dependent effects. Lore Master (Ex):
At 5th level, the bard becomes a master of lore and can take 10 on any Knowledge skill check that he has ranks in. A bard can choose not to take 10 and can instead roll normally. In addition, once per day, the bard can take 20 on any Knowledge skill check as a standard action. He can use this ability one additional time per day for every six levels he possesses beyond 5th, to a maximum of three times per day at 17th level. Inventory:
Carrying Capacity Light 0-43 lb. Medium 44-86 lb. Heavy 87-130 lb. Current Load Carried 33 lb.
Background:
Born in the forests of Jinin, Yoshiro was the culmination of numerous cultures and bloodlines. It would take the boy years to learn of his heritage though, and determining the roots of his ancestry would continue to serve as a driving force later in his life.
His mother, Jeanne, was an Elven tailor, known for her expertise in weaving silks. Beautiful, intricate patterns adorned her creations, and their feeling upon one’s skin was as otherworldly as their appearance. It was no secret she imbued her creations with benign magic meant to augment the comfort and appeal of the garments. Beauty was always a face of her life, and her worship of the Western goddess, Shelyn, was testament to this fact. Yoshiro inherited the natural beauty his mother exhibited, though this mattered less to the community around him. Unlike the vast majority of the people around him, he did not come from pure elven stock; rather, his mother had fallen for a travelling merchant: Toan Hao.. The yang to her yin, he was a coarse and abrasive Tian-Dian man in appearance, though quite civil beneath the surface. Yet appearances meant much to peers during one’s youth, and Yoshiro struggled to be accepted for his interracial nature. His father did not stay after planting his seed, moving along his route through Amanandar, Kwanlai, and through Naikang Bay to his home of Xa Hoi. Yoshiro would not meet him for many years. Though nobody pushed for his exile, the youth often explored the borders of the towns and country. He was involved with more than one skirmish with the hobgoblins of Kaoling, and his knack for communication proved a boon to selling his mother’s wares in New Oppara during the occasional venture. It was during these ventures he would see the blue Samsarans from Zi Ha about the cosmopolitan city, and their unique appearance was easy to recall. During numerous trips during his adolescence, he saw one of these azure strangers watching him from a distance. Yoshiro thought little of it the first few times, but when he realized it was the same person, he confronted her. The natural salesman he was, he attempted to make an appeal:
To his surprise, the woman laughed. What’s so funny? ”No, no my child.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. ”It’s just reassuring to see you are well.” Yoshiro smiled at her in confusion, not wanting to upset her by removing her hand. It felt oddly warm. ”I don’t understand. We are but the two of us, but we do quite well –“ ”Oh, you truly are your father’s son, always focused on the money!” With that he took a step back. He’d always wanted to know more about his father, but Jeanne had been tight-lipped with many of the details. ”My father? How do you know him? How do you know me?.. And, you’re a samsaran.” With each question, Yoshiro became more confused. In his envelopment with the woman, he’d also not noticed his mother approach him from behind. ”Yoshi, this woman must have you confused.” She looked to the visitor. ”Now please, if you won’t want to buy anything, he has work to do.” With that, the samsaran extended her hand that had been removed from Yoshiro’s shoulder to Jeanne. ”I believe this is the Xijan greeting?” In New Oppara, the handshake was common. ”My name is Nalita, and I am Yoshiro’s grandmother. Hear me out.” She held up her hand in well-predicted anticipation of protests from Jeanne. ”Mai Toan Hao is the boy’s father, your tryst. I am his mother. Jinin and this city are close to my home in the mountains North of here, and I like to check on my blood every so often to make sure it is well.” Her face turned into a look of concern briefly. ”Toan Hao is a quick-tempered man, and I’m sorry he did not stay with you to help you raise Yoshi. I tried to help where I could without interfering, for you are his mother and I did not want you to disrupt your bond. You deserve his adoration for how well you raised him. Now in his dawn of manhood, I beseech you: May a grandmother be a part of her grandson’s life?” It turned-out Nalita was a powerful mage, and the many years she spent in reflection in Zi Ha had allowed her easy of divinations to find and track the two of them. They spent a few days exchanging pleasantries and learning about one another – Yoshiro most of all. He hadn’t understood the life cycle of the mysterious race, nor did he understand the import of his father’s heritage – due in no small part because it wasn’t revealed to him: The silver irises his eyes possessed were due the Tian-Dian heritage, and their coloration gave his father a high social status in the Southern country. Inundated with the new information, Yoshiro was somewhat excited. Maybe I can meet him. I could visit his business, learn a trade … make some friends. Though he wasn’t hated, the teen (in half-elf time) was lonely. New Oppara was the only place when he had the opportunity to connect with others who didn’t immediately distance themselves from his heritage … and instead appreciated it. Indeed, while his mother had been selling silks by day, he often discarded his at night to bed someone. Partially for experimenting in pleasures of the flesh, Yoshiro still felt empty afterwards. Maybe I can have a lasting connection by visiting my father. So it was Nalita arranged a visit one month, and Toan Hao arrived in New Oppara on one of his caravan ventures. Jeanne did not attend, for she said while no hate was harbored for Yoshio’s father, she did not want to “rekindle wet wood”. She did give her blessing for the youth to apprentice with him though if he was to check-in with her via Nalita. Toan Hao was initially hesitant to take-on his son, but when Nalita nudged him with information of what a salesman he was, he acquiesced. Their ventures were successful, and they accrued wealth at an ever-increasing rate. The Mai family name was power and prestige in Xa Hoi – and beyond. His father had an estate and servants in Ngon Hoa, his mansion on one of the higher towers in the metropolis. The architecture was masterful to behold, but the harsh system of laws was intimidating to the now-adult Yoshiro. His father specialized in raw trade goods as opposed to his mother’s finished products, so there was less haggling over a few coins per purchase and more over unit rates – for sales and labor. Seeing the human cost of labor matured Yoshiro, and he found it difficult to connect to people who were so clearly his “lessers” in the city. He didn’t think of them that way, but the obvious class difference was too awkward to overcome. The pair had occasionally made their way to Goka, the gateway to the West. The trip was long, and Yoshiro had never explicitly been told why they went there, but he was set apart from his father as a trial of sorts – seeing what a businessman he could be on his own accord. He never knew exactly what his father did during the few days they stayed apart, but he enjoyed himself. The city was more cosmopolitan, people more open to new connections. If only I could stay here … though the comforts of the mansion were nice… During one such visit, there was a knock at his chamber door one night. His paramour had been woken by the sound as well, and an annoyed Yoshio went to the door. It was his father. The coarse voice was sterner than he’d heard it in some time. ”Dress and come quickly. Keep your voice.” The man shut the door, and after a quick apology, Yoshiro donned his clothes and followed. Down dark streets and alleys, the pair reached a shady establishment. His father spoke in a tongue he did not know, and a dark-skinned man opened a latched door. Hallways and staircases abounded, and the kin descended numerous levels into a basement lair of sorts. What is this place? Men with scars and blades stood outside a door, though with a hand signal from his father, they opened the ornate portal for him. At the end of the dark chamber sat a plump man at a thick, heavy desk. It was made out of some unusual material Yoshiro couldn’t place. The old man smiled. ”Ah, this is him? Yes, very good.” Toan Hao turned to Yoshiro. ”Like you, I did not meet my father for some time. It wasn’t because he didn’t know he had a son though; it was because of the danger in connecting himself to him. You’re ready for this now though. You’ll do the family business proud.” ”Mai Huu Tai, my grandson. I do complicated work for the city. You’ve got a knack for business, your father says. But I was wondering if you have a penchant for politics…” Inundated with emotion, Yoshiro paused. Initially, he was excited with the prospect of moving on to a more potent line of work. It wasn’t he disliked playing the market – he loved it – but the consequences were much farther-reaching than a satchel full of coin. Some anger flared within him after a moment, for Toan Hao, absent for most of his life, had prevented him from not only having a father but also having the opportunity to pursue this new work. The burst of sentiment wore to a bitter aftertaste of fear: What would I do that is so dangerous?
The plump grandfather nodded. ”Glad you asked. Tak Hitoshi – he’s a constable with good eyes and better ears. I guess the eyes aren’t too bad though; they’re orange from the Min blood.” He began to count-off on his fingers. ”He hears about opportunities before we can take them, he hovers around our people like insects on a fruitfall, and he always calls-in his betters when there’s too much for him to handle. He’s too damned good. Too damned diligent!” The man had worked himself into a spot of anger. After calming a bit, he continued. ”I had some people look into his background. He was of some status back from his peninsula, but he’s not said a word about it in Goka. Now why would that be?” Yoshiro shrugged. ”Maybe he wanted a change of pace?” Running away from responsibility – I’m sure my father could understand. His grandfather laughed. ”People don’t shirk comfortable lives, boy. Your father learned that, and you will too.” Though he turned to Toan Hao, his father remained stoic and silent. Something you haven’t told me is there? ”He needs to let us continue our operations without interference. The sooner this happens, the better.” Yoshiro didn’t like where this was going. Do they expect me to kill him?.. ”Sir, I’ve never done that kind of work before, and – “ ”Oh, I think you have. See, our diviners are capable enough to monitor agents of the law’s movements, they can surely observe some street vendor. You might be opposed to warring, but wenching – “ At this, his father spoke up. ”Enough. He knows the goal. His – “ ”YOU do not tell ME enough!” The old man shot a finger towards his son, and a beam of energy crackled forth. It grazed his father’s wrist, and Yoshiro watched him pull back in pain. He should have leapt to Toan Hao’s defense, but there was no strong bond between them. ”As I was saying…” Powerful and quick his power might have been, but Huu Tai had to take a few deep breaths before continuing. ”Your son isn’t picky with his playmates. Strumpets or suitors will do, it seems – why, I was sorry to interrupt the latter when your father came to fetch you for this task.” The smile slowly spreading on the man’s face was a wicked vein of pride. He likes power. He couldn’t care less who I was with, as long as he had me in his grasp… Yoshiro’s father was no psychic though, and his guilt showed plainly. ”Yoshiro, Huu Tai means no ill will towards you…” ”I know.” The unexpectedly calm response interrupted the thoughts of the other family members for a bit, but Huu Tai recovered after a second, nodding. ”A son with eyes for detail beneath the surface. Good.” He shot Hoan Hao a look of victory with his dark eyes before turning them back to Yoshiro. ”Tak Hitoshi shares a similar taste, and he goes through greater efforts than you to conceal it. I can’t IMAGINE it would be good for his standing with the city security if he were to be found unfit for duty…” Yoshiro took the hint. ”You want me to embarrass him?” ”Not immediately. Get close to him. See what he knows. Nudge him for appointment times that would force a conflict with our more delicate affairs.” ”And what do I get for this?” There was a quick flash of rage in Huu Tai’s eyes, though it quickly melted into a different type of smile. One of pride. He thinks I am like him. So sad… ”It depends what he knows. If he’s a piece of cheese with a blackjack, you get to have a permanent vendor stall in a high-traffic area. If he gives us the keys to the city, you can have a piece of the Wall of Heaven.” Huu Tai’s offer was a challenge to Yoshiro. He didn’t like his privacy violated, nor did he care for the wicked ego and demanding nature of the man. Yet he was in Goka now, and the underground network was a cesspool one could find themselves treading in for some time. That is not my destiny. ”Very well. How shall we be introduced?” ”Oh, don’t worry. We’ll handle that...” ***************** ”My satchel!” Yoshiro reached down to grab where a tug had been moments before. His coins were missing, and the blur of a dashing cutpurse darted through the crowd. ”Thief! Thief!” The half-elf did his best to sprint through the crowd in the busy street, but he had no luck making headway on the man, always one step ahead of him. As he approached the intersection, a tall, muscular individual made to intercept him. As he dove, the trickster slipped away, though the coins were forfeited, clinking around the ground by the constable. Well-done, Gansukh. His clothes common, his hair unkempt, the young man stooped to reclaim his belongings. After a moment, he had a pair of helping hands. ”Let me know if you’re missing anything from your sack. I don’t often miss my targets. Sorry about that.” His concern is sincere; so is his disappointment. This was surely beyond the man’s job purview, yet he helped Yoshiro anyway. He extended a hand. ”Yun Zhao, a travelling merchant from New Oppara. You have my thanks for attempting to stop that robbery.” He emphasized attempted just enough. Just enough… The officer grimaced. ”Tak Hitoshi. You must not be from the West, though you are fluid with their manners.” He returned the handshake. Observant. Strong. ”Can I offer you some sake as thanks?” ”I can’t,” responded Tak, not even looking up from the street. ”While on duty, I am not to drink.” But as he handed the refilled satchel to Yoshiro, a customer’s hesitation took hold. ”Are you sure? You look like you could use one, and you certainly earned it.” His eyes and smile were in full view of Hitoshi’s countenance now. The man hesitated, and moments passed. ”Well, I suppose when I am done for the day.”
Hitoshi covered his eyes as he looked down the street into the setting sun. ”Soon.” They weren’t kidding when they said he was duty-bound. How loyal… **************** And so it was Yoshiro inserted himself into Hitoshi’s after-hours. The frequency of their conventions increased, and the duplicitous man succeeded in having him adjust shifts to “better suit their time together”, in actuality covering for Huu Tai’s dealings instead. Yet Hitoshi was tight as a clam when it came to his past. There was a larger problem though. Yoshiro wasn’t sure he wanted to continue playing the man for a pawn anymore; he’s a paragon of virtue and does nothing but good. Why isn’t he in a monastery someplace? Guilt began to erode his veneer, using the man as a pawn for his personal gain, and the discomfort manifested towards anguish. I can’t keep this up. Hitoshi would notice. Little slips by him. What should I do?.. |
