About SamuruIntroduction Dramatica:
Tengu, like the crows they are most oft compared to, show up anywhere there is decay. In Westcrown, there is most certainly an abandoned warehouse or two for various conspiracies to show up, and where a Tengu can be, they will be, dangers of the Hellknights be damned.
Samuru the Tengu knows not his parentage, only his purpose. In the conspiracy he was raised in, he was raised to hunt down any thieves who either left the conspiracy or were competition. He is told it was because of a particular whim of the leader of the conspiracy. There was a sternness in his eyes, a straightness in standing as he aged that was different from his fellow tengu. One might ask how such a Tengu would become a Chaotic Good inquisitor who wishes to turn the world into a happy place of sunshine and rainbows while being stoic and bitter, to exaggerate slightly. Samuru would put it thusly, “If a man is no more than a product of his surroundings, then Justice is a farce. I do not want to live in a world without Justice, so I must say that every man is the product of his choices. I believe evil must be rewarded with evil in return, for even “evil” circumstances can turn out a good man.” There were evil circumstances in his childhood. Blood and loss, drama and tragedy. A tale could be written. But this is not that story. Samuru pays his past little heed*. But, no one can be a complete stoic, constantly spouting off hard and deep philosophical stuff when not mysteriously standing in the shadows, however, and Samuru’s weakness lies in stories, and in particular books. The tales of long past heroes elicits a childlike glee in the otherwise bitter and hard Samuru. There are few things he likes more than to sit down with a book in a tongue he doesn’t know and attempt to decipher it. He likes the sort of immortality it can give to the beings described in the tale, and probably hopes that someday, someone will write a book about someone like him. It is these moments that one sees most why under Samuru’s hard callous “Rawr, Justice!” exterior, he is Chaotic Good. He still allows himself to give into that most tempting of emotions, hope. He believes that his actions will someday lead to a better world and the bitterness and cynicalness that he uses to get himself through the day without dropping his guard has not yet permeated to the core of his being. Hope is a powerful thing, and it drives Samuru forward. Whether or not it will achieve his goals or merely blind him to a path of littered bodies and broken dreams left in his wake remains to be seen. *But his past heeds him, see Living City Spoiler. Appearance:
Most people can't tell one black-feathered Tengu from another, but they might notice Samuru is different* if they pay him a little heed. Rather than the slinking crouch most Tengu walk with, Samuru stands straight and tall, though he has no less grace than his kin. His eyes give off not a covetous glint (unless books are involved) but a stern penetrating glare.
*of course, his clothes easily identify him, but that shall be under the equipment spoiler. Religion:
Nominally, Samuru worships Milani. However, he has never heard much about Milani and doesn't know enough to really worship her as she was orginally meant to be worshiped. It is more accurate to say that he has a particular ideal that he identifies as Milani. He finds her imagery of a rose growing out of a blood stained street (practically the only thing he knows about her) poignant. He mind fantasize himself as an example of that. It is not one's environment who decides what you become. Through bloodshed and toil, something beautiful can result. In a way, this is how he rationalizes killing. If Samuru does not watch his steps, he may find himself Chaotic Neutral rather than Chaotic Good. Occupation:
Currently, Samuru would describe himself as a Vigilante. He pretty much hides in the shadows and waits for random crime to happen, as he doesn't currently have leads as to who to hunt in particular after the dissolution of his past connections*. Obviously, he won't be able to maintain himself doing this for very long, so if given a job that matched his beliefs, he would likely jump at the chance.
*see Living City Spoiler Stat Block:
Samuru
Tengu Inquisitor 1 CG Medium humanoid (Tengu) Init +3; Senses low light vision; ignores dim light miss chance; Perception +9 Defense
Offense
Statistics
As you can see, domain still missing. Working on it.
Equipment:
Much of Samuru's equipment comes from a Dwarf with an eclectic collection of hobbies, Machen*. That's how he acquired his exotic curved blade. A Dwarven take on the Elven curve blade, the blade is far less decorated than a typical Elven curve blade and it has no use for any excess embellishment. The hilt is of black cloth and the blade's sheath is also of dark cloth that simply falls off when the blade is tugged from his belt so that it may be drawn silently. His leather armor is similarly darkened, with similar sheaths for his throwing knives. Similarly, his swordbreaker dagger is a purchase from Machen.
Underneath his armor, his clothes are functional but not pretty. They're constantly wrinkled, thanks to the the leather armor, but they're a dark blue long sleeved shirt and pants. No shoes, as his Tengu feet don't take kindly to many varieties of shoes. He doesn't carry rations on his person, as he generally doesn't leave the city. *see Living City Spoiler, Happy-Fun-Time Edition Traits:
Shadow Child: Samuru was raised in the dark, in the back alley ways hunting thieves. The dim light was the favored shield and cloak of many thieves, but Samuru became accustomed to it in order to hunt them all the better. Cantor: ... Guess. He was raised with thieves. Living City:
East Rikkan ~ The Bloody Ash Houses ~ Yoshiteru
Not long ago, amidst a forgot and dilapidated part of Rikkan, there was a series of bloody murders, Thief's wars, and destruction by fire of about half the area before it was quenched. Some even say the area has become haunted. While though there's no solid evidence, the area is certainly spooky enough, old ash raked building wearing away. Samuru was vital in orchestrating this to be an even slugfest resulting in bloodbath, rather than the ambush his conspiracy had intended, and slew a small number by his own hands, companion and enemy alike, in the name of justice. Still. There is little here now except bad memories and an aura of malevolence raging at it's own lack of power. However, not all died that day, and among the survivors of Samuru's conspiracy, there was one who didn't flee away into the night but rather swore revenge. Yoshiteru, who due to their similar ages considered Samuru a brother, clawed his way out of a building with half his feathers and flesh burned off. Now with half of his body constantly entombed in mummy like bandages, he seeks power and plots revenge. Yoshiteru is the one who may carry the memories of what would otherwise remain the past, buried and gone forever, into the future. Living City, Happy-Fun-Time Edition.:
Westcrown ~ The Short Change ~ Machen
Not all is dark in Cheliax, as still lights of cheer and hope burn, however dimly. Machen is a amicable Dwarven Smuggler Archivist Merchant... Well, that's what he's trying this year. A connoisseur of a hundred arts, Machen hopes to take advantage of his long dwarven life and taste every flavor the world has to offer (in the literal alcoholic brew sense in addition to the metaphorical). Currently, he's tried his hand at smuggling books and weapons into Cheliax, and has made friends with and introduced Samuru to books, which, though had previously been ignored in his training, came naturally to him as a Tengu, perhaps more so than his brethren, even. Machen can be found wherever there's a place to sell his goods. Machen will frequent the big events, but, if he knows you, he might even discuss business at any tavern loud enough to prevent people from listening in. One place he particularly frequents on his "off-hours" is The Short Change, a bar specifically for those under 4'. Thanks to the low ceilings, small doors, and handy escape routes, it's perfect for evading Hellknight attention (what Hellknight would deign to taking all his much vaunted armor off and crouching around inside the tavern?) Taller patrons can manage, but they're well advised to take advantage of city on the floor rather than on a chair. |
