The Blind Tian's page

Kusuma, sitting in his cell, can tell from the amped up stench that Lucas and pissed himself again. His serenity from meditation falls down around him. He thinks to himself, "after the b!%~% is dead, this city will burn... I just have to make sure Lydia isn't near the flames."

In his perverted outlook philosophy, Talingarde is the new opponent, a fighter to be bested, the biggest one yet, and one that he can't even see, but it will bleed, and die... Just like all the others.

Not formatted, but how I would see Kusuma thinking as he rots in the cell, hopefully giving you an idea of how I would keep him invested long term.

Whitney is certainly Kusuma's short term goal, but if he were to find freedom he would likely seek long term revenge for his captivity, forcing him to be reliant on a pathetic weakling like Lucas in order to survive incarceration would be quite maddening to him. This could inspire some rage against the machine to keep him in Talingarde just to see the city burn.
Kusuma's worldview is shaped by combat, if he were a part of an organization that allowed him to face new and challenging opponents, he would be content, hoping to master his martial training as well as his perceptive skills with the absence of sight. (Which would be his long term goal in its simplest form.)
He would certainly love to 'see' Lydia again, and deciding on how that plays out there is room for more development as well. Not to mention the fact that he really loves to travel, so if the campaign ever leaves Talingarde that would interest him as well.
Without trying to tell you what to do, some things that could interest or occupy or otherwise engage Kusuma long term could involve Jaden and his wife's other family members, Master Budi's desire for him to return to Tiang-Sing in order to train new swordsmen, leaving his 'dark' past for a brighter future sort of angle. Unless the world suddenly became a better place for him, that would likely conflict with his goals as well.

Ya, blindness will be tough, and I should explain that the only access I am aware of to the 'scent' ability is through the heritage feat of having half orc blood in him. There is no half orc blood, the feat is a pure tax to get access to scent. His face is also scarred and disfigured, but the true damage was to his eyes. Beyond that, alertness, and the blind fighting feat chain, and I think he'll be workable. I mean, it never stopped Daredevil :)

That said, if you don't want to deal with the blindness, I will redo parts of him to include only the scarring. But to me, the blindness kind of defines him.

He came to Talingarde simply because that's where the wind blew him. He views everything that happens as destiny in his attempt to prove his martial prowess, being that duels to the death are illegal in most places, he can't stay in one place very long, and hence, ended up here. I doubt he was in town long, once word would get out, and the 'heat' would get turned on he would go somewhere else. So, as cliche as it sounds, he has been all over the world, never staying in one place for very long.

Lydia is really a hook all for you. Does she really love him back, or is she just 'doing her job?' Is she near, far? Whatever works for the story you want to tell. I view her has an object of Lust, Lusuma believes he is in 'love' with her, but we've all known that guy before... She is the only woman he has ever been close to, and he has some attachment that would likely keep it that way, short of a blatant betrayal on her behalf.

As far as his early life, he has no siblings and is not close to his parents. He entered training at a very young age, and this gave him a distorted view of the world, to him, combat became the test of right or wrong, black or white. He is bound by his honor to be truthful in combat, as well as everything else, but he respects that this is not synonymous with all fighting styles. As you and I are aware of, and respectful of, other religions, he sees different combat styles and ways of fighting.

The only thing that would keep from killing Whitney would be his vow to truth. Beyond that, he views her as a combatant that must be bested. He harbors a deep hatred for her, not so much because she was sneaky, but he blames his entire disability on her, and rightfully so.

Five background and concept elements important to "The Blind Tian" Kusuma

1) Kusuma (Human, LE Monk) was a prize fighter from Tian-Sing. His ability wielding the temple sword is unmatched. He has traveled across the land fighting in duels or tournaments, and is completely comfortable fighting to death, despite the criminal nature of that activity. Kusuma believes that the only true way to achieve order is through mortal combat and the 'laws of man' are secondary. His latest bout was quick and deadly, despite the local renown of his opponent, a Talingarde man by the name of Jaden. Kusuma humored his opponent, parrying blows, feinting an attack, and pretending to be challenged. He quickly grew bored and a few quick moves later, Jaden stood grasping his throat as his crimson life force spilled out between his fingers. While collecting his prize for the fight, and laughing about the trivial challenge of the fight, Jaden's wife surprised Kusuma and threw acid in his face. In an ironic parody of his defeated foe, Kusuma stood, grasping at his eyes, as the world grew forever dark around him. His face disfigured, his vision lost, Kusuma was quickly arrested for dueling to death, and taken away to Brandescar to await death by beheading, earning the "Dueling to death" crime/trait. Awaiting his fate, Kusuma keeps a crimson cloth tied around his eyes.

2) Due to frequent traveling, and the criminal nature of his duels, few people know his actual name. Now, sightless, he is simply referred to as "The Blind Tian." His hair is dark and shoulder length, and Kusuma has no problem with it in his face to hide his scars. He is generally quiet, living by the old axiom "it is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." He does not have a vow of silence, he is just reserved.

3) After losing his sight, his other senses have sharpened, notably his sense of smell, he has managed to defend himself in prison by hearing and smelling threats to his well being. It is rumored that his sense of hearing is now so acute that he can catch an arrow in flight.

4) His acute sense of hearing, in combination with his frequent traveling pre-injury has made Kusuma quite talented at sensing the motive of people with whom he communicates. Trait: World Traveler (Sense Motive)

5) Due to chemical nature of his injury, Kusuma is now very suspicious of anything alchemical. He will not willingly consume potions, and would be hesitant working with someone with a knack for alchemy.

Two goals that are important to Kusuma

1) Kusuma views the attack from Jaden's wife to be dishonorable and cowardly. Were he to escape his fatal faith, Kusuma has vowed to himself to "kill that b@%$&..."

2) Kusuma will not let his disability rob his martial prowess, he will develop his sense of smell, and his ability to fight blindly, he will attempt to be even more perceptive than those who rely on their vision.

Two secrets about Kusuma, one that he knows, and one that he not yet aware of.

1) (Known) Choosing to frequently remain silent conceals a vow of truth that Kusuma has taken since his aspiring monk training. He holds this vow close to his heart and assigns it an utmost priority.

2) (Unknown) The red cloth around his eyes is actually the scarf that was worn by Jaden's wife, and was used to conceal the vial of acid that robbed him of his sight and made him vulnerable to apprehension. After the attack, the scarf was dropped and trampled on near the fighting ring, it was only out of pity from one of the arresting guards that it came to Kusuma's possession at the time of his arrest. He can smell blood, mud, sweat, and booze on the scarf, and sometimes, very faintly, he can smell the sweet scent of lavender, but Kusuma assumes this to be a trick of an unrefined sense.

Four people that are tied to Kusuma, three are friends and one is an enemy.

1) Whitney Whitford: (enemy) Jaden's wife, Kusuma does not know her name, or her whereabouts, though he assumes she is a resident of Talingarde.

2) Master Budi: Budi is responsible for Kusuma's martial training, he is the only other living person who is aware of Kusuma's vow of truth. Budi doesn't approve of Kusuma's chosen career and frequent prize fighting, viewing it as a comodification of his art. However, he respects Kusuma, and hopes that some day he will 'turn the other cheek' and return to the temple to train aspiring temple sword wielding monks.

3) "Lydia": Her real name is in question, Lydia is a sex care provider and the only woman with whom Kusuma has let get close to him. Though he disapproves of her career Kusuma will defend her adamantly. Anyone who refers to her as a 'slut,' or a 'whore,' will die a swift and often painful death. Kusuma loves this woman, and her face is the image he is most scared of 'forgetting.' He hates that he will never 'see' her again. Whether she reciprocates Kusuma's feelings are unknown, she is the one person that he will blindly trust (no pun intended.)

4) Lucas: Lucas is Kusuma's cellmate. He is a frail man, and has little martial ability. He is in prison for kidnapping and arson, his modus operandi to abduct a child, ask for ransom, and then burn the victim's house down. He has taken to helping Kusuma develop his senses in return for protection while in prison. It isn't so much that these two people 'like' each other, but their arrangement is both vital and convenient for the two men.

Three memories, mannerisms or quirks Kusuma possess.

1) When given time outside of his cell, Kusuma will turn his face to the sky, he hopes to attune his sense of touch and be able to discern the direction of the sun, and thus determine his directional heading. Unfortunately this habit has become an obsessive compulsion, and he does it all the time, night or day.

2) Kusuma chooses to not eat meat whenever given a choice. He feels that wholeness of body is tainted upon the consumption of 'lesser beasts.'

3) Kusuma is constantly training. When able he will repeat martial skills and strive to attain perfection. Recently he is forced to train his other senses, and even when those around him don't know it, he is honing his senses or meditating. If he is awake, he is training. Always.

Helkrix is a tiefling inquisitor with the damnation inquisition. Lots of stuff taken from the new Blood of Fiends. Let me know if you have questions.