Character:Ziyad Antarah

Game: Once More, With Feeling!.

Ziyad Antarah
Eclipse Caste, Solar Exalt
Concept: Adulterous Wandering Poet and Courtier

Appearance

Ziyad appears as a man in his mid-twenties. He used to have long black hair he tended to keep within a turban but since coming to Nexus has cut it short. He also maintains a well trimmed and oiled beard. He has a gaunt face with intelligent brown eyes and maintains tanned olive coloured skin even in this colder eastern climate. He has two light duelling scars on his face He is a lean and tall man who moves with a remarkable amount of grace.

He normally wears a pair of silk wrapped curved blades on his back and has been quick to call men to duels for what he considers slights on his honour. He tends to favour silks like most Delzahn, including a large white silk cape but during the winters in Nexus is known to go about in more local (and warmer dress). That he goes without a veil a fact he contributes both to the climate and his status as an outcaste.

Further Notes

• Clothes: A sand coloured silk robe covered by a black silk sash, over white silk pants, covered by a billowing white silk cape with a small gold clasp.
• Shoes: Greek style sandles.

Background

Eldest Son of one of the wealthiest Orkhan's amongst the Noble Delzahn of Chiaroscuro, Ziyad Antarah grew up in wealth. He spent much of his youth in study of both the traditional methods of war among the Delzahn and the recovered first age knowledge of his home city. As first among the Antarah Orkahns children, he was heir to the sept and leader in both the glass trade and when the sept was called to war.

Thought young Ziyad seemed able for these duties, his passions seemed to lie elsewhere. By adolescence he was an accomplished hunter and duellist but also an inspired poet and historian. Enough that the Tri-khan wished for the youth to study be a member of his own court, to act as an emissary and functionary for the Tri-Khan.

By 24 he was considered one of the greatest poets in the south, entertaining Dynast and other exotic guests at the hospitality of Tri-Khan. His sonnets, odes, ruba'is and ghazals were renown as far as the realm. He had also gained a infamous reputation for womanising, his affairs with the young brides of several prominent nobles within the city had earned him enmity from members of the court.

The disgrace on the family honour was causing friction with young Ziyad and his father the Orkhan. Threats were made between the two after an incident involving the young wife of a visiting diplomat from Gem but they did little except incense Ziyad to look for greater conquests. By Ascending Flame he had found them.

On the twenty third day of Ascending Flame, Ziyad was caught 'performing' within the Tri-Khan's personal harem by one of his lords most trusted bodyguard. Fearing for his manhood and the repercussions that would ensue should this come out, Ziyad tried desperately to reason with the man. When that failed, he with as much dignity as he could manage fled from the guard by leaping out of nearby window into a fountain within the Tri-Kahn's personal garden.

Unluckily for Ziyad the garden was at that point being frequented by the Tri-Khan himself. Being quickly the focus of many armed guard and attempting to disarm the situation he said the first thing that came into his head...

To this day Ziyad is not exactly sure what he said to the Tri-Kahn but when he calmed enough the garden was filled with light and the Tri-Kahn was laughing. The two had a short negotiation, ending with Ziyad's banishment from Chiaroscuro, the most favourable result Ziyad was likely to get and Ziyad walked away from Chiaroscuro a member of the Exalted.

Over the next year he worked his way through city to city in pursuit of his passions and ending up with many a jealous local lord, Satrap or Perfect and entourage pursuing him out of various cities for dalliances with their wives. In between cities he looted ruins in search of lost literary work, cataloguing it and attempting to artistically surpass it.

Six months ago he arrived in Nexus, accompanied by a young girl who Ziyad claims as a ward. He quietly became the guest and courtier of one Councillor Brueghel, a situation that seems to suit the both of them despite his reputation.

About two months into moving into Nexus, Ziyad got involved in a heated argument after flirting with a Lord Jidan’s wife at a party on the river. It culminated in a bet with the young lord: If Ziyad could climb a Mt. Giruyana, one of the largest mountains in the local area; Jidan would cede the lands surrounding the mountain to Ziyad. If Ziyad failed Jidan’s wife would be safe from Ziyad’s escapades forever. Not being one to resist such a challenge Ziyad climbed the mountain with Shofei in tow.

The climb was tense and would have been near impossible for a mortal but for a couple of Chosen of the Sun, it was just trivial. A few spirits of the mountain hounded them but for but a minute until Ziyad forced them away with glare, the threat of Shofei and a well timed speech backed up by ancient oaths. Having reached the summit and explained to Shofei why they had climbed. The night he returned having beaten the mountain and taken the summit, he claimed both the Lord’s lands and his wife’s virtue.

On surveying the property some weeks later, deep in a valley in the foothills, he found shards of a ruined structure and found the vines overgrown twisted into prayers to the sun. In the centre of the valley there lies a broken alter with two curved blades jammed deep within the stone. Around the ruined alter as if the outer wall of a room is a circle of vines and moss which tell of the fall of a mighty prince here.

Ziyad felt called to the valley and pulled the swords from the ruined alter with ease. He carries the blades with him even now, normally wrapped in silks until he is required to use them. He did not mark the valley on the map but felt compelled to write a poem about it, calling it the Valley of Twisted Words and Echoing Sighs. He knew the place has power, he could feel it in the air. Fortunately for Ziyad he recorded the place in a poem so as he left he though he did forget the valley, the poem triggered his memory. Within a month he had returned and attuned to the place, making it impossible to forget. Now with what funds he can scrap together he has begun investigating constructing a structure there, investigating those that know of such things.

Questions

HOW OLD ARE YOU? I am twenty-nine, not that I would admit that to most but a woman of your beauty intrigues me.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAMILY LIKE? My father was an Orkhan, leader of our sept within our family. He was a wealthy merchant who amused himself by keeping the sept ready for war, never have I seen men more blood thirsty than a group of bureaucrats playing at the game of war. Or cousins in the desert and those among my former tribe that make war their profession, like one of my uncles, they are both more merciful and more competent.

My father wished me to join the family business but I took less of the merchant business in and more of my studies as a child. We Delzhan of the cities are taught both civilised pursuits like history, numeracy and art and the ancient ways such like riding and warfare. I disappointed my father as despite my talent for duelling I never cared much for it. For settling matters of honour it sufficed but beyond that it bored me.

My mother was a terror and the head of our household. She reared us till we were handed to the teachers and ran my fathers books. She was supportive as a mother is of sons even if when my interest in poetry surfaced she may well have been the one who thought I would take the grey. When I did not she was surprised and when I shamed the family she was the only one who would still talk.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? I am from Chiaroscuro, a city of wonder. Maybe someday you will go there, I alas am forbidden to return.

HOW WERE YOU EXALTED? Many will speak of me, most say I am quite the womaniser. In that they are quite correct, though I have loved every woman I have met. I do not believe I shame them, though most of their husbands do. But that is side tracking.

My Exultation came to me when I found myself talking down the Tri-Khan, in his own garden, surrounded by his guard after being caught in intimate relations with his harem. Because of it I survived without becoming a Eunuch, which my lady I will be delighted to prove to you later.

WHEN DID YOU MEET YOUR COMPANIONS? I once had a companion named Shofei. Shofei wasn’t always as she ended up, once she was brighter... and colder but both forms were so full of life. The first form I knew her in helped me loot a ruin a few days ride from my home. I was mortal then and the blessing the Sun had given her was a terrifying and helpful resource in that blasted ruin. I didn’t run into her again until I had exalted myself and been made an outcaste. Alone and directionless I ran into a woman who looked like the girl I once met but was just a child. Feeling sympathy and knowing I owed this woman a debt I have become her protector from those who would manipulate her and her strength. After all it was a purpose, so she became my ward. When she died I lost a purpose, one I am still searching for and her Reincarnation, Starcc has little in common with her. He and I have no real relationship at all, except a mutual friendship with her Lunar Mate, the boy Cael.

Cael I met in the debacle of a bathhouse visit in Nexus's last day. He was young and despite being a street child reminded me of my own youth. His love for Shofei was plain and even as her guardian I could not deny his part in her life. He has proved a good friend, odd in that I have known him for such a short time. But he has proved to be absent of the avarice and vice that I have encountered in most of the other Chosen I have met.

Nuwa is an idealist. She also was at the Bathhouse brawl Shofei grew involved with where I met Shofei. We properly met later during the Scourging of Nexus that night. Fighting for our lives against the Mask's army and the subsequent flight from that city, I feel I grew to know her well. Her philosophy is a strange one but one that seems to search for the good in people, all people and that I admire, even if I cannot share it.

Anshu I also met during Nexus's Final Night. He is an ex-Immaculate and though my opinion of him has been slow to form, he seems to respect the will of people and try to do good. That is something I can respect.

HOW HAS POWER CHANGED YOU? Other than making me stronger, faster and better? I would say not that much at all. It may though have made me consider long and hard that perhaps I should endeavour in to me selfless, after all that is why I have pleased so many wives dutifully ignored by their husbands.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MORTALS? We were all mortal once. Many of us seem to conveniently forget that. Most of the chosen I have met have only had their mortal flaws accentuated by being chosen and I am no exception. They all seem to forget that by virtue of being chosen we should strive to be better. This is a mortal world and we are just exceptions to the rule. Ultimately though this is there world we just happen to share it and this leaves us with a decision: Attempt to make the world better, attempt to make the world worse, or do nothing?

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? Help or Hinder. One seems much like the other, so I write to make the world a little more tolerable. I collect the great work of the past. To preserve it and hopefully surpass it, bringing joy with word and turn of phrase. I seek to save people in my own way because my way helps or at least it doesn’t hinder.

WHO DO YOU WORSHIP? As a Delzahn, even an outcaste, worship is practical. We worship whoever we believe can help us, after all why worship one god when another may be more able to come to your aid. Worship is like a, a currency for favours with the gods. That is all the purpose it serves.

WHAT WOULD DRIVE YOU TO COMMIT MURDER? Murder? Little could drive me to murder. I have killed in duels and I have killed in self defence but I would not call that murder. Both times they had a chance and had I not acted I would be dead. I do not know what would drive me to cold blooded murder. I hope never to find out. Do you know enough about me know? Perhaps we should retire, you will not regret it?

Stat Block

Concept:

Adulterous Wandering Poet and Courtier

Caste:

Eclipse

Motivation:

Find, catalogue and surpass the great Literary Art of the 1st Age.

Anima:

Script slowly being written in a variety of languages.

Intimacies:

• Shofei's Memory (Fondness) (+)
• Rhythmic Harmony (Attraction)(+)
• Perfect of Paragon (Distain) (-)
• Literary Art Work (Worship) (+)
• Beautiful Women (Attraction|Lust) (+)
• The Neverborn (Contempt)(-)(Magically Reinforced)
• Unspeakable Rite of the Lady of Words (Dislike)(-) (Magically Reinforced)

Attributes:

Strength 2, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3.

Charisma 4, Manipulation 4, Appearance 4.

Perception 5, Intelligence 4, Wits 5.

Abilities:

Caste:

• Bureaucracy 2
• Linguistics 5 (Flame Tongue: Delzahn dialect, River Speak, High Realm, Old Realm, Low Realm, Forest-Tongue)
• Ride 3 (Horses +1)
• Sail 1
• Socialise 5

Favoured:

• Athletics 4 (Climbing +1)
• Awareness 5
• Lore 3 (Literary Works +2)
• Melee 5 (Duelling +1)(Lunar Mates +2)
• Performance 5 (Poems +3)
• Presence 5 (Seduction +3)
• Craft: Air 5 (Literary +3)
• Craft: Earth 1 (Sculpting +1)

Non-Favoured:

• Archery 2
• Dodge 1
• Integrity 4
• Larceny 2
• Occult 1
• Resistance 2
• Stealth 1
• Survival 2
• War 1

Virtues:

• Compassion 4
• Conviction 4
• Temperance 2
• Valour 2

Virtue Flaw:

Paralyzing Lethargy

Virtue: Compassion

The Exalt stops acting; he will not even apply a DV for fear of a turned blade hitting a bystander or an arrow doing the same. He will not acknowledge danger, and must be dragged away. Nor will he eat, as he becomes lost in the gravity of what his actions have inadvertently wrought. The only exception to this rule is to directly intervene to help another who is in mortal danger, and even then he can only defend or reason with the aggressor. If his charge cannot or will not fight, the Exalt fights a losing battle. If his charge dies, extend the duration for another day due to his abject failure to protect another innocent.

Partial Control: The Exalt may defend himself or defend another via removing (attacking) the threat, and may take necessary actions to survive (eating, treading water), but may otherwise not act, and is mostly lost in a state of lethargy and catatonia when outside of combat, offering only terse, somewhat disconnected responses.

Duration: Controlled: One day. Uncontrolled: (Compassion) Days.

Condition: When confronted with convincing evidence that his actions have harmed innocent bystanders.

Willpower:

OOOOO OOO

Essence:

Permenant: 4
Personal: 20
Peripheral: 48

Charms:

Linguistics

• Whirling Brush Method
• Flawless Brush Disciple
• Discerning Savant's Eye
• Sagacious Reading of Intent
• Letter-Within-A-Letter Technique
• Twisted Words Technique
• Golden Author's Seal
• Grafetti Generating Method (x2) (Custom)
• Attention Capturing Calligraphy (Custom)

Ride

• Master Horseman's Technique (Horse-Summoning Whistle)

Socialise

• Mastery of Small Manners

Athletics

• Graceful Crane Stance

Awareness

• Keen Sight Technique
• Unsurpassed Sight Discipline
• Surprise Anticipation Method

Integrity

• Temptation Resisting Stance
• Elusive Dream Defence

Larceny

• Flawless Pickpocket Technique

Melee

• Dipping Swallow Defence
• Bulwark Stance
• Heavenly Guardian Defence - Conviction Flawed
• Indomitable Puissance
• Hungry Tiger Technique
• One Weapon, Two Blows
• Whirling Dervish Method

Presence

• Irresistible Salesman Technique
• Majestic Radiant Presence
• Terrifying Apparition of Glory

Performance

• Crowd Commanding Spirit (Custom)

Combos:

City Scribing Glory (24m, 3wp)

• Whirling Brush Method
• Flawless Brush Discipline
• Letter-Within-A-Letter Technique
• Twisted Words Technique

Backgrounds:

Influence (Nexus) 3

Ziyad has always been quick to find the right circles to travel in his talent normally assures that and if not his expliots tend to give him a reputation within a city. He manages popularity with the people due to how foolish he makes unpopular nobles look and he manages popularity among the nobles with his talent. A sonnet written by Ziyad is not only valuable but rumour says ones specifically written (for a sum) can get you anything you desire. There are certainly stories to that affect which Ziyad doesn't acknowledge.

Backing (Councillor Brueghel) 3

Councillor Brueghel, the Evening Master(pg.29 CoTD1:SL) is Ziyad's current patron. It is due to his influence (and his purse) that Ziyad has a position within the city at all. Rumours circulate that Brueghel in addition to keeping Ziyad for his artistic talents, keeps him as a warning to his enemies within the council, after all few of them would be pleased to find Ziyad in their marital beds.

Resources 3

Ziyad likes living well and with his talent has little trouble finding patronage for his talents. Over time he has accumulated his own personal wealth. This has proven helpful for Ziyad.

Contacts 3

• Nexun Nobility, Nexus
• Antarah Sept, Chiaroscuro
• Enemies of the Perfect, Paragon

Followers 1

His household retinue: Cook, Butler, Secretary, Two Servants. None are slaves, most follow Ziyad out of loyalty to him or his family. Names and vague descriptions as I come up with them.

• Izim- Ziyad's loyal and long suffering personal secretary.
• Iziesa- The Cook.
• Azita - A maid. (One of the two servants). Normally tasked with taking care of the household.
• Alzi'hir- Butler
• Jubar- Stableboy

Ally 2

Rhyming Cadence - Lunar Mate

Ally 2

Rhythmic Harmony - Lunar Mate

Manse 3

Hidden Level 4 Demesne, Valley of Twisted Words and Echoing Sighs. He is currently in negotations and saving money to build a Manse here, though this is not common knowledge. See Miscellaneous section for more details.

Lunar Bond 5 & Eternal Vow

Having met Rhythmic Harmony, he no longer is keeping his distance from his Lunar mates. Still to meet Rhyming Cadence.

Merits:

• Lucky – 2pt (1st Ed Merit)
• Hidden Demense – 1pts (1st Ed Merit)
• Carouser – 2pts (2nd Ed Merit)

Flaws:

• Vice (Temperance: Sleeping with Beautiful Married Women) – 1pts (1st Ed Flaw)
• Dark Secret (I slept with Brueghel’s Wife) – 3pt (2nd Ed Flaw)
• Enemy (Perfect of Paragon) – 2pt (1st Ed Flaw)
• Damaged Artefact – 3pts (1st Ed Flaw)

Equipment

• Composite Bow - Spd 6, Acc 7, Dmg 4L(broadhead), Rate 3, Range 250, Tags 2B.
• Country Wear: Silk Cape, Good Boots, Lamellar - 11B/7L/6A Total Soak
• City Wear: Silk Clothing, Silk Cape, Sandels, Chain Shirt - 4B/4L/3A Total Soak
• Light Warhorse and Pack Horse
• Townhouse (Rented)
• Country Estate (Undeveloped Land, no buildings or tenants)

Combat Values

Social Combat

Join Debate: 10
Dodge MDV: 8
Social Attacks:

• Presence: Spd 4, Honesty 9(12 seduction)*, Honesty MDV 5(6), Deception 9(12 seduction)*, Deception MDV 5(6), Rate 2.
• Performance: Spd 6, Honesty 9(10 poetry)*, Honesty MDV 5(5), Deception 9(10 poetry)*, Deception MDV 5(5), Rate 1.
• Investigation: Spd 5, Honesty 4, Honesty MDV 2, Deception 4, Deception MDV 4, Rate 2

Physical Combat

Join Battle: 10
Dodge DV: 5(4 with Mob Pen)
Attacks:

• Slashing Sword: Spd 4, Acc 11(12), Dmg 5L, Def 6(6), Rate 3, Tags -
• Composite Bow: Spd 6, Acc 7, Dmg -, Rate 3, Range 250, Tags 2B.
• Broadhead: Dmg 4L
• Fowling: Dmg 4B
• Frog Catcher: 6L, half against armour
• Target: 2L, Piercing

Soak: Either 4B/4L/3A(chain shirt) or 11B/7L/6A(Lamellar)

Experience

Overview

Total Experience: 180
Spent Experience: 148
Unspent Experience: 32

Gained

Basic Awards (8XP)

   * 16/06/2009
   * 23/06/2009
   * 30/06/2009
   * 07/07/2009
   * 14/07/2009
   * 21/07/2009
   * 28/07/2009
   * 04/08/2009 
   * 10/08/2009
   * 17/08/2009
   * 24/08/2009
   * 31/08/2009

Story Awards (10XP except where noted)

   * 12/07/2009: Escaping Nexus shadowland
   * 04/08/2009: 'Because'.
   * 23/08/2009: Forcing Evocation and Unspeakable Rites to withdraw from Great Forks (50xp)

Other Awards (Variable)

   * 27/08/2009: Stunt Award (1xp) for Post #2083 IC thread and confirmed Post #2960 OCC thread.
   * 16/07/2009: Refund Artefact 5 for 2xAlly 2 (3xp) 
   * DATE LISTED IN THREAD: Roleplay Award (1xp)
   * DATE LISTED IN THREAD: Stunt Award (1xp)

Purchases

Abilities

   * Melee to 5 from 4 (7xp)

Specialities

   * Ride - Horses (3xp)
   * Melee - Solar Mates (6xp)
   * Performance - Poems (6xp)

Charms

   * Heavenly Guardian Defence (8xp)
   * Surprise Anticipation Method (8xp)
   * Crowd Commanding Spirit (8xp)
   * Hungry Tiger Technique (8xp)
   * Keen Sight Technique (8xp)
   * Unsurpassed Sight Discipline (8xp)
   * One Weapon, Two Blows (8xp)
   * Whirling Dervish Method (8xp)
   * Master Horseman's Technique (Horse-Summoning Whistle) (8xp)
   * Indomitable Puissance (8xp)
   * Golden Author's Seal (8xp)
   * Grafetti Generating Method x2 (16xp)
   * Attention Capturing Calligraphy (8xp)

Combos

   * City Scribing Glory (16xp)

Miscellaneous

Valley of Falling Sighs and Subtle Whispers

Forgotten Level 4 Demesne of Unknown Aspect
Within this valley, the very wind twists to words singing them in longing sighs, giving this manse its name. The rest of the demesne has warped the very geomancy to tell the tail of the ruin of the manse and its protector. Everything within it is warped to have words in every tongue, cover every surface with elaborately calligraphy.
In the centre lies a cracked and ruined alter, only I in the entire valley is unmarked by words and it looks as if two blades were forced deep into it. Foot high white marble walls mark out a small area in the centre of the valley covered in moss which tells of the last desperate stand of the manses protector. Shattered rocks and glass scattered over the hillside spell out the doom of those who attacked this place. The very grass that coats the hill and the trees on the edge of the valley tell the history of the valley since the fall of Primordial War. Though damage from the destruction of the manse has destroyed large sections, mostly history of when the manse stood but other bits and pieces as well.
Those that stay in the area twist become part of the living history of the demesne and its long forgotten history, eventually remembering nothing of themselves and become living records of the history of the valley. Even visitors impressions are left recorded in stone, the life and the very air, causing those to leave the place to forget unless they made a written record of the place while they were there.
Ziyad found the valley while exploring the land he had won from Lord Jidan in the mountain bet. He felt called to the valley and pulled the swords from the ruined alter with ease. He carries the blades with him even now, normally wrapped in silks until he is required to use them. He did not mark the valley on any map but felt compelled to write a poem about it, calling poem and therefore the location the Valley of Twisted Words and Echoing Sighs.
He knew the place has power, he could feel it in the air. Fortunately for Ziyad he recorded the place in a poem so as he left he though he did forget the valley, the poem triggered his memory. Within a month he had returned and attuned to the place, making it impossible to forget. Now with what funds he can scrap together he has begun investigating constructing a structure there, investigating those that know of such things. Game Effects: Four years in the valley gives mortals the Amnesia Flaw/Derangement as the history of the place slowly overwrites their memories. They gain four to any lore roll relating to the history of the valley.
The Valley’s essence harvest is by taking leaves from the trees and reading them aloud for four days afterwards it will be as if the attuned character lived those moments, loosing himself in memory completely from time to time. Botching the harvest looses oneself in the memories entirely leaving the character insensate for four days.

Rhyme and Rhythm

To be filled in later...

Custom Charms

See Custom Charm Section