Schools of Magic

Primary:²⁾ Universal, Invocation/Evocation, & Divination

Secondary:³⁾ Alteration, Necromancy, Illusion, & Abjuration

Opposition:⁴⁾ Enchantment/Charm & Conjuration/Summoning

What is your full name?

Zayiiri Winterlocke

Where and when were you born?

Where, is most relevant, I think. I was born in a village in Alta Norue.

Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)

Iruinne and Diorne Winternight. Iruinne woven fiber and knew plant-dyes. Diorne is a master bowyer - his work is still well-sought after.

Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?

One. Zayain, my younger sibling. I will never know her as an adult, but as a child, she was sweet - and bossy. Animals liked her. Everyone liked her.

Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the people.

Caltagaer, a village - not a small one - in Lhornezel Falas. It's quiet. My neighbors are quiet - well, when Audi isn't having his still explode. Although I have to admit, that only happens once a decade or so…

What is your occupation?

*inkblot* I am a wizard - an invoker. I studied to become Gorindë, but in order to realize that, I would have to return, not a thing that will happen. What I am doing now is not precisely a challenge to my abilities, but it provides ample time within which to accomplish that which I need to.

To which social class do you belong?

I don't even know how to answer that right now…

Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?

… No. I am told that, for an elf, I am quite tough.

Are you right- or left-handed?

Right handed.

What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?

I usually settle for a cocked eyebrow, which does not translate well into text.

What do you have in your pockets?

Lint? Several pebbles, a pouch of bile - toad, I believe. Six dove's feathers- did you want a full list, or will 'miscellaneous spell components' suffice? Oh, and I have some of Audi's sweet-sap candy as well.

Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?

Several. I don't like to be touched. I am told I have an unholy fondness for peppermint, and fire makes me nervous terrifies me.

How would you describe your childhood in general?

Idyllic. Happy, even.

What is your earliest memory?

• several small blots of ink, and a smear* Ruining Ath'air's fletchings, pretending I could fly. He laughed, later, but at the time, he was quite upset.

How much schooling have you had?

Does one ever truly stop learning? Though I no longer take formal classes, I believe I am still having 'schooling'.

Did you enjoy school?

More or less. It was a means to an end - or do you mean 'did I enjoy those I shared the experience with'? Because that is a quite different question.

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?

School. Life. Some from the classroom, some from being shown by my parents. Some from being thrown in.

While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.

While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?

I cannot recall any serious fights while I was growing up. We were family - and we were happy. *Smeared blotch of ink*

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I don't remember.

As a child, what were your favourite activities?

As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?

I'm told I used to be pretty mischievous. If you get me in the right mood, I suppose you could say I still am.

As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?

When and with whom was your first kiss?

Mm.. I think… oh, that /has/ been long ago. Firath. His name was Firath, and he was learning to be a hunter. Not a nice boy, really, and a few years older than I was then. But he did know about kissing; it was quite pleasant. And he was a crack shot.

Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?

Nosy, much? Not that I have met anyone I felt that comfortable with - Litheni's attempts aside.

Describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.

That is a long list.

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?

Who has had the most influence on you?

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

What is your greatest regret?

Walked away from someone who needed me. One might give the excuse that I, too, was in pain, but… ? What is the most evil thing you have ever done?

Do you have a criminal record of any kind?

No.

When was the time you were the most frightened?

Anytime there was wild fire.

What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?

well, there was that time with the tent and the wash line.

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?

The fire taking my mother and sister. So much grief and pain from that one random thing… not even for me, but for my father, who never seemed to completely recover from it.

What is your best memory?

Learning to swim.

What is your worst memory? ... no.

Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic?

I am … neither, and both. A realistic optimist?

What is your greatest fear?

Fire, unleashed and *shudder*

What are your religious views?

I don't .. ah, well. I don't talk about that much.

What is your political ideology?

I don't /do/ politics; other than what is necessary to keep shit from rolling downhill onto my head.

What are your views on sex?

An' ye harm none… I'll meet someone eventually.

Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?

In defense of those entrusted to my care, in defense of my own life - but neither carelessly nor in cold blood. Taking a life is … very final.

In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do?

Take freedom and choice from another by force.

Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love?

I.. do.. not .. not believe in such things? But I do not live my life waiting for them, either.

What do you believe makes a successful life?

If you have lived well, those you leave behind you remember your deeds with respect, your memory with fondness, and your lessons with intent to pass them on. One can ask little more.

How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e., do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)?

I do not talk about my problems to strangers, if that is what you mean. Very few people can show the truth of themselves to others, and I am not one of those.

Do you have any biases or prejudices?

Not that I can think of immediately

Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it?

Who or what, if anything, would you die (or otherwise go to extremes) for?

In general, how do you treat others (politely, rudely, by keeping them at a distance, etc.)? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them, and if so, how?

Strangers I keep at length. Friends are allowed closer. Family, closer still.

Who is the most important person in your life, and why?

Who is the person you respect the most, and why?

Who are your friends? Do you have a best friend? Describe these people.

Ah. I have friends. Moirae and I remain in touch, despite considerable distance. She is many things I am not - gregarious, open. She is generous and one of the few truly, honestly caring people I have ever met. Audi puts up with my idocyncrasies and encourages me in my experiments - even though we /did/ almost blow up his still. He and his partner are very interesting people, although Gerain and I do not get along as well.

Do you have a spouse or significant other? If so, describe this person.

I do not. I have not met anyone who met my short list of requirements.

Have you ever been in love? If so, describe what happened.

I do not think so. I have been infatuated - I think they are calling it 'having a crush', these days - but it never went beyond that.

What do you look for in a potential lover?

As I said, a short list. Competent, capable of keeping up with me and challenging me when I need it. Why does this have a 'looks' meter on it? What does appearance have to do with anything?!

How close are you to your family?

What remains of it? Ath'air and I exchange letters often, and he occasionally visits, if he happens to be passing through. The cousins show up regularly to insure I remain well informed.

Have you started your own family? If so, describe them. If not, do you want to? Why or why not?

I have not.. I suppose, one day, I might. If I met the right person. Such a partner would have to be just that - a partner. I have not yet met that person.

Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help?

That is a short list… *ink blots*

Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?

That question used to be easy - when I had comrades in arms, I trusted them, as they trusted me. Now.. not so much, and many of my old comrades in arms are dead or long-retired.

If you died or went missing, who would miss you?

Ath'air, I suspect. My friends would miss me, as I would miss them.

Who is the person you despise the most, and why?

I do not really have the time or energy to nurse such grudges.

Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict?

Avoiding things does not solve problems, so I am more likely to either deal with it, or get someone else to, if 'it' is beyond my skill or expertise.

Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations?

I am an advisor, not a leader.

Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not?

If I must. Large groups tend to default to foolishness and follow the loudest voice. Such is not my preference.

Do you care what others think of you?

Most of the time, I do not. It is not important.

What is/are your favourite hobbies and pastimes?

Erh. I find cooking surprisingly relaxing. Brewing requires patience. Or, as Audi puts it, 99% boredom to 1% panic. I am not sure where the panic comes in.

What is your most treasured possession?

• inkblot doodle*

What is your favourite colour?

I have always been partial to green. Perhaps because I saw so little of it growing up.

What is your favourite food?

I like fish. There's a kind of cheese that is especially nice with a glass of heather and a thinly-sliced apple. Oh… Mirial's honey-spice cookies. Or a slice of very fresh berry pie, with beaten cream… *drool spot*

What, if anything, do you like to read?

Shorter list to name everything I don't like to read - ah, alas, that column is empty.

What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, social events, theatre, art, etc.)?

Music is excellent, always. Theatre is only interesting if Harad and Aradi are involved - he writes the best scripts, and she the best music. As well, between them they do the best scenery.

Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit?

Drink, once in a while. No to the rest - can you imagine the damage a wizard under the influence could do? Yes? Good. Me too.

How do you spend a typical night without work the following day?

Depends. If they are playing in the square, I often go to listen. Sometimes I even let them talk me into playing with them. If not, I have a book, a mug of tea and a comfortable chair. Or I go swimming. Nothing like the water at night, with a full moon glowing down ….

What makes you laugh?

Funny things

What, if anything, shocks or offends you?

My entire first year at Collegium. Ask Moirae. Some of that was too mortifying for me to remember it.

What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself?

Piece of paper, a pen and a mug of tea. Failing that, a book. Failing that. .. star-gazing.

How do you deal with stress?

Bake bread. If I can't do that … well, I'm pretty good at braiding targets.

Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan?

Ah… well. I am not bad at improvising on the fly, if I need to.

What are your pet peeves?

I need six more pages for that.

Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel when this routine is disrupted?

What is your greatest strength as a person?

I am willing to walk through fire to protect or rescue a comrade. Just.. not barefoot.

What is your greatest weakness?

What, you want me to pick one?! I flinch at physical contact, I have trust issues coming out my ears, and I have a finely tuned trouble-magnet that I cannot find the off-switch for. One of my greatest strengths is /concealing all of that/ and appearing to be more or less normal!

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would /really/ like to be able to accept a hug without bracing myself. Or just generally touch people without thinking they are going to go up in flames.

Are you generally introverted or extroverted?

I suspect 'introverted' is the correct answer, but I do not /feel/ like an introvert.

Are you generally organized or messy?

Organised, although anyone who has seen my desk would not agree.

Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at.

Did we not handle this already? Very well. I am very good at magic, a decent swimmer, and I can, when pressed, pick things up quickly. I am /not/ good at dealing with abrasive people, I do not 'give up' well or gracefully, and I am given to believe that I sulk when reprimanded. I also despise okra and fried snake. We done here?

Do you like yourself?

Overall, yes.

What are your reasons for being an adventurer (or doing the strange and heroic things that RPG characters do)? Are your real reasons for doing this different than the ones you tell people in public? (If so, detail both sets of reasons…)

Make a difference, make things better overall. Why else would I go and risk life and limb, getting wet and cold and dirty, being hungry, thirsty, overheated … ?

What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime?

Leave a legacy my hypothetical children can be proud of.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Five..? Are you serious? That may be a length of time for a human, but it is hardly a breath for me. Fifteen years seems more appropriate. And I still cannot really answer the question. Had you asked me fifteen years ago if I saw myself doing this, I would have said 'no', because I was happy then to be settled and domestic.

If you could choose, how would you want to die?

Quickly. Preferably.. not alone.

If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left.

Go get very drunk, go swimming and get laid. A lot. … actually, that isn't a bad idea, if it works. Excuse me. I have a crazy idea to try.

What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death?

What three words best describe your personality?

What three words would others probably use to describe you?

The Savage Wizard is the spell caster of a remote tribe, culturally and technologically insulated from the rest of the world. These tribes have been known to maintain functional, and often unchanging, civilizations for thousands of years; their traditions, dress, and customs are inscrutable and frequently incomprehensible to most outsiders. Some consider them unsophisticated; others see them as the exact opposite.
Although there are a variety of Savage tribes around the world, differing in many particulars, they all are sharply attuned to the natural world, sharing a deep respect for animal and plant life and a carefully inculcated understanding of the mysteries of nature.

To be a Savage Wizard, a character must have a minimum Strength score of 11 and a minimum Constitution score of 13.
To abandon this kit, a character must renounce his membership with his tribe and become a citizen of a different culture. Since tribal roots run deep, a dramatic change such as this should be slow in coming; a Savage Wizard must have advanced at least five levels since leaving his tribe and experiencing adventures in the outside world before cutting ties with his tribe.

Because their Constitutions tend to be exceptionally high, Savage Wizards excel in the schools of conjuration/summoning and invocation/evocation.

The Savage Wizard typically is a respected teacher or tribal counsellor, a position of great power in his or her tribe. The elven tribes of Alta Nórë typically call them Gorindë (feminine) or Gorindo (masculine). The Gorindë who gave Iri her first lessons in magic was the tribe's healer and midwife as well as a trusted advisor; she was very old and very wise.
It is said that a Savage Wizard's power can sometimes work against him, particularly if his tribe is exceptionally superstitious or if an ambitious tribesman schemes to usurp the wizard's leadership role. If the tribe becomes convinced that the wizard is consorting with demons or otherwise stirring up dark forces better left alone, they may expel the wizard from the tribe with the threat of execution if he returns. However, this is the stuff of folktales; it has never happened in Iri's lifetime. More often a Parindë (female student/apprentice) or Parindo (male student/apprentice) is sent out to learn about the outside world, bringing the knowledge back to the tribe to prevent stagnation and undesirable stratification.

The Savage Wizard's Secondary Skill should be based on the primary occupation of his tribe; that is, if his tribe is mostly fishermen, his Secondary Skill should be Fishing. Other likely skills include Forester, Groom, Hunter, and Trapper/Furrier. Iri's tribe teaches the crucial skills needed to survive in the dangerous plains of Alta Nórë.

The tribe's weapon of choice. This will vary between tribes and must make sense based on culture, geography, and ecology. Iri's tribe uses mostly spears, including javelins/throwing spears; shortbows; daggers/knives; and lassos.
Regardless of whether the Savage Wizard eventually becomes familiar with new weapons, he is likely to prefer his tribal weapon throughout his adventuring career.

Bonus, all settings: Survival or Endurance (GM choice) and Direction Sense or Weather Sense (player choice)
Recommended: Animal Handling, Animal Lore, Animal Training, Bowyer/Fletcher, Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Endurance, Fire-Building, Fishing, Foraging, Fungi Recognition, Healing, Herbalism, Hunting, Jumping, Local History, Mountaineering, Religion, Riding, Rope Use, Running, Set Snares, Swimming, Tightrope Walking, Tracking, Tumbling, Weather Sense
Prohibited: when first created a Savage Wizard cannot take Administration, Bookbinding, Bureaucracy, Diplomacy, Etiquette, Heraldry…or any NWP designed for use in an urban setting. Moreover, not all listed NWPs are appropriate to or available in all settings. For example, in the case of someone from Iri's tribe, Fishing, Mountaineering, and Swimming are not available; Riding is limited to the quessui norindath ("feathered runners", the flightless riding birds of the savannah). If an NWP is natural to the setting and recommended, it does not cost double slots for any class when the character is created.

The only weapons the Savage Wizard can purchase initially are his tribal weapons (see Weapon Proficiency). He can purchase only equipment that would normally be available to his tribe. The DM has the final word as to what equipment is available to any particular Savage Wizard.

The Savage Wizard receives the following special abilities:

1. The Savage Wizard can manufacture a protective talisman once per week. The talisman is a small pouch of herbs hung on a leather cord which is worn around the subject's neck. The talisman gives protection from evil to the wearer, identical to the effects of the 1st-level wizard spell. The talisman offers continual protection for a full day, after which time the herbs lose potency. Dispel Magic or a similar spell permanently cancels the magic of that particular talisman. The Savage Wizard requires no less than one hour to manufacture a talisman.

2. Once per week, the Savage Wizard is able to forecast the general fortunes of some major undertaking by interpreting an omen from observing the natural conditions around him. To be receptive to an omen, the wizard must do nothing but concentrate for one uninterrupted turn; if his concentration is broken, he cannot attempt to interpret an omen for another week. After the turn of concentration, he studies his surroundings for an omen--a rippling pond, a gathering of clouds, a swarm of insects, or the veins in a leaf are all possible sources of omens. He must be in a natural setting for this ability to function.

A wizard usually consults an omen before starting a journey, engaging in a major battle, or embarking on some other significant task. If the DM has knowledge about the proposed action, the omen will reveal the appropriate information; for instance, if the party is considering exploring an abandoned building, but the DM knows it contains a spectre, the result would be an ill omen. In situations where the DM has no information on which to base his judgement, roll 1d10 and consult the following table:

The Savage Wizard's strange appearance and manners make strangers wary of him. Therefore, he suffers a -2 reaction adjustment from all NPCs not from his own tribe (PCs can react as they wish, but they should quickly become accustomed to the Savage and accept him as an equal. )

The Savage Wizard begins play at 1st lvl with only the equipage suitable for a member of his tribe--nothing that might be available in more urban or industrial areas, nothing made from materials not locally available without an extremely good reason incorporated into the character's history.

No restrictions.

• Clairsentient Science
• MAC: 8
• PSP Cost: 5/3
• Range: 0
• Area of Effect: 20-yard radius

With this power, a psionicist gains a sense of history. He perceives the residue of powerful emotions that have been experienced in a given area. These impressions offer him a picture of the location's past. Battles and betrayals, marriages and murders, childbirth and great pain--only events which created strong emotional or psychic energy leave their impression on an area. Everyday occurrences leave no residue for the psionicist to detect.

To determine how far into the past a psionicist can delve, divide the result of his power check by two and round up. This is the number of strong events which he can sense. Only one event can be noted per round, however, beginning with the most recent and proceeding backward through time. The character's understanding of these events is vague and shadowy, as if he were viewing a dream. The dominant emotion involved--anger, hate, fear, love, etc--comes through very clearly.