NAME: Rags
PLAYER: dejon
CLASS: Sorceror
LVL: 1
RACE: Halfling
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral
DIETY: Brandobaris*
*When his parents or other adult Halflings are around, Rags professes to follow Cyrrollalee*, the HearthKeeper. But in reality he has always been drawn to Brandobaris, the Irrepressible Scamp.
SIZE: Small
AGE: 26
GENDER: Male
HEIGHT: 2'10"
WEIGHT: 31 lbs
EYES: Green
HAIR: Brown
SPEED: 20ft
FR REGION: Silverymoon
ATTRIBUTES: Stat (point cost) [modifier]
STR: 10 (4) [ 0] (-2 racial bonus)
DEX: 16 (6) [+3] (+2 racial bonus)
CON: 14 (6) [+2]
INT: 14 (6) [+2]
WIS: 8 (0) [-1]
CHA: 16 (10)[+3]
HP: 6 (d4 for Sorceror + 2 Con)
AC: 14 (10 base + 3 Dex, + 1 Size)
TOUCH: 3
FLATFOOTED: 11
INIT: +3 (DEX)
FORT: +3 (0 base, +2 con, +1 racial)
REF: +4 (0 base, +3 dex, +1 racial)
WILL: +2 (2 base, -1 wis, +1 racial)
FEATS: Smooth Talk (FRCS)
ATTACKS:
* Melee +1 (size bonus)
* Ranged +4 (DEX, size bonus)
* Thrown +5 (DEX, size bonus, racial)
WEAPONS:
* Mace, Light (1d6, x2)
* Crossbow, Light (1d8, 19-20/x2)
* Alchemist's Fire (1d6, 1pt splash dmg within 5ft)
SKILLS: Total before attribute modifier (ranks, cost) [racial] {feat}
* Climb - 2 [2]
* Concentration - 4 (4, 4)
* Diplomacy - 4 (2,4) {+2 Smooth Talk}
* Gather Information - 2 (2,2)
* Hide - 4 [4]
* Jump - 2 [2]
* Knowledge (Arcana) - 2 (2,2)
* Listen - 2 [2]
* Move Silently - 2 [2]
* Sense Motive - 2 {+2 Smooth Talk}
* Spellcraft - 2 (2,2)
These skill scores do not include the ability modifiers. (i.e. Move Silenty is 5 after Dex bonus)
SPELLS:
* Cantrips (0-level): Light, Mage Hand, Open/Close, Detect Magic
* 1st Level: Magic Missle, Change Self
SPELLS PER DAY: 5 cantrips, 4 1st level
SPELL DC: 13 + spell level
LANGUAGES:
* Automatic: Chondathan, Illuskan
* Bonus: Halfling, Elven
SPECIAL ABILITIEs:
* +2 on saves versus Fear
STARTING FUNDS: 282gp, 5sp
* 120gp as starting funds (10 x 3d4 for Sorceror)
* 162gp, 5sp from selling regional equipment for Silverymoon (C)
POSSESSIONS: (cost) (weight)
* Explorer's Outfit (free) (2 lbs)
* Spell Component Pouch (5 gp) ( 1 lb)
* Crossbow, Light (35 gp) (6 lbs)
* 20 Bolts (2 gp) (2 lbs)
* Mace, Light (5 gp) (6 lbs)
* 2 Cure Light Wounds Potion (100 gp)
* Alchemist's fire (20 gp) (1 lb)
* 4 Flasks (12 cp) (2 lb)
* Everburning Torch (90gp) (1 lb)
TOTAL COST: 257 gp, 12 cp (original purchases)
* Map to Skullport
* 25gp, 0sp, 7cp
PRESENT LOAD: 21 lbs
LOADS:
* Normal <25 lbs
* Medium <50 lbs
* Heavy <75 lbs
* Lift Over Head <75 lbs
* Lift Off Ground <150 lbs
* Push or Drag <375 lbs
History
Rags is nimble and sturdy like most halflings. He is also fairly smart - both in the noodle, and off the tongue. His appearance would cause most people to think they knew where he got his name. His clothes appear almost tattered - but not quite. Definitely well worn, at least. What these people don't know is that Rags earned his name from his halfling friends, who were always on the losing end of battles of wit. Somewhere along the line his friends had had enough of his bragging that they decided to call him "Brags". With word-of-mouth and his customary appearance, it changed to "Rags" within weeks.
Rags hails from Silverymoon, jewel of the Silver Marches. His mother is a librarian at the College*, and his father works in the kitchen at Helmer's Wall* (a tavern). Hanging out at his father's workplace was a regular pasttime for Rags. Drinking with and listening to the students from the wizard college boast and tell tales delighted him. It was during one such evening...
[at Helmer's Wall]
Student1: "I'm tapped out guys, I gotta go."
Student2: "What! Its so early!"
Student3: "I should go too - I'm saving up for a wand."
Student2: "C'mon guys - 1 more round! Say, Rags, do you think your father could get us a free round?"
Rags: "How many times do I have to tell you? The kitchen, not the bar. And before you ask - he gave us some stuff to eat last week."
Student2: "Okay, okay. Oh - I know! Why don't we go over to The Bright Blade*? We can earn a few drinks!"
Student1 & Student3: "Good idea - let's go!"
Student1: "Are you coming, Rags?"
Rags: "Sure, why not?"
{The Bright Blade Brandished lets down-on-their-luck wizards earn 1 silver piece per Mage Hands spell cast to whisk tankards overhead to waiting hands.}
[at The Bright Blade Brandished]
Each student in turn earns enough for a round for the four friends as they continue their drinking and tale-swapping. After the third round is finished, the first student makes to get up again...
Rags: "Hey, its my turn!"
Student1: "No worries, Rags - your father's done us a few good turns."
Rags: "What makes you think I can't pull my own weight?"
Rags walks over the bar and talks to the bartender, who places a tankard down in front of (above) Rags. With a wink at his friends, Rags utters a word, waggles his fingers,and swish...the tankard whisks clear to the other side of the bar, where a half-elf catches it and gives Rags a nod. Rags saunters back to his table.
Student3: "Geez, Rags, you never told us you were studying too! Did your mother get you a special arrangement?"
Rags: "Um, no. I never studied anything. But I have a bit of a knack, and after watching you three do it, it was pretty easy."
Student2: "Wow - you're a natural mage?! A sorcerer?"
Rags: "Maybe... I suppose. It only started a few years ago."
{Some weeks afterwards...}
Rags' mother: "So I hear you're bound to be the next High Mage, Rags."
Rags: "Oh? Who said that?"
Mother: "Some students were talking in the hall about an all-powerful Halfling sorcerer. I lingered to hear a little more, and your name came up. Care to tell me what they're talking about?"
Rags: "Well, strange things starting happening the last couple of years, and then couple of weeks ago..."
Mother: "Yes?"
Rags: "I actually cast a spell - when I was trying to. In the Bright Blade ."
Mother: "Ah, I see. I suppose it's not all that surprising. Your great-grandfather was a fair wizard. He brought the family to Silverymoon, so that he could study, and teach. Magic gets into the blood, sometimes."
{After consulting with her friends at the College, Rags' mother advises him to leave Silverymoon.}
Mother: "You're halfway through your tweens, and almost an adult. You can go where you please. I think you should see where you talent takes you, and see what you're capable of. If you stay here you may never find out - you'll become a book-learning wizard, when you may be capable of something else. What do you want?"
Rags: "I suppose I am getting a little tired of helping dad. And the students are always the same, year after year. Maybe it is time for a change."
Rag's father talks to his boss, who talks to his supplier, who talks to a trader, who arranges transport for Rags with a timber and ore caravan* headed to Waterdeep.
Along the voyage, Rags spent his time practicing the tricks he could do - the ones he never told his parents about, or showed his friends. As usual, he had a great deal of difficulty in getting them to work as desired, which is why he had never told anyone about them. One night, about mid-trip, he had a little too much wine to drink, bemoaning his lack of ability. As he took the flask from his mouth and muttered the command for his dagger lights spell (magic missle), he gasped in amazement as it actually worked - striking the tree his finger had aimlessly pointed at! Stupified, and disbelieving, he tried it again - zap! - it worked! Why was it working? Rags glanced back forth between the tree and his flask...and downed the whole thing. He started to mutter the command a third time, but the tree was multiplying...huh?... (Rags passes out).
Experimenting over the next few days, Rags discovered that some alcohol dramatically improved his tricks, er, spells. The problem was that too much drink ruined them, and him.
One of the traders noticed him gulping from his flask and remarked that it would last longer if he diluted it.
Aha! The first thing at hand was remarkably not water, but tea. Rags grabbed the tea and marched off to experiment. He found that a 50/50 split of his wine and the tea worked well, making his spells work, and kept him from getting drunk. He also found that a 75/25 wine/tea mixture sometimes made his spells work great, but not always, and it made him a little tipsy.
Thus came Rags in Waterdeep armed with his flasks (some newly acquired from a trader): 1 for wine; 1 for tea; 1 for his "half-and-half" mix; and 1 for his "three-and-one" mix.
Inside, he knew his mother would disapprove, but his student friends would heartily approve.
*Supplementary Sources:
"Faiths and Pantheons" (WOTC88643)
"The Silver Marches" (WOTC88567)
"Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting" (WOTC11836)
EDIT: 8/19/03 - Possessions: Added Map to Skullport, deducted 3sp from funds. Deducted 1cp for Kabob.
