Post by Vahn on Nov 24, 2010 9:35:55 GMT -5
Name:
Robert K. Radolfzell
Nickname:
Vahn
Age:
25
Sex:
Male
Height:
5' 7"
Weight:
145-ish
Scars or Birthmarks:
A crescent shaped birthmark on his left shoulder. He also has several scars on his body, the result of fighting without the intent to kill.
Race:
Witch
Looks:
Somewhat short for a male, Vahn is lean and muscular. From years of rigorous martial arts training, he his in excellent physical shape. His dark brown hair is long and tousled. Vahn rarely does anything with it beyond combing it back with his hand. His expression is usually somewhat serious, with a pensive look in his dark grey eyes.
He wears a tattered black duster that's a size too big and hangs loosely on his lean frame, dragging on the ground. He favors simple clothing that is loose and easy to move in.
Personality:
Intelligent, observant and wise beyond his years. Though still young, Vahn has seen much. Always remaining level-headed and open-minded, he is somewhat reserved, but usually presenting a calm, laid-back face to the world. Often remaining unfazed even in dire circumstances, he has no fear of suffering or death.
Curious by nature and affected by wanderlust, he is driven to find new and interesting places, taking particular delight in the odd or unusual. He has an interest in history, culture, language, and philosophy. He has little care for fame or material wealth and keeps no material possessions. Instead, he seeks enlightenment, understanding, and spiritual growth.
He is a compassionate and empathetic soul, and will go out of his way to help people. He pays little heed to social rank and title. Witch, Vampire, Werewolf, Fairy, or Human, it doesn't matter, in Vahn's eyes all life is precious, something to be valued and protected, even at the cost of his own.
To this end, he dislikes violence and holds pacifistic views, preferring to solve problems without violence and will offer minimal resistance to physical aggression directed at him. However, because of his belief in the sanctity of life, he will not hesitate to protect those in need, whether they be good or evil, man or monster. The use of violence (in any of its forms) against others is one of the few ways to arouse his ire.
Still, even when forced into combat, Vahn typically holds back, fighting defensively and trying to subdue opponents without seriously hurting them.
Likes:
Wandering, rain/snow, thunder, cold weather, animals/nature, philosophy, science, history, music, learning, games/puzzles, noodles
Dislikes:
Unnecessary fighting, arrogance, narrow-mindedness, being bound to a single place for long periods, hot weather, eggs
Where they Live:
Drifter
Pets:
A haggard looking raven, named Karas. It's his familiar, and the two share an empathic link.
The bird possesses a preternatural level of intelligence that is almost human-like.
History:
David Radolfzell was a professional fighter of some fame, competing in various martial art leagues in both America and East Asia. One day he met a fan and fellow martial artist enthusiast named Lilly. Immediately smitten with the woman, David asked her out. She accepted and the two began to date. They were eventually married and settled down.
After some time David decided to retire from professional fighting and, with Lilly, start up a martial arts school. About a year or so later the couple was overjoyed to learn that Lilly was pregnant. And so nine months later their son, Robert, was born into the world.
Things were good for a time. Their son was healthy and raised lovingly, their school was doing well. When he was old enough, of course, David and Lilly began to instruct their son in the martial arts.
It was decided, one summer, that the family would take a vacation in Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. Largely unspoiled, it's famous for its 88 Temples and spectacular, rugged scenery. But more specifically, they were taking a trip to the city of Tokushima for the Awa Dance Festival, the largest dance festival in Japan.
Arriving with plenty of time before the festival, they decided to do some hiking around the near by Mt. Bizen. It would be a good way to take in the area's natural beauty first hand and to stay physically active. Little did the family know that they had been marked by some small time thugs, looking to make a quick buck off the many tourists attracted by the festival.
Armed with switchblades, the thugs attacked the family on a deserted forest path. Confident in their abilities, David and Lilly quickly disarmed the thugs and disabled one of the two. Very much alarmed by this turn of events, the remaining thug pulled a gun. Things turned real ugly, real fast.
Skilled fighter of not, a bullet to the head quite literally stopped David dead. Lilly met with a similar fate. The boy would never forget the warmth of his own parents' blood splattered across his face, mingled with the tear flowing freely down his face.
Holding the gun to the petrified child, the thug hesitated, seemingly debating on whether or not to shoot. After what seemed like a lifetime, the thug settled for harshly pistol-whipping the boy, leaving a bloody gash across his left cheek. After looting the bodies of David and Lilly, the thug took off with his partner limping behind him.
Dazed from the blow, terrified and distraught, the boy found himself very much alone in the forest. The boy sat and wept, not knowing what else to do. After what seemed like hours, he heard a noise. His head snapped up in fear, thinking the thugs had returned to kill him.
Instead he was greeted with the sight of a small, elderly woman garbed in the simple robes of an ascetic. She silently extended a thin hand to the boy.
There was something about this old woman who had appeared from seemingly nowhere, something in her kindly face, that the boy couldn't quite place. Though he did not understand how or why at the time, it was as if they were kindred spirits. He took the old woman's hand and never looked back.
The bodies of David and Lilly were eventually discovered by other hikers. The authorities managed to track down and arrest the thugs. A search went out for the missing child, however, it proved to be fruitless and was eventually called off. The boy was eventually declared deceased, survived by no living relatives.
But the boy was still very much alive, taken in by the old woman, a hermit.
The old woman lived in and acted as custodian to a small and isolated forest shrine, sequestered away from the outside world. The daughter of a rich businessman, she traveled widely in her youth, studying the martial arts and the works of great thinkers past and present. As it so happened she was also a Witch, which the boy would come to find out in time. This was the unknown kinship that he had felt upon their first meeting.
Ultimately she had long ago chosen to withdraw from the world at large, renouncing secular things and even her name, in order to reflect upon her wanderings and studies while seeking enlightenment through the perfection of her martial art and magical abilities in quiet sereneness of the forest.
And so time passed, flowing ever onward like a river. Slowly at first, as the boy mourned his parents. Summer gave way to Autumn, which faded into Winter and so on.
It was not an easy life for a child. Nonetheless he expressed no desire to go back to the world. It held nothing for him now. The old woman, on the other hand, seemed magical to the boy, so full of wisdom and knowledge, so strong, so serene and graceful. Despite her age, it seemed like there was almost nothing she couldn't do.
The boy, following the old women, also took up the path of an ascetic. His days were spent in meditation and quiet contemplation, as well as helping the old woman take care of the temple. He also continued to study the martial arts under her. In this she was stern, her methods arduous and unrelenting, but outside of training she was kind and jovial. No matter the task, she would always have some measure of wisdom to dispense. A bond formed between them over the years, the boy coming to refer to her as Obāsan (grandmother).
With the advent of puberty, the boy's latent powers began to surface. His first spells were incomplete, spontaneous, and uncontrolled. He did not understand, and was terrified, until Obāsan soon explained that he, like her, was a "Mahō-tsukai" (witch/wizard). Training now took on a new emphasis as the boy sought to master his new found abilities. In this, Obāsan proved just as strict, if not more so then before.
Not long after his powers began to blossom, he awoke one day to find a mysterious black egg. After carefully nurturing the egg for a year and a day, it hatched. The boy named the newly born raven "Karas", and they have rarely been apart since.
Several years passed and the boy became a young man. Obāsan became less involved with training and left more and more of the temple responsibilities to him. She fell ill, becoming bedridden. It was unthinkable to him, but old age had finally caught up with Obāsan.
For the next year or so her health continued to decline. The young man attended to her the best he could, but he was no doctor. Many times he pleaded with Obāsan to allow him to seek out medical help, but she would always refuse.
"Certain is death for the born and certain is birth for the dead," she told him one evening. "Death is a door, nothing more. Fear it not. I have come far, lived a fulfilling life. I have found what I sought. Know this, my child, I truly enjoyed being your obāsan, watching over you these last eight years as you grew from a boy to the man I see now. I am proud of you, and so to must be your parents. I look forward to meeting them in the next life, where I will continue to watch over you. I would say 'do not mourn over the inevitable', but I know your heart. You will mourn me. For that, I apologize."
For just a moment she clasped his hand surprisingly tight for an old woman on her deathbed, but her grip went lax and she spoke no more. Obāsan appeared as calm and serene in death as she had in life.
He thought that his parents' death had bled him dry of tears, but he was wrong. He sat near her for sometime, unable to tear himself away from her side. How was it that she now looked so frail and small?
As per her wishes, he constructed a funeral pyre, cremating her body. Saying a final goodbye he scattered her ashes into a nearby stream.
He felt so lost without his teacher, his mentor, his obāsan. For the next few weeks he aimlessly wandered about the temple and surrounding woods.
Then, on the eve of his eighteenth birthday, he decided that he would leave the temple. He would venture out into the world and study under a new master, life, as Obāsan had in her youth.
The following day he gathered what few possessions he had, some food, and Obāsan's juzu. After making sure the temple was spotless he took his things and left.
He decided that he would return to America, where he was born. Ignorant of the events in the outer world for the past eight years, he was quite alarmed at the uprising and deeply saddened by the massive loss of life.
He sought out some of his childhood friends, but met with dead-ends. So, he moved on, abandoning any desire to reclaim his old life as Robert Radolfzell.
That person really had died years ago.
He began calling himself "Vahn", after a character in an old video game he had played long ago. With Karas as his only permanent companion, He took to wandering over the past several years, coming and going among the various races, observing and interacting with them, letting the winds of fate carry him where they would. He has witnessed the whims of culture and sentient beings, and the skewed effects of subtle circumstance. He has seen joyous occasions and atrocities alike, but always preventing the latter where he could.
"All that lives will die, and everything must come to an end, but how far will people come before that?" He asks himself. "How far will I go?"
And so, he wanders on...
Name any other characters you have on this site:
N/A
Anything else?:
Vahn is left handed.
Vahn, as a Witch, can cast spells. 'Cuz I'm a Dungeons & Dragons dork, I decided to draw up an actual spell list for him, mostly based on a mid-level Sorcerer (note: spells run from level 0 to level 9 in D&D)
Spells per Day[/u]:
Vahn can cast only a certain number of spells of each level per day, without resting/meditating, before it will start to adversely affect his health.
His daily spell allotment is as follows:
lvl0: 6/day
lvl1: 6/day
lvl2: 6/day
lvl3: 6/day
lvl4: 5/day
lvl5: 3/day
Or: 6/6/6/6/5/3
Spells Known:
lvl0 Spells:
Dancing Lights:
Creates up to four lights that resemble lanterns or torches (and cast that amount of light), up to four glowing spheres of light, or a single faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape. The lights must stay within a 10-foot-radius area in relation to each other but otherwise move as Vahn desires: forward or back, up or down, straight or turning corners, or the like. A light winks out if the distance between it and Vahn exceeds the spell’s range, which is around a 100 ft.
The duration of the spell is about one minute, give or take, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Detect Magic:
Detects the presence of magic or magical items, as well as their location and general strength. It has a range of only 60ft, give or take.
Detect Poison:
Determines whether a person, creature, object, or area has been poisoned or is poisonous.
Flare:
An instantaneous flash of (temporarily) blinding light. It does not affect the caster, given that they are the one projecting the light.
Ghost Sound:
Creates disembodied noises withing Vahn's immediate vicinity. The spell can replicate virtually any type of sound, from people talking to a truck engine to a lion roaring. However, it cannot produce sounds loud enough to deafen someone.
The duration of the spell is about one minute, give or take, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Mage Hand:
Minor telekinesis, limited to small objects under 5 lbs and within 25 ft of Vahn, give or take.
It lasts as long as Vahn concentrates on the object.
Mending:
Makes minor repairs, such a fixing a broken glass or a small tear in some fabric.
Message:
Allows for a whispered conversation at a distance up to around 200ft. Vahn can target up to eleven people with one casting. The person(s) that receive the message can whisper a reply. The spell transmits sound, not meaning. It doesn’t transcend language barriers.
The message does not have to travel in a straight line. It can circumvent a barrier if there is an open path between you and the subject, and the path’s entire length lies within the spell’s range.
Note: To speak a message, you must mouth the words and whisper, possibly allowing observers the opportunity to read your lips.
The duration of the spell is about 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Prestidigitation:
Creates simple magical effects. For example: the spell can slowly lift one pound of material. It can color, clean, or soil items in a one-foot cube. It can chill, warm, or flavor one pound of nonliving material. It can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial. The materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, etc. Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) fades within an hour or so.
lvl1 Spells:
Disguise Self
Vahn can make himself—including clothing, equipment, etc.—look different. He can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between, but is restricted to a humanoid form. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to Vahn. He could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person.
It is, however, only an illusion. The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the chosen form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile, audible, or olfactory properties of Vahn or whatever is on his person at the time of casting.
The duration of the spell is about 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Enlarge Person:
Instantly doubles the size of a person or creature. Vahn can cast it on himself or another person, but those with strong wills can resist it if they are unwilling.
Feather Fall:
Quickly slows the fall of a person, creature, or object to a safe speed. Vahn can target up to ten people, creatures, or objects with one casting. None of them can be more then 20ft apart, and any target must be within the spell's range, which is 50ft.
Shield:
Creates an invisible barrier about the size of a tower shield that hovers in front of Vahn. As its name suggests, it blocks physical and energy attacks.
It lasts for about 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that. Sufficient force can break it, ending the spell prematurely.
Shocking Grasp:
Vahn's touch delivers an electrical shock. It is not powerful enough to kill, and can only stun.
lvl2 Spells:
Cure Moderate Wounds:
Heals some cuts, burns, fractures, etc. It can effect physical damage caused by a disease, but cannot cure the disease itself. It has no effect on poison.
Invisibility:
Turns the target (a single person, creature or an object less then 1,000lbs), along with anything they are carrying, invisible. Items dropped or put down by an invisible creature become visible; items picked up disappear if tucked into the clothing or pouches worn by the creature.
If Vahn targets something other then himself, he cannot see the target. A living target can resist the spell if they are unwilling.
Of course, the subject is not magically silenced, and certain other conditions can render the recipient detectable (such as stepping in a puddle). The spell ends if the subject attacks any creature. Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell. Causing harm indirectly does not break the spell either.
The spell has a duration of around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
Levitate:
Levitate allows Vahn to move either himself, another person, creature, or an object up and down as he wishes. A living creature must be willing to be levitated, and an object must be unattended or possessed by a willing creature.
The spell cannot move the target horizontally, but the target could clamber along the face of a cliff, for example, or push against a wall to move laterally.
The duration of the spell is around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that. If the target is off the ground they fall normally.
Mirror Image:
Creates several illusory duplicates of Vahn. The figments separate from Vahn and remain in a cluster, each within 5ft of another figment or Vahn. He can move into and through a figment, and the figments can also move through each other. It is practically impossible to use vision or hearing alone to determine which one is Vahn and which is a figment. However, a figment disappears if struck.
The figments mimic Vahn's actions, pretending to cast spells when he casts one, levitate when he levitates, and so on.
The spell has a duration of around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
lvl3 Spells:
Dispel Magic"
Dispel magic ends ongoing spells that have been cast on a creature or object, temporarily suppresses the magical abilities of a magic item, ends ongoing spells (or at least their effects) within an area, or counters another caster’s spell.
The stronger the caster, or more potent the spell, the harder it is for Vahn to dispel something. He has little to no chance of dispelling any magical effect from a caster stronger then himself.
Iceball:
Creates an orb of freezing magical energy. The orb can only travel as fast and far as Vahn can throw it.
Lightning Bolt:
As the name suggests, this spell summons a powerful bolt of lightning from Vahn's fingertip.
It sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in its path. It can melt metals with a low melting point, such as lead, gold, copper, silver, or bronze. If the damage caused to an interposing barrier shatters or breaks through it, the bolt may continue beyond the barrier if the spell’s range permits.
It has a range of 120ft.
lvl4 Spells:
Dimension Door:
Instantly transfers Vahn from his current location to any other spot within range, which is 800ft. Vahn can either visualize a specific area or simply state a direction in which to travel. Vahn can bring any object that he can carry and up to three willing people/creatures (along with anything object they can carry).
If Vahn arrives in a place that is already occupied by a solid body, him and each person or creature traveling with him take minor impact damage and are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface within 100 feet of the intended location.
If there is no free space within 100 feet, Vahn and each person/creature traveling with him takes additional damage and are shunted to a free space within 1,000 feet. If there is no free space within 1,000 feet, Vahn and each creature traveling with him take heavy impact damage and the spell simply fails.
Scrying:
This spell allows Vahn to view and hear a person, creature or area, which may be at any distance. Vahn must have at least secondhand knowledge of the person, creature, or area for the spell to work (i.e. he can't just scry at random). The less familiar with the person or area, the less likely for the spell to succeed. However, having a possession, strand of hair, or the like that belongs to the target or an object from the targeted area will greatly increase Vahn's chance at success.
He needs a reflective surface (mirror, crystal ball, water, etc.) to gaze into for the spell to work. The spell has a duration of around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
lvl5 Spells:
Mirage Arcana:
A powerful illusion spell, it enables Vahn to make any area appear to be something other than it is. The illusion includes audible, visual, tactile, and olfactory elements. The spell can alter the appearance of structures (or add them where none are present).
It cannot disguise, conceal, or add people/creatures (though people/creatures within the area might hide themselves within the illusion just as they can hide themselves within a real location).
The area of effect for this spell is a 200ft cube. The spell has a duration of around 10 hours, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
[/size][/font][/color]
Robert K. Radolfzell
Nickname:
Vahn
Age:
25
Sex:
Male
Height:
5' 7"
Weight:
145-ish
Scars or Birthmarks:
A crescent shaped birthmark on his left shoulder. He also has several scars on his body, the result of fighting without the intent to kill.
Race:
Witch
Looks:
Somewhat short for a male, Vahn is lean and muscular. From years of rigorous martial arts training, he his in excellent physical shape. His dark brown hair is long and tousled. Vahn rarely does anything with it beyond combing it back with his hand. His expression is usually somewhat serious, with a pensive look in his dark grey eyes.
He wears a tattered black duster that's a size too big and hangs loosely on his lean frame, dragging on the ground. He favors simple clothing that is loose and easy to move in.
Personality:
Intelligent, observant and wise beyond his years. Though still young, Vahn has seen much. Always remaining level-headed and open-minded, he is somewhat reserved, but usually presenting a calm, laid-back face to the world. Often remaining unfazed even in dire circumstances, he has no fear of suffering or death.
Curious by nature and affected by wanderlust, he is driven to find new and interesting places, taking particular delight in the odd or unusual. He has an interest in history, culture, language, and philosophy. He has little care for fame or material wealth and keeps no material possessions. Instead, he seeks enlightenment, understanding, and spiritual growth.
He is a compassionate and empathetic soul, and will go out of his way to help people. He pays little heed to social rank and title. Witch, Vampire, Werewolf, Fairy, or Human, it doesn't matter, in Vahn's eyes all life is precious, something to be valued and protected, even at the cost of his own.
To this end, he dislikes violence and holds pacifistic views, preferring to solve problems without violence and will offer minimal resistance to physical aggression directed at him. However, because of his belief in the sanctity of life, he will not hesitate to protect those in need, whether they be good or evil, man or monster. The use of violence (in any of its forms) against others is one of the few ways to arouse his ire.
Still, even when forced into combat, Vahn typically holds back, fighting defensively and trying to subdue opponents without seriously hurting them.
Likes:
Wandering, rain/snow, thunder, cold weather, animals/nature, philosophy, science, history, music, learning, games/puzzles, noodles
Dislikes:
Unnecessary fighting, arrogance, narrow-mindedness, being bound to a single place for long periods, hot weather, eggs
Where they Live:
Drifter
Pets:
A haggard looking raven, named Karas. It's his familiar, and the two share an empathic link.
The bird possesses a preternatural level of intelligence that is almost human-like.
History:
David Radolfzell was a professional fighter of some fame, competing in various martial art leagues in both America and East Asia. One day he met a fan and fellow martial artist enthusiast named Lilly. Immediately smitten with the woman, David asked her out. She accepted and the two began to date. They were eventually married and settled down.
After some time David decided to retire from professional fighting and, with Lilly, start up a martial arts school. About a year or so later the couple was overjoyed to learn that Lilly was pregnant. And so nine months later their son, Robert, was born into the world.
Things were good for a time. Their son was healthy and raised lovingly, their school was doing well. When he was old enough, of course, David and Lilly began to instruct their son in the martial arts.
It was decided, one summer, that the family would take a vacation in Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. Largely unspoiled, it's famous for its 88 Temples and spectacular, rugged scenery. But more specifically, they were taking a trip to the city of Tokushima for the Awa Dance Festival, the largest dance festival in Japan.
Arriving with plenty of time before the festival, they decided to do some hiking around the near by Mt. Bizen. It would be a good way to take in the area's natural beauty first hand and to stay physically active. Little did the family know that they had been marked by some small time thugs, looking to make a quick buck off the many tourists attracted by the festival.
Armed with switchblades, the thugs attacked the family on a deserted forest path. Confident in their abilities, David and Lilly quickly disarmed the thugs and disabled one of the two. Very much alarmed by this turn of events, the remaining thug pulled a gun. Things turned real ugly, real fast.
Skilled fighter of not, a bullet to the head quite literally stopped David dead. Lilly met with a similar fate. The boy would never forget the warmth of his own parents' blood splattered across his face, mingled with the tear flowing freely down his face.
Holding the gun to the petrified child, the thug hesitated, seemingly debating on whether or not to shoot. After what seemed like a lifetime, the thug settled for harshly pistol-whipping the boy, leaving a bloody gash across his left cheek. After looting the bodies of David and Lilly, the thug took off with his partner limping behind him.
Dazed from the blow, terrified and distraught, the boy found himself very much alone in the forest. The boy sat and wept, not knowing what else to do. After what seemed like hours, he heard a noise. His head snapped up in fear, thinking the thugs had returned to kill him.
Instead he was greeted with the sight of a small, elderly woman garbed in the simple robes of an ascetic. She silently extended a thin hand to the boy.
There was something about this old woman who had appeared from seemingly nowhere, something in her kindly face, that the boy couldn't quite place. Though he did not understand how or why at the time, it was as if they were kindred spirits. He took the old woman's hand and never looked back.
The bodies of David and Lilly were eventually discovered by other hikers. The authorities managed to track down and arrest the thugs. A search went out for the missing child, however, it proved to be fruitless and was eventually called off. The boy was eventually declared deceased, survived by no living relatives.
But the boy was still very much alive, taken in by the old woman, a hermit.
The old woman lived in and acted as custodian to a small and isolated forest shrine, sequestered away from the outside world. The daughter of a rich businessman, she traveled widely in her youth, studying the martial arts and the works of great thinkers past and present. As it so happened she was also a Witch, which the boy would come to find out in time. This was the unknown kinship that he had felt upon their first meeting.
Ultimately she had long ago chosen to withdraw from the world at large, renouncing secular things and even her name, in order to reflect upon her wanderings and studies while seeking enlightenment through the perfection of her martial art and magical abilities in quiet sereneness of the forest.
And so time passed, flowing ever onward like a river. Slowly at first, as the boy mourned his parents. Summer gave way to Autumn, which faded into Winter and so on.
It was not an easy life for a child. Nonetheless he expressed no desire to go back to the world. It held nothing for him now. The old woman, on the other hand, seemed magical to the boy, so full of wisdom and knowledge, so strong, so serene and graceful. Despite her age, it seemed like there was almost nothing she couldn't do.
The boy, following the old women, also took up the path of an ascetic. His days were spent in meditation and quiet contemplation, as well as helping the old woman take care of the temple. He also continued to study the martial arts under her. In this she was stern, her methods arduous and unrelenting, but outside of training she was kind and jovial. No matter the task, she would always have some measure of wisdom to dispense. A bond formed between them over the years, the boy coming to refer to her as Obāsan (grandmother).
With the advent of puberty, the boy's latent powers began to surface. His first spells were incomplete, spontaneous, and uncontrolled. He did not understand, and was terrified, until Obāsan soon explained that he, like her, was a "Mahō-tsukai" (witch/wizard). Training now took on a new emphasis as the boy sought to master his new found abilities. In this, Obāsan proved just as strict, if not more so then before.
Not long after his powers began to blossom, he awoke one day to find a mysterious black egg. After carefully nurturing the egg for a year and a day, it hatched. The boy named the newly born raven "Karas", and they have rarely been apart since.
Several years passed and the boy became a young man. Obāsan became less involved with training and left more and more of the temple responsibilities to him. She fell ill, becoming bedridden. It was unthinkable to him, but old age had finally caught up with Obāsan.
For the next year or so her health continued to decline. The young man attended to her the best he could, but he was no doctor. Many times he pleaded with Obāsan to allow him to seek out medical help, but she would always refuse.
"Certain is death for the born and certain is birth for the dead," she told him one evening. "Death is a door, nothing more. Fear it not. I have come far, lived a fulfilling life. I have found what I sought. Know this, my child, I truly enjoyed being your obāsan, watching over you these last eight years as you grew from a boy to the man I see now. I am proud of you, and so to must be your parents. I look forward to meeting them in the next life, where I will continue to watch over you. I would say 'do not mourn over the inevitable', but I know your heart. You will mourn me. For that, I apologize."
For just a moment she clasped his hand surprisingly tight for an old woman on her deathbed, but her grip went lax and she spoke no more. Obāsan appeared as calm and serene in death as she had in life.
He thought that his parents' death had bled him dry of tears, but he was wrong. He sat near her for sometime, unable to tear himself away from her side. How was it that she now looked so frail and small?
As per her wishes, he constructed a funeral pyre, cremating her body. Saying a final goodbye he scattered her ashes into a nearby stream.
He felt so lost without his teacher, his mentor, his obāsan. For the next few weeks he aimlessly wandered about the temple and surrounding woods.
Then, on the eve of his eighteenth birthday, he decided that he would leave the temple. He would venture out into the world and study under a new master, life, as Obāsan had in her youth.
The following day he gathered what few possessions he had, some food, and Obāsan's juzu. After making sure the temple was spotless he took his things and left.
He decided that he would return to America, where he was born. Ignorant of the events in the outer world for the past eight years, he was quite alarmed at the uprising and deeply saddened by the massive loss of life.
He sought out some of his childhood friends, but met with dead-ends. So, he moved on, abandoning any desire to reclaim his old life as Robert Radolfzell.
That person really had died years ago.
He began calling himself "Vahn", after a character in an old video game he had played long ago. With Karas as his only permanent companion, He took to wandering over the past several years, coming and going among the various races, observing and interacting with them, letting the winds of fate carry him where they would. He has witnessed the whims of culture and sentient beings, and the skewed effects of subtle circumstance. He has seen joyous occasions and atrocities alike, but always preventing the latter where he could.
"All that lives will die, and everything must come to an end, but how far will people come before that?" He asks himself. "How far will I go?"
And so, he wanders on...
Name any other characters you have on this site:
N/A
Anything else?:
Vahn is left handed.
Vahn, as a Witch, can cast spells. 'Cuz I'm a Dungeons & Dragons dork, I decided to draw up an actual spell list for him, mostly based on a mid-level Sorcerer (note: spells run from level 0 to level 9 in D&D)
Spells per Day[/u]:
Vahn can cast only a certain number of spells of each level per day, without resting/meditating, before it will start to adversely affect his health.
His daily spell allotment is as follows:
lvl0: 6/day
lvl1: 6/day
lvl2: 6/day
lvl3: 6/day
lvl4: 5/day
lvl5: 3/day
Or: 6/6/6/6/5/3
Spells Known:
lvl0 Spells:
Dancing Lights:
Creates up to four lights that resemble lanterns or torches (and cast that amount of light), up to four glowing spheres of light, or a single faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape. The lights must stay within a 10-foot-radius area in relation to each other but otherwise move as Vahn desires: forward or back, up or down, straight or turning corners, or the like. A light winks out if the distance between it and Vahn exceeds the spell’s range, which is around a 100 ft.
The duration of the spell is about one minute, give or take, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Detect Magic:
Detects the presence of magic or magical items, as well as their location and general strength. It has a range of only 60ft, give or take.
Detect Poison:
Determines whether a person, creature, object, or area has been poisoned or is poisonous.
Flare:
An instantaneous flash of (temporarily) blinding light. It does not affect the caster, given that they are the one projecting the light.
Ghost Sound:
Creates disembodied noises withing Vahn's immediate vicinity. The spell can replicate virtually any type of sound, from people talking to a truck engine to a lion roaring. However, it cannot produce sounds loud enough to deafen someone.
The duration of the spell is about one minute, give or take, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Mage Hand:
Minor telekinesis, limited to small objects under 5 lbs and within 25 ft of Vahn, give or take.
It lasts as long as Vahn concentrates on the object.
Mending:
Makes minor repairs, such a fixing a broken glass or a small tear in some fabric.
Message:
Allows for a whispered conversation at a distance up to around 200ft. Vahn can target up to eleven people with one casting. The person(s) that receive the message can whisper a reply. The spell transmits sound, not meaning. It doesn’t transcend language barriers.
The message does not have to travel in a straight line. It can circumvent a barrier if there is an open path between you and the subject, and the path’s entire length lies within the spell’s range.
Note: To speak a message, you must mouth the words and whisper, possibly allowing observers the opportunity to read your lips.
The duration of the spell is about 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Prestidigitation:
Creates simple magical effects. For example: the spell can slowly lift one pound of material. It can color, clean, or soil items in a one-foot cube. It can chill, warm, or flavor one pound of nonliving material. It can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial. The materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, etc. Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) fades within an hour or so.
lvl1 Spells:
Disguise Self
Vahn can make himself—including clothing, equipment, etc.—look different. He can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between, but is restricted to a humanoid form. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to Vahn. He could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person.
It is, however, only an illusion. The spell does not provide the abilities or mannerisms of the chosen form, nor does it alter the perceived tactile, audible, or olfactory properties of Vahn or whatever is on his person at the time of casting.
The duration of the spell is about 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that.
Enlarge Person:
Instantly doubles the size of a person or creature. Vahn can cast it on himself or another person, but those with strong wills can resist it if they are unwilling.
Feather Fall:
Quickly slows the fall of a person, creature, or object to a safe speed. Vahn can target up to ten people, creatures, or objects with one casting. None of them can be more then 20ft apart, and any target must be within the spell's range, which is 50ft.
Shield:
Creates an invisible barrier about the size of a tower shield that hovers in front of Vahn. As its name suggests, it blocks physical and energy attacks.
It lasts for about 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss it at anytime before that. Sufficient force can break it, ending the spell prematurely.
Shocking Grasp:
Vahn's touch delivers an electrical shock. It is not powerful enough to kill, and can only stun.
lvl2 Spells:
Cure Moderate Wounds:
Heals some cuts, burns, fractures, etc. It can effect physical damage caused by a disease, but cannot cure the disease itself. It has no effect on poison.
Invisibility:
Turns the target (a single person, creature or an object less then 1,000lbs), along with anything they are carrying, invisible. Items dropped or put down by an invisible creature become visible; items picked up disappear if tucked into the clothing or pouches worn by the creature.
If Vahn targets something other then himself, he cannot see the target. A living target can resist the spell if they are unwilling.
Of course, the subject is not magically silenced, and certain other conditions can render the recipient detectable (such as stepping in a puddle). The spell ends if the subject attacks any creature. Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell. Causing harm indirectly does not break the spell either.
The spell has a duration of around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
Levitate:
Levitate allows Vahn to move either himself, another person, creature, or an object up and down as he wishes. A living creature must be willing to be levitated, and an object must be unattended or possessed by a willing creature.
The spell cannot move the target horizontally, but the target could clamber along the face of a cliff, for example, or push against a wall to move laterally.
The duration of the spell is around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that. If the target is off the ground they fall normally.
Mirror Image:
Creates several illusory duplicates of Vahn. The figments separate from Vahn and remain in a cluster, each within 5ft of another figment or Vahn. He can move into and through a figment, and the figments can also move through each other. It is practically impossible to use vision or hearing alone to determine which one is Vahn and which is a figment. However, a figment disappears if struck.
The figments mimic Vahn's actions, pretending to cast spells when he casts one, levitate when he levitates, and so on.
The spell has a duration of around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
lvl3 Spells:
Dispel Magic"
Dispel magic ends ongoing spells that have been cast on a creature or object, temporarily suppresses the magical abilities of a magic item, ends ongoing spells (or at least their effects) within an area, or counters another caster’s spell.
The stronger the caster, or more potent the spell, the harder it is for Vahn to dispel something. He has little to no chance of dispelling any magical effect from a caster stronger then himself.
Iceball:
Creates an orb of freezing magical energy. The orb can only travel as fast and far as Vahn can throw it.
Lightning Bolt:
As the name suggests, this spell summons a powerful bolt of lightning from Vahn's fingertip.
It sets fire to combustibles and damages objects in its path. It can melt metals with a low melting point, such as lead, gold, copper, silver, or bronze. If the damage caused to an interposing barrier shatters or breaks through it, the bolt may continue beyond the barrier if the spell’s range permits.
It has a range of 120ft.
lvl4 Spells:
Dimension Door:
Instantly transfers Vahn from his current location to any other spot within range, which is 800ft. Vahn can either visualize a specific area or simply state a direction in which to travel. Vahn can bring any object that he can carry and up to three willing people/creatures (along with anything object they can carry).
If Vahn arrives in a place that is already occupied by a solid body, him and each person or creature traveling with him take minor impact damage and are shunted to a random open space on a suitable surface within 100 feet of the intended location.
If there is no free space within 100 feet, Vahn and each person/creature traveling with him takes additional damage and are shunted to a free space within 1,000 feet. If there is no free space within 1,000 feet, Vahn and each creature traveling with him take heavy impact damage and the spell simply fails.
Scrying:
This spell allows Vahn to view and hear a person, creature or area, which may be at any distance. Vahn must have at least secondhand knowledge of the person, creature, or area for the spell to work (i.e. he can't just scry at random). The less familiar with the person or area, the less likely for the spell to succeed. However, having a possession, strand of hair, or the like that belongs to the target or an object from the targeted area will greatly increase Vahn's chance at success.
He needs a reflective surface (mirror, crystal ball, water, etc.) to gaze into for the spell to work. The spell has a duration of around 10 minutes, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
lvl5 Spells:
Mirage Arcana:
A powerful illusion spell, it enables Vahn to make any area appear to be something other than it is. The illusion includes audible, visual, tactile, and olfactory elements. The spell can alter the appearance of structures (or add them where none are present).
It cannot disguise, conceal, or add people/creatures (though people/creatures within the area might hide themselves within the illusion just as they can hide themselves within a real location).
The area of effect for this spell is a 200ft cube. The spell has a duration of around 10 hours, but Vahn can dismiss the spell at anytime before that.
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