Zardoz

Zardoz Graves is a male halfling rogue and Shadow Mage played by Martin Dickson

Description

Exceptionally tall (3'10") and lean (60lbs) for a halfling, with pleasant if slightly sharp features, clean skin, dark eyes, an easy grin, and a suave and urbane manner. He wears his well-groomed, raven-dark hair long, and often tied back to display a pronounced widow's peak. Looks to be in young adulthood (born Winter 789). His physical characteristics appear mostly unremarkable though he has long, nimble fingers.

Zardoz will usually be well dressed in either rich, colourful clothes of silk and fine wool or all in very dark shades of grey with soft gloves and boots that make no sound. He often carries a silver topped gentleman's cane, and rather too many daggers.

Weird Stuff

When angered his eyes can appear momentarily red, and on occasion Zardoz may appear to have a shadowy tail or horns, but this odd appearance is only ever fleeting and a probably a trick of the light. His aura shows a faint trace of something extra-planar and possibly demon-adjacent, (a faint "whiff of sulphur" in his aura). Upstanding citizens tend to view Zardoz with additional suspicion (even when he's not actively causing this) while the denizens of places of villainy often warm to him more readily.

Zardoz has recently learned (823 WK) that he and his siblings are not entirely halflings, through his mother's odd lineage, and is just beginning to learn how to control certain shape-shifting abilities that are the result of this.

Halflynge?! What the hell is a Halflynge ?!

Residence

Zardoz spends much of the time at his parent's home of Gravesend.

Skills

Zardoz is a very junior Celestial Shadow Mage and does not yet posses any real capabilities in this area.

Zardoz carries a rod that is not a combat weapon, and resorts to daggers and main-gauche if forced into melee combat.

Zardoz looks something like a scholar... but his true skills run towards the area of Spy and Thief, along with less salubrious abilities. He does have some minor ability in Philosophy, but appears to have acquired this to assist with his other activities that include a considerable interest in specialized papers, fine inks, calligraphy, and the reproduction of armorial seals.

History

Zardoz grew up at Gravesend, and was usually the voice of reason and caution when the triplets got involved in chaos causing schemes. Despite this, his involvement often seemed to increase the overall confusion and fallout. Fortunately though, he was usually nowhere to be found when blame was being shared.

Info for GMs

Visible Value: Moderate - finely dressed, but little additional ostentation or jewellry, low level magic items.

Party Roles: Offence: Low, except from stealth. Prefers to strike from behind.; Defence: Low. Stealth and hiding abilities. Avoids melee, basically useless toe to toe.; Utility: Low-Medium. Several helpful skills, some facility at negotiation.

Goals: Find his way in the world.; Be (more than) comfortably rich.; Investigate his odd heritage.

Friends and Allies: Sabastian Silverfoot

Enemies: None of consequence

Gods and Powers: Not yet meddled with.

Languages: Elven, Common, and Halfling. His Common and Halfling both bear Elven accents.

Main Skills: Mid-ranked Thief, Spy, and Assassin.; Low ranks in Courtier and Troubadour.; Hobbies include paper making, dyeing, calligraphy, and a special interest in casting wax seals that replicate armorial bearings.

Main Spells & Rituals: Low generals across Shadow branch of Celestial; Low ranks in Shadow Wings

Other Stuff of Note: Has increased reactions rolls, or sometimes decreased ones.; Very lucky with gambling dice; Has apprenticed with the No. 1 Hobbits' Detective Agency

DragonQuest Personality Profile

List your skills (including College)

What motivated you to study each of these skills?

Celestial Shadow: Seemed the best fit for a practitioner of those skills.

Assassin, Spy and Thief: That would be those skills

Courtier and Troubadour: Skills that help you blend in and appear to belong

Artisan paper making, dyeing, calligraphy, pewter casting: Some learnt at an early age to help out in a library, other more specialized abilities aid in reproducing seals and adding verisimilitude to documents.

List three things you believe about your relationship with party members

Many adventurers are pretty decent folk; this should be encouraged as they'll likely have your back in a fight.
Some adventurers are scoundrels, and it's a good job the contract is there to help keep them in line.
A few adventurers should be kept on a leash.

List three things you believe about money

Getting it is more fun than having it, but if it's too easy to get then it's no fun.
There are more than a few folks who could make use of more of it.
There are some folks that have far more than they need, and it's just irresponsible not to help them get rid of it.

List three things you believe about adventuring

It's a way to get out and see the world, though it's often the seedier parts.
Dangerous work should be suitably compensated.
Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.

List things you believe about the Guild

It's in the Guild's best interests that future business be cultivated.
Never fully trust employers; yes, the Guild has vetted them, but it's not their ass on the line.

List three things you believe about tolerance

I believe that second chances can be justified, but not thirds.
People who hurt kids are irredeemable.
There are some folks that just need killing.

List things you believe about Pacting

Bargains are often much more expensive than you think.

List three things you believe about the Powers of Light

Look closely into any bargains and read the fine print closely.
They probably won't kill you for personal reasons, but will "for the greater good".
To borrow a phase of my father's - they can be sanctimonious pratts.

List three things you believe about the Western (Powers of Light) Church

Bureaucrats find ways of making themselves indispensable.
Many of their followers are charmingly naive.
Holy ground makes me itch.

List three things you believe about the Powers of Darkness

Look closely into any bargains and read the fine print closely.
They're known to hold grudges.
More than a few aren't very bright.