Ferdinand de Palma would have grown up a quiet, happy childhood on the shores of Majorica, in a village just south of the city of Palma. As he was growing, he often teased and taunted the little witch-boy Alvar, who wandered far from the village each day, no doubt conferring with dark spirits and dark men. One day, he dragged in a man who had been wounded in a sea wreck. This man took Alvar's already evil soul and twisted it against his own people, luring him off. The people of Ferdinand's village were glad to see him go.
They were glad, at least, until Alvar's dark pirate friends attacked. They sacked the village, killing men, raping women, and carrying off those they found as slaves. Little Ferdinand, a man who was barely more than a boy, was slashed once across the face, the blade laying him open to the bone. As he lay there bleeding, he listened to his father die and his mother and sisters cry and scream as the pirates took them again and again. Certain he was dying, he swore to rid Majorica of pirates… especially Alvar, the witch-boy.
Luck was with Ferdinand, though. The next day, the iterant priest who serviced the village made a stop in what was left of his little village, and heard Ferdinand's delirious moans. He nursed Ferdinand back to strength in the ruins of the tiny chapel that served as the church, and then took him back to Palma, to be educated in the dilapidated cathedral's school.
Ferdinand spent six years in the school, learning to speak Latin and Catalan, as well as other things that he has forgotten over the years. Though he returned to full health, nothing could erase the scar that marred his once-beautiful face, or take the haunted look from his eye. He left the cathedral to pursue a career as a warrior, a driven man. He knew that he would die at the hands of those who practiced magic... perhaps not the black arts that Alvar had so long employed on those in their little village, but his death would not be one of age or steel.
For six years, Ferdinand de Palma fought. He fought in the Holy Wars, a mercenary with the Third Crusade, as well as working for the lords of small cities and townships, rooting out pirates from their havens. As his skill grew, he attracted others who followed him… warriors of perhaps less magnificent destinies, but of equal worth.
All the time, he kept his ears open for news of Alvar de Palma, following him through apprenticeship, through his name-change to hide his crime, finally back to the island of Majorica and a small covenant of Magi. Ferdinand knew of the magi, and knew that not all were in league with the Dark One… but he knew this of Alvar, now called Caelum. And Alvar would pay for what happened to his mother, his sisters, his father… their entire village. Now, only to get close enough to him to strike…
Ferdinand de Palma
Int 0
Per +1 (Alert)
Str +2 (Hardened)
Sta +1 (Determined)
Pre 0
Com 0
Dex +1 (Finely coordinated)
Qik +1 (Lightning Rushes)
Age: 26
Decrepitude: 1
Size: 0
Confidence: 3
Male, with black hair, dark skin and very dark eyes. Across his face is an ugly looking scar that runs from just above his right eye to his collar bone. The scar has never fully healed, and tends to look ragged and painful, even though it no longer bothers Ferdinand in the least.
Virtues and Flaws
Mercenary +2
Well-traveled +1
Veteran +3
Educated +1
Tough +1
Decrepitude –2 (old wounds)
Hatred –1 (Caelum of Bonisagus)
Disfigured –1 (facial scarring)
Driving Goal –1 (destroy pirates)
Sense of Doom –3 (death by magi)
Abilities
Speak Arabic (Baleric) 5
Single Weapon (Longsword) 3
Brawl (Discipline) 3
Shield and Weapon (Longsword and Round Shield) 4
Longshaft Weapon (Spear) 2
Leadership (Mercenaries) 4
Speak Latin (Church Usage) 3
Scribe Latin (reading) 2
Speak Catalan (insults) 3
Speak Norman French (battlefield) 2
Speak Provencal (battlefield) 2
Scribe Arabic (reading) 2
Athletics (endurance) 3
Awareness (Ambushes) 2
Bargain (for services) 2
Carouse (staying sober) 2
Ride (battle) 2
Swim (sea) 2
Majorica Lore (Palma) 2
Chirgury (binding wounds) 2
Stealth (ambush) 2
Storytelling (war stories) 1
Personality Traits
Cold +1
Driven +2
Honorable +3
Brave +1
Humorless –1
Equipment
Longsword, Round Shield, Dagger, Spear, Half Chain Mail, Warhorse named "Lusignan"
Aleksandra Ivanova was born in Kiev, the daughter of an innkeeper and a woman whose fey-touched beauty had made her an early target for pimps. Her father was a conscientious man, however, and he took in the child, raising her in the kitchen and the common room of his little establishment. From an early age, Aleksandra attracted too much attention… she was the sort that folks just wanted to pick up and hold, always cute and sweet, always ready to cajole a story out of whoever stopped by the inn. As she grew in a beautiful woman, though, her father saw that the laps she was pulled into were increasingly less those of grandfathers who wanted someone to listen to their tales, and the stories she heard were not often the type that enthralled her as a child. He knew something must be done, and began to seek her a husband.
Before a suitable man could be found, though, Aleksandra's heritage took action. Sitting near the fire one night, listening to an old, half-blind minstrel, she felt a stirring in her young, yet ancient, blood. She wanted to go and see these wondrous places that she had heard of in the stories, to do the great deeds they told about. That night, beneath a witching moon, she slipped out of her window, a small bag over her shoulder and a dagger in her belt, determined to become a wandering storyteller, herself.
The life of a wandering storyteller, unfortunately, was a hard one. Few men were interested in her tales… few women cared to have anything to do with her. Her only audiences were children, and one can hardly make a living off the bits of sweetmeat and apples that children trade in. After fighting off a soldier who decided that he was in love with her, she decided that the life of a mercenary was the one for her. After all, the stories made it seem easy… how hard could it be?
For two years, she learned how hard it is to be a female mercenary, having to fight for each scrap of respect, having to wound comrades who thought of her as little more than a camp follower. The hardship, however, did nothing to dampen her spirit, a spirit which attracted the sometimes morose Ferdinand. She was attracted to the fact that he wasn't attracted to her, and the two became fast friends. For now, Aleksandra fights with Ferdinand's band, a solid archer and a pleasant companion, but it's only a matter of time before her blood starts calling to her to move on… how much time, though, perhaps not even God is sure.
Aleksandra Ivanova
Int 0
Per +1 (sharp eyes)
Str +1 (Toned)
Sta 0
Com 0
Pre +3 (Stunning)
Dex +1 (Lithe)
Qik +1 (light-footed)
Age 19
Size: 0
Confidence: 3
Female with long, blonde hair and stunning green eyes, Aleksandra is also possesses a beautiful body, hardened and toned by years of fighting. A truly beautiful woman, she is nonetheless slightly naive, believing the best of people, sometimes to the point of absurdity.
Virtues and Flaws
Sidhe Blood +2
Veteran +1
Hired Sword –1
Curse of Venus –2
Abilities
Speak Rus (Kiev) 4
Brawl (dagger) 2
Carouse (drinking songs) 2
Bows (long bows) 5
Single Weapon (Short Sword) 3
Sing (Ballads) 3
Storytelling (Epics) 3
Stealth (sneak) 3
Speak Arabic (Mercenary) 3
Personality Traits
Restless +1
Cheerful +2
Likes Stories +3
Brave +2
Equipment
Long bow and several quivers, dagger, short sword, Heavy Leather Hauberk
David was a promising student at the Yeshiva in Palma many years ago, though few liked him. He had the will and talent to become a doctor, but he could find none who would teach him, each finding a way to turn him away after only a few months. Finally, he began to sell his fledgling skills to mercenary bands, armies, and anyone in need, gaining from practical experience the training he couldn't get from others. When he was last in Palma, he met up with Ferdinand, who saw in him great promise and skill. Ferdinand offered him a place in their band, saying that every group should be as lucky to have a chirgeon, no matter what his religion. David now clings to Ferdinand, eager to please almost to the point of obsequiousness, knowing that, without Ferdinand, the rest of the band would be happy with or without him.
David the Jew
Int +2 (brilliant)
Per +1 (notes details)
Str –1 (small)
Sta –1 (easily winded)
Com 0
Pre +1 (gentle face)
Dex +2 (deft hands)
Qik +1 (quick fingers)
Age: 30
Size 0
Confidence 3
A fairly small man, David possesses dark eyes and hair, as well as a rather prominent nose. He is known to mutter in Hebrew while he works, a fact which does little to calm his mostly Christian clientele.
Virtues and Flaws
Educated in Yeshiva +1
Veteran +1
Cautious with Chirugy +1
Outsider: Jew –2
Judged Unfairly –1
Abilities
Speak Hebrew (Academic) 4
Scribe Hebrew (Medicine) 4
Speak Catalan (Palma) 4
Brawl (defense) 1
Carouse (Games of Chance) 1
Speak Arabic (Palma) 4
Scribe Arabic (translating) 2
Chirugy (Binding wounds) 4
Medicine (Physician) 3
Jewish Theology (Talmud) 2
Storytelling (Jewish Stories) 1
Philosophae (Natural Philosophy) 1
Lectio (Talmud) 2
Disputatio (Debate) 2
Bargain (Medical Goods) 2
Speak Greek (Medical Terms) 3
Scribe Greek (translating) 2
Sing (Synagogue) 1
Folk Ken (calming people) 1
Reputation: Jew 2
Personality Traits:
Loyal (to Ferdinand) +3
Caring +2
Non-violent +1
Equipment
Knife, medical supplies, book of medical notes written in Hebrew (functioning as a level 2 Liber quaesitonum for both Chirugy and Medicine, but of only Quality 3, because of his cramped handwriting, lack of illustration, single color of ink, etc.)
Rolf Ivarson was raised amongst the Norse population of Byzantium, raised to be one of the elite guards of the Emporer. Soon after reaching manhood, however, Rolf was taken by a hereditary curse that had first befallen an ancestor raiding a grugachan's clan in the Hebrides. For several years, he lived as a boar, remembering little of his human life and living free as a beast. When he regained his mannish form, he found that it would not keep for long… he would still turn into a boar for the duration of a full moon. While in Palma, he heard that Ferdinand's band was going to seek employment from some magi. He hopes that they can break the curse which has plagued him, returning to him a normal life.
Rolf Ivarson (the statistics in parenthesis are his when in boar form. Specialties apply only to human form)
Int –1 (-2) (dense)
Per +1 (-1) (watchful)
Str +3 (+5) (big muscles)
Sta +2 (+6) (tough)
Com –2 (-) (tongue-tied)
Pre –1 (-) (unclean)
Dex +1 (0) (sure motion)
Qik –1 (0) (lumbering)
Age: 23
Size: 0
Confidence: 3
Rolf is large, though not as large as Carles. His red hair and beard are often unkempt, and he smells like a pig sty even when in human form.
Virtues and Flaws
Reserves of Strength +2
Berserk +1
Hired Sword –1
Lycanthrope (Boar) –2
Abilities
Speak Norse (curses) 4
Brawl (dodge) 2
Carouse (power drinking) 2
Speak Greek (Byzantine) 4
Two Weapons (axes) 4
Single Weapon (axe) 4
Throwing Weapon (axe) 3
Speak Arabic (simple sentences) 2
Athletics (running) 2
Personality Traits
Angry +3
Gruff +2
Boar +1
Brave +3
Equipment
Half suit of steel scale, 2 axes, one throwing axe
Alfonso, Sancho, Ramiro, Petro, and Carles are simple warriors from around the Balerics. While raised as fishermen, each joined in the battles against pirates with unusual vigor, finally making a career out of it. While none are thrilled to be dealing with a Jew (they're the ones who made the epithet stick… even Ferdinand catches himself saying it sometimes), and are uncertain about both the woman-warrior and the slightly unstable Northman, all are loyal to each other and the company.
Int –1
Per 0
Str +1
Sta +1
Com –1
Pre –1
Dex 0
Qik +1
Age: 21
Size: 0 (Carles is +1)
Decrepitude: 1
Confidence 3
Each of the five is generally dark haired and large featured, being the typical Baleric mix of Spaniard and Moor. They tend to have a rather crude, workmen's sense of humor, and tend to hang out together when not actively made to work.
Virtues and Flaws
Veteran +2
Hired Sword –1
Decrepitude –2
Varies +1
(Alfonso: Versatile sleeper; Sancho: Light Sleeper; Ramiro: Tough; Petro: Keen Vision; Carles: Large)
Abilities
Soeak Arabic (Baleric) 4
Brawl (fisticuffs) 4
Carouse (drinking songs) 3
Longshaft weapons (spear) 4
Missile Weapons (slings) 4
Chirugy (binding wounds) 2
Craft: Fishing (nets) 2
Swimming (seas) 2
Athletics (on boats) 2
Climb (rigging) 2
Awareness (keeping watch) 1
Baleric Lore (gepgraphy) 2
Personality Traits
Brave +2
Industrious –1
Loyal to company +1
Equipment
Leather scale hauberk, Spear, Sling.
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