Katori Koden

[Cadrius]

Name: Katori Koden
Class: Shugenja 4
Race: Human - Japanese
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 5'5"/130 lb
Experience: 6000/10000

Abilities
Str -- 12 [+1]
Dex -- 14 [+2]
Con -- 12 [+1]
Int -- 14 [+2]
Wis -- 14 [+2]
Cha -- 17 [+3]

Hit Points
Total: 24
Current: 24
Temporary:

Languages - Japanese, Chinese, Elven.

Saves
Fort +2 (1 + 1 Con)
Ref +3 (1 + 2 Dex)
Will +6 (4 + 2 Wis)

Base Attack Bonus +2
Melee +3
Ranged +4
+4 with Wakizashi

AC 13 = 10 + (Armour) + 2 (Dex) + (Shield) + 1 (Misc)
vs. Touch = 13
Flat Footed = 11
Armour Penalty = 0
Spell Failure = 0

Feats
1st - Spell Penetration
Human - Heighten Spell
3rd - Combat Casting

Skills (4 + 2 Int){x4} (+4 at 1st, +1/level after 1st)
Spellcraft 7 ranks +2 int = +9
Concentration7 ranks +1 con = +8
Diplomacy 7 ranks +3 cha = +10
Scry 7 ranks +2 int = +9
Know - War5 ranks +2 int = +7
Know - Arcana7 ranks +2 int = +9
Heal 7 ranks +2 wis = +9
Know - Nobility 2 ranks +2 int = +4


Spells Prepared/Per Day
0th - 6
1st - 6 (+1 cha bonus) = 7
2nd - 3

Spells Known
0th - Light, Disrupt Undead, Dancing Lights, Mending, Detect Magic, Mage Hand.
1st - Hypnotism, Cause Fear, Expeditious Retreat,
2nd - Cat's Grace
-Domains
Phoenix
0th - Flare
1st - Burning Hands
2nd - Produce Flame
DCs
0th - 13
1st - 14
2nd - 15

Possesions
Bracers of Armor +1
Everburning torch
Potion of Love
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
Potion of Cure Light Wounds x2

Inkpen
2 ofudas
50' silk rope
grappling hook
hooded lantern
Light warhorse
signet ring
saddlebags
riding saddle
8 oz ink vial, x2

Food Stuff
Trail rations x6
waterskin x2

Weapons and Armour
Wakizashi d6+1, 19-20/x2
Bo d6+1, x2

Basics
torches x2
whetstone
flint and steel

Clothing
Noble's outfit x2
1 - elaborate silk kimono, dark blue in color, exaggerated sleeves, and an elarged light blue obi. Also a sleeveless gray outer jacket emphasizing the shoulders and bears the mark of the Katori family (a phoenix rising into the air). Koden doesn't much like this and usually only wears it when he must appear passive and quiet.
2 - an elaborate silk kimono as before, but it is much brighter. Composed mostly of yellow the edges of the kimono and sleeves have red designed to resemble flames. The sleeveless jacket is orange, and the obi scarlet red. The symbol on the back of the jacket is a jet black version of the bird rising into the air.

Coinage

PP -
GP - 385
SP - 80
CP - 4

Light War Horse
HP - 22, Init +1, Speed 60', AC 14, Att 2 hooves +4 melee, bite -1 melee, Dmg hoof 1d4+3
bite 1d3+1, Scent, Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2, Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Listen +7, Spot +7

Physical Description - slim, but wiry, Koden stands at 5'5". He has dark hair and eyes, like most of his people. However he also has a birth mark on his left side that vaguely resembles a bird with it's wings outstretched.

He also has a small tattoo of a phoenix on his right arm.

Mental Description - While handsome Koden can sometimes put people off due to his fiery temperment. Frequently he finds himself apologizing for breaches in etiquette, a character flaw that has put his life in danger on more than one occasion.

Due to his birth mark and his family's name Koden believes that a part of the legendary phoenix resides inside of him. Sometimes arrogant, but usually kind, Koden has been a bit of a loner. He has never shared the same love of martial combat that his people do and thus has made few friends.

Note: Katori, his family name means "Fire bird" while Koden means "Great"

Close relatives - Father, Banri, mother, Shuja, older brother (samurai) Gan-do, plus two other siblings (that can remain nameless in case you ever want to do anything with them). Uncle Yagu (shaman).

Background - Born into the noble family Katori, Koden has lead a somewhat priviledged life. As his brother became a samurai he was allowed to pursue his path of becoming a shugenja. His family has never understood his belief that the essence of the phoenix dwells within him, but nevertheless he has brought some honor to the family in his service. Usually the good he did as a member of the religious caste outweighed the bad his hot temper garnered.

While his family bears the symbol of the phoenix and is named after it, they no longer believe that they have any link with the famed bird. They nod and smile whenever Koden speaks of it, but don't believe. However his obsession seems harmless and thus they leave it alone.

However as Koden has gotten older he has grown tired of his station in his village. He has wanted to go out and see the world, to explore the depth of magic and how he is related to the phoenix and thus fire. Recently he has been spending time studying the fifth element, Void, and how it relates the to the other four, binding them together and creating the world as he knows it.


Cadogan, if this doesn't work, let me know. I've a Chinese monk, an Indian monk, and a Japanese samurai stored up in my head.

[Cadogan Trahem]

Things you should know;

While Japan is young it remains fierly independant from Chinese or other Rule.

Japan is ruled by an Emperoress, the first "Shogun" has yet to be appointed.

The Japanese clans remain largely neutral but independant from each others political struggles.

A Great Deal of trade accured between the former Chinese Dynasty (Han) and the early Japanese clans, immigrations, weapons, food and livestock was moved regularly. This ceased with the erruption of the Three Kingdoms and has caused Japan great pain. Japanese farms work overtime to produce enough food for everyone and riots are not a common accurance in the Japanese towns.

Many clans have sent messengers to the Queen with requests of an diplomatic outreach towards one of the coastal Kingdoms (Wu or Wei)

Finally clans began to send their own diplomats to the kingdoms, some trying to work out deals with the Wei kingdom and others with the Wu kingdom, the latter controlling a larger proportion of the coast and thus having a greater trading ability. Your family also decides to send a diplomat - you.

You know little of chinese culture and customs but have studied the chinese language and find it easy to understand and speak.

*check game thread when posted*

[Cadogan Trahem]

Women in the Three Kingdoms

Like most cultures of the time, the Three Kingdomws are a man's world. Daughters are burdens to be married off as soon as possible. Many families keep slave girls, and slavers have no qualms about kidnapping them.

However, in Mythical China, Heroines can and do rise about these limitations. The Chinese accept female wu, nuns, spies, entertainers and artists. Additionally, there are two other ways for women to stand proudly in a male-dominated world: Magic and the Martial Arts.

Magical talent, particularly of the animist variety knows no difference between men and women. Female shamans and sorcerers wield spells just as powerful as those of their male counterparts. A powerful female spellcaster can easily earn atleast a grudging respect from male onlookers with even a simple display of her magical power.

Chinese legends are full of heroines who scoff at the idea of female inferiority. Though mastery of the martial arts, female characters can easily force the issue upon unsuspecting male adversaries.