Roscoe Sunberth

[Roscoe]

Roscoe Sunberth Who He Is Race: Human Gender: Male Age: 24 Birthday: 22nd Day of Spring, 490 AV Birthplace: Sunberth Physical Details: About 5’10” tall, with light brown hair. Like his beard, Roscoe lets his hair grown until it causes him discomfort, and will then promptly cut pretty much all of it off. Roscoe has a beard most of the time. He tends to let it grow until it starts to frustrate him or becomes impractical for one reason or another(read: when it gets hot). The longest it has ever gotten is about an inch in length on the neck, running up the cheeks and forming a full goatee as well. Usually it gets cut when it’s about ¼” though- the time it got longest was mostly because of a lack of appropriate shaving tools. He doesn’t do any sculpting as of right now, so when it gets shaved it all goes. Roscoe’s face is pretty well defined- His chin ends in a point and he has very defined and raised cheekbones that are as pointed as his chin, giving him an almost gaunt look- even though he really isn’t. His face is noticeably wrinkled, particularly his brow. His nose follows suit, being thin and ending in a point, though it is not particularly long. There is a defined red scarred area across the bridge of his nose where it has been broken on at least one occasion. His eyes are deceptively bright and blue, standing out behind a rather droopy set of eyelids and contrasting the rest of his face, with its wrinkles and weathering. His ears are not out of the ordinary at all- not large or small, attached lobes, and they lay flat against his head. His head is quite round, assisting in pulling off the practical short haired look. Roscoe is not skinny, but is more lean and muscular. A life of travel has ensured that he hasn’t had the luxury of putting on weight in anything but muscle, although he also isn’t particularly large either. His skin is somewhere between a light tan and an olive color, stained by a lifetime spent out in the sun. He has a scar that runs in a straight diagonal line across his back, starting just behind his left shoulder and running down to just before his spinal column, about halfway down his back. He also has an assortment of other less notable scars, mostly healing puncture wounds and a few burns. Roscoe tries to dress practically, so he usually wears a black pair of trousers, held up by a set of black suspenders. He wears a white shirt with long sleeves, and has a khaki-colored wide brim hat. He has a set of black gloves to protect his hands and a black jacket for cold weather or for when he wants to look slightly nicer. He has been known to acquire other garments on occasion, of course, but this is the bread and butter of his ensemble. What He's Like Roscoe has been known as and called a lot of different things by a lot of different people. Bastard, hero, brutal, merciful, greedy, generous, and so forth. People think this is because he is crazy, or he’s some kind of loose cannon, but that is as far from the truth as you can get. Everything he has done has been for a reason. And most of the time, it boils down to this: Roscoe hates the weak, and loves the strong. Now, taken at face value, that might seem particularly brutal, and maybe it is in some sense. But the weakness Roscoe despises is not a weakness of physique, it is a weakness of character. Distilled in him by Andreas through all his life, and even in part by his criminal cohorts, was a profound sense of honor. Whatever Roscoe does, he does it with integrity, with honesty, and with bravery, no matter what it is he may be doing. He does not steal from unarmed men, nor does he punish those who are not strong enough to fend for themselves, but yet do not give up. In his eyes, it is his duty to cleanse the world of cowards and fools- ‘The true criminals’ as he might call them. He doesn’t look at stealing, or murder, or anything like that as being inherently wrong. So long as a man is doing what he is doing with a modicum of nobility, and the people he is taking from are worthy to be taken from, he has committed no wrong. Rather, he would say that the worst crimes of humanity are found in the minds of men. The true criminals are the traitors, the tricksters, the swindlers, the cowards. In the wake of his recent and brutal betrayal, Roscoe has resolved himself to continue his self endowed quest to rid the world of its ‘societal blights’ and to do what is necessary to hone his skills in order to do so with maximum efficiency. He recognizes that going alone into Sunberth and immediately killing people is not a tenable plan of action, and so as he grows in skill as a warrior and leader, his hope is to find a new ‘gang’, and to not again make the mistake of allowing those of less than the highest character into his circles. In interactions with others, Roscoe often comes off as a very likeable man, so long as that interaction isn’t him claiming ownership of your belongings. He is one of the most honest people you will ever meet, believing that to tell anything but the whole truth at all times is tantamount to slapping your mother in front of you. He is generally of good cheer unless he has business to attend to, being a man with a remarkably clear conscience, thanks to his code of honor clearing him of any crimes he may have committed. He is observant and a fairly good judge of character, and when he cannot read someone he will do all in his power to get close to them so that he can decide what he thinks of them. If you were to ask him, he would tell you that his 3 favorite things in the world are tobacco, alcohol, and justice. He is a worshiper of Tyveth and Wysar. Upon reaching adolescence and learning Andreas was not truly his father, he chose to take the name 'Sunberth', as the city truly had become his family where his blood had rejected him. Roscoe, as a natural leader, tends to take on friendships that look more like apprenticeships than a standard friendship. This may be a byproduct of Andreas raising him in a fashion that was decidedly more like a teacher/student relationship than a father/son relationship. When Roscoe sees someone he thinks he might be able to build into something useful or powerful that he can utilize down the line, he will not let the opportunity pass. Often times this has lead to mentor relationships with troubled youth, wherein he will impart his beliefs and disciplined lifestyle to them in attempts to raise up others like him, so that when the day comes he can call on them from across Mizahar to aid him in his quest. Despite all these things, the very most perceptive people in Mizahar may be able to detect a certain, very basic wavering in his morals. A sense that he may in truth be much simpler than he has convinced himself he is. That maybe at heart he just wants plunder and merriment like the rest of us. But none but the most perceptive could ever know that, not even Roscoe. A guide to Roscoe- Ethics, Honor, and You : This is a simple guide all you lovely folks can peruse as you see fit, in order to decide if you want this guy anywhere near your PC’s. I’ll give a more specific and detailed overview of the honor and justice issues I touched on in the Character Concept above. Things that Roscoe considers despicable and will disdain you for: - Being ruled by your emotions. He has little patience for anyone who lacks the ability to think and reason. Ironically, that means that he disdains hot-headedness just as much as cowardice. - Being a sheep. He has no issue with people having leaders and following them, he takes issue with people doing things just because. Following a leader just because that's what you've always done. Adhering to tradition because it's always been that way. Disgusting. - Being lazy, specifically being unwilling to pull you own weight or forcing someone else to do it for you. - Any sign of cowardice- Basically, if you have a task that you need to do, and you show that you are at all fearful of doing it, you have just lost 1,000 points with Roscoe, though he won’t harm you for it unless you push his buttons. - Telling half truths- Note: This is not full blown lying. He does not care if you are trying to protect feelings, prevent divisions, or save your own hide. He will despise you and probably take the time to make sure you know. Things Roscoe may harm or kill you for, should he get the chance: - Betrayal- If you do this to anyone, or he finds out that you ever have, and have not made amends, you’d do well to watch your back. - Lying- Different from half truths, this is saying something that isn’t true, or twisting the truth/choosing your words in such a manner as to deceive. In short, he will call you on your bullshyke and will not forget it. Now, this may seem like a small list, but each of these is capable of covering quite a large area of actions. Leaving someone to die, or going AWOL in a fight could be considered both cowardly and a betrayal. Selling something for an unfairly high price is lying about the value of the object. You get the idea. One last thing to understand about Roscoe is that he is also a man of forgiveness. If you are willing to make amends for the wrong you’ve done, he is willing to let bygones be bygones. This doesn’t just mean telling him you’re sorry, this means making reparations for all incidents of dishonorable behavior. And if you ever return to your ways again, know that his offer of mercy is only extended once. Where He's Been Roscoe was born in Sunberth, a little over 24 years ago, though he is unsure of the exact date. All he knows about his parents is that his father might have been a sailor or traveler of some sort, and that his mother was a local prostitute named Sylvia. Besides that, all he knew was that she died when he was still a young baby, and he was taken in by the man who served as his father, Andreas. Andreas was an older man, who had never had children of his own. He found Roscoe alone in the streets one day, as a helpless infant, and decided to take him in. He ran a modest tavern in Sunberth, simply known as “Trust’s Place” and as Roscoe grew older, he was trained to assist in running it. Many of his earliest and fondest childhood memories were of men who would tell fantastical stories to their mates over a pint, or of the many occasions on which Andreas had to expel troublemakers in the grandiose fashion he was so fond of. Andreas was a large man, easily breaking 300 lbs. and standing at least 6’4” tall, with a long white ponytail running down his back. He had been a mercenary as a younger man, until he had saved up enough to quit that line work and buy the property where he eventually started his business. All that to say: You didn’t want to start trouble in his tavern. When particularly troublesome gangs would pass through, Roscoe fondly remembered times where Andreas would carry men out over his head before launching them out into the street and running them off. Usually somebody would buy everyone a round to celebrate and good times would ensue. There are also the memories of how Andreas taught Roscoe to fight- how to throw a punch, what to look for when you need a weapon on the fly, as was often the case in a bar fight. Memories of how he shared his charisma with him, taught him to speak well, to write, to understand his ability to influence and steer other people. Were it not for Andreas, Roscoe would never have become the man he is. But all good things must come to an end. Eventually, Andreas had made a fool of too many dangerous men, and that came back to haunt him one night when the blades came out during a brawl. The tavern was ransacked and that was the end of Andreas. It was from that night on that Roscoe became tougher. Became hard, and began to let darkness and hate and bitterness rule him. He fell in with a local gang, and over a couple years maneuvered himself in such a way as to become their leader. They were a merry bunch of bandits, living off the livelihood of the innocent. Eventually he turned their blades toward the men who killed Andreas. They got the job done, but at the end of the day the men under his command decided they didn’t like that their leader was willing to go to war so easily. Beneath the hot summer sun in the year 510 AV they beat him to a pulp and left him for dead outside the city. Were it not for the charity of doctor who happened to be passing through, that would have been the end of Roscoe. He asked no questions, but simply took it upon himself to nurse Roscoe back to health. Roscoe was thankful, but he was conflicted as well- he was being nursed to health by the kind of person he would have been robbing the day before. The man knew better than to pry someone for answers when you found them half dead outside Sunberth. So there was silence between them, silence and charity. Eventually the doctor finished his work, Roscoe gave him what money he had, and the man rode on. He made his way back to Sunberth, stole a horse from one of the men who had betrayed him, and rode. He rode for a long time. From Sunberth, he went to Zeltiva, then to Syliras, and finally on down the Kabrin road towards Kenash, where he is going now, supporting himself by doing odd jobs to pick up the money needed to survive. Late in the Winter of 513 AV, while in Syliras, Roscoe was approached by a hooded figure, a woman who hid her face well but not her hair. She was a fiery redhead that strongly resembled the gingerly colored hair of the Inarta, and her voice was soft to hear when she told Roscoe of the item she had for him. A letter. She was cryptic and indirect but her indication suggested that the letter was important to read, thus before she left Roscoe to his own devices she would only tell him what he would need to know while avoiding further discovery. All he was allowed to know was that the letter was from his father. Or so she said anyways. It seemed absurd, that this could happen all these years later, but he believed what she said for some reason. She did not seem like a liar to him. Even so, he has as of yet refused to open the letter, mostly out of spite, and maybe just a little out of fear of what it might to do him.

[Roscoe]

Languages Fluent Language: Common Basic Language: Fratava Skills Leadership | 12 SP+15 RB+3 | 30 | Competent Roscoe found shortly after Andreas' demise that he had a penchant for getting people to do what he wanted. They just tended to listen to him. Since then his experiences have helped him continue to develop that skill into something that actually proves useful. Brawling | 20 SP+3 | 23 | Novice A by-product of being raised by a tavern-keeper, Roscoe is a somewhat experienced brawler, able to handle himself around the uninitiated- though around anyone with true skill he'd find himself woefully outgunned. Intimidation | 9 SP+1 | 10 | Novice In his time as a footsoldier in a gang, he learned to throw his weight around, as it were. He's not particularly talented as some men are, but it is a skill he's worked at and continues to try and develop. Observation | 9 SP+3+4 | 16 | Novice Mostly a by-product of brawling, Roscoe is pretty decent at noticing things others don't, especially in the realm of improvised weapons in a tavern. It has since been improved the a number of experiences across Mizahar, both combat related and peaceful in nature. Unarmed Combat | +1+2 | 3 | Novice Ros doesn't exclusively fight in bars where he can monopolize on situational weaponry, and therefore has been forced to develop his skills as a fighter who can operate with his body alone. A skill that has only been added to sparingly so far, it is certainly not his preference. Tactics | +1+1 | 2 | Novice A necessary complement to Ros' leadership experience, Ros has always striven to be a competent leader in times of conflict. It is a skill he has had mixed success with, but tries to monopolize on as often as he can and actively seeks to grow. Socialization | +3 | 3 | Novice Roscoe, as a leader and generally charismatic person, is often social in nature. As such, his ability in conversation and his effectiveness in noticing and following social cues has steadily increased throughout his life, and he seeks to improve this when possible to make himself a more capable person. Rhetoric | +1 | 1 | Novice An outgrowth of his leadership experience, developed ideology, and inborn wit, Ros possesses the ability to really butter up conversation when the need arises. However, growing up in Sunberth means such situations aren't the standard fare, and so his experience using this skill is currently minimal. Endurance | +1 | 1 | Novice A skill that comes with the territory when your primary fighting skill involved beating people with your fists. Lores Knowledge of Religion: Wysar Prayers to Wysar Code of Honour Observation in a Brawl: Improvising Weapons Buras the Courageous Sending a Message of Strength Location: Draer's Bottled Dreams Location: Riverwave Household Location: Kenash Kenash: Stores dedicated to beauty, not practicality Syliras: A City of Slaves Syliras: False Justice Smartassery: Sassing the Gray Fist Burten Maze: Father Lore: The Gray Fist The Gray Fist: A Powerful Enemy Never give up, Never surrender Only the Strong Survive Alcoholic Recall Resolve: The End of the Tyrannical Rule of the Weak[b] [b]Inventory Ledger : +100GM SP -5GM Pipe -1GM Swampweed Tobacco +200GM Sold: Compass -135GM Seasonal Expenses: Common -5SM Rum on the Rocks Total: 158GM | 5SM | 0CM Items : 1 Large Tent 1 Large Tarp 100 ft of rope flint & steel lantern 2 torches bedroll blanket fishing tackle & hooks full set of tack large set of saddlebags Jacket Smoking Pipe 1oz Swampweed Tobacco Zavian Horse Heirloom: A simple silver ring, worn on Roscoe’s right middle finger. It belonged to Andreas and was one of the only things Roscoe was able to protect from the gangsters who murdered him. Special: Draer Debt : Roscoe, in a moment of inconsolable rage, managed to rack up 3,000 mizas worth of debt to the Draer Dynasty of Kenash. He now works for them, all the money he would normally be making coming out of his debt. This will be a separate ledger of the status of the debt and the various things done to reduce it. +3000GM Extensive damage and lost stock- Draer's Bottled Dreams Total: 3000GM Remaining Swamp Perk Points : +10 for Zulaca Customizations +5 for Zoroaster Zulaca, Tailor for Zulaca Customizations +10 for The Royal Kenashern +5 for Raine Zulaca, Proprietor of The Royal Kenashern Total: 30 Swamp Perk Points Housing Location: On the road to Kenash. Housing: Currently, on the road in his tent. Thread Archives Spring 514 : Not My Day |72nd of Spring| Roscoe arrives in Kenash, and things do not go quite as planned. Summer 514 : Taking Care of Business |50th of Summer| Roscoe tries his hand at mixing tobacco, and enjoys natures beauty. The Detective Konrath(Estrellir) |10th of Summer| Crime has broken out across the Draer empire just as Roscoe arrives on the scene. He seeks the skills of a local detective to clear his name. A Chance Encounter(Nyxie) |11th of Summer| Roscoe takes an evening to relax and try to get his mind off of the stresses of the season, and unexpectedly makes a new friend. Off with a Rocky Start(Jed) |20th of Summer| An unexpected encounter with another dynasty leads to the beginning of a strange, but potentially fortuitous relationship. Flashbacks : Tricks of the Trade(Buras) |32nd of Summer, 508 AV| Flashback to Roscoe's time as a gang leader. He happens across a remarkably impressive youngster in the streets of Sunberth, and decides to give him a few pointers. [COMPLETED] Rewards: +1 Tactics | +1 Intimidation | +1 Unarmed Combat | +3 Socialization | +3 Leadership | +3 Observation | Lores: Buras the Courageous, Sending a Message of Strength | When We Catch a Criminal(Eleazar) |16th of Summer, 508AV| Flashback to a particularly eventful day on which Roscoe is robbed by a young boy who, though trouble now, could be a good ally in the future. Dreams and Prayers : A Wild Ride |3rd of Summer, 514 AV| Roscoe has a very, very trippy dream. Prayer to Wysar |1st of Summer| Roscoe says a prayer to the God of Integrity, Conviction, and Discipline, hoping for blessing and a peaceful path through the intrigue of Kenash.