Duffy
12-23-10, 12:11 PM
Name: Duffy Bracken.
Alias: Monkey Man, Dagger.
Titles: Tantalum, Lord Brandybuck.
Age: 25 years.
Gender: Male.
Race: Human.
Height: 6’2”.
Weight: 139llbs.
Hair Colour: Obsidian.
Eye Colour: Obsidian.
Occupation: Bard.
Alignment: True Good.
Accent: Norfolk Broads/Kentish Town.
Languages: Trade Speak, Common, Scara Braen Slang.
Literacy: Excellent.
History: Lucian Lahore is dead.
Jubilation and cheers can be heard all across Scara Brae months after the toppling of the dark tower, yet Duffy is still not happy.
History has unravelled a deeper, darker, more dangerous tale beneath the strands that the troupe have severed, and they are yet to be freed from the trappings of danger. Whilst the Ixian Knights are burgeoning, and the troupe fulfils its promises as best it can, Duffy cannot help but feel as if all their troubles have been for nought.
From the rubble of Lucian’s tower, Tantalus rises, a Thayne free once more from his own narcolepsy. He does as he pleases, having bound The Aria to the troupe as a boon and not a curse, and gifts the spirit of entertainment to Scara Brae as befitting his creation. From the darkness in the troupe’s heart, a new pattern of activity awakens, one which has seen death, betrayal and sacrifice too many times.
Duffy’s dark hair and shadowy eyes are not mere metaphors, after all, and neither is the re-union in life of Lillith Kazumi, Arden Janelle and Delilah Burton…they have all under gone death, and transformation, and heart ache…but death, they say, is only the beginning, and a new adventure awaits them over the horizon.
All is behind them, but the tomorrow yet remains, and Duffy is sad to finally feel as if he's ageing...as if the world is passing him by.
All threads from the chronological point of Little Miss Monocle and it's connected sequels are considered 'in the past.' Whilst the continuation and chronicling of Lucian's end is still a story or two away, for the purpose of liquid time, and for the sake of not rolling over his history into an additional profile, this is a 'refresh' of his story participation.
Personality: Duffy is a conflicted individual, bouncing between duty and fun and fealty and promiscuity with reckless ease and abandon. He is certainly a prominent personality in a room, although his enthusiasm, quick witted nature and his tendency to put his foot in his mouth and swallow hard means his reputation precedes him for all the wrong reasons. He is shy and meek when confronted with authority or with situations he cannot deal with, as is anyone of his age who has not been tempered by the horrors of life. His dreams and goals ultimately combine to become a wish for peace, if not the salvation of his soul and a resurrection of Wainwright, the once true hearted bard that founded the Tantalum troupe itself. He is perfectly honourable, for a plucky thief, and disgustingly honest.
The Aria:
The Aria has changed; it sings no more as if Duffy were the only one who could hear it. The Silver Sea, both metaphor and quasi-reality in the minds of the avatars of Tantalus is no longer turbulent, unfettered, unbridled; it is a calm, serene and harmonious plane of existence that harbours the creative endeavours of all the multiverse. The name Tantalum no longer means ‘gifted,’ it is simply a leader’s name, a formulaic and stuffy title given to the one who leads, through choice or election, a troupe born of Scara Brae.
All In The Performance: Such is Duffy’s belief in some of his creations and roles, that he can draw on that belief in moments of passion or dire need to channel their abilities. As time has progressed, it has become apparent that his ‘method acting’ was not a formulation of belief, but memories of his past lives seeping through into the present. His strongest, those of the Blade Singer Lysander, have become so powerful in the back of his mind that slipping between identities is as easy as walking. However, such is the strength of this spirit, that when in Lysander’s domain, Duffy is forbidden from utilising abilities outside of those detailed in the sub-profile described below.
Lysander Brandybuck, The Hero of the Western Welds: Lysander is one of the many past lives of the creature now called Duffy Bracken. In his day, he was a powerful Bladesinger, who spurned the darkness in Lucian’s heart and fled to the distant island of Corone to save the kingdom from itself and its inner rivalries. He was cursed to love a woman he could not, just as Lucian did when he fell for Celia, and this love and bitterness destroyed him. He was betrayed at the Battle of Loren Falls, and fell from the cliffs in a ball of the Empire’s flame, defending Celia, Ruby’s former self from certain annihilation. Slowly but surely, Lysander’s identity recanted itself into Duffy’s mind the more the thief used The Aria, and it was this connection that allowed Duffy to remember, and to remain lucid as such. Now, they are as one, Lysander is Duffy’s blade, and Duffy is his voice, bard and Bladesinger in a single form.
Duellist’s Gambit - When channelling Lysander, Duffy cannot wield knives, daggers or the Tinder Gear. He can however wield short swords, long swords, katanas and similar one handed bladed weapons in any combination. He wields these instruments adeptly, and can switch between simplistic but swift styles of the blade singer’s art with ease.
Recanting Orison – Twice per thread, by channelling his vocal chords and summoning The Aria into this realm, Lysander can augment a single weapon with a vibrating force. This has two effects; firstly, it augments the material of the weapon so that it is one tier higher. Secondly, for the duration of the subsequent post, or attack (whichever transpires first) the blade in question cannot be tarnished or broken by non-magical means.
Ancient Tongues – When working as Lysander, all of Duffy’s knowledge is dropped, working instead on an instinctual level as he metaphorically withdraws and watches from The Aria through the panopticon of the Thayne Tantalus’s power. Instead, Lysander gains an archaic knowledge of elven, blade singing, ancient folklore and a powerful oratory grasp of all the common dialects spoken on the islands of Corone and Scara Brae. Lysander of course retains his artistic talent and acting.
Note-bound Reflexes – Using stoic steps, a defence of steel and a keen sight that is beyond a mortal’s, Lysander can instigate a fighting stance that is all but impervious to blows from bladed weapons from opponents who or one level higher or below. He can only retain this for two posts maximum. When in such a stance, he cannot strike in return, and it requires patience and song whilst engaging in this form, as well a cool down period of one post before retaliatory strikes can be returned.
The Union of Ages: Three times per thread, the profile ability of one other member of the Tantalum Troupe may be called upon as a non-NPC action, working for all intent and purpose as described in the original biography. At present, this requires all the same conditions as the original ability, so that if the original requires PC permission, so too does Duffy’s drawing on the Aria. Duffy may call on the chosen ability twice, but may not call on two separate abilities in combination.
Skills/Abilities: As a jack of all trades and an urchin of the streets, Duffy has a wide repertoire of skills but is not necessarily a master of them all. It can be asserted that he is likely to know something to point him in the right direction in most normal, and some unusual circumstances, represented as follows:
Rogue's Gambit: As the Tantalum, Duffy hears and sees allot that he shouldn't, and he has the rapport to talk his way into a location where most would resort to a large axe. To represent this, Duffy is considered to possess the following minor abilities:
• Persuasion: A convincing aura that applies to characters up to one level higher, and three levels lower. (Those outside of this range are beyond his curtailing charm).
• Local Knowledge: Pertains to arts, culture and flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside near Radasanth and Scara Brae.
• Forbidden Lore (Thayne): Duffy is acquainted with the generic history of the creation of the Thayne, and especially so with N’Jal and of course, Tantalus.
• Street Slang: Duffy may have heard a rumour or tit bit that is relevant to the topic at hand, but careful consideration should be applied both to his age, and wherever or not he would understand what it was he ‘overheard’.
Bardic Menagerie: As a bard, Duffy constantly strives to recite, recant and produce eternally more pompous renditions of classical plays and witty comedies. As part of his stage life, and his early progeny as a street runner and later as a thief, he has amassed the skills required to perform in the various styles of theatre prevalent throughout Althanas.
• Actor: Duffy is an outstanding actor, almost legendary skill. He is familiar with most common plays and the classics, and can method act almost as if he were possessed, even if he invariably 'Duffyfies' the role.
• Dancer: Duffy is adept at the performance of most common dances, tango, waltz etc., as well as some of the Scara Brae variations/court dances etc.
• Virtuoso: Duffy can sing and play the flute, common harp, harpsichord (, or similar) at an expert level. Duffy can spontaneously play common styles, utilising the arts/culture knowledge skill.
• Acrobat: He is a parkour/freerunner user, and capable of backflips/gymnastics/vaulting and wall leaping, this is considered legendary skill wise. This is his best skill, and he’s often called Monkey Man as a result. Duffy can also ‘act’ drunk, as an above average performer, to what ends only the red light district knows.
Infamy: The Tantalum's name in the city of Scara Brae is now one of hot gossip and discussion, both because of its skill and excitement, and because of its tendency to go missing just like the purses of its audience. This infamy has a reciprocal effect, in that most will know Duffy, Lillith, Blank and Ruby's face and some will respect them greatly; but others will be nervous at their sight or outright aggressive to them. There deeds, though great in killing Lucian and stopping his terror, were not so great to warrant eternal adoration it seems. Some would call it the price of fame; Ruby calls it ‘her little rabble.’
Knife Combat (Legendary): Duffy is becoming ever more proficient in his own illustrious and acrobatic fighting style. It is a style, or lack thereof built up from Generic Street fighting utilising two knifes, back flips, feint attacks and full use of his mobility to overwhelm opponents with speed and surprise and guile, as opposed to any noticeable degree of brute strength. Over the last two years, such a style has certainly become more proficient and has been developed in countless Citadel battles, run ins with Lucian and ‘disagreements’ with various members of Scara Brae’s nobility and underclass alike. Finally, it can be said that Duffy’s combat proficiency, perhaps showing his development in the training of the Blade Singer Lysander’s sword has begun to be adept enough to manifest its own flair. He is currently beginning to symbolize and remember various manoeuvres and their effects in combat.
• The Defensive (Vibrato): In this stance both daggers are held in reverse and focus is shifted into the deflection and avoidance of being struck. Here Duffy’s movements are erratic and trapeze orientated, swinging, hoping and rolling around the arena of battle and using the environment as a climbing frame. Whilst concentrating on defence and avoidance, Duffy’s offense is weakened, his strikes become simple slashes and unfocussed pummelling. He uses swinging and pirouette movements to form the basis of this style.
Butterfly Catch (Expert) – a defensive move permitted twice per thread or battle that brings back daggers together with lightning reflexes to form a scissor shape. Duffy attempts to catch and thus prevent a downward, diagonal or sideways slash or swing with a bladed or pole based weapon, nothing heavier than a long sword or human sized hammer, and stall it. If successful he can then release and hop to one side safely, delivering a spiralling or feinted counter-attack.
Mantis Prowl (Above Average) – a defensive stance which draws in reverse gripped daggers over the chest, with tips pointing down and legs tucked at the knees. It requires counter movements into the incoming weapon’s path, and works on the principle of pushing away the strength with a counter thrust. It is most effective against bladed weapons no longer than shorts words. Duffy can launch into The Rolling Stone from this position, or attempt a Buttery Catch at one tier lower, but with an additional surprise element.
• The Offensive (Staccato Form): In this stance, Duffy goes all out with lunges, complicated footwork born from the various dances he has learnt and driving, piercing punches with his daggers. Here he is brash, often succumbing to a patient opponent as he drains his stamina too quickly in a vibrant and monkey like assault. Although it might be said that the best defence is a good offence, whilst attempting to drive home his daggers to their targets Duffy’s concentration is on damage, not on the prevention of counter blows so his defence suffers whilst his ability to penetrate the defence of another is improved, as should be expected.
The Rolling Stone (Expert) – a simple but surprise based attack, featuring a sudden forward judo roll and a deadpan setting of the off foot to stop Duffy in a crouched position, from which he can launch a low thrust or slash to the legs, or an upward arced high thrust to the torso or shield arm. Not effective against opponent’s with a low centre of gravity or nimble feet or speed, but can usurp the midriff defence supplied by a buckler or shield.
Whirling Dervish (Above Average) – put simply, this is a chaotic whirl of unskilled death. With a run and a flip, Duffy launches into a tumbling, spiralling, and chaotic dance around or into his opponent's with his daggers lashing out in speedy but inaccurate strikes. This has the same effect as delivering five standard attacks, with 50% and only the final thrust possessing any form of stabbing strength. Duffy can launch into this attack from the Vibrato Stance, but the frequency of attacks drops to three, and the accuracy by a further 10%.
Equipment:
Tinder Gear: The Tinder Gear is both an artisan's tool and weapon system, depicting the balance between the everyday and the darker side of the street. It comprises of small, almost invisible packs of a fuel known as agelethien, which are pumped along the pipes visible on the backs of Duffy's arms, and a bracer/jettison system coupled with a pair of flint strip covered gloves. All the materials are available readily, leather/oil/simple metals and flint etc. The gloves, when brought together with force make a loud clap, like a thunderclap, and when moved past each other sparks are spread, to 2 feet (, no combat use, but good as a fire lighting tool). With a punching movement, the packs under the arms and along the back are squeezed, forcing the material to spray outwards, and the sparks from the gloves ignite the fuel which can produce flame up to nine feet long in short bursts of 1-2 seconds, (which is a random time, as the fuel ejection cannot be controlled to any reasonable degree). This will cause burns or set clothes alight at best and will never kill, although it can be used in a combat situation the fuel is too rare to be spraying every low-life thug Duffy is run into. Using a display of sparks, flames and zymology (, drawing images/circles on the floor then igniting them) Duffy conjures the core of his performance/entertaining ability - at the same time having a nasty surprise for any violent members of the audience. Events in A Cut of the Chord have hinted at another use, that of spraying the liquid on a target first, then igniting, to cause contact burns. Although this is risky and dangerous to both parties involved it can be done. It will not be fatal but will certainly leave its mark, (PC Permission required). After using the Tinder Gear fully, for 3-4 strong sprays gold must be reduce by 25% of the total earned in that thread, such is the expense of the liquid required to fulfil it.
The Trappings of Sparrows: Duffy has taken to wearing tightly wrapped bandages around his calves and fore-arms, clasped in place with thin iron bands. Coupled with his boots, Lisa and Minnelli, who have two retractable spikes attached to a clip and slide mechanism on the curved plates attached to the arc of the boot, and the long bellowing white demi-cloak, he can manage wall runs and roof-top movement with increased ease. He also has two iron claws, which he can attach to gloves for climbing and movement which would otherwise be impossible for him, even when this is combined with his parkour ability, and theatrical flair, so that his movement in or out of combat takes on the stoic and erratic movement of a bird hopping from foot to foot, and rooftop to rooftop or window ledge to window ledge. The outfit is worthless to anyone else, and is made of cotton, iron and steel pins.
Weapons:
Tristan & Isould: Two steel short swords with double edged blades and simple black guards. They possess no magical properties, but unbeknown to Duffy, Fate has delivered to him the Zodiac weapon of Aries, the Horned One. Such properties will only be discovered through his growing involvement with the Nine, in his search for allies to deal with the Dark Bard once and for all.
Tooth & Nail: He carries several iron daggers with steel coating, usually one slipped into each boot and one sheathed on his belt and his two favourite, Tooth & Nail are inscribed with the opening and closing lines of I Want to Be Your Canary, the former on Tooth and the latter on Nail. They are 25 centimetres long from hilt to blade tip, and are enchanted to slash or pierce (respective of their names) to a much stronger and effective degree than their components. (At present, they do so as slightly above steel, and if their material is upgraded, they must be re-enchanted and bound anew, at the appropriate cost for the increase).
Wainwright’s Dagger: A masterwork steel dagger which has innate magical abilities, but only once combined with the spirit form possessed by Lucian or triggered by the reputation of its former history. Has a ruby on the pommel, and cannot be sold. Following the events of Confessions, its power has begun to awaken, although the extent will never match its true genesis – it has thus grown to steel strength, and can resist blows that would otherwise break it. Once per thread, Duffy can call on the past memories of the dagger. This will allow him to inflict the next attack with the properties of shadow aligned elemental magic, and cause a lasting agonisingly slow to heal wound should it strike. Any weak willed undead creature struck by this dagger will be thrown headlong into death, or if it is particularly resilient, brought into corporeality so that normal weapons can hurt them, or inflicted with a moderate wound. Black smoke and shadows pour from it as it swings through the air.
The Katarhna: A simple steel katana with a black handle and gold hilt. Purchased in Old Man Jacob’s Shoppe in Scara Brae, it is a non-magical blade that is held in a simple black Akashima sheath, usually strapped to his back, tilted to the right. It can be drawn with either hand, but requires adjustment to do so with the left, making any such movement risky and more time consuming. As Lysander’s personality grows in strength, so too do the innate qualities of the sword. It now resists blows from non-magical weapons as if it were dehlar, but strikes and cuts at dehlar strength. When it cuts through the air when wielded by Lysander, there is a slight chance that it will sing a song or quote a line from Lysander’s Flock.
Possessions:
The Tantalus Menagerie: A thousand and one costumes and theatre props of all descriptions, musical instruments and writing implements, books on playwrights and records of plays; such an artefact and establishment is the base of the Tantalum’s movements within Scara Brae, and whilst it offers warmth, shelter and occasional scraps food, Duffy must contribute 10% of all gold earned from battles and threads to contribute towards the upkeep of his ‘family.’
The Red Cutlass: A red cutlass captured from the captain of the Red Scourge. As of yet, Duffy does not use it, asides from a handy prop. In the future however, there might just be room for Duffy to take on the mantle of a pirate...who knows, maybe the Red Scourge will terrorise Scara Brae again someday...
Silver Chain Of Eraclaire: A simple silver chain stolen from Visla Eraclaire in a previous encounter, and en-gifted to Duffy during a brief sabbatical in Scara Brae a year later. It holds little more than sentimental value, and is a show of Duffy's generosity, Visla's freedom, and the potential to be something more than we are born to be.
Geisha Mask: A ceramic fox masque in the traditional Akashiman style, with red ribbon to secure it to the face and a broad bright smile moulded into it. It conceals the face completely, but asides from its disguise potential, it has no magical ability nor is it worth anything.
Radasanth Silk: A six foot length of earth red silk, solid and well-crafted with golden threads spiralling along it.
Statue: A small tourist trinket worth no more than 10 gold in the fashion of a dancing troubadour.
Alias: Monkey Man, Dagger.
Titles: Tantalum, Lord Brandybuck.
Age: 25 years.
Gender: Male.
Race: Human.
Height: 6’2”.
Weight: 139llbs.
Hair Colour: Obsidian.
Eye Colour: Obsidian.
Occupation: Bard.
Alignment: True Good.
Accent: Norfolk Broads/Kentish Town.
Languages: Trade Speak, Common, Scara Braen Slang.
Literacy: Excellent.
History: Lucian Lahore is dead.
Jubilation and cheers can be heard all across Scara Brae months after the toppling of the dark tower, yet Duffy is still not happy.
History has unravelled a deeper, darker, more dangerous tale beneath the strands that the troupe have severed, and they are yet to be freed from the trappings of danger. Whilst the Ixian Knights are burgeoning, and the troupe fulfils its promises as best it can, Duffy cannot help but feel as if all their troubles have been for nought.
From the rubble of Lucian’s tower, Tantalus rises, a Thayne free once more from his own narcolepsy. He does as he pleases, having bound The Aria to the troupe as a boon and not a curse, and gifts the spirit of entertainment to Scara Brae as befitting his creation. From the darkness in the troupe’s heart, a new pattern of activity awakens, one which has seen death, betrayal and sacrifice too many times.
Duffy’s dark hair and shadowy eyes are not mere metaphors, after all, and neither is the re-union in life of Lillith Kazumi, Arden Janelle and Delilah Burton…they have all under gone death, and transformation, and heart ache…but death, they say, is only the beginning, and a new adventure awaits them over the horizon.
All is behind them, but the tomorrow yet remains, and Duffy is sad to finally feel as if he's ageing...as if the world is passing him by.
All threads from the chronological point of Little Miss Monocle and it's connected sequels are considered 'in the past.' Whilst the continuation and chronicling of Lucian's end is still a story or two away, for the purpose of liquid time, and for the sake of not rolling over his history into an additional profile, this is a 'refresh' of his story participation.
Personality: Duffy is a conflicted individual, bouncing between duty and fun and fealty and promiscuity with reckless ease and abandon. He is certainly a prominent personality in a room, although his enthusiasm, quick witted nature and his tendency to put his foot in his mouth and swallow hard means his reputation precedes him for all the wrong reasons. He is shy and meek when confronted with authority or with situations he cannot deal with, as is anyone of his age who has not been tempered by the horrors of life. His dreams and goals ultimately combine to become a wish for peace, if not the salvation of his soul and a resurrection of Wainwright, the once true hearted bard that founded the Tantalum troupe itself. He is perfectly honourable, for a plucky thief, and disgustingly honest.
The Aria:
The Aria has changed; it sings no more as if Duffy were the only one who could hear it. The Silver Sea, both metaphor and quasi-reality in the minds of the avatars of Tantalus is no longer turbulent, unfettered, unbridled; it is a calm, serene and harmonious plane of existence that harbours the creative endeavours of all the multiverse. The name Tantalum no longer means ‘gifted,’ it is simply a leader’s name, a formulaic and stuffy title given to the one who leads, through choice or election, a troupe born of Scara Brae.
All In The Performance: Such is Duffy’s belief in some of his creations and roles, that he can draw on that belief in moments of passion or dire need to channel their abilities. As time has progressed, it has become apparent that his ‘method acting’ was not a formulation of belief, but memories of his past lives seeping through into the present. His strongest, those of the Blade Singer Lysander, have become so powerful in the back of his mind that slipping between identities is as easy as walking. However, such is the strength of this spirit, that when in Lysander’s domain, Duffy is forbidden from utilising abilities outside of those detailed in the sub-profile described below.
Lysander Brandybuck, The Hero of the Western Welds: Lysander is one of the many past lives of the creature now called Duffy Bracken. In his day, he was a powerful Bladesinger, who spurned the darkness in Lucian’s heart and fled to the distant island of Corone to save the kingdom from itself and its inner rivalries. He was cursed to love a woman he could not, just as Lucian did when he fell for Celia, and this love and bitterness destroyed him. He was betrayed at the Battle of Loren Falls, and fell from the cliffs in a ball of the Empire’s flame, defending Celia, Ruby’s former self from certain annihilation. Slowly but surely, Lysander’s identity recanted itself into Duffy’s mind the more the thief used The Aria, and it was this connection that allowed Duffy to remember, and to remain lucid as such. Now, they are as one, Lysander is Duffy’s blade, and Duffy is his voice, bard and Bladesinger in a single form.
Duellist’s Gambit - When channelling Lysander, Duffy cannot wield knives, daggers or the Tinder Gear. He can however wield short swords, long swords, katanas and similar one handed bladed weapons in any combination. He wields these instruments adeptly, and can switch between simplistic but swift styles of the blade singer’s art with ease.
Recanting Orison – Twice per thread, by channelling his vocal chords and summoning The Aria into this realm, Lysander can augment a single weapon with a vibrating force. This has two effects; firstly, it augments the material of the weapon so that it is one tier higher. Secondly, for the duration of the subsequent post, or attack (whichever transpires first) the blade in question cannot be tarnished or broken by non-magical means.
Ancient Tongues – When working as Lysander, all of Duffy’s knowledge is dropped, working instead on an instinctual level as he metaphorically withdraws and watches from The Aria through the panopticon of the Thayne Tantalus’s power. Instead, Lysander gains an archaic knowledge of elven, blade singing, ancient folklore and a powerful oratory grasp of all the common dialects spoken on the islands of Corone and Scara Brae. Lysander of course retains his artistic talent and acting.
Note-bound Reflexes – Using stoic steps, a defence of steel and a keen sight that is beyond a mortal’s, Lysander can instigate a fighting stance that is all but impervious to blows from bladed weapons from opponents who or one level higher or below. He can only retain this for two posts maximum. When in such a stance, he cannot strike in return, and it requires patience and song whilst engaging in this form, as well a cool down period of one post before retaliatory strikes can be returned.
The Union of Ages: Three times per thread, the profile ability of one other member of the Tantalum Troupe may be called upon as a non-NPC action, working for all intent and purpose as described in the original biography. At present, this requires all the same conditions as the original ability, so that if the original requires PC permission, so too does Duffy’s drawing on the Aria. Duffy may call on the chosen ability twice, but may not call on two separate abilities in combination.
Skills/Abilities: As a jack of all trades and an urchin of the streets, Duffy has a wide repertoire of skills but is not necessarily a master of them all. It can be asserted that he is likely to know something to point him in the right direction in most normal, and some unusual circumstances, represented as follows:
Rogue's Gambit: As the Tantalum, Duffy hears and sees allot that he shouldn't, and he has the rapport to talk his way into a location where most would resort to a large axe. To represent this, Duffy is considered to possess the following minor abilities:
• Persuasion: A convincing aura that applies to characters up to one level higher, and three levels lower. (Those outside of this range are beyond his curtailing charm).
• Local Knowledge: Pertains to arts, culture and flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside near Radasanth and Scara Brae.
• Forbidden Lore (Thayne): Duffy is acquainted with the generic history of the creation of the Thayne, and especially so with N’Jal and of course, Tantalus.
• Street Slang: Duffy may have heard a rumour or tit bit that is relevant to the topic at hand, but careful consideration should be applied both to his age, and wherever or not he would understand what it was he ‘overheard’.
Bardic Menagerie: As a bard, Duffy constantly strives to recite, recant and produce eternally more pompous renditions of classical plays and witty comedies. As part of his stage life, and his early progeny as a street runner and later as a thief, he has amassed the skills required to perform in the various styles of theatre prevalent throughout Althanas.
• Actor: Duffy is an outstanding actor, almost legendary skill. He is familiar with most common plays and the classics, and can method act almost as if he were possessed, even if he invariably 'Duffyfies' the role.
• Dancer: Duffy is adept at the performance of most common dances, tango, waltz etc., as well as some of the Scara Brae variations/court dances etc.
• Virtuoso: Duffy can sing and play the flute, common harp, harpsichord (, or similar) at an expert level. Duffy can spontaneously play common styles, utilising the arts/culture knowledge skill.
• Acrobat: He is a parkour/freerunner user, and capable of backflips/gymnastics/vaulting and wall leaping, this is considered legendary skill wise. This is his best skill, and he’s often called Monkey Man as a result. Duffy can also ‘act’ drunk, as an above average performer, to what ends only the red light district knows.
Infamy: The Tantalum's name in the city of Scara Brae is now one of hot gossip and discussion, both because of its skill and excitement, and because of its tendency to go missing just like the purses of its audience. This infamy has a reciprocal effect, in that most will know Duffy, Lillith, Blank and Ruby's face and some will respect them greatly; but others will be nervous at their sight or outright aggressive to them. There deeds, though great in killing Lucian and stopping his terror, were not so great to warrant eternal adoration it seems. Some would call it the price of fame; Ruby calls it ‘her little rabble.’
Knife Combat (Legendary): Duffy is becoming ever more proficient in his own illustrious and acrobatic fighting style. It is a style, or lack thereof built up from Generic Street fighting utilising two knifes, back flips, feint attacks and full use of his mobility to overwhelm opponents with speed and surprise and guile, as opposed to any noticeable degree of brute strength. Over the last two years, such a style has certainly become more proficient and has been developed in countless Citadel battles, run ins with Lucian and ‘disagreements’ with various members of Scara Brae’s nobility and underclass alike. Finally, it can be said that Duffy’s combat proficiency, perhaps showing his development in the training of the Blade Singer Lysander’s sword has begun to be adept enough to manifest its own flair. He is currently beginning to symbolize and remember various manoeuvres and their effects in combat.
• The Defensive (Vibrato): In this stance both daggers are held in reverse and focus is shifted into the deflection and avoidance of being struck. Here Duffy’s movements are erratic and trapeze orientated, swinging, hoping and rolling around the arena of battle and using the environment as a climbing frame. Whilst concentrating on defence and avoidance, Duffy’s offense is weakened, his strikes become simple slashes and unfocussed pummelling. He uses swinging and pirouette movements to form the basis of this style.
Butterfly Catch (Expert) – a defensive move permitted twice per thread or battle that brings back daggers together with lightning reflexes to form a scissor shape. Duffy attempts to catch and thus prevent a downward, diagonal or sideways slash or swing with a bladed or pole based weapon, nothing heavier than a long sword or human sized hammer, and stall it. If successful he can then release and hop to one side safely, delivering a spiralling or feinted counter-attack.
Mantis Prowl (Above Average) – a defensive stance which draws in reverse gripped daggers over the chest, with tips pointing down and legs tucked at the knees. It requires counter movements into the incoming weapon’s path, and works on the principle of pushing away the strength with a counter thrust. It is most effective against bladed weapons no longer than shorts words. Duffy can launch into The Rolling Stone from this position, or attempt a Buttery Catch at one tier lower, but with an additional surprise element.
• The Offensive (Staccato Form): In this stance, Duffy goes all out with lunges, complicated footwork born from the various dances he has learnt and driving, piercing punches with his daggers. Here he is brash, often succumbing to a patient opponent as he drains his stamina too quickly in a vibrant and monkey like assault. Although it might be said that the best defence is a good offence, whilst attempting to drive home his daggers to their targets Duffy’s concentration is on damage, not on the prevention of counter blows so his defence suffers whilst his ability to penetrate the defence of another is improved, as should be expected.
The Rolling Stone (Expert) – a simple but surprise based attack, featuring a sudden forward judo roll and a deadpan setting of the off foot to stop Duffy in a crouched position, from which he can launch a low thrust or slash to the legs, or an upward arced high thrust to the torso or shield arm. Not effective against opponent’s with a low centre of gravity or nimble feet or speed, but can usurp the midriff defence supplied by a buckler or shield.
Whirling Dervish (Above Average) – put simply, this is a chaotic whirl of unskilled death. With a run and a flip, Duffy launches into a tumbling, spiralling, and chaotic dance around or into his opponent's with his daggers lashing out in speedy but inaccurate strikes. This has the same effect as delivering five standard attacks, with 50% and only the final thrust possessing any form of stabbing strength. Duffy can launch into this attack from the Vibrato Stance, but the frequency of attacks drops to three, and the accuracy by a further 10%.
Equipment:
Tinder Gear: The Tinder Gear is both an artisan's tool and weapon system, depicting the balance between the everyday and the darker side of the street. It comprises of small, almost invisible packs of a fuel known as agelethien, which are pumped along the pipes visible on the backs of Duffy's arms, and a bracer/jettison system coupled with a pair of flint strip covered gloves. All the materials are available readily, leather/oil/simple metals and flint etc. The gloves, when brought together with force make a loud clap, like a thunderclap, and when moved past each other sparks are spread, to 2 feet (, no combat use, but good as a fire lighting tool). With a punching movement, the packs under the arms and along the back are squeezed, forcing the material to spray outwards, and the sparks from the gloves ignite the fuel which can produce flame up to nine feet long in short bursts of 1-2 seconds, (which is a random time, as the fuel ejection cannot be controlled to any reasonable degree). This will cause burns or set clothes alight at best and will never kill, although it can be used in a combat situation the fuel is too rare to be spraying every low-life thug Duffy is run into. Using a display of sparks, flames and zymology (, drawing images/circles on the floor then igniting them) Duffy conjures the core of his performance/entertaining ability - at the same time having a nasty surprise for any violent members of the audience. Events in A Cut of the Chord have hinted at another use, that of spraying the liquid on a target first, then igniting, to cause contact burns. Although this is risky and dangerous to both parties involved it can be done. It will not be fatal but will certainly leave its mark, (PC Permission required). After using the Tinder Gear fully, for 3-4 strong sprays gold must be reduce by 25% of the total earned in that thread, such is the expense of the liquid required to fulfil it.
The Trappings of Sparrows: Duffy has taken to wearing tightly wrapped bandages around his calves and fore-arms, clasped in place with thin iron bands. Coupled with his boots, Lisa and Minnelli, who have two retractable spikes attached to a clip and slide mechanism on the curved plates attached to the arc of the boot, and the long bellowing white demi-cloak, he can manage wall runs and roof-top movement with increased ease. He also has two iron claws, which he can attach to gloves for climbing and movement which would otherwise be impossible for him, even when this is combined with his parkour ability, and theatrical flair, so that his movement in or out of combat takes on the stoic and erratic movement of a bird hopping from foot to foot, and rooftop to rooftop or window ledge to window ledge. The outfit is worthless to anyone else, and is made of cotton, iron and steel pins.
Weapons:
Tristan & Isould: Two steel short swords with double edged blades and simple black guards. They possess no magical properties, but unbeknown to Duffy, Fate has delivered to him the Zodiac weapon of Aries, the Horned One. Such properties will only be discovered through his growing involvement with the Nine, in his search for allies to deal with the Dark Bard once and for all.
Tooth & Nail: He carries several iron daggers with steel coating, usually one slipped into each boot and one sheathed on his belt and his two favourite, Tooth & Nail are inscribed with the opening and closing lines of I Want to Be Your Canary, the former on Tooth and the latter on Nail. They are 25 centimetres long from hilt to blade tip, and are enchanted to slash or pierce (respective of their names) to a much stronger and effective degree than their components. (At present, they do so as slightly above steel, and if their material is upgraded, they must be re-enchanted and bound anew, at the appropriate cost for the increase).
Wainwright’s Dagger: A masterwork steel dagger which has innate magical abilities, but only once combined with the spirit form possessed by Lucian or triggered by the reputation of its former history. Has a ruby on the pommel, and cannot be sold. Following the events of Confessions, its power has begun to awaken, although the extent will never match its true genesis – it has thus grown to steel strength, and can resist blows that would otherwise break it. Once per thread, Duffy can call on the past memories of the dagger. This will allow him to inflict the next attack with the properties of shadow aligned elemental magic, and cause a lasting agonisingly slow to heal wound should it strike. Any weak willed undead creature struck by this dagger will be thrown headlong into death, or if it is particularly resilient, brought into corporeality so that normal weapons can hurt them, or inflicted with a moderate wound. Black smoke and shadows pour from it as it swings through the air.
The Katarhna: A simple steel katana with a black handle and gold hilt. Purchased in Old Man Jacob’s Shoppe in Scara Brae, it is a non-magical blade that is held in a simple black Akashima sheath, usually strapped to his back, tilted to the right. It can be drawn with either hand, but requires adjustment to do so with the left, making any such movement risky and more time consuming. As Lysander’s personality grows in strength, so too do the innate qualities of the sword. It now resists blows from non-magical weapons as if it were dehlar, but strikes and cuts at dehlar strength. When it cuts through the air when wielded by Lysander, there is a slight chance that it will sing a song or quote a line from Lysander’s Flock.
Possessions:
The Tantalus Menagerie: A thousand and one costumes and theatre props of all descriptions, musical instruments and writing implements, books on playwrights and records of plays; such an artefact and establishment is the base of the Tantalum’s movements within Scara Brae, and whilst it offers warmth, shelter and occasional scraps food, Duffy must contribute 10% of all gold earned from battles and threads to contribute towards the upkeep of his ‘family.’
The Red Cutlass: A red cutlass captured from the captain of the Red Scourge. As of yet, Duffy does not use it, asides from a handy prop. In the future however, there might just be room for Duffy to take on the mantle of a pirate...who knows, maybe the Red Scourge will terrorise Scara Brae again someday...
Silver Chain Of Eraclaire: A simple silver chain stolen from Visla Eraclaire in a previous encounter, and en-gifted to Duffy during a brief sabbatical in Scara Brae a year later. It holds little more than sentimental value, and is a show of Duffy's generosity, Visla's freedom, and the potential to be something more than we are born to be.
Geisha Mask: A ceramic fox masque in the traditional Akashiman style, with red ribbon to secure it to the face and a broad bright smile moulded into it. It conceals the face completely, but asides from its disguise potential, it has no magical ability nor is it worth anything.
Radasanth Silk: A six foot length of earth red silk, solid and well-crafted with golden threads spiralling along it.
Statue: A small tourist trinket worth no more than 10 gold in the fashion of a dancing troubadour.