Duffy
06-19-11, 12:53 PM
Name: Duffy Bracken
Alias: Dagger
Titles: Tantalum
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 142llbs
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Blue
Occupation: Bard
Alignment: True Good
Accent: Scarabrian
Languages: Trade Speak, Common, Scara Breen Slang
Literacy: Unrivalled
2492
Skills:
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 of superb and masterful 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 adept level. Duffy can spontaneously play common styles, utilising the arts/culture knowledge skill.
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 skills:
• 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: adept skill pertaining to the arts, culture and flora and fauna of the island of Scara Brae.
• Forbidden Lore (Thayne): Duffy possess an adept understanding of the history of the creation of the Thayne, especially N’Jal and 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’.
Abilities:
Acrobat: He is a parkour/free runner 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. He has X3 running speed, X3 standard agility and prehensile reflexes and instincts, giving him the reflexes and dodging ability that counts as X3 of a normal human his age.
Infamy & Roguery: 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 and Ruby's face, and some will respect them greatly; but others will be nervous at their sight or outright aggressive to them.
• Charisma on Stage: X2
• Infamy with City Guard: X3
• Standing in Noble Houses: X0.9
• Charisma with Commoners: X4
• Charisma Outside of Scara Brae: X0.8
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 avatar 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.
Gavel, Curtongue of the City of Rodham: A proactive and well spoken gentleman from the distant land of Rodham. Still very much unknown as far as past lives go, the memories came in a dream, of a past life lived in turbulent times. He is a Curtongue, which Duffy understands to mean a speech mage, and as such, when he channels the limited memories of this enigmatic soul, all his Infamy modifiers are improved by 0.3, and once per thread, he can charm or command another of a similar or weaker level to do something non fatal (to themselves or another) or inspire and rally crowds to do great and rebellious (but just) deeds.
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 Blade singer, 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 Blade singer 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 at an adept level, 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 (this is cumulative with the effects of The Katarhna). 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.
• 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 three 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 delivered.
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.
Knife Combat (Master): Duffy’s fighting style is a style, or lack thereof built up from street fighting utilising two knifes, back flips, feint attacks and full use of his mobility to overwhelm opponents with speed and surprise and guile. Over the 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. He is virtually unrivalled, at least on the island at using knife length weapons, and his namesake ‘Dagger’ has become as much a part of his identity and infamy as flash of a knife itself.
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 strength becomes -0.5 as his strikes become simple slashes and unfocussed pummelling, but his defence gains an X2 modifier.
• Butterfly Catch: a defensive move permitted once 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. If successful he can then release and hop to one side safely, his next attack from this form will not suffer the -0.5 stance modifier.
• Mantis Prowl: an augmentation to the 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 single handed bladed weapons, but requires absolute focus to utilise and maintain; Duffy cannot use any abilities of The Aria whilst doing so, but his defence modifier becomes X4. This Duffy can launch into The Rolling Stone from this position and end the attack in the Staccato Form.
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. He has X2 strength in this form, but his agility modifier is reduced by 2 and he suffers a one level skill reduction with his current weapons.
• The Rolling Stone: 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. This attack halves any defence or agility modifiers or abilities of the target and strikes at X3 strength, but Duffy counts as having no agility, strength or defence modifiers for the duration of his next post.
• Whirling Dervish: 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, which can be used once per thread. This has the same effect as delivering five standard attacks, with a -0.5 strength modifier for the first four and X2 for the final thrust.
Equipment:
The Trappings of Sparrows: Whilst wearing this complicated set of climbing gear, Duffy can augment his climbing and acrobatic skills to greater heights than his namesake can achieve. With the bandages around his calves and forearms, clasped in place with iron bands, he can damped falls and scrapes suffered from any mishaps, and using the retractable steel spikes in his boots and the iron climbing claws, he can reach even the most forbidden heights of Scara Brae. He thus counts all acrobatic, movement and dexterity abilities as +1 in addition to their current modifiers whilst wearing the full Trappings of Sparrows, and +0.5 when wearing either the claws or boots, depending on use. He however suffers a skill grade reduction to combat skills when attempting to fight with the claws mounted on his wrists, even when retracted.
Tooth & Nail: Duffy’s first two iron daggers from his youth, nicknamed ‘Tooth’ & ‘Nail’. They 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) at a much fiercer rate than their mundane iron components would otherwise allow (at present, as strong as steel).
The Katarhna: A simple steel katana with a black handle and gold hilt. It is a 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 was dehlar and when wielded by Lysander, it strikes at dehlar strength.
The Prima Vista: the ancestral home of the Tantalum Troupe, hidden in the old noble district of Scara Brae from prying eyes and rival companies. It has been the troupe’s home since Wainwright Jones founded the troupe, in his own mansion, five centuries ago. It has a well-stocked kitchen, a small back yard with a washing line and an alleyway to its right side which is a dead end run out onto the street to the front. It has a large open upper floor, cluttered with boxes, costumes and a higher upper floor with a balcony overlooking the large, well-worn and screen laden stage. Its roof is a large stained glass dome, featuring a brazen, golden stained glass sun that casts a red light over the stage. There are four living rooms, one large with a sunken seating area, with three leading off from it that have been converted into two children’s bunk rooms, where the orphans of the troupe sleep, and one larger room with three double beds for Blank, Lillith and Lisa and Minnelli (Duffy invariably sleeps in the stage room). The front of the house has two small boxed rooms so that when people look into the front windows, they see something entirely different to the world of theatrics that sits just beyond. One large store room sits in the cellar, though what exactly is down there, no-one but Ruby can say.
2493
• The Heidegger Barrier: over the years, the Prima Vista has been the recipient of so many different enchantments, rituals and warding artefacts it seems to have taken on a life of its own. Though the rafters sometimes speak back lines they have heard, and the beds themselves jump to life and the costumes have been known to dance about the stage room late at night, the enchantments have gifted the building a sort of non-existence. People see, but don’t see, suddenly inspired to look elsewhere or to keep walking on by. Even if someone can perceive the true building beyond the veil (which is must grander than the illusion they would otherwise see) the bear traps in the garden and the diversion mock rooms will abate their curiosity and implant the idea that it’s just another rickety old noble house full of dust.
• 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 Reliquary of Wainwright Jones: Bound in a long wrap of Radasanth Silk, and sealed closed with a clasp of gold melted from a warding icon, the Reliquary of Wainwright Jones contains several artefacts imprisoned for eternity out of harm’s way. Inside, there are the six artefacts of Wainwright Jones, used in the final confrontation with the Dark Bard Lucian to defeat him once and for all. There is also the Red Cutlass, used too little effect on Duffy’s erroneous time at sea, and also the Silver Chain of Eraclaire, amongst other bitter reminders of harbingers of truth from the troupe’s past. It emits a powerful aura, and sits in a shrine in the attic of the Prima Vista, augmenting the enchantments which hide the Tantalum’s home from public view. As long as it remains there, the building is impervious to all attack, and to all attempts at unauthorised entry, though it is a constant reminder to the family of what was, what has been, and what could have come to pass.
Alias: Dagger
Titles: Tantalum
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 142llbs
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Blue
Occupation: Bard
Alignment: True Good
Accent: Scarabrian
Languages: Trade Speak, Common, Scara Breen Slang
Literacy: Unrivalled
2492
Skills:
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 of superb and masterful 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 adept level. Duffy can spontaneously play common styles, utilising the arts/culture knowledge skill.
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 skills:
• 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: adept skill pertaining to the arts, culture and flora and fauna of the island of Scara Brae.
• Forbidden Lore (Thayne): Duffy possess an adept understanding of the history of the creation of the Thayne, especially N’Jal and 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’.
Abilities:
Acrobat: He is a parkour/free runner 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. He has X3 running speed, X3 standard agility and prehensile reflexes and instincts, giving him the reflexes and dodging ability that counts as X3 of a normal human his age.
Infamy & Roguery: 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 and Ruby's face, and some will respect them greatly; but others will be nervous at their sight or outright aggressive to them.
• Charisma on Stage: X2
• Infamy with City Guard: X3
• Standing in Noble Houses: X0.9
• Charisma with Commoners: X4
• Charisma Outside of Scara Brae: X0.8
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 avatar 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.
Gavel, Curtongue of the City of Rodham: A proactive and well spoken gentleman from the distant land of Rodham. Still very much unknown as far as past lives go, the memories came in a dream, of a past life lived in turbulent times. He is a Curtongue, which Duffy understands to mean a speech mage, and as such, when he channels the limited memories of this enigmatic soul, all his Infamy modifiers are improved by 0.3, and once per thread, he can charm or command another of a similar or weaker level to do something non fatal (to themselves or another) or inspire and rally crowds to do great and rebellious (but just) deeds.
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 Blade singer, 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 Blade singer 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 at an adept level, 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 (this is cumulative with the effects of The Katarhna). 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.
• 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 three 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 delivered.
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.
Knife Combat (Master): Duffy’s fighting style is a style, or lack thereof built up from street fighting utilising two knifes, back flips, feint attacks and full use of his mobility to overwhelm opponents with speed and surprise and guile. Over the 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. He is virtually unrivalled, at least on the island at using knife length weapons, and his namesake ‘Dagger’ has become as much a part of his identity and infamy as flash of a knife itself.
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 strength becomes -0.5 as his strikes become simple slashes and unfocussed pummelling, but his defence gains an X2 modifier.
• Butterfly Catch: a defensive move permitted once 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. If successful he can then release and hop to one side safely, his next attack from this form will not suffer the -0.5 stance modifier.
• Mantis Prowl: an augmentation to the 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 single handed bladed weapons, but requires absolute focus to utilise and maintain; Duffy cannot use any abilities of The Aria whilst doing so, but his defence modifier becomes X4. This Duffy can launch into The Rolling Stone from this position and end the attack in the Staccato Form.
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. He has X2 strength in this form, but his agility modifier is reduced by 2 and he suffers a one level skill reduction with his current weapons.
• The Rolling Stone: 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. This attack halves any defence or agility modifiers or abilities of the target and strikes at X3 strength, but Duffy counts as having no agility, strength or defence modifiers for the duration of his next post.
• Whirling Dervish: 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, which can be used once per thread. This has the same effect as delivering five standard attacks, with a -0.5 strength modifier for the first four and X2 for the final thrust.
Equipment:
The Trappings of Sparrows: Whilst wearing this complicated set of climbing gear, Duffy can augment his climbing and acrobatic skills to greater heights than his namesake can achieve. With the bandages around his calves and forearms, clasped in place with iron bands, he can damped falls and scrapes suffered from any mishaps, and using the retractable steel spikes in his boots and the iron climbing claws, he can reach even the most forbidden heights of Scara Brae. He thus counts all acrobatic, movement and dexterity abilities as +1 in addition to their current modifiers whilst wearing the full Trappings of Sparrows, and +0.5 when wearing either the claws or boots, depending on use. He however suffers a skill grade reduction to combat skills when attempting to fight with the claws mounted on his wrists, even when retracted.
Tooth & Nail: Duffy’s first two iron daggers from his youth, nicknamed ‘Tooth’ & ‘Nail’. They 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) at a much fiercer rate than their mundane iron components would otherwise allow (at present, as strong as steel).
The Katarhna: A simple steel katana with a black handle and gold hilt. It is a 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 was dehlar and when wielded by Lysander, it strikes at dehlar strength.
The Prima Vista: the ancestral home of the Tantalum Troupe, hidden in the old noble district of Scara Brae from prying eyes and rival companies. It has been the troupe’s home since Wainwright Jones founded the troupe, in his own mansion, five centuries ago. It has a well-stocked kitchen, a small back yard with a washing line and an alleyway to its right side which is a dead end run out onto the street to the front. It has a large open upper floor, cluttered with boxes, costumes and a higher upper floor with a balcony overlooking the large, well-worn and screen laden stage. Its roof is a large stained glass dome, featuring a brazen, golden stained glass sun that casts a red light over the stage. There are four living rooms, one large with a sunken seating area, with three leading off from it that have been converted into two children’s bunk rooms, where the orphans of the troupe sleep, and one larger room with three double beds for Blank, Lillith and Lisa and Minnelli (Duffy invariably sleeps in the stage room). The front of the house has two small boxed rooms so that when people look into the front windows, they see something entirely different to the world of theatrics that sits just beyond. One large store room sits in the cellar, though what exactly is down there, no-one but Ruby can say.
2493
• The Heidegger Barrier: over the years, the Prima Vista has been the recipient of so many different enchantments, rituals and warding artefacts it seems to have taken on a life of its own. Though the rafters sometimes speak back lines they have heard, and the beds themselves jump to life and the costumes have been known to dance about the stage room late at night, the enchantments have gifted the building a sort of non-existence. People see, but don’t see, suddenly inspired to look elsewhere or to keep walking on by. Even if someone can perceive the true building beyond the veil (which is must grander than the illusion they would otherwise see) the bear traps in the garden and the diversion mock rooms will abate their curiosity and implant the idea that it’s just another rickety old noble house full of dust.
• 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 Reliquary of Wainwright Jones: Bound in a long wrap of Radasanth Silk, and sealed closed with a clasp of gold melted from a warding icon, the Reliquary of Wainwright Jones contains several artefacts imprisoned for eternity out of harm’s way. Inside, there are the six artefacts of Wainwright Jones, used in the final confrontation with the Dark Bard Lucian to defeat him once and for all. There is also the Red Cutlass, used too little effect on Duffy’s erroneous time at sea, and also the Silver Chain of Eraclaire, amongst other bitter reminders of harbingers of truth from the troupe’s past. It emits a powerful aura, and sits in a shrine in the attic of the Prima Vista, augmenting the enchantments which hide the Tantalum’s home from public view. As long as it remains there, the building is impervious to all attack, and to all attempts at unauthorised entry, though it is a constant reminder to the family of what was, what has been, and what could have come to pass.