Bartleby Ezekial Thrush

43, Human Scion of the Messiah, Popular Musician, Songwriter, Rogue, Reever, Bard, & Jack-of-Many-Trades

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Stats

Base stats

Pro 14 (+3 suit) (+3 ring) (+3 boots) (+1 training)

• Reaction 15 (+3 suit) (+3 ring) (+3 boots) (+1 training)
• Swords 15 (+3 suit) (+3 ring) (+3 boots) (+1 training)

Ath 14 (+3 suit) (+3 ring) (+3 boots) (+1 training) (+14 Tomerane)

Str 13 (+3 ring) (+1 training)

• Toughness 13/13 (+3 ring) (+7/+7 [Storm Suit]) (+3/+3 vs electricity) (+1 training)
• Cause Damage 13/13 (+8/+8 [Singing Sword]) (+1 training)

Awa 14 (+3 ring) (+3 amulet) (+3 cloak)

• Improv 16 (+3 ring) (+3 amulet) (+3 cloak)

Wil 12 (+3 ring) (+3 amulet)

• Music Faith 9 (+5 [Ancient Holy Symbol])

Rog 14 (+3 ring) (+6 cloak) (-3 suit) (+3 amulet) (+3 training)

Edges

Pure Soul

Musically Gifted

Immune to Cold (Tomerane)

Powers

Turn Evil (WIL/Auto)

Space & Sea Survival (Socks)

Empathy 7 (Painting)

Primary skill set

Violin 22 (+10 [Violin]) (+6 Thrush songs) (+7 Wedding song)

• Improv 22
• By Ear 20
• Sight Read 20

Cello 17 (+6 Thrush songs) (+7 Wedding song)

• Improv 16
• By Ear 16
• Sight Read 15 (+6 Tomerane)

Guitar 12 (+6 Thrush songs) (+7 Wedding song)

• Improv 9
• By Ear 12
• Sight Read 12

Singing 13 (+6 Thrush songs) (+7 Wedding song)

• Improv 9
• By Ear 13
• Sight Read 10

Composition 19

Showmanship 15 (+6 suit)

Audience Read 16 (+1 Empathy)

Other skills

Sewing 9

Cooking 11

Poetry 13

Survival (Maraddonian Wilderness) 8

Lockpicking 8 (+3 cloak)

Tactics 7

History 8

Oratory 13 (+3 suit)

Politics 12

Negotiation 10

Mechanical Aptitude 6

Woodcarving 8

Seduction 14

Archery 9

Firearms 7

Hunting 10

Storytelling 15

Pantomime 11

Connections

Music Scene, International 16

Maraddonian Nobility 14

Music Church 14

General, International 15

Lores

Gift Lore 12

Morag Lore 6

Echo Lore 4

Demon Lores 7

Travel Lore 15

Languages:

Maraddonic 12

Common Dwarven 10

Common Elven 10

Nightingale 12

Merukisi 11

Kren'atanic 9

Berellian 7

Ogrish 8 (+3 Tomerane)

Aeldian 6

Srisian 5

Tara'hinian 5

Shemir 8

Halfling 9

Reef 7

Mesoine 8

Sea Elven 9

Lunarian 10

Star Elven 10

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Inventory:

Primary mundane items

Violin

Eyepatch (Note: Bartelby is not missing an eye)

Needle

Thread

Lockpicks

Journal

Quills

Ink

House

Primary supernatural items

Violin of Melody (GIFT) (+10/+10)

Travel Socks (Space/Sea Survival)

Blessed violin bow (+5 faith)

Six Sapphire Training Rings

Mind's Amulet (mental bonuses, wedding present from Leia)

Weapons

Dulce Voce (Singing Sword) (+8/+8, sings along with wielder's voice in battle, heartens wielder)

Belt Knife (+2/+2)

Armor

Storm Suit (+7/+7, made of thunder and lightning, wedding present from Marilyna)

Shadow Cloak (+3/+3, rogue bonuses)

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Motivations

Passions:

• Contest
  • Having seen the true nature of this contest, it is imperative that I or those I trust to carry out the responsibilities it conveys wins it.
• Planes
  • And those responsibilities are to free the planes of this... infection that has caused so much trouble.
• Popular Music
  • The only way to unify the world into one clear voice, and we must do it.
• Aurelia
  • Being married to her has given me more meaning and joy than three decades of music and adventure

Convictions:

• Faith
  • The Mother of Music created the key to connecting the world, and it is our duty and honor to turn that key for her.
• Self
  • Songs are in my blood. Finding a new respect for myself and the world is connected to finding my purpose within the realm of song. Now that I have Aurelia and the Sound and Fury, I know about belonging. The more I become part of Music, the less of myself do I need to worry about. I give everything I have here to the Music, and I am rewarded a thousandfold.
• Music
  • The key to connecting the world should be something that everyone can appreciate, everyone can understand, everyone can connect to. Forms and styles that do not immediately mesh with everyone are fine, but they are not ideal. The Connection of the Song is a sacred trust and should not be shunned or abused, but utilized to great effect not just to free the Divine but also to cherish the holy Gift. The essence of music is in that moment when the whole crowd reacts as one to what the musicians share with them. If the song comes from the musicians' heart, the crowd and the musician feel the same thing, all at once, and know that they are one. This feeling can briefly make a million people all belong to each other in perfect unison, and that should be respected, worshiped, and cherished.

Relationships:

• Sound & the Fury
  • Aurelia & our daughter
    • Love and devotion. She still rides turbulent tides, but with her beside me and I beside her, they don't worry me anymore. Our daughter has given us both the focus we need to weather any storm. She is our purpose and our goal beyond our journey into the planes. She'll bring us out of it. What life will be like afterward, I do not know, but as long as Aurelia and our daughter are with me, I will be a content man.
  • Arlie
    • Respect. He has truly shone once we left the mortal coil. His experience has pulled us through the worst of it so far, and I expect it will continue to do so.
  • Avery
    • He seemed so lost when we left for the planes, but the more he gathers his own kind about him, the more he seems to come alive. He's growing up a bit, and he's showing his wit. It's heartening.
  • Jack
    • He's become something new to me, a pillar of Music. I am awed by what he can do with voice and Sword, and I believe between the two of us, the Mother of Euphony is well represented. It might be arrogance, but I think Thrush would have liked him.
  • Dionysus
    • I was sorry to leave him behind, but he has done his duty and found his reward. I miss him, though, and hope to see him when I return.
  • Arsul
    • He has become a rock solid force that drives us. His advice, his strength, and his faith erase all doubt in our path. It hurt to watch his brother go like that, but I think if anyone can pull through that, it will be Arsul.
  • Leia
    • Perhaps one of my biggest fears is facing her mother when I get back.
  • Sue
    • What he went through I can't fathom, but he seems to have come out of it after we rescued the Father of Mirth. His alien nature no longer even registers with me. I think of him as just another member of the band, another brother.
  • Leonas
    • The Devil will one day pay.
  • Valara
    • Her acceptance is gratifying, and her love for Aurelia warming. I am proud to be her son-in-law.
  • Tomerane
    • Losing her hurt so much, but she is alive, at least. I don't know if she's any softer now than before, but when we get back, I'll do whatever I can to help her.
  • Magnum
    • He's a true soldier, and I am glad that he is our shield and our rhythm. He does not falter. He, like the others, is family.
  • Odellino
    • A strange but useful man to know.
  • Klaus
    • The Torches are a comforting presence in their way
  • Kashaji
    • He seems to be a strong, reliable presence in Aurelia's life. Providing her with him was my best idea in ages.
  • Other Pets
    • The bear is intimidating, the birds are odd, and the bug is terrifying, but they all pale in comparison to that albino cobra Tomerane has.
• Other Musicians
  • Wivena
    • I hope she learned a lesson.
  • Qualla
    • Her tongue was sharp, but in the end, she sought the same thing we did.
  • Fane
    • Leonas died for her, but she helped us when it mattered.
• Scions
  • Darion
    • Aurelia forgave him, and so do I.
  • Jack's siblings
    • All nice people. Good folks. I appreciate them.
• Villains
  • Rex
    • I will bring to bear upon him Pure Euphony, with my cousin and my bride, and the band (my family), by my side.
  • Frogs
    • A glorious relief.
  • Reevers
    • After what I saw on Merukis, I will never glorify their dark ways again.

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Original Description

Born in a small coastal town in Maraddon, Bartleby grew up hearing horror stories about pirates. By the age of 15, he was obsessed with the notion of becoming one. However, at the age of 7, he met his first love: the violin.

As a young man he was sent to study under a master violinist, taking advantage of his father's wealth to get the best teacher available. A few years younger than his fellow student, Dionysus Berrywight, the two became friends & rivals. The night their master died in a house fire, the two were out, half-drunk, competing in a field at who was the better fiddler, seeking the affections of a local barmaid.

After losing their master, both were offered a place under the patronage of then Archduke Hyun Maraddon. Bartleby turned down the offer & went out to seek his way as a popular musician, while Dionysus entered the world of composing.

Bartleby took up the persona of a rogue & a pirate in order to stir up controversy, knowing how feared & hated pirates were in his home. The characterization worked & for a while, Bartleby was well known & loved in the taverns & inns of Maraddon, until one day, he actually ran afoul of a group of pirates. He spent six months held prisoner until he stole an old fiddle from the ship's musician & used it to impress some of his captors into helping him. Three hard bitten reevers took up with him & started a small band out on Merukis before stealing & earning enough to buy passage to Maraddon.

When he returned, his story garnered him even more fame, & soon he was as popular as the newly famous Jack Crane. The two were considered by their fans as rivals, though Bartleby rarely paid any heed to Crane at all.

When Albert Renkarr came along & changed the face of popular music, Bartleby was poised to take advantage of it. His experience with the reevers had changed his formerly wild persona somewhat (though not too much), & his interrest in music was such that he had already been toying a little with the concepts of the New School. As such, he emerged from the musical revolution as a leader of the New School.

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Pages: Characters . Logs . Setting . The Artistocrats . We Are The Band . List of Known Contestants . The Golden Ticket . Compositions . The Cards . List of Help & Danger

Characters: Arlie Battisto . Avery Colzayre . Jack Crane . Aurelia Lucent . Subiquim Ixioj . Arsul Toutant . Dionysus Berrywight . James "Magnum" Peltier . Bartleby the Rogue . Tomerane the Snowsinger . Leia Bantae . Leonas Willow . Hunny . Manny . Little Wing . Kashaji . Odellino . Muxiat Solgheraq . Klaus Uwengelter . Lucilla Toutant . Greipur . Jack the Diamond . Rumbleford . Rubella Crane . Stalker Toutant . Domy Toutant . Shatter . Samuel Jericho . Rex Cuniaid . Dayrum . Damon Argent . Merian Dremholz Battisto . Conell Colzayre . Valara Lucent . Kansallus the Rogue . Gaja Gamini . Ushpishtim Gamini . Darion Bumblebee . Todzeney Gemmerit . Uvex . Berko . Bentley Pharnum . Thelser . Robin Goodfellow . The Merry Men . Beauregard . The Balladeer . Katerina Ryne . Kinglsey Allfenn . Tracey Jamison . Roshadam . Fane Crow . Monir the Unseelie . Qualla the Fool . Servant of the Never . Asad Windkin . Fitz Romaine . Eliza Hawk . Uriah Trumble . Wivena . Martha Mellaus . Henry the Guileless . Ulysses Bloom . Roan Asher . Deepa Ramanarah . Civitello the Great . Mark Goodrich . Ismuth . Borreliosis . Idjallora . Seela Wile . Necrocurcuriba . Shezeri's Son . Queen of the Black Goats . Gryfyn Cuniaid . The Crippler . Giobog . Avery Jericho . Deltriquim Ixioj . Christopher Laird . Hornet Rust . Caella Markanan . Nadia Hyatt . On'Jandu . Genfyllid Cuniaid . Corwin Jericho . Blake Guidry . The Norns . Flick Tinpot . Albert Renkarr . Marilyna Maraddon . Onitan . Shona . Minerva . Bast . The Nilos . KratsatsMeky . Boelvasmithr . ShijieDeMailuo . NagyVadaszno . NeizaiFangshi . Eris . ZirehliZeng . VahKadumavenRashaven . TananIlay . Gorgeron . HiliKar . MiteraTonAlogon . Jodis . Drifa . Valdis . Salmei . Ilse . Jana . Grag Headsplitter . Chiyo Date . Inteus . Hanisim . Marcus Johansen . Nicholas Kringle . Hrodwulf Grom . Germaine Butterfelter . Makeko . Guiteau Toutant . Ten Thieves of Renown