Choose your religion.

The traditional state religion of Qadira is Sarenrae.

The Cosmic Caravan pantheon is also thematic for your character.

You're welcome to select any Religion, Pantheon, or Philosophy you wish.

Obvs, I'm a faithful follower of Sarenrea as are all good citizens.
I wasn't at the last meeting because I wasn't feeling well.
No, that wasn't me at the Cosmic Caravan meeting - must have been someone else who looked like me.

No reason you can't follow both, unless your family is against it and are also in Lepidstadt.

You can find info about Sarenrae in the Core Rulebook p.439 and Lost Omens - Gods & Magic p.42-43

The Cosmic Caravan can be found in the Lost Omens - Travel Guide p.92

I read about Sarenrae, which is why i feel she world at least show obeisance to it to fit in.
I'll take a look at Cosmic Caravan, also, but I feel most likely, she will follow them secretly.

Since technically Sarenrae is part of the Cosmic Pantheon, shouldn't be too big an issue, but also she won't embrace it fully, as is requires wanderlust

Buy your equipment

150 sp
-20 Rapier 1d6 S Bulk 1 Hands 1 Group Sword Traits Deadly d8, disarm, finesse
130 sp
-5 Main Gauche 1d4 P Bulk L Hands 1 Group Knife Traits Agile, disarm, finesse, parry, versatile S
125 sp
-20  Starknife 1d4 P Bulk L Hands 1 Group Knife Traits Agile, deadly d6, finesse, throw 20', versatile S
105 sp
-15 Adventurer's pack
90 sp
-20 Fine Clothes
70 sp
-6 (6x) Explorer clothes (swashbuckler / fortune teller outfits)
64 sp
-10 Cookware
54 sp
-10 Harrow Deck
44 sp
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Wed 26 Oct 2022.

What day and month were you born?

The 15th day of the 8th month

I need the following information for any living family members that you have:

Name:
Relationship: e.g. Mother, Father, Cousin, etc.
Notes: Brief synopsis of what they do for a living, where they live, and status of your relationship with them (e.g. Have dinner at their place every night, I wronged them and they want revenge, I know they exist but never met them, etc.)

Parents
(Mother) Surayya al-Hashem, 45, Moneychanger, Likes the MC - Independent and solitary; leaves the other family members to take care of themselves.
(Father) Khafif al-Tariq, 45, Archaeologist, Loves the MC - An eccentric professional.

    • (Brother) Kioumars al-Tariq, 28, Gambler, Disrespects the MC - Frequently spoilt as a child, they think themselves special as an adult
        ◦ (Spouse) Hasti, 25
            ▪ (Daughter) Homa, 5, Loves the MC
    • (Brother) Mehdi al-Tariq, 26, Barkeep, Disloyal towards the MC - Very lazy, with little input in family matters
        ◦ (Spouse) Jamileh, 26
            ▪ (Daughter) Shiva, 0
    • (Brother) Jamshid al-Tariq, 25, Herbalist, Weak relationship with the MC - Emotionally unstable; a source of conflict in the family
    • (Brother) Heydar al-Tariq, 22 (Schizophrenic) Weak relationship with the MC - A bully as a child; kinder as an adult
        ◦ (Spouse) Naghme, 21
            ▪ (Daughter) Chuki, 4, Likes the MC
    • (Brother) Khashayar al-Tariq, 19, Boatman, Likes the MC - Friendly and supportive; an ideal sibling
        ◦ (Spouse) Dorsa, 17 (Murdered)
            ▪ (Son) Homayoun, 2, Likes the MC
            ▪ (Son) Aref, 1, Likes the MC
            ▪ (Son) Benham, 0 (Murdered) ---
    • (Brother) Kimweri al-Tariq, 17 (On The Run) Likes the MC - Shows little concern for the well-being of others

(Maternal Grandmother) Samara al-Shojaii, 71 (Sick), Innkeeper, Friendly towards the MC - An excellent guardian; never ignores the needs of her family members
(Maternal Grandfather) Hashem al-Darvishi, 71 (Religious), Innkeeper, Likes the MC - Enjoys spoiling the younger family members

    • (Maternal Aunt) Dorsa al-Hashem, 41, Prostitute, Does not trust the MC - Well balanced between soft and loving, and stern and commanding
    • (Maternal Aunt) Setareh al-Hashem, 40 (Religious), Priestess*, Very close to the MC - Unable to recognize maturity; still treats even fully grown offspring like young children

(Paternal Grandmother) Katayoun al-Kaledi, 75, Peddler/ Fortune Teller*, Likes the MC - Very family oriented; very supportive and caring
(Paternal Grandfather) Tariq al-Amir, 82, Peddler, (Deceased) Neutral towards the MC - Had a deeply regrettable past; horrors from the past trouble him no longer

    • (Paternal Aunt) Ellie al-Tariq, 55, Merchant, Gets on well with the MC - Largely absent with little care for family matters
        ◦ (Spouse) Larabee, 58, Miner
            ▪ (Daughter) Meron, 33, Likes the MC - Highly patronizing; loves to tease younger family members
            ▪ (Son) Hafsa, 24 (On The Run) Likes the MC - Shows little concern for the well-being of others
    • (Paternal Uncle) Bairam al-Tariq, 54, Alchemist*, Weak relationship with the MC - Emotionally unstable; abusive towards other family members
        ◦ (Spouse) Elnaz, 62, Philosopher
            ▪ (Son) Ali, 5, Friendly towards the MC ---
            ▪ (Son) Jahangir, 23, Weak relationship with the MC - Emotionally unstable; a source of conflict in the family
    • (Paternal Uncle) Munatas al-Tariq, 51, Acolyte*, Likes the MC - Frequently absent; hides many secrets
        ◦ (Spouse) Azar, 44, Master-of-Coin
            ▪ (Son) Changiz, 27 (Homosexual), Priest*, Likes the MC - Gets along well with everyone, always willing to chat, and to listen
            ▪ (Son) Hashem, 17, Bard*, Hates the MC - Friendly and supportive; an ideal sibling
    • (Paternal Aunt) Bebe al-Tariq, 47,Secretly a Shapeshifter Spy*, (Kidnapped), Neutral towards the MC - Completely unshakable; always remains calm and collected, even during major catastrophes
        ◦ (Spouse) Arman, 52, Affeeror
            ▪ (Son) Rasoul, 23, Acrobat, (Anti-Social) Jealous of the MC - Gets along well with everyone, always willing to chat, and to listen
            ▪ (Son) Esmaeel, 20, Acrobat, Neutral towards the MC - Very lazy, with little input in family matters
    • (Paternal Aunt) Balduina al-Tariq, 46, Assassin, (Homosexual)  Disrespects the MC - Passive aggressive; subtly bullies other family members to force things their way
    • (Paternal Uncle) Èlric al-Tariq, 51, Glazier, (Openly Racist) Likes the MC - Highly patronizing; loves to tease younger family members
        ◦ (Spouse) Shamsi, 46, Homemaker
            ▪ (Daughter) Tahmine, 29, Messenger, Friendly towards the MC - Dominant and passive aggressive; consistently and deliberately violates sibling privacy
    • (Daughter) Aida, 17, Soldier, Weak relationship with the MC - A bully as a child; kinder as an adult

* - Spellcaster
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:04, Thu 27 Oct 2022.

Why did you leave Qadira to go to Lepidstadt in Ustalav?

In reply to GM (msg # 63):

Equal parts excitement of adventure, opportunities of education, freedom away from family (if only for a while), and concern for her father making the trip alone.

I see I did not enter the 'where' part in the family tree above...
Subtracting 5 years from immediate family ages makes it very likely that they moved here as a family and resettled in the region, even while it may make it less likely that the siblings were able to establish families.
We can eliminate the siblings-in-law and nieces and nephews from all but Khashayar, if that works better.

Alternatively, she and her father made the trip alone, but with the ingrained focus on family, it seems doubtful.

Option 1: Why would the whole family leave Qadira? This isn't something that would happen without a great deal of pressure. Why Ustalav instead of any other nation with a safer reputation and closer to Qadira?

Option 2: The father going alone can be explained much easier, either through coercion or as a business arrangement with no intention of actually residing permanently in Ustalav.

First, I'd like to edit my birthday to the Autumnal equinox



Second, Five years ago, Mother and Father are 40, siblings are 23, 21, 20, 17, 14, and 12. (I'm 15)
Both parents wouldn't leave kids that young behind.
Option 1a) They might leave the older ones, since there is a family support net, and only take the youngest 3 or 4...
Option 1b) They might take all ovvem, in a huge caravan -
Option 2a) Father & Daughter went together - perhaps this contributed to Kimweri's issues?

You still didn't answer 'why' for any of the options.

• Why would your parents up and leave Qadira?
• Why would they take the entire family with them?
• If they didn't take the the entire family, why would they leave the country and leave the adult children and the rest of the extended family including the elderly grandparents?
• Why did they take the pre-adult children on a very dangerous journey instead of leaving them behind with the grandparents or the adult children?
• Why did they settle in Ustalav instead of a safer and/or closer nation?

• If it's just the father and daughter, why did he leave for Ustalav?
• Why did he take his youngest child instead of any of the adult children?
• How would this contribute to the youngest son being on the run?

Why would your parents up and leave Qadira? Father got an opportunity to do archaeology stuff in Ustalav, and speak (teach?) at the University, or Inkeeping (see below), and he can do archaeology here, even though he's not as well-known or established as he is back home
Why would they take the entire family with them? Because as Dom says, Family is everything
If they didn't take the the entire family, why would they leave the country and leave the adult children and the rest of the extended family including the elderly grandparents? Certainly can't take everyone, and grandparents are Inn/Tavernkeepers back home. Might be the adult children were already established with careers and families of their own, or simply did not want to leave the lovely desert for the awful lowlands
Why did they take the pre-adult children on a very dangerous journey instead of leaving them behind with the grandparents or the adult children?
  Because as Dom says, Family is everything - and not going to make raising their kids someone else's responsibility unless the situation is dire.
Why did they settle in Ustalav instead of a safer and/or closer nation? Why would they leave their home and settle a few days away from the destination?  Ustalav is where the opportunity is for father, and if you're not opposed to the Innkeeper thread, then there's that too. Maybe that was actually a trap in disguise, and the Landlord Squeeze (TM) is a constant danger.
Also, how about this is Mother's home, and she left to start a family with Father in his homeland?  Then the Inn would be Grandma & Grandpa's, and with Grandma ailing and Grandpa elderly as well, someone need to take over the place.  They only had 3 children, and their other two daughters aren't interested in running an inn, with one being a priestess and the other being a prostitute (who probably does want the inn, but to turn it into a competing bordello)


If it's just the father and daughter, why did he leave for Ustalav?  Father got an opportunity to do archaeology stuff in Ustalav, and speak (teach?) at the University
Why did he take his youngest child instead of any of the adult children? Because they were close, Samara is very interested in his work, and she does have some of the wanderlust
How would this contribute to the youngest son being on the run? Because growing up without a dad is how kids go bad. That and video games.

I like this one best: this is Mother's home, and she left to start a family with Father in his homeland?  Then the Inn would be Grandma & Grandpa's, and with Grandma ailing and Grandpa elderly as well, someone need to take over the place.  They only had 3 children, and their other two daughters aren't interested in running an inn, with one being a priestess and the other being a prostitute (who probably does want the inn, but to turn it into a competing bordello)

Ok, so going with the inn concept?

Mother is from Ustalav, father is from Qadira. Mother moved to Qadira, popped out 4(?) kids with Samara being the youngest. At a currently undisclosed date, mother moves back to Ustalav with her husband and kids to take over the inn from her aging parents.

Is the father helping with the inn? Are any of the other kids helping with the inn?

Mother (Surayya) is from Ustalav, Father (Khafif) is from Qadira.
They met 35 years ago when he first visited Lepistadt.
Three years later, he returned, they married, and moved to Qadira.
They had 7 children:
(Bro) Kioumars, 28,
(Bro) Mehdi, 26,
(Bro) Jamshid, 25,
(Bro) Heydar, 22
(MC) Samara, 20
(Bro) Khashayar, 19,
(Bro) Kimweri, 17
Five years ago, Surayya received a letter from her sister Setareh, which painted a different picture of her parents' situation than did the letters she had received from them, informing her that their mother has downplayed the seriousness of her circumstances. Unscrupulous persons had taken advantage of her illness, and now they were in financial trouble as well.
Khafif still had his contact in the University and was able to secure an offer of patronage and employment, so they made the difficult decision to pack up and leave Qadira and move to Ustalav.

The oldest of their children, being established in employment and families, contributed in finances and materials, but did not accompany their parents.
The younger four children, being between the ages of 12-17, accompanied their parents in the difficult and dangerous journey, traveling with the only merchant caravan that makes Ustalav a regular stop.

Upon arriving, Surayya set about battling the loan sharks and turning the Inn around. Khafif helps as he can during down time from his University duties, which occasionally has him traveling far enough that he has to spend a night or two in (haunted?) ruins. Samara accompanies him on these trips, serving as a cook and gopher for the academics on their expeditions.

Samara's aunts are no help, with Dorsa only appearing when she wants something, usually money, and Setareh thoroughly occupied with her religious activities, which Grandpa Hashem supports unequivocally.

Heydar and Khashayar make helping with the Inn their primary profession, even though Khashayar dreams often of the sea.

Heydar hit it off with one of the Inn's employees, Naghme, and in less than a year, they were married and expecting. At 4 years old, their daughter Chuki spend most of her time with Great-Grandma, with the other children, learning to read and write and do math, and of course, learn their history and customs.
Khashayar married Dorsa two years ago, and they had two children, Homayoun and Aref. Recently, Dorsa was tragically murdered while pregnant with the couple's third son. No evidence has been found as to the culprit or motive, but many suspect foul play, perhaps having to do with the family's financial arrangements.
Samara's youngest brother, Kimweri, is on the run after attempting vengeance for his sister-in-law's murder, resulting in several deaths. He has not been seen in Ustalav since, but he sends letters occasionally.

Current year is 4722, you may need to adjust your timeline, make your character older, and/or trim off some events. Details below.

This would have occurred in 4717

This would have taken a year, possibly more, since letter writing and delivery over multiple occasions would take a significant amount of time. So let's say it took another year to be generous, so this would have ended in ~4718

This journey would take approximately another year. So arrival in Lepidstadt would be in 4719.

Getting settled in and then getting expeditions funded and equipped for daddy to go would take at least a couple of years, so the first of his expeditions would be in 4721. This leaves zero time for your character to both go on the first expedition (let alone several) and still meet the other characters and work with them.

Whirlwind relationship and consummation would be complete in approximately 4720.

Given the current timeline, this kid will be 4 years old in 4724 but is currently about 2.

So they would have been married in 4720 and she was effectively pregnant the entire marriage, popping out a kid in 4721 and 4722.

This could have happened this year (4722), but more likely next year in 4723 given the needed time to recover from one pregnancy to the next.

naturally this can't happen until Dora is murdered, so this too wouldn't happen until at least 4723.

OR
The first word gets changed
Instead of "Five years ago"
Make it "Seven years ago"

/me drops mic
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

Yup, that would be adjusting your timeline. Is that what you want to do?

Yes, is much simpler

I'll take comfortable for one gold piece per week, alex.

Player 5, ready