Done with the sheet, here is what Roland looks like:

Name:  Roland Rock
Ambitious, Calculative, Witty, Skeptic, Opportunistic
Drives: freedom, good food, a comfortable bed
Allies and Enemies: Ally: Mercanti 2. Enemy: Mercanti 1.
Health: 8 ranks (3 threshold)
Morale: 10 ranks (4 threshold)
Investigative Abilities: Liar's Tell 1, Servility 4, Skulduggery 1, Spot Frailty 4,
 Taunt 1, Trustworthy 1
General Abilities: Athletics 8, Preparedness 14, Warfare 8

Minor Iconic Gear:
 -Bracelet with the Famiglia insignia (sarcastically referred to as "shackles" by the servants of the family).
 -A book about the history of the local nobility, with detailed information that is not on any book handwritten on the margins.
 -A lockbox with discarded letters written by members of the Famiglia (secret).
 -An unnamed, well-kept dagger. Expensive-looking, but simple in design.
 -A watch previously owned by a member of the Famiglia, discarded because it delays 3 minutes every day.

Name: Renzo (Lorenzo) Delfamigli, son of Orlando

Ambitious Daring Insouciant

Drives: Place in the family, Wealth, Power

Allies and Enemies: Ally: Outlanders 1; Ally: Thieves' Guilds (Smugglers) 1; Enemy: High Nobility 1
Outlanders are those living in the city who are not of the city, desert raiders, foreigners, fugitives, transients, etc. They are often beggars, prostitutes, menials, criminals, but some have risen to control various enterprises.
The High Nobility dislike him because he is not entirely of the city or even of the family.

Defenses
Health 10 Threshold 4
Morale 8 (+1 Grit) Threshold 3

Investigative Abilities: Charm 2, Command 1, Felonious Intent 1, Liar’s Tell 1, Nobility 1, Ridiculous Luck 1, Scurrilous Rumors 1, Skulduggery 2, Spot Frailty 2

General Abilities: Athletics 8 Talent: Dodge, Bind Wounds 4, Burglary 1, Preparedness 3,
Stealth 8 Talent Where'd He Go?, Sway 4, Warfare 2

Iconic Gear:
Family signet ring (his father Orlando's ring)
Khamsah silver amulet (from Razzia, his mother)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

In reply to Renzo Difamigli (msg # 18):

Cassilda is something of an enigma within the House. Various rumors call her sister to Orsini and Orlando. Others claim she is their mother. All accounts name her mistress to one or both. Her beauty is the stuff of legend. Poets are known to commit suicide weeping at the inadequacy of their words to immortalize her. Heck, she could be Renzo's mother.

(Rather than straight-up Sorcery, I'm debating a switch to Thaumaturgy. Alchemy, Mesmerism, and Poisons seem like such delightful Spheres. Mind you, if I switch my points around to more fully embrace Sorcery, Aging is complemented nicely by Curses, Decay/Entropy, Flesh, and/or Worship.)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

Name: Undecided currently
Brutal, Courageous, Loyal, Confident, Determined
Drives: Protecting your family and those you hold dear; Attaining power for yourself and your House; To defeat your enemies and make them allies
Allies and Enemies: Ally: Mercenaries 1; Ally: Monstrosities 1; Enemy: Sorcerous Cabals 1
Defenses - Health: Health Threshold 4, Armor 3, Health 12
Defenses - Morale: Morale Threshold 3, Grit 1, Morale 6
Investigative Abilities: Command 3, Intimidation 3, Nobility 1, Know Monstrosities 1, Spot Frailty 1 (Health), Tactics of Death 2, Wilderness Mastery 2
General Abilities: Athletics 10 (Dodge), Preparedness 2, Sway 6, Warfare 12 (Cleave)
Gear: An ornate, long steel scimitar; Necklace made of finger bones that belonged to great warriors he vanquished in single combat; Desert ready noble garb with the House Sigil; Custom made armor of great quality; Golden rings adorned with rubies; Favourite pipe, long and well worn

Thoughts on the build? I'm not used to the system.

So just checking since there was some discussion on potentially moving around- is sorcerer still open? That is what I was leaning towards but I can be flexible.

In reply to Stinky's Character (msg # 26):

I am tweaking Cassilda in a more sorcerous direction, but there is plenty of room in the pentagram. Do you have specific Spheres in mind? Let's compare notes! ^_^

Name:  Cassilda (Ageless, Captivating, Enigmatic, Power-Hungry, Sensual)
Drives: Ambition Without Action Is Fantasy; Better To Be Feared Than Loved; Knowledge Is Power
Allies and Enemies: Ally: Ancient Nobility 1; Ally: Sorcerous Cabals 1; Enemy: Sorcerous Cabals 1
Health: 6, Threshold 3
Morale: 12, Threshold 4
Investigative Abilities: Charm 2, Command 1, Nobility 1, Corruption 5, Forgotten Lore 1, Leechcraft 1, Prophecy 1
General Abilities: Athletics 3, Bind Wounds 3, Preparedness 5, Stealth 3, Sorcery 8 (Blast), Sway 8 (Play To The Crowd)
Sorcerous Spheres: Aging; Demonology; Ghosts/Spirits; Necromancy; Shadow
Iconic Gear: The ghosts of former rivals bound into a cloak of blackest nightspun; <insert further cool ideas here>
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

In reply to Stinky's Character (msg # 26):

You're welcome to be as sorcerous as you'd like.

In the scope of the world, like in Dark Sun, sorcery is reviled and feared. Even though the sorcerer-kings practice magic and imbue their followers with their teachings, other sorcerers are actively persecuted. It remains illegal and punished by death in much of the city-states.

There's been some liberalization of the practice in Tyr since the fall of Nergal. The city owes its freedom in part to the sorcerous cabals that came to defend its wall from Urik. It's still a dangerous artform and is blamed for much of the worlds current apocalyptic state.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

In reply to timpantallroth's char (msg # 25):

Looks good to me, if you're interested in your character being the current Head of House or the heir, it seems a more than appropriate build for a lead from the front type.

In reply to Gamemaster (msg # 30):

That could be interesting, if people are okay with that.

In reply to timpantallroth's char (msg # 31):

I'm good with either, although it might be fun for Cassilda and your PC to battle over control of Orsino. ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

Maybe, but aren't we all supposed to be allies and 'family' and work as a team? I don't know how much animosity is supposed to be between not just my character and yours but all of us.

It will be up to you all how friendly you are to one another. I think it seems like most of you are leaning toward the Head of the House being this Lord Orsino, so perhaps your character is the heir apparent?
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:47, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

I'd be down with that.

In reply to timpantallroth's char (msg # 31):

I’d say leading contender to be next Head, mostly on the basis that his caravan found this new water source. I had proposed that Renzo was with that caravan on his way to Tyr and got sent as a fast rider to bring word of the discovery so Ser Orsino could get the bureaucracy moving to secure claim. That would give your character and his a bond.

Yeah that sounds reasonable.

Thinking of a character who is more of a house member or worker, but not close to being the heir. Someone protected by the house, not just for their sorcerous abilities but for how they have used them to put the house first.

If I don't get more mechanical details up as a draft tonight I should be able to in the morning.

I'm excited to see where you go with your sorcerer.

Looking forward to Stinky's and tim's characters so we can get the ball rolling.

Ok, hoping we aren't getting too sorcery heavy (and that this build works and I got the math right) but first cut at a sorcerer- still looking up names but will get one up soon:

He was born and raised on the streets of Tyr, but was given a shot at being a servant of the house by a now deceased member of House Bellacqua. Working on a caravan that was ambushed, he ended up lost in the desert where he came upon an ancient stone that held a spirit- which slipped into him when he tried to hide under it from a sandstorm, leaving the marking on his back. He found his way back to Tyr with the help of a desert band that he stays in touch with to this day.

Adjectives: Quiet, Loyal, Remembers help and slights, Joking
Best in Life: A cold drink, Sorcerous knowledge and power, Never feeling weak and powerless again

Health: 8 Threshold:3
Morale:10 Threshold: 4
Grit:1

Allies: Outlanders, Commoners
Enemies: Mercenaries

Investigative Abilities:
Liar's Tell-1, Spirit Sight-1, Vigilance-1, Corruption-4, Forgotten Lore-2, Leechcraft-2, Prophecy 1

General Abilities:
Athletics-3, Bind Wounds-2, Preparedness-2, Stealth-6, Sorcery-12, Sway-3, Warfare-2

Spheres (Morale): Ghosts and Spirits, Illusion, Memory, Secrets

Gear: Curved dagger with a dark blade, Heavy hooded cloak, Tattoo-like markings from spirit intrusion, Notebook or scroll full of notes on secrets and sorceries

In reply to Stinky's Character (msg # 41):

Love it. Maybe that deceased member of the house is Orlando?

Let me know when you've thought of a name!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:10, Mon 06 Feb 2023.

Orlando works- need to read back to refresh on that character.

For a name how about Ida-Tyr? Based off the Amorite ida- (meaning from this region)? Sort of a nameless orphan reference?

In reply to Stinky's Character (msg # 43):

Lord Orlando Bellacqua was Renzo's fether with a far-off foreign woman of means. He returned from a long journey of discovery (think Marco Polo) at least fifteen years ago when he would have been 30-ish. Not long after he got back, he died suddenly (fever? poison? sorcery?).

Renzo turned up about a year ago with Orlando's signet ring. He's been provisionally accepted by the family. Well, he is currently DiBellacqua, of the family but not yet in the family. He is being put to use (everyone must have a use) as an trader-aide and a messenger, mostly between Tyr and the secret Oasis.

In reply to Stinky's Character (msg # 43):

Ida-Tyr it is!

Good slurs to refer to or direct to Renzo: mutt, mongrel, half-blood, outlander.