This week, our NPC is Chadra. She is a muslim of Syrian nationality, though she moved when she was younger to whatever location you need for your game. Her background is somewhat tragic; she was discovered at a fairly young age (somewhere around 13 or 14) by a woman named Tamsin, who claims to have had a vision of the future. In this vision, an apocalyptic event was destined to occur, in which hordes of demons swarm across the world, killing everyone in their path. Tamsin insists that the only way to survive this cataclysm is to offer sacrificial victims to these demons in exchange for her own life. Tamsin recruited Chadra into this cult and had her trained as her enforcer. The young girl was taught to be proficient with a number of melee weapons, most notably the sword.
Chadra is on the tall side for a woman, but not tall enough to be remarkable. She has long black hair, a round face with middle eastern features, and olive skin. She generally prefers to wear nondescript clothing, neither tightly nor loosely fitting, but comfortable for the work that she is doing.
The stats below assume that Chadra is around 22 years of age, and so has been training for some time, and is thoroughly inculcated into Tamsin's sect. You are of course welcome to adjust anything you feel necessary in order to make her older.
Chadra can serve several functions in your game. She may be a cohort to the main villain, with Tamsin serving the role of primary antagonist. Or she can be the target of a quest; someone to free from the confines of the brainwashing that brought her into the cult in the first place. Alternately, you can fast forward to a point in her story in which she has already been freed from Tamsin's machinations, and is older and wiser, and encounters the PCs in some other capacity.
Really, it's entirely up to you what you do with her. The important thing is to provide representation of marginalised minorities (in Chadra's case: female, Arab ethnicity, and muslim) in your games. So take what is written here, run with it, and have fun!
D20 Stats
Level 1 Human
| Strength | 14 | (+2) | Size: | Medium |
| Dexterity | 16 | (+3) | Height: | 5' 10" |
| Constitution | 15 | (+2) | Weight: | 170 lb |
| Intelligence | 12 | (+1) | Eyes: | Dark Brown |
| Wisdom | 13 | (+3) | Hair: | Black |
| Charisma | 15 | (+2) | Skin: | Olive |
Total Hit Points: 10
Speed: 30 feet
Armor Class: 16 = 10 + 3 [class] + 1 [dexterity]
Touch AC: 16
Initiative modifier: +3 = +3 [dexterity]
Fortitude save: +2 = 0 [base] +2 [constitution]
Reflex save: +4 = 1 [base] +3 [dexterity]
Will save: +1 = 0 [base] +1 [wisdom]
Attack (handheld): +2 = 0 [base] +2 [strength]
Attack (missile): +3 = 0 [base] +3 [dexterity]
Attack (missile): +3 = 0 [base] +3 [dexterity]
Grapple check: +2 = 0 [base] +2 [strength]
Reputation: +0 = 0 [base]
Feats:
Combat Reflexes
Brawl
Nimble
Simple Weapon Proficiency [free]
Brawl
Nimble
Simple Weapon Proficiency [free]
| Skill Name | Key Ability | Skill Modifier | Ability Modifier | Ranks | Misc. Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Dex* | 5 = | 3 | +2 | |
| Bluff | Cha | 2 = | 2 | ||
| Climb | Str* | 6 = | 2 | +4 | |
| Concentration | Con | 2 = | 2 | ||
| Diplomacy | Cha | 2 = | 2 | ||
| Disguise | Cha | 2 = | 2 | ||
| Escape Artist | Dex* | 5 = | 3 | +2 [nimble] | |
| Gather Information | Cha | 2 = | 2 | ||
| Hide | Dex* | 3 = | 3 | ||
| Intimidate | Cha | 2 = | 2 | ||
| Jump | Str* | 5 = | 2 | +3 | |
| Listen | Wis | 2 = | 1 | +1 | |
| Move Silently | Dex* | 3 = | 3 | ||
| Ride | Dex | 3 = | 3 | ||
| Search | Int | 1 = | 1 | ||
| Sense Motive | Wis | 1 = | 1 | ||
| Spot | Wis | 1 = | 1 | ||
| Survival | Wis | 4 = | 1 | +3 | |
| Swim | Str** | 3 = | 2 | +1 | |
| Treat Injury | Wis | 1 = | 1 | ||
| Tumble | Dex* | 6 = | 3 | +3 |
Chadra also has a rank in Read/Write Language and a rank in Speak Lanuage, both of which grant her Arabic.
GURPS Stats (4th Edition)
Point Total: 161; SM: 0; Ht: 5'10", Wt: 170 lb
| ST | 12 [20] | HP | 12 [0] |
| DX | 13 [60] | Will | 11 [0] |
| IQ | 11 [20] | Per | 14 [15] |
| HT | 12 [20] | FP | 12 [0] |
Damage: Thrust – 1d-1; Swing – 1d+2
Advantages: Combat Reflexes [15].
Disadvantages: Fanaticism [-15]; Impulsiveness (12) [-10].
Skills: Brawling 16 (DX +3) [8]; Broadsword 17 (DX +4) [16]; Climbing 13 (DX +3) [2]; Escape 11 (DX -2) [1]; Knife 15 (DX +2) [4]; Staff 13 (DX) [2]; Survival: Urban 14 (Per) [2], Swimming 12 (HT) [1].
World of Darkness Stats
Nature: Gallant. Demeanor: Copmetitor.
Physical: Strength 4, Dexterity 5, Stamina 4.
Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Appearance 4.
Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 3.
Talents: Alertness 3, Athletics 2, Brawl 3, Dodge 2.
Skills: Melee 5, Security 2, Survival 3.
Knowledges: Politics 1.
Conscience: 2
Self Control: 4
Courage: 3
Humanity: 6
Willpower: 4
FATE Core Stats
Refresh: 3
Aspects:
High Concept: Enforcer for the Leader of a Cult
Trouble: My Past Haunts Me
Tamsin will always guide me true
If I don't think about it, it can't bother me
Exceptional close-quarters fighter
Skills:
Average (+1): Burglary, Drive, Resources, Stealth.
Fair (+2): Notice, Provoke, Shoot.
Good (+3): Athletics, Physique.
Great (+4): Fight.
Stunts:
Riposte. If you succeed with style on a Fight defense, you can choose to inflict a 2-shift hit rather than take a boost.
Tireless.+2 to Physique when rolling to overcome or defend against exhaustion or sleep deprivation.
Tireless.+2 to Physique when rolling to overcome or defend against exhaustion or sleep deprivation.
Weapons of the World. Every kind of proper (not improvised) hand-held melee weapon in the world has been in your hands at one point or another. Once per conflict, when you handle an unusual weapon of this type, you may tell a quick two- or three-sentence story (either to another character or as an internal monologue) to gain a +2 on your next roll with it.
Afterword
So here's to another example of increasing visibility for underprivileged demographics! Please remember, if you do use Chadra, to try to represent her in a non-hackneyed way. Don't let yourself fall into the trap of embodying the worst stereotypes of the people we're supposed to be supporting.
In particular, I was apprehensive about suggesting the rescue scenario above. I went ahead and included it because it's not about being rescued from physical captivity, but a mental one. In that situation, Chadra retains her faculties, and could hypothetically walk away from Tamsin at any point if she so chose. It's merely a case of having been conditioned to believe that Tamsin is worth following that prevents her from choosing to leave.
Remember what Neil Gaiman said: 'You don't need princes to save you. I don't have a lot of patience for stories in which women are rescued by men. I like stories where women save themselves.' Don't fall into the trap by which storytellers have been snared for millennia, thinking that women are always damsels in distress, needing a man to come along and save them. Using Chadra in that way goes against the spirit of what the Inclusive NPCs are meant to be about.
Other than that, I hope you have fun using this interesting woman in your stories. Thank you for helping to make the world more accepting, and for your efforts, I wish you a fond
In particular, I was apprehensive about suggesting the rescue scenario above. I went ahead and included it because it's not about being rescued from physical captivity, but a mental one. In that situation, Chadra retains her faculties, and could hypothetically walk away from Tamsin at any point if she so chose. It's merely a case of having been conditioned to believe that Tamsin is worth following that prevents her from choosing to leave.
Remember what Neil Gaiman said: 'You don't need princes to save you. I don't have a lot of patience for stories in which women are rescued by men. I like stories where women save themselves.' Don't fall into the trap by which storytellers have been snared for millennia, thinking that women are always damsels in distress, needing a man to come along and save them. Using Chadra in that way goes against the spirit of what the Inclusive NPCs are meant to be about.
Other than that, I hope you have fun using this interesting woman in your stories. Thank you for helping to make the world more accepting, and for your efforts, I wish you a fond
It's great that you mention her not being a damsel in distress, but even just the backstory you gave for her sounds like you're unintentionally making an allusion to stereotypes of Islam. Maybe try a bit harder next time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what stereotypes you're referring to. If I've made a mistake somewhere, I'd very much like to fix it. Please let me know what I did wrong. I reread the backstory, and I'm not sure where I made the error. But I'd love to hear your input. How can I make it better?
ReplyDelete