Bashir ibn Kamal - Development

Play by Post Campaigns Ars Magica 5th Edition: Light of Andorra
1

[size=150]Bashir ibn Kamal[/size]

Bashir ibn Kamal was born in [CITY] in the dying days of the Moorish conquest of Spain. His early life was one of privilege and education, his father wanting nothing but the best for his boy. He was educated at a fine school in Granada, learning languages, philosophy, and the Koran. When he was twenty, he travelled to Mallorca to study medicine. There he found his true calling, in healing the sick and tending to the injured.

The next eight years were good years for Bashir. He had his work, and he had his faith, and he knew he was doing a lot of good for a great many people. That ended when he heard that [CITY] was overrun and his family was forced to flee to Africa. At first he was despondent. But over time he began to accept that it might be a great deal of time before he ever saw his family again.

Two years after that, Mallorca was invaded by forces from Aragon. Bashir was not a fighting man, but he was kept busy tending to wounded soldiers. Unfortunately, for the Moorish residents, however, the attacking force was too great, and the defending forces were ultimately defeated. Bashir was captured and ultimately brought to the covenant of Andorra where he was offered a position.

Confidence: 1 (4)

STATISTICS
[table][tr][th][left]Stat[/left][/th] [th]Value[/th] [th]Cost[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Int[/td] [td][center]+3[/center][/td] [td][center]6[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Per[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]1[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Str[/td][td][center]0[/center][/td] [td][center]0[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Sta[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]1[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pre[/td] [td][center]-1[/center][/td] [td][center]-1[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Com[/td][td][center]+2[/center][/td] [td][center]3[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Dex[/td] [td][center]+2[/center][/td] [td][center]3[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Qui[/td] [td][center]-2[/center][/td] [td][center]-3[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

VIRTUES
[table][tr][th][left]Virtue[/left][/th] [th]Value[/th] [th]Level[/th] [th]Type[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Good Teacher[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Educated[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Cautious with Chirurgery[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Cautious with Medicine[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Puissant with Chirurgery[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Puissant with Medicine[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Self-Confident[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td][td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Privileged Upbringing[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Improved Characteristics[/td] [td][center]+1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

FLAWS
[table][tr][th][left]Flaw[/left][/th] [th]Value[/th] [th]Level[/th] [th]Type[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Outsider - Moor[/td] [td][center]-3[/center][/td] [td][center]major[/center][/td][td][center]status[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Compassionate[/td] [td][center]-3[/center][/td] [td][center]major[/center][/td][td][center]personality[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Ability Block - Martial[/td] [td][center]-1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td][td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Lingering Wound - leg wound[/td] [td][center]-1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fish Out of Water - cities & towns[/td] [td][center]-1[/center][/td] [td][center]minor[/center][/td] [td][center]general[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

PERSONALITY
[table][tr][td]Pious[/td] [td][center]+2[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Introverted[/td][td][center]-1[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Compassionate[/td][td][center]+3[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

ACADADEMIC ABILITIES
[table][tr][th][left]Ability[/left][/th][th][left]Specialty[/left][/th][th]Score[/th] [th]Points[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Artes Liberales - Latin, Greek, Arabic alphabets[/td] [td]astrology[/td][td][center]3[/center][/td] [td][center]30[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Latin[/td][td]medical terminology[/td] [td][center]4[/center][/td] [td][center]45[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Medicine[/td][td]physician[/td][td][center]6+2[/center][/td] [td][center]105[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Philosophiae[/td][td]alchemy[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Theology – Christianity[/td] [td]biblical knowledge[/td] [td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Theology – Islam[/td] [td]knowledge of the Koran[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td][td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

GENERAL ABILITIES
[table][tr][th][left]Ability[/left][/th][th][left]Specialty[/left][/th][th]Score[/th] [th]Points[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Al Mansur Lore[/td] [td]places[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]0[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Mallorca Lore[/td] [td]places[/td] [td][center]3[/center][/td] [td][center]30[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Animal Handling[/td] [td]healing[/td][td][center]1[/center][/td] [td][center]5[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Awareness[/td][td]assess patient[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Bargain[/td][td]medical supplies[/td][td][center]1[/center][/td] [td][center]5[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Charm[/td][td]looking harmless[/td] [td][center]2[/center][/td][td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Chirurgery[/td][td]bind wounds[/td] [td][center]6+2[/center][/td] [td][center]105[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Concentration[/td] [td]surgery[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Etiquette[/td][td]townfolk[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td][td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Folk Ken[/td] [td]patients[/td][td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Language: Arabic[/td] [td]classical[/td][td][center]5[/center][/td] [td][center]0[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Language: Spanish[/td] [td]Castilian[/td][td][center]5[/center][/td][td][center]75[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Language: Occitan[/td] [td]Catalan[/td][td][center]4[/center][/td] [td][center]20[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Language: French[/td] [td]Bourguignon[/td][td][center]4[/center][/td] [td][center]20[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Language: Greek[/td] [td]medical terminology[/td] [td][center]4[/center][/td] [td][center]50[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Music[/td][td]qanun[/td] [td][center]2[/center][/td] [td][center]15[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Ride[/td] [td]speed[/td][td][center]1[/center][/td] [td][center]5[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Swim[/td] [td]distance[/td][td][center]1[/center][/td] [td][center]5[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Teaching[/td][td]Medicine[/td] [td][center]4[/center][/td][td][center]50[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

FORMULAE
[table][tr][th][left]Formula[/left][/th] [th]Type[/th] [th]Strength[/th][th]Cost[/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Tonic of Gold[/td] [td][center]theriac[/center][/td][td][center]Weak[/center][/td] [td][center]5[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Mustard Plaster[/td] [td][center]theriac[/center][/td] [td][center]Moderate[/center][/td][td][center]5[/center][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Hyacinth Plaster[/td] [td][center]theriac[/center][/td][td][center]Moderate[/center][/td][td][center]10[/center][/td][/tr][/table]

Hyacinth Plaster
Theriac Level 5
Potency: Moderate
When applied to a wound, this linen cloth smeared with ointment containing ground hyacinth (among other things) grants a +3 to the patient’s next Wound Recovery rolls for all Heavy, Medium, and Light Wounds by drawing out accumulated choler, which causes inflammation.
(base 3, +3 Strong)

[hr][/hr]
Again, this is just a draft. Please let me know what you think.

Also, I was going by the rules from page 31 of the core rulebook regarding maximum skill values by age. Has that rule been done away with? I see other starting characters with values in excess of those limits, and I don't want to unnecessarily limit myself.

2

You'll need to ask Marko about the True Faith and Relic. I know he wouldn't let me take it on my magi, but he might allow on companions...I'm just not sure.

For your Puissant skill (which I assume is Chirurgy, not Medicine) you should mark it in the skill last as x(whatever the skill level is based on xp spent)+2. In the case, again assuming you meant Chirurgy as your Puissant skill, it would be Chirurgery (bind wounds) 6+2 (105).

Yes we are using the age skill value limits, but somewhere around where that is listed (I don't have my book with me) you'll see something that says if you have Affinity with a skill, you can take it higher.

3

AFAIK the rule in page 31 still applies. Affinity allows you to bend the value slightly, and so does having a Puissant ability. Wait for the ruiles sharks to answer this more correctly than me, though :slight_smile:

I would switch Castile lore for Al-Andalus lore since you stated that he was in several places there before going to Mallorca. There are covenants in Al-Andalus aplenty as well, both Chistian and not, so he can have been there, moving progressively north.

An alternative to his current location might have been meeting either the magi of Andorra in Mallorca itself or the Flame Brothers, since the history of my mercenary band is linked to the fall of Mallorca: they are a bunch of not-so-subtle mercenaries that were the first ones to storm the city, so they might have captured him (at first, struck a deal with him later) and brought him to Andorra with them since they do not like moors but are quite keen to use the talents of anyone, even infidels.

He will need Artes Liberales of at least 1 to be able to read. An edicated character is likely to be able to do so. A value of 2 in artes liberales would allow him to read both the Arabic and Latin alphabets, 3 would allow him to add Greek to the mix.

He does not seem to be a doctor but a Chirurgeon, though. IIRC there is a virtue on Art and Academe called Barber-Chirurgeon that might fit him. he does not need to be so educated to be a Chirurgeon: doctors are the "fancy guys" of medicine in this age of the world.

If you go for the "educated doctor", I would switch Chirurgy for Medicine and also add Philosophiae to the mix as well as the previously mentioned Artes Liberales.

Just some ideas :slight_smile: It is always nice to have someone able to patch up people. Especially since magi tend to have a keen ability to get in harm's way.

Cheers,
Xavi

4

Will do. It just seemed like an interesting thing for a companion, especially since the True Faith is in Islam. I can easily drop it if it's not allowed.

Actually, it is in Medicine. If you look up in ACADEMIC ABILITIES, it lists Medicine (physician) 6+2 (105).

I saw someone (unknown age) with an 11+3 in one skill and another person (in their 20s) with a 7+2 in another skill. That's what made me wonder.

5

That's a great suggestion. I was just tossing darts at a map to figure out these things.

That's another great idea.

He actually has Artes Liberales 3, giving him knowledge of Latin, Arabic, and Greek alphabets. It's listed up in ACADEMIC ABILITIES

He actually has Medicine (physician) 6+2, so he's a pretty darn good physician. It's also listed in ACADEMIC ABILITIES.

I'm definitely going the "educated doctor" route. And he has Philosophiae (natural philosophy) 2, also listed in ACADEMIC ABILITIES.

Hmm, I'm starting to wonder if listing abilities separately by type was a good idea.

6

Ah I see. Both me and prince of Boredom failed our Awareness check to see that you had differentiated Academic and General skills (most of us do not care to separate them and lump all abilities together). 8) Almost all my comments are moot then. Well done.

7

Ah, stupid me, I totally missed the Academic Abilities and was only looking at the General Abilities (like Xavi). I don't break my characters out that way, so I totally missed it. Ignore me completely. :blush:

Yeah, I know the characters of which you speak. The character with an 11 is age 46. Also, having an Affinity lets you buy the score at age limit +2. So, having an Affinity and Puissant essentially lets you start the skill at (Age Limit +2) + 2.

8

Ah, now things make a little more sense. I may have to fiddle with a few things then. For example, his Chirurgery could go up to 8+2. Hmm, would that be overkill?

9

My personal answer is yes, but there are others that would probably disagree with me. And to be fair, I probably have the least amount of experience actually playing Ars Magica than anyone else here, so take that it account. :stuck_out_tongue:

10

Depends. Do you plan to reattach heads? :mrgreen:

On a more serious note, a +10 to recovery rolls would be above what is needed in most circumstances EXCEPT for recovery from incapacitating or heavy wounds. Under those circumstances it makes you a wounded warrior's best friend. Ever. I would consider not rising it to 8 and invest the XP is some other places first, though. But that is me

Consider looking at Art and Academe for fancy stuff you can do with medicine.

11

I don't have that one yet. I'll have to pick it up.

12

Yea, I have some fluff stuff, like that he plays a musical instrument, and that he speaks and reads/writes Greek (the better to read original Greek medical texts). THouse could be dropped. But I kind of like having the personality-building attributes as well.

13

IIRC you can find some reviews in the main forum.

A&A is the book for mundane academia. it introduces a lot of info on the medieval paradigm for astrology (artes liberales) and divination, chemicals and their manipulation to produce something else (philosophiae) and the uses of medicine and how it was practiced as well as how the use of natural methods and the mix of substances can be used to make tonics and improve health standards (living conditions) using Medicine, Apothecary and Chirurgy. I fond the information quite interesting in itself, but if you are going so heavily on these areas it is a must have since it will increase the scope of your own abilities. Not spectacularly, but enough to be worthwhile for your already useful character.

14

I do not recall forbidding a True Faith relic. I may have discouraged it though as not necessary for a magus. And I do not see the need here. What reason must it be there aside from some gravy?
Keep in mind, I play True Faith and Divine as focused on the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Jewish, Christians, and Muslim; all three share that common base.
Brief History: Cordoba does not get conquered by Castile until 1236. The Caliphate falls in 1031 (after Al Mansur does several horrible things like mass executions and burning many philosophy books to please Islamic clergy). It became a short lived independant state and was quickly absorbed by Seville in 1070. Then it was conquered by the Almoravids, then again later by the Almohads.
In all eras, the city was populated y Christians, Muslims, and Jewish folk. Arabs and Europeans. The Berbers come later, they are fundamentalist Muslim and African. North African, like Lybia and Morocco. The character you describe sounds Arabic. Maybe too Arabic for this era. But still, he would have the same color and appearance as everyone else. He might dress different. He most likely drinks wine as well.

Wasn't Doctor Bashir a character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine? Actually, I don't know why I am asking, I know he was. But did you know that?

15

No real reason needed, except for a story hook. But if you'd prefer to avoid it, I'm fine with ditching the idea. It was only a toss-on idea at best. I'll just make him educated, but not quite sop devout.

All good background. Thanks.

I can adjust him as would suit the setting. Basically, I want him to be a typical educated Moor from the era.

You know, now that you mention it, he was. I actually took the name from a previous character I'd run (not a medical man at all), because I like the name (it means "wisdom"). Of course, to be honest, I probably too the original character's name at least in part from Bashir from DS9.

16

Best doctor that franchise ever had :wink:
McCoy was fun to watch, but it cannot be denied that Bashir was more skilled

17

Bashir was definitely my favorite character on the show. Heck, he was the one who played 24th century RPGs. (Cue the Our Man Bashir music.)

18

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

19

Now I have to go and watch some DS9 episodes since I left the series halfway...

20

I've watched through the entire series twice since I got the DVDs.