Horoscopes

 Kaziim was born under a new moon in the astrological month of the Harpy. The invisible moon governs hidden things, invisibility, and the mysteries of birth and death, the nothingness from which we all spring. This is the light that, in his case, shines through the Harpy's lens of charm, social grace, and idealism. This horoscope (often referred to as “the urchin's light”) indicates that he would find himself disappearing, quite comfortably, in large crowds. Surround yourself with people and no one will see you as you piece together little details from a thousand conversations in which you spoke and a thousand conversations which merely happened near you. In the hum and thrum of conversation, you find out things about people they would never think of telling you one-on-one. By means of a dropped word here, an over-the-shoulder sentence there, the careful composition on-the-spot of subconversations, you can engineer a better world and a more fun (or more useful or more profitable or more whatever) time will be had by all, without anyone ever noticing your involvement! That same facility, of course, has a dark side: should someone cross you, you know how to ensure that no one ever notices who caused the social scene to turn against that person so completely and viciously. Skill Bonuses: +1 Bluff, +1 Perform (both sing and oratory), +1 Sleight of Hand, +1 Stealth. Other Benefits: 1/day – disguise self. Birthstone: +1 AC v. ranged attacks (turquoise).

Balomere was born under a crescent moon in the astrological month of the Basilisk. The seer moon governs prophecy, divination, mystery, the senses, and (depending on whether it's waxing or waning) either youth or extreme old age. This is the light that, in his case, shines through the Basilisk's lens of gloom, foresight, independence, and stubbornness. This horoscope (often referred to as “the guard's light”) indicates that he is gifted with an almost frightening capacity for knowing how a situation will develop, at least when it will turn out poorly. Every once in a while, someone born in the guard's light will be surprised at a happy turn of events, but in their mind it is quite rare. The constant preparation for the worst makes you one of the most resilient people you know. A squinty look to the eyes is common in people colored by the guard's light, as they try in vain to avoid the decay they see in everything around them; this look can easily make even compassionate expressions as frightening to others as their famously powerful glare. Skill Bonuses: +1 Intimidate, +1 Perception, +2 Sense Motive. Other Benefits: 1/day – detect thoughts. Birthstone: +1 Fort v. transmutation (ruby).

??? (Maia) was born under a setting sun in the astrological month of the Dragon. The setting sun gifts those born under it with wisdom and love of learning. This is the light that, in her case, shines through the Dragon's lens of magnificence, leadership, and aesthetics. This horoscope (often referred to as “the vizier's light”) indicates that she finds her natural home at the right hand of the throne. Not so much because she wants to avoid the consequences that ruling often brings but rather because it is not the making of the decisions that interests her; she is fascinated by the giving of good advice. Leaders and monarchs have to spend too much time leading to do the study necessary to do so effectively. That sort of intense study is both where ??? feels most comfortable and where she most excels. Nothing makes her happier than to know that the world is a better place because of the advice she has given someone in power. Of course, she always makes sure that her advice was vital to the betterment of the world. Skill Bonuses: +1 Appraise, +1 Knowledge (choose two), +1 Perception. Other Benefits: +1 on concentration checks. Birthstone: +1 AC for one round after aiding another (garnet).

Lyss was born under a setting sun in the astrological month of the Kraken. The setting sun gifts those born under it with wisdom and love of learning. This is the light that, in her case, shines through the Kraken's lens of tactics and plans. This horoscope (often referred to as “the general's light”) indicates that she is the type to brood over a chessboard for months before making a move. When she does so, it is always accompanied with not only a wide variety of follow-up plans and reactions to every possible countermove but also with a deep understanding of how that move and the various strategies that branch from it are placed within the larger context of chess as a whole. In social situations, everything she says is carefully crafted both to achieve her goals and also to reveal more of the personalities of the people around her. A master manipulator, she excels at crafting situations where every possibility benefits her, either materially or by forming a foundation wherein she has the knowledge to more easily accomplish her ends later. Skill Bonuses: +1 Knowledge (choose two), +1 Stealth, +1 Swim. Other Benefits: +1 on concentration checks. Birthstone: +1 AC v. touch (aquamarine).

??? (Tanuki) was born under the rising sun in the astrological month of the Beholder. The rising sun gifts those born under it with a hopeful spirit and a strong will. This is the light that, in his case, shines through the Beholder's lens of curiosity, spectacle, and puzzle-solving. This horoscope (often referred to as “the hero's light”) indicates that his guiding ethic is “never say die”. He acts with an almost instinctual confidence that, no matter the difficulty, no matter the effort expended, no matter the time necessary, he will succeed. This lack of an understanding that failure is possible is coupled with an unquenchable thirst for new challenges and new experiences, often leaving him with a seemingly endless repertoire of pulse-poundingly exciting stories. If you are interested in the same things he is, that is; one of the pitfalls of being colored with the hero's light is a bit of a tendency towards obsession and overfocus on a small list of things he finds exciting. Skill Bonuses: +1 Heal, +1 Linguistics, +1 Perception. Other Benefits: +1 Will (increasing to +2 v. fear). Birthstone: +1 save v. illusion (agate).