Rhys ap Sian, failed-bard turned harper
ST: 10 [0] -- Thrust 1d-2, Swing 1d
DX: 11 [10] -- Basic Speed 5.25, Move 5
IQ: 14 [45]
HT: 10 [0]
Point Total: 88
Advantages: Charisma +1 [5]; Literacy (Ogham) [5]; Magery 1 [15]; Musical Ability +3 [3]; Status +1 [5]
Disadvantages: Alcoholism [-15]; Code of Honor (Celtic) [-10]; Odious Personal Habit (Braggart) [-10]; Sense of Duty (close friends) [-5]; Vow (Find the druid who cursed him) [-5]
Quirks: Taps fingers in musical rhythm when bored; Hates his parents
Skills: Area Knowledge-14 [2]; Bard-14 [2]; Bardic Lore-11 [2]; Carousing-12 [6]; Consonant Tree Lore-12 [2]; Cooking-14 [1]; Knife-12 [2]; Musical Instrument (lap harp)-18 [10]; Naturalist-12 [2]; Performance-14 [4]; Poetry-12 [2]; Survival (Woodlands)-13 [1]
Languages: Brythonic (native)-14 [0]; Goedelic-14 [2]; Pict-13 [1]
Grimoire (all are skill 13, with 1 point each): Celtic Shapeshifting; Ignite Fire*; Lend Language*; Light; Sense Emotion; Simple Illusion*; Sound; Truthsayer*
Appearance
Rhys is in his mid 30’s, about 5’6", 145 lbs, with shoulder length blonde hair, a beard braided down his sideburns and moustache ends, and gray eyes
Equipment
Lap harp, common clothing, small knife, talismans for talisman spells (noted with a '*').
Biography
As far back as Rhys can remember, he was fascinated by bards, though his parents actively discouraged his interest, despite their own misical abilities. It therefore came as a major surprise when, at age 12, a druid selected him for bardic training and the reasons for his parents' displeasure and pleas for him to change his mind did not become clear until much later.
Rhys trained hard and long and came within a few days of achieving his dream before disaster struck. During his training he had developed a bit too much of a taste for alcohol and this finally caught up with him when his final testing started. He ended up becoming thoroughly drunk and utterly failed the first test. In disgrace, he was sent home.
When he returned, his parents told him the truth, something they could not have done before. Before his was born, his parents, a bard and harper, had been cursed by a druid (they evaded all questions regarding why they were cursed) that none of their children would ever become a bard and that if they should tell them before they failed to become a bard, the child would die within the year. The same druid that had cursed them had been the one to select Rhys for bardic training.
Rhys, however, was furious and refused to accept their apologies. The next moring he left and has not returned to see his parents in the eleven years that have passed. At first, he was full of anger towards the druid who had wronged him -- twice -- and was prepared to kill him, regardless of the consequences. Perhaps it was fortunate for Rhys that he did not quickly find the druid. After a weeks months, his rage wore down and the realization set in that he needed to do something in order to simply survive. While he was not a bard, his training was sufficient enough for him to perform at least as a harper, which was reasonably impressive to many petty kings. He has, at times, despite it going against tradition, used some of the skills he learned that are only supposed to be used by full bards. He is reluctant to do so, lest a druid or another bard notice. It is no great secret that Rhys is a failed bard, but most do not hold that against him since so many fail. It is, however, largely unkown why he failed.
Encountered
Rhys wanders though Wales, generally travelling in a clockwise direction. At times, he will detour into neighboring lands such as Eiru and Alba. He does not search for the druid as much as he used to, though he sometimes will follow through on rumors regarding the druid. More often, though, he stops and performs in a dun for one or two weeks before moving on. In the past decade, he has at times teamed with a bard to provide musical assistance, but these match-ups do not last long; Rhys simply has not gotten over his failure to become a bard, yet.
Canonically
Rhys is designed normally, according to the rules in GURPS® Celtic Myth™. Note that his Code of Honor does not count against the suggested -40 point Disadvantage limit.
What if?
Rhys can fit into most normal fantasy campaigns with little modification. For example, on Yrth, he would travel the Nomad Lands, sometimes venturing into Megalos (and, perhaps, Suhad). He could also be moved to Eriu or Gaul, if desired.
The GM should determine if Rhys will ever meet the druid who cursed him and what the repurcussions whould be if Rhys successfully sought revenge. GMs wanted to go easy on poor Rhys might allow the druid to have been declared an outcast after what he had done was discovered, or perhaps the druid isn't actually a druid at all (perhaps he was a formorian or giant magically disguised who is wandering the land spreading misfortune).
Adventure Ideas
The party may travel with Rhys between duns or cross paths with him several time in duns they pass through. If the party finds out about the druid's curse, they may choose to help him or stop him. If the party includes a bard, Rhys may join the party for a few weeks to assist the bard in her duties.