"Loser" Joe
Frosty water filled smoke-clogged lungs with a searing, salty cold. Driven by the desperate command of a brain clinging to life, Joe let out a convulsive groan-half-gasp and sank like a stone. Seasoned sailors used to say that in the final moments before death, pain and fear recede into the background, giving way to an uplifting peace; however, for some reason, the icy suffocation continued to torment the unfortunate adventurer's body.
Then Joe thought with a smirk that perhaps all those stories were tall tales and fictions—otherwise, who would be left to tell them?.. Furthermore, he took this as a sure sign of struggle—that his decrepit carcass, soaked in cheap booze and tobacco, was still fighting against an obvious and expected reality. Gradually, the multifaceted and colorful images in his mind were replaced by a more real picture of a blurred bluish haze, pierced by barely discernible light rays coming from somewhere above. Oh, how he longed to reach the summit of that divine Olympus once more! To break through the glass-ice film of the sea waters with a clump of dirty, greasy hair and a full chest—as much as possible—to breathe the life-giving aroma of mortal existence just one more time!
Then Joe thought with a smirk that at least he had washed up before death, just as his mad old mother had commanded. To think that in early childhood she forced poor him to rinse three times a day and beat him mercilessly for the slightest speck of dirt on his slick, snow-white shirt. Perhaps it was from those very moments that he grew to hate cleanliness and generally went downhill, yes, indeed. And yet, now for some reason he felt no former contempt for his ancestral home: instead, memory was flooded with a painfully stinging nostalgia for a once peaceful and prosperous land, devastated by an horde of malicious Barbarians.
Unable to resist, the pirate sipped more seawater, further quenching death's insatiable thirst. A whirlwind of panicked little fish darted through tiny bubbles of lost air. Turning his head to the side, the adventurer noticed the bulky body of their captain, Jhor Gorista, steadily sinking toward the silty bottom. Then Joe thought with a smirk that at least he had fattened up properly before his end, while he himself died as a hungry ragamuffin. Attempting a few feeble strokes, the adventurer quickly abandoned this useless endeavor: an iron hook, a steel-plated leg, and a suit stuffed with looted valuables were mercilessly dragging him into the maw of eternal silence.
The shimmering light on the surface obscured the shattered hull of the defeated vessel. With a long, fatal groan, fragments of the perished ship hurried to join the underwater expedition of their unfortunate crew. A third breath ended the career of wayward Joe, at least in this world. All he could still feel was a gradual descent deeper and deeper; a fall into the shroud of bottomless darkness...
An unexpected flash of sunlight pierced his remaining eye with sharp pain. Letting out a shrill, silent scream, the pirate greedily gulped life-giving oxygen. His wooden leg sank deep into the soft sandy soil. Blindly feeling for the shore, Joe caught a rocky slope with his hook and, with all his might, pulled himself forward, away from the embrace of the hungry ocean. In the next moment, his stomach erupted in streams of seawater mixed with dirty algae and sand. Coughing hoarsely and fitfully, he spent several minutes trying to recover and somehow regain the remnants of his sanity. Extracting a spyglass from the depths of his soaked cloak—an action more subconscious than deliberate—the pirate carefully wiped the lens and attentively surveyed the surrounding area.
Then Joe thought with a smirk that for an "afterlife," he had seen worse places.
Subsequently, he would live for several years in Nathaime, where he finally accepted that he lacked both the opportunity and health to plunder as in old times, and life had endowed him with no other talents. From his northern neighbors, he adopted the teachings of Cearot and changed his occupation to mercenary work, since then limping miserably through the lands of a new unknown world.
Race: crippled human
Gender: M
Age: ?
Height: 180
Faith: Cearot
Stats: 20-5-9-1-7-1
TraitsOne-leggedMovement speed/evasion limit?
One-armedCannot use two-handed weapons
One-eyedAccuracy penalty?
Modified HookA technical invention by an unknown master from a forgotten world, allowing the crippled limb to be used for various combat "techniques." (Technically it would be cool to write as an indestructible weapon with damage and a chance to cause bleeding on attack, but if not, then just as decoration).
SkillsHarpoonPulls a target within (x) meters toward himself.
ChainEntangles (immobilizes) an opponent in melee combat for (x) turns.
Bottle of RumConsumes any alcoholic beverage from the inventory (?). When used on self, reduces damage taken, but also all other stats. When used on an opponent, has a stun effect for (x) turns. (At high levels (?): adds health regeneration when applied | allows throwing the bottle over a distance of (x) meters | additionally adds area damage (x) with burn for (x) turns.)
Empty EyeRemoves eye patch
receiving a powerup intimidating (fear) opponents in front of him with his disfigured appearance. (Intended as an ultimate with a large effect but rare use and low chance of success, so maybe just set to max level immediately, possibly with an area of effect in front of the character and a long duration???)
Alcohol Breath (permanent passive)
Drinking and neglect for the stomach and oral hygiene do not lead to good things, but there are positive sides. When the character is attacked in melee combat, the opponent has a chance (x?) to be knocked off their feet by the terrible aroma, and potions and similar items have increased effectiveness. (I don't know if it makes sense to add different levels; if I understood the permanent passive mechanic correctly, can I just take max level like with Ment?)
Gripping HookDisarms the opponent (shield/main weapon) and causes bleeding.
Cheating (toggleable passive outside of combat? or just activating an ability at the right moment?)
The character receives bonuses in gambling games.
Adrenaline (toggleable passive)When the character's health reaches (x%), they instantly restore (x%) health. No more than (x) times per battle. (At high levels, upon activation, additionally removes all status effects from the character | gives a one-time initiative bonus).
InventoryPirate SaberA loyal companion that the adventurer never abandoned.
Pouch of CoinsJoe drank away all the little he had looted long ago, and nothing new has been added since...
Old CloakWon't save from the cold nor add to a decent appearance, but it is very convenient and spacious.
Captain's HatLegacy of the unfortunate Jhor Gorista.
Gold Tooth (Talisman)Unknown if it brings luck, but Joe is sure that it does.
DaggerBecause no one knows when an unexpected boarding battle will begin.
Bottle of RumBooze, like a port girl—a pleasure for only one evening, but cheaper, more fragrant, and warms not only the body but also the soul, and there are fewer unpleasant "aftereffects" afterward.
SpyglassUnder favorable geographical conditions, allows for approximate reconnaissance of the area.
Dented Deck of Cards
Joe wins more often with it.
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I didn't read the thread very carefully
(not at all), so something will probably have to be changed, but in general, let Nebok have it however he wants.