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See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

Sounds perfect Wahhhh, I don’t wanna

Finished pic of Brother Mnason. Mundane and magic’d versions.

@kaidevik asked for background so y’all get background

Keep in mind, Dogs in the Vineyard is an RPG about Mormon-ish paladins in the frontier west called Dogs.

Description

A youth in his late teens. An oversized and incomplete patchwork coat drapes over his wiry frame. His wild, shoulder-length hair covers half his face to hide a tree-shaped birthmark. He slouches and keeps his eyes low to the ground. A massive knife dangles from his belt.

Personality

Mnason is soft-spoken and self-conscious. He doubts his own abilities, his faith, and his past. He’s devoted to the Faithful who saved him. He is dogged and refuses to give up; he has the scars to prove it. He is earnest in his execution of duties as a Dog but wants to believe the best in people.

Background

The story as Mnason remembers it is very different than the tale the Faithful tell him. The promise of a new life in Oregon Country lured Mnason’s family out of the East. They joined a wagon train and crossed the Great Plains. The wagon train did not make it across the *** Territory.

There, in the high mountain plains they were killed to a man. A boy, in fact. One of the Brethren stayed his wrathful hand when he beheld the birthmark on the face of the last of the pioneers. It was a birthmark in the shape of a tree, the Tree of Life. He took it as a sign and spared the boy, taking him back with the party to Silver Reef.

They boy was raised by the community, spending a little time among each of the households who were eager to offer charity to the wastrel but were quick to push him on to the another family. Mnason assumed it was because the mark on his face reminded them of the sin of that high mountain massacre. He tried as best he could to be a part of the Faithful. Learned his scripture, helped at every barn raising, testified at church of the power of the King of Life to save even a soul as lost as his own.

Over the years pieces of the massacre sifted out. The wagon train brought a corruption from the East - sorcery, cults, demons, sin. Such a blasphemy could not be allowed to endanger the faithful. He overheard from conversation of adults or taunts from children. These revelations served only to strengthen Mnason’s resolve to prove himself a worthy member of the Faith. He felt his doubts were doubts of his faith and not of the Faithful.

Growing up in such a place, Mnason found himself alone often. He learned to read the land and thrive. He proved able with a knife and a gun. His testimony impressed the steward of Silver Reef and by his recommendation Mnason found himself at the Temple of the Dogs in Bridal Falls, an initiate.

Mnason trained in the same class as Hezekiah, a youth from a revered family of the Faith. He was born with every advantage, his name already made for him by his father and his father’s father. This noble lineage was secondary to Hezekiah, he knew he was destined for greatness. At Bridal Falls everyone would know it.

Hezekiah confounded his instructors with his grasp of scripture. He wowed his fellow dogs with his skill with a gun. Hezekiah was everything Mnason aspired to be, and it all came naturally to him.

Mnason’s true test at the Temple occurred one stormy night when all the instructors were away. A young woman plagued by sorcery was brought in dire need of ceremony. Mnason participated in a laying on of hands. A struggle broke out, the magic was more powerful than any of the initiates were prepared for. When the hex threatened to mar her for life, Mnason intervened, expressing his love for the Faithful by taking the curse upon himself and searing his hand.

When the Dogs graduated and assignments were made for companions, Mnason and Hezekiah were assigned together. They were stark contrast: Hezekiah with his blond hair and upright posture and easy smile; Mnason with his self-conscious slouch and unkempt dark hair. At first Mnason’s feelings presented as a strong sense of respect for his fellow but it quickly turned to affection. An unreciprocated affection that began to fester…

Traits

  • Mark of the Faithful, 2d10 - A large birthmark on the right side of his face in the shape of the Tree of Life.
  • “I owe my life to the Faith?,” 2d4
  • “I’ll get by,” 2d4
  • “I’m handy with a knife,” 2d6
  • Spellscarred (Accomplishment, Injury), 1d4

Relationships

  • The Dogs, 1d6
  • Brother Jethro, 2d8 - He’s a drunk. He was there when IT happened. He has a guilty conscience and feels he owes Mnason at least hints of what happened. He encouraged Mnason to join the dogs.
  • Sister Eliza Ore (Injury), 1d4 - A young woman cursed by sorcery. Dogs brought her to Bridal Falls for help. Mnason participated in a cleansing ritual. In the process the magic threatened to scar her for life but he stopped it with his own hand, leaving a disturbing spellscar.
  • Brother Hezekiah, 2d6 - Mnason’s companion. Mnason looks up to him as a paragon of all that a Dog can be: smart, devoted, handsome, talented. Mnason also harbors a massive crush on him.

Equipment

  • Patchwork Coat of Silver Reef, 1d4 - A community effort. Much like his life growing up, his Coat is a hodge-podge of leftover scraps contributed by the folk of Silver Reef.
  • LeMat Grapeshot Revolver, 2d4 - A second-hand pistol. In addition to the revolver, the Grapeshot includes a single shotgun cartridge. It is an unreliable firearm.
  • Frontier Fighting Knife, 1d8 - A 10” long, scary-as-hellfire blade that looks like it owes more to butchers than to Bowies.
rpg character misterxart dogs in the vineyard