The main character of the book, Ren, meets a wide variety of interesting characters. Let me peg some role playing thoughts at them as I would see them aimed at making them friendly to new players looking for some archetypes.
Ren: Raised in an orphanage, his young age makes Ren seem a bit naive but he quickly picks up on the reality of a situation and often can read the underlaying currents around him in the faces, muscles, and attitudes of those he greets. With a friendly outlook and a wild imagination, despite his limitation, Ren quickly befriends those about him.
Tom: A former teacher whose current profession is nothing that he would like it to be, Tom tries to drown out the voices of the past, of his mistakes of his shame, with alcohol. His only interest in gathering funds is to provide enough food, shelter, and most importantly, alcohol for as long as possible.
Benjamin: The con man, the lair, the thief, the rogue, the scoundrel. Yet he also has a friendly face and also goes out of his way to make those about him feel good. While some would say he's too cynical and cold hearted, he prefers to think of himself as a realist and while he may be forced away from his friends for a time, he always comes back. Even when he's physically outmaneuvered, its rare for him to be intellectually outmaneuvered and more than one person has caught themselves unaware at his schemes.
Dolly: A murderer whose honest about his profession and takes pride in his skill with it. While he's not out to harm those who are just going about their day to day living, his thick arms and powerful build ensure that those he does seek to finish, rarely have a chance to defend themselves. A man of such prestigious strength that snapping necks is no bother and of such vitality, that rising from being strangled days latter is no more taxing to him than taking a long nap. Despite these seemingly horrific feats of physical strength and endurance and the nonchalant manner of dealing death and accepting it, once he calls you friend he'll lay down his life to ensure you have yours.
The Dwarf: A man out of place among his own people, the dwarf's strange looks and short stature insure that few take him seriously. At least those few who even know of his existence. His friendship is not easily won but once given, is as solid and long lasting as the toys he carves for his sister in exchange for her preparation of foodstuffs.
The Good Thief provides a lot of entertainment in a slim volume and is a book worth adding to your read list.
Showing posts with label Hannah Tinti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hannah Tinti. Show all posts
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti
Half Priced Books is a twisting and changing labyrnith of books that refreshes itself every time one enters it. Upon my last visit, I saw The Good Thief. I'd heard good things about the book so decided to pick up in trade for less than I could in paperback.
The writting is brief and to the point making it a quick read. While I haven't gotten very far in it yet (shakes first at 56+ hour work weeks), I have enjoyed what I have read. With that in mind, beware the spoilers!
Ren: The main character is missing his left hand. This in and of itself is a distinctive feature. Not only that but a limitation. While he does his fair share of work, it often takes him longer. In addition, it's a social stigma. Players generally love to have distinctive features ranging from hourglass eyes and albino skin to unique wounds or markings that make them stand out.
Ren is from an orphanage. The orphanage is Cahtolic in a Protestant land. They build up walls to protec themselves from being burned down. They didn't seek out children, but children were 'gifted' to them. Those children that don't find a family are adopted into the military life. In and of itself, this serves as a simple methodology for players who don't want a lot of family ties or background.
HOWEVER, and this is key, while Ren is taken out of Saint Anthony's Orphanage for boys by his 'brother', he does have a whole cast of characters that we are introduced to, if only briefly, including various brothers who have different personalities as well as other orphans. A pair of these being twins, apparently a bad omen in those dark times where the latter born was often killed as a changeling.
My point here is that just because you've set yourself up with the loner background by default doesn't mean that it must be that way. There were people at the church. There were friends at the church. Perhaps the blankets were too thin, but you knew what the schedule was every day and they provided food, shelter, and education. The routine of daily life, a secure daily life, might beat the 'adventure' one could find outside the walls.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the Good Thief because Ren quickly grows on the reader and provides some interesting observations in a setting that thus far, isn't that different than many fantasy settings.
The writting is brief and to the point making it a quick read. While I haven't gotten very far in it yet (shakes first at 56+ hour work weeks), I have enjoyed what I have read. With that in mind, beware the spoilers!
Ren: The main character is missing his left hand. This in and of itself is a distinctive feature. Not only that but a limitation. While he does his fair share of work, it often takes him longer. In addition, it's a social stigma. Players generally love to have distinctive features ranging from hourglass eyes and albino skin to unique wounds or markings that make them stand out.
Ren is from an orphanage. The orphanage is Cahtolic in a Protestant land. They build up walls to protec themselves from being burned down. They didn't seek out children, but children were 'gifted' to them. Those children that don't find a family are adopted into the military life. In and of itself, this serves as a simple methodology for players who don't want a lot of family ties or background.
HOWEVER, and this is key, while Ren is taken out of Saint Anthony's Orphanage for boys by his 'brother', he does have a whole cast of characters that we are introduced to, if only briefly, including various brothers who have different personalities as well as other orphans. A pair of these being twins, apparently a bad omen in those dark times where the latter born was often killed as a changeling.
My point here is that just because you've set yourself up with the loner background by default doesn't mean that it must be that way. There were people at the church. There were friends at the church. Perhaps the blankets were too thin, but you knew what the schedule was every day and they provided food, shelter, and education. The routine of daily life, a secure daily life, might beat the 'adventure' one could find outside the walls.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the Good Thief because Ren quickly grows on the reader and provides some interesting observations in a setting that thus far, isn't that different than many fantasy settings.
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