ZindelloTarantella

That he is! His little shop is situated on the edge of Pearl Lane, right between Ruby and Pearl so he gets the best of both worlds. And have Chika look him up! He haunts Ul'dah AND the forums here! 8D

I look forward to hearing from him! The more the merrier when it comes to item smuggling and racketeering!

The Crooked Phoenix has been supplying both adventurers and heroes for six years now~! It's been supplying villains and knaves for MUCH longer. :evil:

Tarot has plenty of room for monetarists of all sorts! 8D

"Hey all you kiddies out there in Eorzea. This is Tarot--you know, Crooked Tarot--just letting you know that I am currently in the market for people that are in the market! If you buy or sell treasures and loot from your work, if you need to get rid of goods in a hurry or if you are looking for that special something you just can't locate anywhere else, then give me a call an' I'll be there! Of course, none of these things are free but what in life is, right...?" ================= My character is looking to set up a network of contacts, customers and associates to deal in his questionable wares. His services include: - Buying, Selling and Pawning of Goods. - Fencing stolen goods (that is, the buying and re-selling of stolen property) - Buying and selling information - Offering paid escorts into or through various dungeons and ruins - Obtaining goods that cannot be gotten in any other way All of the above act as both excellent hooks as well as simply little ways to build up the universe and if you want to have a part in any of the action, let me know. Tarot does have a Linkpearl network available as well for direct contact between his other contacts and himself. This Linkpearl is one of the few items he is willing to part with for free (well, the first one is free anyway) and will happily give one to anyone that asks after it. This Linkpearl is entirely IC. Those on Tarot's in-game Friend List also have access to a private linkpearl that allows them to speak with him in complete privacy. Tarot has been in this business since the Calamity and is the soul of discretion. Finally, for anyone interested in trying to break up his dealings or to bring down the long arm of the law on him--while this IS possible, it will be tricky as he is deeply ingrained into Ul'dah life and is entrenched in legitimate business. While I would love to explore the idea of him getting busted, I would say this process would be a long term RP that would likely take at least a few months~! :thumbsup: And that's all there is to it! if you're interested, let me know!

"M'yes~?" The door to the backroom opened and Tarot emerged languidly, his pipe in his teeth as he moved slowly to lean on the counter. He'd heard the door open and close and naturally had come to investigate--but the voice told him all he needed to know off the bat anyway. It wasn't so much that he suspected any trouble; he didn't. Osric was a fine (heh), upstanding (heh-heh) Brass Blade--okay, yeah, hard to even think that without chuckling. Yes yes, there WERE some honorable and upright Brass Blades but it was far more fun to poke at the stereotypes, even if it was just to himself. "I am aware..." he nodded, taking a small pull from his pipe before looking at Osric with a half-grin, tilting his head. "It's why I'm in here and not out there." Being the type of person he was, it didn't take Tarot long to see the bulky mass under the man's arm and his eyes brightened noticeably. "Ah, but you've brought me something today. Glad to see this isn't a business call." It damn well better not be--Tarot had paid off the Blades for the full year and he had the receipt to prove it. "At least, not strictly business." Looking at the shorter man with a look of lean and avaricious hunger, he took another breath on his kiseru before motioning with his hand. "Let's see what kind of trouble you've brought to my humble doorstep today..." This was said with nothing but bemusement. Osric always brought him interesting things and while some were trouble, all of them proved profitable in the end. I should give him one of those new punch-cards...

Of course'd deliberately not stated his name. The sign WAS on the door after all. And no Moogle would have a name like Tarot so he always left it to the logic and deductive abilities of his customers to figure out his name. A Sultansworn SHOULD have that much deductive reasoning, shouldn't she? He exhaled a bit of smoke and nodded. "Well, unless you'd like to look at something else--though I do have to admit, I'm a bit hurt. You were smiling when you came in and now you're frowning as you leave. I would be remiss in my duties as a merchant and gentleman if I didn't point it out." It was an odd transformation, to be sure. She'd not been spewing rainbow aether when she entered, but she had been less tense and far, far less formal. He didn't recall changing his own demeanor terribly...that meant she either suspected something or she was simply a very bad actress. Taking his pipe out of his teeth, he held the delicate stem in his fingers a moment before looking back to his current customer. "You're more than welcome for the treasures you've purchased. My stock changes frequently so please do come in again later. I have special deals for return customers you see." Maybe he should institute a means to track purchases for them...? Maybe little punch-cards. "But beyond that, no, I'm afraid I've nothing else. I do hope you have a good day and that your friend enjoys her gift and you your book."

I agree completely with Verad but would add onto it by referencing Pen and Paper games. In a game like, Call of Cthulhu, where death lurks around every corner, it's not uncommon for a player that likes their current character to essentially cut their loses and retire them. For whatever reason, whether they don't want to see them die/go insane or they simply feel, like Verad said, they've done all they can do or they just aren't having fun playing them anymore, the option of retirement is always present. But, the Call of Cthulhu handbook offers an idea; cameos. A retired character CAN come out of retirement. A retired character CAN make a cameo to help with a situation the new characters find themselves out of their depth within. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all, and if people love Tasa then having her take a break for a while will make her reappearance all the sweeter when/if it happens. Maybe just have her occasionally wander through town, if nothing else. I personally suffer from Alt-itise in all things. I've a terrible case of it and Tarot is one of the sole survivors of its ravages on me. But I take breaks with him, or have him wander off to do something else so I don't get bored with him. So yes, retiring a character may 'reset' the 'fanbase' if Tasa has one (and it sounds like she does) but even so, people that like a character will either get over it and find out about a new character you create or simply move on. You're not Paul Sheldon and this ain't a Stephen King novel.

"I'd be a poor merchant indeed if I didn't!" He playfully scoffed at this, putting up a great show of pretending to be offended. "Moggie! Moggie, wake up now!" He looked down below the counter, nudging something (presumably the moogle) with his foot. "Would you do me a favor and get those copies of our licenses from the safe for the nice lady here to see?" Turning his face back again, he handed her a huge grin (one that was even vaguely sincere!) before continuing. "I wouldn't go to all the trouble of gathering and collecting these up from the various holes, hollows and hell-hollows of Eorzea if I didn't!"

"Of course I do! Everyone has a motive when they enter a store--yours happens to be a need for good literature, a present to bring a friend out of the doldrums and possibly a small means to defend yourself." Tarot had played this game before and with far more dangerous people. "The fact is, if you don't tell me what you want, what you really want, I can't do my job. So naturally, I will always ask what the motives of someone entering into my shop are about--now, what they're motives are after they leave is an entirely different matter." Dissimilar eyes focused in a bemused but dangerous smile, and for a moment, there was the tension of two sizing up one another--at least from Tarot's perspective there was. There was a mumbled 'Kupo...!' from the corner behind the counter, breaking the tension. "Heh, well, if you're looking for small arms, I can provide you with that as well. I have several choice daggers and short swords if that's to your liking." Again returning to the counter, he reached beneath and drew out a long case. Glass lid was lifted and contents were exposed as the merchant snickered. "All for decorative or ceremonial purposes, of course." He winked slightly, his topaz-gold eye flashing with a touch of mischief and greed. "Please. Peruse at your leisure." As he left her to it, he turned and pick up his pipe, packing the tiny bowl with a bit of leaf before lighting it and leaning against the back wall to watch his customer make her inspection of the offered armaments. The weapons did rang from ceremonial pieces all the way to enchanted blades--the collection was a small one, obviously, but fine enough for any given adventurer to find a use for at least one of the weapons present. Taking a puff and exhaling, he watched her through the smoke...

The hardest part, I'm afraid, is not being selfish with the gear! Maybe I'll buy the Seasonal items in bulk and then sell them just to stick it to those folks that sell them for 1 million gil on the market! XDDD Actually though--that's an idea. If nothing else, it would fall into the purvue of 'exotic goods'...hmm... I'm glad everyone likes the idea! I'll develop this further! Keep your eyes peeled for Tarot!

Damn. He knew this was too good to be true. She was Sultansworn and she was here to investigate him. He kept his smile as he continued to talk, but his mind flitted back to his 'backroom' door. The door did indeed lead to a backroom and counting room but it also led back to what this shop front was hiding. That being his REAL stock of not-entirely-above-board items. Come on, don't panic, Tarot. It may not be so bad--besides, it's not like Sultansworn as some glorious paragons of virtue all the time either... "Well to answer THAT question, I of course need you to be a bit more specific. Are we talking weapons? Magical accoutrements? I must confess, you've had me baffled by your vague shopping habits!" He added this on with a chuckle, practiced and even as he looked her over again.

"Well, since this is your first time here, I could part with both for 500 gil. The book is only 100 gil, you see, while the broach is, naturally, a bit more." He gave her his smile and a nod. Honestly, he was being rather generous--comparatively speaking. Normally, it would have been more but with her being a first-time customer, it was always best to rope them in with a easy pitch at first and then nail them upon return trips. Hadn't failed him yet; though he WAS disappointed that she hadn't knocked into something. Damn training... "Of course, if you think I'm being unreasonable, I am prepared to throw in a little something extra should you--" "Oi, my head...ku--upo..." Tarot looked up as a moogle drifted in the door, groaning to himself. Its little paw was at its cheek (given that moogles had a hard time reaching their own pom-poms with those stubby little limbs) and its head lolled about. "I'll throw in a free moogle today if you like..." Tarot replied, his eyebrow twitching slightly at the interruption.

Just what it sounds like--for those who haven't seen him yet, Tarot (Crooked Tarot if you please'm) is a tomb raider that finds and sells artifacts and the like. The question here is less about how to play a peddler ICly but more about if selling things IC is something that could/would add to the experience. I don't know if folks have discussed this before--I did a quick scan and didn't see anything in the first handful of pages of the forum--so figured I'd ask. The idea is, more or less, that he will sell things (usually drops) that he finds. Obviously this would be done through a trade window but I want to know if people would see this as something worth pursuing since one could, essentially, get these on their own too. :thumbsup: I don't want to spend all my time stockpiling green tradeable drops from Dungeons if this isn't an avenue that will lead to a positive response, yeah?

The books were varied and old--and largely obscure apart from the odd tome meant for an arcanist. 'Locke's Peerage', 'The Bride Book', 'The Fishmonger's Guidebook', 'The Unwanted Son', 'The King in Saffron'--largely a bunch of things that one would find in a rummage bin. Tarot's offerings were most certainly eclectic, and apart from looking nice on a shelf, they likely were forgettable. Naturally, they were all marked with a 'Ask Owner Concerning Price' tag. "Amber...amber...ah! Yes, I've just the thing!" He called triumphantly from his bin, turning and looking at her as he grinned. "I've a lovely broach of amber--shaped like a flower see?" he motioned, opening a small jewerly box to reveal an ordinary scarf pin. "But if you look very closely--" he continued, motioning for her to do so, "You can see there's several tiny insects there in the resin. Gives it a bit of character, I think, don't you?" Putting this aside, he held up next an earring. It was a stud, shaped to resemble a sun. "This belonged to a lovely little woman who stopped in about a year ago. Said it belonged to HER sister who lost its mate in a shell game but swore to the heavens that it helped her aim."

I'll borrow a bit from my experience in Champions Online--players of that know the one night club, Caprice, was THE place to roleplay. While there were, specifically implemented by the game makers no less, several other instances for roleplay (news station, gyms, other night clubs etc) almost all RP was centered around the one hub. I think this comes about simply because people in general want a place where 'everyone knows your name'. Everyone knows it's an RP hub--like Quicksand, you KNOW you'll find RP there, thus, the situation compounds on itself. It doesn't help that Ul'dah is the most populace city (at least I thought it was) so that adds to it; odds makers say, wherever the majority of players camp, that's where you'll find the majority of roleplayers too. I think that Ul'dah offers the most colorful types of roleplay. For some reason, Gridania doesn't seem the place for shady criminal organizations. Limsa might but even then, whenever EVERYONE is an ex-criminal (so to speak) then it decreases the odds of their being undercurrents of the sinister. Ul'dah simply makes the most sense to allow for the most varied types of characters to get away with a great deal since money talks loudest there. The main cities are the most likely to see RP as well since they are accessed as low as level 1. So that means you can have several NPCs all standing by, ready to pop in when you need them to without having to fret over your character not being a high enough level to acess, say, Costa del Sol. So what I am getting at is this; Everything comes down to location, location, location.

At the sound of the door, Tarot groaned, one hand over his eyes as he motioned with his free hand, "I'm not interested in hearing about your exploits, Moggie--jus' leave me be to wallow in my sorrow...!" When he didn't get interrupted by the foul-mouthed berating of the moogle almost immediately, he blinked, sat up and crossed his legs under him as he took in the sight. The oh so glorious sight. "A customer!" He was at her elbow in a moment, hands together, ringing them once before giving her his 'trademark' grin. "You gave me a turn! Thought you were a ghost there for a moment with all that white." Dissimilar eyes searched her a moment, assessing quickly. Bearing, dress and aloof mannerisms...she definitely was someone of some standing. Perfect. "Did you come in for something in particular, miss? Do forgive me if I seem a bit flushed--you'd think this was a plague house with the way people seem to be avoiding it!" Turning he made his way to the counter, padding along on his bare feet. "So then, what is it today? Maybe a nice new book? I've got plenty--ah but then I think now. You're more of martial type, I'd wager. Mayhaps a nice bracelet? Set with Jadedite, guaranteed to keep the Aether flowing properly. Good for the heart and blood you know..." He kept his back to her as he rummaged around through the large trunk by the counter, grinning smugly to himself. He could have sworn he'd seen this woman in a uniform somewhere. Sultansworn, perhaps? Figures Moggie wasn't around when a woman walked in...

It depends largely on the image Tarot is trying to give off. If he's going 'casual' than he'll pull up on his Coeurl mount, lovingly named 'Carnan'. How he got himself this, he refuses to say but it is hinted that his black market connections wound him up with the very exotic mounts he keeps. He does also keep a Behemoth mount, though this one he almost never uses given how temperamental it is. Both are stabled by one of his contacts, the ever present and ready 'Monsieur X'. Finally, if he IS trying to go incognito, he will simply rent a chocobo. He's not fond of them, as he thinks they smell and their 'cuteness' is overrated.

"Boooored!" Laying across the counter of the shop, the bulky Midlander had draped himself, one unshod foot dangling over the front of the counter, the other propped up on the wooden surface. His left hand held a child's toy, one of those stupid little sliding puzzles that he could never quite get or figure out with any timeliness, while in his other he clinked a small pile of gil at his side over and over again. His thumb moved lazely across the sliding puzzle pieces--he knew it was a picture of a Phoenix chick--or rather, what the artist THOUGHT was a phoenix chick--and the one tile with the beak just didn't want to go into place. The shop had been dead for nearly a week now. Money wasn't a problem--it never was. The problem was that he had no one to taunt or berate or amuse himself with at the moment. Moggie-Moglin was still gone enjoying the beginning festivities of the Moonfire Fair and Tarot was stuck manning the shop. Sure he could go and have some fun but--well, actually there was no reason beyond making sure everything stayed where it was supposed to stay. He didn't know why he hesitated to go enjoy himself. Maybe because he'd be enjoying them alone again...? Gods what he wouldn't give for a posse again. The good old days. He tilted his head up and looked to the corner of the store. He'd come to Ul'dah quite on his own. He missed his old band--the Phoenix Talon. Vitti would always stand in the corner there, reading palms and nicking a few gil every now and then as her customers departed. Waisal would be at the front to greet people as they came in, looking them over for any kind of personal information the Phoenix could use later; oh, and then there was Azziu...dear, dear Azziu who would dig up dirt on everyone and then blackmail them later... Wait. That wasn't right. He blinked and sat up slightly. He never had a group like that--and he'd never known anyone by those names. The boredom was driving him mad! "GODS! Send me SOMEONE!" he moaned dramatically, flopping back down onto the counter again.

"Hi, Tarot here--you want to know about my gear? Well my spear is less a spear and more of a way to get around. It actually is a nifty little bit of technology I got from Gar--ah, from some tinkerers. Basically, it starts off as a pole, highly flexible and amazingly perfect for vaulting over gaps or keeping my balance on a narrow walkway, but, should the need arise--" He twisted the haft with a flick of his wrist, "The tip opens up into a lovely lance head! Neat, no? Pain in the ass to get back in though..." "As for artifacts--heh, well, let's just say that I am awash in artifacts since that's my trade! Nothing fancy though--ain't got a Garuda-buster on my person. But a lot of little things to help me get around. Ankle bands that keep my bare feet protected from cuts, scrapes and stings while running around, a few baubles here and there to help with my treasure hunting and late night acquisitions around a town or settlement, things like that." "I suppose that means that you'll just be a hard sell on handing over that book, huh? No matter--more than one way to skin a coeurl."

Tarot has evolved over time but I like to think that his core has remained largely the same. I'll start with the general theme I was going for before I get into full on personality: http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/236/6/e/Happy_Mask_salesman_by_JohnnyCago.jpg[/img] I wanted to create someone very much like the Happy Mask Salesman. As a person who works in sales myself (working on making opening my own shop) I've ALWAYS loved playing or reading about peddlers, shopkeepers and the the like. Especially if they were mysterious, shady or dealt in exotic wares--you know, the stores that play the creepy or odd music when your character enters into the confines of the shop. Tarot being a peddler and having a 'home base' for his shop simply made sense. ADD http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120624040550/devilmaycry/images/6/63/Dante_4.png[/img] Dante is the core personality of Tarot--at his core, he is a good guy but prefers to play alone and by his own rules. He takes very little seriously (apart from his shop) and tries to do things that interest or amuse him. Sure he might help fight to save the world but at the same time, it might take coaxing or bribing to make it happen. Put it together and what do you get? This one is a bit more obscure however I have never found a character that more embodies the reason I made Tarot in the first place. Besides the only main difference, their attitudes and goals are so similar it is eerie (and I swear Tarot HAS been around longer than Carnatux--I've had him for 3/4s of a decade now. I've got the papers to prove it~ :angel: )

Crooked Tarot Character Listing: [unlawful Looter] - A tricky combatant that relies on timing and counters to keep his opponents off their feet. ------------------ General Pre-Battle Quotes: 1. Have I got a deal for YOU. 2. Aw, do we gotta...? 3. I'm already busy! 4. Fine, fine but just this once. Starting Battle with Low HP: Caught me at a bad time... Starting Battle with Low HP: Lose the smirk. Against a Strong Opponent: I'll beat ya bare-foot! Against a Strong Opponent: Go kick a cactuar! Against a Weak Opponent: Yeesh--you sure? Against a Weak Opponent: Discounts for confidence! ================================ Tarot Long Quotes Warrior of Light: Time to upgrade that sword! Garland: Cycles, cycles. You say anything else? Firion: Wanna be my pack-chocobo? The Emperor: People like you keep me in business. Onion Knight: Bug off, Junior. Cloud of Darkness: You wanna buy a coat...? Cecil: Got a two-for-one special just for you! Golbez: What's heavier? Your burdens or your armor? Kain: What fun is jumping straight up? Bartz: How about a Merchant's Job? Exdeath: At least your armor is interesting... Gilgamesh: Sorry, no refunds! Terra: Get yourself a handkerchief. Kefka: All magic comes with a price~ Cloud: Lemme guess--'Not Interested'? Sephiroth: Wasted potential... Tifa: I might actually like you! Squall: Sorry--didn't quite catch what you said! Ultimecia: Guess you don't need a watch, right? Laguna: I'll make your see Fairies alright! Zidane: Got something you need fenced? Kuja: Running a special on hair creams! Tidus: I just need a little gil to get started... Jecht: We don't need no shoes, right? Yuna: You're good at making me feel guilty... Shantotto: Knock me flat? I don't know about that! Prishe: Sorry--I don't deal in food. Vaan: You got a license to buy? Gabranth: Woof. Lightning: You only window shop, right? Chaos: If everyone were rich, there'd be no sorrow. Original FF XIV PC Characters: Oscare Iono: You just don't know when to give up, do you!? Osric Melkire: You stand here, bold as brass, I see! Averille Rooks: How about some Silence Oil. On the house! Yvelont Navarre: Ugh! Ishgards even here!? Edgar Gandervalt: That book'll be mine! ================================= Other Characters Long Quotes Warrior of Light: Your deals will not protect you. Garland: You build your own cycle of Greed! Firion: You've a one-track mind. The Emperor: Your web of intrigues will be brushed away. Onion Knight: You like causing trouble, don't you? Cloud of Darkness: Your greed is its own Void. Cecil: Why hide your kindness? Golbez: Be certain your plans do not tangle. Kain: I need never hide from man nor beast. Bartz: There's such as thing as trying too hard, you know. Exdeath: Your hunger for riches rivals the Void! Gilgamesh: I want a refund for that sword! Terra: Are our goals--similar? Kefka: And they call ME gaudy! Cloud: Not interested in what you're selling... Sephiroth: A fool and his money are soon parted. Tifa: My fists can beat your feet, no problem! Squall: How can you talk so much and say so little? Ultimecia: Wealth cannot buy you more time. Laguna: Wait--you were raised by faeries!? Zidane: No such thing as a one-man team. Kuja: A merchant? How gauche. Tidus: You remind me of this one guy... Jecht: You got enough to buy a round after this? Yuna: Why not show the real you? Shantotto: You greedy prat, I'll knock you flat! Prishe: You explore dungeons solo? Vaan: I'm a bit short on gil... Gabranth: Greed is the fuel of betrayal. Lightning: You're the reason we have the Retail Network. Chaos: All the wealth of ages mean naught in the end. ======================= Victory 1. Psh, cheapskate. 2. Heh, I break it, you bought it! 3. I might have a position for you. 4. I don't sell balms for wounded prides. Low HP: A close victory is still a victory! Low HP: Well I'M still moving at least. Strong Opponent: Must hurt being brought this low, huh? Strong Opponent: Your were saying? Weak Opponent: Time to settle accounts! Weak Opponent: So you're beaten and poor. Life's tough. Defeat 1. Don't..touch my gil... 2. But I had all the cards... 3. You WILL pay for this. 4. But--the Echo...! Strong Opponent: I'll see you in...ugh... Strong Opponent: Have you been--tempered? Weak Opponent: Never underestimate the little guy. Weak Opponent: There's a lesson here... ========================= Penelo Comment He's a merchant and a thief AND a treasure hunter? Can't he pick just one? ========================= Bravery Attacks Leg Sweep: [Ground] A low sweep to the legs of his opponent, interrupting current action. Quote: "Whoops!" Back-Wheel: [Ground] Tarot flips backwards, kicking his opponent into the air. Causes Chase sequence if it hits. Quote: "Up ya get!" Springboard: [Ground] Charges and jumps into the air to land on opponent. Hitting [O] just as Tarot hits the opponent will result in a second attack, This can be done up to four times. Quote: [initial attack] "Catch me!" [subsequent attack] "One! Two! Three! PAIN!" Elusive Roll: [Ground] A counter-move. Timed correctly, Tarot blocks opponent's attack and rolls behind the opponent. Can immediately be chained into any Bravery attack. =============== EX Mode "Time to get rich quick!" Tarot's EX Mode is Treasure Hunt. During EX Mode, his base movement speed increases by 1.5 and the period of invulnerability during a dodge increases as well. In addition, he gains the ability Foresight, which allows him to chain not only his Bravery attacks after using Elusive Roll, but also his HP Attacks as well. Finally, he gains Extortion--every time an opponent loses Bravery, Tarot gains 25% Bravery of the amount the opponent lost. This includes if the opponent successfully lands an HP Attack. EX Burst "All that glitters...!" - Upon initiating EX Burst. "They say money isn't everything!" - (Alternate) Upon initiating EX Burst. Tarot's EX Burst is Gilded Cage. The player must press the OPPOSITE of the indicated directional arrow, as Tarot moves behind the opponent, planting a series of jeweled rods in a patter around them. If unsuccessful, the poles explode, sending the opponent into the air. If the player completes the sequence, Tarot places all of the rods and they flash, turning the opponent into a gold statue before he smashes them with his staff. "Is most certainly gold!" - Upon successfully completely EX Burst. "Well they're wrong! Haha!" - (Alternate) Upon successfully completely EX Burst.

I am a HUGE fan of the Dissidia games--in fact, I've clocked in hundreds of hours on both. So naturally, I memorized all of the various quotes that the characters throw at each other and, naturally, began to wonder what they would say to MY characters since, technically, since Tarot is in Final Fantasy XIV he is, (technically) in the Final Fantasy Canon. So! What WOULD you characters say to their opponents if they were in Dissidia? For added fun, also add in what the various heroes and villains would say to YOURS. For those not in the know, Dissidia is a game that features Final Fantasy characters fighting against each other, usually one or two from any of the main numbered franchies games. Before a battle starts, the computer controlled opponent typically has some comment about the player controlled character. Depending on who you played as, the enemy would say something different. An example video here: The point of this exercise is to have your character viewed from varying points of view and have that view summarized into a single sentence or phrase. Obviously, having a knowledge of the characters in the list helps, so this could also be a little exercise in research! 8-) =============== Additional Fun! As brought to my attention by the Wandering Wordsmith, I would like to add in that folks should attempt to add in Battle quotes for when they perform attacks as well as a description of the attacks themselves! Let's make this into a full on 'What would your character be like in Dissidia' thread! Don't forget your EX Mode and Bursts~

Scenario: Catch Me If You Can, 4-man trial Southern Thanalan, Sagolii desert Rumor has it that a thief has been slipping and sneaking into the homes of the rich and making off with--well, their riches! He or she has been traced to the desert. Apprehend the culprit and retrieve the loot! Quotes: "Sheesh, only eight? I must be slipping!" - At start of fight "Just for you~!" - Just before using Mal-Bombs "Now you see me--" - Before using Jump "Now you FEEL me!" - After completing Jump "I saw this going a bit differently when you showed up...!" - At 50% health, Phase II "You'll hardly miss it!" - Just before using Thief's Prerogative "I don't want your money--just your heart~!" - Just before using By the Purse-strings "You sure this--dammit..." - Upon defeat Attacks: -- Phase I (Crooked Tarot begins with using his staff.) -- [Auto-Attack] [Jump] (Interruptible) - A 360° AoE leap that sends Tarot up into the air and then crashing back down on those below. [1 Sec. Charge, 1 Sec to complete] [Knee Knock] (instant) - Binds his current target for 3 seconds and inflicts Heavy for 6 seconds. [Mal-Bombs] (cast) - creates 5 randomly placed 1 yalm AoEs within three yalms of Tarot. Anyone caught within after completion are inflicted with Silence, Blind and Poison. All status effects have a random duration of 1-10 seconds. -- Phase II, 50% health (Tarot's staff telescopes into a lance-head.) -- [Auto-Attack] [A Thief's Perogative] (casted, not interruptible) - A room-wide AOE that will inflict the special status 'Robbed' all party members. This status effect lasts for 30 seconds and removes all positive status effects from the party and applies them to Tarot. It also removes the party stat bonuses and applies them to Tarot until the effect wears off. [by the Purse-strings] - Tarot selects a target with the highest total gil and inflicts Charm on them. The effect lasts for 15 seconds. After the effect ends, he will attempt to cast it on each member of the party, one at a time. The chance of success decreases by 13% with each attempt.

Was there ever a place like Ul'dah? Maybe--but at the moment Tarot couldn't think of any. Many cities had their greed and corruption, it was true, and during his many travels here and there, he had often come across many towns and the like that harbored their nasty little secrets and back-alley doings. But Ul'dah? No, it with it's teeming masses provided infinite possibilities because it wore its greed on its sleeve--like a pair of gaudy, jewel-studded cufflinks. At least, that was how he saw it. Any city that so openly knew of its own corruption but did little to stop it beyond a slap on the wrist--a few fines that got passed around into the ever continuing cycle of gil and secrets that was the Jewel of the Desert--was indeed nothing more than another place to find grand opportunities. A long, thin pipe, a kiseru as they called in in the parts he had bought it from, perched in his lips, he leaned on the counter, breathing out a thin wreath of smoke. His two-toned eyes blinked through the fine cloud, the blue shining like a sky-topaz, the left burning like copper, he smirked. A slow day...well, for now. The eyes traced along the walls of the shop. Various objects of all sorts lay strewn about in carefully chaotic order. Customers liked that sort of thing when it came to a shop like his; a treasure hunt atmosphere let them feel like there was always something new any time they came in. In truth, it was usually the same things, he just moved smaller things around on the shelves from time to time to make it feel like something had changed. Another deep inhale and another pause before the exhale. Ul'dah for all it's corruption, did provide him with many opportunities. The rich came to spend money they didn't need (or in some cases have), while the poor and the refugees sought reprieve from the sun and their troubles. In either case, Tarot was happy to oblige; his shop, as the sign above the door stated, had whatever anyone would need--Tarot's means of getting them were very prompt. For the right price, of course. The shop itself lay just beyond the Quicksand, nestled into the many warehouses right along the edge of the Pearl Lane. The perfect crossroads of rich and poor. Noble and Commoner. Yeah, he saw all types. The interior was cramped, almost uncomfortably so. Of course it was always a good excuse when someone knocked into something and broke it; break it you buy it and all. He chuckled as he exhaled the smoke in his lungs through his nose, recalling the last clumsy fool that came into the shop. A thousand gil for a ten gil urn... The chuckled in his chest became a full, quiet laugh at the look on the Lalafel's face. But he was getting distracted again--this shop could do that. It lived and breathed stories; antiques and items traded and pawned and cast away did that. He looked to the back wall a moment, a door that opened into his office beyond (one could presume) and the newly painted panels and shelves stuffed full of weapons, books and other things a person could, would or may not ever need. The refuse and refugees of a thousand years... he grinned, taking another pull on his pipe and exhaling into the air towards the ceiling as he leaned his head backwards. "Crooked Tarot's Emporium," he murmured, "Is again open for business..."