Kirby O’Donnell

[Susano]

KIRBY O’DONNELL

 

[b]Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes[/b]
20	STR	10	13-	Lift 400 kg; 4d6 HTH Damage [4]
20	DEX	20	13-
18	CON	8	13-
10	INT	0	11-	PER Roll 13-
13	EGO	3	12-
18	PRE	8	13-	PRE Attack:  3 ½d6

7	OCV	20	
7	DCV	20	
3	OMCV	0	
5	DMCV	6	
6	SPD	40		Phases:  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

9	PD	4		Total:  9 PD (3 rPD)
7	ED	2		Total:  7 ED (3 rED)
8	REC	4
36	END	4
13	BODY	3
32	STUN	6		[b]Total Characteristics Cost:  158

Movement:[/b]	Running:	12m/24m 
	Leaping:	6m/12m
	Swimming:	4m/8m

[b]Cost	Powers & Skills
Martial Arts:[/b]  [i]Swordsmanship[/i]
[b]Maneuver	OCV	DCV	Damage[/b]
4	Counterstrike	+2	+2	Weapon +2 DC Strike, Must Follow Block
4	Cut	+0	+2	Weapon +2 DC Strike
4	Evade	--	+5	Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort
4	Parry	+2	+2	Block, Abort
5	Slash	-2	+1	Weapon +4 DC Strike
5	Thrust	+1	+3	Weapon  Strike

1	[b]"Covered The Space In A Long Leap":[/b]  Leaping +2m (6m forward, 3m 
upward), END 1
6	[b]Observant:[/b]  +2 PER with all Sense Groups

[b]Talents[/b]
6	[b]"Bleeding From A Dozen... Cuts":[/b]  Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED)
22	[b]"It Was The Swish Of A Garment That Warned Him":[/b]  Danger Sense 
(self only, out of combat, Function as a Sense) 13-/11-
2	[b]"The Kindhjal In His Left Hand":[/b]  Off-Hand Defense

[b]Skills[/b]
20	+2 with All Attacks
16	[b]"Never Met His Match With Cold Steel":[/b]  +2 with HTH Combat
8	+4 versus Hit Location Modifiers with Blades
8	[b]“All  Of His Eastern Lore”: [/b] +2 with all Traveler Skills

3	[b]"I Am Ali El Ghazi, A Kurd": [/b] Acting 13-
3	Climbing 13-
7	[b]"His Disguise Had Stood The Test Of Time":[/b]  Disguise 13-
3	Fast Draw:  Blades 13-
3	[b]"The Big Pistol Jumping Into His Hand":[/b]  Fast Draw:  Handguns 13-
4	KS: Who's Who In Central Asia 13-
3	[b]"Dressing The Wounded The Best He Could":[/b]  Paramedics 11-
3	Riding 13-
3	Stealth 13-
3	Tactics 11-
0	TF:  Equines
5	[b]"The Kindhjal In His Left Hand":[/b]  Two-Weapon Fighting ; HTH Attacks Only (-1)
3	WF:  Small Arms, Blades
3	Linguist
0	1)  Language:  English (idiomatic; literate)
4	2)  Language:  Kurdish (idiomatic; literate)
3	3)  Language:  Pashto (completely fluent; literate)
3	4)  Language:  Turkish (completely fluent; literate)
3	5)  Language:  Urdu (completely fluent; literate)
3	Traveler
1	1)  AK: Afghanistan 11-
1	2)  CK: Medina El Harami 11-
1	3)  CK: Shahrazar 11-
1	4)  CuK: Customs of Central Asia 11-
1	5)  CuK: Kurdish Customs 11-

[b]Total Powers & Skill Cost:  183
Total Cost:  340

300+	Matching Complications (60)[/b]
10	Hunted:  Numerous Enemies In And Around Afghanistan Infrequently 
(As Pow; Harshly Punish)
15	Psychological Complication:  "A Driving Power Mightier Than His Own 
Desire" -- Greedy (Common; Strong)
20	Psychological Complication:  Personal Code (will not ignore a cry for 
help, will not abandon men under his command) (Common; Total)
15	Psychological Complication:  Tendency To Lose his Head In A Fight 
(Common; Strong)
40	[b]Experience Points

Total Complications Points:  60[/b]

 

Background/History: Virtually nothing is known about the early years of Irish-American Kirby O’Donnell. At some point in his life he left American and travelled to the Middle East, finally winding up in Afghanistan, where his “nervous energy” found an outlet in the constant tribal wars and political and military movements of the Great Game.

 

Personality/Motivation: An adventurer though-and-through, O’Donnell seems to have come to the Middle East in an attempt to uncover hidden riches and untold wealth. Two of his three stories feature him questing after some form or another of rumored treasure, and he ends his final story laughing off a fortune in lost gold, knowing there’s more for him out there, somewhere.

 

While solidly-self assured, there is a limit to his audacity (unlike El Borak, who seems unperturbed by almost any odds.) He also seems to have less natural cunning and patience than EL Borak, and can be find himself confused by events or cowed (if only temporarily) by others. However, if given a moment to clear his mind he’s more than willing to throw caution to the wind and engage in feats of derring-do worthy of any Pulp-era hero. However, when involved in a fight (which he has an almost stereotypical Irish love for), O’Donnell can be overcome by emotion, and become akin to a berserk of old, hacking and slashing until all of his foes are dead.

 

O’Donnell, like many of Howard’s heroes, has a strong personal code of honor. He won’t refuse a cry for help, even if from a total strange and against unknown odds, and will not abandon those he consider’s friends of allies, even if they were gained under false pretenses. He also won’t led his greed override his common sense (if he can help it) and has thrown away almost unimaginable wealth in an effort to preserve the fragile peace of late 19th Century Central Asia.

 

Quote: "I don’t hold grudges. You’re a swine, but if you play square with us, we’ll treat you as an equal partner, eh, Hassan?"

 

Powers/Tactics: Possessing strength “all out of proportion to his weight,” O’Donnell said to be a “mass of wiry muscle and steel-string sinews.” He has excellent coordination and is an almost unstoppable swordsman, and has yet to meet his match with the blade. He normally fights with a scimitar or tulwar in his right and a long-bladed kindhjal in his left, but will use firearms if the situation calls for it.

 

On order to operate in Afghanistan undetected, O’Donnell has adopted the manners and guise of a Kurdish tribesman named Ali el Ghazi. He’s maintained this alias for some time (years, perhaps) and thus has been able to entered cities and places otherwise closed to men of the West.

 

Appearance: Described as “somewhat above medium height,” O’Donnell has a lean build, broad shoulders, and “corded sinews.”His hair color isn’t specified (but can be presumed to be dark, while his eyes are blue. He tends to dress in Kurdish clothes and fashions.

 

Designer's Notes: Kirby O’Donnell is one of a trio of Middle Eastern adventurers that Robert E Howard created (the others being Francis Xavier Gordon and Steve Clarney—who only appeared in a single story.) He initially appears to be a clone of Gordon, mainly because O’Donnell’s almost physical identical to Gordon, but the major difference is in their personalities. Gordon is a mover-and-shaker, who makes things happen, while O’Donnell prefers to remain out of the spotlight and wants only to get rich. In addition, O’Donnell can be told what to do by others, while Gordon tells others what to do. In many ways, O’Donnell reminds me of a Player Character, while Gordon might be a GM’s PC.

 

As with Francis Xavier Gordon, Kirby O’Donnell’s character sheet was developed from the Del Rey Robert E Howard collection El Borak and Other Desert Adventures.

 

(Kirby O’Donnell created by Robert E Howard, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)

[RexMundi]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

Very good sheet actually. I think the only thing that concerns me with the last few REH write ups is 20 seems to be the go to Strength stat. I think there's some room for a tad of Granularity between the likes of a few of the guys runing a spread from 18-23 or so.

 

I always chalked up the resemblance of O'Donnell and Gordon as a fun thing hook wise that enterprising pulp fans can take advantage of. Sort of like the physical similarity between Kent Allard and Lamont Cranston. Gordon definitly reminds me of a GMPC though.

 

All in all, excellent sheet.

 

~Rex......waits for more.

[Susano]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

The last one I did was Bran Mak Morn, who has an 18. Kull has a 25, Conan a 25, Solomon Kane has 20, Red Sonya 13, Valeria 15, and Bêlit has a 9. Kirby could have an 18 or 19, but physically he is described much like Gordon and seems to be about as strong. Agnes the swordswoman won't have a 20... but probably has a 13 to 15. Many of his historical heroes are probably 18-20 STR, as they often pull of incredible feats of strength (such as hewing men in two), without pushing.

[RexMundi]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

Agreed. When all is Said and Done you should post an REH thermometer of Power for those not familier with the awesomeness of all things Howard. Looking forward to the Swords Women stuff.

 

~Rex

[DusterBoy]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

Yeah, but Conan is in a league of his own, in terms of strength and indestructibility. In a very real sense, he's the Hyborian version of Superman - y'know, stronger, tougher and faster than anyone else in the "campaign world". I got tired of all this and just handwave it in the interests of enjoying the story. Which I still do.

[RexMundi]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

Kull being the Conan prototype, could actually be considered as having been more of a brute in terms of power. By this Axe I Rule and all that jazz. Still, Conan was a beast, and his strength was always evident but his real ace in the hole wasn't his strength, it was that strength combined with almost inhuman speed. Conan ran into guys his equal or greater in strength all the time, but no one, could match the speed.

 

I wouldn't think you would have an equal pulp battle until you matched Conan up against Tarzan, heh.

 

~Rex....still says great work on the El Borak and O'Donnel sheets. Time for the Women....

[Susano]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

Kull being the Conan prototype, could actually be considered as having been more of a brute in terms of power. By this Axe I Rule and all that jazz. Still, Conan was a beast, and his strength was always evident but his real ace in the hole wasn't his strength, it was that strength combined with almost inhuman speed. Conan ran into guys his equal or greater in strength all the time, but no one, could match the speed.

 

I wouldn't think you would have an equal pulp battle until you matched Conan up against Tarzan, heh.

 

The Kull stories gives one the impression that he's just huge. As in nigh on to 7' tall huge. And he's almost as swift as Conan. That said, there are several pulp-era heroes that could give Conan a run for his money. Tarzan is probably the closest in over-all physical ability, but Doc Savage might be his equal in strength and probably surpasses him in acuteness of senses. Hugo Danner, from Gladiator, is certainly stronger and tougher, not sure if faster. John Carter of Mars is probably the better swordsman, but much of his strength and speed is only on Mars... and if Conan was on Mars, well.. it'd be all over.

 

~Rex....still says great work on the El Borak and O'Donnel sheets. Time for the Women....

 

Toss in a little rep for all of the hard work and I'll consider it.

[RexMundi]

Re: Kirby O’Donnell

 

Thou hast been Repped. Which does remind me of one of Marvels's best What If comic issues did have, Conan vs Thor.

 

I use a lot of Wold Newton elements and Hugo Danner stuff in my main campaign structure and that of course devolves backwards into a very Hyborean style of fantasy. Hence why I always find write ups like these to be useful and interesting.

 

Looking at that list though above, NOT a bar I want to walk into while feeling Grumpy.

 

~Rex