Qi Tam - Disciple of the Whispering Breeze

This short story was intended to serve as an introduction to an NPC my players' party of adventurers were supposed to meet up with while they were adventuring in Nehwon.  A DM's plan being what it is, the group never showed any interest once they met the character and I was obliged to change my plans to avoid railroading them down a path they weren't inclined to follow.

- Chapter 1: Qi Tam -

The jingle of buckles on a horse’s harness outside drew Qi Tam from his meditation.  As the elder shrine guardian rose from his kneeling position before the altar, he heard the sounds of more men and horses join those of the first rider.  He picked up his cane, a battered wooden stick with the elaborate carving of a hawk’s head, and walked toward the open door of the single-room shrine.  The roadside stop was dedicated to the God of the North Wind, an aloof deity who ruled over the steppes and the people who lived and traveled upon it.

He emerged from the miniscule temple and allowed his eyes to adjust.  His open delight turned to cautious suspicion as he took in the look of the riders.  Every one of the score of men before him had the look of a hardened warrior too long in the saddle.  Their horses’ bellies were gaunt and the men’s eyes burned with hunger.  Furs covered their boiled leather armor and wicked, curved swords hung from their belts.  One man stepped forward and spoke his voice harsh and full of gravel.  “The offerings, old man, where are they?” 

Tam spoke honestly, “The only offerings here are sesame seeds and incense.  None of the travelers who pass by leave coin for the North Wind.” 

The man scowled and pushed past the elderly priest, “Bah! I’ll see for myself!  The rest of you, find out if this pauper priest is telling the truth!” 

The warriors slid from their saddles, cruel grins spreading across their faces.  Qi Tam backed away slowly, one hand on his cane for support and the other out to his side to show he was unarmed.  The men came forward, pushing and taunting him, shoving him back and forth so violently that even with his cane he could barely keep his balance.

The sounds of dishes overturning and crockery smashing against the walls echoed from within the shrine.  “There is no earthly wealth here, only the blessing of the North Wind!  I beseech you, please stop!” Tam called out to the men.  One of the warriors drew his sword and stepped forward to bury his blade in the priest’s belly.  Suddenly, Qi Tam exploded in a cloud of feathers.  Dozens of tiny hummingbirds floated in space where the priest had been standing.  Hundreds of flapping wings filled the air with a sound like swarming bees as the tiny creatures darted forward, buzzing and pecking at the ruffians with tiny beaks and scratching with miniscule claws.  The men screamed and swatted at the tiny birds, covering their eyes to keep from being blinded.  Within moments, the men’s nerve broke and they ran, leaping back onto their horses and riding away with dozens of tiny pinpricks covering their faces and hands.

The cloud of hummingbirds gave chase for several seconds as the men fled before returning to the shrine and coalescing back into the bent and stooped form of Qi Tam.  The old priest sighed and took a few steps toward a simple stool.  He fished around in his pocket for several seconds before pulling out a pipe, lighting it and taking a puff.  He muttered to himself, “They never change.  Too young, too impatient, never willing to listen.  And I’m getting too old.  A successor, that’s what I need.  Someone to learn what I have to teach in the time left to me.”

“You have less time that you thought, old man!” the leader of the riders stepped out from within the temple, his sword descending toward the old priest’s head.  Blood sprayed as the blade struck home.  Birds once more darted out from the temple, scattering in the wind.

The murderous rider stalked toward his horse and swung up into his saddle and rode over to his band of waiting men, “Burn the temple, there is nothing of value here.”

- Chapter 2: Resurrection -

The temple burned.

Days passed.

Travelers rode past the gutted shell of the building.  Some wept at the unknown fate of the kindly old priest who tended the shrine.  Everyone could see the blood on the ground before the ruined, holy place.

The birds returned.  More and more arrived every hour.

The tiny creatures twittered and cheeped at each other.

Still more came.

Eventually, the birds began to move toward one another.  They pressed together as if huddling for warmth and began to grow, absorbing into each other and within a few moments, the old priest doddered over to his stool righted it and sat once more.  He relighted his pipe and took another puff.

“Nothing of value they say?  Poor young fools…”

- Chapter 3: The Road –

Qi Tam gathered his few belongings in a simple cloth knapsack and pulled the drawstring tight.  He slipped the bag over his shoulder and took up his staff.  He offered a short, final prayer to the ruins of his burned out shrine and set out on the road to the west.  The plain stretched out before him, seemingly endless as it ran toward the horizon.

His feet stirred up small clouds of dust as he walked the trade road.  The wind remained at his back and the old priest smiled.  He hummed quietly to himself to pass the time, remembering the songs of his youth and hymns of his faith.  Every so often, he would pass travelers heading east toward the far-off City of Ghouls.   More rarely, he would overtake a slow-moving caravan or refugees fleeing plague, famine or unrest in their homelands.  When possible, he would call upon the blessing of the North Wind to ease hurts or hunger.  Other times, he would use minor magical spells to summon his feathered friends to entertain children or simply sit and listen to the woes of fellow travelers.

After many days, the Trade Road spilt with one fork continuing straight on toward the Land of the Eight Cities and the other heading south and west toward the rat-infested city of Ilthmar.  Qi Tam stopped at the fork and knelt in the dirt.  He reached into a pocket of his robe and drew out a small handful of sesame seeds.

“As the North Wind blows, so my steps will follow.”  Qi Tam tossed the seeds into the air and watched as they were carried toward the lawless city of Mlurg Nar.  Chuckling softly, the old priest continued forward, glancing upwards toward the clear blue sky.  “I do hope You know what You are doing.  People who live in walled cities have no appreciation for the freedom of the wind.”  He paused, as if listening to some unspoken response.  “Yes, yes.  I know.  Thought is the Wind, Knowledge is the Sail and I am but a Humble Vessel driven along the course You choose.  I look forward to the day that we can sit and talk face to face.  I understand that You are the North Wind but You could really use better metaphors.”  A gust of wind buffeted the old man, whipping his robe up and around his face.  The priest chuckled, “Don’t be petulant.  It is unbecoming for a god and You know it.  Besides, it’s the truth.  All of our sayings involve birds, blowing winds and ships.  They aren’t always easy to explain to steppe-dwelling nomads when they have never seen the ocean.”

- Chapter 4: Mlurg Nar –

“Noise” was the first thing Qi Tam thought as the walled city came into view.  Even from a distance, the old priest could hear the clang of hammers on anvils, people shouting, the bleating of cattle, goats and sheep being led to the slaughter.  Qi Tam continued along the highway until he reached the back of the long queue of people and wagons waiting to enter the city.  He tried to make small talk with ragged mercenary caravan guards, the wide-eyed sons of herders making their first trip to such a large settlement and the painted doxies making their way along the lone, offering their services to anyone willing to pay.

After what felt like several hours, Qi Tam finally reached the city gate.  Several large, bearded guards flanked the entrance.  Each directed scowls and cruel eyes toward the long stream of travelers still in line and then to the vagabond priest.

One of the men approached.  He was dressed in a heavy fur cloak that was draped over a rusty chain shirt.  A many notched axe was slipped through his belt and he had a sword strapped to his hip.  The guard stank of wine and sweat.  He still swept his gaze over the priest with practiced efficiency, scanning for valuables and trying to determine if the old man was worth pressing for a bribe.  The guard quickly decided that he wasn’t and simply stated “One iron coin to enter the city, otherwise you sleep in the stockyards.”  Qi Tam passed the guard a small coin and was waved through.

The priest wrinkled his nose as he entered the city.  The amalgam of smells trapped behind the wall assaulted him.  Human and animal waste, decay, cooked food and the unwashed bodies of so many people all competed for his attention, causing his gorge to rise and his eyes to water.  Calling upon the magic provided to him by his god to freshen the air around him, Qi Tam made his way along the congested thoroughfare, dodging between pedestrians and wagons, horses and riders, vendors, whores and cutpurses as he searched for a place to spend the night.

- Chapter 5: Night in the City -

Qi Tam wandered the streets of the frontier town.  He slipped like the breeze between the press of humanity.  His eyes darted to and fro, taking in the faces of hard, weather-beaten men.  On his left, there was a sizeable group of Kvarins from the Eight Cities, clad in long cloaks to ward off the autumn chill.  Northern barbarians, easily recognized by their furs, laughed and joked outside of a tavern.  Ahead and to his left, a knot of his fellow Mingols tended their horses.  Prostitutes from all the human races were present, working the crowd while raucous music blared from several taverns.

The priest slipped into an alleyway to escape from the flow of traffic and scanned the sky, watching for a sign from his god or at a feathered friend to guide him.  Sparrows, ravens and pigeons soon revealed themselves to him.  He whistled softly and held out one hand and a thrush descended to alight on one finger.

“I was hoping you could lead me to a safe place to sleep tonight,” Qi Tam told the bird.  The thrush twittered a response and took to the air.  It flew ahead circling back every now and again to make sure it didn’t get too far ahead of its human charge.  The bird led Qi Tam all of the way through town to a small quiet inn nestled in the lengthening shadows of the city’s palisade.  It perched on the railing of the covered porch and waited for the priest.  Qi Tam gave the thrush some of the seeds from his pocket in thanks and went inside.

Within a few minutes, Qi Tam was safely ensconced with a small guest room, having paid the gray-haired matron from his meager supply of coins.  He opened the window to let in the evening breeze and sank onto the bed.  He kicked off his sandals and began to massage his feet and looked out the window.

“I get that it isn’t my place to question Your will, but I dearly hope that You are leading me to my apprentice.  I am an old man and don’t think that I can go much farther.  My spirit is willing but my body grows weak.”  A gentle breeze rustled the curtain.  “Yes.  I know.  Be patient.  You gods seem to say that a lot.”  He chuckled softly, “I suppose it makes the lot of You look wiser, like You knew what was coming ahead of time.”  Another gust stirred the sash, “Sorry”, he muttered, “Just an observation from an old man to an old friend.  I miss our simple life at the shrine.  It was peaceful there, just You and I and the occasional pilgrim.  But You’re right, I’ll see things differently after a night’s rest.  Until morning, then, good night, my lord.”

With that Qi Tam blew out the room’s single candle and quickly drifted off to sleep.

- Chapter 6: On the Road Again -

Light creeping through the window awoke the priest the next morning.  He rolled out of bed, his joints protesting even that gentle movement and relived himself in the chamberpot.  After gathering his belongings, he headed downstairs.  Taking just an apple and a slice of warm bread for breakfast, the priest of the North Wind walked out into the street.  Despite being midmorning, he saw few of last night's travelers.  He suspected many had stayed up drinking and whoring until shortly before dawn.

Merchants were the only people stirring at this hour, opening their stores and setting up kiosks.  A few called out to him, hawking their wares.  Qi Tam nodded and waved but continued walking, his cane clicking on the street’s cobblestones.

He reached the west gate and passed through into the wilderness.  Free of the city’s confines, the wind blew lustily in greeting, bringing a smile to his face.  Tiny birds, swallows and jays mostly, flocked around the priest, cheeping and chirping as he traveled.  The cleric smiled at his feathered friends and whispered a prayer to the North Wind, thanking Him for their companionship.  A light coating of snow lay on the ground and Qi Tam picked his way along carefully until he reached the next fork in the road.

He stopped and prayed once more for guidance and set off in pursuit of the wind.

- Chapter 7: Destination -


After many days of walking, Qi Tam passed through a narrow finger of the Great Forest.  He found himself staring into a valley nestled between the trees and the base of a mountain range.  A village of tents was spread out before him.  To his right, an icy tor rose up from the valley and fur-clad figures could be seen skiing down the slope.  To his left, there was a crevasse and a great wooden lodge.

Closer to where the old priest was standing, he could see an eclectic mix of ramshackle buildings half-buried in snow.  One of the tiny swallows that had been following Qi Tam during his walk landed on his shoulder and the cleric absently reached into his pocket to offer it some seeds.  The priest took a deep breath as the wind died away and whispered “Welcome to Cold Corner, my little friend.”

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Qi Tam                                    CR15

Male Human Cleric of the North Wind 15 NG Medium Humanoid
Init: +1; Senses: Listen +5, Spot +5
Languages: R/W and Speak Auran, Low Lankhmarese, and Mingol
AC: 11 (+1); t: 11, ff: 10
Hp: 73 (15HD)
Immune: - -
Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +16
Spd: 30’ (6 squares)
Melee +10 Raptor Cane: 1d6-1
Base Atk: +11; Grap +10
Combat Gear: Raptor Cane

Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 16, Wis 20, Cha 15

SA: Divine Spells (CL15, DC15 + spell level; 6/7+1/6+1/5+1/5+1/4+1/2+1/2+1/1+1); Domains: Liberation and Travel
SQ: Disciple of the Whispering Breeze substitution levels; Turn Undead 5/day, Convert prepared spells to healing spells

Feats: Animal Affinity (b); Brew Potion; Combat Casting; Consecrate Spell (BoED); Craft Wondrous Item; Iron Will; Self-Sufficient

Skills: Concentration +10, Diplomacy +12, Handle Animal +13, Heal +25, Knowledge (Religion) +21, Perform (Singing) +5, Spellcraft +12, Survival +25, Ride +4

Possessions: Combat Gear plus Black and Orange Clerical Robes (the right pocket functions as an Everfull Seed Pouch); White Chemise; Gray Leggings; Sandals; Conical Straw Hat; Belt Pouch; Wooden Holy Symbol; Flint & Steel; Spell Component Pouches; Long-stemmed Pipe (with Pouch of Tobacco); Waterskin; Winter Blanket

Typically Prepared Spells:

0th: Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink

1st: Bless, Comprehend Languages, Endure Elements, Protection from Evil, Obscuring Mist, Sanctuary, Shield of Faith + Longstrider

2nd: Calm Emotions, Enthrall, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Silence, Zone of Truth + Locate Object
3rd: Create Food and Water, Daylight, Helping Hand, Magic Vestment, Searing Light + Fly

4th: Death Ward, Dismissal, Divine Power, Greater Magic Weapon, Spell Immunity + Freedom of Movement

5th: Commune, Greater Command, Righteous Might, Spell Resistance + Break Enchantment

6th: Blade Barrier, Summon Monster VI + Find the Path

7th: Holy Word, Repulsion + Greater Teleport

8th: Summon Monster VIII + Mind Blank

Disciple of the Whispering Breeze substitution levels

• Speak with Animals (costs a 3rd level spell slot): May Speak with Birds only – at will

• Polymorph Self (costs a 5th level Spell slot); may transform into a bird for 1 minute per level;  can use this ability once/day at 9th level; gains a 2nd use of this ability at 14th level and a 3rd use at 19th level

• Swarm Shape (costs a 6th level spell slot); 1/day, turns into a swarm of diminutive birds; there are 2x current hp of birds in the swarm)

• Reincarnate (costs a 7th level spell slot); If reduced to 0 or fewer hp, may attempt a Fortitude save equal to DC10 + dmg dealt to transform into Swarm Shape with the maximum number of birds in it; after 2d4 days, the birds coalesce into his human form and at full health; this process can be disrupted by killing all of the creatures created by the swarm.

Age: 85

Height: 5’3”     Weight: 105 lbs.     Hair: Gray (shaves scalp)    Eyes: Brown

Appearance: Qi Tam is an elderly man with skin the color of old parchment.  His hands are covered with liver spots and he has long, bushy eyebrows that have gone gray with age.  His cheeks were ritually slashed and scarred as a child to prevent the growth of a beard.  He typically dresses in threadbare robes with gray leggings and sandals.  He carries a wooden cane carved to resemble a raptor’s head.