Today's entry will absolutely not be about a prophet (unless you consider common sense and knowledge of history prophetic, which is reasonable). But that's a cool painting and Tiresias is a decent jumping off point for the concept. Prior warning: the background assumes some level of spiritual/mystical component to the setting, specifically animism.A real quick bit of explanation for Tuesday posts in general; I am not generating a character for a specific rpg, a specific piece of fandom, or a bit of fiction I am working on. So I will try to be as general in the applicability of this as I can. If you are interested in seeing my thoughts about systems/setting specific stuff about these characters, comment to this post and I will be more than happy to blather on about it there.
Okay, on to the good stuff! The Blind Peacemaker grew up in a tightly knit community, and his family shared no great privileged or position of distinction. He was not groomed for power, responsibility, or title. This is important, because nearly all he will go on to do will be generated from his own sense of right action. It is not a character that is torn between his secret convictions and the mantle put upon him at an early age; he finds his calling and assumes it with great ease.
His destiny meets him after puberty but shy of adulthood. A spirit, powerful, petty, but of a purview that includes knowledge, wisdom, cleverness, threatens the community. Their sages fail to succeed in diplomacy, their leaders fail to supplicate with offerings, and their warriors, those with the courage to, are slain upon approach. The Blind Peacemaker, a student of local lore, the only child in the community to do things like memorize ancient poetry for fun, just so happens to remember an obscure verse pertaining to this spirit. It speaks of a price the godling is willing to receive in exchange for what the giver wishes.
As the bodies begin to seriously pile up, he goes to speak with the spirit in a dark cove far past midnight. With convincing sincerity, he offers the price, the power of his sight, in exchange for the safety of his people. The spirit, bemused by the offer but also by the peacemaker's simple and honest gesture, agrees. And he sweetens the deal by granting a personal gift in exchange. Just as the peacemaker came to the spirit with pure intentions and no doubts, the spirit grants his words the power to open the hearts and ears of all who hear him without prejudice. In effect, this young man is now the ideal negotiator.
Playing tips: The Peacemaker may have been shunned by his former people for receiving a "gift" that their people seemingly had to suffer for, or perhaps for breaking a social taboo that restricts locals from interacting with spirits. Conversely, the Peacemaker may have risen to the highest station in this community, partially due to his new found power, but perhaps just out of simple gratitude.
The Peacemaker's behavior exemplifies the emotional attitudes of many of the great zen masters; not shut off and repressed, but experiencing a total mastery of himself. This leads to an air of doubtless confidence; after all, he was willing to exchange the sight of all things for other people and did so without reservation. He is not shy about using his mystical gifts to patiently convince others of the rightness of his views, nor is he unwilling to share the lore he has collected over his life. However, he is a shrewd bargainer, and will not grant anything freely, though his demands are always of a benevolent nature, even if he is not the beneficiary. He is the coolest of the cool, though he feels every heartache.
If it is possible to manipulate this character, it would be through his love of knowledge, which he covets, or his emotional ties to those he shepherds. The man lives for others, indulging in righteousness for its own sake. He commonly takes no mate, unable to give his attention unfairly to one over many, but if he does, it is likely through polygamy. This character, especially decades beyond the loss of his sight, is likely the savant of his region.
Pic courtesy of wikipedia
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