Alexite d'Elidir's page

Sichelgaita's face goes from a smile to contrition. "I'm so sorry - I didn't mean to bring up unpleasant memories." She sighs. "We have the pain of losing a father in common, sad to say."

Shaking her head, she brings a smile back to her face. "But you're right. We'll talk of happier things, and I'll strive to be better, more sensitive company. Though I fear I'll not be the most genteel company - going from the daughter of a horse-tamer to being a holy warrior of Iomedae and Saint Lymirin wasn't conducive to polish or sophistication."

Alexite nods sadly and, in a quiet voice:

"My dad was with the Chelish cavalry. He put me in the saddle as soon as he could find stirrups I could reach. He died in the Goblinblood War."

He acknowledges Annan's toast with a silent raise of his cup.

Sheliantha seems unfazed by the lyrakien swooping by and around her, just smiling at the antics, and looks back to Alexite with a more serious expression. "The Aspis had found a way to intrude on the space of the Tapestry, but we now know how to do it as well. They wanted in there to exploit the place, so missions such as yours were to good purpose. Hopefully they will be required somewhat less in the future. Sadly, though, I don't think we know of a way to extract the residents."

He purses his lips.

"The Consortium had enslaved a tribe of lizardfolk in there, we freed them. It was the right thing to do. Then I found a Pathfinder had stolen some of their eggs. Another time, we found a castle of ratfolk - the Pathfinders I was with wanted to trade slaves with them. Finally, we were sent across the portal to Varisia with orders simply to kill everyone on the other side. Even the cleric of Asmodeus said she wanted to wash after that one.

Whenever I'm given a mission, I look for the chance to do good somewhere and I find the Society has undermined it. That's why I'm here, of course. Fighting for Andoran might achieve something."

There is a long pause.

"I'm sorry, I'm spoiling the tone."

"I'm glad somebody enjoyed the Tapestry. Every time they send me through that portal it's with orders to hunt down someone from the Aspis Consortium...".

He stares into space for a moment.

"I'm going to stop talking. The Pathfinder Society is making me cynical."

Alexite wanders towards the bar. On his feet, one notes how small he is, well under the average for a human.

"It is. It's run by Hellknights.

The two most beautiful places I've ever visited on a mission were probably the saddest too. The Grand Lodge at Almas and the House of the Immortal Son in Oppara. Both once Cathedrals of Aroden."

He pauses, before muttering:

"Both turned into charnel houses at the time, too, but that's an aside..."

I think they keep some behind the bar.

In case you get something stuck in your "craw".

A low voice from the corner carries across the room.

"Steel Arrow's only jealous he doesn't have a baby face like me and thee."

There's a ring of truth to the statement - although the speaker keeps in the corner gloom, it's possible to the hint of a soft, almost feminine face and long red hair in the shadows of his hood.

I'm not from Andoran, either. People keep telling me I look Chelaxian, and they're right. I was born there - as a slave. A Pathfinder from Andoran freed me when I was 9 years old and brought me back to Absalom. I've grown up ever since working as a valet for any Pathfinder who would teach me anything. I swore I would pay that debt forward, using my "jack of all trades" skills, working as a Pathfinder agent and freeing as many other slaves as I can in my lifetime.

I get that. Isger. It's like being a slave, only with more hobgoblins.

A quiet voice cuts through from the corner;

"Sod's law says like everyone else here... when they realised The Ten will happily look the other way to pillage, murder and slavery if it puts another priceless treasure in their vaults..."

A small, red-haired young man shifts uneasily in his seat when he realises that eyes have turned to him.