About Cecilia HawthorneBackground, Description & Personality:
Background: Cecilia Hawthorne was born the daughter of traveling merchant and a mercenary captain. Her father died when she was less than a year old, and so Cecilia was raised by her mother, growing up in the wagon used to transport their goods. While the two of them have travelled to many cities along the Dawn Way, Cecilia has always considered Brindol her second home. Her mother's work often brought them there during Diamond League Day, the biggest event of the year. Listening to the songs and stories of the heroes who defended Brindol, it was here that Cecilia first gained her love for the performing arts.
Shortly after turning 18 years old, Cecilia began travelling on her own. During this time she worked as a sword-for-hire, was employed as a barmaid in a tavern, and even apprenticed herself to a bard. A natural singer and dancer, Cecilia was quick to embrace the life of a travelling minstrel. After learning everything she could from her mentor, a woman known only as Madame Blossom, the two of them parted ways. Moving from town to town, Cecilia went on to perform in taverns, inns, and village squares throughout the region. However, for the last few months Cecilia has been staying in Brindol, working on a project. She has always known that her father died doing battle with the Red Hand during their invasion of Elsir Valea 23 years ago, but recently she has found evidence that suggest he might have fought alongside the legendary heroes of the Diamond League themselves! Excited to discover this lost piece of family history, Cecilia now spends most of her time studying city records, consulting locals on their experiences, exploring the remnants of the war scattered throughout the countryside, and badgering the caretaker of the local museum. She hopes to one day to compose an epic about the brave adventurers who almost single handily saved Elsir Valea from destruction, and perhaps to follow in her father's footsteps, and become a hero herself... Description: Cecilia is a young woman with fine features and long red hair. Her eyes are green, she has a small nose, and prominent cheekbones. Cecilia has a slender build, though anyone who looks at her for more than a few moments will realise that there is a firm layer of muscle on her slight frame. She has worn many different types of clothing over the years, but over the last few months Cecilia Hawthorne has increasingly favoured the colour red. She currently wears a rather theatrical get-up, with a frilly white shirt, crimson vest, crimson pants, crimson cape, white leather gloves, and a crimson broad-brimmed hat complete with a single white feather. She always carries a red whip on her belt. Personality: Cecilia greatly values the concept of freedom. On a personal level, this means she likes being able to choose her own path. On an interpersonal level, this means that she pities those who allow themselves to become just another cog in society's machine, and hates those who force their will upon others. In Cecilia's perfect world, everyone would be able to go where they want, do what they want, and be whoever they want to be. When interacting with others, Cecilia is generally passionate and full of bravado, and quickly bonds with those who share her enthusiasm. But while she might play the part of the invincible hero while around others, Cecilia still has her fair share of fears and doubts when she is alone. She simply refuses to share them with others. Goals:
In-Character Goal: Cecilia Hawthorne has always loved songs and stories, ever since she was a little girl. Her love for the performing arts has only increased since she has begun learning the ways of a travelling minstrel. Though her current goal is to compose a tale of the brave heroes of the Diamond League, and the many people who aided them (such as her father), the truth is that she wants much more than that. Cecilia doesn't want to just tell stories, she wants to live them! To battle evil and save innocents, and to have all the people of the world know her name.
Out-Of-Character Goal: Much of Cecilia's character is based around the heroic persona that she has crafted for herself. She believes that her lineage guarantees a grand destiny for her, one that is full of adventure. However, should she find out that her father (a man who she has idolised for years) was not the man she thought he was, it would almost certainly shatter her worldview. Combine this with the reality of war (the poems and songs often forgot how to mention traumatic it can be to drive a blade through someone's chest or watch a friend choke on their own blood) and it is clear that Cecilia has some tough times ahead of her. To describe it in a single sentence: I would like Cecilia to discover the truth about her father, have this cause her to question everything that she knows about herself, only for her to ultimately realise that such things don't matter, and to emerge from the ordeal with a new perspective on life. Secrets:
Known Secret: Cecilia suffers from a condition known Aquagenic Urticaria. Essentially, she has a negative reaction whenever she comes into contact with water, resulting in a rash and severe irritation that lasts for several hours. Cecilia has devised many different methods to cope with her condition over the years, but currently uses light sponge baths to keep herself clean, and frequent castings of the spell Prestidigitation to keep her clothing cool throughout the hot subtropical days. As someone who has tried very hard to craft the image of a heroic adventurer for herself, Cecilia finds such a weakness most embarrassing. She goes to great lengths to conceal her condition, and will not others about it unless there is no other choice. (I could also potentially use this as a drawback)
Unknown Secret: Though Cecilia takes great pride in her recent discovery that her father was a hero, the truth is that Tarras Hawthorne was nothing more than a traitor and a coward. While the man did fight alongside the Diamond League several times during their defence of Elsir Valea, he was secretly conspiring with Azarr Kul to betray the group to the Red Hand in return for a large sum of gold. He was discovered before he could put his plot into motion, and was summarily executed. To avoid bringing shame to his widow and infant daughter, the Diamond League spread the story that he died in a battle with a Red Hand Warband. Very few people know the truth about what actually happened. Connected Characters:
Madame Blossom (Friend) – Cecilia's instructor in the ways of the bard. A woman in her mid-fifties, she taught Cecilia how to sing, dance, play instruments, use magic, and just generally how to live the life of a wandering minstrel. She considers herself retired now, though Cecilia is sure that a quiet existence is not in her nature. While she has never lifted a weapon in her life, Madame Blossom is far from defenceless. Her mastery of bardic magic is second to none, and Cecilia has seen her mentor shatter wood and break rocks with but a word (a technique that she is still trying to figure out herself). Cecilia hasn't seen Madame Blossom since they parted ways almost a year ago.
Sertanian (Friend) – Her study of the War of the Red Hand has understandably led Cecilia to the local museum, commonly referred to as 'The Hall of Great Valor'. Over the course of her many visits, she has befriended the caretaker, an old soldier by the name of Sertanian. He has been more than happy to share some of his war stories, and the two of them regularly meet for lunch. Vericho Nindleton (Hostile) – Though she has only been performing for a few years now, Cecilia has been able to make a name for herself by singing and dancing at some of the taverns in Brindol. Since she and the halfling are often competing for work, a rivalry has formed between the two of them, to the point that their last meeting ended with Cecilia slapping Vericho across the face. She can't explain it in words, but something about the halfling just rubs her the wrong way. Qurks & Mannerisms:
- Cecilia always carries a crimson whip on her belt. This weapon once belonged to her father, and was returned to the family upon his death. It is her favoured weapon in combat, which she uses to trip and disarm her foes with an overly dramatic twist of her hand. Cecilia would sooner die than allow the whip to be taken from her.
- As part of her efforts to establish her new identity as an adventurer, Cecilia often introduces herself to others as "Cecilia of the Crimson Lash". She will also answer to the title "Lady Hawthorne" in a pinch. - Because of her allergy to water, Cecilia will go to great efforts to avoid becoming wet. If someone brings a round of drinks to the table, she will quietly move to the chair furthest away from everyone else. If it begins to rain, she will make excuses to not go outside. If they must cross a river, Cecilia will simply say that they must go around it. Additionally, Cecilia is very careful not to let her emotions get the better of her in public. Crying or sweating is just more thing that will trigger a reaction. Stat Block:
Cecilia Hawthorne
Female Chaotic Good Human Bard (Sound Striker), Level 1 Init 4, HP 10/10, Speed 30 AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 15, Fort 1, Ref 6, Will 1, CMB +4 (+2 DM), Base Attack Bonus 0, Action Points 1 Whip +4 (1d3, x2) Rapier +4 (1d6, 18-20/x2) Shortbow +4 (1d6, x3) Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +4 Dex) Abilities Str 12, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 16 Feats, Traits & Skills:
Feats Arcane Strike: As a swift action, you can imbue your weapons with a fraction of your power. For 1 round, your weapons deal +1 damage and are treated as magic for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. For every five caster levels you possess, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +5 at 20th level. Deft Maneuvers: You do not provoke an attack of opportunity when performing a trip, disarm, dirty trick, feint, reposition, or steal combat maneuver. In addition, you receive a +2 bonus on checks with these combat maneuvers. Now a prerequisite for the relevant greater combat maneuver feats. Human Racial Traits
Traits
Drawbacks
Skills Ranks 8+2 Adventure Skill Ranks
Background Skill Ranks
Additional Equipment:
-20 Arrows -Musical Instrument (Pipe) -10 Pieces of Paper -Spell Component Pouch -Inkpen -Swashbuckler's Kit (Backpack, Bedroll, Belt Pouch, Flint & Steel, Iron Pot, Mess Kit, Rope, Soap, 10 Torches, 5 Days of Trail Rations, Waterskin) Spells:
0 Level Spells -Open/Close -Mending -Dancing Lights -Prestidigitation 1st Level Spells
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