Neva Vallastoi's page

“Birth is a time of great change, great striving, and thus great pain”, the older woman says as she daubs cool water on the younger woman’s forehead. “But in our striving, we overcome and surpass the pain. The realization of our ability to do this, not only now, but in each day of our lives, is the real change that birth brings.” She dips the cloth again in the water, shakes off the excess, and brings it once more to the furrowed brow. “That, and you’ll never get a good night’s sleep” she adds, smiling, and the young woman laughs despite herself, giving her midwife a look of thanks.

Neva is a Varisan mid-wife with over twenty years experience helping mothers bring children into the world. Her practical knowledge of the craft has developed into a connection with Pharasma that would humble an ordained priest. Her skill at healing wounds both physical and emotional is remarkable, as is her deep intellectual commitment to the ideas and philosophies underlying the major transformations of birth and death.
She is no stranger to the hard edges of the world. And she does not doubt that pain, death and evil are forces that shape our lives, for she has seen them. But she does not bow, or complain, or shirk. Kind, gentle, and ready with a soft word for her charges, she is nonetheless tough. “I worship the Lady of Graves, young master! I suggest you close your mouth and fetch me those swaddling clothes, or you’ll be telling HER how important you are!”

Though born in Korvosa, Neva has been away for the last two decades. Weary of the stink and crowds, she took her skills to the countryside. She provided midwifery to the villages between Veldraine, Harse and Palin’s Cove, moving from place to place as opportunity or whim provided.
She recently received a request from a childhood friend in Krovosa, asking her help with a young niece facing a first pregnancy. Not wanting to go back to the city, but unwilling to deny a friend, Neva has returned.
As she feared, she was struck by the overwhelming poverty of the place, and has been feeling depressed and claustrophobic. Despite this, she has stayed on longer than planned as more and more mothers have come to request her aid.
She is now conflicted. She doesn’t want to stay, feeling that the city is too oppressive, and that it harms her well being. But she doesn’t want to leave, feeling a sense of duty to those who are suffering. Looking for answers, or at least a chance to talk, she has gone back to her old friend; the same who called her back to Korvosa: a Harrow reader named Zellara.
She’s afraid her old friend will try to talk, again, of “great struggles” and “waiting destinies”. Neva laughs ruefully to herself, figuring she can always go over to the Gray and get less grandiose advice from the priests of Pharasma later.

Neva is a typical daughter of Korvosa. Her dark hair and tanned skin speak to the Varisian blood on her father’s side. Her sharp features and light eyes denote her mother’s Chelaxian family. She is not beautiful, but handsome, too old to be considered “pretty”.
She wears her long brown hair up in a bun to keep it out of her face.
She wears a peasant’s dress of red and gold over supple leather shirt and breeches. She has a broad, tough brown leather apron wrapped over it all. She always carries her well used dagger, as well as her crossbow. This latter she straps to her ancient backpack, which is tied all over with hundreds of bits of string and ribbon; one for each child she has successfully delivered.

HP: 11/25
AC: 14 (Armor +2, Dex +2)
Flatfooted: 12
Touch: 12
CMD 15
Fort: +4
Reflex: +3
Will: +7

Light Crossbow TH: +5; 1d8 19-20/x2
w/in 30': +6; 1d8+1
Dagger +1 TH:+4; 1d4+1 19-20/x2
CMB +4

Crossbow bolts: 10/10
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 23/38
Wand of Cure Moderate Wounds: 34/34
magic silver dagger taken from Verik
Healers kit: 9/10
Scroll of sanctuary (4th), hold person (3rd), shield of faith (4th)

0: create water, detect magic, light, resistance
1: , , sanctuary, shield of faith, cure light wounds (D)
2: hold person, remove disease (D)x2, spiritual weapon
cast:
1: bless (entering Rackers Alley);protection from evil (on Felgar to break Domination)
2:

20-pt buy modified by race and age
Str: 13, -1 for middle age
Dex: 14, +2 for Human bonus, -1 for middle age
Con: 11, -1 for middle age
Int: 11, +1 for middle age
Wis: 15, +1 for middle age, +1 at 4th level
Cha: 13, +1 for middle age