Rahaal and her elder sister Doulya were born into a successful merchant family in Absolom. Their mother Sawai and (significantly older) father, Qajif, ran a thriving import / export business that reached from Katapesh to Kyonin. As Rahaal grew, she learned the wonders that trade could bring to the world, and found she loved the fine food and wonderful entertainment that shiny gold made possible...especially in a city as splendid as Absolom.
Born with one emerald eye and one golden one, it was always clear that something was unusual about her. Some were entranced; others stared or quickly walked away. Children being children, Rahaal was mocked mercilessly by the other students in the small academy she attended. Where a different girl might have gotten more shy or insecure, Rahaal instead dug her heels in and became fiercely proud. Her father Qajif stoked her pride, telling her tales of a foggily remembered great great great grandfather who had wooed an Angel of Abadar, and referring to her as angel eyes and eyes of Abadar.
As the sisters matured, her mother Sawai took a bigger and bigger hand in running the business...and Doulya was clearly following in her footsteps. While Rahaal could more than hold her own in negotiations and in appraising the trustworthiness of a potential seller, Doulya had a far better head for figures and overall business sense.
The family’s patron deity was Abadar, and all held affection and gratitude for the Master of the First Vault. When her father grew ill and died, the teenage Rahaal found greater and greater comfort in the worship of Abadar. A year later, when she relinquished any claim on the family business to her sister and began to study as a cleric, no one was surprised.
As is common for young Abadaran clerics in Absolom, Rahaal has been sent on a mission. A city person through and through, she’d hoped to be sent to an established church somewhere cosmopolitan. Instead...she’s been sent North to Restov. (Well, at least it’s a city...of sorts)
Rahaal had mixed feelings about her new role. She is hopeful for the difference she might make and did have a taste for travel going back to her childhood, following her mother on the road as she searched for new opportunities or negotiated new trade partnerships in Katapesh, Kyonin, Cheliax, or Qadira. At the same time, she found it hard to be away too long from the splendor of Absolom...and Brevoy is rather chilly for her tastes. Rahaal had grown to be quite a bon vivant, cherishing the fine concerts, theater, and restaurants that simply couldn’t be matched elsewhere.
In any event, Rahaal is nothing if not devoted and disciplined. She makes a point of savoring the best each new city has to offer, and tries to travel in as much comfort as she can. And while roughing it in the wilderness isn't her cup of tea, she puts up with it when necessary to fulfill her calling, helping fledgeling towns grow into their truly civilized potential.
She arrived in Restov not five weeks ago and got to work helping to establish and grow the local chapel of Abadar. Four days ago, the chapel got an invitation to send a Cleric to join an expedition. It was a political favor that had to be responded to but none of the Clerics were actually interested. Rahaal, as the least senior, got stuck with it.
She isn’t quite sure what this is going to mean but they’ve given her some a light crossbow, some used scale mail, and a dented shield and assured her that this is Abadar’s will...and so she arrives at the Swordlords’ Guildhall, letter in hand.