GM Aest's Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale

Game Master Aest

Völundr’s father Tedmand Medvyed Esquire is the second cousin of Lord Gurev Medvyed. As members of the one of great clans of Brevoy - Volundr and his siblings enjoyed a comfortable but relatively humble life for those bearing the Medyyed surname. The only mar on this otherwise idyllic family life was the disappearance of their eldest son on his tenth birthday.

Lord Gurev Medvyed himself lead the search party into the Gronzi Forest, but a month of searching turned up no clues to the fate of Völundr Medvyed. However, one year and one day later their son walked out the woodland and back into their lives.

He remained stoically silent about where he spent his missing year and not even interrogation by Lord Medyyed himself could convince the boy to tell his story. Although happy to have their son back, they could not help noticing how he’d changed. Völundr become aloof, often asking unexpected questions, making inexplicable statements and making decisions with mechanically logical reasoning. Thankfully he always seemed able to smooth social faux-paus with nearly preternatural charm.

A few months after his return Volund requested an apprenticeship with Lord Medvyed’s court wizard Aurddolen. Curious about the odd rumors surrounding the boy, and perhaps bemused by the idea of receiving a formal request from an eleven-year-old, the Wizard agreed to test him for arcane ability.
To Aurddolen’s surprise, Volundr showed a considerable aptitude for it. To his chagrin he found himself agreeing to take the boy on as an apprentice. The logic of the child’s arguments was undeniable.

Within a week young Volundr moved into Stoneclimb fortress and flourished under the tutelage of a master wizard. An added benefit of living in the fortress included access to this cousin’s tutors. During this time, he received a top-notch education in a variety of topics like geography, linguistics and nature.

In fact, Aurddolen’s new apprentice would have been the ideal student if not for his habit of disappearing into the great Gronzi Forest for weeks at time. What his master didn’t know was that Volundr’s motivation for learning the arcane was to find a way back to the Feywild were he’d spent his missing year. In truth his frequent trips into the forest were a quest to find either a breach or the playful sprite Parisa that lead him to the Fey realm the first time.

Upon competition of his apprenticeship Volundr’s realized two things. The first was that Stoneclimb did not need two court wizards and the second was that neither Parisa nor his doorway to the Feywild was in the Gronzi forest.

Thus, Volundr the Wild began his career as a wandering court wizard, consulting for minor nobles and merchants unable to afford a full-time wizard.

Every few years the wandering wizard returns home to the family villa. Although he’s called to the First World and find it difficult to express his feelings, Volundr does have a deep love for his family. He is especially fond of his little sister Ada, who is the only person he has told about his missing year and his compulsion to return.

On a recent trip home Volundr heard rumors that Lord Sutova might be sending expeditions into the stolen lands. The young wizard suspects the connection between the material plane and the Feywild is strong in the stolen lands and hopes to find a path to the First World.

Ada asked him not risk traveling into dangerous territory and threatened to drag him back by the ear if he tried. The truth is she’s worried that if he crosses into the First World he’ll never come back.

As much as he’s driven to reach the First World, a small part of him wishes for a way to break the compulsion.
Voulundr is unaware, but he has a rival somewhere in the world. His memories of why he was cast from the First world are clouded and fuzzy, but it centers around a conflict with another child that had been abducted around the same time as he. He doesn’t remember this person, why they fought or what happened to the other person.

Skills: Obtained during an apprenticeship under a master wizard and some of the best tutors in Brevoy.

Who he values in life: His immediate family especially his younger sister Ada. The extended Medvyed clan. The Sprite Parisa. His familiar daisy.

Interest in the Stolen Lands: A portal to the Fey Realm, learning more about Fey and maybe a cure for his compulsion.

Story/Goal: Volundr’s primary goal is to return to the First World. In the fey realm Volundr spent time in the domains of both Ng and the Green Mother and story arcs involving either or both would be outstanding. I’m considering the Feysworn prestige class too.

Three NPCs: His sister Ada, His friend the Sprite Parisa (Improved Familiar option?), Mystery Rival.

However, he is often so focused on the big picture that he misses tiny details – like eating. Although he’s a world class rhetorician Volundr’s aloofness and alien logic can make him difficult to get to know. In addition to being distant the wizard has difficulty expressing his feelings and can be insensitive to others.

Draped over his should like a stole rests a lattice of delicate vines that form blossoming nets. Twelve varieties of flower grow on the lattice, with each bloom opening at different times of the day to ensure a nearly constant array of colorful petals.

A picture is worth a thousand words

ABILITY SCORES
20 Point buy, Only one score above 17 or below 9 pre-racial adjustments
|10 STR | 14 DEX | 10 CON | 18 INT | 11 WIS | 7 CHA

Racial: Human +2 Intelligence

Final Ability Scores
|10 STR | 14 DEX | 10 CON | 20 INT | 11 WIS | 7 CHA

Modifiers
|0 STR | 2 DEX | 0 CON | 5 INT | 0 WIS | -2 CHA

COMBAT
Initiative: 2 (+2dex)
AC: 12 | With Mage Armor or Shield AC is 16. With Both it's 20.
BAB: +0
CMB:+0
CMD: 12
Flat Footed AC: 10
Touch AC: 12
Hit Points: 7

Saves
Fortitude: +0 (+0Con +0lvl1Wiz)
Reflex: +2 (+2dex+0lvl1Wiz)
Will: +2 (+0Wis +2lvl1Wiz)
*See Drawback Fey Taken for disease, illusions, and poison or Fey abilities
*See Campaign Trait Noble Born (Medvyed) for Will saves VS Fey

Spell DC 15, 17 for Enchantment School.

Combat Maneuvers
CMB: (+0BAB+0Str+0Size)
CMD: (10+0BAB+0Str+2Dex+0Size+0Misc)

Defenses
Armor Class: 10+2Dex+0Other
Flat Footed AC: 10
Touch AC: 10+2Dex
Hit Points: +d6Maxed+0Con+1FavClass

Offense
Base Attack Bonus (BAB): +0
Melee: +0 (+0BAB+0Str)
Ranged: +2 (+2dex+0BAB)

FEATS AND CLASS FEATURES

Level 1 -Spell Focus(Enchantment): Add +1 to the Difficulty Class for all saving throws against spells from the school of magic you select.

Level 1b - Greater Spell Focus(Enchantment): Add +1 to the Difficulty Class for all saving throws against spells from the school of magic you select.This bonus stacks with the bonus from Spell Focus.

Arcane Bonded Familiar [flowering-lattice](Ex or Sp): At 1st level, wizards form a powerful bond with an object or a creature. A familiar is a magical pet that enhances the wizard’s skills and senses and can aid him in magic, while a bonded object is an item a wizard can use to cast additional spells or to serve as a magical item. Once a wizard makes this choice, it is permanent and cannot be changed.
All familiars have special abilities (or impart abilities to their masters) depending on the master’s combined level in classes that grant familiars, as shown on the table below. The abilities are cumulative. These special abilities apply only when the master and familiar are within 1 mile of each other.
-Flowering Lattice: Master gains a +3 bonus on Diplomacy checks
-Natural Armor Adj.: The number noted here is in addition to the familiar’s existing natural armor bonus.
-Alertness (Ex): While a familiar is within arm’s reach, the master gains the Alertness feat.
-Improved Evasion (Ex): When subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, a familiar takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw and half damage even if the saving throw fails.
-Share Spells: The wizard may cast a spell with a target of “You” on his familiar (as a touch spell) instead of on himself. A wizard may cast spells on his familiar even if the spells do not normally affect creatures of the familiar’s type (magical beast).
-Empathic Link (Su): The master has an empathic link with his familiar to a 1 mile distance. The master can communicate empathically with the familiar, but cannot see through its eyes. Because of the link’s limited nature, only general emotions can be shared. The master has the same connection to an item or place that his familiar does.

Arcane School (Enchantment): A wizard can choose to specialize in one school of magic, gaining additional spells and powers based on that school. This choice must be made at 1st level, and once made, it cannot be changed.A wizard that chooses to specialize in one school of magic must select two other schools as his opposition schools, representing knowledge sacrificed in one area of arcane lore to gain mastery in another. A wizard who prepares spells from his opposition schools must use two spell slots of that level to prepare the spell.
Enchantment Arcane School
The enchanter uses magic to control and manipulate the minds of his victims.

Enchanting Smile (Su)
You gain a +2 enhancement bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate skill checks. This bonus increases by +1 for every five wizard levels you possess, up to a maximum of +6 at 20th level. At 20th level, whenever you succeed at a saving throw against a spell of the enchantment school, that spell is reflected back at its caster, as per spell turning.

Dazing Touch (Sp)
You can cause a living creature to become dazed for 1 round as a melee touch attack. Creatures with more Hit Dice than your wizard level are unaffected. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.
Aura of Despair (Su)
At 8th level, you can emit a 30-foot aura of despair for a number of rounds per day equal to your wizard level. Enemies within this aura take a –2 penalty on ability checks, attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and skill checks. These rounds do not need to be consecutive. This is a mind-affecting effect

Opposition Schools: Illusion and Necromancy

Scribe Scroll At 1st level, a wizard gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat. You can create a scroll of any spell that you know. Scribing a scroll takes 2 hours if its base price is 250 gp or less, otherwise scribing a scroll takes 1 day for each 1,000 gp in its base price. To scribe a scroll, you must use up raw materials costing half of this base price. To create scrolls the spellcaster must make a single spell craft check to finish the scroll. The DC to create a scroll is 5 + the caster level. Failing this check means that the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted. Failing this check by 5 or more results in a cursed item.

Spell Completion is the activation method for scrolls. A scroll is a spell that is mostly finished. The preparation is done for the caster, so no preparation time is needed beforehand as with normal spellcasting. All that's left to do is perform the finishing parts of the spellcasting (the final gestures, words, and so on). To use a spell completion item safely, a character must be of high enough level in the right class to cast the spell already. If he can't already cast the spell, there's a chance he'll make a mistake. Activating a spell completion item is a standard action (or the spell's casting time, whichever is longer) and provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does. Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the writing on the scroll. Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the scroll.) Regardless of the time needed for construction, a caster can create no more than one magic item per day

TRAITS
Noble Born: Völundr claims a tangential but legitimate connection to House Medvyed of Brevoy. He's had a comfortable life, but one far from the dignity and decadence of his distant cousins. Although he is associated with an Medvyed,his immediate family is hardly well to do, and he's found his name to be more of a burden than a boon in many social situations.

Medvyed: The family has long a deep respect for the wilderness and is superstitious about the creatures that dwell therein. Volundr gains a +2 trait bonus on all Diplomacy checks made to deal with fey creatures and a +1 trait bonus on Will saves made against their spells and supernatural abilities. The family motto is “Endurance Overcomes All.”

Fey-Taken As a child, Völundr was whisked away by mischievous fey for a time. When he returned, he was considered odd and distant. He longs to return there, and finds the mortal world dull and at times revolting, so he does not eat as as he should and does not question strange visions. Drawback: Völundr takes a –2 penalty on saving throws against disease, illusions, and poison of all kinds, as well as against the spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities of fey.

Student of Philosophy: While in the Feywild Völundr trained with the disciples of Ng in a variety of philosophical traditions. He learned to use logic and reason to persuade others. Benefit(s): Völundr can use his Intelligence modifier in place of his Charisma modifier on Diplomacy checks to persuade others and on Bluff checks to convince others that a lie is true. (This trait does not affect Diplomacy checks to gather information or Bluff checks to feint in combat).

World Traveler (Human): As a wandering court wizard Völundr has traveled the world extensively. He has seen dozens of cultures and have learned to appreciate the diversity of what the world has to offer. Benefits: Völundr gains a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks with that skill, and it is always a class skill for him.

Skills
Skilled: Humans gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever they gain a level.

Adventure Ranks: Ranks 8 [+2Class+1Race+5int+0FC]
Background Ranks: 2

Background Skills
Knowledge Geography +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Linguistics +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Adventure Skills

Trained Class Skills
Knowledge Arcane +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Knowledge Nature +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Knowledge Local +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Knowledge Planes +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Spellcraft +9 [1ranks+3inclass+5int]
Diplomacy +14 [1ranks+3inClassTrait+5IntTrait+3Familiar+2EchantingSmile]+2 vs Fey for +16 total
Fly +6 [1ranks+3inclass+2Dex]

Other trained Skills
Perception +1/+3 [1ranks+0Wis+2FamiliarAlertness]

Languages
Known Language Count 7: Common+5Int+1RankLinguistics
Sylvan
Common
Draconic
Infernal
Abyssal
Celestial
Aklo

SPELL BOOK
A wizard begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level wizard spells (except those from his opposed schools, if any; see Arcane Schools) plus three 1st-level spells of his choice. The wizard also selects a number of additional 1st-level spells equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to the spellbok

Number of Known lvl 1 Spells: 8. 3+5Int.

Memory Lapse: You cause the target to forget what happened from the casting of the spell back to the beginning of its last turn. This may allow a retry on a Diplomacy, Intimidate, or opposed skill check, though only with respect to the target, not other creatures that may be present.

Charm Person: This charm makes a humanoid creature regard you as its trusted friend and ally (treat the target’s attitude as friendly). If the creature is currently being threatened or attacked by you or your allies, however, it receives a +5 bonus on its saving throw

Charm Fey: This spell functions as charm person, except it affects a fey instead of a humanoid.

Sleep:A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon 4 HD of creatures. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first. Among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the spell’s point of origin are affected first.

Mage Armor: An invisible but tangible field of force surrounds the subject of a mage armor spell, providing a +4 armor bonus to AC.

Magic Missile: A missile of magical energy darts forth from your fingertip and strikes its target, dealing 1d4+1 points of force damage.

Grease: A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall.

Coin Shot: You turn up to three coins into deadly projectiles that gain the velocity of a bullet when thrown.

FAMILIAR

This scuttling patchwork plant features flowers of many different shapes and colors.

Flowering Lattice CR 1/6

N Diminutive plant
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +1

DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +4 size +1 Natural Armor)
hp 3
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
plant traits:
Low-light vision.
Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
Immunity to paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning.
Proficient with its natural weapons only.
Not proficient with armor.
Plants breathe and eat, but do not sleep.
OFFENSE
Speed 5 ft., climb 5 ft.
Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Special Attacks pollen

STATISTICS
Str 1, Dex 13, Con 9, Int —, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB –3; CMD 2
Skills Climb +3
SQ bountiful fruits

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Bountiful Fruits (Ex)
Once per week, a flowering lattice produces a handful of small fruits or berries that remain ripe for 1 week. Eating all of the fruit takes 1 minute and affects the eater as if she had consumed a berry affected by goodberry.

Pollen (Ex)
Once every 1d4 rounds, a flowering lattice can expel a cloud of pollen in a 10-foot cone. Creatures in the area are dazzled for 2 rounds (Fortitude DC 11 negates). If a creature currently dazzled by the pollen is affected again, it is blinded for 1 round (Fortitude DC 11 negates). The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

The result of centuries of plant husbandry, flowering lattices are delicate networks of vines that form blossoming nets about 1 square foot in size. As many as 12 varieties of flower grow from an individual flowering lattice, with each bloom opening at different times of the year and hours of the day to ensure a nearly constant array of colorful petals. This plant’s enthusiasts often incorporate the organism into their fashion, draping them over the shoulders like a stole or over the head as a hood. These lattices require regular care, surviving on their own only in regions with rich soil and ample pollinators.

Marta Callandriil (mother)-Cheerful and friendly woman who makes friends easily.

Elisabeta Cambourne (girlfriend)- Jaxom's sister. When Caerwyn informed her he was leaving for the Stolen Lands she took the news hard.

Jaxom Cambourne (friend)- Caerwyn's friend and member of the Restov guard with Caerwyn.

He looked his father in the eyes "Father, I am going to reclaim the stolen lands."
His father looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Are you now? That would be quite an accomplishment; quite an accomplishment indeed.. You may yet earn the right to bear my name." He gave the young man a patronizing smile.
"I have no interest in bearing your name."
His father stepped back in shock, as if struck across the face. With nothing further to say, Eladan left his father's quarters.
Outside he met his half brother. It was evident to him that his brother had been listening at the door. He shook his head in disgust at his brother's excuses and made his way to leave.

In the courtyard he met his half-sister. They embraced and she talked to him as he made his way to the stables.
"My brother tells me you are going to reclaim the stolen lands." He nodded to her. "He is afraid of you, Eladan." He looked at her in surprise.
"Why?"
"Because he sees your strength. You have what he does not. He is afraid you will take his place." Eladan lets out a sigh of disgust and shakes his head.
"His place is no place for me, sister. But if he stabs me in the back he may have much to fear from me. I must go, sister. My duty awaits. Be well." And with that, he departed.

--- A paragraph, list, or other form of description for your character’s appearance. A picture would be nice, as well.
Eladan is a well built man on the cusp of his prime. He wears his long dark hair tied back when in the city. But otherwise he lets it grow long. In the warmer months he wears a sleeveless jerkin with a hood. in the colder months, he adds a cloak. His face is hard and strong, but kind. His gaze is resolute and steely. His eyes show a powerful force of will behind them. He is taller than average with dark brown eyes. Scars and tattoos cross his arms. He carries a longbow, javelins, a spear, and a sword. He has a strong, sharp nose and a sharp chin. His facial profile is wider than average. He has a strong brow and dark eyebrows.
His posture is confident and upright, with his shoulders wide, and his arms at his side, his legs spaced out. He walks with grace.
When he focuses, his eyes, it is almost as if they could burn like fire.

I'm not an artist, so no picture.

--- A paragraph about your character’s personality.
Humble and soft-spoken, in contrast to his Taldane heritage. But quietly confident. He knows who and what he is.
Eladan prefers not to speak first. He is not bright and he knows it. He makes his decisions through intuition. He leads through charisma and willpower. and he knows better than to make a difficult decision with out the counsel of those he trusts that are wiser and smarter than him. His willingness to listen, serves him well in many difficult situations. He is unafraid of eye contact. He builds strong rapport without having to say much, partly by maintaining strong eye contact with the people he speaks to.

--- A goal or two your character would like to accomplish, or a story you’d like to play out.
Make a name for himself. Possibly establish a new house. He certainly wants to lead people. He feels he was destined to lead.

Eladan's fairy tale trope is that of the King or Warrior in waiting. He is in my mind akin to Strider; Aragorn. He is only waiting for the right time to scend. Unlike Aragorn, he does not know what he is waiting to ascend to: he does not know who his dunedain are, either. All he knows is that at the right time, he will know what to do. He knows this not out of pride, arrogance, or a dark desire to rule or control. He simply knows in his heart that he was meant to lead.
Although I keep saying that Eladan is destined for some great purpose. I don't actually know or prefer what it is. It could be for him to be a king or general or just a folk hero. Or it could be something else. Eladan does not realize how important it is to him to "prove himself" to his father. He feels destined to lead, but he is not self centered about it. He wants to lead people to a greater purpose than his own destiny.

--- At least three NPCs. A family member, a friend or acquaintance, and a rival or enemy. Be prepared to have things happen to your NPCs.
* Father: Lord Domani Surtova; LN.
Always liked Eladan but never loved or accepted him. Eladan is strongly motivated to not be like his father, although he also has a subconscious desire to impress his father or to somehow surpass his approval.
* Mother: Kala of the Night Hunt Tribe; NG Barbarian.
A fierce warrior. It is from her that he gets his mighty force of will. She is the one who always told him that he was made for more and was destined for greatness. Taught him to be strong, courageous, and determined.
* Tribal Chieftain Father Figure: Nonket of the Night Hunt Tribe; NG Shaman.
Taught him how to be a man and helped to instill him with confidence.
* Brevoy Woodsman Father Figure: Sverk; LN Ranger.
Taught him how to truly master the wilderness. Says he is too old to join him now but could be persuaded to join him in the Stolen Lands later on.
* Half-Brother: Oritian Surtova; LE
Eladan's brother takes after his father, but with fewer good qualities. He is afraid of Eladan. Because Eladan speaks so little, his motives are hard for people to read. So the half-brother reads the worst into them. He is afraid that Eladan wants to take his place as the first heir of their father. He is not above making assassination attempts on Eladan's life if he hears that Eladan's repute is growing.
* Half-Sister: Euphemne Surtova; NG
Eladan's sister has a good heart. She does not have the strength of will to oppose her brother or her father. Her mother was a much weaker woman than Kala; it is almost a miracle that she was born with as much goodness as she was. Regardless, she loves Eladan better than either her brother or her father. She does what she can to protect him.

Secrets
Eladan knows that he is a bastard and who his father is. But it is not common knowledge at all; most likely only people in Ice Port would know this.
Eladan does not know about the danger he is in from his half-brother.

Memories
Eladan remembers bouncing on his father's knee as a toddler. He also remembers playing a chess-like game with him as a school-age boy. He remembers his father smiling at him. He also remembers the pangs of anguish that other boys got so much more time and attention from their fathers than he did from his.
Eladan remembers the lullaby his mother sang him every night until he was too old for it. He hums it to himself sometimes when he is doing menial tasks.

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Defense
--------------------
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
HP 14/14
Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +3

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Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee
Ranged
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks
Spell-Like Abilities

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Statistics
--------------------
Str 17
Dex 14
Con 10
Int 8
Wis 14
Cha 14

Base Atk +0; CMB +3; CMD 15

Feats
Tribal Scars - Night Hunt (+6hp, +2 perception, +2 survival)
Point Blank Shot

Traits
Bastard - Take a -1 penalty on Cha checks with Brevoy nobility, but gain +1 on Will saves
Erastil's Speaker - gain +1 on diplomacy and it becomes a class skill

Languages
Common, Kellid

SQ

Skills (7 ranks = 6 class -1 Int + 1 Skilled + 1 favored class)
+7 Diplomacy (1 rank + 3 class + 2 Cha + 1 trait)
+6 Handle Animal (1 rank + 3 class + 2 Cha)
+10 Handle animal, companion (handle animal + 4 animal companion)
+3 Knowledge, nature (1 rank + 3 class - 1 Int)
+3 Knowledge, geography (1 rank + 3 class - 1 Int)
+8 Perception (1 rank + 3 class + 2 Wis + 2 feat)
+6 Stealth (1 rank + 3 class + 2 Dex)
+8 Survival (1 rank + 3 class + 2 Wis + 2 feat)

Combat Gear

Other Gear

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Special Abilities
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Bonus Feat: Humans select one extra feat at 1st level.

Skilled: Humans gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever they gain a level.

Orisons
Create Water
Detect Magic
Know Direction
Light

Lvl 1
Aspect of the Falcon
Endure Elements

Animal Companion: Elk

Once Petia came of age, she left the city and her old life behind, for the most part. Luccia, as always, continued to excel in her studies and pursuits in New Stetven - and, eventually, at fending off suitors as well. Petia accompanied Petreius as he went off to Restov to train with the Aldori, following a path that Petia could only watch from the sidelines. At first, as the well-mannered scion of a rich family, expectations followed Petia around, wearing her down. In response, Petia sought refuge in the stables - shoveling horse manure certainly teaches one humility and the value of hard work, but the animals also never try to tell you what to wear or how to speak. Over the few years that Petreius was busy training in Restov, Petia reinvented herself, casting off the trappings of high society and integrating herself into the settler community along the southern borders. She converted her skills from the frivolous pursuits of home to more practical ones, at least relatively. While her main job was generally taking care of horses and other pack animals, she also became quite skilled at archery and dabbled in magic in whatever time she had to spare, her steady hands suiting themselves well to handling a bow and clear singing voice transferring quite well to spellcasting. However, she has never kept out of touch with Petreius and Luccia, the three frequently sending letters among themselves to keep each other updated on their separate lives.

Once Petreius finished his training at the Aldori Academy, he decided to take a trip home. Despite her reservations, Petia followed him for what she resolved to be the last time. The twins' time away seemed to deepen their parents' distaste for their daughter but also Luccia's affection towards them, Petreius in particular. After a night of passion, the two decided to never part again. Their parents begrudgingly assented to a wedding, despite how they saw it - their daughter's biggest enemy seducing her beloved brother. Of course, Petia was beyond happy, even though she had to revert back to her most hated mannerisms for the ensuing ceremonies. Once that was finished, the three beat a hasty retreat back to Restov, where Petreius and Luccia settled down, and Petia returned to the pioneer life, with just a few gifts from back home to keep her company.

After a while, Petreius sent word of an exciting new opportunity - the Swordlords were thinking of sending an expedition to claim the Stolen Lands, and were looking for volunteers to lead the way. The timing of the invitation could not have been better for Petia. Ever since she first went out to the frontier, she's been hounded by a bandit - a kid by the name of Sorex who seems to have a grudge against her for some reason. In the name of "putting the city girl in her place", he had been sabotaging her tools and stealing her gear, until one night, not long ago, Petia caught him and chased him away, putting an arrow in his rear on the way out. However, Sorex escaped and sought refuge with the brigand gangs in the south, out of reach of Petia's wrath. If this expedition means clearing out those gangs, perhaps she'll be able to settle an old score as well...

Petia was hailed as something of a beauty in New Stetven, but you'd never know it looking at her now. Uncomfortable with the attention it brought, she's traded the fanciful, restrictive fashions back home for plain, practical clothes more suited to the frontier. Her Taldan olive skin, long dark hair, and sharp but usually relaxed facial features are covered in days' worth of dirt and grime - nearly unrecognizable from the well-groomed smile she was forced to put on in the city.

Petia seethes from years of being told she can't do this or shouldn't do that. As a result, she's got a bit of a temper and is quick to anger, though years of hiding and suppressing her displeasure can make it a bit hard for outsiders to tell at times. She doesn't easily trust people she isn't familiar with, but feels much more at home around animals, bonding quickly with the more simple-minded, non-judgmental beasts. She values freedom - both hers and others' - and can be prone to violence when it's under threat of being taken away. Ultimately, though, Petia is at the core a good and gentle person. While she's not always eager to make friends, she always seeks to help out those that she's managed to keep, even if she's not always sure how to do so.

Which would be simple, except that anger isn't a personality, and he's spent two years being taught the blade by someone who's been doing their best to shave the edges off that.

All that to say, he's got something to prove -- but the reason that he's doing it isn't necessarily the anger-filled one he thinks it is, rather, it's coming from a need to prove (to himself) that he actually has worth and value -- that he truly did deserve better than to watch his mother die slowly and waste away -- that he deserves to hold a blade and that his spirit really is as noble as he's recently learned he is... or should be, in any case, if not for political machinations. In point of fact, deep down, he wants the acknowledgement and acceptance of his father far more than any power - though he's nowhere near able to admit that to himself yet. That said, I was rather hoping it would be a journey to get there -- and that even he won't realize that his arrogance is, in fact, both armour and shield against his own doubts for at least a few levels, anyway.

In terms of how all of that works itself out, for the start, I was rather seeing him as Madmartigan-like (from Willow) -- he's convinced he's great, is full of bluster -- and, like Madmartigan, will "grow into" dedicating himself to the cause for something other than personal glory...

There's also his grandfather (Domani Surtova, Lord of the White Manor), who did actually take him in and apologize -- it's not necessarily a close family relationship, but the old man was more than fair to him.

His biggest rival, in terms of political pushback, would be the Lady Natala -- she's a political beast who's been trying to get a scion of Surtova on the throne, and so any possible embarrassment would not be a good thing -- and an upstart claiming the name Surtova, with the look and building a reputation (and possibly a kingdom) would be just the sort of mess she'd hate and try to "fix".

Given his drive and bitterness, there's probably a few trainees of House Surtova and their guard who he's had issues with -- and I can easily see that having escalated if someone pushed back and didn't let go -- so let's add in Haerin Wilthis, second-born to a lesser allied house to the Surtova - and say that the mutual disdain rose to a head when Verrat seduced Haerin's betrothed after a particularly bad set of insults against Verrat's common birth and being unworthy.

Might I suggest, even though it might be a tad more hard work.

You take on board six players? While it might seem a tad over bearing for encounters.

The problem with PBP is that not all players will be able to engage with every encounter due to real life things getting in the way.

Just a suggestsion, is all.