About Casina BrochusStatblock:
Casina Brochus Human paladin of Dammerich 2 LG Medium humanoid (human) Init +0; Senses Perception +2; --------------------
Background:
Trigger Warning (Self-Harm) It had been a year since Casina Brochus had made her decision about her future. A year since she had begun begging the town leaders to let her participate in the Quest for the Everflame. Today, while double checking her equipment in preparation for the journey to bring back the Everflame, Casina found herself thinking about the day her life changed forever and how, after this was all over, she would be a full-fledged adventurer. Casina had made plans to leave town during the celebrations. The memories of what happened a year ago were simply too much. One year ago: Casina knelt beside her father. Even kneeling, one could tell that Casina was a foot or more shorter than the man. It was the same ritual her father, Lionel, performed every morning: kneel before the small altar in their home, think on the names of every person whose lives he had taken and picture each of their faces while thinking of their deaths. Over the years, the ritual had taken more and more time and though Casina’s list of names only included a couple of sick pets or livestock, she always stayed by her father until he was finished. “And finally, Morden Solvina,” her father said. “His sentencing I carried out yesterday. Life ended as punishment for the four lives he took while attempting to rob a carriage.” Lionel opened his eyes and began to rise from his kneeling position only to fall back down to one knee. “I’ve got you,” Casina said as she gripped her father under one arm. Together they climbed to their feet. Lionel blew out the candles atop the altar and Casina ladled some of the steaming, sweet potato soup into two bowls. It was a recipe from her mother’s cookbook and so far, Casina was not doing her mother’s memory justice. Still, with some coffee, a loaf of rye to dip into and, and a couple of sausages, the taste wasn’t terrible. “Not much longer and you’ll be taking my place under the hood,” Lionel said with a groan as he slid into his chair at the table. Casina let out an exasperated sigh and took her own seat. “Can we not start the day with an argument for once?” She asked. “We’re not,” her father said. “We started the day with our prayers.” He grinned and took a bite of one of his sausages. “You know what I mean,” Casina followed his example and also skipped over the soup. Lionel swallowed his bite and took a sip of his coffee before speaking again. “I’m not lookin’ for an argument, Cass. I’m gettin’ old. Too old to swing the ax. Shit, I damn near fell over Morden Solvina’s body when I brought the ax down.” “Papa!” Casina exclaimed. She had never heard him speak so informally of an execution. Lionel waved her away and finally dared a sip of the sweet potato soup. “I’m serious. My back and my - it’s much better than last time - My back and, well, my whole body ain’t what it used to be. You’re gonna be hittin’ twenty soon and I think it’s about time I hang up my hood and you take over.” “I told you, I don’t want to be an executioner!” She could hear it in her voice. The petulance. She knew how she sounded and she did not care. How many times would they have the same argument before he dropped it and found someone else to be his successor? “For the last-” Lionel started to shout back. He caught himself and took a deep breath. Lionel set his spoon down beside his bowl and took a deep breath before starting over. “I am not yelling. Please do not yell at me. No, listen to me before you reply. Truly listen to my words. Kassen needs an executioner. It does. It’s an unfortunate thing but every town and city does. And, unfortunately, a good number of people who wear the hood are not the best of people. They don’t understand the burden of the hood.” Lionel slid one hand across the table to his daughter. “I do. And you do too. It’s hard. And it can be lonely. And sometimes kids will cry when they see you walk out in the hood. Even if they call you Uncle Lionel at home.” A sad smile flickered on his face. “But when it's someone who understands the burden up there, people know they can trust their judgment. There have been a handful of times when I refused to carry out a sentencing. Augustus Wildronorn. Gods, what a silly name. He was tried and found guilty of the murder of his wife and son.” Casina sat, dumbfounded. She had never heard her father string so many words together. Let alone, speak about refusing his duty. She swallowed the saliva that had pooled her mouth. “Did he do it?” Lionel took a sip of his coffee. “Augustus swore up and down and on every holy book they would bring him that he didn’t do it. Claimed some “Night Man” was responsible. ‘Course, they investigated. Even sent a couple of mercenaries to check it out. Everything came up lookin’ like Augustus had done it. Still, when it came time to take that man’s life…” Lionel paused. He raised his hands above his head, miming holding an ax. His eyes unfocused as if he was looking at something in the distance. “I just knew. I knew it in my bones and in my soul that Augustus Wildronorn was innocent and I let the ax fall beside him.” Casina realized she had been leaning forward in her chair and shifted back. “And was he? Innocent, I mean?” “Gods no! They brought in one of them Abadaran Inquisitors. Did some spell that forced the man to tell the truth and he confessed every gruesome detail. Next day, he was back up there and I lopped his head clean off.” She gave her father an incredulous look and asked, "Are you serious? So, after that whole story you were wrong." The point of the story," he said, "is that from then on the people of Kassen knew that I wouldn't simply execute whoever was put on the block. That I was there to uphold the law, not be a tool for intimidation. There ended up being a couple More people over the years who I refused who actually ended up being innocent." "Well, Dad, despite your story, I refuse to be an executioner. It's not what I want to do." Casinas said. "And I don't want to live your life." Lionel slammed an open palm down on the table rattling the dishes. "If your mother was here-" he shouted. "Well she's not!" Casina cut him off. "And no amount of deep breathing is going to bring her back. So, you can preach about good intentions and making wise decisions but it won't change the fact that Mom left because you couldn't control your anger." Tears began to well up in Lionel's eyes as he spoke. "Cass, I know that I drove your mother away. And I'm sorry. But you know I have worked hard to change who I am." "Really?" She forced her own tears back. "Because that broken saucer in front of you says otherwise. Casina pushed herself away from the table and headed for the front door. She pulled on her boots and opened the front door. "Cas," Lionel pleaded with her. "Please don't leave." "Funny, that's almost word for word what you said to Mom." "Cass, please." The sound of the door slamming in the frame still echoed in her mind a short while later as she was heading home. Guilt had driven her to get the ingredients to make Lionel's favorite dessert. "There's a lot of people out right now,"She thought. A large crowd formed a semicircle on the street. "Shouldn't everyone be working or preparing lunch?" "Cass!" someone called from up ahead. "Cass!" One of the neighborhood women shouted again. Something about the way the woman was calling Casina caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. Casina rushed forward and pushed through the crowd, ignoring the murmuring. There, coming out of the front door to her home, were three Pharasman clerics carrying a litter. Even with the white sheet draped across the body he recognized her father. "No," she screamed. "No, get away from my Dad."She dropped the basket she had been carrying. Flour, green apples, and a small container of dried cinnamon spilled out on the street. Casina shoved one of the clerics aside. She ignored the gasps from the crowd of gawkers and ripped the sheet away from her father's face. Dry tears streaked his cheeks. On one side of his face sweet potato soup had formed an orange crust. The dried soup trailed down to his neck where it merged into a sticky, red-brown mess. The cleric she had shoved aside placed a hand on her shoulder. "One of the neighbors found him," the elderly woman said. "They said that they had seen you leave and wanted to come check on your father. They found him at the kitchen table." "What?" "This really isn't the play time or place to have this discussion," the cleric said. And then Casina noticed the red line along Lionel's neck where the artery sits. The tears and the wailing came next. The Pharasman waited in silence for a few minutes. Casina did not even register the town guards ushering the townspeople away. "I am sorry, child," the cleric said after some time. "Sometimes the most powerful demons are those we battle alone." Casina simply wept.
Player Questionnaire:
1.What time zone are you in? EST/EDT 2. How long have you been playing TTRPGs? Over a decade 3. What’s your favorite part about playing TTRPGs? Creating interesting characters and stories. Also, the sound of them clack clack dice. 4. What do you expect from this game? A fun (if not relatively short) game that might lead to a longer format. Maybe some rotating of GMs. 5. What do you expect out of your fellow players? My biggest thing is respect. If someone has an idea but it might cross a boundary or step on some toes, just ask. Most people just want to have some sort of communication. Same goes for any long period of silence. Communication is key. 6. What do you expect out of me? See above. 7. (If you don't want this to be public, PM me the answer to this one and just note that you did so.) Beyond the obvious (generally stuff already prohibited by Paizo's forum rules,) what are your redlines? Are there any topics, themes, or imagery that you absolutely do not want to see in the game? I understand that I’ve had a bit of a privileged life. I’m generally open to just about anything as long as it genuinely serves a narrative purpose. That being said/written, I will never be one to push for anything like that if anyone has expressed any sort of issue. I think Paizo’s rules are a pretty good standard. Other Family:
Loreli & Tomas Constacur: Casina's aunt and uncle on her mother's side. The pair took care of her after her father's death. Adelei, Miail, & Vivian: younger cousins and children of Loreli & Tomas Mother’s name is Verania.
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