Corvus JR's page

Armour: MW Chain Shirt
Weapons: MW Composite Longbow, Dagger, Cold Iron Dagger, MW Scimitar, Hemlock’s Rapier, 100 arrows
Potions: CLW x 2, CMW
Miscellaneous: Backpack, candles x 5, ink, parchment x 10, sewing needle, soap x 5, dress, spell book, travelling spell book, inkpen x 2, entertainer’s outfit, efficient quiver (holds 60 arrows, 18 objects like a javelin and 6 objects like a bow or spear), cold-weather outfit (a cold weather outfit includes a fur coat, linen shirt, fur cap, heavy cloak, thick pants and boots. This outfit grants a +5 circumstance bonus on Fortitude saving throws against exposure to cold weather), birdcage with warm cover, Scholar's Ring
Mount: Horse, light (combat trained), Saddle, Military (providing a +2 circumstance bonus on Ride checks related to staying in the saddle)
Scholar’s Ring A scholar's ring grants complete understanding of any written
text or spoken language, even one that the wearer has never encountered before (as the
comprehend languages spell), as well as a +5 competence bonus on Knowledge (history)
checks. In addition, once every 5 days the wearer can invoke a legend lore spell
related to a subject that she has been studying in the previous week, if she has
attempted a Knowledge (history) check aided by the ring. [CL: 5th] [Ring (RH) (PFUEq
177)]
Money: 827 gp

As young women go, Corvus is tall, thin and pretty. . She has pale skin and long dark hair and deep blue eyes. The only blemish on an otherwise faultless face is an old, small scar above her left eye. Faded now, it is really only noticeable in the throws of summer when her skin darkens enough to make it visible. Wearing her dancing clothes at the tavern, she is a every inch a young lady. When she’s not in the tavern, she will be found in well-worn leather armour. But don’t let that fool you into thinking she’s in some way a tomboy. Her fighting style is all about grace and movement rather than brute force – some go as far to say her fighting is like a dance.

Corvus is outwardly confident but this hides a deep-seated insecurity about her life decisions. She’s looking for either some strong guidance or a sign that tells her the way to go. Her skills and learning have led to the life as a magus – which is in itself a vocation that’s in two minds. Is it a mage or is it a warrior? Corvus’ personality mirrors this turmoil. She’s frequently looking for reassurance that she’s making (and has made) the right decision.

Sandpoint may only be a small town on the Varisian Bay but it has had its fair share of dark times. Despite that, for a young woman with a hankering for adventurer, a life amongst fishermen, farmers and other simple folk makes the peaceful haven somewhat boring. And that’s Corvus’ second key characteristic. She’s a risk-taker, a daredevil. And there’s precious little to meet that need in this sleepy town.

Linked to that adrenaline thrill is a desire to be in the spotlight. Insecurities or not, she could have just been a barmaid or worked in Ameiko’s kitchens. But she chose to dance too. Regardless of life-decisions, Corvus’ knows what she’s good at and likes to demonstrate her proficiency. Confident or arrogant? It’s a fine line that she walks at times.

Another facet to Corvus’ personality is her unwillingness to back down from a dare. Perhaps it’s that inner voice of doubt that pushes her to prove herself – to demonstrate to others what she’s capable of – but one thing is for sure…Corvus will volunteer for anything and refuse no challenge.

When you think of the typical mage, a certain image springs to mind. Elderly? Perhaps. Bookish? Definitely. Lacking charisma, weak and rubbish with weapons? Most likely.

Corvus is not a typical magic user and this works both in her favour and against her. It is a boon when she is underestimated or even better, ignored as a possible arcane threat. On the other hand, she sometimes finds it difficult to be taken seriously as a caster.

She lost both parents at a young age – her father was a fisherman that lost his life at sea – her mother literally pined to death having lost the love of her life. As a result, she spent her early life at the Turandarok Academy (the Sandpoint home for orphans).

From an early age, Corvus had a choice. Follow her head and embrace her magic and become a talented wizard or follow her heart and remain an all-rounder. This decision was made easier by a lack of desire to go and study at an academy in some boring city far away from her friends. Korvosa had shown an interest in accepting her but she’d firmly declined the offer.

On the subject of friends, Corvus has one above all others. Although older, Ameiko always took the time to play with her whenever she visited the Turandarok Academy (to see her own half-brother).

As they both grew older they remained firm friends. How Corvus grieved when Tsuto caused Ameiko to leave Sandpoint for a year – and it was a mixed blessing when Ameiko’s mother died, causing Ameiko to return.

She consoled Ameiko and helped out at The Rusty Dragon when she started her career as tavern owner. Collecting glasses, pulling pints and dancing for entertainment were all part of Corvus’ duties as she quickly grew up but wondered if she’d wasted her opportunity to study magic at the Korvosa Academy.

And then there was the incident after the raid on Sandpoint – where Tsuto abducted Ameiko. She’d wanted to help and still feels guilty that she didn’t intervene. Worse still, Corvus oddly feels a little jealous of her friend’s life. She’d spent a year adventuring and the glassworks event was at least exciting. Perhaps jealousy was a little over the top – but Corvus certainly wants to be telling stories of her own, rather than always being the listener.

And it’s not as if Corvus hasn’t learned from Ameiko. She’s been a great sparring partner in developing her swordplay and all those stories – plus a few books brought back from travels – has really developed Corvus’ knowledge of the arcane.

Deep down, Corvus hopes that Ameiko’s wanderlust hasn’t abated and this time – if she says she’s off adventuring, Corvus is determined to go with her.

As well as sparring with Ameiko, Corvus has had another Sandpoint resident to thank for her fighting prowess – Sheriff Belor Hemlock. He’s coached her on the use of a blade – the rapier suits her fighting style better than a heavier blade that would stifle it – and how to maximise the natural grace from her dancing in her combat technique. But that’s getting ahead of the story.

Sandpoint’s true landmark is the Old Light, a lighthouse of ancient origins that lies in ruins. Of course every child in Sandpoint is told never to enter it – due to its structural weaknesses. And of course, children would regularly bait their friends to defy the ban and sneak into the lighthouse at night. Corvus’ friends were no exception but unlike the others, Corvus wouldn’t back down from a dare.

So the good humoured encouragement one day led to Corvus deciding she would light a beacon from the very top that evening to prove her worth. Once her friends realised she was serious, they initially laughed and joked but, one by one, they realised the risk the 13-year old was taking and then tried to talk her out of it. Perhaps if Ameiko was there, she might have talked Corvus round, but without her best friend, she saw the efforts to talk her out of it as an even greater challenge.

Armed with a dagger she’d found following a goblin skirmish in the town a year previously and her one spell - Flare – she headed off for the lighthouse at the agreed time, when the moon was high in the sky. It was a warm autumnal evening and she made quick progress north-west from the orphanage to the coast without meeting anyone.

Once close to the lighthouse she slowed down. There were various rumours about ghosts and monsters – and like any town, you never knew which ones were true and which were made up to scare children. And of course the lighthouse was next to Chopper’s Isle – which itself was a place children were forbidden to go.

Moving stealthily, she made her way to the foot of the lighthouse and started to relax. What was there to worry about after all? All she had to do was climb a few stairs – carefully of course – create some light and then come back down. Easy.

Corvus’ was never prone to overconfidence but she learned a valuable lesson that night. Be confident in your abilities but not at the expense of being thorough. Her movement became subtly but noticeably noisier and her awareness of her surroundings gave way to a focus on the end-goal. Which is why, half-way up the stairs, despite being careful, she nearly fell to the bottom as a lump of stone from the spiral staircase gave way under her feet. As the stone hit the ground, she was relieved it wasn’t her body but not mindful of the fact that it made a very, very loud noise. She proceeded more slowly now and by stepping around or over holes and weak spots, made her way to the summit and the remnants of the old fire that used to burn to warn ships of the rocks below.

Smiling triumphantly, she cast Flare and stood as proud and erect as she ever had. Allowing the light to naturally fade and die, she waited for a couple of minutes for her eyes to become readjusted to the dark.

Making her way back down slowly and surely, she was almost at the bottom before she started to role-play in her mind what her friends were going to say about her bravery. It was only after a dozen or so steps that she realised she was not alone. Staring up at her were six gleaming eyes. Goblin eyes. The owners of the eyes chuckled as she stopped walking. What little light came through the entrance of the lighthouse was reflected by something metallic in each of their hands. Dogslicers.

Corvus didn’t have time to think – which was probably a good thing. She reacted instinctively, which gave her an advantage over the goblins – who were probably licking their licks with anticipation over what should be an easy kill. Corvus casted Flare again, dazzling all three goblins. It was at this point that her conscious brain caught up with her unconscious one and she froze, not knowing what to do next. Fortune favoured her as a large blade came swishing from behind the goblins, cutting them down easily in their dazzled state. All three were dead instantly but the one closest to Corvus fell theatrically and its dogslicer flew out of its hand and cut her above the left eye as it flew past her head.

Sheriff Belor Hemlock stood above the dazed and bleeding Corvus, goblin blood dripping from his sword. ”Corvus…I might have known.” His naturally deep voice boomed in the still of the night. ”Don’t tell me, someone put you up to it. And before you protest your innocence, I know it’s true as young Aylmora came to see me. She was worried about putting you up to this hare-brained scheme – and with good reason. If I hadn’t come along… He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

Corvus’ face stung with shame, the cut on her head already forgotten. She knew well enough not to answer back and allowed the sheriff’s temper to blow over before attempting to speak. And it took until she reached the orphanage before it did. Hemlock sighed deeply and put a hand on her shoulder. ”I know I can’t stop you being head-strong. But I can teach you how to use that thing.” He pointed to the dagger, tucked uselessly in her belt. ”And perhaps some more besides. Are you up for some hard work?” Corvus could only nod, lamely. ”Then see me at dawn. Tomorrow morning and every morning until I’m confident you can look after yourself.” With that he tapped her playfully on the chin. ”And I’d get that scratch looked at, less it becomes a scar that lessens that beauty of yours.” With that he walked off into the night.

Corvus gingerly touched the cut and winced. Get it tended? Why would she do that, when a cool scar why prove how she overcame three goblins at the Old Light. Wait until Ameiko hears about this one!