This is Nik's submission - bare bones for now but hopefully with a compelling (or at least vaguely interesting) backstory.
Crunch: LG Human Female Paladin (Chosen One, Warrior of Holy Light)
Mythic Archetype: Devoted Muse
Campaign Trait: For fluff either Chance Encounter, Exposed to Awfulness or Touched by Divinity. In an ideal world I'd probably take Touched by Divinity since it meshes well with Chosen One, but Exposed would work too.
Character Concept:
Idea: Firinn will be very much the 'accidental hero' type. The Chosen One archetype gives her a literal divine guide and she'll hopefully grow into a real 'Redeemer' paladin. Her initial goal will simply be to survive/protect her children and that will grow into defending others and maybe finally facing her own demons by tracking down and confronting her brother.
Mechanics: Going to go down the Weapon Finesse/Bladed Brush/Slashing Grace path to play a very unusual paladin. High dex, high cha and going into Devoted Muse will mean no armor either. She'll still function as DPS and a fair amount of tanking since her archetypes will give her a lot of Lay on Hands so even if she gets hit she'll just heal up and keep going. It's going to be feat intensive for a while but hopefully it'll come together somewhere in the mid-levels.
Backstory:
Firinn ('Fear-in') and her brother Lon-Dubh were protected and raised for some years by a Zana on a mountain in what used to be Sarkoris. The fey eventually entrusted them to a passing group of crusaders and Firinn has lived in Kenabres ever since.
Searching for meaning in her life she came across the small temple of Shelyn in the city and was captivated, soon devoting much of her time to art and music. Her brother, unfortunately, found Kenabres stifling and unbearable after the freedom of the mountain and fell in with a cult of Zon Kuthon which eventually led to their parting as he fled the city a few steps ahead of the Inquisitors, breaking his little sister's heart in the process.
Yes I'm very much playing out a microcosm of the Shelyn/Zon Kuthon storyline. Hopefully this one can have a happier ending and if not he might prove to be a good villain!
Left alone Firinn started volunteering at a local orphanage and eventually got a full time job there. As the AP begins she's taking a group of the children to the Armasse celebrations with no idea of what is about to happen...
The longer version can be found in her profile.
Why Kenabres:
Firinn was brought to Kenabres when she was still a young child so she's grown up there. Discovering her Shelynite faith gave her purpose during her adolescence and working with the orphanage kept her from falling apart after Lon-Dubh abandoned her. Kenabres is home now and she finds joy in the small things and the people she knows, trying to bring her own little bit of light and love to the (rather grim) city.
Hopefully that covers everything, please let me know if anything is missing or could be clearer. :)
Answering on Brainiac's behalf. Firinn is definitely the biggest threat in the room.
To Gypsy's magical sight Firinn appears to be a tightly wound ball of magic. There's at least four different kinds, all coiled inside him. The sheer power that suggests is dangerous!
No, it's not important." Firinn says, "Omega's plan is. How much are you happy having them know?" Gesturing to Payload and Gypsy. "It's nothing against you." He adds to Gypsy. "It's just a lot of seriously personal stuff about Solaria, I mean Sierra. I shouldn't just spill it."
"Well I wasn't, specifically." Firinn points out. "I was mostly trying to get away. Warning you was on my list of things to do but I dived into that club hoping I could lose the drone in a crowd. Meeting you all there was - argh!"
He doubles over and red light flickers in the room for a moment. Then he straightens up again and smiles, slightly forced.
"Sorry. Meeting you all there was very fortunate for me."
Then he glances over at Payload.
"You might want a more reassuring slogan than that." He says, and something about his grin reminds Payload of something. Or someone.
"Guarantee's first." Firinn counters. "I'm not here to hurt anyone. Quite the opposite in fact but I need your help and I'm not going to say any more until I have a promise to that effect."
"I told you already Siobhan, I'm not going back." The young man replies, sweeping back a lock of dark hair from his face. A reddish glow shows from inside his open black shirt collar, casting his face in a slightly demonic light. "She can't make me and neither can you."
Gypsy recognises the young man as Firinn, a kid from her school who is in her government and civics class. He's always hung out with the emo crowd, but hasn't been in school much recently. In fact he missed the civics final a few days ago.
He supposedly has a twin sister who is some sort of crazy genius and graduated high school a couple of years ago but Gypsy has never met her. The name Siobhan seems vaguely familiar though.
"So that they can discuss your theft with you?" The sprite replies calmly. "You are a most unpleasant woman. Mend your ways before someone better mends them for you."
He leaves and then attempts to circle around to get a better idea of the house.
"Must I take it from you then?" Firinn asks, remaining polite, although there is a harder tone to his voice. "The Maagambaya will not take kindly to someone abusing its good name to justify theft!"
"It was a simply mistake madam." Firinn says, having decided his side of the argument. "The vase was intended for Mother Ndidi, it must be returned to her. As a member of the Magaambaya" (that thought still makes no sense!) "I say it is so."
Firinn, whether through an excess of confidence or something else, volunteers to visit the grandmother to discuss previous deliveries. He makes quite a sight on arrival - a tiny fey on an extremely large bird!
"We must go then!" Firinn declares, having apparently decided that excitement about riding giant birds is the appropriate response to the situation. "Tzeniwe, would you mind Helena for me until I get back? I do not think she can also ride these elephant birds!"
"Tell me about these elephant birds!" Firinn says, seemingly much more interested in that than the rather mundane task of carrying mail. "They sound most interesting!"
Firinn watches from a safe distance and applauds politely, although its fairly clear that he has no idea either what is going on or about the likely results of the ritual.
"Well, no-one can send me to collect anything from that room now." He comments."But if anyone tries it on my room you will feel my wrath, and Titania's!"
Firinn descends, having avoided any serious spore contact and looks around at the rest of the group.
"Fuzzy caterpillars." He says in response to Unya's question. "Anyone know any good trees for that? Firinn has grace and charm, but he prefers Helena to caterpillars!"
Firinn stays out of the cloud as best he can and fires a small arrow at the fungus thing instead! The arrow shines silver as it flies into the cloud, and then straight out the other side...
"I can deal with these!" Firinn says confidently, moving to scale the tree. Thankfully for someone as small as him tree bark provides plenty of hand-holds, and a boost from those taller than him makes the process much easier too!
Firinn sighs as yet another person assumes that he is here to be a wizard. Why would a handsome, athletic and superb-with-a-blade fellow like him want to waste his time on old books? Still, playing with the younglings was fun so he waves cheerfully and retires for the night.
The next day's task - involving oils and other smelly things, is another that he has little interest in. Thus the sprite spends most of his time trying to dodge the larger rain drops (read: all of them) rather than paying any real attention.
Firinn is a little more cautious than Bahili - his people have had issues with predators larger than they are, but these youngsters seem pleasant enough. Leaping onto Helena's back the sprite and his corgi shoot around Dawn and he taps one of the spiders on its nearest leg.
"That went well!" Firinn says, rather pleased with how simple the whole thing was. It ended up being an extended walk for Helena rather than a real test. "You will all do very well in the Magambaya. I am sure. I hope Titania is doing as well." He adds, sounding more pensive. "She is better with books than gremlins."
He asks the smaller man, "Is this a regular meal or another getting-to-know-you-better session?"
"I'm hungry." Firinn replies with a grin. "If you want to get-to-know me we can duel afterwards! You will not enjoy the experience!" He speaks with a wide grin but seems very confident in his victory over the large man.
Firinn enjoys the trip to market, riding on Okapi since taking Helena along on this particular task seemed most unwise. He doesn't have anything like the knowledge required to keep the chicks safe, but is small enough to keep an eye on them and be reasonably entertaining, which keeps the little birds from causing too much trouble.
"That went well." He comments with the task done. "Shall we eat now?" For a very small being he certainly eats a lot!
Firinn listens, wondering a. how on earth this consistutes useful learning and b. how he is supposed to help, given that Helena may well try to eat said chickens and he isn't going to be able to lift an egg by himself...
"Does it matter?" Firinn counters, with a mischievous grin of his own. "They gave us beads to keep us out of trouble. That's practically an invitation - they're acknowledging that we will get into some." He grins again. "And besides, if Helena goes with her new friend I can't do much to stop her. I'm only small..."
"I'm not joining any of the schools." Firinn says with a tiny shrug. "This whole thing where they treat me as a student is clearly a mistake. Someone will realise this soon!" He seems quite cheerful about the whole situation before he turns to Okapi.
"And what about you Okapi? Do you have a school you want to join?"
Firinn misses the larger folk leaving as he becomes engrossed in trying to communicate with Twig. He does eventually get back to his dinner, and since salad eats well cold, there's no harm done by his spell of inattention.
"So Anabel. I know there are schools here, which one do you intend to join?
Noticing that Firinn has just as large a plate of food as everyone else, Okapi leans across the table and borrows a slice of the meat. "You don't mind right Firinn, someone your size doesn't need as much as me and I can't stomach half of the food on my plate - all those vegetables dont do well for Kholo." She says disdainfully at the plate in front of her.
"That's for..." Firinn begins, but finds himself too slow. ...Helena."
Firinn lets out a quiet sigh. "Amongst humans it is seen as a sign of maturity and good sense to walk away from an argument." He explains. "It usually means that they think they are right, but are not going to insist because it would make more of an argument. We have met many humans on our way here, and they are not very complicated."
He offers a nod to Bahili. "I mean no offense sir."
"If the lady wishes, I would be delighted." Firinn replies, stepping onto Anabel's hand. Helena yips excitedly and starts running circles around Anabel's feet as she walks.
Anabel meanwhile hears a scratching noise at her door, which turns out to be Helena.
"Fairest lady." Firinn proclaims. "I am come to invite you to partake of a repast with the rest of us lowly peons. Our days will be greatly enriched by your light and company." He bows elaborately and smiles up at the elf. "Okapi thinks we need to eat together, it is an excellent idea so Firinn came here first, drawn by your beauty. I will not accept no for an answer!"
Helena is starting to look quite fancy, with three beads braided into her fur while Firinn continues to mutter over the lack of consideration for smaller people.
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Okapi guesses correctly in her assessment as Firinn seems rather keen on a communal dinner. "Excellent idea!" He grins, from his position standing on the table. "Titania will come, won't you T?" There's an indeterminate reply from somewhere on the bed and Firinn shrugs.
"I'm sure she will. Or she'll read right through dinner. Either way. I'll go and get the pretty Anabel, you find the grumpy man and we can collect Bahili and Unya after that!"
He swings down from the chair and leaps onto Helena's back. "Onwards mighty steed! To dinner!"
Firinn gives Drazhan a rather nasty look, but the much larger man doesn't notice. Nodding his way through the pleasantries Firinn seems to be looking for someone and seems somewhat relieved when another sprite appears from the nearest door and waves.
"Firinn, we're in here!"
Firinn offers a salute to the group at large and Helena leaps forward into the nearest room.
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"For a great school of magic they are not very well organised." Firinn says later, as he perches with Titania on the wide expanse of the desk that they have available. "They have not considered the issues of size for anyone."
"Not everyone can deal with our size." Titania replies, "And although I cannot take books from the library it is not the worst thing that might happen. At least Helena and Romeo have enough space." Indeed the two corgis are delightedly curled up on the bed, which is far too large for a sprite.
Firinn listens politely but with a fairly obvious degree of skepticism. Perhaps it is simply the fae outlook on life but he seems to find the conversation rather dull, as though Teacher Ot is simply relaying truths that everyone should already appreciate.
The bead is the size of his entire fist and then a little extra and the sprite doesn't even try to pick it up. "Do you have any smaller versions?" He asks the teacher. "Or else Helena will have to wear it."
Firinn looks at Teacher Ot as though he has gone completely mad and puts a small hand on Helena's nose before she can go leaping after the tasty treat.
"Oh dear." Firinn says with a sigh. "For a school of extremely clever people you are all having trouble with the concept that I am not here for classes. You want Titania. Never the less, Firinn is never rude so I shall answer your questions."
Who are you?" "Firinn, offspring of great Elucredassa. Knight and personal protector to Lady Titania of the Eight Seelie Court.”
"What most interests you?" "Adventure, excitement, romance and the charms of fair women." Firinn replies promptly before Helena noses him in the back. "And my beloved Helena of course."
"What do you consider your greatest strength?" "Charm, courage, my skill with a blade. You may decide for yourself."
"What work have you done to bolster those in and around the Magaambya before now?"
The sprite looks startled at that question. "I arrived here yesterday Teacher Ot. That is not much time to have bolstered a school whose strength numbers in the thousands."
"What do you seek at the Magaambya?" "Absolutely nothing." The sprite says with a grin, seemingly relishing the momentary confusion on the teacher's face.
”Once you have attained that which you seek, what goals do you wish to achieve?”
Firinn looks over to Anabel and bows to her. ”The beautiful lady has goals most worthy. Firinn will devote himself to the same, should she accept his help."
Firinn turns around with another bright smile. "She is within, reading. Titania is a great reader. I shall have to drag her to classes unless they are held in a library, in which case she will be there early!"
Helena meanwhile seems fascinated by Okapi and is snuffling around her legs, apparently trying to get a very good scent read of the gnoll. Despite her best efforts however she cannot reach high enough to sniff the gnoll's bottom, for better or worse.
Firinn nods and bows easily. Anabel in particular receives a wide smile full of flashing (and slightly pointed) teeth. "It is my honor my Lady. Should you ever need assistance, great or small, you may count on me."
To speak to Bahili, Firinn leaps nimbly onto Helena and the corgi braces herself on her hind legs, with her paws most of the way up the young man's thighs so that Firinn can balance on the crown of her furry head.
"Well met, Bahili Nyuki of the of Nyukimji glassworks. You people produce fine wares. You are however mistaken, I am not here to study, but to escort the fair Lady Titania who is embarking on a program at this prestigious school. Firinn is a fae of action and skill, not magic! Although many have said that my smile is quite enchanting." He offers Anabel a wink at the end of that sentence.
Then the catfolk arrives in a flurry of words and Firinn has to rap his mount sharply on the nose so that she behaves. He does however seem to have no trouble following Unya's avalanche of words. "It is a pleasure Miss Unya. We have met catfolk before so may I make one thing clear from the beginning?" He steps forward and places a hand on the catfolk's furry leg.
Unya:
"I am NOT food!" comes a ringing voice in her head, accompanied by the feeling of someone shouting directly into one of her ears.
"I hope we can be friends too." Firinn adds. "I am sure we shall, all women want to be my friends."
Out in the rain a blurred shape can be seen charging through the water at remarkable speed. The shape resolves itself into a small dog, which bounds enthusiastically into shelter and then proceeds to shake itself vigorously, wetting everyone's already drenched feet even further before twisting around twice in a circle and then looking up at all the big people with an oddly expectant expression on its face. It doesn't take an expert to tell that the dog is clearly hoping for a treat.
"Don't be fooled by her begging eyes." A high pitched voice says. "I fed her just before we got here, but Helena is a greedy beast. Aren't you girl?" The corgi rolls over onto its back and a small figure can be seen leaping onto its white chest fur and rubbing vigorously.
Once his pet is sufficiently propriated the tiny figure leaps nimbly to the floor and sketches a bow. "I am Firinn, descendant of the mighty Fae Dragons of old; charmer of women, animals and the forest itself. Those who do evil despair at my approach!" Standing at perhaps twelve inches tall (although he has boots with a heel to help with that) the sprite is immaculately dressed in a colorful jerkin with a finely embroidered outer-robe over it. All in all he looks quite dashing, if very small.
