Jora Cook's page

The Vanishing caused loss for so many, not just for the high but the low as well. A member of the royal family visits the noble Surtova palace. At the feast everything goes well and for the chef and his family is happy, but in the morning the noble is missing and in the confusion, a meal is prepared dangerously wrong and a stressed Lord Noleski blames his chef giving him a harsh sentence and caused the family to flee. In his flight to a ship he loses track of his mother and brother. Taking the name Jora and plying his father taught trade of cooking, he receives a share of a sadly deceased passenger, a puzzle box. Solving it he learns it's a strange spellbook, with concise spells. Fearing capture he later moves south meeting a fay in Gronzi, and an elf in Rostov.

In spite of all that happened he is still proud of his Issian heritage; still it's no defense when the Rostlander elf Raisa captures his heart. Marriage follows with a daughter Sophia. So with little time to study magic as he has for giving support for a better king. For now he cooks for the wealthy. But as a retainer to a wealthy patron, he may be called upon to serve for a night soon to be fateful.

The Vanishing:
One night a decade ago, a great feast is held at the palace of the young Lord Noleski Surtova who receives a royal born guest a close relative of the Rogavarian King. All goes well and everyone retires for the evening but panic breaks out in the early hours as the guest is mysteriously missing. Yeremey is assisting his father in preparing the morning meal but he and most of the staff is called away to search. After the meal is served some of the household including Lord Noleski fall ill which is blamed on bad food. Lord Noleski, in a rage, sends his chef to the salt mines.(1) Warned his family flees their Lord's wrath.

The Ship:
Fleeing from pursuit Yeremey loses track of his mother and brother. Desperate he gets himself a berth as a cook, saying his name was Jora, really the of a late neighbor, on on a merchant ship traveling far. Never did the crew eat so well. On one trip a man died with no known friends or family, so his belongings were divided. The captain tossed a puzzle box to Jora knowing the the clever lad would enjoy it. Soon Jora figures out the secret of the box but has trouble making use of that knowledge. The ship makes Port Ice again, and Jora once again snuck away.

The Forest:
Jora makes his way south as best he can, with fear driving him to learn the ways of the streets, in spite of his fervent pride in Issia. He learns that the vile Noleski, no true nobel, has usurped the throne of Brevoy, though with many patriot houses refusing to acknowledge that.(2) Though his heart burns with hatred, there is nothing he can do. Eventfully he is travelling through the fay-ridden forest of Gronzi getting lost. This attracts the attention of a fay creature who decides to play some tricks but soon is distracted by the sweet smells coming from the cookfire. Jora having figured out what was happening offers to have the fay join him. After this befriending, Flare Leafwhirl makes Jora his friend, teaching him the fairy tongue and a bit of magic allowing Jora to make progress in his study. Soon enough he has leave, fay can be fun but are not human and Jora needed his kind about.

The City:
Restov is a good place to go unnoticed. A busy city with conflicting aristocrats drawing all the attention. While not liking the Swordlords Jora found the commoners of Restov to be decent people. Still sometimes his Issian beliefs cause some friction but that faded when he met the local half-elf woman Raisa, he could not help but fall in love. After a courting and converting to her faith in Pharasma, he tells her the truth about him. They marry and have a daughter they name Sofia. Between his wife, daughter, duties as a cook, and trying to master his magic, his time is limited so he progress little in his career or in magic.

The Day:
He cooks for many but the nobles pay best. With a family to support he takes a position as a retainer to a wealthy patron. A feast is to be held and Jora expects to be busy for that night, one that may soon change his fate.

(1) Noleski having a bad day, am using some knowledge of Kingmaker have played in it before a number of times.

(2) Jora's Point of view, Noleski may be a saint, up to the GM.