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The fear of the creature not subsiding until after it has been put down, Kejal is slow to get up from her seat. When she does, she follows Silas's eyes to the treeline. Without saying anything, she simply nods, leaping into action to help - though doing her best to keep away from the man's corpse on the floor.
Kejal wished she had known the town was known for its goats before she arrived. Even with her long cloak mostly covering her body, she was anxious about the prevalence of creatures that matched her appearance. Towns like this, they were likely to mistake her for one of the goatmen. And that would be quite disastrous. She sits in the corner of the inn, trying to stay drenched in shadow. As more people file in, she watches with trepidation, and reminds herself that she can leave the town tomorrow. Thankfully, no one pays her any mind.
Yorick here. I need to finish up the questionnaire but have most of the broad strokes down for my Faun.
Kejal has a wide grin through most of the speeches, feeling enthused by the crowd's excitement, that only falters slightly when Sheriff Hemlock mentions their neighbors. For a moment, she wonders if there might be a problem to solve here after all, but then looks around at the festivities again and puts the idea out of her mind. Moving through the crowd and eyeing the stalls as she goes, Kejal enjoys the spectacle of it all. While most of it is things that she would not participate in, such . as gambling or wrestling, the presence of them was still a comfort. Curiously, she moved towards the fortune teller stand, greeting the woman, before asking "Which of the gods or goddesses do you draw your knowledge from?"
While Kejal herself is a worshipper of Sarenrae, the Dawnflower, she's pleased to happen to be in Sandpoint during the festival honouring Desna. As a traveler herself, she thinks often of those who would follow Desna and explore the world, seeing all of the beauty and mystery within it. Sandpoint felt to her to be quaint and charming. It was difficult to believe that it was the same town she'd heard about - one marred by violence and a burned church. They'd done well to put the past behind them, she thought, looking around at the festival. Still, this unfortunately meant that Kejal saw little reason to stay longer than the day. If things truly were prosperous and calm in Sandpoint, she'd have to move on. Kejal wears a simple tunic, primarily white but with trim of blue and gold. Despite her obviously not being from here, her clothes do not look either worn or dirtied. On her feet are simple sandals, and while she carries no weapons, her hands have simple strips of cloth wrapped around the fist and palm. Her golden-orange hair is kept in a simple braid, her bright blue eyes looking out from her bangs.
Kejal gives a very unladylike snort. "You're not the only one." Whispering back, she turns to face Specturm more. "At least monsters tend to look you in the face when they stab you in the back." She winces painfully, realising what she had said. "I... I just meant it's more honest." She adds quickly. "Here... You don't know who the threats are. You know?"
The past days, those since her resurrection, had gone by in a blur. Kejal stands now with her companions, dressed well at the entrance to the Lord-Mayor's hall, wishing that it had all been a dream, as it somehow felt like it was. Her death felt simultaneously as if it had happened seconds ago, as well as if it had happened centuries before, and to someone else. After two days, she was still struggling to feel at home in her own body again. It wasn't simply that it felt like it was rejected her. It felt dead. Her movements felt stiff, and sluggish. But that was only part of what made it feel like a prison. She could still feel the echoes of her internal screams from when they revived her, as her soul was pushed into a body that was still dead, a body with no working vocal cords. They had come back, as movement had come back, but those initial seconds haunted her. The other thing that haunted her were visions of dying. When she looked down at the scar on her chest, she still saw a spear protruding from it. Despite having washed, she still smelled death on herself, still tasted blood sometimes. Her companions had insisted that she wasn't ready to be back out - after all, Chase was still recovering. Granted, he'd been dead for longer, but, well, it wasn't exactly a competition. But she had felt like she must be out here, trying again. Meditating didn't help. While it did take her mind off of her body, other thoughts filled her focus, and all she could think of was what had happened between dying and coming back. Her life had been hard, but she had helped people, and she had loved, and she had given that life in trying to save others. And when she had died, the white light had embraced her soul, and she had felt nothing but love, and acceptance, and coming home. Standing in the entrance, she shakes her head, and blinks through tears. That time had passed, and it would do no good to dwell on it. She was here, now, and there were things to be dealt with. She didn't know if she had been pulled back by force, or if this was where she was supposed to be, and she supposed it didn't matter. She smiles politely at the footman, and let's Wyam take her arm to escort her in. The top of her dress is closed, less to hide her cleavage, and more to hide the scar from the wound that had ended her life. The dress makes up for it by showing a surprising amount of her legs. Even that part of the dress was intentional - it wouldn't do her well to not have a degree of mobility. After all, she had no intentions of dying a second time.
That's quite alright! I don't mind at all. I'm interested to see how everyone handles it. :)
I just want to toss in that I have no interest in taking Leadership myself, but fully support any/all of you taking it.
Kejal, hope you're still with us. Sorry your character died but after doing some research it seems that you guys came off very lightly for how this encounter normally goes; Xanesha is quite a fearsome foe. It was some very unlucky dice that brought you down, both the crit and that the previous blow left you on 1hp; and I'd already used Bart to save you from falling. I am! I'm sort of unaccustomed to games that are this high level and it didn't occur to me that resurrection would be a thing. It was also kind of a shock to come back to, haha. But I'm definitely interested in the roleplaying opportunities of coming back from the dead!
Oh right, I forgot that that was a thing that just happened with Chase. I love the idea of grappling with mortality and existence!
Er, so I'm just catching up on return from my vacation, and it appears as though I've died? That's... not great. It was fun while it lasted.
FYI I'll be away from the 2nd to the 9th because I'll be at GenCon. Feel free to bot me as needed.
Kejal stands next to Wyam and stares out at the fire, narrowing her eyes for a moment. Without turning her gaze from it, she speaks aloud, softly at first, but louder and with more resolve as she goes. "When I was a young girl," she begins, "many, many, many years ago... some friends and I found a bird that had been wounded in a storm. There was always a lot of wind in the mountains, and it had been slammed against some stones. Broken its wing. We went about trying to set it, not knowing, and certainly not caring, that it was a roc." Pausing, she smiles, "Even young as it was, the poor thing was as big as any of us, and even wounded, it could have done some real damage to us if it wanted to. But it didn't. It seemed to know, to somehow understand, that we wanted to help." "None of us were old enough to know how to use magic, so we were making a splint for it that it would grow out of in time. Still being in pain, the Roc was crying out these shrieks. Which brought its mother. And she... she was not an animal who understood that we were trying to help." "Despite what sounded like the child's vocal protests, the mother roc went into a rage and attacked us. You ever seen a fully grown roc? Cause I sure hadn't. It was only luck that we all made it away alive. My father was furious. He had seen the entire thing and declined to get involved." She sighs. "That was common for my people. But my father, he would tell me that night that 'No good deed goes unpunished'. He was another animal who did not understand, that even when it is dangerous, even when it may not be appreciated, we are obligated to help." Turning from the fire, Kejal looks Wyam in the eyes. "I don't know if your faith is wavering, brother, but we have done the right things here. We have offered second chances, choices to those who have felt like they did not have any." She nods to the fire. "In some cases, this will happen, and we may get better about being able to predict it, and knowing who is genuine and who is not. I'll never stop thinking that it is worth the risk," Shaking her head, she turns from the scene. "because sometimes, just sometimes, we will help a bird to once more fly free."
Kejal shrugs at Spectrum. "Unlikely. Dangerous as it may be, it's something of a landmark. Besides, Magnimar isn't exactly in the business of fixing up the Underbridge." With a sheepish smile she continues. "Magnimar may be home but it isn't, you know. It still has problems." "Like that business with the Justice today." She adds with a sigh. "I cannot believe that a man of the law would run rather than stand for what is right." Cocking a head she looks at Wyam, narrowing her eyes for a moment as if to study him. "It would be like if you did such a thing, Sir Marshal." "Still, I am glad that we are closer to unraveling this. I would like for there to be less of this nonsense in my city."
After Kejal's attempts at swaying the Faceless Stalkers, she could hardly attempt to stop Wyam from his course of action, and she weighs their options silently. Finally, she speaks, nodding to Spectrum. "I will not move against a deal you strike with my companions, and I am incredibly grateful for any assistance you can give us in dealing with this Xanesha, but I urge you to reconsider your next move, Justice. Surely what has happened to you could have happened to anyone, and the other justices will see that. Their pride will be hurt, yes, but they can be convinced of the greater threat - to themselves, and to the city we all strive to protect." "In fleeing you are saying that a system you have spent many years upholding is worse than flawed. I would hope that that isn't true, but if it is, our duty is to change that, is it not?" She moves to put a hand on his shoulder. "I know that you are frightened, but would you let Xanesha take your entire life? Would you live the rest of your days on the run for crimes that you did not even willingly commit?"
"That's correct." Kejal replies coolly. "I already told you, you're under arrest." Kejal approaches the man calmly, and begins laying some hits into opportune places to weaken him - primarily joints and pressure points. "It's not that I don't trust you," she adds. "It's just that you've betrayed all of our people."
That's the spirit.
Kejal moves up closer to the edge of the smoke and holds her position, not entering it herself, but being prepared for any who try to break out from it. "Good evening, Justice Ironbriar." She says, looking clearly disappointed to find that Ironbriar is here. "I am afraid that you will have to come with us - all of you are under arrest."
Kejal murmurs a short prayer, before drinking the potion cautiously. She nods to the others. "Okay, ready." As she begins to follow Wyam up the stairs, her entire body glows like a torch.
Kejal tenses up both at the machines and at the blade, thinking about how she'd rather not be on the receiving end of it. "I don't like this." She hisses. As they continue moving, her pose gradually becomes more battle-ready, to the point where she begins holding her hands up in front of her. It had been a long time since she had been in a dangerous situation like this, and while she was certainly frightened, there was something exhilarating about it as well. Her heart beats faster as she follows Wyam, and there are a few moments where she pauses to take a deep breath and calm herself.
Kejal shakes her head. "Charging into the unknown is risky at best. Whether we go in tonight or not, we should at least look around first." With a frown, she adds. "Especially with the size and nature of this place - Multiple floors of machinery and blades, and all."
Anyway, Kejal! Haven't really spoken and I don't want you to feel like you're being left out. x3 The pace alright for you? I know it can get quite slow at times. Pace is totally fine with me! I really prefer a slower one to a faster one. I don't always get to check frequently and it's easy to fall behind.
Kejal smiles in appreciation to Wyam, and nods to Spectrum. "Agreed. It is not on our to decide their fate. We -" Her voice trails off as the creatures leap into action, and she realises what their intentions are only too late. "No!" She calls out, but the damage has been done. She doesn't turn away from the sight, but forces herself to watch the life drain from its face before shaking her head. "What a waste." She mutters. Sighing, she turns to the others, looking weary. "I suppose we should explore the rest of the house."
Kejal steps towards Wyam, nodding to the Raven and to Spectrum. "I appreciate our friends' perspectives, but they have surrendered and given us their word. Certainly we cannot go around slaughtering the unarmed because of what they may do? I am not sure that I can see either the honour or the justice in that." She closes in on the Faceless Stalkers, her hands still glowing. "With that said, you have worn the faces of others, lied, and attacked without provocation. I would hear a better explanation than the vague mentions of a service-lender." "If you are truly willing to repent and change your ways, then surely you would give us more information to help stop those who put you up to this. Many have died, at least in part for your employer's actions, and ignorance does not excuse the part you have played. Cast off your treacherous ways, and speak true."
Kejal closes her eyes for a moment, her lips moving as she whispers a short prayer, and when she opens them again, there's a golden fury in her eyes and her hands give off a faint white glow.
Kejal remains quiet during the exchange, letting Wyam take the lead. As the creatures move to draw weapons, she crouches slightly into more of an attack posture. When they close in on Wyam, she acts quickly, launching a flurry of attacks against the one that looks like Iesha.
Kejal cocks an eyebrow as Wyam starts pretending to be drunk. "I'm amazed that that worked." she mutters to herself as she follows him into the building, immediately eyeing her surroundings for trouble.
While pleased to hear their friend has recovered, Kejal finds herself relieved as well that he wasn't joining them for the first leg of their journey. If indeed he came back twisted - or something else came into his body - it would be better to find out at a less crucial time. When Wyam presents his plan, it brings an impressed smile to Kejal's face. "It's a good plan. Saves the awkwardness of the group of us showing up aggressively." She cocks her head, frowning slightly. "But... Aldern doesn't know me, and extended no such invitation. Would he mind, or think something is amiss if I were there?"
Kejal smiles at Isme's statement about her clothes. "You're a quick judge, little bird." She replies, good-naturedly. "it just so happens that I am nearly ready to go." Quickly picking up a satchel and tossing it over her shoulder (mindful of her wings), she pulls open the door for the others. She nods to Isme's armour as they begin to leave. "Don't you find it restricting? Not to mention conspicuous..."
Through the walk to the temple, Kejal is quiet, lost in her own thoughts. She understood too well the feeling of having lost someone, but at the same time, she had trouble with the idea of bringing them back to life. Part of her wondered, if she'd known such things were possible when Chatka died, would she have tried to bring her back? It troubled her to not know the answer. Despite assurances that she was more than welcomed inside the room , Kejal opted to wait outside. She figured that either they would need time to mourn, or they would need time to reconnect. Plus, the notion of seeing such a heinous act did not sit right with her. "Dead is dead." she muttered to herself, more than once. Certainly she'd seen undead before, but that was kind of her point. Nothing came back the same as it went. "He can't come back the same." She tells herself, as she paces back and forth in the hallway, waiting for the news.
Kejal listens attentively to Wyam's story, finding it interesting but not seeing any kind of connection to the murders that she had been investigating herself. Before she can say that aloud, however, Wyam goes on to mention the Sihedron rune. Narrowing her eyes in thought for a second, Kejal quickly flips her notebook to a page where she'd scrawled a seven-sided star that she'd seen carved into some of the corpses. "This?" she asks, showing it off. As the stories begin to coincide, she sighs and looks down for a second. Raising her head, she unconsciously pushes her bangs behind her pointed ears. "I was starting to think there was a conspiracy because of the varied murders. Politicians, merchants, some guards I'd suspect were... less than virtuous." "What you're describing is so much more than I could have dreamed, though. Undead? an organisation called the Brotherhood? This woman, Xanesha, serving some unknown god?" She pauses for a moment. "I know that Magnimar is not exactly a small city, but what you're describing... It's hard to believe." "Still, as long as you don't get me into trouble with the authorities, I welcome the assistance." She throws a wry smile. "I still have to live here, you know. So, Lieutenant? Or is it Captain? Any ideas on where to start?"
Kejal smiles back, genuinely, and looks quite relieved at Wyam's admission of religion. "Oh, please come in." She takes another step back, and invites them into the room, closing the door behind them. Making no comment about the lack of places to sit, she simply jumps into the conversation. "Hemlock, of course." She nods. "I'm afraid I don't know very much... A lot of suspicions and mysteries." With a brief pause for a sigh, she continues. "I'd be happy to tell you about it, though I have to ask - what is it you've seen recently that's lead you here? So far as I know, our murders have been contained. Certainly not reaching out as far as Sandpoint."
Kejal quietly opens the door, stepping back slightly as she does so. The room she's in is small and remarkably bare, featuring a bed (which is little more than a cot), a small chest at the foot of the cot, and a small table with a few books on it. There is an open notebook on the bed where it appears that Kejal had been writing before the interruption. On the opposite side of the room is a plain mat, recognisable as being both for meditation as well as exercise. Kejal herself is dressed in simple robes, and standing barefoot on the stone floor. Standing shorter than both Spectrum and Wyam, she slightly looks up to meet their eyes. To Spectrum, she probably looks to be on the young side (at least compared to him), but her eyes give away that she has seen quite a bit. Under her long, silver hair, her skin is not exactly tanned, but almost golden in appearance, and her eyes shine like jewels. Feathered wings that seem incapable of carrying her protrude from her back. While her smile and tone are polite, her eyes are suspicious as they flick between the group's members. "...Can I help you with something?"
Ah, sorry I thought you folks were still discussing Chaise. Yeah, I'm pretty close to being ready - sorry for the delays, work has been a bit nutty. I still need to write my Paladin code, but that doesn't necessarily need to hold up the game, since I assume it would be at least a couple of posts before it came into play, haha. Anything else in the background as far as reputation and connections can be fleshed out as we go.
Also, Kejal, may I just mention that your stat sheet on your profile page looks very well-done. Why thank you. :)
Yeah, phew, after a very busy week I didn't realise how little I had actually done getting this alias together. Aside from Mundane Items and having to add the Backstory to it (which I want to tweak and rewrite somewhat anyway) that should all be done.
Yes, of course. So my build is a bit... unorthodox, probably. I'm going for kind of a Divine Monk style of character, which will be reflected in her personality, as well. She'd have sampled a few different religions (Irori, Sarenrae, Iomedae) and traveled a bit, trying to find a place where she really "belonged". Because of Elf aging, she'll have adventured around some with a different years before you'll meet her. In fact, she'll be essentially retired, and you'll be dragging her back into some excitement. I'll be playing her as kind, but a bit distant to start, keeping people at arm's length (as she's still getting over a loss), but she definitely has a palpable desire to belong. I'm going to pin down her Paladin's Code over the next day or two, but she'll definitely be more the "lead by example" style rather than lecturing. And she'll try to keep a cool head, but there's a righteous fury in her that will certainly show itself at times, particularly when people she cares about are in grave danger. She'll believe very strongly in self-improvement, and in redemption. I have a few things that I'll be nailing down with GM Arkwright over the coming days, but those are the broad strokes at least. Hopefully I'll fit in well (or at least interestingly...) with everyone!
Hey gang! Excited to be here. I'll be away for most of today while I'm at PAX East (helping to run a Megagame) but I'm looking forward to getting started soon. :)
The crunch is taking me a bit on the basis that it's, you know, essentially two level 6 characters. What I am looking to go with is an Aasimar-born Elf Warpriest (Sacred Fist) coupled with Paladin (Enlightened), as kind of a "Front-Line Divine Monk", which might be the most MAD thing in existence. I'll have a couple of skills, a few spells, a fair amount of healing, and the ability to punch things into a coma. I know that there's a Paladin in the group already, but having looked at his build, I think my Archetype makes it different enough that it'll still work. As for background / familiarity with the AP. I played in Leinathan’s game for about 2 years. I think we stopped slightly before where this game is at now, so I’m essentially familiar up to about this point and no further. I’m also running two different Rise of the Runelords games with the Dungeon World ruleset, but those just started up within the last month or so and are still pretty early on. Anyway! Character background stuff. It's only a first pass, so I'm totally open to feedback and I can definitely flesh out some of the organisations and relationships, but I had already written so much that I was concerned about it being too long. Backstory: EARLY LIFE What I am thinking of as far as a character background is having spent some years growing up in a secluded Elven community in the mountains, one which prided itself on the “old ways”. When Kejal was still young an explorer of the Pathfinder Society found his way towards the city, having been wounded, and would have implored the elders to help him from outside their gates. They refused, and Kejal was furious at this decision, and demanded that they reconsider. They said to her the same thing that they said to the explorer: “We do not get involved in the affairs of the lesser races.” It was not uncommon for these Elves to have celestial lineages, and Kejal had herself begun to grow feathered wings. As much as she tried, they were still too weak to get her off the ground more than an inch or two, and she was unable to fly to her rescue. There was little she could do but watch this man, the first human she had seen, grow sick as his wounds became infected, and die. She flew into a rage, calling the elders cowards, but they shook their heads, saying that she would understand when she was older. When she was finally able to venture outside of the gates, the first thing she did was track down the body of the explorer, frozen and skeletal after the years. While she did not understand most of his equipment, she did take his broken compass, as something tangible she could cling to to remember what it meant to feel helpless when someone was in need, in the hope that she would never feel it again. As soon as she was able to, she left. YOUNG ADULTHOOD
For a time, Kejal simply wandered. She helped farmers she came across who had troubles with the dead rising from their graves, tracing them back to a necromancer. Her justice against him swift and unflinching. Years before the attacks on Sandpoint by goblins, Kejal joined a small party of adventurers: Blackjack, a human rogue, an elven druid named Jhael, and a human ranger named Chatka. The band of them dealt with several attacks by a goblin tribe, eventually tracking the raiding parties back to their lair. Somewhere during those months, Kejal and Chatka had fallen in love. In the battle that ensued, Chatka was wounded, and in Kejal’s fury she slaughtered the remaining goblins before carrying Chatka to a church in Magnimar to be cared for. In the months while Chatka was recovering, Kejal never left the church, and listened more and more to the teachings. This church was that of Iomedae, and her teachings would captivate Kejal. It felt like what she had been searching for - a sense of justice and vigilance, and honour. By the time that Chatka recovered, Kejal had fully embraced the religion, and the pair set off once more to right wrongs in the world. Within a few months, however, Chatka had died. Kejal was stricken with grief, and despite still being young for an Assimar/Elf, decided to retire, at least for a time. She returned to Magnimar, to the Church of Iomedae, continuing to learn and help as she could around the town, whether that meant settling disputes, investigating crimes, or even teaching others the ways of Iomedae (or Irori for that matter, since she believes there is value in both religions). OTHER PERSONALITY QUIRKS / INFO
Though she never speaks of it, she blames herself for the death of the explorer from her youth. Most of what happens to her she internalises, and carries around guilt, even for things that aren’t her fault. It’s part of what drives her to be better. She’s strong-willed, driven. She has an incredibly strong fear of being trapped and feeling helpless. She’s also claustrophobic. She doesn't carry weapons at all, partially because she knows how to fight (with a deity backing her, no less), but also because she likes to enter into a situation with open arms, not with her hand around a blade. She's open to the idea of rehabilitation, and tries not to go immediately to violence. Though a few years have passed since Chatka’s death, she still isn’t entirely over losing her lover. This can make her feel kind of distant from people. Even people in Magnimar that she has known for a few years, she tends to keep a bit at arm’s length. As far as a goal for her to have, I’d like her to find some kind of way to prove her people wrong. It’s possible that they won’t believe her, won’t listen or care, but part of her journey is experiencing that individuals have value regardless of race. I am not sure what would happen that her people would change their minds, but it’s an idea that I like.
Hi, I am a person who exists. It looks like I need to raise myself a couple of levels, but my crunch should be done otherwise. I have a whole mess of posts to comb through to get up to speed on where things are at, so I'll be doing that and tossing together a background over the next day or so. (Luckily, tomorrow is a holiday) Excited to play with you all!
Kejal Origin: Kejal turns towards him with a rather unladylike snort. "Never." She says, drawing up her staff. "I can't speak for all of us, but I'll fight. And while I may be incapable of using magic to harm others, I will not be captured and branded. If you think I'm a danger, you'll have to kill me."
Also, I like your origin stories so far. I am as well! Though admittedly I have been stumped more than once - it's tough not having the input of other players. But it's definitely different and fun. How long do you think the origins will continue for?
Kejal Origin: "I don't know." Kejal admits, her eyes flicking back and forth between the magehunters and sniffers and the renegades. "Can't run, can't fight, can't surrender." She switches her quarterstaff to the opposite hand, looking at the blood on the end of it in disdain. She holds it out in front of her at an upward angle as if to ward the mages off. "I am open to suggestions."
Backstory: "No surrender." Kejal hisses at the mage, before running after Raijinn and the others.
Kejal Origin: Kejal opens her mouth to argue, but as the Mage reaches the end of his speech and throws up the antimagic field, she only shakes her head with disappointment. Accustomed to not relying on Magic, she instead leaps into action, charging him with her Quarterstaff. As she approaches, she exclaims, "Of those in this room, you were the first to resort to magic, what does that tell you about who here is truly weak?"
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