About Lena VarianeBackground:
Born in the town of Galduria in Varisia to a decidedly average family, Lena's almost-glowing blonde hair and piercing violet eyes hinted from her birth that something was different about her. Stranger still was the fact that, as she aged, the curvaceous figure common among the rest of the women in her family did not show even the slightest hint of appearing - though she grew in size, her body shape remained that of a little girl's. The strangest of all, however, was when her mother Perrin walked into her room one day to find a strange dark-haired boy standing nude in front of Lena's full-length mirror, turning to examine himself. Perrin opened her mouth to protest the stranger's presence, when suddenly the form shifted, and in the boy's place stood her own golden-haired daughter, standing sheepishly in front of the mirror, unable to meet her mother's eyes. Perrin simply stared as Lena grabbed a robe, covered herself, and sat on the bed, composing her thoughts. Then Lena told her mother everything. ----------- She had discovered her ability to change form for a short time several years before, but had kept it quiet to avoid causing worry. At first, she had used it to give herself a curvaceous, sensual form, changing the hair, the eyes, the body shape, trying to look like the women all the men fawned over. But none of those forms had felt quite right to her, though she knew it was what everyone else admired and coveted. Then one day, she was struck with a new idea. With her usual effort of will, she closed her eyes as the magic washed over her, and when her eyes opened, a boy's eyes blinked back in her mirror. Though the change was nowhere near permanent, it felt right to her for some reason, like the new shape expressed a part of her she'd never fully realized was there before. From then, her shape changes grew more and more varied. She tried on bodies of all shapes and sizes - male and female, large and small, muscular and soft. Though she still thought of herself as a woman in general, exploring different bodies made her feel more complete, more in touch with all the different facets of her personality. It's helped so much, Mama...everyone makes fun of me for how I look, because I'm...I don't know, in-between-looking. But I...I feel kind of in-between. Like there's so much to learn, by opening up to all sorts of folks, trying to feel what they feel, see what they see. Maybe the world's more in-between than most like to think. ----------- As her daughter talked, Perrin's eyes grew wide, then nervous - then cold. From then on, their relationship grew strained. Lena's father had passed away when Lena was a young child, leaving Lena Perrin's only child. Perrin had counted on Lena marrying well to secure both their futures, and she feared her daughter's "teenage rebellion" would jeopardize any chance at a good match. Perrin began to invite men over, clearly with an eye to goad Lena into settling down. Lena received them all with grace; one, Harras, she even became deeply infatuated with, and Perrin hoped her daughter's childish experimentation was behind her. But when Perrin arrived home earlier than expected to discover Lena in a compromising position with her childhood friend Korinne, her willingness to tolerate her daughter's curiosity had reached its end. Lena was thrown out that night with nothing more than a belt pouch containing a few coins and an admonishment - come back once you've stopped this madness and decided to settle down like a good, decent girl! ----------- Lena sat heartbroken on a large stone near the edge of Ember Lake, just outside of Galduria's limits. Darkness was fast approaching, and she was terrified to face the humiliation of taking a room in the inn - but she knew going home wasn't an option. Uncertain of where to go or what to do, she stayed near the water's edge, sobbing bitterly. Suddenly, a large swan alighted on the lake's surface with barely a ripple. It began to swim, stopping inches from her and preening itself gracefully. Intrigued, Lena reached her hand out toward the bird, and it closed the last couple of inches and stroked its head against her hand. Suddenly, as the bird craned its neck over Lena's wrist, a feeling of indescribable comfort and reassurance washed over her. As she stroked the bird's head and felt the sense of satisfaction in her mind in response, she knew that something strange had happened. After a few moments, the swan took wing toward town, and Lena followed. Hew new friend's support had given her the strength she needed to face the stares, and when she had gotten her room, she opened the small window and invited the swan inside, where they slept curled next to each other. ----------- The next morning, Lena bought travelling supplies with the few coins she had and began to walk, the swan flying back and forth ahead of her to lead her way. Together, they followed the road from Galduria across the hinterlands of Varisia, until they arrived in the city of Magnimar. Lena, having never left her hometown, stared in amazement at the hubbub of activity, but her companion never faltered, guiding her through the city's busy streets to a manor house in the Naos district of the city. The house's front bore a fresco depicting an unfamiliar figure - a human-like being, dressed in several gossamer veils and sashes of purple and white. Grey and blue wings spread behind the figure, caught in an ecstatic aerial dance surrounded by grand swans. But what surprised her most was the figure itself - for it was difficult to tell whether the angel was a man or woman. It was not a lack of skill in the artist; indeed, the perfect balance of lithe muscle and soft curves could not be anything but intentional, it was so skillfully rendered. Lena stopped and stared at the painted figure, lost for a moment in thought. Someone...like me? As she wondered, a figure emerged from the home, a woman dressed in graceful armor, with a spiked flail at her side. Come you in peace? Lena could only nod. Just then, the swan alighted on the ground and bobbed its head forward with wings spread, in a movement that was unmistakably a bow. With that, the woman smiled and returned the bird's bow. Well met, Torin. We wondered when you would return. She then turned to Lena, giving her a warm embrace. I am Elia Serrayne, one of the worshippers in this place. And you are a wandering soul, in need of a place to discover who you truly are, or Torin would not have joined to you. She reached a hand to Lena's cheek, then pressed her lips to Lena's in a strong yet tender kiss. Be welcomed to our fellowship of Arshea. ----------- Lena lived and studied in Magnimar for three years, her natural strength lending itself well to martial training by others of Arshea's faithful. In her training, she favored the heavy flail, an unpredictable weapon symbolic of the Spirit of Abandon. The brothers and sisters of the fellowship also helped Lena to accept her differences. No longer did she have to hide; her new friends saw her unusual appearance as a blessing from Arshea, an imitation of the empyreal lord's own form. Instead of quashing her curiosity, they encouraged her to try different appearances, male, female, and in between, to find what fit her best each day. ----------- One day, the temple received a desperate missive - the demon hordes of the Worldwound were growing steadily more aggressive, and the old defenses were beginning to fail. And so, with Arshea's blessing upon her, Lena set out for Mendev, ready to take up arms against the forces of chaos and evil, her steadfast companion Torin by her side. The crusaders' fight was grueling, but Lena found the work fulfilling. Starting as a conscript in one of the minor outposts along the border, she rose to distinction when, a few months past, she single-handedly defeated an abrikandilu demon that had slipped through a weak point in the defenses. The demon tried to poison her mind with doubt and insecurity - but what could it tell her that she had not already heard from friends, family, and her own mind her entire life? For her courage, strength, and fortitude, she was promoted in the crusade's ranks, inducted into the knightly Order of the Light of the Inheritor, and sent on new orders, to join with other skilled soldiers in an elite task force. These would be responsible for resupply and reinforcement of some of the most heavily-harried points on the blockade - and Lena couldn't be more thrilled. One thought still tickles at the back of her mind, however; will her newly earned rank, prestige, and honor ever redeem her in her mother's eyes? Appearance and Personality:
Lena is twenty-one years old, standing five feet eight inches tall and weighing 165 pounds. Her distant angelic heritage is not immediately evident, but upon a second look, her short blonde hair reflects light with an uncanny brilliance, and her violet eyes are unusually intense. The most apparent sign of her otherworldly background, however, is more unusual - despite clearly being an adult, her figure is slender and straight, with none of the curves typical of a mature woman, lending her an androgynous appearance. Lena does see herself as a woman, but doesn't define herself by it - from week to week, and sometimes from day to day, she will change her manner of dress and behavior, from alluringly feminine to roughly masculine and everything in between depending on her mood and current wishes. She sees little need to emphasize gender in her interactions with others, even romantic interactions; romance for her is a matter of two souls meeting, not a matter of mere sexual attraction. She has a kind, caring spirit, always ready and willing to aid those in need. Much of her time in Magnimar's Arshean fellowship was spent in martial training, something her natural strength predisposed her to, and the empyreal lord has blessed her with great strength of spirit to equip her for the fight against evil. She fights to make the world safe for freedom, so that all may have the chance she was given, to make of themselves what they will. In the lulls between fights, what she most enjoys is conversation, talking with everyone she can and learning their stories. She has a penchant for fine white wines and love stories, keeping a few well-worn books in her pack as she travels. Getting ready most mornings is a long task, as she's deciding not only what color she wants to wear, but what pronouns she wants to wear as well. One near-constant in her changes, however, is a headdress of grey feathers, a token of her faith.
Basics:
Name Lena Variane Basics Female angel-blooded aasimar chosen one paladin 4 Alignment, Size, Type LG Medium outsider (native), humanoid (human) Speed 30 feet Senses:
Initiative +2 (+2 DEX) Perception +3 (3 ranks, +0 WIS) Special senses: Darkvision 60 feet Defenses:
AC 17 (touch 12, flat-footed 15) (+2 dex, +5 armor, +0 shield) HP 42 (10+6+6+6 class, 2+2+2+2 CON, 1+1+1+1 FCB) Fortitude +8 (+4 class, +2 CON, +2 CHA) Reflex +4 (+1 class, +1 DEX, +2 CHA) Will +6 (+4 class, +0 WIS, +2 CHA) Offenses:
Melee attacks Mwk heavy flail +9 (1d10+4/19-20 x2) Mwk heavy flail (Power Attack) +7 (1d10+10/19-20 x2) Ranged attacks
Statistics:
Strength: 18 STR +4 Dexterity: 14 (fourth level increase) DEX +2 Constitution: 14 CON +2 Intelligence: 10 INT +0 Wisdom: 10 WIS +0 Charisma: 14 CHA +2 Base Attack Bonus: +4
Traits:
Empyreal Focus: 1/day, before skill check is made, can add +2 to check Blessing Ignored: trade aasimar resistances for +2 to saves v. acid/cold/electricity, trade second level SLA for first level spell 1/day or zero level spell at will as SLA Feats:
Power Attack: can take -2 on attack rolls for +6 damage Greater Mercy: +1d6 healing on lay on hands targets who cannot be benefited by mercies Skills:
(2/level; 2 class, 0 INT, 0 race, 0 background) Diplomacy +9 (1 rank, +2 CHA, +3 class skill, +3 familiar) Heal +4 (1 rank, +0 WIS, +3 class skill, +2 race) Knowledge (planes) +3 (1 rank, +0 INT, +2 race) Knowledge (religion) +4 (1 rank, +0 INT, +3 class skill) Perception +3 (3 ranks, +0 WIS) Sense Motive +4 (1 rank, +0 WIS, +3 class skill) Armor check penalty: -1
Languages:
Common Racial Characteristics:
Celestial Resistance: +2 to saves v. acid, cold, and electricity Skilled: +2 to Heal and Knowledge (planes) Spell-like Ability: disguise self as spell-like ability once per day Scion of Humanity: count as humanoid (human) and outsider (native) for all effects related to race, can pass as human without using Disguise Darkvision: can see in the dark up to 60 feet Special Abilities:
Aura of Good: aura power equal to class level Detect Evil: can use detect evil at will Smite Evil: twice per day, swift action to designate one target; if evil, +CHA to attack roll, +level to damage (+2*level on first hit against evil outsiders, evil dragons, undead), +CHA to AC against attacks made by target Lay on Hands: 1d6 healing with successful touch 4/day Aura of Courage: immune to fear, allies within ten feet gain +4 on saves v. fear Divine Health: immune to disease Mercies: lay on hands also cures sickened condition Divine Grace: add CHA modifier to all saves Channel Positive Energy: can use two uses of lay on hands to channel energy as a cleric of paladin level Torin (swan familiar):
Unbeknownst to Lena, Torin is not what he appears to be. To all eyes, he is an unusually intelligent swan, affable to most, yet fierce when roused by danger to his charge. In truth, he is a cassissian angel, a compatriot of Arshea sent to guide and protect Lena as she grows in her abilities and faith. He waits to reveal himself until the empyreal lord deems that the time is right - for now, he is happy to serve in whatever form serves his lord best. Basics
Senses
Defenses
Offenses
Statistics
Base Attack Bonus: +0
Feats
Skills
Languages
Special Abilities
Gear/Possessions
Current weight carried: 0 lb Spells:
1st Divine Favor Divine Favor Gear/Possessions:
Light load maximum: 116 lb Medium load maximum: 233 lb Heavy load maximum: 350 lb Lift off ground maximum: 700 lb Drag maximum: 1750 lb Current weight carried: 0 lb Money: 7 GP 8 SP 0 CP Always on:
Traveling gear:
Combat-trained light warhorse (110 GP) (1200 lb)
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