Moonstep's page

About Moonstep

Moonstep
Female half-elf rogue 1
CG Medium humanoid (elf, human)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10
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Defense
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AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10 (+3 Dex)
hp 11 (1d8+3)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune sleep
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee dagger +3 (1d4/19-20) or
. . dagger +3 (1d4/19-20) or
. . dagger +3 (1d4/19-20) or
. . rapier +3 (1d6/18-20) or
. . sap +3 (1d6 nonlethal)
Ranged light crossbow +3 (1d8/19-20)
Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6
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Statistics
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Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 13
Feats Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Finesse
Traits canter, - custom trait -
Skills Acrobatics +7, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Disable Device +10, Knowledge (local) +5, Knowledge (nobility) +6, Perception +10, Sense Motive +1 (+6 to intercept a secret message), Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +7; Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Common, Elven, Infernal
SQ elf blood, trapfinding +1
Other Gear leather armor, crossbow bolts (20), crossbow bolts (20), dagger, dagger, dagger (4), light crossbow, rapier, sap, alchemist's lab, masterwork thieves' tools, noble's outfit, signet ring, 158 gp
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Special Abilities
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Elf Blood Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
Elven Immunities - Sleep You are immune to magic sleep effects.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in dim light, distinguishing color and detail.
Sneak Attack +1d6 Attacks deal extra dam if flank foe or if foe is flat-footed.
Trapfinding +1 Gain a bonus to find or disable traps, including magical ones.
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Born to the house of Killgairn, a minor house of the nobility of Kintargo, Moonstep grew up with little knowledge of her heritage other than the stories her mother told her. She knew she was of the minor nobility and her mother often reminded her of it, insisting she act the part of the high quality lady she would someday be. Her gentle mother also insisted that she never treat others with condescension. She might be of noble blood, but they did not live as nobles. Thankfully, the child had mostly inherited her mothers' gentle nature, albeit with a hefty sense of the ironic and of mischief. Though she'd never known her father, she felt she knew him well from the stories her mother told her of him. Tall and pale, he was the opposite of her tiny, dusky skinned mother. His long, raven black hair often reflected the dark auburn of his Beloved.
Arianna Killgairn had met and fallen in love with an Elvish Bard known as Authiel of the Silver Birch. Their secret trysts were discovered when a suspicious servant followed Arianna as she left by the back gate on a moonlit, starry night. After the dramatic blowout with her family and threats on the life of her beloved, Arianna left her family home with what would have been her dowry and took up residence in a modest house near the markets. She and Authiel were married by a priest of Dresna and spent the next few months in married bliss.
In such a place as Chelaxi, even in Kintargo, nothing good can last. One late morning of an early Autumn there came a pounding at the door. [b]”Authiel do'Nuriel Silver Birch!”[b/], a voice called from without, loudly and insistently. The pounding continued and the voice called again, louder and with authority. Arianna and Authiel looked to each other, one with dread and one with knowing sorrow. Authiel put aside his Elven Harp and rose. Ariannas' face blanched and she fiddled aimlessly with the herbs she had been sorting. He went to the door and opened it just as the pounding resumed and pushed the offending elf backwards then closed the stout oaken door behind them. Arianna could hear them shouting at each other for a few moments and then it was quiet. After another few minutes, Authiel opened the door and growled at the other elf, [b]”You will wait here!”[b/] There was a muffled protest as the door shut with a slam. He looked to Arianna, anguish plain in his face as she rushed to his outstretched arms. His head bowed over hers as his arms held her tiny frame to his. She loosed herself and reached up to stroke his face, [b]”Hush, Beloved. We knew this day might come.”[b/] He nodded, unable to speak yet and pulled her back into his arms. After a few moments he straightened and said, [b]”I need to pack for the journey.”[b/] Arianna nodded and replied, [b]”I'll pack some travel rations for you.”[b/]
Awhile later he was packed and ready. They stood together, tears beginning to run down Ariannas' face as the reality hit her that she might never see her husband again. Authiel wiped a tear with a finger and touched it to his tongue. [b]”My people have known so much sorrow, yet we cannot do this.”[b/], he said with a sense of wonder. “I wish more of my people understood how much you humans complete us and make us whole.” “It is you who complete me, Beloved”[b/] Arianna replied in a whisper. He hugged her to him one more time, then stepped slightly away. Lightly caressing her flat belly, Authiel said, [b]”Besides what wealth we have saved over the months, I would leave something with you for our daughter.”[b/] He set a bundle of shimmering cloth on the table. “This cloak will someday fit her and I leave it to you to decide when it's time to give it to her. It will hide her and protect her when and as she wishes.”[b/] He opened the bundle just enough to reveal the hood and a fine silver clasp. [b]“This is the emblem of my clan, a Silver Birch leaf. Though she is but half elven, any elf she shows this to will grant whatever she needs.”[b/] Tracing an engraving of elven script, he continued, [b]”And this is the symbol of my family. She may be of mixed race, but she is my first born and must be honored as such. If I cannot return, she is to seek me out, if she can.”[b/] Arianna nodded and tried to smile through her tears. [b]”May Dresna grant your return to me.”[b/], she prayed. He kissed her a last time, deeply and with longing, then went to the door. With the overcast and drizzle of the day echoing their mood through the open door he stopped and turned back to her. [b]”I will be back if there is anyway possible, my most Beloved. If not soon, then somehow, someday.”[b/] With that he left, closing the door behind him.
Arianna sat at her work table again. Blindly she tried to continue her work from early that day. Finally she gave up and buried her face in her hands, deep grief wracking her body with sobs she thought could never end. She sat there through the day, alternating with bouts of tears and a quiet of shock. Eventually dusk painted shadows on the walls and the chill of evening made it's way past her grief. She rose from the table and lit a lamp, then went to light a fire in the hearth gone cold. [i]I must hold it together[i/], she thought. Laying her hands where the babe yet showed no signs of being, she told herself, [i]I am of noble blood. We do not succumb when life is not charitable. My child shall have a good life.[i/]
Months passed and Arianna gave birth to a girl child. She named the child Aeolian after the style of music her beloved Authiel played for her alone. Deep auburn curls ringed a cherubic face and curled about delicately pointed ears. As the weeks went by, the baby blue of her eyes lightened to an emerald green. Though her skin was paler than the dusky hue of her mother, it was much darker than the aetherial look of her father.
As a toddler, Aeolian was the darling of the market place. She had a natural charm that made everyone love her regardless of her half-blood heritage. The playful mischieviousness in her green eyes only endeared her more. As she grew she took to the streets when she wasn't helping her mother, playing with the children of merchants and thieves alike. And so she earned her nickname, Moonstep. She was quick and agile. None could keep up with her if she wished not to be caught. And, she seemed to have a gift for becoming invisible; none could find her if she wished not to be seen. They teased her that chasing her was like chasing moonbeams. In time no one remembered she had another name but her mother.

Moonstep learned about herbs and their uses from her mother, who had learned of them from the estate gardener. Her mother also learned the elven uses of herbs from her husband, which gave her an edge on other herb merchants. Arianna used her knowledge to earn a living for them, selling her simples, tinctures and salves in the market, though she kept her business small enough to not earn the other merchants' enmity. Moonstep learned even more when the Thieves Guild noticed her gift and knowledge and took her in to apprentice with their alchemist. She learned quickly and easily, perhaps another gift of her elven heritage and sometimes she sang for the aging Prince of Thieves when the medicines could not ease the pain of his knotted joints. Another gift she inherited from her Bardic father was his gift of voice. For this the Prince gave her a full lab when she finished her Alchemy apprenticeship. As much as the lab was appreciated, she perhaps valued more the lessons she learned from those who slipped through the town unseen and gleaned a living from the populace. Fencing, stealth, and a natural skill with daggers made her deadly. Even had one of the Guild members wanted to betray her, none were tempted to test her skills. Though she refused to steal, time and again the skills she gained saved her from a corrupt and unforgiving law. Though she generally kept it hidden, her beauty would make someone quite a lot of gold. Only the affections of the Prince of Thieves had saved her from a fate worse than death.

Much of her time, as she grew to womanhood, was taken up with learning and helping her mother keep the bills paid and food in the house. Even for them, it became harder and harder to do as time went on. The laws were corrupt and as twisted as a moonflower vine; the lawmakers even more so. To make matters worse, the mayor, whose policy when kingdom representatives were busy elsewhere was much more lenient, was replaced suddenly and violently; no one knew where she went. The people were getting restless and frightened. Moonstep listened from the shadows often and saw nothing good for the future. Even her guild mates were worried and the Prince had watchers everywhere.
A crowd was gathering one day as she watched from the shadows of a wall that was partly broken. As she realized that day was the day a protest was to happen, she stepped out and deftly mingled with the crowd. She went unnoticed as she slipped between muttering men and women of several races moving toward a large city building at the end of the large park. The crowd began to fill the park in front of the building and Moonstep could feel the tension in the air. Frustration, anger, fear all mingled to create a toxic mix of emotions. She stepped smoothly into a gap here and a hole there, moving toward the edge and a safer place to watch. As she went, she made a mental inventory of her weapons. Daggers sheathed in her boots and sleeves, and stilettos under her hair were all in place, a sap at her belt hidden beneath her lightweight cloak and the rapier a moment from her hand. Her small, light crossbow and bolts were fastened at the back of her belt with a quick release knot. She surveyed the walls for any available handholds there might be as well as small projections her soft soled boots could use to catfoot up and away. She'd learned well from her teachers and never forgot to find her exit. Based on the scent of this crowd, she might well need it.
She moved through the crowd with ease and finally found a place where she could sit or stand unseen and view the crowd from above. She watched the people move like a swarm of insects toward the far end of the park. Most were uneasy and fearful, muttering to each other quietly. Some went silently, intent on where they went, anger on their faces. Others seemed more curious, though cautious, wondering what could happen, if anything, that would make things better. Aeolian noted a large dwarven priest accompanied by a little halfling and wondered why they stood out in the crowd to her. Premonition seemed to plague her for a moment, but she shook it off, filing it for future use rather than worrying about it now. There was another premonition taking her attention now. This protest boded no good and she needed to be prepared for whatever happened.