Sorala's page

Build:
Level 7 (Magus 6)
• +1 BAB
• +1 Fort, +1 Will
• Feat
• Magus Arcana
• +1/0/+1 SPD
• +2 spells
• 10 skills
• +2 Str
Desirable hexes: Disguise, Gift of Consumption, Greater Gift of Consumption, Iceplant, Murksight, Water Lung
Desirable major hexes: False Hospitality, Hag’s Eye, Hidden Home, Ice Tomb, Retribution, Speak in Dreams, Weather Control
Desirable Magus Arcana: Accurate Strike (9), Arcane Accuracy, Bane Blade (15), Devoted Blade (12), Enduring Blade (6), Flamboyant Arcana (derring-do, opportune parry and riposte), Prescient Defense (9), Quickened Magic (15), Spell Blending (cloak of secrets (1), ears of the city (1), stricken heart (2), darkvision (2), see invisibility (2), resist energy (2), false life (2), visualization of the mind (2), touch of idiocy (2) heroism (3), conjure carriage (3), Wand Wielder
Desirable feats: Enforcer, Quick Draw, Iron Will, Arcane Strike, Rivening Strike, Empowered Spell
Desirable spells:
1. Enlarge Person, Grease (wand), Infernal Healing (wand), Obscuring Mist, True Skill, Vanish, Weaponwand
2. Bladed Dash, Flurry of Snowballs, Glitterdust, Ice Slick, Invisibility Bubble, Page-Bound Epiphany, Scorching Ray, Shatter, Umbral Weapon
3. Allied Cloak, Beast Shape I, Dispel Magic, Displacement, Fireball, Haste, Ray of Exhaustion, Slow, Spellsword, Stinking Cloud, Tactical Adaptation, Vampiric Touch, Water Breathing

Sorala has white-blond hair that seems to reflect light much the same way as Irrisen’s ever present snow. She keeps her hair tied with beads made of colored glass, to keep it out of her eyes, but otherwise wears it in the long style common to Jadwiga nobility. Her eyes are a flat grey, the color of a typical Irrisenian sky. The White Squire’s face is chiseled, as is her body, a combination of barely enough calories and a rigorous workout regimen. When not expecting trouble, Sorala’s wardrobe is as expected of a lady-in-waiting. Her mithral shirt is tucked under a fine dress or silk shirt, and she wears a fine silver necklace, matching headband (which is also magical), and matching bracelets. When not at court, her clothing is more functional; wool breeches and sturdy brown leather boots cover her legs and feet, while her torso is adorned with a simple cotton shirt, over which she wears a beaver-fur lined vest in cold weather. Wherever she is, Sorala sports a fine ice-blue and white reversible cloak, good for blending into the background of Irrisen’s icescapes. A small magenta-colored stone circles the White Squire’s head, defying gravity.

The most striking thing about Sorala, drawing attention even from her gray eyes, is the rimeblade she carries (usually sheathed and under her cloak to avoid drawing attention). The blade is mechanically similar to a bastard sword, finely crafted and honed, with silver veins running the length of its tempered steel, and emits light as the spell when drawn. The hilt is ivory, and the sword’s handle is wrapped in fine white bear’s leather, stained dark from generations of gripping, sweating hands. In addition to emitting light, the rimeblade, named Eitleán (Avalanche), seems to suck the warmth from its vicinity; the air within a few inches of the blade is always noticeably cooler.

The last memory Sorala has from her time Igrit Tharn, is of her mother, doubled over in grief, in the doorway to their hovel, as Igrit was taken away, strung over the back of the The White Rider’s horse. They rode for days, through the wilderness of Irrisen’s backcountry, finding nary a thing, the girl uttering nary a word (not that the White Rider minded, or spoke itself), until, almost frozen to the bone, young Sorala entered the city gates of Algidheart, The girl, from a small fishing village, was awestruck by the city’s massive walls and towering buildings, in many cases built quite literally on top of each other. Taken to the central keep, a sword, larger than Igrit’s arms, was placed in the girl’s hands, and Igrit’s eyes instantly changed from light brown to their distinctive flat grey. The sword had chosen her, and their first bonding complete, Igrit Tharn became Sorala Riina Ironeyes. Sorala, an old Skald word for duty, and also the name of her predecessor in death, and hers before her, and so on, back into time and tale. Riina, for the name of the White Witch that Sorala would serve, and Ironeyes, denoting Igrit’s place as an aspirant in an ancient Irrisian knighthood - The White Squires.

Sorala joined Lady Riina Morgannan’s household, and the girl was trained in the ways of the White Squires. The Squire would serve the Lady, as handmaiden and as bodyguard until Sorala’s death, and then the riders would find another young girl. Sorala was given a broad education, and was even almost looked upon by the Lady as a favored child - she was allowed to learn shipbuilding, sailing, and fishing, which the girl had been fascinated with from the first trip she took with her father, out onto the icy waters of Glacier Lake. The rest of Sorala’s education consisted of warfare (especially swordplay), ettiquette and nobility, the fey world, and of course, magic (especially cold magic). Sorala proved an apt student.

Even being treated as almost a favored child, Sorala’s young adulthood was not easy. The Lady Morgannan was a woman of shifting temperment, always as if a storm flashed on the horizon; one moment, she could be quite reasonable, the next unhinged and murderous. Sorala lost track of the servants killed, and the girl was herself routinely beaten. Sorala developed a serious demeanor, and the ability to mask her emotions behind that placid face, and thankfully, the Lady spared Sorala her favorite punishment; the chaining of offenders to the roof of their manor: the screams would always die off a few hours after midnight, as the punished died of exposure. And to her credit, the Lady Riina was always despondent the next morning.

Sorala had but just one friend, the Lady’s youngest son, Halgred. Hal was like all men, weak, but Sorala was surprised that this weakness was also a strength; the servants respected him, the horses didn’t fear him, and his warmth alone, spent many long winter nights playing Conqueror and telling stories, made the rest of Sorala’s service bearable. Alas, the Lady Riina only saw Halgred’s compassion as weakness; when he stood up to his mother regarding the punishment of a hungry serf, Halgred was given the serf’s punishment. Halgred was frozen solid by morning. It was that act, the loss of Igrit’s only friend, that has spurred the now young woman, twenty-five years of age, into her first acts of defiance. Her first act of defiance was to subvert the rules of her magical training; first learning the skill to alter elemental damage types of her spells, and more recently, deciding to learn damaging spells of other elements, of which she is forbidden (see character concepts for more details).

Currently, Sorala is a disaffected servant, though she is careful to hide her disaffection behind a facade of grateful service, lest she end up chained atop the Lady Riina’s roof in the dead of night.

Please note that I try and lay out a personality before gameplay but this is more a guiding template; Sorala's personality will certainly evolve as I get a better handle on the PC.

Sorala is an earnest person, who takes oaths seriously. If she says she’ll do something, she’ll follow through to the best of her ability. Sorala’s childhood as Igrit Tharn was bereft of humor, and it was a foriegn concept to the girl until the now deceased Hal introduced her to it. She appreciates a good joke (bawdy or sophisticated), but still has little facility for it herself. Sorala is quietly confident, but not boastful. She loves ships and ice sculptures, and hates the heat, often staying to the periphery of a hearth. Sorala fears birds, especially ravens.

White Squire:

A long-line of knights pledged to individual Jadwiga nobles and their families, White Squires are easily identified by their flat grey irises and - if wielded - their Rhimeblades, ancient weapons of obvious magical nature. The weapons bond themselves to a child at the moment of death of the current White Squire, and child is then sought out by a White Rider, essentially kidnapped, and raised in the noble’s household. The child is bonded to their Rhimeblade in a ceremony that marks them with their tell-tale eyes as property of their house (and in some ways, weapon), and then the child begins their training, a years-long process to learn the skills that are deemed necessary by their noble house. Due to the amount of training and investment needed to turn the child Squire into a potent weapon, White Squires are often favored servants and treated as such, and thus live their lives as favored servants, with levels of privilege that an Irrisini commoner could only dream of.

During the years that White Squires learn their craft, their nobles are more vulnerable - the training period of a Squire is seen as an auspicious time to topple rivals, go to war with other noble houses, etc.

There are a limited number of White Squires, one per Rhimeblade. To steal or destroy a Rhimeblade is an immense offence. The complete destruction of the Kazmeria noble line, memorialized in the Irrisini saga Avalanche stands a lesson to other houses to not follow this path. If any White Squires have absconded with their Rhimeblades - such an act has been hidden from the histories, effectively erased and unknown.

Once the Jadwiga witch that the White Squire serves dies, their service passes on wholecloth to their successor, a juicy perk for a witch successor to gain if they can pull it off, gaining an immediately powerful protector and servant (assuming the White Squire is trained and experienced).

Mechanical details such as class, etc., could be the same (all Squires are cavalier/magi) or different (all Squires are trained in accordance to distinct paths based on the needs of their ruling house. I see advantages to either.

Edicts:

Edicts tend to vary by house (and if not all Squires are cavaliers then mechanically other house’s edicts will have less “punch.” That said, all edicts tend to have some variation of Sorala’s first two. Sorala’s edicts are, in order of importance, below. In cases of conflict, previous edicts are followed:

1. The White Squire shall serve at the hand of their Jadwiga from the time of their Rhimeblade’s bonding to the time of their death. To their Jadwiga, the Squire must be truthful and courageous, and conduct themself with honor and dignity. The Squire shall put their Jadwiga’s interests above all others, including her own. (note that what constitutes “honor” to Jadwiga could vary greatly from more traditional knightly orders)

2. The White Squire shall serve their noble line, putting its interests above all others, including her own.

3. Eitleán is a tool. A wise tool, whose council should be sought and listened to. But it is a tool, none-the-less. It is the Squire’s duty to know when Eitleán’s motives do not align with the Jadwiga’s.

4. Whenever possible, the Squire shall further the honor of their noble house (note that what constitutes “honor” to Jadwiga could vary greatly from more traditional knightly orders)

5. The Jadwiga shall only learn offensive “cold” spells and hex magic. Other forms of offensive spellcasting are barred. Magic based around defense and utility is acceptable.

Cold magic, hex magic:

Sorala, in an effort to render her predictable and to ward against betrayal, is forbidden to learn any elemental magic that is not cold-based. Sorala can only guess that being discovered learning forbidden magic would carry very serious consequences. Recently, she has taken steps to learn other magic regardless. First, she taught herself the elemental spell metamagic feat, which she figures, not being a spell specifically, will spare her severe punishment if discovered. More daring, and dangerous, Sorala has recently procured some ghost ink. She plans to teach herself some forbidden spells (just in case they are needed, she tells herself), and copy them to her spellbook using the ghost ink to avoid discovery. She acquired the ink through Lady Morgannan’s personal driver, Kurit Karlsson (see NPCs below).

Eitleán :

The blade is mechanically similar to a bastard sword, finely crafted and honed, with silver veins running the length of its tempered steel, and emits light as the spell when drawn. The hilt is ivory, and the sword’s handle is wrapped in fine white bear’s leather, stained dark from generations of gripping, sweating hands. In addition to emitting light, the rimeblade, named Eitleán (Avalanche), seems to suck the warmth from its vicinity; the air within a few inches of the blade is always noticeably cooler. Mechanically, Eitleán is an attuned bastard sword blackblade. Statistics are as follows:

Enhancement +2, Int 12, Wis/Cha 8, Ego 8, alertness, black blade strike, telepathy, unbreakable, energy attunement; Arcane pool: 2; languages Hallit, Skald; knowledge (arcana) +3)

Eitleán’s personality TBD.

Lady Riina Morgannan: Lady Riina is the head of the Morgannan Jadwiga noble house, a powerful noble in Irrisini society. Morgannan’s tempestuous temper, often compared to an Irrisini thundersnow storm has been the death of many of her serfs and servants, including her own son’s.

Lady Elysia Morgannan: Lady Elysia is Riina’s first daughter, and even crueller than her daughter. The heir to Riina’s throne, Sorala worries for the day that Elysia assumes her mother’s mantle. Her relationship with her mother is fraught, and their arguments and current feelings for each other fuel the household staff’s gossiping most days.

Lady Althea Morgannan: Lady Althea is an unusual Jadwiga, in that she does not seem to care for the games nobles play. A competent witch and somewhat reclusive scholar, Althea mostly remains to herself with little in the way of servants, excepting her fey bodyguard Malthous, who accompanies her everywhere (and is rumored to be her lover, though there is no actually evidence of this). Althea and her mother have a seemingly good relationship. Interacting pleasantly on the rare occasions that they are together.

Guard-captain Halga Dormsdottir: A burly giantess of an Ulfen woman, Halga has risen to her position of the household guard through work ethic and skill, with her most famous exploit the uncovering and dispatch of the fey assassin Idlewyld on their palace grounds three years ago (who hired Idlewyld is as yet unknown). While Sorala’s role is to serve as the personal servant, bodyguard, and knight-errant of Lady Riina, Halga heads up the manor’s personal guard, leading in defense (and offense) of the Morgannan manor and its grounds. When at war with other houses or conducting raids of nearby Ulfen settlements, Halga is the general in charge.

Driver Kurit Karlsson: Riina’s personal driver, Kurit is a low-borne middle-aged Ulfen man of mild disposition. He’s gotten where he is by being unnoticeable, and when noticed, agreeable. Kurit is known within Morgannan Manor as a man who can procure things (usually contraceptives for manor staff), and Kurit is the man who procured Sorala’s ghost ink.

Lord Henrik Morgannan: Riina’s husband, Henrik is younger than Riina, her third husband, and rumored to be quite the philanderer. He is obsequious in demeanor to Riina and their children, of which Althea is naturally his daughter. (Elysia was born to Riina from a previous husband) With other members of the Morgannan household, Henrik is domineering and officious. He avoids Sorala, given her role as handmaiden to the Lady.

Stablemaster Bjorn Beallson: Few men or women in Irrisen understand the needs of horses (a rare and important commodity for travel in those winter-haunted lands) as well as Bjorn. Morgannan horses are known throughout Irrisen, and are one of the main income producers for the House. Bjorn’s facility with horses has given him great influence in the House, and Bjorn is known for his enjoyment of life’s pleasures. He is aging and keeps most of his wisdom to himself; his eventual death will be a blow to the Morgannans.

The White Rider: The White Rider is one of Baba Yaga's Riders, the heralds who proceed the Witch Queen to Irrisen so they they may judge the inhabitants of that snowy realm. The White Rider also serves to find children to be bonded to their Rhimeblades, and to escort those children safely to their new homes. Lately, Sorala has been seeing the White Rider in her dreams. She is not sure what this means, but she is very worried about this development.

Steward Anders Lavitsson: Particular and possessing an elephant’s memory, Anders is the diplomatic arm of Riina’s. He schedules appointments with her, oversees the non-military household staff, and keeps the Lady’s confidence. Sorala has no illusions that she is Riina’s most trusted advisor - Anders is her confident through and through, and relishes the position.

Head Cook Coriine Colbertsdottir: She runs her kitchen with an iron fist, and also oversees the House’s fishers and procurement, serving as a defacto right-hand to Steward Anders Lavitsson. Coriine is known as a taskmaster with a heart of gold - she does what she can to protect her staff from the vagaries of the nobles that they serve, and expects they do the same.

Huntsman Jarrik: A rarity in Irrisen - a fallen noble left alive - Jarrik was captured as a child when the Morgannans destroyed the House Ligenza. This is a secret known only by the Jadwiga. Why do they keep him alive? I don’t know! Jarrik is a fine huntsman, who also takes care of the Manor’s dogs and hawks, and leads patrols of the House’s rural holdings.

White Squire Nikolaj Ironeyes: The Squire in service to Lady Freja Tahsanna, Nikolaj is a likeable enough fellow in Sorala’s experience - professional and mostly serious, with a bit of charm that can be turned on when needed. They have a cordial relationship, though as Lady Freja is Lady Morgannan’s fiercest rival, odds are that one day Nikolaj and Sorala will cross blades.

Lady Freja Tahsanna: The House Tahsanna is a house similar to House Morgannan in stature - that is a major house of an important noble line. House Tahsanna is known for its logging, with vast holdings inland in Irrisen, though in recent years overharvesting has thinned the brightness of the house’s future. As such, House Tahsanna has become aggressive towards its neighbors and in court, and with the recent disappearance of Baba Yaga and the instability in Irrisen, it is likely that they will move against House Morgannan at some point - if Morgannan doesn’t strike first.

Lady Freja is known to be as cold as an Irrisini river. Her demeanor is placid and her plans slow-moving - until they are not. Then, like an ice-flow tumbling down a river, great destruction is unleashed. She and Lady Morgannan hate each other with a white-hot intensity. No one knows exactly why, but it is rumored that Lady Freja was behind the death of Lady Morgannan’s second husband.

Norintha: Halfling Periler, says she's a simple tailor trying to make it in this world. Barefoot, knows the city - or at least where the slavers are.

Rossem: Sorala's second in command of her ten man army, all of whom were conscripted by Sorala.

Vasim: Violent sociopath werewolf leading the assault on the fort. Leads through pain and fear. Sorala is not a fan.

Carvius Charthagnion: Pompous Chelish lord, who Sorala introduced to Elysia. His full title is Guardian of the Hespereth Straits, Keeper of the Nine Forts and Overlords of Kharijite

Maidrienne Vox: Hellknight, best warrior Sorala has ever seen. May or may not be human any more. Undertaking a vow of silence (or was silenced and is now something... else)

Barnabus: Old pirate, now a devout follower of Desna. Caretaker for some orphans, including Vannie.

Vannie: (Vanyita) Orphan, "owes" Sorala a favor, which she can reclaim at Limpet's Court, whatever that is.

Vennik the Wild, Terror of the Hoarwood: Capable bandit leader, in Port Peril Issier as a mercenary.

Rychenkov Vasil Romanovich, Overlord of the Urban Districts, new military commander in Lady Riina's service.

Ida Kela a washed up adventurer who lives on the docks. A roaring drunk, but the aasimar is very good with magic when they are conscious enough to use it. Often hired by the city when they need to clean up magical problems or deal with rowdy casters off pirate crews

Ellisandra: Librarian at the Mystic Redoubt. Seems to not care much for Sorala.

First Doyan Olnes Meckel: Sitting in the chair is a middle-aged man, with wavy brown hair. A matching short beard and goatee, along with a strong jaw, actually make him rather attractive, and there is a roguish twinkle to his eyes. A holy symbol of Nethys, god of magic, hangs around his neck. He is a slender man, narrow shouldered and thin necked with that pale look of someone who gets very little sun or exercise. The bottom half of his robes hangs loosely, quickly revealing withered, useless legs.

Mynnom the forlarren, one of the most disreputable fey that clustered around Elysia's power. Clever, brutal and jealous, Mynnom had made a name for himself as a blackmailer and extortionist, using a network of fey and child spies that haunted the backalleys of Algidheart. A stumpy shape with the legs of a hairless goat, a humanoid torso and a balding horned head.

Threzle Fullbeam, dwarven jeweler of great renown in Algidheart. Her route to Elysia had been very direct, via the jewelry the young Jadwiga loved to wear and flaunt. Even now Elysia was wearing a sapphirine studded necklace that Fullbeam had wrought. Jewels were one of Irrisen's major exports and Fullbeam was the current representative of a long line of dwarven craftsmen, with deep ties to the local merchants and traders. Vain and petty, she still had her finger on the pulse of the small merchant class.

Valacus, cleric of Zon-Kuthon and holder of a position that few foreign courts had but everyone in Irrisen held in respect. Valacus was Elysia's private torturer. True, the Jadwiga was more then capable of killing herself and of making such slayings painful and protracted but true torture, for a purpose, took time and labor. Neither of which excited the young Jadwiga noble. That was where Valacus came in. It was they who had overseen many of the more gruesome and unpleasant deaths of the House, including that of Halgred. Genderless and very secretive the cleric was a rising power in the House, and even rumored to have preformed delicate tasks for Lady Riina. Tall, stern, dressed in black edged with deep purple.

Bressaic: rat-faced captain, has traded with Ulfen. Captains the Widowmaker (?), Second Sister is part of his fleet.

Fleta of the Yellow Fin: Port Peril captain, wears a hat with an outsized feather.

Kazim el-Ishak: pretty man, wears a burnoose and carries a curved sword. Captain of the El-Shadun.

Quye: Rangey, red-tinged, angry captain who's first mate was gutted by the Irriseni. Obviously holds a grudge and thus must die. Ship is the Champion Troll. Greenblooder.

Shao: Tien captain, woman, wore red robes upon first meeting. Ship is The Waveborn

Siboniso: Mwangi(?) pirate captain, dour and gloomy. Ship is the Maróczy Bind (which Sorala recognizes is a Conqueror term)

Tadul Fatru: fat woman captain, doesn't like Sorala. Captain of the Bouncing Headsman

Unknown name: dour woman with lank hair and big teeth (perhaps half-orc), with a pleasant voice.

Vraxakor Cinderbeam: Captain of the Acetabularii. Male halfling, short even by the standards of his kind. Wears a refined goatee and long mustache of dark hair. Seems rather full of himself, perhaps not well-respected by the other captains.

Bonefist: Seems to be dead.

Delmonia: Dead.

Fairwind: Escaped on The Luck of the Draw. Prefers Quent.

Maxevale Janis: Rumored to be dead. Fairwind's bed partner. Janis lives! And has been geased, and has escaped Elysia's grasp. He's somewhere in Crescent Harbor, most likely. Update: Janis's corpse has been found (or is it Janis's corpse?) and turned over to Sorala.

Bakery: Former slaver's den, now taken by Sorala. There's a secret door/room in the basement, and another room best not talked about.

Berth of the Sea Wraith on the mainland, is a (rare) Besmara Holy Site frequented by clerics of the Black Lady.

The Deadlight: A tavern in Crescent Harbor. Frequented by Fleta, Siboniso, and other captains. Well-loved for its sancocho (fish and veggie stew), not so much for its ale.

Khalla Faggur's breaking yard: Lower Eastwind, Port Peril. A "miser"

Jezutau's breaking yard: Beggerbriar, Port Peril. "Probably sells dry-rotted ships."

Limpet's Court: ?. The orphan Vannie knows of it.

Mystic's Redoubt, which is apparently a library...a school...a garden? People are unclear on the specifics but this is the heart of mage life in Port Peril. It is a magic school with tidy grounds and a small, lovely library.

The Old Fort: Ruined fort where Lord Carvius and his men made their stand before Sorala brokered a peace.

Alastia, Blade Tutor: Well regarded Irrisini duelist. Poor temperment for a teacher. Sorala learned swordplay through bumps and bruises more than theory.

Huntsman Jarrik:

Loremaster Aelick: A diminutive gnome, Sorala wonders what the Loremaster is up to now. Saved Sorala from a bad plan.

Tihkon: card sharp, gambler and all around confidence man. Taught Sorala the art of lying - and how to catch others in the act.

Hawkshaw: Rogue archon, diviner, gave Sorala knowledge of her curses

Falk: basically an alien pit boss

Master Halporhini: Nice ape-man who played Conqueror with Sorala.

The three curses

* Visit Vannie at Limpet's Court - wherever that is.
* Furnish the hideaway room at the bakery
* Pay Fleta a visit at her ship
* Visit either or both Khalla Faggur's breaking yard and/or Jezutau's breaking yard, see what types of ships they have for sail.
* Visit Ida Kehla and/or Mystic's Redoubt, for magic items, maybe to see Divedi's ledger unenchanted
* Get the elephant appraised
* Get Divedi's ledger's enchantment undone

* Wand of Expeditious Excavation, scroll of alter self to be scribed to spellbook, potion of water breathing
* Gold from Janis
* Favor from Ida - give her liquor? - find out if Sorala is being scryed on or otherwise magically surveiled
* Ship - the Chelish ship
* Need to get there - Fleta? She will want something - what? gold (Janis's gold)? Favors? Fame? Do I dangle the gratitude of a pirate lord, or keep that quiet?
* Need sailors and soldiers: Norintha to round up a crew (and join as quartermaster?) Vennik and Co. as soldiers.
* How to take the ship? Get almost to within range of the ship's stern or prow's weapons? Fly, disable weapons, fly back or signal. Boarding commences.