Tsura Vhiski's page

She wishes she had a better story to tell -- a story filled with rebellious intrigue, vile rituals, and dark oaths made in secret places -- but she doesn't. There was a boy with sparkling eyes and a roguish half-smile who invited her to a gathering with some of his friends. They were the second- and third-sons of nobility. They had time, money, and few responsibilities. She was the daughter of a moderately successful merchant, and felt thrilled at just the opportunity to spend time with such company. They gathered in a basement, drew a clumsy summoning circle on the floor with chalk, and chanted nonsense prayers to the Dark Lord.

At first, she was shocked like any respectable citizen of Talingarde. The worship of any god but Mitra was forbidden and grounds for arrest, especially one so vile!... but the boy was cute. Cute and rich. What was the harm in just pretending? After all, this was hardly more reckless than the typical behavior of noble wastrels. It was just chalk and silly chants. What harm could it cause?

Tsura attended a second gathering, then a third. The third was going to be her last. The boy seemed to be growing bored with their theological rebellion, and she was certain he was going to pay her a call to court her. They began their chants and drew their chalk circles. One of the boys drew an unholy symbol. He was a poor artist, and previous drawings had only a superficial resemblance to the real thing, but tonight by luck he managed to draw the symbol of Asmodeus correctly. Tsura's eyes locked on the symbol against her will. It drew all of her focus and attention. The room, the chanting, and the boys faded from her perception. Only the symbol remained. It seemed bizarrely familiar, like something she had once known but had forgotten long ago. An itch grew in the back of her mind.

Hello, my child.

Tsura screamed and ran from the basement. She ran through streets and alleys all the way until she reached her front door with burning legs and gulping air. She ignored her parents questions and bolted herself in her room. It took several hours of talking to herself, convincing herself that it didn't happen, before she felt calm enough to go to bed. She dreamed....

The rest is fairly standard, as far as servants of the dark are concerned. A black figure appeared in her dreams. Promises of riches and glory. Demands for obedience and service. Everything she ever wanted could be hers. What would be required of her? Why, just sowing discord in the church of Mitra. You don't even have to get your hands dirty with blood or violence! Just use your new talents to enrich yourself at the cost of those fat priests. The ones who collect for the poor every week, but the poor never seem to see it? It's justice, really....

So Tsura did just that. Using her new abilities and powers, she posed as a financier. She visited powerful and influential priests, promising them extremely lucrative rates of return on investment in a gold mine far north near the borderlands. Of course, there was no gold mine. She used the capital from investors to pay their dividends without ever making profit. Her 'success' led to more investors, more capital, and more skimming. She lived like a queen.

It came crashing down after someone took the time to send an appraiser to inspect the gold mine. A swift investigation found that nearly 80,000 gold pieces had been lost in the scheme. Tsura's crimes were not publicized or prosecuted -- after all, it wouldn't do for the public to learn that certain clergymen were so wealthy. Instead, she was quickly tried in a church tribunal and sentenced to a lifetime of labor in the salt mines.

Tsura now finds herself in Branderscar Prison, having never even hurt a fly. She plots how to escape, and bring greater chaos and ruin to the hypocrites of Mitra.

In time, by slow and careful steps, she became a member of the community. She became an adherent of Desna under the tutelage of Father Tobyn, and maintained a friendly (if distant) relationship with his other foster daughter Nualia. She attended primary school at Turandarok Academy and learned about the world from the kind and exotic Ilsoari Gandethus. She found a best friend in Sabyl Sorn, and spent the majority of her free time at the House of Blue Stones learning martial arts and self-discipline from her father Enderaki. While still guarded at times, within a few seasons she found herself smiling and laughing and living in ways she never thought possible.

There was one she did not get along with, however -- Jubrayl Vhiski. And no, they are not related! Well, perhaps they are fifth or sixth cousins, but she despised the man. It was an open secret that he was head of the local Sczarni, and to Tsura he represented everything wrong with her previous life in Magnimar. She avoided him at all costs. Perhaps some day she would let him know what she thought of him (with words and fists), but that would have to wait for another day.

Life was peaceful and good... unfortunately, good things do not last forever. The Late Unpleasantness happened. Tsura's world was rocked. A string of disappearances and the discovery of their grisly murder were soon followed by a fire that took the life of the man who became her second father. Tsura wept for Father Tobyn, and for the peace she thought she had found. A malaise took her that lasted for nearly a season. She ate little, slept most of the day, and spent what energy she had in crying. The new priest, Father Zantus, tried his best to comfort her, but there was little he could do. He was a stranger, albeit a kind and friendly stranger, and she was in no mood open herself to trust again.

It was Sabyl who saved her. Not with sympathy or kind words. No, Sabyl saved Tsura by grabbing her by the scruff of the neck and dragging her bodily out of the chapel. She dragged her through the streets, despite Tsura fighting and protesting loudly, all the way to the House of Blue Stones. Sabyl ordered Tsura to spar with her. Tsura refused, and was promptly walloped. She attempted to leave the monastery several times and received more physical admonishment. Bruised and bloodied, heartbroken, Tsura finally snapped. She fought Sabyl in a blind fury, putting all of her frustration and anger and sadness into her blows. Sabyl blocked them with ease, wild and undisciplined as they were in her rage. When her muscles ached and she was exhausted, Sabyl embraced her, and Tsura cried. No more tears of sadness, but tears of relief. Tsura moved into an apartment adjoining the monastery and became the assistant teacher under Sabyl. She found new purpose. She blended the teachings of Desna with the self-perfection of Irori, and found that they brought peace to her soul.

Day to day, most of Tsura's time is spent maintaining the House of Blue Stones and teaching any who wish to learn. She volunteers for guard patrols with Sheriff Hemlock, and takes a special delight in helping to keep Sandpoint safe from burglars and cut-purses. She likes to unwind at the Rusty Dragon, drinking (in moderate, of course) and laughing and singing with the citizens of Sandpoint.

You see a well-groomed human woman with black hair loosely gathered at her shoulders. Her eyes are a deep red, with small flecks of silver near the iris. Her skin is fair and pale. She has small freckles on her nose, high cheek bones, and a strong jaw. She appears to have a distant ancestor who was... something. She has pointed ears and a bifurcated tongue. She dressed in a simple red tabard and trousers. She is quite tall and broad, with a solid frame and straight posture.

The siblings followed their father in larceny, and Tsura was taught to beg and steal when she was six. Her youth and pitiful state allowed her to bring in a respectable amount of money, and she and her sisters made a game of filching belt pouches from tourists and merchants. Her world came crashing down one day when she tried to pick the pocket of Chelaxian wizard. After fleeing with his purse, the spellcaster divined the location of his money and followed the girls back to their home.

The sisters were clapped in irons by the town guard and taken to jail. Under questioning by the guard, they quickly divulged the activities of their father's gang, and the identities and locations of its leadership. The guardsmen were quick in finding and arresting the ringleaders, who were tried and sentenced to years of hard labor. Among them was the head boss, a ruthless and violent man named Giuseppe.

In retaliation, Luca was attacked and maimed by his gang. The girls returned home from the jail to find him unconscious and with two broken knees. Crippled and unable to provide for them, he took them to a temple of Desna and begged the priest to take them in as wards. The priest, Father Tanrid, took pity on the girls. In exchange for room and board, they were expected to engage in character-building work.

Robbed of her mother, and abandoned by her father, Tsura became withdrawn and angry. Her thoughts were devoted to revenge against her enemies, both real and imagined. She kept a mental list of those who would face her retribution. Father Tanrid saw the young girl's demeanor change as weeks and months passed, and decided to take her as his personal project. He decided she needed to depart from Magnimar and make a fresh start away from the terrors of her past. A fresh start in Sandpoint.

Tsura was transferred to the care of Father Tobyn. While her time with him was short prior to fire that engulfed the old temple, it had a profound impact on her. She was able to find solace in Desna, and put aside her old life. She made new friends, and relief on those friends after the old priest died. She has spent her time training her body and mind, becoming a devoted monk of Desna and finding new purpose in protecting her adopted home.