Valvira's page

Congratulations to Aja and Mehji Players!

I don't envy the GM's having to choose. Some really good options here

Submitting for your arcane consideration... a former goody two shoes diviner who now finds herself thrust into her darker side. Despite the NE alignment, she is not meant to be a 'mwhwhhaha conquer the realms' evil type. She may look after her own interests, but it is ENLIGHTENED self interest and she knows that strong allies are smart to have.

Click the profile for all the details...

but the backstory is here

I should mention that I briefly mentioned Isabeau as the person who got Valvira in contact with the Church as the player posted earlier that she was open to that sort of thing. If that changed, let me know and I can edit.

The suspense builds!

Thank you for the list, Lord Christian!

A fairy tale? Why you need a cursed noble!

At least I hope you do.

Stats in profile

Fairy Tale Role: The Cursed Noble
Background: Once, not so long ago, there was a coward. Fortunately for him, he was well placed in society, a member of the Garess family. So cowardice was easy to hide, one can throw money or name at a lot of things. Of course, it also made it all the more important not to be seen as a coward. In a land like Brevoy, where Aldori Sword lords dueld over matter of honors on one side, and dwarves , usually an honorable and militant people themselves had actually come to claim heirship to the house he belonged; to be seen as a coward would to court humiliation.

Savinien Garess was trained in arms and armor, of course, at least some of the basics. He did not fear the sparring, a cleric would be upon him in a moment's notice should he be wounded. Actual battle with true risk was a stranger to him, but he talked a very good game, making up stories about a few scuffles that never happened to gain cheap fame.
Until, of course, danger truly found him. He was with some of his friends, tipsy but not drunk, walking through the streets far too late at night with some friends. A wrong turn, a wrong alley, and the wrong sort of people noticed. Steel was drawn, his friends charged forward to fight as one- only to find Savinein had lost his nerve and bolted to hide clumsily in a haywagon until the sounds of battle ended where he dared take a look.

His friends dead, but so were the four attackers, well, save one who was in the process of dying from wounds. The sound of the guards finally began down the street. And realizing there was not a mark on him, not a drop of blood on his blade. Well, Savinien Garess the third both avenged his friends, and attempted to save his reputation by slaying the last man in cold blood. Now there was blood on his blade. Now he looked like he had fought, now caught in the lie, he stood by it as the guards asked what had happened.

In the story, he had not run, he had fought. Yes, heroically even! A true Garess born, his father and grandfather were honored he carried their name! The loved ones of his friends thanked him for his courage. At one funeral, Savinien played at false humility and said he regretted he could not save them though, by Gorum how he tried.
A coward should never invoke the god of war's name lightly.
As he played the part of hero, Savinien found it harder and harder to see...things seemed fall behind a red cloud. He could still see, but that blood red tint got worse the further out until all was a crimson blur.

"Your eyes, Savinien, your eyes!" One person said. And others gasped as well.

For Savinien's eyes, whites, irises, and all, had gone the shade of spilled blood, the same hue as the blood of his allies who had died.
Savinien's buff had, it seemed, been called, and his nerve, for the second time- broke. In a panic, he begged for help. He confessed the truth to all if only someone could help him. A cleric of Gorum was sought, though the brutish priest sneered at him and offered only this advice "You are not worthy of my god's attention, but you have it. I would not 'cure you' if I could. Instead, go forth and see what to make of this curse, for there is power to it. Power that will force you to either stay marked forever as a liar and a coward, or , if you can find your spine, perhaps make more of yourself than you were and never desert your battle mates again."

And so, Savinien is the shame of his family, and has resolved never to be a coward again. He is plagued by dreams where he was the one who died, or his friends corpses rise and speak to him with contempt. He does not understand what to do with the magic that comes with the curse but he knows one thing- to redeem himself he must go into danger.

Appearance: Savinien Garess the Third is a handsome man. Tall enough to please most ladies, broad shouldered, and with brown hair that has a fine luster. He is at this time, but nineteen winters, but the awkward gangliness of teen years is gone and he carries himself well with a purposeful gait. Only his eyes detract, for the blood red hue is solid as a smooth red gemstone. It makes him look all the more imposing to some, intriguing to others, but whatever the reaction, it makes him stand out and one of a kind. If anyone wants to identify him, they need merely seek out the man with the sanquine gaze.

Personality: Savinien was a cowardly fake, a poser, a pretender who sought easy glory rather than work for it. He was vain, and deceptive. Of course, that was before his curse rubbed his face into his flaws. He has since had time to grow introspective, to ponder what he has done with his life, or failed to do. He is not entirely free of his faults, but he is more self aware, and he has tried to be a better man, but it can be argued at this state, he might be doing right for the wrong reasons. He isn't refusing to retreat from fights because he is fearless, rather, he fears shame more. Savienien is perhaps still a creature of vanity. In time, that may change, but he will need guides to aid him in that pursuit of becoming a better man.

It should be said, even before the curse, Savinien was not entirely virtue less. He can be generous to his friends and even strangers. Had he been stingier, he'd be in better finances. He is charming still, and tries to uplift others spirits; when he's not dwelling on his own angst.

Goals: Savinien wants to be free of his curse, but the truth is he never will be; and as he matures, he may grow to realize how better to use it. He is not good aligned now, but as time goes by will likely lean more and more that way if , as mentioned above, the company he keeps encourages it. He does have a chance to redeem his cowardice and reclaim the respect of his family. If he could even receive but a letter of praise from his father he would be most happy. His half sister, who has always been kind to him and was the first to forgive him, is one of his family who has not spurned him. He would love to find a way to get her enobled so she could get her due.

The three NPCS:
Nolinna Vira (The Family member) Of all Savinien's family, the one closest to him is his bastard half sister. She adores him, for he has always treated her as a sister, but and realizes that anyone might lose nerve in battle. She is actually a skilled seamstress, but her true gift is a kind heart. She hopes to visit her half brother or perhaps even move wherever he finally settles.
Bandy Banford (The Friend) - is a halfling who escaped from Cheliax. When a bounty hunter came to retrieve Bandy, Savinien's lies did indeed do some good, for he convinced the fellow he had the wrong halfing because Bandy had been employed by the Garess family for years! The hunter bought it, and Bandy was quite grateful to have a fresh chance at life and his old master off the trail.
Thysila Khavortorov (The Enemy)- House Khavortorov was a minor house of Brevoy, now seeking to gather more influence. They'd hardly be a part of Savinien's life, except that one of his friends was a suitor to Thysila. Furious with the young lord of Garess, she has warned him that one day, she will have recompense, for she blames Savinien's cowardice for her suitor's death as much as the attackers themselves. While she hardly has her whole house behind her; some encourage her to leave the coward to his fate, but only the unwise disregard the threat a determined woman might become.