About Vexis LaVaynAppearance:
Vexis has black hair, green eyes and soft, pale skin. She stands at 5'5" and weighs about 129lbs. She is lithe and quick, marred only by the pulsating runic "F" that she now bears upon her arm. Her clothes are rags, for now, and she appears unkept compared to her normal pristine groomed condition and love of regalia.
Background:
My sin is Pride. My crime is forgery. I am the only daughter of a family of lesser nobles. My father was a knight who served the king well and was handsomely rewarded with expansive estates and servants. He took a wife, the most beautiful in the manse, but common. She loved him, so that was all that mattered and amongst many of the other lesser nobles, who may have developed judgmental contempt for such a practice, the great name of the LaVayn house was losing its credibility. The LaVayn's were very noble in their attitude towards their serfs and servants and treated them well. The estate started to decrease steadily in size year by year as my father saw fit to reward some of his servants with parcels of their own along with handing over some land use back to the king for "the benefit of the kingdom." One day, a cunning young noble from the DuGrav family appeared with a edict from the King to mobilize the knights once again in defense of the kingdom. Valiant and brave, my father was eager to oblige the benevolent king and defend the crown once more. It wasn't but a county away that the small band found themselves ambushed by bandits who heavily outnumbered the group that had not yet collected any other knights. The rogues were hooded so they couldn't be identified, and for a robbery, they didn't take much. The young DuGrav escaped with some serious lascerations and an arrow wound, but the scoundrel had to "sell it", didn't he? My mother tried her hardest to run things, unfortunately she hadn't paid close enough attention to my father's business, especially since it was mostly handled by cousins in the banking trade. Cousins who were doing quite well if you know what I mean. The LaVayn family was proud and powerful, but it lacked male heirs. It was suggested many times that my mother remarry and even aggressively at times. She had really loved my father, but was shameful of the estate falling into disrepair. Finally, a remarriage was agreed upon by my mother after relentless pressure from some of my aunts, one of which was a DuGrav by marriage. The estate slowly began to disintegrate, but what really incensed me, was the removal our family name wherever it appeared. All of my possessions began to become absconded by my newfound step-siblings. It wasn't like I was spoiled, but when you are the only child of wealthy land-owners, who else are they going to buy things for? It was while I was looking for these things that I found it, the parchment that is. The one that fooled my father and lulled him, eagerly to his premeditated death. There it was with the king's seal and everything. Despite his weak loyalty to the kingdom, he was their greatest knight, and now the LaVayn name was being systematically erased along with the comforts that his position used to afford me. My mother was being treated little better than a commoner, who seemed less joyful these days, but did not complain. It's not supposed to be this way. I must have justice! And I did. It was easy too. Or at least I thought it would be. Soon after my discovery, my step-father destroyed the document found amongst my possessions by my rat-faced aunt and decreed that I had been stirring up dissention in his house and must leave. Leaving the house unmarried was unthinkable to mother, but it was okay with me. I was never really interested in the duties that my station required, but I was offended that despite her initial objection, her attitude toward the matter had quickly changed. I guess she didn't appreciate my stubborn insistence that our new family consisted mostly of self-serving scoundrels who wanted to sweep our old life under the rug. Or maybe her hand was forced in the decision. Mother was weak, but I still loved her. Who knew if she would ever forgive me and take me back into her life. Hopefully she will come around after our house is restored. If not, I will at least see that she remains comfortable throughout her last days. The young Algorn DuGrav was a bit older now and ready to marry. My cousin Ana was a very beautiful, kind, compassionate and trusting young lady. She was always very nice to me and had she not gotten involved with Algorn, perhaps things would be different. It was through my new position as a clerk for the church that I gained accesss to what I needed for revenge. Women were not usually given this position, but somehow I had convinced them that I would be the best clerk that they ever had. I proved it too. I put in long hours and brought great order to the clergy. One night, I studied the forged document closely. I spent many late nights thereafter sculpting the signet, dyeing the wax and practicing the hand of the bishop. Previous attempts to link Algorn with Asmodeus worship proved difficult as he seemed to be 'ironclad'. No one would investigate him closely with his connections to the clergy of Mitra and his public visibility within the church. despite a campaign of vicious and believable rumor-mongering against him by myself and a few of Rosha's colleagues. Ana, however, was a different story. She came from a family with a sordid past. Her great uncle had been convicted of consorting with the powers of darkness and many suspected her mother of involvement as well, although she seemed to evade any serious investigations. Accusing her was much more viable. Placing the evidence was easy enough as Ana's visits had increased and my connection with the servants gave me easy access to my former manor, so her belongings at the manse slowing increased. Letters corresponding to a "friend", unfortunate collateral damage that I had to actually involve another soul, indicated secret participation in withcraft and rituals of Asmodeus. Once discovered, I was overjoyed at the church's response to the situation as both Ana, her friend and Algorn were apprehended immediately and sequestered for days pending the end of the investigation and trial. At least Algorn got what he desreved. He quickly became ill and to the dismay of the family died in custody of a "mysterious illness." His death remains a mystery, but I have Rosha to thank for that. If my mother only knew that her most trusted handmaid was a devout adept of Asmodeus and such a great mentor to me, she would surely fall dead from shock. Rosha has opened my eyes to the self-serving "truths" of Mitra and the connected devoted. The hours that we have spent together in the kitchen, talking and and recalling the old days, are some of my best memories. She even showed me several ways to mix ingredients, making elixirs and to teas to soothe pain or rid a soul of any number of nuisances. What really shocked me was learning of Rosha's prominence in a local Blackfingers cult. She had kept this secret from me until after she took tea to Algorn. The black scorpion pendant that she gave me for my 18th birthday should of at least been a clue, but I never saw it. In fact, Rosha had descended from a long line of servants who weren't really servants at all from the time of the pantheon. I mean, they did the work of servants and more often supervised that work than did it themselves. Rosha and her family lived better than most nobles. Secretly taking money to direct fate and dealmaking with desperate souls, some just to survive, but some to gain power. To think of the vast network of spies throughout the houses of the rich and powerful, astounding! I was never privy to her list of clients, but she said that I would be surprised if I had ever found out. Her mentorship means the world to me. She has really showed me that strategy pays off when it comes to getting what you want. If it is given to you, you cannot be blamed for taking it. My mistake? Maybe it was impatience, or the fact that the case was quickly growing cold, but I couldn't live with just an accusation. I needed revenge for my father, for myself. My boldest crime, and the one that brought me to this rat-infested cage, was a mandate from the king calling for the execution of Algorn, Ana and the other girl. The document was fool-proof, but apparently in my fervor, I spilled a bit of "the king's red wax" on my shoe that I carelessly left lying about my new residence at the church for my snooping aunt to find. I can say that I am proud of the length of time it took for investigator's to come to the correct conclusion. It would have been done too, if it wasn't for the multiple appeals from my step-father to investigate further. I am sorry that I made the unfortnate mistake of not fully destroying the evidence. That won't happen again. I'll never again take a half-measure. My sentence? I'm unsure. Supposedly I should be banished to the salt mines, however I hear that they are considering execution because three people were almost wrongly put to death. If it happens, it is because my forgery was so perfect, that the king could not sleep at night in fear of what might happen "by his decree." Why murder someone, when others will do it for you? I won't be killed though. They will all pay. The great LaVayn name will be restored, at any cost. Crunch:
Vexis LaVayn Female Human Rogue (Poisoner) 1 LE Medium Humanoid (human) Init +4; Senses Perception +5 -------------------- Defense -------------------- AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 10 (+4 Dex) hp 10 (1d8+1) Fort +1 (+2 trait bonus vs poison or drugs (+4 to avoid effects of alcohol)), Ref +7, Will +1 -------------------- Offense -------------------- Speed 30 ft. Special Attacks sneak attack +1d6 -------------------- Statistics -------------------- Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 11 Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 14 Feats Deft Hands, Weapon Finesse Traits Deft Dodger, Iron Liver Skills Acrobatics +8, Bluff +4, Craft (alchemy) +6, Diplomacy +4, Disable Device +8, Disguise +4, Escape Artist +8, Knowledge (local) +6, Linguistics +6, Perception +5, Sleight of Hand +10, Stealth +8, Use Magic Device +4 Languages Abyssal, Common, Daemonic, Infernal SQ poison use Other Gear: In time, it will all come back to me in full measure and then some! -------------------- Special Abilities -------------------- Iron Liver +2 to Fort saves vs. poison and drugs, or +4 vs. alcohol. Poison Use You do not risk poisoning yourself accidentally while poisoning a weapon. Sneak Attack +1d6 +1d6 damage if you flank your target or your target is flat-footed. |
