Moira de'Karne – Sounds interesting, I’d like to see a little more about Moria’s history with the “voices” what things they’ve shown her and how she’s dealt with them.
Spoiler:
Well, it happened like this. When I was out hunting, I would get a feeling about certain folks. And I would look at them, and a voice would tell me, for example, "Wary, there's a wickedness in his heart." It was scary, but once, I went and pried, and it turns out, She was right. The man had killed another in a fit a few years back. Turned out he buried the man's body right there in his own yard after he let his own huntin' dogs at it! Life ain't always right in the 'Wood, but one should always treat their own neighbors right, I say, else the darkness will come for you.
Other times, She'd come in the dark, in my dreams, and hint at connections between the dark things in the Shudderwood with something called the Whispering Tyrant. Capital T and all. I didn't know what She meant at the time, but in my travels I was able to pick up some bits and pieces. Now, I don't know how this Tar-Baphon, or whatever he's called, what's been locked up for who know's how long has ties to them up in the 'Wood, but She says he does, and I believe Her, for whatever good it does.
Shortly after leaving home, I met the Professor. I think you've heard of him? Lorrimar? Yeah, that's the guy. Anyways, he listens to what I have to say about Her and what She says to me, and he turns to me with this bright look in his eye, and I mean bright, "My dear child! You are a blessed one, indeed!" Blessed!? Ha! I don't think anyone what's seen a man torn to bits and pieces by them wolves could ever be considered blessed, but I digress...
Where was I? Right, right, blessed. "I believe that it is Sarenrae Herself that speaks to you. It is usually only through Her vassals that she speaks. She might be preparing you for a higher calling. Come, tell me what you know of the Gods." Which was a short conversation, I'll tell ya. Anyways, turns out I might be one o' her favored or something. The old man, rest his poor soul, wasn't able to tell for sure, but I've been looking into everything I could on Her, and I've been listening to those voices. And y'know what? They're getting stronger...
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I'm pretty much just using it as a springboard for her abilities as a paladin. The detect evil and smite evil (which I'll be using the Focused Aim gunslinger (mysterious stranger) deed to emulate until 2nd level) being the key ones, the rest as flavor. As the only member of her clan who was so touched by a divine being, there was nobody she could turn to that could explain what was happening to her until she met the Professor, which is why she is so grateful to him.
The young woman, red hair barely held in check by her colorful scarves, let's the golden haired woman into her incense filled tent, seating herself opposite the woman with a harrow mat in between, "Let me ask you what you wish to know. Love life? Perhaps the fate of a loved one? Some even come to me to find lost things. What shall I read for you?"
She listens as the fair-skinned woman asks her questions, and taps her chin thoughtfully, "Perhaps the cards can answer your questions..." She then lays out nine cards, face down. Dawn turns over the first row of cards, sighing and shaking her head as she finally turned over the Betrayer, "In the dismal past, there was incarnate selfishness. Envy twisted the spirit and led ultimately to devastation. The Betrayer may have been a person whose loveliness hid an evil heart. This person caused much suffering, and there are those who still suffer to this day from the twisted envy for that which could not be had faithfully."
Dawn smiles as the next card is turned over, the Idiot, but continues to turn over the next row, "The Idiot is a card of grave foolishness and greed, but you can see here that it is misaligned. Here, the Idiot shows us that one is feigning idiocy to disguise one's true gifts. There is a crafty warrior of great skill who hides his abilities so that those opposed to his kindness and prowess cannot descend upon him before it is too soon. There is hope for us yet."
Turning over the next row, she taps the Demon's Lantern card, "The card of traps and tricks, sleight of hand and sleight of mind. You see the will-o'-wisps? The man here sought their light and reached an impossible or intractable situation. Beware of trickery before you, for one hand may hold fortunes and promises, but the other may hold your doom. Be certain of your situation before you step forward, and ever aware of your surroundings."
"Does this answer your questions? Your eyes tell me no. But the cards, they do not lie. I can help you, for I see not just the past," she says, tapping the Betrayer and then touching the Idiot and the Demon's Lantern in turn. "I see the present and the future, as well. It is true that the veils of time are murky, but it takes a clever eye to read into what the cards have to tell us. I have the ability to see what they have to say, though the translation may still be very open to whoever may listen."
She looks at the fair haired woman, "I have been reading the cards most of my life. This I offer to you. This I offer to the cause of what is right. To prevent the darkness that comes. That is what I hope for."
Slowly, she opens her eyes, still saddled on Buttercup, her horse. She smiles sadly to herself as she starts her horse forward on the road again.
What an odd time to be dreaming! And an even odder dream. It felt so... real!
