Date Posted:22:49:56 04/29/01 Sun Author:Murtle Turtyl Author Host/IP: dhcp-128-194-36-186.resnet.tamu.edu / 128.194.36.186 Subject: Character Information In reply to:
Murtle Turtyl
's message, "Preface to the GM event post" on 22:29:09 04/29/01 Sun
Dagda is a strong woman, firmly rooted in the physical world. She is most comfortable dealing with things she can touch, hear, and smell. A follower of The Tribunal, she believes in the tenants of absolute justice, but, for the most part, has little use for the gods. The realms of spirit and magic are best left to those who have the time to worry about such intangible things. The extent of her mystical experiences consist of a single dream she received from Tunare, though she never knew nor cared about its source, that foretold her meeting the gnomes, Ognit and Dabner. Other than this, she has found that obstacles are best met head-on where she can see them face to face, smell their breath, and hear the crunch of their bones.
Dagda saved the gnomes Ognit and Dabner in Everfrost many years ago when raiders attacked them. She has grown very fond of, and indeed loves, them both. She respects them for their inherent mystical and spiritual abilities, but she is keenly aware of their physical frailties. She vowed to defend them both, and does so with the ferocity of a bear defending her cubs.
Dagda is by no means simple, and is truly a genius in the realm of tactics and combat. She is literate enough to read the common tongue with little difficulty, and speaks both the common tongue and her native tongue fluently. Her knowledge of other languages is generally limited to curses and taunts, of which she has gathered quite an arsenal. She generally communicates in a short and very direct fashion, leaving no room for misinterpretations.
Dagda knows that Ognit is very intelligent and respects his knowledge, though she sometimes questions its use. She is most impressed and thoroughly fascinated by his ability to tinker and create wondrous things. Indeed, this is the medium through which she can relate to him best. The useful objects he builds allow her to perform any number of tasks, so useful, in fact, that she thinks he would be better off giving up the study of wizardry to become a full-time tinker. After all, it's just fine to call down the very fire of Fennin Ro upon the mighty Glacier Bear at 300 yards, but when it is mauling your head off it's of little use.
Dagda shares a healthy sibling-like rivalry with Ognit. Being an accomplished tactician, she is aware of the simple fact that at a distance Ognit would have the clear advantage, and would win were they to ever do battle. However, she also knows that if she got her hands upon him, she would be the victor. Despite being quick to anger at times-and she and Ognit have often exchanged heated words-Dagda would never raise a hand against either of the gnomes she has sworn to protect.
Dagda views Dabner in a much different light. She has on countless occasions felt his healing touch as a cleric. For one who is so firmly rooted in the phycial world, it is for her a wonder to watch wounds disappear. She sees him as a very simple, yet very compassionate and loving soul. She loves him as a brother, and treats him in a somewhat patronizing manner. She would never consider speaking an unkind word to him, nor will she tolerate those that might. She is aware of, and also a bit saddened by, a crush Dabner has upon her. Dabner is simply too short for her tastes. She would much prefer a man of might with whom she would not worry. However, as a warrior she respects his raw courage in battle and his unfailing loyalty to his friends.
Though she is closest to the gnomes, Dagda also shares a strong respect for her companions. It is Firiona Vie, Sir Jevik, and Thubr Axebringer she most deeply admires. They are all mighty warriors in her eyes. She acknowledges the skills of the rogue Dreezil Pocketdip, and views him as a skilled fighter. His ways of stealth are an effective way of dealing with his natural halfling handicaps in her eyes. Though she is not a warrior and not as skilled as the others with a sword, the bard Sionachie is a valuable asset to the group. Her rousing battle songs inspire a zeal that makes combat that much more exciting.
For the wizard Al'Kabor, Dagda has little love. Respecting the immense power he wields, she has a healthy fear of him. After his recent threats against Ognit, however, her opinion of him has since plummeted
Dabner Drednever
Dabner Drednever is a cleric of Brell Serilis. He is a compassionate and simple man, light of heart and jovial in spirit. He does not share the intelligence of his close friend Ognit, nor the physical strength of his sworn protector, the barbarian woman Dagda. He is generally an air-head but this is off-set with a natural wisdom that shows itself in the form of the occasionally profound and significant insight. He is most comfortable in a nice cavern with some good solid earth over his head. As fate would have it, this is seldom possible. He takes this in great stride though. As long as he is with his friends, his inherent agoraphobic, gnomish nature usually does not bother him.
Dabner views Ognit as a role model. He wants to be more like Ognit but realizes that he lacks the intense schooling that Ognit has had. Indeed, he knows he is too old to pursue those things and he also knows that he lacks the mental acuity that Ognit possesses. He is comfortable in that knowledge, however. Dabner is the stereotypical side-kick to Ognit. He marvels at his ability to channel great magical energies in a most efficient manner (Ognit speaks often of efficiency). He will go along with just about anything that Ognit does and he trusts his judgement implicitly.
Dabner has convinced Ognit to show him a bit of tinkering. The reason for this is both a means for him to be more like his role model Ognit, and also as a way to impress Dagda, upon whom he has a crush. Dabner is taken by Dagda's raw strength and physical prowess. She is his Knight in Shining Armor, in a manner of speaking. A word of encouragement from her ignites a spark within him that sets him aflame with unparalleled courage. Yet as much as he loves her, his nature prevents him from making even the slightest sort of statement of desire towards Dagda.
In an odd way, a way that he does not acknowledge in a conscious manner, he views himself as solely responsible for the welfare of his companions. He has occasionally brought down the wrath of Brell upon a foe in order to call its attention upon him and to draw the enemy away from its target. This fact has garnered him great respect with Dagda and she does view the small gnome as one who is surprisingly brave for his size.
Though Dabner is completely devoted to the worship of Brell, he also has studied, and is quite knowledgeable about, the religions of other cultures in Norrath, as well as the lore of the gods they worship. He finds that by studying and understanding the beliefs of others, they are not as scary to him
Lanys T`Vyl
The Moon of Blood:
The moon of blood is the most holy night for Innoruuk's followers and occurs once every twenty-seven months. On this heinous night every follower of Innoruuk must murder a good being to honor his or her god. The dark elves have their own tradition on this night as well. The nobles choose a commoner to mate with and then sacrifice to their dark god.
Two to three score years ago Vendela G`Kal, a high priestess of Innoruuk, attended the Festival of the Moon of Blood in the Neriak commons. As the festival progressed, she noticed an exceptionally fine looking common male in the throng. The high priestess bade him to be her sacrifice to Innoruuk. She led him to her inner sanctum, where they copulated throughout the night. Spent, she fell into a deep sleep. When she awoke, the dark elf was gone. One year later, she gave birth.
The child borne from this chance encounter showed remarkable abilities beyond that which any ordinary Teir`Dal had ever possessed. Many saw this, and took note. As she grew, many tried to end her life, fearing her for her power and abilities. On the first such attempt, an ancient shadow knight saw the three would be assassins and slew them as they made their attempt upon the Child of Innoruuk. After the battle, Innoruuk appeared before the Shadow Knight and bade him to do his bidding. He assigned the Shadow Knight to teach and protect his child and gave him a new body to do so. Under his tutelage, the child grew strong in both the art of combat and in the dark magics of Necromancy. She is now stands ready to bring hate across all of Norrath.
Lanys T`Vyl is the Child of Hate. She is the embodiment of Hate upon Norrath. She carries herself with a deadly grace. Any who oppose her will be submitted to her unforgiving wrath and those that follow her are said to eventually be led to glory. She is very loyal to those that follow her, as she cherishes her father's creations and looks upon them as her own, but mercy be felt for those Teir`Dal who would betray her for their torments would be everlasting within her grasp.
Through the past year she has risen and taken a name for herself amongst the mortal history of Norrath, her heart scorched with a great hatred for the new 'grace' that has fallen upon the earth. The Koada`Dal known as Firiona Vie, claimed to be the Champion of Tunare, has sparked an extreme hatred within Lanys's already darkened heart, a hatred so cold that it has numbed the rest of her senses. One year ago a battle was fought within Kithicor Wood, a battle between Lanys T`Vyl and her army, granted to her personally by King Naythox Thex, and Firiona Vie. There Lanys was defeated by the might of good, but Laarthik's own sacrifice saved her life, allowing her to be cradled within the realm of Hate; her mortal form was forever sealed away by the powers of Tunare.
For many a moon Lanys remained locked away within her father's realm, patiently basking within her torments as she awaited her return. With the assistance of a powerful necromancer, whose name she has since forgotten within her chaotic thoughts, Lanys's soul was transported safely into the material realm of Norrath, her soul replaced into a Teir`Dal female's body. Having defeated Tunare's bind upon her, Lanys returned to Neriak to only be met by disdain and intense disgust from many of the people within Neriak - her recent failure reflecting furiously within their eyes. Lanys has sense sought to bring revenge to the 'bastard wench' who had caused her turmoil, vowing that she will be the death of Firiona Vie and eventually, the of Tunare herself
Ognit Eznertob
Ognit is most happy in a warm, well-furnished study with tomes and papers and tools surrounding him. He is actually known to smile when a formula he has been working with is finally completed. Other than that, he is a grump. His hobby is tinkering with devices and contraptions. Remarkably intelligent, Ognit is cursed with a lust for knowledge that draws him out of his study into the futile world of the mundane everyman.
He met his travelling companion Dabner, when a Clockwork Scrubber he was working upon went rogue and attacked him. Dabner heard the commotion and healed Ognit as Ognit blasted the crazed beast. Ognit was most grateful and they spoke for some time over dinner.
Ognit could not get rid of Dabner from that point on. As the noon sun warmed the underground caverns of Ak`Anon the temperature rises a scant 0.7 degrees or so. Ognit could predict the arrival of Dabner based on the thermometer on the wall of his study. At noontime, Dabner would finish his morning devotions and check in with Ognit. He would prattle on endlessly about anything that had sparked his interest that morning. At first Ognit viewed the intrusions as a nuisance, but later Ognit began to tolerate the visits, even looked forward to them.
He began to count on Dabner's visits. Beyond his taste for rational reasoning, he found himself asking for Dabner's "insight" on certain things, whether they be mechanical, magical, or spiritual. Occasionally his responses were just plain silly in Ognit's eyes. But once in a while he was truly, dead-on accurate about things. Dabner's occasional insights into the nature of the universe were invaluable. From that nebulous point forward, they were the best of friends.
Ognit enjoys the stories and jokes that Dabner tells. Occasionally he even laughs. As much as he hates to admit it (and he never will publicly), Dabner is a source of inspiration for him, as well as good company. He also looks on Dabner as a student--albeit a poor one--but he is more than willing to at least try to teach him. Dabner ranks as one of the few people in the world that can actually make him laugh. That being said, Ognit's attitude towards Dabner alternates between one who is a trusted friend and one who is a troublesome nuisance.
Ognit's attitude towards Dagda is one of grudging respect on the surface, but true friendship underneath. She is a savage in his eyes and has vowed to protect him because he is "weak", something he takes great exception to. At the same time, he sees her devotion to Dabner and himself as something both noble and worthy of great respect. As one who has spent his life immersed in books and spurning contact with actual people, he has found it a rare thing that others would take a shine to one such as he. Furthermore, it makes him happy to see that his friend Dabner has such a powerful ally, given his inherent weakness in mind and naivete. If you really pressed him, he would admit that Dagda is his friend and with a bit of prodding, she would do the same. They share an intense, almost sibling-like, rivalry and he and Dagda argue often about anything and everything. However, their conversations are the most lively and indeed even friendly when they are discussing something he is tinkering
Sionachie Heartsinger
The words spoken by Tunare were still fresh in Firiona's mind: "Seek them out, My Child, and restore them as you have been restored. First, find your chronicler. Remember the child who sought you first? Seek that one. She needs you and will be of great importance to you in the days to come. She still sings the history of the elves. Find her in the trees…" Immediately following the ritual and her meeting with Tunare herself, Firiona set out to find the one that the Mother called the 'chronicler'.
Wandering toward the massive tree-city of Kelethin, Firiona noticed a crowd of people surrounding a woman holding a mandolin and spinning tales. Curious, she walked up to the crowd to watch the troubadour perform. The woman strummed a few notes on her mandolin and then put it away. Settling herself comfortably, she began to tell a tale of blood and honor.
"Tunare, Mother of All, bids us maintain Balance in the world. Good cannot exist without Evil, nor can Death exist without Life. Tunare's Children are many. She cares for all, even though she may not have created their ancestors, and she loves even the worst, the most evil, of them." Looking out over the crowd gathered before her, she continued. "Tunare watched as the balance of Good and Evil was upset and knew that to sustain her Children, Balance had to be restored. Innoruuk, Prince of Hate, strove to tip the balance toward his own favor. His interests are not to preserve Norrath, but to serve himself.
"Innoruuk, in order to promote his own cause, spawned an evil creature on the land, who came to be known as Lanys T'Vyl, Child of Hate." The singer's voice resonated with the power of her words. "She grew in strength and hatred, rallying the dark elven-kind to her banner."
Lowering her voice to a near whisper, she said, "Lanys and her mentor-guard, Laarthik K'Shin, heard rumors of the discovery of a strange metallic ore in the shape of a sphere, which gave off a mysterious blue glow. Innoruuk's fervent whispers guided them to take possession of it. This metal orb was a catalyst; though none knew at the time what terrible purpose it would serve. Laarthik kept it hidden away, sensing that it would be of critical value in his future.
"The sphere had been uncovered by Pickclaw goblins, and where one is found, others are assumed to exist as well. The greed of Innoruuk drove Lanys and Laarthik to control the powers of this new element. Over many weeks, Lanys and the Teir'Dal forces grew in strength. Rumors flew, as on the wings of birds, that spoke of an invasion of Highkeep itself!"
The woman stood suddenly, and Firiona recognized her immediately as the bard Sionachie, whom she sought. Eyes wide, Sionachie continued, "a mysterious silver-haired beauty appeared in Kelethin one fine day, on her own quest for information. She listened to ancient rhymes and tales and took a mystical creature for her familiar. Some say Firiona Vie, the shining paladin of Tunare, is goddess-born, and others that she is a royal child, taken from her dead mother's arms in the still of the night.
"Firiona Vie, the beautiful Firiona Vie…" Sionachie hesitated momentarily, a puzzled look on her face, as if she were trying to remember something important, but it lay just out of her mind's reach. Regaining her composure, she continued her tale. "A royal spirit, Queen of Felwithe, appeared at a banquet in Highkeep to announce the arrival of its Child, the one who would save Felwithe and aid in Tunare's crusade to restore Balance to Norrath. The King cried out in his concern for this child, whom he'd tried to destroy in his ignorance.
"Galeth Veredeth, ancient Paladin of Tunare and former advisor to the king, having been but recently restored to his own place in the kingdom, introduced the pale swordmaiden to the King. Galeth had been the one to protect and train her throughout her youth, and the one to raise her in the true spirit of Tunare.
"Firiona took her place by the side of King Tearis Thex in a joyous reunion." Sionachie began to strum a lively, festive tune upon her mandolin. Then, stopping abruptly, she leaned forward making a sweeping gesture. "The forces of Good and Evil raised their armies, trained and provisioned them. Lord Tephys led the army of Good to the crossroads of Kithicor to protect the lands of Highkeep Castle. A great Council met to plan strategies. Galeth Veredeth pledged the support of King Tearis Thex, in the form of the Paladins of Tunare."
Sionachie balled one hand into a fist and shook it in the air. "Lanys T'Vyl and Laarthik K'Shin marched their armies across the Commonlands and attempted to breach the castle itself in High Hold Pass, but the main force met in the forest of Kithicor with Tephys' troops. Thunder crashed and powers coursed through the world as the enemies joined in battle." Sionachie's voice softened. "Lord Tephys fell to the wrath of Lanys T'Vyl on that field, and he will long be remembered by his people." Her head lowered with his memory.
Raising her head, she once again continued, her voice strong and renewed. "Firiona stepped up to take Tephys's place, and rallied the forces of Good. The strength of earth, power of the Mother of All, entered Firiona and she glowed with silvery fire. Lanys T'Vyl engaged Firiona Vie, both clad in the powers of their Deities, but the Mother's universal energies could not be outdone by Hate. Lanys began to falter and she cried out to her mentor, Laarthik."
Gripping her chest, then thrusting her hand outward, Sionachie said, "Laarthik K'Shin reached into his breastplate and pulled out the shining blue metal orb and, held it to the sky, and screamed out a terrible invitation to the Prince of Hate himself!" Her hands moved in an arc above her, as if tracing the dome of the heavens. "The skies opened and flames enveloped Laarthik. A frightful rending took place, and therein a mighty rift opened between Norrath and Innoruuk's dwelling place, the Plane of Hate. Magic users all over the face of Norrath felt the energies pour out of that purgatory, heard the tortured cries, and realized their own abilities to enter that place, if they dared.
"Laarthik was consumed in the flames as Lanys herself floated up into the sky, drawn inexorably into her Father's realm. Her triumphant laughter rang out across the lands. From that day forward, the Curse of Innoruuk has laid upon the forest of Kithicor. The tormented dead are doomed to wander the fearsome night's shadows in that formerly peaceful woodland. Danger lurks for all who seek passage there." Sionachie's face twisted into a scowl of disdain. "Some say that even Laarthik appears there, frightful and deadly, and believe that Lanys sits at the right hand of Innoruuk, to return one day and take her revenge."
Sionachie relaxed slightly, the scowl melting from her face as she continued with the story. "Firiona Vie and Galeth Veredeth, protected in the power of the Mother Tunare, were of the few who survived the fateful battle now known as Bloody Kithicor." Pulling out her mandolin, she once again strummed the strings softly. The thoughtful expression on her face bespoke the sad memories, the blood shed, and the lives lost.
Sionachie relaxed and smiled then, though the smile never touched her eyes, and asked, "Who will buy this bard a drink? A story requires a drink!"
"Bard!" called Firiona Vie. "A tale worthy of a drink indeed! Please, allow me to buy you whatever it is that pleases your palate!"
Sionachie looked up at Firiona, hesitated. Her formerly taciturn demeanor shaken briefly, she broke into a wide smile that this time reached her eyes and graced them with sincerest joy and unmitigated awe. She approached Firiona tentatively, until Firiona smiled and reached out toward her.
"Sionachie, my storyteller, Tunare has guided me back to your side. The lady has sent me, that we might once again travel together." Firiona recognized the confusion that entered Sionachie's expression. "I can see that your memory, too, has been affected by the arrogance of the dragon-kind. Come with me, Sionachie, let us return to the Ring of Scale and have a reckoning."
Sionachie, with wonder at Firiona, fell to her knees and bowed her head. "My Lady, I swear my fealty to you!" she cried, impassioned. "By my life and my voice, my skill and my blade, I pledge to fight for you and Tunare."
At this, Firiona took the Life Guide, the Staff of Tunare, and touched Sionachie on both shoulders lightly. As she did this, a bright blue radiance surrounded Sionachie. The Power of Tunare, Mother of All, surged throughout the forest of Faydark as the bard regained her memories, lost to chicanery in times past. She shuddered as the memories cascaded through her like the sudden crescendo of a great symphony following years of silence. The weight of her responsibilities to Tunare, Firiona, and Norrath bent her to the ground.
Moments passed, then Sionachie stood, and took her rightful place at the side of Firiona Vie as chronicler of the Paladin's accomplishments in Norrath. "Firiona," she said with the frank casualness shared by old friends, "it has been too long." She hugged her friend tightly then looked her in the eyes for the first time. "But what happened? The Ring of Scale, it was your promise to them that blurred our memories? Those mud-lizards have much to answer for! Aye, I'll accompany you in your quest, you can be sure of it!"
Sionachie stopped, her mind still clearing, and said, "What of Dreezil? We must find him! We'll need his skills, and I think I heard he had gotten himself in a little trouble over in Qeynos."
The two walked off together as Sionachie's musical voice trailed away, plotting and planning a daring rescue
Thubr Axebringer
(Thubir)
Thubr Axebringer was born Thubir Axebringer to his parents Mor and Vanka Axebringer. Thubr's younger sister, Laka, had trouble pronouncing the "ir" sound in his name, so she called him Thubr (pronounced Thoob-r). The nickname has remained with him since that day.
Growing up in South Kaladim, Thubr spent many hours playing in the areas around the arena. Fascinated by how weapons were made, he would often peek through the windows of the Staff & Spear weapon shop to watch the storeowner, Didek Stormhammer, cousin of King Kazon, hard at work. When he wasn't peeking into windows, he sat on the rooftop of the building to watch the great warriors fight in the arena nearby. He did this not merely for entertainment, but Thubr studied their fighting techniques, committing them to memory, developing his own skills.
One day, Thubr sat in his usual spot atop the Staff & Spear, waiting for the battles to start, while banging a small pipe with his hammer. He had carefully shaped the dull piece of metal into a tiny dagger. Hearing the noise on his roof, however, Didek Stormhammer went up on the roof and pulled Thubr back down by his ear.
"Child, what were you doing on the roof of my shop?" Didek asked. Before Thubr could answer, Didek spoke again. "Where did you get this from?" He pulled the tiny well-crafted dagger from a pocket in Thubr's pant leg.
"Siirrr…" Thubr stammered, "I made that from an old pipe I found behind the shop. 'Tis mine, give it back t'me."
In disbelief, Didek asked again, "You are too young to have made such a finely crafted weapon, where did you get this from?"
"Aye, I did make it," said Thubr, undaunted, "give it back, 'tis mine. I learned how to make it by watchin' weapons bein' made through the window o'ye shop."
Didek, seeing promise in the lad, asked Thubr to come work for him as an apprentice. Through the years, the young dwarf learned how to make many weapons. He also continued his rooftop study of the arena combatants.
It was years later that King Kazon Stormhammer came to the shop to look for new weapons for his Stormguard. Browsing over his cousin's inventory, the king found nothing that sparked his interest. About to leave, he spotted Thubr standing before his workbench. The King told Thubr to step aside that he might examine the weapons upon his table. "Didek!" the King shouted over his shoulder as he perused what lay before him, "Why did you not show me these weapons?"
"Cousin, those are just ones that the boy is working on," said Didek, gesturing toward Thubr, who was now a young man. "I did not deem them of the best quality."
King Kazon turned to Thubr and told him he wanted the weapons for his Stormguard. After pausing but a moment, Thubr responded, "The high quality weapons I make on me own time are too good t'give to anyone else. I keep 'em for m'self because I am a great warrior and deserve the best."
Marveling at the audaciousness of the youth, the King asked, "What is your name, boy?"
"He is Thubr Axebringer, milord," interrupted Didek.
King Kazon studied the young man, sizing him up. The pause was awkward only for Didek, for Thubr stood steady under the scrutiny. Finally, The King said, "If you are truly a great warrior, as you say, you should be in the Stormguard." Lifting his sword, the King beckoned Thubr to kneel before him and tapped him on the shoulder, proclaiming, "Thubr Axebringer, the great warrior, is now a member of the Stormguard." He sheathed his sword and said to Thubr, "Report for duty immediately. And bring the weapons with you!"
Thubr, for once, was speechless. He stood then bowed. "Yes, Sire," was all he said.
Thubr spent many years with the Stormguard, learning new tactical skills and honing the ones he had acquired on his own. He also continued to improve his blacksmithing skills, creating stronger and better weapons for the Stormguard.
In South Kaladim, at the Pub Kal, owned by the Darkfoam family, he ran into many interesting people while drinking. It is here that he was tricked into becoming an ambassador for Kaladim. Although he was good at getting the job done, Thubr was not the typical ambassador. He shares the traditional dwarven qualities of stubbornness and love of drink. When he is drunk, however, he is very friendly.
Thubr became a master brewer through his years as well, adding to his reputation as an expert blacksmith and fierce warrior. The owner of the Grub & Grog, Retchin Krundd, a decidedly unattractive but friendly and flirtatious female Dwarf, lost a bet with Thubr and, consequently, part ownership of the pub to him as well. Located in East Freeport, this establishment is considered one of the roughest taverns on all of Norrath, frequented by course adventuring types and the notorious Freeport Militia.
Throughout his adventures and difficult battles, Thubr has traveled with many people. Some of these he even regards as friends. He has battled along side the likes of Firiona Vie, Al'Kabor, Dreezil Pocketdip, Ognit Eznertob, Dabner Drednever, Dagda Icefury, Lorisyn Oakwynd, Lyirae Oakwynd, Sionachie Heartsinger, and Sir Jevik Isqual to name a few. Of these, he would speak most highly of Firiona Vie, Al'Kabor, and Dreezil Pocketdip. Though he views Al'Kabor as an arrogant and longwinded Erudite, Thubr gains much entertainment from him, often following him around. Firiona Vie he respects, as most do, and is always concerned for her safety.
Dreezil Pocketdip, a shady halfling, is one of Thubr's favorite drinking buddies. After long battles, the two can be found visiting the nearest bar to guzzle down many types of ale together