Post by Brashbeard on May 25, 2020 8:01:31 GMT
Biography
Character Name: Aidian Jaro
Character Level: 1
Race: Half-elf
Gender: Male
Alignment: Chaotic good
Deity: none (recent loss of faith)
Size: Medium
Hair: Silver
Eyes: Green
Height: 5’6
Weight: 146
Age: 38
Appearance: Aidian’s clothes and appearance make it clear upon a glance that he comes from the forest: coppery skin beneath skillfully hand-made bespoke fitted clothes of durable leather with woven hemp details. These are practical yet decorated with intricate patterning, including interwoven stream and tree embossed designs, with interspersed runes.
To overcome the social limitations of a long-hermetic past, Aidian has started to practice reading social cues to match better in civilized society. He has grown a short beard in order to break with the elven half of his heritage and signal a new eagerness to engage with human affairs.
History: In the sacred forest of his homeland, Aidian showed an early gift for communing with the vibrating earth to calm the waters of the powerful Moonglass Spring. To perform this feat, a resolutely focused druid must sit at the edge of the spring’s highest pool, and counteract - with fingers in the soil - every minute vibration of the earth, until the surface of the water goes dead-flat. For as many moments as this perfect reflective surface is maintained, any two beings who gaze upon each other’s reflection in the still water will be forever magically bonded.
The great power of the Moonglass Spring was protected by generations of druids in the forest. After joining their circle, and with steadfast determination, Aidian slowly rose to the level of Moonglass Intercessor. This denotes a senior druid who calms the high pool, with eyes closed, during the visit of an outsider and the creature to which they wish to bond.
Wood elves, in particular, are frequent visitors, arriving with wild creatures in tow. After the bond at the Spring, they are able to summon aspects of their chosen creature’s abilities: keen sense of smell, ultrasonic hearing, distant sight. These elves bring gifts for the druids of the forest, thereby providing the worldly material needs of the otherwise hermetic sect.
Although any sentient being can, in principle, bond here with an animal, humans are far too impatient and insensitive to perform the feat. Merely their clumsy proximity disturbs the earth beyond the level that a druid Intercessor can counteract. When humans wander into the forest, the spring is stripped of its power.
Occasional human interlopers notwithstanding, a continuous, harmonious balance was maintained by the druid protectorate sect and the pilgrim elves for thousands of years. Until recently…
Last autumn, a wood elf named Mirime made the pilgrimage, as had many like her before. Aidian acted as Intercessor during her bond at the spring. She gripped tightly a leather thong with an unruly falcon flapping above her shoulder, desperate to pull away. Mirime had trekked 13 days with the bird to reach the Moonglass Spring, wishing to gain flying vision after bonding to the raptor.
Her shining turquoise eyes and playful radiance stirred in Aidian’s chest an unexpected new tremor - a trembling urge he had never felt before, and which he was unable to quell. As they knelt together at the edge of the pool, Aidian strained against his own will, trying to fasten a grip upon his own concentration with incantations that he should have been applying to the earth. Mirime crouched with her raptor in quiet, tantalizing repose even as the bird flapped and floundered. Because this was the wood elf’s first visit, she did not know that the bond ceremony was taking far longer than usual.
Finally, depleted of willpower, Aidian resigned himself to the shoddy quality of the water’s surface. It contained more than a dozen dancing ripples, some even thicker than a gnome’s eyebrow, which mocked his once impenetrable focus. It would provide only a mediocre bond to the raptor. Though forbidden by ritual and utterly unwise, he could contain his desire no longer - he opened his eyes to cast a sidelong glimpse at Mirime. The sight of her nearly caused him to let the waters fold into an actual splash - an embarrassment even for a beginning practitioner, to say nothing of a full Intercessor.
At that moment, pounding vibrations began to ripple through the ground. Even Mirime could sense something was amiss, as her lithe shoulders tensed. Aidian could feel the outlined patterns of the cause of the disturbance, moments before he heard their footsteps: a column of armored human knights trampling up the sacred trail to reach the high pool. Aidian spun around, his gaze meeting the panicking eyes of the falcon - bonding the wrong pair, in that moment, forever. The surprised elf released her grip, and the falcon shot into the sky.
At the head of the marching column, the amused first knight laughed at what must have appeared to be a curious sight: intricate runic patterns carved in the trees, the rocks, and the sacred dirt; bits of colorful fabric tied in elaborate knots upon every twig and branch in sight, and two unassuming figures crouched in confusion at the edge of a glowing purple pool, while a squawking, newly-liberated falcon ascended at high speed, with a flapping leash, to the treetops.
Though Aidian was at that time largely unfamiliar with human motivations, the knight’s laughter spurred in the half-elf an uncontainable rage, which the falcon instantly felt through its new bond. From the tree canopy where she had retreated, the falcon swooped as if propelled by a slingshot aimed at the target of Aidian’s growing anger. Her beak stabbed straight into the right eye of the first knight. He screamed in agony, clutching at his helmet, while staggering back to his knees. A cacophony of drawn swords and bolting crossbows rang out as the column sprang into battle.
Mirime and Aidian fled from the high pool. Mirime found herself fleeing through the tangled trees of an unfamiliar forest and without any falcon power. She was caught by the knights and carelessly executed as they continued their pursuit of the half-elf. Aided somewhat by the falcon-sight of his accidental new companion, Aidian had an advantage in the escape. He could feel rough outlines of the path of weapons that the raptor could see heading toward him. With the falcon’s aid, Aidian escaped to the edge of the forest in which he had been born, and beyond which he had never ventured before.
The knights, unable to keep pace with Aidian on open ground, abandoned their pursuit at the forest edge.
After 20 days of miserable hiding, Aidian snuck back into the forest. Retracing his escape, he came upon the horrifying sight of Mirime’s stiffening body. It had been pierced by innumerable unnecessary crossbow bolts.
Shaking with despairing rage, Aidian continued his sneaking return to the Moonglass Pool. There, he found his peaceful former life had been turned upside down. Meeting furtively with the few remaining druids, he learned that the pursuing knights had been merely a sojourning patrol of a prince ascendant, scouting the distant edges of a kingdom whose borders were drawn arbitrarily on paper maps in distant great halls.
Though the royal retinue had once planned to pass through these remote lands without ambition to leave a permanent presence, the half-blinding of their prince had changed their attitude remarkably. Now the sounds of human construction reverberated among the trees, as a garish timber outpost began to rise ominously in a fresh clearing below the pool. The purple waters constantly rippled with ugly vibrations, unable to be stilled by even a concerted simultaneous cluster of seven druid Intercessors. The pool was powerless.
By moonlight, Aidian was cast out by a conclave of the druids, and warned by threat of death against ever returning. He had no choice but to leave, bonded imperfectly to his slightly confused, quick-to-anger falcon. He named her Gwindor.
As he emerged from the forest edge once more, Aidian made a vow. He would one day return in force, cleanse the human regime from the forest, complete the bond with Gwindor, and restore something of the life he once knew.
Personality: Aidian is ever enduring some phase of grief, at the loss of his former simple life, and the brief but poignant relationship with his wood elf Mirime that was cut short. This does not often present as sadness, exactly - it more often appears as a kind of desperation. Aidian knows he needs to create alliances, become owed debts, and generate intrigues that will lead to more connections with people, to fuel an avenging return to his forest in force one day. Since he is not practiced at these things, he is inadvertently rude, not understanding the nuances of subtle communication, especially among humans. He considers conversations to be practice, as he seeks to gain the political acumen to form coalitions.
Though he possesses a natural poise - which once was the quiet appearance of a life spent in nature - it is now a quietness atop a coiled spring. Unfortunately this can be released too early and in the wrong directions - very frequently as a faux pas. He is incautious with people, willing to talk to anyone connected to a network of power. He does not appear to care about the apparent future risks of such conversations, because at this point he has much more to gain than lose from any kind of power.
Stats
Ability Scores
Using point buy or the standard array give us the following stats:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 8
Class
Druid
Skills
Animal handling
Insight
Nature
Perception
Religion
Survival
Proficiencies & Languages
Languages: Common, Elvish, Goblin, Halfling
Cantrips known:
Guidance
Produce flame
Background
Hermit
Feats
None
Gear
leather armor (AC 11),
shield (AC +2),
scimitar,
dagger,
sling and 20 stones,
herbalism kit (clippers, mortar and pestle, pouches and vials of herbs),
set of common clothes,
a scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers,
a winter blanket
5 gold pieces (gp);
62 silver pieces (sp);
36 copper pieces (cp);
Character Name: Aidian Jaro
Character Level: 1
Race: Half-elf
Gender: Male
Alignment: Chaotic good
Deity: none (recent loss of faith)
Size: Medium
Hair: Silver
Eyes: Green
Height: 5’6
Weight: 146
Age: 38
Appearance: Aidian’s clothes and appearance make it clear upon a glance that he comes from the forest: coppery skin beneath skillfully hand-made bespoke fitted clothes of durable leather with woven hemp details. These are practical yet decorated with intricate patterning, including interwoven stream and tree embossed designs, with interspersed runes.
To overcome the social limitations of a long-hermetic past, Aidian has started to practice reading social cues to match better in civilized society. He has grown a short beard in order to break with the elven half of his heritage and signal a new eagerness to engage with human affairs.
History: In the sacred forest of his homeland, Aidian showed an early gift for communing with the vibrating earth to calm the waters of the powerful Moonglass Spring. To perform this feat, a resolutely focused druid must sit at the edge of the spring’s highest pool, and counteract - with fingers in the soil - every minute vibration of the earth, until the surface of the water goes dead-flat. For as many moments as this perfect reflective surface is maintained, any two beings who gaze upon each other’s reflection in the still water will be forever magically bonded.
The great power of the Moonglass Spring was protected by generations of druids in the forest. After joining their circle, and with steadfast determination, Aidian slowly rose to the level of Moonglass Intercessor. This denotes a senior druid who calms the high pool, with eyes closed, during the visit of an outsider and the creature to which they wish to bond.
Wood elves, in particular, are frequent visitors, arriving with wild creatures in tow. After the bond at the Spring, they are able to summon aspects of their chosen creature’s abilities: keen sense of smell, ultrasonic hearing, distant sight. These elves bring gifts for the druids of the forest, thereby providing the worldly material needs of the otherwise hermetic sect.
Although any sentient being can, in principle, bond here with an animal, humans are far too impatient and insensitive to perform the feat. Merely their clumsy proximity disturbs the earth beyond the level that a druid Intercessor can counteract. When humans wander into the forest, the spring is stripped of its power.
Occasional human interlopers notwithstanding, a continuous, harmonious balance was maintained by the druid protectorate sect and the pilgrim elves for thousands of years. Until recently…
Last autumn, a wood elf named Mirime made the pilgrimage, as had many like her before. Aidian acted as Intercessor during her bond at the spring. She gripped tightly a leather thong with an unruly falcon flapping above her shoulder, desperate to pull away. Mirime had trekked 13 days with the bird to reach the Moonglass Spring, wishing to gain flying vision after bonding to the raptor.
Her shining turquoise eyes and playful radiance stirred in Aidian’s chest an unexpected new tremor - a trembling urge he had never felt before, and which he was unable to quell. As they knelt together at the edge of the pool, Aidian strained against his own will, trying to fasten a grip upon his own concentration with incantations that he should have been applying to the earth. Mirime crouched with her raptor in quiet, tantalizing repose even as the bird flapped and floundered. Because this was the wood elf’s first visit, she did not know that the bond ceremony was taking far longer than usual.
Finally, depleted of willpower, Aidian resigned himself to the shoddy quality of the water’s surface. It contained more than a dozen dancing ripples, some even thicker than a gnome’s eyebrow, which mocked his once impenetrable focus. It would provide only a mediocre bond to the raptor. Though forbidden by ritual and utterly unwise, he could contain his desire no longer - he opened his eyes to cast a sidelong glimpse at Mirime. The sight of her nearly caused him to let the waters fold into an actual splash - an embarrassment even for a beginning practitioner, to say nothing of a full Intercessor.
At that moment, pounding vibrations began to ripple through the ground. Even Mirime could sense something was amiss, as her lithe shoulders tensed. Aidian could feel the outlined patterns of the cause of the disturbance, moments before he heard their footsteps: a column of armored human knights trampling up the sacred trail to reach the high pool. Aidian spun around, his gaze meeting the panicking eyes of the falcon - bonding the wrong pair, in that moment, forever. The surprised elf released her grip, and the falcon shot into the sky.
At the head of the marching column, the amused first knight laughed at what must have appeared to be a curious sight: intricate runic patterns carved in the trees, the rocks, and the sacred dirt; bits of colorful fabric tied in elaborate knots upon every twig and branch in sight, and two unassuming figures crouched in confusion at the edge of a glowing purple pool, while a squawking, newly-liberated falcon ascended at high speed, with a flapping leash, to the treetops.
Though Aidian was at that time largely unfamiliar with human motivations, the knight’s laughter spurred in the half-elf an uncontainable rage, which the falcon instantly felt through its new bond. From the tree canopy where she had retreated, the falcon swooped as if propelled by a slingshot aimed at the target of Aidian’s growing anger. Her beak stabbed straight into the right eye of the first knight. He screamed in agony, clutching at his helmet, while staggering back to his knees. A cacophony of drawn swords and bolting crossbows rang out as the column sprang into battle.
Mirime and Aidian fled from the high pool. Mirime found herself fleeing through the tangled trees of an unfamiliar forest and without any falcon power. She was caught by the knights and carelessly executed as they continued their pursuit of the half-elf. Aided somewhat by the falcon-sight of his accidental new companion, Aidian had an advantage in the escape. He could feel rough outlines of the path of weapons that the raptor could see heading toward him. With the falcon’s aid, Aidian escaped to the edge of the forest in which he had been born, and beyond which he had never ventured before.
The knights, unable to keep pace with Aidian on open ground, abandoned their pursuit at the forest edge.
After 20 days of miserable hiding, Aidian snuck back into the forest. Retracing his escape, he came upon the horrifying sight of Mirime’s stiffening body. It had been pierced by innumerable unnecessary crossbow bolts.
Shaking with despairing rage, Aidian continued his sneaking return to the Moonglass Pool. There, he found his peaceful former life had been turned upside down. Meeting furtively with the few remaining druids, he learned that the pursuing knights had been merely a sojourning patrol of a prince ascendant, scouting the distant edges of a kingdom whose borders were drawn arbitrarily on paper maps in distant great halls.
Though the royal retinue had once planned to pass through these remote lands without ambition to leave a permanent presence, the half-blinding of their prince had changed their attitude remarkably. Now the sounds of human construction reverberated among the trees, as a garish timber outpost began to rise ominously in a fresh clearing below the pool. The purple waters constantly rippled with ugly vibrations, unable to be stilled by even a concerted simultaneous cluster of seven druid Intercessors. The pool was powerless.
By moonlight, Aidian was cast out by a conclave of the druids, and warned by threat of death against ever returning. He had no choice but to leave, bonded imperfectly to his slightly confused, quick-to-anger falcon. He named her Gwindor.
As he emerged from the forest edge once more, Aidian made a vow. He would one day return in force, cleanse the human regime from the forest, complete the bond with Gwindor, and restore something of the life he once knew.
Personality: Aidian is ever enduring some phase of grief, at the loss of his former simple life, and the brief but poignant relationship with his wood elf Mirime that was cut short. This does not often present as sadness, exactly - it more often appears as a kind of desperation. Aidian knows he needs to create alliances, become owed debts, and generate intrigues that will lead to more connections with people, to fuel an avenging return to his forest in force one day. Since he is not practiced at these things, he is inadvertently rude, not understanding the nuances of subtle communication, especially among humans. He considers conversations to be practice, as he seeks to gain the political acumen to form coalitions.
Though he possesses a natural poise - which once was the quiet appearance of a life spent in nature - it is now a quietness atop a coiled spring. Unfortunately this can be released too early and in the wrong directions - very frequently as a faux pas. He is incautious with people, willing to talk to anyone connected to a network of power. He does not appear to care about the apparent future risks of such conversations, because at this point he has much more to gain than lose from any kind of power.
Stats
Ability Scores
Using point buy or the standard array give us the following stats:
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 8
Class
Druid
Skills
Animal handling
Insight
Nature
Perception
Religion
Survival
Proficiencies & Languages
Languages: Common, Elvish, Goblin, Halfling
Cantrips known:
Guidance
Produce flame
Background
Hermit
Feats
None
Gear
leather armor (AC 11),
shield (AC +2),
scimitar,
dagger,
sling and 20 stones,
herbalism kit (clippers, mortar and pestle, pouches and vials of herbs),
set of common clothes,
a scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers,
a winter blanket
5 gold pieces (gp);
62 silver pieces (sp);
36 copper pieces (cp);
