BurningCold

Tear the World Down

Wowzers... these posts are pretty long huh? Well, I'll do my best here then! Something up tonight or tomorrow, hopefully.

Tear the World Down

@MegaOscarPwn I imagine the number would be 666-616-1313

Tear the World Down

@Drunken Conquistador@MegaOscarPwn I've got "Entire Family likely slaughtered" I'd say we're all good.

Tear the World Down

@Sierra Would they be able to tell any of the nature of the Legionnaire? Specific identity, or general characteristics? Or simply a presence?

Tear the World Down

I'm rather curious about something. Do the previous members of the Shadow Legion have any way to communicate with one another besides vocal communication from their vessels? Is there any way to... sense their presences at least?@Sierra

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I'm also looking forward to observing and taking part in the interactions between our characters. Should be a fascinating endeavor! @Isotope

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Also, if anyone thinks they want to do a collab, detailing perhaps two or more of our characters crossing paths on the road, that could be an enjoyable undertaking. Unless, however, everyone would prefer their introductory posts to be solo.

Tear the World Down

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KATERINA VALDI

{{ FEMALE || 15 }}

APPEARANCE

Though the circumstances of Katerina’s birth remain shrouded in mystery, the truth is that her father is a pure-blooded human, while her mother was of the Wrelm Forest. Being a halfbreed, Katerina shares traits from both sides of her lineage. Her face is primarily defined by numerous sharp angles, from the point of her chin and nose to the subtle slant of her eyes. Her irises are the hard steely blue of her father, while her hair is a feathery brown, gracefully extending down below her shoulders in gentle waves. Her lips are soft and full, though victim of frequent abuse from teeth working away at them in idle boredom. The interior of her mouth is similarly shredded by sharp teeth mindlessly chewing the soft flesh of her pinkish maw.

Her form is caught between the hard bony edges of days of past youth, and the soft curves of developing womanhood. Katerina’s arms reach down into long, delicate fingers, contrasting sharply with their nails; miserable things frequently bitten down to the quick.

Katerina is a pretty thing when she wants to be, a pretty thing that in previous years would often find her features screwed up into the telltale signs of joyful mischief. In the present, however, when deception is not her game, her face rests itself into the striking severity that it was built for.

BIOGRAPHY

Prologue - A Shameful Truth

“I didn’t understand then, even now I cannot grasp it. Gods willing, the doom must end here.”
-Excerpt from the diary of Mikhal Valdi

A woman heaving through the pain of childbirth. Bodies pressed against each other, wrapped in secretive rapture. The sharp sounds of a wailing infant on the doorstep, crying for a mother that is not there. An amulet hanging around the infant’s thin neck, emanating darkness. Chasing one woman through the rain and the cold, strength and resolve failing. Returning home to find the other woman hanging from a rope.

Disjointed, painful memories.

The lord of the manor pulled his head from his hands. Black hair, sticky with sweat hung over his eyes. Those eyes glanced about the room with nervous anticipation. Gone was the uncompromising strength they were so well known for. Tragedy had sapped that away. Their blue was an anxious, lonely color now. Again he scanned around the space that sheltered him. A gloomy candlelight did little to banish the darkness pouring in from the window above the desk he hunched over. His shirt lay discarded on the floor, tossed there haphazardly in the panic that had seized him prior.

Distant cries could be heard from afar. His child. The lord tensed up suddenly, like a cornered animal, before releasing a shaky breath. He grabbed the dagger from where it lay on the desk - still slick - and brought it up to his chest.

His hand wavered, and his lips pressed themselves into a thin line. Then his eyes were shadowed by a grim resolve.

“Let Mikhal seize my seat. He will make a finer lord- a finer man, than I could have ever been.” The words snuck out in a thin, raspy whisper. “Gods forgive me.”

The blade sunk deep. Lord Castris Valdi heaved a single sigh as blood gurgled to his lips. Then he toppled to the floor.

Part One - The Dark Estate

“Castris murdered his wife and couldn’t handle the guilt. He must have offed himself too.”
“I hear that the Lord Mikhal actually murdered poor old Castris to steal his title.”
“The entire family must be practicing some kind of dark magic. I’d reckon a demon played a hand in the lord and lady’s demise.”
-Rumors spread by the common folk

Katerina’s birth was harried by whispers and suspicion. The Valdi family’s greatest detractors suggested that perhaps Lord Castris had sired his last child with a common whore. The new lord of the Valdi Estate, Katerina’s eldest brother, maintained that the young girl was the legitimate child of the late Lord Castris, and that both their mother and father had taken their lives for some reason unbeknownst to all.

Mikhal, however, knew the real truth. His father’s mistress fled and left the child behind, shortly after his mother found evidence of the affair. Grief took the life of both his parents. The ominous necklace hanging from his half-sister’s neck he never questioned, though he saw it fit to instruct her in keeping the thing hidden. No sense in adding more kindling to the blaze of speculation threatening to burn them all to ash.

Katerina, in consequence, found glowing within her a presence that helped to soothe the anxiety that had gripped her from an early age, while similarly stoking her passion and anger whenever either happened to arise. She grew into a brash and outspoken child behind closed doors, while struggling to maintain the facade of a proper lady in the public eye. Her sister, Gloriana, was instrumental in taming the rougher edges of her personality, leaving Mikhal ample time to focus on leading their household. Gradually, the Valdi family reclaimed their once lofty status.

The whispers had finally begun to fade. How wrong they all were.

Interlude - He Speaks

“We shall sneak off to the grove tonight! It will be lovely, that I can promise...”
-Glorianna Valdi, to Syril Twark

Stars twinkled faintly against the ebon sky of night, casting their cold light into the darkness where no moon shone. A lingering breeze - remnants of the previous day’s storm - whistled through the boughs of the grove, leaves still damp with moisture. A diminutive figure lay prone beneath one of many clumps of bushes that crowded themselves around the trees, peeking out into the clearing with sharp, focused eyes of steely blue. She surveyed the scene before her; a young man and woman resting on the precipice of a gurgling fountain, leaning closely together. A lantern, resting at their feet, provided a soft glow to counteract the oppressive shade encroaching upon the edges of the clearing. The couple laughed and grinned and stole little kisses from one another, mirth radiating from their forms. The little spy felt a grin of her own cracking against her keen features; the crooked grin of a trickster at her work.

Kat focused intently on the male, the son of a dignitary from some other Free City come to visit her lord brother. She couldn’t have been bothered to learn his name. What was far more concerning was the rate at which her sister had taken such a shine to him! That made him a target. Not that he would have escaped her mischief either way. Something stirred in the back of her head then, and Kat’s eyes began to cloud as the warm presence that had resided within her mind since birth began to heat up. She felt the warmth grow, spreading to envelop her psyche entirely. Kat submitted to the force eagerly. Nothing would harm her, she was safe in the comfortable embrace provided by the heat. Her eyelids began to droop, and a trickle of drool was collecting at the corner of her mouth; now hanging slack.

Suddenly the world regained focus, and the path to her goal made itself abundantly clear. She wiped the saliva from her mouth, her lips parting as a little thrill raced over her skin. “May misfortune fall upon you this night, neither grievous nor harmful, but enough to cause quite a fright!” The words were murmured quietly, though with no lack of enthusiasm. Watching carefully, Kat observed a momentary flicker in the steady light provided by the lantern, and a gentle ripple rolling across the surface of the fountain pool, entirely sourceless. Though the signs were near imperceptible to one not looking for the evidence of a hex, it was all the confirmation Kat needed to know that the deed was done.

She paused for a moment, before making her escape as the light of the lantern was snuffed out of existence. Scurrying away, twin calls of confusion and fear rang out from behind her, followed by several loud splashes. Another crooked grin stretched over Kat’s face.

Good. A voice like melted chocolate. Practice will indeed make perfect. And you are nearly there.

Katerina Valdi squealed aloud with delight as she fled back to the manor. Though she knew not the voice, its source was all too familiar.

Part Two - Beoris The Bastard

“We will rise… to tear your world down.”
-The Final Curse of the Legionnaires

Beoris had been with his chosen champion from the very beginning. When the witch found him, buried deep in a forgotten tomb, he was wholly uncertain of her devotion to his cause. All that was needed to assuage his worries was an introduction. Remna of the Wrelm Forest would obey his every desire. Her child must be sired by a great lord, and the babe must be assured a place among the nobility by whatever means she deemed most effective. From within a house of prominence Beoris would be able to mold the child into his instrument, instructing them in the harnessing of their power. The witch would provide the potential, and Beoris would provide the training necessary to turn the child into his tool. The undertaking was a risky one, this Beoris knew.

Yet still, it worked.

Slowly, he worked his influence over the young Katerina, first with simple signals and suggestions. A toddler does not know to keep secrets best left unveiled where they belong. Beoris needed to situate himself as a fact of Katerina’s reality. A steady force that provided guidance and reassurance in a world of uncertainty.

When she first attempted to tap into the latent darkness lurking just beneath her skin, Beoris wrapped the girl in his warm embrace, and guided her as if the body and mind was his own. Katerina viewed the casting of hexes and curses as a lovely secret that she shared with her shadowy friend. A bit of mischief that was all their own to keep.

The time came one night that Beoris saw it fit to speak to his protégé in proper fashion. Their relationship then truly blossomed. To Katerina, Beoris was brother, father, and best friend. To Beoris, he was greatly satisfied with the girl’s devotion and admiration. As a consequence of their newfound closeness, Katerina began to adopt more and more of Beoris’ personality. His charm and confidence found itself pervading all that she did. Her family couldn’t have been more pleased with the young woman she was growing into; none of them suspected the odd luck that seemed to befall them all on a daily basis was her doing.

None but one.

Interlude - Those Of Little Virtue

“That entire family is festering in darkness. They were once my kin. I will deal with this.”
-Excerpt from the journal of Denaris Valdi

Mikhal sighed, scratching at the scant beard lining his jaw. “Uncle, tell me again what exactly it is that you’re saying.” Cobalt eyes locked on cold steel. Mikhal’s uncle seemed to be made of metal; a wiry beard of dull silver cascaded from his face and down to his breast, paired with a neatly trimmed and combed mane punctuated by the sharpest of widow’s peaks. His jaw was squared and edged sharply. Indeed, towering above most men at six foot five, Deranis Valdi was composed entirely of muscle and hard edges. Pale skin was pulled taut over his goliath form.

Mikhal, though a well built and sturdy man himself, seemed rather small in comparison.

They gazed at one another from across the sitting room, a crackling fire basking the space in a warm glow. The furniture cast long shadows. “What I am saying,” Denaris began, in a voice as hard and imposing as the rest of him. “Is that your so called sister is a fellchild. She is not normal. She is a mistake.” He sighed deeply. “A mistake that must be corrected.”

Mikhal’s eyes narrowed. When he spoke, his voice was tight and and unsteady. “Mistake? Corrected? How?”

“You know the price one must pay. For the act of performing dark aethercraft.”

Mikhal leapt to his feet then, muscles tensing. In his haste to rise, the chair clattered to the ground behind him, overturned. “She is a child! She is my sister and she is devoid of the guilt you wish to force upon her shoulders!”

Denaris rose to his feet as well, with careful deliberation. When he spoke, his voice was low and deep, like the churning ocean: “You will deal with this matter. Or I will.” He turned then, and strode out of the room.

“Uncle! Uncle! You cannot do this! You cannot!” Mikhal was red in his face then, spittle flying from his mouth with each syllable. Denaris did not look back.

Finale - Exodus

“Men! Today we are called upon to mete out the justice of our Gods! A witch is harbored in this place. She must burn. All others within… put to the sword!”
-Denaris Valdi, to his followers

Rough hands seized upon Katerina’s shoulders, and thus she was shaken awake. Groggily, she stared up into the face of her sister, twisted with fear. “Kat, Kat, we need to go!” Gloriana spoke in fervent, hushed tones. “Uncle is here. And he isn’t alone!” Katerina was pulled to her feet then, and she felt her throat tighten with the reality she now faced. Denaris had come. Child, go with your sister. This is not your end. I will keep you safe.

Katerina found herself dressed in black cloths and leathers, with a cloak of similar coloration fastened around her neck by a dull and unornamented brooch. Her medallion lay hidden beneath all her clothes, pressing warmly against her sternum. Darting down the hall, yanked along by her sister, she heard the distant shouts, drawing closer with each passing moment. They emerged into the great hall, where Mikhal already stood, surrounded by a gaggle of guards and servants. They were scantily armored, many wielding clubs and candlesticks, rather than swords. A few shivered in little more than nightgowns or breeches.

Mikhal turned to glance at his sisters. “This will not be pretty. Go.” A grim smile played across his lips. The roaring of the mob drew ever closer. Katerina was numb as she allowed herself to be pulled down another passageway, the oaken planks beneath their feet being struck by a dull pattering as they fled. Suddenly, Katerina halted in her tracks, feet planted firmly. Gloriana turned back in irritated confusion.

“What are you doing? We have to go! Now!”

Katerina shook her head fervently. “You have to go. Not me. I have something to do.” She spun on her heel then, and darted quickly back from where she came, ignoring Gloriana’s cries of protest. The sounds of conflict met her ears long before her eyes managed to take in the sight. Denaris and his mob had forced their way into the great hall, and a melee had broken out between both forces. In the center of the battle, Mikhal lay prone on his back, straddled by Denaris. A dagger was being slowly forced towards Mikhal’s throat, barely kept at bay by his fading strength.

Katerina screamed. And then, pointing a shaking finger at her uncle, she cried out in a voice shrill with terror: “Uncle, this day you may have won, but I swear to all Gods beneath me and above, I will return to burn you and yours, as is my behove!” Both heads turned to stare at her as the blade sank into Mikhal’s throat. Another scream ripped from Katerina’s lungs, and she scrambled back down the hall. Several men began to give chase.

Epilogue - What Remains

“Her uncle took everything from her. What other choice did she have then? It seemed my plans would come to fruition sooner than I anticipated.”
-Beoris, in reflection

Katerina escaped from the city of Kalaknos that night, the steadying presence of Beoris the only thing that kept her from falling to pieces. A curse, a vow, she had placed upon her uncle. One she intended to keep. For weeks Katerina wandered, her and her passenger barely keeping ahead of the news that would be sure to follow them. The farther they went, the slower their pace became. Few, or perhaps none, would be able to recognize her face, even if the name Katerina Valdi was familiar enough.

Now though, she sat hunched along the side of a desolate road, the dirty thing entirely devoid of traffic this late in the night. A meager campfire illuminated the dry grass surrounding her. Her eyes were bitter as she stared into the flame.

Child, love, what is it that you desire?

“I want to destroy Denaris. I want to tear him to shreds.” She spat the words out, Denaris curling off her tongue as if she had tasted something foul.

Why stop there?

“What do you mean?”

I said, why stop at Denaris?

“What else is there?”

The entire world, child.

Katerina smiled.

SKILLS

-- The Prettiest Faces Hide The Blackest Of Hearts

Katerina is, to put it simply, a master of deception. A bat of her eyelashes and a small, uncertain smile is enough to win over most folk. For those prone to greater scrutiny, pristine charm and carefully chosen words shield her from the brunt of even the greatest suspicions.

-- What Goes Bump In The Night

Used to sneaking and skulking from a young age, Katerina is naturally adept at making herself small and unremarkable, and is never unable to discern the location best suited for hiding. She knows how to keep her foot falls carefully light, and how to perform a variety of dextrous actions, picking both locks and pockets included.

WEAPONS

Stiletto Dagger

Katerina is largely unskilled in the arts of warfare. Though her dagger, a thin, silvery blade emerging from a golden handle wrapped in black leather, doesn’t require a skilled swordsman to be effective. A steady hand is all that is needed for the tool to be used to deadly effect.

MISCELLANEOUS

Set of Lock Picks

A small, darkened leather satchel contains within a set of sturdy picks with which Katerina may crack all variety of locks.

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BEORIS THE BASTARD

{{ MALE }}

TOTEM

A circular hematite medallion covered in obscure and intricate carvings, with a large onyx stone ringed by gold set into its center, and worn around the neck by a golden chain.

The Necklace

Beoris in Life

PERSONALITY

Beoris was born the illegitimate son of a once great monarch that lead a once great nation. The names of both king and kingdom have long since been lost to time. Ridicule and disdain left a gnawing in Beoris’ stomach; an intense hunger for the power and respect he knew he deserved. Using whatever means necessary, Beoris vied to ingratiate himself with those individuals willing and capable of aiding him, while carefully removing those that sought to stand in his way.

As his power and influence grew, and his strength in the darker arts increased, he found himself among the ranks of the Shadow Legion, his responsibility twofold. By daylight, he negotiated with those cruel or foolish enough to follow the cause he represented. By night, he worked his foul magics upon targets too great or too distant to harm with more tangible forces.

Beoris is envious, spiteful, and utterly full of arrogance. However, he is no less patient for this, and more than capable of oozing charm when the situation calls for it. Even Katerina, despite the genuine tenderness he feels for her, has never been privy to the full extent of Beoris’ vice.

After all, one catches more flies with honey.

SKILLS

-- Prophecies Both Dark And Terrible

Beoris specialized in the casting of curses and hexes, which he used to orchestrate the ruination of entire cities. On a more personal level, the casting of a hex or curse could be fine tuned to cause little more than simple misfortune, to events that could utterly shatter the victim’s world. Beoris is endeavoring to confer this talent onto Katerina. Fortunately, she is a fast learner.

-- Kin With Shadow

Thanks to Beoris’ influence and her unique parentage, Katerina can fade from sight into complete darkness, and draw concealing shadows around her where none can be found. Additionally, the minds of those around her can be bent to perceive Katerina as little more than a shadow herself. Even in plain sight or broad daylight, the keenest of eyes would have no choice but to overlook her presence.

Tear the World Down - Dark Fantasy Done Differently

@Sierra No, no worries! She is not going to be... seducing anyone. Her charisma she uses to deceive for less carnal purposes.

And thank you very much for the praise! I'm rather proud of the sheet.

Tear the World Down - Dark Fantasy Done Differently

@Drunken Conquistador Well nobody wants to be a dwarf, the Wrelm Forest is scawwy, and the Empire is a bunch of assholes.

Free Cities is the only logical conclusion.

And ew, half-orcs. Talk about grody.

Tear the World Down - Dark Fantasy Done Differently

@Isotope Well it is seven, eight if you count Sierra's character. And what delightful company we're all bringing to the table!

Tear the World Down - Dark Fantasy Done Differently

At last we have her! The last RP I joined was my first stab at playing a truly terrible person, and this time shall be my first attempt playing a character of dubious morality that also happens to be female! Huzzah.

Let me know if there's anything I ought to adjust. Especially whether or not the power level needs to be scaled up or down.

Katerina Valdi

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KATERINA VALDI

{{ FEMALE || 15 }}

APPEARANCE

Though the circumstances of Katerina’s birth remain shrouded in mystery, the truth is that her father is a pure-blooded human, while her mother was of the Wrelm Forest. Being a halfbreed, Katerina shares traits from both sides of her lineage. Her face is primarily defined by numerous sharp angles, from the point of her chin and nose to the subtle slant of her eyes. Her irises are the hard steely blue of her father, while her hair is a feathery brown, gracefully extending down below her shoulders in gentle waves. Her lips are soft and full, though victim of frequent abuse from teeth working away at them in idle boredom. The interior of her mouth is similarly shredded by sharp teeth mindlessly chewing the soft flesh of her pinkish maw.

Her form is caught between the hard bony edges of days of past youth, and the soft curves of developing womanhood. Katerina’s arms reach down into long, delicate fingers, contrasting sharply with their nails; miserable things frequently bitten down to the quick.

Katerina is a pretty thing when she wants to be, a pretty thing that in previous years would often find her features screwed up into the telltale signs of joyful mischief. In the present, however, when deception is not her game, her face rests itself into the striking severity that it was built for.

BIOGRAPHY

Prologue - A Shameful Truth

“I didn’t understand then, even now I cannot grasp it. Gods willing, the doom must end here.”
-Excerpt from the diary of Mikhal Valdi

A woman heaving through the pain of childbirth. Bodies pressed against each other, wrapped in secretive rapture. The sharp sounds of a wailing infant on the doorstep, crying for a mother that is not there. An amulet hanging around the infant’s thin neck, emanating darkness. Chasing one woman through the rain and the cold, strength and resolve failing. Returning home to find the other woman hanging from a rope.

Disjointed, painful memories.

The lord of the manor pulled his head from his hands. Black hair, sticky with sweat hung over his eyes. Those eyes glanced about the room with nervous anticipation. Gone was the uncompromising strength they were so well known for. Tragedy had sapped that away. Their blue was an anxious, lonely color now. Again he scanned around the space that sheltered him. A gloomy candlelight did little to banish the darkness pouring in from the window above the desk he hunched over. His shirt lay discarded on the floor, tossed there haphazardly in the panic that had seized him prior.

Distant cries could be heard from afar. His child. The lord tensed up suddenly, like a cornered animal, before releasing a shaky breath. He grabbed the dagger from where it lay on the desk -still slick- and brought it up to his chest.

His hand wavered, and his lips pressed themselves into a thin line. Then his eyes were shadowed by a grim resolve.

“Let Mikhal seize my seat. He will make a finer lord- a finer man, than I could have ever been.” The words snuck out in a thin, raspy whisper. “Gods forgive me.”

The blade sunk deep. Lord Castris Valdi heaved a single sigh as blood gurgled to his lips. Then he toppled to the floor.

Part One - The Dark Estate

“Castris murdered his wife and couldn’t handle the guilt. He must have offed himself too.”
“I hear that the Lord Mikhal actually murdered poor old Castris to steal his title.”
“The entire family must be practicing some kind of dark magic. I’d reckon a demon played a hand in the lord and lady’s demise.”
-Rumors spread by the common folk

Katerina’s birth was harried by whispers and suspicion. The Valdi family’s greatest detractors suggested that perhaps Lord Castris had sired his last child with a common whore. The new lord of the Valdi Estate, Katerina’s eldest brother, maintained that the young girl was the legitimate child of the late Lord Castris, and that both their mother and father had taken their lives for some reason unbeknownst to all.

Mikhal, however, knew the real truth. His father’s mistress fled and left the child behind, shortly after his mother found evidence of the affair. Grief took the life of both his parents. The ominous necklace hanging from his half-sister’s neck he never questioned, though he saw it fit to instruct her in keeping the thing hidden. No sense in adding more kindling to the blaze of speculation threatening to burn them all to ash.

Katerina, in consequence, found glowing within her a presence that helped to soothe the anxiety that had gripped her from an early age, while similarly stoking her passion and anger whenever either happened to arise. She grew into a brash and outspoken child behind closed doors, while struggling to maintain the facade of a proper lady in the public eye. Her sister, Gloriana, was instrumental in taming the rougher edges of her personality, leaving Mikhal ample time to focus on leading their household. Gradually, the Valdi family reclaimed their once lofty status.

The whispers had finally begun to fade. How wrong they all were.

Interlude - He Speaks

“We shall sneak off to the grove tonight! It will be lovely, that I can promise...”
-Glorianna Valdi, to Syril Twark

Stars twinkled faintly against the ebon sky of night, casting their cold light into the darkness where no moon shone. A lingering breeze -remnants of the previous day’s storm- whistled through the boughs of the grove, leaves still damp with moisture. A diminutive figure lay prone beneath one of many clumps of bushes that crowded themselves around the trees, peeking out into the clearing with sharp, focused eyes of steely blue. She surveyed the scene before her; a young man and woman resting on the precipice of a gurgling fountain, leaning closely together. A lantern, resting at their feet, provided a soft glow to counteract the oppressive shade encroaching upon the edges of the clearing. The couple laughed and grinned and stole little kisses from one another, mirth radiating from their forms. The little spy felt a grin of her own cracking against her keen features; the crooked grin of a trickster at her work.

Kat focused intently on the male, the son of a dignitary from some other Free City come to visit her lord brother. She couldn’t have been bothered to learn his name. What was far more concerning was the rate at which her sister had taken such a shine to him! That made him a target. Not that he would have escaped her mischief either way. Something stirred in the back of her head then, and Kat’s eyes began to cloud as the warm presence that had resided within her mind since birth began to heat up. She felt the warmth grow, spreading to envelop her psyche entirely. Kat submitted to the force eagerly. Nothing would harm her, she was safe in the comfortable embrace provided by the heat. Her eyelids began to droop, and a trickle of drool was collecting at the corner of her mouth; now hanging slack.

Suddenly the world regained focus, and the path to her goal made itself abundantly clear. She wiped the saliva from her mouth, her lips parting as a little thrill raced over her skin. “May misfortune fall upon you this night, neither grievous nor harmful, but enough to cause quite a fright!” The words were murmured quietly, though with no lack of enthusiasm. Watching carefully, Kat observed a momentary flicker in the steady light provided by the lantern, and a gentle ripple rolling across the surface of the fountain pool, entirely sourceless. Though the signs were near imperceptible to one not looking for the evidence of a hex, it was all the confirmation Kat needed to know that the deed was done.

She paused for a moment, before making her escape as the light of the lantern was snuffed out of existence. Scurrying away, twin calls of confusion and fear rang out from behind her, followed by several loud splashes. Another crooked grin stretched over Kat’s face.

Good. A voice like melted chocolate. Practice will indeed make perfect. And you are nearly there.

Katerina Valdi squealed aloud with delight as she fled back to the manor. Though she knew not the voice, its source was all too familiar.

Part Two - Beoris The Bastard

“We will rise… to tear your world down.”
-The Final Curse of the Legionnaires

Beoris had been with his chosen champion from the very beginning. When the witch found him, buried deep in a forgotten tomb, he was wholly uncertain of her devotion to his cause. All that was needed to assuage his worries was an introduction. Remna of the Wrelm Forest would obey his every desire. Her child must be sired by a great lord, and the babe must be assured a place among the nobility by whatever means she deemed most effective. From within a house of prominence Beoris would be able to mold the child into his instrument, instructing them in the harnessing of their power. The witch would provide the potential, and Beoris would provide the training necessary to turn the child into his tool. The undertaking was a risky one, this Beoris knew.

Yet still, it worked.

Slowly, he worked his influence over the young Katerina, first with simple signals and suggestions. A toddler does not know to keep secrets best left unveiled where they belong. Beoris needed to situate himself as a fact of Katerina’s reality. A steady force that provided guidance and reassurance in a world of uncertainty.

When she first attempted to tap into the latent darkness lurking just beneath her skin, Beoris wrapped the girl in his warm embrace, and guided her as if the body and mind was his own. Katerina viewed the casting of hexes and curses as a lovely secret that she shared with her shadowy friend. A bit of mischief that was all their own to keep.

The time came one night that Beoris saw it fit to speak to his protégé in proper fashion. Their relationship then truly blossomed. To Katerina, Beoris was brother, father, and best friend. To Beoris, he was greatly satisfied with the girl’s devotion and admiration. As a consequence of their newfound closeness, Katerina began to adopt more and more of Beoris’ personality. His charm and confidence found itself pervading all that she did. Her family couldn’t have been more pleased with the young woman she was growing into; none of them suspected the odd luck that seemed to befall them all on a daily basis was her doing.

None but one.

Interlude - Those Of Little Virtue

“That entire family is festering in darkness. They were once my kin. I will deal with this.”
-Excerpt from the journal of Denaris Valdi

Mikhal sighed, scratching at the scant beard lining his jaw. “Uncle, tell me again what exactly it is that you’re saying.” Cobalt eyes locked on cold steel. Mikhal’s uncle seemed to be made of metal; a wiry beard of dull silver cascaded from his face and down to his breast, paired with a neatly trimmed and combed mane punctuated by the sharpest of widow’s peaks. His jaw was squared and edged sharply. Indeed, towering above most men at six foot five, Deranis Valdi was composed entirely of muscle and hard edges. Pale skin was pulled taut over his goliath form.

Mikhal, though a well built and sturdy man himself, seemed rather small in comparison.

They gazed at one another from across the sitting room, a crackling fire basking the space in a warm glow. The furniture cast long shadows. “What I am saying,” Deranis began, in a voice as hard and imposing as the rest of him. “Is that your so called sister is a fellchild. She is not normal. She is a mistake.” He sighed deeply. “A mistake that must be corrected.”

Mikhal’s eyes narrowed. When he spoke, his voice was tight and and unsteady. “Mistake? Corrected? How?”

“You know the price one must pay. For the act of performing dark aethercraft.”

Mikhal leapt to his feet then, muscles tensing. In his haste to rise, the chair clattered to the ground behind him, overturned. “She is a child! She is my sister and she is devoid of the guilt you wish to force upon her shoulders!”

Denaris rose to his feet as well, with careful deliberation. When he spoke, his voice low and deep, like the churning ocean: “You will deal with this matter. Or I will.” He turned then, and strode out of the room.

“Uncle! Uncle! You cannot do this! You cannot!” Mikhal was red in his face then, spittle flying from his mouth with each syllable. Denaris did not look back.

Finale - Exodus

“Men! Today we are called upon to mete out the justice of our Gods! A witch is harbored in this place. She must burn. All others within… put to the sword!”
-Denaris Valdi, to his followers

Rough hands seized upon Katerina’s shoulders, and thus she was shaken awake. Groggily, she stared up into the face of her sister, twisted with fear. “Kat, Kat, we need to go!” Gloriana spoke in fervent, hushed tones. “Uncle is here. And he isn’t alone!” Katerina was pulled to her feet then, and she felt her throat tighten with the reality she now faced. Denaris had come. Child, go with your sister. This is not your end. I will keep you safe.

Katerina found herself dressed in black cloths and leathers, with a cloak of similar coloration fastened around her neck by a dull and unornamented brooch. Her medallion lay hidden beneath all her clothes, pressing warmly against her sternum. Darting down the hall, yanked along by her sister, she heard the distant shouts, drawing closer with each passing moment. They emerged into the great hall, where Mikhal already stood, surrounded by a gaggle of guards and servants. They were scantily armored, many wielding clubs and candlesticks, rather than swords. A few shivered in little more than nightgowns or breeches.

Mikhal turned to glance at his sisters. “This will not be pretty. Go.” A grim smile played across his lips. The roaring of the mob drew ever closer. Katerina was numb as she allowed herself to be pulled down another passageway, the oaken planks beneath their feet being struck by a dull pattering as they fled. Suddenly, Katerina halted in her tracks, feet planted firmly. Gloriana turned back in irritated confusion.

“What are you doing? We have to go! Now!”

Katerina shook her head fervently. “You have to go. Not me. I have something to do.” She spun on her heel then, and darted quickly back from where she came, ignoring Gloriana’s cries of protest. The sounds of conflict met her ears long before her eyes managed to take in the sight. Denaris and his mob had forced their way into the great hall, and a melee had broken out between both forces. In the center of the battle, Mikhal lay prone on his back, straddled by Denaris. A dagger was being slowly forced towards Mikhal’s throat, barely kept at bay by his fading strength.

Katerina screamed. And then, pointing a shaking finger at her uncle, she cried out in a voice shrill with terror: “Uncle, this day you may have won, but I swear to all Gods beneath me and above, I will return to burn you and yours, as is my behove!” Both heads turned to stare at her as the blade sank into Mikhal’s throat. Another scream ripped from Katerina’s lungs, and she scrambled back down the hall. Several men began to give chase.

Epilogue - What Remains

“Her uncle took everything from her. What other choice did she have then? It seemed my plans would come to fruition sooner than I anticipated.”
-Beoris, in reflection

Katerina escaped from the city of Kalaknos that night, the steadying presence of Beoris the only thing that kept her from falling to pieces. A curse, a vow, she had placed upon her uncle. One she intended to keep. For weeks Katerina wandered, her and her passenger barely keeping ahead of the news that would be sure to follow them. The farther they went, the slower their pace became. Few, or perhaps none, would be able to recognize her face, even if the name Katerina Valdi was familiar enough.

Now though, she sat hunched along the side of a desolate road, the dirty thing entirely devoid of traffic this late in the night. A meager campfire illuminated the dry grass surrounding her. Her eyes were bitter as she stared into the flame.

Child, love, what is it that you desire?

“I want to destroy Denaris. I want to tear him to shreds.” She spat the words out, Denaris curling off her tongue as if she had tasted something foul.

Why stop there?

“What do you mean?”

I said, why stop at Denaris?

“What else is there?”

The entire world, child.

Katerina smiled.

SKILLS

-- The Prettiest Faces Hide The Blackest Of Hearts

Katerina is, to put it simply, a master of deception. A bat of her eyelashes and a small, uncertain smile is enough to win over most folk. For those prone to greater scrutiny, pristine charm and carefully chosen words shield her from the brunt of even the greatest suspicions.

-- What Goes Bump In The Night

Used to sneaking and skulking from a young age, Katerina is naturally adept at making herself small and unremarkable, and is never unable to discern the location best suited for hiding. She knows how to keep her foot falls carefully light, and how to perform a variety of dextrous actions, picking both locks and pockets included.

WEAPONS

Stiletto Dagger

Katerina is largely unskilled in the arts of warfare. Though her dagger, a thin, silvery blade emerging from a golden handle wrapped in black leather, doesn’t require a skilled swordsman to be effective. A steady hand is all that is needed to be used to deadly effect.

MISCELLANEOUS

Set of Lock Picks

A small, darkened leather satchel contains within a set of sturdy picks with which Katerina may crack all variety of locks.

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BEORIS THE BASTARD

{{ MALE }}

TOTEM

A circular hematite medallion covered in obscure and intricate carvings, with a large onyx stone ringed by gold set into its center, and worn around the neck by a golden chain.

The Necklace

Beoris in Life

PERSONALITY

Beoris was born the illegitimate son of a once great monarch that lead a once great kingdom. The names of both king and kingdom have long since been lost to time. Ridicule and disdain left a gnawing in Beoris’ stomach; an intense hunger for the power and respect he knew he deserved. Using whatever means necessary, Beoris vied to ingratiate himself with those individuals willing and capable of aiding him, while carefully removing those that sought to stand in his way.

As his power and influence grew, and his strength in the darker arts increased, he found himself among the ranks of the Shadow Legion, his responsibility twofold. By daylight, he negotiated with those cruel or foolish enough to follow the cause he represented. By night, he worked his foul magics upon targets too great or too distant to harm with more tangible forces.

Beoris is envious, spiteful, and utterly full of arrogance. However, he is no less patient for this, and more than capable of oozing charm when the situation calls for it. Even Katerina, despite the genuine tenderness he feels for her, has never been privy to the full extent of Beoris’ vice.

After all, one catches more flies with honey.

SKILLS

-- Prophecies Both Dark And Terrible

Beoris specialized in the casting of curses and hexes, which he used to orchestrate the ruination of entire cities. On a more personal level, the casting of a hex or curse could be fine tuned to cause little more than simple misfortune, to events that could utterly shatter the victim’s world. Beoris is endeavoring to confer this talent onto Katerina. Fortunately, she is a fast learner.

-- Kin With Shadow

Thanks to Beoris’ influence and her unique parentage, Katerina can fade from sight into complete darkness, and draw concealing shadows around her where none can be found. Additionally, the minds of those around her can be bent to perceive Katerina as little more than a shadow herself. Even in plain sight or broad daylight, the keenest of eyes would have no choice but to overlook her presence.