@FoxFire I definitely like the premise (a lot actually), but I'm having a hard time envisioning what is so scary about the Corruption. Not for a lack trying mind you, they just seem too ambiguous to spark a tangible fear at the moment.
General paranoia aside, what about them could keep a character up at night? Are they a violent, all-consuming horde of extradimensional soldiers or monsters? A hi-tech/magical plague? Invisible, brain-snatching assailants that decapitate people in the night and can posses them? Tireless automatons reengineering reality to pursue some strange, ineffable goal or to fulfill the directive of their creator?
For now the force powers she gained after leaving the Order have simply been crossed out. I think I'm just going to remove or rewrite that section later.
You make a fair point. However...No sharper at all? That seems a little weird. Well... to me at least. From what I can tell, manipulating the Force appears to be a skill or muscle. It improves with practice and weakens from disuse. You typically get better at tasks you do more of, not worse.
Neith didn't stop using the Force altogether after she left the Order, so I could understand some of her abilities stagnating as a result of disuse, but some of her force abilities were used quite liberally, especially Mind Trick and Telekinesis. While it wasn't combat-related experience or sanctioned training from the Order, I have a hard time imagining her those skills wouldn't have improved at all.
I could be dead wrong, but that's my sense of things at least.
Backstory regarding faking her own death may need a rewrite as well.
As a player, what is your preferred writing level? One paragraph or less One to two paragraphs Several paragraphs Long stories with heavy collaboration
Is grammar and depth of writing important to you? Grammar is negotiable. English is not everyone's first language. How well someone can depict a character or scene is much more important to me.
Are there any writing subjects you particularly enjoy exploring?
Visceral, relatable characters
Poignant drama
Mysteries and puzzles
Intrigue (political, criminal, romance, etc)
Elaborate cons and spycraft
Is there anything you really dislike and want to avoid like the plague?
Convey what's important. Ignore word counts. I despise posts that were written in ten paragraphs, when one paragraph could have easily done the scene justice.
Players using their characters to act out some kind of wish fulfillment scenario.
Is there something you are uncomfortable with happening to your character? Not really. It would suck if she died, but all things come to an end. Like in life, you rarely have a choice in the matter.
Do you have any short-term or long-term goals with this character? A few...
An emotionally charged, dramatic reunion with Brye Farlance, who believes she is dead
A run-in with her old Jedi Master, who was an unreliable and jaded mentor that abandoned her when she needed it the most
Discovering more about her long dead, Sith parents, who were Krath cultists
A chance encounter with her estranged father
Additional Information: Some flashback scenarios have already been written in collaboration with other players. I'll make them available later.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Neith is an identity fabricated by Helea Arundhati. Her 'Neith' persona has only been active in the past few years, so much of what is available in the Couriers Holonet is speculative and brief; while some information is true, verified details are scarce. For a more complete history, please refer to: Helea Arundhati, The Runaway Padawan -> Jedi Internal Records -> Interviews
Public records are viewable by any Jedi. Encrypted records require special permission to view (like an NPC archivist or Jedi Grandmaster).
Very few people are aware that the two identities are the same. Please contact me, if a character wants to follow her trail. I'd be more than happy to provide additional clues. :)
Name: Neith Species: Sephi Age: early 20's Gender: Female Specialisation: Thievery Current area of operation:
Mid Rim worlds
Known Skills: Innate
Trained
Sleight of Hand - Advanced Training
Stealth - Advanced Training
Investigation - Intermediate Talent
Reconnaissance - Intermediate Training
Street Savvy - Intermediate Training
Seduction - Intermediate Training
Deception - Intermediate Training
Disarming maneuvers - Intermediate Training
Grappling maneuvers - Basic Training
Slicing - Basic Training
Negotiations - Basic Training
Xenolinguistics - Basic Training
Astrogation - Basic Training
Astropiloting - Basic Training
Tracking - Basic Training
Known associates:
Dashara Horizon - Zeltron criminal from Nar Shadaa
Guuz Swieeksang [NPC] - Rodian information broker on Nar Shadaa
Lucia Cadiz [NPC] - Human fence and exotic goods collector
Vivek [NPC] - Twi'lek fixer operating in the Mid Rim worlds
Favored Equipment and clothes: While her wardrobe changes frequently, the one constant has always been a pair of arm length gloves. The color varies, but they're supposedly made from some kind of sturdy material like Verpine Durasilk. It is exceptionally resilient and strong enough to absorb two or three shots from a blaster pistol.
Personality type: With a unique blend of confidence and wit Neith can easily dominate a conversation and steal the show. And, like her crew mates, she often does. Sly and irreverent, nothing is sacred according to her sense of humour and her jokes have started more than a few cantina fights. Unsurprisingly, she has dim view of authority figures and spurns law enforcers regularly.
Known flaws: - Frequently indulges in Iruvian psychedelics (which are addictive)
Detailed appearance.
Report on skills and talents, including level of skill.
"It's amazing how many people neglect to check your ID when you walk around like you're supposed to be there. Even if that wasn't the case--it is--I could still walk onto a Republic battle cruiser and order those uniformed idiots around. It's too easy."
--The Fabulous Neith, Infiltration Expert and Con Artist Extraordinaire
After her recent involvement with the Steel Hearts pirate crew, her reputation as an infiltration specialist has steadily grown. Most notable was the heist on Karnak II, where her guile and cunning allowed her crew to bypass the internal security of a Nemoidian merchant's flagship.
Her most notable exploit was a job commissioned by Greema the Hutt. Her band of thieves managed to steal the Kasavaraya family's priceless heirloom, an ancient tea set known as the prized possession of the blue-blooded merchant family.
Stories of skirmishes with the Steel Hearts are frequently embellished, muddying the truth. However, Neith is generally considered to be extremely skilled with a vibroblade, and seemingly impossible to corner in a fight.
Known Skills:
Sleight of Hand - Advanced Training
She spent nearly five years on Nar Shadaa working for a criminal syndicate. For three of those years, she served as a street thief and fraudster. Many of her skills were acquired or improved during this time.
Slicing - Basic Training
(See above)
Stealth - Advanced Training
(See above)
Investigation - Intermediate Talent
Reconnaissance - Intermediate Training
(See above)
Street Savvy - Intermediate Training
It's a cutthroat's life on Nar Shadaa. Sink or swim. If you don't know what's going or can't find out, you might end up dead. She survived for over four years on the smuggler's moon, and learned a few things during her stay.
Seduction - Intermediate Training
Before she escaped, the last eighteen months on Nar Shadaa she served as an escort for a powerful crime boss. She was responsible for coaxing secrets and condemning information out of clientèle,, and she became quite good at it.
Deception - Intermediate Training
Pretty women and pretty lies are just faces on same fake diamond. This was the unspoken mantra of the escort girls she worked with. She has since put this skill to use grifting, conning and swindling easy marks, and, for the right price, very difficult marks.
Disarming maneuvers - Intermediate Training
Grappling maneuvers - Basic Training
Slicing - Basic Training
Negotiations - Basic Training
Xenolinguistics - Basic Training
Astrogation - Basic Training
Astropiloting - Basic Training
Tracking - Basic Training
Report on known combat experience, training and weapons training.
Despite a few fights in the cantinas, records of her combat experience are sparse.
Of note, however, was an encounter she had with a Mandalorian bodyguard. Although, she retreated in the end, witnesses described her unusual acrobatics and skill with a vibroblade as being particularly troublesome to deal with.
Her skill with a blaster rifle became apparent during the Kasavaraya heist. A few of her accomplices were cornered by the local security teams, until shots began raining down from the other side of the compound. The security team suffered no casualties, but many of them had been shot in the legs.
Does the Courier have, or have they ever had, a bounty on them? Are they wanted?
The Kasavaraya family put a bounty on Neith's head. She used her earnings from the tea set heist to place a counter-bounty on the merchant family's sole heir. After some obvious bribes and other discreet agreements, both bounties were retracted.
Although, there is no official bounty on Neith. The Kasavaraya family would happily 'donate' substantial funds to anyone willing to find and kill her.
Detailed notes on common/favored employers and any noteworthy contacts.
Common employers:
Wealthy merchants
Greema the Hutt
Steel Hearts pirates
Contacts:
Guuz Swieeksang [NPC] - Rodian information broker on Nar Shadaa
Lucia Cadiz [NPC] - Human fence and exotic goods collector
Detailed notes on known rivals and enemies.
Kasavaraya Family - Wealthy mercantile family with aristocratic ties in the Akoros system. After the humiliation of having their famous tea set stolen, and a brief but intense bounty price war, Neith will forever be on the Kasavaraya 'blacklist' of people to kill. Although she may be currently protected by her ties to Greema the Hutt, there's no guarantee she'll be immune to retaliation in the future.
List and description of other known associates.
Dashara Horizon - Zeltron criminal from Nar Shadaa
Vivek [NPC] - Twi'lek fixer operating in the Mid Rim worlds
List of known belongings, including but not limited to planetary surface property, civilian and military vessels, vehicles, weapons, tools.
She has been known to carry vibroblades, varying models blaster pistols and rifles, a varying assortment of grenades and explosives, and a utility belt with common tools of her trade.
Most notably, she always carries an Echani Vibrosword, which she allegedly stole from a famous collector.
Psychological evaluation of Courier.
None available
List and description of known and suspected flaws. To be put into restricted database.
According to reports, she tends to avoid lengthy battles and is difficult to corner.
For the right amount of credits, a Mandalorian mercenary who fought with Neith might be willing to discuss his thoughts on the matter.
All known interests of the Courier.
Trinkets and people of high value.
Major achievements on record.
Coordinated a heist of the famous Kasavaraya tea set for Greema the Hutt.
Fended off a veteran Mandalorian mercenary while robbing the Brevoy Auction House.
Major failures on record. Confidential.
None
Personal biography, as detailed by the subject for future record. Acquired shortly after last achievement of note.
Author: The Illustrious Neith Subject: Greatest of All Time Date: 19:00, 1.1.6 BTC (This year)
I'm flattered you want to know. Really, I am, but if you're expecting me to spoil the mystery, you're sorely mistaken.
List of known rumors.
According to a Twi'lek trader, Neith escaped from a holding cell on Ryloth after being detained by the local enforcers under suspicion of sabotage. During her interrogation, she refused to answer any questions and hummed the same tune over and over. Shortly after, three lyleks appeared and began attacking the security barracks in a screeching frenzy. She managed to escape during the confusion
Neith is believed to have a hoard of treasure she has accumulated in the past few years.
A few months after the infamous Kasavaraya heist, a single tea cup and saucer went missing from Greema the Hutt's vault. Many suspect Neith added them to her hoard, despite being in the outer rim at the time.
My name is Helea Arundhati.
Status: Missing Species: Sephi-Hapan Mix Age: 19 Gender: Female Rank: Padawan Master: Acacas Ry Former master(s):
Urvine Crid - Praxeum instructor and Psychometry tutor
Known Skills: Last assessment on 12.6.1 BTC (7 years ago)
Stealth - Basic Training
Reconnaissance - Basic Training
Animal Husbandry - Trained Talent
Xenozoology - Basic Training
Investigation - Intermediate Training
Astrogation - Basic Training
Negotiations - Basic Training
Xenolinguistics - Basic Training
Trained Force Techniques: Innate Techniques
Psychometry -- Intermediate Talent
Comprehend Speech -- Intermediate Talent
Telepathy -- Basic Talent
Telepathic Defense -- Basic Talent
Animal Friendship -- Basic Talent
Mind Trick -- Undiscovered Talent
Force Illusion -- Undiscovered Talent
Trained Techniques
Tutaminis (Basic) - Intermediate Training
Force Deflection - Intermediate Training
Precognition -- Intermediate Training
Force Sight (basic) -- Basic Training
Force Sense -- Basic Training
Force Empathy - Basic Training
Telekinesis -- Basic Training
Force Jump -- Basic Training
Force Speed -- Basic Training
Force Stun -- Basic Training
Force Throw -- Basic Training
Telekinetic Defense -- Novice Training
Breath Control - Novice Training
Known associates: Acacas Ry - Jedi Knight - Took Helea as an apprentice Urvine Crid [NPC] - Jedi Master - Mentor; Manager of the praxeum where Helea grew up. Brye Farlance - Padawan - The two were nearly inseparable as children, and were deliberately split up to prevent any deeper attachments from forming.
Favored Equipment and clothes:
Having some skill with conventional blades, she has been known to carry vibrodaggers in addition to her lightsaber
While her wardrobe changes periodically, the one constant has always been a pair of arm length gloves. Hardly a fashion statement, its real purpose is to serve as a kind of mental focus. Having a physical barrier, helps Helea form the mental barrier necessary for filtering out unsolicited psychometric visions. She always has a pair on her.
Personality type:
Compassionate
Confident
Outgoing
Gregarious
Mischievous
Impulsive
Known flaws:
Emotions tend to interfere with her use force techniques, and could be exploited
Dueling style is somewhat unique, but her defensive moves can be easily predicted in a prolonged fight.
Lacks strong offensive force powers
Detailed appearance.
People may not always remember her name, but they remember her eyes. Lush, overlapping streaks of bright crimson and violet branch outward from dark pupils. Looking into them strikes the senses and leaves a lasting impression.
She changes her wardrobe when she has the opportunity and commonly wears the jewelry she received as a gift on one of her missions. They are of negligible value, but the polished gleam of white metal accents the cool tones of her skin nicely.
Standing roughly five and half feet tall, she rarely towers over anyone except the smallest of species. Well-toned from years of training, she possesses a lithe, athletic body and the endurance to make user of it.
Report on natural ability with the Force, as well as all known Force Techniques and the skill level.
Author: Heia Kim, Jedi Watchman Subject: Helea N. Arundhati Date: 13:00, 2.7.9 BTC (15 years ago)
She has demonstrated an unusually keen telepathic sense. In our training sessions, she described being able to feel the minds of the other initiates, each of them having their own shapes, textures, and even colors. Her control of the Force is still rudimentary at best, but her acuity is nonetheless remarkable. Master Urvine and I agree that this is a reflection of her natural synchrony with the Force residing in other living beings.
What really caught my attention was her mention of sensing what I can only describe as echoes, little pieces of the initiate's minds scattered around the compound.
More observations are necessary to determine the extent of her talents, but Master Urvine believes she may have an innate gift for psychometry.
- - -
Author: Urvine Crid, Jedi Master Subject: Helea N. Arundhati Date: 07:42, 22.4.8 BTC (14 years ago)
Padawan Silas Vark showed me a peculiar holo recording from yesterday afternoon. Young Helea was found napping in the meditation garden. While I'm hardly surprised a youngling fell asleep during meditation practice, what I found strange was the gallery of small animals surrounding her. There were easily a dozen of them--serpents, birds, and rodents alike. The creatures scattered into the thickets when Silas approached, but they were clearly responding to her.
When I questioned her about the incident earlier this morning, she didn't have any recollection of the animals, but did recall a vivid dream from that day. Curiously, she claimed she was trying to "talk to the garden". I guided her through a meditative practice to bid the memories to her, so we could better understand what happened.
While our minds were linked, I caught a glimpse of our garden, wild with overgrowth, then scent of rain-soaked earth, and a distant feeling of regret. There was no one around save a shadowy outline of Master Darkara. He was reclining against one of the standing stones and staring at the night sky.
Master Darkara came to our praxeum years ago after being maimed in a duel with the Sith. He recovered, but his injuries were too severe for him to return to the front lines. Three days after he arrived, we found him slumped against the boulder in our garden. He had passed during the night.
It seems Helea has stumbled onto a memory shortly before his death. While she may not have tapped into consciously, there is no mistaking it. She encountered a vision of the past.
- - -
Author: Urvine Crid, Jedi Master Subject: Assessment - Helea N. Arundhati Date: 11:54, 17.4.7 BTC (13 years ago)
Only seven years old and young Helea has such a strength of personality that I find myself grinning at her reckless curiosity and childish wit. A sharp girl this one is.
Both myself and Heia Kim have evaluated her individually numerous times, guiding her through meditation practice and coaxing her towards a more self-reflective state of mind. She has always struggled with this, but it is not a lack of focus that impedes her. The moment she begins attuning to the Force it floods into her like a ruptured dam. Unless we conduct the session with great care, her body cannot contain the surge of power and she passes out immediately.
Her affinity for tapping into the ambient Force is so potent, it easily overwhelms her. It will be a long and hard journey for her to develop control over it, if she manages it at all.
NOTE: The Jedi Order keeps fairly meticulous records, but information on Helea Arundhati is lacking in the seven years since her disappearance. This is what the Jedi have on record:
Known Techniques: Last assessment on 12.6.1 BTC (7 years ago)
Author: Urvine Crid, Jedi Master Subject: Assessment - Helea N. Arundhati Date: 11:41, 12.6.1 BTC (7 years ago)
Although she has a talent for sense-based powers, she has only ever received provisional training in most of the basic Jedi powers. Jedi Master Urvine Crid understood well that Helea would have a difficult time learning to control the force, more so than the other younglings at the time. Tutaminis became the platform he used to help improve her level of control, and it has been apart of her regimen ever since. Similarly, because psychometry is a notoriously unwieldy power, she received more specialized training to make it less overwhelming. Because no other psychometry users lived at the Arkania praxeum, much of her training focused on sharpening her jedi senses in the hope that it would build a solid foundation for psychometric ability.
Following some of her more mundane interest, she taught herself how to bond with animals as well. Her skill for it is rudimentary, but functional; having a farm near the praxeum certainly helped.
After becoming a padawan, her master, Acacas Ry, put her keen telepathic sense to good use. She served as his translator on a few missions, and especially in the Outer Rim. Although a few more of her talents emerged somewhat by accident, Acacas was more concerned with his padawan's ability to survive the real world on her own. It was war time after all. So, she spent long hours developing force techniques more focused on combat.
Innate Techniques
Psychometry -- Intermediate Talent
Comprehend Speech -- Intermediate Talent
Telepathy -- Basic Talent
Telepathic Defense -- Basic Talent
Animal Friendship -- Basic Talent
Mind Trick -- Undiscovered Talent
Force Illusion -- Undiscovered Talent
Trained Techniques
Tutaminis (Basic) - Intermediate Training
Force Deflection - Intermediate Training
Precognition -- Intermediate Training
Force Sight (basic) -- Basic Training
Force Sense -- Basic Training
Force Empathy - Basic Training
Telekinesis -- Basic Training
Force Jump -- Basic Training
Force Speed -- Basic Training
Force Stun -- Basic Training
Force Throw -- Basic Training
Telekinetic Defense -- Novice Training
Breath Control - Novice Training
Report on skills not directly rooted in the Force, including level of skill
Author: Heia Kim, Jedi Watchman Subject: Assessment - Helea N. Arundhati Date: 19:12, 3.10.5 BTC (11 years ago)
CRON-317, our librarian droid, has been causing a bit of stir the past two days. Its voice module had been tampered with, and was causing the poor droid to speak backwards. The younglings found it amusing, although Master Urvine expressed some different concerns.
Two nights ago, I found Helea and Bryethe skulking around the compound. I scolded them both and sent them off to bed, but had not realized they had already been to the library to perpetrate this 'prank'.
Padawans Silas and Lidda were both on watch, but curiously neither took notice of the girls. Either my padawans are grossly incompetent, or both of these initiates have some talents we've been neglecting.
Still, it would be prudent to separate Bryethe and Helea. They influence one another too easily. I sense an attachment growing.
The Jedi Order keeps fairly meticulous records, but information on Helea Arundhati is lacking in the seven years since her disappearance. This is what the Jedi have on record:
Known Skills: Last assessment on 12.6.1 BTC (7 years ago)
Stealth - Basic Training
Reconnaissance - Basic Training
Animal Husbandry - Trained Talent
Xenozoology - Basic Training
Investigation - Intermediate Training
Astrogation - Basic Training
Negotiations - Basic Training
Xenolinguistics - Basic Training
Brief Training History:
She has been attached to republic reconnaissance units before and has field experience tracking Sith and conducting investigations.
Completed intergalactic astrogation training provided by a pilot from the Republic Navy
She is proficient in hand-to-hand combat and has demonstrated this in a few sparring matches and during athletic assessments.
She volunteered at the local farm near her praxeum for a few years, caring for the livestock, and studying them.
Report on known combat experience, training and lightsaber training.
Last assessment on 12.6.1 BTC (7 years ago)
Author: Urvine Crid, Jedi Master Subject: Assessment - Helea N. Arundhati Date: 17:43, 18.9.5 BTC (11 years ago)
I can tell that Helea struggles with the theory behind the various combat forms. If her occasional napping during my lectures is any indicator, it seems she learns best through doing, not study. We have no battle master here for her to learn from, so I invited Amit Teskis to teach our initiates one-on-one. As a former Republic Army scout that served alongside Heia Kim, he seems well equipped to instruct them in close quarters combat.
Even as a precocious child, Helea was always a resourceful girl. It is a small wonder why she was drawn to the principles of Sokan. Heia Kim may not have a taste for it, but Amit certainly does.
Admittedly, I had not expected Helea to gravitate to this style so easily. Amit has been here a week, and she absorbs his lessons like a sponge. Her progress is impressive, although I wish she would practice her Soresu form more, she undoubtedly has the reflexes for it.
Author: Strom Thegan, Jedi Knight Subject: Assessment - Helea N. Arundhati Date: 10:31, 8.4.1 BTC (7 years ago)
Hardly a purist, she lacks discipline in all of the basic forms. She seems to prefer blending movements from other forms together. While Helea received provisional training in the first five lightsaber forms, she is most proficient with the sixth, Niman, and is a diehard follower of Sokan principles, constantly moving across the battleground to maintain the advantage. Nimble and acrobatic, she switches between Niman and Ataru for offense, and relies heavily on practiced counters from Shien to fill in the gaps in her defenses. I suspect Acacas Ry's rigorous defensive training forced her to incorporate elements of Form "Zero" as well and caused her to develop a more personalized style.
While she has never crossed sabers with a Sith before, her Shien form is backed by combat experience during missions with her master. She is hardly the top of her class in terms of dueling skills, but has also shown promise in sparring matches with other Padawans nonetheless.
Innate Skill
Exotic Form - Sokan -- Intermediate Talent
Form VI - Niman -- Basic Talent
Form VII - Juyo -- Undiscovered Talent
Trained Skill
Form V - Shien -- Intermediate Training
Form IV - Ataru -- Basic Training
Form I - Shii-Cho -- Basic Training
Form II - Makashi -- Basic Training
Form III - Soresu -- Basic Training
Exotic Form - "Zero" -- Basic Training
She has not carried a lightsaber since she left the Order.
She received some training with vibroweapons at the Arkania praxeum, but became much more practiced with them as a street urchin during her time on Nar Shadaa.
Her lightsaber training heavily influences her swordplay, and a particularly insightful lightsaber duelist might be able to figure this out, if they were to fight her.
Detailed notes on political influence and associates.
Khang Arundhati
Although, Helea hasn't spoke to him in years, Khang is an influential figure throughout this sector. Although he no longer serves as the Sector Chief for Republic SIS, his retirement seems to have further solidified his power base. There is some evidence to suggest that his retirement is a farce as we know he has indirectly contributed to more than a few missions involving the Jedi Order
Detailed notes on known rivals and enemies, outside and within the Order and Republic.
None
List and description of other known associates, including intimates.
Bryethe Farlance: Helea and Bryethe were as close as sisters, and shared an intimate relationship that persisted for years, despite being deliberately separated numerous times.
Urvine Crid: Jedi Master and caretaker of the Helea's praxeum. He personally oversaw her psychometry training until Acacas Ry took her as his padawan.
Ekhoro Noctis: A Jedi Investigator from the Outer Rim, and a known psychometry user. She assisted Acacas Ry in honing Helea's psychometry ability. If Helea had stayed with the Order, Ekhoro likely would have recruited her as a junior investigator.
List of all known ownerships, including vessels, (non-standard) equipment, and locations.
According to the Governor's office on Juris Khel, she was going to inherit Khang Arundhati's estate.
Psychological evaluation of Jedi Order member.
Compassionate and loyal to a fault, Helea appears to have the makings of a Jedi, at first glance, but her history of juvenile mischief and her impulsive behavior has lead many to question her integrity and strength of character. Helea can be calm and collected when required, but she normally a precocious bundle of energy.
List and description of known and suspected flaws. To be put into restricted database.
The late Heia Kim, said it best: Helea dances on the tip of a saber.
She loves telling imaginative stories to the younglings, and bonded with many of them. She is one of the most thoughtful and compassionate initiates we have. However, therein lies the problem. She forms attachments far too easily, and does so despite our best efforts to prevent it and council her otherwise.
I would be remiss to call her a prodigy, but her talent in the Force is irrefutable. Yet, some of her habits are not just problematic, but patently dangerous. For example, she often tends to rely on her emotions to wield the Force. While I sense no darkness in her yet, it is only matter of time. It is a constant struggle to keep her on the right path. I fear her real parents have left a lasting impression that cannot be undone so easily.
This cannot continue. Jedi Knight Acacas Ry has been stationed here for a time. I've invited him to train her during his stay. I suspect his calm demeanor will help tame some of her wilder tendencies.
Personality Flaws:
Impulsive
Emotional
Occasionally resists authority
Occasionally skeptical of Jedi Doctrine
Combat Flaws: Her lightsaber form is loosely defined, which is both a blessing and a curse. She is a very aggressive combatant and her style is more suited to skirmishes. Bad positioning can force her into retreat easily, and Her fortitude is not sufficient to spend long hours on the field of battle.
Because much of her counter strikes and defensive maneuvers are drawn from Shien, a skilled duelist could read her moves and identify a pattern, making her vulnerable.
While she makes liberal use of Telekinesis and Force Stun, she has not trained as extensively, or at all, in other combat-oriented Force techniques.
All known interests of the force-user.
Xenozoology (Study of Alien Animals)
Mythology
Animal Husbandry
Music, especially Wind Instruments
Notes on skillset specialization, if applicable.
Helea's innate gift of psychometry has influenced her training significantly. Prior to her becoming a padawan, she received special tutelage from Jedi Master Urvine to help her control her ability, and filter some of the visions that periodically disturbs her thoughts.
Major achievements on record.
Successfully constructed her first lightsaber.
Completed Initiate Trials.
Major failures on record. Confidential.
Failed the Jedi Trial of Insight Although it was not intentional, she misinterpreted the visions she experienced through psychometry and provided bad information to agents in the field. Three Jedi Knights were ambushed while pursuing a Sith spy, and the entire team was slain in combat.
Developed a strong emotional attachment to fellow initiate multiple times Most notable was her strong relationship with Bryethe Farlance that went beyond a simple friendship. While there was no romantic involvement, it was clear the two treated each other as sisters.
Personal biography, as detailed by the candidate for use in Jedi archives. Acquired shortly after last achievement of note.
Each entry is loosely organized into chronological order.
Author: Urvine Crid, Jedi Master Subject: Recruit from Juris Khel Date: 06:34, 24.6.7 BTC (15 years ago)
Today I met with Khang Arundhati, the former sector chief for Republic Strategic Information Services. It seems that, despite his idyllic home on the moon of Juris Khel, his alleged retirement is really little more than a hobby. He was predictably scarce on the details, but a blind man could understand that he was still contributing to SIS in some way. He strikes me as the kind of stiff mind that would crumble without a purpose to drive him. He hasn't said as much about it, but it's obvious he has not adapted to the quiet life very well.
Both of his daughters died in the Great War many years ago, so I was surprised to discover that he had been raising a small girl for the past few years. Her name is Helea. He believed she might be force-sensitive and wanted me to perform a few tests. The reports are attached to this entry, but they weren't necessary. I could sense the Force flowing through her like a wild river. I have not seen a child so strongly connected to the force in years.
The details of her parentage gave me pause. I've included the heavily redacted intelligence reports from SIS. Admittedly, there isn't much information to go on.
To summarize, her parents were Krath cultists who fell into disfavor with the new Sith Emperor. SIS had been observing them for some time. Although they were supposed to be apprehended for interrogation, both of them died in a skirmish with SIS agents.
The reports make no mention of an infant, but Khang has confided to me that the cultists had a newborn with them. Retired or not, he still has clout in SIS, otherwise I doubt the current Sector Chief, Aubard Hawke, would grant him custody of the infant girl.
According to her medical records, Helea is his daughter, and like both of his other daughters, he wants her to be raised as a Jedi. He claims she may be "of use to the Republic", but I sense he's grown attached to the girl, and the fact bothers him a great deal. While I am thankful he came to me with for consul, there's clearly more to this meeting than he has revealed thus far.
Nevertheless, we will induct her into our praxeum.
My name is Helea Arundhati. I'm from the Juris system. I was under the care of Jedi Master Urvine Crid at the Arkania praxeum until a few years ago. Jedi Knight Acacas Ry chose me as his padawan, and I've been learning from him ever since.
I have a lot of good memories from the Juris praxeum. Heia Kim was always honest with me, especially when I didn't want to him to be. I wasn't there when he was killed, but I remember seeing him lying the ground. It's a memory I haven't been able to shake. Kim wouldn't believe it, if it came from my lips, but I used to admire him. Brye, Silas, and Lidda did too. He was a good Jedi, and I learned a lot from him. I think our Shien form and Soresu forms would still be terrible, if he hadn't drilled us through practice almost daily.
Master Urvine is the wisest person I've ever met and a fantastic teacher. I know it was difficult for him to guide me through training. I'm sure I didn't make it easy on him. It's mostly thanks to him that I'm able to use force techniques at all. I had a lot of trouble learning them when I was younger. He also really inspired me to work on my saber forms. Even if it's only combat simulations or sparring around here, I've gotten so much stronger with the Ataru form and Sokan.
Master Acacas is as skilled a duelist as Master Urvine. My saber form has improved a lot since I've begun studying under him. He's very practical and insists on live fire training. Incidentally, I've gotten quite bit of practice in deflecting blaster shots without a lightsaber. I think we spent more time doing combat drills than we did following any other regimen. My muscles feel sore just thinking about it.
Master and I spent the past two weeks tracking down a Sith spy within the Republic Navy. We worked closely with Jedi Investigator Ekhoro Noctis. The three of us were able to decipher some of the messages the Navy intercepted and followed the trail of clues to a mining station near Alderaan.
We never confronted the spy directly, but I was able to glean a few visions from the items she left behind. When we recovered a shattered data pad, I caught a glimpse of her smashing in anger when she found out her cover had been blown. The images were hazy, but I was able to see enough of the stars through the window of her ship that Ekhoro could narrow down the search area to a few systems.
Master Acacas says that if the mission goes well, I might be able to start on my Jedi Trials. The council has the final say, but he's strangely optimistic about the results.
Author: Hiidi Kegal, Jedi Investigator Subject: Suspect -- Helea N. Arundhati Date: 19:34, 15.11.1 BTC (7 years ago)
When it rains it pours.
Two days ago we received word that Jedi Knight Acacas Ry went missing. Now I have a report saying that his padawan, a "Helea Arundhati", is also missing. All this right after Helea's visions lead to three Knights into an ambush. They all died, and I heard the girl didn't take it well. Padawan Lidda tells me she cried through the night.
The council is understandably tight-lipped about the incident, but I sensed some resentment around the praxeum. My cohort, Kilik, is conducting interviews around the compound. I'll include his findings when I received them.
Fortunately, Helea was easier to track than her master, but the trail went cold on Juris Khel. We interviewed Khang Arundhati after arriving. I sensed she would pay her old man a visit, and my intuition was spot on.
Saying he wasn't happy to see us is an understatement. I've never heard of the former Sector Chief having a temper, but I didn't need my powers to tell he was seething beneath the surface. Some people have a hot stare when they're angry, like they could melt something by looking at it. I could tell from his cold expression that he was the kind of man who would throw you into an air lock, crack the doors, and watch you slowly suffocate on the floor, not out of malice, but just to see if you could die from it. At least, that's the image I read from his mind. I suspect he let me see his thoughts on purpose to unnerve me.
I've never seen a mind so twisted in on itself. Nothing gets in or out, unless he wants it to. It's like a steel ball. Honestly, I'm more suspicious of Khang than I am his daughter. Still, his story fits with the information Padawan Silas gave us. It's beyond the scope of this case to investigate him much further.
In short, he blames us for his daughter running away, among other things. It seems our runaway padawan found out about her Sith parents, and confronted him. True to his profession, Khang didn't provide many details, but based on his cool hostility towards me, I can tell it was an unpleasant conversation.
I've read Master Urvine's journals. Helea probably would have become an exceptional Jedi had everyone kept their mouth shut. Looks like we'll need to circle back and do a more thorough investigation at the praxeum. Someone leaked sealed information, and they will answer for it.
Author: Hiidi Kegal, Jedi Investigator Subject: Post-Mortem: Helea N. Arundhati Date: 13:50, 19.4.5 ATC (1 year ago)
The target has been very busy since leaving the Order. I've been exchanging reports back forth with our contacts inside Republic SIS for some time. It seems this rogue padawan has a growing list of crimes. I counted no less than thirty-eight charges of theft and double that number for trespassing in the years since she left, and that's just the ones we know about. We lost track of her four years ago.
A crime boss called Flix has been running a large criminal enterprise out of Nar Shadaa. Our target was inducted into their "escort service" a few years ago. From SIS reports, it works like an escalator system. They train most as pick pockets, and the pretty ones get promoted to escort when they're old enough.
When the reports stopped mentioning the target for more than a year, we suspected she had died somewhere on Nar Shadaa. At least, that's what we believed until this morning.
I received a coroner's report from one of my contacts on Deysum III dated for three weeks ago. A young girl matching the target's description was found dead in the alley behind one of the local clubs. If She was beaten to death. Deysum III is a dangerous place. Murders like this are common and rarely reported. I'm not surprised this report was overlooked. That it came to us at all must be the will of the Force.
A bounty hunter sponsored by Nem'ro the Hutt collected the remains, and was last seen departing for Nar Shadaa. SIS confirmed our reports. There is little chance of recovering the body now.
This case will be closed and the target's status will be reclassified as deceased.
A redacted report has been forwarded to the Archivists.
NOTE: Helea Arundhati was declared missing many years ago, and is presumed dead after investigators lost track of her on Nar Shadaa. Very few people are likely to make the connection between Helea Arundhati and Neith.
After leaving the Jedi Order, Helea drifted from space port to space port. Both her money and her luck ran out on Nar Shadaa, leaving her stranded there. She began using the alias "Neith" shortly after arriving. The pseudonym did little to spare from the harsh realities of the Smuggler's Moon. It was dangerous place, moreso for a young girl travelling alone, force powers or not. After hunting down a few rumors, she found employment as a petty thief and joined a local gang. It was better than starving or being pick up by slavers. She spent the next three years stealing, smuggling, and swindling her way through the ranks of the gang itself. She had never intended to stay so long, but she became fast friends with a Zeltron girl named Dashara Horizon and stuck around for her sake.
As they soon discovered, the gang of thieves she had joined, no matter how profitable, was little more than a glorified babysitting service. The gang itself was small part of a larger criminal syndicate that commonly recruited their members internally. Any of the orphans they had been raising could be potential recruits. Some stayed in. Some were sold off. But the pretty ones were inducted into the escort service the moment they were old enough (willingness optional).
Neith learned well to ensure she wouldn't be sold off to one of the local bordellos. Her and the other girls were free to steal what they wanted as long as it didn't stop the clients from coming back. Her main purpose was to gather information: anything that could be use to blackmail, extort, or gain leverage over their clients. Neith made discrete use of her force powers to be successful enough they would think twice about selling her off. When a particularly high bid was offered for her purchase, she made plans to escape.
For the next two years, she stayed on the move, conning enough money out of people to lie low and keep the bounty hunters at bay. She did quite well for herself too, amassing a small fortune. But her freedom came with some conditions, namely her loyalty and service to Greema the Hutt (or else). She left Hutt space for parts unknown after her completing her last contract for Greema.
(( This part is left open in case some of the players I previously worked with return to the RP ))
Character Quote: "Nothing is worth doing, unless someone, somewhere, really wishes you weren't doing it." Name: Ariyoshi Haruko, "Haru" Age: 15 Height: 5 ft 4 in. Weight: 122 lbs. Quirk: Tactile Telekinesis Haruko can telekinetic manipulate any object she touches. In practice, she can move the tumblers inside a door lock, start a car by touching it, make origami art with one finger, and dress herself very quickly.
Description: Although born in China, Haru is definitively Japanese. Her father, Ariyoshi Jin, is former diplomatic translator for the Foreign Affairs Ministry and traveled frequently. Her mother, Ji Yan, was a liaison from the Chinese Embassy and tragically died during childbirth. Sayaka entered her life when she was only eighteen months old. Originally hired as a nanny, she and her father grew close, and later married. Her brother Tohru was born, when she was three. Her childhood wasn't idyllic, but it wasn't terrible either. Her father was absent for days or weeks at a time because of work. In reality, it was Sayaka who raised her and Tohru. Haruko was a natural-born troublemaker, so the happy family option was a non-starter. Instead of "happy", it would be more accurate to call it "utter chaos". For her, "chaos" translated to "fun". A typical day in the life of little Haruko consisted of terrorizing her brother and classmates while running around and cackling madly. Energetic and outgoing at best, a rambunctious brat at worst. From convincing her brother that sock fairies ate the feet of children who left dirty laundry lying around, to swapping stickers on a Rubix cube to make them unsolvable, Haruko always had a gift for producing mischief of the highest quality. She has been the mastermind behind--or at least a co-conspirator to--nearly every prank perpetrated at school or at home since her first year of elementary school. Between her (self-proclaimed) cuteness and her brilliant acting skills, she's (almost) never been blamed for instigating things.
However, it wasn't meant to last. Things changed a lot after her quirk manifested. Locked doors and gates weren't an obstacle anymore, merely speed bumps. Harmless pranks turned into wild adventures, and the wild adventures turned became increasingly dangerous. After breaking into one of the condemned buildings on school grounds to "explore", one of her friends fell through some rotted floorboards and broke both of his legs. They weren't able to get him to the hospital for several hours because of where they were. He got really sick and Haruko never saw him after that. Rumors twisted the truth and, somewhere along the way, Haruko had become a 'walking disaster'. She was cursed. All of her friends got injured. Every piece of electronics conveniently started malfunctioning around her. Her friends abandoned her one-by-one. The rest of the student body shunned her very existence after that. And, less than a month, she had become a social pariah. The only people who paid her any attention were the few upperclassmen brazen enough to stare at her growing chest.
She switched schools twice to escape the rumors and the bullying, but it didn't last. Social media made sure that her reputation would follow her everywhere. Since then, she's made a concerted effort to distance herself from Tohru, her quirk-less little brother, to keep him safe.
In the span of a few years, she made the transformation from legendary prankster and adventurer extraordinaire to walking disaster to social outcast. But, no matter how much she wanted to move on and forget her past, it followed her around like an annoying dog. So, when she received an invitation to enroll at Jigokuraku, she took it. A school for would-be heroes sounded better that what she had and maybe she could reinvent herself.
Tall reeds bent together into archways, forming a narrow corridor through the marsh. The murky, black waters rippled as the emissary took slow, measured steps so as to not get trapped in the muck. His nose wrinkled in derision, offended by both the wet trudge and the ambient stench of sulfur.
“What right does that bastard have to command me? A Lord of Brionac?” the emissary fumed aloud. “He will regret making a fool of the Caiside Clan!” He seethed over having to come meet someone as low and conniving as Nihil. Everyone knew the dark elves of the south were savages who had lost touch with elven culture. Why was it then that they had been pushing further and further into Brionac. They had managed to best old, established clan guardians with little effort. Even now, the fighting continues. In Garric’s mind, old didn’t mean better. Old clans were weak and useless. They deserved the humiliation of defeat, if they couldn’t defend against few barbarians and hunters. The Eldest too have betrayed their principles, if they believe parlaying with the infamous Fenn Lords will do any good. He just couldn’t fathom why he should be the one to go, when plenty of other lords, albeit of lower status, were more suited to brokering a ceasefire. It was beneath him to negotiate with the enemy, let alone the base and corrupt dusk elves. At last the dark waters yielded to a soft patch of land, littered with huts and the remnants of ancient stone pillars. The largest of these monolithic fragments had been staked into the ground and arranged in a oblong circle. Each one bent inward toward the center and collectively held up a precarious roof. The ceiling was crafted from enormous shards of granite, and each disparate piece fit together with the impossible precision one might expect from dwarves. Shadows of orange firelight writhed against the dark interior. Near the entrance, two guards stood at attention, their eyes fixed straight ahead.
Lord Garric steeled himself and marched forward with the easy confidence of an elven highborn. His retainers, clad in expertly-stitched leathers and armed with magic blades, followed closely behind him. His mouth curled into a sneer, but before he could take another step the world shrank away and slid past him. His vision stretched into to a nauseating blur and then snapped abruptly back into focus. His stomach lurched uncomfortably as the eternity of distance between he and the stone shrine shortened to nothing. Though disoriented, he could still make out the sharp lines of familiar elven face. Nihil was reclining in on exquisitely carved throne accentuated with thin cracks and pits that hinted at ancient origins. An ox skull hung on the wall behind him.
“You...” his voice sank into a menacing growl. He drew his thin blade, ready to tear out the elf’s throat with bloodthirsty glee. “You shit-skinned little worm! How da-”
Something caught in the lord’s chest. He noticed only too late that none of his retainers were with him. He felt the blood in his veins grind to an agonizing halt as something clamped against heart like a vice. He struggled to breathe and clutched at his chest. His vision swam. Anguished cries clamored outside the hall. All manner of wildlife flooded out of the tall reeds and brush, surrounding Garric’s clansmen. Insects carpeted the ground in a wriggling, biting horde. Birds formed a dark, writhing cloud which clawed and pecked at their eyes, while a host of snakes and other reptiles dragged each one to the ground kicking and screaming. Their frantic screams were quickly devour by the hungry cacophony..
“The first one is always free, Garric.” Nihil began. His tone was friendly, but the weight of his sinister smile pressed Garric down to his knees. There was palpable tension between them, which Nihil swaggered through effortlessly. He bent down and gingerly patted him on the back.
Garric wheezed sharply. Whatever curse befell him had subsided, but his eyes were still bulging and he could still feel malevolent claws digging into his chest, waiting for an opportunity to wrench the life out of him.
“You see, Garric, the first one is free because I know people are born into ignorance.” He chuckled. “It’s not their fault. They are ignorant of themselves, of how they fit into a much greater cosmic design, but most importantly their ignorant of the rules they must live by. My rules." Garric snapped his head up to protest, but found he couldn’t speak. His voice was gone. He groped at his throat, searching for a clue as to what happened. “But I believe in forgiveness,” Nihil continued. “So I allow them a moment of quiet reflection. They need it so they can reflect on how they’ve disrespected me and the people loyal to me. And they always appreciate my kindness when I let them bend a knee and ask for forgiveness,” Nihil loomed over the gasping noble like a dark cloud. “This is your moment of reflection, Garric. It is a kindness.” Each word was spoken with a terrible exactness that drove the elven lord into into a panic.
Garric reeked of fear. Sweat trimmed his thin brow, and a dark stain marred his padded leggings. Nonetheless he found the resolve to stagger onto his feet. He knew immediately that the rumors were true. Nihil was no longer an elf nor an immortal, he was something much more dangerous than that.
Nihil circled him, pinning him with a predatory stare and a winning smile. He tried catching Garric’s gaze so he could see the flashes of fear in his eyes. He knew was there, but the pompous elf kept looking away. The floor in particular seemed very interesting to him. Nihil already knew he what was going to happen, but wanted to see it. He wanted to see the moment when Garric finally broke. His dark hand clamped around the noble’s face and tilted his gaze up, so they could meet eye-to-eye. He savored the man’s desperate look, and grinned.
“There it is.”
Garric bent to one knee, once Nihil loosened his grip, and bowed his head deeply in reverence. His forehead pressed into the dirt. His body was covered in a layer of cold sweat. “I-I was an ignorant fool. What can Clan Caiside do you earn your forgiveness, Elder Nihil?”
The orange fire lights dancing on the wall coalesced into two hauntingly beautiful women, both with piercing emerald eyes and long, sumptuous gowns spun from silver threads. The sheer fabric hinted at voluptuous curves beneath. They didn’t smile.
“Neffeni. Lyndis.” Nihil shot a smug glance at the two Sirens who stepped forth from the shadows. “Clan Leader Garric has agreed to take responsibility for disrespecting our sovereignty, and as a show of good faith wishes to broker a truce with us on behalf of the Eldest of Brionac. I judge him to be an honorable man. Therefore he is a guest, not a prisoner, and we are going to treat him as one of our own.”
"I was making a deal with the witch that owns these lands. We concluded our business so she saw me out... Without my permission..."
I bet he got swept along by Heleva. Everyone does A mischievous smirk tugged at her lips as a few jokes percolated in her mind. As if reading her thoughts, Marik subtly and sharply elbowed her in the side, derailing her train of thought with a soft thud. She smiled plainly to hide to a grimace.
The demon didn't seem to be in the mood to be teased. Marik didn't have any love for the creature, this Vaettir, and he understood the feeling was mutual, but he also didn't want to provoke it. He had heard stories of the demon's necromantic powers, and that fact alone was enough to justify avoiding the demon altogether.
"What brings you two here? Deals with the witch as well or simply seeking shelter. You both look, worse to wear."
Vaettir always seemed to be avoiding Astrid when they met, quickly finding an excuse to leave, so she was initially stunned at his sudden interest. Then she remembered she was still wearing the itchy, smelly burlap pancho and little else, which left her feeling vulnerable and annoyed. She fidgeted.
"You're not wrong, I suppose..." She ground out at last, trying to remain polite. "Heleva has been accommodating of me in the past, so I was hoping to rely on her good will once again. We've just returned from the Devil's Spine, and we're low on both money and supplies. Yet, I..." her word trailed off into silence. I wonder, if it was the best idea to come here. Her gaze seemed drawn to the single longhouse at the center of the town.
"I'm sure you've seen the lights." Marik interjected and stuck a thumb over his shoulder at the mountains behind him. "The magic in the area has shifted, and not for the better. The forest was empty on our way back, which is an ill omen if I ever saw one. We were going to report back to the adventurer's guild after we gather more supplies. Unfortunately, that means we must be on our way." He glanced at Astrid, urging her to wrap up her conversation.
Astrid ignored him, and the itchy fabric too. "So what drove you to visit Heleva? I thought you didn't like entering human settlements." Her eyes brightened with curiosity. Her intuition told her it must have been important.
Ever patient, the regal slime didn't move an inch. If it was calculating a response it didn't show. Green motes of light strobed through its body in a steady rhythm. Little branches of dim light forked endlessly inside it. All the while it's quite distinct features became more and more refined. It even started breathing. Pale colors flushed through the slime like paint carried by a current. Plumes of colors settled along precise lines and curves. Each second the slime more and more resembled a paragon of demi-humans. The sapphire of her eyes radiated from a thin reptilian slit and shimmered with alien intelligence. A warm blush brightened her perfect mimicry of skin. A ridge of tiny horns accentuated her crown as her nails sharpened to exquisite points. Twin geysers of pale starlight erupted from her back and congealed into feather-like streamers. They unfurled to either side of her like an angelic cape and fluttered like banners caught in the wind.
"Don't consider yourself food, you say?" It wasn't a question. Her lips curled with a hint of mischief.
The eerie transformation was little more than a parlor trick for the slime. It had been etching shallow runes into the floor around Masrith, completing an intricate magical circuit. It would have been difficult to see with a torch, but the brackish blue muck obscured it even further. They were defensive wards meant to erect a powerful barrier and suppress any magic within. Despite its docile facade, it was wary of the power is sensed from Masrith. It would activate the circle if he posed a threat, and it was already starting on a third layer when he inquired about the scholar's notes.
"His notes?" She giggled. "You misunderstand, little one. I have no need for scrolls and ink." Her fingers uncurled to reveal a shimmering blue bead swelling from the skin of her palm. It slowly grew to the size of a tangerine. The gelatinous fruit was cloudy and veins of pale white light pulsed through it. "All of my guests have tasted this. The scholar called it the 'Fruit of the Gods'. You can feast upon history and insight of countless lives. Fragments of those who have offered themselves to me." She caressed it with a slender finger, thin streaks of light trailing behind her touch.
"A gift and a gamble. A challenge to see what you are, little one. Are you food or fun?" She smiled like the Sun. Power began emanating from her so strongly the surrounding slime rippled from its force. There was a shift in her demeanor as the queen strode toward the edge of the circle. She possessed an easy confidence one would expect from royalty--that the world was hers and no one could to refute her claim. It was a stark contrast to the endearing tone and amiable persona she maintained. "Memories and magic distilled into a delightful morsel. If you endure its power, you can taste my past, and I yours. It is unlike anything this world can offer you." Her voice was gentle and hauntingly beautiful, but each word hummed with frightening power. A pact borne of magic crystalized into the slimy morsel. "Have a taste, little one."
Long before they ever reached Vescarim, Astrid felt it. It was the slightest resistance, like trying to wade through water, but it was there nonetheless.
Borders didn't really exist. People drew lines on maps, but you never saw them on the ground. There's no line clearly stating 'this patch of dirt is owned by so and so'. For Ódauðlegur, the line certainly existed. The grass didn't look any different. The plants and animals were busy and chattering. Nothing seemed out of place. But after one step, she knew where the line was. Unfettered magic had congealed in the air so thickly she could probably chew it; it had even seeped into the ground, which tugged at her with each step. She had never been to Vescarim, but she realized that an immortal lived there. Given how potent the magic was in these hills, they were probably very old, very powerful, or both. And, in all likelihood, probably ran the place too.
The magic in the area pushed against her gently, trying to nudge her away and back across the border. The land had been claimed by an immortal and it didn't want anyone else trampling through it. No more difficult than tear a sheet of parchment, she pressed onward with little effort. Her own magic recoiled against it, extending from her soul. She could feel the friction as it scraped against the invisible mass of raw magical energy pervading the air.
Marik seemed no worse for wear. He wasn't an immortal, but he carried himself like one. There was an easy confidence in the way he moved. One look and anyone knew that he was quite sure of himself.
Astrid had always been baffled at how quickly he healed, how he had survived fatal wounds, and how he didn't breathe when he slept. Grave spirits clung to him like flies on rubbish. Not even zombies garnered that kind of attention. It was spooky, even for her. Her talent for making friends was abysmal, however, so she stowed her curiosity and asked very few questions. Both had vital secrets and neither wanted to share. Astrid didn't know what she was or who her parents were. But she knew, intrinsically, that in some deep, dark corner of her soul, a spectre of the Blight made its home. It was a part of her and she felt she was a part of It, albeit a very small part of a much grander and more terrifying It. Thankfully, monster inside her couldn't come out. Not until she left this immortal's demesne.
The hills had flattened some, yielding to gentle steppes. The path was an easy one. Two parallel ruts in the ground marked the caravan highway. Small stone markers marked the edge of the road at a regular intervals. After traveling at length, they arrived at Vescarim. Black curls of Smoke billowed from the chimney of a few homes. There weren't any guards per se, but there were quite a few people ambling around. As she was taking in the scenery, she felt a surge of power rush past her. Her stomach lurched and gasped for air, feeling as though she'd been sucker punched. A phantom sensation of falling sideways towards the town followed and left her feeling both dizzy and weirdly euphoric.
She struggled to focus her vision as the line of the horizon bulged then buckled in on itself, the ground rippled without shaking a single building. In the blink of an eye, a smudge of color in the distance rapidly increased in size and clarity as the world moved around it, like convey something from the background to the foreground of painting. Presently, a very large, exquisitely chiseled statue stood before her. She was awestruck for a moment, still trying to unravel what just happened.
Marik quirked an eyebrow at it, but only slightly. He seemed disappointed.
It took her a moment to recover her composure, but she quickly recognized the demonic statue. "Oh! It's... Vaettir!" She said smiling, although still a bit bewildered. "What brings you to this village? You weren't terrorizing them with folk tales again, were you?" She teased jokingly. "I don't see anyone running and screaming, so it must be a good town." She beamed. Vaettir fascinated her. Apart from being a creature of living stone, he was one of the few other immortals who deigned to speak with her and didn't try to impale her on a sword at every possible opportunity. "Aah... Umm... What exactly just happened by the way? Was that some kind of spell you cast? I know a few speed charms, but nothing to let you move like that." Her mind was all too eager to get lost in thought and explore the magical phenomenon she'd witnessed.
Marik looked at Astrid, at the demon, and then at the longhouse down the road. He had already roughly guessed what happened. He glanced at Vaettir and gave a conciliatory shrug as if to say 'You got kicked out too, eh?'.
