Post by kore on Mar 15, 2012 14:39:17 GMT -8
Background
Aria served aboard the Midnight Squall, a Lyrandar elemental galleon, commissioned as part of a campaign to disrupt the operations of the Wind Whisperers and their leader, Sea Prince Koulton Brightwind, in the Lhazaar Principalities. An excoriate of House Lyrandar, Lord Brightwind also gained infamy committing a series of revenge killings against the house which collaterally resulted in the death of Aria's husband and daughter. Pursuing a personal vendetta against the sea prince, Aria eagerly volunteered for the campaign hoping to have the opportunity to kill Lord Brightwind herself.
Aria survived an ambush of her ship when an elderly half-orc monk named Ugashk narrowly rescued her. A slave-sailor aboard the attacking Wind Whisperers elemental galleon, it was earlier during the same assault that Aria saved Ugashk aboard the pirates' ship. A gruesome scar stretches across Aria's neck at her jaw as a reminder of the fateful encounter. Though he escaped with the remaining crew of the Midnight Squall, Ugashk's intercession cost him his left arm and eye when he fought Lord Brightwind. Aria felt an obligation to stay with Ugashk until he recovered from his wounds at his home in a small mountain outpost in the Mror Holds.
Her experience during the ambush by the Wind Whisperers caused Aria to become very introspective and Ugashk eagerly provided her counsel, in many ways serving as a mentor. Sensing a lack of purpose in her life, he confided to her his life's work as a keeper and seeker of an obscure, ancient text called the Talaric Codex. Seeking fragments of the text throughout Eberron, it was during his travels that the ship he chartered was attacked by the Wind Whisperers. Though his copy is incomplete, he explained that an intact codex contains a plenary knowledge of psionic techniques for combating the powers of Xoriat.
Ugashk taught Aria the history of the mythic warrior society that sacrificed itself by wading into Xoriat to combat the daelkyr while the Gatekeeper druids sealed Xoriat out from Eberron. Only a sparse remnant of the Talaric Order remained to protect the few remaining codices that survived the Daelkyr War near the end of the Age of Monsters. Over time the remnant and their tomes scattered across Khorvaire and faded into legend.
Before passing, Ugashk entrusted his fragmented copy of the Talaric Codex to Aria, entreating her to study and master the text. Most importantly, he asked her to remain vigilantly observant for other fragments of the codex, to collect them at any cost as one day it may prove to be the salvation of Eberron. If there are any others alive who keep the legend of the Talaric Codex, Ugashk never met them and so Aria is the last remnant of the Talaric Order. Though Aria respected her mentor, the weight of his admonition did not become evident until the Day of Mourning.
Goals
- Bring to justice the individual/group that betrayed House Lyrandar and slaughtered her family.
- Complete the Talaric Codex and defend Eberron from the corruption of Xoriat.
- Redeem House Lyrandar.
Secrets
- Aria is concerned that her betrayal of the Lyrandar Raincallers is known by her house.
- The death of her family was not caused by Lord Brightwind but by someone she may trust.
Allies/Enemies
- Debra: a mysterious woman who "pulled" Aria from Xoriat and claims to be the author of the Talaric Codex; she has chosen Aria as one of her champions to preserve the world and commissioned her to gather more champions.
- Ugashk (deceased): teacher and mentor to Aria; keeper of Talaric lore.
- House Lyrandar: Aria has always been a loyal vassel of the house, but given recent events she is unsure of who she may trust.
- Lord Koulton Brightwind, Sea Prince of the Wind Whisperers: a sadistic pirate from the Lhazaar Principalities and excoriate of House Lyrandar; he was the focus of Aria's revenge before she received new information regarding the death of her family; during their last encounter he tried to kill Aria for which Aria wouldn't mind returning the favor.
Traits
- Though a woman of good character, Aria will meet mistreatment and brutality against children with excessive brutality of her own. This flaw originates from the grim memory of finding her husband and 6 year old daughter executed.
- Though vigilant and confident under pressure, Aria has a tendency to dwell on the unexpected consequences of her decisions in ways that are sometimes...unhealthy.
- Aria feels most "at home" in inclimate weather: rain gives her a sense of newness; snow/snowfall give her a sense of peace; sailing rolling seas in a galleon or gliding through the sky in an airship bring her the most joy.
Aria served aboard the Midnight Squall, a Lyrandar elemental galleon, commissioned as part of a campaign to disrupt the operations of the Wind Whisperers and their leader, Sea Prince Koulton Brightwind, in the Lhazaar Principalities. An excoriate of House Lyrandar, Lord Brightwind also gained infamy committing a series of revenge killings against the house which collaterally resulted in the death of Aria's husband and daughter. Pursuing a personal vendetta against the sea prince, Aria eagerly volunteered for the campaign hoping to have the opportunity to kill Lord Brightwind herself.
Aria survived an ambush of her ship when an elderly half-orc monk named Ugashk narrowly rescued her. A slave-sailor aboard the attacking Wind Whisperers elemental galleon, it was earlier during the same assault that Aria saved Ugashk aboard the pirates' ship. A gruesome scar stretches across Aria's neck at her jaw as a reminder of the fateful encounter. Though he escaped with the remaining crew of the Midnight Squall, Ugashk's intercession cost him his left arm and eye when he fought Lord Brightwind. Aria felt an obligation to stay with Ugashk until he recovered from his wounds at his home in a small mountain outpost in the Mror Holds.
Her experience during the ambush by the Wind Whisperers caused Aria to become very introspective and Ugashk eagerly provided her counsel, in many ways serving as a mentor. Sensing a lack of purpose in her life, he confided to her his life's work as a keeper and seeker of an obscure, ancient text called the Talaric Codex. Seeking fragments of the text throughout Eberron, it was during his travels that the ship he chartered was attacked by the Wind Whisperers. Though his copy is incomplete, he explained that an intact codex contains a plenary knowledge of psionic techniques for combating the powers of Xoriat.
Ugashk taught Aria the history of the mythic warrior society that sacrificed itself by wading into Xoriat to combat the daelkyr while the Gatekeeper druids sealed Xoriat out from Eberron. Only a sparse remnant of the Talaric Order remained to protect the few remaining codices that survived the Daelkyr War near the end of the Age of Monsters. Over time the remnant and their tomes scattered across Khorvaire and faded into legend.
Before passing, Ugashk entrusted his fragmented copy of the Talaric Codex to Aria, entreating her to study and master the text. Most importantly, he asked her to remain vigilantly observant for other fragments of the codex, to collect them at any cost as one day it may prove to be the salvation of Eberron. If there are any others alive who keep the legend of the Talaric Codex, Ugashk never met them and so Aria is the last remnant of the Talaric Order. Though Aria respected her mentor, the weight of his admonition did not become evident until the Day of Mourning.
Goals
- Bring to justice the individual/group that betrayed House Lyrandar and slaughtered her family.
- Complete the Talaric Codex and defend Eberron from the corruption of Xoriat.
- Redeem House Lyrandar.
Secrets
- Aria is concerned that her betrayal of the Lyrandar Raincallers is known by her house.
- The death of her family was not caused by Lord Brightwind but by someone she may trust.
Allies/Enemies
- Debra: a mysterious woman who "pulled" Aria from Xoriat and claims to be the author of the Talaric Codex; she has chosen Aria as one of her champions to preserve the world and commissioned her to gather more champions.
- Ugashk (deceased): teacher and mentor to Aria; keeper of Talaric lore.
- House Lyrandar: Aria has always been a loyal vassel of the house, but given recent events she is unsure of who she may trust.
- Lord Koulton Brightwind, Sea Prince of the Wind Whisperers: a sadistic pirate from the Lhazaar Principalities and excoriate of House Lyrandar; he was the focus of Aria's revenge before she received new information regarding the death of her family; during their last encounter he tried to kill Aria for which Aria wouldn't mind returning the favor.
Traits
- Though a woman of good character, Aria will meet mistreatment and brutality against children with excessive brutality of her own. This flaw originates from the grim memory of finding her husband and 6 year old daughter executed.
- Though vigilant and confident under pressure, Aria has a tendency to dwell on the unexpected consequences of her decisions in ways that are sometimes...unhealthy.
- Aria feels most "at home" in inclimate weather: rain gives her a sense of newness; snow/snowfall give her a sense of peace; sailing rolling seas in a galleon or gliding through the sky in an airship bring her the most joy.