Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ferrix 04-27-05, 02:58 PM	So I'm working on creating a tenth level character for a Forgotten Realms game and in writing the background I'm stuck at the point when the character, a female human monk from damara who worships Sune will have become a saint (BoED). What I'm looking for is an appropriate sacrifice for the character which would propel her into sainthood. Something that matches her generally meager backgrounds, perhaps a loss of innocence to save others (something that would not break an exalted status), giving something nonmaterial up (she's under a vow of poverty), letting her nonphysical attachment to her mentor (Kaelie) go, death perhaps although it's not high on my list, any help would be appreciated. Here's her description and the history I have so far. Appearance: Shakti’s face is soft featured and rounded, with gentle brown eyes smiling at the world. Her auburn hair is worn no longer than her face, bangs dipping occasionally into her face. Deep crimson habits of simple cloth are cut appreciatively to allow her limbs ample movement while accentuating the natural grace and beauty of her body. Her body is fit and slightly toned but her muscles do not stand out, leaving her form with a soft and attractive appearance. A simple loop of wooden beads of a crimson red wood are wrapped around her right wrist. Background: Shakti grew up as a farmer’s daughter in the harsh lands of Damara. A simple life for many years till she reached the age of eight, her mother and father treated her well, although most of the attention went to her three older brothers who helped her father with the farm. Yet that didn’t bother her in the least, she helped her mother in the house, spent time amongst the villagers enjoying the stories the elders would tell. It was on her way from one of Old Rigel’s storytellings that she encountered a young woman on the path, with fiery red hair wearing simple garments. The woman was amazingly beautiful, her stride was confident yet casual and the air that clung to her seemed to sparkle. The woman merely sat and watched across the cold barrens as the sun set into the night, curious Shakti approached and sat beside the woman, following her gaze to the sun. The normally dismal land where she lived was on the edge of day and night, the rays of the sun cast themselves onto the clouds spreading reds, golds, purples and silvers in a gorgeous palette. It seemed as if the very world around her sprung to life in that moment, she smallest flower which reached for those last rays of the days light at her foot shook with life and beauty. As the sun finally set behind the horizon, she looked to her side where the woman had sat, yet she was gone. Shakti darted her eyes to find the woman, but she was gone except for a simple loop of crimson red wooden beads strung together. Taking up the prayer beads, as she knew they were, she had to wrap them many times around her right wrist for them to stay without falling off, and she headed home. That sunset changed her, she told her mother that she had met this beautiful red-haired woman, that the world was alive and beautiful. Her mother took it as the effect of another one of Old Rigel’s stories for a long time, two more years passed and Shakti remained true to her story. She sat and watched the sunsets upon the barren land, tended the small flowers which would cling to life amongst the frosts. Every moment she beset herself with kindling this warmth and love in others, in the world around her. Those two years passed with unexpected swiftness and on her tenth year a monk of the Yellow Rose came seeking solace and a simple place to sleep at their home. That night Shakti sat up late and talked with the monk, he told her of Ilmater’s grace and suffering. She was intrigued, the pain and honesty with which the monk presented himself in touched again that spark of beauty she saw within everyone and when she rose the next morning, she had already gathered what few things she would ever call her own and told her parents with the resolution that far surpasses the wisdom of such a child, that she would be going with the monk to the monastery to see the beauty in herself. For six years she stayed within the monastery, learning the graceful movements of the Disciples of Saint Sollars. She grew in those six years from a child to a young woman, yet she knew that her heart did not rest with the other monks, their ascetic life they lived held beauty of its own but it was not the beauty which lay within her. When at the young age of 16 she accompanied a fellow monk, dressed in rough brown robes, away from Damara into the Dalelands. As they passed through the Border Forest they were attacked by a handful of Zhent raiders. The monk she was accompanying did his best to fend them off, but six against one hard-presses even the most skilled of men. He fell after defeating half of their number, but when they turned on Shakti she sat back casually on her feet and watched the three men appreciate with vicious leers upon their faces. She defended herself as best she could, surprising some of the men, yet it did not last long. Soon she was on the ground with the men surrounding her, her heart beat strongly in her chest, her breath slowed and she watched as one raised his spear to drive into her. But then, he was gone, then another, and then the last disappeared, and in their place was a copper-haired woman of incredible beauty. She sat up slowly, her gaze taking in the beauty of her rescuer. The woman was more beautiful than any she had seen, with pointed ears sharper than an elf’s, fine features and stunningly beautiful eyes. The woman was a nymph, a protector of the forest and devotee of Sune. Kaelie, the nymph took her in for a mere week, and she was entranced. Kaelie spoke the words she had felt within her for years, the beauty of the world and others. The relationship she built with Kaelie left a spiritual mark upon Shakti, for Kaelie was not only an embodiment of the beauty of Sune but also showed in Shakti the path which she had known all along was hers. When she returned to the outside world, she dressed no longer in the dull woolen robes of a monk of Ilmater, but in the deep crimson garb of a follower of Sune. She sent word to the monastery back in Damara of the death of her traveling companion and that she had now found her way. Turning her back upon the strict physical asceticism of Ilmater she learned to see the path she had started upon when she was eight, although she retained the asceticism of physical accumulation, seeing that in the world and in herself was all the beauty that she could ever have. She traveled for months amongst the Dalelands and the surrounding countries, her presence revealing the beauty of life to others.
Isida Kep'Tukari 04-27-05, 03:16 PM	What if she had to give up physical beauty? Though the world around her is beautiful, and she can bring beauty to others, she was horribly scarred protecting something/someone beautiful. It makes it harder for her to emulate her diety, but it allows the beauty of her spirit to shine more brightly.
Ashianyl 04-27-05, 11:34 PM	Shakti lay on the ground, too tired and stunned to move. Breathing heavily, she stole a look at her companions who were still engaged in battle with the demon, then cast a worried glance at the boy beside her. The boy was a prodigy of Sune to be protected. But she had failed. Blood flowed freely from the deep wound across the boy's chest. The crimson liquid was mostly the boy's, but some of it was hers as well. Despite leaping in front of the demon, she could not shelter the boy. "Sune has a purpose for you," said the boy, the words heard only by Shakti as the boy pushed her aside and took the full brunt of the attack instead. (to be continued?) got to go back to work now. :P
Ashianyl 04-28-05, 01:50 AM	Once again, Shakti had been saved by a follower of Sune. The boy had been charged to Shakti's group to defend, but it turned out to be the other way around. Although the demon was defeated, Shakti and The company she travelled with returned to town shamed. She was branded a disgrace by the order. For the first time, Shakti saw the ugliness in the hearts of Sunite worshippers. Despite the values that they preached, words of venom dripped from their hearts. Shakti left the order, abandoning the church and everything it stood for, but she never forgot her goddess. RP notes: The sacrifice detailed here is more subtle and somewhat in line with your VoP story. Shakti is shunned and disgraced in the eyes of Sune worshippers and high society who pay homage to Sune to ensure they remain beautiful. She is not welcomed in many circles and in some places, would be treated with hostility. She sometimes doubts herself for failing to protect the boy... and wonders if it truly was Sune's wish. :)
Ferrix 04-28-05, 06:27 PM	dang Ashianyl, excellent idea.
Ashianyl 04-28-05, 11:50 PM	dang Ashianyl, excellent idea. :)
Worguron 04-29-05, 12:36 AM	Ashianyl, I actually wrote a story alot like that a while back. One thing I always disliked about the priests of Sune was that they were obsessed with Magical beauty and not true beauty. I think that having a VoP Sunite would work really well. Make sure to put your highest ability bonuses into Charisma, even though it would work against your DC's. You could RP is as Sune rewarding your characters devotion to true beauty by making her more beautiful.