|
Vedian can be a hard place to live, even during peaceful times, so it is a wise traveller that makes friends quickly and knows who will and who won't help him in a time of need. |
The son of a fisherman, Joseph has been working for the last five years aboard 'The Dusk Returner' his father's boat. His prestigious strength and endurance makes him a good hand, the sea has taught Joe to keep a cool head in times of danger. Like many children of sailor's he lives now with just his mother. His father was killed fishing of the coast of Kearn Luff two years ago. The survivers who returned on the boat were few and those that returned would talk little of the tradegy. Joseph did not beieve his father, such an experienced seaman would have fallen to the waves themselves rather to one of the great serpents he had heard stoies of in the tavern and market. He had decided to become a great seaman and one day take his boat out into the great seas and bring back the hide of one of these serpents. In that sense Joseph is a dreamer but also a hard working boy, driven on by need, his mother now relying on the wage he returns from the boat. The Dusk Returner was co-owned by the seaman Pike a good friend of his fathers, the deed for the ship had passed over in full to Pike as was the custom after death. Pike was a good man and kept the boy on with a full wage, even at the anger of more experienced fishermen. He cared for the boy and also had his eye on Goodwoman Caedron. Joesph lives in the centre of the village in a small mud-walled house (only the rich can afford wooden buildings), it has three rooms and was built by his father.
He has grown up with Symeon, who lives next door and comes from a similar background, his father too was killed at sea, but before he was born (this is what Symeons mother told him). They are companions and great friends but Joseph is somewhat fearful of Speck's interest in all things mystical. Jospeh first met Arn on a village hunt, oft the village would venture out in force led by the huntsmaster to the grasslands to hunt wild boar. He liked the older man and saw in him, a fairer side that others often missed. Jospeh is infatuated by the girl Febra but she shows him little atention in that matter. He believes he will one day win her over and become his wife.
He will fight if pushed though he is not violent. He knows little of
warfare or weaponry and only carries a short pole with a fish hook end for
defense. There is little trouble in such a small village but on times
travellers will come from Tantagel and then every man has to be wary.
He dresses in leather leggins and black hard leather boots. His shirt
is of cloth and white and he wears his fathers pendant around his neck that
Pike brought back from the day of his death. The charm is of a mariner
weilding a trident (N.B. there is some destiny to be fulfilled in this image
I think?). He does not like anything magical as it disturbs him, he has little knowledge
or interest in scholarly ways as is the way of most men.
Why Does He Agree To Go?.....It has been a poor year so far and Pike has informed him of major renovations needed for the boat, wood is expensive and Pike fears they may not survive another season without the work being done. Joseph hears the offer from Febra of the reward and decides to go, so motivation is gold at this stage.
Weighing in at only 120lbs 'Speck' is constantly trying to prove his physical
worth even though it is quite obvious to everyone else that his talents lie
in more cerebral pursuits. Speck has learnt some basic magical cantrips from
a book, 'Fundamental Ingredients', which his mother brought from Tantagel
the seaport believing it to be a cook book. Symeon is a fairly solemn
boy, he finds humour hard to come boy and does not make friends easily. He
is very reliant on Joseph and sees him as a brother. Having no father
since birth and his mother never remarrying has left him outcast from normal
village life. He is disliked by other younger men as he is a quick
thinker and that breeds distrust with many.
He thinks his father to have been a seaman like Joseph's but the truth is
much different, his father was in fact a scholar at the Coralis University,
he had an affair with Speck's mother which is outlawed within Vedian philosophy.
This type of union is seen as a sullying of purity. His father
was found out and banished from lore but no trace was ever found of whom
the affair had been with, if discovered Speck's life could well be
forfeit.
Arn is friended to Speck through Joseph but the boy does ot like his pranks
and constant humour. Specks does respect Arn's hunting ability and
way with animals but never gives Arn the satifaction of telling him this.
He does not trust Febra but knows of Joseph's great liking of the girl and
socialises with her for his sake.
Speck wears an old robe which sets him apart from viallge folk, it is tied
at the waist with a thick cord and sandals upon his feet. He has curly
blonde hair and deep grey eyes.
Why Does He Agree To Go?....Speck would follow Joseph anywhere
and has no love for the village in which he lives. He enjoys accumalting
knowledge and sees the trip as an opportunity to gather new experiences.
So his motivation is friendship and knowledge.
The half-elf adopted son of the village huntsmaster. Arn is a notorious prankster
despite being twice the age of his friends.
Now in his early thirties Arn is destined to succeed his father as huntsman
of the village in a few years. He is a popular man and many enjoy his
wild sense of humour though many have fallen prey to his pranks. His
father is a stern man and a strong believer in the ways of vilage life. He
is not happy with any change from the norm and will not be happy with any
adventuring that does not directly affect the village.
Arn is learned with spear through hunting and also uses a large cloth net
to trap his victims, he is extremly knowledgable in animal lore. He
does not like the feeling that his decisons in life have been made for him
by his father and often rebellls against him, travelling outside of the village
grasslands to hunt for new prey.
He is good friends with Joseph and has strong feelings for Speck knowing
that the boy has respect for him that he will not reveal directly. He
likes teasing Speck but would never really hurt him in any way.
He is attracted to Febra but ot romantically, he likes her free spirtied
approach to life and sees in her what is missing in himself.
He stand at 6 feet tall but is slim and quick footed. His hair is deep
red and long down his back in a knotted tail. He wears leather leggins
and tunic as all hunstmen, the short spear and net are his weapns and also
carries a skinning knife.
Why Does He Agree To Go?...He feels hemmed in by his heritage
as a huntsmen, he sees the expedition as a chance to experience something
else before deciding to fulfill his career. At this stage he has no
thoughts of not taking over from his father but just wants a chance to travel
before settling forever into his role. So his motivation at this stage
is somewhat rebellion to show his father that he can make his own choices.
A constant source of trouble Febra is a head-strong young girl. Febra often
gets confused about why she can't just take what she wants. Febra is a 'scully',
a child of the village. This is a reference given to children without parents.
Her mother died in childbirth and her father left on that same day
to Tantagel, caring not for the child he abandoned. She is a bitter
girl and cares little for the world around her. She resides at the
Kearn Luff market living under the cover of drapes and sheets earning a liveing
running errands for the local's. She is a wild and erratic child often
experiencing dramtic moodswings that turn from smiles and laughter to anger
in a moment. She has grown into a pretty girl, no beautiful maiden
but pretty and one that would have no problem finding a husband to confirm
a higher place in the village.
Febra though, does not care for village life or the way things should be,
she feels abandoned by all and has sworn death to her father if he still
lives. Joseph has always been kind to her and she has allowed him into
her world at times. She has no real understanding of romance or courting
and does not seek to embrace it in anyway.
She sees Speck as an irritant knowing he does not like her, Arn is an annoyance
and she does not like his place in village life but he has never done her
any ill. She often steals food and provisions from travellers, not
from the villagers directly knowing the repreccussions that woul bring.
She sees no issue with taking what she needs and has inherently no
real understanding of why what she wants should not be heres.
She has learned the hard way to defend herself and carries a dagger at her
belt and in her boot. She has short cropped black hair, a fair complextion
and brown eyes. Her clothes are mens shirt and briches with a leather
belt and boots. She is unkempt and wild.
Why Does She Agree To Go?...Errands are her way of survival
and money, this larger bounty she hopes will be enough to pay for information
in Tantagel. Thieves and curs can often be found there she has heard,
who will find people that are 'lost' for the right price. She intend
to track down her father. She takes opthers with her only because she
has been told the travelling gorp must go in numbers of at least four to
ensure safe passage to Bannermane. So her motivation is revenge.
A monastic scholar at the Sanctuary of Bridges. DeFaches works have been reproduced across the kingdom of Vedian and translated into at least two other languages. His primary tenents are the pursuit of serenity through understanding and clarity through a dedicated quest for truth. DeFache's works are disliked by many Pluris scholar who dislike his non-commital approach.
Joint ruler with the Druidic Council, in name only. He has no real power over the lands except as a noble of Pluris-taran. He awaits the Kingship which he believes he has earned. He has begun to mistrust the Council especially Shel-Toro. Madistrin is 5 foot 5. A short and stumpy man. He was ill as a child and tires easily. He wears the garb of the common man except the Jeweled Ring of the Crown Prince which adnorns his left index finger. He is no fighter but does have a great strength of character which can inspire men.
The founder of the druid council and originator of its Books Of Lore. MonPellia was both learned lore master studying at the now ruined, University of Bridges (reforged in later times as the Sanctuary of Bridges). He also was a purist teacher of religion and it was not until his death that these teachings inspired a wider audience. Many rumours surround the legendary Moot of the Factions, one school believing, MonPellia hired assassins to murder the faction leaders allowing him to take control. Many scholars believe that if this were the case and MonPellia was indeed a dictator and commmited these crimes with aforethought, then it was worthy of a pure and balanced mind. Only one of such a true neutral stance, it is said, could have allowed such atroscities to unfold so as to ensure the future of a doomed nation.
The thought that Monpellia rechristened the land Vedian in a somewhat ironical effort to suggest the faction leaders had agreed on a truce at the moot is deposed by leading scholars. It is more likely that this reference came about in a far more distant age than MonPellia's.
Staedak is an elderly member of the druidic council, devoted to old-fashioned ideals of communing with nature and balance as the true order of the universe. He is generally upset by almost everything that the reformed council does and outraged by some of the councillors chosen over the past few decades. Staedak's powers are widely rumoured to have increased with his decrepitude but little evidence has been seen since the 'Grey Druid' refrains from using them except on rare occasions.
A disgustingly rich merchant-baron of the Lough-taran duchy.
All Vedian nobles are known by the same title to all common folk. They are addressed as Prominence or His Prominence. Only other nobles, or a Crown Prince may address a noble by his actual name. Even the Council themselves must refer to them by their pretext. Nobles are strictly appointed by birthright. If a family has the disgrace of bearing no heir then the other duchy's may vie for control of that town. This is a dangerous situation as it can lead to unrest, this may explain the amount of mistresses a noble may take in order to ensure a son. Then again it may not.
Noble of Coralis-taran and the lake town of Medwere. A fair and honest man who's intuative actions in commerce have proved successful and popular with the common folk. Redrick is at odds with Council leader SanPollan his position being weakened by the fact that he currently has no heir to his nobility. He refuses to take a mistress against all 'sage' advice of Redrick.
The swiftly rising new member of the Council. He heads the lore masters at Coralis University and follows the Principles of balance in line with the high council. He has little 'new' philisophical arguement but delivers it in a more modern way so it takes on a fresher look (it is the perennial Emporers New Clothes syndrome).
Shel-Toro is a highly respected figure in Vedian society. He has held
the Highest seat in the Druidic Council for over a decade and many things
have changed. He is absolute in his philosophy of balance and does
not accept other lore as true. He plots carefully to remove all other
lore from the Council. These acts are not for greed or power, he simply
is convinced that his theorie are the ones that can deliver blalnce throughout
the lands. He has alienated Gru-Staedak from the Council and now begins
to work on DeFache who he sees as his strongest opposition in lore writing.
Shel-Toro of late has become obsessed with his own writings and intends to
ensure that nothing comes between the council and the purity of his theology.
He has no intentions of the Crown Prince ever ruling Vedian and is
aware of the power he holds with the other nobles. He is a dangerous
man and sees no evil in his actions.
Shel-Toro is 6 foot tall, of 60 years, he has wild black hair. He is
of wiry build and dresses in the robes of his University.
The noble of Gan-taran resdies in the southern most entrance to the town
of Tantagel. He lives in a great fortified castle and rarely is ever
seen by the common man. A selfish and cowardly man he has no interest in
affairs of state or the welfare of his populace. His lair is guarded
by a personnel militia which numbers a hundred. As many soldiers guard his
house as the entire troop that attempts to bring order to his city.
Bast'wa is 5'8 tall and 40 years. He walks rarely preferring to be
carried everywhere by his servants. He is overweight and adotnes himself
not in the traditional robes of his office but gowns crusted with jewels.
The boy of sixteen has recently left his home of Vedtallen where he lived with his parents, both learned herbalists, to venture unto the realm of DeFache. He had heard much talk of the gardens of the Sanctuary from visitors and travellers and decided he would seek the place and offer DeFache his assistance. DeFache took a great liking to the boy and offered him full quarters at the Sanctuary as the Master of Gardens. What few people may not know is that no individual may live at a university without taking the scholarly mantle. Subsequently Samuel is a commoner within a University. DeFache knows this, and the repercusions, but feels the boy has something special about him that he must be allowed time to nurture. Samuel is 5'6 of medium build, brown hair, blue eyes and wears the white robes of the herbalist profession. He is friendly but quiet, prefering the serenity of his office to banter and chat.
Pike is a fifty year old sailor, well built and of gruff appearence. Yet he is no sea dog but a well humoured and good natured man, his years at sea have not made him a bitter man for he has a real relationshiop with the waters he rides. He was friends with Joseph's father most of his life and set up the boat alliance with him that has run for twenty year. Pike cares for Joseph and sees him as a nephew type. He has long had feelings for Goodwoman Caedron but has not wanted to follow them up until he felt time enough had passed. This was not a bad thing, single woman were not looked on well in the village even after a husbands death, unless they were 60 plus.