Post by LabRat on Mar 8, 2017 18:08:27 GMT -6
Gaela Stormbrew
Long ago a group of persecuted dwarfs did the unthinkable and took to the seas to find a new homeland. They crash landed on a series of islands that they eventually would turn into their new home. However, the new land was very strange, as trees were few and game was scarce. The dirt was more sand than anything and any caves that were made had the tendency to flood due to the wind and the waves. And so, over time, these dwarves learned how to adapt and survive. Life was harsh, so they valued strength and courage. They prayed to the gods of the sea and sky to preserve their homes that they painstakingly built out of the few resources they had. They always kept faith that they could one day return to their homeland. However, as generations were born, they made peace with the land and within their own hearts, that this was their homeland. And so, they toiled and crafted as any dwarf would do, but they learned to adapt in order to survive.
Gaela was a member of their holy order, ordained to die by sacrifice upon the death of their current ruler. It was Gaela’s ability to harness elemental powers that made others say that she was touched by the gods themselves. When the old ruler died, he was laid to rest in a crude longboat, as was custom. Her people thought of it as a final journey, a symbol of one day reaching their homeland, but the ships were set afire to acknowledge the fact that they still have never made it home. And so, a burial turned into an offering to the gods. Gaela knew this full well as she climbed aboard the longboat that cradled the body of her leader. He was festooned with offerings, weapons, jewelry, and finery. She herself was bedecked in hammered gold and blue seastone; the weight of them heavy, to signify her burden. A single hollow note of a conch signaled that the boat was to be pushed into the sea. She kneeled at the head of her leader, and looked up to the sky. The clouds that were rolling in looked thick and dark, a menacing sight indeed. Soon, she heard the rumblings of thunder, and the boat began to rock against the choppy waters. Still, she had a solemn duty to perform, and so she bowed her head and began to pray.
It wasn’t long before she heard it: a single thunk of an arrow being embedded in wood just beside her. She didn’t let it break her concentration as she needed to continue her duty of ushering her leader to the afterlife. She continued her prayers even though she could hear the crackles of wood burning, and the scent of smoke that made her eyes sting and threatened to choke off her words. Still she persevered, loosing herself into the rhythm of the boat now furiously rocking as the winds began to pick up. Overhead the sky was almost black as a crack of thunder boomed and lightening split the sky. Thick, fat drops of rain began to fall, slowly at first, but quickly picked up the pace. When Gaela first felt the heat of the flames, she did everything in her power not to jump away. She fought the urge of self-preservation tenaciously as she continued her duty to her people. For without her, her leader would be lost, forever doomed to walk in the shadow lands, never finding peace.
A white-hot lash of pain radiated as the fire began to lick at her forearms. She did not want to be afraid, but uncontrolled panic began to race through her. She steeled herself against her terror, and kept still, ultimately ready to succumb to the fire that was steadily burning the small craft that she was on. In a matter of time, she soon realized that the moment would never come, as the torrential downpour of a storm was able to put the fire out. Now Gaela did panic, because she didn’t know what to do. Never in all of her years had a sacrifice not been completed. Quickly she turned back to where the shores of her home were but she could see nothing. The rain came down in sheets, making vision nearly impossible. The wind made the waves come crashing down over the side of the boat. Gaela held on for all she was worth and continued praying to the gods. Were they angry with her? Was she not a worthy enough for them? She didn’t have long enough to contemplate before a large wave capsized her boat and she was swept into the swirling waters. She tried to swim, but the finery that she had on was heavy and she struggled against the waves. Though strong, she soon began to tire and her movements began to slow. Still, she never stopped praying, even as she slipped beneath the waves.
Gaela woke up to immense pain. She had a few moments to realize that she was alive before she coughed up a lungfuls of sea water. She took many moments to compose herself before she even opened her eyes. When she did, the landscape was so strange to her. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Where was she? And how had she survived? Surely, the gods would be furious with her that she now lives. The thought gave Gaela pause. The gods had every opportunity to take her life, yet she was for the most part okay. She thought back to the timing of the storm. If they did not want her sacrificed, maybe, she had a different purpose. Maybe, just maybe this strange land could provide her with an opportunity to help her people? Though she would much rather rest, Gaela slowly picked herself off the sands and made her first steps into the unknown. If the gods willed it, she would soon find aid and maybe more information as to where she was.
Gaela Stormbrew
Alignment: CG
Race: Dwarf
Class: Cleric
Domain: Tempest
Deity: Thor
Stats: TBD
Character notes:
I envisioned this clan of dwarves to have more nordic customs, partly due to the fact I've been running around Skellege in Witcher 3 for the last couple of weeks, and it just rubbed off on me. Gaela is unlike your typical dwarf; her manerisms, accent, customs, even the way she moves is strange. Would love to have the GM acknowledge that Generica dwarves have a fable similar to our own lost people of Atlantis. But of course that is just a myth, no dwarf in their right mind would go out to sea! Anyway, I wanted to experiment with a cleric that is a bit more 'out there', and this is what I came up with. Maybe too odd for Generica, but we will see.
Gaela_Stormbrew_20170421.pdf (310.7 KB)
Long ago a group of persecuted dwarfs did the unthinkable and took to the seas to find a new homeland. They crash landed on a series of islands that they eventually would turn into their new home. However, the new land was very strange, as trees were few and game was scarce. The dirt was more sand than anything and any caves that were made had the tendency to flood due to the wind and the waves. And so, over time, these dwarves learned how to adapt and survive. Life was harsh, so they valued strength and courage. They prayed to the gods of the sea and sky to preserve their homes that they painstakingly built out of the few resources they had. They always kept faith that they could one day return to their homeland. However, as generations were born, they made peace with the land and within their own hearts, that this was their homeland. And so, they toiled and crafted as any dwarf would do, but they learned to adapt in order to survive.
Gaela was a member of their holy order, ordained to die by sacrifice upon the death of their current ruler. It was Gaela’s ability to harness elemental powers that made others say that she was touched by the gods themselves. When the old ruler died, he was laid to rest in a crude longboat, as was custom. Her people thought of it as a final journey, a symbol of one day reaching their homeland, but the ships were set afire to acknowledge the fact that they still have never made it home. And so, a burial turned into an offering to the gods. Gaela knew this full well as she climbed aboard the longboat that cradled the body of her leader. He was festooned with offerings, weapons, jewelry, and finery. She herself was bedecked in hammered gold and blue seastone; the weight of them heavy, to signify her burden. A single hollow note of a conch signaled that the boat was to be pushed into the sea. She kneeled at the head of her leader, and looked up to the sky. The clouds that were rolling in looked thick and dark, a menacing sight indeed. Soon, she heard the rumblings of thunder, and the boat began to rock against the choppy waters. Still, she had a solemn duty to perform, and so she bowed her head and began to pray.
It wasn’t long before she heard it: a single thunk of an arrow being embedded in wood just beside her. She didn’t let it break her concentration as she needed to continue her duty of ushering her leader to the afterlife. She continued her prayers even though she could hear the crackles of wood burning, and the scent of smoke that made her eyes sting and threatened to choke off her words. Still she persevered, loosing herself into the rhythm of the boat now furiously rocking as the winds began to pick up. Overhead the sky was almost black as a crack of thunder boomed and lightening split the sky. Thick, fat drops of rain began to fall, slowly at first, but quickly picked up the pace. When Gaela first felt the heat of the flames, she did everything in her power not to jump away. She fought the urge of self-preservation tenaciously as she continued her duty to her people. For without her, her leader would be lost, forever doomed to walk in the shadow lands, never finding peace.
A white-hot lash of pain radiated as the fire began to lick at her forearms. She did not want to be afraid, but uncontrolled panic began to race through her. She steeled herself against her terror, and kept still, ultimately ready to succumb to the fire that was steadily burning the small craft that she was on. In a matter of time, she soon realized that the moment would never come, as the torrential downpour of a storm was able to put the fire out. Now Gaela did panic, because she didn’t know what to do. Never in all of her years had a sacrifice not been completed. Quickly she turned back to where the shores of her home were but she could see nothing. The rain came down in sheets, making vision nearly impossible. The wind made the waves come crashing down over the side of the boat. Gaela held on for all she was worth and continued praying to the gods. Were they angry with her? Was she not a worthy enough for them? She didn’t have long enough to contemplate before a large wave capsized her boat and she was swept into the swirling waters. She tried to swim, but the finery that she had on was heavy and she struggled against the waves. Though strong, she soon began to tire and her movements began to slow. Still, she never stopped praying, even as she slipped beneath the waves.
Gaela woke up to immense pain. She had a few moments to realize that she was alive before she coughed up a lungfuls of sea water. She took many moments to compose herself before she even opened her eyes. When she did, the landscape was so strange to her. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Where was she? And how had she survived? Surely, the gods would be furious with her that she now lives. The thought gave Gaela pause. The gods had every opportunity to take her life, yet she was for the most part okay. She thought back to the timing of the storm. If they did not want her sacrificed, maybe, she had a different purpose. Maybe, just maybe this strange land could provide her with an opportunity to help her people? Though she would much rather rest, Gaela slowly picked herself off the sands and made her first steps into the unknown. If the gods willed it, she would soon find aid and maybe more information as to where she was.
Gaela Stormbrew
Alignment: CG
Race: Dwarf
Class: Cleric
Domain: Tempest
Deity: Thor
Stats: TBD
Character notes:
I envisioned this clan of dwarves to have more nordic customs, partly due to the fact I've been running around Skellege in Witcher 3 for the last couple of weeks, and it just rubbed off on me. Gaela is unlike your typical dwarf; her manerisms, accent, customs, even the way she moves is strange. Would love to have the GM acknowledge that Generica dwarves have a fable similar to our own lost people of Atlantis. But of course that is just a myth, no dwarf in their right mind would go out to sea! Anyway, I wanted to experiment with a cleric that is a bit more 'out there', and this is what I came up with. Maybe too odd for Generica, but we will see.
Gaela_Stormbrew_20170421.pdf (310.7 KB)