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Paladin (a.k.a. The Nameless Paladin, Pally, Oath-Taker, Palafriend, Flowers, Freckles, No Name, Crop Top, Mumei, "They")
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
They're strong-- attainably strong, strong in the way you get when you do physical hobbies regularly for years at a time. They're a freerunner who can swing a warhammer, and it shows.
Body Features
Tanned and freckled skin. Their bleach-blonde hair is usually tried back up into a messy bun, though they do leave it down for formal occasions. Their most striking feature is the bright red crown of double asters on their hair; it settles more like a headband than an all-around crown, and it seems to shift to settle perfectly however they style their hair. Please don't talk about it-- its's a little like the fey equivalent of a dog collar and it can't actually be removed. They have a very sizable scar on their torso-- looks like a stab wound, but the flesh around it is burned.
Facial Features
Diamond shaped, with well-shaped but fairly thick brows. They bleach those too. More freckles.
Physical quirks
They're left handed.
Special abilities
Their Aura of Protection reads as just that-- a protective influence, the sense that this is a person who will jump in and try to help no matter the situation.
Their Aura of Warding feels like frustration-- a sense of, no, this magic Idriell stuff is nonsense, and that nonsense stops right here and now.
Their Aura of Courage doesn't feel like an absence of fear, but an acceptance and understanding of it-- the courage to act despite fear.
Their Aura of Warding feels like frustration-- a sense of, no, this magic Idriell stuff is nonsense, and that nonsense stops right here and now.
Their Aura of Courage doesn't feel like an absence of fear, but an acceptance and understanding of it-- the courage to act despite fear.
Apparel & Accessories
Their usual clothing style is comfortable and casual—they favor soft fabrics and warm pastels. Nearly always found in a crop top, no matter the weather, unless they're headed out in the field; ask how and they’ll indicate the little snowflake necklace they always wear to keep off the cold. Favors stompy boots good for running. For formal occasions, they love things that glitter and shimmer and shine—lots of sheer glittering gossamers and such. Much prefer pants to skirts, but they’ll put on a dress for a funeral.
Specialized Equipment
They have two weapons that they usually favor. The first is a stick-- like just a random-looking stick. With proper silvering applied to it but it really it just a stick. Until you pick it up, and you realize it's weighted precisely the same as a warhammer. The second is a chain crusted in barnacles, which leaves a trail of glowing particles in its wake. This is Rhodes, who they will insist should be referred to by name with he/him pronouns. The whip indeed houses a soul of a sea captain named Rhodes.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born and raised in Waterdeep as the child of teenage working class parents. Their early years were financially rough, and their parents Alastair and Beatrice clearly only stayed together for them, but they were very loved. Their parents divorced when they were 9 in a fairly amicable separation, and shortly after their mother was forced to adopt the Paladin's two younger cousins after an accident. The Paladin was forced to step up to a greater caregiving role for both their new siblings and their grieving overwhelmed mother, and this pattern kind of just persisted through their teen years as both their parents remarried and added more kids into the mix. They have in total eight younger siblings-- four stepsiblings, two cousins-adopted-in, and two half-siblings. It was a lot of pressure and all-around not a great situation for them, and they moved out and in with their boyfriend-soon-fiance Brandon Vance as soon as they came of age. They pretty quickly dumped Brandon once they wised up to the fact that he wasn't all that great a person, and then they were adrift for a while, a little messed up and not really sure where they were going.
In the ensuing years, they matured, patched things up with their family, found their passion, met wonderful people, got involved in the community, and got engaged to a wonderful woman named Lucille. In any other story, this was the point in which they'd completed their character arc and they'd be getting their happily ever after. Instead, this is the point at which the Cataclysm hit, and they lost all possibility of that life.
They spent the Cataclysm mainly sheltering at home, and the year following it trying their best to rebuild what they had once had. During this time they found their way into the Feywilds and before a fey court, where they were tricked out of their name and into servitude. The court armored them with items they had lying around and informed them that they were to be their knight and serve in Idriell-- and never said a word as to what they'd do. They had one day to pack up and leave Waterdeep. They never got the chance to say goodbye to a good number of people.
In the ensuing years, they matured, patched things up with their family, found their passion, met wonderful people, got involved in the community, and got engaged to a wonderful woman named Lucille. In any other story, this was the point in which they'd completed their character arc and they'd be getting their happily ever after. Instead, this is the point at which the Cataclysm hit, and they lost all possibility of that life.
They spent the Cataclysm mainly sheltering at home, and the year following it trying their best to rebuild what they had once had. During this time they found their way into the Feywilds and before a fey court, where they were tricked out of their name and into servitude. The court armored them with items they had lying around and informed them that they were to be their knight and serve in Idriell-- and never said a word as to what they'd do. They had one day to pack up and leave Waterdeep. They never got the chance to say goodbye to a good number of people.
Gender Identity
Nonbinary; uses they/them pronouns
Sexuality
Pansexual, Arospec, Poly/Relationship Anarchist
Education
They went through the Waterdeep public school system as a fairly average student, and following that apprenticed for translating scribe work. This was a disaster.
Employment
Back in Waterdeep they were a professional working flair bartender—a natural-born entertainer with good social awareness and a passion for mixology. Since coming to Idriell they’ve worked a stint at the Adventurer’s Den, and now manage their own nightclub, Luster.
Accomplishments & Achievements
They’d consider surviving as long as they have a major accomplishment—as a civilian who was literally handed a stick and told to venture into the Land of Horrors, they genuinely never expected to make it past a month. Instead they’ve made a home for themselves, and that’s worth celebrating. Also they opened a nightclub and serve as head the Vareholm Running Club.
Failures & Embarrassments
They can name several times where they just goofed it—one incident with a bottle toss game at Midsummer Festival in front of the person they were deep down crushing on comes to mind—but the greatest failure of their life was losing their name. In their opinion, that was entirely their own fault.
Mental Trauma
Anxiety—manageable when they were back in Waterdeep, but the stresses of Idriell life turned it up to 11 when they first arrived. It’s much better now with therapy and support, but it's a deeply ingrained and longterm struggle. The whole "caregiver" role they take on can get get very toxic very fast; they have trouble setting boundaries and they tend to take every problem as theirs to solve and manage. It's a habit they can trace back to their home situation, because often every problem was theirs to solve and manage. They fear situations spiraling out of their control, and when situations do get out of control their first instinct is to Forcefully Parent it back into place. Which, of course, just feeds the anxiety, because now their nose is in everything. Anything to do with fey also sets them on edge; they were hurt badly once, and they don’t like to be reminded of it. Really don’t like people touching those flowers—they’re a direct mark of their bond to the court. Also, less a trauma and more a generalized phobia, dead bodies and undead just kind of freak them out.
Intellectual Characteristics
Curious, logical, and creative, but kind of scatterbrained and disorganized. Mainly interpersonal.
Morality & Philosophy
Their goal in life is to bring Light to the world-- Light in this case being anything that makes life worth living. That's a broad definition, and in their eyes that encompasses all the tiny things in the world, like a good meal or a good talk with friends. They believe in hearing other people out and trying to see their perspective, even when disagreeing, and they think intent counts for a lot.
Doesn’t believe in fate or destiny—or at least, chooses not to believe they have any fate or destiny. Maybe important people do, but they find it much more comforting and empowering to believe that people just make the best out of their situation.
Doesn’t believe in fate or destiny—or at least, chooses not to believe they have any fate or destiny. Maybe important people do, but they find it much more comforting and empowering to believe that people just make the best out of their situation.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
To bring Light to the world, and a smile to others. To protect and care. To have a good time. To not lose anyone or anything else that matters to them.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Savvies: People skills, natural performer, tries very hard
Ineptitude: Poor physical organizational skills, difficulty setting boundaries, slow reader, panics, easily startled
Ineptitude: Poor physical organizational skills, difficulty setting boundaries, slow reader, panics, easily startled
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: Alcohol, sleeping outside, nerds who won't shut up about their passions
Dislikes: Bad alcohol, sitting still without talking, being cooped up
Dislikes: Bad alcohol, sitting still without talking, being cooped up
Virtues & Personality perks
Doesn't always know what to say, but usually gives good advice-- and even if they can't they're always willing to listen and help. Empathetic and understanding, they try to see where people stand and meet their needs on their level. They will sit and listen to other people talk about their passions for hours-- not always grasping the subject material, but as a perfect mirror for their interests. Very community-oriented; they have a natural drive to bring people together, and they can keep a club going fairly well.
Vices & Personality flaws
Accidental thief of pens and other small objects; they’ll pick them up to fiddle with, tuck them somewhere on habit, and then forget about them. Can and will over-invest themself in the lives of others to an unhealthy extent. Feels the need to fix everything themself. No sense of physical self-preservation. Not always sure how to handle their own emotions, and not always really even sure what they are. Too polite to speak up half the time, and a habitual people-pleaser. Has a hard time leaving people alone. They're working on all of these in therapy right now.
Personality Quirks
Very heart-on-their-sleeve and they talk with their hands. They have the Disapproving Parent Resting Bitch Face nailed and they will use it.
Hygiene
Neat and clean in dress and habit, but they don't mind getting dirty working out or adventuring.
Social
Family Ties
Their relationship with their family is complicated-- loving, but with some baggage. Their mother in particular they can't stay under the same roof with for more than a day without arguing.
Social Aptitude
Not well-mannered in the way one with formal etiquette training would be, but exceptionally polite. Always greets others, asks how they are even for small social exchanges, asks permission before joining someone at the bar, holds doors, tries to make room for everyone to talk, that sort of thing. Friendly and amiable to all; they love to talk and they love to hear people’s stories. Generally socially savvy, but when they’re anxious all that goes out the door. They’re good at talking people through their emotions, though they have difficulty turning that skill on themself. Tendency to get very awkward very fast when they're not sure what to say, but they'll keep plowing on regardless. They’re at their best when they’re behind the bar—it’s a situation they can control, and they chat, flirt, console, and eavesdrop with ease. Regardless of their mode or environment, they’re very curious. Town gossipmonger.
Mannerisms
They’re openly expressive and they talk with their hands. Fiddle around with things a lot. Never sit normally on seats unless they’re actively trying to be polite.
Hobbies & Pets
No pets—that have a paladin mount, but they refuse to qualify Agnes as a pet. Instead they’re a house plant junkie. Hobbies include theatre and other live performances, good conversation, mixology, mandolin, and freerunning.
Speech
Their Common is easy, teasing, and clever when they’re comfortable, and full of starts and verbal detritus when they’re unsure. Generally very sweary, and their pitch swings up noticeably when they speak to someone younger than them. Their Dwarvish, by contrast, is elegant and poetic. Their Sylvan is comprehensible but their verb conjugations are laughably bad.
Relationships
History
First Palafriend was Dallia's patient. Then Dallia started dating Jo, stuff got awkward, and that ended. When Palafriend started dating Jo too they started trying to get past that awkward.
Relationship Reasoning
They're dating the same person-- and also they do have a fair bit in common, so they'd probably have been friends in any sense.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
P L A N T
Also community service.
Relationship Reasoning
Codependency? It kinda started as codependency let's be real. They're working on boundaries.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
Fun times with gender identities. Music. Shopping and fashion.
Wealth & Financial state
Grew up solidly lower working class—never scraping by, but money’s not something they’re used to. Was making a pretty solid solo income from bartending in Waterdeep before they left for Vareholm. Now that they have that Adventuring Money they find themself richer than they’ve ever been in their life, and they’re still not sure what they’re supposed to do about it. They have sent and continue to send money back home to their family.
Current Location
Species
Age
30
Date of Birth
2 Firewane
Circumstances of Birth
The result of an accidental teenage pregnancy—never unwanted, as their parents were loving and did the best they could, but certainly unexpected and unprepared for.
Birthplace
Waterdeep, Trades
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Vareholm
Eyes
Dark brown
Hair
Natural brunette, but they bleach it blond.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tanned and freckled
Height
5'8" / 173 cm
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Hey, no, come on-- fun is serious business out here. People can't just live off trauma and the thrill of nearly dying every four days. An adventurer I served at the Gim once told me, always give yourself something worth coming back to. Not someone, because people change and move and all that. Something. Something you can look forward to."
"I'm a vessel full of everyone I've ever loved."
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