The ershegh know as Larina Shadowbane is an enigma to most. Rarely seen, her origin is lost in history. Her appearance was first recorded at the battle of Mount Deismaar, where she was Basaias second champion. It is believed that she inherited much of the dying godesses power. Even thorough research revealed little more.
Appearance:
Larina Shadowbane is believed to have two forms of appearance. The form she normally choses is that of a tall, beautiful woman, approximately 6'4" in height, with long, golden hair, a gold-tinted skin and topaz eyes. She looks to be in her early twenties and wears only a knee- ength white tunic held together with a thin golden belt. She never carries weapons or armor in this form, but sometimes is see playing a harp. Her other form (believed to be her true form) resembles that of a deva (common folks will call her an "angel"). She looks almost the same as in her other form, except for a pair of
white-blue feathery wings on her back. In this form she is clad in long, flowing garments from some white cloth woven with gold threads (actually armor of blending that changes its texture to ornate plate mail if she enters combat) and carries a large bastard sword.
Background (unknown even to most sages):
When the Khinasi first came to Cerilia from beyond the sea of Dragons, they not only settled the cost, but also the hinterland. At that time the Tarvan Waste was not as dry as dry as it is today, but covered by steppes perfect for rising cattle and other animals. They pushed farther inland and found fertile soil around the Tarvanian Hills. They decided
to settle in this region. The leader of the tribe recieved a vision from Basaia that he should build a city upon the highest of the hills (in fact, it should better be called mountain). The next day the tribe moved there, and started building up a small town. Over the course of a few years the town expanded into a mighty fortress city. Upon recieving another vision, the chieftain, now king, founded an order of holy warriors dedicated to Basaia. This order was charged by the goddess herself to protect part of a powerful evil artifact that had been shattered in a fight between one of Azrai's champions and a
champion of the other gods. Mighty magic was woven to conceal and protect this piece deep within the mountain, under the temple.
In time, Larina was born as the king's granddaughter. Fortunate omens accompanied her birth, telling of future greatness. The king believed that she belonged to the godess, and handed her over to the temple where she was raised as a novice paladin. The Shadow's power grew, and he finally sent an army to retrieve the pieces of the artifact.
The army was huge, consisting mainly of Vos and monsters such as goblins and orogs. They burnied the fields, sacked the towns and finally layed siege to the city. The first attempts to storm the city were repelled. The slope of the mountain was too steep to be climbed, and there was only one way into the city, heavily fortified. Many attackers died in hails of arrows, were squished by rolling boulders or were incinerated by a napalm-like substance shot by the defender's catapults. But Azrai had soldiers to spare. They dug in and tried to starve the city. But the city had stored supplies for a long time, and the priests created food for the poor. The siege lasted over a year, but Azrai's hordes could not take the city.
Finally the city fell by treason from within. A mage corrupted by the Shadow's promise of power opened a gate through the Shadow World through which the troops entered the city. The defenders fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered more than 10 to 1. They were slain to the last man. Every living person in the city was put to the sword. Larina, who was 18 at that time and just completed her training, was deep in the bowels of the temple with her superior when final battle began. Knowing the city was about to fall, he pushed her into a secret exit from the city and charged her with the task to warn the cities at the cost and organize a defence. She did what she was told, and travelled all over Cerilia in the years before the battle at Mount Deismaar as an adventurer and Basaia's "emissiary". In the final battle of the Shadow War she stood at the side of her people and absorbed much of the dying godesses energy as her second champion.
Since then she has fought against the encroachment of the Shadow World, as well as protected the (now deserted) Tarva. Sometimes she helps people in need or helps regents fighting awnshegh troops (only if the regent is in dire need). She is an enemy of the Cold Rider and of most Awnsheghlien.
Stats: (indentical for both forms)
(I know I'm bending some rules here)
frequency: unique
class: paladin
level: 18
THACO: 3 (base)
#AT: 3 (specialised)
AC: -5 with plate and dex
STR: 18/00
DEX: 17
CON: 17
INT: 17
WIS: 17
CHA: 21
HP: 140
MV: 15, 36 Fl (B)
Abilities:
- all abilities of an 18th level paladin
- spell abilities as a 9th level priest with major access to all spheres (this replaces
paladin spell abilities)
- magic reststance 70% (paladin ability, rounded up)
- cast spell turning or antimagic shell once per day
- cast any cure spell once per day
- teleport without error (4x per week)
Blood abilities:
this is an explanation for some of her abilities):
- blood trait, this results in her two forms of appearance and grants her some abilities
normally associated with aasimon changing forms only takes a single round
- spell casting (see above)
- regeneration (1hp/round)
- resistance (can only be hit by +2 or better magical weapons)
- travel (enter and exit the Shadow World, teleport)
Flying is possible only in "angel" form. In this form she also has an additional ability: Every onlooker must save vs spell or be awestruck for one round. Good characters who fail their save are filled with love and a desire to protect her. Neutral and evil characters who fail their save fear her and her power and will try to avoid a conflict.
Larina speaks most Cerilian languages (at least those of civilised races) and is versed in a variety of NWPs.
Equipment:
Larina wields the bastard sword "Retaliator" that has the abilities of both a holy avenger and a sunblade. Her armor of blending is a plate +5 called "Faith". She also owns a shield +3.
Adventure Hooks:
- Azrai's troops didn't find the artifact. Larina still protects it, but she may need some help or find some way to destroy it
- her sword (forthcoming)
- if the players are stranded in the Shadow World and desperately need some help
By Kai Beste
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