Lauel Martovich - The Abandoned Giomorgo (Half-Vistani) Girl

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

Theme Song:

- At creation (Levels 1-3)

Theme Song:

- Lightcarrier Of The Morninglord (Levels 3-8)

Theme Song:

- Champion Of The Dawn (Levels 8-11)

Theme Song:

- Mother/Daughter Reunion and Staking - With Oath Of Vengeance Scene (Levels 11-12)

Theme Song:

- Sacrifice Of Sight - Mercy For The Innocent Scene (Levels 12-13)

Theme Song:

- The Blind Champion/Hero (Level 13)

Theme Song:

- The Restored Hero (Levels 13 - 14)

Theme Song:

- Training For The Future (Levels 13+)




OOC: Updated 09/16/2021 to comply with latest in character changes!


Player Name: Robert Archer
Character name: Lauel Martovich
Class: Rogue / Fighter / Divine Champion Of The Morninglord
Deity: The Morninglord
Alignment: Neutral Good (Though in some cases leans more to lawful or chaotic depending on situation, presently though leans more often to lawful values)
Race: Barovian Half-Vistani Canjarr Tribe
Sex: Female
Age: 28
Height: 5'6
Weight: 180 or so lbs
Colour Hair: Formerly Dark Brown - Now Raven Black
Colour Eyes: Formerly Blue - Now are a dark brown color
Colour Skin: Darker Cream Colored


Distinctive characteristics:  Has had magical surgery to change her appearance, her scars from before are healed, though her eyes reflect a woman tired from constant fights. Her voice is slightly deeper than most Barovian women are usually.


Current Appearance: Lauel had dark brown hair, kept short cropped, but which is now longer raven black. Her eyes were dark raven blue but are now a dark brown color. She is sometimes skittish, often unsure of her own abilities and skills. As well as generally lacking in her own self confidence or worth. Due to being abandoned by her father at the age of three in Krezk she has a hardened appearance, especially as of late from constant fights and dark events. All of this though has strengthened her body, soul, and mind to a fine razor's edge, ready to fight and defend for her friends and faith. What beauty and social grace she possesses is minimal and often direct and to the point.


Summary:

- Result of a one night stand between a Barovian Krezek farmer named Segori, and a Vistani Canjarr woman named Tolesk
- Mother left the girl three months after birth with Segori who barely took care of the child, abandoned her at the age of 3 in Krezek's streets to fend for herself
- Wandered from place to place day to day looking for work, food, a place to sleep, or coin, often abused, beaten or taken advantage of by many
- Rarely had friends, those few she ever was with often betrayed her or abandoned her for one reason or another
- When aged 14 and 16 respectively beat up a younger boy aged 8 for the half eaten remains of a rat the boy slew. At 16 killed a street thug who had taken a loaf of bread from her and a younger girl who she was trying to help, made the man suffer for several hours before slitting his throat. She did this due to the man's own harsh treatment of the girl Lauel had been trying to help survive
- Came from Krezek at the age of 19 to Valiki looking for better work, the trip almost starved her to death in the winter. Upon arrival was soon after saved by the faithful of the Dawn in the Valiki from being attacked in the city's slums by wererats
- Came to eventually learn of and embrace the teachings of the Morninglord faith
- Came to believe she owed those of the Valiki faithful a deep debt of gratitude for saving her life, teaching her new skills she lacked, and giving her a way to turn her life around and help others
- Came to champion the faith of the Morninglord, swore to uphold its beliefs within her life, spread His message of hope and light, and fight the undead when she could.
- Also swore to never forget her origins or those who still had been like her, often gives much of her earned coin on buying supplies for others.
- Became a skilled woodworker, smith, gilder, bowyer, tanner, and leather worker, often sells her goods barely above the cost and time she needs to spend, ensuring everyone could with a little effort buy her wares unlike others who overprice and sell for gross profits in her views.
- Provides work and coin to others in need, usually outlanders to Barovia, to get her furs, wood, and such she needs


Personality, issues, and mannerisms:

- Stuttering speech disorder, tries to avoid doing it but it just happens, grows worse when she is anxious/fearful/stressed out

• This stuttering is rarer now of days only happening when she is truly stressed/anxious/fearful

- Suffers as all Half-vistani do each month on the full moon by the Lunagito, during this time is restless, anxious, and will often roam the night frustrated, and at times angry or sink into a deep depression for the time

• Due to her strengthening of mind does not suffer quite as terribly as she once did by the Lunagito. She still will pace however at times and sometimes sink into a depressed state when the moon madness hits her particularly hard

- Is unaware that she is Half-vistani, believes her 'mood swings' are just part of life

• This is has since changed she is aware of her mixed heritage but is still unsure how to feel on it or if she even cares yet
• This again has changed and Lauel now embraces her heritage and looks to learn of it, as well as make a connection to her lost birth Mother
• This once more has changed, Lauel has met her Mother Tolesk, but it was a sad reunion where upon the Vistani parent had been turned into a Vampire by the ancient one Urzica, as a result staked her own mother

- Has a lack of self confidence in her skills/abilities, at times needs reassurance of what she can or can't do

• While still underselling her abilities Lauel, through help from her friends, has grown to become more sure footed and confident in what she can do

- Can not read/write/do any sort of math/counting above 20 very well, is also far under educated compared to many of her country folk or the faithful

• Due to extensive education has learned basic counting to 100 and basic math skills enough to get by in selling things by extensive finger counting

- Often foolish in times of stress acting in ways some might consider crazy heroics because she sometimes acts before she thinks
- Has grown to dislike 'noble' figures who lord their wealth and goods over others who suffer under their gaze when these same nobles could help those under their charge

• This has grown a little stronger in her dislike of noble figures, due to seeing them in other lands brutally beating up those weaker or poorer

- Helps the local law authorities of Valiki where she can, providing armor, weapons and such to them for a reduced cost
- Has on several occasions saved night watch guards from werewolf or wererat attacks as a result has gained a small notary among some of the lower ranks as being reliable and faithful to Valiki's people and governing body
- Has come to accept that sometimes people must do dark deeds (like attacking, or strong arming or torture) to protect the innocent
- Has come to accept her loss of sight, retraining herself to move about day to day by staff or spear sweeps. Her fighting also is now solely melee in scope but requires patience and discipline to avoid pitfalls or hitting friendlies
- Is determined not to seem weak to those of the faithful or those she calls friend. Stubbornly is determined all she can as she did once before with sight
- Despite her lack of sight still seeks to find challenges to better herself in fights, relishing dangers and challenges that push her to her physical or mental limits
- Has restored her sight in defiance of the Valiki Guard orders having found out that they lied her their threats. She did this so that she may better protect others and Barovia.

Goals and dreams:

- To better her lot in life, but yet without forgetting her origins, and so not becoming like so many others she sees who ignore the downtrodden/poor/orphans
- Wishes to prove her worth to the Faithful that she can be as useful as any priest of far more skilled warrior of the faith
- Wishes to prove her dedication to the Morninglord if possible since learning of such as a Champion of the Faith
- Wishes to help however she can the downtrodden in Valiki and anywhere else she goes. She does this by hunting fresh meat, wild vegetables, skins, provides warm cloaks/clothes, etc to those in need. She refuses to let herself ignore her origins as she sees many who do so once they 'move up' in life. She frequently will forego more creature comforts like plush beds, rich blankets, clothes, etc just so that others more in need can use them.
- Especially wants to help any orphans within Valiki or Barovia that are mostly forgotten or overlooked by everyone else because it was not so long ago she was like they were
- Due to recently learning of her mixed parentage would perhaps in time like to find her Father and ask him why he abandoned her, in turn would like to seek out her Vistani mother and ask similar perhaps even learning of her parentage

• Has since done both, for her father she has forgiven him for his abandonment, and met her mother briefly and learned of her some, though sadly this ended in her staking the recently turned Vistani parent into a vampire by Urzica

- Has set herself to teach new faithful of the Morninglord as best she can in the ways of being a Light Carrier
- Came to champion the faith of the Morninglord, swore to uphold its beliefs within her life, spread His message of hope and light, and fight the undead when she could.

Spoken Languages:

- Balok, Luktar, Common, Elven

• Due to one too many blows on the head her memory has become faulty and she has lost the ability to speak Elven
• This is due ooc in part to a dark power curse laid upon her taking some of her capacity to think/reason, she believes it is just due to her head injuries in fights

Current Status:

- Light Carrier and Divine Champion of the Morninglord
- Woodworker and Hunter for Valiki's Slums offers repairs on doors/window shutters/walls and hunts for fresh meats frequently
- Non-Magical healer for Valiki's slums offering bandaging of bones or wounds frequently
- Seeks the destruction of the ancient vampire Urzica at any cost
- Has begun to question some of her recent events in her life and ponders how she might better serve Valiki, and Barovia's people beyond what she does now

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

Updated Bio to reflect in character changes as follows

- Has learned how to speak passable Elven from friendly allies
- Has gained weight to 180 lbs due to training and proper eating compared to origins
- Updated summary and desires to reflect wish to find father and mother
- Updated summary and desires to reflect wish to become Champion of the Morninglord
- Updated summary and desires to reflect her training new light carriers of the faith
- Updated entire post above to coincide with recent in character events within the past year or so
- Updated music theme songs to connect with certain periods of her leveling life since creation
- Updated entire post above to coincide with more recent events of the character starting in late 2015 and then now in 2017
- Updated posts to coincide with more recent events with the character starting in mid-2018 till mid-2019
- Updated entire bio to coincide with recent events from 2019 till present

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

Segori Martovich looked down at the fidgeting little bundle in his arms, then to the vistani woman he had slept with in a drunken stupor a little over a year ago. He vaguely recalled her name as being Tosek or was it Tolesk? Bah he couldn't bother to remember. "..I aint no bloody mother nor father for that matter! The hell am I supposed to do with this blustering thing? Aint know the first thing about caring for a child!" he protested trying to shove the baby half-vistani girl back to the mother.

Easing the child back gently to the father Tolesk smiled thinly, "..You will care for this child Segori Martovich, you will raise her right and proper to the best of your ability or there will be consequences to you." She said.

"..Well why can't you bloody well care for the brat then! I barely can feed myself much less a useless babe!" he protested again with anger.

"..Because it was foreseen by the Rauni that she would fall to your care as I would be ....unable to do so myself. Otherwise I would till she grew to proper age. We all have our destines and paths to follow yours is with Lauel." She said.

Snorting taking the now sleeping girl back, Segori looked uneasy at the cool threatening tone that the Vistani woman of 20 odd years used he didnt want this responsibility, but the threat clear in her voice if he didn't scared him more. "..Fine fine.." he grumbled despite himself.

"..Good, I leave her then in your care and expect her to be raised proper and kept healthy, remember my words Segori for if you do not you will suffer my wrath." She said turning and leaving into the coming night.

Looking down at the babe in his arms then he spat on the ground, "..Ladul damn gypsies, knew I shouldnt have drank all that rum that night."

Turning Segori went into his small wooden farm house to bolt it closed for the coming night.

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

=2 Years Later - Village of Krezek, Outlying Farms=

"..F...fa...father?" the young half-vistani girl asked. "..I'm hu...hungry." she stuttered much to her father's displeasure, already short tempered from coming up short for this month's rent he turned and back handed the girl with the flat of his hand.

"..Shut ya blabbering sissy mouth girl! If we get food then I get the first batch you get the crumbs you know the rules." He said glowering down to the now sniffling and silently crying girl who had a sizable bruise on her right cheek from his palm. As the girl sat there Segori looked around, a spur of the moment idea coming to him. Those damn Vistani hadn't been around these parts in a good almost 3 summers now, maybe he could get away with dumping the extra baggage.

"..I...I'm s...s..s..sorry." Lauel sniffled looking down remaining quiet then as she was tugged roughly to her feet, expecting another beating to come so soon likely for her apology. Ignoring the pangs of hunger in her stomach she allowed her father to drag her along the farm lands near to the village of Krezek. It was a place her father rarely went and to see them going there gave hope to Lauel that they were going to get food which usually only meant scraps of bread heels, water, and if she was lucky bits of uneaten meat for each meal they had.

With a hard shove then towards a crowd Lauel was whipped forward off her feet landing hard on the wet cobblestone ground, "..Now you stay there till I return." Segori said as the girl cried out in surprise and a bit of pain.

"..Y...yes fa...father." Lauel said softly moving to sit on her behind shivering a bit from the icy chill in the air and the far to thin clothes she had. When next she turned her head though she saw her father was gone into the crowd, and as the hours passed to night fall still her father had not returned, her stomach protesting to be fed and her body demanding warmth Lauel faced the coming night lost and alone in the shelter of a small over turned barrel finding scraps of edible bread in another. Sniffling the girl tugged her meager little cloak around herself wondering what she had done to deserve her father being gone so long. "..fa...father I want to go h...home." she sniffled soon falling asleep.

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

==18 Years Later - Bunk Room of the Sanctuary of the Eternal Dawn==

Lauel awoke with a jolt, the vague child hood memories shaking her mentally more then what she wanted to admit. No matter how much she had come to make friends, come to find a better life, and find ways to build her strength and stability of mind and body. Still those fleeting memories of abandonment and the cold icy chill of the night streets came through. Still a slow breath, a slow exhale, then a murmur of a prayer to the Morninglord found her mind stilled of the fear and worry that it would happen again.

Now 21, Lauel for the past 2 years had served in Valiki's faithful. She owed them her life, her soul even, her very purpose in life now was to return all they had given her. It was an oath and duty she swore she would not break. She owed them so much. But more to that she swore she would protect the innocent, protect the weak and give them hope in the dark lands all about her. She had come to first embrace the Morninglord's message of hope and redemption and a better tomorrow herself, then trained as one of His martial faithful as a lightcarrier, and within the past year the Morninglord himself it seems, despite the sins the others said she did in torturing Marcus with the Guards for his crimes of entering Castle Ravenloft, it would seem he had embraced her as His divine champion. Granting her enhanced defense of mind and body dangers, the ability to channel his divine fury into smiting those of evil. And in dire times the minute ability to heal the faintest of wounds.

But one could also not deny through her service she had become a skilled smith, a skilled bower and leather worker. Often were the days her hammer, saws, and tanning dagger worked to provide for those in need. Often was her off duty time spent fixing a broken door or window shutter, or patching a hole in a ceiling. All without a cost to those of Barovian or Gundarite blood who lived here. Then there were the outlanders who would come to this dark land lost and confused, barely any goods to call their own or the means to properly arm and defend themselves from its dangers. There she sold at just above her cost to make weapons, armor, and other goods she found. Enough to cover her efforts and skills, but not enough to price gouge and become filthy rich like so many others she had met. "..I'm not like those foul greedy sorts.." she thought.

Getting out of the top bunk she had slept in she hopped down to the floor, quickly getting a simple bath, then dressing in her armor and arming herself with spear, flail, and shield. She performed her morning prayers just as the sun peaked over the gloomy skies of Valiki to the east. Rising she began her usual patrols in the slums, looking for the homeless too weak or sickly to find shelter within the temple. Or those who might have been injured in some way the night before by the odd rat or worse nerui rat pack. An hour later she had thankfully not found anyone in need of her aide. While most Barovians and Gundarites did not trust her, many others did they had come to learn she could be someone to rely on, someone to seek when one needed aide, someone who would help all they could if possible without asking for return payment. In some ways to even some outlanders she was a hero, had even been called such when she had stood against scores of skeletal warriors and knights that were coming for revenge to those outmatched in the outskirt's crypts. Stood in a doorway blocking their advance and protecting them while they retreated. She had saved the lives even of several night guards who had been unlucky enough to get attacked by nerui wolves or rats, or worse the odd Vrolok. Many owed her their lives. But despite this praise Lauel did not let her mind fill with their praise, the truth was she did not feel like a hero. She just was doing her duty to help, to protect, to defend and inspire. To be that light within the darkness for others to know was there perhaps for some to even help her and follow, even though she was no true leader as she felt.

==Valiki Western Outskirts - Temple of the Coming Dawn==

Lauel let her mind wander during all this as she stood her duty within the Outskirts temple. She watched as Outlanders came and went through the morning hours. Watched how Mother Lizcua healed their wounds, raised the fallen, removed their infections. All things she privately wished she could do, but that the Dawnfather did not grant her as his Champion. She accepted this, but it did not remove the small part of her that desired to be more active. Each time she had to tell someone she was no priestess, just a martial warrior and light carrier, she saw their sense of disappointment. She had even been called by some as 'a waste of protective magics, better spent on a real fighter like a priest or battle witch'. But then Lauel saw these same so confident skilled witches fall against a force she alone could have handled with just a few of their magics, then she was forced to endure the pain of battle saving their fallen bodies. With those efforts she expended hard earned tonics of healing, items of protection she normally saved to help others when no witches were about, or in an emergency when she was alone. Anger during these times would flare within her, that dark side of her that she kept hidden away but yet knew also drove her at times argued to leave them, they were selfish and foolish, they were insulting and demeaning like others why should she not abandon them to their fate? Let the strong survive like she had learned painfully on the streets of Krezk growing up. "..But no such is not what a follower, much less a divinely imbued champion of the Dawn, should do or think.." she chastised herself.

==Valiki Southern Forests - Afternoon hours==

Later in the noon time Lauel having been excused by Horatio as he had come in for his duty, went out in search of her current goals and desire. Urzica, the foul but powerful ancient vrolok known as 'The Deceiver' had kidnapped her mother Tolesk. As Lauel had learned she plotted to kill her and possibly others in some foul ritual to make a pact to bind some 'ancient evil, an evil older the Barovia's land, an evil older then the Von Zarovich line'. Lauel was determined to find Urzica and stop her plot, end her threat once and for all, end the lies, the betrayal, the pain and suffering she had brought to so many over the long years. She would find Urzica and save her mother Tolesk and any others in need. "..Perhaps if I do my mother might explain why she gave me up to my father.." she thought, though having long since forgiven the man a year before for his crimes and pain she had given her by abandoning her at three moons to the streets. That dark part of her would want nothing less then to return some of the pain he had dealt her indirectly. "..but no such is not thoughts or actions of a Champion.." she further mused.

To that end in her search Lauel had sought out old ruins in the area, places where Urzica might hide people and plot her ritual, or even keep her coffin during the daytime. So far she had only some vague ideas of where to look, nothing definite. Lauel knew whatever happened, in the coming days, weeks, or months she would face them with the same drive and determination she always did. She would face them with her faith in her heart and soul, and face them with those of the faithful beside her. "..I'm going to drive the blessed stake through your foul chest Urzica. End you and rescue the innocents you threaten. Or die trying, and even if I do die then I embrace it gladly knowing I go to the Dawnfather's side as His servant.. she thought striding with shield and blessed steel spear at the ready into some forest ruins to the south of Valiki.

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

==Valiki Slums - Eternal Dawn Upper Left Guest Room==
Crude drawings of stick figures, one stabbing another, while three circle the first drawn in black and brown oily ink are smeared over some kind of deer hide. Dried blood marks the poorly cured hide.

"..I will find her..." Lauel thought looking down at the crude drawing she had done. Then using it as a point of focus she tore it up with her strong muscles, ones born of hard training and a hard life. She then turned and began to train her body physically and mentally harder. To that end she turned to the robed female witch who she had sought out. "..sl...sling your spells a...again! I will not f...fall to such magics e...easily!" She spat in her usual stuttering speech in Barovian accented common.

Lauel used her anger and desires to shield her mind as the witch began casting her magics, some Lauel over time had come to recognize, ones to drain a mind, fill it with fear, protect a body, curse a soul. All seemed to shed away from effecting her one by one. Hours passed and finally the female witch seemed exhausted from the long castings demanded of her. "..Are you done now?" the witch asked.

"..F...for now. Here your p...payment as we agreed.." she said handing over a sack of gold coins and a few small trinkets. The witch woman smiled gently taking it.

"..This will go a long way to helping me buy what I need to help my family, Lauel. Thank you." she said.

"..Let me kn..know if I can help m...more my friend. Good night." Lauel said turning to exit the room.

"..It is ok Lauel, you have more dangerous things to concern yourself with then some simple outlander ruffins on the Slavich Road.." she said.

Glancing back Lauel shrugged, "..M...maybe b...but I also dont e...ever forget my f...friends in need. Good bye." she said shutting the door leaving the torn up furs with their crude drawings on the floor forgotten by both.

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

"..I am a failure as a gypsy, as a mother.." Tolesk had said moments ago weeping in despair at the spawn of a vampire she had become.

"..Kill me! Kill me now!" She had begged, Lauel stood there a few feet from her, spear and mirrored shield held tightly in her hands looking upon the bleeding tears coming from her mother's face.

The spear had struck, piercing her chest, a gasp of pain from its magics and divine oils seering deep. "..Y...you're not a f...failure.." Lauel had said not at the moment as she struck realizing the words indicated her mother, that Urzica had brought her here to trick her into feeling the agony of killing her own mother. To feel the pain of failure in her chest and heart that her hopes to save her had failed.

Then the misted form of her mother reformed in the coffin, and the words sunk in. "..Y...you're not a f...fa.....failure mother. Not as a vistani a...and not as a mother. I...I f...forgive you.. She said feeling the rage in her build as she sunk the stake in deep through her chest and denting the coffin with its strong oaken tip.

A red haze had settled on her vision, screaming the name beyond any she had felt anger to before. "..URZICA!!...UR..URZICA!!!" she bellowed garbbing the hot brazier as it seered her flesh and slammed its fire and hot coals on her mother's coffin. "..URZICA!!..D...DAMN YOU ALL S...SHOW YOURSELF F...F...FACE ME!!" she had bellowed.

Despite her wish Urzica did not face her, maybe she was laughing somewhere now watching by magical means. Maybe a part of Lauel said she was afraid to face her in these confined areas knowing the rage that she had sank to. Lauel watched the body of the woman who had been her birth mother burn. A peaceful smile on her lips as if she had not a care anymore in this dark world. The wooden stake embedded deeply in her chest caught fire from the larger brazier that in anger Lauel had overturned on her. The burn of heat barely phased Lauel's bare hands nothing could match he pain in her chest as she sunk to the floor on her knees having expended her rage for the moment by tearing down the silken red cloth covering the walls, then smashing the demonic dark angel figure and candles.

Covering he face Lauel shook and wept, "..Mother.." she said softly and again the rage built, standing and picking up her spear and shield she spun and kicked open the only door in the room. Dashing through she found herself in some dungeon like prison. Enough thought remained in her mind to check the cells both in the walls and ground. All were empty or filled with old bones. Rushing out Lauel then found herself in some watery cavern with a raised rocky platform winding through it to a dark cave beyond. Emerging from it she sniffed the air, smelling the scent of wet fur that was so familiar to her, distantly growls and predatory eyes Lauel felt were watching her. "..The n...neuri wolf cave up north! It h...has to be.." she thought.

An hour later over 30 nerui wolf pirates including their constantly returning evil leader lay dead in her passing wake. Lauel had a few scratches and injuries but nothing serious. Some starving wolves then fell to her spear as her anger faded with the rising sun to the east. Striding with a heavy heart spear and shield drooping in hands, she moved south down Lake Zarovich. Gazing about on the south western shore Lauel said, "..O...one way or another you're t...time ends soon Urzica. I'm g...going to f...find your coffin and no matter what I gotta do even if it d...damns me in the eyes of the faithful I'm g...going to end you. I s...swear it!" she said.

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

Once more Lauel awoke, and like many mornings since just over a year and half ago now since the Valiki guard had removed her eyes blackness had greeted her with a momentary feeling of unseen dizziness and nausea. But like that same feeling it quickly passed as it had come.

Reaching out to left and right of the bunk bed she had slept in at the Eternal Dawn Temple in the Slums of Valiki she got her bearings, and then slowly sat up hand above her to stop from hitting the bed above her where a fellow half-vistani male and fellow lightcarrier of the faith Dragomir Illie slept on snoring softly. Hearing it made her smile a bit, but then she focused herself as she always did every morning, picking up the small staff next to her bed.

Rising she soon made her way to the small bathing room down the hall and prepared for her day. A quiet question to one of the fellow early risers in the temple found the sun had not yet risen outside. This was perfect for Lauel as she frequently made efforts both before sunset and sunrise to take a walk around the Slums's back ally ways calling out for anyone in need. Most times she found no one or a scampering of feet indicating someone running away for whatever reason from her efforts to help. Other times she would encounter rats or nerui rat packs. Which with focused strikes she slew in self-defense, not just of herself but others in the slums.

Having then have to get Dragomir or another to have her help report the event to the guard which they usually ignored anyhow then burying the body of the poor soul who had been infected and corrupted by their new state was always a sad affair. But Lauel reasoned that one life taken in this case or three sometimes kept many more safe. This same logic was what made her go after bounties of bandits in the area, she first tried to argue for them to surrender but all the while they attacked her forcing her to knock them out and then when they recovered attacked her again forcing her to slay them. The turned in bounties of their leaders then usually netted her some coin which usually then got turned over to those in need or to her crafting studies.

Finishing her rounds of the slums a bit later she returned to the temple and began her morning prayers just as Dragomir had come down to do the same. After the two had made plans they had informed Father Illie that they were to be roaming north looking for herbs and yew wood. Such was the common theme the two shared lately. Lauel reflected that Dragomir was a good man, not tainted by the evils she felt of the land as she had been exposed to its horrors. True he had fought undead, werebeasts, and other things like she had, but he had not seen the true horrors of his fellow countrymen and the agents who worked behind the scenes. Nor had he had to make an ultimate choice of doing an ultimate sin like she had in torturing another or the like.

"..Dawnfather I pray he never will, I pray his studies under me to champion your faith are.....are more pure then perhaps my own are.." she thought quietly hearing off to her left in the walk north Dragomir bring down another deer to collect its hide for her leather working, and gathered the meat for use in the slums that night. She meanwhile just walked straight ahead, using her staff or spear as needed to feel the ground ahead of her slowly, each foot carefully set to ensure she wouldn't trip.

Turning a corner in the path Dragomir informed her that they had entered the northern part of the Sullen Woods, drawing her spear of steel and platinum and tower shield she went slower with him now alert for the shadows that were sure to charge them. Fighting blind even before the loss of her sight made this task easier to relearn she had found, she was unsure how she might feel if she ever fully was useless like some claimed her to be. "..Greedy outlanders, even fellow locals who can cast spells say being a fighter of the faith is a waste of their spells! If I fell then they get wasted. Yet then they fall and I suffer to rescue them, how is that any better? Their stupidity breeds more suffering to me and others with me to rescue their greedy arses...urgh!" Lauel bitterly reflected, but was shaken from her darker thoughts of arguing to herself of maybe considering just abandoning such people in the future when Dragomir called out more shadows were coming.

"..Right! Now then Brother, as we discussed, focus on striking where they shall move not where they are!.." She said as the shadows of the dark forest closed in. The darkness of it she recalled far less then the darkness now all encompassing what she 'saw' now.

[Ryltar/ Robert Archer]

Lauel, now having faked her death in the Mists with the aid of Dragomir, and going by the name of Mirca Renesk rolled out of the bed she had used the night before at the slums temple of the Morninglord. In secret as she had done since the return of her sight and surgical appearance change in the Port she prayed to the Morninglord. Rising as she then finished her preparations for the day Dragomir came upon her and keeping to the illusion and lie of her new life he spoke, "..Mirca? You ready to go?" he asked.

"..Ready as I can be, you were going to teach me more about spear wielding today yes?" She said. They had both figured him teaching her of the faith and of fighting over time would lend credence to the lie of her life now.

The lessons took much of the day for Dragomir and Lauel. But as the days, then weeks, and eventually several months went by under her new disguise she felt more and more weighted down by the lying. Finally one night she snapped and confessed to several of the faithful of who she really was again and why. Their reactions at the time had been some of compassion but mostly anger at being lied too.

As a result Lauel decided she needed to get some distance for the faith in the coming days and after gaining permission left the faithful to wander the Core with Dragomir. The coming year and more would be hard walking on foot but adventures were out there and people were in need. The two would do the Dawn proud.