GreekFire Posted January 27, 2023 Clone Share Posted January 27, 2023 (edited) Background 'I came into the world a curse in my own fathers' eyes from the very beginning. I never had the chance to meet my mother; she died giving birth to me. I think my father never forgave me.' Born in 696 IA, Joyce would come into the world seen as a blight by her father on the day she was born. Marion Krüger (Joyce's mother) did not survive giving birth to Joyce, passing during the delivery. Joyce's father, Heinrich Krüger, was distraught from the loss of his beloved wife. He sealed himself away for weeks after burying her. He never remarried, and Joyce remained his only child and heir. Those who knew him said he was never the same again, becoming like stone, hard and ruthless. Joyce was sent away to live with Heinrich's brother and family in the country. She never got to enjoy the privileged childhood of other noble blooded folks in the cities. Her uncle often sent her to work hard day in and day out around the grounds, with sporadic and rare visits from Heinrich. When she was younger, she looked forward to those occasional visits, even joining her uncle, father, and three cousins on horseback rides around the estate. However, she became distant and cold toward her father as she grew up, never understanding why he had sent her away. 'I admit I was no saint as a child, yet nothing could excuse the actions of my so-called uncle Eugen. He was tolerable most days until he got drink in him, then he became a tyrant. What kind of man locks a small child in a lightless room for hours on end?' This hate manifested itself in her acting out as children are want to do, and her uncle (Eugen) would severely punish her. His favored method was locking her in a small room located at the top of a separate wing. Joyce came to dread this punishment more than any other. She never told her father, not knowing if he'd care and fearing worse retribution in retaliation from her uncle. As she grew older, she learned to navigate her uncle's mood swings becoming good at diverting his anger. Now, as it happened, the house of Krüger had a long, storied history of paladins who served the Knights of the Pale. Eugen Krüger's estate held a small library, which contained several tomes detailing these heroes' noble deeds. It was here she stole away when chores were done, the adventures within sparking her imagination. Joyce would sneak out into the woods to have her own adventures, with nothing but a sling and her wits. She was scolded more than once when she came back late and covered in mud, however, despite the risks that never stunted her wanderlust. So it came to pass on her 14th birthday that a member of the Knight of the Pale visited Eugen's home. This bore an opportunity that would change everything for Joyce. "I don't think anyone was more shocked than I when Sir Björn choose me to be his squire. The look on my uncle's face was priceless. I really thought my life was turning around for the better back then. It turned out I was only stepping into a new hell." Björn Honigmann had come to Eugen thinking of taking one of his sons in as a squire. Eugen's three sons thus competed to gain Björns approval. Each was strong of arm and swift of foot, yet none seemed to gain Björn's favor. It came to pass that Björn was ultimately unimpressed by Eugen's sons voicing they lacked conviction, the greatest strength of all. Björn asked if that was truly all his kin, and Eugen mentioned Joyce, though warned she was far too weak to be of value. Björn called for her all the same and tested her just as firmly as he had done her cousins. She did not have their might, but she met each challenge with cunning and tenacity that impressed Björn, who saw in her a fire waiting to be lit. To the shock of all, Björn chose Joyce to be his squire, and fate seemed to have at last smiled upon the young girl. A week later, Björn would return to his chapterhouse in Trolone with Joyce in toe. There she started her training, though not in areas Joyce had expected. Learning manners of the court and noble etiquette she had missed out on in her earlier education. Seven years later, Joyce had earned friends as well as both honor, recognition, and experience. Enough honor to be allowed to attend a ceremony of great import to the Order. The Knights of the Pale had managed to dismantle a cult and acquire a dangerous artifact of great power they had possessed. The weapon had proven impervious to mundane and even magical means of destruction, so that left the Knights with sealing the cursed Bident as their only recourse. The order had sent a large detachment to oversee the bident's sealing, and even less seasoned members and squires had been called to the task. Despite every precaution, nothing could prepare the order for what happened next. In the middle of the ritual, the temple came under attack by the recently defeated cultist. The attack itself was heralded by an explosion that shook the temple's very foundations, and Joyce was caught in the midst of this chaos..... Prelude "We are us, and You are now We and You you found me, you're weak without me but You you're now free. To move, get rowdy, the truth will be what We allow, please." Pain. Where am I? Why is everything so dark? I can't move, I can't breathe... everything...so heavy. I'm I...dead? Pain. No, I can't be dead yet; I just need to... open my eyes. Everywhere hurt like a fire had been scorched into the very flesh, and every muscle was alight. The struggle to open lidded eyes alone seemed like a monumental task. Through sheer force of will, Joyce managed to open her eyes all the same and immediately regretted doing so. Partly because doing just that much caused her head to roil like a leaf in a storm. The rest was from the horror that was unfolding before her very eyes. Joyce and several Knight errant had been gathered near the raised platform's base during the ceremony. There had been four clerics on that dais, all joining their power to seal the black iron bident on consecrated ground. There was no sign of those clerics now, only a crimson red paste where each had stood. The bident, however, was still there, only now the wooden case it had been placed in had been partly destroyed. Cracked open like an egg, not unlike the entire backside of the temple, which exposed the inner halls to the open night sky. Mounds of rubble like an avalanche of stone paved its way inward. That much revealed to Joyce that the church's entire backend had been blown inward by some cataclysmic explosion. It was not that which caused Joyce to feel like sicking up, however. But the hellish creatures which were even now cutting, biting, and rending the flesh of those few knights and paladins who had managed to survive the initial explosion. Dazed, confused, and caught off guard, they were like so much meat before the slaughter. The meager resistance would not last long, and already the many of those fiends were drawing closer. It would not be long before they noticed her in turn. Demons! How could demons have even entered the holy ground, never mind having been brought here in such numbers? Was that even possible? Could this be some kind of waking nightmare? There was no time for such questions to which she had no answers. She reached for her scabbard only to find she had somehow lost her sword. She cast about desperately, her eyes finding another slab of stone and her stomach turned as she recognized the legs sticking out from under that rubble. Gunnar Wilpert. He had joined the Knights of the Pale around the same time she had. With a lazy smile and a laidback attitude, he always seemed ill-suited to life within the order. Now he was dead, and by the sounds of fighting not far off, she would be joining him seen enough. There was no time for tears for Gunnar or the others. She had no weapon, and even if she did, she doubted she could fight in her condition. She could not feel her left leg, and the room had not stopped spinning since she'd regained conciseness. She looked back to the dais and was shocked to discover it was nearer now than it had been before. As if she had unconsciously crawled closer without realizing it. Or it had somehow shrunk the gap between. Joyce had no time to ponder that for long, however, as some of the figures had finally made their way toward her. The haze of heat and spots in her vision had cleared now, and the horrific figures she had thought demons seemed no more than humanoids with grotesque masks armed with blades and daggers. It made little difference, man or beast; either or could end her easily enough in her stat. They were coming for her now, she knew, and there was no escape. Unless... Joyce looked back to the incased bident, and she could swear something whispered at the back of her mind audible even with the fading ringing in her ears. The idea of being cut down like some lamb, defenceless and on all fours, irked her. At the very least, she could try and make it a little difficult for the bastards. So she crawled on hands and knees, toward the bident. Pain shot through her frame like a thousand angry bees stinging her all over without end, yet she did not dare slow now. There were shouts at the gap now, orders being given Joyce thought- she could not hear any fighting. She crawled faster. She reached the center of the dais and now remained the difficult part. She spared a glance toward the gap and saw three masked individuals walking toward her. There was no haste in their movements; why should there be? No defenders remained alive within the temple itself that she could see. The one leading the three wore a mask fashioned like a many-eyed manticore, wearing red and white robes splattered in blood. Joyce could almost see the smug smile behind that uncaring mask. They clearly saw no threat in one battered and bleeding knight, and they were right damn them. Anger welled up within her, and she pulled herself the rest of the way to her feet. Well to one foot, really, as she leaned heavily against the wooden case that held the black iron bident. The three were only a stone's throw away now, but perhaps sensing her intent, they sped up, the one with the manticore mask raising a wickedly curved blade. She hesitated only a moment more before reaching for that foul bident; perhaps Lothian would smile on her and allow her to kill at least one of them. There would at least be some sweet irony in tha- As Joyce's hand grasped the hilt, coldness spread through her before blackness consumed her sight... Edited January 27, 2023 by GreekFire (see edit history) Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreekFire Posted January 27, 2023 Author Clone Share Posted January 27, 2023 (edited) Joyce la Dévouée “There are worse fates then death.” Basic Information Race: Human Variant | Sex: F Age: 23 | Height: '5'10" | Weight: 145 lb Alignment: LG | Background: Noble Class: Warlock (1) | Subclass: Hexblade Personality "Sweet talker? You were born a grovelling worm and you'll die a grovelling worm." Long ago, Joyce learned that flowery speech and kind words go a long way to endear people to you. She has an almost obsequious way about her that makes one feel like they're the most wonderful and influential person in the world. Ideals "Rules and laws are the tools of slavemasters. Bowing to another's will is just weakness born of cowardice." Joyce was born to a minor noble house, and her strict upbringing and training in the Knights of the Pale taught her to follow the rules and a hierarchy. This led her to become attracted to the worship of Lothian naturally. Bonds "Kin, comrades, friends. Useless burdens all; best be done with them. We are all you will ever need." Even in self-exile, Joyce still considers herself a member of the Knights of the Pale and will help or aid one in need. Furthermore, deep down, she wishes to redeem herself in the eyes of her order and father. Flaws "You humans- so weak and frail, bah. You'd be so hopeless without Us. Yet, your worthless struggles are quite amusing." Joyce's desperate bid for redemption and desire to win her family's favour can often be used against her by the creature within her. If overcome with either fear or anger Ig'drich may momentarily take over. More mundane is her fear of confined places, so she often refuses to enter a dark hole, for example. Proficiency Bonus +2 | AC: 18| Max HP: 17 | Speed: 30ft | PP: 11 | Init: +2 | Darkvision: 120ft STRENGTH DEXTERITY CONSTITUTION WISDOM INTELLIGENCE CHARISMA 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) -1 STR Save +2 DEX Save +4 CON Save +3 WIS Save +1 INT Save +5 CHA Save -1 Athletics +2 Acrobatics +2 Sleight +2 Stealth +3 Animal Handling +1 Insight +1 Medicine +1 Perception +1 Survival +1 Arcana +3 History +1 Investigation +1 Nature +3 Religion +5 Deception +3 Intimidation +3 Perform. +5 Persuasion Description Joyce possesses a slighter build than most, being both willowy and graceful. Joyce once had golden locks of blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Since fusing with Ig'drich, her appearance has changed considerably to be nearly unrecognizable to those who knew her before. She possesses an attractive oval-shaped face with pale albino skin, accented by striking dark gold eyes that some might mistake for hazel from a distance. Closer inspection would reveal a decidedly catlike shape to her pupils. This, with her long ashen white hair, which is often tied in a braid, certainly gives Joyce an unusual air. Joyce's travelling gear is a tattered, faded black hooded travelling cloak and a worn scarf around her neck. Her upper body is clothed in a plain earth-brown tunic with sewn-in patches. The trousers paired with these are equally battered of a much darker hue and torn at the very bottom edges. A belt pouch holding money is tied around her waist, and from under her scarf hides a holy symbol of Lothian. On the same string is her house's signet ring, which she seldom wears. When dressed for action, Joyce does away with her cloak though she keeps her scarf and a spare hooded tunic. A bandolier of knives spans her chest from her left shoulder to her right hip. She wears a reinforced quilted jacket of padded cloth; the dark leather coat's tail splits in the back and reaches as far as the back of her knees. An old battered messer (a reskinned longsword) is sheathed at her left hip. Actions Attacks Longsword (Melee) +5 to hit, 1d8/1d10+3 slashing Dagger (Melee/Thrown(20/60) +4 to hit, 1d4+2 piercing Eldritch Blast (range/120ft) +5 to hit, 1d10 Force Bonus Actions Hexblade's Curse: 1/short or long rest Offhand attack Dagger (Melee/Thrown(20/60) +4 to hit, 1d4 piercing Spell Casting | CHA | DC 13 | Mod+3 | Spell Slots: 1 (1st level) Spells Cantrips Eldritch Blast Friends 1st Level Armour of Agathys Charm Person Hex Features Class Features Pact Magic Your arcane research and the magic bestowed on you by your patron have given you facility with spells. Spell Slots: 2/2 Hex Warrior At 1st level, you acquire the training necessary to effectively arm yourself for battle. You gain proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. Eldritch Invocations At 2nd level, you gain two eldritch invocations of your choice. When you gain certain warlock levels, you gain additional invocations of your choice, as shown in the Invocations Known column of the Warlock table. A level prerequisite refers to your level in this class. Tools Tool Proficiencies: Painter's Supplies Languages Imperial (Common), Abyssal, Elvish Weapons & Armors Simple, Martial weapons, Light & Medium armor, Shields, Feats & Others Resilient Choose one ability score. You gain the following benefits: Increase the chosen ability score by 1, to a maximum of 20. You gain proficiency in saving throws using the chosen ability. Chosen: Con Mask of Many Faces You can cast disguise self at will without expending a spell slot. Devil's Sight You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet. Racial & Background Features Position of Privilege Thanks to your noble birth, people are inclined to think the best of you. You are welcome in high society, and people assume you have the right to be wherever you are. The common folk make every effort to accommodate you and avoid your displeasure, and other people of high birth treat you as a member of the same social sphere. You can secure an audience with a local noble if you need to. Delver Equipment You should include all equipment that you own in this tab; this is how you will load out when in "delver" mode. With everything. WEIGHT: 108 Ib / 120 Ib Max Weapons 7 Ib Dagger 1 Ib /+4/1d4+2 piercing Dagger 1 Ib /+4/1d4+2 piercing Dagger 1 Ib /+4/1d4+2 piercing Dagger 1 Ib /+4/1d4+2 piercing Longsword 3 Ib /+5/1d8/1d10 slashing Armor 53 Ib Scale mail 45 lb/ 14 + 2 + 2 / AC 18 Shield 8 lb+2 Magic Items None Other Equipment 55 Ib Leather armor 8 lb Arcane focus: Metal Fragment in right-hand palm- Holy Symbol- Clothes, Fine 6 Ib Signet Ring- A small piece of leather with an insignia of a dog- Belt, Pouch 1 Ib Backpack/ Includes 5 lbs. for backpack. 25 Ib/ 30 Ib max Crowbar 5 Ib Hammer 3 Ib Torches x5. 5 Ib Tinderbox 1 Ib Rations x5. 10 Ib Strapped Waterskin 5 Ib Rope, hempen (50 feet) 10 Ib Treasure Gold Pieces 9gp Silver Pieces 9sp Copper Pieces 2cp City Equipment You should only include equipment in this tab that you usually carry when walking around the city doing everyday things and not in "delver" mode. Everything else will be considered to be stored wherever you reside. WEIGHT: 17 Ib / 120 Ib Max Weapons 2 Ib Dagger 1Ib /+3/1d4+2 piercing (Hidden) Dagger 1Ib /+3/1d4+2 piercing (Hidden) Armor None Magic Items None Other Equipment 7Ib Arcane focus: Metal Fragment in the right-hand palm- Holy Symbol- Signet Ring- Belt, Pouch 1 Ib Clothes, Fine 6 Ib Treasure Gold Pieces 9gp Silver Pieces 9sp Copper Pieces 2cp Template by - DM_Atlas ~ Artist credit - Charlie Bowater Edited January 27, 2023 by GreekFire (see edit history) Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreekFire Posted January 27, 2023 Author Clone Share Posted January 27, 2023 (edited) Joyce la Dévouée - Human, Warlock 2 AC: 18 | HP: 17/17 | Initiative: +2 | Passive Perception: 11 | 1st, Slots: 2/2 | Imbued Items: 0/3 Actions are this. When Joyce thinks. "When Joyce speaks." When Ig'drich Speaks Mechanics Main Hand: Empty Off Hand: Empty Action: Your action goes here. Bonus Action: Your bonus action goes here. Move: Your movement goes here. Manipulate: Your one free object interaction goes here. Spell Casting Spell Casting | CHA | DC 13 | Mod+5 | Spell Slots: 2 (1st level) Cantrips Eldritch Blast Friends 1st Level Armour of Agathys Charm Person Hex Edited January 27, 2023 by GreekFire (see edit history) Name xDiceName xDiceResult xDiceString xDiceRolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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