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Entry #1
Character Name: Stillian Mirizo - Assamir
Male
Cleric-combat medic
LG
Ilmater
Description: Stillian is an average size man with an athletic build and a birthmark that resembles bound hands clutching a flower on the back of his neck.
Personality: He will be quick to defend the helpless particularly children. He is friendly and quick to offer assistance even if it is to his detriment. He is determined in battle and will leave a companion only if it is in defense of another.
Motivation: Stillian follows the tenants of the Order of the Golden Cup. The order is dedicated to healing and protecting the sick, innocent and weak. Its members are generally peaceful and always try to help. Rarely do they seek out evil to destroy. They are not pacifists, and will not hesitate to fight when confronted by evil. Still, members basically feel their role is more toward healing and protection than battle.He has a burning hatred for creatures that haunt the night and is not quite sure what killed his parents but believes it will be found in the darkness.
Notes:
Background: Stillian finds his dreams disturbed and unwillingly reliving the night that changed his life. His family lived in a small farming community in Damara. Decades before Stillian was born some farmers and herders built their homes reasonably close together for mutual protection. As their children grew into adults more homes were added until the makeshift community had formed. They were friends, neighbors, co-workers and even comrades-in-arms when wild animals or savage beasts wandered to close to the homesteads.
Back story: The night was clear, the stars were bright and the moon was full. On nights like this wolves could always be heard baying at the moon somewhere in the distance. Typically, the baying was mother-nature’s own brand of music to cure sleeplessness but there was to be no sleep this night. Stillian’s father and two older brothers retrieved the pitchfork, scythe or whatever sharp farming implement they were most familiar with and left to check on the cows and pigs. Stillian had asked to go with his father to help calm the animals but the howling was too loud which meant the wolves were too close. Stillian was told he was just not big enough to go with the men. He was told his time would come but tonight he was to stay behind.
It seemed like hours had passed since his father had left. Perhaps it had only been minutes but the terror that griped him had frozen time for Stillian. The baying had turned to howling and then came the screams. From every direction the cacophony of sound was overpowering to the senses. The frenzied screams of neighbors calling for help and the howling that just would not stop grew closer as the seconds passed. In his dreams the door always burst open with his father screaming for them to run before that grotesque arm reached through the door grabbing him and pulling him like a rag-doll back through the open door.
Stillian and his mother, with his sister draped in her arms, ran screaming out the back door. They ran into the darkness of the night with all the speed their legs could muster. Stillian’s heart still pounded and his lungs still burned when he dreamed. The beating heart and the burning lungs he could deal with but hearing everything happening all over again was almost more than he could bear. He could hear some beast gaining ground with every step he took. He could hear his mother falling behind him as she screamed, “Run Stillian, don’t look back, don’t stop”. Stillian did as he was told and continued running into the fields of daisies that covered the nearby hillsides. It is here in his dreams when his heart stops pounding, his lungs stops burning and the sounds mercifully cease.
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Duress wondered at the sight. He had grown older in years and had seen much in his service to Ilmater but he had never seen anything thing like this. Duress had tended the wounded on battlefields, those that were diseased and forsaken by polite society and the infirmed in hospitals throughout Calimshan, Impiltur and Damara but he could not comprehend the sight his eyes currently took in.
The small community he rode into had been savaged and not long ago from what he could tell. However, given the condition of the dead it was hard to tell exactly when they had perished. Normally Duress would have been able to examine the wounds of the deceased and he would have known with relative certainty when the slaughter had occurred but that was not possible given the current circumstances. Everywhere he looked the dead had been bandaged with not a single wound untended. Many of the wounds had been bound in torn strips of clothing and blanket. It looked as if the healer had used whatever they had been able to get their hands on as bandages.
More confusing to Duress was why some of the wounds had been treated at all. It was obvious to him that many of those who were bandaged had died where they had fallen. Some of the dead still clutched weapons in their hands. Others were so bandaged that few healers could have dealt with injuries that must have covered the bodies of the fallen before death overcame them. Duress rode on searching for some sign of life but found none until he heard the sobs and smelled the fresh scent of daisies on the breeze.
Following the muffled sobs and the smell of daisies Duress found Stillian sitting beside the heavily bandaged body of his deceased mother holding his crying baby sister in his arms. There the two were alone sitting on a hillside covered with the fragrant flower. Duress’ approach startled Stillian but the boy did not flee and he even allowed Duress to examine the child. The babe had splints holding both legs straight that were crude but none-the-less effective in Duress’ opinion. Duress offered a prayer to Ilmater and the child ceased its crying and slept a peaceful slumber. Stillian stared in wonder as Duress removed the splints from the babes perfectly formed legs. “What did you do”, Stillian asked? Duress looked the young man over and offered, “Tell me your story son and I will tell you mine”.
Over a cold breakfast Stillian told Duress the events that had transpired in the community and how he remembered running into the field of daisies where all became still and quite for him. He relayed how he awoke in the morning to find that his nightmare had been real. Duress for his part told Stillian about his prayer to Ilmater for the babe and how the Crying God cared for those who eased the suffering of others. After the meal was finished and some possessions packed Duress knelt with Stillian in a field of daisies as Stillian offered his first prayer to Ilmater.
__________________________________________________ ___________________________
Duress stood in the doorway of the home in Heliogabalus looking at the young boy. With great sympathy in his voice Duress once again pleaded, “But I have found a good home for you and your sister Stillian. These fine people have agreed to take you in and teach you more of Ilmater!”
“I will not be left behind!” Stillian retorted.
“Please Stillian. You have much to learn and your time to serve Ilmater will come.” Duress comforted.
“It may not be my time but I will not be left behind again!” Stillian demanded.
Duress inhaled deeply preparing to continue his ongoing debate with Stillian when the fresh fragrance of daisies overwhelmed his senses and he relented with a defeated sigh, “It appears you are correct Stillian. You will not be left behind.” Looking to the heavens and then again to the boy Duress continued, “Ready your things for my return but pack lightly. It seems we have need of another horse before we depart unless you wish to do the walking from now on.”
Entry #1
Character Name: Stillian Mirizo - Assamir
Male
Cleric-combat medic
LG
Ilmater
Description: Stillian is an average size man with an athletic build and a birthmark that resembles bound hands clutching a flower on the back of his neck.
Personality: He will be quick to defend the helpless particularly children. He is friendly and quick to offer assistance even if it is to his detriment. He is determined in battle and will leave a companion only if it is in defense of another.
Motivation: Stillian follows the tenants of the Order of the Golden Cup. The order is dedicated to healing and protecting the sick, innocent and weak. Its members are generally peaceful and always try to help. Rarely do they seek out evil to destroy. They are not pacifists, and will not hesitate to fight when confronted by evil. Still, members basically feel their role is more toward healing and protection than battle.He has a burning hatred for creatures that haunt the night and is not quite sure what killed his parents but believes it will be found in the darkness.
Notes:
- Stillian was a young child when his parents were slain and does not remember much about them.
- He was adopted by Duress Stindale. Duress was a knight of Ilmater who usually escorted healers throughout Damara and a member of the Order of the Golden Cup.
- Stillian spent most of his younger years traveling with Duress throughout Damara.
- He will always be on the lookout for his sister who was given a pendant identical to his and her adoptive parents lived in Heliogabalus at one point in time.
- He has taken the vows of purity and poverty but not the vow of peace. Duress taught him both healing and martial skills as they traveled together.
- He has not yet been knighted by the order.
- He has been sent to Sundren with orders to report to the temple.
Background: Stillian finds his dreams disturbed and unwillingly reliving the night that changed his life. His family lived in a small farming community in Damara. Decades before Stillian was born some farmers and herders built their homes reasonably close together for mutual protection. As their children grew into adults more homes were added until the makeshift community had formed. They were friends, neighbors, co-workers and even comrades-in-arms when wild animals or savage beasts wandered to close to the homesteads.
Back story: The night was clear, the stars were bright and the moon was full. On nights like this wolves could always be heard baying at the moon somewhere in the distance. Typically, the baying was mother-nature’s own brand of music to cure sleeplessness but there was to be no sleep this night. Stillian’s father and two older brothers retrieved the pitchfork, scythe or whatever sharp farming implement they were most familiar with and left to check on the cows and pigs. Stillian had asked to go with his father to help calm the animals but the howling was too loud which meant the wolves were too close. Stillian was told he was just not big enough to go with the men. He was told his time would come but tonight he was to stay behind.
It seemed like hours had passed since his father had left. Perhaps it had only been minutes but the terror that griped him had frozen time for Stillian. The baying had turned to howling and then came the screams. From every direction the cacophony of sound was overpowering to the senses. The frenzied screams of neighbors calling for help and the howling that just would not stop grew closer as the seconds passed. In his dreams the door always burst open with his father screaming for them to run before that grotesque arm reached through the door grabbing him and pulling him like a rag-doll back through the open door.
Stillian and his mother, with his sister draped in her arms, ran screaming out the back door. They ran into the darkness of the night with all the speed their legs could muster. Stillian’s heart still pounded and his lungs still burned when he dreamed. The beating heart and the burning lungs he could deal with but hearing everything happening all over again was almost more than he could bear. He could hear some beast gaining ground with every step he took. He could hear his mother falling behind him as she screamed, “Run Stillian, don’t look back, don’t stop”. Stillian did as he was told and continued running into the fields of daisies that covered the nearby hillsides. It is here in his dreams when his heart stops pounding, his lungs stops burning and the sounds mercifully cease.
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Duress wondered at the sight. He had grown older in years and had seen much in his service to Ilmater but he had never seen anything thing like this. Duress had tended the wounded on battlefields, those that were diseased and forsaken by polite society and the infirmed in hospitals throughout Calimshan, Impiltur and Damara but he could not comprehend the sight his eyes currently took in.
The small community he rode into had been savaged and not long ago from what he could tell. However, given the condition of the dead it was hard to tell exactly when they had perished. Normally Duress would have been able to examine the wounds of the deceased and he would have known with relative certainty when the slaughter had occurred but that was not possible given the current circumstances. Everywhere he looked the dead had been bandaged with not a single wound untended. Many of the wounds had been bound in torn strips of clothing and blanket. It looked as if the healer had used whatever they had been able to get their hands on as bandages.
More confusing to Duress was why some of the wounds had been treated at all. It was obvious to him that many of those who were bandaged had died where they had fallen. Some of the dead still clutched weapons in their hands. Others were so bandaged that few healers could have dealt with injuries that must have covered the bodies of the fallen before death overcame them. Duress rode on searching for some sign of life but found none until he heard the sobs and smelled the fresh scent of daisies on the breeze.
Following the muffled sobs and the smell of daisies Duress found Stillian sitting beside the heavily bandaged body of his deceased mother holding his crying baby sister in his arms. There the two were alone sitting on a hillside covered with the fragrant flower. Duress’ approach startled Stillian but the boy did not flee and he even allowed Duress to examine the child. The babe had splints holding both legs straight that were crude but none-the-less effective in Duress’ opinion. Duress offered a prayer to Ilmater and the child ceased its crying and slept a peaceful slumber. Stillian stared in wonder as Duress removed the splints from the babes perfectly formed legs. “What did you do”, Stillian asked? Duress looked the young man over and offered, “Tell me your story son and I will tell you mine”.
Over a cold breakfast Stillian told Duress the events that had transpired in the community and how he remembered running into the field of daisies where all became still and quite for him. He relayed how he awoke in the morning to find that his nightmare had been real. Duress for his part told Stillian about his prayer to Ilmater for the babe and how the Crying God cared for those who eased the suffering of others. After the meal was finished and some possessions packed Duress knelt with Stillian in a field of daisies as Stillian offered his first prayer to Ilmater.
__________________________________________________ ___________________________
Duress stood in the doorway of the home in Heliogabalus looking at the young boy. With great sympathy in his voice Duress once again pleaded, “But I have found a good home for you and your sister Stillian. These fine people have agreed to take you in and teach you more of Ilmater!”
“I will not be left behind!” Stillian retorted.
“Please Stillian. You have much to learn and your time to serve Ilmater will come.” Duress comforted.
“It may not be my time but I will not be left behind again!” Stillian demanded.
Duress inhaled deeply preparing to continue his ongoing debate with Stillian when the fresh fragrance of daisies overwhelmed his senses and he relented with a defeated sigh, “It appears you are correct Stillian. You will not be left behind.” Looking to the heavens and then again to the boy Duress continued, “Ready your things for my return but pack lightly. It seems we have need of another horse before we depart unless you wish to do the walking from now on.”
(Also, welcome!)
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