In the winter of 638, a lone figure appeared inside the city of Cear. An oddity at first sight, this small woman had large black curls, a warm skin tone, and an active pair of blue eyes--hidden behind a most gaudy black and orange mask. She wore a rugged red leather outfit, and was known to carry a very large pack that was always filled with any amount of curious things. This woman, who would reveal herself to be named "Ioe", had a quirky demeanor. She had sticky fingers, so to speak; things often disappeared in her presence. But, she was also known to be generous; at any moment, a passer-by may receive a bundle of goods, some of it junk, but some of it worthwhile. In social terms, she was consistently agreeable, but never personal. Few people had managed to stop and have a conversation with Ioe. Fewer still knew anything relevant about her at all. The occasional adventurer, having delved in some of the city's dark places, could possibly recount an encounter with her. But for the most part, she was largely a mystery.
Ioe had a secret. In her youth, she was passed between families, not able to stay with anyone for very long. Around the time of the new moon, the child was prone to mischief. But the young girl's big blue eyes, pretty dark hair, and sweet niceties would buy her out of trouble. So while caretakers could not stand her, they could not stand to send her off unprotected, either. About adolescence, yellow eyes accompanied her mischief, and later, fleshy nubs situated above her temples. It was clear; Ioe was not human at all. With an acute consciousness of her difference, Ioe left the safety--the simultaneous danger--of human care to fend for herself.
Though not graced with magic of the arcane or physically very strong, Ioe was blessed with a clever mind, careful patience, and a knack for getting her hands on things that was otherwise forbidden. She lived on the outskirts of the inner city, her humble ego, love of learning, and escape artist tricks enabling her to live to grow into adulthood. As she aged, her curse intensified: reddish horns would sprout, her love of mischief would grow, and all of abilities would strengthen, as if she was becoming an entirely different being. Though this proved meddlesome, Ioe was still able to survive by traveling to new cities periodically, and keeping people at a safe distance.
In the Winter of 638, Ioe appeared in Cear. And here, her life was thoroughly overturned.
Demon at the Gates
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Sahji
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:19 pm
- Main Player Character: Terrah
- Other PCs: Ioe, Fyvre, Willow
- Bioware Username: Sahjii
- Location: Midwest USA (CST)
Encounters
Those that met the young woman in Cear regularly were either fence contacts or freelance adventurers. Seizing the opportunity to scour hidden, dangerous places for crowns and information, Ioe often accompanied them into the dark depths of the city. Resourceful, Ioe almost always had a few tricks up her sleeve for when the going got tough; a wand of lightning, potions of speed, a variety of medicines and scrolls that made her more than a little unpredictable. She hardly lent herself to the front lines of fighting, but shot, with her trusty crossbow, from the shadows. Always shying on the side of caution, Ioe often voiced her concerns and offered information and, at times, was there to drag companions out of the line of fire. If during these adventures an enchanted dagger or interesting tincture went missing, it might be returned later in use, or never seen again.
Some were welcoming to Ioe's help. Others intensely distrusted her every move. Ioe made sure to avoid the latter and help the former. In some cases, she was placed in the awkward position of being with both. Arguments would erupt over whether or not she was really a thief, and whether her intentions, albeit on the surface quite helpful, were not more sinister.
The spring of 639 would usher in a variety of new encounters. A severe infestation of beetles that led to the migration of ancient queens; the release of strange gigantic worms that ravaged the countryside (in both cases, Ioe would walk away with an egg of the creature, which would be promptly sold into the black market); discovery of a Kuo-toa-infested passageway connecting Cear's library and aqueducts; a bugbear-led attack on the city gates; a swarm of elementals, setting fire to Cear's farms. Slowly, Ioe was pulled out of the periphery of sight.
A chance meeting in Cear's sewers initiated the shift. After a close encounter with a guard, Ioe had been forced to seek safety underground. There, she observed a pair of individuals investigating disturbing reports of rat activity. She was able to tell them about the strange men who were coming in and out of the area, and they welcomed her involvement. One was a priestess, native to Cear. The other, an elvish swordsman. The three together discovered a gathering of wererats and werewolves, revealing a joint effort to dismantle and spread through Cear. It culminated in a chase to the city's docks, and the slaying, by the swordsman alone, of a werewolf. In the end, the priestess promised further investigation, and Ioe offered her information-gathering skills. In this way, Ioe gained her first true ally, Gabrielle Dawnstar.
Some were welcoming to Ioe's help. Others intensely distrusted her every move. Ioe made sure to avoid the latter and help the former. In some cases, she was placed in the awkward position of being with both. Arguments would erupt over whether or not she was really a thief, and whether her intentions, albeit on the surface quite helpful, were not more sinister.
The spring of 639 would usher in a variety of new encounters. A severe infestation of beetles that led to the migration of ancient queens; the release of strange gigantic worms that ravaged the countryside (in both cases, Ioe would walk away with an egg of the creature, which would be promptly sold into the black market); discovery of a Kuo-toa-infested passageway connecting Cear's library and aqueducts; a bugbear-led attack on the city gates; a swarm of elementals, setting fire to Cear's farms. Slowly, Ioe was pulled out of the periphery of sight.
A chance meeting in Cear's sewers initiated the shift. After a close encounter with a guard, Ioe had been forced to seek safety underground. There, she observed a pair of individuals investigating disturbing reports of rat activity. She was able to tell them about the strange men who were coming in and out of the area, and they welcomed her involvement. One was a priestess, native to Cear. The other, an elvish swordsman. The three together discovered a gathering of wererats and werewolves, revealing a joint effort to dismantle and spread through Cear. It culminated in a chase to the city's docks, and the slaying, by the swordsman alone, of a werewolf. In the end, the priestess promised further investigation, and Ioe offered her information-gathering skills. In this way, Ioe gained her first true ally, Gabrielle Dawnstar.
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Sahji
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:19 pm
- Main Player Character: Terrah
- Other PCs: Ioe, Fyvre, Willow
- Bioware Username: Sahjii
- Location: Midwest USA (CST)
"Allies"
While Ioe had a tendency to find herself in trouble, Gabrielle had a tendency to help people in trouble. Resultingly, they came into contact often.
Gabrielle was a gentle woman, who, in contrast to Ioe, seemed at peace within. Her most grievous of offenses was her oblivious nature, so that she wasn't always aware of their surroundings, and her general lack of fear of things Ioe felt ought to be feared. Gabrielle would take the front entrance; Ioe would take the back. Still, Ioe couldn't find it in herself to consider her a friend. A priestess of Utu, Gabrielle was holy and Ioe "demonic"; On some level, Ioe expected the priestess to eventually try and expel her from existence.
Beside Gabrielle, Ioe would encounter a variety of people. She found a symbiotic existence with the half orcs of the city due to her patience, appreciation for something large to hide behind, and ability to identify things. In her more shadowy excursions, she contacted the tough halfling Soppi "Soap", a rascal who tended to beat Ioe to all the best hiding places. Ioe often stumbled into the eccentric alchemist and "doctor" that was Heironius Blackaster. Now and again, Ioe would meet the elvish foreigner and naturalist, Handuil, and Sator, an opinionated elf spellcaster who sometimes bit off more than he could chew. And then there was the one-eyed sellsword, Rikk Duluth, whose bluntness and lack of social grace often put him on at odds with Ioe.
The last three mentioned and Gabrielle would at one point have a meeting that put Ioe on the spotlight--whether she liked it or not.
Gabrielle was a gentle woman, who, in contrast to Ioe, seemed at peace within. Her most grievous of offenses was her oblivious nature, so that she wasn't always aware of their surroundings, and her general lack of fear of things Ioe felt ought to be feared. Gabrielle would take the front entrance; Ioe would take the back. Still, Ioe couldn't find it in herself to consider her a friend. A priestess of Utu, Gabrielle was holy and Ioe "demonic"; On some level, Ioe expected the priestess to eventually try and expel her from existence.
Beside Gabrielle, Ioe would encounter a variety of people. She found a symbiotic existence with the half orcs of the city due to her patience, appreciation for something large to hide behind, and ability to identify things. In her more shadowy excursions, she contacted the tough halfling Soppi "Soap", a rascal who tended to beat Ioe to all the best hiding places. Ioe often stumbled into the eccentric alchemist and "doctor" that was Heironius Blackaster. Now and again, Ioe would meet the elvish foreigner and naturalist, Handuil, and Sator, an opinionated elf spellcaster who sometimes bit off more than he could chew. And then there was the one-eyed sellsword, Rikk Duluth, whose bluntness and lack of social grace often put him on at odds with Ioe.
The last three mentioned and Gabrielle would at one point have a meeting that put Ioe on the spotlight--whether she liked it or not.
Last edited by Sahji on Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:54 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Sahji
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:19 pm
- Main Player Character: Terrah
- Other PCs: Ioe, Fyvre, Willow
- Bioware Username: Sahjii
- Location: Midwest USA (CST)
Ioe and the Mask
"She is afraid of the guards... "
It was after a long, and dangerous expedition into the caves that housed Cear's neighborhood bugbears, a warm spring afternoon. Ioe and Gabrielle were speaking to the captain about the bugbear situation. The loner Handuil took rest in the shade, apart from the others, while back near the Mistyvale, Rikk and Sator, in assuredly the most manly of tones, gossiped about the mask-wearing girl. They discussed her behavior, assuming Ioe wasn't paying attention. But when she heard her name spoke, Ioe had mentally snapped to it.
"Why?"
"Wears a mask for crying out loud."
"Perhaps she is hideous?"
"That was my theory too."
Ioe felt her face grow red, but continued on pretending not to hear. Meanwhile, Gabrielle continued her chat with the captain. Only Handuil visibly took notice, turning to look at the men with his usual stony expression.
"But the hiding in the dark...nervous around authority... "
"Probably because light likens the finer details of her visage."
A mixture of anger, shame, and jealousy stirred within Ioe that she hadn't touched for a long while. Why did things have to always become about her mask?
"We'll stick with that." Sator surmised, "She's hideous."
About that time, Handuil mobilized. He and Sator shared biting words in elvish, constituting mostly of the pigheadedness of a certain one-eyed human and the folly of judgement. When things looked like they were going to turn to blows, Handuil simply left through the gates.
When the men approached later, a sulky, distressed Ioe kept far from them. While Sator kindly assured Ioe that she was 'among friends' and had 'nothing to worry about', Rikk called her out. "That's... " He took a step toward her; she stepped back. "Kind of.." Step, step back. "....Annoying."
Her heart fluttering guiltily, Ioe cast her eyes down and uttered her disarmed appeal. "Yeah...sorry."
At that moment, Gabrielle caught on to the exchange and intervened. "Hey, stop that." She glared at Rikk, and came between the two. "You're scaring her.."
In all nonchalance, Rikk shrugged his shoulders. He claimed no intent, but Gabrielle was hearing none of it.
"That's obviously the effect you seem to have on her though. So don't overdo it, alright?" Ioe was still and silent. "She didn't do anything to you, right?"
There, Ioe released a sigh. It was embarrassing, hiding behind Gabrielle. Or was it tiresome? Always hiding...
"Come..." Sator suddenly called. "Let us talk plainly."
Suddenly, anger burst out from Ioe. "What??" She snapped, drawing her gaze up from the ground.
Sator, assuming Ioe's fear had something to do with the tension between Handuil and they, attempted to explain. "Handuil merely overheard part of a conversation that Rikk and I were having."
Ioe's eyes narrowed knowingly. "Yeah, I was there."
The men suddenly shifted, uncomfortably glancing at one another.
"Were you?"
"Did you hear?"
"Hmm..."
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow at their responses. "Now now, what did you say?"
"Then let me first apologize..." Sator was backtracking, attempting some damage control. But Rikk was annoyed.
"Apologize? She's the odd one!"
Sator, unable to find a middleground, then decided to agree with Rikk. Ioe couldn't believe what she was hearing.
As things were getting convoluted, Gabrielle asked once again. "You both seemed like 'so she heard' as if you said something bad. What did you say?"
While Rikk accused Ioe of skulking around, Sator proceeded with a proper answer for Ioe. "We were merely speculating as to why you are so nervous around the guards."
"Like it's any of your business." Ioe heard herself snap, before Sator could get much more out. The anger was surprising to her, but felt good. A bit dryly, Sator attempted to continue afterward.
"...and anyone in authority really...and, of course--"
"They were talking about my mask." Ioe interrupted to give Gabrielle the straight answer she was seeking.
There, things got increasingly convoluted. Nobody, least of all Ioe, expected her resulting reaction.
"Actually, I'm more interested in her... compulsions." Rikk opted.
"You DO wear a mask." Sator pointed out.
Gabrielle sighed.
"I LIKE it." Ioe defended.
"But, you see how conclusions could be drawn..."
Ioe had enough. Abandoning forethought, she strut over to stand beside Gabrielle and pulled the mask off. No horns; Blue eyes burned righteously at them. "I'm not a monster, okay??"
It took a moment for the men to process. "Not so bad after all." Rikk thought to comment.
Having finally said what she needed to say, Ioe replaced the mask and turned, walking away from them. However, the argument wore on without her. Rikk defended his position, explaining that he was wondering about her compulsions, and that the mask was merely an object of jest. Nevertheless, Gabrielle chided their method of approaching Ioe, and left to finish earlier business.
It was after a long, and dangerous expedition into the caves that housed Cear's neighborhood bugbears, a warm spring afternoon. Ioe and Gabrielle were speaking to the captain about the bugbear situation. The loner Handuil took rest in the shade, apart from the others, while back near the Mistyvale, Rikk and Sator, in assuredly the most manly of tones, gossiped about the mask-wearing girl. They discussed her behavior, assuming Ioe wasn't paying attention. But when she heard her name spoke, Ioe had mentally snapped to it.
"Why?"
"Wears a mask for crying out loud."
"Perhaps she is hideous?"
"That was my theory too."
Ioe felt her face grow red, but continued on pretending not to hear. Meanwhile, Gabrielle continued her chat with the captain. Only Handuil visibly took notice, turning to look at the men with his usual stony expression.
"But the hiding in the dark...nervous around authority... "
"Probably because light likens the finer details of her visage."
A mixture of anger, shame, and jealousy stirred within Ioe that she hadn't touched for a long while. Why did things have to always become about her mask?
"We'll stick with that." Sator surmised, "She's hideous."
About that time, Handuil mobilized. He and Sator shared biting words in elvish, constituting mostly of the pigheadedness of a certain one-eyed human and the folly of judgement. When things looked like they were going to turn to blows, Handuil simply left through the gates.
When the men approached later, a sulky, distressed Ioe kept far from them. While Sator kindly assured Ioe that she was 'among friends' and had 'nothing to worry about', Rikk called her out. "That's... " He took a step toward her; she stepped back. "Kind of.." Step, step back. "....Annoying."
Her heart fluttering guiltily, Ioe cast her eyes down and uttered her disarmed appeal. "Yeah...sorry."
At that moment, Gabrielle caught on to the exchange and intervened. "Hey, stop that." She glared at Rikk, and came between the two. "You're scaring her.."
In all nonchalance, Rikk shrugged his shoulders. He claimed no intent, but Gabrielle was hearing none of it.
"That's obviously the effect you seem to have on her though. So don't overdo it, alright?" Ioe was still and silent. "She didn't do anything to you, right?"
There, Ioe released a sigh. It was embarrassing, hiding behind Gabrielle. Or was it tiresome? Always hiding...
"Come..." Sator suddenly called. "Let us talk plainly."
Suddenly, anger burst out from Ioe. "What??" She snapped, drawing her gaze up from the ground.
Sator, assuming Ioe's fear had something to do with the tension between Handuil and they, attempted to explain. "Handuil merely overheard part of a conversation that Rikk and I were having."
Ioe's eyes narrowed knowingly. "Yeah, I was there."
The men suddenly shifted, uncomfortably glancing at one another.
"Were you?"
"Did you hear?"
"Hmm..."
Gabrielle raised an eyebrow at their responses. "Now now, what did you say?"
"Then let me first apologize..." Sator was backtracking, attempting some damage control. But Rikk was annoyed.
"Apologize? She's the odd one!"
Sator, unable to find a middleground, then decided to agree with Rikk. Ioe couldn't believe what she was hearing.
As things were getting convoluted, Gabrielle asked once again. "You both seemed like 'so she heard' as if you said something bad. What did you say?"
While Rikk accused Ioe of skulking around, Sator proceeded with a proper answer for Ioe. "We were merely speculating as to why you are so nervous around the guards."
"Like it's any of your business." Ioe heard herself snap, before Sator could get much more out. The anger was surprising to her, but felt good. A bit dryly, Sator attempted to continue afterward.
"...and anyone in authority really...and, of course--"
"They were talking about my mask." Ioe interrupted to give Gabrielle the straight answer she was seeking.
There, things got increasingly convoluted. Nobody, least of all Ioe, expected her resulting reaction.
"Actually, I'm more interested in her... compulsions." Rikk opted.
"You DO wear a mask." Sator pointed out.
Gabrielle sighed.
"I LIKE it." Ioe defended.
"But, you see how conclusions could be drawn..."
Ioe had enough. Abandoning forethought, she strut over to stand beside Gabrielle and pulled the mask off. No horns; Blue eyes burned righteously at them. "I'm not a monster, okay??"
It took a moment for the men to process. "Not so bad after all." Rikk thought to comment.
Having finally said what she needed to say, Ioe replaced the mask and turned, walking away from them. However, the argument wore on without her. Rikk defended his position, explaining that he was wondering about her compulsions, and that the mask was merely an object of jest. Nevertheless, Gabrielle chided their method of approaching Ioe, and left to finish earlier business.
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Sahji
- Dasarian Scout
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:19 pm
- Main Player Character: Terrah
- Other PCs: Ioe, Fyvre, Willow
- Bioware Username: Sahjii
- Location: Midwest USA (CST)
A Hard Start
The other person who often seemed to stumble across Ioe in the heat of trouble was Rikk. Somehow, they repeatedly met in the midst of some extraordinary disaster or another. The crackling of flames or the shouts of battle never permitted proper introductions, but it was enough for Rikk to get off a sarcastic comment or two, and enough for Ioe to put him on the "to avoid" list. He was coarse, battle-scared, and well armed--definitely a danger.
"You're okay, right?" Rikk asked her.
Long before this question and the mask spectacle, they would finally manage to exchange names. Sator and Rikk stood side by side, Ioe several feet across from them, shifting nervously. Gabrielle was nearby, but she was distracted with one of the injured guards, and Ioe was left with the men. It was an uncertain prelude.
"So..." Rikk began, his single dark eye falling on Ioe. "What was your name again?" As if to finalize the question, he spat on the ground.
Trying not to show her disgust, Ioe responded. "Oh, uh...Ioe."
"Eye-oh?" He sounded it out, almost seeming displeased. Or maybe it was skepticism? In any case, Ioe forced a friendly tone in her voice.
"Yeah. I uh, know things. Heh." Nervous laughter. Meetings were always a bit strained; most people doubted truthful identification from a masked person.
After a moment of two of awkward silence, Ioe reflected the question back to him. "Um, so, who are you?"
"Me?"
She nodded.
"Rikk." He stated.
"Hi." A greeting, though it sounded more like a question.
"Hello." He responded, somehow with even less enthusiasm. They nodded and waved slightly, as if it was necessary. And then there was more awkward silence, until Ioe changed the subject.
"So..did anyone tell the guard my name?"
Gabrielle returned from her healing job for a moment. "I didn't." She reassured her. "I know you don't want it spread among the guards." Ioe and she shared smiles.
"I don't think they would care anyway." Rikk brusquely injected. Ioe looked at him, uncertain of his mood. She attempted to excuse her question as Gabrielle excused herself to attend to more business.
"Well, he seemed a bit mad about me..."
"Probably because you were trying to hide in plain sight." Ioe internally cringed, but her half smile stayed put. No, she had to salvage whatever amenability she could.
"W-well, I was just..."
"What's wrong with you?"
The words smacked her over the head like a brick wall. Startled, Ioe rapidly blinked at the air in front of her face. A bit of redness tinged her cheeks as she fought and failed to come up with a response. When it was clear that no recovery was possible, Ioe tittered a parting.
"Uh, nothing...! Bye!" Fleeing the scene, she turned and briskly set off toward Gabrielle. Rikk watched after, discontented. After she became engaged in a conversation, Sator spoke up.
"Isn't it obvious?" He intoned. "She is afraid of the guards..."
"You're okay, right?" Rikk asked her.
Long before this question and the mask spectacle, they would finally manage to exchange names. Sator and Rikk stood side by side, Ioe several feet across from them, shifting nervously. Gabrielle was nearby, but she was distracted with one of the injured guards, and Ioe was left with the men. It was an uncertain prelude.
"So..." Rikk began, his single dark eye falling on Ioe. "What was your name again?" As if to finalize the question, he spat on the ground.
Trying not to show her disgust, Ioe responded. "Oh, uh...Ioe."
"Eye-oh?" He sounded it out, almost seeming displeased. Or maybe it was skepticism? In any case, Ioe forced a friendly tone in her voice.
"Yeah. I uh, know things. Heh." Nervous laughter. Meetings were always a bit strained; most people doubted truthful identification from a masked person.
After a moment of two of awkward silence, Ioe reflected the question back to him. "Um, so, who are you?"
"Me?"
She nodded.
"Rikk." He stated.
"Hi." A greeting, though it sounded more like a question.
"Hello." He responded, somehow with even less enthusiasm. They nodded and waved slightly, as if it was necessary. And then there was more awkward silence, until Ioe changed the subject.
"So..did anyone tell the guard my name?"
Gabrielle returned from her healing job for a moment. "I didn't." She reassured her. "I know you don't want it spread among the guards." Ioe and she shared smiles.
"I don't think they would care anyway." Rikk brusquely injected. Ioe looked at him, uncertain of his mood. She attempted to excuse her question as Gabrielle excused herself to attend to more business.
"Well, he seemed a bit mad about me..."
"Probably because you were trying to hide in plain sight." Ioe internally cringed, but her half smile stayed put. No, she had to salvage whatever amenability she could.
"W-well, I was just..."
"What's wrong with you?"
The words smacked her over the head like a brick wall. Startled, Ioe rapidly blinked at the air in front of her face. A bit of redness tinged her cheeks as she fought and failed to come up with a response. When it was clear that no recovery was possible, Ioe tittered a parting.
"Uh, nothing...! Bye!" Fleeing the scene, she turned and briskly set off toward Gabrielle. Rikk watched after, discontented. After she became engaged in a conversation, Sator spoke up.
"Isn't it obvious?" He intoned. "She is afraid of the guards..."