Creating my character - Session 0 (Kal-Arath)

The creation of Lienna of Rhal

Photo by Brett Sayles

My first Kal-Arath character, Lienna of Rhal. I rolled for her weapon, and then again to see if she was a dual wielder. Thus, the two hatchets. I also rolled to see what skill she would have and ended up with rage/bloodlust, so I am guessing we will see the two hatchets in action with a lot of blood involved.

With images of axes making bloody work of her enemies in a rage, I figured it would be fitting for her to worship some kind of blood or war god. Thus, the War God Baal-Kur came into existence. I spent 20 of her silver to get some healing herbs, leaving her with 40 silver in her purse.

Name: Lienna
        HP: 5 / 5 Fate: 1   Level: 1   XP: 0
Str: +1 Tou: +0   Agi: +2   Int: +0    Pre: +1

Weapon: 2x Hatchet d6/D - Can be thrown. On critical, can forgo extra damage die to automatically grapple opponent.
Armour: None

Skills:
1. *Add d6 rage/bloodlust damage until rage ends in d6 rounds. After rage ends, roll d6. On 1-3 you make all rolls at disadvantage until long rest. After a long rest you may rage again.

Equipment:                           Silver: 40
1. Hatchet                           2. Hatchet
3. Healing Herbs (Zhar’um - 5 doses) 4.
5.                                   6.
7.                                   8.
9.                                   10.

Rations:
[X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Main adventure/quest: Slavers came to your village and burned it down, taking some of your people with them. Find them, rescue your people, and exact a terrible vengeance.

Background

Lienna pulled her cloak tight against the heavy autumn rain. It had taken her most of the day traveling from Thol-Kai, where she had left the caravan she had guarded. Fifty silver and paid rations during the job had made for a measly pay, but it was all she had managed to find. But at least she had gotten some Zhar’um for her grandmother. They would surely help her through her illness.

As she cleared the last hill, she had already begun thinking about her mother’s hot stew near the fireplace. Looking down the slope at the small village, something seemed off. The buildings had… changed? And only a few of the houses had light coming out from the windows. _Something is wrong_ Picking up the pace, heart pounding with worry, she almost ran down the muddy road. Rounding the potters’ house, she stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her house. No… what had been her house. Her home. A burnt-down husk of a building, and only now did the smell of burnt wood reach her brain properly. Speechless, she turned around, slowly taking in the carnage that had turned the small village into a place of death and despair.

Only three houses remained more or less intact; everything else had burned to the ground. Recent from the smell, but long enough ago that the fires had died out. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" The scream tore through the rain, startling her, before she realized it was her scream. Her scream of agony and loss.

It could have been hours or minutes before she felt the gentle touch on her shoulders. Kneeling in the mud, shoulders sunken with despair and tears flowing down her cheeks, she had sat there long enough for the water to seep through her black leather pants and worn boots.

"Lienna, child. Come with me." Again, the gentle touch on her shoulders. "Lienna. Come. Let's get some food in you. I'll tell you everything."

Slowly, Lienna turned her head, looking at the person crouching next to her. Noraxa, their neighbor, an old strong woman. "My mother? Sister? My grandmother."

A gentle hand against her cheek. "Let's get you warm inside first. I'll tell you everything."

She let the old woman lead her inside, mind numb, body cold from the rain and the shock. "Let's get you out of these wet clothes, Lienna."

"What… what happened to my family?"

"Patience, child. Patience."

Finally, she caved in. Following whatever Noraxa told her to do, she got out of her wet clothes and replaced them with a dry blanket. Huddled before the fire on a wobbly chair, she sat with a hot bowl of soup. She took a few spoonfuls before looking at Noraxa.

"What happened to my family, Nor?"

Tears filled Nor's eyes. "Slavers. Five days ago. Killed most of whom they couldn't use. Set fire to the village before they headed north." Nor put a hand on her shoulder. "They killed your grandmother Li."

Lienna felt dead inside. "My sister? Mother?"

"They took them." Nor sobbed. "They took them both." She almost couldn't look at Lienna when she continued. "They didn't even try to hide what fate they would be selling them for." Lienna trembled. Her mother had been very young when she gave birth to her; her little sister had followed only a year later, and despite their hard life, both had stunning looks.

Something died inside her, and then she hardened. "I'm going to get them back. All of them!"

Noraxa stared at her, her face filling with both hope and dread. "But there are ten of them, Lienna. And you are just… you?"

"I don't care. I'll hunt them down and kill them all!" Her voice was as hard as her determination. She made to stand, but Noraxa put a hand on her arm. "Not tonight, child. Rest tonight. The rain will make it too hard for you to track them tonight." Her old wrinkled hand touched Lienna's cheek. A good night's sleep will do you good. And you can cover more ground during the day."

Lienna sighed. She knew the old woman was right. And she had been on the road all day already. She needed rest and sleep if she were to get her family and the other villagers back.

"I know."

She finished her meal and then talked with Noraxa for a little while before both of them turned in for the night.

There, Lienna is ready for a tour on the steppe. With a little background to go along with the quest.