#Scadia Morku

[a-tired-birds-ramblings]

The Scorcher: Scadia Morku

(Yes, ANOTHER DnD character. She’s a Drow Warlock, with a celestial patron! Because of this, she generally takes a supportive role in battle, but her attacking spells are nothing to take lightly. Here’s where she came from.)

(I think the story might have ended up a bit choppy with the time skips, so please, let me know if it’s hard to understand ^^; )

A flame burst through the doors, raging as holy flame should. Walking through it, like a monster out of hell, came a Drow woman. She had a grin on her face, and her arms open wide. The priest on the pulpit recognized her, and wailed, falling to his knees to pray to whatever god would listen.

“Come now, sir.” The woman called out. “Surely you can face your justice with some dignity?” When the man gave no answer, she sighed. A beam of light came down through the stained glass behind him, and as his clothes caught fire, he clung hopelessly to the golden icon he held in his hands. When he was naught but a pile of ash, Scadia took the idol.

“You made this with the gold you took from any fool who believed your doomsday prophecies.” She said to the ash pile. “Now, it belongs to me. I have judged your worth, and found you to be disgusting. May Tymora bless you with greater luck in the next life.”

Then, she spat on the ashes, and added “Not that you deserve it.”

With a kick, she scattered them, leaving them to mix with the ashes of his corrupt church. Taking anything of value, Scadia left it scattered throughout the village. The next morning, word quickly spread about a strange holy woman who had rid the town of a manipulative, corrupt priest, and had returned the people’s possessions to them.

When she heard these rumours, Scadia could not help but laugh. “Sure, a holy woman.” She said, taking another deep swig of her mead. “Couldn’t be more off.”

A holy woman wouldn’t have gotten her powers the night before her execution. And a holy woman certainly wouldn’t have proceeded to proposition the emissary who delivered these powers the following night.

She remembered the strange pride she felt as she watched the fire spread out from the gallows she should have been hanging at. The sense of accomplishment as the city was abandoned, the despicable magistrate fleeing in gilded wagons while the townsfolk tried in vain to douse the flames. She felt bad for the townsfolk, at least.

But not one of them had stood up to aid her as they saw her on trial for simply existing. So, in turn, she did nothing to help them.

“You could have helped them.” The emissary said as the fires raged, the light shining from her almost too much for the Drow’s sensitive eyes.

“They were content to watch an innocent woman die.” Scadia replied. “They have rolled their dice, and, thanks to you, I still came out on top.”

“Such is fate.” The emissary replied, smiling.

“Such is fate.” Scadia echoed. After a moment of listening to the crackle of the flames, she turned abruptly to the emissary, saying “I never caught your name.”

“Ellaihah.” The celestial said.

“Well then, Ellaihah.” Scadia said, still feeling the rush of her new spellcasting abilities through her. “Care for a drink?”

By the next daybreak, her pact had been ratified several times over, and Scadia realized that she certainly could bear sunlight, if only in certain circumstances.

After that day, she had more of a goal behind her wandering. Sure, going from place to place and gaining new magical powers was interesting, but now she had something more. By helping those crushed under the boot of the powerful, Scadia could prove to those who gave her the powers that saved her life that she deserved it, and that someday she might be worthy to actually be recognized as a hero, and not just a vigilante.

And that would be a great improvement to where she had started.

A small farming village in the Underdark. Barely scraping by, being beaten or starved for any disobedience. I hated every second. It’s a good thing we were close to the surface.

Some adventurers had been fighting on the surface, and one of them cast some kind of earthquake spell. We felt it, and saw it’s effects. It was pretty damn powerful, because I started to feel a breeze of cool air near the edge of my family’s land.

It was the surface. Within my grasp.

I got everything I owned together in minutes, and left my family without a trace. I was almost an adult, and I was doomed to either become my parents or die resisting Drow society. I decided to leave.

The moon was high in the sky that night, I remember it well. There wasn’t a cloud in sight. I was happy.

I wandered for a few hours before coming upon a town. I remembered that, on the surface at least, slipping into a town unannounced in the night was cause for alarm. So, I waited until daybreak.

The sun was warm, but far too harsh for my eyes. I had a bit of trouble navigating my way back to the town. And when I had, the guards there pointed their pikes at me without hesitation. I tried to explain that I was just a traveler, but they seized my belongings and searched my bag.

Inside, they found three things that, in the magistrate’s minds, proved I was an assassin. These were a dagger I had for self-defence, a small vial of a spider’s poison, and a set of thieves’ tools. All of which were the only things I had to remind me of home.

They threw them into a bonfire, and sentenced me to death, for plotting to assassinate the magistrate. As two armed guards escorted me away, I saw no pity in the townsfolk’s eyes. Just suspicion and judgement.

They offered me a last wish. I asked to die under the moon.

As I sat in my cell, waiting for the moon to rise, I heard a voice. A voice asking if I wanted a second chance. I half heartedly agreed, but then the voice asked again. This time, with this addendum:

“Say it with conviction.”

I stood up, and from the bottom of my heart, I begged for a second chance. I felt the world brighten around me, and a light shone from outside the window of the cell. But this wasn’t daylight. My eyes could take it.

This was a divine light.

A woman came to me, dressed in brilliant plate mail, carrying a claymore on her back. I was stunned by her mere presence. As a sort of reflex, I fell to a knee and closed my eyes. But she kneeled down to look me in the eyes, and said this:

“You do not have to fear me. I am here to help you, not control you.”

And the rest is history. Now I travel the world, casting my lot with the ideal of justice firm in my mind. I refuse to let anyone else suffer the injustices I did. One day, I will meet Ellaihah again, on the other side. And I hope, on that day, she will greet me as a hero.

[a-tired-birds-ramblings]

Interview Meme

Tagged by:

@madebyeternalwords

​

Tagging: anyone who wants to do it!

1. Choose an OC

2. Answer the questions as them

3. Tag 5 others

SCADIA “SCORCHER” MORKU

(I’ll have her backstory up on my blog soon! Until then, here’s some tidbits on my newest DnD character~)

1. What is your name?

Scadia. 

2. Do you know why you’re named that?

It was apparently the name of my grandmother. I don’t know for sure.

3. Are you single or taken?

Single. Have been my whole life.

4. Have any abilities or powers?

Hell yeah! I can cast spells with the best of them, and my good friends upstairs have given me some interesting abilities.

5. Stop being a Mary Sue.

Oh, so because I’m a Drow Warlock I’m a Mary Sue? Fuck off. 

6. What’s your eye color?

Red, with black sclera. Pretty common for Drow.

7. How about your hair color?

Dark grey.

8. Have any family members?

None I’d care to speak to. Ever again. 

 9. Oh? How about pets?

Nope. My spells can get a little wild, so I haven’t gotten a familiar or anything similar.

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like?

Ironically, most priests. A lot of them are in it for themselves, and would sooner take someone’s money and send them off with a prayer than actually help them.

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

I love to read. The surface world’s literature is a far cry from the stuff I used to read in the Underdark. 

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before?

Obviously. But never anyone who didn’t deserve it.

3. Ever… killed anyone before?

Second verse, same as the first.

14. What kind of animal are you?

Ah, probably a bat. Or a spider.

15. Name your worst habits?

I go a little... overboard, when an issue becomes personal.

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

I read a story, once, about a Drow Ranger named Drizzt. He was regarded as a hero on the surface world. I hope I can be recognized like that someday.

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

Gay.

18. Do you go to school?

Didn’t have anything like that back in the Underdark. Just my parents teaching me how to fight. I taught myself most everything else.

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day?

Hell no. I would be an awful mother.

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

Hahah, not really. I do have my share of past lovers, though.

21. What are you most afraid of?

Probably... death. I’m no saint, mind you. I’m pretty sure I know what’s on the other side for me.

22. What do you usually wear?

My patron gifted me with some grey and white robes when I made my pact, they came reinforced with leather armor. 

23. What’s one food that tempts you?

Honestly? Anything sweet. Sugarcane doesn’t grow in the Underdark, so when I discovered it on the surface, I nearly lost it.

24. Am I annoying to you?

Nah, not really.

25. Well, it’s still not over!

Oh boy.

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

Not really sure what that means. I was part of a farm village back home, but now I just sort of live on my own. Day-to-day, you know?

27. How many friends do you have?

Only one, really. My patron, an emissary of Tymora. She saved my life, and gave me the power to fight for myself.

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

Ooh, don’t tempt me. I love it to death.

29. Favorite drink?

Honeyed mead. Once again, anything sweet!

30. What’s your favorite place?

Not really sure yet. I certainly didn’t have one back home, and I haven’t been on the surface too long either.

31. Are you interested in anyone?

In terms of a serious relationship? Only one. And she knows who she is~

32. That was a stupid question…

Hahah, don’t worry about it. You aren’t the first person to ask, and I certainly hope you won’t be the last!

33. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?

Lake. The ocean is.... far too big and open. It creeps me out.

34. What’s your type?

Someone who has their own set of beliefs that they won’t give up on, no matter what. That dedication is really admirable. That, and... any woman who’s taller than me. Just... wow.

35. Any fetishes?

Woooah, I’m not telling you that.

36. Camping or outdoors?

Wait, I thought “camp” was a noun. You’re telling me it’s a verb too? What?!

[a-tired-birds-ramblings]

A Formal Request

(Short writing piece featuring my Warforged Artificer, Fidget, and my Drow Cleric, Scadia. Had a piece of dialogue stuck in my head and so this happened.)

“Scadia. May I have a word?”

“Sure. Here, or in private?”

I looked away for a moment, not meeting her eyes. She was sitting near a bonfire, at the semi-permanent camp our adventuring party had constructed. Since we’d be doing business in this region for some time, it seemed like the most efficient decision. One of our other members looked at me curiously before I responded.

“In private. Please.”

She nodded, and we walked to the edge of the camp. It was getting late, but the moonlight was bright enough to see by. She took a deep breath, taking in the cool night air. It took me a moment to find my voice again.

“We’ve been traveling together for quite some time. I’ve learned a lot from journeying with you and your party.”

She nodded, leaning back against a tree.

“However... I must ask you to do something.” I said.

She turned to look at me, asking “What would that be?”

“I... need you to do or say something very cruel to me. At your earliest convenience.”

The silence was almost unbearable. Her eyes, two garnets reflecting the moonlight, narrowed on me. “What?”

“It isn’t that I don’t appreciate you as a companion,” I began, words spilling forth now, “your input is always welcome and your effectiveness is unquestionable. But, I find I can hardly focus recently.”

There was a beat of silence. “How would me insulting you solve that?”

“Well, I...” Words failed me for a moment, and I could see in her expression that my request had insulted her. “I cannot stop thinking of you! When I’m resting, or traveling, or even when I am working! I fear that the quality of my work is going to deteriorate if I do not fix this soon. In our work, carelessness can kill.”

Without thinking, I had taken a small metal cube from my satchel, turning a dial on one side. As the silence stretched on, I unconsciously removed one of the panels of the cube and replaced it with glass. Scadia did not look away from me, but I could not meet her eyes.

“You want me to hurt your feelings, so that you won’t be distracted by thinking about me?”

“That is... one way of putting it.”

“Fidget, are you trying to tell me something?”

I froze, slowly looking up at her. “What do you mean?”

“This is beginning to sound a lot like a confession.”

The trinket in my hands clicked, whirring to life. Light began to shine out from the glass panel, and for the first time since we’d left the bonfire I could see her clearly. Her beautiful white hair, against the grey of her soft skin. Her eyes holding my attention and not letting go. Still not quite thinking clearly, I muttered “A... confession?”

She slowly nodded. Those dark red eyes were no longer narrowed in suspicion, they were filled with compassion. The same compassion that convinced me to join her group in the first place. “You’ve never felt this way before, have you?”

I shook my head, wishing I could retract inwards. “It’s... maddening. I can hardly tell whether or not I’m malfunctioning or overworked or if I’ve been around you all too long, but... I was taught a long time ago that these sorts of feelings were unnecessary.”

“Whoever told you that was a horrid liar.” She said, placing a hand over mine. This covered the trinket I’d just made, dimming the light. Her hands were warmer than I expected. “What you’re feeling is one of the most necessary feelings in the world.”

“But I can’t afford to hurt you or someone else by constantly dwelling on these feelings!” I said, almost pulling away from her touch. Just that was enough to make something deep within my core flutter. My mind was more conflicted than ever: on one hand, I wanted these feelings to stop, so that I could return to working to the best of my ability.

On the other hand, I had never felt more elated to just be in another’s presence.

I could not articulate those thoughts then, it was all I could do to look up to Scadia and wait for her to take the initiative.

“Do you want me to hold you?”

I had never been held before. “Please.” Was all I could manage to say.

And in a moment, I was in her embrace. I couldn’t stop testing and changing the device in my hands, but she did not try to take it from me. Eventually, I put it away in my bag, and slowly returned the hug. Sounds came unbidden from me, almost sounding like sobs, though I knew that I could not cry. She guided my face towards the crook of her neck, and I lost myself in her warmth.

In that moment, I felt more content and comfortable than I ever had before.