Here's the post I made with pertinent character info for MisterSinister's original post:
Desirae 'Dez' Del-KaanenDescription:[spoiler]
Civilization in the Protectorate is lucky to exist; indeed, it might not exist had the Gods neither been bored nor lonely. Though they filled the world with life, however, they did not make it easy for life to thrive. Given the unique geography of the world, it was a long time before humanoids learned how to leave each of their islands and connect with one another. Once they learned to harness the power of magic, this of course became standard, and civilization could at last advance.
However, such power inevitably leads to strife, and the Protectorate was not immune to such corruptions. Evil exists in the world, and it touches each Age without hesitation- And so it was as a young Desirae Del-Kaanen was growing up; her family was murdered before her eyes, and the young girl, not even 5 years of age, had to escape nigh-inescapable odds. Hope was not lost, though; a Knight of the Raven found the girl, took her in as one of her own, and taught her how to be strong- in body, mind and soul. At age 20, Desirae (or Dez for short) was ready to face the world head-on. Before striking out to do justice in the world, her surrogate mother, the Knight who took her into her confidence, revealed some shocking news.
She told the girl, "Desirae, I have kept something secret from you these long, difficult years. I am not entirely who you think I am. To you I have been friend, teacher, and family... but to the world, I am known as Mul-Morgen." The woman revealed her true visage to Dez's awe. "I pulled you from the ruin of that plight those 15 years ago because I saw a spark in you... a fire that can not be put out. You are to be my champion within the Protectorate, and perhaps even beyond. There is great evil in the world, and I fear even greater yet to come to it. I have confidence in you, however. I know you to be strong- a skilled warrior, talented in the magics of the world, and kind-hearted at that. I am proud, and know that you shall do great good in the world."
Dez struck out that day, newly impassioned and certain of her role in the world. She knew she would snuff out the evil the plagued the Protectorate... what she didn't know, however, was just how difficult her task would be.
[/spoiler]
Mentor:[spoiler]
Martial ArtistDez was trained before many teachers, but she felt a special bond with Master Toh-Ruzon. He was the hardest to adhere to, and the toughest disciplinarian of all her tutors. Over time, though, Dez realized that all he that he did was to make her stronger, and so she learned to meet each challenge with great vigor and determination.
Master Toh-Ruzon is a Half-Elven man of old age, but may just be stronger now than when he was young, and is a paragon of the ideal of strength in body, mind and soul.
[/spoiler]
Apprentice:[spoiler]
PhilosopherDez trained in an enclave with other warriors of varying age, and over the years the older and more experienced recruits would leave to go on missions. Before being deemed ready to take on such missions, recruits of the Knights of the Raven, adhering strongly to the ideals of Mul-Morgen, take on an apprentice- one of the younger recruits who still needs training and guidance. Dez took on the apprenticeship of a young girl, a human named Talmira, who was proud and prone to fits of aggression. Dez spent most of her time attempting to instill balance in the girl by tempering the aggression with the contemplation and discipline of philosophy. By looking within, the girl would learn to control the fire of her temper, and learn to see the world with new eyes. The training worked marvelously, and the girl no longer would lash out as she had before. As such, a whole new world was open to her now.[/spoiler]
NPC:[spoiler]
"Big Red" Mak-DennohCaptain of the Misty MaidenBig Red gets his name for obvious reasons- He's a tall, thickly-built Human with deep, red hair and beard. He makes his living as Captain of a sea-faring vessel, the Misty Maiden, which is often used to ship cargo or passengers between the many islands. In the right circles, however, Big Red is known to be highly reliable in ferrying secrets, as owning and operating a ship makes him a useful carrier for intelligence between members of various organizations spread throughout the Ages.
Big Red himself is also something of an artificer, being very interested in magically-infused knick-knacks and the like. He can be a little eccentric at times, his personality capable of switching from dead-serious to warm, friendly and raucous at the drop of a hat. Perhaps it's just been too long out at sea?[/spoiler]
Organization:[spoiler]
The Knights of the RavenAs champions against evil and the undead, the Knights of the Raven have a clear role in the world. This order of virtuous warriors is dedicated to the goddess Mul-Morgen, and carries out her charge to protect the world according to her ideals. As followers of the Dawn Queen, the Knights proudly wear her symbol, a Raven perched before a rising sun, which they say is "a symbol of virtue, of light in the darkness, of life and vitality in the face of death."
The Knights of the Raven is not a large organization by any means, as many do not hold the proper level of commitment and dedication to the cause. Still, each member is an elite warrior, granted special abilities in pursuit of their never-ending battle against the abominations of the world. It is said that the goddess chooses each member herself, though there isn't any evidence to support such an active, continuing role in the organization.
The Knights of the Raven originated in Expedition to Castle Ravenloft and are detailed starting on page 200 of that supplement. They have been adapted to fit within the flavor of this campaign.[/spoiler]
Phenomenon 1:[spoiler]
Shadow MagicWatching the birth and use of magic from the shadows, the Shadow King was bored by its consistency, but excited by its potential for causing change. He attempted to duplicate the flow of Magic, and the results were unforeseen. This Shadow Magic was just as powerful as its cousin, perhaps more-so, but much more erratic and unstable. It would take particularly strong-willed individuals with a penchant for taking risks to master such a force, and doing so blocks access to certain other types of spells.
(The Shadow Magic feat works just like the Shadow Weave Magic feat [PGtF pg. 43] except it has prerequisites of Wisdom 15 or Patron Deity: Korion.)[/spoiler]
Phenomenon 2:[spoiler]
HeartfireHeartfire is much like Hellfire, with some noted differences. First of all, it is not the creation of any fiend, and in fact has no connection to any forces of evil. It is however a powerful tool in regards to fighting evil. It is rare for an individual to be capable to manifesting heartfire, rarer even than those who would wield hellfire. It takes a pure dedication to goodness, and a strong willpower to control it without getting hurt.
Hotter than the hottest flames of any world, heartfire burns with a white-hot glow and is capable of burning through even the hardest of substances. Heartfire does not deal fire damage, despite its flames. Even creatures with immunity or resistance to fire take full normal damage from these divinely-influenced flames. Heartfire also deals full damage to objects, unlike normal fire damage.
From Fiendish Codex II, pg 119, based on sidebar for Hellfire.[/spoiler]
Bascially, Dez is a Cleric dedicated to Magic in just about all of its forms. Warlock 1/Cleric 4/Eldritch Disiciple 5, eventually going Warlock 1/Cleric 4/Eldritch Disiciple 7/Hfire Warlock 3/Knight of the Raven 5.
For reference, here are the three deities of the Protectorate I designed, as well:
Korion[spoiler]
Intermediate GodSymbol: A blue circle surrounding a black triangle- within lie three unblinking eyes at each corner of the triangle.
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Illusion, Shadow, Change
Worshipers: Anyone may worship Korion, though a large portion of his followers include Shapeshifters, Rogues and Scallywags, Illusionists, and even some divinity-minded Aberrations.
Domains: Illusion, Darkness, Transformation (RoE 181), Trickery
Favored Weapon: Hand Crossbow
Lore: The Lord of the Farthest Realm, The King of the Black, The Shadow King; For the longest of times, he barely registered as a power within the pantheon. Whenever a kingdom, empire, or any mere city would crumble, however, Korion rose up from its ruin hoping to take some measure of its glory as his own. Feared by some to be evil, he does not quite qualify as he has no particular love of suffering or cruelty; he is rather motivated simply by self-interest and a love for change. He craves attention, having been deprived of it for so long, and cares not where he gets it. He thus accepts worshipers of all alignments, races, and creeds.
Dogma: Korion's adherents are bidden to seek change in all its forms. His followers are typically nomadic, or otherwise restructure their permanent homes and settlements regularly. An individual might, for instance, change their hair color monthly, or might otherwise seek out transformative or illusory magics to alter their appearance. Warriors are encouraged to take a side in battles for liberation, revolution, or conquest; anything to alter the status quo. Followers often interpret their divine charge differently, and of course this pleases Korion to no end.
Clergy: Korion has few permanent churches, but clerics and priests are plentiful. Typically, they roam from town to town, preaching change and transformation of the soul. Some of the more zealous take a more aggressive role in such change, and provide for the bulk of the bad reputation Korion's church receives on a daily basis.[/spoiler]
Cyntas[spoiler]
Greater GodSymbol: Unknown (though hidden, ancient enclaves reveal his symbol to be a longsword surrounded by clouds)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Portfolio: Dreams, Secrets, Pride, Safe Travel
Domains: Dream, Planning, Truth (RoE 181), Law, Travel
Worshipers: Few, if any.
Favored Weapon: Longsword
Lore: The Silent Watcher, The Phantom Traveler; The first of the Gods, little is known of him. As the pantheon grew, so did his paranoia. Expecting one of the younger deities to attempt to usurp his power, he went into reclusion, and none have heard word from him to this day.
However, hidden away nearly as well are his followers. They broker secrets, and are not afraid to take up a cause if they feel it aligns with their personal code of morals. All strive to keep secret their God's influence, but draw strength from him nonetheless. They spread throughout the world keeping it safe without regards to good or evil, though typically this effort leans closer to Good tendencies.
[/spoiler]
Mul-Morgen[spoiler]
Greater GoddessSymbol: A raven perched in front of a rising sun
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Magic, Honor, Sacrifice, Scholarship
Worshipers: Varies; Primarily good-aligned creatures, and primarily humans (though many races respect her goals and values)
Domains: Magic, Glory, Strength, Knowledge, Protection
Favored Weapon: Morningstar
Lore: Mul-Morgen the Raven-haired, The Dawn Queen, The Mistress of Tomes (also, sometimes, "The Hot Librarian", via the cruder populace); Mul-Morgen is a powerful deity, and a great force for good. She was once a mortal princess, hidden from the world due by her family due to being born frail. She grew tired of being imprisoned from a world she knew to be much wider than her own courtyard, and so staged a daring, difficult escape. Upon her success, Mul-Morgen discovered a strong, innate connection to magic, which allowed her to see the world in an entirely new way. She trained her body and mind, overcoming impossible odds through force of will and determination. Her unique talents allowed her to grow strong, and she put her strength in arms and in magic to ending what tyrannies and evils she came across. Upon her ascension into godhood, she formed a group of divine warriors to further her goals and help protect the world. They are the Knights of the Raven, and their main goal is to fight evil undead, though they take up the charge of fighting against evil wherever it arises.
Dogma: Always seek to improve oneself, while helping others to improve themselves. Be strong in body, mind, and soul, and always strive to fight tyranny and evil.
Clergy: Primarily made up of clerics and paladins, there is still a plentiful number of priests who devote themselves to serving communities. Adherents build churches, libraries, and schools, though almost always teach the community to tend after such facilities themselves in an attempt to help them become self-sufficient.
[/spoiler]