Severus Snake
A former cleric turned Bard who is done with his past and living his own way for the first time in his life. He is done with others affecting his life in the worst ways.
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Who is The Raven Queen?
This last week, my party and I traveled to the Shadowfell, or so I was told it is called. When I say traveled, I mean Scree and I walked behind a tree and were transported without our knowledge. It was a dark, gloomy, and and somewhat desolate place which makes me wonder WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING wanting to know more about her? The thing is, I have already served a dark lady, I do not wish to do so again, but Lliira cannot restore my memories. Fip and Erik told me that she keeps memories in that castle of hers. It is even called "The Fortress of Memories" according to them. As if that is where memories go when they are taken.
Well, taken is exactly what my memories were. I have no good memories until recently. I was made into a shell by Elaria Duskmantle. That elf stole my memories, now it turns out another elf may be holding them? What is it with me and getting screwed over by female elves? We just lost Temperence, another female elf, to the Grim Hollow and that has hurt my heart. Despite her goody two shoes ways, she was a goody two shoes friend.
Her loss has deeply affected my other friend, Fip. He's trying to find himself at the bottom of a bottle. I haven't removed his alcohol because I don't wish to piss him off while he grieves, but I check up on him each night. I'll cast healing or restoration spells on him so that he doesn't flirt with alcohol poisoning. I have even drank with him, just so he will talk about it. I have been in his shoes, I was drink for a few years after my time with Elaria. I try to soothe him to sleep just so he quits drinking for the day with music. Sometimes it even helps. I don't know what else to do for my friend. He will either get through this, or it will destroy him. I'm trying to support him so it is not the latter.
During the day I am researching everything I can on the Raven Queen. I have even sunk a bunch of gold to have access to private libraries I have been told about. It may cost me 700 gold pieces before the week is done. I just hope that this is all worth it in the end. I want to know who I was, what I did, who was that female elf I saw in the Shadowfell when others saw their loved ones? I believe the only thing that kept me sane was not knowing who jumped off that cliff so that I could try to stop the others. Lliira be with me as I try to find these answers. I worry for my friends and I pray that we will be safe from here on out. I don't know how many more friends I can lose.
I'm Going to Sell My Fochlucan Bandore.
This instrument has been exceptionally useful to me, but last quest allowed me to find this exceptional harp! I think it has come time to let it go and sell it. I hope to get some decent gold or maybe barter for some other helpful items. Fip told me that I'm going to have to grease some palms, so I think 25gp should cover it. Fip also gave me some names, so I'm going to see if they can help me sell this as well. I know an instrument is kind of a niche item, but it is magical! That has to count for something, right?
Downtime: One Week of Religious Research
After a week of research I've found it. It took me an entire week and hours upon hours searching through these dusty old tomes, but I found the information I needed about her! I had the wrong name for that witch who stole my memories. She probably wanted to make sure I never found her again after what she did to me. "Shar," as if that's even a real name! She's a liar, and a thief. I only wish I would have known that from the beginning. From before... it no longer matters. That goddesses real name is Elaria Duskmantle. An elven goddess of darkness and deceit. A thief of memories. She promised me she would take away the pain and loss I felt from my old life.
I just didn't realize how she would take away the pain. She steals your memories! If you "serve her well", she gets rid of your awful memories. All of the ones that remind you of the monstrous things you have done before to yourself, others, and those you care about. In her service, she calls you to do such horrific things! Things that no one should ever have to hear about, let alone actually do! After you commit these atrocities, she removes the horrific memories and allows you to delude yourself into thinking that you have done some kind of good! She makes her followers believe they are The purest and holiest of clerics! I can't remember that time myself, but I have studied the way some of these tomes speak about her. As if she is the purest of all gods, with flowery language and bardic ode's to her benevolence!
No, I wanted out for some reason, I just can't remember what it was. She was displeased with me, that is for sure. When she takes the bad memories, apparently there is some cosmic filing box out there with your name on it, because she took those bad memories and shoved them all back into my skull for months! She left me an empty shell by removing my good memories, and then replaced them with a horrible memory, one by one. As soon as she saw how one memory broke me, she would give me the details of it until I was a sobbing mess. As soon as I would quit crying, or she thought I had found some peace, she would shove the next on back in and repeat the horrible description. I don't remember how long I was in her temple and at her mercy. It could have been years for all I know. I don't remember how I survived that, just that I did.
Well guess what you wretched elf succubus, I have found you again, and while I am not sure if I can kill you directly, I can find some way to remove your power. It will most likely not be anytime soon, but I will not let you keep using hurt people to commit your worst atrocities! I know who you are again, and I will find a way to remove you.
Schmoozing for Z's LRMD
I am expanding my abilities and outreach this month. Normally I would be playing in the tavern for extra cash, or maybe trying to expand my goddess Lliira's reach. However, as Secretarian for Z's Less Risky Messenger Delivery Service, I decided I could help the business by reaching out to some that may help our expenses and finances. I reached out to the rich and affluent! They have more money than they know what to do with after all.
While in Riverhaven I was able to speak to a wonderful dwarven man man named Luther Anvilson, a local blacksmith and tinkerer. No one can put away more ale than a dwarf in my opinion, but it does not mean I didn't try to see how much he could put down. This venture did extremely well for the company as not only will he do repair work for our franchise at a 90% discount, but he's going to favorably spread our name around town!
After we finally ended in Frandyln following us SAVING THE WORLD, I met the Lady Corrila Larenhale! She is a cousin to The Trithaea of House Trithaea, of the Autumn Court! Lady Corrila has kindly offered to provide a direct connection to the ruling court and allow Z's LRMD Service to to establish a post in her estate! She is a lovely and well-to-do woman and I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful partnership with her. She has also informed me that she may seek out our adventuring party for special "side-quests."
Maybe I should take the name, "Silver Tongue Severus"! I jest of course. All in all, I believe I have expanded both our business and therefore our purses through this venture. I need to see if I may be able to keep this up! I really enjoyed my time with the rich, but I cant get too comfortable. It costs me enough gold per week to live as I do now.
Letter to Majordomo Wynnemore
Hello Majordomo Wynnemore,
I pray that I have spelled your name correctly. My name is Severus Snake, and I have been tasked as the new Secretarian after the last one retired. I'm not sure if you knew about that, or about myself. I am pleased to collaborate with you and hope that we can grow our business further.
I am writing to you to discuss a few tasks that the board has decided on to increase our revenue and reputation. I hope this letter finds you quickly and that you and your team can accomplish these tasks with great benefit to us all.
1. We would like an intern to do some schmoozing to increase the company’s reputation in our new operating locations. How are we going to do business if no one knows about us?
2. Aakscree is willing to help provide advertising to the area around Riverhaven using our Spelljammer. Super neat ship!
3. The last has been voted on by the board and I hope you are okay with it. We would like to procure some animals for some interesting events. Preferably animals that are strong, agile, and exceptionally durable. Please deliver said animals to Vinnad Humblefoot when you can.
Thanks to Aakscree, I am paying extra to see that you received this letter on the double. Please provide the available services as soon as possible.
I pray that you are well,
Severus Snake,
Secretarian, Z’s LRMD.
Entertainment for Riverhaven!
I have been told that Hamlet Town is where a Bard can make some cash. I have found three taverns available for my skills. The first two are some low-key taverns called The Mare's Elk and The Flowing Hawk. There is also a rather raucous bar called The Fir's Butler. As they are all very close to each other, I'm going to talk to all of the keepers and see if I can Move from place to place each night. I will speak to Thelthondel Heasianea at the Fir's Butler, then Nirthalros Tyrthym at the Flowing Hawk, and finally Leptredin Maloroc at the Mare's Elk.
Hopefully, they are all willing to hire an entertainer for the week so I can make some extra money for the next week! I'm looking forward to this week! Look out Riverhaven, Severus is on his way!
Scary Children's Story
Long ago, there were humans who used rituals to make themselves stronger thus transforming them into the Yuan-Ti. Many of those who undertook these magics became corrupted, evil monsters who only looked to harm the world around them. One of these monsters stood out above the others for their cruelty and malice. He had no problems using men, women, or even children as materials for his dark arts. An immortal and evil wizard named Ornatus Crotalus!
It is said that when children are disobedient to their parents or don't go to sleep when they are told, it sends signals to Ornatus' scrying machine and he can see where the naughty ones are and get them in the night!!!
Now, Mommy and Daddy love you very much and don't want you to go missing so you need to go to sleep. We will protect you from the evil wizard and make sure you're safe!
-A memory from Severus' youth-
Additional Attunement Slot Essay
This essay discusses the need for an extra attunement slot so that I may purchase and equip the Stormrider Boots (modified) by Greg Gilliland. While I cannot produce the picture or URL the essay requires, it is in the Facebook Messenger chat between him and me.
As a bard, removing oneself from sticky situations can be difficult as we usually do what we can to get ourselves into them. As a controller, I want to move quickly across the battlefield and these boots allow me to double my speed. When I get too close to hostile creatures, they create a lightning strike doing 3d8 damage to the enemy. After causing this damage, the boots will allow me to move away from enemies quickly and they will have a disadvantage against opportunity attacks when I move away from them. These boots also provide a lighting orb, chromatic orb spell, for free once per day.
As you can see, these boots would be incredibly beneficial to me and my party allowing me to move faster and freely to assist my party members during encounters.
Severus' Flavor Questionnaire
1. What is your spell focus and what does it look like?
My spell focus are my instruments; the Fochlucan Bandore and my rhythm drums.
2. When casting spells, how do you use your spells material components and spell focus? Are you particularly meticulous, or careless with the components? Does your focus glow in a particular fashion? Please describe this process for when your character uses their components and focus.
Whenever I cast a spell that needs a material component I play one of my instruments. The music is the spell traveling through the world.
3. When you character casts spells that require verbal components, how does your character voice these aspects of the spell? Do they use the language of their patron (providing they know the language)? Does your character giggle, whisper, or do similar styles while doing verbal components? Please be specific.
I let the music do the work for me. I don't have to say anything when beautiful music is providing the benefits to the party.
4. Does your character have a favorite food, drink, or similar item that they continously keep stocked? Do they react in a particular way if they run-out of this item or can't find it easily? Is it a particular type of berry, or other plant that they forage while in the wilderness?
I brew alcohol often using my brewer's tools. I make mead more often than not, and try to keep kegs on hand whenever I am in one place long enough. I use the bag of holding to let it settle for the week. I enjoy meat and eggs in particular for meals. Rations are always helpful, but nothing beats beef, pork, and eggs with a good drink. I don't have trouble if I don't eat those things, but I may dream of them often. I'm not big on berries as I would rather have a soup or rations, but I will eat anything that I know will not hurt me.
I'm tired of people dictating my life.
I need to live for myself for once. A wizard being my biggest tormenter had to not only steal the love of my life, but he gloated, the bastard. Then he had to save me from that werewolf, bastard. I had to get my revenge so I found a war god who told me he could give me the vengeance I sought so desperately! So after hearing about a prophecy about a child that could kill a god, I made another huge mistake and told him. It turned out that the child was from my lady love and that bastard. After that god, bastard, killed them and was vanquished by the child somehow, I decided that I was done with him and found Lliira.
She told me I would let me keep my cleric powers, but set me on the path of the bard. She helped me see the joy I could have in life after all my mistakes. So she has helped me grow from being so pessimistic to being blasé about life. She has been a huge boon to my life. Music has been the life my heart needed. I enjoy it when she comes down to listen to my latest compositions. She has also helped me with my brewing since I gave up on potions. Now my brews are alcoholic and award-winning.
So now I travel to taverns, selling booze and playing for coins. I am getting an itch, however. Lliira told me when she visited last that she was worried about me and wanted me to go on an adventure. I know I said I don't want anyone dictating my life, but she's been good to me, and I want to make her happy. Plus she helps me with my music and spells. She has provided me with some excellent equipment for this adventure, and I am looking forward to what else I can find out there. I have plenty of gold from playing at the taverns, so I should be able to afford more items before trekking through the world. I'm not entirely sure where I am, but I could also find a party to join!
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