A Q&A Session with Ascending Bow of Hateful Ruin

1. Who is the most important person in your life?

·         A Death Knight lives to serve her Master, and thus the only truth I know is Walker in Darkness.

2. Where do you want to be in 20 years time?

·         “Want” is not in a Death Knight’s vocabulary, unless it is preceeded by “Master.” I shall be wherever my Master deems I am necessary.

3. What are you most scared of?

·         I am scared of nothing. I am scared for the nameless little girl that once was.

4. What makes you happy?

·         A Death Knight knows no happiness, only sorrow and hate and pain and pride. I smile as I cut down my enemies, I cackle as I uncover secrets others wish to never have found, I feel joy when I deceive and manipulate puppets to accomplish my Death Lord’s will. But happiness I do not feel.

5. What is your idea of a good evenings entertainment?

·         Running cross the rooftops, hidden in the cloak of darkness, my body numb to the ache of the bitter cold, in search of knowledge or prey.

6. If you were not an adventurer, what would you be?

·         That answer depends on how many layers you peel from my soul. If not a Death Knight, I would be a weak and insolent Solar exalt serving the back of an ignorant and foolish god. If I had never exalted, I would be dead as the rest of that little girl’s family.

7. What item would you not live without?

·         The chains I bear for Walker in Darkness, as they are from which my life hangs.

8. When was the last time you cried?

·         I do not cry. Once you have truly lost everything, there is nothing left to bring sorrow.

9. When do you want to have children?

·         What need would I have to breed? What use would helpless children be to one such as myself? I grow tired of your silly questions.

10. If you were an animal, what would you be?

·         A dead one.

11. What is your favorite bard song?

·         The gurgling moan that breaks free from his lips as I tear his offending vocal cords from his throat.

12. Do you prefer the town or the country? Why?

·         I am comfortable in both environments as one suited to my line of work must be. I crave the shadows, and both trees and buildings cast them.

13. What was the last thing that made you laugh?

·         The look of fear fighting with desire and confusion on the face of the last man I slaughtered in the throes of lust. Whatever his name was.

14. If made to decide, would you rather be deaf or blind? Why?

·         If I were deaf my back would be blind, for I could not hear mine enemies sneak up upon me. If I were blind my mind could not see through deception and manipulation as revealed in the eyes of those I deal with. Lacking in either sense would render me useless and ineffective in my life’s purpose. Therefore if I must choose, I would rather true death claim me.

15. What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?

·         I’m sure each one of my victims would claim their end was the worst.

16. If you had to describe yourself in five adjectives, what would they be?

·         Efficient, guarded, loyal, quiet, deadly

17. How do you want to die?

·         With honor, whatever that represents when my time comes.

18. What is the worst thing someone has done to you?

·         Although those cursed bandits stole my family from me, I tasted the crimson blood of vengeance. But First and Forsaken Lion robbed me of my last remaining image of hope, and further of my rightful revenge. I am unsure which slight is worse. But he will pay for both, I promise you. He will pay.

19. Who do you admire?

·         Walker in Darkness is an honorable man who opened my eyes to my true path, and I am proud to serve him.

20. How much is a pint of mead?

·         The cost is the time it takes for me to bat my eyelashes at the bartender

21. How old are you?

·         I am 22 years human, 6 months Solar exalt and 1.5 years Abyssal exalt.

22. What was your family life like?

·         I remember their laughter and I remember when it stopped. I remember not much else. My friend Damien is easier to remember, because he was the last one taken from me. But even those memories have faded till all I remember now are his eyes.

23. Where are you from?

·         I was born in Sijan, the city of the dead, and it was surrounded by dead that I lived, exalted and became corrupted.

24. How were you Exalted?

·         My family was slaughtered before my eyes and it was their deaths which led to my exaltation. Perhaps the Unconquered Sun took pity on me and granted me the powers I needed to seek my revenge. However, what little power he gave to me stood not a chance against the Death Knights of First and Forsaken Lion when they took my only friend, my Damien. Only the shadows saved me, comforting me in their silent darkness until Walker In Darkness found me and offered me true salvation via an Abyssal exaltation. Only one who has conquered the dead can defeat their Lords.

25. When did you meet your companions?

·         I have companions?

26. How has power changed you?

·         It has made me more powerful. And more deadly.

27. What do you think of mortals?

·         They are tasty when deep fried in sorrow.

28. What motivates you to be a hero?

·         If by ‘hero’ you mean ‘slayer of dreams’ then my motivation is vengeance. Always vengeance. I shall be the dagger slicing through the heart of the dreams of First and Forsaken Lion. His destruction is my purpose.

29. Who or what do you worship?

·         A Death Knight worships only the abyss into which all of creation shall ascend.

30. What would drive you to commit murder?

·         It wouldn’t take much. Really. Just ask me another foolish question and you’ll understand the truth in my words.

Ascending Bow of Hateful Ruin

The girl who was to become known as Ascending Bow of Hateful Ruin was born in Sijan. It is perhaps fitting that a Death Knight was born, exalted and corrupted in the land of the dead, and she often wonders if her destiny was pre-determined or if she had any control over it. Her tale seems quite simple, and if she had been born in any other city perhaps this girl would have married a boy, raised children with said boy, grown old with and buried next to said boy. As the gods would have it though, she was born into the land of the Death Lords and life would never be so simple.

Damien. The name haunts her dreams, spoken in soft whispers that feed on her memories. Now eyes are all she sees, startling green eyes that pierce the dark crevices of her soul and judge her weaknesses, her failings, her wickedness.

Born in Sijan. Exalted under the Unconquered Sun in Sijan. Corrupted by Walker in Darkness in Sijan. Nothing else matters for these are the only events which define her. She reached aged 22 in human years before her first cursed exaltation, 22 years of studies and rituals while slowly dying under the guise of living. Known for her cunning mind and gift for discovering untold knowledge, the girl became The Whisperer of Secrets, the ear to whom all of Sijan’s dead tell their truths upon their dying breaths.

It was a foolish girl who took this mantle, for few Whisperers hold their positions long when the living try to claim the secrets of the dead for themselves. When her family was slaughtered by ruthless mercenaries for “motivation” to meet their demands for information from the dead, she exalted as a Solar and sought her revenge. Six months of investigation, loosening tongues with cunning words or a sharp blade, and the bodies of her enemies lay dead in her wake. And there she stood, beholden to all of their accumulated knowledge, and very much aware of the fact that the Death Lord known as First and Forsaken Lion was the true seeker of the Whisperer’s knowledge.

With this information in hand but no idea how to act on it, she once again found herself in Sijan. Nothing had changed. Death was everywhere and it was nowhere. She ran to her Damien’s house, hoping that her best friend might soothe her angry spirit and offer the welcoming she longed for. Upon arrival she watched from the shadows as Death Knights serving First and Forsaken Lion took Damien as their prisoner. Though she was a Solar exalt, the girl knew she was in no position to take on 3 Death Knights alone. Her heart seeped with hatred for the Death Lord, he who had taken everything from her.

And that is when Walker in Darkness offered her salvation. He offered an interesting job prospect, to acquire information he wished that required her talents and in return he offered her the chance to seek vengeance upon First and Forsaken Lion. She fled from Sijan with her Master and not once did she look back. She never saw the striking green eyes staring after her.

Experience Awards for the First Session

Everyone receives 1 xp for showing up. Patrick receives an additional xp for the cookie he was awarded for telling Crimson Jaguar that he was here "to lead these children to their glorious end." Joey has already received 3 xp for his character background. Thus, we have following:

Crimson Jaguar: 4 xp

Mended Serpent Dancing in the Moonlight Waters: 2 xp

I've forgotten Michelle's character's name at the moment: 1 xp

All NPCs gain one-half of your average xp, so they are at 3(.5) additional xp