Aella Malein

[Raven Credale]

(Updated image)
Aella Malein:

Title: Amethyst Tiger Dragon

Race: Half Elf (Sun Elf/ Shou human)
Height: 5'9"
Weight: Unknown
Age: 23 Years old (Updated!)
Hair: Dark Amethyst
Eye: Amethyst (Updated)
Date of Birth: 26th of Mirtul, 1361 DR
Faith: Torm, Auppenser, Savras, Akadi & Labelas Enoreth ^(Updated!)
Relationship status: Single
Known Aliases: Sassy Monk & Murrpaw, (Unoffical: ^{Daughter of Auppenser})
Languages she knows/ Speaks: Common, Elven, *Chaos ^{(Meaning it's a dead language she somehow knows but can't explain why or how she knows it. She just does. But she doesn't speak it. She sings it as it's a rhythmic base language. Best example of this is the OST's to Neir & Neir: Automata. But it is rare for Aella to use this language she is well aware that no one would understand what she's saying. But could be a nice RP mechanic if someone catches her singing to herself.)}

Personality: Aella is quiet and can be considered docile at times. She will not speak unless spoken to and will keep most of her opinions to herself. She also has very low self-esteem and sees herself much lower on things than she really is. This is also a cause to her saying things such as 'I don't want to burden others' or 'I'll only be in the way of others'. With time and possibly some help, this issue might be resolved or lessened.
Update: Aella is no longer such a shut in. Her natural sassy nature has taken place over her observant one. Yet there are still days where she will observe others for a short period of time. However on the off chance ahe is seen alone, one will be able to see that being alone now troubles her in a small degree. She has proven to have moments of great wisdom despite her young age as well as childish moments in regards to something as typical like a grudge. She's only mortal after all. But despite her faults, Aella still trys to see a silver lining in all aspects in the world around her.

Noticeable things: She has a love for cats and the color black. All her clothes and armor are this color and you will not see her in any other color. Do not force her to wear pink or you will get punched through a table. You have been warned. Also her arms and legs are covered in tattoos. Most are your typical Monk tattoos while others have a story behind them. The most noticeable one is on her left bicep and happens to be the Mark of Elven kind.
Update: Her tattoos are now covered by the inner wrappings under her sleeveless top robe.

Background:

     Aella kept to herself more and more with the passing days. She began to question the gods and their messages, she questioned many things while being with the monks of the Old Order and why they did not seem to worry about the gods like everyone else. She asked if they did not believe in the gods, then would they all be damned? They simply told her in riddles of their opinions and left her with that. To which Aella took this as a meaning of her needing to find out what it is she needed to believe. Either the clergy or the teachings of the order. When it came time for her to set out in search of her truth and reason of being, Aella held thoughts of her sister and the god their parents worshiped, Torm. She recited the Code of Torm to herself before setting out and in the front of her mind told this to herself the farther she became from home:


    We are paws of the gods, we are of flesh and blood.

    Our actions dictate what end we will face, not which god we worship.

    In life we may follow the path of justice and good, or follow the path of wickedness and evil.

    There is balance in all that is, and all that will be.

    Through our actions will we know which path we are on.

    Through our actions will we see which gods we've pleased.


    Updated !: As time has progressed for Aella, so to has her beliefs. She has now become more attuned to the. Old sleeping god of Psionics, Auppenser. Though she knows there is no known temple or shrine to this god, that does not stop the young monk in praying to him or to follow his teachings. Her personal montra has also changed as well with recent events.


"There is no chaos and order, there is only Harmony.
"Through Harmony, I gain Serenity."
"Through Serenity, I gain Balance"
"Through Balance, I understand my Higher Self."

*Aella's New Back Tattoo:

[Raven Credale]

~~Update on Aella~~

[Raven Credale]

A letter home reads:

   Hello Father and Mother,

  I hope this letter finds you well. I know it's been some time since I last saw you and home but I hope you're both still in good health. I myself am doing alright since coming to Cormyr from the Deepingdale, I ...I still have the habit of wearing my hood around others as well as the color black. I also know mom jusg rolled her pretty sun elf eyes at that statement. Sorry...anyway things are going good for me. I've met all kinds of people so far, like another Monk from the Old Order (whome I still haven't figured out how he found out about me) and there's this guy who...well mom I'll write to you about that should it become something. I know dad would get the pitchfork and come to Cormyr to interrogate this handsome, kind, tall...anyway I just wanted to let you know how I was doing.


                                                                 ~Your little obsidian, Aella.

((Ooc Note: players and NPC's may send Aella letters this way))

[Raven Credale]

From Aella's journal:





    For the longest time I felt like I needed to close myself off from others. That I didn't need to be around people and keep to the fortune cookie state the order wants me to be in. But after being around Sylus, who pretty much broke me out of being the broody lass others see me as, I've learned that I can't rely on just myself. Being alone will only take me so far, yet while traveling with others I'll learn more that way as well as learning where my strength and weaknesses are. Heh, had it not been for the knight bound cat herder I'm with, I may have stayed as broody as Vindel when plans do not go his way. Nor as flamboyant...but what do you expect from elves. They're all flamboyant if not a bit deserving of being knocked in the with a boulder.



    Like this one elf, Mahanae....Gods dose she get under my skin. Just because she flings magic around and reads a tome all day under a tree...Who does she think she's trying to impress? What with her being on a high horse and not denying the fact she'd let someone die. If anything, she is the most close minded elf I've ever seen. Anything someone says against what she believes she instantly refuses to accept and tunes that person out. I thought elves were about individuality and accepting others as they are. Not paladinistic ideals of 'This is what you need to believe because this is the way they are suppose to be'. Gods she's as bad as how Dragon is. Thank Torm he's not around anymore. I swear if I had to listen to him monologue about how 'his god is the god that everyone should follow, his god knows what best for everyone, his god blah blah blah' one more time...I was going to tie that crazed paladin to a tree and beat reality back into him. One way or another.



    Either way...I think I've ranted enough of my thoughts down for one day. Hopefully I'll be running into Sylus soon and either people watch with him or go do some hunting and feel like I seriously need to catch up in skill again. Maybe go hunt some orcs near the capital or go collect the bounty for the ogre bandits. But hopefully I can go run through the Ruins of Ar'ques Lalendril with him like I was going to the other day. Had I not gotten comfy on the couch and fallen asleep...

[Raven Credale]

Another entry from Aella's journal:



    When I was a little girl in Deepingdale, I learned real quick that the world was an unfair and cruel place. A person was judged on their looks, or manner of speech faster than their actions. Where those with power lorded over those who couldn't feed their families. I learned that in order to be strong you needed to make those weaker than you know their place...I remember being that weak little girl. I remember being bullied and beaten in alleys by other kids just because of the fact my ears were pointed more than a regular half-elf...My older sister was always there for me though. Always here to protect me from them. But what she didn't realize then was that the more I looked at myself...the more I hated what I saw in the mirror.



    So I started to wear a hood all the time and only pushed it back when I was around my family or just my older sister, Leilah. Later it became a part of my identity, when I joined the Old Order, they asked me why I hid my eyes. I told them “Because I do not wish to be blinded by the ignorance or delusions of a world full of corruption. I would rather see with my other senses than with what I see at face value.” They seemed to like that answer at the time. Though as I progressed and got older in the short time I was in their small monastery, I proved to be a tad hot headed when it came to philosophical debates on stuff. So the elders told me to basically gain a new perspective on the world. That I shouldn't view it all as black and white. Funny since they always questioned why I dyed all my robes black...Either way, after taking their advice disguised as demands, I wondered for a few months then found myself here in the madness known as Cormyr. The place that has more shenanigans than any of the normal realms in all of Faerune.



    Look back though...after meeting some people I feel like I can be myself around, seeing the hood in my reflection...It's like I'm looking back at that scared little girl again. Her tear stained hazel eyes looking up at me through dirty dark red hair from under her patchwork hood. Bruises and cuts visible on her tan skin while her slim frame quivers in fear. I look at her and I see how she covers her ears, how she curls up into a ball and tries to hide from those around her. I see how weak and frail she is. So I tell her as I kneel down and uncover her ears, gently holding them in my hands.



    “There is nothing weak about you my dear. You are a strong and courageous soul that will test the boundaries of those who would seek to drag you down. Their chains will not keep you bound. Their cages will not hold you. For you have a strength that is far greater than any physical feat. If your body is broken, if you feel there is no hope left...then remember these words and burn them into your very soul. Through your trials and hardships, you will walk among others that will stay beside you. You will lend them your strength and they will lend your theirs. Now, dry your eyes Little Aella, it's time we start fighting back.”

[Raven Credale]

A letter to Home:



Mom & Papa,



    I know I haven't written home in awhile but much has happened between now and my last letter. I've gotten better in my fighting skills, so papa doesn't have to worry about anyone bulling me. No, I've somehow gained a title of being the antisocial bookworm, not that I really care though. Anyway, I've faced many things so far and met some interesting people and some people who need a good hit back into the reality of things. No offense Mom...I know you taught Leilah and I all that you knew about elven culture and such, but some elves take that far to seriously and leave poor souls to die just because of one thing. Even if it was something they were trying to rid themselves of. And those kind of elves just don't...they don't seem elven to me. You taught us that elves are about individuality, not some cookie cutter way. I do remember how you dislike being around orc and half-orcs but even you admitted that not all of them are insufferable.



    Either way, I'm not really here to judge others or say they're mistakes to the world. I'm just trying to understand why some races find the need to put themselves higher than others more of a priority. Anyway, enough about that. Mom, I know what you're wondering about. You're wondering about that certain someone I mentioned in my previous letter. Well, his name is Sylus, he's bent on being a purple dragon knight, and despite being young, he's rather mature for his age. Tall, blue eyes, you'd love him. He can be a flirt but you know I'm naturally sassy at times, so it works out. He and I usually go hunting with each other, and before you write back with a bunch of questions. No, we've not spent a night sharing a bed, though he does jest about it while we beat the hell out of some monster or beasty. No, he's more of a courting type. So Papa really doesn't need to come with his favored scythe and threaten Sylus. I've also been thinking of adding some color into my usual black attire. I was thinking of a dark shade of purple. Not to uh..Match anyone in particular. Heh, that's not why but uh.....yeah. You could say I've moved on from being 'little obsidian'. But uh...yeah...Well I best get back to training. Give Papa a hug and a kiss from me, and let him know his youngest daughter is still out there kicking butt and sassing others for fun.



~Your little obsidian, Aella.

[Raven Credale]

Update on Aella:


   Due to spending much time with the knight bound Sylus Kelton, Aella has broken out of her broody shell and shown to be quiet the sassy monk in black. She has even been convinced to remove her hood, now showing others her face and real personality. However this also means she's more pron to speaking her mind on certain things or being as her hair color suggests, hot tempered.

   But this doesn't mean her ideals have changed nor has her personal Dogma. She still will not talk unless talked to first or if she knows someone and happily sasses them.


  However she has gained an irritation with sparkles. This is due to the "crazy magic" maze and shenanigans of the local Cat Herder Ezra...

[Raven Credale]

(Update to Aella's look here (Along with the future alignment glow due to her Monk class))

[Raven Credale]

A letter to home:

Dear mom,


    I'm writing to you only today because I...Well there's something I really don't understand here. There's this woman I traveled out with a few times, her name is Saori and she calls her self a bounty hunter. She's nice or well she use to be, but ever since she got a girlfriend she's been nothing but rude, cold, and a whole mess of other things. Hell she use to come up to me and talk with me while I waited to go out adventuring, but now she avoids me like I'm a plague. I thought she was my friend mom...I thought I had a friend to talk to outside of being around Sylus...But it looks like I was wrong on that huh. I'm getting that feeling a lot lately. That the people I think are my friends, don't turn out to be that way. I feel like the only reason people talk to me is because I'm around Sylus so much.


    I...I feel like I'm just an irritation to others...That my existence is just a footnote to someone else. I feel like that weak little girl again who's against the world with only a small island to reprieve herself on. And what's worse, I don't tell this to others because my mind screams at me "They don't care about you! So shut up and keep your head down stupid girl"...

    You know how I use to draw the family in my sketchbook? Well I've done a sketch of a few people while being here in Cormyr. I've done a few sketches of a 'Cat herder' named Ezra. You should understand the phrase mom, you were a Harper at one time, but he's a ranger and apart of Ironsworn. He's nice...has a bad habit of casting spells when they're not needed. Like one time, he cast this spell on me that made me sparkle, but at the same time I had potion buffs going. So the two didn't get along well and my deflection just went right out the proverbial window. I swear, the first hit after that spell nearly killed me. I as irritated yes, but didn't say anything against it knowing it was just for fun. Ezra kinda has that...Older brother feel for me. I did tell him if he did a third time I was going to suplex or drop kick him...I've yet to do either because I've let that go. But...he don't talk to me much anymore since he was told to stop. But I just want to think it's because he's so busy and has a lot to do nowadays.


    I also did a sketch of this elf named Vindel, he's well...he has the nickname arsehole and you can probably imagine why. He's not one to shy away from calling someone out on their bull. Another older brother feeling but I don't see him around all that much and when I do we have short conversations. Not a 'bad' guy like others portray him as, at least I don't see him that way. Good friends with Sylus though. Been told the two of them like to go running around dungeons on mad killing sprees while laughing like maniacs...I swear Sylus is a gentleman mom.


    And speaking of Sylus, yeah, I've done a sketch of him looking all knightly int he future. I don't see him during the mornings, stays up at night helping out where as I'm up in the morning trying to catch up to him. Which leads me back to feeling like I'm an irritation to others.


    Mom...I...I keep feeling like as others keep going forward on their path, I'll get tossed aside from something or someone better. That the people I care about won't or don't care about me. I know Sylus has told he he won't leave me behind but...I can't stop the thoughts from coming into my head. I can't push them back and scream 'It won't happen'. But people change, I know that. Nothing is stagnate, thing are changing everyday whether we want them to or not. Eventually the ones I call 'friends' or 'love' will move on from me and seek out something else or perish in the line of duty. And should I survive to reach my twilight years...I'll have out lived some of them...I know I'll outlive Sylus because of my half-elven blood should I not get killed before old age. I know you'll outlive me for being a fabulous elf then the ones I know. Heh, listen to me...I'm a monk or I'm suppose to be a monk, yet here I am, writing to my mother and pouring everything out because the only person I can think about who won't either cover my mouth or hit me with a silence spell is someone who's miles away.

    I wish you were here mom, I wish Leilah was here too. I...last night I went into a area of Darkwood that had lycans in it and there was a ranger looking for his lost sister. We found her...but she was cursed...so we had to end her suffering...then tell her brother...On the walk back to Valkur's Roar...I kept picturing Leilah in that girls place. And I...I couldn't hit her. I couldn't bring myself to do so.

Well I...I think I've written about three pages now, so I best end my rambling here. I hope you and dad are alright mom and in good health.


                                                                                                                                                                            You're little Obsidian, Aella.

[Raven Credale]

A short letter to Aella reads:


My dear little Obsidian,


    It is with a heavy heart and quivering hand that I write to you. But I must inform you of a tragedy that has befallen our family. You're elder sister Leilah...has returned home in terrible conditions. She's bed ridden and has no memory of her former self. We are trying much to help her remember but she is unable to talk very well. Your father and I fear that she may never talk again. But...Please do not be discouraged my dear Aella. We will do what we can to help and heal Leilah. We will keep you informed of her condition.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Stay strong, stay safe - Mom

[Raven Credale]

Out-of-game scene in Greatgaunt:



    With the stillness of the early morning around her in the square, Aella softly sighs to herself and looks up towards the morning sky, not even paying attention t Bentin and his muttering or Warics smart mouth comments to the guard that patrols the roads. No on this morning, Aella's mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about her older sister Leilah and how she use to always make wisecracks about something or how the two of then use to spend days just talking in Elven til their father finally shouted for them to speak common. A soft chuckle escaped her as she looked back on the memories before finally she slid to the ground and curled up into a ball while hugging her knees.


    "She has to make it through this...She has to..." Aella murmured to herself while she hugged her knees tighter. "I can't...I can't lose my only sister..."

[Raven Credale]

Out of game scene:


    After returning to Greatgaunt from Arabel, Aella sighed to herself as she mozzied on over to the combat dummy. As much as she wanted to go with the group who ventured out there, she thought it would be better for them if she didn't. Sides, she didn't want to be the cause for 'someone' to be waiting around on her to catch up. So she passed word along that she'd fall back to gaunt. Even though inside her head she felt incredibly small that she wasn't anywhere near the others in strength. Her hazel eyes looked at the combat dummy for a few moments before she started to lightly punch it. Her hits weren't really that strong nor were they fast, but she didn't want to break the things right away. She needed time to think out things and find some sort of grey lining of her own thoughts and feelings.


    For a monk who tries to find balance in all that's around her, inside her personal battle always seems to be one sided. But despite this, she kept hitting the dummy in hope that she'd get all the crazy things in her mind out. Soon enough her hits were getting faster, harder, her eyes turned from being aloof to completely serious. Aella was even trowing in some kicks here and there with the dummy until finally, a spray of hay, wood and the old bucket went flying to bits. The evil dummy commander of the dummy army was defeated this day. But the victor did not feel so victorious. After all, that dummy had a family, a wife and two kids. There was even a dummy family dog. Oh the horrors this evil monk has done this day!

    "Okay...my minds getting a bit out of hand again" Aella softly chuckled as she stretched her arms over her head. "I guess I'll go get some shut eye, and ask Sylus or Ezra later how things went. Still feel bad I couldn't use Ezra as a mallet." She mutters to herself in a joking tone before turning and heading to the Regal Griffon for the night.

[Raven Credale]

A letter to Aella:

Dear little obsidian,

   Your father and I wish for you to come home. There's something we need to speak to you about. It's regarding your sister...some information has come up and I wish to speak to you in person rather than through letters. You'll have to pass through the Huallak to get here but I know you're strong and can make the trip. Worst case you can use invisibility potions. I'll meet you at the inn when you arrive.


                                                                                                                ~ Mom.

[Raven Credale]

Out of game scene:


    After reading the letter from home over a few times, Aella crumpled it up and threw it away. Without telling anyone where she was going, she set out on her trip back home. To fin out what had happened to her older sister Leilah. While on the boat that would take her to the Haulluk, Aella watched the waves crash along side the boat. She watched as the seagulls flew over head and wondered to herself if this little trip would be foreshadowing her later trips with a larger group. She knew the forest she was going to be passing through, it was hard for her to forget the massive creatures in there.

    A memory soon came to mind, of Leila coming home after having successfully hunted a one of those large animals with their Mother. Aella softy chuckled to herself as she recalled the memory but was soon lulled to sleep. When the boat arrived at it's destination, the young monk didn't eve hesitate and dove into the water of the river and swam across. Which if you look at it from a normal perspective...That probably wasn't the best choice at the time. Regardless she got to the other side and started on her trek home.


    Upon arriving back at the familiar town of Deepingdale, Aella b-lined it straight for home, forgetting all about meeting her mother at the tavern and catching her right as she was walking out the door. Her mothers didn't have time to stop her as Aella made her way past the thresh hold, to the room she had shared with her sibling and looked at the sight before her. Her older sister, beaten, bandaged, and possibly broken in numerous places, laid in her bed. Eyes closed, breathing shallow but wheezy, the sight made her blood flair with anger and it was easy to see that anger in Aella's eyes. Without even a moment to correctly think, Aella balled up her fist and slammed it into to the wall, making a lovely crack in it. Which also woke up the injured Leilah.

    "Th-there's...o-our...f-f-fire...cracker." Leilah tried to joke with a smile.

"Who did this to you Leilah? Who's the sorry son of a -"

    "D-don't...I...It w-was....a...m-mistake...I...D-didn't...f-f-fight...a-anyone..."

    Aella looked at her sister for a moment then nodded as she turned to leave her be for now. Instead she walked to her mother with rage filled eyes and a tone so harsh she didn't even realize it was dripping in hate. Aella's mother was your average height sun-elf, with Red hair and hazel eyes that could see you in the dark. Her slim frame hid the fact she knew how to take someone out in a discreet way. She wore mostly gowns and robes at home. Though when she was out hunting, Aella remembered that she wore armor similar to what Leilah's looked like.

"Where is the bugger who did that to my sister?"

    "Aella, calm down first."

"Calm down? Calm down! My older sister is bed ridden because of some arse! And I swear I won't calm down to I rip their bloody head clean off their shoulders and punt it across Faerune!" Aella snapped as she felt her anger grow. "If you won't tell me who did this then I'll find out on my own. One way or another that bugger is as good as dead!"

    "Enough Aella!" Her father finally shouted. This whole time he'd been quiet and silently observing. "Listen to your mother and calm down child."

 Aella paused and looked at her father.


    He was a big man, broad shouldered, tall, had a fierce mustache and beard, Brown eyes and hair and looked like he chuckled logs for a living. But if his voice was deep but his eyes showed compassion. All in all...he was a giant teddy bear when not angry. But boy did he have a temper when something didn't sit well with him. Either way, Aella sighed and listened to her father, knowing all he had to do to keep her calm the heard way was to put her in a head lock. It was sometime later, past the conversations, catching up with her folks and telling them about Sylus that her mother finally decided to tell her what happened to Leilah.

    It had been a long trip back to Deepingdale for her, she had taken the very long way to get there but what she hadn't expected were the number of bandits that now found the forest as their new hide out and home. Leilah thought things were going fine, but she didn't foresee the ambush waiting for her and other unsuspecting travelers. The bandits took her by surprise and before she could call her Dire wolf, Sven. But the bandits did more to her than just rough her up. At this point Aella's hand had broken the mug she was holding and looked to her sisters room for a moment. She looked back to her mother who sighed and ran a hand through her hair, saying the bandits took advantage of her, and nearly killed her wolf. But thankfully some green cloaks came to end them before Sven limped with Leilah home. The day Sven arrived in town carrying Leilah, the wolf nearly fell at her fathers feet, Her mother had tended to the wolfs injuries as best she could while her father took Leilah inside and care for.

    "So...Bandits did that huh..." Aella softly said. "At least the green cloaks killed them..."

"All but the leader...he managed to escape...He's the real culprit." Her mother said.

    "Then he's the one I'll kill when I find him." Aella coldly stated as she rose from her seat and walked out of her home.

[Raven Credale]

((OOC note: Aella is protective of friends and family. Hurt them or wrong them in anyway and you will have one hell of an angry monk to deal with. However...she will obey someone she respects and not lash out. That anger will just stew over time til she can get it out on something or someone.))

[Raven Credale]

A letter from home:


Aella,


    Your sister is doing better now. She's managed to get out of the bed after your father got some help from the local clergy, but her injuries go deeper than her physical being as you know. I've been reteaching her the ways of the sword and bow, as well as reminding her of the Seldarine. Your father has been a great support for her but I fear that with you not her, she will not remember her little sister. I know you're busy and have a love of your own to be with, but please do remember to write to us. We know you're still angry and we know that you cannot control rational thinking when fury has taken hold of you. But you must be strong, you must remember the Code you follow and above all else, you must learn when to let your anger go.


    You're a smart girl, bullheaded at times, but smart. I know you can fight without anger at things. And when you realize that, I know you will be able to do great things.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ~Mom

[Raven Credale]

From Aella's journal:


    So today has been eventful...Aside from managing to clear out many places on my own and keeping some supplies for my travels out tomorrow, someone interesting came up to me while I was sketching in Gaunt. Asked me what I was currently drawing and I answered with the scenery I recalled from memory. I told them I drew people as well but they were mostly people who could withstand my sassyness. They told me a bit of their past on account of my developing relationship with Sylus. I of course agreed and had to ask whom they wanted me to draw. I wasn't given an actual name, but a title. Someone who goes by "Cyan Edge". I'm not really sure who that is, but I said I'd be keeping an eye out for the person. I was also told to give this person the drawing once it was done. I...honestly wasn't expecting this nor did I think I'd be offered compensation for doing so. I told the person who requested this that it wasn't necessary, this is a hobby of mine after all. But I find it interesting all the same. Well I best get to work in seeing if I can spot this person. With luck I can get a good look then draw them from memory like I've done with a few people so far.

[Raven Credale]

From Aella's journal:

    For the past few days I've been seeing something in my meditations. Well not really seeing something but I get this...this weird sense. And while reflecting on things about myself, a name continues to appear in my head. Auppenser. Or otherwise known by his other tilts "Our lord of Reason", "The Master of Thought", and "The Serene One". I remember reading some old tomes about him back at the monastery in Deepingdale. At one point I read that he was or is the Deity of Balance , Mentalism, Protection, Psionics, and Strength. A deity like him was worshiped by many, monks included,  but once his main place of worship Jhaamdath collapsed, his followers became fewer...I also read that to continue existing, if he ever really did, he fell into a deep slumber.

    So...why does his name come to my mind when I meditate? Am I to bare the weight of keeping a balance? But a balance in what? Myself? The surroundings? I'm...confused to all this happening. Maybe...Maybe talking to someone about this, another monk who's reached some sort of enlightenment, can help me understand this strange sense.

[Raven Credale]

(Finally got around to decent hooded Aella, excuse the future lvl 20 eye glow)

A letter home:

Mom,

  I had a dream the other night after attending a friend's party. I was in Eveningstars in when I had it. But in the dream I saw....I saw myself but I looked stronger, faster, and I had this purple glow about my eyes. Even under the hood I could see the glow when the other me turned and looked at me. But this other me...she was smirking before placing a finger to her lips. As if to tell me to be quiet.

   I...I'm not sure if that means anything or if it's foreshadowing the level of enlightenment I want to attain...but...something about that other me. Something about the way her aura felt....I...it's unsettling. I felt a tidal wave of things. Everything was put of balance. I felt rage and anger over powering the calm and serene. But I also felt the need to do good outweigh the desire to do evil...mom...is this what is going to become of me?

  Am I going to be trapped in a neverending fight for inner balance? Or...was that something to show me of the path I will be on?

                               ~Your little obsidian, Aella.

[Raven Credale]

A letter to home:


Mom,

    I've started to shut myself away again. There's this place here in Cormyr called High Horn, it's up in the mountains and caravans can't get to it. But it's peaceful, quiet...serene. Lately I've been reflecting on myself and my actions. I'm doubting myself in things I shouldn't doubt...I feel my resolve crumbling day by day. I question the people I'm around and I doubt my own ability to keep up. I...I'm back to feeling like that weak little girl who always got thrown into fights...who always came out of them bloodied and broken. You taught me that failure could be a lesson to learn from...but what if failure means death? What if I fail something and find myself on deaths cutting-board? I ask because yesterday I found myself getting into a debate I probably should have ended sooner than where it was stopped.

    Do you remember the woman named Saori I mentioned in one of my letters? I...mindlessly asked her questions because I don't understand how people can live and follow the "Kill or be killed" law yet still hold something close to them. When I think "Kill or be killed" I think of life being black and white. There is no middle ground, no compromise...no companionship. Yet she follows it and still has someone she cares for. That still doesn't excuse the fact she can be like Mahanae at times and be mean for no reason than to just be mean...er well....that's what it looks like to me anyways. Anyway I may have come off as disrespectful to her way of things...but I felt she was disrespecting mine, and I didn't fell like she was really being honest when she said she respected how I went about things...I felt like it was just empty words....I don't know mom...

*Parts of the parchment looks like it has been stained with water. Tears perhaps*

    I don't know what I'm doing anymore...These nightmares continue and I can't get the voice out of my head. I can't stop hearing that damn name: "Auppenser". I...I try to recall my training with the order, I try tuning out my emotions and clearing my head of things. I try to find inner peace but all I face is a raging storm I cannot calm. I feel so frustrated with everything, despite the fact I've been progressing in my training slowly...I...

    I'm doubting myself...doubting those around me...compared to them I feel like I'm just a liability. Just...dead weight on adventures. Sylus tries to assure me that that isn't the case...but I'm slowly doubting him now too. In fights I don't think, I just focus on defeating the enemy before me. Be it monster or man...outside of fights I...I start to question my actions. Why do  I do the things that I do? For what reason am I fighting? Is it to survive? Is it to save the life of someone who cannot protect themselves? Am I merely a tool for battle? What purpose do I have to keep pressing on?

    I wonder some days mom...I wonder if the ones called "Cyan Edge" and "Crimson Death" have ever felt like this. I wonder if every monk eventually feels like this. Maybe while writing you and sitting here in the mountain air under the...cherry blossoms? Maybe they're helping me calm down...Here, you and Leilah are the woodsy types. Maybe you can send me a letter back letting me know what kind of tree I'm sitting under. But I suppose I should go meditate.

*One of the trees in High horn is drawn under the words in great detail*


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ~Aella.

[Raven Credale]

From Aella's journal:


    As of late when I'm not out training or sitting somewhere quiet meditating, I'm reading up on the name "Auppenser" to refresh my memory of him. Most of what I know is that he is a Stoic Deity of balance and is worshiped by Monks, Psions, Blue, Duergar, and Psychic Warriors. His temple of worship was in a place called Jhaamdath before it was destroyed. After finding what I could about Auppenser and Jhaamdath, I learned that Jhaamdath was apart of twelve city of swords, they were governed by Psiocracy of bladelords, I had to look into that and apparently it was a bunch of cleric psions. They considered the perfection of body and mind of the highest importance.


    When I looked into the destruction of Jhaamdath, I learned that it was elven magic that destroyed it. This also affected Auppenser a great deal as a vast majority of his followers were wiped out and his faith fell into obscurity over the next few hundred years. But as I meditate, I still hear his name in my mind and I want to believe that I'm meant to be a monk of balance. But in order to do that I need to find inner peace with myself. I fight with anger and rage but I get the feeling I can fight more efficiently without it. Maybe in time I'll reach the enlightenment I need in order to full understand myself and the kind of person I'm meant to be.

[Raven Credale]

((Finally got around to adding in an image for Leilah! That is all))

[Raven Credale]

From Aella's journal:

*A short yet hastily written entry*



    It's my fault....I...I shouldn't have gotten involved...now, now I've hurt him. I hurt the man I love to a point I don't think it can be undone. What have I done....Why...why did I have to agree...why did I think it was a good idea....this is all my fault...all my fault....I don't blame 'him'...I don't...this is on me...I agreed to help 'him'...now...now I'm paying the price....I should have stayed away...I should have been left as an unseen shadow...all my fault....it's all my fault....

[Raven Credale]

In Tyrluk:

    Aella's hood, armor, and gloves are neatly placed on a log near the campfire. There is no sign of her, and only a sketch of her and Sylus holding each other with smiles. On the back of the sketch is one word "Good-bye".

Will you search the area for clues?

- Yes
-No 



(To set the sad mood)

[davenutninja408]

In Tyrluk:

A man in RCMH squire armor is seen collecting the abandoned equipment and the sketch. He hasn't spoken to anyone but townsfolk have seen him around often, usually tending to a specific grave. He searched the area in silence.

[davenutninja408]

Rumors around Tyrluk begin to spread, the man in the RCMH squire uniform has been seen along the roads outside of Tyrluk, he seldom spares a wave or a word to the rare passerby that sees him. An off duty Dragon within one of the local watering holes may mention something about the squire hunting for something, or someone.

[Raven Credale]

In the Stormhorns, Rumors of a woman dressed in black is seen going into the gem mines out side of Skull Crag. The orcs before the mines...all have their hearts torn out of their chests.[/i]

[Raven Credale]

Out of game scene in Skull Crag at the Wolf Inn:



    After being found and resolving that which had been eating away at her, Aella went to get some rest at the Inn in Skullcrag from her long rampage in killing orcs. Little did she know that close behind her was a familiar face she hadn't seen for some time. So as the monk in black grabbed a key to her room and took no notice of the boots walking up behind her, Aella turned and right there she was looking into a pair of Hazel Wolf Eyes. Dark red hair framed the face as the eyes narrowed, and before she knew it, the monk in black was dragged from the inn right outside to the back. Where she was promptly suplexed straight into the snow.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" Said the woman standing over Aella. Anger and worry laced into her voice.

    "Well...I can't say I wasn't expecting that...Hi Leilah." Aella groaned a bit.

"Don't you 'Hi Leilah' me! I am quite cross with you Aella Lyadia Malein!" Leilah barked as she placed her hands on her hips.

    "I can tell. Which is why I've not gotten up yet. So I'm sorry for making you worry." Aella sighed as she pushed her hood up a bit so she could fully see her older sister.

"Well, just so you're informed Miss Hadriane has your share from when you went to a ruins. Just passing that message along." Leilah said as she visibly relaxed a bit. "Now Come clean and tell me everything. You don't just vanish for no reason."

    "Ya sure ya want to know? What if I did something that helped a bad guy?"

"Then I'll shoot you with three Arrows in the foot or cut that long hair of yours with my swords. Or would you like to wrestle with Sven for a few hours?" Leilah asked.

    "I'll take the Dire wolf please." Aella said as she sat up. "So yeah...I made a mistake. I was acting as a spy for someone named Vindel. And needless to say guilt of the aftermath ate away at me. But what's don't is done and now I need to accept that." Aella sighed. "Even if it means I now just put a target on my back for his Employer to send assassins after me to tie up loose ends."

"Vindel? Why does that name sound familiar....Anyway, who's his employer?" Leilah asked as she sat in the snow with her sister.

    "Never caught a whole name, but Vindel called him T. Beyond that all I know is that he's a mage, black beard and wears a hood so probably bald under the hood." Aella informed. "He wanted six signet rings from the old Espirian houses to get into a place called the Cloudpalace or something like that. Anyway, in order to find them he needed someone outside Hornbows retainers to be there and get the rings. In came me. So after a trip to finding the ruins...I saw the ring that was discovered and knew I had seen it before. Sylus had a ring like it but he turned it over to his superiors..."

"And this sylus found out about what you were doing." Leilah nods a bit.
 
    "Yeah...Vindel and I ended up telling him some stuff but not all of it..."Aella rubbed the back of her neck a bit. "Missed Green Grass because we were beating ourselves up over this."


    Leilah studies her sister for a long moment, her hazel eyes back in a relaxed stat before finally she sighed then tightly hugged her younger sister. "Don't you Ever make me worry like that again. I kept thinking something horrible happened to you. And if it did and I found out later, this Vindel character was going to get more than just a piece of my mind. So did you come back on your own?"

    "Actually...Sylus hunted me down...And found me in the old gem mine..." Aella answered as she hugged back, trying to catch some air due to the fact her older sister was squeezing the life out of her.

    Leilah loosened her hold then held Aella at arms length. "I swear, one of these days you're going to be the death of me. But until then...keep working on bettering yourself and continue to get those glowy eyes ya want so bad. And if you need a break from things, take them. I know you better than anyone, so don't work yourself to the point you break down. You're only mortal Aella. And there's no harm in taking things one day at a time. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone but yourself. And if I hear you're playing the bad guy again, you bet your butt that I'll drag it back to mom for punishment."

    "Not mom...anyone but mom. I'd rather be executed than go through what mom would do..." And the fear of her mothers wrath has made the monk in black shake.

Leilah chuckled and smiled. "Good. Glad you understand where your place is. I'm not saying you can't have questionable friends, just don't go doing evil things with questionable friends."

    "But what if I feel like those questionable friends can be turned to being friends for the good side?" Aella asked.

"Just don't get yourself killed over it. Some people can't turn from evil so easily." Leilah pats her sister then helps her stand. "Well...I think I should be getting back to Deepingdale. I did kind of come out of recovery early to find you. Pretty sure a few fights have caused my stitches to open up again..."

    "Yeah...I don't think mom can stand having both her daughters die in Cormyr. At least one of us needs to make it home with a spouse." Aella jokes.

"Ugh, don't remind me...Mom keeps asking when I'll find a decent man to bring home to dinner..." Leilah sighs while pinching the bridge of her nose.


    The sister softly chuckle then say their good-bye before parting ways. After seeing the carriage off, Aella softly sighed then pushed her hood back. "Better go play dumb about these past few days now."

[Raven Credale]

From Aellas journal:

  I don't know why or perhaps I didn't fully understand. I believed Auppenser to be a force of balance but I didn't full understand what that balance was suppose to be. I thought it was of good and evil outside and round me. I didn't think it would also mean within. Wars rage on outside in the world, yet there are wars within that people face.

  My personal war is with myself. All the things that I fear, the things I hate about myself, all that I find to be a unnecessary about myself. The swirling rage in the pit of my stomach, that desire to cause havoc when I see the opportunity...I am use to fighting battles on my own. I'm use to dealing with things in my own way...but this...this war within me. I feel as though I will need to learn to balance myself between the light and darkness of the world, of the people that are in my life.

   The shadows of doubt in my head and in my heart. I feel as though later on when the time comes I will need to face my inner demons and fight something that will be beyond my control. Demons that will sink their claws into the very things I refuse to accept. If I wish to gain the enlightenment I seek, then these demons will need to be dealt with...if I ever hope to achieve inner peace and balance...then I must win the war within myself.

[Raven Credale]

Out of game seen in Greatgaunt:

*Up in one of the unoccupied watchtowers*

  Aella sat with her back against the wall, her sketchbook in her lap as she sketched out something that was in her head. With the silence becoming a bit unbarable,  she decided to fill the silence with her voice. So she started to sing the song that had always been in her head. Not to mention it was in a language long forgotten to the rest of Faerun. She wasn't expecting anyone to hear her or pay attention to her as she sang.

  But as she sang, it was easy to hear how well she knew the song and how powerful she could make it in certain parts but also make it soft and gentle in other parts. Clearly she held this song close to her heart. Though once she finished she placed her piece of charcoal down and looked at the sketch she'd done while singing. A soft smile was on her face before she packed up her things then climbed down from the watchtower.

  Completely unaware of anyone that 'might' have heard her singing.