Realms Personalities : Vishara "The Arm of Mielikki"

By Robert Wiese (Web)

Born in Battledale, Vishara grew up between worlds. Her father retreated to Evermeet in the Elven Retreat, leaving her busy mother to care for her. Since no one really cared that much what she did with her life, she never grew to care either. She drifted through youth, and eventually she entered the church of Mielikki as a paladin at her mother's prompting. Her mother, glad to be rid of the child finally, turned her attention to her own life and practically abandoned young Vishara.

In the church of Mielikki, Vishara found more of a home than she had known before, and though she never showed any real ambition, she did well as a paladin. She began to put Mielikki in the place of her mother and became a cleric of her goddess. She was a very militant cleric, mostly because of her paladin training and her desire to be noticed for something. But she still did not have any real direction and learned a variety of skills. She was quite harsh in defending the forests of Cormanthor a few too many times, though, and her superiors sent her toward a more direct service of Mielikki as a divine disciple.

While she was growing as a divine disciple, an event changed her life. A volodni called Nashyim came to the woods of Cormanthor. Nashyim, a blightlord from the Great Dale in the service of Talona, began to corrupt the animals and plants of the forest into blightspawned creatures. This Vishara could not allow. Finally something came into focus for her: a direction for her life. She took up the mantle of divine champion with enthusiasm and immediately began a campaign to eliminate this fiend (term used loosely) from her home forest.

Vishara is of average height for a human, and she has adopted a "tough" look by wearing spiky leather armor and blades. Her auburn-blond hair is cut short on top and worn in a ponytail in the back. She is well versed in many weapons and favors the scimitars that represent the weapon of her goddess as well as the kukri and the longbow. Her spells are chosen for combat effectiveness, and she takes the time to prepare for a fight if she can. Since her training had not been focused as much as she now wishes it was, she must use whatever tricks she can come up with to eliminate her foes.

Her organization at present is small, but it grows as the tendays pass. The blightlord has established a small hold in the drow-controlled part of the forest, and Vishara has located her "forward base" as close to the drow borders as she safely can. She leads a small group of rangers and druids who also feel horror at the presence of a Talona-driven monster in their home. Her cohort, Ivellin Farwanderer (male elf Rgr7/Wiz1/Arcane Archer 2), oversees the scouting operations necessary to keep track of the enemy's movements and plans. Her other followers use their animal companions and their own friends to help with defenses and with making raids to destroy blightspawned creatures and plants.

Vishara is not sure that she is up to the task, but she would never quit now or surrender leadership of it to another. Even the orders of the church cannot sway her. For the first time in her life she feels that she is doing something that matters, and she is powerfully affected by the resulting senses of belonging and achievement. They are almost like a drug, given her past, and she is slowly becoming addicted. Should she succeed at driving out the blightlord, she might find some other enemy to take on so that she can continue to feel empowered. She might also, though unconsciously, prolong the campaign against the blightlord for the same reason. Her superiors would do well to keep a close eye on her.

Vishara and Nashyim are natural enemies. Their conflict could be the backdrop for a number of adventures, or even a campaign.

Vishara: Female half-elf paladin 2/cleric 8 of Mielikki/divine disciple 2/divine champion 1; CR 13; Medium humanoid; HD 2d10 plus 8d8 plus 2d8 plus 1d10; hp 61; Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +10; Grp +13; Atk +14 melee (1d6+5/18-20, +2 scimitar) or +15 ranged (1d8/x3, masterwork composite longbow); Full Atk +14/+9 melee (1d6+5/18-20, +2 scimitar) and +7 melee (1d4+1/18-20, kukri) or +15/+10 ranged (1d8/x3, masterwork composite longbow); SA smite evil, turn undead 5/day; SQ aura of good, detect evil, divine emissary, divine grace, half-elf traits, lay on hands, low-light vision, sacred defense +1; AL LG; SV Fort +16, Ref +10, Will +13; Str 17, Dex 19, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 14. Height 5 ft. 7 in., weight 150 lbs., 34 years old.

Skills and Feats: Concentration +5, Diplomacy +11, Gather Information +4, Knowledge (nature) +2, Knowledge (religion) +8, Knowledge (the planes) +2, Listen +3, Search +1, Sense Motive +4, Spellcraft +4, Spot +5; Craft Wondrous Item, Leadership, Power Attack, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (scimitar).

Smite Evil (Su): Once per day, Vishara can attempt to smite evil with one normal melee attack. She adds 2 to her attack roll and deals 2 extra points of damage. Smiting a creature that is not evil has no effect but uses the ability for that day.

Turn Undead (Su): Vishara can turn undead as an 8th-level cleric 5 times per day. Her turning check is 1d20+4, and she does 2d6+10 turning damage.

Aura of Good (Ex): Vishara's aura of good is equivalent to that of a 10th-level cleric of a good deity.

Detect Evil (Sp): Vishara can use detect evil at will as the spell.

Divine Emissary (Sp): Vishara can communicate telepathically with any outsider within 60 feet that serves Mielikki or is lawful good.

Divine Grace (Su): Vishara adds her Charisma modifier to her saving throws (already figured into the statistics above).

Half-Elf Traits: Vishara is immune to magic sleep spells and effects, and she has elven blood (for all effects related to race, she is considered an elf). Vishara also has a +2 racial bonus on saves against enchantment spells or effects, a +2 bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks, and a +1 racial bonus on Listen, Spot, and Search checks (already figured into the statistics given above).

Lay on Hands (Su): Vishara can lay on hands and heal herself or others. She gains this ability as a paladin and as a divine champion. The total amount she can heal per day is 7 points

Sacred Defense (Su): Vishara adds +1 to her saving throws against divine spells and against the spell-like and supernatural abilities of outsiders.

Cleric Spells Prepared (6/6/6/4/4/3; save DC 12 + spell level): 0 -- detect magic (2), light (2), mending, purify food and drink; 1st -- bane, command, divine favor, longstrider*, magic weapon, shield of faith; 2nd -- barkskin, bodyblades (2), hold person, silence, spectral stag; 3rd -- fly*, mace of Odo , magic vestment, searing light; 4th -- command plants*, dismissal, divine power, weapon of the deity ; 5th -- battletide , greater command, teleport*.

*Domain spell. Deity: None. Domains: Animal (cast animal friendship 1/day), Plant (rebuke plants 5/day), Travel (freedom of movement).

Languages: Common, Elven.

Possessions: +2 leather armor, +2 scimitar, kukri, masterwork composite longbow, 20 arrows, belt of giant's strength +4, gloves of dexterity +4, pearl of power (2nd-level spell).


Realm's Personalities