Laudna is most definitely undead in some way. Between the soul comments, saying that keeping a corpse could be useful and her general appearance and mannerisms, (also the comments about whitestone and that being ‘long long ago’) make me feel like she’s definitely undead or undead adjacent.
People have been theorizing between a connection to the De Rolos or the briarwoods, and I definitely could see that. That would be such a wild thing, not because it would be surprising necessarily, but because I really wanna see how that would play off of Orym and his connection to Keyleth.
Love the different shades of Charisma we’re seeing in this campaign. Charisma is more than charm and flirting on one end vs. rude uncouthness on the other, and we’re really getting to see that.
On the high end, we have Laudna’s striking, unforgettable creepiness.
Fearne’s captivating, unearthly presence.
FCG’s brightness and intrigue.
Dorian’s bumbling, earnest likability.
Imogen’s smooth, glassy facade– the receptionist that looks you in the eye with a pleasant smile even though they know all about that rash…
Orym’s average Cha doesn’t make him rude or abrasive. He’s charming, likable enough, and quiet.
Even Ashton’s -3 mod doesn’t come across as abrasive. They canbe abrasive, but more often they’re thoughtful, proactive and tactful, unless they want to piss someone off. Instead he’s really just… not sure of himself. Think of the “Arrhn?” moment, or how uncertain they are of their standing with everyone in Jrusar. It’s been pointed out before, but this character is not nearly as arrogant as Taliesin’s other PCs. His negative Charisma modifier is the mechanical expression of that.
Anyway. Charisma isn’t a narrow trait, and I love to see all of its facets in this campaign.
Ashton“I would gladly risk death to make sure none of my friends are left behind but it was actually okay and smart when my old friends left me for dead and never contacted me again” Greymoore
and
Orym“I lost someone I loved once and now I measured my entire sense of worth by how well I can protect others and I would rather die than fail again” of the air ashari
giving therapy to
Fresh Cut “my only purpose in life is to serve you, I literally think about your problems and traumas more than you do”Grass
about how they need start taking care of themselves before taking care of others
In an alleyway in Jrusar, a man lies on his back, torn open and still. Blood seeps through the cracks between the cobblestones. Pale, stiff hands still clutch the hilt of a rapier.
In the silent halls of a temple in Vasselheim, a handmaiden of the Raven Queen stops, mid-stride. She stands motionless, lips parted, as if listening to something that no one else can hear. She lowers her head, and her hands curl into fists at her sides. Then she breathes in, slow and deep, and keeps walking.
And somewhere, nowhere, a black-haired man with dark-feathered wings holds out his hand. Bertrand Bell, his coat free of bloodstains and his back straighter than it has been in years, reaches out to take it.
Then stops. Falters, his hand dropping. ‘Oh,’ he says. And then, ‘Look, I – I’m sure this is a very important and sacred duty of yours, but – are you sure?Now?’
