Re: Kara Marsk

[probot]

Name: Kara Marsk
Race: Human
Height: Slightly taller than average
Weight/Build: Wiry, but weaker and less nimble than one might expect
Age: Mid twenties
Eyes: Steel grey
Hair: Brunette, shoulder length and often kept up in a practical ponytail
Deity: The Binder of What is Known, Oghma
Base Class & Proposed Development: Wizard, Cleric, Mystic Theurge

Notable/Distinguishing Features: A pair of silver-rimmed reading glasses she very rarely removes. A bandaged right hand.

Languages: Damaran, Chondathan, Mulhorandi, Elven, Draconic

Appearance: Physically unremarkable, her clothes are well cared for but bear the telltale marks of long wear, and old ink spills. More recently, Kara has taken to using an enchanted quill, so the newer additions to her wardrobe are mercifully free of such stains. With her, the young mage always carries at least one note book that she often references and corrects in quieter moments. Since her admission to their magic tower, she has styled for herself a cloak pin in the image of the Violet Flame's sigil.

Personality Profile: Studious, patient, inquisitive, polite, sometimes shy.

Profession: Around Arabel, Kara has developed something of a reputation as an artificer - a maker and purveyor of magical goods, be they potions, wands, scrolls, or otherwise.

Background: Born third and last to a farmer's family in Damara's Morov barony, Kara was raised by her father and older brothers. She never knew her mother, and as far as she knows, the woman passed away shortly after giving birth to her. Growing up, it quickly became evident that she had the endurance but not strength for field work, and the focus but not dexterity for house work. She was, however, gripped by the farmer's almanac her family procured each year, and it was through those that she was taught to read and write.

Kara's prospects turned for the better in her teenage years when a travelling mage took note of her one day, and offered her father to teach her the fundamentals of his trade. Thinking this would set his daughter for a life as an advisor in the city, the elder Marsk agreed to pay for it, and so for the next several years Kara and her tutor met for a few weeks once or twice a year, and each time he brought her new books on a variety of subjects, from local history to the specifics of the Arcane. Eventually he also introduced her to his patron deity, and left with her an old, heavily annotated prayer book. That same night, the mage advised her to leave for Cormyr sooner rather than later, and said his farewells for what would prove to be the final time. Several months later, Kara moved to Heliogabalus but rather than staying there as her family expected, she kept on the road for many months more, until eventually crossing Arabel's eastern gate in early 1385...

Goals: Kara is driven by a deep, overriding desire to understand how the world works, both in the mundane everyday sense, as well as the fundamental truths of the cosmos.

Enemies: Nobody singled out, but she can easily come at odds with those standing between her and the acquisition of knowledge.

Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Magical research, history, theory, and application of practically all sorts is basically guaranteed to catch her attention.
Unearthing lore, discovering secrets, paying tribute to the various Gods of Knowledge, Oghma chief among them.
While Kara never knew her mother, she may not actually be dead.
Likewise with her first master and mentor, while Kara hasn't seen him in a long time, it's entirely possible that their paths may cross again in time. Why did he instruct her to seek Cormyr?
Appointed to the Violet Flame council with a mandate to strengthen the Spire's arcane research capabilities.
Developed thalassophobia (fear of deep water) after a very fraught adventure to recover precious ingredients from the bottom of the sea.

Notable Outings and Engagements:
- Kara aided in the defence of the village of Helas in the Forest of Mir against a demonic invasion and their undead servants.
- Attended a Ball in Suzail as a student of the Violet Flame, witnessing Queen Tanalasta's address.
- Answered a special investigations team of War Wizards' call to aid in the research of a strange object that washed up in Immersea.
- Helped retrieve a lost shipment of dwarven silverware and a shipment of Shou crystal glassware a Sembian chef, owner of La Reverie in Saerloon. She then went on to help secure catoblepas death cheese, a (mutated) wyvern, and a lot of strangleweed plus an unplanned for almost-megalodon for the feast the man had been preparing. In the end, the party for local dignitaries as well as fellow adventurers went off without a hitch.
- Attended a most enthralling series of stories of what could have been. One had Midnight failed atop Blackstaff's tower. One more controversial of what could have been had the lich Vezzil not been stopped, experiencing it from the point of view of the undead vanguard assaulting the last bastion of the elves. Another about what could have been had Arabel been abandoned during the Goblin War. Yet another play by the Storyteller about what could have happened had Halfhap fallen to the Shadovar.
- Helped liberate a mine overtaken by an elf in charge of an automaton army made by a "Stronghammer" and dedicated to Gond. (DM SewerGoose ad-hoc)
- Answered the Queen's call to help defend a mountain pass in the Western Stormhorns from an invading army of the wilds' humanoids.
- Weeks after being forewarned as to the origins of the unnatural storm sweeping the region, Kara joined with other adventurers and mercenaries to answer Eversult's call for aid. After helping to secure the city, Kara lent her expertise for the creation and installation of lightning rods to give the beleaguered defenders some respite from the storm. Later, she delved into the city's sewers to see what is blocking them. She also assisted in the efforts to recover dead bodies from beyond the wall and give them a proper burial. In an unwelcome surprise, the city was revealed to be in the debt of a Red Wizard, and it was under his direction again that Kara helped form and strengthen magical wards to cover the walls and gates ahead of the next assault. After a few small skirmishes, a massive army of the undead lead by powerful death knights and worse alongside cultists, necromancers, abishai and other vile abominations dashed itself against the city walls and its defenders.
- Helped clear out a temple to the Demogorgon on the mysterious Isle of Dread at the behest of lady Ellise Bell and her Rakasta contacts.
- Attended the Queen's address and subsequent award ceremony for Talon Company B.