Name: Veren’na
Race: Drowolath
Age: 80
Equipment:Steel knife
Custom miniature crossbow
Cosmetics and Hair dyes
Poisons and drugs-
-Courtier's extract
-Yaegar extract
-Aphrodisiac
-Assassin's tincture
Equipment information:While Veren’na prefers to travel light and unobstructed when she can there are many items she simply never goes anywhere without, while all the rest is procured locally at either her own expense or the expense of the people she takes it from. Among the items she always has with her Veren’na carries-
A four inch knife made of steel with a leather wrapped handle is the only real weapon Veren’na employs on a day to day basis. The single edged blade and thin profile of the weapon make it great for when you absolutely need to hide a weapon on your person. It Is less of a weapon and more a last resort option or a tool of intimidation when the situation calls for the use of lethal force. While Veren’na does not promote the use of lethal violence she will –not- hesitate to use this weapon in self-defense if her life is on the line.
A miniature crossbow, complete with a set of replacement steel limbs, this weapon conveniently straps to her wrist and measures no longer than six inches long by three wide. Easily concealable in the long sleeves of her shirt this weapon fires incredibly small ‘bolts’, though they more resemble thin darts than anything else, up to a range of 15 feet accurately. While the size of the projectiles and the force they are shot with means that this weapon is almost impossible to directly kill someone with, even when the bolt hits a vital area, the fact that it fires nearly silently makes it great for dealing with people discreetly at a distance. The real use comes from the variety of poisons and drugs she coats the tiny projectiles with. She carries 3 bolts with her at any given moment.
Hair dyes and cosmetics of all colors and shades perfect for a woman of delicate features and great at parties or festivals. It also serves as a great way to quickly change ones looks without the necessity to procure a disguise on site. She neatly arranges these dyes and cosmetics in a separate compartment of her bag.
Poison and drug information:Courtier’s extract: A mild drug made from the mixing of several common mushroom extracts and a certain type of flower found on the surface this mixture causes the one whom ingests it to suffer from a mild fogging of the mind and an increased suggestibility, similar to what one might call a roofie in the present day. While originally developed as a stimulant to help people sleep Veren’na finds the application of this to a mark’s drink to be a great way to coerce even the most stubborn individuals to listen to what she has to say. Due to the nature of the drug it must be ingested in either food or drink, and given that exposure to the air quickly diminishes the effects it cannot be applied to the bolts in her crossbow. However it will stay potent for a great deal of time when added to, say, a drink. Many attest that after having been given this drug they wake up with no memory of what occurred the day before.
Yaegar extract: A type of drug that commonly comes in the form of small brown pellets, this particular drug is more often than not used as a medicinal tool rather than in the arsenal of a con artist and thief. Originally created to help those suffering from food poisoning or indigestion this pellet is administered by way of eating and helps return bowel functions to normally by facilitating the rapid expulsion of whatever the consumer had in their stomach. A glorified laxative, this is best applied by crushing it and sprinkling on an unsuspecting parties food. Given the solid nature of this item, Veren’na cannot apply it to her crossbow bolts.
Aphrodisiac: One of many types of drugs created by those interested in the enhancement of certain activities of an adult or otherwise sexual nature, this particular drug is clear in color and smells vaguely of honey. This solution stays active in contact with the air and almost any other substance, though it is most potent if applied directly. The higher the dosage the greater the effect becomes. This solution works on those of either gender, inducing hot flashes and feelings of euphoria in those whom ingest or otherwise come in contact with it. Given how much she finds herself using this chemical Veren’na has developed a natural resistance to the effects of this particular drug and thus has come up with many clever applications for it. Chief among these is to apply this mixture to her lips or fingertips, and using friendly contact to apply the dosage over a period of time. Exposure via this method means that she can reasonably charm even the most stubborn individuals if she has enough time. Due to how resilient this chemical is it is capable of being applied to the bolts fired from her crossbow.
Assassin’s tincture: By far the most potent chemical in her arsenal Veren’na carries but a single small vial of this extremely potent concoction on her person at any given time. Made from the roots of a very rare variety of fungus infested mushrooms this poison is capable of paralyzing even the hardiest of warriors or animals for hours on end. Mere skin contact with even a drop results in a numbness that can leave a limb virtually useless for half a day, while greater doses can mean paralyzation for up to 48 hours should the entire vial be taken. Given the volatile nature of this chemical even Veren’na refuses to touch it directly or add it to anything, instead only using this poison as a potent addition to the bolts of her crossbow or even the edge of her dagger. Accidental exposure has left her paralyzed helplessly for hours, and learning from this she is careful when applying it. She finds the best and most common use for this chemical is for moving pesky guards or people from her path without directly killing them. With one vial she can poison 6 bolts or her dagger once. This chemical is rendered null when it comes in contact with water, though water will not help an individual who has come into contact with this mixture already.
Other minor items include:25 Ada
A silken bag for carrying clothing and her personal effects (up to 50 lbs.)
Her clothing: black boots, black skirt, white shirt, black vest, gloves and her hat.
A set of steel lockpicks
A pocket sized mirror
Skills: Veren’na has had years or practical and hands on experience when it comes to the ways of those less inclined with law and order and more with doing what one needs to do to get by. She Is more than capable of picking a lock or picking a pocket, and her eyes are more than trained to scan crowds and pick out possible marks of opportunity. She is more than capable of hiding herself and skulking about as well, be it from the shadows where hopefully nobody is looking or right in the middle of a crowd by use of a disguise. By far her greatest skill however is her silver tongue. Veren’na is said to be able to talk the starving out of their last bits of food, able to sell paints to the blind and able to convince even the most prudish figures to follow her back to her Inn room. Anyone whom has ever had the misfortune of being singled out will tell you that rather than the blade she carries it is her honeyed and sweet words you should fear the most.
Magic: Basic mana manipulation
Beginning city: Val’Raveran
Clan: Veren’na does not associate herself with any clan
Background: Veren’na will never admit it, but she has lead a harder life than many. Like many commoners in Chel'el'sussoloth she found that very few people knew or even cared about the plight of the downtrodden. She never had the chance to meet her father, whom her mother insisted was a scoundrel and a crook anyway, and by the time she was 12 years old her mother had already passed away after she was robbed, beaten and drug away when returning home from the mushroom farm she worked on late on day. With no money, no family and soon no home as squatters quickly moved in and tossed her out Veren’na was left to fend for herself in what was essentially the biggest slum in the Underworld. For years she survived by stealing, begging, borrowing and doing the filthiest and most unappreciated labor she could find. From looting the dead or dying to stealing from the starving or the poor she never once stopped to question that what she was doing was wrong. To her it was merely what everyone like her did to get by. As she grew older however so too did her skills improve. Before one knew it she had moved up from pretty robbery to legitimate criminal activity, such as robbing business’ or stealing from those richer parts of this city. It was on one of these break-ins that she discovered the principal talent that would guide her into later life.
The job had been simple, break into an assumedly empty home and fleece the area for anything valuable the owner would be sore about missing. She had been acting alone and had she bothered to have someone watch the front door she would have heard the owner return. When confronted by the woman, a self-made merchant and former commoner herself, she immediately did the only thing she could think of. She burst into tears. She sobbed and whined and cried her heart out, shaking like a leaf in a storm as she pleaded with the woman to stay her hand. She told the owner of how she had been chased into her home by a group of thugs out for blood, and that if she went out now they would certainly find and kill her. So great was her performance that the home-owner was moved enough to drop the blade she had prepared to strike then young intruder down with and instead wrapped her in what she would describe later as ‘the most sincere hug I’ve ever felt’. She did her best to soothe the sobbing youth and invited the girl to stay at her home for a time. Such began the life of perhaps one of the most infamous con-artists and professional Rakes the Underworld would ever know. So also began the life Veren’na believed she had missed out on, and fully intended to live now. By the time she had moved in Veren’na was already 32 and she had become what many would call a natural beauty, graced with a graceful figure and a natural charm and wit. This look dramatically improved when she washed the grime off and managed to procure some decent clothing.
Veren’na would spend the next 18 years working in the shop of the woman who had so kindly taken her in, proving to be the most competent barker, greeter, and desk manager her new family had ever had. So popular was she, in fact, that many came to the shop to see the pretty girl with the charming smile and the humorous wit behind the counter. However while she excelled at her job she never once felt truly in her place. She was anxious and fidgety. She missed the old life of excitement, the chases, the stealing, yet on the other hand she also did not want to leave the life of relative luxury she had at the time. Eventually the feelings got the best to her and one day she was found by her adoptive parent packing her bags as she prepared to leave. She was 50 then, more than a grown woman, and more than capable of handling herself. Still her mother could not fathom why her precious adopted child would leave her. It was then she admitted to her mother than so many years ago she had not told the truth, that she had lied and taken advantage of her for so many years. While the news was quite the shock to her foster family the woman couldn’t bring herself to hate the girl she had come to adore all those years ago. So after what amounted to a firm scolding and a mountain of “I’m sorry’s” Veren’na finally departed, saying that she would one day return when she had seen enough of the world to know that she hadn’t missed out on anything life had to offer her.
For the next 30 years Veren’na has made a living at the expense of others. She had begged, borrowed or outright stolen almost all of her current possessions and has on more than once occasion ran afoul with the laws of the local ruling clan. In fact she is wanted by almost every major clan for some sort of offense or question, from crimes ranging from the insulting of local Sarghress guards to an apparent affair with a Sullissin'rune Val. Her offenses are so varied that many just assume that half of them are simply rumors spread by those who are ill-informed enough to make speculation as to what exactly it is she does. Some rumors even claim her to be an agent acting upon orders from one of the major clans, while others state that she is an assassin of the highest caliber, with her cover being the many acts she puts on. In fact Veren’na is none of these things, she considers herself a Rake, a do-er of foul and mischievous deeds for a living. She revels in the attention and excitement that comes for such acts. Of course she loves wooing the lads (and the pretty lasses too), and enjoys nothing better than sweeping some poor lass off her feet only for her to wake up in an empty tavern room the next day with naught but a note on the nightstand for a goodbye and her only possession remaining being her undergarments.
While she may have no qualms with stealing, debauchery, or even the occasional bit of banditry Veren’na makes it a point to never kill anyone unless she is given no other alternative. To her the only thing she cannot take without prompting is a life.
A note on the nature of Veren'na's gadgets, gizmos, doo-dads and equipment in general- There are many ways in which one might define the nature and characteristics of a singular being: some are known for their unflappable courage, others for their razor like wit, many still are known for their vast intellect and some are known for their strength of arms. Some people however are not naturally blessed with these talents, and instead they rely on the advancement of technology and a vast array of cunning tricks to see them through. While Veren'na is cunning and charming in her own right, perhaps to a degree that many would consider unhealthy or otherwise unnatural, she is still but a single woman born to the streets. She has never been formally trained to fight and thus falls back on a bag of tricks to see her through to the end of any encounter she might find herself wrapped up in. The variety of potent drugs and chemicals she carries with her are the product of many years of observing underworld activity, especially of the cloak and dagger variety. For each hard lesson learned or trick used on her Veren'na has adapted to strike back, and the natural progression for one who is most accustomed to avoiding direct confrontation is to employ any advantage that can swing a fight in her favor.
Among the capstone pieces of her arsenal is a small mechanical crossbow of her own design and crafted from only the finest parts a thief could get her hands on. The device took her no less than three years to engineer and gather materials for, and even then she frequently found herself consulting many of the shady types she had befriended over the years in order to finish the project. By the time she was finished she was left with a device that would make any Fallen Legion member just a bit jealous, a wrist mounted crossbow capable of firing small dart like bolts in near silence. Combined with nothing short of a small apothecary's worth of potent liquids and a knowledge of when and how to avoid contact with an unsuspecting mark this crossbow is a vital and central item in Veren'na's arsenal of devices.
Description: There have been many different descriptions that people have given Veren’na over the many years she has spent on the streets, most of which are varied and not all of which are given by people who believe that they would enjoy running into her again. Though subject to some measure of variation depending on where she is and how flamboyant or inconspicuous the situation calls for her to be there are several points on her figure and demeanor that she cannot readily hide or change. One notable feature is that Veren’na is often described as being a very ‘leggy’ lass and indeed her legs taper down into long extensions of her aptly described ‘womanly curvatures’. Given how long her legs naturally are and how she enjoys flaunting the assets that her gender bestows her it is no exception that she maintains a slender and generally well-toned figure and wears clothing that generally leaves very little of said frame to the imagination. She keeps her hair purposely very long, maintaining that it another one of her natural features that suites her look and demeanor very well. Long white strands fall down to just below the small of her back and are very rarely kept in any sort of order, sans the fact that she very rigorously combs and brushes her hair daily to ensure that it doesn’t get out of control. While she usually does not apply any sort of dye or accessory to her hair she is not above doing so if it means she can blend better into a crowd or switch her identity entirely, and she keeps a stock of dye around just for that reason.
Her clothing is a mixture of the practical and the extravagant, a style that befits the ever changing nature of her occupation and free time wonderfully. Why by no means does she wear the same outfit all the time, especially when she knows someone is on the lookout for her, she often wears a set of clothing she finds fits her best when not worried about looking over her shoulder. Her shoes are made from durable and flexible leather, perhaps the finest investment she had ever made from the clothier, who insisted that the surface material used to create them would last a lifetime. The dark black leather is worn and scuffed in places, but these thigh-high boots are great for most occasions, from flaunting them in a tavern to scaling terraced homes when nobody is looking. Her lower wear is more often than not a matching black silk skirt which, when not otherwise altered, extends down to just below her knees where her boots end. Her shirt is a white silk number whose sleeves flare out widely the closer they get to her hands, allowing for one skilled in subterfuge to hide small items inside without even raising the slightest amount of alarm. A black silk vest covers this and clings tightly to her chest, tied snugly so as to keep her posture upright and her chest puffed out. Matching the rest of her black attire are a set of black silk gloves which are delicate to the touch and do little to impede the movement of her lithe fingers. To top out her little number she prefers to flaunt her rather extravagant
Hat, another number she picked up from a traveling merchant some years ago with her special five finger discount.
All in all Veren’na prefers to stand out in a crowd when it means that she can draw the attention of those she sees as potential marks or scores, though very much so conversely she is also not afraid to strip down into the dirtiest most tattered common garbs if it means throwing the local clan officials or bounty hunters off her trail.
Time Zone/Activity: GM -7 Mountain standard time