holy macaroni fish sticks SHARK! that's some character you created there. prior to that^ post i had half a mind to ask if Svetlana also walks on water, cures blind and resurrects the dead... all of which i now know she more or less does >_<
how exactly are you going to reveal all those details to your players at some point? do you have some kind of grand plan for that character? an epic twist waiting to happen?

Quote from: Klava on January 19, 2024, 08:42:15 AM
holy macaroni fish sticks SHARK! that's some character you created there. prior to that^ post i had half a mind to ask if Svetlana also walks on water, cures blind and resurrects the dead... all of which i now know she more or less does >_<
how exactly are you going to reveal all those details to your players at some point? do you have some kind of grand plan for that character? an epic twist waiting to happen?

Greetings!

Good Morning, Klava!

*Laughing* Well, from what I understand, Rusalka are a supernatural Water Spirit, but given a physical form as a beautiful Human woman, with a big fish tail, and magical powers. Rusalka are beautiful and sensual, and enjoy having romances with Human men and boys. And they like eating them, or enslaving them forever in their underwater lairs. You know how these ancient stories go, the weird monsters have often several forms or appearances, and numerous special powers. Then, I read where it says some Rusalka have been benevolent, and have even fallen in love with Human men, and not just slaughtered them and eaten them. They have been good and loving women. Then, some stories suggest that Rusalka are not always with their fish tail, but can change shape, to walk on land, and attend dances and parties in local villages. Most stories say that the Rusalka are dark and wicked, and serve the Dark and evil gods. Veles seems like a savage deity, always fighting against Perun. So, ok, I thought. She serves Veles, the Dark God of the earth, the forest, Earth, and Dragons. But also Mokosh, the Great Mother Goddess. But Mokosh is much loved, and not seen as evil. Veles also captured Mokosh, and held her for awhile deep in his realm, but she escaped his clutches. Mokosh loves Humans, and is very ancient, but also independent, and different from the other gods and goddesses, being very powerful, and often doing her own thing. So, there is conflict within the Slavic Pagan religion. Some gods and goddesses are good, and live in Prav, the Heavens, while the evil gods live in Nav, the dark realms. The Humans and creatures on the earth live in the mortal realm of Yav. So, I understand that fairly well.

Rusalka are supernatural, so perhaps while their bodies can be destroyed, and they can be killed, they are otherwise immortal, and living forever. So, I assume that Svetlana has been around for thousands of years. She speaks to animals and birds and other spirits, of the water, the wind, and the earth. Maybe also she is friends with demons that serve Veles, or possibly ancient Dragons that jump and stomp all about the land, through the centuries. So, then, I assume that Svetlana is extremely knowledgeable, and knows far more than any human, or at least the vast majority of humans. And she knows so much lore of the natural world, like instantly, she has been doing all of this for thousands of years. She knows the seasons, the animals, and how Humans began their rituals, and religion, and how they also relate and talk with the different spirits and demons.

I then assumed that as Svetlana was interested in learning more, a Mavka, or a group of Mavka, living in the nearby forest, could teach and train Svetlana in the ways of Witchcraft and magic. Of the Ved'Ma. So, that makes sense. Svetlana has her normal magic powers, and she has also some additional powers as a Witch. She has been living all this time, living in the rivers and lakes, and eating people, and sacrificing them to Veles, and sometimes Mokosh as well, to feed the earth. Then, she is captured by an evil Troll Chieftain. The Troll Chieftain wants to marry her, but she is beautiful and proud. She refuses him, as she believes that he is ugly, and a brute. So, the Troll Chieftain decides to torture her, and plans on eating her at a huge feast, with his Beastmen.

Facing the fate of being eaten by these monsters, when the party, and Bogdan the warrior broke into the lair, and found her, and rescued her, Bogdan carrying Svetlana out of the dark lair heroically, such heroism had a strong impact on her. Svetlana had a kind of spiritual epiphany, a great moment of philosophy and searching herself.

Yes, at first, Svetlana could have desired to infiltrate the party, betray them, enslave them, and eat them all. Maybe, right? But I thought that is cliche. How do you say that in Russian? Cliche? An old story type, told over and over, right, the same way? So, I thought, well, what if we do something different here? What if she really does have a kind of crisis of her identity? What if she really does want to love this mortal man? What if she really does want to embrace the Light and learn to be righteous?

Yes, that is mind blowing, and inspiring, and fun, right? *Laughing* So, I thought, well, damn, that does sound wild! I don't fully know how it will develop or turn out, but I thought it would be interesting to have her in her own weird way, be sincere in falling in love, and her trying to be a good Rusalka, that is kind and sweet.

Of course, she still gets hungry, and angry, and she has a passion for blood. And, she also gets excitement, joy, and power from sacrificing enemies to the primordial gods. She can feel the magical energy flowing through her, and she gets stronger when she shreds her sacrificial victims, and rips them apart as she praises Veles and, even Mokosh. Of course, she can eat squirrels and deer, but she deeply loves eating Humans and Elves and Gnomes. She can also eat the Bauk, as well as other humanoids such as Beastmen and Trolls. Her mouth can easily crunch and chomp them all, and her stomach can digest them properly and fully. So, she is used to eating humanoids forever. How does she just sit down and eat at the table nice and sweet? *Laughing*

Plus, as she is an immortal Rusalka, she is proud and beautiful, and fierce. She is used to ruling, and getting what she wants. She is used to causing others to fear her, and they kneel and beg. She is proud and strong, and sensual, and deep. She knows what many are going to do, before they even do it, so she knows all about victory, even when fighting in combat. She does not lose. Well, usually. *Laughing* Trolls, are also very powerful, so, yeah. That's the way that can go sometimes. But, she remembers. She will get her vengeance, and it will be terrible, and bloody. Lots of blood, and waters, and screaming. She will make sure other monsters from the rivers and lakes can also enjoy the eating.

But, that brings us back to the group of heroes that have rescued her. Svetlana is sincere, in a kind of clumsy, bloody and monstrous way. She wants to be nice, and sweet, and trying to be righteous and holy, but she really does not know how. Being cruel and savage and dark is what she has always known. her mind instantly jumps ahead, thinking of evil spells and dark schemes and plans to make her enemies shriek in agony, while she tortures them and rips their hearts out before an altar stone on the riverbank. She is used to groups of other Rusalka coming to join her for the sexy orgies with the captured men, and then the celebrations where the men are eaten and devoured. They are dragged down into the deep waters, being clawed and bitten by the Rusalka. All the Rusalkas gathered around together, singing and giggling in pleasure. Singing in praise to the gods.

Svetlana has a long road to go, trying to be good and righteous. However, she is a spirit creature, a water spirit, with an ancient and powerful will, and a deep mind. Such a journey could be possible, of her walking in the light and being righteous. I think it will also be full of drama, and interesting, and fun, too. Lots of awesome possibilities!

Vargen, the Cleric of Dharyaan, is a preacher, and a follower of the Dharyaan faith. A monotheistic faith, much like the Orthodox Christian Church.

Can you imagine him bringing Svetlana to worship services at the Church? *laughing* Imagine Svetlana trying to read the Scriptures with everyone in the congregation watching her every move? Lots of drama! *Laughing* However, it is also interesting to think about her crazy sharp mind. She can memorize Scriptures oerfectly, and read them back in several languages, including using perfect accents, to the Priest. Just imagine the discussions!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

okay, that's positively awesome, SHARK the only problem i perceive with this is players getting jealous of you for constructing that cool a character for yourself to play, while they are stuck with plain ol' fighters and clerics

Quote from: Klava on January 20, 2024, 04:11:50 AM
okay, that's positively awesome, SHARK the only problem i perceive with this is players getting jealous of you for constructing that cool a character for yourself to play, while they are stuck with plain ol' fighters and clerics

Greetings!

Thank you, my friend!

Hah! *Laughing* Yes, I am sure that the players are jealous! It is part of the perks of being the Dungeon Master! I have to run lots of stupid moron characters as well though! And characters that are slow, clumsy, and incompetent! *Laughing*

It is very nice to run a character that is just awesome and cool, and yet, also flawed. Svetlana has some shortcomings for sure, and if she was to enter a civilized, Urban environment, she could face many problems for certain!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK