Played By: Bethany Peckham
Character Name: Orla Madhava
Gender: Female
Pronouns: She/her
Class: Rogue
Age: 39
Race: Human
Hair: Brownish/Blackish
Eyes: Blue
Occupation: Soldier/ Mercenary/ Armed Escort/ Knee Breaker/
Known Skills: Blacksmithing, Surviving, Horsmanship,
Birthplace: A small town in the Oasis on Faedrun
Appearance: Nothing remarkable, though slightly battle scarred
Bio/Backstory:
Mahsai of the True May’Kar
Arjuna Madhava’s Journal
235-
The fighting has become closer and I’ve been hearing word that the May’Kar soldiers are now attacking the Vandregon units. I don’t know what has gotten in to them. Uilium will be leaving come dawn. It will be difficult for him to fight against his fellow brothers but this penitent sickness has seemed to overwhelm our beautiful oasis. I can not bring myself to believe they have all forgotten what we have been fighting for these many years. So this is why I call it a ‘sickness’.
Uilium will be traveling with a few other farmers. There is a Vandregon unit close by that they will fight alongside. It has been years since he has used his steel for killing but I know he is a survivor and I will see him again. I must see him again and little Orla is only 2 and needs her father around.
236-
There has been no word from the Vandregon unit that Ulium has joined. More and more of the townsfolk have gone missing or are outright dying. I thought I saw the baker’s wife the other day, though she was shambling about down an alleyway. I didn’t dare go near for fear she had caught some undead sickness. I have spent the last few weeks preparing to leave. Most of the stores have gone dark. No one to work them I suppose. But I need supplies so I sneak in and gather what I can carry. My last stop will be the blacksmith. Orla will need to learn to fight with something. It will be many years before she can lift my sword.
236-
The horses are packed heavy with food and water. Luckily our house is close to the mountains. I know of an abandoned shelter where I hope we will be left alone. I can’t hold out for my husband’s return, it has become too dangerous here.
246-
Orla turns 13 in a few days. Ulium would be proud of the fighter she has become. When he and I were in the May’Kar guard together he could rarely best me in the training battles. Those days are so far gone now they are but a dream. I am doing my best to teach Orla everything I know. We have been able to sustain ourselves fairly well on our own here. The land has given us what we need for food and I have been able to teach her a few blacksmithing ways to mend the armor and fix the weapons. As a member of the guard you always had to know these things. I had no idea the situation I would be teaching them in. I always imagined her father would be teaching her these things. He always was a better mender than me.
Evening is close and it is time to put out the fires. 13 years without a fire at night to keep one warm is miserable. Though to have the fires bring the undead to our door would be worse.
250-
My excursions down the mountain have been difficult. A few months back I ventured down to a small town. After observing it for a few hours there seemed to be no evidence of the undead. Maybe because I went away from the Oasis? I went closer in and heard people speaking of a new continent. There were sea voyages that were meant to take people to safety. Somewhere the undead have not reached. I also heard talk of how the May’Kar had betrayed their fellow man, fighting with the Penitent. And how this undead plague and it’s fanatics were taking over everything.
Once again this place is not safe. We must find safe passage on to one of those ships.
251-
Finally we have made it to the southern end of Vandregon Territory. The paths were difficult as we kept to smaller roads. I’ve talked to one of the Captains of a larger vessel. He will be able to take both of us but not our horses. It is difficult to part with our old friends but if it is what we must do. I sold them to an honest looking fellow and bought a small hand cart to hold all of our belongings. Orla did not take the selling of her only friend very well. Poor girl. She has had no one to speak with but me and the horses for her 18 years. I fear the seclusion was not good for her social skills, but I had little option. The ship will sail in the morning.
256- Orla Madhava’s Journal
Well my mother was writing in this thing all the time it seemed. She said it helped to keep her centered, or connected, or something. So, thought I should give it a try. Here we go.
Let’s see, it’s been a few years now since she has passed on. Looks like her last entry was when we sailed to Mardrun. That was a terrible experience. If I don’t ever get on a boat again I will be happy, as will my stomach. She was right about me missing our horses, I never really forgave her for that. I told them everything I felt since I was little. They always would look back with their big loving eyes. Anyways, I know why she had to sell them, but it still hurts.
Moving on. We made ourselves a home in New Hope. That’s where all the colonists were allowed to stay. Venturing outside of that was a sort of ‘At your Own Risk’ thing. Mother was certainly not about to take any risks. Not after what she experienced back at home in the Oasis. I don’t remember that first home. I was too young. She would tell me about it though. Stories about my father and her when they were younger. The Mahsai, the True May’Kar Warriors. She never wanted me to forget where I came from. The True May’Kar that believed it didn’t matter what you believed, just that you did. She wanted me to wear her armor and be proud of it, not ashamed. I was never ashamed of her or father. I hope she knew that.
Well, it looks like some soldiers have just returned. I best warm up the forges, they will need some mending. I suppose this journal writing might be helpful after all.
261-
Okay so a lot has been going on. Things in New Hope are busy. It’s been ten years since we came over from Faedrun. Having only heard about the Syndar and Ulven before there is certainly more chance to get to know them here. Many customs and beliefs to learn about.
I have heard talk of this Coalition. I wonder if they are looking for more fighters? I have kept up on the training from my mother but I want to put it to use. There’s been talk of Undead on Mardrun. I’d like to get some payback.
262-
So life with the Coalition is a bit…hectic. I finally got some revenge for my father and killed some undead. You would think it would be easier to tear through a bag of bones. Nothing prepares you to fight rotting corpses. Nothing. After they destroyed the Lich cleanup was overwhelming. There were disputes over burning the undead or burying them. I just did what they told me to do. Bury them, dig them up, burn them…it went on and on. I don’t know where we are headed when we break camp but I hope it is far from here.
263-
I’ve been meeting some more Ulven. Of course it has to be during a war. I suppose when you work as a soldier that’s how you meet most people. There’s a lot of dislike amongst some of the Ulven for the Colonists. I’ve been told we are fighting alongside the Nightriver clan, they think Colonists are okay. Me, I like to get to know someone first before I dislike them. Which seems to be most everyone. I suppose growing up in the mountains talking to horses doesn’t prepare you to talk with people.
266-
Years of war, one battle after another, is a grueling life. I wear my mother’s armor proudly, it has saved my life many times. There are those I have to set straight about the Mahsai, how not all of the May’Kar had defected to the Penitent side. Wearing it certainly doesn’t make me any instant friends, but that’s not what I’m looking for anyways. The Ulven that I’ve met and fought alongside are good peoples. Hardy warriors and strong in their beliefs. Family and Clan based and loyal to their friends. Not that any of them would consider me as close as a friend, just not an enemy I suppose.
270-
I’ve been summoned into one of the leaders tents. They have taken a few others in for what appears to be questioning, but over what, I don’t know…
Well that was unexpected. Apparently keeping to yourself and being quiet gets you put on a top secret mission. Seems The Order is heading in to the Dirge Swamps to find some Stone. When it comes to fodder, nothing beats someone with zero attachments.
271-
Being a hired sword doesn’t seem that bad. Let me back up a bit. After fighting Mordok in the Swamps, which was nasty and horrible, I decided to not return to the Coalition. They have treated me well over my many years with them and I had gained experiences that I would otherwise have never obtained. But I am getting too old to be fighting peoples wars. That’s not me. Fighting small groups of bandits on the other hand, that I can do. With pleasure. I have a few contacts that can get me jobs at different locations across Mardrun.
I will just see where this half of my life takes me now.