You roll over in your sleep, unconsciously adjusting your blankets. Immersed in the dream world a sigh escapes your lips.
The mist enshrouds you, and a light ivory glow emits a feeling of protection. Slowly a gilded painting comes into focus. Who is this lovely woman you ponder?
A cool hand touches your forehead and a soft female voice whispers.
"Rest now brother. The trip into the realms is difficult the first time. As you recover I will tell you of the maid you contemplate."

It is said that as the Elder bathed in a delicate ivory light walked into the hall, the room became quite. She approached the Lady and Lord and gently began to speak.

"A female child born with six planets in the sign of Leo. Blessed with a touch of elven blood she is ruled by her heart." "Speak kindly to her at all times for words will wound deeper than the sword she will carry."
"Her life will be a path of spirituality, honor and war, becoming the physical embodiment of the virtues."
" Rejected for her visions and laughed at for her honor she will choose solitude." "Alone she will walk until her love of family creates a bond never seen before between sisters."
"Her peace will be found in the freedom of sharing."

The Lord, angry that a Elder would come uninvited was heard to say. "No daughter of mine shall ever carry a sword!" At this rash statement the Seer vanished.

Life was easy for Veil in the beginning. Her father was off fighting in the Trinsic Rebellion. Her mother showered her with love, and let her have the run of things. Sometimes this creates an avaricious child but, not so with Veil.

The arms master took a shining to her and started teaching her the ways of the sword. She spent many hours in her mother's still room learning the ways of magic.
The sword was her love though, and that was where she spent her energy.
She was taught that fighting had rules, Honor, Valor and Courage being the most important. She learned that spiritually she could commune with her sword turning it into an extension of her will. The arms master ingrained the eight virtues deeply upon the girls soul.

The wheel of life turns though, and at age twelve all of this changed.

Word came that her father was dead, and the invasion would soon be upon the family. Her mother, heavy with a child took Veil and they fled.
Set upon by a large group of lizard men the guards protected the family, and the Mage gated them to a cave of safety. Alone in the cave the Lady gave birth to her small sister and died, entrusting Veil with Maya's life. (The longer version of the sister's tale can be found in game written in the book called. The curse of the sisters)

It became a hand to mouth existence for the girls. Veil found a fishing family to take them in and earned their keep with her sword and ability to forecast good fishing.

In her eighteenth summer the fisherman took Veil on a trip to the vacation city of Nujlum. While there, she fell in love with a rouge artist. It is he who painted the portrait you gaze upon.
When asked why he painted her without her battle scars he replied that her scars were ugly to look upon and he refused to paint them.
This callous statement wounded Veil far deeper than any battle ever had. With her heart in her hands she sailed home and vowed never to become close to another again.

Swords became her words, her shield her pain, and platemail her lover.
The battle was not without cost, for each night she was haunted by visions of those she killed and the voice of a woman crying.
Rashness ruled her life. Battles fought only to kill, honor thrown away for loot.

Veil believed that becoming a Grandmaster in the four skills of Swords, Parry, Tactics and Anatomy would bring an end to her torment. She focused on creating that reality for herself. Still,the nightmares remained. In fact they intensified creating a circle of spiritual pain, and a deep need to understand who the woman crying was.

Fate intervened, and at her most selfish moment in life she was given a choice to save her sister or continue. Veils' love for her sister and the virtues the arms master taught her at his knee won the battle for her soul.

When she was small the arms master told her that all great warriors visited each shrine in the land armed only with there wits, a knife and some aides. A trip believed by many to hard for a woman to endure.
She set out on a foot journey to all the shrines in the land carrying only a knife, a bedroll, and some aides. The trip was hard, Veil learned that sometimes it is better to run than fight.
She learned that no matter how hungry you are someone else is more so.
The last act of kindness performed for her during her trip was the undoing of some of her pain.

Having talked a fisherman into giving her a ride to the shrine of Valor. She was surprised when her fishing sense went wrong. Instead of good fishing they ran into a deep sea serpent.
The fisherman hid Veil and gave his life fighting the beast. With tears running down her face and her last three aides' Veil resurrected and healed the fisherman.

If a stranger could give his life for hers, then she could give hers for others.

Veil now does her best to walk the path of the Virtues. She gives to those who have need and judges not if that need is real.

Her spirituality shines forth and makes it's self known to all who meet her.

Her healing touch mends minds along with bodies.

She finds new citizen's and helps them along, teaches them to fight and other skills or things they might need to survive.

Currently Veil belongs to "The Sisterhood of the Ivory Maiden". Where with the Maidens blessing she may continue her good works and finally put an end to the visions and nightmares that haunt her soul.

(OOC: Issues that change the way Veil looks at life will also be found on this page.
Roleplaying unlike acting is done on a fly by the moment manner.
Some suggestions if you come looking for this maid.
If you do not know her introduce yourself. In real life you do not have little blue names above your head.
Do not assume she will like you, her devotion to the Maiden and the Holy path she walks demand that she help you. That does not mean she wants to spend unlimted hours with you.
She does after all have a life she leads and people she loves.
Veil is half-Elven, expect that once in a while you may not understand what she says. Ask for the meaning if you need it.
If you figure out the time line in her story Veil is between 60 and 80. Young for an elf but old for a maid.
Unlike most elves Veil passed her time of seeking at a young age.
Her eyes are the color of deep lapis with startling gold flares raidating from the middle.
Her skin is golden hued but so browned buy the sun it looks tan.
She is a tiny maiden,and likes being small because she knows her training makes up for it.
Veil also has no idea how to express emotions, her life after all has been ruled by the blade.
She treasures most of all an elven blade that belonged to her mother, It has runes etched into the steel and one of her main goals in life is to find out what they say.
Lastly, she is haunted buy dreams of souls she can not help.

You can seek Veil out on the Lake Superior Shard of Ultima online, where she lives in the player run village of Tel'Ruid.

You WILL find her given time and the luck of the Maiden.

"Thank the Maiden the sea is still here." Thinks Veil as she stands on the crags outside of Yew.

Letting the wind blow through her waist length hair has always provided some comfort. Tonight it only serves to bring to her attention the differences in her body that she has tried to put aside. Hair that turned white at twenty and three and ears that are developing into points. Quickly, she braids the offending hair into a long tail, and adjusts it to cover her ears.

Yet her mind wanders to the glade Tara Darkshade brought her to a few moons ago. The tall trees begging to be climbed. The clean air, and the eyes of one tall elf who does not see her scars. "Blessed be the Maiden! I do not have time for such foolishness!"she mutters. "I wish I could still talk to Maya, that man-driven imp would know what to do." A thought forms in her mind, maybe JezzaBella?

Turning to matters more suited to the way she has lived her life, she undrapes the sword from the oilcloth it has remained in for so long. The bone handle is worn to fit her hand. The elven blade still sharp enough to slice a hair gleams in the moonlight. The runes etched into the side seem to glow. With great care she begins to rub the oil cloth over the only thing she has left of her mother. Tracing the runes with a finger, she whispers, "Some day old friend I will find out what you say."

A prayer forms in the back of her thoughts.
Maiden guide me through this time of change.
Help me to walk the path you have chosen for me.
I am unsure of this Knight business.
Knowledge, Peace or War. What do you wish?

Unnoticed by Veil, and felt only as a soft breeze tugging her hair out of the loose braid. A gentle Ivory mist creates a field of protection around her. She drapes the sword back into the cloth, and walks home. Settling in for the night.
Upon awakening in the morn she realizes that for the first time in years, there were no nightmares.

Chapter2

Startled from her slumber Veil sits up in the bed, Serena? The connection fades before she wakes enough to locate it. Pushing her hair from her face, she looks down at the mass of tumbled locks. How did that happen? It has been a long time sense her braid has come lose in her sleep. I went to sleep in my clothes? Then she remembers where she is.

She had used every ounce of courage she had to ask to stay here. The guild meeting, the two trips to Felucca, the ghost in her house, and the strain of dealing with her emotions had become just too much for her to attempt to go home alone again. Strange, being alone never bothered her before.

My life has become like one of those swirling pools in the sea, and she sighs. I don't eat, I don't sleep, and every time that elf comes near me I turn into a sighing, blushing, female! Is this what happens when you pray for peace of soul? All I wanted was a place to practice my blade and perhaps spread the gift of the Maiden

Seeing her pack on the floor, she looks inside for something other than what she has on to wear for the rest of the night. Nothing, there is however, a soft brown shirt laying on a chair. That will work she giggles, and changes. This action sends her into another muffled fit of giggles as she realizes it is at least six times too big and more like a dress on her small frame. Being small is something she is used to, the only time it bothers her is when the Smiths tease about making chain for a child. With that in mind she ties a bandana around her waist. Slipping quietly down the stairs, following the link in her mind to the soul sleeping there.

She sits and watches him sleep for a while, thinking deeply. Wondering if he understands that she does not know how to express her emotions having never done so. Coming to a decision that seems at the moment the right thing to do, she slides under the blanket and rests her head on his shoulder. Innocent to the feelings and reactions of men.
She thinks, just for a moment, and falls asleep.

 

 

 

Updated 3.11.01
All written content © FStreed
The photo "THE HOLY GRAIL" courtesy of Paradise Cards. Westhall, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8RH, England
All other art © VCArt 1997/2001