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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."
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"The
Holy Grail"
Dante Gaberial Rossetti
|
Born into a noble family, a great celebration was held at her
birth. The celebration was shortened however by the appearance
of a Elder none knew.
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.
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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.
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"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