The Woman with No Name

[HarshestNight]

I've posted all of the philosophy for this PC in the library, which was originally written about a year ago, long before the Darkmen existed. When I learned of the sect, it felt perfect for this character, and I didn't know how much time I would have to play it. Thus, Kasia became something of a priority for me. Her background, for those interested:

[hide=Background]Background: A child of the Silver Marches, Kasia lost her parents at an early age when a rampaging horde of orcs overran her homestead. The orcs overlooked her in the chaos, but the solitary monk of the Long Death who trailed in their wake did not. Kasia was abducted from the ruins of her home and spirited away to the hidden haven of the monastic order, where she was to be condemned to a slow, agonizing death for research purposes. Her story would have ended there if it was not for a certain stubbornness of spirit, a resilience in the face of death that made her captors reconsider. Perhaps she would serve the Long Death better from outside a cell, rather than inside. Ironically enough, it would be truthful to say that Kasia Azzar died that night, and was reborn in the Abbot of the High Crypt, indoctrinated in the ways of the Long Death. She sought the 'perfect death' with her brethren, believing wholeheartedly that in finding it, she would find enlightenment.

When she was capable of defending herself, Kasia was allowed to leave the Crypt for the wider world on 'pilgrimage.' She walked battlefields old and new, studying the slaughter with a clinical eye. As she had once been claimed, so she too claimed others, falling upon traveling merchants and solitary caravans to study the varying states of death. It was during these travels that she made a Revelation: the perfect death could not be achieved with wanton murder. There was more required...[/hide]

From her philosophy, an Ascetic code was simple enough to create. Leave no trace, open no accounts, and spread the word of the existence of a perfect death. It was a PC that sought to be forgettable, to pursue a personal quest but have zero ego involved, and one whose philosophy would naturally put her at odds with everyone around her. She never said her name aloud, though she was known by her share of nicknames. She sought to create no debts, whether it be material or immaterial. She challenged many on what they held as important to them, and why, always seeking to take it away and see what was left in them. Loss begets loss.

Normally I'd go nuts with pictures but I'm not quite feeling it this time. Thanks to everyone who endured my many questions, philosophical probing and banter. It turns out that an Ascetic makes it very easy to find that monastic mindset because mechanically- there's nothing they need. Nothing has value. Everything is temporary- whoops, there I go again.

[NothingGoldCanStay]

I enjoyed the shit out of our play time. Double dragon, or whatever.

[putrid_plum]

So close to knowing more of the PC but what I did know... was great!

[Knight Of Pentacles]

Loved the darkness themed ascetic.  Wish they could have become a true blue darkman.  Would have been awesome.  

[Twelve]

I liked her.  Thank you.

[lIlIl]

Woah man I faked you all out, no one knew I was alive the whole tiiiiiiiime

The rest of the background, cut off just before the good stuff:

[hide=Philosophy]
With the birth of Dendar came the second Revelation-a God-slayer had been born to bring about the 'perfect death' of mankind, to swallow up the Gods with such finality that not even a fragment remained for their worshipers to draw power from. Only Dendar could deliver the 'perfect death', but first the pilgrim must be prepared for Dendar's maw. The pilgrim must:

• Leave no trace: The apocalyptic Darkening has removed the ties of blood- no family or friends can or will exist to remember Kasia. Those she encounters after that must remember 'no one' in order to ensure her perfect death. Kasia will never freely volunteer her name and will seek to look as non-descript as possible. Any scripted instance where her name is required will be refused, which will bar her from Upper Sanctuary. Any gear that emits light or otherwise draws attention cannot be equipped. If it was possible to leave the name space blank or put 'No one', I would.
• Open no accounts: We are born into this world without any obligations, and thus we must leave it the same. Of the many debts man may accrue, there is perhaps no greater allowance owed than to the Weave, and magic arcane and divine which makes so much possible. In order to ensure a perfect death, to prevent even the flow of magic from'remembering' her, the pilgrim must never imbibe magical brews or concoctions, nor benefit from the spells of priest or archmage. The only
• Make ready the road of the Nightmaiden: the final step to achieving a perfect death is to be consumed by Dendar the Night-Maiden, where both body and spirit can pass from existence and memory without outside intervention- no other death will do. To attract the appetite of Dendar, a suitable sacrifice must be readied. Ibrandul is such a God, as once it swallows the fledgling faith of Bresley and overcomes the titanic Ooze, the God's aspect will be irresistible to the Nightmaiden This goal is the impossible ideal Kasia can continue to strive for, and also clashes nicely with the first tenet- keep your anonymity while promoting the name of Dendar.

[/hide]Unfortunately I made the critical mistake of making too many of my initial goals reliant upon DM possessions/etc and did a good share of flailing about to find my way.That's part of the reason I'll be retiring Darkman- because I could be putting that time spent waiting for things to happen to better use (like actually making things happen). This was my first Ascetic, and most likely my last for a good while, but that's not a knock against the class. I dunno whether it was the perk or the philosophy but this was the first monk that actually felt right to me, in their interactions with others. Worth a try if you're on the fence.

I don't have as many screenshots as I might like.Sadly I deleted a fair amount pre-Darkening.

Conrad Edgerly was my/our sort-of rival. I was pleased how the conflict developed organically, mostly stemming from the disappearance of a Selunite priestess.













Formulative literature.






A meeting with a bard. One of my goals was to go after bards, historians, authors, writers- those dedicated to remembering the past. Unfortunately I never seemed to really meet any of efu's more prolific authors.



Memory-theft. The idea was that of all the things that could be taken from another person, it was the intangibles that were most precious of all, because they had to be surrendered freely. I was going to write a journal with all the memories I had stolen/shared and eventually work that into a shifter app, calling upon this storehouse of thought to assume various identities. Oftentimes things don't go as you planned.













 

[NothingGoldCanStay]

I don't have any screenshots to add. But Darkman2 is outtie as well.

Might as well hitch a ride. I loved our interactions IIIII.

[Rookie]

You guys were sick.  Really enjoyed the character development between our PCs.  Made playing an ascensionist fun.

[putrid_plum]

A creepy teammate and a dangerous foe, I enjoyed the PC from what I saw!

[Knight Of Pentacles]

You guys played out your beliefs very well. I was hoping to reveal the faces behind the masks, alas...

[Pentaxius]

Excellent, creepy twist on the Dwellers.

[Adhesive]

Very cool, very creepy.

[grumpy]

Very cool.  Great creepy vibe.  I enjoyed our skirmishes in the in-between.