Flora Urthwyte

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Background

Flora is a Dwarven cleric who once served as the party's main healer and secondary close-range fighter. She has since left to fulfill the needs of her patron deity, St. Talfa.

• Age: 70
• Birthdate: May 10
• Astrological Sign: Taurus
• Blood Type: AB
• Height: 3'9", stocky and muscular
• Weight: 140 lbs
• Sex: Female
• Race: Dwarf
• Hair: Blonde
• Eyes: Amber
• Alignment: Neutral Good
• Deity: St. Talfa
• Primary Weapon(s): Waraxe, magic
• Other Weapons: Bow
• Role in Party: Healer, tank, melee fighter
• Outlook: "I've been given the independence to protect those out in the world, and to that alone must I hold."
• Family:
  • Traubon Urthwyte, Father (213 y.o.)
  • Iiha Urthwyte, Mother (140 y.o.)

Backstory

Flora comes from Nunrar-Tihare, a subterranean Dwarven nation situated the mountainous regions of the area the Humans call Drakenheim. She was born to Traubon Urthwyte, a champion warrior, and his wife Iiha, a cleric of Moradin and ollam, or teacher of the Dwarven ways. From a young age, Flora almost continuously spent her time studying books of Dwarven lore, historical manuscripts, geneology and lineage charts, heraldry, and the philosophy of the efficient and benevolent machine that is Dwarven society. Needless to say, this was rigorously enforced by both parents, her father being a fighter from a large and well-known clan of Dwarven warriors and her mother being a teacher and keeper of Dwarven lore and tradition.

However, her parents could never agree on what Flora was to do; her father saw her physical toughness and swore she inherited his fighting spirit, while her mother saw her keen intellect and wisdom and insisted Flora take up the life of the clergy. Poor Flora, being an only child, was caught between the two, never quite certain of what was expected of her. Thusly, she spent large portions of her time dreaming of life outside the Halls.

As she got older, Flora found free time here and there, which she enjoyed spending it with the children in the nursery. Flora found that she had a profound admiration for children, and had an infinite amount of interest in seeing them grow into the strong people they were to become.

One night she witnessed an angry mother beating her child for his disobediance. Flora stepped in, saying that the child had no right to this treatment. All she got was a backhand in return and an angry mother storming off, insisting her family would hear of this insolence.

As Flora regained her center from the incident she was approached by a human visitor in a grey robe, who'd witnessed the incident from far away. "Don't be afraid," the visitor insisted, "you did the right thing. The Nurterer has smiled on this one and seen fit to give you the strength to stand up to cruelty." As she cleaned and healed Flora's wound, the woman explained the workings of St. Talfa, the patron protector of orphans and misfortunate children. As she spoke Flora sat, enraptured by this mysterious stranger and her speeches. The stranger bid her farwell, telling Flora she would be in the Halls for awhile, should Flora want to see her again.

Flora went home that evening, her head buzzing all the while with the fire of possibility. As she walked in the door, however, she was greeted sternly by her father and mother, who had much to say about her interfering in other people's business. Flora defended her actions as the conversation tangented into her recent flighty nature. Flora, confused, unfortunately mentioned her encounter with the human stranger and of her newfound faith.

Her parents both were infuriated with this human's influence on her. Her mother was especially angry that Flora would be so influenced into the service of a surface god, especially when she'd spent so many years studying the goodly ways of Moradin and his blessings upon the people. If Flora went away, she'd be harming not only herself and her god - she'd be harming the whole Dwarven race and bringing insult upon her family. After all, what other child did they have? They were torn enough as it was deciding what Flora was to do with herself; the possibility that she would not live with her people was a grievious insult. Her mother told her to think about it and tell her in the morning. Flora went to bed in tears.

Later that night she awoke again, realizing what she had to do. Not lighting any lights, relying only on her darkvision, Flora wrote a long letter in runic, detailing how she understood her family's concern, and that she felt truly guilty for her choices of late. She wished them the very best, and hoped they would understand her decision and its motivations. With that she packed a small bag of provisions, took the gold she had earned, and left home.

She found the stranger rather easily, who introduced herself properly. She told Flora they were going to the surface, so Flora tagged along to see what she could see. Flora traveled with the woman for several months before arriving at a hospice of St. Talfa. There, Flora completed her clerical studies and worked to aid the orphans taking shelter there. After about a year passed, Flora was ready to go out in the world and spread the Word.

Adventuring

During her adventures with the party, Flora learned more about the world than she ever could have from books or studying in a monastery. She made both friends and enemies, and her ability to judge the motives of others gained both depth and breadth.

Obviously, she gained further insight into the nature of the divine, and her spellcasting abilities increased thuswise. Her fighting abilities and skills also markedly improved.

A New Chapter

Toward the end of the party's quest into the dangerous, undead-ridden town of Muertheim, Flora and her companions entered battle against an extremely powerful and ruthless vampire, the Baron von Zeitkonheim, who slaughtered several party members. As Flora, shocked and horrified at the obscene power of this killing machine, ran to save her allies, he struck her down in a single blow with his massive scythe.

Almost immediately, white light flooded her senses, and she passed out. She has no memory of what occured, but when the party brought her back to life, her mind and soul were filled with a strong calling. She lost interest in the "high-risk, high-pay" lifestyle of adventuring and wished to fulfill her true purpose: the aide of children in need.

With Lightning Tiger having proven more than capable of watching out for himself, she departed the party's company to build a hospice to St. Talfa in the renewing city of Solstheim.

Role in Party

Flora is mostly a healer, though the real spirit of her role is protection. Therefore, she will enter melee combat, use buffing spells, or even attempt to draw enemy fire, assuming that she's tough enough and can absorb it better than her comrades. Healing is definitely her forte', however, and she's glad she can lend this supporting role in trying times. She is especially attached to Lightning Fire Tiger Swan, who she now sees as her charge.

Recent events have made her consider spending some time honing her martial skills, as they seem to be necessary of late.

Psychology

Flora is stubborn while levelheaded, witty while reserved. She dislikes violence but thinks it necessary to achieve certain ends, and cannot abide cruelty in any way. She is also somewhat reserved, preferring to let others do the leadership and arguing while she tags along and offers sound advice and consolation.

Alignment

Flora is Neutral Good. Her primary concern is protecting those she cares about (which is practically every decent person she encounters, and every child as well, decent or not) and nothing really affects her besides that. Therefore, she's not really bent on enforcing authority nor on pushing freewill and anarchy; she just does whatever makes sense at the time in the fullfillment of her purpose.

Religion

"St. Talfa, giver to those in need, protector of the misfortunate, hope to all who suffer, give me the strength to once again bring the light of hope to the darkness of the world. Amen."

Flora is a devout worshipper of St. Talfa, the patron protector of orphans and neglected children. She prefers to not be preachy of her goddess, favoring setting an example through kind acts to others. As such she is very merciful, and often uses Talfa's miracles to save dying opponents because of her belief that they deserve another chance. Every midnight she performs a prayer ritual so she will be granted magic by her deity. By the light of a single candle, she focuses all her energies on a possession or fingerbone of a child who has met an untimely and cruel end. This represents the light of hope in each day's darkest hour, and by holding the often grisly object in her hands forces her to face the world's evil and steel her resolve to eliminate it.

St. Talfa herself is a little-known deity who is most heavily supported by the church of Pelor. According to legend she was a powerful healer who died trying to protect an orphanage from midnight sacrifice by a cult of Graz'zt. As the legend goes, the cult (without any extent of ease) dispatched her and completed their grisly ritual. However, it was immediately thereafter that the entire orphanage was incinerated by white fire. Every orphan emerged from the smoking ruins, alive and well, and no bodies of the cultists were found. Talfa was canonized by the high-ranking clerics of Pelor as a saint, and it was discovered several years later that she was indeed capable of granting miraculous powers to mortal beings; thus her ascension to godhood was fully recognized.

Relationships

Flora cares deeply about her companions, and it would upset her should violence or disagreement threaten to rend the party asunder.

• Lueali Myihel - a handsome lad and very talented magician! Though I must say... everything my father ever told me about the "fairies" seems to hold true so far... the poor dear topples like a blade o' grass in no time at all. Good thing he can keep his distance while explodin' things.
• Medea Lhey - that lass is a quiet one for sure, but I'm glad to have her around. Much thanks to her for letting me ride that flying horse o' hers. She seems to enjoy the close-range fightin' a little more than Rayn does, so you best forgive me for worryin' about her so...
• Rayn White - he's quite the cynical one, but his superb aim is undeniable, and he does the best he can for all of us. Maybe he can give me some tips on handling that bow of his... to boot he, like Medea, seems very knowledgable of natural lore.
• Lightning Tiger Fire Swan - what an adorable little dear! Well, when I say little, I do mean "young," seeing as I am a wee bit shorter than him. The poor thing, always falling on his head... I do hope he manages to find a good life without his family around to support him. He seems pretty multi-talented... can he wrap his head around it all?
• Khae - a pretty lad, sure, but seems to be a bit off his rocker of late.
• Baklavar - the poor man. He seemed to find some sort of redemption, and then he had to go and have his head all a-cloven. At least he's walking again, but I don't think his life will ever be the same.
• Harris - the poor soul. I dunna know what kinda' magic was done to him... I guess this is the reason my ollam always discouraged us from studying the arcane arts... *shudder*. I hope the people responsible for this get the justice and redemption they need.
• Red-haired woman - Hmm... she seems to have some kind of strange aspect about her... she seems to know what she's doing though, and I hope she doesn't get into trouble with that magic of hers.