First Name: Kemi
Last Name: Kemorya
Birthplace: Beluir, Luiren.
Appearance
Race: Halfling (Strongheart)
Sex: Female
Age: 29
Height: 3'3"
Weight: 30lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Reddish-brown, kept in a single plait.
Skin: Olive brown, well tanned from extensive sun exposure.
Physical Description: Kemi is of about average height for a female halfling with an athletic body shape. Her arms are quite muscular, with slightly broader shoulders than the average halfling female. She has no visible tattoos but she does have a few scars on her hands and forearms. Her hair is well groomed and she often tucks part of her fringe behind her ear to keep it out of her eyes. She can be see wearing white fullplate with a tinge of blue.
On more elaborate occasions, Kemi will braid her hair and adorn it with various sparkly hair clips and pins. She seems to be reasonably alert and constantly surveying her surroundings and she smiles whenever she makes eye contact with another. Her casual garb is just some common adventurer’s clothing in quite good repair with some additional hand-made embroidery to enhance their overall appeal. She hesitantly dresses up for special events such as weddings and festivals.
Personality Profile
General Health: Fit and healthy despite some old battle injuries. Most are hidden under her armour or clothing and are thus not visible.
Deity: Arvoreen
Initial Alignment: Lawful Good.
Profession: Mushroom farming.
Base Class & Proposed Development: Fighter (+ Weaponmaster + Divine Champion)
Habits/Hobbies: Cooking, swordplay, athletics, foraging, storytelling.
Personality Summary: Kemi is driven by curiosity, adventure and helping those in need, especially other hin. She is often cheerful and full of energy and determined to show that the small folk are not weak and can hold their own in the thick of battle. She easy makes friends and her friends will find a loyal and determined ally for the forces of good. However, Kemi can be a little hot headed when threatened, stubborn, and can be distracted and is somewhat gullible.
Relatives: Rynn Kemorya (father), Anthalee Merryweather (mother), Danerr (oldest brother), Vern (older brother), Sheldon (younger brother, deceased), Mirilee (younger sister), Wendy (youngest sister). Other aunties, uncles and cousins too numerous to name.
Languages: Common, Halfling (Luiric dialect), Gnome, Dwarf.
Weapon of Choice: Katana
Background
The following I have copied from the old BG:Tscc forum for synthesis with the following hybrid bio.
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The Biography of Kemi Nil'Kemorya
Born and raised in the far south-eastern country of Luiren, Kemi is the third and daughter of her father, Rynn Kemorya, a common fruit farmer just north the Luiren capital Beluir. She was raised according to the common religion of the Hin of Luiren, worshiping the Halfling goddess Yondalla. Even from a young age, Kemi loved visiting the capital city, and spent a particular amount of time watching monks of the Hin Fist Order practicing their combat manoeuvres. While her older sisters would go to the monasteries just to watch the boys, Kemi was more interested in learning how to fight. She would practice in the alleyways beside the monastery, fighting invisible foes with a stick in hand, and provoking the alley cats who fed on the fish carcasses in the docks.
Eventually one of the monks spotted her, and asked if she would join the monastery’s order. Filled with excitement, Kemi rushed to find her father, and put the proposal before him, but her father refused to let his youngest daughter join the monastic order. Terribly frustrated and filled will teenage enmity, Kemi ran away from home that very evening and made her way to Beluir. However, a teenage hin walking alone at midnight was asking for trouble, and it came in the form of a pack of wolves. Screaming with fear as the feral beasts approached, Kemi grasped the only weapon she could find, a rather stout log, and holding on with two hands she waited until the wolves had surrounded her, then closed her eyes tightly and with all the strength she could muster spun in a violent rage of fury. A nearby farmer, awoken by Kemi’s screams for help, arrived at the scene to see Kemi sitting on the ground shaking nervously, surrounded by a circle of dead wolves, and the old gnarled log bloodstained but snapped in two.
News of the feat quickly spread amongst the farming community, and Kemi’s father Rynn could no longer tolerate the constant accolades and gifts arriving at his front doorstep. With anguish written upon his face, and sorrow in his heart, he granted permission for his youngest daughter to begin her training for the Order of the Hin Fist. The Order became aware of her combat prowess, particularly when using two handed weapons such as short staves and clubs, her agility was exceptional and she could strike as hard as all the boys, but they noticed she was somewhat lacking in the perception required to become a master of unarmoured fighting. Kemi realized this herself, and with deep feelings of disappointment handed in her resignation from the Order.
On her last day, as she packed her belongings and prepared to go back home, the Master of the Monastery approached her with a small smile on his face, and a scrap of parchment in his hand. He gave it to her, and then nodding, went his way again without saying a word. On the parchment were an obvious library reference number, and her surname. Curious, Kemi made her way to the archive and found the reference, a large scroll of previously enrolled members of the monastery. Scrolling through the list, she found her own surname written. But the first name was a name she’d never heard before, “Sammael Kemorya”. So, writing it down, she took her things and arrived back home on the farm. She remained somewhat quiet until at second dinner, Kemi asked her father, “Father, who is Sammael Kemorya?” He let out a deep sigh as all his daughters began whispering amongst themselves, wondering who this person was that shared their name.
“I had hoped this day wouldn’t come, but alas it has,” he said. “Sammael is your great grandfather. He trained his whole life in the Order of the Hin Fist, was an honour to his family and to this nation. But he caught wanderlust in his feet, didn’t want to stay in Beluir. And he was bewitched by some gnomish lass, left his wife of two score an’ three years to join some adventuring company. Did great dishonour to his family, his Order, thanks be to Yondalla that the Order didn’t wipe our family name away, they showed us mercy there. But no-one ever knows what came of him, he disappeared with that adventuring group on the road to Chondalwood. Your grandfather mentioned something about Sammael going some city to the far north west, Border’s Gate or something, but I don’t know anything about that side of the world.”
That night, Kemi couldn’t sleep. Something inside her seemed to urge her to try and find her great grandfather, if he was still alive, and make her way to this far north western city called “Border’s Gate”. Early in the morning, several hours before sunrise, Kemi packed a satchel with some supplies, gazed one last time upon her sleeping family and quietly left her childhood home for the second time, unsure if she would ever return. On her bed she left a simple note. It read, “Gone to Border’s Gate. Be back soon.”
Born and raised in the far south-eastern country of Luiren, Kemi is the third and daughter of her father, Rynn Kemorya, a common fruit farmer just north the Luiren capital Beluir. She was raised according to the common religion of the Hin of Luiren, worshiping the Halfling goddess Yondalla. Even from a young age, Kemi loved visiting the capital city, and spent a particular amount of time watching monks of the Hin Fist Order practicing their combat manoeuvres. While her older sisters would go to the monasteries just to watch the boys, Kemi was more interested in learning how to fight. She would practice in the alleyways beside the monastery, fighting invisible foes with a stick in hand, and provoking the alley cats who fed on the fish carcasses in the docks.
Eventually one of the monks spotted her, and asked if she would join the monastery’s order. Filled with excitement, Kemi rushed to find her father, and put the proposal before him, but her father refused to let his youngest daughter join the monastic order. Terribly frustrated and filled will teenage enmity, Kemi ran away from home that very evening and made her way to Beluir. However, a teenage hin walking alone at midnight was asking for trouble, and it came in the form of a pack of wolves. Screaming with fear as the feral beasts approached, Kemi grasped the only weapon she could find, a rather stout log, and holding on with two hands she waited until the wolves had surrounded her, then closed her eyes tightly and with all the strength she could muster spun in a violent rage of fury. A nearby farmer, awoken by Kemi’s screams for help, arrived at the scene to see Kemi sitting on the ground shaking nervously, surrounded by a circle of dead wolves, and the old gnarled log bloodstained but snapped in two.
News of the feat quickly spread amongst the farming community, and Kemi’s father Rynn could no longer tolerate the constant accolades and gifts arriving at his front doorstep. With anguish written upon his face, and sorrow in his heart, he granted permission for his youngest daughter to begin her training for the Order of the Hin Fist. The Order became aware of her combat prowess, particularly when using two handed weapons such as short staves and clubs, her agility was exceptional and she could strike as hard as all the boys, but they noticed she was somewhat lacking in the perception required to become a master of unarmoured fighting. Kemi realized this herself, and with deep feelings of disappointment handed in her resignation from the Order.
On her last day, as she packed her belongings and prepared to go back home, the Master of the Monastery approached her with a small smile on his face, and a scrap of parchment in his hand. He gave it to her, and then nodding, went his way again without saying a word. On the parchment were an obvious library reference number, and her surname. Curious, Kemi made her way to the archive and found the reference, a large scroll of previously enrolled members of the monastery. Scrolling through the list, she found her own surname written. But the first name was a name she’d never heard before, “Sammael Kemorya”. So, writing it down, she took her things and arrived back home on the farm. She remained somewhat quiet until at second dinner, Kemi asked her father, “Father, who is Sammael Kemorya?” He let out a deep sigh as all his daughters began whispering amongst themselves, wondering who this person was that shared their name.
“I had hoped this day wouldn’t come, but alas it has,” he said. “Sammael is your great grandfather. He trained his whole life in the Order of the Hin Fist, was an honour to his family and to this nation. But he caught wanderlust in his feet, didn’t want to stay in Beluir. And he was bewitched by some gnomish lass, left his wife of two score an’ three years to join some adventuring company. Did great dishonour to his family, his Order, thanks be to Yondalla that the Order didn’t wipe our family name away, they showed us mercy there. But no-one ever knows what came of him, he disappeared with that adventuring group on the road to Chondalwood. Your grandfather mentioned something about Sammael going some city to the far north west, Border’s Gate or something, but I don’t know anything about that side of the world.”
That night, Kemi couldn’t sleep. Something inside her seemed to urge her to try and find her great grandfather, if he was still alive, and make her way to this far north western city called “Border’s Gate”. Early in the morning, several hours before sunrise, Kemi packed a satchel with some supplies, gazed one last time upon her sleeping family and quietly left her childhood home for the second time, unsure if she would ever return. On her bed she left a simple note. It read, “Gone to Border’s Gate. Be back soon.”
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Kemi was born in Beluir, Luiren, on Marpenoth 7, 1321, as the third child of her parents Rynn and Anthalee. She grew up in the relatively safe and industrious capital of the halfling kingdom where she learnt the mushroom farming trade from her father, along with the remainder of her siblings. Her mother would read her stories of adventure, as is common amongst the Luiric halflings, and such stories filled her heart with a desire to adventure for herself. Her mother constantly tried to quell this desire by reminding Kemi that her grandfather Arhonas had left on an adventure sometime before she was born and had never been heard from since.
When she was 16 years of age chance would catch Kemi by the proverbial collar and re-ignite her interest in adventuring. She just so happened to be walking through the docks of Beluir with her younger brother Sheldon while attending to a delivery of mushrooms for export when the dock master approached them about a visitor from the west, a very tall human flowing with muscles, with long black hair tied back behind his head in a pony tail. By his side was a long, curved blade and he was carrying a long object wrapped in a white cloth. This item he gave to Kemi and Sheldon before departing again, saying that it was from her grandfather.
The item was a katana, fashioned of pure alchemical silver, which Kemi absolutely adored. She took it home to her family who were stunned to see it, along with a letter from Arhonas. He wouldn't give any concrete details of his whereabouts except that he was on the far west coast of Faerun and that he would send them another letter within a year. "A year," thought Kemi, "to prepare to leave."
Kemi spent that year practising her swordsmanship until word again arrived that they had a visitor at the docks. This was Kemi's chance to go on her long planned adventure.
[Work in progress!]
When she was 16 years of age chance would catch Kemi by the proverbial collar and re-ignite her interest in adventuring. She just so happened to be walking through the docks of Beluir with her younger brother Sheldon while attending to a delivery of mushrooms for export when the dock master approached them about a visitor from the west, a very tall human flowing with muscles, with long black hair tied back behind his head in a pony tail. By his side was a long, curved blade and he was carrying a long object wrapped in a white cloth. This item he gave to Kemi and Sheldon before departing again, saying that it was from her grandfather.
The item was a katana, fashioned of pure alchemical silver, which Kemi absolutely adored. She took it home to her family who were stunned to see it, along with a letter from Arhonas. He wouldn't give any concrete details of his whereabouts except that he was on the far west coast of Faerun and that he would send them another letter within a year. "A year," thought Kemi, "to prepare to leave."
Kemi spent that year practising her swordsmanship until word again arrived that they had a visitor at the docks. This was Kemi's chance to go on her long planned adventure.
[Work in progress!]
Kemi arrived on the Sword Coast in 1345 after 7 strenuous years of travel. Not long after her arrival, this event happened (copied over from old forum)
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"Bar fight!" a person across the room yelled.
Lolantir watched the bar with curiosity having never heard of such a thing and have expected the bar to get up and delivering fatal splinters to everyone.
He also watched the group of people argueing about some deity he was not aware of, for no name was mentioned. He ducked instinctivly as a mug of ale flew across the bar by a halfling attempting to incite a riot. He tensed suddenly as people begun drawing steel and swinging at everyone within reach, but not a lolantir for he was safely hidden from view...
For he was running out the door and upon seeing the nearest flaming fist soldier, gave the spoken name of the first woman, a halfling to draw steel.
"The bar is fighting at the elfsong! The halfing started it, a little lady named Kemi I think!"
"I'm turning myself in for my crime. Take my weapons, and see that just punishment is enforced against me."
Before the sentries can speak, a band of Fist soldiers come rushing down the road towards the fortress.
"There she is," the leader cries, "Arrest that hin immediately!" Kemi crumples somewhat as the sentries rush forward, laying hands on her forcibly, and lifting her to her feet. Her eyes flowing freely with tears, Kemi offers no resistance as she is shoved into the Flaming Fist headquarters for questioning.
Shackled inside a prison cell, Kemi tells her perspective of the events that transpired in the Elf Song Tavern to the officer questioning her.
"The man insulted my goddess, and made jokes about torturing children. Do you honestly expect I can just stand by idly and listen to such blasphemous remarks?" she quips, clenching her fists. "Nevertheless, I know I have broken your laws, and that is why I am here," she adds, looking at the filthy cell floor, her eyes filled with a mixture of rage and sorrow. "Whatever punishment you feel is necessary for me, I shall bear it alone. I assaulted a man, and for that I must be punished in accordance to your laws."
He calmly introduces himself as Brother Jin Ko humble servant of the mother and gaurdian to the hin being held
*Sa then turns to take a seat upon one of the benches and waits patiently*
"You have half an hour," the guard says as a brown robed hin enters the hall. Kemi looks at the figure, one she has begun to grow fond of as a source of direction and help.
"Sa?" she says quietly, turning her face away in shame. The robed figure sits down, and the two discuss Kemi's current circumstances.
After half an hour, the guard retorts, "Time is up! Come with me now, prisoner." Sa Jin Ko quickly passes a holy symbol of Yondalla across the table, to which the guard protests.
"No gifts for the prisoner!" he yells, reaching for the item. Sa responds to him quickly about giving permission for Kemi to exercise personal faith during her imprisonment. The guard grumbles a little in permission as Kemi takes the holy symbol, tucking it away in the sleeve of her prison uniform.
As the guard escorts Kemi back to her cell, she calls out to Sa, "Please visit me again soon." Once again she is chained to the floor, and locked into her cell, waiting for her trial before the magistrate.
"By the gods, what happened to you?" Quinn chirps, as Meri also looks upon Kemi with confusion. Kemi related the story for the second time, about the man Quinn and Meri had been speaking to in the bar that night.
"Him? He told me he was a trained killer." Quinn remarks, somewhat astounded by the incident. Meri fidgets uncomfortably, arguing that what Kemi did was wholly right, and scans around the room for an opportunity to smuggle Kemi away from the prison unnoticed.
"No friends," Kemi says, "I must face my fate." Quinn agrees with her, noting as Kemi already had done that she had broken city law, yet he points out that she should not just plainly admit guilt. Meri pipes up again, arguing with Quinn that Kemi should be the hero in the story, not the villain. The large thud of boots enters the prison hall, and Kyew makes his way to the table.
"Want me to bust ya outta here Kemi?" the giant man whispers, looking around at all the guards. "I can take em, no problems."
Kemi shakes her head. "No friends. I am resolved to my fate." Quinn agrees with her, that justice should be allowed to run its course, but his remarks are met equally by the objections of both Kyew and Meri.
Kemi looks at her squabbling companions, a degree of sorrow entering her heart. Not wishing more trouble upon them for her sake, she turns to the guard. "I am ready to return to my cell now."
The guard yells at the visitors, "Right! Time's up!". Meri and Kyew watch Kemi, rather astonished at her disposition, as she is taken back to her cell. Kemi turns and smiles weakly at Quinn, before being shoved down the hall and back into her dank confinement.
"Laws."
One of many things that work only for the people making them. It's not that Quinn hated laws. They just failed when morals came into it. Kemi put down a man who claimed to be a professional killer and commented on defiling dead children's bodies. Sure, Kemi acted out in anger, but it was justified.
Sighing, going over it all in his head, Quinn came to one conclusion: he needed a drink. He wanted time to think and let his reactions come slowly, not off-the-cuff. After fishing out some spare coins, he got a comfortable seat in the corner of the closest tavern. Darkwater stout. Thinking ale.
Overall, there was nothing to truly be done for Kemi. Short of acting as an advocate during trial, nobody could directly get to her without cutting a lot of ties around the city. Even if they managed to break her out without dying, the entire group would be wanted. Wasn't worth it.
Sipping the drink, Quinn mulled over the unpleasant truth of the matter. Kemi was Kemi's only hope. It was up to her to convince the court of her own innocence. He just hoped she'd bend a little, tell the court the truth in a way that made her look better.
Hero who saved the children of the nobles from a monster.
Glorious warrior who selflessly sacrifices herself to the guards after her just deed.
Something. Anything. Just as long as she would come back safe.
Finishing the last of his drink, Quinn set his tip down and rose slowly. He'd find something else to take his mind off things until the trial... but he knew it wouldn't work.
"It is time for you to stand trial, hin," says the court officer. Kemi makes her way out of the prison cell, and upstairs to the main hall of the Flaming Fist compound. It had only been a month prior that she was standing in the same place, describing to Duke Eltan of the bandit attack she had thwarted at Wyrm's Crossing. Now she stood before him as a felon and criminal. Duke Eltan motions for Kemi to come forward.
"You are charged with the assault on one Albanus Cerialis in a fight in the elf song tavern. What say you in your defense?" Kemi looks at the Duke calmly and says, "Only a confession of my guilt, your honour." The duke, looking a little perplexed, responds, asking her to retell her impression of the incident. Sighing somewhat, Kemi tells the Duke about the events in the Elf Song Tavern, how she was provoked to wrath by the man Albanus, and his comments on defiling dead children. After ten minutes of retelling, Kemi finishes her defense, mentioning especially how the man survived, having been cured of his injuries by Seadin and Stubbi.
The Duke motions for her to stand down, and calls Stubbi to give his account. He retold much the same Kemi had, although noticable missing the fervent zeal of Kemi's defense when it came to the part about Albanus' supposed blasphemy of Yondalla. Nevertheless the hin minstrel still spoke with sincerity, and took his place again when he had finished his testimony.
"Very well," the Duke exclaimed, and called several other commoners to give testimony of what they had seen and heard. Meri and Kyew sat at the back of the room, watching on in disbelief, occaisionally scoffing at accusations against Kemi, and otherwise quite annoyed at the entire proceedings.
Eventually Quinn could no longer contain himself, and took to the stand. In an orderly, eloquent address, he defended Kemi's purity of motive, showing also that the man Albanus had come looking for a fight, and had found it in the hot-headed little hin when her goddess was insulted by the suggestion of barbaric torture of children. He poured all his wit and heart into the address, and sat satisfied that he had spoken enough.
The Duke scanned the room. "And where is the victim? Did he not come?" A check of the hall revealed that indeed, Albanus had not come for the trial, but it mattered not. A last minute attempt by the half-elf Seadin, who ran from the other side of the city upon hearing the case was in court, failed to convince the Duke of any innocence on Kemi's behalf.
"Kemi Kemorya, this court finds you guilty as charged," the Duke bellowed, adding much to the agony of Meri, Kyew, Quinn and Stubbi, their groans echoing together from the seating area.
"If you had suspicion of wrongdoing, the guard was just outside the tavern patrolling the street. Your punishment hereby shall be six entire months of incarceration in the city prison. You are permitted visitors once per week. This court is now ajourned. Officer, return the prisoner to her cell."
Kemi's friends looked on, unable to do anything without provoking the wrath of the Flaming Fist. Who knows what emotions boiled inside of them, what thoughts they gendered, and considered. As Kemi was escorted down the corridor, she looked behind her and called out to them.
"Please don't forget to visit me."
With those words, she was taken down the long flight of stairs to her prison cell, where she would spend the next six months on bread and water.
"Just one more month, one more month," she proclaims to herself in her mind. Turning her thoughts from her captivity, she begins to think about her numerous friends. She was very appreciative of Quinn and Meri's visit the previous week, Meri had promised to bring her some mushrooms from the Wood of Sharp Teeth.
"Perhaps they'll give the gruel some flavour?" Kemi thought to herself, as she turned her ear towards the hallways of the prison and the sounds of the agonizing screams of a prisoner being punished for his crimes. Kemi looked down at herself, putting her hand on her stomach. She had lost alot of weight, and the shackles' continuous chaffing on her ankles would leave noticable scars. "What I would do for some of that venison!" she whispered to herself.
Closing her eyes and leaning her back against the wall, Kemi let her thoughts drift amongst her many recent memories. It was not so long ago that she was out fighting giants with the Hin Brigade & Co., Quinn cutting at their achilles tendons, Kyew punching them in the groin, causing them to keel over in pain, Brea enchanting the whole group with magics, Stubbi singing odes of their glorious exploits. A single tear began to run down her cheek as she began to cave in to self-pity and remorse. "I miss them so much," she said to herself as she sobbed softly.
Sniffling her nose and rubbing her eyes, Kemi let her thoughts wander elsewhere. There was one thought very close to her, as if part of her very soul. "I hope they have not taken the scabbard, and sold it," she thought with a deep sigh. Having already lost Linhui's sword, it would only rub salt into her emotional wound to lose the scabbard also. Calming herself, she paused for a moment before beginning a silent meditation to Yondalla and Arvoreen, eagerly counting the days for her release...
To her surprise, Quinn, Kyew and Makro were all waiting for her in the prison hall. Kyew looked somewhat relieved that the ordeal was now completed, as did Quinn, Makro merely nodding in silent approval.
"Um, where can I collect my things?" Kemi quizzed the jailor, eager to know the whereabouts of the ornate scabbard she takes with her everywhere.
"Upstairs," he grunted. "Pay your fine, and you are completely free to go." Kemi nodded slowly, looking around at the others. The jailor approached, and loosed the chains from around her feet. She felt relieved once the shackled were gone, but having spent six months in them her movement was still clumsy and cumbersome.
"Come on, lets get you outta here," Quinn said, and they made their way up the stairs. It seemed like eternity for Kemi, and she struggled her way up. Just before the top, she tripped, and fell forward on her face heavily. Quinn rushed by her side quickly, and helped her up.
"Sorry, I tripped. That's all," Kemi stated, trying to hide her physical weakness. She would need at least another month of recouperation to regain her strength, she thought, and additional time besides that to get used to moving around in her greaves, as her ankle scars were still quite sore.
Approaching Captain Norton, Kemi enquired about where she might pay her fine and collect her equipment. The captain merely pointed at a doorway as he chewed heartily on a ham sandwich. Opening the door, Kemi went inside to be greeted by a stern Fist soldier wielding a quill.
"Petitioning for release, are you? Very well. Let me check the records." He quickly scanned a book in front of him and stopped at a certain entry. "Kemi Kemorya, is it?" Kemi nodded solemnly. "Very well. Pay your fine of fourteen hundred gold coins, and you are free," the soldier said, looking at her without emotion.
"Where is my equipment?" Kemi asked. "I should have enough in my gold pouch to pay you, sir." The soldier nodded gruffly, and pointed to the corner of the room. Kemi sorted through her equipment, placing her pouch of gold to the side. It seemed she was not so interested in paying her fine, as checking that her most important piece of equipment was still there. Lifting up her armour, she saw what her eyes were desirous to see: Linhui's scabbard still firmly belted to her plate mail.
Sighing with relief, Kemi quickly took her gold pouch and counted out fourteen hundred gold pieces, and gave it to the soldier. After a brief check, the soldier nodded, and pointed for the door. "No more trouble out of you now, hin," he growled, Kemi nodding again sombrely, before she collected up her equipment.
Placing on her strengthening gauntlets, she put everything in her pack, and made her way outside with Kyew, Makro and Quinn. The blast of sunlight struck her almost as it would a drow bursting forth onto the surface for the first time. She covered her eyes, and squinted, almost in pain.
"Long time, ey boss?" Quinn remarked as Kemi nodded, barely able to see. "Lets get you some rest then," said Quinn, Kemi nodding slowly and grabbing hold of his pack, trying to adjust to the daylight. Quinn then lead Kemi to the Helm and Cloak Inn for some much needed food and recouperation...
Lolantir watched the bar with curiosity having never heard of such a thing and have expected the bar to get up and delivering fatal splinters to everyone.
He also watched the group of people argueing about some deity he was not aware of, for no name was mentioned. He ducked instinctivly as a mug of ale flew across the bar by a halfling attempting to incite a riot. He tensed suddenly as people begun drawing steel and swinging at everyone within reach, but not a lolantir for he was safely hidden from view...
For he was running out the door and upon seeing the nearest flaming fist soldier, gave the spoken name of the first woman, a halfling to draw steel.
"The bar is fighting at the elfsong! The halfing started it, a little lady named Kemi I think!"
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
Kemi approaches the Flaming Fist Headquarters, her hands shaking and her white armour spattered with fresh blood. Kneeling before the sentries' inquisitive glances, she holds out her sword, and places it on the ground. She then takes a dagger out of each boot, and lays them down also. With tears flowing from her face, she begins to weep. Looking up at the somewhat confused guards, she says to them,"I'm turning myself in for my crime. Take my weapons, and see that just punishment is enforced against me."
Before the sentries can speak, a band of Fist soldiers come rushing down the road towards the fortress.
"There she is," the leader cries, "Arrest that hin immediately!" Kemi crumples somewhat as the sentries rush forward, laying hands on her forcibly, and lifting her to her feet. Her eyes flowing freely with tears, Kemi offers no resistance as she is shoved into the Flaming Fist headquarters for questioning.
Shackled inside a prison cell, Kemi tells her perspective of the events that transpired in the Elf Song Tavern to the officer questioning her.
"The man insulted my goddess, and made jokes about torturing children. Do you honestly expect I can just stand by idly and listen to such blasphemous remarks?" she quips, clenching her fists. "Nevertheless, I know I have broken your laws, and that is why I am here," she adds, looking at the filthy cell floor, her eyes filled with a mixture of rage and sorrow. "Whatever punishment you feel is necessary for me, I shall bear it alone. I assaulted a man, and for that I must be punished in accordance to your laws."
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
A small robed figure strolls in to the Fist head quarters and calmly ask to speak to the magistrate in privateHe calmly introduces himself as Brother Jin Ko humble servant of the mother and gaurdian to the hin being held
*Sa then turns to take a seat upon one of the benches and waits patiently*
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
Kemi stands, as her shackles clink against themselves. "You have a vistor," says the guard, unlocking the door of her cell. The guard approaches, and unlocks Kemi's shackles from the wall. Kemi limps somewhat with the shackles restricting her movement, and makes her way to the prison hall."You have half an hour," the guard says as a brown robed hin enters the hall. Kemi looks at the figure, one she has begun to grow fond of as a source of direction and help.
"Sa?" she says quietly, turning her face away in shame. The robed figure sits down, and the two discuss Kemi's current circumstances.
After half an hour, the guard retorts, "Time is up! Come with me now, prisoner." Sa Jin Ko quickly passes a holy symbol of Yondalla across the table, to which the guard protests.
"No gifts for the prisoner!" he yells, reaching for the item. Sa responds to him quickly about giving permission for Kemi to exercise personal faith during her imprisonment. The guard grumbles a little in permission as Kemi takes the holy symbol, tucking it away in the sleeve of her prison uniform.
As the guard escorts Kemi back to her cell, she calls out to Sa, "Please visit me again soon." Once again she is chained to the floor, and locked into her cell, waiting for her trial before the magistrate.
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
A guard approaches Kemi's cell. "You have more visitors," he says, unlocking the cell. Kemi hobbles again up the hallway, to be greeted by the staring faces of her Brigade friends, Quinn and Meri. She smiles weakly, and sits down. "By the gods, what happened to you?" Quinn chirps, as Meri also looks upon Kemi with confusion. Kemi related the story for the second time, about the man Quinn and Meri had been speaking to in the bar that night.
"Him? He told me he was a trained killer." Quinn remarks, somewhat astounded by the incident. Meri fidgets uncomfortably, arguing that what Kemi did was wholly right, and scans around the room for an opportunity to smuggle Kemi away from the prison unnoticed.
"No friends," Kemi says, "I must face my fate." Quinn agrees with her, noting as Kemi already had done that she had broken city law, yet he points out that she should not just plainly admit guilt. Meri pipes up again, arguing with Quinn that Kemi should be the hero in the story, not the villain. The large thud of boots enters the prison hall, and Kyew makes his way to the table.
"Want me to bust ya outta here Kemi?" the giant man whispers, looking around at all the guards. "I can take em, no problems."
Kemi shakes her head. "No friends. I am resolved to my fate." Quinn agrees with her, that justice should be allowed to run its course, but his remarks are met equally by the objections of both Kyew and Meri.
Kemi looks at her squabbling companions, a degree of sorrow entering her heart. Not wishing more trouble upon them for her sake, she turns to the guard. "I am ready to return to my cell now."
The guard yells at the visitors, "Right! Time's up!". Meri and Kyew watch Kemi, rather astonished at her disposition, as she is taken back to her cell. Kemi turns and smiles weakly at Quinn, before being shoved down the hall and back into her dank confinement.
~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
Quinn exits the compound, frustrated. This was how the city went- a place thriving on rigid rules more than the right and wrong behind them. He hated it sometimes. As much as it helped protect people, the city could come crashing down on those who selflessly fight for a cause."Laws."
One of many things that work only for the people making them. It's not that Quinn hated laws. They just failed when morals came into it. Kemi put down a man who claimed to be a professional killer and commented on defiling dead children's bodies. Sure, Kemi acted out in anger, but it was justified.
Sighing, going over it all in his head, Quinn came to one conclusion: he needed a drink. He wanted time to think and let his reactions come slowly, not off-the-cuff. After fishing out some spare coins, he got a comfortable seat in the corner of the closest tavern. Darkwater stout. Thinking ale.
Overall, there was nothing to truly be done for Kemi. Short of acting as an advocate during trial, nobody could directly get to her without cutting a lot of ties around the city. Even if they managed to break her out without dying, the entire group would be wanted. Wasn't worth it.
Sipping the drink, Quinn mulled over the unpleasant truth of the matter. Kemi was Kemi's only hope. It was up to her to convince the court of her own innocence. He just hoped she'd bend a little, tell the court the truth in a way that made her look better.
Hero who saved the children of the nobles from a monster.
Glorious warrior who selflessly sacrifices herself to the guards after her just deed.
Something. Anything. Just as long as she would come back safe.
Finishing the last of his drink, Quinn set his tip down and rose slowly. He'd find something else to take his mind off things until the trial... but he knew it wouldn't work.
~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
The low thud of footsteps approaches down the hall as Kemi sits waiting in her cell. She had been awake all night, praying in devotion to Yondalla, asking her for mercy and leniency with her coming trial. The jingle of keys causes her to open her eyes, followed by the click of her door as it unlocks."It is time for you to stand trial, hin," says the court officer. Kemi makes her way out of the prison cell, and upstairs to the main hall of the Flaming Fist compound. It had only been a month prior that she was standing in the same place, describing to Duke Eltan of the bandit attack she had thwarted at Wyrm's Crossing. Now she stood before him as a felon and criminal. Duke Eltan motions for Kemi to come forward.
"You are charged with the assault on one Albanus Cerialis in a fight in the elf song tavern. What say you in your defense?" Kemi looks at the Duke calmly and says, "Only a confession of my guilt, your honour." The duke, looking a little perplexed, responds, asking her to retell her impression of the incident. Sighing somewhat, Kemi tells the Duke about the events in the Elf Song Tavern, how she was provoked to wrath by the man Albanus, and his comments on defiling dead children. After ten minutes of retelling, Kemi finishes her defense, mentioning especially how the man survived, having been cured of his injuries by Seadin and Stubbi.
The Duke motions for her to stand down, and calls Stubbi to give his account. He retold much the same Kemi had, although noticable missing the fervent zeal of Kemi's defense when it came to the part about Albanus' supposed blasphemy of Yondalla. Nevertheless the hin minstrel still spoke with sincerity, and took his place again when he had finished his testimony.
"Very well," the Duke exclaimed, and called several other commoners to give testimony of what they had seen and heard. Meri and Kyew sat at the back of the room, watching on in disbelief, occaisionally scoffing at accusations against Kemi, and otherwise quite annoyed at the entire proceedings.
Eventually Quinn could no longer contain himself, and took to the stand. In an orderly, eloquent address, he defended Kemi's purity of motive, showing also that the man Albanus had come looking for a fight, and had found it in the hot-headed little hin when her goddess was insulted by the suggestion of barbaric torture of children. He poured all his wit and heart into the address, and sat satisfied that he had spoken enough.
The Duke scanned the room. "And where is the victim? Did he not come?" A check of the hall revealed that indeed, Albanus had not come for the trial, but it mattered not. A last minute attempt by the half-elf Seadin, who ran from the other side of the city upon hearing the case was in court, failed to convince the Duke of any innocence on Kemi's behalf.
"Kemi Kemorya, this court finds you guilty as charged," the Duke bellowed, adding much to the agony of Meri, Kyew, Quinn and Stubbi, their groans echoing together from the seating area.
"If you had suspicion of wrongdoing, the guard was just outside the tavern patrolling the street. Your punishment hereby shall be six entire months of incarceration in the city prison. You are permitted visitors once per week. This court is now ajourned. Officer, return the prisoner to her cell."
Kemi's friends looked on, unable to do anything without provoking the wrath of the Flaming Fist. Who knows what emotions boiled inside of them, what thoughts they gendered, and considered. As Kemi was escorted down the corridor, she looked behind her and called out to them.
"Please don't forget to visit me."
With those words, she was taken down the long flight of stairs to her prison cell, where she would spend the next six months on bread and water.
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
Kemi sits staring at her bowl of gruel. She can clearly see the somewhat minced legs of cockroaches jotting out of the foul mixture here and there. Picking them out one by one, she grits her teeth and closes her eyes as she spoons a bit into her mouth. Shuddering at the rancid taste, she puts the bowl down onto the cell floor, and looks up at the wall. Etched upon it in black charcoal is quite a few vertical strokes. Counting from the beginning, Kemi gets to the end of the sequence. "Just one more month, one more month," she proclaims to herself in her mind. Turning her thoughts from her captivity, she begins to think about her numerous friends. She was very appreciative of Quinn and Meri's visit the previous week, Meri had promised to bring her some mushrooms from the Wood of Sharp Teeth.
"Perhaps they'll give the gruel some flavour?" Kemi thought to herself, as she turned her ear towards the hallways of the prison and the sounds of the agonizing screams of a prisoner being punished for his crimes. Kemi looked down at herself, putting her hand on her stomach. She had lost alot of weight, and the shackles' continuous chaffing on her ankles would leave noticable scars. "What I would do for some of that venison!" she whispered to herself.
Closing her eyes and leaning her back against the wall, Kemi let her thoughts drift amongst her many recent memories. It was not so long ago that she was out fighting giants with the Hin Brigade & Co., Quinn cutting at their achilles tendons, Kyew punching them in the groin, causing them to keel over in pain, Brea enchanting the whole group with magics, Stubbi singing odes of their glorious exploits. A single tear began to run down her cheek as she began to cave in to self-pity and remorse. "I miss them so much," she said to herself as she sobbed softly.
Sniffling her nose and rubbing her eyes, Kemi let her thoughts wander elsewhere. There was one thought very close to her, as if part of her very soul. "I hope they have not taken the scabbard, and sold it," she thought with a deep sigh. Having already lost Linhui's sword, it would only rub salt into her emotional wound to lose the scabbard also. Calming herself, she paused for a moment before beginning a silent meditation to Yondalla and Arvoreen, eagerly counting the days for her release...
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
*Stubbi leaves a bag of wild mushrooms with the guard, along with 100 gold pieces. "Please get these to Kemi, a halfling can't live on gruel alone!" he exclaims. He hums a little tune to emphasize this point, and to try and lighten the guard's spirits a little bit.He then leaves the prison and heads south*~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
Kemi turned and took her last look at her dank cell. Her ponderings were broken by the loud voice of the jailor. "Follow me, hin," he bellowed, and the still-shackled Kemi shuffled after him into the prison hall.To her surprise, Quinn, Kyew and Makro were all waiting for her in the prison hall. Kyew looked somewhat relieved that the ordeal was now completed, as did Quinn, Makro merely nodding in silent approval.
"Um, where can I collect my things?" Kemi quizzed the jailor, eager to know the whereabouts of the ornate scabbard she takes with her everywhere.
"Upstairs," he grunted. "Pay your fine, and you are completely free to go." Kemi nodded slowly, looking around at the others. The jailor approached, and loosed the chains from around her feet. She felt relieved once the shackled were gone, but having spent six months in them her movement was still clumsy and cumbersome.
"Come on, lets get you outta here," Quinn said, and they made their way up the stairs. It seemed like eternity for Kemi, and she struggled her way up. Just before the top, she tripped, and fell forward on her face heavily. Quinn rushed by her side quickly, and helped her up.
"Sorry, I tripped. That's all," Kemi stated, trying to hide her physical weakness. She would need at least another month of recouperation to regain her strength, she thought, and additional time besides that to get used to moving around in her greaves, as her ankle scars were still quite sore.
Approaching Captain Norton, Kemi enquired about where she might pay her fine and collect her equipment. The captain merely pointed at a doorway as he chewed heartily on a ham sandwich. Opening the door, Kemi went inside to be greeted by a stern Fist soldier wielding a quill.
"Petitioning for release, are you? Very well. Let me check the records." He quickly scanned a book in front of him and stopped at a certain entry. "Kemi Kemorya, is it?" Kemi nodded solemnly. "Very well. Pay your fine of fourteen hundred gold coins, and you are free," the soldier said, looking at her without emotion.
"Where is my equipment?" Kemi asked. "I should have enough in my gold pouch to pay you, sir." The soldier nodded gruffly, and pointed to the corner of the room. Kemi sorted through her equipment, placing her pouch of gold to the side. It seemed she was not so interested in paying her fine, as checking that her most important piece of equipment was still there. Lifting up her armour, she saw what her eyes were desirous to see: Linhui's scabbard still firmly belted to her plate mail.
Sighing with relief, Kemi quickly took her gold pouch and counted out fourteen hundred gold pieces, and gave it to the soldier. After a brief check, the soldier nodded, and pointed for the door. "No more trouble out of you now, hin," he growled, Kemi nodding again sombrely, before she collected up her equipment.
Placing on her strengthening gauntlets, she put everything in her pack, and made her way outside with Kyew, Makro and Quinn. The blast of sunlight struck her almost as it would a drow bursting forth onto the surface for the first time. She covered her eyes, and squinted, almost in pain.
"Long time, ey boss?" Quinn remarked as Kemi nodded, barely able to see. "Lets get you some rest then," said Quinn, Kemi nodding slowly and grabbing hold of his pack, trying to adjust to the daylight. Quinn then lead Kemi to the Helm and Cloak Inn for some much needed food and recouperation...
~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~
Returned to Sword Coast aged 29.[/spoiler]
Goals:
To discover more information about her adventuring grandfather, Arhonas.
To recover Arhonas' lost sword.
To serve halfling communities as a champion of Arvoreen.
To further the cause of good in the realms.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Kemi is an avid collector of edible wild mushrooms. Thus, she can be easily distracted by wild mushrooms if they are growing nearby unless a more urgent need is present.
Linhui & the sword taken in Amn by shadowy assailants - 400y/o heirloom blade.