Girls of Arcane Power

Sariel, left, an Eladrin Swordmage wearing some fetching 'Parchment Armour +1'.

Markella, right, a Shadar-kai Summoner wearing some tattoos and what might just about pass as a dental-floss thong.

The background depicts a sunset across the Shadowlands, with the Tower of Rooks in the background... Poor Sariel...

___Markella Zante__

"Come my lady, come come my lady...
You're my butterfly, sugar baby...
Such a sexy, sexy, pretty little thing
Fierce nipple pierce
Got me sprung with your tongue ring..."

Crazy Town; 'Butterfly'

Shadar-kai are dwellers of the Shadowfell, a shadowy reflection of the mortal world called by some 'the Negative Material Plane'. Their history is suprisingly vague, so even they do not know if they are native to their realm, or if they were once beings like elves or men. What is certain is that they are now something... other. Their bleak realm has sunk into their very souls and their bodies, and they are bleached of colour and hue. This also affects their personalities, as the Shadowfell dulls their senses and emotions too. However, rather than accept this slow deteriation, the shadar-kai fight against the densensitizing effect of their world, seeking sensations and emotions above all. They immerse themselves in new experiences and seek to challenge their perceptions. They live for the moment, caring little for the past and seldom looking to an uncertain future. They seek to experience extreme sensations and emotions, whether positive or negative in nature, and many join the Society of Sensation for this very reason. While they are certainly dark and edgy, they are not truly evil, and value freedom and independence.

As a people, shadar-kai enjoy tattooing and body-decoration, with most of them becoming living works of art. Their tattoos paint a picture of their lives and experiences, and they also enjoy the physical sensation of going under the needle. Shadar-kai tend to be cool and aloof; independent of spirit, and many are loners by nature. They prefer to wander than to settle, although they sometimes meet up at informal gatherings. Such a meeting is called a 'Crowing', and is a chance for them to exchange news and gossip, or compete against one another. A shadar-kai can gain status among his peers by having the best body art, or by boasting or bragging about their exploits.

Clever and adroit, the shadar-kai have strong Arcane and Martial traditions. They make superior rogues, snipers, and mages, adept with weapons that rely more on cunning than brawn. They have a very potent affinity for the Shadow source, and most Shadar-kai are shadowblades, necromancers, hexers or the like. Although they are strongly attuned to the Raven Queen (to the extent many consider themselves Her children) they rarely follow Divine roles. They have no strong Psionic tradition, but a given individual is as likely to be psychic as a member from any other extra-planar race. They have no connection to the natural world or their ancestors, and so never follow the Primal paths.

Markella (pictured right) is a typical member of her people, living a nomadic life walking the Great Wheel in search of adventure and new experiences. As a Summoner, she sometimes employs necrotic or frost magicks to harm her foes, but her speciality is conjuring various planar entities to destroy her enemies. An experienced planewalker even from a young age, she walks the Outlands with her raven familiar, Abraxus, seeking new excitements to stave off the fatal ennui of the Shadowlands. Like most of her kind, she enjoys extensive body-art and a liberal attitude to clothing. Her favoured weapon is her Tome of Binding, containing the secret names of the alien beings she conjures to her side.

___Sariel___

"In the ancient High Elf city of Mithrandain, the Silver Towers of Sorcery towered over the elegant lines of the tree city, magick being venerated over all. Lady Sariel felt a rising sense of excitement, as today she recieved her rune armour from the Moon Keeper himself, her badge of honour as a Swordmage. She would leave the city of her birth to enter the mortal world, and slay the Seldarine's foes. Not yet a hundred years old, she was still considered a youth by her people, and she understood this was a great honour."

"High Keeper Marandir had been the Lord Shaper for almost six hundred years now, although his people did not grow old, and he seemed as smooth-skinned, graceful and ageless as any of the eladrin. He bowed before the young Swordmage, and she curtseyed in return."

What follows is translated from the High Elven into human speech:

Marandir: Welcome, sister-in-light. Long have I followed your progress down the path of blade-lore. You do credit to your sister Valanae in your dedication and pristine beauty. (Translation: I get hot when I spy on you working out. Your sister was a real looker too.)

Sariel: Thank you, Lord Shaper. I look forward to bringing you honour, and recieving my rune armour to ward against our foes. (Translation: Get lost, you perverted old lecher. And make with the prezzies already.)

Marandir: I thank you for your courage, little-sister. And here is the rune armour I have laboured long in crafting. May it serve you well. (Translation: By Sehanine Moonbow's silver boobies, I've waited a long, long time to see you wearing this!)

Sariel: I.... I see only before me a... prayer wheel, lord shaper? A band of script enscribed with runes? (Translation: You've got to be fucking KIDDING me!)

Marandir: Yes, little one. Your rune armour shall mark you as a swordmage, and safeguard you from harm. (Translation: Just put the damn thing on already, and let's see those 48DD bangers of yours at last!)

Sariel: I was... not expecting such an... honour, Moon Keeper. I will endeavour to wear this with pride, and bring righteous destruction to our foes. (Translation: You're sending me into battle wearing two tiny strips of paper! Fuck! By Corellon Larathian's left testicle, there are gonna be some sorry goblins when I get out there! Grrr....!)


Markella
Shadar-kai Summoner Wizard
Chaotic Neutral
Concept: Alien Planewalker
Str 14, Int 18, Wis 15, Dex 18, Con 17, Chr 14
Skills: Arcana, History, Religion, Insight
Feats: Arcane Familar, Ritual Caster
Spells: Summon Abyssal Maw, Summon Imp, Ray of Frost, Cloud of Daggers, Astral Wasp, Summon Fire Warrior, Rolling Thunder

Sariel
Eladrin Shielding Swordmage
Unaligned
Concept: Embarassed Bodyguard in Skimpy Outfit
Str 15, Int 19, Wis 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Chr 16
Skills: Acrobatics, Arcana, Diplomacy, History, Intimidate
Feats: Eladrin Swordmage Advance
Powers: Booming Blade, Sword Burst, Sword of Sigils, Dance of the Sword