<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">TL/DR failed priest-in-training on the run with a dangerous secret</div><div class="spoiler_body">As a young girl of Thrane, orphaned in the Last War, <strong>Sede Corus</strong> was warded and raised by the Church of the Silver Flame.  Thrane depended on both divine favor and throwing overwhelming numbers at the enemy, which led to great losses of life.  Growing up listening to stories of heroes and martyrs, she was enchanted by the tale of Tira Miron, who with the guidance of her couatl friend, defeated a great demon and brought the Voice of the Flame.  Sede wanted to fight for Thrane and help protect all the innocent people and soldiers who were dying, to make one huge heroic sacrifice to crush Evil and stop the war.  She was allowed to train to become a future priest and templar at Arythawn Keep, but her prayers were always for guidance to become a hero.<br/><br/>Her prayers were answered one night, when she heard a whispering in the flame of her devotional candle.  It told her to go down, down into the church vaults, where relics and treasures were held safe.  Sneaking a key and going down, the whisper grew more strong in her heart as she gazed on old reliquaries, bones, vials of martyr's tears, heroes' shields, and finally, a broken sword with a khyber shard pommel.  Here was the source of the whisper, telling her it was a couatl spirit, and it needed her help to destroy a Great Evil.  The high priest of the keep was a demon in disguise, sacrificing children and revealing secrets to Thane's enemies to waste more lives to massacre.  Sede had to kill him that night to stop him from killing not only more soldiers, but her brothers and sisters-in-training!<br/><br/>Shaking with fear, anxiety, and despair, Sede took the broken sword with her, taking a very long time to sneak to the high priest's bedchamber.  She could hear the demon sleeping, murmuring about death, how they would all die.  Standing over him, she was almost blinded with tears, and with a choked sob, woke the priest just as she stabbed down, again and again trying to pierce the demon's heart.  There was no crimson fire, smell of brimstone, portal to the abyss, or even fangs, but just the old man looking shocked and gasping weakly as he died.<br/><br/>Staring at the scene before her, Sede blinked her eyes clear in confusion and disbelief.  Shaking the body, she could see no transformation or black ichor, let alone disintegration into silver flame.  Dawning horror creeped up her throat as she found herself covered in blood, and realized she had to run.  Unable to go back to the training barracks, she could only go to the armory to throw away her bloody clothes, steal some supplies, and flee the church.  It didn't take long for her to hear about a ghastly murder at Arythawn Keep, and how it was probably committed by an acolyte who had disappeared that night.  Knowing that news of a high priest's murder would spread everywhere within Thrane, Sede had to leave the nation she hoped to save and find a way to protect the innocent elsewhere, and hopefully save her soul as well.</div></div><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/bQMHACl.jpg)</div><strong>Sede Corus (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1860778)</strong><br/><br/>Lawful good (variant) human warlock (hexblade)<br/><br/>Str 10, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 16<br/>10 hp<br/><strong>Proficiencies:</strong>medium armor, martial weapons, herbalism kit<br/><strong>Saves:</strong>Wisdom +4, Charisma +5<br/><strong>Skills:</strong>Deception +5, History +1, Medicine +4, Perception +4, Religion +1<br/><strong>Languages:</strong>Common, Draconic (religious ritual language), Elvish<br/><strong>Feats:</strong>Magic Initiate (cleric),<em>light</em>,<em>sacred flame</em>,<em>ceremony</em><br/><strong>Equipment:</strong>dagger (broken sword (https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sfery/images/5/5c/90280.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20160613164157), khyber shard pommel), shortbow, 20 arrows, 2 daggers, leather armor, component pouch, scholar's pack, scroll case of prayer notes, winter blanket, common clothes, herbalism kit, 5 gp<br/><strong>Background:</strong>Hermit (failed acolyte)<br/><strong>Life of Seclusion:</strong>I was exiled for a crime I did<del>n't</del>commit.<br/><strong>Feature: Discovery</strong>The broken sword does indeed contain a bound couatl spirit--as well as the rakshasa it had bound with it.  The couatl spirit is weak, though, but by reforging the blade, it could be strengthened to bind and suppress the fiend again--or one would hope.<br/><strong>Personality Traits</strong>I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer.  I connect everything that happens to a grand, cosmic plan.<br/><strong>Ideal</strong>Greater Good.  My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit.  (Good)<br/><strong>Bond</strong>My isolation gave me great insight into a great evil that only I can destroy.<br/><strong>Flaw</strong>I harbor dark, bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation and meditation failed to quell.<br/><strong>Otherworldly Patron</strong>The Hexblade<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Hexblade's Curse</div><div class="spoiler_body">Bonus action, creature within 30 ft, 1 minute: +[proficiency bonus] damage; critical hit on 19 or 20; if it dies, regain [level+Cha] hp.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Hex Warrior</div><div class="spoiler_body">Proficient with medium armor, shields, martial weapons.  After long rest, a one-handed weapon uses Charisma to attack and damage (transferring the khyber dragonshard).</div></div><br/><strong>Pact Magic</strong><em><del>green</del>silver-flame blade</em>,<em>minor illusion</em><br/>1 spell slot:<em>charm person</em>,<em>protection from evil and good</em><br/><br/><strong>What did your character do in the Last War?</strong>Trained to become a soldier-templar, then deserted and went into hiding.<br/><strong>Who are their allies and enemies, living or dead?</strong>Dead family (war), dead high priest (accidental murder), living former-foster priest, has a warrant in Thrane as a “person of interest” at least.<br/><strong>Do they have any political, criminal, or religious affiliation?</strong>Half-trained priestess of the Silver Flame and non-heroine of Thrane.<br/><strong>Any ambitions or goals?</strong>Reforge her evil sword to bind the demon within, redeem herself to the Silver Flame, if not the church.  The war was unfortunately ended by catastrophe instead of miracle.<br/><strong>What's a secret your character holds about themselves, and about someone else?</strong>She murdered a high priest of the Silver Flame because a voice told her to.  It still whispers advice and solutions that sound good at the time.<br/><br/>Sede claims to have been in training for the War, but the Treaty of Thronehold ended it before she was deployed.  Also wears a token of the Silver Flame, but doesn’t claim any official priestly authority.  She prays three times a day and begins each week with the Day of Cleansing Fire, but doesn’t attend the Mass of Silver Flame or other official gatherings.  Still follows Thrane attitudes against gambling and carousing.<br/><br/><strong>Thrane catchphrases</strong>“Crooked!” mild expletive.<br/>“Flame forgive me,” preceding or following a nasty curse or insult.<br/>“What filth!” discontent or indication of nonsense.<br/><br/><strong>Relationships</strong>Fate reminds Sede of stories of the Redeemed, a group of dissatisfied Cyre warforged who defected to Angwar Keep and joined Thrane.  She appreciated his devotion to defending the weak.<br/>-Purdesh’s faith is foreign to Sede, but her devotion to order and fighting the drug trade is right in line with Sede’s attitudes.<br/>-Maddie was a soldier of Aundair, so Sede is both wary of a foreign officer yet curious about the actual military experience she herself was denied.<br/>-Vani looks cute and happy, but there’s a deep pain in her eyes that Sede can recognize, and it sparks both empathy and fear of her own past that she tries to forget every day.