Hemlock

The clash of metal blades was but a dim echo in the back of her mind as Hemlock stared up at a clear blue sky. While she hailed from a long line of warriors, many of which were called ‘Bladesingers’ for their adept skill with a rapier, Hemlock was a day-dreamer. She often shirked her studies in the art of combat and instead found herself watching the clouds or listening to the gentle whistle of the wind. The grass was cool beneath her scales and the Imperial found herself drifting off.

“Ehem. Your training requires that you master the rapier and learn to tread like the breeze. I doubt you’ll be able to do such things asleep”. A familiar voice pulled Hemlock from her dream and she glanced up to see her mother standing over her, the Skydancer’s form blocking out the sun. Hemlock met her gaze before looking away sheepishly. “I suppose I’ve been caught once more” she grumbled before stretching and picking up her discarded rapier.

The blade never felt right in her hands and once more, it was easily knocked from her grasp by her tutors. The press of metal against her scales signaled the end of the spar. Hemlock had lost the match. Again.

———

As time went on, Hemlock’s combative skills never seemed to improve. Many of her siblings and cousins mastered their blades, but hers always sat clumsily in her hand. “Perhaps, though you bear the runes of a Bladesinger, your talents are in diplomacy or art instead” one of her mentors suggested. Hemlock was pulled from the training grounds and settled into her studies as a diplomat, yet even here she was awkward with her words and seemed out of place.

After a particularly challenging day of studies, Hemlock returned to the training fields, allowing her claws to fumble with the grass as she stared up at the sky. She barely noticed when a stray rapier was knocked from the hand of another trainee and came hurtling towards her. Her body reacted, quickly grasping the grass between her claws and using it to knock the rapier from the air. The training field grew silent, trainees and tutors alike watching in awe as Hemlock assumed perfect form to cut down the weapon using only a blade of grass. Her magic had seemingly transformed it into a sword.

“Well then.” Celestina’s voice came from behind the young Imperial once more. “It would seem that it was not the wrong path, but the wrong blade all this time”. The Skydancer was smiling and Hemlock allowed herself to smile too. She grasped the blade of grass tightly and at last held something that fit perfectly between her claws.

---

It is customary for young Avariels to consult with diviners near the time of their birth, or before important turning points in their lives. The old practice is slowly taking root in Sornieth. The diviner rattles their satchel, shuffling the runes within before spilling them across the table. They read only those that are face up.

Hemlock was born in the harmony of blessings as a Bladesinger. Those born in such circumstances are known for their inherent grace above all else. The largest rune revealed is the Fate Rune. This implies Hemlock has inherited their penchant for unexpected branches of magic. The Bladesingers represent the perfect harmony between blessings, able to dance freely under Elistraee's moonlight and face Suzaku's blazing sun head-on. Hemlock excels at bending light and potionry. Their level of expertise is usually only seen in those blessed by the Moon and Phoenix Goddesses.

Bendling light is the mastery of illusions, crafting the different hues and lengths of which light can glow to make it dance for her. Illusions may be as simple as a bird in one's periphery, and as complex as a meteor storm across the night sky. The best of the best can even render themselves invisible for hours at a time.

Potionry is the politest name Hemlock's ancestors used to describe the field. More honestly, it was referred to as poison making. While potionry is complex, the most prominently boasted skill by Moon-touched Avariels is the diversity of their poisons, which came in a variety of scents, tastes, textures, forms and durations. It is a finicky science and an even more temperamental art, but the best potion makers can miracles happen.

Two smaller runes deign to explain her future.

In the realm of Career, Hemlock will have the most consistency. Career refers to Hemlock's progression in her chosen field of work, including life, growth and development towards an end goal of her choosing. This can mean she will have consistent upward mobility in her field, or she will be trapped in a frustrating position for the foreseeable future. What’s good will remain, and what’s cursed will persist. Fate will push hardest against attempts to change this aspect of her life.

In contrast, the most volatile aspect in her life will be knowledge. Knowledge refers to her capacity to uncover genuine truths and avoid the pitfalls of falsehoods or conspiracies. She is advised to hold tightly to the best parts of this aspect, because it is only a matter of time before they disperse.

To complete the reading, one close to Hemlock selects the final rune. Celestina, her mother, finds the rune for Innovation, bestowing the most sincere blessing in the eye of fate.

- Rune reading by Hawketh


- The Cathedral's guard
- After leaving Waterdeep, wandered as a guard for hire taking jobs on commission
- Invited to the Cathedral of Eyes as a guest
- Learned of the Cathedral's dark secrets, helping to control a beast that consumed several guests..
- Bitten in the process of fighting off the dark hound
- Now resides within the Cathedral of Eyes
- The Cathedral of Eyes had never needed a guard, at least not one to protect it from intruders. The safety of its guests, however, could never be guaranteed. Hemlock initially came as one such guest.