Satine

Satine

Satine|300

Personality Traits:

Ideals:

Bonds

Flaws:

Background

I was raised in the fey wild planes within a relatively small happy village. No one there was my biological parents, that I am aware of, but then again, no one there really had parentage, say a few.  All races of fey (and some not, like myself, I think) were welcome, except for the Hexbloods as their magic seemed to cause issues with everyone else’s.  Since I could remember, I had my own small hut in the trees and everyone had a different task to help keep the village going. I had friends, mentors, everything I needed…  As I grew up, I had a crush on a Kitsune, named Rusca, and she was not only beautiful, but also witty and charming.  We had a great friendship even though I wanted more, but she didn’t seem interested in romantic relationships with anyone.

Then some traveling human merchants and entertainers traveled by our village… I honestly do not know what happened, but apparently fey and humans have differing opinions of how monetary transactions take place. A few of my friends died, my tree hut was burned down along with many other of our homes and burrows, but many of my village managed to escape, including Rusca, and I was so thankful for that. I was not so fortunate.  I was captured, and a few of the men, well, did what men like to do to women, especially to those who human men deem less than them.

Over the years, however, I listened, and I learned how these travelers worked. The leadership of these merchants and entertainers exchanged hands multiple times. The name of the caravan also changed, but the one that lasted was “The Whirlwind Vagabond”.  I did not know how old I was, but over the years I was in their company, I noticed my body looking more and more like the women who traveled with us. They were beautiful, and they were all shapes and sizes, and they could draw the attention of all the men… and some women.  That is about the time the new leader, Marcus, who was a Shadar-Kai from the shadowfell, who was rather gentle to me, despite his dark and otherwise gloom nature. He asked me who I was and for my purpose to the troupe.  Up until that point I had only served as a sex doll for the men (I say sex doll because they had sex with me and called me doll due to how young I was) and did miscellaneous chores with the elderly women. I only shared with Marcus the second part. That is when Marcus put me to use, not for pleasuring men physically, but for pleasuring the crowds. I worked with the women dancers and then my entertainer career took off. Men still came into my tent, and I hated every minute of it, but the other women told me this was just how it was and secured my place in the troupe. Instead of disassociating, I began to learn from watching the other women that I could control men, especially when they wanted me, so I experimented with them… I hated every second of it, but it I feared speaking out, and I decided to learn what I can.

Over the next two decades or so I became the star act for my fire dancing with whips and swords, as well as my singing and acrobatics.  I was no longer a timid young girl- I embraced life like a party, and I secretly had a few flings with some of the women. The men became boring, and I eventually had the authority to tell them “no”, but some paid for a private show, which I would sometimes entertain. It was fun, and I liked to have fun.  I know I am attractive, and I genuinely enjoy people watching me, especially if that pay.  If they touched, however, they got their hand severed.

The Whirlwind Vagabon even took up a full-time location in a large city, and… that is when Marcus changed, all for more power and money.  Rent was high and patrons of the troupe were wanting more than just eye candy.  They wanted their cake and eat it too, and I was the cake.  Marcus resisted, at first, but then the landlord became involved and also “wanted cake…”  Marcus made it all business and I worked for him and the "choice" was: either I offer myself to these powerful men regularly, or I can find myself on the streets: an unmarried woman without any coin nor any home. He also reminded me that new dancers were always asking for work and that I was replaceable, especially for a younger model. Why would he say this to me? I still do not know.  In his mind, and these are his own words, he was protecting me and offering me security…  He also promised they would not be rough with me,  and so what choice did I have? I was the star of the show and had everything I could want…  and then that promise was broken.

A captain of the city guard, nameless, got very rough with me, and I screamed for help.  The music downstairs was so loud no one could hear, but usually there was a guard at my door…  and there were, but he was their captain, and they were likely following his orders. The pain was horrible, worse than what had happened to me when I was a young girl in the caravan.  When he was done, he threw two coins down for payment, by my face which was face down on the mat with tearful makeup trails going down my face.  One coin I’d have to give to Marcus and the other was mine to- But then he tossed an entire bag of coins onto my face and I startled from the surprise and pain.  I looked at it and then him.  Was he.. tipping me? Seeing the confusion on my face he robotically replied that this was payment for the next month, plus more for the extra company.  That is when he tied his belt, walked over to the door, and knocked twice.  Two men, the guards entered and the captain exited, standing prone at the doorway as one guard shut the door.  They then took turns with me. They made the captain seem like a gentleman, and he was at least clean and did not smell horrible… The captain came every night, but it was two different guards each night.

Marcus was nowhere to be seen.  I tried asking the women for help but they were resentful I was paid and I quickly lost the few women friends I had. I was still expected to dance and perform, and I guess that was the deal he made with the captain…

Then, one night, when the captain was using me, I disassociated and saw a shadow with purple eyes… I heard its voice and it was more like an idea than words, but the idea was simple- this creature, this shadow, loved me? But not like humans or fey love… It was complicated, chaotic, but I also understood it. My mind was shown a picture, one the shadow sent me, of forcing the captain off me with a magical force and then shoving my sword through his chest.  I could dance with swords, but I was not strong enough to wield one to protect myself. And magic? What? In my disillusion I mumbled this in Sylvan, the language of my village.  The captain then smacked me for the mumbling, but the shadow seemed to understand me. I understood that he would give me power to do this.

The captain continued to thrust and then began to squeeze his hand around my neck restricting my air.  He had never done this before. I was about to black out right when I raised my hand toward the captain’s chest and said a word that to this day I do not understand. The next thing I know, something like purple fire crackled around me and the captain was on the floor.  Without thinking, my next steps were no longer in control: I grabbed one of my long swords that I danced with, and like electricity, it seemed to connect with my inner being and felt light and powerful in my hands. While the captain was still on the ground from the forceful blast, I walked up to him and ran my sword through his chest… and I then became conscious of what I was doing. I stood there, naked with purple energy wrapping around me while holding a bloodied sword as I looked down at the captain as he gasped for air and life. I felt no sympathy, and instead was filled with an acute, focused rage.  Without hesitation, I removed his head from his body with the grace and strength of a skilled warrior. hearing the blast, the guards rushed then in, and upon witnessing the scene with their now headless captain, and what would appear to be a naked demonic witch woman, they ran away without a second thought.

The shadow was gone, but I could hear/see his messages in my mind.  It was clear: flee and he will protect and support me. So I did as the guards will be back with more soon.

I washed the blood and... everything else off of me, grabbed what was left of the bag of coins, my pack and left the room turned down the hall towards the stairs and-Marcus’ door was open with a green light emitting from it.  I looked in and on his desk was a small parchment bathed in green light that simply said:

_“Felna/Campaigns/The Curse of Thalendril/Player Characters/Satine,
Take this lantern as a token of my love for you. It is unending, but dark and different. May it guide you in the dark times better than I have.
-Marcus”
_

And there was indeed a lantern with a black candle that was burning… green?  And suddenly, I felt cold as a shadow shifted.  It was Marcus, hanging from the ceiling by a rope.  I felt… nothing and everything. Then, as I looked into a mirror on the wall I saw my reflection- my hair and… one of my eyes!? Turned purple, likely from the magic, though the purple energy that flowed around me seemed to have faded.

I pocked the note, and then grabbed the black candle from the lantern. The flame was as bright as any other light, and with it, I lit Marcus’ room on fire.  I was able to escape The Whirlwind undetected, and I stood in a back ally as I watched people escape the flames, and eventually saw the entire building collapse as if descending into hell.  I felt empowered, dark and, for once, in control of my own life.  I also felt good, with a sense of justice and purpose. No man will touch me against my will ever again, and, if I can help it, no woman will suffer the same fate. Justice and revenge swirled like two minds in one. I sought death and destruction, but I also sought lightheartedness and carefree life… and the shadow, or my patron, as I now know him as, simply buzzed in excitement as the chaotic destruction of the whirlwind, and the death of the captain.  This was going to be an excellent working relationship…

Now, where to?

Languages

Common,Sylvan

Notes