Severus Snake

I have proven myself as an Ironblood. I am a Bladebound, but that's not good enough. I'm not only going to be a Crimson Elite, but THE CRIMSON CHAMPION! Money, fame, glory, I will conquer them all to have my name, my chosen name, Severus Snake, shouted from the stands and hailed in every home. Endorsements will be heaped upon me as I live out the rest of my days raking in the gold from my hard work. Then I will live as an entertainer, being requested for live shows everywhere, and helping new recruits to the arena find their place in the glorious rings of the arena.   I look to bring so much joy to this world through my art that maybe, when Lysmera calls me at my final breath, I shall find joy with her as well. I'm sure that I can please a goddess such as her, in more ways than one. Even the Joytenders will hold me as an example of the pinnacle of our dedication to her. We shall see, but I look forward to spreading the joy she has given back to me, after the life of darkness I lead in Elyria's name...   In conclusion, whether it be music or contests, Lysmera will be praised.

I have decided, I'm going to take up the offer given to me and join the Gladiators Guild. Raesh had some good tips and I hope to learn more, not only from him, but others. I want to make the money, I enjoy the fame! I enjoy the feeling of working the crowds and coming out on top! So, I'm going to tell my bastion how to proceed, and then I am getting into the ring as an Initiate for the guild. I'm going to fight for one week, and we will see how well I do then. May Lliira guide my strikes and the crowd!   I'm hoping to hear from my bardic friend, Lirien Vale, after I wrote him that letter. I pray that he is okay. Maybe he will catch a show...

Lirien Vale contacted me! It's been so long since we played together that I worried he may have gotten himself into trouble. I mean, we always got ourselves into trouble, but when you've got two burly guys who are playing instruments to pick up the ladies, you're sure to piss off a few others. My goodness, the trouble we would start in taverns! Whether it was schmoozing or scheming we were getting up to it all!   That old Orc says he's in Riverhaven. I wonder if he's met Fip's friend Raesh, the one with the mechanical arm? I heard he became a blacksmith or something. Anyway I should try to get to Riverhaven sometime soon, or maybe I'll write him a letter inviting him to The SSSnake Pit. After giving mom the teleportation coordinates I need to be careful about who I give those too. Fip was not happy, but he understood.   Anyway, I'm going to write him a letter to get in touch with an old friend. He may want to meet my new friends. I don't know. It's been a crazy week! I wonder if he has kept up his skills, or he may sound like crap compared to the way I play now! Haha, just kidding.

I have met the family of Sszaryn Vekthiss. The family is very devout to the Yuan-Ti and the Zshar'Akai. There is no room for me in that family. Within the first five minutes of meeting them after what may have been 20 years, the father immediately tried to shove me into "place" as a Bloodfang. I only found out about that name or that they existed simply five minutes before. I am not a simple soldier. I am Severus Snake. I am a cleric, a bard, a talker amongst the people. I can and have done so much more as Severus Snake than both Sszaryn Vekthiss or Sshaavar Zshar'Akai could have ever dreamed!   I remembered somethings about my family, little flashes of dreams from when I was Sszaryn. Vhessirra was a wonderful mother to me. Compassionate, nurturing, she taught me how to adapt and overcome. She may have seen that Sszaryn was not going to settle for simply being a Bloodfang. She knew I could do better from the memories I have seen and helped him to reach for those dreams, despite how much it must have hurt her to lose him. I know they were all rather kowtowed to Sshaarvar while I was in the home, I hope she let him have it when they were behind closed doors once again. I gave her a bottle from Fip's and my pub with our teleportation coordinates, but we hand that out to the whales we bring to the casino. I felt it was the right decision at the time. Fip is just going to have to forgive me for that one. I do hope that she comes one day. I would enjoy speaking to her without that guy's interference. Why she married such a blunt tool of a person, I will not understand. It may have been a marriage of power or convenience, or maybe she saw something in him that his pride gets in the way of.   My brother, whom I remember from the memories that have started to flood in, is named Sskarran. Apparently he is of the same temperament as Sshaavar. No wonder he only became a bloodfang warrior. No imagination and a bully growing up. His father has dictated his entire life, I am sure. It's probably why Sshaavar got so pissed that I wouldn't follow him as well. That guy has an ego the size of Aragoth! I haven't received any real pleasant memories of Sskarran.   Zzivani. Now that girl had imagination! The memories that I have received from my time with her have been fantastic! She takes after Vhessirra, from what I have seen. My memories of her show her to be mischievous and interesting. I pray she finds someone who will make her happy. Maybe she too will visit me someday. I would love to get to know her better.   Sshaavar reported that Sszaryn had murdered an elf woman in the Zshar'Akai marketplace which is why he ran. The same elven woman I saw in The Shadowed Loom that day we were all transported there. Whomever you were, I'm sorry that you were murdered by my hands, even if I don't truly remember it. You deserved better. I wonder if Sszaryn and Sshaavar had a fight earlier that day and Sszaryn felt the need to take his anger out on the first unlucky soul who crossed him? Whatever the reason, I am not that person any longer. I am sorry, elf woman. I pray that you might forgive me one day, and see that I am no longer that boy. I have changed for the better, thanks to Lysmera. Elaria Duskmantle destroyed Sszaryn and Lysmera replaced him with Severus Snake.   When I left the Vekthiss home, I was proud to know who I truly am. I was also kind of glad to tell Sshaavar that I had killed the Zshar'Akai's old god. Sshaavar feels it would have been better that I was forgotten? Well now there is no chance that he won't remember Severus Snake until the day he dies. My party and I killed something they used to worship. How could he ever forget something like that! I doubt he has ever done anything outside his pitiful little village. For someone claiming to have been enlightened, he is very small minded. He will just have to deal with the fact that I did something he obviously didn't have the balls to do himself. I am better than a Bloodfang. I am a Warrior-Poet.   As said Warrior-Poet, maybe I will do some pit fighting this week. I could take on challengers, but also play for their entertainment when I'm not in the ring? Anyway just a thought. I just have a lot of energy after this last mission and I need a healthy way to use it. Lysmera will be pleased simply because I can bring people together either way!   Anyway I have realized that my family is Fip, Scree, Erik, Mason, Ser-Wyn, and Glyn. They have been there for me and I am pleased to be their brother. Since I have found my birth parents and discovered what they were like, I don't know if I want to keep digging. Does Elaria Duskmantle still deserve to be destroyed? Absolutely. She is no god, she is just a monster in disguise, much like that false hydra. If I receive the chance, maybe I could remove her, but that is simply vengeance talking. Maybe I should continue a quest for Lysmera. She's been the only god to bring some form of joy into my life. Maybe I could win favor with her? I once heard a story about a mortal who's god fell in love with them and they bacame lovers! Hah! That would be a trip and a half!

When I was at The Weaver's Temple, one of the clerics gave me this spool of thread after one of the rites I performed. They taught me how to weave threads into tapestries for worship, but this thread feels different. Why did he give me this? What was that vision I received before I was abducted? What am I supposed to do with this thread? I have more questions than answers and it is so frustrating for me I can't stand it!   I know that this thread is important, I can feel it. I just wish the guy told me how I was to use it before I was abducted! Do I go back to the temple and bluntly ask him? One week was not enough. I don't know anything that I need to know! How do I use this stupid, bloody thread!   I want to ask Fip or Erik about this, as they know more about magical items than myself, but Fip is reading and Erik... well, we are all worried about Erik. He harmed the entire party during our last adventure. That book of his is doing him no favors. I'm debating if I should decurse him when he sleeps and physically remove it from him. The only issue with that is Erik is walking a dark path and that may send him over the edge. Oh, did I mention that Scree has a mimic on her face? I am worried for my friends, and I am worried for myself. That voice asked me if I could bear the weight of the truth. To be perfectly honest? I don't know.   What I do know is that I have to be better than the memories in my head. The snake that my memories show me to be are too awful for anyone to bear. It's why I took the last name of Snake. It was the first face I saw in the mirror that resembled the monster of my memories. I may carry the face but there are two people battling inside of me. I see it in my eyes every time I see my reflection. The evil monster my memories have shown me to be; and the bardic, loving person that I want to be. Of the two, I choose the latter. However, if it turns out that the memories I have are true, and I truly was that monster? I have shown that is not who I am anymore. I am a creature of merriment, not the nightmares of my past.   I'm going back to the temple. If they refuse me, that's fine, but I don't know how to move forward right now. I'm sorry my thoughts were all over the place in this journal, but one day I will see how all of the pieces fit.

What is the reason that I am looking down this dark path? Why am I trying to find The Eternal Weaver when every book I have read states that the cost is great to receive anything from her. That story about Midnight, the tabaxi has given me great pause whether I should continue down this path. I have already served a dark goddess, Elaria Duskmantle; would I be forced to serve Drahvena as well? Are my memories even worth it? Who was that elf I saw during the shadowed echo? Who was she to me? I would ask Fip about this, but he is in no shape to provide guidance, or clarity, about this decision. The others could certainly assist with this decision, but other than Erik, they would just stop me. Erik is smart, but he's too preoccupied with that book of his. Scree, as lovely as she is, would probably slap me for this. For the first time in the last 3 years, I am truly terrified about the decision I am about to make. Will this lead me further into darkness like when I served Elaria? Can my soul even handle what I am about to do? There are too many dark fates that the soul can be dragged to, look at what happened to Temperance. I don't want to suffer for eternity! Haven't I suffered enough? Lliira, please be with me. I'm sorry if I am walking a path that you cannot follow, but I must know who I am. I am going to the Eternal Weaver's temple. I hope to speak with the clerics (Is that even the right term?) there and find out if I can contact Drahvena. Hopefully my silver tongue will be instrumental in convincing them to provide the information I need. If this goes south, to my friends, I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was doing this. I am giving this page of my journal to the Majordomo in the hopes that if I disappear, you will be at peace in the knowledge of knowing what happened to me and that I made this choice. It is selfish of me, I know, but while I am quite jovial, it is only because you all have provided the best memories of my life. I struggle every day with the knowledge that I have no clue who I am, or what I have done, other than the atrocities I have committed. I have left a copy of my will attached to this note if it comes to that. Each of you will receive something, but it's not important to write in this entry. I truly love each and every one of you and I apologize for the heartbreak I may be adding to your lives if this goes sideways. Please pray to whatever deity you worship that I will not be lost down this road. If something happens to me, the Majordomo will know what to do. I pray that you will not have to see this entry and you will never know about this.

This last week, my party and I traveled to the Shadowfell, or so I was told it is called. When I say traveled, I mean Scree and I walked behind a tree and were transported without our knowledge. It was a dark, gloomy, and and somewhat desolate place which makes me wonder WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING wanting to know more about her? The thing is, I have already served a dark lady, I do not wish to do so again, but Lliira cannot restore my memories. Fip and Erik told me that she keeps memories in that castle of hers. It is even called "The Fortress of Memories" according to them. As if that is where memories go when they are taken.   Well, taken is exactly what my memories were. I have no good memories until recently. I was made into a shell by Elaria Duskmantle. That elf stole my memories, now it turns out another elf may be holding them? What is it with me and getting screwed over by female elves? We just lost Temperence, another female elf, to the Grim Hollow and that has hurt my heart. Despite her goody two shoes ways, she was a goody two shoes friend.   Her loss has deeply affected my other friend, Fip. He's trying to find himself at the bottom of a bottle. I haven't removed his alcohol because I don't wish to piss him off while he grieves, but I check up on him each night. I'll cast healing or restoration spells on him so that he doesn't flirt with alcohol poisoning. I have even drank with him, just so he will talk about it. I have been in his shoes, I was drink for a few years after my time with Elaria. I try to soothe him to sleep just so he quits drinking for the day with music. Sometimes it even helps. I don't know what else to do for my friend. He will either get through this, or it will destroy him. I'm trying to support him so it is not the latter.   During the day I am researching everything I can on the Raven Queen. I have even sunk a bunch of gold to have access to private libraries I have been told about. It may cost me 700 gold pieces before the week is done. I just hope that this is all worth it in the end. I want to know who I was, what I did, who was that female elf I saw in the Shadowfell when others saw their loved ones? I believe the only thing that kept me sane was not knowing who jumped off that cliff so that I could try to stop the others. Lliira be with me as I try to find these answers. I worry for my friends and I pray that we will be safe from here on out. I don't know how many more friends I can lose.

This instrument has been exceptionally useful to me, but last quest allowed me to find this exceptional harp! I think it has come time to let it go and sell it. I hope to get some decent gold or maybe barter for some other helpful items. Fip told me that I'm going to have to grease some palms, so I think 25gp should cover it. Fip also gave me some names, so I'm going to see if they can help me sell this as well. I know an instrument is kind of a niche item, but it is magical! That has to count for something, right?

After a week of research I've found it. It took me an entire week and hours upon hours searching through these dusty old tomes, but I found the information I needed about her! I had the wrong name for that witch who stole my memories. She probably wanted to make sure I never found her again after what she did to me. "Shar," as if that's even a real name! She's a liar, and a thief. I only wish I would have known that from the beginning. From before... it no longer matters. That goddesses real name is Elaria Duskmantle. An elven goddess of darkness and deceit. A thief of memories. She promised me she would take away the pain and loss I felt from my old life.   I just didn't realize how she would take away the pain. She steals your memories! If you "serve her well", she gets rid of your awful memories. All of the ones that remind you of the monstrous things you have done before to yourself, others, and those you care about. In her service, she calls you to do such horrific things! Things that no one should ever have to hear about, let alone actually do! After you commit these atrocities, she removes the horrific memories and allows you to delude yourself into thinking that you have done some kind of good! She makes her followers believe they are The purest and holiest of clerics! I can't remember that time myself, but I have studied the way some of these tomes speak about her. As if she is the purest of all gods, with flowery language and bardic ode's to her benevolence!   No, I wanted out for some reason, I just can't remember what it was. She was displeased with me, that is for sure. When she takes the bad memories, apparently there is some cosmic filing box out there with your name on it, because she took those bad memories and shoved them all back into my skull for months! She left me an empty shell by removing my good memories, and then replaced them with a horrible memory, one by one. As soon as she saw how one memory broke me, she would give me the details of it until I was a sobbing mess. As soon as I would quit crying, or she thought I had found some peace, she would shove the next on back in and repeat the horrible description. I don't remember how long I was in her temple and at her mercy. It could have been years for all I know. I don't remember how I survived that, just that I did.   Well guess what you wretched elf succubus, I have found you again, and while I am not sure if I can kill you directly, I can find some way to remove your power. It will most likely not be anytime soon, but I will not let you keep using hurt people to commit your worst atrocities! I know who you are again, and I will find a way to remove you.

I am expanding my abilities and outreach this month. Normally I would be playing in the tavern for extra cash, or maybe trying to expand my goddess Lliira's reach. However, as Secretarian for Z's Less Risky Messenger Delivery Service, I decided I could help the business by reaching out to some that may help our expenses and finances. I reached out to the rich and affluent! They have more money than they know what to do with after all.   While in Riverhaven I was able to speak to a wonderful dwarven man man named Luther Anvilson, a local blacksmith and tinkerer. No one can put away more ale than a dwarf in my opinion, but it does not mean I didn't try to see how much he could put down. This venture did extremely well for the company as not only will he do repair work for our franchise at a 90% discount, but he's going to favorably spread our name around town!   After we finally ended in Frandyln following us SAVING THE WORLD, I met the Lady Corrila Larenhale! She is a cousin to The Trithaea of House Trithaea, of the Autumn Court! Lady Corrila has kindly offered to provide a direct connection to the ruling court and allow Z's LRMD Service to to establish a post in her estate! She is a lovely and well-to-do woman and I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful partnership with her. She has also informed me that she may seek out our adventuring party for special "side-quests."   Maybe I should take the name, "Silver Tongue Severus"! I jest of course. All in all, I believe I have expanded both our business and therefore our purses through this venture. I need to see if I may be able to keep this up! I really enjoyed my time with the rich, but I cant get too comfortable. It costs me enough gold per week to live as I do now.

Hello Majordomo Wynnemore, I pray that I have spelled your name correctly. My name is Severus Snake, and I have been tasked as the new Secretarian after the last one retired. I'm not sure if you knew about that, or about myself. I am pleased to collaborate with you and hope that we can grow our business further. I am writing to you to discuss a few tasks that the board has decided on to increase our revenue and reputation. I hope this letter finds you quickly and that you and your team can accomplish these tasks with great benefit to us all. 1. We would like an intern to do some schmoozing to increase the company’s reputation in our new operating locations. How are we going to do business if no one knows about us? 2. Aakscree is willing to help provide advertising to the area around Riverhaven using our Spelljammer. Super neat ship! 3. The last has been voted on by the board and I hope you are okay with it. We would like to procure some animals for some interesting events. Preferably animals that are strong, agile, and exceptionally durable. Please deliver said animals to Vinnad Humblefoot when you can. Thanks to Aakscree, I am paying extra to see that you received this letter on the double. Please provide the available services as soon as possible. I pray that you are well, Severus Snake, Secretarian, Z’s LRMD.

I have been told that Hamlet Town is where a Bard can make some cash. I have found three taverns available for my skills. The first two are some low-key taverns called The Mare's Elk and The Flowing Hawk. There is also a rather raucous bar called The Fir's Butler. As they are all very close to each other, I'm going to talk to all of the keepers and see if I can Move from place to place each night. I will speak to Thelthondel Heasianea at the Fir's Butler, then Nirthalros Tyrthym at the Flowing Hawk, and finally Leptredin Maloroc at the Mare's Elk.   Hopefully, they are all willing to hire an entertainer for the week so I can make some extra money for the next week! I'm looking forward to this week! Look out Riverhaven, Severus is on his way!

Long ago, there were humans who used rituals to make themselves stronger thus transforming them into the Yuan-Ti. Many of those who undertook these magics became corrupted, evil monsters who only looked to harm the world around them. One of these monsters stood out above the others for their cruelty and malice. He had no problems using men, women, or even children as materials for his dark arts. An immortal and evil wizard named Ornatus Crotalus!   It is said that when children are disobedient to their parents or don't go to sleep when they are told, it sends signals to Ornatus' scrying machine and he can see where the naughty ones are and get them in the night!!!   Now, Mommy and Daddy love you very much and don't want you to go missing so you need to go to sleep. We will protect you from the evil wizard and make sure you're safe!   -A memory from Severus' youth-

This essay discusses the need for an extra attunement slot so that I may purchase and equip the Stormrider Boots (modified) by Greg Gilliland. While I cannot produce the picture or URL the essay requires, it is in the Facebook Messenger chat between him and me.   As a bard, removing oneself from sticky situations can be difficult as we usually do what we can to get ourselves into them. As a controller, I want to move quickly across the battlefield and these boots allow me to double my speed. When I get too close to hostile creatures, they create a lightning strike doing 3d8 damage to the enemy. After causing this damage, the boots will allow me to move away from enemies quickly and they will have a disadvantage against opportunity attacks when I move away from them. These boots also provide a lighting orb, chromatic orb spell, for free once per day.   As you can see, these boots would be incredibly beneficial to me and my party allowing me to move faster and freely to assist my party members during encounters.

1. What is your spell focus and what does it look like?   My spell focus are my instruments; the Fochlucan Bandore and my rhythm drums.   2. When casting spells, how do you use your spells material components and spell focus? Are you particularly meticulous, or careless with the components? Does your focus glow in a particular fashion? Please describe this process for when your character uses their components and focus.   Whenever I cast a spell that needs a material component I play one of my instruments. The music is the spell traveling through the world.   3. When you character casts spells that require verbal components, how does your character voice these aspects of the spell? Do they use the language of their patron (providing they know the language)? Does your character giggle, whisper, or do similar styles while doing verbal components? Please be specific.   I let the music do the work for me. I don't have to say anything when beautiful music is providing the benefits to the party.   4. Does your character have a favorite food, drink, or similar item that they continously keep stocked? Do they react in a particular way if they run-out of this item or can't find it easily? Is it a particular type of berry, or other plant that they forage while in the wilderness?     I brew alcohol often using my brewer's tools. I make mead more often than not, and try to keep kegs on hand whenever I am in one place long enough. I use the bag of holding to let it settle for the week. I enjoy meat and eggs in particular for meals. Rations are always helpful, but nothing beats beef, pork, and eggs with a good drink. I don't have trouble if I don't eat those things, but I may dream of them often. I'm not big on berries as I would rather have a soup or rations, but I will eat anything that I know will not hurt me.

I need to live for myself for once. A wizard being my biggest tormenter had to not only steal the love of my life, but he gloated, the bastard. Then he had to save me from that werewolf, bastard. I had to get my revenge so I found a war god who told me he could give me the vengeance I sought so desperately! So after hearing about a prophecy about a child that could kill a god, I made another huge mistake and told him. It turned out that the child was from my lady love and that bastard. After that god, bastard, killed them and was vanquished by the child somehow, I decided that I was done with him and found Lliira.   She told me I would let me keep my cleric powers, but set me on the path of the bard. She helped me see the joy I could have in life after all my mistakes. So she has helped me grow from being so pessimistic to being blasé about life. She has been a huge boon to my life. Music has been the life my heart needed. I enjoy it when she comes down to listen to my latest compositions. She has also helped me with my brewing since I gave up on potions. Now my brews are alcoholic and award-winning.   So now I travel to taverns, selling booze and playing for coins. I am getting an itch, however. Lliira told me when she visited last that she was worried about me and wanted me to go on an adventure. I know I said I don't want anyone dictating my life, but she's been good to me, and I want to make her happy. Plus she helps me with my music and spells. She has provided me with some excellent equipment for this adventure, and I am looking forward to what else I can find out there. I have plenty of gold from playing at the taverns, so I should be able to afford more items before trekking through the world. I'm not entirely sure where I am, but I could also find a party to join!