Naielle Odelia
Captain Naielle Dakiir Odelia, of the Xistina
Naielle Odelia is a Celestial Warlock, bonded to the forgotten star Alcor. Since she was exiled from the Sylvian Empire in 217, she has been a resident of the Prosperity of Welvarend. She currently acts as shipmaster of the captured junk Xistina and navigator for the trade vessel Pendagast, as part of the Jade Sea Expedition.
History
Born as Kiir just three hours after her twin brother Thia in 114, she was the 5th of 7 children of Oriphira Odelia and Laucian Amamion. She, along with her siblings, was raised on the grounds of Odelia University, an institution founded by her grandmother Saroel shortly after Emperor Nathaneel Bonaparte's rise to power. She studied at the university for much of her youth, specialising in history and astronomy, and working on multiple research projects under history professor Jean-Theren Wysaphine. Her first century were largely uneventful, there were some exceptions. When she and her childhood sweetheart, business major Xistina Rosseau, were the target of a harmless prank by a classmate, Kiir orchestrated an elaborate act of revenge. With her extensive knowledge of the University grounds, she was able to gain access to the teacher's lounge to sabotage that classmate's submission to an assignment. When this was discovered, Kiir was suspended and forced to take the class again at a later date, and it's widely suspected she would have been expelled if her family weren't in charge. Another event of note was her father's 300th birthday in 203, where she and Thia bought identical suits decorated with stars and wore their hair the same way, and repeatedly swapped places throughout the evening to the consternation of their mother. For his part, Laucian thought it to be a delightful prank. When Kiir and Xistina started dating in this time depends on who you ask, with answers ranging from Xistina's 157 to Kiir's 174, with Thia himself suggesting 142 when Kiir first brought her friend home. Whichever year is accurate, or whatever their first date really entailed, the Odelia family remained largely unsold on the pair, considering Xistina too brash and outgoing for their awkward bookish daughter, and perhaps other opinions they did not express around her. For her and Thia's 100th birthday, they took the names Naielle and Quenaris, and Laucian gave them both bright red ribbons, matching one he himself had inherited from his mother. Oriphira, with Saroel's blessing, gave them both old rings with great sentimental meaning, with Naielle recieving Saroel's gold engagement ring and Quenaris her silver promise ring.Adulthood
In 216, Naielle was given her biggest research project yet - to detail the histories of the early Sylvian states which had preceded the Sylvian Empire. Under Professor Wysaphine, she set about travelling to various parts of the Empire to find information and examine the archaeological record. Amidst her studies, in 217 she successfully proposed to Xistina with a replica of Saroel's ring, with her family still split on the suitability of the pair. While her engagement brought her much joy, her studies did not, as significant gaps of information continued to elude her. With Wysaphine frustrated with her lack of progress, Naielle vented her concerns to the indifferent stars above, only to have one respond - Alcor, the Forgotten Star. With little forethought, Naielle entered into a pact with the celestial, gaining aid in her research project in exchange for future loyalty. With Alcor's help, she learnt the missing connective thread between the early Sylvian states - that they originated not on the material plane of Yerovera, but as refugees of the shattered Feywild. After first finding some sources to back up this theory, such as half-buried stele with runes she could somehow interpret, she presented her findings to Wysaphire. While not strictly within the scope of her project, she considered it important.Exile
Two days later, Naielle was arrested by imperial officers while at the university's library. After a multi-hour interrogation on suspicion of spreading treasonours writings, she was released into house arrest. Following heated arguments with her family over the incident, she retreated to her room, and had soon thereafter climbed out the window in a hasty disguise and fled the grounds. As she was leaving her home town she took a detour to Professor Wysaphine's home, attacking him for ratting her out to the imperial authorities, and stealing his horse. Steed in tow, she was able to quickly make for a port, selling the horse and some of her belongings to pay for passage on a ship bound for Welvarend. Once there, she sought refuge with a cousin of her mother, Eloisa de Walle, and stayed with her for a number of years. In 221, Naielle was admitted to the Welvarend Navigator's Guild, bearing a recommendation from Eloisa's merchant son Vincent. Making use of her patron's connections with the stars, she aided in plotting courses for various ships in Welvarend, including occasionally serving as navigator for Vincent's mercantile operations. When his health failed him, Naielle took leave to help care for him, and was with him when he died in 227.Jade Sea
When the Prosperity arranged the Jade Sea Expedition, Naielle was recommended by her guild as a competent navigator, seeing her appointed to the trade vessel Pendagast. She nearly turned down the opportunity, only finally accepting as a method of getting away from the Sylvian Empire, whose presence over the water taunted her with what she couldn't have. The six month voyage to the south-western reaches of the Jade Sea was largely uneventful, barring a storm off the coast of the Dragon Continent which did moderate damage to Pendagast. On deck during the waves, Naielle was knocked into a railing and broke her arm, and to "shut her up" she was given strong dwarven ale, which had the unintended side effect of all but knocking her out for a week, missing her own 122nd birthday. She made up for it later by joining the card table of helmsman Tarik Demishruk, keeping the event small. Campaign Summary
Once in the Jade Sea, she was made part of the Pendagast's shore team, led by Captain Morgaan Vandervest. In dealing with pirates in possession of a metal shark keeping the island of Siput hostage, she made an arrangement with her patron for a map to their hideout. When time came to use it in navigating a shallow reef, Naielle faltered under the pressure, with the ship barely avoiding catastrophic damage due to exceptional seamanship by others. Despite this failure, Vandervest would shortly therafter promote her to captain a captured pirate ship, which she named Xistina.
Later in the city of Ningbo, Naielle made particular contact with the White Lanterns, aiding them in making contact with their undead ancestors on a forbidden island. As part of the shore team, the Pendagast found and infiltrated a half-buried mindflayer Lance. When their aid in dredging the ship were reluctantly accepted by the Bingja faction, Naielle accidentally piloted the Lance into the Astral Sea, forcing the stranded sailors to repair and feed it before they could leave. The Pendagast's priest, Marius, was instrumental in their escape by climbing the outside of the ship to repair its damage, though was mysteriously injured on their return to the material plane.
When evidence reveals that the administration of Ningbo has been compromised by an enemy force, Naielle was sent with a small delegation to discuss the matter with the Bingja, in hopes that their military prowess and political standing can be turned towards the situation. Instead, the Bingja have the group arrested on orders of that same administration, while the Pendagast is simultaneously attacked by the administration and forced to flee to sea. Using the metal shark taken from the pirates, the remainder of the shore team successfully sneak back into the city and rescue the delegation, including a friendly member of the Bingja who aided in their escape.
The shore team split up, finding multiple avenues of sneaking into a dinner being held by the administration the next evening, with Naielle being disguised as a member of the White Lanterns' 'Honour Guard'. At the dinner, the administrator revealed that foreign agents have been subverting the empire, and demanded hostages from each great house of the city. The corruptive influences in the administration, revealed to be a mindflayer named Thalbin, launched an attack on the room. In the chaos, Naielle was knocked unconscious by a mindflayer thrall, before Captain Vandervest was able to kill Thalbin. When the Fajia protest to the Pendagast's crew not being in exile, a furious Naielle told them they're welcome for their having saved the city.
In post-victory celebrations, Naielle passed out on rice wine and vodka, and was carried to a bed in a provided wing by the newly-promoted Commodore Vandervest.
Invasion
In the wake of saving the city, it became apparent that Thalbin was merely a prelude, and that a greater invasion is due. The Pendagast met with the rest of the Jade Sea Expedition fleet to discuss their options, resolving to remain as neutral on Ningbo politics as possible while aiding them against the impending danger, while also revealing the fleets intention to obtain gunpowder from the pacifistic Mohzi. To protect the city from an underdark portal found in the White Lanterns' crypt, Naielle entreated her patron for knowledge of the power to close it. She was told of a snowy mountain, a deep crevasse, and a tower rising above the waves. With the help of Marius, the latter was identified as a tower of wood and fire, closely guarded by the Jade Empire. Before a mission can be taken to the Jade Empire, Naielle was tasked to make use of a navigation orb looted from the Lance, identifying many points of interest in the surrounding area, such as supply depots and meeting locations. A scouting mission wass sent to investigate a moving target called the 'Black Star' from within the metal shark, swiftly discovered as a massive mindflayer ship. The Black Star almost captured the crew, who narrowly escaped through an underwater canyon. The Pendagast sailed for the tower, cloaked in a broken illusionary net of divine power and scale. After convincing the surviving apprentice guard to grant them entry, the crew ascended the tower, finding it choked in wood. Ascending, guards and priests are found turned into wood or supercharged with lightning and rage. At the tower's top was the White Dragon of the West, contained within an orb, betrayed by the Jade Emperor. After tense negotiations, he agreed to lend his power in closing the Underdark portal and opposing the mindflayer threat, and Naielle took custody of the orb. As the crew returned to Ningbo, Naielle recieved a letter via pouch from her fiancée, Xistina. This was remarkable considering the pouches only work within the same plane, and Xistina was back in the Sylvian Empire. Enquiring with the mage behind the pouches, it's theorised that ~true love~ enabled their letters to transcend planar boundaries. With the White Dragon's aid, the underdark portal was closed, though not without attracting the attention of the Father of Aboleth. A captain's meeting revealed that the Sylvian Empire and the Prosperity of Welvarend stood at the brink of war, forcing Naielle to reveal her line of communication with Xistina. She was "politely requested" to ask her fiancée about military tactics, which she reluctantly agreed to do. A mindflayer attempt to recapture the Lance and pre-emptively kill the Pendagast crew failed, and a meeting between the great Houses of Ningbo determines that the Mohzi must give up their gunpowder and its means of production. The Mohzi leader, Tai, having been forewarned by Naielle that the Pendagast was being ordered to obtain this as well, told the meeting she would destroy it and all records relating to it. Teams were sent by the Pendagast to obtain the gunpowder and infilitrate a library in the city for information while the core shore team left to defeat the Black Star. The mindflayer ship was overgrown with corruptive crystals and full of warforged guards, and the inhabitant put up significant resistance. Before being killed, the mindflayer captain set the ship to plane shift away on a timer, with Naielle being tasked to dismantle it. When she failed to do so quickly, Marius steps forward and disabled the system, his fingers mysteriously turning black. Small portions of the ship are reclaimed for use repairing the Lance, and Naielle demanded the rest be burned and destroyed. On return to Ningbo, Marius took Naielle and the ship's doctor aside to explain his mysterious injuries. Both come from an interloper, who offered him aid in times of need, and wanted him to sign a contract. The matter is brought before a furious Commodore, where it's revealed the interloper is Vecna, god of secrets. It's universally agreed by all present that he should take no such contract. After an urgent meeting with the admiralty, Commodore Vandervest revealed to the shore crew that the fleet has been ordered to negotiate piece with the Red Elder Brain behind the impending Ningbo invasion. When the group, Naielle among them, naturally protest this turn of events, Vandervest proposed a mutiny against the fleet's representative of the Welvarend Crowns. With some negotiation, some of the fleet was brought onto their side in this endeavour, and the representative was confronted. The meeting quickly turned violent, and Naielle was forced to use a cursed mindflayer blade to subdue the representative and make him undo a pact held over the fleet's admiral. When the representative resisted, Naielle and Marius stabbed him in unison. Ningbo is attacked the following day by the forces of the Red Brain, with the fleet's forces spread throughout the city in its defence. A spell of Forbiddance cast by Naielle created chokeholds against the enemy, but failed to stop the summoning of the Red Brain's ship over centre city. During a hasty meeting with members of the city's Great Houses, it is decided that the Fajia leader will use ancestral magic to blast a hole in the ship's side, allowing entry by mass teleportation. The shore team entered the dreadnought and found it riddled with cancer, and the Red Brain under the manipulation of a mindflayer who had sold out their clan to the aboleth. In exchange for killing that mindflayer, and freeing the Red Brain of the aboleth's control, it agreed to leave the city. A funeral was held for the Pendagast's first officer, who died in the battle.Southward
Family, Friends, and So On
Immediate Family- Grandmother: Saroel Odelia née Tavarfall - 495 Years Old
A cunning and clever old woman, Saroel was the brains behind the idea to transfer the assets of the Marquisate of Odelia into an educational institute during the rise of Nathaneel Bonaparte. She served as Odelia University's first President, and even in her old age has immense sway over its dealings and her family. Believing Naielle's reckless actions put the family at risk, Saroel has denounced her entirely. - Mother: Oriphira Odelia - 321 Years Old
Though she was not expected to inherit her mother's position at the University, Oriphira has risen to the occasion with great gusto. Her shrewdness has seen OU grow over the decades, and she applies the same piercing judgements to her children. Like her mother, her disappointment with Naielle's behaviour was immeasurable, and she has rescinded all her previous pride in her accomplishments. - Father: Laucian Amamion - 333 Years Old
A mild-mannered commoner with a zeal for learning, Laucian only received his university education and position thanks to knowing Oriphira personally. He has made the most of this luck, often being seen giving impromptu lessons on Sylvian history or other topics to random students and those who can't afford OU's fees. He was particularly proud that Naielle had an interest in history like him, until she was exiled. - Older Sister: Aedelie Odelia-Gaumont - 201 Years Old
With a sterness inherited from her mother and from her military service, Aedelie is the gruffest of the Odelias. Since adulthood she has served in the Imperial Army, currently holding the rank of Major. Despite her reputation for curt rudeness, she has immense love for her siblings and her husband Emile. She doted on Naielle regularly and took her betrayal very personally. - Older Twin Brother: Quenaris Odelia - 122 Years Old
Born 30 minutes older and much bigger, Quenaris is the mischievous trickster to Naielle's straight-laced academic. The two were inseparable during their adolescence, and even as their careers wildly diverged they made an effort to remain close. On Aedelie's suggestion, Quenaris had just enlisted into the Imperial Army when Naielle was exiled, and he subsequently threw himself into his work to avoid thinking about her. - Younger Sister: Mariela Odelia - 110 Years Old
Scatterbrained and patriotic, Mariela is often described as the strange Odelia sibling. She had little interest in the education offered by the University, and instead joining the Imperial Army early on to train as one of its prized feywalkers. Contrary to expectation, she has excelled in and focussed on her training to such an extent she hardly noticed Naielle's departure, and she regards her older sister as a traitorous fool. - Younger Brother: Yivien Odelia - 104 Years Old
A clever and proud young man, Yivien is the other academic of the Odelia siblings. However, due to his focus on architecture and construction, he usually did not receive the attention from his parents that Naielle did. As a result, he's the only one pleased that she has left, as he is now the smartest child and has his buildings proudly shown off by the family.
- Oriphira's Cousin: Eloisa de Walle née Odelia - 315 Years Old
Carefree and oblivious to a fault, Eloisa has little in life to worry about other than her artistic practice, especially after she left the chaos of the revolutionary Sylvian Kingdom. She sells various bizarre clothes and paintings to locals and is known for her joyous attitude. She took Naielle in after her exile, in exchange for her help in some of her more outlandish designs. - Eloisa's Son: Vincent Gerner née de Walle - 166 Years Old (Died in 229)
Inheriting only the business-minded elements of his mother's artistry, Vincent became a merchant and travelled the seas for many years. He was rather successful, and known to be a harsh boss who insisted every minor thing be accounted for and expensed. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire due to a recurring illness, which eventually left him bedridden in the care of his mother and daughter. Before his passing, he wrote Naielle a letter of recommendation for the Welvarend Navigator's Guild. - Vincent's Daughter: Josefien Holicia née Gerner - 127 Years Old
A stubborn and witty young woman, Josefien inherited her father's merchant business upon his death. Prior to this she had worked as an assistant aboard his vessels, occasionally doing trade deals on his behalf. She is not as harsh as her father was, but is also not as adventurous as he could be, preferring to stick to "safe" trades with repeat customers rather than expanding into new areas.
- Fiancée: Xistina Rosseau - 135 Years Old
Cheeky and with a great passion for the finer things in life, Xistina is a variously-successful merchant. She has known Naielle since they were young and attending Odelia University together, and was her childhood sweetheart. She bought her boats using her inheritance from her father, but has not always turned a profit on her trades. As such, she sought a Letter of Marque without Naielle's knowledge and has been a privateer for many years. Though she was well within her rights to do so, she did not annul her engagement after Naielle was exiled. - Former Professor: Jean-Theren Wysaphine - 468 Years Old
A cowardly and cantankerous old elf, Jean-Theren was a teacher at Odelia University for over two centuries. He primarily taught history and supervised many of the in-depth research projects of his top-level students, such as Naielle. It was through him that she acquired her final assignment, and he was the one to report her to the authorities over her warlock-gained knowledge. He retired shortly after he was attacked, and has lived quietly in his home. - Retainer: Tarik Demishruk - 54 Years Old
A jolly and calming presence, Tarik is one of the helmsmen on Xistina. In his youth he was a member of a <Turkish> pirate crew operating between Yerovera and the Dragon Continent, until a close brush with death led to a change of heart. He left his crew and became a monk, and has spent his time using his new skills and previous sailing experience for good, rather than petty gain. - Retainer: Darcy Goddard - 33 Years Old
Silently and patiently observing from above, Darcy is one of the lookouts aboard Xistina. Hailing from the Isle of Noble Beasts, the owl woman has spent much of her life aboard boats in various roles, with the last decade spent as a sailor for hire in Welvarend. Though her wings were injured in a mutiny on an Arcadian trading vessel, she is still able to fly, and remains as nimble and keen-eyed as ever. - Associate: Nang Jung-ho
A pirate from the Emerald Festival, Jung-ho fought the party in Kupang alongside Ryon Jong-Yul. After nearly being killed by Naielle, he was spared in exchange for information about the Emerald Festival's whereabouts. In order to save him from imperial execution, he was brought aboard Pendagast as an <X>.
These are barely notes, because describing my fellow players and their characters is hard, but there are some small bits that are useful, maybe!
- Commanding Officer: Captain Morgaan Vandervest
The spidery captain of the Pendagast and its sister vessels, Vandervest is a strict and uncompromising man. Naielle does not contradict his orders, and only rarely disagrees with his plans, though this is likely less due to their quality and more due to her cowardice. - Commander Officer: Lieutenant Vanera Borovkov
An orc barbarian hailing from the frigid north, Vanera is an intimidating but joyous figure. Though she and Naielle are technically equivalent in rank, her position as second-in-command aboard the Pendagast results in Naielle regularly deferring to her. - Peer: Shipmaster Sidika Yavuz
A dwarf artificer from <Turkey>, Sidika is the shipmaster for the metal shark. Naielle and she hold the same rank, though Sidika's technical prowess and the vessel in her command are far more impressive. - Peer: Doctor Talia Austringer
The ragingly gay human artificer, Talia serves as the doctor for the lead ships for the JSE. Though Talia holds a lesser rank, Naielle holds her in great respect, going so far as to put herself in danger for her. - Peer: Sir Marius Aubert
Composed and ever aware of trade opportunities, Marius is the chief priest for the Pendagast and the Xistina. Owing to his ample experience in trade, Naielle sees him as an authority in many of their diplomatic actions, even though she does not worship the same god as he. For various reasons, Naielle feels very indebted to him. - Peer: Saphielle Neri
A sneaky tiefling rogue, Saphielle is the quartermaster for the Pendagast. Naielle sees her as somewhat reckless, but her prodigious skill in stealth cannot help but be impressive. - Peer: The Rthnatheá
A psionic warforged with foggy memories and a traumatic past, the Rthnatheá is the newest member of the Pendagast crew. Naielle has not known it long, but she respects the construct's formidable powers and unique skillset, and fears its temper.
Children
Pronouns
She/Her
Comments
Author's Notes
This article is about 95% only for myself and my DM for the campaign Naielle is played in, so a lot of information is not explained because the two of us already know it. Nevertheless, if you enjoyed reading about her, I'm delighted! ^v^