Aysia La'Zul

[Raging Thrak Inn, Dining Room]

Loud and abusive noises emanate from behind the swinging kitchen doors, much to the laughing delight of some of the customers, and to the chagrin of others. Tapestries hanging from the walls depict soothing idyllic wildlife scenes. Hard wooden tables and chairs are placed evenly, allowing enough space for the cook and wait servants to pass. You also see some inviting tables.

You enter the dining room at the Raging Thrak Inn of Wehnimer’s Landing and immediately notice a woman seated at the back of the room. She appears absorbed in the task of polishing an assortment of weapons spread across the table before her. Even without the display of weapons her chosen calling is plainly obvious in the well-muscled physique and multiple battle scars that could only be the mark of a seasoned warrior.

You see Lady Aysia La'Zul the Amazon.

She appears to be a Human from Mestanir.

She appears to be in her 20's, has long, straight black hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.

She has a tattooed symbol of Voln on her neck.

She has old battle scars on her right arm, old battle scars on her left arm, old battle scars on her right leg, old battle scars on her left leg, old battle scars on her right hand, old battle scars on her left hand, an old battle scar across her chest, an old battle scar across her abdominal area, an old battle scar across her back, and a scar across her neck.

She is wearing a gold-winged rolaren warhelm, a crystal amulet, an etched blue sapphire talisman, an ivory-inlaid gold torc, a deep blue Leya symbol, a midnight blue glaesine orb, a veniom threaded harness, a gold-trimmed dark blue kite shield, a gold-trimmed blue spidersilk greatcloak, a veniom-tassed gilded rolaren coreselet, some xenium-studded armguards, a snow white leather wrist sheath, an ivory and blue sapphire band, an ornately carved ebony scabbard, a beautifully carved ivory scabbard, a gold-trimmed xenium scabbard, some xenium-studded thighguards, and some calf-laced elk skin sandals.


She glances up at your approach, her piercing blue eyes making you a bit uncomfortable. A confident grin plays across her face as she motions you to come and have a seat at her table. She stands, tall and proud, greeting you with a respectful bow, which you return in like courtesy.

“You can call me Aysia.” She says, taking her seat.

“Would you like a drink? Ale?” Without waiting for your reply she calls for the waiter to bring a mug of ale. “I don’t drink, myself. It dulls the wits.”

You sip your ale and politely inquire as to how she arrived in the city of Wehnimer’s Landing.

“It’s a long story.” She pauses momentarily, her eyes betraying painful memory.

“When I was a girl I lived with my family in Mestanir. Both my Father and my Mother were apprentice Mages in a School of the Arcane Arts within the city. When Baron Hochstib of Jantalar invaded - curse him and the Empress – my Mother and my Father helped to repel his initial attacks. But then the Baron brought the Mandis Crystal and the defenders of Mestanir, unable to make use of their magic, fell to his army. Fearing for my safety, my Father sent me west to Wehnimer’s Landing. I was only 13 then. I haven’t heard from him since.”

Wiping a tear from her eye she continues, “I don’t speak of it often. It wasn’t easy coming here alone and leaving everything I ever knew. But I resolved that I would be ready to fight the Baron the next time, and avenge my parents’ death.”

“It will take more than witch hunters and the Mandis Crystal to stop me when the time comes.” She smiles grimly, gripping the hilt of the imflass greatsword lying on the table before her. Realizing that her rage has gotten the better of her, she attempts a calm smile and releases her grip on the sword.

Noticing your gaze straying to the tattoo on her neck, she traces a finger along the design before speaking, “It’s the Symbol of Voln, of course.”


“My Father once lent his aid in fighting the undead hordes of the Horned Cabal in the Southern lands of the Empire. He was a Master of the Order. I guess you could say I follow in his footsteps.” She smiles slightly before continuing, “The Order is very popular throughout the Empire, but I’ve heard rumors that the Empress supports a Luukosian cult. It’s enough that she supports Baron Hochstib.”

“Being a thorn in Mynal’lyanna’s side is a bonus!” She laughs. “Joining the Order was one of the first things I did upon arriving in Wehnimer’s Landing. I think my Father would have been proud.”


Sparing a moment from polishing her weapons, she removes a deep blue Leya symbol from around her neck. You hear a faint “Click!” and the symbol begins to change until she is holding a statue of the warrior Goddess. “Neat, isn’t it?” She grins. “An old friend gave this to me. It’s gnomish, of course. They can work mechanical wonders that Mages can only dream of!” She returns the statue to symbol form and hangs it from her neck once again before continuing. “After joining the Order I kept myself busy with the cause. But I was always alone.” She frowns.


“I was fighting in the Graveyard Crypt east of the Landing one morning when I met up with a young wizard. We joined up for a bit to slay some undead. She introduced herself as Tiralesque and later she told me about a group of warriors that honor Leya.” She blushes slightly. “Maybe it sounds silly, but I wanted to belong to something. I needed a family. And I thought that these Amazons of Leya, if they were anything like my new friend, would make me feel like I belonged.”


“As luck would have it, I ran into the leader of these Amazons at a boutique on South Ring road later that week and she invited me to one of their meetings at Leya’s Shrine. They told me the story of Leya; How she was the great warrior daughter of the God Kai and how she had been deceived by Luukos into slaying her love with the cursed blade Soulingen.”

“I wanted to be one of them. They were proud, all of them. All aspiring to the principles of their Goddess.” She smiles, her eyes lost in memories. “But in the end my selfish reasons for wanting to join their fine tribe made it impossible for me to stay and become one of them. I was so young at the time. I only wanted to belong.” She sighs.

Seeing your look of concern she smiles, “I don’t regret the foolishness of my youth. I still consider the Amazons my friends and, in a way, I will always be one of them. It was after that first meeting that the Lady Danay introduced me to someone who would become one of my closest friends.”

She breathes a sigh before speaking again, apparently to herself. “Rawen. I miss her.”

“It was Rawen that first made me feel like I belonged. Her friends became my friends as well – Paladyr, Xatier, and Aranrhod. I see Aranrhod at times in Icemule Trace. And Paladyr has moved across the Dragonspine Mountains to Ta’Illistim, I believe. I rarely see him. I don’t know what became of Xatier. In time even the best of friends become separated. But such is life.” She shakes her head slowly, apparently remembering good times past.

Suddenly, she smiles, breaking her somber mood. She removes an etched blue sapphire talisman from around her neck and displays it with pride:

A brilliant blue sapphire, held in a setting of pure silver, is suspended from a slender silver chain. Etched into the surface of the sapphire with stunning clarity is the emblem of the Warrior's Guild. On the back of the setting in flowing script are engraved the words "First in nobility, best in tactics, foremost in bravery".

“This is the emblem of the Warrior’s Guild. And the words are part of an oath we all take upon joining.” She beams proudly. “I had this talisman made shortly after I joined the Guild. Beautiful, isn’t it?”


“I suppose it seems strange – the daughter of two mages becoming a Warrior? And the other warriors probably thought so when they saw me! I was a scrawny little wisp when I joined. Not strong of arm or quick on my feet like the others. All I had were quick wits inherited from my parents and the determination to succeed.” She grins as she speaks. “It was Lord Drizzsdt Ravenrunn who brought me into the Guild and became a Mentor to me. He taught me the importance of those words: Nobility and Bravery.”


“With honor and courage as my weapons I could be a great warrior, despite my physical shortcomings.” She flexes her impressive musculature. “Of course, the life of a warrior won’t leave anyone lacking in strength or quickness for long!” She laughs. “At the time, however, not even I would have guessed that I’d be a natural with sword and with fist.” She says, grinning with pride. “Now modesty – that’s not one of my gifts!”


“The Guild not only started me on my way to becoming a warrior, it also introduced me to new friends. I met Jauckha, the snow tigress there. She was one of the best friends I ever had. She might have been a little strange, but then she was never quite comfortable with the ways of humans.” She laughs at some private joke. “I also met Yzan, son of Strom, Murgin the halfling, Lord Ruffelin, and Morgiest Frost Giant. They were impressive warriors and good friends, all of them. And I strove to live up to the examples of greatness they set.”


“My original intentions in joining the Warrior’s Guild were to train without magic so that I might one day seek revenge against the Baron Hochstib and his witch hunters. That changed as I gained a better understanding of what being a warrior was all about.”


“Revenge is not an honorable goal. Sometimes it’s necessary, but it should never be the only thing driving you. Now I have a greater goal. I lead by example. As I strive to be honorable and brave, always, and as I eschew magic for tactics I set an example for other warriors who might look up to me as I look up to the example set by my great friends. As they have taught me, I will teach them.”

“I won’t make the same selfish mistakes I made in the past. I place the need to teach my fellow warriors the meaning of our oath above my need for vengeance.”

She moves to hang the talisman from her neck. “You know Sir Welan wore this talisman when he went to battle the terrible Feithidmor in its lair. I like to think the reminder helped to bolster his courage against an impossible foe.” She smiles. “That’s what makes a warrior a warrior: Honor and Courage.”

“I’m sure Morgiest would agree. He’s the one who convinced me to join Daingneach Onoir.” She pauses before speaking the words “Honor, Duty, Loyalty – Onoir!

“After attending a couple of meetings I sat with him at Kai’s Shrine in the wooded hills near Wehnimer’s Landing. We spoke for a long while about the concept of Honor, why he admired Kai and why I admired Leya. We discussed the meaning behind the Talismans at Kai’s Shrine: Hope, Friendship, Despair, Strength, Defeat, Honor, Valor, and Faith. I realized that, although life is fraught with despair I will always persevere. The strength and honor in myself and in those I call friends will always overcome.”

“I no longer have an obligation only to myself and so I will never be alone again.” She smiles.

She stretches her arms and leans back in her chair on two legs. “And here I am, 10 years later. No longer the little girl who first arrived in Wehnimer’s Landing. I’ve learned a lot and grown a lot along the way. Some day I may return to Mestanir. But I’m content to stay right where I am for the present.”

She smiles and begins sheathing the many weapons, having finished polishing them. She then stands and bows respectfully. “Nice meeting you, friend. Good night.” With that she exits the Raging Thrak Inn. You finish your ale, thinking over all you’ve just heard.