Backstory
In a far away village the denizens were raised knowing the story of Sant Dreylla(Drey HEE ah); how they made a pilgrimage across the continent to find the village most deserving of their god's blessing, and how this village was the most pious and respectful. How Sant Dreylla repaid their faith by tearing off his own face as a gift to the people, to always bring them fortune. Nowadays, this was just a story told by the elders who look back upon the "good old days" and comment about how the youth was ruining their once-fair village. In this place, there are some who knew Vienna by a different, discarded name. By a different face. That place gave her pain and little else for the longest time, until she dug deep into the village's past and discovered that the legend of Sant Dreylla wasn't just a story- but it wasn't entirely true. Knowing her time in this village with her new name was limited, she decided to use her deceased grandfather's Wondrous Belt of Utility to explore the chapel undercroft that was forbidden to the people. There, she discovered a hidden sanctuary locked behind three doors with three locks of ascending difficulty. This sanctuary had what resembled a dry marble fountain in the center, and nestled atop its spout was a helmet.The helmet was dull steel with two small triangular eye ports with slits descending along the cheeks and brown insulating fabric. It was adorned on the right and left with two twisting ivory horns- one curving up and the other turning down. Vienna was immediately struck with confusion at the scene. All she could think was "What is this place?" The helmet was surrounded by sigils painted on the ground with a wide brush and heavy hand. She had never seen these symbols before- and has not seen them since. Laid open on the fountain edge between the single exit where Vienna stood and the pedestal holding the helmet was a small journal, yellowed with time and no more than ten pages in length. Cautiously, she approached and lifted the old book. Reading the first page, she learned this was Sant Dreylla's "face" gifted to a priest of the faith some hundreds of years before. Taken aback, she skimmed through the rest of the priest's words, learning that so long as the "face" was displayed, the village would be prosperous until the day Sant Dreylla returned and "rescued the flock". Vienna grew distant and put the journal into her bag, unable to take her eyes off the unreflective sheen of the helmet. As if someone else pulled her limbs, she crossed the fountain's threshold and creeped towards the helm until each hand cradled a horn and lifted the light piece over her head.
As she donned Sant Dreylla's Face she was overcome with warmth, as if she had swallowed a pint in a single gulp. A voice that sounded like her own whispered around her, though she could not focus in on it's words. Suddenly Vienna was spinning and she wondered if she had ingested some brew before putting the helmet on even though her rational mind knew the answer. Steadying herself, she cast down the helmet with a steam-like hiss and it landed upright on the ground at her feet. Facing her. Looking up at her. The voice that wasn't hers was faint now but she could still hear it: "I will protect you."
Months have passed since Vienna and Sant Dreylla fled the village on the notion that the skeleton of on the saint was in a massive dungeon complex west of where they started. In that time, Vienna has learned that Sant Dreylla's Face can protect her and even arm her, at the cost of her own lifeblood. After using the Face, Vienna falls ill and weak for an amount of time that increases depending on how long she wore it. She hasn't bothered to get an exact measurement, but it seems that roughly every hour wearing it leaves her weak for six. If she puts the helmet back on while already weak, however, this time increases exponentially- discovering this property ensured she wouldn't make that mistake again. At least, she will attempt not to- but as she approaches a ruined tunnel leading straight down, she knows she's found the dungeon of myth, and there's no telling what terrors lurk inside...
Vienna Profile
Vienna is 5 foot 10, and thin against that frame. She commonly wears a loose, flowy black top and stitched gray pants. Sometimes she wears necklaces but often her only accessories are her travel bag and belt. She is pale and of Elvish descent, though is far removed from that and has only the hint of pointed ears. She has dull brown hair that she keeps medium-long, usually left hanging unless she's wearing the helmet, and inquisitive green eyes. She was always smart- thats why her grandfather, a former adventurer, gave her his Wondrous Belt of Utility. It houses a random assortment of items which are best suited to a crafty individual, and restocks a small amount of random items each dawn. Even before adopting the helmet, Vienna was frail and preferred to circumvent encounters that could turn violent. She's not especially stealthy but she knows how to use distractions to her advantage. She is an unfortunate combination of timid and easily distracted, finding herself in dangerously escalating situations more often than she, or Sant Dreylla, would like.Sant Dreylla profile
Sant Dreylla is still something of an enigma to Vienna. She doesn't know their true goals or personality or even what god they once served, only that they are compelled to help and bless the weak. This often works out for Vienna, though, as Dreylla will not betray her and put her in harms way- if the saint is unsure that they can end a combat favorably, they will often heed Vienna's insight to escape. While embodying Sant Dreylla, Vienna's strength is increased and her reflexes are enhanced, and she can pull either of the horns from the helmet, leaving faint ethereal smog in their place and summoning Sant Dreylla's blades: Athola and Dulliol. Athola is a short, curved blade made to slash and parry while Dulliol is a rapier. In Sant Dreylla's hands, these blades look like a dance of steel that maneuver flawlessly.Gallery
