bard ◆ informant ◆ liar
NAME Rena Silanus RACE Colovian Imperial/Breton
GENDER Female OCCUPATION Performer | Informant
AGE 31 BIRTHSIGN The Mage EYES Grey-Blue
SKIN Freckled HAIR Ginger HEIGHT 5'6" BUILD Curvy, Soft
Appearance
Rena boasts some kind of bastardized mix of Breton and Imperial features. Her hair is a soft, curly ginger, and her skin is fair and freckled. Her nose bears a small scar on one nostril and a ring in the other, the rest of her covered in intricate, swirling markings from her neck to her knees.
❧
She's slightly above average height, standing at five feet and six inches. Her build is soft, thick and curvy in an hourglass shape. By appearance alone it is clear she's not a fighter. Her garb consists of a silk, dark red coat embroidered with gold, a white tunic, trousers, and her lute.
"you can dress a rat in silks and paint its face to make it pretty,
the other rats will still know."
Demeanor
on the surface
A woman defined by her vices, Rena’s worst traits are the most well displayed. She's unabashedly greedy and has no reservations when it comes to declaring her priorities: Anything to further herself comes first and coin second. Outwardly she wears a mask of warmth for everyone, no matter the opposition, always with a smile on her lips.Prolonged time spent with Rena will start to reveal ugly cracks in her façade, however. Sardonic humor pulls no punches to the ears of the listener and cruel irony oft drips from the lips of a nihilistic existence. It's hard to kick a man that's down when he's always down - Rena considers herself that all the same.
❧
below
Rena puts great care into ensuring her masks and lies go unquestioned. She speaks naught of her history save for easily answered questions and is intentionally vague. Few can declare what her motivations are and the answer changes every time: Gold. Chaos. Setting fires to simply watch them burn.Whatever the underlying reasons, she's been considered a myriad of unsavory things that leave the people she's met with a sickly sweet taste in their mouths.
"time has changed the person I claim to be."
Rumors
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Common
rumors that can be heard by anyone
"The Imperial-Breton half-breed... I know of her. She arrived in town just over a year ago and has clawed her way up into a comfortable position selling secrets beneath the noses of the merchant lords. Heard she was easy, too. Remnants of a whore."
Heard in Abah's Landing, by a Redguard local."Oh, the bard? Yeah, she skipped town a while ago. Something about debt collectors and the job market being shit. You'd think a bard could play just about anywhere."
Heard in Leyawiin, by an Imperial barkeep."Someone in this fucking city is consorting with realms beyond our own, I feel it in my bones. The occult has polluted our markets and will stain those that get their hands on it, I swear!"
Heard in the Abah's Landing Palace District, by a merchant."I remember her. Flame had eaten away her face and left her a shell on the streets. I gave coin when I could until she disappeared... Then I started hearing things. Bad things. A den of vice beneath the city, and someone that looked like her was there, too."
Heard in Cheydinhal, by a priest.
━━━━❧━━━━
Rare
rumors that would be heard only by characters in similar circles
"You hear what they call her these days? 'Kingmaker'. She's apparently in the business of making kings and queens out of... Ugh, criminal scum. Dangerous to put power like that in their hands, and yet she's had no one to stop her yet."
Heard in Abah's Landing, by a member of a merchant company."Keep your voice down! She's an information broker... One of the best you can get, if you're willing to cough up the coin or indebt yourself with a favor. But, if you need a rumor planted or need to find the source of one, or a tip on anyone and everyone, it's well worth the price you pay."
Heard in Abah's Landing, by a petty criminal.
━━━━❧━━━━
❧ Purveyor of Secrets - Simply put, Rena is an informant, and a trader of secrets and knowledge. She's impressively good at her trade and is bound to have knowledge on any rumor, person, or group if asked.❧ Friends in High (and Low) Places - For every different version of Rena there has been, she's made friends and enemies for each. Be it in the crowd of nobility, pirates, or criminals, Rena has is bound to have a contact.❧ The Arcane and the Esoteric - Whispers have begun to float around Abah's Landing of an underground antique trading business beginning to flourish. Naturally, Rena wanted in on that - Her grasp has never lingered only on the mundane.❧ Bard Ventures - Rena's day-job is nothing other than an inconspicuous bard. She's been known to play at taverns or for nobility, but hasn't been spotted doing such in recent times.
Haunts
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Hammerfell
Rena has developed a special fondness reserved for Hammerfell. Since her departure from Cyrodiil, she's taken up residence in the land of Redguards and will often do business around the major cities.
Abah's Landing
Abah's Landing is the only city that Rena will claim to have a permanent residence in. Her hideout rests at the lowest rung of the city, the docks, disguised as an abandoned warehouse with a lavish apartment on the upper floor.
Strengths
❧ Speech-craft: Master
❧ Illusion: Master
❧ Lute/Vocals: Master
❧ Sleight of Hand: Adept
Weaknesses
❧ Combat
❧ Substance Abuse
❧ Athleticism
❧ Stealth
A Twist of the Wrist, A Spoken Word
By far, the areas Rena possesses most of her power in are speech-craft and illusion spells. Often, she'll combine these two together to cast her spells. She's often able to influence thoughts and feelings in a very subtle way through song and spoken affirmations. She can soothe emotions, rile others, send someone to sleep, silence others, or send one into paralysis.All things, however, are only done with player and DM consent, and I am constantly checking myself with this little combination of homebrew magic.
"First impressions gave way to an eccentric, if somewhat unnerving mer. He has his quirks, but even better is he has his business. The offer went accepted, and our sights are set upon fruitful outcomes."
Fasha al-Taneth
Redguard Illusionist
Associate
"Corriveau has a ward of his own, and immediately upon meeting Fasha everything added up. She has her uses, but an unchecked tongue does not usually end well in my business."
"It's amusing how one so big can seem so meek. He's endearing, sure, but I'd hope to see something more soon."
"Oh, how I've taken for granted those that are simply easy to work with. Hestra is a new addition, but a much appreciated one. She's proven herself useful once and I've no doubt she will only continue to."
"Bit of a grump, this one, but the meek Orc makes him smile and that makes a difference. He'll be useful in the days to come, full of information on things I know little about."
"Old friend, cast out from your home like an unwanted child. Unfortunate how that work out, but it seems I run a home for the outcasts and unwanted. There'll be a place for you."
Niridius Valorian
Niben Scholar
Associate
“Interesting little man. Prickly and eternally miffed, but seemingly smart and a good scholar.”
"My love, who means so much to me I find myself afraid of it. He is everything I thought myself incapable of having again, and yet I cannot see my days and nights without him at my side. He's shed the skin of what once was with a step into the fire, and he’s here with me now — there’s no one else I’d rather have.”
"Her blade remains bloodied so I do not have to take one up. She does as she's told and she's good at it - That's all I can really ask for."
"A name once uttered through a long line of mutual friends. Shifty and paranoid, but he works well. The deserts were suited for him and that hound of his."
Vindil Direnni
Altmer Mage
Associate
TBA
THE DEPARTED
Barrevus Wickston
Breton Knight
Former Lover
"The Swamp Knight; daft but sweet, perhaps a fool, but he was mine. The fond memories remain, and I have songs of an unlikely hero to sing for him."
"An unlikely friend found in the darkest of places. I owe him a debt I cannot ever repay, but I will eternally try."
"Family, in a way. He reminds me of a different time- One I can't go back to, but I hope he understands. I owe him for all the things he did for me. I'll miss you, kid. I'm sorry I left you on your own."
Keres Scaeva
Former Employer
"The years have passed and we've grown more similar than I would have ever anticipated. Without you, I wouldn't have gotten here... But in the end I was better, and you were left to rot."
Alistair Silanus
Surrogate Father †
"You made it very clear what I was to you; nothing. The ugly mistake, your shame, all of your meaningless spats with Talia made manifest. You burned, and I learned the weight of death from you."
Talia Silanus
Mother †
"Look me in the eye, mother. You made a choice but the blame and hatred fell upon me, all because I dared come into the world kicking and screaming. You looked the other way. Should've been rid of me while you had the chance, no?"
Helane
Mentor | Lover †
"Bought and sold a hundred times over while you whispered the words of greatness in my ears. All of it was for you. Even with my hands around your neck, you choked out whispers."
Crito Viciulus
Enemy †
"Pull my hair from my scalp while the others watch. Blissful agony, lost in a haze of drugs and booze. You got what you deserved."
Playlists
Voice Reference:
Emma Appleton
Gallery
a bard setlist.
*most of these are memes.
The Tale of Liebal
[No lute, sung in the rhythm of the rest of the verses]
Come ‘round to hear of heroes wrought;
Tested by shadows and fear
In the ruins of Valenwood, they fought;
This is the Tale of Liebal!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Lute begins][Spooky]
The darkness moved before them,
Lifted the dreadful dead!
Their blood was black, and ichor they spat
They were no match, and they wept
[00:19-00:46][Brave]
Through wards they passed and riddles they smashed,
A beast had blocked the way
Dreadful Igma, “The Baron”, it’s name
The spear, it would not let them claim
[00:59-01:27][Suspenseful]
The Baron, he threw his venomous words
The statue began to move!
The Baron defeated, his darkness too,
But the heroes had more to prove
[01:41-02:07][Exciting]
They braced against the edge of defeat,
A hero had to emerge!
Amid the struggle and strife they faced,
Barry had the final word
[02:21-02:47][Conclusion]
Barry’s prowess was much to respect;
He rose to become the ‘Lore-Knight’
Liebal and him bound, oath renowned
Liebal’s tale was found…
[03:01-03-29]
A Prudent Thief
A prudent thief should never drink so much that he becomes bold.
Because a thief who boasts and brags will rarely live to grow old.
For silence is a thief's best bet and if he breaks this etiquette.
Undoubtedly what he will get...will be more trouble than gold.Consider Magathe a thief from Hegathe, who drank at the Swan and Grouse.
He made himself quite popular by buying rounds for the house.
One night in drunken revelry, he made a bet with prideful glee,
But later on he would agree...he never should've been soused.A thief's best friends are luck and speed, alertness, cunning and stealth.
And ale can cause these all to flee and cheat a thief of his wealth.
But add to this a drunken dare to steal a lock of the Magnifica's hair,
Then even a fool should be aware...this may be bad for your health.So Magathe did stumble through the door in his most fearless state.
He slipped in shadows past the guard and snuck through the palace gate.
Then giggling he scaled the wall so drunk he thought he could not fall.
For wasn't he the best of all...and surely favored by Fate.As he climbed in he saw a girl who was dressed in cloth not fur.
A palace maid? Perhaps a cook? T'was difficult to be sure.
A homely lass she did appear, but anyone looks good through beer,
So when she asked, "Why are you here?"...he said he was there for her.He showered her with compliments for flattery was his skill.
And so they spent a pleasant time as any young couple will.
But as the dawn lit their embrace, he recognized the lady's face
From every golden coin it graced...and suddenly he felt ill.He'd heard that drink was dangerous and now he knew for a fact.
For thieves caught in the palace were hanged or stretched upon a rack.
But as this thief was kind and bold, the empress gifted him with gold.
(Then the guard made sure that he'd been told...he'd be killed if he ever came back.)And so he was a thief no more for that was part of the deal.
His bet was lost because she gave him what he went there to steal.
So other thieves may scorn and mock his name and tale but still they flock
For a drink and a look at the Magnifica's Lock... the finest tavern in Hegathe.
Sea Ballad
I walked alone in foggy dew
Just me and my memories
A voice out seaward beckons thru
A whistle of love for me, for me
A whistle of love for me.T'was two moons 'go her father stole
My love away from me
Arranged to wed a soldier red
My love's gone 'cross the sea, the sea
My love's gone 'cross the sea.For ten days long our love grew strong
She swore her "love to thee"
Each night up high on mountainside
She'd whistle her love for me, for me
She'd whistle her love for me.Late one night, my fire alight
Awaiting for her to see
My wait was long, o' what could be wrong
Where could my true love be, love be
Where could my true love beA light 'cross waters latern glow
Was all mine eyes could see
And from below noise drifted slow
Like a 'gull come back from sea, from sea
Like a 'gull come back from sea.Her song it haunts me still this day
Notes of uncertainty
If heaven laughs at prayers of mine
Then it never was to be, to be
Then it never was to be.