Darkonian Kargatane Record
- Known Name: Marina Voalidru
- Race: Merfolk
- Apparent Age: Mid 20s
- Birthday: 12th of Ches, 1348 DR (12th March); arrived in Domain of Dread in 753 BC (aged 24).
- Height: 7'8" (length in natural form; 5'6" (human form)
- Alignment: Neutral Good.
- Affiliations: Nantarn Alliance (formerly).
- Religion: Eadro.
- Character Class: Ranger (Wave Warden).
- Place of Origin: Voalidru, Eadraal, Serôs, Faerûn (Outlander).
- Player/Type: NPC
Appearance
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Marina Voalidru is an imposing and elegant figure beneath the waves, exuding both grace and strength. Her long, flowing hair, a soft shade of silvery-white, drifts like a halo around her as she moves through the water, a stark contrast to the darker, mysterious depths she calls home. Her eyes, a piercing ice-blue, hold a blend of sadness, determination, and an ever-watchful awareness of her surroundings.
When wearing her signature armour, Marina's upper body is encased in intricately designed armor, crafted from the treated skin and scales of deep-sea sharks, and forged with the finest underwater techniques. The armor gleams with a soft, bioluminescent glow, symbolizing her status as a warrior and protector of her people. Her lower body is that of a powerful mermaid, with a sleek, iridescent tail that shimmers in shades of blue and silver, its powerful strokes propelling her effortlessly through the water.
She carries a finely crafted trident, a symbol of her role as a wave warden. The trident is both a weapon and a tool, forged with the same meticulous craftsmanship as her armor. It is an extension of her will, guiding her through the many battles she has fought and the challenges she has overcome.
Background
Marina hails from the undersea world of Serôs, specifically from the once-thriving merfolk city of Voalidru. Born of common birth, she distinguished herself early on through her skill and dedication, eventually becoming a respected wave warden within her community. Voalidru, a proud and ancient city, was destroyed and abandoned during the Twelfth Serôs War, a devastating conflict that saw the forces of Iakhovas, allied with sahuagin and other dark entities, wreak havoc across the Sea of Fallen Stars.
When Voalidru fell, Marina and her fellow merfolk warriors were among the survivors who escaped the destruction. In the aftermath, her patrol group, grieving for their lost home, adopted the group surname "Voalidru" in honor of the city they had fought to defend. Marina, known for her unwavering courage, fought alongside the Nantarn Alliance, a coalition of the sea's good races who had banded together to oppose Iakhovas and his vile forces.
During the final battle at Myth Nantar in 1369 DR, Marina found herself fighting alongside Princess Arina Homurr, a childhood friend who had grown into a key figure in the war effort. As the Nantarn Alliance pressed against Iakhovas' army, Marina's patrol group played a crucial role in the desperate struggle to reclaim their home and protect the merfolk's way of life.
In the chaos of the battle, when the High Mages of Myth Nantar created a whirlpool gate to cast Iakhovas into the Outer Sea, the fabric of reality was strained by the powerful magics being unleashed. An enemy spell aimed at disrupting the High Mages' efforts instead tore a rift in the planar boundaries as the seas churned with unnatural energy. Marina and several of her comrades were caught in the resulting maelstrom, swept away by violent currents and pulled through the void between worlds.
These powerful, unyielding currents dragged them into the cursed domain of Saragoss, a nightmarish place filled with shipwrecks, undead horrors, and treacherous waters dominated by the Sahuagin. The warriors, trained for battle, found themselves at a loss in this hellish environment where every fight drew more enemies, and the environment itself seemed to conspire against them. Their instinct was to fight, but their aggressive tactics only attracted more danger. One by one, her companions fell to the relentless assaults of the Sahuagin or the cursed creatures that haunted the sunken ships.
Marina, though a warrior at heart, understood that survival in Saragoss required more than just strength. She relied on her ranger skills, using stealth, guile, and her intimate knowledge of the sea to evade capture and death. For months, she navigated the treacherous waters, constantly on the move, hiding from the undead above and the Sahuagin below. Each day was a battle for survival, her heart heavy with the loss of her comrades and the realization that she was alone in this accursed place.
Her determination to survive drove her to seek an escape, though every attempt seemed to lead her deeper into despair. The domain of Saragoss was notorious for trapping its victims, and for a time, it seemed as if Marina would share the same fate. But her perseverance and skill eventually paid off. As she explored the boundaries of the domain, she encountered strange, powerful currents—impossible to swim against, yet they did not pull her down as the others had. With no other option, she allowed these currents to carry her, praying they would lead her out of the nightmare she was trapped in.
These currents, as mysterious and unyielding as the ones that had brought her to Saragoss, carried her away from the cursed waters and through the unseen borders of the domains. When she finally emerged, she found herself in the unfamiliar and dark land of Barovia, within the murky waters of a river that flowed into Lake Luna. Here, the environment was different—still hostile, but not as overwhelmingly so as Saragoss. Exhausted from her months of struggle, Marina took refuge in the lake, hiding from the dangers she could sense in this new land.
Now, Marina has made her way to Lake Luna, where she watches the world above with a mix of caution and curiosity. She is aware that she is far from her home, in a land where she does not understand the language and where everything seems intent on harming her. She is the last of her patrol, the sole survivor of the horrors of Saragoss, and the weight of that loss hangs heavy on her. Yet, she is a warrior, and despite her exhaustion, she is determined to find some measure of peace, or at least a place where she can rest without fear of being hunted.
Marina has been observing the fishermen who frequent Lake Luna, contemplating whether they might be allies or yet another threat in this grim new world. Her heart longs for companionship and a sense of purpose, but she knows all too well the dangers of misplaced trust. Still, she hopes that perhaps, in this strange land, she might find a way to begin anew, to protect once more, and to discover if there is a place for her in this world as the last Wave Warden of her people.
Personality
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Marina is a complex blend of strength, compassion, and playful mischief. While she is a seasoned warrior who fought bravely in the defense of her home, she has also inherited the playful and mischievous nature common to merfolk. She delights in pranking and teasing those who cross her path, her mischief never truly malicious but sometimes cruel to those who don't understand her humour. This playful side, however, does not diminish her capability as a protector or her deep sense of loyalty to those she cares for.
Marina understands the harsh realities of nature—both on land and in the sea. She accepts that life is a cycle where the strong survive and the weak perish. She doesn’t judge humanity for its occasional lack of respect for nature, recognizing that the world is full of predators and prey. Yet, she is furiously protective of those she considers her own, a fierce guardian of her community when it existed, and now, a warrior without a cause.
Her greatest struggle is her profound sense of loneliness. The loss of her home and her people has left her adrift in more ways than one. Marina craves companionship, the sense of belonging to a community, and a place to call home again. While she is brave and independent, the absence of a group to protect and a community to be part of gnaws at her. Beneath her strong exterior lies a deep yearning for connection and acceptance.
Other Notes
Marina has not learnt any languages native to the Land of Mists. However, she speaks the racial languages of aquan and elven, which are still spoken in the land of mists. Curiously, she does speak Vaasi, although she will actually say she is conversing in the "Common Tongue" of her home. Whether they are the same language, or somehow the transition to the Land of Mists has altered her understanding this way, is anyone's guess.
Combat Style
Marina Voalidru is an agile and precise combatant, who leverages her environment and natural abilities to their fullest potential. Trained as a wave warden, her combat style is a blend of ranged precision and close-quarters combat, making her a versatile opponent both underwater and on land. Her approach to combat is highly tactical; she prefers to strike from the shadows, using her agility and speed to outmaneuver her enemies. Marina’s primary weapons are her underwater crossbow and her trident. The underwater crossbow allows her to engage enemies from a distance with deadly accuracy, making them particularly lethal underwater, where movement is slower and escaping a wound is more difficult. Even on land, this weapon remains just as effective, allowing her to maintain a distance from her foes while still striking with precision. Her trident is her weapon of choice for close-quarters combat. As a symbol of her warrior heritage, she wields it with both strength and finesse. The trident is ideal for underwater combat, giving her the reach needed to strike while keeping her enemies at bay. Marina uses it to spear, trip, and pin down her opponents, often delivering swift, decisive blows to vital areas. On land, the trident serves as both a weapon and a tool, allowing her to fend off multiple attackers at once.
Her armor is made from treated eelskin, offering a unique blend of flexibility and protection. This light and flexible armor doesn’t hinder her agility or speed, allowing her to swim swiftly and evade attacks with ease. It is particularly effective against the sharp weapons used by underwater predators like sahuagin, providing Marina with an added advantage in her natural environment. Additionally, the eelskin armor offers limited resistance against electricity attacks and effects, a useful feature when battling foes who wield such powers.
Marina excels in hit-and-run tactics, using her speed and dexterity to strike quickly and retreat before her enemies can react. She often uses her crossbow to weaken or eliminate targets from a distance, then closes in with her trident to finish the job. Underwater, she takes full advantage of her environment, darting between coral and rock formations to avoid detection and using the terrain to her benefit. Stealth is a crucial part of Marina’s combat strategy. She prefers to set up ambushes, using the environment to conceal her presence until the perfect moment to strike. Whether lying in wait among underwater kelp forests or using the shadows of a riverbank, Marina is patient and deadly, waiting for her enemies to make a mistake before unleashing a well-timed assault.
Marina is accustomed to working in squads and understands the value of teamwork, though her recent experiences have left her somewhat wary of trusting others too quickly. She is most effective when she can coordinate with others, especially in setting up ambushes or executing complex maneuvers. If she sees others as valuable allies, she often takes on a protective role, positioning herself between her more vulnerable teammates and the greatest threats. However, she is fiercely independent and fully capable of operating solo. If she senses hesitation or weakness in others, she may take matters into her own hands, relying on her own skills rather than waiting for backup. She is quiet but firm; she inspires by example and expects those she fights alongside to pull their weight.
Marina’s mischievous nature extends to combat as well. She might use feints, taunts, and tricks to unnerve her opponents, making them second-guess their actions. Her knowledge of both land and sea environments allows her to use psychological warfare effectively, creating situations where her enemies feel disoriented or overwhelmed. Despite her preference for battle, Marina is not above retreating to fight another day if the situation turns against her. Her primary concern is survival, and she has learned that sometimes the best tactic is to live to fight another day. In such cases, she uses her environment to her advantage, creating obstacles, setting traps, or simply disappearing into the depths, leaving her enemies bewildered. Marina’s approach to combat is a blend of intelligence, precision, and agility, making her a formidable opponent who can adapt to nearly any situation. Her experience as a wave warden has taught her that there is always a way to turn the tide of battle, whether through sheer skill or clever tactics.
Social Style
Marina is a unique blend of warrior spirit and playful mischief, often catching others off guard with her playful pranks and sharp wit. She respects strength and a sharp mind (be it intelligence or wisdom), and she values honesty and kindness. These days, however, what truly warms her heart is being treated as a person, not as some exotic or monstrous creature. She appreciates those who understand the difference between merfolk and the fey, finding it tiresome when people mistake her for a nymph or other such beings.
Her interactions with others are often colored by her playful nature, but those who can see beyond the mischief and the tail fin will find a fiercely loyal and caring ally. She yearns for a sense of belonging and will gravitate toward those who make her feel like a valued part of the community. Trust and respect are crucial to her, and she is quick to warm to those who treat her with genuine appreciation.
Signature Equipment
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Armour & Weapons
- Stormstrike: Marina's signature weapon, a magical trident which she can on command cause the tines to turn blue-white and inflict additional frost damage, or turn sea-green and inflict additional electrical damage.
- Dagger: Marina has a masterwork dagger as a utility tool and backup weapon.
- Underwater Light Crossbow: Similar to a harpoon gun but firing crossbow bolts instead of spears. Designed to be used underwater but just as effective as a normal crossbow out of the sea.
- Sharkskin Armour: Marina's armour is made out of specially treated shark hide making it as durable as leather but more supple, ideal for underwater operations. It has shark fangs along the forearms, shoulders and legs, which can be used as armour spikes if grappled or swallowed, and can assist in escaping cuttable bonds.
Magic Items
- Weapon Tattoo: Marina has a tattoo on her right arm that is capable of magically storing a single weapon. The tattoo changes image to represent what is stored in it. As a result, most of the time this tattoo resembles a trident. When the tattoo is not presently storing a weapon, the tattoo represents a common polearm sheath.
- Seafoam Shawl: This shawl of delicate lace is created out of magically treated seafoam and is an odd but pleasant pale shade of green. When worn and activated, it converts the wearer's tail and fins into human legs and feet, allowing the wearer to walk on land.
- Belt of Giant Strength: This belt enhances Marina's physical strength, making her capable of carrying more, striking harder, and more effective with her weapons.
- Ring of Sustenance: This ring provides constant sustenance to the wearer once attuned, a process that takes a week to complete. The attuned wearer has no need to eat or drink, as the magic of the ring provides all the sustenance the need. Additionally, they only need to sleep for 2 hours per night to get the equivalent of a full night's rest, instead of the usual 8.
Mundane Items
- Average Dress: A pale yellow dress of the type commonly worn by Gundarakite women that Marina borrowed during an initial foray into Leiksburg.
Signature Quotes
- "I've spend far too long running from ignorant humans who can't tell the difference between merfolk, naiads, nymphs, undines, and sea elves and hags. I'm tired and exhausted of running for my life because people in this accursed land live in mortal terror of their own shadows. I'm tired of running. Come then, do your worst."
- "The sea whispers its secrets to those who listen, but it guards its treasures with a jealous tide."
- "Strength is not just in the arm that wields the weapon, but in the heart that endures the battle."
- "I am the last of my group, but I carry their spirit in every strike, in every breath I take."
- "Trust is as fragile as a coral reef—beautiful and resilient, but easily shattered if not nurtured."
- "In these waters, I am both hunter and prey. But it is not fear that guides me, only the will to survive."
Gallery
Marina's natural appearance in her signature armour and weapon
Marina with her seaform shawl
Marina with her tail converted into legs by her seaform shawl