Jastyna Hightalon the Grand Mistress of Artistry

Role

Chapter 8

Jastyna arrived at the goddess Iunnas shrine to pray and found something to be strangely wrong. The
air was damp and chilly and the light and fires had dimmed significantly. She found Avandiss in the
Library with an air of agitation about her. Jastyna asked her what was wrong and Avandiss replied that
something was terribly amiss. She explained that the fires had begun to fade in the shrine and that she
no longer could sense or felt connected to the divine presence. This revelation struck Jastyna with worry
and concern like a hammer thudding into her stomach. She could recall ancient tales from lore and myth
about the wars fought in the heavens and about gods and goddesses going missing, and even being
destroyed. What if something terrible has happened to the goddess Iunna? If something had occurred,
Jastyna had no idea what she could do about it. The affairs of the immortals were well beyond her and
even if she could discover the answer to all this, there was likely little she could do. Of course,
monumental, near impossible tasks, had never stopped her before and she felt obligated to do what she
could do to get to the bottom of this mysterious disappearance. The only question was where to start?
Perhaps she could seek some answers from among the Warlords of the Village.

Role

Chapter 7

The day Jastyna left her father on the mountain is such a distant memory to her that it now seems more
like a half remembered dream than the reality it was. Time passes and things change. Jastyna has found
a new family in the Village of Battleragers, and a family they certainly act like sometimes. Often, she
finds herself musing inwardly at how testy some of the Villagers get with each other over the smallest
things. Like two siblings getting into a full blown bickering match over some underhanded, yet, relatively
meaningless comment. She supposed that it couldnt be avoided, though. These people were very
prideful and the limit of that pride didnt stop at the village gates. As for herself, Jastyna prefers to keep
her ire and scorn towards her enemies. It can be distracting and unproductive when villagers quarrel
amongst themselves and she prefers not to promote such uninspiring things.

Jastyna has worked diligently over the years to hone her craft as a bard. There is still much to learn but
she feels she has made significant strides. Soon the Rites of War will be held in the Village and Jastyna
hopes to compete in them as she feels the competition will be a good test in measuring the extent of
her prowess. Perhaps she will even have an influence on the outcome of the Rites.

Jastyna has been dutiful in her prayers to Iunna as she frequently visits the Ladys shrine to pray. She is
still unsure about much of the religion and does not know if she lives her life in accordance with its
doctrines. For the moment, she is OK with that. Someday she hopes she will receive more insight into
the religion. Her only real concern is that she has done something to put the deity off. When she was
quite young in the guild a necromancer tried to play her the fool by putting her to sleep and locking her
in a vault. When Jastyna awoke, the mage (which only enraged Jastyna further towards magi) taunted
her about how entertaining she was to him and that she should become a Herald as he was certain
Iunna would drool over such an entertaining bard. When Jastyna defiantly retorted that she hoped
Iunna did take a liking to her as she was born under her sign, she felt a swift smack in the back of the
head and felt the goddess presence. Certainly, there was lesson to be taken from the incident, such as
dont let magi make a fool of you, but, that had to be it. Truthfully, underneath all the embarrassment
Jastyna was happy that she felt the divine presence. Out of all the people in the world, the divine only
revealed themselves to a select few people and she felt lucky for it.

Role

Chapter 6

Several years have passed since the day Jastyna left her father on the mountain, dying of the magically
induced plague. During this time, she found the Village of the Battleragers, a people not unlike herself, a
fierce and courageous people with a hatred for magic to match her own. It took her some time and
quite a few bruises buy she manage to finally hunt down her first mage and kill him. It was a gnome
shifter who was wandering the streets of Voralia City. The kill was quite exhilarating for her but doing it
in the city immediately caught the attention of the law and she was forced to flee the city quickly.
Before she did, she committed the scene to memory and quickly set to painting it out. She was proud of
her first painting and hopes it had the same inspirational effect on the Village as it did on herself.

Things progressed for Jastyna from there. She earned the recommendation of Luhakahn and earned an
audience with the Drillmaster, Tontik. He allowed her to have a place in the Village and she chose to
become a Village Scout. Jastyna was quite pleased by this as she feels she has finally found her new
Flock.

Jastyna has also taken an interest in the religion of Iunna. She finds the faith attractive as she sees
herself as at times having a fiery personality as well as the fact that she was born under the sphere of
Poetry. She credits that sign for her artistic side such as the desire to not only inspire her fellow
Villagers with her deeds but by her paintings. Time will tell if this is truly a good fit as she seeks to learn
more about the Flames.

Role

Chapter 5

Jastyna did as her father commanded and left the Jade Mountains, left her dying flock behind and went
far away. She first crossed the Aryth Ocean and came to the city of Hamsah-MuTazz. After spending a
few days in Hamsah she decided not to stay as the arid temperature and mountains south of the city
reminded her too much of her home. It was simply too soon. So, she continued her travels westward
and ended up in Galadon. Never before had she seen so many varied people in one place. It was here
she found her way to the bards guild and joined it as she felt it to be a nice fit for her, a suitable mixture
of fighting and artistry.

Jastyna takes after her Flock. She is evil and often cruel, especially to those she does not know well.
Often times she is justifiably perceived as a bitch. She does have a softer side, but, it is hidden down
deep behind the hard exterior that her time near the barren wastes with the Flock had formed. And as
with her Flock, only those who get to know her well and she learns to trust get to see that softer, more
pleasant side. She is fiercely loyal and dedicated to her tasks, another trait she inherited from her
people. Her paintings are her passion as she is finding more and more how much she enjoys painting
scenes of battle or the grisly aftermath of a Victory. To her it is inspirational to have those great
moments immortalized in a painting for one to look upon and remember whenever they wished. No
doubt, not everyone would agree that a painting of a corpse is inspirational, but, it is her art and she is
certain that if she could have killed those magi that came to her Flock and made a painting of their dead
corpses, she would swell with pride and motivation every morning when she rose and gazed on the it.

The events of the last few days with her Flock are ever on Jastynas mind. She is angry over the whole
thing. Those were her people that were wiped out, to whom she was deeply committed. She blames her
foolish uncle, his fascination with magic, and most of all the magicians and their magic for the
happenings that transpired and has vowed to turn her ample scorn and wrath upon any who use magic.
Lastly, she feels lonely. This is the first time she has ever been truly alone and she hopes that she might
find another Flock, another group of like-minded people to fill that void.

Role

Chapter 4

The hour was late. Jastyna opened her eyes to nothing but blackness when she felt a hand shake her
away. Get your things. It was her fathers voice. Do it quickly, we must leave now. Many more people
have taken sick. Azredo is dead. Were going to our place on Barren Peak where we should be safe.

The morning after the magicians had left, Azredo had woken up incredibly ill. Dizra immediately
suspected the magis hand in his brothers illness. He figured that Azredos foolish promises had angered
the magi and they had left him with a parting gift. What Dizra was not able to foresee was just how
devastatingly quick the sickness would spread among his people. The magi were no fools. They had
intended it be such, as they knew that because of the Flocks seclusion they would never have come in
contact with certain diseases. It was a simple matter for them to magically inflict Azredo with a disease
rare to this part of the world and the entire Flock would perish as none of their immune systems would
be able to ward off the disease.

As Jastyna and her father neared the Hightalons retreat on Barren Peak, Dizra began to cough. Jastyna
heard it and winced painfully as she knew what it meant. Dizra stopped immediately and wasted no
time. He knew what it meant and his only thought now was to ensure his daughter escaped harm. He
commanded her to leave him be and go far away, to go away from the mountains all together. She pled
at first, but, he reminded her of her duty to the Flock and insisted that she obey him. Knowing that she
must do her duty, no matter how painful, Jastyna left her father on the trailside, left her the Hightalons
behind all together and went off, alone. Alone to find her way in the world and perhaps a new Flock.

Role

Chapter 3

Jastyna found her father perched on a ledge watching his younger brother, Azredo, lead a group of men
along a mountain trail to the carved caves and stone houses where the bulk of the Hightalons made
their homes. Dizra showed no emotion as he looked on, yet, Jastyna could feel the displeasure radiating
off her father like heat from a flame. Noticing her he said, Outsiders. Magicians at that. Azredo is a fool.
My guards reported to me that they overheard him bragging to these men about some of the items we
hold in our vaults. Hes never understood. My father saw it. It is why he never trusted him with anything.
Now, I fear hes gone and done something very foolish.

Two weeks had passed since the magi had arrived with Azredo. Azredo had seemed quite taken with
them and their magical prowess, nearly to the point where it seemed he had been bedazzled by them.
Dizra, on the other hand, did not care for the Outsiders. If it wasnt the magi trying to make a deal with
Dizra, which he always refused, it was Azredo begging him to open the vaults to trade with the men, for
the Flocks vaults contained some powerful items. Azredo apparently had bragged to the magi about the
contents of the vaults and now Dizra was left to suffer them, and his patience was wearing thin. It was
only because these men were there at Azredos invitation that he had suffered them this long.

Later that night, wind howled through the darkness of the night through the mountain passes outside of
the stone walled chambers of Dizras residence. The light from the various lanterns flickered dimly,
bouncing off the many occupants and throwing shadows this way and that. Once again, Dizra was face
to face with his brother and the magi trying to persuade him to trade their magic. Jastyna sat in the
corner, amused at her uncles foolishness and watching eagerly to see what would happen. Plainly her
father had had enough but Azredo was too blinded to see it.

But, your brother- one of the magi began to say before being cut off by Dizra.
Does not speak for Hightalon. I do not care what he has promised you. My brother is part of this family,
and I love him as a brother, but, he is a blathering idiot and you men are proving yourselves to be just as
big of fools by listening to him and trying my temper. Dizra said in a calm, yet domineering voice. He
may have been angry, but, he knew how to channel that anger into an intimidating and commanding
presence without needing to even raise his voice. You men have overstayed your welcome and spent
my patience. I want you gone before I am forced to forget the hospitality Ive shown you out of respect
for my idiot brother.

The magi who had been speaking turned his face into a menacing snarl and opened his mouth as if he
was going to throw out a threat, but, instead turned abruptly and left.

Role

Chapter 2

Crimson flecks of blood dotted the light brown gravel in a wide arc. As the flecks of blood moved inward
from the outermost edges of the arc they began to collect together to form larger dollops of blood until
they merged into one large pool saturating the earth underneath the remnants of a horribly mutilated
arial torso. Pieces of entrails hung loosely from the now empty chest cavity suspended in the air by
ropes tied around the busted and mangled arms

The sound of footsteps made Jastyna look up from her painting to see her father enter into her private
chambers. Dizra noticed her painting, nodded his approval and said Such talent you have my daughter.
You have the mind of a warrior but the heart of an artist. You put such life into the painting! Dizra
examined the painting a moment before continuing That fool betrayed the Flock and earned his due. He
got greedy, my daughter, and tried to rise above his place without earning it. Tell me when you have
finished this painting. I wish to display it to the rest of the Flock so they may find inspiration in what we
did this day to protect the Flock. With that, Dizra left, leaving Jastyna smiling, she looked upon the
painting of the dead arials torso and felt the pride swell in her at the thought that her art could be
inspirational.

Role

Chapter 1

Clouds of dust rose underneath the struggling arial who was bound by hand and wing and being dragged
along the sandy mountainous trail. Other arials perched on various ledges and tree limbs along the path
were hollering and yelling at the bound avian. Jastyna Hightalon stood next to her father, looking on
with disgust at the man. She was still a young girl, but, she had learned the ways of the Hightalon Flock
long ago. Her father, Dizra Hightalon and leader of the Flock, had instilled in her since a very young age
the importance of loyalty to the Flock. This man had betrayed that loyalty, and now he was going to pay
the price.

The Hightalon Flock was a close-knit community of arials several thousand strong that were led by their
namesake, the Hightalon family. The community itself was actually more like a family and while many in
the flock were of a distant relationship to the Hightalon family, once you joined the flock the bond was
as strong as blood. The Flock lived on the dry mountain slopes and foothills that edged the Jade
Mountains and the Barren Wastelands. The Flock was quite secluded and kept to itself for the most part,
which helped bolster the emphasis on loyalty to the Flock because life in the mountains otherwise was
hard and cruel. Similarily, the people of the Flock themselves were known to be quite cruel, often it was
only the strong leadership and the well cemented values of commitment and loyalty that kept the
people in check. The Hightalons were a shrewd people and had a small, select group of well-established
trading partners, otherwise, they had very little tolerance for outsiders. In fact, the Hightalons had
amassed a great wealth of gold and treasures from capturing and murdering adventurers passing
through the area hoping to find glories and riches in places such as the Elven Vaults and Tower of
Trothon.

Immortal Comments

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Title History

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