Cassilda, Herald of the Yellow King
Along the shore the cloud waves break,
The twin suns sink behind the lake,
The shadows lengthen
in Carcosa.
Strange is the night where black stars rise,
And strange moons circle through the skies,
But stranger still is
Lost Carcosa.
Songs that the Hyades shall sing,
Where flap the tatters of the King,
Must die unheard in
Dim Carcosa.
Song of my soul, my voice is dead,
Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed
Shall dry and die in
Lost Carcosa.
When she was young, all Cassilda dreamed of was becoming the greatest bard the world had ever known, skilled in ways unimagined, with men and women alike throwing themselves at her feet in awe. Her parents, wealthy nobles in Thunderhold, were, naturally, deeply opposed to this. Still she practiced in secret, but had none of the hand-eye coordination to keep both hands operating independently at once. She had no rhythm, and no ear for music. She visited all the great teachers and musicians in the city, all to no avail. She was untalented and undisciplined.
One night, while plucking away at her lute in her bedroom, she heard a song on the air.
Songs that the Hyades shall sing, where flap the tatters of the king.
It seemed to be coming from outside. She stepped out onto her balcony, and found herself standing instead on a vast veranda in a place she didn’t know, nor understand.
It seemed to be some sort of ruined temple, the obsidian columns fallen and shattered in places. The yellow sky was lit with two suns that were slowly setting on the vast lake that splashed on the edge of the temple area. She turned and before her was a strange form: A creature, humanlike in shape, all in tattered yellow robes and hood. She couldn’t make out his face as it was shrouded in darkness. It seemed to speak in a thousand tongues and one all at once.
You are in need of a teacher.
She stood frozen in place. It reached out, its robes pointing to the lute that stood limply one her hand.
You are in need of a teacher.
She nodded dumbly.
I have a song to be sung. You will sing my song.
“I’m no musician,” she said, stuttering. “No instructor in the whole city-state can train me.”
I can give you what you wish.
Cassilda paused. She looked around. If this man could bring her here to this strange place, perhaps he could. “What do you want?” she asked.
A trifling thing. A song.
“I can’t play! I have no song I can give you,” she said.
I will give you the song. You merely need to play.
She looked down and realized a lute was in her hand.
Take it up. And play.
She raised the instrument and she played. She played beautifully. The song that emerged was unlike anything she had heard before.
Strange is the night where black stars rise,
And strange moons circle through the skies,
But stranger still is
Lost Carcosa.
When she looked up, she was no longer in that strange place, and was back in her room.
She soon left Thunderhold, her new talents flourishing. She would become the greatest bard the world had ever seen, and all for a song.
Cassilda, Herald of the Yellow King
Level 4 Human (Variant) Warlock (Entertainer)
Pact of the Blade
Personality Traits: I know the right song for any occasion. I change my mood and my mind as easily as I change keys.
Ideal: The songs of ages past are never forgotten, only half-remembered.
Bond: I will become famous, no matter the cost.
Flaws: I am arrogant to a fault, certain that I am the best. IF I encounter any other musicians, I must prove I’m better.
STR 13 | DEX 12 | CON 10 | INT 12 | WIS 14 | CHA 16
Acrobatics +3 | Arcana +3 | Deception +5 | Performance +5
Feat: Magic Initiate (Wizard)
Invocations: Improved Pact Weapon, Mask of Many Faces
Spells: Prestidigitation, Dancing Lights, Eldritch Blast, Minor Illusion, Chill Touch, Find Familiar, Charm Person, Dissonant Whispers, Shatter, Darkness, Misty Step.
Equipment: Love letter from an unknown suitor, performance costume, travelling clothes, Tarokka Deck, Three-Dragon Ante deck, disguise kit, backpack, bag of 1000 ball bearings, ink, ink pen, hooded lantern, steel mirror, 20 sheets of parchment, perfume vial, 50 feet of silk rope, waterskin, tinderbox, tarokka card with Cassilda’s face on it.
Here is her ReRoll character sheet: