Paloma

First introduced in Quoth the Raven Issue 27, in the article the Conferences of Victor Gagné IV: Out of the One, Many.

Human

Paloma was born to an expatriate couple from the Core. Her father, Gunther Lomax, was a former adventurer from Mordent. Her mother, a woman from Nova Vaasa who Gunther met when looking for a place to retire from adventuring. When their village was put to the torch by Bolshnik troops over a matter of unpaid taxes, the couple fled, and eventually found their way to Paridon. Gunther worked hard to provide for his wife and himself, often until late at night ... which allowed a Dread Doppelganger wearing his appearance easy access to his wife while he was away.

Paloma's mother died in childbirth, but Gunther nevertheless gave his daughter all the affection and care he was capable of. He named her 'Paula Lomax', after his own mother. Gunther continued to work hard to care for his little girl, and also hired a nanny to look after her in his absence: Ingrid. Throughout Paula's childhood, Gunther instructed her in the ways of unarmed combat. Paula was not a strong or especially vigorous child, but Gunther's philosophy was that people who know how to fight are best capable of avoiding violence. Paula eagerly partook in all education her Papa could afford for her, and looked with envious awe at the works of Alchemical Lodges; she would have dearly loved to study High Alchemy, had her Papa been able to afford the lessons and her own social standing allowed for her to do so.

In the fullness of time, Gunther and Ingrid became romantically involved and married, conceiving a daughter of their own -- right around the time that Paula entered puberty and her Doppelganger heritage started making itself felt. Paula was initially relieved when her Dread Doppelganger mentor first appeared in her life; the Change was confusing, distressing, and Paula was eager for someone to give her some guidance and answers. Her relief soon turned to horror, as her mentor started implying that her beloved 'Papa' and 'Mama' begrudged her the money they spent on her upkeep and education. Paula initially refused to believe these lies, but her mentor was a strong follower of the Path of Lead, and soon made her see what it wanted to when she looked into her parents' minds.

Paula's remaining filial loyalty would not let her harm her family. She mutilated the remains of a beggar-girl she found in an alley, the victim of a mugging, and tricked her family into believing she was dead. Her mentor grudgingly accepted this as a break with her humanity and brought her along to the Clan they both belonged to. Paula renamed herself Paloma to symbolize the new phase in her life.

Doppelganger

Paloma was unhappy to realize just how badly she fit in with others of her kind. Gunther had taught her a strong work ethic; her Doppelganger kindred lived as parasites. She was intrigued by Doppelganger unarmed combat-techniques and absorbed these, but she very much identifies as a woman and resented having to act the part of men, let alone involvement in what she felt were glorified robberies. Paloma never developed a favourite identity because at some level she always missed the identity to which she had been born: that of Paula Lomax.

Instruction of the Dread Doppelganger Alchemical Paths temporarily seized Paloma's interest. She had always felt a fascination for High Alchemy; now she felt she could surpass the works of the Alchemical Lodges, using the secret disciplines of the Masters!

Rather than steal the identity of some prominent scholar or try to steal the Emotional Purgative required to partake in Alchemical Paths, Paloma infiltrated Alchemical Lodges in the form of cleaners and drudge workers, using a combination of her mind-reading power and the fact that cleaners go everywhere and are generally ignored to read secret documents.

Once Paloma realized she would need some amount of spellcasting ability in order to create the alchemical purgatives she required, she initially sought instruction in arcane magic. Her Clan's Elders dissuaded her from this path, citing the potential for arousing Sodo's mistrust and suspicion if she pursued magic with such a potential for destruction. Instead, they offered her some of the writings of Adramelech, so she could initiate herself in the Divinity of the Masters.

Paloma duly studied this early draft of the Scholar-Fiend's seminal work, On the Future of the Masters. She also infiltrated temples of the Divinity of Mankind, repeating her ploy of assuming identities that were beneath notice so she could spy and study without drawing any attention. In due time, she unlocked divine magic... and was utterly confused by the fact that she had. Because one thing Paloma definitely did not believe in anymore was the notion that Dread Doppelgangers were in any way, shape or form, the supreme lifeform.

Isolated

Paloma has dabbled in the Alchemical Paths of the Dread Doppelgangers. While she was initially happy to be pursuing her dream of greater alchemical knowledge, she was soon disillusioned; once her Clan Elders realized she was capable of brewing the valuable Emotional Purgative needed for the pursuit of Alchemical Paths, Paloma was isolated, virtually imprisoned in a small house with an alchemical laboratory, a small library and a training area. Here, Paloma was required to stay, brewing the Purgatives her Clan Elders sold to other Clans, as well as the occasional healing potion for her own Clan's use. She erected a shrine to the Divinity of the Masters in the basement, but only really used it to store her copies of the Via Aurum and On the Future of the Masters. She would exercize in the yard, training herself in the use of the quarterstaff and unarmed combat, and on occasion other members of her Clan would train there as well - with or without her invitation.

Paloma's only diversion appeared to be a secret poetry journal, which she hid in her bedroom - also the place where she preferred to meditate to receive her spells, rather than in the basement shrine. Even though she could use spells granted by the philosophy first designed by Adramelech, Paloma was not convinced of its accuracy. Dread Doppelgangers had innate power, but no true sense of community or pride in creating things for themselves. Humans were not blessed with power and were frequently flawed, but they managed to create great things through cooperation. Those few Calibans Paloma was able to study had developed mental resilience to cope with constant abuse and discrimination, in spite of their debased forms.

On a rare occasion Paloma was allowed to wander Paridon unsupervised, her gloomy thoughts took her to a gloomy place; a pauper's cemetery. To her shock, here she found her Papa, Gunther Lomax, mourning at the grave he thought was hers in spite of the years that had gone by. Likewise, her stepmother Ingrid and the girl she had once believed was her half-sister were there. They were united in love for one another, and in love and loss... of Paula Lomax. Paloma could read the truth in their minds as easily as though she were reading a big print book, and the realization that her mentor had deceived her came crashing in upon her.

Part of Paloma wanted to run to her family, explain everything and beg their forgiveness. Another part wanted to hide under a rock, as shame and guilt filled her mind. What had she done to the people she once loved so dearly? How could she ever face them again? Her mind in chaos, Paloma staggered into the city - and was captured by the Red Haunt.

Philosopher

The Red Haunt subjected Paloma to mainly psychological torture, forcing her to relive the moment in the graveyard again and again, hoping to rouse her anger against the Dread Doppelganger Clans for their deception and her contempt of humanity, so she could be recruited as a Centurion of the Night.

Paloma suffered greatly in the Fiend's demesne, but her suffering she offered up to her guilt as a penance. By the time she was freed from her prison by Victor Gagné, Paloma had reached a new spiritual understanding, having awoken to the Divinity in All. Perfection did exist. All life was an offshoot of divinity. Seeking all potential in just one species was folly; only by embracing the wide spectrum of life with an open mind and an open heart, and sharing what one learned with those willing to listen, could one hope to find true fulfillment and improvement. Paloma's belief in her new path was strong enough to allow her to Turn the Lebendtod guards of the Red Haunt's lair, playing a not insignificant part in her and Victor's escape into Paridon.

In the wake of their escape from the Fiend, Paloma brought Victor to her home in hopes of acquiring resources that she wished to carry away from Paridon and share with the inheritors of Rudolph van Richten. Unfortunately, agents from Paloma's Clan entered the house before she and Victor could make their way to the Mordentish embassy. Paloma was separated from Victor when a vial carried by one of the doppelganger toughs cracked, releasing a toxic gas, and she succumbed to the poison. Fortunately, Paloma was rescued and later healed by Simon Keysmith, who formally welcomed her into the unity of the Divinity in All.

Statistics

Lawful Neutral female Dread Doppelganger Cleric 5; Devotion-level progression in the Path of Iron and the Path of Tin.