Dea (Quarta Deos Vanita)

Spells* : Create Water, Detect magic, Guidance, Mending, Resistance, Command, Endure Elements, Entangle**, Protection From Chaos, Sanctionary, Aid, Cure Moderate Wounds**, Hold Person, Silence, Dispel Magic, Plant Growth**, Speak with Plants

* Normally prepared
** Domain spell

Skills : Concentration +8, Diplomacy +5, Heal +13, Hypnotism +3, Knowledge (arcana) +7, Knowledge (religion) +7, Knowledge (ancient history) +4, Listen +3, Profession (herbalism) +8, Search +3, Sense Motive +4, Spellcraft +7, Spot +4

Feats : Iron Will, Open Mind*

* Feat from Ravenloft Third Edition

Languages : Vechor*, Balok, Elven, Mordentish, Vaasan

Quarta Deos Vanita, also known as Dea, is a slender young woman, with dark hair that is tied in braids that are the knotted to the back of her head. Her face is angular, and looks slightly alien, though in a captivating way. She has dark eyes, and a dark, tanned skin, which gives a southern aura to her presence. The most notable feature, however, is a small metal placque that is set in her forhead. The plaque has the shape of a beetle, with on its shields an embossed capital E.

Dea dresses in a plain blue robe, which tapers to purple at the bottom. She is unarmed, and seems to disdain violence, though she carries a knife for 'practical purposes'.

Dea was born Quarta, fourth daughter of Deos Vanito, a wealthy patrician in the city of Abdok, Vechor. Deos was dissapointed with his wife's inability to produce a son. He never payed his daughters (Dea, Secunda, and Tertia) much attention, and particularly resented Quarta, whos birth was so traumatic that the girls mother henceforth was uncapable of having children.

While the girls never received much attention from their father, they did have a pampered life. Dea and Secuna were quickly married. Tertia died early in her years when a vicious plague hit the city.
Quarta had little desire to be married off, and at a young age entered the order of the Maidens of Vesanis, an order of maidens that have devoted their life to guide their fellow citizens through the land’s chaos. She renamed herself 'Dea', like her older sister, renouncing the number her father had given her as a name (in Vechor 'Quarta' means 'Four').
Maidens are rumored to have insight in the land’s godly king, Easan the Mad, and as such have some influence on the domain’s politics. Dea started to work towards her own good, mingling with the more powerful men in the city. Her charms and wits drew the attention of the Senate, a secret garthering of men who had been plotting the fall of Easan, King of Vechor. While Easan is revered as a god in Abdok, these men felt it was unfit for a country to be run by a madman - even if he was a god. They planned to imprison Easan, and bring order to the land by establishing a government that would be run by the right and just. Predictably, these men would consist of the members of the Senate...

Dea was lured by the promise of power and wealth, and joined the society. The men of the Senate were not used to women being in power, but a few powerful alliances caused her to rise in the hierarchy.
Unfortunately, the members of the Senate had a difficult time agreeing amongst each other on the course to take. Dea quickly grew tired of the endless bickering. As time passed, she felt the resentment against her growing, and fewer people listen to her. In the end, it occurred to her that turning control over to these power-hungry men would be worse than Easan, who, after all, never interfered much with his people.

Finally, the Senate set out to strike against Easan. What a surprise it was when they discovered that their king had been prepared for their plan - and was informed about every detail of it! The rebellion was put down in a matter of minutes, as Easan's men and machines set out to slaughter the members of the Senate.

Only Dea, who had 'conveniently' been absent when the Senate made their move, was spared.
Easan rewarded her treason with her life. But he also took care that she would never, ever, be able to plot against him again. He crafted a special item, which was set in the young woman's forehead. From that moment on, Dea was able to discern whenever someone told her a lie, but she was also unable to lie herself. She had become a vessel of Truth.

After her treason, Dea found it initially hard to make goodwill amongst the citizens of Abdok. As word of her special power got around, however, she rose again, now becoming a key figure in the Justice system of Abdok. Her advice was asked in disputes, and she was asked to judge on the behalve of others. This gave a new impact to the Maiden’s misison, though her new found popularity did not make her loved with everybody.

While a charming personality, most people seem to get nervous when staying around Dea, as she seems to have an uncanning insight in people, with a knack for detecting whenever people lie. Though this unsettling some, most people with a clear conscience seem to get along with her splendidly.

Dea came from a sovierty were it is unheard of to assault a Maiden, and as such is not used to combat. Though she is not defenseless, she will avoid combat whenever possible. If forced into a fight, she will resort to using her spells to defend herself.
Truthsayer: Dea to capable to see when people willingly tell her falsehoods or when they speak the truth (at least as far as they know). In return, Dea is incapable of lying herself. Whenever she attempts to, she feels wracking pains, which incapacitate her until she abandons the attempt.

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