Concept 2 (and 2a) of 3
"Maysie" Krallorn, elan psion 6 (Psychokinetic) (or Beguiler3/Psion 3, headed for the Cerebremancer PrC)
(kind-hearted, curious, and capable of terrible destruction)
Capsule description: She appears as a tiny young woman, surely little more than a girl- just under five feet tall, with a frail, slender build and pale skin, most often dressed in simple traveling clothes. Only her oversized heavy combat boots hint that things might not be so simple- and the elaborate tattoo-like marking in the Sarlonan style which encircle her upper arms. She wears a long sleeveless coat over her garb, and carries a simple pack and a crossbow. She smiles often, and her confidence seems unshakable.
Background: Almost nothing is known of her past- for all useful purposes her life began the day an Aundaran naval patrol found her clinging to a scrap of wreckage in the sea north of Stormhome. Even her name comes from that day- her first recollection was hearing the captain’s exclamation when the crew saw she was still alive. To her muddled ears, his “Amazing” sounded like “Maysie”, and she took that as an omen. She was brought ashore with no memory and no possessions, and she attracted a great deal of interest (some charitable and some suspicious)- but at least one man saw her as a valuable and nearly unique resource. While some scholars had knowledge of “mind magics” or psionics, most common folk saw those powers as just another kind of wizardry. Gunther Kallorn had traveled extensively in his youth, though, including several years spend in Sarlona- and he was a very clever man. While most people saw “Maysie” as a young and hopelessly addled human girl, Gunther recognized her true race, and he knew that very few élan ever left the Inspired masters of Riedra. He used his considerable resources to take custody of her, and immediately set to work “teaching” her- or, more accurately, using his own minor psionic abilities and extensive knowledge to probe and prune her mind. It took a while, but he was patient, and in time Gunther was able to sharpen her awareness, and to awaken the seeds of power within her mind. Once she was ready, Maysie was put to work- while her mentor’s mind was still sharp, he was neither as mobile nor physically capable as he had once been, and he had a very dangerous line of work. Maysie was pressed into service as a scout, a courier, and Gunther joked, as a bodyguard. In fact, though, that last role was actually her most common one- between her utterly unthreatening appearance, gentle flighty demeanor, and unusual gifts, she was singularly effective. For several years, as the war wrapped up, Gunther and his “niece” traveled across Khorvaire and beyond. While Maysie remained as fresh-faced and youthful as ever, Gunther continued to age and in time, he began to get sloppy- and finally even his “bodyguard’s” skills could not save him.
Maysie escaped his final fate, though, and she has spent the last year or so simply wandering where her curiousity takes her, all across the civilized lands- a process now far easier with the arrival of official peace to the war-torn world. Merest chance led her into the caravan to a land of shadowy rumor- just the sort of destination to fire her interest. During the earliest parts of the trip, she remained with the caravan’s main body, working in a variety of roles thanks to her unique gifts. But her curiousity has driven her to go farther, to learn more of the mystery that llies before them- and the relative security of the caravan was getting sort of boring anyway…
Primary role: Utility caster/blaster (psionic)
Quirks: Maysie exhibits a carefree, almost whimsical demeanor- she is generally kind and upbeat, ready with a smile or a helping hand. When frustrated or upset, her most common response is a brief flurry of sarcasm, before her good nature reasserts itself. Only when actual violence is unfolding does a true change occur- in battle she is coldly efficient, and capable of terrible wrath. She hates close combat, though, more so than even the most peaceful healer or timid scholar- she is ready enough to put her crossbow or her mental powers to use, but cannot bring herself to engage an enemy with a blade except in the most dire of circumstances (in most such situations, she would prefer to retreat to a more useful range).
Her primary motivation is curiousity- with little in the way of material needs or formal ambition, she lets herself be drawn wherever there is a new fact or mystery to be unraveled. Between her demeanor and her appearance, many people underestimate her actual abilities- she often seems to the sort of person who might need rescue or protection- though this has not really ever been the truth of the matter.
Distinguishing abilities: Powerful psionic abilities, predominantly psychokinesis (making her the functional equivalent of an arcane “blaster”), some utility powers, surprisingly broad array of low-level skills. (Specifically the Jack of all trades feat) She would also be a candidate for the Noncombatant flaw from UA, but this isn’t required (since I see that flaws are not necessarily approved). Her light-hearted demeanor might be a good foil for Janis, and even to some of the more hard-edged but “good guy” characters.
A variant on this involves the same personality and background, but replaces the straight psion progression with a Beguiler/psion split, aiming for the cerebremancer PrC; she would have less raw destructive power, but more utility casting, recon abilities, and excellent social interaction/research capabilities
