Sigil: City of Doors

Name: Ariyana (Ar-e-ya-na)

Previous Name: Unknown. She does not tell it.

Race:Drow

Alignment: Chaotic Good. Originally coming from the sinister background of the Underdark on the Prime Material Plane, Ariyana went through years of rehabilitation, learning the ways of Eilistraee to counter the dark teachings and lies of the Spider Queen. As the years past, Ariyana learned the value of faith, family, and friends. She has since then been living a life of penance, seeking to do good whenever she can to repay the debt of her misdeeds in her former life. While she agrees that laws are important, she has little use for them since she, until arriving to Sigil, has never lived in governed city.

Appearance Ariyana has bright red eyes and glamorous obsidian skin, the trademark of her dark heritage. She is tall, for a drow, with a slender build of toned muscles from decades of the harsh Underdark and years of fighting the Zhentarim and Lolthite drow in the Dales of the Prime Plane. Though strong for her normally frail race, she walks with a natural grace and her voice is soothingly melodic. She often wears heavy armor, fashioning a breastplate or full plate when she is out on the hunt and is always seen tapping a falchion or some type of large blade on her shoulder. AriyanaÂ’s hair is soft as silk and grown long as tribute to her devotion to her new goddess. She normally keeps it up in two tightly braided braids held in place by two hair pins. In casual attire, she wears flowing red robes and unbraids her long silver hair down so that it may reach the back of her knees.

Personality: Flirtatious but vicious, Ariyana has overcome the harsh ways of her former life and fully accepts the dogma of Eilistraee. Where once she did not know or care for the concept of love, she has now fully embraced it and seeks to do all she can to thank the Lady of the Dance for all She's done for her.

Ariyana is a very sarcastic individual. She won't hesitate to speak her mind about something and always seems to have something dry to say. This adds both to her sense of humor in friendly encounters and to the frustration of her foes during hostile ones.

In times of battle, Ariyana is a collected warrior and charges in only when tactically sound. She prefers a straight up fight rather than the traditional tactics of deception of the rest of her kin and will often be seen in fights charging just past the vanguard to ensure she strikes the first blow. She is strongly protective of her sisters in faith and would lay down her life for any one of them.

Patron:Eilistraee. Formerly Lolth, Ariyana eventually became interested in the ways of the Dark Maiden. Ariyana came to Eilistraee through much hardship. Her transition to the Dark Maiden was by no means simple but tried and tested she prevailed. She is likely one of her Lady's most devout, according to Maya Silverlock, and lives her life in penance of her misdeeds.

Goals: For decades after being exiled from Ched Nasad, Ariyana has lived day to day with one goal in mind: Find a place for herself. She came to Shadowdale in the hopes of finding a group of Eilstraeeans. After years of strife, she became the Battlemistress of the Cormanthyr Temple. She fought side by side with the friends she had made among the elves of Myth Drannor and the rebels that fought against the tyrannical Zhentarim, a nation of Bane followers bent on conquering the Dales. As time passed, Ariyana left the Dales, deciding to see more of the world. She always fantasized about traveling the planes, so here she is.

[ENTRY 1]

Eilysia and I arrived here after a long journey from the Dales. We were compelled to come here by a dream, one we believe the Maiden delivered to us. It was faint, but considering we both had the same dream we believed it wasn't mere coincidence.

We had to leave everyone we knew behind, a thought that pained us greatly, but realized soon that the dream would not separate us, but tie us even closer.

I suppose I'm jumping ahead, aren't I? I should start from the beginning. I remember walking through one of the portals we found. I remember arriving on the other side, but feeling different. My armor felt heavier. My sword felt unfamiliar. I watched as my possessions from the Material Plane crumble into dust. I felt drained of everything. I couldn't even cast a cantrip and my spellbook was blank. I don't know what happened. It was likely the magic of the Planes at work, or perhaps when we crossed into this new realm all we learned was different than this one. Is the Weave different here? I didn't feel it anymore, or perhaps things are different here than at the Toril.

In any case, Eilysia and I came first. We were about to head to the Gray Wastes when another drow female approached us, followed not far by a yuan-ti creature (abominations, I believe they are called). The woman approached us with a bright smile on her face. When I heard her voice, it took me a few moments to realize who was standing before me. It was Lady Maya.

I stared at her in disbelief. I was shocked. Lady Maya had come to Sigil? She said she had a similar dream and came to find us. She asked if others were here and the yuan-ti, Xarlaxle, said he heard the name Relien. I was overjoyed to hear the name of another friend.

It was awkward being around the yuan-ti creature but he assured us he was unlike most of his kin. He was polite, had good mannerisms, and seemed practiced in the common tongue. Being what I am, I wasn't about to judge by race.

We went under Sigil after that, explored the dark catacombs of the underground. It was an eerie place and the deeper it went the more challenging it became. There were wererats down there, larger than I've ever seen. We met a monk a long the way, never got his name. I think I won't be going back down there until I get a hold of a silver weapon.

It truly is good to see Lady Maya again. I look forward to what the next day brings.

[ENTRY 2]

What a magnificent place.

In only a few days, Eilysia and I have seen so much. We've seen the alien landscape of the Beastlands, the colorless desert of the Gray Wastes, and the enchanting sights of Elysium. I always jested her her about seeing the planes one day, but I never believed it would happen.

Maya is happy to see us as she is happy to see the others that have followed. I, however, see a sadness in her. She misses Ilmryll deeply, wishes she too had followed. I wonder how many times our priestess has stood at the portal that leads back to our home world, waiting, hoping. I wish there was something I could do to bring her comfort.

An elf met us a few days ago, one who's name I won't disclose here. He said he was also a faithful of Eilistraee and that he endured the life of a slave for over a century. He asked to look at our weapons and equipment. We saw it as an innocent request and endulged him. He then said he had items we could make use of and asked we follow him to his apartment. My paranoia of strangers went off and we politely declined the offer. He said he understood and would be back.

I didn't expect he'd return. I thought it was a lure into a trick or a trap, but when he came back he had two magical bags in his hands. He gave one to Eilysia and one to me. Inside them was, well, something amazing. A magical cloak, a heavily enchanted armor, and a powerful sword. The sword, beautiful and deadly. It's not the type of blade I am normally used to wielding but it's power makes up for it greatly.

We were speechless. I asked if they were for us and he said they belonged to us now. He asked for nothing in return, only that we help others when and where we can in this place. We apologized to him for our paranoia, but again he just smiled and said he understood. I promise I'll make good use of his gifts to us.