Missekai'd: A Cortex Genre Mashup:Petra Elethin
Contents
Petra Elethin, Marquise by Courtesy of Verglade March, Kingdom of Furyondy, Oerth
Background: The period after the war in which the Elethins distinguished themselves as heroes is politically and financially volatile, as scores are settled, favors called in, and vengeances exacted. In the midst of turmoil and struggle, they welcome a child: Petra. Despite her lofty title, she sees much more work, and far fewer servants, than a child of lesser station normally would. She receives far more rigorous instruction, from her parents, and the occasional specialist tutor, than most of her peers do. Her family is careful to hide the worst from her, but as a born empath, she learns that no matter what, it is important to confront even existential trials with grace and with a smile, and to make your best impression on company, no matter how dour they are. A flirt even before she could walk steadily, she puts these lessons to work and labors to refine them.
The time comes when and the full expectations her society has of her station are told to her. Young Petra decides that she will meet these expectations on her own terms, in service to her own ends. She applies herself to her father's elven Song magic, and her mother's devotion to diplomacy and peace, and puts them together into her own, new, thing.
The ball announcing her début to the Court arrives. What was billed as a celebratory introduction feels more like a punishing series of examinations followed by a run through a long gauntlet. But at least she knows who she can count on, who to avoid, and who she must tolerate... for now.
She disdains weapons, but if she must, she carries a wooden staff.
Appearance: An otherworldly hymn to beauty given flesh, Petra seems taller than she is, and statuesque. An ageless, heart-shaped face smiles at the world with pink rosebud lips. Large, laughing, gemstone-green eyes complement her thick waves of copper hair, and her skin is the color of new cream. Peeking through her hair are the tips of her ears, which taper to delicate points. As with fine art, everything about her appearance flatters and compliments everything else. She moves with the grace and control of a dancer. A creature of high civilization, she is immaculately dressed and coiffed in materials of impeccable quality. Her voice is classically trained, all sonorous vowels, crisp consonants, and musical cadences. She is unarmed and unarmored. The smell of rose ancien trails behind her.
Distinctions
Elven Heritage d8: As magical fey, Elves are less of the world than humans, and they are hardly as affected as humans by its various needs and discomforts and demands. Their minds reject attempts at control and compulsion. Additionally, they have superior senses, and they can see into the infrared. A half-elf inherits all of these traits at half strength.
- SFX - Hinder: Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction’s d8 for a d4 on a roll with significant stakes.
Center Stage d8: Beauty isn't only a trait, or an art, or a craft: it's theater. Petra knows how to walk and smile just so, drawing all attention to herself.
- SFX - Hinder: Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction’s d8 for a d4 on a roll with significant stakes.
Lifelong Empath d8: Petra has a finely honed intuition for interpreting unconscious communications, even in her peripheral vision, allowing her insight into such things as motives and conflicts and reactions and feelings.
- SFX - Hinder: Gain a PP when you switch out this distinction’s d8 for a d4 on a roll with significant stakes.
- SFX - Close Read: By watching the target closely, Petra can get both a good idea of what the target is about to say or do, and a good idea of the most effective thing to say or do in reply (or riposte!). She can take an action to read the target, creating the d8 Asset Familiar to use with Charm interactions with the target.
- SFX - Read the Room: Petra can take an action to get the mood of the space she is in, granting herself the d8 Asset Command Performance.
Abilities
Enchanting Melody d8 A mere couplet can imbue objects or areas with simple enchantments, for weal or woe.
- SFX - Enhance Object: Spend a PP to enchant an item belonging to anyone to create a d8 asset for that player.
- Limit - Cards to the Vest: Gain a PP and shut down this ability when in the presence of people she doesn't trust. Spend a PP to restore the ability.
Invocational Cadence d8 A chanted prayer can create needful basics, or heal, protect, and ward people.
- SFX - Prayer of Healing: Spend a PP to recover any character's physical complication
- Limit - Cards to the Vest: Gain a PP and shut down this ability when in the presence of people she doesn't trust. Spend a PP to restore the ability.
Approaches
| Careful d6 |
| Charming d10 |
| Clever d8 |
| Forceful d6 |
| Quick d6 |
| Sneaky d4 |
Objectives
| Adapt d6 |
| Aid d10 |
| Escape d8 |
| Explore d6 |
| Profit d4 |
| Reform d6 |
