I've decided to go Tiefling Warlock Great Old One Pact. Str 7, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 19.
Hollow Marivaldi
Hollow is the daughter of some minor aristocrat in far off Amruthar (a city in Thay). Her parents were not tiefling, at least not full blooded. Her parents hid their past and had tried to bury their ancestors transgressions, but Hollow's appearance brought that secret shame to the forefront. There were of course rumors that Hollow's mother actually had an extramarital affair, but anyone who saw Hollow could see the strong Marivaldi features. Her father openly claimed her as his child and would talk about some ancient ancestor who had nearly ruined the Marivaldi name, but his father's father's father had righted the ship as it were. This helped, but it could not stop all the stares and whispers. As her parents had more children and their appearances remained conventionally human, Hollow was pushed further into the shadows to keep the family's shame out of public scrutiny.
This left Hollow with a lot of time to herself, something she sees as both an advantage and a disadvantage. She was able to pursue her own goals and her parents provided private tutors who indulged her curiosities. She was also able to sneak out and explore the city more easily. She knew her mother would prefer to parade her two sisters in front of visitors than her, her brother was the true apple in her father's eye and his heir. No one was ever looking for her to perform any official duties. Her siblings echoed their parents' attitude and kept their distance. Her eldest sister, Mera, had a truly cruel streak when she would tease Hollow. Kahnmei, her brother was fairly neutral, in public he would be distant, in private he would be warmer towards Hollow. Seipora, the youngest Marivaldi, did exhibit genuine affection for Hollow, but being the smallest could not stand up to any of the bullying Hollow encountered. This left Hollow with conflicting emotions, she is fine on her own most of the time, and fine being alone sometimes, but other times she gets restless and feels a strong need to be around other people.
Hollow spent a lot of her free time wandering the streets of Amruthar. Her main activity was meeting other tieflings and learning what she could about her heritage and how they lived their lives. She got to know many, but they were all much older than her. They taught her to not be ashamed of her nature but to beware of the black mark on her soul. A few months before reaching the age of majority, when she would be expected to make her own plans for her future, Hollow was wandering the city when she met a gang of street urchins, calling themselves The Red Knives. Among their number was a boy tiefling named Flare. He was a year younger than Hollow, she couldn't help but be attracted to him, being the only other teifling her age. Hollow found every excuse to be around the gang, and Flare, that she could. Within a few weeks Hollow felt like she was a member of the gang, though her money and permanent home kept her from being fully accepted.
The Red Knives were not as violent their name might have made them sound. They mostly picked pockets and committed crimes of opportunity. They learned of a horde of food and trade goods being held deep in the sewers. Apparently the owner didn’t want to draw attention to his goods by storing them in a warehouse in the city. So while it was secret, and hard for most to get to, it was not very secure, or so the rumor said. The Red Knives decided to raid the store and see what they could get. They scouted and planned for three days. They learned that the high traffic times were during the day and at night the one guard that was posted was a quick and heavy sleeper. It was going to be an easy nighttime smash and grab with a hefty payday!
Except it's never that easy. As it happened the score belonged to a cult to an ancient evil entity called The Lord of the Cold and Yearning Stars. The place the knives intended to rob was a ritual site. An avatar of the Lord of Cold and Yearning Stars slumbered beneath the city. The cult intended to wake the avatar and who would then summon the vast and horrible Lord. The Red Knives were too young to appreciate the danger they had stumbled upon and they pressed forward with their plans hoping the ritual would distract the cultists while they took what they wanted. However the goods the Knives sought were actually part of the offering needed to wake the Avatar. They were spotted and many of the Knives were captured and added to the offering.
As the ritual began a great vault was opened and the form of the avatar was revealed to the congregation. Many wept and went mad on the spot, some just then understanding what they were truly attempting, other learned their minds were unable to handle the horror of the creature. In the confusion Flare attempted to rally the Red Knives and escape. He grabbed Hollow's hand and they ran. The commotion was to chaotic and the beast began to stir. Hollow and Flare found themselves on the precipice of the vault staring into the eye of the creature. Enraged by the disruption the Red Knives were causing the cult high priest plunged a dagger into Flare's back and launched him into the pit. It was then that Hollow first heard the voice of The Lord of Cold and Yearning Stars as her young love's screams echoed in the vast darkness.
"You, small thing, you of the claimed but unbound soul, your anguish and despair pleases us! We would grant you your desire! Power and wealth unthought of by the other small ones you do not seek! Vengeance and strife for all who would thwart your will will be my gift to you. You need only swear to serve me and these gifts shall be yours."
Thinking only of herself and her unfulfilled love of Flare, Hollow agreed. The beast in the pit awoke and emote the cult and the madmen, nearly to a man. The remnants cowed and bowed to Hollow as their chosen one. The last to die was the high priest who had killed Flare. He was taken to the vault where the avatar devoured him slowly, dragging out his death for an hour. His screams echo through the cavern and in Hollow's ears to this day.
For a time things returned to normal. Peaceful and quiet city life had only been interrupted by a small quake, nothing more. The remaining Red Knives slowly abandoned Hollow, but she barely noticed. Her family's attitude changed drastically. Suddenly she was no longer the black sheep. Her parents and siblings doted on her. She was invited to all the parties and social functions. Those that spoke ill of her found themselves facing bad fortune, injury and even death. It became known that a frown from Hollow was something to be avoided. And for a time, this pleased her. The cultists who had survived insinuated themselves into her life. They served fervently and without fail. However Hollow could tell it wasn't her they served, it was her master, The Lord of Cold and Yearning Stars.
Seipora noticed the changes to and did not like them all. She was happy that her sister was now able to walk the streets without being sneered or chided, but the dark cloud that followed Hollow was to much to bare. Seipora told Hollow how she felt one day when they thought they were alone. Hollow was at first angry that her most trusted and loved sister would turn against her. When the cultist maid burst from behind the drapes and grabbed Seipora, dagger at the ready to slit her throat, Hollow realized in horror just how bad things were. She ordered the cultist to stand down and free Seipora, but the woman refused and Hollow had to kill the woman, lest Seipora die.
When word spread that Hollow had spared her sister and slain a member of the cult, the servant's' attitude changed. They were bound to deliver punishment to all who opposed Hollow's will. If they could not serve, if Hollow stood in the way of their grand work, she was not the chosen one after all. The stares conveyed the cults disapproval. Hollow decided it was time to leave and she was going to take Seipora and the rest of her family with her.
When she tried to escape however, she found Kahnmei and Meira standing over the bodies of their parents, blood soaked daggers still in their hands. Kahnmei offered that if Hollow would take him as her consort, the cult would forgive her transgressions. Meira however had planned on taking the position of cult leader for herself and attempted to kill Hollow and Seipora before any conversation could take place. At the last moment two of the cultists who had apparently also changed loyalties came to their rescue. They fought off Meira and led the two girls out of the family estate.
Now Hollow, Seipora and the two reformed cultists, Jozin and Cyril, have fled as far as they can in hopes of escaping the cult. They do not know how far the eyes of The Lord of Cold and Yearning Stars can see, nor how far it's reach, so they run. Seeing cultists and threat around every corner, Hollow was slow to trust Gundren Rockseeker when they first met. His true nature however has persuaded her to trust him. When he offered work for a decent wage, Hollow couldn't say no.
