by Carteeg Struve & Joe Mashuga

Aynal Teralshall (Ay’-nahl Teh-rahl-shahl’) (5/4/358 AD – current) is the head of the White Branch of the Tashmaradic Council and runs what she sees as matters of faith in Breenaak. Although born Gildanesti, over the past several decades she had become one of the Scalebound. While in public she uses magic to guise her appearance as if she were still Gildanesti.

The Teralshall family lived in the middle of Tashramada away from most towns and cities. Aynal’s parents, twin sister, and brother spent most of their time growing fruits, vegetables, tobacco, and grains while also putting out a small amount of dairy products. Aynal’s interests didn’t hold to the hard working simple life however. Soon after her mother Lilan died one winter from a lung infection, she snuck out of the house and onto the road. Throughout the difficult years following, she never looked back.

For a number of years in the 370s she lived on the street, primarily begging to get food and money. Five years later, just before a hurricane struck the land, a passerby offered to give her shelter. Under most situations like this, Aynal would have declined, but considering how bad the sky was getting, she made an exception. The passerby took her to a large but fairly empty manor home out in the country and fed her. The human introduced himself as Kaplin Longharn, a member of the Tashramadic Council. As the storm passed by, the two became both teacher and pupil and also lovers. She proved a fast learner in the ways of the faith towards the Elder Dragons who Kaplin confided in her as the true powers of the church.

Seasons passed, and Aynal came to suspect Kaplin had already taught her everything he planned on. His actions made her think he was holding something back. She confronted him over dinner one night on the matter. During the discussion she threatened to leave. Surprised by the threat, he told her that she must not leave. “You will be key to the Elder Dragon’s victory over the coming threat!”

Questioning Kaplin, he admitted that his taking her in was not a random act of kindness. “Divine magics pointed me to you. I have watched you under many faces for weeks before using the storm to bring you to me. You are important to us, Aynal. How is uncertain, but the one detail of the future is clear. You will be one of the major key players in a coming conflict between the Dragons and a coming enemy. We need you for victory.” She tried to escape from the manor right there, but Kaplin came down on her, restraining her, and all the while professing that his love for her was real. She slashed at Kaplin with the steak knife she had from dinner. Unnaturally dark blood oozed from the side of his neck from the wound, causing him to stumble back. She ran hearing him scream. The scream became a roar as she fled the building, hearing the sounds of crashing behind her. Moments later a black dragon broke out of the building, taking to the night sky. Horrified she ran. As the creature came down at her, a nearby party of adventurers assaulted the black. Still stunned from a large neck wound, the black turned away. The group took Aynal in, and during the coming weeks the party’s leader Kistaynlas Wenzalis and Aynal became friends.

Aynal traveled with Kistaynlas for years, and after the Starfall she discovered she had a talent for drawing out magic based on her faith for herself and the Elder Dragons. She found it odd she still believed in the Elder Dragons after her last encounter with Kaplin, but yet she couldn’t deny where her heart lay. She used her talents and developed them. She also began to openly support the Tashrama where she could, and a few times got into altercations with those who supported the rising star of Sovereign Lord Montegron who was trying to unify the Midlands under himself. Soon she wished Kistaynlas well, telling her friend she needed to do some exploring on her own and figure out what was happening to the Midlands.

In her travels she began to realize that whatever possible expansion the influence of the Elder Dragons were having, the unifying Sovereignties were gaining control just as fast if not more so. She found other members of the church and officially joined. Wanting to be close to the rising forces on both sides of the coming conflict, she set plans on moving to Breenaak in FyxZharar, where the White Elder Dragon Heriacious had her lair. Before heading out, she sought out her close ally Kistaynlas, hoping to convince her to come with her.

The meeting was a disaster. At the same time she found her, another of Kist’s one-time group members was there. Vorn Preevan was a supporter of Montegron and hoped to join the Midland Guard in the future. Arguments between the two mounted and not knowing who started it a fight broke out. During the fight, Kist tried to break them apart. However Vorn was trying to stab his blade at Aynal and stuck it between Kist’s ribs instead. Hatred overwhelmed her, and Aynal cast a spell that burned Vorn to ash. It almost took herself out as well. Aynal quickly cast what minor healing magic she knew on Kistaynlas to save her life, and then brought her to a trained herbalist. Kist’s life was saved, but killing Vorn also ended her friendship with Kist. Deeply saddened, Aynal left for Breenaak alone.

In Breenaak she was accepted into the workings of the Tashrama. She realized quickly a number of people were surprised to see her in Breenaak, or at least they were surprised when she initially gave them her name. She did not care. Her only care at this point was to bury herself in her work and give the Elder Dragons the proper respect they deserve. Her only hope for the future was for all of Adlatum to come under the Elders’ love.

As the years rolled on, she expanded her talents and came to be one of Heriacious’ favored. She learned that Heriacious was very open to listening to her followers’ suggestions before decisions were reached and began to see a friend in her god. The fact that Aynal knew of Heriacious’ existence and still chose to worship her struck a long desire the dragon had to be openly worshiped, and this led to Aynal’s swift promotion in the church. Aynal personally oversaw and took part in hunts in the caverns below Breenaak for knowledge or items of power that could be beneficial to her church and god. She also took part in a few secret attempts to foil actions taken by the Midland Guard or other Montegron supporters.

She eventually began to show the outward signs of the Scalebound, and she reveled in it. Still, she used magic to cover her more draconic looking appearance before going out to do Heriacious’ will. It even came in useful when she ran into her twin sister Clamora who had been searching for her for decades. Even after Heriacious appointed Aynal head of the White branch of the Tashmara, the two sisters remained in sporadic yet warm contact. Aynal also came to learn that Kistaynlas was now mayor of Unadesum. Since then she has discovered that although Unadesum was officially supportive of Montegron’s reign, the underground business in the city has been much more open and supportive of the White branch of the church. Aynal is still grateful for Kistaynlas’ influence with the underground, even if they have not directly spoken.

Although supportive of all of Heriacious’ decisions, she is still very suspicious of the new head of the military forces, the Oguna Damrye. More so she is suspicious of an unknown being who was responsible for rescuing Damrye from Montegron’s dungeons and delivering him to Breenaak. Although no one has an idea who this being was, Aynal has a gut feeling it may be Kaplin trying to find her again. However she does not have any evidence of this, yet. In the meantime, she focuses on getting Breenaak ready for the coming conflict with the Sovereignties. In the end, it is Aynal’s dream that all of Krynn learn of the Elder Dragons’ glory and love. Until then, whatever stops this utopia from coming to be needs to be either burned or frozen away.

Gaming Stats

3.5 Edition

Female white-scalebound Gildanesti rogue 7 / mystic of Charm 9
CN Medium monstrous humanoid
Init +8; Senses darkvision 30 ft., low-light vision; Listen +10, Spot +6

Defense

AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 18 (+3 armor, +4 Dexterity, +2 natural, +3 shield)
hp 109 (7d6+9d8+32)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +10
Immune sleep
Defensive evasion, trap sense +2, uncanny dodge; Immune sleep

Offense

Spd 30 ft.
Melee +3 frost spear +14/+9/+4 (1d8/x3 plus 1d6 cold) and claws +6 (1d4) or
2 claws +11 (1d4)
Ranged +1 composite shortbow +16/+11/+6 (1d6+1/x3)
Special Attacks discern weakness 3/day (+3 atk, +16 dmg), sneak attack +4d6
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th)
1/day – detect magic, know direction
Spells Known (CL 9th, +11 touch, +15 ranged touch)
4th (4/day) – cure critical wounds, divine power, heroism(D)
3rd (6/day) – cure serious wounds, inflict serious wounds, summon monster III, suggestion(D) (DC 15)
2nd (7/day) – calm emotions(D), cure moderate wounds, enthrall (DC 14), inflict moderate wounds, silence (DC 14)
1st (7/day) – charm person(D) (DC 13), command (DC 13), comprehend languages, cure light wounds, endure elements, inflict light wounds
0 – (6/day) create water, cure minor wounds, detect magic, guidance, inflict minor wounds, light, Purify food and drink, read magic
(D) Domain Spell; Domain Charm

Statistics

Str 10, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 17, Wis 15, Cha 19
Base Atk +11; Grp +11
Feats Combat Casting, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Initiative, Improved Unarmed Strike, Leadership
Skills Appraise +10, Balance +6, Concentration +18 (+22 casting defensively), Decipher Script +13, Diplomacy +24, Disguise +18, Escape Artist +9, Forgery +15, Intimidate +13, Jump +2, Knowledge (arcana) +9, Listen +10, Move Silently +11, Search +6, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +13, Spot +6, Tumble +10
Languages Common, Gildanesti, Gnome, Hudieran, Trejori
SQ evasion, half-elven traits, trapfinding, trap sense +2, uncanny dodge (dex bonus to AC)
Combat Gear cape of the mountebank, dimensional shackles, potion of eagle’s splendor, ring of invisibility, staff of frost, wand of hold person (41 charges);Other Gear mwk studded leather, +2 light fortification buckler, +1 composite shortbow with 20 arrows, +3 frost spear, hat of disguise

Special

Discern Weakness (Ex) Three times per day, Aynal Teralshall may attempt to take advantage of a foe’s weakness with a single melee attack. During this attack, she gains a +3 to her attack roll and deals 16 extra points of damage.

Save Bonuses (Ex) Aynal has a +2 racial bonus on saves against paralysis and against enchantment spells and effects.