Marigold Mourninglight

Description
Character Race: Human, Variant

Character Class: Warlock, Hexblade: Pact of the Blade

Marigold Mourninglight is a young human female (she/her) with long dark golden hair and tan brown skin. She stands just over five and half feet tall and has an athletic build. She has large brown eyes a a friendly, open face and a generally sunny disposition.

Backstory
Marigold was born and raised in the Church of Creation, a mega church located in Austin, Sunland. She has trained and prepared for the whole of her young life to take a Paladin Oath in the service of Asgaroth, but has seen little of the world. Marigold’s father, the charismatic David Mourninglight, is the head of the Church of Creation and she has always strived to make him proud. Marigold has always been a devout and unquestioning member of the church, though as her story begins she quickly learns that not all in the church and in her family is as it seems...

Known Characters and Organizations

 * Charles "Chuck" Gilroy - Chuck & Marigold grew up together in the Church of Creation and have been best friends for years.


 * Lexxander Nightgrass - Lexxander also grew up as part of the church, but as a Teifling was never fully accepted, Lexxander & Marigold were classmates.
 * Ash - Cleric of the Church of the Creation, now on the run with Chuck & Marigold.

For full details see Known Entities page.

Notable Abilities & Items

 * Devour's Edge - This ancient longsword is made entirely of bone. The blade is sharper than the average sword being able to slice through rock, concrete, and some metals. The sword is ornately decorated in runes and script in a long-lost language framed by the skull of an ancient beast that appears to be slowly consuming the bottom half of the sword itself. Known properties:
 * Deter Form - Can use a Bonus Action to transform the sword into a defensive broad sword, provides a significant bonus to AC and a corresponding significant decrease to hit.
 * Devour Form - Can use a Bonus Action to transform the sword into an offensive mode with an extended critical hit range. When in this mode and Marigold crits, the sword literally tries to eat the target.
 * Eyes of the Reaver - A limited use skill to see ghosts

Quick Session Recaps

 * Session 1 : Some Anime Shit Goes Down at the Church of Creation - As Marigold is taking her Paladin Oath to Asgaroth in the Church of Creation megachurch, a black and bloody wave bleeds off of a horrified Marigold into the baptismal fountain, across the stage and into the large crowd. Her once loving father David Mourninglight, orders a despondently confused Marigold jailed in the dungeon with no sympathy. In her cell below a mysterious, sinister creature speaks in her mind and a long sword made of bone, Devour's Edge, cracks its way out of her right arm. With newfound powers and a monstrous sword that hungers for death, Marigold flees from the pursuing church deacons. Her best friend Chuck comes to her aid-- and Marigold ends the first session unconscious, but knowing that the strange creature which spoke to her knows her father and maybe seems to have struck a deal with him...
 * Session 2 : Chuck & Marigold Blow Shit Up in Austin - Chuck watches as bone creature kills the deacons and then hides in Marigold's body. She comes to, uses her new Warlock powers to disguise herself and they are able to escape the church basement. The church pursues a fleeing Marigold with guns and her father joins the chase in a helicopter. Marigold narrowly avoids being blown up by a bazooka shoot from her father and Chuck bails from the follow car, leaving behind a grenade for the pursing Paladins. Marigold magically disguises herself as flags down an RV to carjack, they leave the RV in Garfield ,TX and set out southwards on foot..
 * Session 3: The Only Things Blown Were Chuck & Marigold's Minds - The trio steals an unlocked Nissan Ultima 2237 from an RV parking lot and drive to New Orleans. Chuck & Marigold do some shopping & meet some of Ash's friends. They visit Dementia, Ash's aunt, and learn that Marigold is cursed because of a deal her greedy father made for power, money and position-- this pact is what provides her with her magic and the bone sword. Dementia gifts the party with the Eyes of the Reaver which allows them to see ghosts. They leave the magic shop and a ghost on the street asks Chuck for help...
 * Session 4: Some Messed Up Shit in a Cemetery - The party agrees to help ghost Ophelia find peace and accompany her to her mother's home. There they learn from descendant Otter that she had died 200 years prior. An ill fated love with a Tabaxi and a betrayal still haunt the family and Otter is not in a forgiving mood. Ash, Chuck & Goldie head to the cemetery where Ophelia's mother was buried in a last effort to help her find peace. In the cemetery a group of men in tight silver armor appear and attempt to take Ophelia's soul. Chuck and Marigold rush to her defense-- Chuck uses new Oathbreaker skills to scare the attackers and deals some serious damage to the now incised ghost of Ophelia. Marigold's sword scores a punishing hit during the battle and eats one of the attackers whole, to everyone's shock. They kill all but one of the attackers and approach him for answers...
 * Session 5: Additional Messed Up Cemetery Shit, Then Dinner - The surviving combatant reveals that the silver dressed individuals are worshipers of Bahamut and hope to "prevent the souls of the corrupted from feeding demons in hell". They let the man live, only to be attacked by more silver suited individuals as he scurries away. Ash brandishes some suspiciously non-cleric powers during the fight and Marigold's sword reveals a new form-- a skeletal dog that dashes to attack foes at a distance. The pair collects some much needed shards and make the long trek back to Dementia's home. Dementia offers them comfort and a hearty meal when they arrive but immediately readies for combat when she learns that at least one member of the Platinum Knights escaped alive...
 * Session 6: Chuck is Dumb & Dementia Fucks Up A Bunch of Silver Dudes - Dementia, Ash, Chuck & Marigold emerge from the Bourbon Street shop as fifteen or more silver suited Platinum Knights surround them. Chuck and Goldie take to the roof for combat and Dementia pulls some serious magic, she ominously warns the group to be ready to run. Chuck at one point, pulls a real dumb stunt and jumps off the roof like a dingus and almost dies. Marigold runs clear of the impending destruction, Dementia saves Chuck's idiot ass just before bringing down a piece of the moon onto her shop and the many enemies...

Session 1: Some Anime Shit Goes Down at the Church of Creation
Marigold wakes up excited for the most important day of her young life, she is to be baptized in front of a crowd of thousands as a Paladin into the (mega) Church of Creation. At the massive, opulent church she greets her best friend Chuck Gilroy. He, already heaving taken his Paladin Oath, greets her fondly and wishes her the best. Marigold notices another of her church classmates sitting alone fervently praying -- Lexxander Nightgrass. They simply acknowledge each other and then Marigold goes along her way to find her father.

David Mourninglight, Marigold's father, is the head of the Church of Creation, he is a charismatic and physically massive human. They share a warm conversation before she leaves to prepare for the ceremony, beaming with pride from her father's praise. The time finally comes and Marigold steps on stage, her mother Sam beaming at her from the front rows. The crowd in the stadium sized church is massive and Marigold is so proud... but of course not for long!

On stage a black and bloody wave bleeds off of a horrified Marigold into the fountain around her. The dark ichor spills to cover the stage and into the front rows. A panicked and confused Marigold is locked in the church dungeon-- without a hint of sympathy from her father or other members of the church. In the dark basement, a mysterious creepy voice with frightening power begins to speak to Marigold in her mind and she finds herself unable to touch the symbol of Asgaroth without pain.

The unknown entity whispers to Marigold, demanding murder and uses her right arm to kill the deacon guarding her cell when she refuses. A giant sword made of bone cracks its way out of her right arm just in time for four guards come into Marigold's cell to kill her. The deacons find her standing in her cell terrified and confused holding Devour's Edge-- a magical and deadly sword made of bone that hungers for violence. Still unwilling to kill, she makes an Expeditious Retreat from her cell and dashes away into the maze of church hallways. She finds herself pursued by many church deacons bent on killing her, a lucky turn down the hallway and Marigold encounter's her friend Chuck.

Chuck, unwilling to abandon his friend, comes to her defense in the basement against the church. When Marigold goes down in battle the large sword of bone turns to a creepy protective coffin. A large bone creature emerges from the sword to kill all the pursuing deacons, unknown to the unconscious Marigold-- as Chuck looks on in shock.The session ends with Marigold unconscious, but knowing that the strange creature which spoke to her knows her father and maybe seems to have struck a deal with him...

Session 2: Chuck & Marigold Blow Shit Up in Austin
Chuck Gilroy looks on horrified as the sword, now in the shape of a skeletal creature demolishes the church deacons and then plunges back into Marigold's body. She comes to, having no memory of the sword's destruction. Marigold uses Mask of Many Faces, a newfound Warlock ability, to disguise herself as a different church member and the pair make it outside.

Chuck puts Marigold into the pickup truck of ally Ash (NPC), sends the car on its way and goes to join the ranks of the commando style Paladins dispatched to pursue and kill Marigold. He climbs into the pursuing car with three other church Paladins and they race after the fleeing truck and onto the highway. David Mourninglight, Marigold's once proud and affectionate father, joins the pursuit in a helicopter. Marigold shouts at Ash to slam on the breaks-- narrowly missing a likely death courtesy of the bazooka in her father's hands. Chuck successfully sabotages the rifle shots of fellow passengers in the pursuing car, and then pulls potentially the sickest move ever-- he bails from the high speed car just after pulling the pin on a found grenade and leaving it behind. Big kaboom, big damage, bye bye car and bye bye other church members. Ash comes to the pair's rescue with some clutch healing. Jumping out of moving cars, while awesome, is generally not recommended for health reasons.

Marigold resists being Banished by her furious father, and as they lock eyes from a distance anguish births rage in Marigold's heart-- a life of affection and support evaporated in a single afternoon. Chuck and Marigold land hits on the helicopter, but not enough damage to disable. David turns to Chuck, and names him an Oathbreaker and resurrects one of the charred Paladins to attack. The helicopter departs leaving Chuck, Marigold & Ash standing on the flaming wreckage of an Austin highway. Glamoured as a police officer, Marigold flags down an RV driven by a male Tiefling and Chuck knocks him out cold. They bring along the man when they notice a child in the back of the vehicle.

They drive the RV to Garfield, TX with plans to ditch the vehicle. After a brief skirmish Chuck locks the irate Tiefling in the RV leaving a sum of gold for the trouble and breaks off the key in the lock. Chuck considers traveling to Standing Rock to seek answers about the demonic forces in Marigold. Ash suggests that the pair could also head to New Orleans, where she has family, to seek similar knowledge.

Session 3: Where the Only Things Blown Were Chuck & Marigold's Minds
The extra detailed notes from Mel: Jessica & Chris 16 Apr 2021

Chuck and Marigold thank a furious Ash profusely for her help, after giving them hell she stars walking southwards angrily. At an RV camp ground they find an unlocked Nissan Ultima 2237, unattended with keys in the car-- it looks like someone has been living here. The trio drives to New Orleans, narrowly avoiding a run in with cops for speeding. Ash, while an excellent driver, doesn't have a license. In the car Chuck tries to use his magic in the car without thinking of Asgorath and is able to mend a pencil. He turns to Marigold in the back seat, takes her hand and performs Ceremony, Coming of Age -- he asks for the blessings of all gods as he does this-- a departure from their strict monotheistic upbringing. They feel uncomfortable at first asking for the blessing of many gods, but then they feel a sense of rightness.The trio arrive in New Orleans without further incident.

New Orleans is a city on stilts, some poor neighborhoods water filled. They park the stolen car near Cafe du Monde. Ash removes the license plates as Marigold, who has never left Austin before, stares awestruck at New Orleans. The pair head to jazz hall and adventure store The Vagabond. Inside Ash greets the piano, trumpet and clarinet player and then introduces them to Chuck and Marigold. Someone lets slip that he must be "that Chuck they heard about" which does not go unnoticed by Chuck and Marigold. The pair purchase some leathers and supplies from a large Black man named Abe-- Marigold's charming small talk gets them a great deal and a single diamond shard. The trio then heads to Bourbon Street in search of answers about Marigold's monstrous bone sword and her connection to the demonic.

They arrive at a magic and voodoo shop owned by Ash's aunt Dementia-- a stunning black woman with striking blue eyes, dark skin and a large afro dressed in a golden robe. They follow her to a back room decorated with iconography of all the gods. Dementia shares that Marigold has been touched by something very bad, something that only the god Revul the Reaver would consider good. Dementia, with permission, pulls the sword out of Marigold's back. Marigold is unable to read the words swirling on the bone sword.

Chuck stands by at the ready to intervene if Marigold is threatened, to his surprise Divine Sense reveals that Dementia shines with the light of divine, fiend and undead. Chuck comes closer to examine the sword in Marigold's hand. In Abyssal he is able to read the swirling runes Pride, Wrath, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Envy and Gluttony. Gifted with magic sight by Dementia, we can see the blue of Marigold's magic and the unexpected dull yellow color of Chuck's magic. Chuck asks why his magic is not the color he expected and Dementia calls him a chauvinist, a one dimensional sexist pig of the Asgorath church so it's fitting that his magic be the color of piss. Marigold rushes to defend him, but Chuck admits that he is not kind to everyone.

Dementia reveals that the sword Devour's Edge selected her father-- David Mourning Light. In a magic vision the party watches Marigold's father fighting hoards of demons, leading 5 Paladins through a dungeon. They encounter a 16ft tall horned demon, and when he companions lay slain David laughs smugly informs the demon he has been waiting for this moment. After a conversation in an unknown language Devour's Edge emerges from David's body and he says "If I do this, you'll give me the power I need? To be the head of the church? I'll have all the money and respect that I deserve." The demon offers him more. To which David immediately replies "Oh yes, tell me. Anything." The demon whispers that the deal has been done as David cries "No, no not my baby no!" Because of this deal Marigold is under the Curse of the 7 Sins and needs to somehow collect the other 6 to avoid her soul being eaten like her father.

Dementia grants the party the Eyes of the Reaver, which allows them to see spirits and bids them to explore the city. Chuck asks for a moment to talk to her in private and shares that he never truly believed his Paladin Oath and he needs to know what god he should follow. She tells him that he should not follow one god, instead to pray to the god that he needs in that moment. “''Time your prayers like you time the strike of your sword and you will be the paladin you wanted to be. You would be at once the oath keeper and oath breaker at the same time, that is your destiny''.” She gifts him with an onyx shard, with instructions to use only when there are no other options.

Ash, Chuck and Marigold go outside they now see ghosts and personal demons floating all over Bourbon St. Chuck notices one lonely female ghost floats by she realizes that Chuck can see her and whispers “Help me please.” in a haunted tone...