Vezika Larskin

Art by Iinneo

**Vezika Larskin** is a member of the *Into the Shadow's Breach* campaign. A former smuggler, Vezika was met with tragedy after a shipwreck resulted in the deaths of her family. Bereft of family and purpose, Vezika turned to the Sentinels to begin anew. She brings a rare vibrancy to the oppressive gloom of Asmodia, along with some mean martial arts. She is played by Naomi.

## Description

### Appearance

Vezika is a particularly small Lotorite Raccling with very light grey fur that darkens at her extremities and along her tail. A pair of small white dots can be seen by each of her large green eyes. Vezika has also tied up part of her fur on the right side of her head into a braid, held in place by a yellow bead.

Vezika's outfit consists of a light orange tunic with the straps by an embroidered knot resembling a four leaf flower. A red sash is wrapped around her waist, with a set of large aquamarine beads at the ends. Beneath this she wears a pair of white harem pants tied around her ankles by red string.

### Personality

Vezika is a bright and bubbly woman that contrasts the pervasive darkness of the Ruined Ark. She is friendly and good-natured when talking to others, a trait that even warms the heart of the otherwise aloof Vanya De Basho. Though Vezika might seem innocent and gentle, she is fiercely protective of those she deems friends and more than capable of using violence. When she believed her friends were in danger from Cassius Gore, she felled the Trollblood with a righteous fury. Once her foe was felled, she reverted back to her cheerful self.

Vezika has a particularly love of food and drink, eagerly pilfering seconds and thirds during the celebration. However, her favorite thing to consume is alcohol. Vezika can easily put away several tankards worth of grog and expresses keen interest in the Beastblood Mikhail came across. Her love of alcohol is so potent that it became an integral part of her Maneuver Arm, to Cheetle's confusion.

## History

### Background

Vezika Larskin's ancestors came to Io from the mystical Veil of Faewunder. Vezika was eventually born into the Larskin clan as the runt of the family. Not much is known about her early life. However, the Larskin clan, for whatever reason, got involved in criminal activities, primarily smuggling. Vezika was also heavily involved in the smuggling process, which involved transporting food and spices by sailing ship across the remains of the Great Journey. During her criminal career, Vezika became enamored with alcohol in all its forms and make it her mission to sample beverages from all over Io.

### Tragedy at Sea

When Vezika was still young, she and her family were smuggling their wares when they found themselves caught in a violent storm. The ship they were sailing proved to be unable to withstand the wind and waves and started sinking. As the ship went under, all of the Larskin clan aboard were drowned. Vezika alone survived, though how is currently unknown. Vezika managed to make it to land safely, though she was now without friends or family.

### Joining the Sentinels

With no family left to turn to, Vezika had to look elsewhere for purpose. To this end, she decided to join the ranks of the Sentinels, an organization devoted to protecting Io from the alien and the extraplanar. Upon enlisting, Vezika made her way to the town of Colkirk in the Southern Gate Breach region of the ruined Ark, where she was to be trained as a Shadowhunter. Vezika then spent the next four years training as an apprentice, learning how to combat the devils that skulked forth from the Shadow's Breach. Upon completing her training, Vezika and four other novices were tasked with hunting down a Gatekeeper, a powerful Shadow that would be found at the edge of Shadow's Breach itself. Only upon completing this mission could Vezika become a Shadowhunter in full and earn her commission.

## Mechanics

### Powers and Abilities

#### Monk Abilities

* *Unarmored Defense*
* *Martial Arts*
* *Ki* (9)
	+ *Flurry of Blows*
	+ *Step of the Wind*
	+ *Patient Defense*
* *Unarmored Movement*
* *Deflect Missile*
* *Slowfall*
* *Extra Attack*
* *Stunning Strike*
* *Ki-Empowered Strikes*
* *Evasion*
* *Stillness of Mind*
* *Unarmored Movement Improvement*
* Drunken Master abilities
	+ *Bonus Proficiencies*
	+ *Drunken Technique*
	+ *Tipsy Sway*

### Notable Items

* *Tavernmaster's Staff* (Quarterstaff)
	+ Properties: Flaming, Booze Hound, Finesse
	+ Once per turn, you may deal an additional 1d6 fire damage to a creature you hit with this weapon.
	+ When you strike a creature with this weapon, you may choose to push the creature 5ft away from you
	+ You may load alcohol into the staff, and release it whenever you make an attack. When you do so, the creature hit by this is slowed until the end of your next round.
* *Cloak of Protection*

## Etymology

"Vezika" is a Serbo-Croatian word meaning "elm", a deciduous tree from the genus *Ulmus*.

"Larskin" appears to be an original name created for the Ioverse Setting.