Taylor Hebert, V.O.A Build!
Character Sheet!
Name: Taylor Hebert
Skill Set: Vale of Aldur Build
Background: Taylor joined Vortex in exploring a previously sealed off timeline that had just become accessable. At that stage in their journey, it had been roughly seven years since she had left Brockton Bay. They had been mostly world hopping after leaving Ba Sing Se. However, their time in the Vale of Aldur ended up being the longest single commitment of the overall journey, lasting a good fifty years.
They entered into an information exchange with the Disciples of the God, Aldur, who had been running the practical side of an ancient war for seven thousand plus years. However, their first obligation was research, and they were very interested in what information Vortex could and would provide. He captured the attention of the Sorcerers, and provided inspiration for any number of practical issues, such as water filtration and sewer design.
The Sorceresses, however, took Taylor in hand. They viewed her education as lopsided and shortsighted. After all, any man could use a sword or throw a punch, but few could work in the background like a woman. It was an attitude Taylor never managed to break them from.
After confirming there was a cultural misunderstanding and Vortex was not abusing their Teacher/Student relationship, Polgara started showing Taylor the subtle tricks that she had been denied due to a lack of instructors. It was not the easiest arrangement, but they both learned a lot by the end of it.
Please note that, like many things involved with Interdimensional Travel, location matters. Vortex directed Taylor away from techniques that would require the presence of dimension specific elements to work. If it's not listed, he probably did not bother with it. Nor did Polgara.
Skill Sets:
Will and the Word: The local magical system used by Sorcerers and Sorceresses, it allowed a practitioner to impose their Will upon the World. At the most basic it's application was practically unlimited with the following exceptions.
1. Will cannot be used to destroy. Destruction is counter to the purpose of the Universe, which is creation. Attempting this will generally cause a backlash that obliterates the practitioner.
2. If you cannot picture the result, then you cannot release your Will safely. This is generally offset with study. To put it in perspective, Belgarath, the First Disciple of Aldur spent about ten years exclusively studying grass.
3. The power of Will is finite. If you lack the necessary power to complete a technique, then it will drain a practitioner to death. As a point of order, only one practitioner has ever successfully raised the dead. The circumstances were EXTREMELY unusual, and generally not considered risking for casual use.
Unfortunately, like many such skills, the Will and the Word was not something that could be taught. Either you possessed the power or you did not. As such, Taylor could not use these skills herself. However, Polgara had been around for over three thousand years. As such, she had more than a few tricks to provide.
Understanding Time: A lesson shared by most of the Disciples of Aldur was the proper understanding of Time. By fully internalizing the subjective nature of Time, a person could preserve their life for as long as they need to continue living. As such, it should be noted that Taylor's physical stats were preserved at a range between twenty two and twenty four ever since.
It should also be noted, however, that practitioners of this skill sometimes have trouble growing beyond their nature beforehand. Part of enforcing your will involves reaffirming your nature and what effectively makes you, you. One of the more extreme examples of this behavior was the fact that it took Polgara the Sorceresses over three thousand years to admit to herself that she loved her father at all. Before then, she was constantly locked in denial despite her own growth as a person.
Diplomacy: Taylor's prior experience with the practice was limited to pissing contests and punching the other guy harder than they could punch back. Polgara, on the other hand, had run multiple kingdoms and royal families with a look or a word. Subtlety was practically her middle name. Between the two, they developed a style that has worked well for Taylor ever since.
Feminine Secrets: These particular lessons occured multiple times over the decades, but we're always held in a private little sanctuary on the far side of the Vale. The knowledge learned there was kept VERY close to the chest, although Taylor did tend to blush quite a bit when everything was done.
Medical First Aid: While considered crude by even Earth Bet's standards, and involving a number of plants that did not exist off their world, Polgara was more than willing to provide a comprehensive primer on general first aid. Taylor ended up providing some very interesting ideas that allowed her teacher to investigate new and exciting parts of the medical field.
Horseback Riding: While mostly confined to the Vale during their time on this world, Taylor did indulge in a bit of exploring. Given the lack of vehicles, Polgara arranged for a nice horse to be delivered by the Algar tribesmen. Her loving steed gave her days a sense of adventure and riding was nearly as great as flying. When Storm passed away from old age, she could never bring herself to have him properly replaced.
Combat specific strategies were considered far too simple to be useful. Although some basic techniques for hiding weapons may have been discussed during the aforementioned Feminine Secret lessons.
Associates:
Polgara the Sorceresses
Polgara entered into their relationship assuming she would automatically be entitled to her customary respect. Taylor disabused her of that fairly quickly. Despite this, she actually grew quite fond of the headstrong girl from another world and the feelings were returned. Polgara did not try to mother Taylor, understanding her concerns about honoring the memory of Annette Hebert. She had similar feelings concerning her twin sister Beldaran. However, Polgara still managed to fill a number of positions that Taylor had never really experienced, such as Aunt or Older Cousin. By the end of their lessons, there was quite a bit of mutual respect and love.
Poledra the Wolf
Poledra did not quite approve of Taylor and Vortex being so close to her family. They were "other," and did not fit into her normal definitions like everyone else did. However, she could see the pain that Taylor had endured, and was disgusted by the fact that her pack leader, and extended family had cast her away or failed her so blatantly. She became a distant supportive Grandmother figure that helped fill a hole that Taylor had trouble even realizing was there half the time. While they never got on the same wavelength, Poledra and Taylor grew loyal to one another.
Durnik and the Twins
Polgara's family was warm, comforting and supportive in all the right ways. Despite this, it took years before Taylor felt truly comfortable in their household. However, Durnik was Polgara's equal for a reason, and acted as a supportive ear whenever Taylor needed his advice. The twins ended up acting like a set of siblings, even as they grew into adulthood. Taylor thinks of them fondly. They remember the mysterious visitor that will hopefully return to the supper table one of these days.
Belgarath the Sorcerer
Belgarath did not pay much attention to their younger guest for quite some time. However, one day his instincts warned him of just how dangerous the girl could be with the right teachers and he stuck his nose in. Dealing with such an educated, driven girl threw him a bit, but he did manage to gain quite a bit of information about their travels and experiences. He grew fond enough of Taylor, bit was encouraged to stay out of things as much as possible by his Daughter and his Wife. Mostly cordial, which is not bad when you consider the players involved.
Belgarion, King of Riva
Belgarion decided to make a journey to the Vale once word of the strangers reached his ears. He spoke with both at length, and had some surprising anecdotal advice about heroics to pass on to Taylor. However, Belgarion prioritized his conversations with Vortex, who had valuable experience with transitioning into peace time market places and the like.
Ce'Nedra, Queen of Riva
Ce'Nedra was a difficult experience for Taylor to deal with. A beautiful, vivacious, spoiled from birth, red head who was beloved by all. Taylor removed herself from the situation post haste, childhood flashbacks running full tilt. Unfortunately for her peace of mind, Ce'Nedra was frightfully curious about the strange girl and what she knew. The constant questions and attempts at avoiding interaction nearly resulted in a fight before Polgara intervened. The two were taken elsewhere for a firm lecture that lasted three days. By the end of it, both were talking, although in a subdued fashion. However, despite being a pushy little princess, the red head was just as stubborn as Taylor at her worst. It took a few years, but they eventually got respectfully friendly.
Prince Geran
A nice, quiet boy constantly being followed around by a wolf companion. He had a crush when he first laid eyes on the exotic woman, and needed to have a few, long talks with Taylor before understanding that they could never be. However, he did bounce a few ideas off of her for being a king. Some of that advice was giving his parents headaches decades later.
Beldaran the Second
An absolutely adorable, determined Princess of the Rivan line. Taylor had to admit the girl was precious, but was not expecting her to develop an even stronger sense of curiosity than their mother. By the time that Taylor left, Beldaran had developed opinions that no one could budge, family or no.
Eriond, New God of the Angaraks
They met only once. Taylor has refused all requests to share the details of that meeting.