August Voortman
| Character Profile | |
| Name | August Voortman |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Pureblood |
| Class | Cleric |
| Age | 30 at time of joining |
| Religion | Sea God |
| Played By | Longpig |
Character Summary
August is an extremely devoted cleric of the Sea God. She is easily recognizable as such, since her devotion has lead her to weave bits of seaweed and driftwood into her hair, and wash her robes (and herself) only in seawater. She claims to have visions and to hear the voice of God, and has joined the Aberddu Adventures guild to bring greater glory to his name, and hopefully shepherd some souls into his mighty flock along the way!
August's History, as written by August
My name is August Voortman. This is all that remains of the person I was. My former family – mother, father, sister – must surely think me dead, and this is for the best. That woman is drowned, and the Sea God has made me strong. I have written this to tell others of how I was reborn, redeemed.
My former life was a shameful one, full of sin. I was promiscuous, and often drunk or dicing, or both; given to excess of all description. I was greedy and covetous of things I did not deserve. I committed despicable acts which tainted my very soul, with the excuse of duty and loyalty to my people. I was a coward, a tyrant, a slave.
I served in the Frisian navy – when such a thing still existed – quartermaster aboard the Duchess Elia. A proud ship – too proud, just as the sin-pitted nation that launched her. We had a few victories and thought ourselves the masters of the sea. What fools we were. When the waters turned against us, none were spared the fury of the Kraken.
The storm came out of nowhere, icy salt water flooding the deck and carrying off many of the crew before they could even begin to take in the sails. The ship spun like a child’s top as the waters took back all they gave. No one could bring Elia about, so fiercely did her wheel spin under the power of the tempest. Lightning struck the mast, and I saw it crush the captain against a rail, carrying off both his legs. Then there was another terrible echoing crack, and I was thrown from the deck, into the frigid, churning waters. Amid the frothing swells, I could see a low, black reef cutting a deep wound into the ship’s hull. Stinging rain pounded my face, blinding me. I could barely hear the screams over the sounds of the storm. I clung to a chunk of the hull as the sea turned into a grave around me. We were being punished for our sins, our pride. My body grew numb, beyond cold; and the waves pried my little raft from my weakening fingers. My arms seemed leaden, unresponsive, and no amount of willpower could keep my head above the water.
As I sank beneath the waves, I thought of all I had accomplished in my life, and what legacy I might leave behind, but there was nothing – nothing but vanity. I realized, as strength failed me, how foolish and futile my entire existence had been. What good had I done? What greater purpose had I served? I had helped to commit atrocities, in the name of purification. My soul was empty, and befouled.
Darkness swallowed me, and only the sea remained. It pressed insistently against my chest, my lungs screaming to let it in and end it all. Though I was still afraid, I opened my lips and drank deep of the Sea God’s blessing. It was over.
As my consciousness fled, however, I was granted a vision of the Sea God’s own watery halls, wherein His faithful servants are promised a place at his side. There they are feasted and celebrated forever, waited upon by the creatures of the sea – the glorious reward for a life of faith and service. I had heretofore only dimly recalled tales told of this afterlife by His clerics, but this was beyond what any mortal words could hope to describe…
When I awoke on the stony shore – I know not how much later – with seagrass in my hair and the taste of saltwater in my mouth, I knew at last what I was meant to do. I had been given a second chance, a new and godly life. The Sea God had taken me deep beneath the waves and drowned the worthless thing I was. I was reborn. What is dead can never die, but rises again, harder and stronger – and strong I have become.
The days stretched on beyond counting on that barren rock, but God provided for me, for all life comes from the sea. Many have forgotten this, and fail to give God His due, but those who follow the Kraken know that we all come from the sea, and to the sea we must return.
Perhaps it was years before the ship came. It does not matter. I was sustained by prayer, by faith. I lived in constant contact with God, next to His holy sea. I knew always that when it was time, he would bring a ship to me. The ship was the Alayne, a merchant trader out of Albion, making for Aberddu. I had been brought far indeed from Frisia, but it did not matter. I had, and still have, no desire to return.
The captain of the Alayne had retained the services of one of God’s priests, Willow Garrell, and so I was finally able to share my tale of redemption, and my visions, with another godly person. We prayed together, and she blessed me with salt water. When we arrived at Aberddu she brought me to the Sea God’s temple, that I might fulfill my destiny and become one of his holy priests. For He has raised me up from the depths with eyes to see, ears to hear, and a voice to spread his word. I have but started on the path, but I have vowed to be His prophet, and bring His truth to those who have forgotten. I will be an example, a light to shine the way to redemption. The sea is in my hair, salt crackles in my robes, and I am clean, clean at last.
