Helena Pasternak

Arrival on Gateway – June 504

It might have seemed odd, the sudden appearance of so many Purists on Gateway, a faith that has seen itself mostly contained to Ethos. Not only did the Soranus siblings arrive, but cousins did as well, all naming themselves Purists, though of varying degrees. Helena was overwhelmed by the city and it took her a great deal of time to adjust from a life of near-solitude to one where she need be social. It was a difficult process to the middle sister for she was never as outgoing as her elder siblings.

The Necromancy Council – November 504

It came as a great surprise to this wallflower sister when she was asked to sit on the Empress’s council to discuss and debate the laws to be established on necromancy. Athar had loudly spoken out against the practice and it was known that the entire family was against it, yet the Empress chose a Purist to sit among the others. Not just a Purist, but Helena, who was more shocked than anyone that she was asked. But for all that Athar spoke against necromancy, it might seem odd that Helena never once demanded that the council keep the practice outlawed. She did not speak much to others about what went on within that council, save for what confidences she held with her brother and sister.

A Winter’s Kidnapping - Late December 504

An unexpected invitation from the Empress (or so the message said) turned into an unwelcome adventure across the waters and to the harsh wintery landscape of Guardian. Along with Lord Phoenix Forester, Helena was kidnapped from the city. They were taken by boat to some rugged and forgotten shore of Guardian and it is said that the pair of them eventually made their way to Gwencalon, where they were met by grateful family members. As with most things she has not spoken much on the event, save with her family and closest friends. The kidnappers were hunted, but the men responsible have never been found.

Pilgrimage to Ethos – May 505

After nearly a year on Gateway Helena decided that she needed to return home and spend some time at the Temple in Ethos and in the company of Providence’s priests and priestesses. She was away for a few weeks, all contact cut off as she focused on her faith and herself. What manner of exploration she involved herself in is still unknown, even to her family, but it is said that she returned changed. There was, of course, the signs of fasting for the lady looked pale and thinner. But there were other changes as well, most importantly the fact that the lady had warmed a little. While she will never be like her elder sister, some of her chill was left back on Ethos and she’s become more agreeable to being around others.

A Command to Heal – June 505

Helena was summoned to the infirmary to find the Keeper there with Miss Vaia Wendt, who had suffered an attack by the First Knight, killing the unborn child in her womb. The Keeper entrusted the care of Miss Wendt to Helena and the Soranus family, for the woman required more healing than the infirmary could provide. Miss Wendt was provided a very comfortable room, but she was also kept under close watch at all times. There were concerns for Miss Wendt’s safety and an incident over the gift of honey made that concern quite clear. Eventually visitors were allowed and later still Miss Wendt was permitted trips outside of the suite. However, as various troubles befell the Soranus family, including the sickness that kept Helena quarantined, Miss Wendt was moved from their care and became the ward of Princess Eleanor.

Betrothal – December 505

After a rather lengthy period of consideration and debate, the betrothal of Lady Helena to Lord Phoenix Forester was announced. One might wonder what the Foresters want with Purists or, for that matter, what the Soranus want with the notorious Fielders, but an agreement was reached. It is clear though that the betrothal is strictly political. The betrothed are rarely seen in each other’s company and there looks to be no affection between then at all. The time for the wedding came and went without any announcements made but it seems the betrothal was canceled. Relations between the two families remains strong though, seen especially in the fact that Lady Helena has been living with the Duke and Duchess of Green Fields.

Sleeping Sickness – December 505

It was an innocent greeting to welcome her cousin, Tiege home, but that brief contact would be enough to leave Helena ill, though she would not know the cause of the sickness for some time to come. While Tiege fell into a coma-like state Helena, and others who had come into contact with him, started feeling excessively tired. There was concern that a mere touch would leave others sick as well and eventually Helena was quarantined in one of the university labs with Addison Brandivere, Daeva Tremere, Baroness Destine, and Mathis Cardiff until a cure of some kind could be found. A small stone in Miss Brandivere’s possession turned out to be the last component needed by master alchemist Coleridge Eisenhart, but it proved to be only enough to cure one person. The baroness was offered it first and then Helena when the baroness refused. Helena likewise refused, not feeling it right that she be the one to be saved while others suffered, including her cousin who was the worst off. In the end the potion was given to Tiege and in his recovery the others recovered as well.

Beyond the Barrier – January 506

Not long after Athar’s horrific injuries kept him locked away and in some kind of magical stasis, Helena left Gateway and traveled beyond the barrier with Ravelle, Tiege, Joshua and Leon. It was her first trip outside of the Five Isles and were it not for the somber reason for the trip she might have been more excited for it. The journey kept them from home for weeks and Helena speaks little to nothing about where they went or what occurred there. While Helena has always been the cautious sort, those that know her well would note that she became even more so upon her return. The only joy she might speak of regarding the trip is in Athar’s return to his former self, for that was the reason for the trip. Anything else tends to be avoided or ignored.

Bandits in the Woods – March 506

A casual family picnic on the edge of the woods turned into disaster when bandits descended on the party. Baroness Crucible arranged a small picnic for members of the family, whoever could attend. Ravelle, Leon, and Helena joined in the gathering and it seemed to be a lovely afternoon, giving them time to catch up with each other. But some noises in the woods led to a group of men descending on the nobles and their guards, though only one man actually showed himself. There was the usual request for their money and valuables and just when it seemed that the bandits would retreat, having gotten what they came for, bolts flew and the three women were left dangerously injured. Ysora suffered a wound to the leg, Ravelle one to her arm and Helena took a bolt to her side. A lengthy stay in the infirmary was followed by a longer recovery at home.

A Healer to Mists – June 506

The Purists’s dislike for necromancy is well-known, so it might have come as a surprise that Helena traveled to Mists with Master Lucian Acinthas shortly after the Breath of Imperius, which had disappeared, returned to the isle. A call had gone out for healers and of course the lady answered the call. But why she traveled with Master Acinthas seems to still be a bit of a mystery. It is said they traveled to remote villages to help those who had not seen any aide. After a rather disastrous run-in with some distrustful villagers they ended up at Starling Keep, offered care and hospitality by Angiel Winter, Lady Regent of Arden Vale, which included transportation back to Polaris Port.

A Winter Festival - January 507

In November 506 the Soranus sisters were asked to host a Winter Festival, a request given to Baron Ethos by the Keeper. The festival was a week-long event which began with a lavish New Year's Ball held in a magnificent ice palace crafted by Princess Kali of Khelek. Events throughout the week included a game of Flags and Fortresses, a city-wide scavenger hunt, a snow sculpture contest, a relay swim in the ocean, and a play-acting game at the Isle of Ale. Charity events abounded during the festival as well and as always, the citizens of the Five Isles proved themselves to be quite generous.

Exiled - January 507

At the last event of the Winter Festival a barrel of soured wine was opened, causing Lady Karyleine and two attendants to pass out. After assuring the crowd that all would be seen to, Helena headed into the tent to see to her sister, who was being seen to by Baroness Emerald Hollow. A short time later, Helena left with her cousin, Tiege Soranus, and two seemed to have disappeared that night. The next day Athar, Karyleine, Leon, and Linette went missing as well as the religious and political tensions in Ethos and in the Purist faith began. Linette was released on Tyr and returned home, while the location of the rest of the Purists was unknown. Six weeks later, in early March 507, Athar, Helena, Karyleine, and Leon arrived at Sentinel Spire, brought home from Tyr by Willam and Marek Paggion, aboard the ship El Cazador. Castaways Gallery

An Imperial Appointment - June 507

In what was likely a surprise to some, Lady Helena put forth an application for the recently opened position of Imperial Chamberlain. The interview period included a great deal of work during the Spring Festival in Seal Cove, but she dove into it eagerly, intent on proving that she could do all that was asked of her. The Keeper offered her the position and while she is still new to the position but she is already strongly devoted to this new path in her life.

A Sister Lost - January 508

The New Year had just passed when Helena was awoken early on the morning of January 4th with unbelievable news that her sister Ravelle was dead. She waited with others of her family in the infirmary until she was permitted to see her sister and witness the truth of it for herself. To learn that Ravelle took her own life with a drug well known to her (and all Dragons) called Honor's Chase was an unexpected blow, but Helena strives to keep herself together for the sake of her family.

Kidnapper to Leader of the Faith? - January 508

After the family attended the funeral for Ravelle in Ethos it was Lord Parsifal, her husband, that stood forward and took command of the Purist faith until such a time that Baron Ethos returns to his people. Some certainly grumble about how this man who once sought to ruin the Soranus family has risen so far in it and in the Faith, but Helena was seen standing at his side in support as he spoke to the faithful on the matter of the tightening of the Purist faction. Some in the temple the day before the Baronet's words whisper that the lady was seen weeping at the feet of the man known as Eremis and was eventually led away by him. What happened from the time she disappeared until the time she stood alongside Lord Parsifal is unknown but some certainly may wonder why she now stands beside her former kidnapper.

Spider Bite - July 508

It isn't unusual to see the Chamberlain out and about, fetching this or that for the Keeper of the Empress. It is what she does, after all. But most times she returns back to her office with the requested item in hand. So it should not seem at all unusual that on a warm day in late July the Chamberlain was seen exiting the bakery with a box, likely a requested treat for His Majesty. Nor would it be unusual that she decides to visit the beach for a few minutes before returning to the castle. No, the only thing unusual about that very ordinary day is that the Imperial Chamberlain never made it back to her office, nor is there any sign of Giles or Caleb, who had gone with her.

When she did turn up, it was in an inn in Smithfield with her sister Karyleine and Duke Draught. She as no idea how she got there. When she returned she seemed to have few answers for what happened, but those close to her might have noticed that she now wore a mark of a silvery spider on the inside of her left wrist. It never seemed to pain her and things went on as normal. It wasn't until an unusual attack that sent her and her sister to the infirmary that the spider mark disappeared from her skin.

An Imperial Mission - October 508

In the company of her cousins Joshua Dhaval and Innocentia Candide, Helena left Gateway in mid-October aboard an Imperial vessel, said to be headed out beyond the Barrier. Also joining them was Venator Marek Paggion and Sir Bryce Macavoy, one of the Imperial Knights. They would be far out to sea, well past the Barrier, when destruction hit Gateway. When they did finally return, Helena was all but carried off the ship. Whatever happened required her to use a crutch for a few weeks following. It is also said that the ship they traveled on returned to Guardian in rough condition, as if the winds had tried to rip it apart. Not surprisingly, Helena's first stop after returning home was to see Rourke.

A Miracle in the Temple - April 509

Word spread quickly one evening in April that something magical happened at the Temple of Providence, so magical that some are calling it a miracle. A light so impossibly bright appeared before priests and the faithful at the base of the statue of Providence and when it faded, there was left behind a body. Not dead, but apparently sleeping. The robed figure was hurried into the private quarters of the temple and a short time later Baron Regent Parsifal and Lady Chamberlain Helena were seen hurrying into those same private quarters, remaining for quite some time. Over the next few days Helena would spend most of her time in the temple, but regretfully telling others the nature of the 'miracle' could not be discussed.

Providence's Blessing - September 509

Because, apparently, Helena has absolutely *nothing* else to do, she's put together this year's Providence's Blessing festival. The week-long festival celebrates all of Providence's blessings, including the rise of the first Keeper, who saved us from slavery. Each isle hosted its own day of events to show off the best of that isle and the festival ends with an inter-isle competition, all in fun of course. Helena participated in many events, but the most dramatic event proved to be the Mistian Duel where, in a duel against Charlotte Noir, a spell backfired on her, causing Helena to fall from the pedestal, hitting her head on the way down. Thankfully she was not badly hurt and was able to host the finale feast the next day.

The Passing of a Keeper - October 509

It was late in the evening when Helena was all but pulled from her rooms by a knight to escort her down the the Imperial Healer's office, only to find her Keeper dying, past the point of possibly being saved. In those agonizing moments she knew were coming, Helena said farewell to Rourke, was married to First Knight Mihovil Pasternak, and the two were named Regents of the Empire of Gateway, the last act of a dying Emperor. She kept vigil with the knights over his body that night, for as long as they would allow, and the next day saw the dawning of a new Empire, one without Rourke Caprios.

A Mendicant Journey - March 510

Along with a number of her fellow Purists, Helena left for Draught to assist in the rebuilding of a ruined village west of Grace, Ethos. They would journey with and like as the Mendicant Brothers do; a order within the Purist faith where all worldly possessions are given up and one travels with only the clothing they wear and a copy of the Libris Sancti. They were there for only a day before an odd confrontation in the village had they all riding back to Ethos, led, it is said, by an elderly Purist priest.

Trip to Hennetag - June 510

For her fourth trip outside the barrier, Helena is invited by Adalbert and Caprice to join them in Nimmin for their wedding ceremonies there. No doubt there are to be some political connections made as well, she is a Regent of the Empire after all and the Chancellor of Hennetag just happens to be Adalbert's brother. She was gone for two weeks and by all accounts things went well. A good deal of time was spent with the Chancellor of Hennetag and his family, as well as touring around Nimmin and attending the various wedding ceremonies for the happy couple. She returned with a few more crates than she left with, including one that she insisted required extra-special care on its transport from the ship to the castle.

Winter Festival Poisoning - January 511

At the end of the year's Winter Festival, Helena hosted the Ice and Fire Ball at the city's Grand Theater. The festivities, which included a murder mystery game, were cruelly interrupted when a real murder was found to have occurred during the game. The victim was Genevieve Fenway, an assistant to the Paisian Princess Melissande. In the months that followed the trail of three Draughtians was uncovered. Two of them were killed in the ambush to capture them, but one was brought to Gateway for trial.

Disturbance in the Tower - June 511

At first everything seems well, but slowly a few rumors start circulating and they focus on the Imperial Tower. Visitors are turned away, there's talk of knights stabbing other knights, supposedly Prince Jordan has returned, and Helena, who is a rather public Regent, had not been seen for a few days. Her absence at the temple has especially been noted. When she does finally emerge she speaks almost nothing, and when she does it is only in blessings. A rather emotional breakdown of the Regent is witnessed in the temple as she knelt before her cousin, Leon Maritus, and embraced him. Later that evening more rumors speak of a figure on fire, leaping from the Imperial Tower and disappearing mid-fall. Helena is not seen in public after that, not until early to mid July and both times in the company of an unfamiliar blond-haired warrior.

A New Appointment - August 511

After over two months of confinement, Helena's release comes with an Imperial Proclamation from the Crown Prince. Duke and Duchess Draught have been named Ambassadors to Tyr and Helena is relieved from her duties as Imperial Regent and is thus named Lady Protector of Draught in the absence of the ducal couple. At the end of the month, at the coronation of the young Prince Jordan, Helena is also named Lady Castellan of Gateway, overseeing the running and upkeep of the castle.

Elixir Vitae Getaway - March 512

After three years of rebuilding and renovating, the Sinclair brothers of Elixir Vitae re-open Geyser Springs Resort, a hot springs establishment that caters to the well-to-do. They requested some assistance from the Lady Protector in throwing a Grand Re-Opening event, opening their doors to everyone, not just those with the necessary coin.

Attack in the Tower - May 512

On May 12th, Helena was rushed to the infirmary, bleeding from a stab wound to the left shoulder and another in her right thigh. Now, stabbings aren't uncommon in the city, but the Lady Protector was brought from Draught Tower, a place one would assume would be safe. There has been no official announcement made of what happened, but some in the infirmary claim that guard, when asked, claimed it was Tyreans. A few days after her surgery, the Lady Protector was moved back to Draught Tower and now 'enjoys' the company of an Imperial guard to watch over her.

Infection - June 512

In early June it comes out that there's a strange infection spreading rapidly and Helena is one of those that contracted it. Starting with a fever, the symptoms got odder and darker and Helena was seen doing things not in keeping with her usual self. There was the incident of wearing a rather shocking gown in the temple and then rumors of an attack on the beach by a furious Admiral over some man named Vassago, a fight that left Helena with bruises and puncture wounds on her neck, as well as having to have her shoulder re-stitched. Following her release from the infirmary, she began spending much of her time within the Hedge Maze. She was one of the first given the cure, or rather she offered to be one of the first, to serve as a guinea pig. Once she recovered enough from the cure she put herself to work in the Clinic, helping to deliver the cure to others, and all the unpleasantness that comes with such a task. In fact, she insisted on helping.

A Goal Finally Reached - September 512

At the end of August Helena traveled to Draught, but instead of a lengthy visit to Ethos, she headed to Healer's Hall in Amphorae to the College of Healing. After a quick tour of the place in her role as Lady Protector but soon took on the role of a Healer Apprentice and stood before a panel of judges to finally take her tests for Journeyman. Master Healer Jovana Yates acted as her accuser, it is said. Helena was known to have been working regularly in the infirmary when she had first arrived on Gateway with her family, but set it aside when she became Imperial Chamberlain. But now, finally apparently she felt it was time to finish what she had started many years ago and those that run in such circles would have heard that the Lady Protector can now add Journeyman Healer to her list of titles.

Another Journey Beyond the Barrier - October 512

At the end of October Helena heads out with her younger sister and three of her cousins on what looks to be a Purist excursion outside the barrier. Little information is given as to the destination, but the word is that they are going to be gone for at least a month. After a stop at Tyrendel it's said that the trip took them far south and on the way back there was a stop in the country of Alness, where they were able to participate in the Festival of the Trees. It's safe to assume that some shopping was done along the way.