Name: Cassia Vesellos
Civil Rank: None
Military Rank: Commander, Parthenon Navy
Birthplace: Talonton, base of Mt. Emon, Parthenon
Citizenship:Parthenon

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

External Distinguishing Marks:
Subject has many prominent scars earned during a career full of combat. Amongst the more severe scars are a slash wound to her left thigh, a puncture wound from an arrow out both ends of her right forearm, a deep puncture scar on her right calf, and a gash along the left side of her chest from another arrow. Most notable of all, is the cruel scar along her right side she states was the result of a near-fatal blow by a treasonous Dwarf (Dargus Dirtdagger) with an axe.

Internal Distinguishing Marks:
Healed internal wounds include torn ligaments in her right knee and broken ribs which were the result of a fall from the back of her Giant Eagle, Akilina, prior to purchasing the Ring of Featherfall. Her left Achilles tendon shows signs of being severed and magically healed. "I was kicked by a monk with a blade attached to his boot."

Physical Examination Results:
Subject is in perfect health. Her vision and hearing are both acute, and she has exceptional speed, coordination and reaction times. Endurance tests show that she has vast reserves of energy. In all, Subject is physically very solid if not remarkably strong.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Abbreviated History:

Subject born in the small town of Talonton at the base of Mt. Emon on the continent of Parthenon. Born with the "Mark of the Eagle," white hair and amber eyes, subject was awarded privileged status within her community, and was permitted to attempt the "Rite of the Rider" at age 12. This mountain-scaling rite secured her a place among the elite of her people, those allowed to bond with the Giant Eagles of Mt. Emon. Subject spent months in the nest of a pair of the Giant Eagles, who cared for her along with their own nestling, Akilina, and when she returned to the town, it was on the Eagle's back. At age 16, she left Talonton after her brother Mikhos died after a fall during his Rite. Subject traveled for a year, and at age 17, joined the adventuring group, Stenpol's Guardians. Subject traveled with the group until it disbanded tragically when she was 24. Subject returned home to visit her family and discovered that her father and his eagle had vanished. Subject spent a year trying to ascertain what had happened, but turned up nothing. Subject joined the military at age 26.

Detailed History:

[Examiner's note: Subject reported wearing a Ring of Truth, and demonstrated its function for me. During the course of the interview, I wore the ring with her permission.]

For an adventurer, subject reports an unusually contented childhood. This was in part due to being accorded special status by her people, as one born with the "Mark of the Eagle." Subject states that her white hair and amber eyes are a sign from Zeus that she is one of the privileged few spiritually fit to bond with the White Eagles of Mt. Emon. As a result, she was prepared by the cult priestesses for her future as a servant of Zeus, and by the Eagle Riders (of which her father was also a member) for her membership amidst their ranks.

As prepared as the cult would permit, subject chose to undertake the dangerous "Rite of the Rider" on her twelfth birthday. After a ritual meal of raw meat, and a spiritual cleansing by the cult priestesses, subject was dressed in a ceremonial robe and led to the sheer cliff under the nests of the Giant Eagles. Although forbidden to touch the cliff prior to the ceremony, years of meditation under it, watching others climb it, and the careful planning of her path helped see her safely to the top. Subject reports that she was in excellent physical condition at the time, and an able natural climber. Once at the top of the cliff, she found her way into a Giant Eagle nest where an egg lay, nearly ready to hatch. As the subject watched, the egg's parents joined her in the nest, and the three of them were there to greet the hatchling Giant Eagle as it cracked its way to freedom.

Subject remained in the nest, living with and bonding to the Giant Eagle nestling, Akilina, for almost six months, until both Eagle and subject felt that they were ready to attempt the flight back down the cliff to Talonton. Holding on for her life, subject and eagle both experienced the joy of flying for the first time together as they triumphantly plummeted down into town. ("It wasn't graceful, but it was perhaps the most spectacular moment of our lives.") Back in Talonton, the training of the pair began in earnest, as subject's father, Ioannikios taught her to ride Akilina gracefully, and to fight from her back.

By age 13, subject was a full member of her tribe's elite airborne force, and performed her share of the hunting and fighting, becoming more proficient in both tasks as she practiced.

At age 16, subject gathered along with the rest of the village to watch her younger brother, Mikhos, also born with the "Mark of the Eagle" perform his rite. Unfortunately, the day of his ritual coincided with a lightning storm. The uncommon weather was considered a true test of the climber by Zeus himself, and the success of such a climb a true indication of greatness to come. Struggling up the side of the cliff, subject's brother lost his footing, and dangled helplessly by his hands trying to regain it. Although forbidden to interfere with the rite, subject refused to stand by and watch her brother fall, mounted her eagle and took to the air heedless of the danger involved. Before she could get to him, however, a lightning stroke hit the cliff above the boy, causing him to lose his grip entirely. As her eyes recovered from the flash, she could see him fall to his death while thunder reverberated around her.

Back at the village, subject was castigated by her father for offending Zeus with her hastiness, and after the resulting argument packed her meager belongings, mounted Akilina (who failed to talk her out of the idea) and left Talonton flying Southward towards the body of the continent. Subject wandered aimlessly, coming to terms with her brother's death and her possible part in it, as she explored the outside world trying to find her place in it.

At age 17, she was hired by a mage, Lord Lucjan Stenpol to help him clear out his family's Summer manor which had been overrun by Jermlaine and rats which had tunnelled into the basement. It was at this time that subject became acquainted with the abrasive Elven warrior-mage Minderlyn Sylfinterweyn, the noble Hobbit warrior Filbus Reggins, the druid Monifa Valli, and the Half-Elven cleric of Silvanus, Alumit Arpania. Having proven themselves an effective team, Stenpol offered to lead the group and help them find work adventuring. This was acceptable to the party, and Stenpol's Guardians was formed.

Although unwilling to go into great detail about her adventuring career, ("Most often our employers desire us to keep their business secret") subject was willing to give an overview of it for us. Subject stated that Stenpol was adept at taking jobs for which the group was well-suited, as well as turning away jobs that were morally ambiguous ("'We are NOT paid monster murderers.' he would say.") Subject stated that the earlier days of their careers were spent perfecting their individual skills, and recounted to us an episode during which she was knocked from her saddle by an aggressive Ice Mephit. It was the injuries sustained from this fall that prompted her to admit her fallibility ("so to speak") as an Eagle Rider, and purchase the magical Ring of Featherfall to prevent another such occurrence. Subject's later career sounds typical of those who choose to adventure on Parthenon. During this time, she perfected her tracking skills, and trained extensively with both her sword and shield, developing a style that was both aggressive and defensive simultaneously so that her usefulness on the ground would be at least equal to that in the air. The subject's primary duty was that of a scout, and as such would keep the party clear of dangers during their overland journeys. This was later heightened by finding the Eyes of the Eagle while exploring a ruined city. Subject alos reported repeated encounters during her adventuring career with a creature similar to a Doppelganger that when rendered unconscious took on a shapeless brown form. Still a mystery, the creature escaped from the party on multiple occasions.

When questioned about why such a successful adventuring group as Stenpol's Guardians would disband when it's members were still in their prime, subject's mood darkened dramatically. Her answer was direct and to the point and is repeated here verbatim, "Treason. Plain and simple. We were betrayed by one of our own." Subject went on to explain how the party had joined up with a Dwarf by the name of Dargus Dirtdagger a few years ago. Dirtdagger had some skill with traps and tracking, and assisted subject with scouting duties. Dirtdagger's dwarven abilities and infravision made him the perfect choice for point man during underground excursions. On a mission investigating the disappearance of a large caravan, Stenpol's Guardians found themselves adventuring in an underground tunnel system. After a number of hours of turning up nothing, and while the subject's party rested and rememorized Dirtdagger volunteered to scout ahead. He was rendered invisible and proceeded to head down what appeared to subject to be a highly trafficked tunnel. When Dirtdagger did not return, the party became worried and subject followed his trail through the twists and turns of the cavernous maze. Intent upon not losing the faint trail, subject led the party into an immense open cavern, only stopping upon realizing that Dirtdagger's trail ended suddenly. Searching the floor for an invisible body, subject was interrupted by a ominous booming laugh from above. As the subject and her companions spun about anticipating danger, the surrounding area came alive with a couple hundred Grimlocks, moving away from their concealment along the walls of the cavern. To make matters worse, floating down out of the darkness, descended a Beholder chortling at the effectiveness of his trap, "'You were right Dwarf. I can practically taste the treasure on these careless fools. When this is done, you will get a share sufficient to satisfy even your bottomless greed. Now, surrender and I'll see you suffer merely a quick death or would you rather be torn apart by my Grimlocks?'" Subject reported that Stenpol's Guardians weren't going to give in without a fight, and in the ensuing battle, Valli was struck dead by a ray from one of its eyestalks, Sylfinterweyn was Disintegrated by the Beholder, and Reggins was swarmed by Grimlocks as he boldly tried to clear a

path to an exit. Arpania apparently received divine intervention from Silvanus, as a Giant Wolfhound appeared, sacrificing its life so that he could get away. As Stenpol exchanged magics with the Beholder, subject was struck in the back by a battleaxe wielded by the no-longer invisible Dirtdagger. As the subject turned to engage the treasonous Dwarf in hand-to-hand combat, the poison on Dirtdagger's blade took effect and began to render subject unconscious. Subject's last memory of the battle was of being grabbed by Stenpol, and teleported back to Parthenon.

Near death from the poison and blood loss, Subject recovered in Parthenon while Stenpol retrieved Akilina from the field. Disheartened by the loss of her companions, subject returned home to Talonton to visit her family, while Stenpol vowed to research the background of the Dwarf and try to track him down.

Upon return to Talonton, subject learned that her father and his eagle had vanished a year previously while hunting along the Northern ranges. Subject spent a year at home trying to find any trace of her father, but was unsuccessful.

Subject returned to Parthenon at age 26 and joined the navy.

Employment/Civil Record:

Exemplary adventuring career with Stenpol's Guardians. Recommendations from employers speak of speed and efficiency in dealing with assignments. Glowing personal recommendation from Lord Lucjan Stenpol. No criminal record reported.

PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW

Hobbies: Archery, Sky Diving

Phobias: Subject reports a severe fear of drowning. A peculiar trait for one who has chosen to serve in the navy. She explains this contrast as her "need to challenge an irrational fear. I'm much happier over solid land, but life entails risk."

Psychological History:

Stable childhood responsible for subject's clear head and well-socialized manner. Early argument with father, is currently unresolved and unresolvable, and her feelings about him have been largely transferred to Lucjan Stenpol. She loves and respects the man, and has learned a great deal from him. Besides her family in Talonton, Stenpol is her closest companion and dearest friend. Fear of disrupting this precious relationship has kept the subject from becoming romantically involved with Stenpol despite her obvious attraction to him.

Subject appears to carry around a great deal of guilt about events both recent and past. She is unable or unwilling to forgive herself for tragedies which she sees as her fault. Her cherished brother's death, as well as that of her adventuring party weigh heavy upon her although she keeps her sorrow at bay by throwing herself into her work.

Subject maintains a great respect for both Law and Truth. The first trait emphasized by the horrendous result of going against a code and watching her brother die because of it, and the second enhanced by the effect of the lies which destroyed her adventuring party. These traits have been further heightened by Stenpol, who apparently holds them in high regard, and whom the subject seeks to please.

Despite the angst involved in surviving a mission with multiple irreversible fatalities, subject has apparently coped successfully. Although paranoia would not be surprising after such an incident, subject instead has adopted a healthy "caution," and while she mourns the loss of her friends, she has not let the tragedy cripple her. It will probably be some time before she allows herself to form new friendships, as the pain from the loss she has experienced is still fresh. It is likely that she will try to distance herself from others, keeping relationships strictly professional.

Having failed to prevent her party being trapped by the Beholder, and having had no success in discovering the whereabouts of her father, it is possible that the subject has lost confidence in her skills as a scout. Although she would not say so directly, it is apparent in her tone that her confidence has been shaken. This is not abnormal and will most likely fade over time as the memory of her "failure" disappears.

Examiner's Conclusions:

It is not often that the military acquires such an invaluable asset without actively recruiting.

Although modest, the subject is an excellent warrior with a practiced style that is hard for an opponent to penetrate. With her training and magically enhanced vision and aerial mount, I am recommending that we assign her to a fleet where she can serve as both a messenger and a scout.

Unusually fit for military service, and without the psychopathic behavior and ego of the average adventurer, it is this examiner's belief that the subject will move rapidly through the ranks of the service if that is truly what she so desires.

I consider this subject superbly fit for military service.

Service Notes:

Subject joined military at rank of Lt. Commander on February 17, 3042.

Subject promoted to Commander on November 4, 3042.

Subject reported relationship with her commanding officer, Captain Chad Sidaine of the warship The Minstral on May 1, 3043. A committee is checking for impropriety, but preliminary research deems it unlikely.

Psychological report:

It is my belief that the subject reported the incident because she is still uncomfortable with relationships that are more than strictly professional, and the possibility that such a relationship would keep her from being as effective of a sailor as possible. Although regulations require that any romantic involvements between ranking military personnel be reported, this is generally ignored in non-harassment situations unless it interferes with their assigned duties. I recommend finding a non-related reason to reassign the subject so that she can continue her relationship with Captain Sidaine, if she wishes, without feeling that she is compromising her duty to the Navy.