Editing Landsoftheblacksea:Main Page/players/lirael aelathar

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[[Landsoftheblacksea:Main_Page/campaigns/blackport_adventures | '''Return to the Blackport Campaign Page''']]

[[File:Lirael aelathar.png | 300px | thumb | ChatGPT-generated image]]


<font color=black> ''A half-elf who excels at all things yet has no real home'' </font>

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Lb45Ks4qwri65T3Cn1is-fBKuDdwKXmZ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104111159945893972742&rtpof=true&sd=true '''Lirael Aelathar Character Sheet''']

== Background ==

[[File:Lirael's travels.jpg | 300px | thumb | Lirael's Travels]]

Lirael Aelathar was born between two elven worlds that briefly came together and then broke apart, and which have never rejoined each other – at least to her knowledge.

Her mother, Galéïs Séngän més Sïun, was a highborn elf in the noble court of King Áthu I'riathi més Nuinä, who ruled over the vast lands that the humans called the Great Western Forest. The daughter of one of the King's wisest and learned seers, she was raised according to the values of her people, the Wood-Elves (I'riathi), who valued ambition, martial prowess, and arcane power, driven by the many enemies that surrounded the sylvan kingdom.

Her father, Ósé I'al-Auläre, was a noble emissary from the court of the ancient island Elven Kingdom of I'ali'on, far across the oceans. If the myths were to be believed, it was the original island homeland of all Elves of the Lands, the place where all of them had originated from some eight thousand years ago. His people, the Grey Elves (I'ali) claimed to be the rootstock from which all other elves descended. He was an impeccable example of the culture of the Grey Elves – austere; observant and judgmental; and to whom preservation of the ancient ways was an unquestioned duty, the only bulwark against complete chaos.

He had arrived on a great ship from I'ali'on to the human port of Alaraqes in Anida, taking the great river, that the humans called the Porón, up into the forest. After making contact with the I'riathi, he was brought to the King's palace, the great Halls of Ainul, a massive complex of natural caverns located in the hilly woods below a grand city on the surface and in the trees above. There, he presented his gifts from the High King of the Grey Elves – strange texts and tales that were as their own, but different – not myths, but histories; artifacts millenia old that showed the expansion and eventual collapse of the Empire of the Grey Elves, until all that remained was the original island Kingdom; and beautiful art and objects fashioned of materials unknown to them, by craftsmen of skill far greater than their own.

King Áthu was well pleased by the gifts, and desired to know more – to possess the wisdom and power of these faraway kin.

Their match was not arranged, but one of choice.

Ósé, found Galéïs' passion and thirst for knowledge enchanting; Galéïs found Ósé's wisdom and knowledge of secrets and mysteries irresistible. Her family was, expectedly, completely against the union, at least amongst their own people. His people were unknown to them, despite the evidence of kinship and culture; they were only slightly less foreign than the Dwarves of Belorudhrm, or the Human King of Anida, despite the supposed racial heritage. The bonding of one of their noble daughters to this unknown bloodline was viewed slightly better than with either of these decidedly un-Elven races.

Her father's people were not present to render judgement. Pressured by King Áthu, Galéïs' parents finally relented, and the union was formed. For a decade, their life was content. Lirael learned some things from her father, but she was still only an infant by Elven standards.

As it turned out, it was not to last, however. Ósé could not – or perhaps his masters across the sea would not – agree to trade in the things that King Áthu most desired – weapons and spells of power that would help him defend his Kingdom against its many enemies. And conversely, King Áthu would not give Ósé's Lord across the sea what was demanded for such gifts: an oath of fealty, a swearing of vassalhood to the High King of the Grey Elves, to reunite them under the old empire that existed millenia ago.

In the end, the relationship soured.

And then, the letter came. Ósé was withdrawn as the Grey Elf King's ambassador.

[[File:Divider 001.jpg | center | 400 px]]

She never got to hear his side of the story, really. Within the wood-elf community, it became a reason not to trust these supposed cousins, these pretend progenitures. Ósé's departure marked the end of the exchanges between the Grey Elves and the I'riathi.

As she grew older, she was treated differently. Lirael could not escape the sideways glances, not hear the hushed whispers about her difference. Her mother's approach to combatting this was to raise the bar for her daughter such that none could question her achievement. Expectations were high, constant, and rarely softened by affection. She learned early that precision, discipline, and preparation were safer companions than praise, that ability and prowess were surer friends than any of her classmates.

Her talents drew the attention of the Thalanthir War College, where she embraced the War Mage doctrine: magic as disciplined action, not spectacle. She excelled in battlefield spellcraft, reconnaissance, and the integration of sword and spell, eventually earning advanced instruction in the Bladesong Weapon Style.

Her service before departure included border patrol work, ward maintenance, courier missions, and tactical support against raiders and magical beasts. These experiences taught her that real conflict was unpredictable — and that she thrived in its clarity.

Her skills and abilities saw her achieve victories and complete missions far beyond the ken of her classmates in the academy. And yet, with each promotion in the ranks, she reignited the old wounds of her father's legacy within the kingdom.

When a senior mentor suggested she "broaden her experience" beyond the academy, Lirael recognized the polite dismissal beneath the phrasing. She had long felt the quiet suffocation of politics that cared more for lineage than merit. She realized that no matter what her abilities, her bloodline would never allow her to be accepted. There was no future for her among the people of her mother; and the people of her father were far off and even more likey to reject her.

She was without a people.

She accepted without protest. But before leaving, she swore a personal vow to Amumé to act with balance and disciplined purpose, no matter how chaotic the wider world proved.

She wandered about for some time, but everywhere she went, it was more of the same – amongst the humans of Anida and Elbe, she was still other, at best viewed as strange, at worst viewed as a possible spy or saboteur or devil-worshipper; among the barbarians of Axoria, she was either a witch or a demoness; and in the lands of the Baku, she either was able to kill, or she would be killed – but either way, she was not of Baku blood, and would never be a member of a Baku clan.

Finally, exhausted and worn from her constant travels, she sat in a tavern in the rough-and-tumble town of Jarlhold in the barbaric land of the Axorians, listening to stories told by a sailor there named Yogesh, who claimed to be a merchant. By appearance and manner, he was more likely a pirate. Or perhaps he was both. It was clear from his stories that Blackport was not kind to the weak or those who could not pull their own weight. But it was also clear that Blackport might offer her the one thing other places had not: respect based on her abilities and her abilities alone, with no invisible cages built on ancestry or bloodline or other factors not hers to control.

She booked passage on his ship the next day, smart enough to offer half up front and half upon arrival, and provided a demonstration of her martial and arcane prowess and services while aboard ship as part of the deal.

The captain of the vessel, a tough-looking man from the far north and east named Malik, agreed.

They arrived in Blackport within a fortnight. She could still remember the sight of the huge, brooding black towers silhouetted against the clouds and moon in the sky; the dancing lights from the fires in towers and along battlemented walls. The feeling of dread she experienced – for no known reason at the time – as the ship glided past the hulk of Everdark Keep and the Tower of Shadow.

[[File:Divider 001.jpg | center | 400 px]]

She knew the reasons now, of course.

Adjusting to Blackport's form of law and order had been difficult; she had lost a significant amount of her savings from theft and con artists before getting the feel of the place. The experience had added additional layers of armor onto her personality; her empathy became more distant than it had been; her ability to trust and form friendships, never one of her best qualities, retreated even further into her psyche.

But adjust she did. Soon enough, even Blackport had to yield to her skills and abilities, and make a place for her.

After a particularly impressive display of magic that left three members of the Crimson King's dead in the Horn Gate Plaza – all completely justified, but involving no one of significance, and therefore never investigated – she had been returning to her small flat in the Warehouse District when she heard someone speak close by.

"Impressive. For one still learning the arts. You have talent."

She turned quickly to see a bent-over old human woman standing before her. Her skin was very dark – so dark that the shadows from her robe seemed to simply extend to the skin on her hands and face. Her hair was a black that was slowly greying, mostly obscured under the heavy black hooded cloak she wore over the matching black robes, the edges embroidered with strange designs in silver thread. The eyes that regarded her under creased and furrowed brows were a very pale blue, with pupils so small they could be missed altogether at a brief glance. They wee framed by dark shadows of some kind of black powder. Her lips were painted pure black with some kind of coloring. She wore a silver net tassel cap on her head, the polished beads of which hung down the centerline of her forehead to the bridge of her nose and dangled in front of both ears. Matching silver rings pierced her nose – one through the columella, one through the left nostril. Her creased, wrinkled fingers were adorned with no less than twelve rings, two on a finger in several cases.

The woman stared deeply into Lirael's eyes.

"I could use the services of one such as yourself. You look to need someone to guide you in this city – your kind are not so welcome here, and many more will seek to destroy you, as these did."

"If you will serve me, I will offer you protection – and more. I can further your training. My powers are great, and my resources are as well. Should you prove competent and loyal, you will find me a generous patron."

Her eyes seemed to flare a moment.

"If not…well, then such as these will be the least of your worries. You can find me in the Midnight Gardens, should you wish to strike a bargain. Domus Nox is my residence. Ask for Domina Vexx, and tell the guard that you seek my instruction in the dark arts."

With that, the woman turned and disappeared into the gathering crowd. She could hear the Wardens being summoned, and decided she needed to leave, lest this turn into a problem she didn't need right now.

But the offer stuck with her. At night, she thought about it.

Someone who could further her training.

For what? A service she had already provided to others – others who had not given as much in return.

Within a week, she found herself at the dark iron gates of Domus Nox, in the peaceful if somewhat sinister tranquility of the Midnight Gardens.

She rapped on the huge black iron knocker, fashioned into the face of a monstrous beast with horns and splayed ears and massive tusks, sending ominous echoing booms into the courtyard beyond.

Moments later, she was being escorted into the dark courtyard by a pair of huge Bugbears clad in heavy armor bearing massive, flanged maces. She tried to act nonchalant as they strode toward the squat, basalt block building in the middle of the grounds, which were planted with strange, unusual shrubs and trees she was not familiar with. Iron lanterns fit with purple and green glass-faces hung about, casting strange, drifting shadows that didn't quite seem to line up with the rotation of the lights they came from.

Before they reached the building, the large iron double-doors opened.

Inside stood the woman she had met before.

The woman smiled, her white teeth a striking contrast to her still black-inked lips.

"Why hello, child. I'm glad you saw the wisdom of my offer. Your service starts tongight…"

[[File:Divider 001.jpg | center | 400 px]]

That was over a year ago.

The woman was none other than Aqille Vexx – one of the most powerful sorcerors in Blackport and a member of the dreaded Council of the Black Codex, the assemblage of arcane masters who advised and supported The Sovereign in all matters eldritch and esoteric.

She was also one of the most evil, manipulative, and terrifying residents in the city.

Her name was spoken in hushed whispers, if at all. Many would not name her, calling her simply "The Dark Woman," and similar designations.

What happened to those who crossed or displeased her was a matter of record – or in at least one case, still visible to any who's stomach's could handle the sight. The setting of one of her revenges was said to have had to been burned to the ground, as there was no natural way to remove the remains of those she had punished from the walls and crevices.

Lirael feared her – anyone of wisdom did.

But she also respected her.

Brought to Blackport as a slave girl, the stories were that she had used her considerable charms to inveigle her way into the heart – and residence – of a powerful mage. She had served the man as a concubine and consort – all the while learning from his library while he was away. As her power grew, she formed alliances with others, resulting in her original lovers downfall as more powerful options presented themselves. A few were intimate – others thought they could control her. All were but rungs on the ladder that she climbed to the heights of arcane power.

Now, decades later, she had reached the pinnacle of her profession. None dared cross her. It was rumored that even the Sovereign himself feared her wrath.

Lirael's tasks were legion, including: shopping for supplies; cleaning of the libraries and labs; performing experiments (which sometimes resulted in cleaning the labs…); researching long-lost obscurities; and on and on.

Sometimes she was sent to spy on someone, using the skills she had honed as a scout during her war-mage training.

Other times, she wore steel and accompanied the archmage out during her meetings with others, when the Bugbears were the wrong tool for the job.

But, she also learned.

And her own power grew.

== Important NPC's ==

'''Ósé I'al-Auläre''' – her father, a Grey Elf who was once an ambassador; he was recalled to the Kingdom of the Grey Elves when she was only ten years old. She has never seen him again.

'''Galéïs Séngän més Sïun''' – her mother, a relatively high-ranking government official in the Kingdom of the Wood Elves. Her mother had always loved and nurtured and mentored her; Lirael had not told her that she was leaving when she finally left the kingdom three years ago.

'''Yogesh''' – a pirate aboard the raider Avarice, captained by one Malik Soliyev. Yogesh looks up Lirael when he is ashore, and she considers him a friend – not a close one, but a friend nonetheless.

'''Aqille Vexx''' – a powerful archmage that Lirael works for as a live-in servant/ student/ spy/ guard. Lirael does not actually interact with Aqille in person a great deal – she receives her orders in writing sometimes, or via instructions from the House Master, Thevant de Qoll. Her quarters and board are part of her payment, as is her instruction – with the result that she does not have much liquid currency on her.

'''Thevant de Qoll''' – the tall, gaunt human that serves as the Master of the House at Domus Nox. He is a head butler and chamberlain to the Lady Aqille, running the property and dealing with bills and other mundane problems. He is middle-aged and devoid of any sense of humor, as far as Lirael can tell. Despite her year serving Aqille, he seems to still regard her as a temporary border, and treats her as such. She has no idea if he has any skills beyond an acid tongue and a black sense of humor.

'''Sugu''' and '''Dugu''' – the two huge Bugbear brothers who serve Aqille as the house guards. They are generally ornamental in nature – the house is warded and trapped in such as way that physical guards are superfluous. But there are certain elements in the city that would not be bright enough to figure that out, so the presence of a few hulking, armored guards helps keep down the number of times that Aqille is forced to renew her magical protections. When they are off-duty (usually the daylight hours), they are fond of drinking and partying in The Maw, Spearaxe, and Grunt. While she doesn't consider either of them friends, they have gained a healthy respect for each other's abilities.

'''Áfatha''' – an Elf sorcerer who Lirael met during one of her errands for Aqille. He is handsome, witty, charming, playful – and interested only in men. He spends a great deal of time at a tavern in Darklane called Amphisbanae, which Lirael has yet to visit. She runs into him mostly at the Librum Arcanae in the same district, a private library that all the major spellcasting guilds have bought into for research purposes. He is one of the few people in Blackport that she considers trustworthy enough to let down her guard around. He was originally someone that Aqille wanted spied on, but then later she seemed to have shifted her target.