Alenka Farkasova's page

Alenka was born into a fairly well-off family in the city of Ledpistadt. Her dad, Eugen Farkasova, is an alchemist who had decided to settle down when he met her mother, Anica. He provided for his family by making alchemical items to sell to adventurers visiting the city who were in search of their own fame and fortune. Alenka grew up spending most of her time in her dad’s workshop and she would hear some of the adventure stories and marvel at the oddities that existed in the world. She always had an innate curiosity about what properties made up life. When she wasn’t watching her dad or learning in school, she was outside catching insects and tiny animals to study them. Her younger sister, Estela, was often horrified at Alenka’s initial ‘experiments’ on the creatures she captured believing that Alenka wasn’t respecting the sanctity of life. She would run and tell their father but instead of punishment, Alenka received encouragement to keep studying. Her mother hoped that her interest in how things physically worked would translate into her daughter becoming a physician.

As Alenka threw herself into her studies, she moved from just learning about formulae from her father and other information about the natural world at school into thinking about how her knowledge could be combined. What happened when you took the best qualities of different animals and mixed them? Was it possible to bridge the gap between animals and people? So many times while growing up she had wished that she could fly or breathe underwater or see in the dark. The stories she heard growing up and her studies had shown her that there were magicks that allowed such things but they were only temporary and difficult to accomplish numerous affects at once. Plus it could be extremely expensive.

As Alenka got older, her and her sister took very different paths. Alenka broadened the scope of her studies whereas Estela became a dedicated follower of Pharasma. This continued to create a rift between the siblings which became antagonistic at times. Estela was certain that Alenka was proceeding down a dark path that she needed saving from and Alenka strongly disagreed.

When she got to the end of her basic studies, Alenka needed to make a decision whether she wanted to continue with higher learning or work for her father. It was at this time that she learned about a Professor at the University of Lepidstadt that was doing research somewhat similar to her interests. She sought out Professor Velkan Braska to see if she could study with him. Initially he gave her a very basic overview of his research and tried to brush her off. However, things changed when she began asking specific questions about xenografting. It was then that he became interested and offered more in depth information as he sensed someone of a like mind. It turned out that the Professor believed that he could create designer humans by using alchemical splicing to join different creatures of the person’s choice together. He was beginning to experiment with lower animals but hoped to work up to more complex animals once the protocols were ironed out and then finally to humans. Alenka felt herself getting excited about what he was proposing. To be part of something so cutting-edge was very appealing, not to mention how much money that nobles would pay for this service. He did caution her about speaking too freely about the research to others as they wouldn’t have the same understanding as those more enlightened.

It was then that she started her studies at the University. Alenka’s time with Professor Braska proved very fruitful and she learned a lot initially. As she studied with him, she learned that he was using beings other than just animals in his research but Alenka’s curiosity won over any moral compunction she may have. There was one experimental mishap during her first year which triggered a phobia in the alchemist. While trying a formula that was more difficult than she should have, something unexpected emerged from the shadows that attached itself to her life force. Instead of a part of her life force going into the extract, something began drawing on it directly. If Professor Braska hadn’t been there to help, Alenka would have probably died. It was from this traumatic experience that a fear of the dark developed – not because Alenka didn’t know what lurked in the darkness which is why children often fear the dark, but because she knew exactly what hid in the dark. Even with this small misstep, Alenka continued her experiments with renewed vigor. Striving to find ways to augment herself while also searching for a way to do it permanently. The first year of her research program was invigorating and enlightening. She made amazing advances in knowledge that she hoped to translate into reality.

Then came the period of time in her life that Alenka refers to as the Great Void. Over the course of the next few months, events happened in the budding researcher’s life which she can’t recall.

Alenka’s eyes opened slowly but she immediately sensed danger and sat bolt upright. She was incredibly disoriented as she couldn’t remember how she’d gotten to where she was. There was a yellow fog surrounding her and she was instantly aware that she wasn’t alone, there was a half-orc beside her. But it wasn’t the half-orc that raised the hair on her arms, it was the fog...or more importantly something that she knew was in the fog. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed the half-orc’s hand because she felt like she knew her. ”Heavy, we need to go. Now!”

They sprinted away from the fog and building that was looming behind them only to be confronted by water and they soon realize that they’re on an island. They fight side by side through the fog towards the dock, looking for a boat. The boat that's there is guarded by strange creatures able to change their appearance. After more blood shed, Alenka and Heavy realized they work well as a team and probably have done this before, they were able to escape the creepy island by boat.

Alenka began to make her way home. Jenni, or Heavy as she felt compelled to call her, tagged along not having anywhere else to go at the moment. Alenka didn't dissuade her because she felt safer with Heavy with her. When the vivisectionist returned home she couldn't accurately explain to her parents what happened to her because everything was fuzzy and she begins to withdraw, spending more time with Heavy.

When Alenka checked in at the University to continue her studies, she finds out that Professor Braska has disappeared. Without a mentor to guide her research, she has no choice but to withdraw from university. She remembered a collaborator of the Professor’s who was based in Magimar. Wanting desperately to continue along the path she had started, Alenka decides to leave Lepidstadt for Magimar. She mentioned it to Jenni who decides to come with her. Alenka is secretly pleased that Heavy is going to accompany her and they set off on their new adventure.

They are passing through the area when they hear word of the carnival. Heavy and Alenka go to check it out.

Some of the info below was already covered briefly in her background
5 concept elements
• Alenka experimented on insects and small animals when she was little to see what parts were necessary for life as well as how much damage one could sustain before succumbing to its injuries. These investigations horrified her younger sister even though they were instrumental in teaching Alenka what was necessary to heal, not just harm.
• Alenka is never without her safety goggles which protect her eyes and a black long coat that protects her studded leather armor and clothes from potential acid spills or other mishaps. She wears gloves and heavier work boots as well for the same reason, protection.
• Her encounter with the creature from the shadows left her with a physical mark – the color was drained from her hair making it white except for her bangs which remained brown. She keeps her hair tied back haphazardly to make sure that it doesn’t hang into anything she’s working on.
• Alenka is meticulous in her research but not necessarily in other areas of her life. She can be quite reckless, especially when under the effects of her mutagen.
• Alenka wants to fly and she’s been researching the necessary formulae but it is currently out of the scope of her abilities

Goals for Alenka
• Alenka wants her name remembered in history for making a significant contribution to her field of study
• I want Alenka to develop at least one real friendship. She’s always been viewed as a little odd and has spent most of her life alone.

2 secrets
• She planned how to make her sister ‘disappear’ during her late teens when her sister’s self-righteous lecturing became almost unbearable
• Alenka doesn’t know that her mentor, Professor Braska, was responsible for her being in the asylum and essentially her Great Void

3 people tied to Alenka
• Her alchemist father, Eugen Farkasova, who encouraged her studies when young. He still runs his alchemy shop in Lepidstadt
• Professor Braska who became her mentor at the University of Lepidstadt
• Her sister is hostile because as a follower of Pharasma she believes that Alenka’s experiments are a perversion in the same vein as undead

3 mannerisms/quirks
• Her hair is always tied back with something orange
• Doors and drawers always need to be shut, Alenka will never leave anything ajar
• She always reads out loud and sometimes talks to herself as she practices alchemy when she's stuck on something

1 fear
• Alenka is afraid of the dark