...and Aranna.
Aranna Aldael is the eldest daughter of Elder Aldael of Brakton. Born 167 years ago she is older than most Humans ever live to be, but still retains the uncanny appearance of youth and athleticism that comes with Elven long life. Aranna was somewhat wild and rebellious in her younger days, preferring to spend her time exploring the wonders and dangers of the Carenthir Forest. Eventually though, her stern father reined her in and she gave up her exploration of the forests to become one of Brakton's leading diplomats.
By the time she was sixty years of age Aranna had traveled to nearly every part of Vyren on diplomatic and trade missions both with her father and sometimes on her own. Her marriage to Syndus, a prominent Elven son residing in the town of Deeproot helped unify two Carenthirin clans. Their two sons, Heav'an and Heli'an were thought destined to be great leaders in their own right, but then tragedy struck.
Syndus became sick, incurably so, and after a short, sharp decline in health he died leaving Aranna alone, as she saw it. Her two sons tried to comfort her, but she would have nothing of it. For three long years she stayed secluded in mourning until she finally emerged and returned to her duties as a diplomat. To many, she seemed no worse for her time away, but those that knew her well noticed both a sadness in her, and a new hardened edge to her personality. Where before she was often lenient, and compassionate in her dealings, she now drove hard bargains and stuck to the letter of contracts no matter if doing so would cause undue harm.
Then, only a year later, Aranna became pregnant. An affair for someone of her stature was scandalous, but when the baby was revealed to be half human, emotions boiled. She was recalled and all but stripped of her diplomatic position. Still a powerful personality, she spent the next two decades of her life caring for and protecting her third son, Nme'an, from the harsh response of her own kind. Even her father refused to let the half-breed child share in the Aldael family name!
Once again, tragedy entered Aranna's life when Goblins made a decisive and deadly raid on Brakton. Her three sons rushed to the defense of the town, but while Nme'an came away unscathed and Heav'an emerged with serious but survival injuries, Heli'an did not come home that day. Already heartbroken once again, her beloved third son, Nme'an, increased her pain further when he decided to leave seeking a better life away from Elven persecution. When Heav'an left Brakton some ten years later Aranna found she herself no longer had any reason to stay.
Back in the wild again, Aranna is slowly relearning skills lost to decades of neglect. Unsure what life now holds for her she ventures onward in the memory of her long lost husband and that of her sons. Keeping to the woods or occasionally the back streets of cities, Aranna has all but left the Aldael name behind her to become a Ranger intent on reclaiming the long forgotten memories of her youth.
Originally I was going to make an archer out of Aranna, but Heav'an sorta took up that role with his magic fueling his weapons and so Aranna shifted to a two weapon fighter. It got even more fun when I found the Starknife. It has a nice distinctive shape to it and can even be thrown a fair way. Aranna's personality is complicated. There is a true kindness and even motherlyness about her, and she has a fairly adventuresome spirit, both all that is tucked away under layers of anger, loss, and sadness. She is a good person, and that keeps her tending towards kindness most of the time, but her emotions can range from detached, to fun loving, to angry at the world and herself all within the same conversation.
Again I like the avatar I found. There's hints of beauty, power, and sadness all combined in that one small picture.