Arcane Recovery: Short Rest recovers 1 spell slot (1/day).
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BACKGROUND—Far Traveler (Halruaa):
—Tool Proficiencies: Musical Instrument (Shawm)
—Languages: Primordial
—Equipment: traveler's clothes, shawm, poorly wrought maps from Halruaa depicting current location, chalcedony silver ring from Halruaa (10gp value), pouch containing 5 gp.
—Why are you here?: Conscientious Objection
—Where are you from?: The Magocracy of Halruaa
—All eyes on you: Your accent, mannerisms, figures of speech, and perhaps even your appearance all mark you as foreign. Curious glances are directed your way wherever you go, which can be a nuisance, but you also gain the friendly interest of scholars and others intrigued by far-off lands, to say nothing of everyday folk who are eager to hear stories of your homeland.
You can parley this attention into access to people and places you might not otherwise have, for you and your traveling companions. Noble lords, scholars, and merchant princes, to name a few, might be interested in hearing about your distant homeland and people.
—Personality Trait: I have a strange sense of propriety that others seldom comprehend. Though seeking release from the fetters of Halruaa's strict governance and lifestyle, it remains the culture from which Athelwyn was produced.
—Ideals: Open—Though the ways of these Northerners are strange to her, she attempts to learn what she can from their kindnesses and fellowship.
—Bonds: Freedom is her most precious possession. Every individual is entitled to pursue their own course, provided they do no harm to others.
—Flaws: I don't take kindly to some of the actions and motivations of the people of this land, because these folk are different from me. Though Halruaa is not without its own brigands and criminals, it is not so widespread or overt as most places in the Realms, particularly the Sword Coast and Western Heartlands at large.
Backstory:
Most would envy Athelwyn her beginnings. Halruaa is enigma to many who walk the face of Toril, and for good reason. An economy, government, and populace sustained and permeated with magic is an incredible sight to behold. But the inheritance of Netheril remains attached firmly to the magocracy even now. Though in possession of wonders beyond counting, it is made up of nearly as many strict and binding laws. It tends to be a sticking point for those with more than a touch of free-spiritedness. Athelwyn is once such example.
Born to a middling (socially speaking) family of magic-users on the fringes of Halagard proper, she was enlisted into one of the city's academies just as dozens of other children were each year. She was regarded as absentminded by many of her tutors and peers, but her knack for tapping into and shaping The Weave was enough to carry her through her tutelage. Her relationship with her family—mother, father, and two older sisters—was not a bad one, but the demands of her schooling did not provide a great deal of opportunities for interaction. Rather, the majority of her formative years and early teens were spent within the walls of the academy with fellow students.
Athelwyn's father had a decent nose for social acceleration, and given his abundance of daughters saw fit to marry them off to other families of higher standing. A recently widowed and middle-aged mage-baron was to be Athelwyn's betrothed, and the very notion turned her stomach. There was an intense conflict with her father over the issue, and it proved to be the final straw that stood between the young mage and her leaving Halruaa behind. Already struggling with the constraints of the nation's strict laws, especially regarding spell use, the prospect of facing a loveless marriage with a rotund aristocrat—no matter how wealthy or powerful—was simply out of the question.
Without a word but an abundance of determination, she stole away from her homeland with the help of an unwitting archmage's teleportation circle. She found herself in Calimport for a short time, wherein most of the wealth she had secured for herself was squandered between purchasing a galley to Waterdeep and being cheated out of her by those who found her naivete an easy mark. Her time in the City of Splendors has not been easy, which is what lead her to the Yawning Portal in a desperate bid to find paying work.
Personality Overview:
She comes across as timid in spite of a desire to "dive into" the world around her. This is not entirely unexpected being so far from home among strangers, and typically only applies to crowded situations. More generally speaking, she tends to have a forceful presence and inexhaustible drive.
Appearance:
Halruaans—especially magic-users—are typically prone to wearing garb of a decidedly ostentatious bent. Athelwyn attempts to downplay this a bit with her own wardrobe, though the end result is still exotic by most standards, especially so far north from Halruaa. Her speech and mannerisms betray her privileged upbringing. She moves with a practiced grace not unlike those of high birth. At times this makes her appear aloof in spite of her earnest attempts to be exactly the opposite.
Ht: 5'1" -- Athelwyn is quite short by Halruaan standards.
Wt: 110 lbs -- Slender and fit. Athelwyn's tendency towards evocation requires a honed body in addition to mind.
Eyes: Deep brown (chocolate)
Hair: Current fashion in Halruaa among up-and-coming socialites often includes bizarre asymmetrical hair styling coupled with vivid dyes. Half of Athelwyn's head has been shorn of hair, while the other side features a medium-length curls of bright red that slowly fade to a dull silver at the tips.
Complexion: Olive
Age: 19
