Looks & Personality
Isilme
Though Isilme superficially resembles Li'an, having been returned to life in her body, several differences are evident to those who knew Li'an well. First and foremost her silver eyes now gleam with a golden light, and her hair seems to have lengthened and picked up a hint of gold as well. Her skin, still pale, now has a silvery cast to it, and her features seem more graceful and refined than before, much as a well polished stone reveals the full extent of its beauty. Unlike Li'an, she is far less interested in pragmatic clothing, and is more than willing to splurge on clothing that she fancies, though the state of affairs in Kenabres leaves her little choice in the matter. She often takes advantage of prestidigitation to change her clothing and appearance to suit her taste, and uses it along with mending to keep even less durable fabrics in good condition when out in the field.
Isilme is even more outgoing than Li'an or her father, and when relaxed and among friends she enjoys joking or sharing stories and songs. She is always interested in meeting new people, and like many of her kind, is forever coaxing more stories out of her new friends. She was once relatively untroubled by worries or doubts, however now when alone she's noticably less cheerful. The loss of Elan and the burden of knowing she somehow managed to usurp Li'an's body weigh heavily upon her. She had no time to cope with his death before she was imprisoned, and while she spent much time thinking on matters while trapped in the depths of the blade, his absence is still fresh to her. She finds her possession of Li'an's body to be sadly ironic since Isilme had given her life in order to save her from the cultists. It pains her greatly given that she sees it as having failed Elan, and also due to the nature of the relationships she displaced with her arrival.
Having traveled the world with Elan, engaging in various adventures before coming to Kenabres, she has a fairly open mind and relaxed worldview. She's rather trusting of strangers, occasionally to the point of appearing naive. This is partly because she feels it's best to give everyone a chance, but primarily because she's confident in her ability to understand the motives of others.
Reason for Fighting
Long before Li'an was born, Isilme and Elan travelled the world, exploring and adventuring together. They were essentially inseperable, and if asked she'll openly state that they were both lovers and companions. Elan's family and life in general complicated that, but for the most part they did as they pleased, enjoying each other's company and their freedom to travel. When the worldwound opened, they traveled to the area to provide aid, and came back repeatedly to assist the crusaders against the demonic incursions. She (and Elan) didn't do so out of any pressing desire to fight demons, but primarily out of curiosity and the thrill of doing something new. It was during these vists that she and Elan first met Aravashnial. While Elan and Aravashnial were initially slow to become friends, Isilme had no such problems, breaking down any resistance seemingly through sheer force of will. Thereafter, when she and Elan were in the area, they always sought out Aravashnial, and the crusaders came to see the three of them as a small unit that, while hard to control, was quite useful to have around.
During the First Crusade, however, this changed. The battle against Minagho resulted in Isilme being nearly destroyed, body and soul. Though she still is unsure what magic was involved in her death, she knows quite well what was used to save her: a wish. The end result of it wasn't the restoration of her corporeal form as intended, but instead the creation of a weapon in which to house Isilme's soul. Despite working with Aravashnial to attempt to research a way to undo the effects of the wish, they were unable to find a solution eventually gave up hope. Instead, Isilme and Elan became obsessed with revenge on Minagho. They devoted themselves to the crusades, and though they travelled a few times again in the lull between the crusades, the sense of freedom and thrill of exploration was gone. Though Elan and Aravashnial remained close in the time that followed, Isilme withdrew into the blade, only ever really talking to Elan, although she would answer Aravashnial if he addressed her.
During her imprisonment in the depths of the blade, she spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on this desire for revenge. Despite what they'd often said, their real reason for fighting was exact payment for what they'd lost, Isilme's freedom. With her freedom returned, and perhaps because of the cost incurred, her rationale for fighting has changed. Though she still desires to defeat Minagho, she sees her original dreams of vengeance as something that ate away at her and Elan until nothing was left. Instead she has taken up Li'an's mantle, the one she herself demanded Li'an swear to uphold: To aid the people of Kenabres and the crusaders in their fight against the demonic forces of the worldwound to her dying breath. Given her nature as a Raelis, this also means giving those future generations a chance to have their own stories told, something she truly values.
Why Mythic?
The wish that created the bronze blade that bore Isilme's name and bound her soul into it was something more than just a simple wish. Whether it was because the magic that had destroyed Isilme was of a different kind, or because the wish spell was subject to divine interference, the end result was that Isilme gained a divine spark. It was this spark that allowed her to possess and save Li'an, and the same spark was responsible for unravelling the magic involved in the reincarnation of Li'an, subverting it to free Isilme from her prison and bind her to Li'an's body. That spark remains within her still, an ember awaiting something to kindle it.
Class and Weapon
Born, if you can call it that, as a Raelis Azata, Isilme has always had a love of learning, books, knowledge, and the arts. While prior to her binding she relied primarily on her natural abilities, she had dabbled some in the bardic arts. She truly enjoyed traveling as a performer before she met Elan, and it provided a good cover for her to be able to interact with many people, especially artists who might give rise to some great work.Despite the blade that held her, Lleuad-a'r-Sêr, shattering during the reincarnation, the hilt survived intact. She keeps it with her for now, a reminder of all that has befallen her, and the loss of those important to her. She hopes to get it restored at some point, should she find someone able to forge a new blade for it.
Religion
Isilme is a devotee of Desna, much like Li'an and her father. Though her beliefs came from her time in Elysium, though she now remembers almost nothing of it. What she does remember now though is that she's always had a close relationship with Desna. During her travels throughout Golarion, her thoughts would inevitably turn to the great Starsong when night fell, and she'd offer her obediance gladly. On those nights, especially when far afield, she would dream of an beautiful elven woman, shining like the moon, drifting forward with an arm outstretched to her. She would place a hand on her shoulder and lean in to whisper something, though Isilme could never quite make out what was said. Her form would dissolve into a swarm of butterflies and leave, at which point she would awaken to find it morning.Her remaking into a blade by Elan's wish changed her outlook significantly with respect to Desna. From that day forward both she and Elan were jaded by the wish backfiring, and though he still offered prayers, he never truly returned to worshipping Desna. Isilme herself was greatly troubled by her loss of freedom and wondered why her lady would allow such a thing. Unable to go through her obedience physically, she eventually ceased even thinking of it. Though she didn't realize it at the time, her dreams also ceased during that time as well.In the years following Elan's death and her imprisonment into the depths of the blade, her attitude changed again. Though it pained her to admit it, she came to believe that what had happened was truly the result of her departure from her calling to stay by Elan's side, and their arrogance in thinking they were blessed by the goddess. Before her conciousness faded away, she had begun to come to terms with her punishment, wishing only that Li'an and Elan hadn't suffered so for it.
Alignment (Chaotic Good)
Isilme is Chaotic Good in a way most mortals aren't. She began life as a Raelis Azata in Elysium, and eventually came to Golarion to wander and experience the myriad of stories out in the world. She believes strongly in the necessity of the triumph of good over evil, and like her bretheren is willing to work around the rules to do so. The two things that she feels most strongly about are imprisonment and slavery. Not simply the physical enslavement of people, but manipulation or domination via magic or other similar powers. Her experience witnessing Li'an murdering her father while dominated only served to further kindle her hate of such magics, and she personally refuses to use enchantments to deprive others of free will.
Oath/Code
While she has no specific oath or code, she feels she has lost the favor of her lady, Desna, and hopes one day to regain it. As such, Isilme is sensitive to things that might be viewed unfavorably by her goddess.
Story
Lleuad-a'r-Sêr was her name from the moment she came into being as an Azata in Elysium. Back then she even remembered some of her life before her rebirth, though it was no more than a hunch now. She dwelled in Elysium for some time, but her memories of it today are little but fleeting glimpses of its natural splendor. Curiosity eventually brought her to Golarion, and in her travels there she met many people, wandering among them in a variety of identities and making friends and lovers among them as she went. All of that seemed to fade into the background when she met Elan Va'ardalia, however. The eldest son of some minor elven nobles in Iadara, he was truly a kindred spirit to Lleuad-a'r-Sêr. His wit, intelligence and wanderlust were easily a match for her own, and he was one of the first mortals to see through her guise. It was Elan who gave her the name that she kept ever afterwards, Isilme, the elven word for "moonlight" and a play on her own celestial name. They adventured together for nearly a century before the opening of the worldwound, both learning stories and making them as the went. The first crusade, however, changed all of that...
