Steria Duskfeather I

Alsteria Solestin Duskfeather, later known as Steria Duskfeather I, first High Gerent of the Arborvale Concord, hero of the War of the Northern Winds and scion of the noble Thaedwenian Duskfeather family, had no such lofty prospects in her future prior to the war. Born the illegitimate child of two parents from disparately ranking families, Thaedwenian society dictated that her future hold little other than the promise of a handmaiden or minor court position. With luck, perhaps she could acquire a low-ranking position in her father's squadrons of battle-mages, the renowned Twilight Cloud. But her father wished nothing to do with her, having recently birthed a legitimate child recently, and thus she was raised under her mother, who retired to a small, isolated isle in disgrace.

Unbeknownst to her or her mother, it was this isolation that would prepare Alsteria for her future accomplishments. A small piece of land spanning only several miles, the island remained almost entirely uninhabited apart from Alsteria, her mother, and their attendants. Among these were a retired member of the Twilight Cloud turned scholar, Hesthin, and her mother's faithful head-bodyguard, Niske. With little else to occupy her time, Alsteria became their constant companion, and consequently their student. Beneath Hesthin she learned the ways of magic and trained in the Moonspear and Sunstar, the weapons carried by all members of the Twilight Cloud. Niske taught her everything she knew of arms, armor, and hand-to-hand combat, all whilst training Alsteria in leadership and tactics. By the time she came of age to fight, Alsteria was a combatant capable of trading blows with those of many more years' experience.

It was with this training, then, that she cemented her place in the Twilight Cloud. Operating under the name of Steria, a young elf with no family name, she quickly climbed her way to head of her own unit, earning herself as many enemies as friends and followers. At the war's outbreak, her unit distinguished themselves almost immediately, taking several key enemy positions under her leadership. Many a battle or hopeless situation was turned by the arrival of Alsteria's evergrowing unit. Known equally for her mercy and commitment to her people as her martial skill, her renown and support grew with every battle. Though not officially named such, "Steria's Evenfall" became the benchmark by which all other units of the Arborvale Concord measured themselves.

The gifts that allowed her to seize the final victory of the war, saving the Concord from certain defeat, are uncertain in origin. Some claim they were family heirlooms, handed to her by a repentant and proud father. Others claim they were Fey artifacts, found during a raid on an enemy keep and taken from a slain Fey lord. Yet others say that they were gifts from the gods themselves, a sign of favor for the budding Imperium. What is truly known is only two things: what she was given, and their results. A blessing of the rising and setting sun, and a spear with the power to contain and channel magic accompanied Steria in the final days of the war. With the collapse of the Winter Court, their queen supposedly slain at her own hand, Steria became a hero to all of the Concord.

Her position made her rise to Gerent almost inevitable. The perfect figurehead, she was everything the High Council needed to inspire faith and loyalty in their newly united peoples. Her mother was raised from exile, and Steria elevated to head of the Duskfeather family, in addition to High Gerent. The actions of the nascent Concord, however, were nothing she wanted anything to do with. Her attempts to stop the High Council's "unification" were hindered by the still fractured societies comprising the Concord, and her pleas to the citizenry to defy them fell on deaf ears. Her reign ended all to shortly when she disappeared six years after her crowning. Whether assassinated, exiled, or if she simply left of her own volition, none knew. Her final whereabouts, as well as the resting place of her weapons and armor, remain unknown to this day.

Circumstances of Birth

Born to Kinren Duskfeather, father, and Leth Silverwing, mother. Exiled to the isle of Cathlen with her mother after birth.

Circumstances of Death

Unknown

Eyes

One gold, one faded purple.

Hair

Shoulder-length white hair, streaked with silver and gold.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Dark, grayish purple.

Height

5'6"

Weight

144 lbs.