Aylassa

"I've watched Theron Sylvanranth burn a city to make a point. Aylassa? She’d burn it because she thought the fire looked pretty. And I'd thank her for the privilege." - Sorek Redmarch

Aylassa

Species: High Elf Age: Just over 300 years old (equivalent to late 20s by human standards) Height: 5’11” Weight: Approximately 140 lbs Occupation: Hired Assassin (selective contracts), Former Vaelrissa of the Glimmering Court Distinguishing Traits (GURPS): On the Edge, Daredevil, High Pain Threshold (rumored), Expert Fencer Eye Color: Heterochromia—Right eye green, Left eye blue

“A single thrust, a single vial—justice on my own terms. If you think to stop me, I hope you’ve left your affairs in order.”

Overview

Deadly, fearless, and perhaps a bit mad, Aylassa is an assassin of considerable renown, despite her otherwise refined elven upbringing. Over three centuries of life have afforded her more than enough time to hone her skills, but her profession remains rooted in a peculiar moral code. She only accepts contracts if she believes the target truly deserves death; she’d rather earn a modest sum for a just kill than a fortune for an innocent life.

A Divided Soul

Aylassa is not merely unstable—she is two spirits sealed in one body. The confusing part of this, is there are three distinct voices now; either she is fragmenting into madness, or there is a third spirit, possibly a gestalt.
This unnatural state is the result of a desperate ritual performed during the Great Goblin Uprising. As a young noble of elven blood, Aylassa was mortally wounded in a surprise attack. Her minder—Teryn, a battle-trained lower-caste elf assigned as bodyguard, valet, and companion—attempted to save her.
With no clerics present, a desperate court wizard enacted a corrupted version of the ancient soul-binding rites used to create ancestor golems. These rites, often involving the sealing of spirits in urns, were never meant for the living. The resulting gestalt overrode both original minds, leaving a fractured girl growing into a weaponized, charismatic force with blurred memories.
As she aged, Aylassa dreamed of two lives: one of silks and ceremony, the other of sparring grounds and bloodied blades. But it was not until she entered the deep forest of Nilanthalis and met the cherubrim—crow-bodied spirits with infant faces who reveal forgotten truths—that Teryn's personality awoke fully. Since then, the two have existed uneasily within one frame.

“She’s like a song written in two keys. One sings of silk and silver, the other of steel and scars. And gods help you if you misstep the rhythm.” – Dame Venom

Names and Titles

Princess Name (Aylassa's original identity): Sylvéndil Ayalarië * Minder Name: Teryn of the Bronze Wind Aylassa’s Title: Vaelrissa — ceremonial title for noble daughters trained in diplomacy, priesthood, and magical rites Teryn’s Rank: Shield-Sister Ascendant — an elite honorific within the Order of the Bronze Wind, a sect dedicated to protecting noble heirs at any cost

Personality & Motivations

Aylassa walks a razor’s edge between thrill-seeking and self-destruction:

• Selective Morality: She meticulously screens her contracts, ready to walk away from large bounties if they clash with her personal ethics.
• Love of Danger: Aylassa pursues life-threatening challenges, whether on the battlefield or in high-stakes gambles, as though dancing with fate.
• Private Past: She rarely speaks of her origins or family, preferring to seize the day rather than dwell on centuries gone by.
• Protective in Love: Fiercely independent, she has grown smitten with Thranduil Stormarrow—and made it clear he is off-limits to any who would harm him.

Fighting Style

Aylassa’s elongated elven frame and centuries of training inform her agile, ruthless approach:

• Rapier & Dagger: She excels at swift, precise strikes, pairing her primary blade with a deadly off-hand dagger.
• Rapier & Buckler: When facing multiple foes, she prefers the added defense of a buckler.
• Potions & Poisons: She keeps alchemical concoctions—ranging from subtle toxins to combat enhancers.
• Dirty Tactics: Though an elegant fencer, Aylassa uses underhanded strikes and distractions to survive.

Resources & Lifestyle

• Travel at Will: She can vanish for months, then reappear halfway across the realm.
• Luxuries & Vices: Her earnings often go toward fine wines, gambling, and dangerous liaisons.
• Selective Clients: She values choice more than coin, even if it limits her opportunities.

“Do you think you could survive separating them?” Thranduil asked quietly, watching her silhouette in the firelight.
Aylassa shrugged, cheerful and unconcerned. “Doubt it. It's her body.”

Relationship with Grugach Thranduil Stormarrow

Unexpected Smitten State: Her long years of detachment gave way to genuine affection for Thranduil.

Protective Warning: She has openly declared him off-limits.

Romantic Spark vs. Practical Edge: Though survival always comes first, her bond with Thranduil may test that.

Hooks & Plot Threads

• Secret Causes: A wealthy patron offers a lavish bounty that challenges her moral code.
• Forgotten History: Her long life may yet catch up with her in the form of past enemies or allies.
• Matters of the Heart: Her love for Thranduil may become a liability.
• Refined Vendettas: She could be drawn into political assassinations with far-reaching impact.

“I’ve no interest in your righteous speech. My morals are my own, and my blade is yours—provided the target truly deserves to die.”

Sidebar: Teryn of the Bronze Wind

Teryn was born into the Bronze Wind Caste, a brutal warrior line within the elven kingdoms that echoes the spartan-like traditions of ancient human militaries. Children of the Bronze Wind are raised not as individuals, but as living weapons. From early childhood, Teryn trained in weapon drills, tactical obedience, and bodily endurance. Bonds outside the caste were discouraged. Loyalty to one’s charge was everything.
Chosen at a young age to serve as Aylassa’s Shield-Sister, Teryn was everything the court needed: disciplined, discreet, and utterly lethal. She rarely spoke unless spoken to, but saw and remembered everything.
After the fusion of souls, Teryn’s presence lay dormant for decades, a silent echo beneath Aylassa’s mind. Since her reawakening in the forest of Nilanthalis, she surfaces unpredictably—especially when threats arise against those she once vowed to protect.
Teryn is colder, more xenophobic, and has a rigid sense of honor. She once attacked Sir Beringer after learning he was courting an elven noblewoman, calling it a “violation of trust and tribe.” Her actions are swift and unrepentant, and though Aylassa claims amnesia afterward, few believe it.

“Oh Silly, Teryn doesn’t hate humans. She just doesn’t believe they should touch what they can’t live long enough to respect.” – Aylassa

Aylassa's Aphorisms

"A sharp blade and a sharp tongue solve the same problem—just in different ways."
"Mercy is like a cheap poison—only the foolish think it works."
"Falling in love is like murder; everyone can do it, they just need to meet the right person."
"A good assassin knows that silence is louder than screaming."
"Death isn’t personal. Unless, of course, I’m the one doing it."
"Revenge is best served cold, but it’s still delicious straight out of the fire."
"Justice is just a pretty word for getting even."
"People say 'life is short,' but it’s amazing how much shorter I can make it."
"Sometimes you take a life, sometimes you ruin it—it’s all about what fits the moment."
"The problem with heroes is that they never see the knife coming."
"Killing someone is easy; it’s getting away with it that makes it fun."
"Every death is a little piece of art. Some people just inspire me more than others."
"A guilty conscience isn’t my problem—it’s theirs, for as long as they have one."
"The line between justice and murder is thin—and I know how to walk it."
"Trust is a blade; it either cuts your enemy or cuts you."
"A job well done leaves no witnesses and no regrets."
"Some people die for a cause. Others just die because they’re in my way."
"A smile and a lie get you in the door. A dagger makes sure you never leave."
"Blood doesn’t bother me; cleaning it up does."
"The best way to end an argument is with the hilt of your dagger. The blade comes next."

Species

High Elf

Year of Birth

925 OR 305 Years old

Sex

Female

Eyes

Heterochromia, Green Right, Blue Left... usually.

Hair

Long, white and straight.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale

Height

5' 11"

Weight

140 lbs