Faelynn Markelhey
Faelynn Markelhey
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Faelynn was left at the foot of a small outdoor shrine in a small farming town in a quiet county. She was taken in by several families before settling in at the Temple of Lethander in the center of town. She was raised by the Sisters who worked there who treated her well enough. When Faelynn was a young child, she was tasked with caring for the other children of the village, some of whom were older than Faelynn.
When she was a young teen, Faelynn was given an education in midwifery and medicine. She accompanied the Sisters to farms and homes in the countryside and tended to the children while their mothers were in labor. Sometimes she would be sent alone. If there were no pregnancies to attend to, Faelynn would teach other children or tend to the Temple's maintenance. She relaxed by gardening in the nearby herb garden. She often got in trouble for spending too much time there.
By the time she was a young adult, Faelynn was ready to leave the temple and strike out on her own. However, she was not allowed to leave. The Sisters had kept a tally of the debt she had accumulated and they expected her to continue working until she had paid in full. While this was upsetting for Faelynn, she genuinely wanted to help people so she stayed and continued her midwifery. However, she debt seemed never ending and she resigned herself to a lifetime of monotony.
She was 40 when she heard the call of Lethander. It was just a normal day during the morning prayer when the stained glass window depicting Lethander cracked and shattered. The pieces, bathed in light, melted together and formed a holy symbol. The Sisters each took turns to hold the symbol but were all burned. Faelynn was the only who could hold it safely even weeks after it's creation.
This incident changed Faelynn's life in ways she couldn't imagine. She was called to heal the injured with her powers which lead her further from the Temple and from her small farming town. Adventuring parties that traveled in nearby towns requested her aid in hunting nearby beasts and tracking down dangers. Faelynn was very happy.
She was still in debt to the church and worked with children and women, but now she could heal more devastating wounds. She became a hero to the women she helped. Her services her in demand and she began assisting more socially 'important' people with their pregnancies or injuries. However, she became bored with the repetition. Even the trips out of town became boring and mundane. Still, she kept a smile on her face and hoped for the safety of everyone she saw.
Then one day, a year or so ago, she received a letter. It was from a SIr Ashley Markelhey. He explained that his father's uncle had recently died and, in going through his papers, had found monthly payments made to the Temple with her name as the memo. Ashley was curious about her and wanted to know what her relationship was to the Markelheys.
Now, the Markelheys were old money. Landowners and wealthy on the backs of others' labor, their influence and favor could be the deciding factor in an entire town's sucess or failure. Their name was known to everyone in Faelynn's village, the Markelheys owned the farms indirectly.
Faelynn started writing letters to Ashley and, after some digging into the Temple's finances, discovered that Ashley's great uncle was Faelynn's father. He had paid to keep her existence a secret. She confronted her Sisters about the bribes. They denied it at first, but then confessed and offered to give her some money as a peace offering. She refused. Faelynn left with only the clothes on her back.
At first she was lost. However Ashley continued to write to her, sharing stories of adventures, glories and defeats. It was all very exciting for Faelynn and without any set path in front of her she decided to go where she could find her own adventure.
Gender Identity
Faelynn is a cis lady.
Sexuality
She has never been in a relationship. She was forbiddened to when she was younger and, by her mid 20s, she decided that she absolutely did not want children. Or any act that might create children. Faelynn was always open and honest about this when men showed romantic interests in her and none of them stayed.
She would date a lady but she grew up in such a heteronormitive community that the idea hasn't crossed her mind yet.
Education
She received basic education in reading, writing and math and more advanced training in healing. She excels in midwifery and injuries and illness relating to pregnancy. Faelynn also has training as a combat medic and is comfortable administering aid in dangerous situations.
She also has training in gardening, tailoring, basic animal care, and proper food preparation and storage.
Faelynn also has an informal education in the performing arts. She was often called to take roles during ceremonial plays. (And perform silly shows to entertain the children).
Employment
Early years: Babysitter and menial labor
Late teens to early 40s: Midwife and healer. Taught children and watched over the youngest ones while their families harvested crops. Performed in ceremonies.
Mid 40's to last year: added aiding adventuring companies to her other jobs.
Currently: Adventuring.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Faelynn was never given any accolades for her work, but she saved many lives and eased the burdens of the farming families within her community. Resuscitating newborns, stopping hemorrhages, resetting broken limbs, and stitching wounds was all in a day's work.
Within the county, Faelynn was most known for successfully navigating a duchess' difficult labor and delivery.
Failures & Embarrassments
Many people have died in her care. Sometimes it was her fault and sometimes it wasn't. It was simply the nature of the job but it still upsets her.
Mental Trauma
Children: Faelynn spent so much of her life taking care of children that she now can't stomach being around them. Even after thousands of hours working with children, she never really felt comfortable handling them. She preferred being hands off with the, watching them as they played or instructing them in a small group. She got used to cleaning them and their messes, soothing them, and ensuring they understood their lessons. However, Faelynn always hated the screaming. Whether screams were of joy, anger, fear or sadness, she could not handle the screaming. It was the only thing that made her angry and she doesn't like being angry.
Pregnancy: She sees pregnancy as a loss of control, a loss of self. Faelynn saw so many people, many of whom she taught when they were children, get married and become pregnant. She watched as these people lost their bodily autonomy; family members always touching and grabbing them, chastising them for doing or eating certain things and not others. These soon-to-be parents were no longer people. And even after the child was born, her clients, still hurt and exhausted, were expected to care for the other children and the household and be a good host for the family members visiting the new baby. It always made Faelynn sick.
So many times she watched as these mothers fell pregnant year after year, even if they didn't want anymore children. Some relationships were abusive, but they were unable to leave because they couldn't afford to.
Authority figures: Faelynn learned quickly that she wasn't very important and those that were would make her remember it. She shows respect to them but only out of fear.
Intellectual Characteristics
Faelynn is a slow learner. She finds information dense conversations hard to follow. It's best to write down important information shortly after the conversation to help her remember later on. She learns best when she can sit back and experience things quietly.
Morality & Philosophy
Faelynn wants to do good in the world. She believes that people, if given the opportunity, will do the right thing. Her belief has constantly been challenged, but she remains optimistic and steadfast in her ideals.
She doesn't loot the dead or steal from people although this is the norm for her adventuring party. She did once, to see how she would feel, but she felt uncomfortable and donated the boots she found.
She allows people to act according to their own sets of rules without trying to impose her ideas on them. Unless, of course, they intend to hurt someone. She doesn't like to kill, but she does when she needs to. She does offer a prayer for them afterwards.
Taboos
Necromancy, specifically, reviving a sentient creature to use as a thrall.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Faelynn wants to go out and experience life. She craves new exciting experiences, mainly as a novelty but also as a way to figure out what she wants out of life. She is seeking purpose.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Faelynn excels in healing. She was extensively trained growing up as both a healer and a combat medic. Her specialty is midwifery. Working with such a varied clientele has given her the ability to 'read' people. She is especially sensitive to people masking anger.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Her current adventuring party: she stays and travels with them.
Sir Ashley Markelhey, family: Pen pals.
Family Ties
Sir Ashley Markelhey: Her paternal uncle's grandchild (some form of cousin). She refers to him as her brother. He was the only person to reach out to her and keeps in contact with her through letters. He is her inspiration for adventuring.
Religious Views
She is a cleric of Lethander and had spent her life dedicated to him. She has recently decided that adopt a more open mindset, to see each situation from a personal viewpoint rather than as a follower of Lethander.
She believes that people should be able to follow whatever path they need to for survival. She tries to be respectful of other's religious views, even if she doesn't like them. She only gets involved when someone infringes another person's autonomy.
Social Aptitude
Faelynn is friendly with other people. She likes to listen to people and is very content in a group of people. She does find it difficult to engage in casual conversation herself. Most interactions she had were scripted: giving a sermon, asking about a patient's pain levels or how a pregnancy was developing. She never had had casual friend so she isn't very comfortable with one-on-one attention or small talk.
Mannerisms
She fidgets with her holy symbol when she's bored or anxious. She brushes herself off after a battle or any kind of physical exertion.
Hobbies & Pets
She likes to write in her journal.
Wealth & Financial state
She has 60 gold in a pouch.
Cleric of Lethander; she started off life as a ward of the church and worked as a midwife and healer. A paternal brother contacted her and got her excited about adventure. She's off to experience the world and help anyone she can.
View Character Profile
Alignment
Good
Honorary & Occupational Titles
None
Age
58
Date of Birth
Early fall
Birthplace
A small farming community
Children
Current Residence
None
Gender
Female
Eyes
Eyes turned blue by a spell gone wrong
Hair
Tawny brown
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
slightly toasted toast
Height
5'8
Weight
180 ibs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Oh no..."
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