Ryleigh
Ryleigh Alastair (a.k.a. Ry)
Ryleigh Alastair is a human vengeance paladin of Asten from Ascus.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Healthy. Ryleigh is deceptively strong and has a lean build.
Body Features
Fair skinned
Facial Features
Ryleigh is ridiculously attractive, she has a strong jaw line and high cheek bones, striking violet eyes, and long, wavy blonde hair.
Identifying Characteristics
Several long scars pepper Ryleigh's back, shoulders, and biceps.
Physical quirks
Ryleigh's left handed, walks with purpose - her shoulders back and chin tilted up. When upset, she'll seek physical contact, often reaching for Dawnbringer's handle (her sentient sun sword), or Rukiya's hand.
Special abilities
Ryleigh has divine powers that range from healing energy to explosive radiant energy.
Apparel & Accessories
She's never seen without her sword, carries a round shield with Asten's symbol, and primarily wears black plate armor. Ryleigh's casual clothes are practical, and are in varying shades of black, grey, and violet.
Specialized Equipment
Dawnbringer - a sentient sun sword with a feminine voice, who is afraid of the dark.
Ring of Water Walking - gives her the ability to walk on water, which makes sense because she wears plate armor.
Handaxe of Warning- Brimeia gave it to her as a non-wedding gift.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Ryleigh was very young when her parents died and she doesn’t remember them. Her older brother, Avery, took responsibility for her. He was her only constant.
They roamed the streets, slept on rooftops and stole food to survive. They lived in the city of Falberk, and in this city, non-humans were second class citizens and lived in racially divided communities; but the city’s politics didn’t matter to the siblings. Life on the streets taught them that surviving was hard - they stole from anyone who had more than enough, they slept wherever they found shelter, so the prejudice that separated the city didn’t apply to them.
Soon, Ryleigh realized that the people who were kindest to them were the people who didn’t look like them. Some families took in the siblings – a Tiefling, a Halfling, and a Dragonborn. Each family struggled to survive but they always made room in their homes, at their table, and in their hearts for Ryleigh and Avery.
Background References
Before Kizer
Session0111- After meeting Ambrose and Nyota, Ryleigh tells Rukiya that she's never known a mother's hug, never known someone who was such a clear combination of their parents, and that it made her wonder about some 'things.'Life in Falberk before the fall
Session0111- Ryleigh shares some memories with Rukiya. Avery and Clemency being 'gross' with each other, Ryleigh being the butt who said too much. Ryleigh muses that Clemency may have known Ry was ace.Kizer's Death and the Whips
Session0104- She came across Sir Barton in Aston. He didn't seem to remember her, but she remembers the man who gave her the scars on her back all too well. Session0105- Ryleigh shares more about her past with Seirixori- Sir Barton and her father's murder. (656) Session0110 (811) Ryleigh talks about her past to Seir, Rukiya, and Gunnloda. Ryleigh's brows furrow, then she starts to talk, “I got on Sir Barton’s bad side after the public whipping. It felt like he and Daybrand, the Lord of the land, were out to get me, so naturally… I made as much trouble as I could get away with, but I wasn’t really getting away with it.”Clemency's Loss
Session0110 (811) Ryleigh talks about her past to Seir, Rukiya, and Gunnloda. "After my sister was taken,” Ryleigh stops, biting her lip and huffing out a breath, “after she was sold to the highest bidder... I started looking for people who’d help me change things. My dad had been murdered by the ‘law’. My sister was sold as a songbird. And I had to watch as my brother eased his broken heart by self medicating.”The Uprising
Avery's Death
Session0108 (936) Sir Barton and Ryleigh talk about where he knows her from, mentioning Manavik, her brother's blood hot on her hands, and her taste in non-human companions. Session0110 (811) Ryleigh talks about her past to Seir, Rukiya, and Gunnloda. Ryleigh's brows furrow, then she starts to talk, “I got on Sir Barton’s bad side after the public whipping. It felt like he and Daybrand, the Lord of the land, were out to get me, so naturally… I made as much trouble as I could get away with, but I wasn’t really getting away with it. After my sister was taken,” Ryleigh stops, biting her lip and huffing out a breath, “after she was sold to the highest bidder... I started looking for people who’d help me change things. My dad had been murdered by the ‘law’. My sister was sold as a songbird. And I had to watch as my brother eased his broken heart by self medicating.” She loosens her death grip on Rukiya’s hand, and gives her an apologetic look. Rukiya wraps her arms around Ry's waist. "You're ok." Seir tilts her head, "What's a so-- sorry. I don't, what does that have to do with what he said?" She asks, not quite understanding. Ryleigh Alastair: "I'm getting there..." Ryleigh answers, taking another deep breath. Ryleigh Alastair: “I did find like minded people. Most of them were non-humans wanting to bring about change. That’s when I learned elven… so we could speak in code,” Ryleigh’s tone sounds amused, like she can’t believe she ever thought elven wasn’t a commonly known language. “We organized a revolt... the adults didn't like that I was there, but they couldn't stop me. We were going to force change... we were supposed to overthrow Daybrand. I thought if I believed hard enough that it'd work, that we could birth a revolution and stop the suffering. I thought I was doing the right thing." She audibly swallows, and her eyes tear up. "It didn't. We failed, and some people got caught. The guards came to our door looking for a human who'd 'lead the revolt', and I knew I'd been caught." Ryleigh Alastair: "Avery," Ryleigh smiles sadly, a few tears falling from her eyes. "He said it was him, that he wanted to overthrow Daybrand because they'd taken Clemency. They took him, but they also took me. I waited in jail cell for a few hours before Sir Barton paid me a visit. He told me that he'd caught many of my co-conspirators and had their families in custody. He also told me that he knew it was me and not my brother who'd played a role in 'this mess'." Ryleigh Alastair: "A few of Barton's guards died in our uprising, and I could tell he was out for blood." A tremble travels through Ryleigh. "He was going to kill their families... unless... he had a pound of flesh per life lost. I wasn't going to let innocent people pay our mistakes... my mistakes. So I agreed, because 1 life for many is a fair deal. I didn't know he didn't mean my life, or my flesh..." Ryleigh Alastair: "I carved chunks of my brother's flesh off... and the crowd jeered while I did. Every time I wanted to stop because I couldn't take his screams, Avery encouraged me to keep at it... he reminded me that if I didn't - innocent people were going to die." Ryleigh's tears are freely flowing now, her hands come up to cover her face and her next sentence is a little muffled. "I tortured my brother, before they cut off his head... and Barton let me live..." Rukiya stands so she can pull Ryleigh into her chest and holds her tight. She presses a kiss to the top of her head and says, "His sickness isn't your fault, Ryleigh." Ryleigh Alastair: "Maybe not," Ryleigh sobs, leaning into Rukiya. "But my brother suffered by my hand, and died because I made the wrong choice."Joining the Light
Gender Identity
Cis Woman
Sexuality
Bi Demiromantic Demisexual
Ryleigh makes no distinction between genders she finds attractive or flirts with, but requires a strong emotional attachment to a person before wanting to date or have sex with them. She has an easy affection with people she's close to, but she's only ever felt a desire to be romantically involved with Rukiya and that was after being friends for a year. Rukiya is understanding of Ryleigh's trouble articulating what she wants and needs and very cognizant of respecting her boundaries. Ryleigh enjoys having sex with Rukiya because it's something Rukiya enjoys, but she'd be just as happy doing other intimate activities and sometimes prefers to give without receiving. Talking about each others' secrets and deepest truths is more rewarding to her than sex.
Education
Mostly informal. She was taught to read and write by Torynn and Drasken, who had some kind of religious training. Ryleigh's next educational endeavor was during paladin training, where she spent time with other paladins and clerics, learning about Asten's law and how to fight.
Accomplishments & Achievements
After three years of training, Ryleigh swore an oath to Asten, becoming a paladin of truth and freedom in his name.
Failures & Embarrassments
When Ryleigh was 15 she made a rash decision that resulted in her brother's execution. After his death, she left Falberk to right the wrongs of the world and make sure her brother's sacrifice wasn't in vain.
---
Ryleigh became a paladin of Asten, the God of truth and freedom. Early in her apprenticeship, she was sent to protect a local farming community named Myrka, who had been experiencing raids - flesh golem raids. Something came over her and she struck down the people she was supposed to protect - she showed no mercy. When she finally came out of the trance, she was covered in blood, surrounded by fire, bodies, and the stench of death.
Ryleigh had failed, but how much of it was the curse and how much was her? She offered to help rebuild the town. But the farming community just saw the demon in black armor that slew their families. And maybe... they were right to…
Mental Trauma
Ryleigh lives with post-tramuatic stress disorder (PTSD). When triggered, Ryleigh has panic attacks and/or nightmares and often has violent reactions to being awakened.
Ryleigh's nightmares
Session0104- a nightmare featuring Urrak dead with her family, Seirixori/Clemency stolen, and Rukiya dead at the feet of Tilman.Intellectual Characteristics
Ryleigh has a high social intelligence. She's charismatic, cunning, and attractive. She's very good at manipulating words and in turn - people.
Morality & Philosophy
Ryleigh swore an oath of vengeance and part of her philosophy is: Vengeance, true vengeance, demands as much discipline and balanced application as any other discipline of the mind. Emotions must remain controlled, a thorough understanding of evil must be had, while body and will must both be honed to perfection to punish the greatest possible evil.
On good days, she is a super heroic fighter against evil. On bad days, she can be a monster and take pleasure in causing evil doers pain. Ryleigh’s afraid that vengeance without discipline, if left unchecked, can destroy everything the wielder holds dear, leaving them an emotional wreck capable of great darkness.
Taboos
The Story of Zariel, a fallen Angel who went too far in her want to do the right thing.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
She wants to change how non-humans are treated, she wants freedom from oppression for the people of Ascus, and she wants to make her brother's sacrifice worth something.
Vices & Personality flaws
Ryleigh is like fire. She can provide warm rays of comfort to you or destroy the world around you. She is bold, outspoken, and passionate. She is a woman of action, relaying on her actions to speak louder than her words. On good days, she is a super heroic fighter against evil. On bad days, she can be a monster and take pleasure in causing evil doers pain. She’s afraid that vengeance without discipline, if left unchecked, can destroy everything the wielder holds dear, leaving them an emotional wreck capable of great darkness.
She tends to act under her own authority without consulting her teammates. She's rarely worked within a team in the past and tends to keep her plans and secrets close.
She gets seasick and doesn't like to travel by boat.
She tends to act under her own authority without consulting her teammates. She's rarely worked within a team in the past and tends to keep her plans and secrets close.
She gets seasick and doesn't like to travel by boat.
Personality Quirks
She holds Dawnbringer's hilt when she's nervous or anxious.
Social
Family Ties
She does not have any family outside of Rukiya Moonstream and Seirixori Iscitan.
Her adopted father was murdered by a guard, she was forced to torture her brother before they killed him, and her adopted sister was taken and sold to an unknown woman.
Religious Views
She follows Asten, the god of truth and freedom. She sings as a form of worship and views her relationship with Asten as one of mutual benefit.
Social Aptitude
Ryleigh is extremely charismatic, often using her looks to bait people into doing what she needs them too. She cunningly uses her words to speak partial truths and is good at piecing information together.
Speech
Her voice is commanding, and deeper than most people expect, it's part of the reason people believe she's older than she actually is. She only swears in moments of intense emotions.
Relationships
History
Seir was hesitant at first to like Ry, mainly due to her being human. There were times early on where she didn’t think Ryleigh cared about her as much as she cared about Ryleigh. Now Ry is in that small circle of people that Seir cares about the most.
Nicknames & Petnames
homashoc (cherished one), na'auiy noaroaca
Relationship Reasoning
Ryleigh is protective of Seirixori.
Shared Secrets
Gunnloda Frostbeard 's aura
Shared Acquaintances
History
Ryleigh was learning to care for Urrak, choosing to share with her and protect her when Bri nearly killed her. Unfortunately, Urrak took advantage of Ryleigh, randomly kissing her. Now, Ryleigh doesn't know how to be around Urrak... so they spend a lot of time arguing.
Nicknames & Petnames
Ry, tin can
Shared Acquaintances
Shared Acquaintances
Gunnloda Frostbeard
Shared Acquaintances
Wealth & Financial state
Ryleigh lives modestly, her largest expense is a small studio apartment.
Born in Ascus, Ryleigh's a human who follows the Sun God, Asten. She believes in truth and freedom, and wants to make the world a better place.
Current Location
Riverrun
Associations
Dawnguard, Whispers
Ethnicity
Birthplace
Falberk Ascus
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Riverrun Vyon
Eyes
striking violet
Hair
long, blonde, braided
Height
5'8"
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Tyranny begins with the destruction of the truth"
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Related Plots
Character Prototype
Erza Scarlet from fairy tail inspired my creation of Ryleigh. Her face claim is Marie Avgeropoulos. Her voice is Colleen Clinkenbeard as Erza Scarlet.
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