Leliana Bellegarde

Leliana Bellegarde (she/her) is a character played by Jules (they/them) in The Daughters of House Bellegarde sidequest campaign. She is a level three (formerly human) dhampir path of the ancestral guardian barabrian with the inheritor background.

Description

Leliana is an average height for her age. She has long, straight black and purple hair, pale skin, red eyes, and the cutest little fangs. Leliana is quite reserved. Her constant analysis of every inch of environment, every second of time leaves her little room for pleasant chatter, so she is often perceived as blunt and terse. She's trying to grow up fast and wants to inherit the full responsibilities of her role as quickly as possible, so she is very hard-working and studious, while putting extreme pressure on herself to excel in all things.

Backstory

Leliana was orphaned and adopted into the Bellegarde family after she was discovered with a birthmark on her neck that denoted her as to the future Dagger of Bellegarde. The Dagger respawns every few generations and is a fighter of exceptional skill destined to safeguard the family, wielding the ancestral weapon Rosethorn.
Despite her intense role in the family, she and her siblings found time to be kids. Lel loved flowing dresses and could often be heard laughing and cheering during playtime with her sisters from anywhere in the estate. That has stopped. Unlike past Daggers, as of her 8th birthday, Leliana has gained access to the memories and wisdom of Bellegarde ancestors, whose spirits manifest out of her birthmark and guide her endeavors. They say she is destined to protect the Bellegarde line against a great danger.
Now, her flowing dresses have been replaced with combat gear (usually a size too big), her laugh has quieted as her mind screams, and playtime has dwindled as training has increased. A determined, stalking 8 year-old with weapons on her back and bags under her eyes, while unusual in other families, is now commonplace in the House of Bellegarde.

Trivia

Jules has provided a reference image of Leliana, seen here.

Leliana wields and old greataxe and will only receive Rosethorn upon completion of her training. However, she carries a dagger fashioned to look like Rosethorn's ancient design from when it was wielded by the first Dagger of Bellegarde.

Leliana is named after Leliana from the Dragon Age franchise

Lore

There is some connection between the Bellegarde ancestors who talk to Leliana and the Shadowfell. The nature of this connection is unclear, but it is thought that maybe the original vampires of House Bellegarde originated from that realm.

Rosethorn is a sentient, magic item that morphs into the weapon of its new wielder upon their birth. It also has the power to choose its wielder, making others who try to use it struggle. Originally it was a dagger. For Leliana, it is a greataxe.

Ever since the connection to her ancestors was established on her 8th birthday, Leliana has a recurring nightmare that, unbeknownst to her, depicts her and her family members' eventual deaths at the hand of Everly Lavandin's adventuring party.

Leliana is instrumental in Sylvanie Bellegarde's escape from Everly and her party. So, though most of the family perishes, including Leliana who is at that point the fully realized Dagger of Bellegarde, Sylvanie survives. This means that in her final sacrifice, Leliana fulfills her destiny of protecting the Bellegarde line.

By the time Everly is crowned queen, Rosethorn has been taken into the possession of the royal family, Everly having taken it from Leliana's corpse as a spoil of her victory.

Related Historical Events

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  Birth of Leliana Bellegarde