Rayne Blackwell

Judge Rayne Blackwell is a member of the Council of Three, the ruling body of the City of Garlond, along with Captain Errol Dendrith and Guildmaster Markrag Chiptusk. The junior member of the council, she was appointed by councilmember Grant Pocklett upon his own retirement. She is the first tiefling to ever serve on the Council of Three.

Biography

Blackwell was born in Warsenfeld to Ashley Blackwell, daughter of a glassblower. Ashley's father antagonized a traveler, who in undue retribution cast a powerful magic spell and banished his daughter to one of the hells. There, she was beset by a devil and forced to carry his child. While pregnant, Ashley was saved from her imprisonment by a powerful paladin of Tyr who slew her captor and returned her to the material plane, where she gave birth to the tiefling. Ashamed of what had happened to her, yet unable to find it within herself to dispose of the child, she asked the paladin to take her to a place where her daughter could grow up to be a good person. The paladin then offered to take the two of them to Garlond, which Ashley accepted. Thus, Ashley and infant Rayne arrived in Garlond.
Rayne was given a lot of attention by the paladin, named Ingmar, who soon became like a father to the young girl. Under him, she learned the value of truth and justice, yet always maintained a predisposition to occassionally cast the law aside and judge situations based on emotional impressions. Later in life, she went on to learn the judge's craft under the city's lead magistrate through Ingmar's vouching. Although she never joined the Church of Tyr herself, the other members of the Tyrran order frequently disapproved of her, be it for her lineage or her lack of true dedication to the letter of the law - even going so far as to cast Ingmar out when he kept standing by his stepdaughter. Yet young Rayne had her mind made up: she would become a judge, not of laws, but of people and their hearts. As good born of bad, she believed this to be her destiny.
The open-minded magistrate of the city soon took on Blackwell as her official apprentice, and due to her determination and willpower, she was appointed to be a city judge at the young age of 29. Some citizens balked at being judged by a tiefling, and she was quickly viewed as a controversial figure. However, the magistrate stood by her every step of the way. Over time, Judge Blackwell's personality won people over enough, and she became rather popular. Then, when the Seat of the Wiseman on the Council of Three became available, the magistrate recommended Blackwell to the position. Only one other candidate was in the running: a priest of the very Tyrran order that cast her stepfather out. When outgoing councilmember Pocklett beheld the two candidates interact, he knew immediately who to pick: Rayne wished the priest good luck, and he snarled back at her, calling her 'devilspawn'. Rayne Blackwell was then appointed to the Council of Three.
As councilmember, she has established a reputation among the people as being approachable, and has quickly become a beloved figure for many. She is the only one of the three to advocate for reopening the city's gates for refugees, yet is repeatedly forced to relent. Nevertheless, refugees often appeal to her, trying to empower her voice in the council.

Personality

Known for being a inquisitive and merciful judge and level-headed leader, Blackwell frequently presents a dissenting opinion during court. Captain Dendrith and Master Chiptusk frequently align in their opinions on the rule of law and the enforcement thereof, yet Blackwell frequently pays great attention to the circumstances and the minutiae of the situation, including the personal situation of any person involved. However, blatant unapologetic criminality does incur her ire, and she judges villains harshly.
Often regarded as the most down-to-earth member of the council, Blackwell often champions the needs to the poor, and advocates for compassion. She values family and community, and makes frequent allusions to teachings of the churches of Eldath, Sune, and Ilseias. She is married and frequently accompanied by her wife during official visits and events. Blackwell is a painter in her spare time, and has her own artwork hanging in her office.

Rayne Blackwell

Councilmember of the Council of Three

Seat of the Wiseman

Race
Tiefling

Age
38

Birthplace
Warsenfeld