Isolde Tremaris
Every time you tell me to be nice to someone, I end up having to remind you about all the people we've met that turned out to be real shitty.Isolde is a product of Ghal Pelor through and through. She's a true city-dweller who's difficult past is lost in a sea of difficult pasts, who's razor-sharp attitude was honed on the same streets as thousands of other knife-edged personalities, and who's list of friends dwindles while the list of cemetery plots she's paid for grows. While Isolde never talks about her father, her mother Asteria is another matter. She's more than happy to talk about how her mother managed their family shop, Arcane Bindings. As a child, Isolde was fascinated by magic, Manacite, and her mother's trips across the continent. She would devour every page of every book that came into the store while lurking in the back of her Asteria's classes and absorbing the lessons. Her life was filled with opportunity and supported by the privilege that came with a successful family business. Unfortunately, Isolde would lose her mother and Dayne Reed would be the cause. While Isolde was studying arcane sciences at Ghal Pelor's university, Asteria would join Reed on an expedition south of the city, in the Balmoran Plains. The mission required an expert in Balmoran history as Reed had uncovered the tomb of one of the Adamantite Kings. Asteria was an expert and Reed knew that if he dangled the prospect looting an untouched royal tomb she wouldn't be able to refuse. This tomb turned out to have been sealed and buried so far from the Mountain of the Kings for a reason. Lingering horrors from the Plague of Undeath waited within and Asteria was poisoned by this dormant necromantic abomination . By the time they returned to Ghal Pelor Asteria had withered away to a husk of her former self, surviving only a few days longer to say goodbye to Isolde. Isolde blamed Reed, for he and the rest of his Blackhearts managed to escape unscathed and flush with artifacts. Her grandfather Alabaster helped for a time. To Isolde's memory he was always this ancient man full of wisdom and aching joints but he was also kind to her, sneaking her pastries from the Spurshoe Bakery when Asteria was looking. Asteria much preferred to keep her daughter fed with the finest produce from the local gardens rather than sweets from a halfling bake shop. Alabaster was aging and ailing but he managed to leave his patio chair often enough to help Isolde with with funeral plans. Asteria was his daughter but he was too frail to manage traveling around Ghal Pelor on his own, but with Isolde's help the two began the necessary arrangements. The two remained close after the funeral, leaning on each other during tough moments and sharing new stories about Asteria during moments of peace. Alabaster did his best to be strong while hiding the stress all this was causing , forcing him to save his lowest times for lonely moments in the dead of night. Ultimately, the stress would grind down his sickly body further and further until Isolde would return home from the classes one day to find her grandfather in his favorite patio chair, gone. This time, she would have to plan alone and mourn alone. She left her studies at the university to take over Arcane Bindings in her mother's place. Her inherence along with the cut Reed gave her from Asteria's last adventure managed to sustain the shop but profits dwindled quickly. Classes were canceled and customers often turned away - Isolde couldn't bear to see strangers walking off with the things her mother loved. New shipments of items and manacite often couldn't be paid for and would end up going to auction at the Counting House. Arcane Bindings quickly changed from a vibrant business and into a lonely shrine. She has few people in her life now. The only one who managed to keep her active outside her home was Trevor DeWitt, an associate of Dayne Reed's who operated a general goods and magical black market out of his own nearby shop. The two were good friends and their conversations often turned to Asteria, whom Trevor had the honor of adventuring with frequently. Trevor would give her the shove she needed to attend local commerce meetings, parties, and to actually make enough sales to keep her doors open. He was also the one that told her about Reed's newest Blackhearts and to be kind to them if possible. Aside from Trevor there's also Ylva Vilulf, her oldest friend. Ylva's family are third generation immigrants from Frostmere and little of the old ways still flows in their blood. It's been replaced by the many rites and rituals of metropolitan Ghal Pelor - parties, fashion, money, and self pursuit. About all the Frostmerite heritage Ylva holds dear are a few watered-down versions of holidays and hammer throwing (which she started a competitive league for at the university). While most of Isolde's friends abandoned her when her attitude soured, Ylva was relentless in wanting to be there for her friend. Despite the bitterness and isolation that Isolde increasingly favors Ylva can be found at the shop helping with books, bringing her friend lunch, and on very rare occasion succeeding in getting her out to an event in Ravensperch or at the university. Additional Isolde Art
Isolde Tramaris by Steven Bellshaw
Physical Description
Facial Features
Isolde needs glasses to see well
Apparel & Accessories
Isolde loved fashion and was very proud of her wardrobe before her mother's death. She has a plethora of outfits and still enjoys buying new items that are at the height of current fashion but she rarely has the energy or courage to actually go out anymore
Specialized Equipment
She has Asteria's wand
Mental characteristics
Education
Some higher education and a modest training in magical studies thanks to her mother
Employment
Owner of Arcane Bindings
Accomplishments & Achievements
Top marks in her classes at Ghal Pelor's University.
Failures & Embarrassments
Seeing many of the things that should be in the shop being auctioned off at the Counting House or in the hands of others she sees as vultures
Mental Trauma
People have a way of leaving Isolde's life suddenly and there are few replacements that come in to replace them. She's deeply alone, extremely bitter, and dealing with social anxiety which manifests as a terrible mean streak
Taboos
Having to sell something that has memories of her mother attached to it
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Wants to keep Arcane Bindings open as long as possible and make her mother proud but she's afraid to actually put much effort into anything more than maintaining the status quo because it risks failure
Savvies & Ineptitudes
She is very good at manipulating manacite, crafting scrolls, and researching
Likes & Dislikes
Isolde loves fashion even though going out to enjoy it anywhere seems insurmountable. She also enjoys shopping for the latest in fashion at Echo March's boutiques. She also loves the pastries from the Spurshoe bakery in Artesian Row. She generally dislikes any social interaction she can't escape from, finding it harder and harder to do anything other than bury herself in her mother's books.
Virtues & Personality perks
She is very orderly and structured with the way she pursues most tasks, especially research and arcane study. She's also very good at putting together a snappy outfit
Vices & Personality flaws
Isolde often cannot stop herself from throwing out unpleasant conversational barb or snarky observation.
Hygiene
Isolde has a plethora of perfumes and oils that she picks up at the clothing boutiques she visits. She applies them daily even though she rarely leaves Arcane Bindings
Social
Contacts & Relations
Isolde knows many of her mother's friends but her attitude and bitterness has driven most away. Trevor is one of the few that comes around regularly no matter how hard she pushes to be alone. Her best friend Ylva is also ever-present despite how difficult Isolde can be
Family Ties
Isolde never met her father. She has no siblings nor extended family that she is close with. A few distant relatives do exist in the city but they are only a few steps away from strangers to her. Her grandfather Alabaster has passed, he was the closest family she had after the death of her mother but only weeks after the funeral he too would die
Religious Views
Her mother Asteria would often light candles and honor the gods in her own quiet way. Isolde maintains the tradition but more to honor her mother's memory than because she believes the gods still exist
Social Aptitude
Its getting difficult for her. The more time she spends alone the harder it is for her to go out in public. It's safer and more familiar to be around her mother's things that it is to be out in the world.
Mannerisms
Snarky jabs at best, deeply cutting commentary at worst. Usual the worst
Hobbies & Pets
Isolde's greatest passion outside maintain the store and getting back missing goods is her love of fashion. She adores new outfits and finds shopping at her favorite stores somewhat meditative. These places are familiar to her and provide her with a safe place to be outside of her home.
Wealth & Financial state
Her account with Ghal Pelor's Counting House is dwindling quickly. She has enough money to handle daily purchases and such but without steady money coming in her account will become depleted
Alignment
Neutral
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Age
27
Children
Current Residence
Sex
Female
Gender
Woman
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Blond
Height
5'3
Weight
130
Ruled Locations
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