Maeve

Description

Maeve is a creature of dualities. Wise beyond her years yet imbued with childlike innocence, an insectoid like any other yet powerful beyond match, unable to travel yet influential far and wide. Her knowledge, especially of the magical arts, is unsurpassed, and students hang on her every word, but she’s still always eager to learn more.

History

Maeve’s life is so long that her earliest years are considered a matter of myth, rather than history. According to legends, Maeve was a somewhat maligned figure, gathering knowledge and hoarding it for herself unless she could get something more valuable in exchange. Her thirst for knowledge led her to the peaks of Cor Quae’thum, then a humble shrine to the service of Gnol-Dotera. She tried to acquire the knowledge within it through her usual tricks, but was punished for her dishonesty by the Weaver of Words, forced to remain at the shrine for the rest of time and freely distribute that which she had once kept locked away within her own mind. With the passage of time, she developed Cor Quae’thum into a shining university and became proud of her role as its headmistress, but she never completely lost her penchant for tricks.

As the nations around Cor Quae’thum began to come into their own, Maeve continued to learn all she could about the world and its peoples. A common trick of hers was, and still is, to shift into the form of a curious young insectoid of a differing race and pepper any new students of her university with questions about their lives and cultures. Through this and more traditional methods of research, Maeve learned what each nation wanted and needed. Though Cor Quae’thum remained relatively untouched by the War of the Eight-Legged Terror, she saw the fear in the peoples surrounding her and decided she was going to do something about it. Having heard whispers of alliances with some countries and against others, Maeve elected to attempt a path that would, ideally, benefit all six young (at least in her eyes) nations.

Maeve sent messages to the leaders of the five neighboring countries, each claiming in flowery flattery that she wished for a private meeting with them and them alone to discuss a potential alliance between their nation and Cor Quae’thum. To her delight, her trick worked, and she was able to summon all five to her hallowed halls. There, once the initial confusion had worn off, she explained through a peal of laughter that she still wished to ally with all five of them. She served as a mediator betwixt contrasting needs, desires, and strengths of six young nations, all while playing the part of a gracious hostess and keeping spirits aloft with clever magics and delightful tricks. Through her efforts, the charter of the Royal Hexagon was ratified, and the nations became even stronger than they were before.

When the Tunnel War broke out, Maeve’s high spirits were dragged down, but she recognized both Harko Ironfang’s need for glory and the importance of the still-young (at least to her) alliance. Thus, Cor Quae’thum remained neutral in the war. When the formicoid professors of the university were called to the front, Maeve stepped in to personally substitute their courses and continue the magical training of their students. Once the war drew to a close, she once again served as a mediator in the drafting of the peace treaties.

Present

Maeve is, above all else, a teacher. Though she holds final sway on the course listings and syllabi of the professors of Cor Quae’thum, she does occasionally grow dissatisfied with what she is learning. To combat this, she finds a topic that interests her and hosts a yearlong course discussing said topic, inviting any and all to explore it alongside her. Her heart also aches with longing to see and hear from her kindred spirits, the other nymphians, and she will often find clever ways to deliver messages to them or get them to come visit her in Cor Quae’thum. When she’s not performing administrative duties, engrossed in a book from her personal library, or meeting with the Catedralum, she wanders Cor Quae’thum, often in disguise, marveling at what the city has become and envisioning what it could be. She acts as a friend to all who speak with her, in whatever form she currently possesses.

Names and Titles
Maeve, Witch Queen, Headmistress
Age
Ancient
Sex and/or Gender
Female
Race and/or Species
Nymphian of Transmutation
Appearance
Small in stature, but with large wings of iridescent blue. Bears a sweet expression with the tiniest hint of mischief.
Nationality
Quaethan
Class
Scholar
Occupations
Queen, professor, librarian, researcher, diplomat
Religion
Order Pantheon, Gnol-Dotera in particular
General Disposition

Motivation(s)
To gain knowledge and to share it with all who come to Cor Quae’thum