Mentor NPC for Ulgan Vess - Astrid Algar
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:53 am
Astrid Algar
Details
Race: Half Human / Half Sil'Norai;
Age: 67
Height: 5'9ft
Weight: 155lbs
Occupation: Senior Mage & Spymaster;
Relation to PC: Ulgan's Mentor
NPC Type: Personal (4)
Influence: 4
History:
Born to a minor noble household of Algar, Astrid is the youngest daughter of 9 children. It was well-known by landed gentry that the Algar Household produced well-trained knights, and Astrid was no exception.
Learning the arts of blade-works with the rapier and parry dagger as her weapon of choice as it was deemed more elegant for a fine lady such as herself, but over time, Astrid found herself growing increasingly bored with her mundane way of life.
Small talk, duelling & studying the political landscape of Radenor & the surrounding nations, none of which piqued the lady’s interest. There was only so much Astrid could do to entertain herself, but Astrid was more of a risk-taker, and one such event would steer her course of life in a completely different direction.
It was by a fateful encounter during one of her expeditions within Vestria, that Astrid came across an enclosure out in the forest, far away from society, where a humble older man lived who was tweaking around with various bodies and calling upon it to rise & serve to his whim. It was strange to Astrid, disgusted but intrigued, horrified yet calm.
It was as if this strange man’s forbidden arts called to her from the very etches of her soul itself. So, rather than reporting this hedge mage, Astrid decided to give the man a choice. To teach her all he knows or be put through the sword & be forgotten in this world, and like any rational person wishing to live, The man offered to teach her all he knew about his so-called ‘gifts’.
Through years of teaching from her ‘mentor’, they were overcoming the struggles of learning various abstract concepts and growing stronger as she continued to delve into this alien world of magic itself. Astrid felt that this path she was taking speaks more truth than the blade, and with each passing season, from blooming meadows to the wilting leaves. Her magical abilities grew with that confidence, and with confidence, Astrid grew bolder in her pursuit.
With every animal she claimed, a bit of essence was taken to fuel her Nightorch to a brilliant shimmer of lilac flames. The thought of using people's souls is tempting, but Astrid only plans to do so if the person in question is against the crown or enemies of her homeland.
Everything was going to plan, and no one would know about her hidden talents until a fateful day struck. It was a frigid afternoon; a call to arms was made that required Astrid, her father Milan Algar and his personal company of well-trained knights to make haste a skirmish near the boards between Radenor & Daravin.
The skirmish lasted for many days and nights, but it was close to the end of the battle that things began to unfurl. Caught in an ambush. Astrid, Milan & the few remaining knights were forced to flee into the wilderness.
Wounded and close to death's door for the majority. Astrid decided that it was best to keep everyone's health in check and deal with issues later, and while yes, she did have much to lose, so too did everyone else as they were still pursued by possible Daravin trackers who picked off the week.
Conjuring her Nightorch, everyone around her seems in awe as wisps of ivory light reach out to everyone near her, mending deep wounds and broken bones. No words were exchanged during the quick recovery process, but the action proves that Astrid, while powerful, was now seen as an undocumented mage.
And while the remaining leg of the journey to escape, their pursuers went as smoothly as it could be. Astrid felt a sense of cold and calloused aura around her companions, which is understandable. After all, she lived a double life for some time and being a mage in Radenor was especially tough and needed to answer tough questions, but consequences are dealt with once they have managed to retreat to safety.
After some time of running & evading their pursuers, Astrid was led by her father to the nearest senior guild-mage and forced to be guild-mage. Essentially revoking her status as gentry and her life signed away to the poorish life of a mage, and, understandably, it would take time for her to adjust, if ever.
Astrid, to this very day, envies the gentry & commonfolk to be free & express themselves. However, it was noted by those that interact with Astrid that while she remains poised, one must choose their words carefully. Still, ultimately Astrid remains an analytical mind & formulating various plans, advancing her techniques in espionage & counter-espionage methods and further advancing her field of magics.
Currently, Astrid has four apprentice mages under her wing & tracks her apprentices via various body parts such as a finger, ear or eye. Her most recent apprentice is Ulgar Vass, who she views as a hard-working & honest man but dislikes that he became a mage and revoking his freedoms. For what? That question still bothers her as it makes very little logical sense in her mind.
Skills
Grave - Master;
Necromancy - Expert;
Bane - Journeyman;
Resonance - Journeyman;
Spycraft - Journeyman;
Investigation - Journeyman;
Disguise - Journeyman;
Blades (Rapier) - Journeyman;
Tactics - Journeyman;