Olwen Aphistrea

Warrior of Light, Savior of Etheirys, Culinarian

BASICS

Age: Late 20s, but she would be lying if she told you she doesn't forget at times.Pronouns: She/Her, but any are acceptedSexual Orientation: Pansexual ( In the vague handwave sort of way, she doesn't define her attraction to others through the sphere of gender very much at all.)Race: Hyur (?)Alignment: Chaotic GoodJobs: Monk (an expert), some minimal conjury experience

APPEARANCE AND PERSONALITY

A hyuran woman of the Highlander clan. She's somewhat short, around 5'3, and sports a sturdy build honed by years of training and a rugged lifestyle. She has a pale complexion, joined by crimson eyes and pale, silvery hair that she keeps cropped short. Olwen has a distinct, strong nose, with a slight crookedness to it after likely haven been broken several times. She prefers clothing that remains easy for her to move in, regardless of modesty or subtlety.Olwen is an eccentric and easy to peg as a simple brute. She's a woman of few words, and when she does give them they are often blunt and brutally honest. In alignment with this, she has little patience for pretty words and prefers actions to speak for both herself and others.Underneath a generally rough exterior, there is admittedly a very compassionate and worrisome person. She keeps watchful eyes on her allies and their needs, even if they may not realize it. She is prone to keeping her problems to herself, but serving the problems of others with great devotion. Known for being "chronically helpful". Prone to self risk and self sacrifice, she'd risk a great deal for someone she cares about.Upon speaking with her long enough, it becomes apparent she came of age in some sort of isolation. Social graces and etiquette are often lost on her, even when she isn't attempting to be rude. Despite this, she will generally assume she is right and others are strange for their preconceptions about proper behavior, often leading to further confusion or perceived rudeness.

BACKGROUND

Though technically Ala Mhigan by her place of birth, Olwen descends from a long line of nomads. The Aphistrea clan practiced and studied a very specific brand of aetherial manipulation, used to transfigure and improve the physical body both temporarily and permanently. While originally believed to have been of just pursuits, they eventually found themselves among the ranks of King Theodoric's court mages and thus fell into line with his path of experimentation and torture on their fellow man.When Theodoric was toppled and the Garlean invasion swept in to fill the power vacuum, she was still a young child. Her memories of this time, and of her birth family, are rather cloudy, but she remains aware of the bare facts of her birth and the likely horrors that had been wreaked around or upon her. She still retains several traits from this: eyes displaying flawless dark vision, and an uncanny strength, durability, and speed that would catch many off guard. As if she were designed to be a predator. Her passive regeneration also far surpasses anything natural, leading to her ability to survive wounds and conditions that would otherwise be fatal.After the fall of Ala Mhigo, her family aligned themselves with the Garlean Empire. Having no personal attachments to Ala Mhigo themselves, and a general urge towards pledging their service to the most powerful ally, this was hardly a tough choice for the Aphistrea patriarch of the time. As her father earned his place as a well-regarded researcher in the Imperial Capital, she followed in his wake. She spent much of her formative years in Garlemald, residing there as her father's most prized example of his work. For the most part, she spent her days as a test subject, being treated with very little humanity.As she came of age, though, she became more and more difficult for her father to control. This eventually reaching a peak when, in her late teens, she finally snapped- killing her father, burning most of his research materials, and vanishing into the frozen wastes of Garlemald.Given her sturdy nature, and a great deal of good fortune, she survived her escape from the harsh north of Islabard and eventually was found and taken in by a mercenary named Allistor Torque. Torque had actually known her in her younger years, as he had done some work for her family before deciding he was unable to stomach the nature of their work, and the treatment of their offspring. Recognizing her from all that time ago, he was more than happy to take her in. They think of each other as family despite lacking a bond of blood.They traveled often, primarily throughout Thanalan where Allistor worked to guard caravans and passing travelers. The rest of her upbringing was rather uneventful, and shortly before the Calamity she left to strike out on her own as an adventurer in Ul'dah.For roleplay purposes, she generally will not be forthcoming with much of her background. Her past in Garlemald is by all means a secret she keeps closely guarded, along with the condition of her body. Though characters from Ala Mhigo or Garlemald may recognize her surname and the legacy that it carries.