Alyona Brightblade

Name: Alyona Brightblade
Aliases: Al, Aly, Care
Race: Aasimar
Age: 18




Appearance and Style:



Alyona is a tall red haired women with gold eyes. She is muscular, sturdy, and there is something about her smile, or the way she look at people that is inspiring. Her eyes are honest, and most of the time, she smiles with sincerity and strength. She walks around with the habite of someone who had to fend off for herself, and turned that into something good. She doesn't shy from people like most urchin would, she seems to draw people to her instead.



Significant Qualities:

El is very mature for her age, and dependable. She has been taking care of others all her life, or for as long as she can remember. She always place other above her needs, and she is always motherly to others around her, making sure everyone is happy is second nature to her. She is very wise in a lot of matters, and quite innocent on others. She has some raw intellect, but it is hidden under her uncultured manners and speech. She seems to collect strays and people to help like others would shells or pretty rocks. She can be rought around the edges, and she have no real social polish, but deep down, she is a woman of her words, and she cares for everyone. She will always try to see the best in everyone around her, even her ennemies. 



Living Relatives:

She might still have a family somewhere out there, maybe even brother, sisters, cousins and the like. She both hope and fear that taught as they are a complete unknown to her. Why did they abandon her ? Who or what are they ? Would they be foe or friends ? Would they be proud of her ? She cannot remember anything before the streets, she only have a small necklace with some faded engravings on it. She believe it is from her parents, but she cannot remember. 

She considers every urchins and street kid in her former street gang to be her familly. They are like brother and sisters to one an other, and mostly to her. She is their big sister, and she will never abandon them.


She also have her father, the one who trully cared for her and raised her as his own, since he found her and sort of tamed her out of the street. He is her hero, her mentor, and her rock. She cares for him very deeply.


Five Things Your Character Fears (in order from least afraid to most)

She fears to discover who her birth family his, beacause for her family is important. She fear to be tied to people that will be ashamed of her, or that would be ennemies. She fear one day, she might fight or even kill one of her family member by mistake. If they are vilains, would she be able and strong enough to bring them back to the light ? Or what if she isn't worthy of them ?

Always believing she was abandoned, even if she loves dearly her adoptive father, she fears being abandoned and alone. There is always a tiny part of her mind that keeps telling her she might never be good enough for those around her. So, even if she is very honest and caring, she have a hard time confiding in others, or trusting someone else to guide her. She will keep her problems to herself.

She fears to end her life as someone useless and unable to care for herself. The life her father lived as always been a fear for her. She greatly admires him for his courage to live up without an arm and a leg, and still being able to do good around him, but she fears to end her life even more a burden on society. She would rather die.

She fears failure. FIn the streaet, it would have mostly mean death, and even if she is not in the street anymore, failure means she was not good enough, that she failed those that trusted in her. She will always try her best, even sometimes to the point of exhaustion, because she cannot bear to fail when she as started something. She will try again and again. That has been a weight all her life, not exactly knowing why, but always being looked upon as someone great. She feels the burden of her father's expectations, and ever since the day she saved them, one after the others,  the expectations of her street gang. She knows their admiration is a responsability and she doesn't want to disapoint.

Even whorse then bringing shame to the name she was gifted to by her father, she fears to not be able to protect those she love, or the innocent under her care. For her, as for Lathander, all lives are precious. She is willing to oppose evil with all she can, but she fears that one day, she will fail in her calling and that it will mean the death of those she is supposed to save or protect.


Four Things Your Character Loves Dearly (in order from least beloved to most)

Every morning, being it sunny or not. She is truly grateful for each morning she rises to great the sun and the new day. Each day is a new chance to do better and be more. She is a hopeful person, and the mornings are her favorites moment. Just before Dawn, when everything is quiet, and she can make a Thanksgiving for all the blessings she had yesterday, and all that is to come for the new day.

Her father, he is her hero, a wonderful man and the guy who raised her even though she was not his to begin with.

Her calling as a paladin. It's her life, it's what she is good at, and what feels right to do with her life. She cannot imagine being something else. She is happy.

Lathander and the hopes he brings to the world. Her god and his goals are all to her.





Three Things Your Character Is Embarrassed About (from least embarrassing to most)

Strangely, she doesn't seem herself as beautiful, and she is embarrassed about her physical appearance. It's not really something she had control over. She is ashamed of every perceived flaws in her appearances.

Not knowing who her real parents were, or where she comes from. It makes her very conscious that all she is, she owes to her father's generosity and kindness. And since he was the commander of the Song of Morning, it's a hard legacy to live up to.

When she was first brought to the song of morning, almost a year ago, she made a fool of herself in front of the whole congregation of the Morning Light in Beregost. She asked a stupid question to the priest and everyone laughed at her (save her father of course), she still feels really embarrassed about that. It still stick to her even after all those months, people tease her about it.




Two Things Your Character is Proud of (from least to most proud)

She is also proud of saving all those kids, all her brother and sister of the street. She turned them away from a life of crime and made them into a force for good. Doing errands for people around them, helping the good churches and congregations, doing honest work, even in the streets. And most especially, they helped when the city was overrun by the dragon turned evil. It was not significant, but it was there, in the details. They helped smuggle people out, helped keep those who were not under influenced out of the street, they gathered small information and intel. They helped.

She is proud of how good she has become with a sword, and the look of pride her father has whenever he look upon her.

One Thing They'd be Willing to Kill or Die for (state whether they'd kill or die for it)

She would die, and kill if she has to, for what she believes in. Her code and Lathander's dogma are her life, her soul, her hope. It's what she believes is most sacred.






Childhood:

Alyona grew up in the street of Baldur's Gate. She doesn't remember anything of her life before that. Her oldest memories, is one of an old beggar taking care of her, using her to get more pity, and therefor, more money. He was kind, in his own way, and always did his best to answer her needs. He also thought her how to pick pockets when she was barely old enough to learn. She was not the best, and she often get caught, but her smile and her charm always seem to get her out of trouble. She didn't like that life though. She yearned for something greater, and most importantly, that would not require her to harm others. She was only 7 when the beggar died and she found herself alone in the world.

Her pretty face and quick wits made her very likable in the street by almost any one, but it was not exactly enough to keep her out of trouble. Every night, she prayed to someone, she didn't know much more about the gods then feelings and hope, that a better path would open to her. When a month or so after the beggar's death, her would enver allow her to call him father or gramps, she stumbled upon a dead drunkard in a back alley. On him, he had a well used but serviceable short sword. It was big for the little girl she was at the time, more like a longsword to her really, and hard to wield, but she learned to do it. She wanted to protect herself, but there was also this feeling in her, this desire to protect others. In the street, there were already too many innocent, too many weak ones to get hurt or killed. She wanted to do something for that.

And as the month passed, she got the opportunity to do so again, and again. And after a year, she had a small gang of her own. All misfits, unwanted, weakling others casted out or were bullying. She had made a name for herself when defending any and all of them against other bigger and stronguer gang leader. But at heart, they all were cowards. As soon as they saw she had a weapon and was ready to use it on them, they just shrugged off her offer of duel and invented some excuse to rid themselves of the weakling. It was not worth getting hurt over. Their loss. Others, she found almost dead after a beating. The first time it happened, she tried desperatly to try to help the kid, to wake him, and sudenly, she felt a heat in her hands, and under her eyes, the wounds knitted themselves up. It was astonishing. She didn't heal him all up, but enough that he lived. She did so with others too.

Alyona took them all under her care. It is about that time, as well, that she received her name. Before that, she was only the girl, the red head, or "Care" for her tendency to help everyone around. This was most certainly a fated meeting in fact. A paladin came into town, he was old, or at least in "Care"s eyes. Big, tall, with a comforting smile, he saw her in the street, begging and came to her. He told her he needed someone to ran messages for him, and possibly help him get his bearing around the city. he was not from these parts, but he was transfer in Beregost as the one of the new officer there. He was sent in Baldur's Gate to learn about the neighboring towns and offer, again, The Song of the Morning's friendship to allied temples. 

He told her his name was Dylan Brightblade, and then, he asked her name, but she just shrug and told him people called her either "Care" or "Red". He looked very sad at that, and for some reason, the young would-be paladin felt she had to comfort him. She told him she didn't need a name, and that she was happy with the way things were, but he didn't seem to accept that. He offered to give her a name, and it seemed so important to him that she accepted. He named her Alyona, but when she asked what it meant, he smiled mischieviously and told her she would have to learn Celestial to understand. Frustrated, but also odly attracted to this kind man (and not in the way you think you perverts !) Like a father perhaps, she surprised herself accepting his offer. He then offered her a small symbol of Lathander, and told her his god would watch over her.

From this moment, her gang and she helped him every time he came into the city. And sometime, he even came only to teach them. He was the one who thaught them all to read and write, at least a little bit. He converted most of them to Lathander, and helped the others find their callings into other benevolant gods like Illimather, Deneir, Tymora and others. He was kind to them all, but Alyona felt a special connection with him. She was drawn to him like the others were drawn to her. He taught dose who wanted to learn about religion, but also about reading people, fighting with daggers, swords or staves, and even about how to make your argument and convince people in a good way, without intimidating them or coercing them. 

He came to Baldur's Gate only about every 2 or 3 months, but he stayed with them, brought them gifts and his pride in them was like the ray of sun after an awful storm. He was loved by them, and he loved them all. He would also bring Alyona a bit of money to help care for the others, and soon, with proper food, care and love, they became healtier and stronger. They didn't need to steal, they make themselves known as messengers, errand boy and girls, helpers for various task around the poor quarter of the city, and even in some temples as well. Alyona was never as happy as when one of her kids was taken in by a good family, a priesthood or a good tradesman. But she could never accept herself, her kids needed her, and the only person she ever imagined herself joining was Dylan. But even if he asked, she couldn't accept, her gang needed her.




Young Adult Life:

Years passed and the child grew to a very pretty young maid, one as strong of heart as of body. He trained her as best as he could, with the little time they had togheter, and she trained every day on her own. Almost all of her original gang was now in service, in trade, or in a new familly. But she still had her hand full, because she could never stop herself from trying to save every kid she saw in need. She was Aunty to the younguest of them, or Big Sis to the others. It was fine for her, life had robbed her of a family, and she had found a way to make a new one. 

Her life was going well. If she followed Dylan's estimate, she was going possibly almost 17 years old at this point. It was then that all hell seem to broke loose. A Dragon came to Baldur's Gate, a metallic one, the kind that was suposed to be good and carring, at least a bit, for humanity. It was a moment of hope and expectation. But she and her gang were not really welcome there, they had to stay at the fringe of things, and that is probably what saved them. Alyona understood quickly what was happening in the townsquare, she resisted what she heard, her heart couldn't belive it. She quickly swept away her charges and they fled. That is when she saw Him, in the crowd. Dylan was there, and he was listening ! That couldn't be ! She had to do something. 

He was far away as well, and she couldn't be sure why he was staying to listen to such lies. She ordered the kids to flee. None of them had heard what was said, they were too little, there was too many people, they were not tall enought to hear. They were safe. Jack, the eldest of those still with her, about 10 years old, gathered everyone and headed back to their hovel. She headed straight for him, and realise he was ready to take up his sword. He didn't believe a word either, he was now trying to convice people to leave, to stop listenting. But the crowd, Alyona could see it was not agreeing. They looked ready to tore him appart.

And he was alone. His brothers and sisters in arms turned on him just before she could meet with him. They started attacking him, and the rest of the crowd was cheering for them. It was madness. A few other people were fleeing, but there was so little of them, and so many others that seemed completly mad. It was utter chaos in the street. People were killed on the spot by their neighbhors. Aly doesn't remember how she succesfully made her way to Dylan, but eventullay she was at his side, and for a moment, she thought it was too late. He was very badly injured. She wouldn't dare use her healings on him. Not when others could see. So she just picked him up under the arms, and since she looked so much like a street kid, she seemed to be left alone to do so. And, under the cover of robbing and carying him away, she healed him subtelly. She couldn't do anything for his left arm though. It was almost cut out all the way, and not in a nice cut. More like people just chopped at his arm. At least, he didn't die out there. 

She finaly made it to the lair, and carefully put the paladin down. His skin was the color of ashes, but he was faintly breeting. She took time to have a look at his injuries and realised that his right arm and leg where just too damaged. She had realised early in life she could heal other with a touch, but it would never regrow muscles and skins like he needed, nor would it heal such a big crack in his bone. They didn't have a choice. She had to heal him, he would probably died if she didn't, but he would also, most probably loose his arm. She felt so bad, so ashamed to be enable to prevent it. Jack was learning to become a butcher, or at least, he was the apprentice of an apprentice. He was the closest thing they had to a surgeon. Aly and him gathered their courage and cut his arms. Then, she finisehd healing him for what she could.

He awoke and even in excrutiating pain, smiled to her and thanked her. He healed himself to the best of his remaining abilities, but he had extended most of his spell for the day, trying to fend of his former brother and sister, and trying to protect the fleeing innocent in the square. It took him a few days to heal himself and be ready again, but at this point, it was obvious that there was something very evil, and very big going on outside. The city had turned crazy. And so, they needed a plan to help more than just him flee the city, but all those who had not been cursed. He stayed with her little gang in their hide out for some time, the young aasimar and her charges used their status as street children to go unseen around town, continuing their "work" as usual, but most importantly, to spy and learn about what was happening. Dylan used the time to train and help the redhead girl learn more about her skills and powers. He was very proud to discover that she had in fact found some of her powers as a paladin, and he finaly confirmed to her that she was also differerent then other humans. She was an Aasimar. They had too little time togheter before for him to trully verify that idea, but it was clear to him after the weeks they passed togheter.

They learned of some sort of resistance going on underground, and they did their best to help them, but it was very risky. On the day they were schedule with Dylan to try and smugle some innocent out of the city, something went wrong. Alyona didn't know what happened or why they were discovered that night. After almost an hour that they were trying to leave the city discreetly, she sensed something wrong. On the corner of her eyes, a movement caught her attention, but a bit too late. An arrow was flying right at her friend. Without even thinking, she threw herself before it and received it in the side. She snatch it out of her side discreetly, and tried her best not to let show she was hurt, there was no time for it, and she knew Dylan would be very concerned. She could have healed herself, but she sensed they would need all her healing soon enough. They managed to almost reach the end of the city and elude most of their pursuers, but actually leaving town would be very difficult now that people where aware of their attempt. They had civil to protect, innocent citizen, and most of her young urchins. 

The fight was brutal, there was no other way then to fight, but both Dylan and Aly didn't want to really hurt those agains them. They were under some sort of curse, they were not responsible. The fight was an endless cycle of blood, fighting, injuries and healing. The young paladin was almost out of healing, and she had so many injuries, but Dylan was worse. And then, she was the only one standing, and she saw with horror, one of their opponent intentionnaly hack Dylan's left leg. It was bloody, messy, and horrible. The crazy look of that man's face was frightnening. But she stood firm and was able to push him away. Jack took Dylan under his arms, and sudenly, they had a clear path. Most of the innocent they were escorting out had made it. It was just Dylan, Jack and her. She doesn't remember exactly how they made it out. It's only a blur in her memory. Outside the city, they manage to evade their pursuers and hide in someone's farm. There she used the last of her healing on Dylan. He woke up, bloodied, but alive. She never saw the arrow that took her from behind. They had been found. 

She woke up the next morning on a moving cart, Dylan was at her side, looking worried. He told her they had been found, but the farmer who took them in had been a forester in his yonguer days and his son were good bowman. In the dark, on their farm, they were able to kill their assaiants. The former urchin mourned for the lives that were taken, but what was done, was done. They were on their way to Beregost and Dylan's temple. Her young orphans would also be welcome their, at least for a time. 

Soon after, they heard the city had been freed, and the people had been returned to normal. He could have taken her back, but instead, he offered to officialy train her and give her his name. He couldn't fight anymore, not as a paladin, but he could pass down his training and knowledge. She was already like a daughter to him, had been since the day they met. Feeling honored, and pressed by her little brother, sister, niece and nephew, she accepted. They wouldn't have let her refuse. And besides, she could always come back to Baldur's Gate eventually, and they as well.

And so, time has passed, and she turned 18 and Aly feels ready to face the worlds and return to Baldur's Gate. Her father now own a small farm near Beregost, and he takes care of all the children that wanted to stay with him and help. Mostly the younguest. Jack is now an apprentice butcher in Beregost, but she had promised to return to others, those that wanted to, to Baldur's Gate. Her father gave her his old chainmail, and a new sword. On it is engraved words he told her on her adoption day, words she cherish very much : "We sometimes wonder if life as a meaning... and then we meet peoples that gives meaning to life." And so, with her heart full of hope and love, a new sword and an old armor, she start her journey back to Baldur's Gate.




Views on the world:

She is a optimist girl when it comes to politics and the world. She truly believes that the higher a person is in society, the more responsibility he or she holds. The more superior you are, the more duties and the higher the standard you should uphold. She despises tyrant, bullies and any who seek to use power over others. She is very curious of elves and other races, and she knows little from their cultures. Having grown up on the street of a big town, she know just a little bit about the rest of the world. Nature is beautiful to her, but not very appealing as a life. She has no use for fashion and such... but she is quite romantic at heart. She has never been in love, but like a lot of youth, she is a little in love with the idea of love. She is not naïve enought, though, to fool herself with the first to offer it to her. She dreams of a big love, but her street education has shown her the more physical, practical, view of life. She can be very wise at time, especially when it comes to hope, faith and kindness, but at other times, she just doesn't have the life experience needed to comprehend all the nuances of what happens around her. She doesn't know a thing about politics, or the grand sheme of things. She is still, at heart, the little girl of the street who wished to make a difference for the poor of this life.