Taking one step forward, two steps back
Still I believe there's a thread through the thorns
And I believe that somewhere it's warm
And I believe that it's ever bright beyond this black.
Still I believe there's a thread through the thorns
And I believe that somewhere it's warm
And I believe that it's ever bright beyond this black.
Credit
Full Name: Lia Tael Mordallis
Titles/Nicknames: Scout-Captain, or Lieutenant, if ranks need to be employed.
Age: 25 (9:45)
Race: Elf
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Class: Rogue
Specialization: Ranger
Hair Color: Buttery blonde.
Eye Color: Light blue.
Height: 5'7"
Build: Svelte.
Appearance: At first glance, Lia would most likely be pegged as a former member of the Dalish. She has the lean, lithe build of the graceful forest huntress, armed with a whitewood bow decorated with markings of Andruil, goddess of the hunt. She even has the vallaslin to match, a minimalistic design curving under her eyes and down her cheeks to represent the bow and string, a straight line cutting vertically over her lips, feathering out on her chin. Whether Lia is actually Dalish could be a matter of some debate, but her history would tell you she is not.
Beauty is of course a subjective thing, but Lia's history would also suggest that she has it, something she is distinctly aware of. Despite the almost constant outdoors nature of her work in recent years, her skin is still remarkably pale, a result of her habits of dress, which include full coverage and often a cloak and hood. Her hair is a soft and buttery blonde color, straight and long enough to reach the middle of her back. She'll leave it loose when not working, and ties it up in simple fashions when she is. It isn't something she puts a great deal of effort into, as she feels she has no one but herself to please with her appearance, aside from a somewhat subconscious desire to blend in.
Her hands and feet are callused and toughened from years of physical work, and while her limited role in fighting has left the rest of her mostly free of scars and other damage, she still has some to speak of. The line cutting through her left eyebrow is the most obvious of these.
She could embody that sort of ideal elven grace and attractiveness if she chose to, but she very much does not. Her typical clothes are intentionally plain and not especially flattering, and she really doesn't have anything to speak of that could be considered fancy or extravagant. Her race has always excluded her from needing those, and in the rare event she does, there are few situations where her Argent Lions uniform would not be appropriate. She'll wear gear that identifies her with the company while on duty, but prefers to return to her own clothes when she's on her own time. It's something that has helped her integrate into the Val Royeaux Alienage, as it gives her a much less noticeable appearance, something she believes has the effect of making her more approachable.
And she is approachable, at least among her own kind, be they Lucien's mercenaries or just city elves in general. Her confidence is the quiet kind, one that shows more in the certainty of her motions than in her words. While she may not be entirely comfortable in her own skin sometimes, she is comfortable with her abilities. It's a subtle thing that separates her from most city elves, something that can make them naturally look to her when in need of help, or a friend.
Titles/Nicknames: Scout-Captain, or Lieutenant, if ranks need to be employed.
Age: 25 (9:45)
Race: Elf
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Class: Rogue
Specialization: Ranger
Hair Color: Buttery blonde.
Eye Color: Light blue.
Height: 5'7"
Build: Svelte.
Appearance: At first glance, Lia would most likely be pegged as a former member of the Dalish. She has the lean, lithe build of the graceful forest huntress, armed with a whitewood bow decorated with markings of Andruil, goddess of the hunt. She even has the vallaslin to match, a minimalistic design curving under her eyes and down her cheeks to represent the bow and string, a straight line cutting vertically over her lips, feathering out on her chin. Whether Lia is actually Dalish could be a matter of some debate, but her history would tell you she is not.
Beauty is of course a subjective thing, but Lia's history would also suggest that she has it, something she is distinctly aware of. Despite the almost constant outdoors nature of her work in recent years, her skin is still remarkably pale, a result of her habits of dress, which include full coverage and often a cloak and hood. Her hair is a soft and buttery blonde color, straight and long enough to reach the middle of her back. She'll leave it loose when not working, and ties it up in simple fashions when she is. It isn't something she puts a great deal of effort into, as she feels she has no one but herself to please with her appearance, aside from a somewhat subconscious desire to blend in.
Her hands and feet are callused and toughened from years of physical work, and while her limited role in fighting has left the rest of her mostly free of scars and other damage, she still has some to speak of. The line cutting through her left eyebrow is the most obvious of these.
She could embody that sort of ideal elven grace and attractiveness if she chose to, but she very much does not. Her typical clothes are intentionally plain and not especially flattering, and she really doesn't have anything to speak of that could be considered fancy or extravagant. Her race has always excluded her from needing those, and in the rare event she does, there are few situations where her Argent Lions uniform would not be appropriate. She'll wear gear that identifies her with the company while on duty, but prefers to return to her own clothes when she's on her own time. It's something that has helped her integrate into the Val Royeaux Alienage, as it gives her a much less noticeable appearance, something she believes has the effect of making her more approachable.
And she is approachable, at least among her own kind, be they Lucien's mercenaries or just city elves in general. Her confidence is the quiet kind, one that shows more in the certainty of her motions than in her words. While she may not be entirely comfortable in her own skin sometimes, she is comfortable with her abilities. It's a subtle thing that separates her from most city elves, something that can make them naturally look to her when in need of help, or a friend.
x
âIf it's not too much trouble... turn your eyes elsewhere.â
Credit
Personality: Lia's demeanors have vast differences that are enacted in part by where she is, and who she is surrounded by. Among friends, the Argent Lions, the Inquisition, the elves of any city, or even the Emperor and Empress of Orlais, she is carefree, quick to smile and joke and tease and dance and all the things that someone relaxed and vibrant would do. But many don't fall into these groups, and when it's them that surround her, Lia can be wary, quiet, even tense. It used to be an uneasiness that extended into nervousness and timidity, but Lia's time as a mercenary shored up her foundations of confidence into a firm base. That doesn't change the fact that she is cautious around strangers, or that she comes to trust the average shem very slowly.
She's not one for attention. The eyes of crowds of strangers on her make Lia deeply uncomfortable, and even among her own kind she'd rather someone else be front and center. She's humble, and won't be caught bragging about her deeds, as she'd much rather point out the magnitude of things that others accomplish. It's enough for her to have helped someone, and to know that. That person knows, and will spread it if they so choose.
There are some things she picked up in Val Royeaux that none of her mentors felt the need to teach, like how to lie and how to steal, how to pick pockets and occasionally, how to scare someone. She'd rather not use these skills and live honestly, but she'd also rather help people, and sometimes that requires doing what they cannot. Her father did it for her, when she was younger. Laws didn't get in his way, or in Amalia's way. In this, she follows their lead.
There are some things Lia cannot be, at least not yet. She is not sophisticated, she is not especially well-mannered, and though she knows how to lie, she does not have a silver tongue. Her lies divert attention, make her as invisible as most of the elves in Val Royeaux. They don't change anyone's beliefs, and they don't open doors. She has lockpicks for that sort of thing.
Her view on life is cynical in some ways, and yet hopeful in others. Her experiences have taught her to distrust until she has evidence to do otherwise, not the contrary. She firmly believes that many people are inherently evil, and that no amount of chances given will change them. She has seen some of the worst things humanity has to offer, and some of the best. When confronted with that wickedness she loathes, she responds in kind, and seeks to destroy it. Meets hate with hate of her own, but tries always to do so in response. She is not always successful.
Like many elves, Lia is still split between the desire to love, and the need to fear. Fear, and all the prudent things that stem from it have kept her alive, but they have also whittled away at her. A worthwhile sacrifice, she feels, for being able to do what she does.
She's not one for attention. The eyes of crowds of strangers on her make Lia deeply uncomfortable, and even among her own kind she'd rather someone else be front and center. She's humble, and won't be caught bragging about her deeds, as she'd much rather point out the magnitude of things that others accomplish. It's enough for her to have helped someone, and to know that. That person knows, and will spread it if they so choose.
There are some things she picked up in Val Royeaux that none of her mentors felt the need to teach, like how to lie and how to steal, how to pick pockets and occasionally, how to scare someone. She'd rather not use these skills and live honestly, but she'd also rather help people, and sometimes that requires doing what they cannot. Her father did it for her, when she was younger. Laws didn't get in his way, or in Amalia's way. In this, she follows their lead.
There are some things Lia cannot be, at least not yet. She is not sophisticated, she is not especially well-mannered, and though she knows how to lie, she does not have a silver tongue. Her lies divert attention, make her as invisible as most of the elves in Val Royeaux. They don't change anyone's beliefs, and they don't open doors. She has lockpicks for that sort of thing.
Her view on life is cynical in some ways, and yet hopeful in others. Her experiences have taught her to distrust until she has evidence to do otherwise, not the contrary. She firmly believes that many people are inherently evil, and that no amount of chances given will change them. She has seen some of the worst things humanity has to offer, and some of the best. When confronted with that wickedness she loathes, she responds in kind, and seeks to destroy it. Meets hate with hate of her own, but tries always to do so in response. She is not always successful.
Like many elves, Lia is still split between the desire to love, and the need to fear. Fear, and all the prudent things that stem from it have kept her alive, but they have also whittled away at her. A worthwhile sacrifice, she feels, for being able to do what she does.
âTo be who I am, and to help who I want...
I have to accept some ugly truths. I have to do some ugly things.
But every time I see the look on someone's face, when they thought no one would be there for them...
Every time, it reminds me that it's all worth it.â
I have to accept some ugly truths. I have to do some ugly things.
But every time I see the look on someone's face, when they thought no one would be there for them...
Every time, it reminds me that it's all worth it.â
Credit
DEX:
INT:
WIS:
CNG:
MAG:
WIL:
CON:
⧠ââââââââââ â [9/10]
⧠ââââââââââ â [6/10]
⧠ââââââââââ â [7/10]
⧠ââââââââââ â [8/10]
⧠ââââââââââ â [0/10]
⧠ââââââââââ â [8/10]
⧠ââââââââââ â [4/10]
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x
x
x
x
x
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x
x
x
x
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x
Equipment: The shortbow is Lia's weapon of choice, and hers is carved from whitewood, making it light, flexible, durable, and not lacking for strength. Her Argent Lion training required her to become familiar with a wide range of weapons, and though she is proficient with many, she doesn't excel at all of them, and larger weapons in particular have proven less than ideal for her to use. In melee she prefers smaller tools, specifically Parshaara, the fire-enchanted dragonbone knife crafted by Amalia originally as a gift to her father, which has since been passed on down to Lia. Her choice of armor and gear depends on the time of day and the situation. She'll wear the Argent Lion maroon when working in the open and with others, but if she's on her own or not working in an official capacity she'll change to her personal gear. That means darker colors and better ability to conceal her identity. Whatever the case, Lia wears a minimum of actual armor, mostly just leather, and never enough to hamper her stealth.
Fighting Style/Training: Lia's many mentors molded her into a capable combatant who finds herself most effective when positioned at range, with room to maneuver and flank. She's no sniper with the bow, preferring to take quick shots and be on the move, close enough to skirmish and harass. Her resourcefulness was only enhanced by her years of training and experience, and she will always look to make the most of her surroundings, as well as find and exploit enemy weaknesses. She has a sharp eye, and a mind both quick and cunning in combat.
She won't hesitate to engage in close combat if an opening presents itself, and she has the skill and aggressiveness to deal a significant amount of damage in a short span, especially if her target doesn't see her coming. If she can't immediately defeat an enemy up close, however, she'll look to disengage, to get out of arm's reach before the enemy can return any attacks. She lacks both the armor and the endurance to survive prolonged melee fights, so she has to rely on her speed to retreat, or make good use of her allies to keep herself covered. While she has some years of experience, most of it was alongside large groups, and acting as support for the army and the Inquisition Irregulars. Lia's very much still a developing fighter when it comes to small-group combat, with no backup to speak of.
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Equipment: The shortbow is Lia's weapon of choice, and hers is carved from whitewood, making it light, flexible, durable, and not lacking for strength. Her Argent Lion training required her to become familiar with a wide range of weapons, and though she is proficient with many, she doesn't excel at all of them, and larger weapons in particular have proven less than ideal for her to use. In melee she prefers smaller tools, specifically Parshaara, the fire-enchanted dragonbone knife crafted by Amalia originally as a gift to her father, which has since been passed on down to Lia. Her choice of armor and gear depends on the time of day and the situation. She'll wear the Argent Lion maroon when working in the open and with others, but if she's on her own or not working in an official capacity she'll change to her personal gear. That means darker colors and better ability to conceal her identity. Whatever the case, Lia wears a minimum of actual armor, mostly just leather, and never enough to hamper her stealth.
Fighting Style/Training: Lia's many mentors molded her into a capable combatant who finds herself most effective when positioned at range, with room to maneuver and flank. She's no sniper with the bow, preferring to take quick shots and be on the move, close enough to skirmish and harass. Her resourcefulness was only enhanced by her years of training and experience, and she will always look to make the most of her surroundings, as well as find and exploit enemy weaknesses. She has a sharp eye, and a mind both quick and cunning in combat.
She won't hesitate to engage in close combat if an opening presents itself, and she has the skill and aggressiveness to deal a significant amount of damage in a short span, especially if her target doesn't see her coming. If she can't immediately defeat an enemy up close, however, she'll look to disengage, to get out of arm's reach before the enemy can return any attacks. She lacks both the armor and the endurance to survive prolonged melee fights, so she has to rely on her speed to retreat, or make good use of her allies to keep herself covered. While she has some years of experience, most of it was alongside large groups, and acting as support for the army and the Inquisition Irregulars. Lia's very much still a developing fighter when it comes to small-group combat, with no backup to speak of.
âNever hesitate. Take every advantage you're given.
Then find the one they're hiding and take that too.â
Then find the one they're hiding and take that too.â
Credit
Place of Birth: Kirkwall, Free Marches
Social Status/Rank: City elf, mercenary lieutenant, and Inquisition captain. Often in that order.
History: Lia was born with only one name, of the three she would eventually collect. 9:20 Dragon was the last year of Perrin Threnhold's service as Viscount of Kirkwall, as he would go on to attempt throwing out the Templar Order the following year, to disastrous results. Marlowe Dumar may have been made the new Viscount, but it was a widely known fact that the City of Chains belonged to Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard after that.
A very young elven girl could hardly be concerned with city politics, though. It was hard times for the elves of the city's Alienage. Sickness was often rampant, and it was one of these that claimed her mother, so early in Lia's life that she has almost no memory of her. Her father Elren was a humble merchant, barely able to support the pair of them. The Blight struck nearby Ferelden when Lia was ten, spurring huge amounts of refugees across the Waking Sea to seek a new home in Kirkwall. Darktown filled with the desperate, crime was rampant in Lowtown, and the elves were all but forgotten, left to fend for themselves.
In 9:31, Lia was the latest in a string of young elven girls to be kidnapped, by a troubled magistrate's son named Kelder Vanard. Though the other girls were killed, Lia was rescued in time by an unlikely pair: the Dalish hunter Ithilian Tael, one of those many Fereldan refugees, and a human woman called Amalia, who at the time belonged to the Qun. It was Ithilian at first that Lia was in awe of, a personification of elven power and strength she'd never seen before.
In the years that followed, her father was claimed by a similar wave of sickness, leaving Lia yet another orphan to be looked after by the community. It was to Ithilian she gravitated, and in time she became his ward, more by her choice than his. In time she learned of his losses, how his wife and daughter had fallen to the Blight. Getting him to accept her was not easy, but Lia proved relentless, and before long she had made herself known to many of Ithilian's acquaintances, including Amalia, the Warden Nostariel Turtega, and Ashton Riviera, a shemlen hunter and shop owner that first came to offer her work outside the Alienage, tending to his shop while he was away.
At 15, Lia was on her way back to the Alienage from her work when she was assaulted by a group of men, including some city guardsmen. In self defense, Lia was able to kill one of them, a "crime" which earned her the Gallows, which for most elves either meant indefinite imprisonment, or death. Ithilian and Ashton spared her from either, but in the chaos that followed, Lia and a group of other young elves felt threatened enough to seek the Qunari for defense when the Alienage was pressured by templars.
It was a traumatic event that led Lia to seek a path that would make her strong, self-sufficient. Mentored by the likes of Amalia, Nostariel, and Ithilian, she came to join Lucien Drakon's fledgling Argent Lions the moment she was of age, and put her skills in scouting and hunting to immediate use. The work was everything she'd dreamed of, and it made her a great many new friends, not to mention greater skill and confidence in herself. After Sophia Dumar reclaimed her position as Viscountess from Meredith, Lia was among the Lions to accompany Lucien to Orlais, and Val Royeaux.
There she became a Lieutenant, first and foremost among the company's scouts. She continued to grow into her own during the time in Val Royeaux, but it was at Haven she began her greatest journey. After the disastrous Conclave Lia came to join the newly formed Inquisition on her Commander's orders. Given her skillset and potential, it wasn't long before she was made Captain of their scouts, ranging ahead of the Inquisitors, the Irregulars, and the army itself to provide information and support.
In this way she traveled all over the south of Thedas, participating in battles and fighting back demons and doing things she'd never dreamed of as a child. When she was reunited with Ithilian and Amalia, the former officially took her as his daughter, offering her his family and clan names, though the clan he belonged to had all but perished. When he lost his arm hunting the Venatori leader Marcus Alesius, a man that had been a nightmare for Amalia since Lia was a child, Lia took his place in the hunt. She was no match for Marcus in combat, but she was able to do just enough to enable Amalia to finish the kill, and free them of a seemingly endless circle of violence.
With the Inquisition defeating Corypheus and achieving their original purpose, Lia's work for them has become less steady, her skills less necessary. But threats still linger, and when one of these seems to be stirring in Val Royeaux, she and her friend Corvin Pavell are sent back there, to serve the new Emperor and Empress, their old friends, in investigating the issue.
Social Status/Rank: City elf, mercenary lieutenant, and Inquisition captain. Often in that order.
History: Lia was born with only one name, of the three she would eventually collect. 9:20 Dragon was the last year of Perrin Threnhold's service as Viscount of Kirkwall, as he would go on to attempt throwing out the Templar Order the following year, to disastrous results. Marlowe Dumar may have been made the new Viscount, but it was a widely known fact that the City of Chains belonged to Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard after that.
A very young elven girl could hardly be concerned with city politics, though. It was hard times for the elves of the city's Alienage. Sickness was often rampant, and it was one of these that claimed her mother, so early in Lia's life that she has almost no memory of her. Her father Elren was a humble merchant, barely able to support the pair of them. The Blight struck nearby Ferelden when Lia was ten, spurring huge amounts of refugees across the Waking Sea to seek a new home in Kirkwall. Darktown filled with the desperate, crime was rampant in Lowtown, and the elves were all but forgotten, left to fend for themselves.
In 9:31, Lia was the latest in a string of young elven girls to be kidnapped, by a troubled magistrate's son named Kelder Vanard. Though the other girls were killed, Lia was rescued in time by an unlikely pair: the Dalish hunter Ithilian Tael, one of those many Fereldan refugees, and a human woman called Amalia, who at the time belonged to the Qun. It was Ithilian at first that Lia was in awe of, a personification of elven power and strength she'd never seen before.
In the years that followed, her father was claimed by a similar wave of sickness, leaving Lia yet another orphan to be looked after by the community. It was to Ithilian she gravitated, and in time she became his ward, more by her choice than his. In time she learned of his losses, how his wife and daughter had fallen to the Blight. Getting him to accept her was not easy, but Lia proved relentless, and before long she had made herself known to many of Ithilian's acquaintances, including Amalia, the Warden Nostariel Turtega, and Ashton Riviera, a shemlen hunter and shop owner that first came to offer her work outside the Alienage, tending to his shop while he was away.
At 15, Lia was on her way back to the Alienage from her work when she was assaulted by a group of men, including some city guardsmen. In self defense, Lia was able to kill one of them, a "crime" which earned her the Gallows, which for most elves either meant indefinite imprisonment, or death. Ithilian and Ashton spared her from either, but in the chaos that followed, Lia and a group of other young elves felt threatened enough to seek the Qunari for defense when the Alienage was pressured by templars.
It was a traumatic event that led Lia to seek a path that would make her strong, self-sufficient. Mentored by the likes of Amalia, Nostariel, and Ithilian, she came to join Lucien Drakon's fledgling Argent Lions the moment she was of age, and put her skills in scouting and hunting to immediate use. The work was everything she'd dreamed of, and it made her a great many new friends, not to mention greater skill and confidence in herself. After Sophia Dumar reclaimed her position as Viscountess from Meredith, Lia was among the Lions to accompany Lucien to Orlais, and Val Royeaux.
There she became a Lieutenant, first and foremost among the company's scouts. She continued to grow into her own during the time in Val Royeaux, but it was at Haven she began her greatest journey. After the disastrous Conclave Lia came to join the newly formed Inquisition on her Commander's orders. Given her skillset and potential, it wasn't long before she was made Captain of their scouts, ranging ahead of the Inquisitors, the Irregulars, and the army itself to provide information and support.
In this way she traveled all over the south of Thedas, participating in battles and fighting back demons and doing things she'd never dreamed of as a child. When she was reunited with Ithilian and Amalia, the former officially took her as his daughter, offering her his family and clan names, though the clan he belonged to had all but perished. When he lost his arm hunting the Venatori leader Marcus Alesius, a man that had been a nightmare for Amalia since Lia was a child, Lia took his place in the hunt. She was no match for Marcus in combat, but she was able to do just enough to enable Amalia to finish the kill, and free them of a seemingly endless circle of violence.
With the Inquisition defeating Corypheus and achieving their original purpose, Lia's work for them has become less steady, her skills less necessary. But threats still linger, and when one of these seems to be stirring in Val Royeaux, she and her friend Corvin Pavell are sent back there, to serve the new Emperor and Empress, their old friends, in investigating the issue.
"We've been in this together almost since we were kids. There's no one I'd rather work with."
Cor was one of Lia's first friends in the Argent Lions, and all things considered he's probably her best friend. While they didn't really get to know each other in Kirkwall before Lucien's company brought them together, they both joined up as soon as they were old enough, they both have the common experience of growing up a city elf to draw upon, and their personalities mesh quite well too. Their trials and experiences with the Inquisition only helped build their bond. Few people have Lia's complete trust, but Cor might be one of them, and she's glad to be stuck with him for this assignment.
"Quote."
They haven't met yet.
"Quote."
They haven't met yet.
âEvery time I've been helpless, someone's been there to fight for me.
It's my turn to do the fighting. I won't back down from any of it.â
It's my turn to do the fighting. I won't back down from any of it.â
