Appearance

Physical Description

Lydia's Half-Elven heritage masks her age, though she carries few other Elven characteristics. She is average in stature, though built athletically, and her features are plain, if pleasant. And yet she carries herself with the presence to fill a room. She seems to emanate confidence, and it is that aspect about her that draws the eye. Her expression is stern yet kind and in spite of her boldness, she lacks any sense of grandeur. Her clothes befit her station yet not extravagant, and though she maintains herself well, she cares little for ornamental jewelry or makeup.

Mentality

Personal history

Lydia was born in a small village at the foot of The Razor's Edge. Her father was a lumberjack, and her mother was the village healer. Along with her two, older brothers, Lydia grew up in the forest, playing among the trees, splashing in the banks of The Hess River, and dreaming of something grander.
 
When Lydia was fourteen, she decided to pursue those dreams. In spite of her parents' fears, she set off, hitching a ride on a merchant ship headed to Castleton. In Castleton, she met a professor from the Royal Academy in Kaisu, who was leading an expedition into The Howling Plains to explore the ruins there. Lydia convinced him to let her join as an assistant, but once she was out there, she proved more than a little useful. She was quick to pick up on swordsmanship and in the evenings she studied history and languages with the professor. She proved to be a quick and creative thinker - an invaluable skill in a world of unknowns.
 
For seven years she traveled with this team, and in many ways they became a second family to her. When the professor decided to retire, he offered to help Lydia enroll in the Royal Academy, but Lydia had found her path in life. She stayed on as the leader of the remainder of the team for several more years until one by one they all retired or died.
 
In the following century of her life, Lydia made a name for herself as an adventurer and mercenary. She officially joined the Mercenary's Guild in Isomor and earned a reputation for getting things done. Traveling Aheila, her good deeds were endless - she slayed monsters that plagued villages without asking for payment, she saved hostages in The Howling Plains, protected shipments of supplies into the mountains of Lasceye, and the list goes on. She became known as not just an effective mercenary who got the job done and a brilliant leader but also as a hero who put the needs of others before herself.
 
But eventually the years of travel, the loss of friends, and the countless battles began to wear on Lydia. At 130 years old, she retired to Isomor, rich from her adventures. She bought a modest manor and had her family move in so they might live out the remainder of their lives in comfort. And when the Guild Master of the Mercenaries' Guild asked her to take the position, she accepted.

Education

Lydia's education was only from life itself, her classrooms were the ancient ruins and war-torn battlefields of Aheila. Her teachers were her companions along the way, great warriors, poets, and historians from all across the continent and even the world. Her thirst for knowledge drove her to learn from everyone she came into contact with, and as such, she now possesses a broad range of knowledge.

Morality & Philosophy

As a child, Lydia dreamed of being a hero, and through her adult life she has come to realize that dream. She sees herself as a protector of the weak, a hunter of evil, and a seeker of knowledge. She believes it is a persons' duty to better themselves and in so doing better the world. She sees the potential in everyone around her and works to bring it to fruition in the hope that tomorrow will be a kinder, safer world than today.

Personality

Motivation

Lydia is motivated by an ideal - the ideal that her actions can make the world a better place. Whether she is helping a single person or a whole country makes little difference to her, only in that she is doing all that she can do. She sees it as the duty of the Mercenary's Guild to ensure order and safety in Aheila - a military with no formal, national ties that should work towards the good of all regardless of race, class, or creed.

Virtues & Personality perks

Lydia is a good-hearted woman with the strength and determination to do something about it. She sees the larger picture and sees how she can impact the world in meaningful ways then cares enough to do it. She is clever and quick to learn new things. Years of adventuring have granted her wisdom beyond her age.

Vices & Personality flaws

Lydia is an idealist. She sees what the world could be, she sees the good in people and longs to nurture it. As such, she can be soft-hearted, and there are many who have taken advantage of that mercy to pursue their own ends. When the world does not live up to her ideals, it is easy for Lydia to become despondent or frustrated, vacillating between bouts of despair and anger that can last for weeks.

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