Name: Imirria Val’dannis, sometimes referred to as Miri by those closest to her.
Gender: Female
Age: 96
Race: Half-elf
Appearance: Imirria stands at 5’8”, a height that leaves her shorter than any elven women she encounters, and often taller than most human women. She is fair of complexion, with light olive skin and high cheekbones given to her by her elven mother. The loose curls that fall just past her shoulders, the precise color of black ink, and the dark blue eyes framed by heavy lashes however, those come from her father. The more than slightly pointed ears are the most telltale sign of her parentage. Imirria has a lean build, and prefers to wear practical, human clothing in darker neutral colors. She is most often seen in close-fitting trousers, knee-high, sturdy boots, a simple shirt and laced leather jerkin covered by a short, hooded cloak. Her untamable curls are usually tied back, though left down her hair can be quite useful in covering her pointed ears. She has several small scars on her hands, and one longer scar on her left forearm.
History: Elanna Val’dannis was a healer of the Val’dannis clan, one of the many groups of elves residing within the Black Forest. Elanna however, in the opinions of her clan members, had far too much interest in the humans that lived beyond the forest’s edge. When a careless dalliance left her with child, the clan could no longer be tolerant of her indiscretions and she was effectively shunned, an outsider in her own community. She never looked for the human man again, fearful and shamed by the clan elders. Imirria, the child in question, therefore grew up without a father, on the edges of the elven community with her mother and elven half-brother, whose own father had passed away long ago. Imirria spent her early years under the scornful gazes of the adults and relentless teasing by the other children, who addressed her with insults and pulled on her unusual hair. While not expelled from the clan, it was made clear that Imirria neither belonged nor was wanted. Her brother, Corym, was a warrior and hunter of the clan, and protected his sister whenever he could, teaching her the basics of self-defense, but when a particularly cruel incident left Miri bloody and bruised, Elanna decided to take her family and leave.
The three traveled south, beyond Brackenhorst, which reminded Elanna too much of Miri’s father, and into the crowded city of Brillon, filled with humans as well as a handful of other races. They had little, but Imirria’s mother was able to find them a suitable if overly small and decrepit place to stay while she supported them as an herbalist and healer. Miri spent most of her time on the streets and would likely have turned to stealing had her brother not fiercely ensured she did not get into any petty crime. Corym had found work as a mercenary in the city, and spent his free moments teaching Miri how to use the twin blades he had gifted her with shortly after their resettlement. The slightly curved blades were finely crafted from strong bone, and engraved with elvish carvings. The lessons took place in secret, and served as the only part of her mother’s culture she kept. Elanna, furious at her clan’s treatment of her family, shunned elven culture and encouraged Miri to do the same, going so far as to set up lessons in Common speech, reading, and writing from one of their few educated neighbors, in exchange for Miri’s help around her bakery.
Life in Brillon was not easy, but it was not all bad. Imirria had quickly become accustomed to the city life and culture, and mostly enjoyed the fast pace, despite often having trouble fitting in in the predominantly human city. Imirria experienced all kinds of occupations, taking any jobs that came her way to help support her family in all manner of shops, marketplaces, and inns. Much to the displeasure of her mother and Corym, Miri eventually found herself working as a catchpole, someone contracted to find and bring in debtors, as well as a mercenary, often doing guard work. She had a natural agility and cunning that, combined with the lessons her brother now regretted giving her, made the work come easily to her. She was considering accepting a job as a merchant’s caravan guard, a chance to get out of Brillon and see more of the world, when things suddenly took a turn for the worse.
Miri’s mother fell ill, an illness that none could recognize and that only seemed to grow ever worse. An infrequent cough turned into weakness and fever. The herbalist's shop was closed when Elanna became too ill to move around. Miri and Corym scoured the city for an answer, finding none. Desperate, the siblings decided to take their mother back to the Dark Forest and put themselves at the mercy of the Val’dannis clan, despite their mother’s weak protests. With Elanna’s worsening condition, travel was long and difficult, but eventually the three were able to make it back under the shaded canopies that now seemed so foreign to Miri. Finding the clan was an ordeal in itself, and once found they had to convince the elders to allow them back into the clan, a feat that proved nearly impossible and cost the brother and sister more than a small amount of dignity as well. Living once again among the forest clan was a tense, uncomfortable situation, but the news that it might be possible to treat Elanna’s illness was the only incentive they needed to stay, serving as clan hunters. Miri had only a few, vague memories of her early childhood in the clan, and after having left at such a young age had grown up almost entirely in a human environment. She was even further alienated due to her complete unfamiliarity with the culture and practices, and often took to venturing into the human villages to get away. Despite the difficulty however, Imirria could not and did not regret her choice to return.
Personality: Due to her childhood, Imirria is extremely independent and often keeps to herself. She has always had a complex about her half-elf status, being too human for the elves and too elven for the humans, and thus has trouble fitting in. Regardless, she identifies much more clearly with humans than elves, as she spent most of her formative years among humans. She is rather reserved with her feelings, and has become quite good at hiding her thoughts, though it becomes difficult when her emotions become too strong. Miri has a quick, hot temper, and is no stranger to holding grudges. Her humor tends to find expression in dry sarcasm, and while at times very serious, she has a quick wit and smart mouth that have gotten her into trouble more than once. Miri is quite curious and observant; she has a very adventurous nature.
Skills: Imirria is quite agile and stronger than she looks. She is skilled in the use of twin blades, and proficient with daggers as well. She is quite good at reading people, and skilled in detecting lies and finding those who wish to remain hidden. She has some basic knowledge of herbalism passed down from her mother, and is fluent in both Common and Elvish. In addition, she is modestly skilled at playing the flute.
Possessions: Miri has a set of light leather armor, well worn, but of decent quality. She carries the elven twin blades given to her by her brother as well as a couple daggers of varying sizes. Imirria always wears a small rose quartz pendant on a silver chain that her mother gave her. She usually carries a small wooden flute in her pack, and can be convinced to play a tune or two without too much difficulty.
Relationships:
Thaddeus: Thaddeus had impressed Miri from their first meeting. She is quite curious about his past adventures, he seems to have seen much more of the world than she has. She usually tries and occasionally fails to restrain herself from asking many questions, as he has not been very responsive to those she has voiced. It both frustrates and intrigues her further, and Imirria hopes that careful observation or a well-planned question might lead to more information. Imirria herself is rather reserved about personal information, but can’t help but be curious. She was more than slightly surprised when he first proposed she join his little group, but finds herself quite comfortable at his side, as she finds him to be someone she could just as easily share a joke with as she could work with in comfortable silence.
Tina So’Viari: Immirria was at first surprised by the slight young woman who had so quickly taken to chatting with her and addressing her by her nickname, something a few of the others have begun to pick up already, but her initial surprise at Tina’s forward nature and energy led her to take a liking to the thief-turned farmer. Having lived most of her life in the poorer quarters of a crowded human city, Miri has had thieves as acquaintances, neighbors, and friends for most of her life, and was not shocked to see the missing finger and branded neck. Though they have not spoken much as of yet, Miri finds Tina to be very interesting and has enjoyed talking to her. She cannot quite understand Tina’s decision to become a farmer however, and this only makes the woman more curious to her.
Warwick Blackbriar: Imirria does not quite know what to make of Warwick. He looks to be a strong, thoughtful sort, and seems friendly enough, but the two had not had much opportunity to speak. Miri was intrigued to see him riding around on his bison steed, but cannot see what the two of them might have in common as far as conversation goes. She does sympathise with his quest to cure his father’s illness and find his brother, however, and she greatly respects such a quest. Miri has known a similar situation with her mother’s illness, after all, though Warwick’s situation seems in some ways even more dire, as he has yet to find the cure he seeks or his missing brother.
Peren Di-Jaga: Imirria was at first wary of Peren, being more than used to the condescension of well-born city elves, and he certainly seems at times to be rather haughty and stuck-up. He does seem. however, to be a thoughtful individual, and seems to care for the well-being of others, something Miri can respect having grown up as a healer’s daughter. He is charismatic in conversation and Miri does find him rather intriguing, though she can’t help but become irritated when he becomes too philosophical.
Gryffyth Wolfsblood: Imirria cannot help but be tense around Gryffyth. Though he has done her no wrong personally, Miri has grown up with anger and a slight resentment for the elves of the forests that had mistreated her as a child. She has not made many attempts to speak with him, and has admittedly been somewhat rude when he began to pry into subjects she prefers not to discuss, such as her past and mixed heritage. There is somewhat of an understanding between the two however, as they have both been shunned by the clans of the forest, though this does not erase the tension between them.
James Morter: Miri feels a constant sense of exasperation around the older man. She meets his frequent exaggeration and boisterous outbursts by rolling her eyes and generally trying to keep the sarcastic comments at bay, though every once in a while she can be seen muttering something under her breath. He doesn’t seem to be a bad sort once she is able to make it past or simply ignore his temperament, and she can’t help but respect his skill as a tactician.