[center][h2][u][color=#1d7386]Elodea "Ellie" Verdantweed[/color][/u][/h2][/center][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6SBtK8k.jpg[/img][/center][hr][b][u][color=#1d7386]Age:[/color][/u][/b] 60

[b][u][color=#1d7386]Gender:[/color][/u][/b] Female

[b][u][color=#1d7386]Race:[/color][/u][/b] Sea Elf

[b][u][color=#1d7386]Job:[/color][/u][/b] Apothecary and Navigator's Assistant 
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[b][u][color=#1d7386]Personality:[/color][/u][/b] Ellie is a peaceful soul, if somewhat skittish, who will avoid partaking in acts of violence by any means necessary. Often, that means simply removing herself from the situation, and for that, some may call her a coward. Likewise, she hates confrontations or upsetting people, so is subservient, never giving orders to another; she merely suggests or puts them forward as questions.  Though at first she might seem furtive, if one takes the time to get to know her they will find she is very open and honest, enjoying pleasant company as much as she enjoys listening to the wind and waves. There is a certain naivety in her world views, but she is slowly learning from the crew, her “family”, that the world may not live up to all her hopes.
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[b][u][color=#1d7386]History[/color][/u][/b]
Born the later in a set of non-identical twins, Elodea and her brother Densa were the children of Zostera and Thalassia Verdantweed, husband and wife. Growing up in Lytheria was a rich experience and the tides never failed to bring all manner of wonderful travellers and trinkets from the exotic lands above the water. Their father was a rather successful tradesman, specialising in glow globes, glass spheres that enhanced the natural capabilities of bioluminescent algae (teeny tiny plants that spoke in the barest of whispers) to provide a submersible and reliable light source for diving expeditions, as well as other supplies needed for such ventures. As such, both children got a better exposure to the Folk From Above than most others their age. Whilst Ellie was amazed by the people and how funny they looked and the odd foods they brought, it was the stories that seized Densa, and he would always try and gleam whatever he could from the foreigners, ever-curious about what lay beyond the surface.

It came as no surprise then that when they entered education, both magically gifted, Densa chose to pursue the magic and spells that humans often sought out. Elodea’s magic manifested itself more naturally, attuning herself further with the elements, she found herself able to talk to the sea creatures and plants, and even listen to the tides and eventually understand their moods. Many hours would be lost in idle conversation with shoals of friendlier animals in the reefs and harbours around the city.

As their education progressed, Densa began to distinguish himself as a student, and began spending vast amounts of time working in the Dry Rooms. Ellie was proud as ever, having always looked up to her brother. Gradually, she began to see less and less of him.  

Her own magic had bloomed too, and she could now identify most plants and ascertain their uses, under the tutelage of the professors in the Alchemical and Apothecarial Arts that urged her to study under them. She accrued favours but also lengthened her list of those she owed during this time.

Then came the day that her brother was to leave with a crew from Laxen, a human crew. He urged her to come with him, but Ellie was content under the waves; he clearly got all the ambition and drive in the womb. Yet Densa understood, for he loved his sister deeply, and so left her a necklace, a simple, charmed thing that was a proof of concept and part of a thesis required for his advancement. He explained it would act as a concentrated searchlight when activated, so long as she never damaged it, so she could keep a piece of him with her, and that she was always welcome in case she ever changed her mind. Their parting was pleasant, if steeped ambivalence. 

Years passed until she would hear of her brother again. Part of her wished she didn’t. The ship he had been sailing on was reported missing, and then, found beneath the sea. She was not worried; he could not drown. Yet the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the vessel were veiled in mystery and gossip. There was no crew found aboard the wreckage, or anywhere nearby, and no land for them to have found sanctuary. Some believed the ship was scuppered, some that the beasts of less passive inclination had consumed all the corpses, others that pirates had captured the crew and sunk the ship, yet oddly a vast number of valuable goods were recovered from the wreckage by rescue crews. 

Elodea, having visited the wreckage herself and gleaming nothing, decided to set of for the surface, alone, unsure what else to do; needing only to find her brother. Maybe she’d find him by simply looking, or maybe embracing his lifestyle would clue her in on what exactly happened, and she could inquire about the case with those who sailed so often. Regardless, she was adrift. 

After many months of observing crews, and even travelling with a few to different shores, the Great Aquarius came in to harbour. She knew something was special about it. Eventually she was able to convince herself more a boon than a burden and was brought on as a member of the crew. That was two years ago.

Not particularly suited to manual labour, Ellie will often reside herself to swabbing the deck, shrinking away from other crew members, never wanting to be in their way. Her magic allows her to be a great help with navigation, and her skills with plants mean she can stave of most ailments when the supplies are there. Sometimes when rations are low she can scavenge edible plants from under the waves, preferring not to hunt for fish, since they aren’t willing to be eaten quite so often, and can prepare meals if it is called of her. 

Though the trail to her brother is cold, and those around may have come to their grim conclusions, she still maintains the belief that she’ll find her brother, someday. 
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[b][u][color=#1d7386]Magic[/color][/u][/b]
Ellie’s magic attunes her with nature. She can communicate with animals, if they are willing, though her understanding of plants is deeper, and she can gleam much from simple conversations and observations. She cannot alter or assert her will over any of these beyond the affect her words will have. On a more basic level she can listen to the tides and, she found out, the winds, and understand their temperament; useful for plotting courses and predicting weather patterns. Though it is not infallible, it is reasonably accurate. 

[b][u][color=#1d7386]Other[/color][/u][/b]: A large portion of the time her entire form will be damp; she likes to take dips in the water when there’s a lull in activity. Though she believes in all the gods, the Glowing Maiden is who she prays to most.