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[center][h1] Tanulia Kelsys [/h1][/center]
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[color=78bcba][h3][b][u]General:[/u][/b][/h3][/color]
[u]Name:[/u] 
Tanulia Kelsys; Nicknamed Tano (Tah-no) or Nèsa by her brother; known in the Red District as Kela
[u]Race:[/u] 
Pure Blood Elf
[u]Age:[/u] 
49
[u]Appearance:[/u]
[hider=Tanulia][img]https://img00.deviantart.net/1a2b/i/2014/319/d/3/introspective_by_eeddey-d83wz42.jpg[/img][/hider]
Tanulia, with her natural olive tinted skin and gentle curl of her hair is considered to be quite beautiful among the elves. Her eyes are a deep hazel that reflect their green in the sun and in the dim, are a deep darker green encased brown. Her young, slender skin is soft and without a blemish or scar. She often wears a deep aquatic gray-blue dress that is perfectly fit and flatters her maiden form, exposing each leg with each stride.
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[color=78bcba][h3][b][u]Personal:[/u][/b][/h3][/color]
[u]Biography: [/u]
[hider=Bio]
Tanulia is the oldest of two children, born to a moderately noble family in the Pale District of Glimhollow. Her brother, Tolthe, was born a year after her, and because of their ages they grew up very close. They did everything together: talked, played, and often slept in the same room. As two pure-blooded elven children, they received special attention from other noble families of pure-blood, even though their family was not the wealthiest among the nobility.
It should be noted that the family owned a small portion of the Gardens in Wid. Their home was set on the edge of the Gardens, and though it wasn't an estate, was still filled with the riches and jewels of old elven ancestry, passed down from generation to generation, collected from Eir and from time spent in Glimhollow. The home had a mere three bedrooms, one for each child and for their parents. The arches of the home were tall, elegant, and beautiful, carved by the skilled hands of elven carpenters to represent the lineage that was their family.
Tanulia and Tolthe grew up given the highest education they could receive for their nobility. They learned the languages of Peylor, as well as the history and culture of the races that occupied it. They spent long nights attempting to master the ways of elven culture, so that when the time came they could each in-turn share that knowledge with the next generation.
Tanulia learned many things from her mother; the ways of the elven woman, the ways of an elven wife, and the ways of the elven nobility. She was often pulled away to practice her handwriting, to remember important information quickly, and how to address those of all races in the most honorable and respectful of ways. Her mother used to say, “We are not the richest, we are not the most beautiful, we are not the most intelligent; but we are not peasants, we are not slaves, we are not ignorant, and only we have the power to change the way others perceive us. We have the power to command respect, to command beauty, to command intelligence and with that power we must be ever-respectful and humble.”
Over the years, Tanulia learned and grew along with her brother, who would be taken by their father to learn the business of the family. Everything seemed well, everyone was happy; the portion of the Gardens that they commanded was thriving, and business was doing well. At this time Tanulia had just celebrated her 30th birthday.
When all seemed too good to be true, it was at this point that the dreadful Pale Plague struck the family; starting with their father and then infecting their mother. They were among the first to develop the Plague, but were also among those that helped to discover and develop the abilities of the cinder tonic. Using some of the plants within their garden, they were able to create a specific variety of the tonic that worked exceptionally well at staving off the effects of the disease. They, along with many others, believed at the time that it was a cure, only realizing too late that it wasn't and that the addiction of the tonic would bind them forever. With that discovery, there was a drop in production and a loss in profit coming from the tonic's sales. The sudden losses and the now-negative connotation the family's name bore upon the Gardens caused a drop in the value of the property they owned. In a haste and panic, and perhaps due to sickness clouding their thoughts and judgement, the family sold 80% of the value of their property to gain back some financial stability, realizing too late that they had made a critical error -- the new owner of the property would begin to develop the tonic at a higher rate and sell it quickly, replacing them within the Widish nobility hierarchy.
At this time, Tanulia's parents began to suffer the withdrawals of the tonic as well as the sickness of the Plague. With just enough of the plant extract left in stock, they could provide themselves with enough tonic to keep them sustained for their own brewing. However, though it was an excellent fix, it wasn't a permanent one. The parents decided it would be best for them to leave with the kevol caravan at its next departure and make their way back to their homeland, hoping to spend the rest of their days among their ancestry, seeing if they could discover a way to bring life and a home back for their elvenkind.
On the morning of their departure, Tanulia, now 37 years of age, inherited the jewels, gowns, heirlooms and the beautiful headdress that had always been passed on among women in the family, while Tolthe inherited the family business from his father, along with the savings, precious metals and access to the finances within the family. They said their goodbyes, though no tears were shed, and the family separated ways forever.
Tanulia and Tolthe soon began to split apart, with Tolthe having a very different idea of how he wanted to run their property than Tanulia. He claimed superiority, being the child that owned the inheritance and that had worked with their father for so many years. Tanulia was left to the books and to continue studying the history of their culture and more notably, she began to read up on horticulture and more effective ways of growing food and herbs for tonics, medicines, teas and spices. However, even with her growing knowledge, her brother would not listen to her, completely removing her from anything that had to do with the business and dubbing her as only a female brought up to breed pure-blooded children. She began to hear rumors of the decline of the family, of the power-hungry heir and of the tragedy that was befalling the two pure-bred elves.
Tanulia, being of a soft soul and a calm mind, once again tried to approach her brother as his sister, as the one that he grew up with and was supposedly close to. Tolthe would not hear it; instead he made propositions of her selling the heirlooms she received to buy more land for him to run. Enraged, she outright refused and an argument was had. The two hardly spoke a word to each other afterwards. It was not until the final notices came in for steep payments past due that Tolthe finally told Tanulia that he had to sell the land. The morning after the sale, Tolthe was gone, having disappeared and leaving Tanulia with nothing but an empty house and the heirlooms and gowns left behind by her mother.
Tanulia, now 42, fell into financial ruin. She sold one heirloom for what she knew was too little, for she had nothing left of value but those left to her. She had not heard from her brother in a whole year and did not know where to find him. It was at this time that she began to study the old files of her father's business, to see what went wrong and to understand what happened. She learned much about the Gardens, much about the tonic, and much about the Plague, often thinking of her parents, whether they were still alive, whether they had had any success, and, warily, whether she should follow in their steps.
Another year set in, another few heirlooms sold. She began to work in the Gardens, making just enough to only go to bed hungry a few nights of the week. Between the cost of maintaining the house, feeding herself, and every once in a while sending out notices to reach out to her brother, she had no money left. With unfortunate reluctance, she decided to sell the home, moving into a humble cottage set within the Gardens.
The owner of the Gardens where she worked would eventually develop the Plague and shut down all operation, leaving her and many other elves without a job and without income. She sold yet another heirloom, leaving her with very few left and making it harder and harder to part with those that remained. When she received any amount of stones, she looked at them long and hard, trying to decide what best way to make it last. It was then that she decided it was time for a trip to the Red District, in an attempt to gamble her money and regain some of her riches in the passionately boasted-about gambling arenas of the district.
With her hand still gently stained with dirt from working the Gardens, she made her way to Upper Shenul, past the gazing and peering faces and into a gambling den. She spent what she had on the tables, playing her hand at cards, being played herself for the beginner she was and falling for every trick, losing every single stone and leaving with a head clouded by the alcohol given to her and the grief that her pockets were now empty.
As she made her way through the streets, tired, drunk and with no understanding of how she was going to get home, she sat down at the edge of an alley illuminated by the light that peeped out through the windows on the second floor of the buildings around her. Tanulia's head felt heavy, her lips were numb, and she had no way of refusing the man who approached her, who pushed her down into the alleyway and had his way with her, leaving her nothing but a torn dress and some stones thrown in her face for her “services.” Slowly, she collected the stones, pulling her knees in closer to her, hiding her ragged hair and tear-stained face. This is where she stayed until morning, barely blinking, barely understanding.
The next morning, she used the few stones she received to purchase some food from a local tavern where she sat near the corner, her legs still pulled in close and her food going cold in front of her as each sound of the patrons within the tavern made her shake and tremble. She sat there for hours, her mind spinning, her hair askew and the food being eaten ever-so slowly.
The next morning came, and with no money left the owner of the tavern told her that they didn't like her kind there, and that she should go back to the brothel where she was missing. It was then that a woman approached her in a luxurious, yet raunchy get-up, claiming to have a business proposition for her. Tanulia, being delirious from hunger and heartache, took the hand that was reached out for her when food was offered and followed her through the streets of the Scarlet Quarter and into the back door of a brothel, where women were preparing themselves for their day with loud voices and lots of laughter, with makeup being shared, bustiers being tide and shoes being laced. Into the kitchen they went, where women were coming in, picking up a bite and continuing on, everything a hustle and everything in excitement. The woman, named Isabel, who Tanulia found out was the headmistress of the brothel, sat her down and gave her some food, taking a damp cloth from the sink to gently wash the dirt and tears off of her face. Isabel then took an elegant brush and began gently combing Tanulia’s hair, singing softly as she did. Tanulia ate slowly, almost in a daze not knowing where she was, who she was, just that the hands of Isabel were the most soothing she had ever remembered feeling.
Isabel sat down next to her when she was done, and waited patiently. She brought them both some tea and continued to wait in silence, patient for what seemed like hours, until Tanulia began to talk, telling Isabel her story. She didn't know why she did it, she didn't know what purpose it would have; she only knew that it lifted her heartache, if only just a little. Isabel listened, she sympathized, and she explained how every one of her girls would understand her, treat her as a sister and would be there for her for anything. She told Tanulia that she could stay there for a few days until she could gather the financial means of getting back home. And so Tanulia, with no other obvious options, stayed, working as a secretary to Isabel and noticing how each Patron that walked in lingered as they looked at her. They did not all look at her ravenously, but more curiously and almost in admiration. After a week, feeling like she had a purpose, a home and a family, she didn't want to leave the Red District just yet. She talked to Isabel, and decided to try it for one night. All of the girls got together for her debut night, dressing her up, making her look stunning and even helped her select the patron whom they all new to be gentle and kind; a half-breed dwarf and human by the name of Lucas.
That was when it began: Tanulia stayed and worked in the brothel. She went back to the Pale District for a few days to collect her things and sell her home, then purchased a small apartment in the Red District near the brothel and began to go by the alias Kela.
This is how she spent the next few years, gaining regular clients, making an income, and being part of a huge family that cared about each other, each having their own story of how they came to be in each other's company. Through this trade she learned many secrets: secrets from lonely bachelors, secrets from distraught housewives; secrets from the lonely, from the damned, from the rich and from the poor. It was through all these secrets that she learned of a strange elf that lived in Deepwell. This elf seemingly looked a little bit like her, though as to not sound too inquisitive, she simply listened and tried to learn if it was her brother Tolthe, hoping in the back of her mind that she would see him again. When no further details came her way, she decided to pull some stones together and make her way down to the Deepwell herself. So she wandered, searching Cranelift Marina, looking for a sign, until when she was sitting in a Tavern having supper she overheard two sailors talking about the elf and his strange home on the docks.
With haste, Tanulia made her way to the location described, and indeed found what to others would seem to be a strange home. Mixed among the shacks and cabins, was a home made of the same rocks and bricks as the others but with the same carvings around the archway to the door as was in her home growing up. There were vines creeping up the side of the beautiful flowers that usually lived within the confines of what their family used to own in the Gardens, and to her surprise, embedded within the lintel above the doorway was one of the heirlooms she was forced to sell to make her living.
She knocked on the door timidly, the chance still being that it was not actually her brother's home, but with the hope that whoever did live there could lead her in the right direction. With a hood drawn up over her face, the door was opened and a silhouette appeared before her, one obviously of an elf which was accompanied by the smell of fresh-brewed tea wafting from inside. In a hushed, tired voice she heard her name whispered from within the doorway, and in an instant she pulled back her hood and revealed her face, the two of them sharing a tight embrace and a sigh of explicit relief. So was how the two siblings were reunited.
The inside of his home was modest and gently decorated in an elven style, mostly with hand-carved decorations, slightly used and battered tapestries that seemed refurbished, and beautiful stonework utensils for cooking and eating. The two siblings talked all throughout the night of their care for each other, of the forgiveness they sought from each other and of how overwhelmingly happy they were to be in contact once again. She did not mention the things that she did for income or how she ended up finding him, and he did not ask. From this point, they began to see each other regularly, though not everyday, and sometimes not every week.
Tanulia, now 49 years old, has been visiting her brother for the last year-and-a-half. On one evening when she was in his home, he left for a moment to stop by the marketplace and pick up some things for them to eat for dinner. She waited and sat down on the chair that peered out the window over Deepwell. She heard the clink of glass hitting the ground and looked down to see what had fallen, seeing an empty bottle of cinder tonic. Her sigh was long, deep and sad as she carefully picked up the bottle and placed it back where it had fallen from as if she had never seen it. Her mind swarmed with thoughts of grief, thoughts of respect, and a hope for a way to help her brother. From then on she began to work not only for her, but for her brother as well, saving all the stones she could to purchase tonics and have them anonymously delivered to him as well as once again revisit the study on how to cure the disease. [/hider]
[u]Prime Motive:[/u] 
To help the poverty and disease striking her kind
[u]Accessory Motive(s):[/u] 
Fix whats wrong in Glimhollow
Earn back her families fortune and property
Save her brother from destitution
[u]Internal Conflict:[/u] 
She wants to help, to be a median of information but, she is caught between going back to the life of nobility where she is treated differently and living among the people who have become her family.
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[color=78bcba][h3][b][u]Vocational:[/u][/b][/h3][/color]
[u]Occupation:[/u] 
A prostitute in the Red District.
[u]Talents:[/u] 
Well Educated – Grew up with a higher education, can read and speak the languages of Glimhollow fluently as well as recite their history, etc.
Photographic Memory – Remembers everything she sees and hears
Botany – Identifying, growing, mixing and brewing plants and herbs
[u]Flaws:[/u] 
Can’t fight – No training at all in self-defense
Easily manipulated  - Little experience in the world of manipulation has made her unprepared for it
Lack of confidence – After years of bad events, her confidence is shattered and doesn’t allow her to know when is not enough, when is too much in almost every aspect
[u]Equipment:[/u] 
Small cheap knife
Elven Headdress
Lightweight Gray Cloak (Worn for traveling when she doesn’t want to be easily identified)
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[color=78bcba][h3][b][u]Supplemental: [/u][/b][/h3][/color]
[u]Quirks:[/u] 
Very mild mannered and has an aura of innocence around her
Beautiful dancer, especially when traditional elven music is being played
Enjoys citrus and floral tasting desserts to a fault

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