Name:Antoinette Larstrahd
Physical: Somewhat frail and very fair of complexion Antoinette certainly doesn’t have a particularly imposing presence. Her hair, originally a deep chestnut brown became bleached white-blonde the very first time she uttered a spell. Often mistaken for a traveling sage or chronicler of sorts she certainly doesn’t look like she could handle herself in the dangerous wilds of the world, but of course appearances can be deceiving.
Abilities: Antoinette follows an older and fairly obscure branch of arcana, one that carries quite the stigma amongst the ‘civilized’ folks of the world. She practises what was long ago referred to most simply as blood magic.
Different from the branch which now carries the name, Anto requires physical blood as a component to even the simplest of incantations. The source of the blood used can affect the potency of magics cast somewhat, however beyond that any serves as an acceptable catalyst. A notable exclusion would be that she is however unable to magically heal or restore vitality through this form of ‘Blood magic’ or ‘Blood weaving’.
Using this older school Anto has avoided specialising as much as most other spellcasters tend to, though she does have a natural affinity for abjuration and transmutation but tends to struggle more with evocation magics.
Due to the requirement of her magic she has a large scar in the palm of each hand, reminders of the many times she has used her own lifeblood as a component.
Starting Gear:Anto’s clothing matches the style of the noble ladies of the city-state of Jumaban, renown for ease of movement and comfort whilst still being practical enough to travel in. Though comfortable they certainly lack any form of martial protection or even protection from the harsher seasons and weather conditions of the world. The travelling cloak she wears however is much sturdier and offers protection from the elements if nothing else and lined with thick golden-fox hair. She also owns a pair of thick padded gloves and wears finely crafted and well maintained traveling boots.
Adorned in intricate silverwork jewellery from Jumaban, Anto most notably possesses a ring that holds a small concealed blade which though not effective as a weapon can be used to draw blood against unprotected skin.
Anto carries a small satchel containing her personal items and fairly meagre supplies. These comprise of a leather-bound book, writing inks and implements, several days’ rations in the form of nuts, roots and berries. She also carries several linen bandages and a flask of Jumaban Alvo (a strong spirit that doubles as a disinfectant).
She owns a single stiletto knife which is small and easily concealed on her person. Though certainly putting her at a disadvantage in any straight up fight, it again serves primarily as a tool to ensure there is always an open wound for her to channel her abilities and as a last resort when otherwise unable to do so.
Personality/Goals: Antoinette has developed a rather pessimistic and detached view of the world after the events that have shaped her life.
Despite this she continues to travel and seeks to meet others that practise the arcane arts whilst having little positive interest in those that do not. Where she once saw the majority of those without any disposition to magic as simply misguided and misinformed, she now believes that the vast majority will always violently shun what they do not understand no matter what attempts are made to better educate them or even help them.
The population of ‘ordinary people’ represents the biggest current threat to mages that exists. She views anyone who would harm a magic-user simply for being one as an enemy or at the very least an obstacle that must be overcome through whatever means necessary.
She does however have a very strong aversion to those who would use their magical powers to harm those who cannot defend themselves (particularly due to the negativity and hostility towards mages this behaviour brings).
Backstory: Antoinette’s first memories are of misery and slavery and her early life amongst the wealthy and elite of Alibari. She does not often think back to this time and remembers practically nothing of her life before her eighth year.
This however all changed when she was purchased by an old Jumaban Noblewoman named Christelle that sensed the untapped abilities within a nameless slave girl and so ‘saved’ her from a short and miserable life.
Taken to a small compound within the remote foothills of the Aganorat region the next several years of the newly named Antoinette life became a flurry of education, discipline and secrecy as she found herself thrust into a lifestyle she had never expected. Christelle belonged to a practically extinct order of mages that had been hunted to the last several surviving members despite their mostly altruistic tenants and noble intentions.
Antoinette’s life was difficult and demanding, but in turn she was provided with knowledge and a lifestyle that she would have never otherwise experienced as she was trained in the old arts of Blood-weaving. Though incorrectly viewed as a dark or evil form of magic, in truth simply another arcane tool to access the innate abilities within she was raised and trained to ‘serve’ the now extinct Aganoratan merchant Kings.
However before her eighteenth year a series of events involving Demonic forces and the nation of Alibarith spiralled out of control as the few senior members of the order including Christelle fought unsuccessfully to thwart the corrupting influence of a demonic entity they knew only as Ulgozil. In turn the corrupted agents of Ulgozil struck against the compound slaughtering and destroying all they could.
Antoinette escaped into the desert with another older initiate named Sylvie and they wandered for days before eventually finding one of the few oasis sanctuaries that nestled deep within the foothills narrowly surviving the ordeal.
Life from then on became much harder as the pair struggled to survive together in a world that hated them, finding solace only with each other and those very few other spellcasters they crossed paths with. Travelling northwards away from the harsh arid climate and enemies of the past they found that as long as they kept their abilities a secret they could survive and do what small deeds they could to better the world. Their relationship deepened and became more intimate as they worked as partners in everything they did.
Six years later however misfortune struck again as in the process of clearing a cult from a town they put their trust in the wrong person who in turn betrayed and exposed them as blood-mages. A mob formed and where Antoinette was willing to use her abilities against those that threatened her to escape Sylvie was not. When Sylvie did not meet her Antoinette returned only to learn the crowd had beaten, bound and burned Sylvie alive in their ignorance of the fact she had just saved them all.
Filled with loss and despair it took every ounce of self-control she possessed to leave without incinerating town in turn for what they had done.
Six months passed as she continued to travel, however now withdrawn from the outside world as she simply watches life instead of interfering as she reflects upon her own existence and that of others. Having spent much time submerged within her own thoughts she has now become far more pessimistic in her views and is struggling to find any meaning or goal worth pursuing beyond the improvement of her arts. She has continued to struggle with the concept of being ‘alone’ in the world after the loss of such a close relationship.
