Brin Notes

Description and personality: (Before vampirism) Tall, slight natural tan, slightly doughy build from a sedentary life, unreasonably long strawberry blonde hair, dark purple eyes. She was spoiled, but very optimistic and was generally kind. LOUD. Way too dependent on Wifey. Kinda went nuts while living on her own in the Blight.
(After vampirism) Tall, gaunt, pallor, just looks exhausted all the time, wiry muscles snake along her slight frame, hair is much more manageable and rust red, pale purple eyes that become violet red when she's worked up. One arm is mostly/entirely skeletal: an old wound sustained in her service to the Queen. Though it would have healed more effectively if she had consumed vast quantities of blood, Bring could not bring herself to do this. Its sight is a reminder of past mistakes for her superiors/the Queen herself. V quiet. Champions justice and fairness. Struggles to remain kind when things get difficult. When in private still talks to Wifey's old things as though they embodied her. Keeps "her" updated on events. Has not told anyone in Shipros about her. P stonefaced around others, but cracks form when the loss of loved ones is mentioned.

Keepsakes: A very old and well-maintained locket she has never shown anyone the contents of. A similarly old pair of glasses. Though the frames are no longer whole, blight bark has been carefully wound around what remains to maintain functionality. Music box with SAD music.

Timeline
Birth - 20 years (or equivalent): Chillaxin' in elfy city like a dumb rich kid
20-23: Shit starts getting bad in the city. She gets betrothed to Wifey, but they wanna wait until conditions are better to have a proper celebration.
23: BIG BAD STUFF HAPPENS, Brin ends up living in the Blight
23-26: Solo Blight hermit
26-28: Moved to Shipros, started as member of the working class
28-38: VAMPY

Backstory: Brin grew up in the city of Blah (some non-Blight city), born to a noble family. Though her family worked hard for the better treatment of the working class, Blah was beset by rampant issues of tyranny and corruption. Because of their public stance in support of the people, their house earned the ire of the other nobles. As tensions in the city came to a head, collusion led to the accusations and implications of House Whatever in gruesome acts betraying their reputation. When the nobles sent mercenaries disguised as commoners (Brin theorizes in retrospect) to attack House Whatever, the schemes backfired and a bloody revolution began. Witnessing her own family, including her betrothed, put to the sword from the short-lived haven of her bedroom, Brin scrambled to stow away a few things in a pillow case and managed to slip out a window, running as fast as she could. She found cover with a family friend for a few days, and the bloodlust that gripped the city gave way to a smoldering anger and a witch hunt. It wasn't long before she was found and dragged before a judge, who exiled her to the Blight for her family's alleged crimes.

(Worth noting Brin saw the mobs of people and blood, she fled without being able to verify the actual fates of her family.)

Though intended to be a death sentence, Brin managed to survive the Blight due to pure spite and anger. She carved out her survival, plotting her revenge for years. But as time passed, that spark diminished. She wasn't strong enough, and she didn't even know who to blame. Gradually, it gave way to a sad acceptance, though she still seeks some form of closure.


Known NPCs
Pair of kids: Two kids from her home city that would sneak to the edge of the Blight and poke around. After being banished, Brin lived out in the wilds and would keep an eye on the pair from afar. Eventually, they grew too bold and Brin had to save them from local beasties. Despite what they'd been told of the Blightdwellers, the kids were very thankful and warmed up to her. Through them, she learned that the city had indeed successfully reformed and people of all walks of life were overall happy. Though she could never bring herself to ask them to look into specific people she knew, she remained a part of the children's lives over the years. One grew fascinated with the biology of the Blight and started studying Chemistry. The other was deeply affected by trying to reconcile what they'd been taught about Blightdwellers with the person who saved their lives and helped guide them over the years, committing themself to pursuing life as a diplomat. Though they have crossed paths with Brin a few times since her transformation, all three of them had grown much busier in their lives and meetings were much more sparse.

Old Shopkeeper: After fleeing from City, Brin spent a number of years on her own in the Blight. Eventually, she started hearing word of a city from other Therpdadorps she would occasionally trade with. After a particularly devastating monster attack one night, she found her hut destroy and her garden obliterated. Opting to cut her losses, she seeked out the city and arrived in Shipros. Initially, she fell in with a small gang of others trying to make a living. After a food cart robbery went pear-shaped, most of the gang members were caught. However, as they committed no violence and their acts were deemed to be for survival, they were all afforded the choice of apprenticeship to a number of artisans and merchants in the city. Brin and a few others ended up working for a kindly old shopkeeper they took to like a surrogate parent. For years, they helped manage the shop, which grew and took on even more workers. Gradually, a sense of normalcy started returning to her life. Brin would also make supply runs into the wilds, growing more accustomed to their ecosystems. The shopkeeper also taught her to embrace nature, and gradually she developed druidic powers, something surprising for the girl who had grown up a definitive citydweller.

Knights: One evening, around sunset, a particularly devastating Blight swarm assailed the lower reaches of the city. Though guards responded immediately, they were not prepared for an attack this large. Unwilling to lose another home, Brin did what she hadn't the power to do before and took to the streets. With her rage peaking, she adopted the very form of the blightbeasts to help repel them. By the time late in the night when the swarm was finally vanquished, word had gotten around of the blight shaper who had helped protect the city. She was extended an invitation to join the Knights, which she took, hoping it would help her spare others the same loss she had suffered.

Initially, the other Knights weren't really sure what to make of the reserved woman who joined their ranks. Though none doubted the veracity of what they heard or that she seemed qualified, this kind-hearted, soft-spoken woman seemed a little out of place. In her early training exercises, she performed adequately but still the confusion persisted. When reports of another Blightswarm arose, the largest of the season but not unexpected, the Knights took to the front line and any confusion over Brin belonging was immediately dispelled as the ferocity and savagery of the attacking creatures paled compared to that of the newest recruit. They quickly became yet another family for her.

Defacto Leader of the Knights: The one who witnessed Brin in that first attack and suggested her recruitment. They are stern but kind, and an amazing tactician. They serve as a mentor for most of the Knights. Mature appearance (late 40s,early 50s for humans), but age is much older than they appear.

The "Youngest" Knight: Though truthfully in the middle of the pack in terms of age, they were offered the Queen's blood as a young adult (early 20s for humans). They have essentially become the mascot of the Knights in terms of popularity with the citizens, much to their chagrin. Brin's mentor, due to their similar public popularity (Brin herself is beloved by the working class and the guards).

The Twin Knights: Despite being twins, they joined the Knights at different ages, so it's often contested whether they are or aren't by the public. Brin's closest friends.


Wifey: came from a middle class family of bread makers. She was studying law and worked closely with Brin's parent. Presumed dead.