"Though my soul may set in darkness,
it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly
to be fearful of the night."
— Sarah Williams, "The Old Astronomer"
it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly
to be fearful of the night."
— Sarah Williams, "The Old Astronomer"
Tess is a beautiful girl, and paired with the easy, kind smile that's frequently found on her lips, she exudes a naturally likable charisma. As far as first appearances go, she is pretty, polite, and pleasant; there's an easy confidence to her voice and her posture, like those of a woman with purpose. But there's also something a little mischievous that twinkles in her eye, and a wry little lilt to her voice that hints at a sharp sense of humor.
Under the light of the moon, the priestess is nearly always softly illuminated by a small, swirling orbit of twinkling silver-blue lights. The tiny motes of moonlight wink in and out of sight constantly, like stars shining in the night sky—undoubtedly a sign of her goddess' favor.
Under the light of the moon, the priestess is nearly always softly illuminated by a small, swirling orbit of twinkling silver-blue lights. The tiny motes of moonlight wink in and out of sight constantly, like stars shining in the night sky—undoubtedly a sign of her goddess' favor.
. : R A C E : .
Tess is a human of Chondathan descent.
Her father's family has been in the Dales for generations; her mother's family history can be traced back to the Cormyrean town of Eveningstar.
. : A G E : .
Tess is twenty-two years old.
She was born under a full moon on the Summer Solstice of 1332 D.R., on Kythorn 20.
. : H E I G H T : .
Tess stands at roughly 5 ft. 6 in. (≈167 cm.)
Though she was considered relatively "tall" where she comes from, it's fairly common for her to be towered over with such prevalent Illuskan blood along the Coast.
. : W E I G H T : .
Tess weighs around 135 lbs. (≈61 kg.)
Her frame is fairly slender, though she has a shapely form that's toned by frequent activity and the physical demands of adventuring.
. : E Y E S : .
Tess has eyes of clear, striking blue.
Her gaze sparkles like gemstones in even the lowest light; bright, pale-blue bursts spread outward from her pupils, fading into darker blue at the outer edge of her irises, resembling the effect of star sapphires.
At night, from time to time, her eyes will glow briefly with a silver light—the manifestation of her star-touched sight as she peers through the veil of night (or perhaps more).
. : H A I R : .
Tess is a human of Chondathan descent.
Her father's family has been in the Dales for generations; her mother's family history can be traced back to the Cormyrean town of Eveningstar.
. : A G E : .
Tess is twenty-two years old.
She was born under a full moon on the Summer Solstice of 1332 D.R., on Kythorn 20.
. : H E I G H T : .
Tess stands at roughly 5 ft. 6 in. (≈167 cm.)
Though she was considered relatively "tall" where she comes from, it's fairly common for her to be towered over with such prevalent Illuskan blood along the Coast.
. : W E I G H T : .
Tess weighs around 135 lbs. (≈61 kg.)
Her frame is fairly slender, though she has a shapely form that's toned by frequent activity and the physical demands of adventuring.
. : E Y E S : .
Tess has eyes of clear, striking blue.
Her gaze sparkles like gemstones in even the lowest light; bright, pale-blue bursts spread outward from her pupils, fading into darker blue at the outer edge of her irises, resembling the effect of star sapphires.
At night, from time to time, her eyes will glow briefly with a silver light—the manifestation of her star-touched sight as she peers through the veil of night (or perhaps more).
. : H A I R : .
Tess has ash-blonde hair the color of summer wheat.
Nearly always pulled back into a ponytail or piled atop her head, her hair seems to be in a state of perpetual, glamorous disarray, rebellious strands often falling in her eyes or across her cheek.
Nearly always pulled back into a ponytail or piled atop her head, her hair seems to be in a state of perpetual, glamorous disarray, rebellious strands often falling in her eyes or across her cheek.
Tess' small-town upbringing has cultivated a natural curiosity in the young priestess, and she tends to be inquisitive, sometimes to the point of being nosy or prying into more personal matters. Still, she's obviously been raised to recognize the importance of manners, and more often than not she strives to be polite.
Her face and eyes are both particularly expressive, making it somewhat difficult for her to conceal her emotions or hide something that she'd rather not discuss. Though some might mistake her gentle, compassionate nature for the naïveté of youth, she's also quick to speak out when those around her say or do something she disagrees with.
Her face and eyes are both particularly expressive, making it somewhat difficult for her to conceal her emotions or hide something that she'd rather not discuss. Though some might mistake her gentle, compassionate nature for the naïveté of youth, she's also quick to speak out when those around her say or do something she disagrees with.
. : H E A L T H : .
Tess is hearty and hale.
Her smooth skin radiates obvious youth, and there's a hint of a sun-kissed glow from plenty of recent time spent on the open road.
Her smooth skin radiates obvious youth, and there's a hint of a sun-kissed glow from plenty of recent time spent on the open road.
. : D E I T Y : .
Tess is a devout follower of Selûne the Moonmaiden.
Her faith is worn proudly for all to see, a silver pendant in the shape of a seven-pointed star always visible on a thin chain about her neck.
Her faith is worn proudly for all to see, a silver pendant in the shape of a seven-pointed star always visible on a thin chain about her neck.
. : A L I G N M E N T : .
Tess is a paragon of Chaotic Good.
It takes little time in her company to recognize that she has a kind heart, but she is also marked by an obvious free-spirited streak that manifests in her outspoken nature and impatience for inaction. She is helpful and kind, aiding those in need, and resents prejudice, doing her best to accept people of all walks of life, in keeping the tolerance of her Selûnite faith.
It takes little time in her company to recognize that she has a kind heart, but she is also marked by an obvious free-spirited streak that manifests in her outspoken nature and impatience for inaction. She is helpful and kind, aiding those in need, and resents prejudice, doing her best to accept people of all walks of life, in keeping the tolerance of her Selûnite faith.
. : P R O F E S S I O N : .
As a Silverstar, Tess is both a priestess and an adventurer.
She is called to the open road, seeking out evil and the undead alongside adventurers to see Light brought to the darkest places.
She is called to the open road, seeking out evil and the undead alongside adventurers to see Light brought to the darkest places.
. : C L A S S : .
Tess' base class is Cleric.
At level 20, her class distribution will be as follows: Cleric 6|Silverstar 10|Hierophant 4.
At level 20, her class distribution will be as follows: Cleric 6|Silverstar 10|Hierophant 4.
. : H A B I T S + H O B B I E S : .
Tess has a habit of fretting with her hair, almost constantly brushing it from her face or tucking it back behind an ear in vain. She spends the majority of her free time with friends or meeting new people, and her love of travel and seeing new places often leads her afield for the simple pleasure of exploring somewhere new.
. : L A N G U A G E S : .
Tess speaks Common as most people do, Chondathan from her homeland, and the Celestial tongue, which she learned studying religious manuscripts and divine magic. She speaks with an obvious Chondathan accent, marking her as at least somewhat foreign to the Coast; her speech is informal, though she's obviously educated and intelligent.
. : W E A P O N R Y : .
Tess fights with a mace, the chosen weapon of her goddess.
Typically bound in a peaceknot at her hip, she carries the weapon Moonlight, a gift from a close friend. The mace is silver, slender, and impossibly lightweight, its head beautifully crafted in a stunning spiral, and it glows with a soft white light in her grasp. Those capable of detecting such can easily determine the weapon gives off an aura of obvious divine energy.
Typically bound in a peaceknot at her hip, she carries the weapon Moonlight, a gift from a close friend. The mace is silver, slender, and impossibly lightweight, its head beautifully crafted in a stunning spiral, and it glows with a soft white light in her grasp. Those capable of detecting such can easily determine the weapon gives off an aura of obvious divine energy.
Tess was born and raised in Ashabenford, a village on the Ashaba River in Mistledale. True to her upbringing, she carries common Dalelands characteristics like honesty and a wide-eyed awe for the vast, wider world of Faerûn.
Not much is known about her life before she arrived in Baldur's Gate, and she rarely volunteers particularly specific information, though when asked, she happily shares that it was a dream from the Moonmaiden that led her to leave home and seek the Sword Coast.
Not much is known about her life before she arrived in Baldur's Gate, and she rarely volunteers particularly specific information, though when asked, she happily shares that it was a dream from the Moonmaiden that led her to leave home and seek the Sword Coast.
. : G O A L S : .
Tess has taken up the responsibility of bringing Selûne's light to the pass near Dragonspear Keep, aiding the Northern Watch with keeping guard on the front lines nearest the recent devil invasion. She hopes to help the Watch, or others, determine the cause of whatever is allowing them their presence and power—and bring it to an end.
. : P L O T - H O O K S : .
.: Tess once read of Myth Lharast, a lost center of Selûnite worship in the heart of Amn. Founded as a city of Selûnites ages ago, its mythal is linked to the moon, and supposedly it appears only on certain moonlit nights. Given Amn's proximity to Baldur's Gate, she sometimes wonders if it might have something to do with her calling to the region.
.: Tess has faced the drow of the underdark on more than occasion, once being taken as a prisoner and tortured after facing one of the Houses below, and on another occasion receiving a threat of assassination.
.: Tess has faced the drow of the underdark on more than occasion, once being taken as a prisoner and tortured after facing one of the Houses below, and on another occasion receiving a threat of assassination.
. : M I S C . F A C T S: .
.: For better or worse, Tess' connection to the Silver Maiden has gifted her with a supernatural immunity to fear. Though this has obvious advantages, it also leads her to be particularly reckless at times, even in the face of obvious peril or dubious odds.
.: When her gauntlets are removed, it can be seen the priestess wears a silver ring of interconnected Celtic-style knots on one hand, a beautiful moonstone set into its face, its colors alternating between milky white, silver, and pale blue.
.: When her gauntlets are removed, it can be seen the priestess wears a silver ring of interconnected Celtic-style knots on one hand, a beautiful moonstone set into its face, its colors alternating between milky white, silver, and pale blue.
