Temperance Clark
Female Human - Born FinFeySe, 28-10-569 SGR
Priestess of Bran
She originates as a little girl with no name, constantly traveling with a man whom she only knew as her father. She doesn’t recall if they were truly related by blood; only that she’d wander with him, often feeling sleepy and ill no matter how much she would rest. And the rare times she was awake, she’d find herself alone, with no recollection of where she was and how she got there.
One evening, he leaves her to sleep and never returns. As she makes her way down to the tavern in a daze, she encounters a band of adventurers and their nomadic caravan. Amongst them is Fena, a whimsical fortune teller who takes a liking to her. She convinces her brother Firo to allow her to travel with them until their encounter with a healer affiliated with the Keldorian Cathedral in Osterhold. He takes to her solemn, unmoving expressions as akin to his own and decides she’d be a good fit under his wing. He takes it upon himself to gift her an identity of her own: the name “Temperance” (to mean “moderation” or “restraint” from her neutral expressions) and a date of birth.
At the Cathedral, she finds her interests in learning about the laws of life and death, the cause and effect, determining which domino fell first. How does the human body actually work? Why do they react differently to different types of plants or animals? Why is it that one snake paralyzes the arm it bites, but another instantly leads to cardiac arrest? She spends her days exploring wildlife, experimenting (sometimes on herself), recording her findings, and learning the laws of the Cathedral itself— following the proper etiquette when interacting with the High Priestess and the other “stuffy church folk” within the Cathedral.
She’s nearly complete in her studies when Firo brings news of Fena’s passing. With it, he urges her to consider venturing out into the world rather than keep herself confined within the limits of the Cathedral— much to the chagrin of her mentor. Around the same time, she receives word from the High Priestess with instructions to travel to Mizzen, where she encounters Vee, Matthias, Levi, Melange, Jericho, Rothuss, and Ratbone. Her reasons for concealing her affiliation with the Cathedral are her own, for certain (a decision that Levi has labeled distrustful and suspicious), but it does beg the question. Is her encounter with them as coincidental as she makes it out to be?
Personality
Initially, Temperance is most known for her unshakeable composure, sometimes to the point of being stoic or aloof. She starts off as more standoffish and cautious about acquainting herself with new people, often choosing to withdraw from the social scene and observe it from the outsider’s point of view. She attempts to stay rational and responsible in her decisions, and will at times caution others when she feels their decisions involve too much risk for the collective. There is a characteristic lack of attachment to those she acquaints herself with, though she does value the skills they showcase. It is precisely the reason she falls into the healer role despite her initial disinterest; she’s got the spells for it and it is a role that needs to be filled for the collective.
Throughout her time, Temperance does become more influenced by the group’s chaotic energy. For one, she becomes more liberated in her expressions, laughing more openly and exchanging witty remarks. She also becomes dissatisfied with simply living with the ideas in her head, choosing to act upon her thoughts rather than ruminate. She takes the year to focus more on self-discovery and learning more about herself, but the more she seeks to find her identity outside of the Cathedral, the more her affiliation to it becomes conflicting. She’s taken to spending her time exploring Osterhold rather than stay within the bounds of the Cathedral like before, and broadens her interests to learning about the laws and customs outside of the human species. (Her current interests are about gnomes, elves, and creatures of the sea).
Additionally, her instincts and her moral grounds no longer consistently follow what is considered “rational” (as displayed in her lukewarm reactions to DeOrange and her arguments with the wax mage). She becomes more assertive in communicating her views on specific methodologies or ideologies, and does not feel the need to adhere to propriety when she is not within the boundaries of a religious institution or in company of those who do not offer her the same respect.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES
