Nessa

Nessarylia, better known just as "Nessa", has a curious and venturesome spirit that has in the past gotten her into trouble. The one way to make sure she listens to a voice of caution is to point out that her actions may affect the wellbeing of others, as her altruism borders on setting herself on fire just to keep others warm.

With a fanfiful imagination and love for contemplation, Nessa spends a lot of time occupied with her own thoughts, and not always for the best. While she can certainly use her cleverness to figure out tricky situations, her passion can also be swayed into deep emotional negativity, especially when reflecting on her marriage.

Appearance

Nessa has a heart-shaped face, small knobbly antlers, long wavy hair, swirling facial markings, and colours that change with her chosen season. She is 167 (5'5") tall, with a svelte build.

History

Nessa grew up on the outskirts of an eladrin city deep in the Feywild with her two mothers and younger sister, Maeve. Despite all their life hearing warnings not to venture too far into the nearby woodland, or risk passing into the domain of a feral archfey, the two sisters were among those who braved the forest to hunt game. Even when another known hunter would go missing and their mothers would beg them to stop, Nessa and Maeve prided in being too careful.

One day, Nessa and Maeve spotted what they first thought was a great hart in the thick foliage. Much to their shock, it was instead a large, beautiful man with antlers who stepped out of the bush. He introduced himself as Ramusis the Deerstalker, and vocalized that he had been watching Nessa for a year, in awe of both her looks and hunting skills. He immediately asked for her hand in marriage, but while Nessa found him incredibly charismatic, she was not prepared to marry a stranger.
Suddenly furious over the rejection, Ramusis transformed Maeve into a small hind that frantically fled. He then gave Nessa an ultimatum: Marry him, or he would hunt and kill her sister. Horrified, Nessa agreed. Pleased once again just as fast, Ramusis blessed Nessa with a wedding gift boon: a small set of antlers on her head.

Life was Ramusis proved to be temperamental, with his wild nature prone to mood swings. Sometimes he was honeyed and affectionate, while other times he was volatile and obsessive. Nessa was frequently subjected to his magical Charm whenever he found her too defiant. Her only companionship was Ramusis himself, and her dryad handmaidens. And while she was capable of wandering his Hunting Grounds, she was never able to leave the forest. She would sometimes try to warn those she found traversing it, lest they meet the same fate that almost befell her sister. Sometimes her warnings worked, sometimes they didn’t.

Nessa also witnessed over and over the Deerstalker’s favourite pastime of luring mortals from the material plane into a fey crossing of his domain, then transforming them into deer as he had did to Maeve, for hunting. When he was in one of his more benevolent moods, she inquired how such a crossing worked, and he explained that while anyone could pass in, only one with his antlers could pass back out.

After tucking that information away, Nessa patiently acted as the perfect wife for many years, slowly lowering the Deerstalker’s guard. Finally, on their hundredth wedding anniversary, after Ramisus was soundly asleep, Nessa used his hunting knife to take a tiny chip off one of his antlers, and successfully fled through the fey crossing.

Nessa found herself falling into the Cloak Wood of the Sword Coast. After a day of confused drifting, she stumbled out into a village along the Coast Way. When an elderly human couple saw a trembling, half-naked, strange looking elf walking down the main street crying for help, they took pity on Nessa and invited her into their home.
Nessa ended up staying with them for several weeks, and perhaps would have stayed longer, had the village not been raided by the Cult of the Absolute. Nessa was among those taken captive.

Relationships

• Lae'zel: Having zero knowledge of githyanki prior to meeting Lae’zel, Nessa was immediately curious to learn from Lae’zel.
• Shadowheart: Nessa was shocked by the revelations that Shadowheart was a Shar worshipper, and it made her concerned there was more Shadowheart was hiding. She was pleased to eventually learn otherwise.
• Astarion: It takes a while for Nessa to trust and warm up to Astarion, fearing him a little after he reveals himself as a vampire. But she still has sympathy for his past.
• Gale: While Nessa was hesitant at first to jump into a romance after so recently escaping her horrible marriage, the connection that bloomed between her and Gale was too strong.
• Wyll: Nessa only wishes she knew someone like Wyll back when she could have used saving herself. But even now, he makes her feel safer just being near.
• Karlach: Karlach is very good at cheering Nessa up when she most needs it, and Nessa does her best to return the favour. They become friends very quickly.
• Halsin: Nessa was frightened of Halsin at first, because he physically and philosophically reminded her so much of her ex-husband. It took a long while for her to lose that fear.

Gallery