DAME ELINOR WYNNSTORM
EldoriansKnight of the Sylvan Guard, Beastmaster
"The owl sees what the eagle misses. Trust those who watch in darkness.""
Identity
- Residence
- Border fortress of Thornwatch
- Civilization
- Eldorians
Appearance
• Physical: Compact and muscular with sun-bronzed skin and hair the color of autumn wheat, cropped short for combat. Her movements are economical and precise, like a hunting cat. • Clothing: Light leather armor reinforced with ironwood plates, with her beast-companion's feathers woven into her cloak. Bears no house crest, having earned her knighthood through service. • Distinguishing Marks: A network of faint scars across her forearms from training sessions with her beast companion; wears a collar of claws from her first successful hunt.
Relationships
- Family - None known; considers the beastmaster corps her family
- Allies - Shadowmantle (dire owl companion); Sir Aldwin Thornbrook, her mentor; the wild creatures of the borderlands
- Rivals - Dame Sylvara, a traditional knight who believes beastmasters are "unnatural"
Personality
- Traits: Fiercely loyal, uncomfortable with court politics, deeply connected to animals, surprisingly soft-hearted
- Mannerisms: Often seems to be listening to sounds others can't hear; touches her collar when anxious; prefers the company of her beast to most people
- Voice: Low and rough, with an odd cadence that mimics animal vocalizations. Often speaks in short, direct sentences.
Backstory
Elinor was orphaned during a border raid and raised by the Sylvan Guard's beastmaster corps. She bonded with her companion, a dire owl named Shadowmantle, at age twelve. She's one of the youngest knights ever to earn the Beastmaster's Crest.
Daily Life
Patrols the border with Shadowmantle, trains younger beastmasters in the ancient bonds, maintains the fortress's messenger bird roosts. Evenings are spent in the aerie, where she feels most at peace.
Secret
Elinor can fully understand animal speech through her Harmony Arts, but hides this ability. She learned of a conspiracy against the crown from forest creatures and doesn't know who to trust with the information.
Story Hooks
- 1 She needs help investigating the conspiracy her animal informants revealed
- 2 Shadowmantle has been poisoned, and she needs a rare cure from deep in the Heart Grove
Narrative Value
Wilderness guide and tracker; source of information from the animal kingdom; quest giver for nature-related missions; potential companion with unique scouting abilities. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════