PROFESSOR ELARA TIDEREADER
Islanders of Shimmering IslesMarine Biologist and Scholar
"We've explored less than one percent of our own oceans. Imagine what wonders await the curious and the brave!""
Identity
- Residence
- The Aquatic Research Station, Deepwater Bay
- Civilization
- Islanders of Shimmering Isles
Appearance
• Physical: Lean and weathered with the physique of someone who swims daily. Her skin is deeply tanned, her graying hair kept in a practical bun. Sharp blue eyes miss nothing in her observations. • Clothing: Wears practical field clothing—durable trousers and shirts with multiple pockets for samples. A leather satchel always contains her notebooks and specimen jars. • Distinguishing Marks: Spectacles on a chain around her neck; ink-stained fingers; a small scar on her chin from a moray eel encounter
Relationships
- Family - Widowed; her adult children are embarrassed by her eccentricity
- Allies - Fellow scholars across Landorya, Talia the sea priestess, several conservation-minded merchants
- Rivals - The Deep Harvest company (whose practices she publicly condemns), academic rivals who dismiss her work
Personality
- Traits: Endlessly curious, absent-minded about practical matters, passionate about conservation, surprisingly brave in pursuit of knowledge
- Mannerisms: Talks to herself while working; forgets meals when studying; becomes animated when discussing sea creatures
- Voice: Rapid and enthusiastic, frequently trailing into scientific terminology
Daily Life
Elara divides her time between field research—diving, collecting samples, observing marine life—and writing her extensive treatises. She lectures at the Academy when forced, preferring the company of fish to students. Her research station is filled with tanks, specimens, and half-finished papers.
Story Hooks
- 1 Elara needs help retrieving a rare specimen from dangerous waters for her research
- 2 Someone has learned of her intelligent cephalopods and is planning to capture them—she needs protection
Narrative Value
Elara provides scientific knowledge, access to rare information about sea creatures, and quests involving discovery and conservation; serves as a source of academic expertise. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════