Monica Clearwater

Monica is a dhampir from the region of Forstfel, a well respected archmage of the Sanctum and the founder of the House of Owls. She speaks precious little of her upbringing or history, but states that she studied witchcraft there for a long time, but was forced to flee her home to avoid a ‘spreading corruption.’ She claims to have come across the settlement of Edyn whilst it was founded, any who know her would be led to doubt that anything she does is by chance.

## History

Little is known about Monica’s upbringing, as she is famously tight lipped about such things. Her vampiric origins, propensity for dark magics, and cold demeanor lead many to speculate rather wildly as to what her life before joining the Sanctum was like.

What is known about her is that she arrived in Edyn during its founding. Along with many of the other mages who arrived in the area, she helped form the Sanctum and provided many magical services to the settlers. When it came to forming the inner workings of the guild, however, Monica opposed many of the decisions made by the other mages as to its organization and quickly grew frustrated with the whole process. While indisputably one of the most powerful archmages in the Sanctum at the time, she utterly rejected the idea of devoting one’s self wholly to a single school or sphere of magic.

Instead, she left the other archmages to decide how things would work at the very top and instead take a more influential path of deciding how the guild’s more day to day operations would be run. She formed the House of Owls, which would serve as the main managerial and research wing of the Sanctum; responsible for much of the important training and bookkeeping needed to keep the guild alive.

## Current Day

Monica is known for her cold and pragmatic demeanor; one that quite nicely matches her affinity for ice and water magic. It is well known, however, that her greatest specialty is Blood magic, however she rarely instructs others on magic of this sort as it does not match with the focuses of the school and casts a dark light on mages in general. Despite being in her late 40s, her vampiric blood gives her an ever youthful appearance. She is somewhat known to the public, as she is the Sanctum’s primary representative to Edyn’s High Council.

While she is often thought to be rather unapproachable, those who study and work with her for long enough find her to be exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable. Unlike many other mages who work their way up in rank through sheer magical skill, Monica is far more skilled at teaching and managing those under her. She is quick to praise exceptionally studious pupils, and consolatory to students who struggle. She takes special interest in the training and development of children, though does take part in training them herself for fear of accusations from parents, mindful of her vampiric heritage.

Monica is prolific in her opposition to the influence of the Council of Esoterics, the official governing body of the guild that often leaves most of the actual work of running the guild to her House. She is especially opposed to the Council’s policy of discrimination against sorcerers and natural magic users, but also dislike their ‘fetishization’ of mastery in a specific school or sphere of magic. It is also known by a select few that Monica holds a deep dislike of all the Churches and a distrust of divine magic in general, although the reasons given for this dislike have a tendency to change depending on who she speaks to.

## Apprentice

Monica has an apprentice by the name of Xue, a foreign sorceress of exceptional skill despite being of young age. As a precaution, Monica took efforts to hide Xue’s ancestry and sorcerous blood to prevent the Council from throttling her progress. When it was discovered Xue was a sorcerer, many in the Council were angered, but unwilling to take direct action over this infraction. However, Xue’s existence creates tension between Monica and the Council.

Xue herself is an elf cryomancer of exceptional skill and a well known bookworm. She is quiet and analytical, but far less cold and more personable than her teacher. Monica, being known for being extremely picky with her apprentices, is very protective of her and is believed to be grooming Xue for a future leadership position; despite the promise of heavy opposition from the Council. Currently, Xue can often be found teaching newcomers in the House of Sparrows in Monica’s stead.