Vesper

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Vesper is a character created by Kelp for the POWER Campaign. They are currently an archfey warlock.

## Character Details

Vesper is a 35-year-old non-binary human warlock. They are Marked by their patron, Wotan, with the constellation Canis Major, which appears as an array of silvery freckles on their face, with their left eye serving as the brightest star, Sirius. They wear a hand-knit loop scarf, usually pulled up over their head for warmth, and a heavy fur cloak. Beneath the cloak, they wear casual hiking clothing, but it is most often overlaid with translucent spectral armor, which they can summon at will. Their hair is quite long, and kept in a neat french braid that is either tucked into their scarf or pulled forward over their shoulder.

Vesper values control, both of themself and of the situations they find themself in. As such, they tend to conceal their emotions, and would rather talk in circles and make deals than open with outright confrontation. They can come across as aloof or bitchy when interacting with individuals they do not trust. When their careful self-control slips, it is often swift, sometimes violent. In anger, they seem more feral Fey than human, and channel their most destructive spells without their usual mindfulness. On the flip side, around those who have earned those trust--such as their party and Wotan--they have been known to let their guard down and show a more caring, vulnerable side. They were diagnosed with a panic disorder in their early 20s which at this point they can handle without much interruption to their day-to-day; however, the unpredictable stresses of trying to save the world have caused them to regress, and they've had to grapple with several unexpected attacks since the start of the campaign.

They are often joined by Sirius, a blink dog and one of the hounds of the Wild Hunt. Though he technically belongs to Wotan, he is Vesper's dearest companion and they have permission to borrow him for company as well as combat. In addition to commanding Sirius in battle, they also make use of ice and charm magic, via learned spells from their patron and by channeling their staff of frost.

## History

### Early Life

Vesper grew up in the bay area with their parents and two younger sisters. Both parents worked long hours, so Vesper was often babysitting their sisters, and was quite close with them at the time. They used to always braid the girls' hair, and even after they started college, flew home early from exams specifically to style Brianna's hair for her senior prom.

They were a gifted child, excelling in mathematics and sciences, and received a lot of attention and praise for this from their parents. They feel some guilt over this now, as they feel it may have taken attention away from their sisters.

### Adulthood

Vesper graduated from Harvard with a degree in Biology in 2017. During their time there, they struggled with anxiety and panic attacks. With psychiatric help, they were able to get it under control enough to finish their studies, though they claim they only "barely made it through." It is currently unknown what they did between graduation and the start of the blackout, except that it eventually resulted in them living in a remote cabin with one other person, named Fisher.

### Post-Blackout

Vesper spent the entirety of the Blackout (prior to meeting the party, of course) isolated in an eternal winter. When the world changed, the cabin they had been staying in intersected with a portion of the Feywild--the Winter Court, to be specific. Their first year was not easy. Food and warmth were scarce. They lost Fisher. But at some point during that year, they took in an injured blink dog, which they named Sirius. And as it turned out, that dog already had a master--Wotan, Lord of the Wild Hunt. An Archfey.

> The night air had been utterly still.  Vesper was sitting by the fireplace, using the light to continue darning the hole in their sock.  Sirius was contentedly gnawing on a bone from... *something* that he had killed earlier in the day.  It looked big; Vesper was grateful to not have seen it.
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> The steady grind and slip of Sirius’s teeth halted abruptly. When Vesper raised their eyes to check on him, the large dog was backing away from the door, ears back, tail tucked, and a small whine coming from his throat.  They barely had time to regret that their pocket knife was on the desk across the room.  The wind, nonexistent a moment before, positively *howled*.  Shuttered windows rattled like the cabin’s own teeth were chattering.  The door slammed open, its latch landing somewhere under the bunk bed.
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> Someone was standing in the doorway.  A tall man, whose shoulders nearly took up the width of the doorway.  His cloak had the hood pulled up, but Vesper could see his eyes.  Glowing a cold purple in stark contrast to his dark skin. For a moment, the wind increased, and Vesper could swear they saw hundreds of faces behind the man, expressions empty of anything but bloodlust bloodlust.
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> And then the wind stopped, and it was just the man in the doorway.  Vesper’s scattered belongings were the only hint of the gale that had been present just moments ago.
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> “St… stay back!” Vesper tried, brandishing their sewing needle.  “Leave us alone or I’ll… I’ll poke your eye out!”  Those eyes crinkled in mirth and the man stepped inside, letting his hood fall as he closed the door.  He was handsome, night-dark hair swept back from his face.  Vesper tried to place his age, and couldn’t; something about his features made him seem untouched by the passage of time.  And with the way his ears came to points, he likely wasn’t even human.
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> “Try and you’ll lose both your own,” he chuckled.  His accent was almost musical, the way his r’s rolled, but Vesper couldn’t match it to any they’d heard before.  The man’s attention shifted to Sirius, still cowering in the far corner.  He crouched down and extended a hand.  The next word he spoke was surely not a language that had been heard on Earth before the Blackout, and yet for a moment Vesper’s mind was filled with the image of a wolf’s jaw snapping shut, a hare appearing within them just moments before the teeth would have gnashed together.  Sirius responded by dutifully pacing up to the stranger, his posture only relaxing when the man used his extended hand to scratch the hound behind his pointed ears.  Vesper watched in stunned silence as Sirius held still and let the man inspect his ears, his teeth, his nails, and finally the spot on his side where the gash had once been.  It had healed well, the scar barely visible beneath thick white fur.  Satisfied, he spoke another word in that strange language that caused Sirius to wag his tail and vanish.
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> “Where did he--” The words died in Vesper’s throat as the man stood and closed the distance between them in a mere three paces.
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> “You looked after my hound.  I had left him for dead and he is alive because of you.  He will be a good addition to my pack now.”
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> “O-oh,” Vesper managed.  “Um.  You’re welcome?”  That seemed to be the wrong answer.  The man’s teeth bared in a momentary snarl.
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> “My gratitude is unwillingly given. I will not be in a human’s debt.  Even one brave enough to threaten the Lord of the Wild Hunt with a *sewing needle*.” The last words were said through an amused grin, which was somehow more unnerving than when he looked angry.  Vesper dropped the needle and held up their palms.
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> “No debt here! Just call it a favor for a, uh, neighbor! Feel free to depart with a clean conscience!” they said hurriedly.  The man--the Lord of the Wild Hunt, Vesper supposed--shook his head.
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> “Our ways are not so… haphazard.  I must give you some boon befitting the service you have done me, or I will be in your debt.”  He tapped his chin, looking over Vesper consideringly.  “The Winter’s touch has afforded this space some protection, but it wouldn’t be complete.  You have been guarding it, yes?”
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> “Yeah, I mean… I put up some traps for small game and fences to keep the bigger...uhh… critters away from the cabin. But, I mean, that’s my job!  That’s why I’m here. So you definitely don’t have to thank me for that one” they laughed nervously.  They tried to surreptitiously scoot back, but their heel caught the lip of the hearth.
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> “Dutiful as the hound,” he hummed thoughtfully.  Silence stretched on, Vesper hardly daring to breathe as the stranger continued to watch them with the same considering gaze. They couldn’t help their sigh of relief when he spoke again.  “I think I have something suitable.  I will name you my Champion, and grant you abilities befitting such a title.  This should make it easier for you to protect yourself and this place.”  Back when Fisher had been around, Vesper had joked about how unfair it was that *they* hadn’t changed at all in the Blackout. And now, here they were, face to face with a handsome stranger offering them just that. *Handsome?!  Alright that’s a thought we’re going to examine later*... Vesper shook their head to clear it, wetting their dry lips. They realized the man was waiting for a response.
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> “...alright, sure. I could be your… Champion.” They almost regretted their words as that unnerving grin reappeared.  The stranger clapped his hands together.
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> “Perfect.  I just need your name.”
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> Ok, Vesper knew this one.  With those ears, this guy must be some kind of fey, or something.  Like *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*.  So they shouldn’t say their real name.  But that was fine.  Vesper wasn’t *really* their name, after all. So, they should be good.  “It’s Vesper.” Wotan only raises an eyebrow, so Vesper sighs.  “...Vesper Ellis Kennedy.”
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> “Vesper Ellis Kennedy.” He spoke the name slowly, as if trying out the shape of it, and yet it had *resonance*.  It was as if he was reading a word carved on their very bones.  Their head felt light, knees weak, and the stranger’s intense gaze was the only thing keeping them from sinking to the floor.  The man tilted his head. “Your True Name, then?  Well, that certainly makes things easier.” He reached out and placed his thumb on Vesper’s forehead, letting the rest of his fingers curl around the left side of their head.  He spoke again with the same resonance.
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> *“I, Wotan, Lord of the Wild Hunt*
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> *Name the human Vesper to be my Champion.*
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> *An honor bestowed in exchange for their faithful care of my Hound.*
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> *And with it, I grant all the abilities befitting your station*
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> *So that you may serve faithfully in life*
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> *And join the Hunt in death*
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> *Our pact is thus sealed, and shall not be revoked.”*
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> Nearly a dozen searing pinpricks bloomed across Vesper’s face, and their left eye felt briefly like ice.  Were they able to move, they would have flinched back, hearth or no hearth.  As it was, they were held, transfixed and unable to even blink, until the pain subsided and Wotan drew his hand back.  “You should probably sit.  You look pale.”  Wotan helped Vesper into their seat by the fire, and then pulled up the only other chair in the cabin to sit beside them. He watched them recover their bearings, expression unreadable.  Vesper pressed a hand to their forehead, but it came away bloodless and they felt no injury.
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> “What…” They cleared their dry throat.  “What, um, was that at the end?”
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> “The pact cannot be revoked,” Wotan offered unhelpfully, eyes twinkling.  Vesper’s eyes narrowed.
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> “Before that.”
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> “Ah, the duties of a Champion of course. Most great honors come with some responsibility, after all.  But don’t worry, I won’t ask you to ride with me yet.  For now, your charge is to carry on watching this space.  It should be a bit easier now, too, with more at your disposal than a needle.”
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> “I also have a--” Wotan’s eyes followed Vesper’s to the hunting knife across the room.  He raised an eyebrow in challenge.  “...nevermind.  Thanks, I guess.”  Wotan waved a hand.
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> “No need, no need, we’re even now.  And having myself a place of Sanctuary in this realm,” he rubbed his hands together, “it really is quite useful.”  The wind picked up again outside, sounding like a pack of dogs howling at the door.  Thinking of Sirius, Vesper supposed that might not be far off.  Wotan stood and pulled his hood back up.  “For now, I have business elsewhere.  But I’ll be seeing you, Vesper.”  Their ears rung at the sound of their true name again.  They clenched their eyes shut to dispel the feeling.  When they opened them, the room was empty, wind still once more.
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> It wasn’t until a few days later, staring at their reflection in the dingy bathroom mirror as they tried to get a clean shave, that they noticed the constellation marking their features. They had to laugh. “Canis Major, huh?  Guy sure likes his dogs…”
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Pact struck, Vesper continued to serve Wotan by watching over their cabin and the surrounding area. Wotan periodically came back to visit, bringing gifts or teaching them magic. On one notable occasion, Wotan apparently severed the head of a sort-of-deer with his bare hands; after this is when he gifted Vesper their Staff of Frost. During this time, Vesper's feelings towards Wotan shifted from respect, to fondness, to devotion. By the start of the campaign, they were utterly besotted with him, as much as they tried (and failed) to hide it.

## Relationships

### **Charlotte**

From the moment they met, Vesper has admired Charlotte's maturity and dedication to her ideals. Even when they butt heads, Vesper appreciates how she challenges them to think differently. She tempers some of their sharper edges, and has made them a better person with her insistence on trying to find a peaceful resolution before resorting to violence. By now, they care quite dearly for her, and are conscious of how much weight she carries in order to protect others. They want to do the same for her.

There was some tension between the two of them when Charlotte was struggling with her faith, particularly when she offered it to the Dawn Titan. While Vesper likes to make deals, they are protective of some parts of themself; their devotion is one such part, which they will only give to Wotan. And they thought Charlotte was a kindred soul in that sense, so it scared them to see her willing to lose so much. They're glad she seems to have found her conviction once more, though they're still hesitant to see how it pans out.

### **Jacky**

Vesper couldn't help growing fond of Jacky when they first met her. She was fearful, but also brave, and sweet. It impressed them how she ran in to protect Sirius, especially knowing she didn't like dogs, just because he was important to Vesper (who at the time was really just a stranger to her). Not to mention, Jacky was close to the age their younger sisters would have been. The two of them developed a sort of parent/child relationship--Vesper looked after Jacky, Jacky never failed to bring a smile to their face. And there were times when Jacky protected Vesper in turn. Most memorably, when Vesper had their first panic attack since meeting the party, and Jacky stayed with them the whole while, projecting calming music into their mind and letting them soothe themself by petting her fur.

Vesper has made two promises to Jacky; notable since they have not made a single promise to anyone else in the party. The first, after finding out how alone she was during the blackout, is that she would not be alone again if they had anything to say about it. The second, after they all came back from death and tensions were high in the fire plane, is that they would not forgive her if she harmed Charlie or another party member.

Vesper's relationship with Jacky has been... complicated, since they all came back from death. They still look at her and see their close friend from before, barely more than a child in their eyes, someone they'd give anything to protect. The person they gave up eternity with Wotan to come back to. But Jacky is not that person anymore, and that knowledge fills them with grief. She is no longer afraid, and in their eyes that lack of fear has made her stupid and brash. The way she speaks without thought and hurts those around her irritates them. And then she attacked Charlie, the best of them, who was so obviously hurting--that's what Vesper saw as unforgivable. They attempted to banish her, and were prepared to do so permanently. They hadn't known she was going to be sent to their cabin and Wotan, though that was what they attempted to do; but if she had been sent somewhere else, somewhere where she was alone, they were willing to accept that would mean breaking their first promise to her. Though it may have broken them further than they really understood was possible, if they had gone through with it.

Of course, Jacky was not banished permanently, at Charlie's request. And that was when Vesper found out that Jacky had the option to leave Valhalla and come back to the group much sooner than she did, and without the price Charlie had to pay to get her back, but she chose not to because it would mean losing her afterlife in Valhalla. That was the final straw for Vesper. They were angry, yes, but only to cover up how *deeply* hurt they were by the realization that what they gave up for Jacky, she would not give up for them. For the good of the group, Vesper has had to swallow that hurt and try to move on, but they can no longer offer closeness to Jacky; the trust simply isn't there. The best they can do is treat her as a new person--a stranger they are still getting to know.

### **Outlander**

Vesper was suspicious of Outlander when they first met. His psychic blades were powerful in a way Vesper was unfamiliar with. And he clearly had secrets; that mask of his was both literal and figurative. But Vesper also saw bits of themself in Outlander. They wanted to get to know him better, to see if both of them could let their guards down a bit more. And they had plans to, on the ship, before everything went to hell.

It's obvious to Vesper that the changes Outlander has gone through since dying run much deeper than any surface modifications to his apperance. Though Outlander's mask is now permanently fused to his face, the figurative mask seems gone, at least in Vesper's eyes. They ache for how much he's hurting, how much his own feelings towards himself manifest in physical harm. Having dealt with their own share of psychological difficulties, they're trying to share what they've learned, in case it can help Outlander. In sharing, they can't help but find themself opening up to Outlander, discovering they can rely on him even as he relies on them. They admire how he is willing to keep trying in situations where they would have given up. He makes them want to be a better person.

### **Quentin**

Q is Vesper's Little Wolf, a nickname which was first spoken maliciously, to put him in his place, but now is almost always said with fondness. They respect Q, particularly his knowledge of seafaring and his skill in combat. And, of course, they think he's quite easy on the eyes and don't mind a bit of casual flirtation from time to time. They've even kissed Q, although that was just because he was a frog.

When Q first made his pact with Wotan, Vesper was upset with him. One part jealousy in having to share Wotan, one part anger that he made the same mistake *they* did, and one part protective irritation any time Q complained about Wotan. After getting over themself, though they've found him to be both ally and friend, and though he gets under their skin from time to time, they are as protective of him as they are of everyone else in the party.

### **Wotan**

Wotan is Vesper's patron, but that... doesn't even begin to adequately describe the relationship. Wotan is *everything* to Vesper. The source of their power, their reason for living, their whole entire purpose--it's all him. Though it wasn't love at first sight, Vesper's known for years that Wotan is and always will be the only one for them. For most of that time, they kept their feelings to themself. They did not believe he reciprocated; and perhaps more importantly, they did not believe the deserved him. Despite how Wotan doted on them when he would visit the party, or the protectiveness he'd shown for the entire time they'd known him, they held themself back.

That changed when Vesper died. Not immediately, of course. In fact, their first reaction was to pull away further, to fully assume their place as loyal hound and seek no special treatment. But Wotan wouldn't--perhaps couldn't--let them do that. After their first hunt together, Wotan sought them out, and offered them the one thing they never thought they could ask for: a second chance at life. And it was that *gift*, offered with barely a second thought, that finally got through their self-doubt and willful ignorance. They finally *saw* how their own feelings were reflected in Wotan's eyes. At that point there didn't need to be words. Their first kiss was on a battlefield, the bloody remains of the ending hunt around them, but for Vesper it was perfect. No one else existed in that moment, no one else mattered. They could have stayed there forever, wrapped in his arms, foreheads pressed together.

But they had to leave. That was the whole point, Wotan was letting them go back. And so they had to say goodbye. Because those who abandoned the Wild Hunt are hunted by the hoard of spectral warriors. And though Wotan can lead them astray, to protect Vesper (and Q alongside them), he cannot visit Vesper. They have to stay apart. Though the current status of their relationship is bittersweet, Vesper wouldn't trade the security of knowing Wotan loves them for anything. They're determined to see him again, even if it means breaking their pact, though they'll never swear themself to another. And in the meantime, they have letters, carried between the two of them by Sirius.

### Sirius

Sirius is one of Wotan's hounds, rescued by Vesper long before they met their Lord of the Wild Hunt. He is Vesper's dearest friend, and they are always more at ease when he's around. He doesn't always make life easy for him; nearly a decade of training doesn't always help when your troublemaking blink dog has decided it wants to ignore you and chase a random monster, but when it counts, Sirius listens. He knows when Vesper needs him. Currently, the terms of Vesper's escape from the afterlife have strained their bond with Sirius: he does not always appear when Vesper tries to call him, and when he does it is as if he came from a long distance. They treasure every moment they get with him. He is one of their last tangible links to Wotan, something they have been taking advantage of to send letters to him. If Vesper ever fully lost their connection to Sirius, they don't know what they would do.

### Deceiving Appearance

If anyone had told Vesper they would be considering friendship with a *Seelie* fey, the would have laughed in their face. But--somehow--Deceiving Appearance has caught their interest. At first, of course, they hated him. As far as they were concerned, he was an extension of Titania's will, a Seelie spy sent to cause trouble for them and put Vesper, Wotan, and Q at risk. And, certainly, Deceiving Appearance is a troublemaker and a prankster. But he's turned out not to be a mindless tool, and that's what interests Vesper. The fact that Deceiving Appearance doesn't want to go home, that he doesn't *like* the other Seelie, makes him a potential ally. It helps, of course, that they know their Banishment spell gives them quite a bit of leverage against him. But even beyond that--they are trying to be a better, nicer person, for Charlie and Outlander, so they're going to give it a shot and maybe befriend this tiny fairy.

## Image Gallery

Character ArtChibi Head Icon by MewPubby by MewLovecore by MewVesper and Wotan by MewVesper's Staff by MewVesper's Staff Bonus by MewZombie Vesper
## Trivia

* Vesper does not (and perhaps cannot) lie.
* While a student at Harvard, they once "borrowed" a skeleton from one of the labs and attempted to take it to a college bar with some of their friends.
* Vesper made their scarf and cloak, and during rests is often seen knitting something which they claim is a gift for Wotan.
* Vesper's love language is Acts of Service.
* Vesper had a potion of maximum power, which had been a Mountain Dew Major Melon prior to the blackout.
* During Vesper's transition, they briefly went by the name "Bread" before settling on Vesper.

## Quotes

* "I think you're being vague on purpose.  Letting our imagination do the job so you don't have to reveal your limitations." *They take a step forward, getting in [The Shadowmaker's] face but also placing themself between him and the rest of the party.* "After all, if you could do to us what you did to the displacer beast, why the deal?  Why the song and dance?  I think something about this group might actually be able to stop you.  I think you're *scared.*"
* "Watch yourself, *little wolf*.  You should be more grateful for the gifts you were given."
* "I'll come back.  When it's time.  You know I will."
* "I was... so absurdly *stupid*.  And unbelievably *lucky*, that Wotan was the one who found me. That's why I'm so insistent you all be careful.  Because I wasn't."
* "I miss a lot of people. Do not force yourself to be any of them."