Carandra

The Green Siren

Among the lands of the continent are many strange oddities and creatures. Perhaps one of the more unique individuals is **Caranda**, also known as the Daughter of Brokilon and the Green Siren. Carandra was born as a human but given over to the dryads of the forest in Brokilon and raised as one of them. Later in life she would reunite with her brother Ryvlyn and is well known for her talents in healing, combat, and the use of her latent elder blood.

## Biography

### Birth and Early Life (1232-1234)

Carandra was born to Nelda, a half-elf who had lost her husband and entire village to a recent monster attack. Nelda tried to care for her daughter as best she could, even as she lived on the streets alone. Somehow, she managed to arrive at the forests of Brokilon, on the verge of death. She offered her daughter up to the dryads, and though Nelda herself could not be saved, her two year old daughter was quickly accepted into the fold.

### Life in Brokilon (1234-1254)

The young girl was quickly accepted into dryad society, and after being fully inducted into their society and culture, young Carandra drank from the Water of Brokilon, and was transformed into a dryad. Despite having no memory of the outside world, she held onto a few aspects of her childhood, specifically her name, given to her by her mother, and a rare medullation belonging to Nelda. Carandra herself showed great promise, learning the arts of the woods and showing promise in certain magical traits. Though still young she worked hard for her sisters of the woods and served Queen Eithné, and in time would become a respected member among the dryads. Though she was happy amongst her dryad sisters, Carandra still had some small desire to see what was beyond Brokilon, and wondered where exactly she had came from and who her mother was.

Carandra would unexpectedly be removed from Brokilon thanks to the intervention of human raiding parties. As human lumberjacks continued to further intrude into Brokilon and cut down more trees, the dryads began to increase the defense of their home, and thus encuring further retaliation. In 1254 a band of paid mercenaries and local conscripts from Cidaris fought off an attack by dryads, Carandra among them. During this she was wounded and knocked unconscious, and the dryads were pushed back. The leader of the band, seeing that Carandra was still alive, decided to her back to his master, Count Fyvas of Rissberg.

### Leaving Brokilon (1254-1265)

Carandra was given over to Count Fyvas, and she became a personal oddity for him to display. He was frequently cruel and abusive towards her, and like to tout her around as a sort of trophy. She was otherwise locked away and left to herself. Carandra also caught the attention of the young Duke Evrad, who desired to have Carandra for his own. Duke Evrad would attempt to "buy" the dryad off of Fyvas, who would refuse as he saw Carandra as his prize. She would thus be caught up in a bitter feud between Fyvas and Evrad, and became known as the Green Siren by other Cidarians who heard of her.

Carandra would attempt to escape several times and tried to return to Brokilon but was captured every time, and would suffer brutal consequences for her attempts. However, she maintained a defiant spirit and made some friends among the rest of the staff and servants.

During the First Northern War, Nilfgaard advanced into the Cidaris and the rest of Northern Kingdoms. Fyvas was slain while fighting in the conflict, his lands came under conflict after the war, as without heirs numerous petty lords scrambled to claim his lands. During this Carandra escaped, but was pursued. She was captured, however, and n was taken to Oxenfurt at the behest of several professors and the mage Vilgefortz, who wished to study Carandra's dryad biology. Vilgefortz subjected her to various experiments which left numerous physical and mental scars, and which she remained very quiet about for much of her life.

### Family Reunion and Return

Carandra finally escaped in 1264, thanks in part to the intervention of the witcher, Ryvlyn "Lyn" of Sanzode. Lyn helped her flee, and journeying together Carandra discovered that Lyn was, in fact, her own brother. This revelation was surprise to them both. Thanks to this discovery, and her desire to see more of the world beyond Brokilon, Carandra decided to travel along with her brother. She accompanied him across much of the Northern Kingdoms and northern Nilfgaardian lands for over a year, bonding with her only family member.

After a year of travel Carandra felt satisfied and finally returned home to Brokilon after over a decade of being apart. She solemnly said goodbye to her brother, but for the rest of her life they would keep in contact, with Lyn every so often arriving to visit her. Back in Brokilon, Carandra became something of a pariah. welcomed back but with some hesitation due to being gone for so long in the outside world and "touched by men." However, her experience beyond Brokilon provided her a better understanding of the outside world, and her knowledge and skill would lead her to becoming the de fact emissary and ambassador of Brokilon.

### Fighting In Other Worlds (1265-1277)

Carandra would find her place once again in Brokilon, and would continue to serve alongside her fellow dryads for many years. She would venture outside of the forest a few times upon the insistence of her brother, arriving in the world of Gywnsten. After the end of the Seventh Sibling War, Lyn called her over to the land, and she would travel by his side as he served under the Eldenqueen Ushael. She was particularly interested by the Dryad Forest, which reminded her of the forests of Brokilon.

She would be pulled out of her life in Brokilone once more during the so-called "Beast War." In 1276 the self-crowned "Beast King," the former mage Hezras, became obsessed with unlocking Carandra's laten elder blood for his own purposes. After wounding Lyn he and captured Carandara. Using his magical skills, alchemical psychedelic drugs, and the magical warping effect of the Beast Crown, the Beast King altered and molded her into his perfect servant, specifically intending to use her to kill Lyn.

Carandra would unwillingly be used against her brother, and the Beast King planned to use the latent elder blood in her veins for his own purposes. However, a battle in the north resulted in Carandra being freed from the Beast King's control. Despite this, she would be quite shaken by her experience. Eventually rousing herself, Carandra would be pivotal at the Battle of Brigstead. Using the natural magic in her blood, she was able to open up great portals with the White Ring, and summoned forth the elvish armies of Lithridia. Lyn and Carandra would engage in the fight, and together fought the Beast King. Carandra herself ended the Beast King himself, wielding the blade *Saelna kir'na.* Following this, Carandra would return to Brokilon and would spend more time in isolation due to her experiences.

### Later Years (1277-1334)

For many years Carandra remained in Brokilon, and further isolated herself after the disappearance of her brother in 1280. But in 1301 Empress Cirilla I called for a great gathering among leaders within the Northern Realms, including Brokilon. Under the orders of the new dryad queen, and due to her outside experience Carandra was chosen to act as a delegate and to hear what this new Nilfgaardian empress had to say. While the convention itself largely failed at its outset goals, Carandra met with Empress Cirilla and established a repoire with her, helping to lead to a cooler relationship between Brokilon and the empire. For the rest of her life Carandra would thereafter act as the official emissary for the dryads to officials of Nilfgaard.

Following Lyn's return in 1305, Carandra was delighted to meet her brother again and to see that he was alive, but she was extremely surprised to find that he had "children" of a sort. Due to Lyn's emotionally distraught state, he chose to leave and recover by himself, but asked that Carandra, along with Sellandra, look after his children. Given special permission to due so, Carandra would regularly visited her nieces and nephews, until Lyn returned.

For the rest of her life Carandra remained a valued member among the dryads, still somewhat controversial for her more open view of outsiders. Due to her status as an ambassador she helped to iron out treaties and deals that would better protect Brokilon and oversaw the initial protection laws passed under Empress Cirilla. In addition, she maintained a close tie to her family.

In 1334 Carandra was attacked by an organized band of brigands and thieves while performing her emissarial duties. Although they were fought off, Carandra was heavily wounded, and brought to a nearby town. She died before her brother could arrive, and he was extremely distraught over her death. She was summarily returned to Brokilon and buried, mourned by all who loved her.

## Personality & Traits

### Personality and Demeanor

Carandra is generally described as simple and generally calm. The unique nature of her childhood, from being raised as a dryad have all caused her to be quite unique. She has a deep reverence for the woods and respects non-humans, and dryads especially. Though like many dryads, she appears to be emotionally lacking when it comes to humans, in truth she can be quite emotional around friends and family. Carandra always tries to due her best and is quite used to the dark nature of the world. That has not stopped her from caring for what good remains, and she always hopes for the best, and works towards that.

### Physical Characteristics

Like most dryads, Carandra possessed a slender and small build, with green hair and green eyes. Like most transformed dryads, she possessed leaf-like green skin. Due to her experience in the wilds of the world she learned to readily adapt her clothing from more naturalistic styles while in a forest or to clothing more acceptable among humans.

## Abilities

* Dryad Physiology
	+ Thanks to the nature of her dryad mutation, Carandra has the leafy hair, green skin, etc. of dryads.
	+ This, combined with her relentless training, has enabled her to remain strong and fit.
	+ Another unique ability is a sort of empathetic bond or understanding with animals.
* Magic
	+ Carandra has some experience with magic. Thanks to her training by dryads, she has a deeper understanding of herbs and nature-like magic, and has a deep connection with any woods or forests around her.
	+ Though not a Source, Carandra does posses a latent gene for the elder blood. This has helped her with her magic, allowing her to channel and cast more powerful spells, and with unique training act as a conduit of some sort.
* Combat and Survival Training
	+ While traveling together, Lyn trained Carandra in swordplay and combat. While note an exceptionally proficient fighter, she can hold her own in a melee, but prefers to use bow and arrows.
	+ Carandra is also capable of surviving unaided in the wilds, from tracking and hunting animals to foraging for foods and knowing what can cure you or kill you. She is especially good with identifying helpful herbs and natural medicines.

## Equipment

* School of the Griffon Medallion: Given to her by her brother, Ryvlyn, as a gift.
* Elven bow: Stolen from one of the vaults in Count Fyvas' mansion, which had been taken from a dead elven band and stored as a trophy by the count.

## Trivia

* Carandra's great-great-great-great-grandmother was Lara Dorren aep Shiadhal, the last elf to posses the elder blood. Because of this lineage, she possesses the potent elder blood gene, and is a fifth cousin to Ciri.