Lynara Blackwald

"The cycles of life and death are but one of many."

Hailing from the Blackwald Forest, Lynara feels caught between two worlds. Not quite living, yet not quite dead, the twilight mage finds herself walking the liminal space. Joining her is her older brother, Isaac Blackwald, a feyborn human who's parents have long since passed from the world, and her brother's husband, Adam Blackwald. Together, the trio represents the interests of House Blackwald, a minor nobility that resides in the Blackwald Outskirts. Recently, the Blackwald family has run into troubles with the undead in the Forest, as their aggressive nature has caused many to leave, and Lynara desperately try to maintain some semblance of control over what's left behind. Obsessed with immortality, Lynara's main focus is to ensure that her and her family live forever, so that they can permanently ensure safety and security for those in their company.

Theme Song

## History

Born as the younger one of two siblings, Lynara studied magic in a more methodical manner, while Isaac's focus was on technology. Despite the Blackwald Outskirts not having much in terms of advancements, Isaac spent many years studying in Calbridge and afar, while Lynara remained at home. Much of her magic was self-taught, studying tomes brought home by Isaac, or otherwise learned from the few travelling magi that passed through the Outskirts.

After the death of their parents at the hands of the undead, and later on the death of Lynara's child, Lynara and her family have taken a stance past neutral tolerance, into a hatred for the evils in the Forest. While Blackwald is but one of many homes, Lynara has made an effort to safeguard the people she can, and used her knowledge of magic and influence of nobility to try and preserve and protect the land.

In recent times, the Blackwald Forest has grown more agitated, as have it's denizens. With the arrival of Ithaca and Tuatha, Lynara fears that without aid or support, the Forest's denizens will overrun the outskirts, endangering the lives of others. In particular, the lives of those she has grown with in her home and community. Seeking aid from the new arrivals, Lynara hopes to at best cleanse the forest, and at worst, save her people before it's too late, abandoning all she has known.

## Appearance

Standing at around average height, Lynara is a rather beautiful individual. Despite her human nature, the touch of the Blackwald Forest has left her with pale hair and strange eyes, the warping influence of the magic altering her physical appearance. As she draws ever closer to the line between living and dead, her appearance, though alluring, is off-putting and doesn't appear quite as 'alive' as many. Often dressing in garbs of regal finery, Lynara looks like she's ready to attend a noble party more often than go out on an adventure.

In recent times, Lynara's form has once more shifted, becoming something beyond her human existence. Suffused with energy from the Plane of Shadows, the once-human has become something between living and dead, stuck in the twilight of the cycle. With eyes of crimson and hair of white, her skin was now an ashen grey.

## Personality

Lynara is generally a neutral individual. With no specific dedication to much of anything as far as personal creeds nor an obsession for freedom, she finds herself dedicated to causes that personally attract her, but has no overarching desire to swing one way or another. With a propensity to go any which way, Lynara oftentimes pursues individual desires above all else. Often taking time to think before acting, Lynara has only a few goals that she consistently wishes to pursue and see to completion.

The first among them is the preservation and survival of House Blackwald. Working alongside her brother, the two of them want to continue to preserve what their parents had once built, even in their absence. The second goal is to further study and understand the magic she draws power from. Pursuing greater understanding of the Planes, particularly the Plane of Shadow, Lynara hopes to help herself and others understand the greater cosmic cycle that they all belong to.

Among friends, or those who have proven themselves, Lynara often is friendly, loyal, and considerate. She enjoys helping others reach their goals, and oftentimes will try to align her pursuits of passion with the goals and achievements of those around her, unless they are in direct opposition to her desires. Beyond that, she gives most the benefit of the doubt, and respects anyone who respects her.

## Powers and Abilities

**Healing:** Lynara is capable at restoring life and vitality to those who are wounded. Drawing upon the powers of the cycle, she is able to both preserve and protect the living.

**Destruction:** Lynara's ability in calling down the fury of the stars is her focal point of power. Able to summon bolts of starlight, conjure forth meteors, or even fling magic in the form of comets, her gifts in weaponizing the rays of twilight are formidable.

**Protection:** While not quite exceptional, Lynara is also capable of weaving arcane wards and barriers to protect herself and her allies, oftentimes maintaining such in any public space, or a place where she believes she may be under assault.

**Light:** Able to conjure motes of light that can pierce shadows, one of Lynara's two thematic abilities are in the ability to coalesce energy into miniature stars that can be left to float, shine, and help others.

**Dark:** In conjunction with the light, Lynara is able to create permanent areas of darkness, allowing her to embrace the coming night that is heralded by the setting sun of twilight, and also allows for a unique mixture of displays when light and dark combine into something beautiful.

**Enhancement:** Capable of pushing people past their inherent limits, Lynara's ability to strength others is reflected in knowing how to use her magic to heighten their powers. In addition, she is capable of bestowing intellect upon things that typically would not bear such capabilities, like inanimate objects, or plants.

### Equipment

**Amulet of the Vampire:** A locket given to her by a former lover, the bat-shaped locket empowers her ability to persuade, charm, and wield her magic with efficiency and strength, imbued with the energies of vampires.

**Rope of the Geist:** A rope sewn from the magical threads of one who was hung, this rope gives Lynara the dexterity and mobility to move with enhanced speed, allowing her to deftly dodge, maneuver, and otherwise keep up with the enhancements of most undead.

**Band of the Moroi:** A gift given to Lynara by her parents, this silver band enhances her powers over destruction and enhancement magic, aiding her in the ability to strength and empower her allies, while also laying waste to her foes with the powers of twilight.

**Cape of Resistance:** A cape with a mix of reds, pinks, and purples that drapes over her shoulders and brushes the floor, Lynara's cloak dampens the effects of magical and physical strikes alike, making her more resilient to assaults of all kinds.

**Sleeves of Many Garments:** Needing an outfit in a pinch, Lynara has sleeves of magical properties that allow her to magically change her wardrobe to whatever suits the occasion. Be it a set of formal clothing for a party, casual attire for a hangout, or even clothes fit for the cold and heat, she's never without an extra set of garments.

## Family

* **Isaac Blackwald -** Lynara's older brother, Isaac's been a stout ally, friend, and supportive family member to Lynara. Where-as her pursuits of understanding leaned into the spiritual, Isaac's own adaptation of magic and understand has been centered on constructs, specifically clockwork creations, and reverence for Nethys, the god of magic.
* **Adam Blackwald -** Husband to Isaac, Adam was a paladin born near a convergence point between the Material Plane and the Plane of Shadows. A fabled paladin of dusk, Adam has been both a supportive man to Isaac, as well as a positive addition to the Blackwald family, ensuring the safety of Isaac and his little sister, Lynara.

## Friends and Associations

**Ulysses** - The first ray of hope to be seen in years, Lynara regards Ulysses as a close friend, a stalwart defender, and a compassionate individual. With Ithaca's arrival, she feels as if perhaps now, more than ever, she has the chance to save the Blackwald house, and more, save her people from the pending annihilation born of the rampant undead in the Forests beyond from which her town, and family, inherit their name.

**Cain** - A curious traveler, Lynara has befriended this Duskwalker and considers him trustworthy, if not slightly dangerous. Still, she finds him willingness to help others and love of knowledge and information respectable, and hopes to continue to foster a healthy growth of connection and support with him.

## Foes

**The Blackwald Forest -** While not quite a person, Lynara despises many in the Blackwald Forest. At best, she's willing to distrust them until they prove their better intentions, and at worst, she's willing to scorch their wicked hearts from the night, reminding them as the twilight heralds darkness, so too does it still shine light.