Oleander Morgenstern

**Oleander Wilhemina Orianna Morgenstern** is a light spiritborn necromancer and a member of the Emerald Caravan. Fae is played by Samwise Gamegee.

### Type

* Humanoid
* Clarivoyant

## Character information

### Also known as

* The Queen of Bloodstone Gulch
* Wilhelmina Twygg (alias)

### Places

* Verdomme, Kyir
* Baumer Haus, Weidenhafen, Lesser Goth
* Wren's Run, Urgovel

### Family

* Vercingetorix (adopted brother)
* Captain Apollo Claudio Josef von Zeppenstein (twin brother)
* Duchess Cordula Edelweiss Sonnen Morgenstern (mother; deceased)
* Duke Egon Phoebus Wilhelm Morgenstern III: aka Lord Poven Zaran (father)
* Sancha Espino (guardian)
* Sigismund Jaegermacht (guardian)
* Lady Katarina Steele (mentor)
* Saint Orianna (spiritual incarnation of mother)

### Connections

* Constance (friend)
* Prince Eisselbrand Blitzschwertzen (Betrothed)
* Emerald Caravan (member)
* Ezara (friend)
* Iris Honeywise (close friend; coworker)
* Isadore van Brandt (ex-romantic partner)
* Oprix Academy (employer)
* Soren (ally)
* Sylvia Wildfire (ex-romantic interest)
* Virwen (ally)

## Stats

### Backgrounds

* Charmed, I’m Sure
* Death Becomes Her
* Freakin’ Nerd
* Ace Pilot

## Appearances

### First seen

Season 1, Episode 10- "Don't Fear the Reaper"

## Description

### Appearance

Oleander is small, sickly, and very frail in appearance— though her expression is often fierce and no-nonsense. Fae stands at 4’11” and weighs around 90 lbs. She has pale white skin with a faint glow to it that has been slowly fading over the campaign. Since Season 3, her hands and forearms are constantly shrouded in necromantic shadow; she wears long gloves to conceal this. Her eyes are large and round, a molten gold color. Oleander’s hair is long and wavy, a bright yellow, and often kept in intricately braided half-up styles. Faer hair also glows, and like faer skin the glow has been fading to a flicker ever since the Emerald Caravan has met faer.

Oleander adores fine fashion, and prides herself on her appearance. Fae dresses very formally at all times, and until season 3 fae wore black and red almost exclusively— the colors of House Morgenstern. Since Season 3, fae wears the Evernight Dress.

Oleander is disabled and chronically ill. She has had severe arthritis since she was a very young child, and has always used mobility aids to get around. She is an ambulatory wheelchair user, and uses a wheelchair and a service dog, Ida. When walking fae uses the Corvan Cane. Oleander also wears corsets daily to assist with her back support. As a child, Oleander learned to walk using customized walkers/rollators, and forearm crutches.

### Personality

Oleander takes the principles of duty and responsibility as a noble very seriously. She genuinely believes it is her divine right to rule Kyir, and to protect its people from danger and harm. She extends this sense of duty to a few others, such as the Emerald Caravan. She judges other nobles who abuse or shirk their power and responsibilities harshly, and believes such leaders should be removed from power; though she is far more selective with regards to how that should be done than, say,  Soren.

Oleander’s mind is always working, and she is constantly evaluating what she says and does in terms of how it can help or harm her mission to return home one day. Even the most innocuous comment or action she does has been considered in that greater context.

Since finally making contact with her mother in the Season 3 finale arc, Oleander has begun to embrace a sense of following for the archangel that her mother was an incarnation of. However she remains steadfast in faer distaste for Kovar.

If Oleander were assigned a “traditional alignment”, fae would likely be chaotic neutral: at her heart, she is self-serving more than anything.

## Biography

### Background

Oleander was born in Verdomme, Kyir in Imperial Kovith. The Morgenstern family is an ancient noble family in the Empire that once had much political power. However, when Oleander was five years old she accidentally hurt her twin brother Apollo with her necromancy, which she couldn’t control. The incident led to the Imperial Inquisition declaring the family heretical, and arresting them. The family name was excommunicated from the Kovithian Church, and Oleander’s mother was executed. Her father was thought to be exiled off the continent, sure to die in a penal colony. Oleander’s twin brother was adopted by the man who led the investigation, while Oleander was spirited away in secret out of the country to keep her safe.

Oleander spent a few years in the Baumer Haus, where she first met and befriended Vercingetorix. Then she was sent to Wren’s Run to get her out of the Empire entirely. She was raised by Sancha Espino and Sigismund Jaegermacht, as well as Lady Kat Steel herself. Oleander’s academic talents and studies got her admitted to the prestigious Oprix Academy at a young age, where she graduated the Academy as a wizard at only 17. She’s stated that she holds degrees in arcane theory (in a quest to learn about her necromancy), political science, and fine art. Fae eventually got a job as an archivist in the Academy’s famous library.

Fae always dreamed of finding a way to clear the Morgenstern name and return home. The opportunity for a step forward was presented when fae met Isadore van Brandt, a member of the Watchers. Isadore courted Oleander and the two dated— she has said he was her first love. They told her the Watchers could help her one day, if she could help them out with a mission stealing an artifact from the Empire. Someone “touched by Kovar’s light” was needed to get past a barrier, and Oleander— a spiritborn of light from the Empire of Kovith— seemed to have a good chance. Oleander agreed, and even planned most of the heist itself with her clever mind and access to information in the library.

The couple succeeded in the theft, but not without the alarms triggering. During their escape, Oleander saved Isadore’s life by killing the first time. Then, she was shot by the Inquisition. Isadore ultimately abandoned Oleander to die when she couldn’t keep up anymore…

Only for her to be resurrected. The goddess Kierbeth petitioned Aor for Oleander’s soul, and he agreed to return her for a price: Oleander returned to life to discover she had lost access to most of her wizardry, as well as the ability to eat, breathe, or sleep.

Oleander was approached by a recently deceased Stars of Emerald upon her return to life, and asked to join Emi’s old party and help protect them in her stead. Oleander did so, and has remained with the Caravan ever since.

### Season 1: "Clairvoyance Converges"

Oleander did not join the Emerald Caravan until after the death of their companion Stars of Emerald in Season 1, Episode 9. Emi’s spirit contacted Oleander and asked faer to take their place traveling with their Caravan and using faer necromancy to keep them safe in faer stead.

The Caravan crossed paths with Oleander the day after Emi’s death in a small town doctor’s office, two weeks after Oleander’s death and resurrection on Brewer’s Day. The party welcomed Oleander to join them once she used her necromantic powers to channel Emi’s spirit and allow them some final farewells.

Oleander accompanied the party on their journey to Old Pashnew, hosting them for a time in Wren’s Run at her guardians’ home while en route. During this stay, Oleander’s connection to the Great Library of the Oprix Academy helped gain the Caravan official recognition as arcane procurers when they donated some Alfenheim artifacts. At Brightstar Abbey, Oleander saw faer twin brother Apollo for the first time in 17 years when he led the Inquisition soldiers responsible for the Abbey’s destruction.

In Shiverdelve, Oleander helped convince the party to trust faer old childhood friend, now called Fenris Amarak, and aid him in proving his enclave’s innocence for werewolf attacks in the area. During this time, Oleander and Sylvia Wildfire began a romance which ended mutually after the events of the riots. The two women have remained in frequent contact by letter since, agreeing to get to know each other more as friends— with the possibility of reigniting their romance another time.

In a “cut scene” at the end of the season, the audience and players saw Oleander’s mentor, Lady Katarina Steele, meet with Kovithian Inquistior Carnifex von Zeppenstein. In this meeting, after Lady Kat denied his forces access to her lands the Carnifex brought up an “arrangement” they could instead discuss about a “young Morgenstern”…

### Season 2: “The Domed City"

With Soren’s arrest bringing up traumatic memories of faer death at the hands of the last Watcher fae trusted, Oleander withdrew further from the party for a time. Oleander also revealed to Ezara that faer brother Apollo had been the one leading the soldiers who razed her home at Brightstar, causing faer to believe Ezara wanted to avoid faer. In time Oleander found that reconnecting with her childhood friend, and now surrogate sibling, Fenris, made her want to connect more with the others as well.

After the party was initially blamed for the destruction of New Dunlan, Oleander received a letter from the Oprix Academy scolding her for a lack of professionalism and threatening demotion. Oleander became very focused on improving the party’s reputation, making a point of taking the lead in most social situations moving forward, as well as tightly managing the party’s funds.

Oleander spent most of the group’s time in Briar in the Order of the Weave’s library doing research into the Covenant of Service she discovered was placed upon her soul for her resurrection. This research time was how she began to connect more with Constance, lending the paladin some of her own favorite books.

Oleander grew more and more uneasy about the party’s generally increasing reliance on the Watcher guild for information and aid. The issue came to a head when the party returned from the city of Hex to confront Soren in an assassination attempt on the Lord of Briar— especially once Isadore was found accompanying Soren. Soren ultimately revealed to Oleander and the rest of the party that he had been the one who ordered Isadore on the heist she died during— and that Soren also ordered Isadore to kill her while on it.

Oleander was given the choice by the party whether Soren could rejoin the Emerald Caravan or not, for what he did to her. Oleander decided to allow Soren to travel with them, out of respect for how much he meant to Ezara and Constance. When she confronted Isadore about what happened, they told her that they did truly have feelings for her… but that the Watchers mattered more. Oleander left Isadore with some scathing information about Soren’s lack of respect for him, and returned a Kovithian courtship bracelet Isadore had gifted her while they dated.

In an effort to try and give Oleander a peace offering of sorts, Soren surprised her at the Nature’s Nectar ball with the revelation that her father was still alive… Not only still alive, but never exiled at all. Oleander and the Caravan met with her father, who they learned was living in Brisa the entire time since the investigation under a new name— with a new wife and a new son. Oleander did not have time to get any answers from faer father before the Kovithian Inquisition showed up, requiring the party to flee in order to save both Oleander and Fenris.

Oleander’s father told her that she was “an important person to Kovith” and had to become “less important to them for awhile”.

Oleander is now struggling to understand why her father did what he’s done, while anxiously awaiting the arrival of The Devil Muertos to collect a bounty on her soul for her resurrection.

### Season 3: Flight of the Damselfly

Oleander was looking forward to returning to Wren's Run after the party decided to return to the city: receiving special missions from faer employers, the Oprix Academy was just the thing she wanted to distract her from recent events... Unfortunately, this respite was cut short when The Devil Muertosappeared to collect on the Covenant of Service against faer. Oleander was an easy mark for the fiendish bounty hunter, and would certainly have been dragged to Gehenna by the bone devil if not for Fenris offering his soul in place of Oleander's; taking Muertos' bullet for her just as he promised he would.

Things have only gotten harder for Oleander as the grief brought on by Fenris' loss has apparently left faer open to the machinations of Blackheart, who came to Oleander while fae was knocked unconscious by Fenris' jealous sister, Freya, upon learning of his sacrifice for faer. Blackheart informed Oleander that he has been the source of faer necromantic abilities, that fae can call upon him for aid since "unlike the [other gods], *we* will listen". Oleander has since then been hearing Blackheart speak to her in her mind, prodding at her insecurities, guilt, and hate…

## Relationships

### Constance

Oleander finds even her icy exterior is melted easily by Constance’s earnestness and cheer. Fae has connected with Constance over a shared love of books and reading, starting a “Book Club” by sharing faer favorite books. Constance in turn began giving Oleander sword lessons with Aphelion. Since  Fenris’s death, things have been tense between the two as Oleander blames herself for his loss, and is trying to give Constance due space. Oleander invited only Constance to faer attempt to summon Fenris’ Spector.

### Ezara

Oleander took a long time to connect with Ezara, primarily out of a sense of guilt for the actions of faer brother, Apollo. Once Ezara showed Oleander unwavering support and kindness in the wake of discovering Soren’s involvement with faer death, Oleander realized Ezara really did not hold Apollo’s actions against her. Though Oleander still bears that guilt and feels she owes Ezara a debt for Apollo’s actions, but she has begun to relax with Ezara recently. Ezara is the only party member besides Fenris to come and check on Oleander during her recent difficulties. As of Fenris’ funeral, Oleander thinks Ezara hates faer the least out of the rest of the Caravan.

### Fenris

Oleander and Fenris met when Oleander was five years old and woke up after fleeing Verdomme in the Baumer Haus orphanage, where he was raised. The two became friends as children, with a young Vercingetorix protecting an even younger Oleander from bullies. After she was taken out of the Empire about two years later, they didn’t see or hear from each other again until meeting at Fenris’ enclave. The two quickly reforged their bond, becoming surrogate siblings. Oleander allows only Fenris to assist her with her health issues, occasionally taking his arm for balance and support or letting him push her in her wheelchair. Fenris’ sacrifice of himself in her place for the Covenant of Service has left Oleander with extreme survivor’s guilt. Oleander has officially decreed Fenris to posthumously be a member of the Morgenstern family, and has dedicated herself to finding a way to return him to life.

### Soren

Soren and Oleander always had a rocky relationship: their similar personalities (arrogant, proud…) made them butt heads often. Oleander couldn’t place it at the time, but something about Soren reminded faer of the ex who killed her, Isadore. The revelation that Isadore and Soren were not only surrogate brothers who grew up in the Watchers together, but that Soren was the one who ordered Oleander’s death, shattered any progress on a friendship the two had begun before Soren’s exile to the Tunnels. After this discovery, Soren tried to do something kind for faer by reuniting Oleander with faer father— he had not expected the reunion to be hurtful to her as it turned out to be.

Since Fenris’ sacrifice for her, Oleander’s rage at Soren has deflated. She is still hurt he ordered her death, but is not currently blaming him for what has happened— the blame is fully internalized now. Said on stream in S3E02, “Oleander doesn’t hate Soren anymore— she just kind of nothing’s him.”

### Virwen

Oleander and Virwen began bonding quickly, connecting over their shared experiences of growing up in nobility, arcane training, and passion for academia. Virwen joined the group right when Oleander began facing life upheaval after life upheaval, and did her best to be supportive about events she didn’t quite understand— but Oleander appreciated the thought.

## Character Information

### Quests

Oleander has dedicated faer entire life to finding a way to redeem faer family name and titles in Kyir. She studied and worked and excelled remarkably at the Oprix Academy, both for her own joy and edification, and also knowing any powerful allies or notoriety could one day help her cause… She was drawn to working with the Watchers through Isadore originally because she recognized the potential for the organization’s aid some day. Unfortunately her experiences with the organization have since extinguished that notion.

Every choice and action Oleander makes is weighed in regards to if and how much it could aid her quest. Even remaining with the Caravan is a calculated choice as she weighed the potential benefits of heroic reputation, and gaining powerful allies and public support for faer name.

Since Fenris's death, she has dedicated herself to finding a way to return him to life. Her efforts to redeem the Morgenstern name are redoubled now as well, as she has named Fenris a member of the House and wants to ensure he returns to an honorable name.

### Notable Items

* Aphelion
* Aethershock Gauntlet
* Amulet of Entombment
* Corvan Cane
* Evernight Dress
* Parting Gift
* The Party Funds

### Abilities

Oleander’s battle skills rely on her powerful necromancy, supplemented by the remnants of wizardry she can still harness. She routinely summons undead such as crumbling skeletons, or even ghouls, to aid the party in combat. Many of her spells cause disturbing effects, such as making the targets appear to decay, or to give enemies flashes of their terrifying impending death. The party has even seen faer speak to a murder victim’s body to get answers of their death. Oleander has commented before that she sees spirit and undead activity daily as part of her everyday day, as well as her Clairvoyance constantly being “on”, showing her faint alternatives to the worlds around them.

Oleander is physically very frail and sickly, and has permanent mobility disabilities that can make some combats narratively a challenge for her. She strives to keep out of melee as much as possible, but sometimes when a party member— especially Fenris— is in danger and her spells are low, she has been known to angrily summon Aphelion and wade into battle with no armor and little vitality. Oleander holds severe grudges, and if an enemy she has had repeated run-ins with appears, she becomes more likely to make rash choices in battle.

#### Feats

* Dead Wizard (adventurer)
* Sorta Dead (adventurer)
* Wasting Away (adventurer)

#### Spell Damage

As a necromancer, nearly all of Oleander’s spells deal negative energy damage. Occasionally she casts a wizard spell that may have a different effect, magic missile (force damage) or utility spells such as Hold Monster or Disguise Self being faer go-tos.

#### Necromancer Abilities

* Ritual Casting
* Summoning Magic
* Wasting Away

#### Talents

* Dead Wizard
* Redeemer
* Sorta Dead

## Quotations

* “Do not withhold the same kindness you give others from yourself.” - said to Fenris

## Trivia

* Oleander is an ambulatory wheelchair user with ankylosing spondylitis, just like her actor Samwise. She wears corsets to support her back, which Sam wishes they could do too.
* Oleander’s necromancy makes her more ill and weak over time as its power grows: her struggle with her powers represent Samwise’s experiences and struggles with their Crohn’s disease
* Oleander is demi-aromantic and demi-asexual; Samwise is PanRomantic asexual and wanted to create more sex- and relationship-positive ace representation for themself
* Ever since Oleander was resurrected due to Kierbeth’s support, she has discovered that when she raises undead to fight for her their souls are freed of being trapped in the mortal plane to move on— this narratively reflects her **Redeemer** talent, and the fact that Kierbeth is the goddess of mercy and redemption.
* Oleander has taken formal etiquette classes and learned skills she felt befitting of a would-be duchess: she paints and draws, can play the harpsichord, can sew intricate needlepoint embroideries, and has taken formal ballroom dancing lessons.
* Oleander has an eidetic (“photographic”) memory; it’s been helpful to her academically as well as artistically
* Oleander is allergic to cats; this was meant as something of a joke since the character Sam played previously was a felpurr, or a catfolk.
* Oleander canonically dislikes and feels awkward around children. This is because she was raised more like a small adult than a child, and because she was often bullied and ostracized by other children growing up.
* Faer sketchbook serves as a journal and scrapbook of her entire life, as well as faer tether, helping faer to stay grounded in reality when faer Clairvoyance become overwhelming. Because she is always seeing her clairvoyant visions, she relies on her sketches and journal to help sort realities.
* Ida the service dog was bred and trained by Petra Ponyhosen.