Daelain

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## General Character Traits

* Race: Forest Gnome
* Class: Barbarian / Druid
* Subclass: Totem / Moon
* Full Name: Daelain

## Backstory

Daelain was born a half-dragonborn within the Drakhari Empire on the far eastern continent of Ulthemar. For being different, she always had a difficult life among the dragonborn. She grew up with her dragonborn father, and never knew her mother or the circumstance of her birth - only the hardship that came from the racist Empire. Due to this she always gravitated to those that were different, and at one point in her early adulthood fell in love with a high elf. The high elves were uncommon in Ulthemar, but as they worked in advisory roles to the Empire they were often privileged.

Daelain's on again, off again relationship drove her to fierce competition, but also great opportunity alongside this high elf. She worked her way up the ranks in the Empire, but was ultimately betrayed by her ex-lover. He deceived her and made her unknowingly commit a crime against the Empire that came with a terrible price. She was stripped of her rank, and her ex was given the sought after assignment across the seas she had worked so long and hard for. After almost a year later rotting in a prison cell she was given an opportunity as the Empire prepared a massive invasion force.

## Campaign Hook

With her knowledge of the people and customs from Valdemar that came from years of study and interrogation of sailors, she was offered the chance to join the invasion armada and work to pay off her debt to the Empire. Without a real choice she accepted and found herself sailing across the Sea of Storms - once again the source of ridicule among her 'kind'. However, shortly after making landfall and seeing two cities slaughtered by the Empire's brutality, Daelain decided she had seen enough.

She paid her way to be smuggled out of the city of Ironbay and joined a haphazard caravan south to the last open and free city in the province, Black Landing. However, shortly after arriving she was arrested by the Red Sun guard, as supposedly she was betrayed by someone in the caravan as an imperial spy. Half dragonborn were exceedingly rare in Valdemar, and once again her heritage was enough for her to suffer persecution.

## A Change of Heart and Body

Again, not even after a year, Daelain found herself in a dark prison. As she was a spellcaster, she was sequestered away with other spell users until one day a wizard came and offered them all the chance to work for the Red Sun to earn their freedom. Laughing at the repeated turn of events, she humbly accepted to work for her former supposed enemies. Daelain could see how the people of the province were mostly innocent, being invaded by the massive forces of the brutal Empire, and set to redeem herself. If possible, to get revenge upon the high elves - and her ex-lover most of all - whom she knew had traveled with the invasion force.

Unfortunately, about a month later at the Battle of Grainvic, Daelain perished at the hands of the enemy's commander. She awoke in the beautiful wilderness of the Beastlands, and from her perspective spent what felt like years in this natural afterlife. Daelain met many spirits and came to terms with her life and ultimately learned of her heritage. Her mother was not a high elf as she was told, but a forest gnome, and she was in the afterlife that both her mother and her were meant for.

Then she met an embodiment of the realm's God, Nepthys, who told her mortals were attempting to return her to life. After hesitating not wanting to return to that life, Nepthys said she would make an exception for Daelain, and allow her to return to the mortal realm as who she truly was. When Daelain opened her eyes, she saw her compatriots once again after what felt like three years, and the shock in their faces as she realized she was now in a body like her mothers.