Vidalia Marigold

Art by Burdrehnar

## Stats

**Vidalia Marigold** is a member of the *March on Faewunder* party. A well-to-do gentlewoman of proper upbringing, Vidalia's genteel mannerisms mask her true nature as a bloodthirsty dhampir. Though she may seem vulnerable and out of place as a voyager, her deadly talent as a marksman and flock of loyal avian companions prove that she is no fragile damsel. She is played by Kelli Siren.

## Description

### Appearance

Vidalia is a tall slender woman with very pale grey skin, a product of her vampiric nature. She has voluminous dark brown hair that she keeps in a series of long ringlets tied in a peach-colored bow, accentuated with a single golden yellow highlight and marigolds. Her half-elf heritage can be seen in her thin pointed ears and delicate heart-shaped face. She wears blush upon her cheeks and a rich red lipstick.

Vidalia is always elegantly dressed regardless of the occasion. She wears an elaborate peach colored ball gown dress with a series of frills, and a white partition along the middle. She also wears a set of white sleeves with black buttons and a green belt across her slim waist. Complementing this ensemble is a large white wide-brimmed hat with a green ribbon around the crown, upon which several flowers and ornaments sit.

Finally, Vidalia is never seen without her signature parasol which is a bright light yellow with patterns resembling flowers. The parasol also doubles as Vidalia's firearm, which is evident in the abnormal length of the shaft and the various mechanisms upon it.

### Personality

Vidalia acts in a mature and unflappable manner that emphasizes cordiality and politeness. She never raises her voice unnecessarily and does not express frustration or anger in trying circumstances. She is, however, casually coquettish when engaging with others, freely complimenting others and giving them suggestive nicknames.

In spite of this Vidalia shows impressive intuition into the feelings of others. She will regularly encourage her friends and offer an ear to their problems, helping guide them through whatever may be upsetting them. She believes that everyone should embrace themselves for who they are, something she insists upon when encouraging the insecure Gloria or helping Ribeye during his moments of existential doubt.

Despite her proper manner, Vidalia also tends to disregard certain social norms. She tends to invade people's personal boundaries without much thought, getting very close to Gloria on their first meeting. She is also very casual and honest about her nature as a vampire, which can lead to her making others uncomfortable by abruptly announcing how delicious they are.

## History

### Background

Vidalia Marigold was born some 200 years after the Shattering of Io. She possess elven heritage, as evidenced by her pointed ears and slender frame, though where that comes from is currently unknown. Not much else is currently known about where she was born or what her early life was like. It is clear that she was born into a wealthy family, and her upbringing was catered towards rearing a proper gentlewoman of good manner and reputation.

### Becoming Undead

At some point in her adult life, Vidalia became the target of a vampire. The exact circumstances behind their interactions are currently unclear, but the end result is more that obvious: Vidalia was embraced and transformed into a dhampir. Vidalia's new sire, for whatever reason, then left her to fend for herself. Vidalia soon came to terms with her new existence, especially her now omnipresent hunger for mortal blood. Rather than hide away from the world as some vampires would, she chose to remain within society, using a large parasol to protect herself from the sun. However, Vidalia was still left with a desire to met her sire again and eventually set out to find him.

### The Elegant Wanderer

For the next 300 years or so, Vidalia would travel across the different Arks of Io, searching for any clues that could lead her to her sire. She was unsuccessful in her search but did not give up her efforts. During her travels, Vidalia became skilled in the ways of the rangers of old, being able to navigate the wilds with ease. She also took up marksmanship, having her parasol modified into a deadly hybrid of rifle and crossbow. Her skill with the rifle would soon be matched by her skill with falconry, through which she learned how to summon and command hawks to assist her in battle. She also made the acquaintance of a large red-tailed hawk, which she gave the name Onion. Onion then became her constant companion for the following years. Vidalia would eventually make her way to Northern Ishtar to continue her search.

## Mechanics

### Powers and Abilities

#### Ranger Abilities

* *Favored Enemy* (Fey)
* *Natural Explorer* (Forests)
* *Fighting Style*: (Archery)
* *Primeval Awareness*
* *Extra Attack*
* Swarmkeeper Abilities
	+ *Gathered Swarm*
	+ *Swarmkeeper Magic*

#### Spell List

##### 1st Level

* *Absorb Elements*
* *Faerie Fire*
* *Hunter's Mark*
* *Silvery Barbs*

### Notable Items

* *Bloodrain* (Crossbow)
	+ Properties: Bloodthirst

## Etymology

"Vidalia" comes from vidalia onions, a variety of sweet onions that are cultivated exclusively in parts of the US state of Georgia. The name comes from the town they were historically grown in.

Marigolds are the common name of flowers belonging to the *Calendula* genus of the daisy family *Asteraceae*. The name marigold is supposedly refers to the Virgin Mary from Christianity, as the flowers bore the nickname "Mary's Gold". The flowers have seen use in rituals and ceremonies by several groups throughout history, including the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Hindus and the Aztecs.

## Trivia

* Vidalia's character and appearance is inspired by the classic image of the "Southern Belle", an archetype of debutante from the Antebellum South of the United States of America.