Táriel Naïlo

Brother and Sister: Unkown

Mentor: Brei Starmark

Allies:

Vempalorin 'Arc' Arcateenian

Bendrick Firestone

Yhorm Jenkins

Ezmerelda d'Avenir

Táriel Naïlo is a high elf, born in a distant realm. She has a gentle but reserved manner, guarding herself whilst wanting to find a greater meaning to the world and life.

### **Description**

Around 5’10" she stands tall and lean, carrying herself with careful pride. She has deep green eyes, and her rich, dark brown hair is kept out of her face with varying plaits, embellished with beads and a single hippogriff feather – one from the group’s recent encounter. Her clothes are made from high-quality cotton in earthy colours, a simple choice for a high elf, but she leads with practicality in mind. Whilst her delicately pointed ears are notable, the thing that draws the most attention is the subtle scales that frame her face and body. More concentrated around the edges of her face, and exposed parts of her body such as her shoulders, they contour her appearance, enhancing her structured look. Tinged with a brass colour, they reveal the draconic nature of her heritage as a sorcerer.

Whilst her magical powers naturally come from within, she believes in a need for patience and control to carefully harness her abilities. Having studied religiously for most of her life, she values learning, proclaiming that knowledge is the way to behold true power. Balance is a core part of her belief, for without darkness there can be no light, and vice versa. She wears a silver chain necklace with three hoops in white gold, black onyx, and ruby red, signifying light, dark and neutral magic.

### **Skill and Abilities**

Skilled in spell casting and meta magic, her powers are resourceful but still limited to cantrips and a few spells. She is proficient in arcana, insight and perception, and the following weapons: longsword, shortsword, short bow, and longbow. As a result of her heritage and learning, she can read, write and speak in several languages: Common, Draconic, Dwarvish, Elvish, Goblin, and Halfling. Being a high elf means she has an advantage on being charmed, meditates for 4 hours during her long rests, and has dark vision of up to 60 feet.

### **Her Story So Far**

Tariel is well travelled, having studied across multiple magic colleges in her native realm. However, she has recently decided to explore other realms, knowing that knowledge requires practical experience beyond what she has already lived. Seeking answers to questions that burn within her, curiosity drives her forward.

Though she trusts those she has encountered, she is still keeping her cards close to her chest. Tariel is keen to aid the struggling town and protect innocent people, but the recent revelation of the slaughter of female elves has left her hesitant and on guard.

The recent events of the party have left Tariel stressed, to say the least. Conflicted, she is happy to have made connections with Fiona and Ezmerelda, but hesitant to trust anyone else. Women seem to be in danger in Barovia, and whilst she wants to help, she is worried for her safety. She is especially concerned for Arc, who is now imprisoned, nervous that his gentle nature is going to play to his disadvantage.

Now out of Vallaki, Tariel wants to feel relieved but it is starting to become obvious that nowhere is safe – especially not for her kind. Recent confrontations have left her feeling drained of her magic, like she is starting to meet its limits and she’s feeling exposed and vulnerable. She’s trying to maintain a sturdy facade, but she doesn’t know if the rest of the party is buying it. Her inner turmoil may soon bubble to the surface, and who’s to tell how it will boil over?

The last three days have left Tariel drained. She was relieved to be able to take a long rest finally. It felt good to have Ilya healed and alive, it was beginning to feel like all their suffering was worth it. But the abbot made a targeted attack against her, because of who she is. The price of his life was to be her face. Her actual face. And that wasn’t even the most unnerving thing that happened that day. Strahd arrived and killed the Abbot. Tariel made sure to leave before he could hurt her, but he left without injuring anyone. This was puzzling.

Grateful for the link Anna gave to her, Tariel is focused on getting Vasilka safe with the Martikovs, and finding Ezmerelda alive.

### **Opinions of Party Members**

#### **Arc:**

Tariel trusts Arc, warming to his gentle aura and to a degree, admires his naive nature. Though this also makes her feel slightly protective of him, not wanting to overstep but still hesitating with a cautious worry.

#### **Bendrick:**

She feels a great respect for Bendrick, admiring his dedication to his religion. She also holds a lot of gratitude for his healing abilities and generosity to help. Although he comes across as very reserved, and whilst she understands that it makes her hesitant to fully trust him.

#### **Yhorm:**

Having known Yhorm for a little while longer Tariel has grown to expect his brashness, yet it still makes her wince. She feels confident to call him out but respects his way of living life. She values his strength and loyalty, understanding that it comes hand in hand with his blunt nature.

### **Opinions of Barovian Residents**

#### **Ezmerelda:**

Tariel holds a great deal of respect for Ezmerelda, admiring her confidence and relating to her quest to find her mentor. She is keen to see the two reunited. Tariel wants to trust her but is still afraid to let her guard down.

She grows worried for her every day they don’t find her and is eager to go looking for her soon. She has proved her loyalty and bravery, and Tariel doesn’t want her to be forgotten. She is a valuable asset to the group, and could become a great friend.

#### **Anna:**

Having warmed to Ezmerelda, Tariel is wary of the mistrust that exists between her and Anna. She tried not to let it cloud her judgement, but it has made her slow to trust Anna. So far Anna has come across as brisk and cold to Tariel, but she still respects her determination to protect her son, and understands that living in Krezk requires a great deal of resilience.

#### **Dmitri:**

Tariel feels sorrow for Dmitri, having to rule in such a dire place with an ill son. She recognises the strength he must have to continue living and leading. Despite this, she feels reluctant to warm up to him. She can’t understand why he’d give up fighting when children’s souls are at risk and feels anger at the patronising way he spoke to her, as though she was a child, as though she hadn’t witnessed a century of misfortune.

#### **Rahadin:**

Tariel has a great fear of Rahadin. She frequently switches between feeling terror and hatred towards him, wanting to both cower away and confront him. The memory of his knife against her throat has been creeping into her nightly meditations, though she refuses to let anyone see the way he’s affected her. Despite this, she’s become more reserved since their encounter.

#### **The Abbot:**

Tariel has no kind feelings towards The Abbot. She believes his work to be an abomination, and is worried for **Vasilka**. She is relieved that he is now dead, feeling no sorrow for him. After his attempts to steal her face, she is firm in her belief that he was deranged, a truly unique breed of evil.

#### **Baron Vargas Vallakovich:**

Vargas is deranged, and Tariel has no time for it, but she fears him greatly. He doesn’t seem predictable. Given the nature of Lydia and the story of Fiona’s daughter, Tariel fears his treatment of women and what that means for her presence. She is keen to leave the town.

#### **Fiona Wachter**

Fiona is a figure that Tairel admires, she stands strong and is firm in her beliefs. Tariel wants to do right by her, but is worried that their failed attempts of fulfilling her requests will negatively affect their alliance.

#### **Vasilka:**

Tariel cares for Vasilka, wanting her to lead a happy life after the control she has been under. She wants to return her to safety and is determined to convince the Martikovs to keep her alive.

#### **Count Strahd von Zarovich:**

Strahd evokes a unique fear Tariel has never experienced before. She had no desire to remain in the same room as him longer than needed, and his motives puzzle her. She wishes to never see him again, but also wants to be responsible for his downfall.