Gertrude Deschner

* Lvl.2
* Lvl.1

* Lvl 2
* Lvl 3
* Lvl 4
* Lvl 5

Gertrude is a Half-Elf monk and a member of the Sanctuary of Prospects.

## **Description**

#### **Appearance**

Gertrude is a twenty three year old Half-Elf. She has a nimble, athletic build being able to swiftly move in battle while still being strong enough to do damage.

Her forest green hair is cropped on top, with the sides of her head being shaved. Her eyes are a similar shade of green, above them is a small scar through her right eyebrow that she got from the fight she was in and lost the night she met and saved Alysane. When she was taken away to the Sanctuary they told her they would not heal it and would leave it to heal itself, subsequently leaving her with the scar.

Her clothes consist of a waist length tunic with a wide collar and a hooded black cloak over the top. She carries her quarter-staff in a tan leather holster which is strapped from her shoulder to her hip. On her feet she wears brown leather boots to aid with her movement.

#### **Personality**

At a glance, Gertrude has an intense look in her eyes, almost like she's heavily focused on something that others cant see, but as soon as people start talking to her it disappears and her eyes become softened and joyful, as her personality is light-hearted and easy going, often cracking jokes and making fun of situations. Despite this she also has a kind but serious side, willing to help others in need - most notably Alysane Aleron - and is willing to help others, especially in an unfair fight, often having got herself into trouble as a result.

She has a few colourful habits, enjoying going to taverns to drink and laugh with strangers. She comes across as rough but can be well mannered to the people she likes or when the occasion arises, thanks to her upbringing.

## **Biography**

#### **Early Life**

Gertrude grew up in a fairly roomy and partially secluded hut on the outskirts of Osyn Anore with her family. Due Gertrude being a half elf her mother, Titha Deschner, chose this area as it was out of the way of prying eyes. Though this land is known for their prejudices toward half-breeds Titha loved her greatly and did as much as she could to prevent her identity being found out. Titha would regularly dye Gertrude's hair to match her own, an auburn colour, additionally she kept Gertrude's hair at a long length for as long as she could remember. To be extra safe, Titha would cast a disguise on Gertrude whenever she left the house, to make doubly sure she wouldn't be found, because if she was she would either be exiled or executed, regardless of her age.

[REDACTED BACKSTORY]

#### **Pre -Campaign**

*(How Gertie got the message)* At the start of the campaign, Gertie had not long left the sanctuary under the pretence of learning more in combat and to start earning her own way, with hopes of one day affording her own home within The Heartlands or Yizuna, only after she'd found those people from her past and made them pay in some way. She was in the streets of Hallensur when the sending stones were dropped from the sky and figured there may be no better way to start than this.

## Campaign

#### Episode 1:

Once Gertie had heard the message she headed for the palace to try her luck at being selected. The city centre was packed with many from across all the lands and much to her surprise she was ushered in along with approximately 20 others, and a pretty shady looking man in a hooded cloak. (This being Bog). Once she'd made it to the room she heard a familiar cry, this cry coming from a 6foot tall Asimar she'd previously encountered a number of years ago. Alysane One she'd left without so much as a goodbye. Gertie was unsure what to do, the woman had hardly changed or aged in the 4 years since she last saw her, whereas Gertie at the time of their meeting was looking a bit worse for ware. Gertie decided to avoid eye contact out of fear she would be recognised and chastised for leaving her that night, although it seemed Alysane had other worries on her mind.

One of the guards entered the room and sifted through the 'candidates' in the room, grabbing Gertie and 4 others, Alysane being one of them, along with the man with the hood Gertie noticed as she was being shoved in to the room. Another tall figure will a long coat, a well dressed gentleman with a monocle that she had overhead introduce himself as Jethro and a rather shifty looking woman, also wearing a hooded cloak around the same height (if not slightly taller) and possibly even age as Gertie. She'd also overheard this woman introduce herself as Marina.

The group were lead through a corridor through the castle towards the back, as they were approaching Gertie tried to look ahead of the others to see what they were being lead to. There, stood Tristan Olsen, the leader of the humans in Illastria. Regnar Shortsboar the leader of the Dwarves and someone Gertie had only heard about, Hallas Omator son to the leader of the Elves. Behind them was the now King of Hallensur, King Anthar.

King Anthar re-iterated the message of the sending stones, the Queen is now dead and the accords are missing. They were brought in to conduct an investigation of the premises. Upon entering the room with the Royals Gertie felt a sharp stare coming her way. She noticed Hallas staring at her as she made her way through, unsure of why but assuming this was due to her Half-Elf nature she avoided any further eye contact with the man. Marina, however, had other ideas and went to make friendly with the young man. The group got to quick work and managed to get a list of people who last saw the queen alive. They first took up looking within the vault room to find out how the accords had been taken. Gertie noticed the plinth that had once held the accords was now broken on the floor, having previously stood at approximately 2m big, now broken.

The group then moved to questioning those that were available and awake in the Infirmary. One of the guards had revealed that he'd managed to grab a part of one of the assailants cloaks, which Gertie took for safe keeping. Then moving on to the morgue to investigate the queens body. An arrow was still lodged in her chest however it was broken off, as though it had been snapped. She noticed Bog was having trouble identifying the materials used for this arrow and offered a hand, to which Bog gave her the arrow in a some what disgruntled manner. The arrow looked like nothing special, almost like a twig, a makeshift arrow. Nothing compared to that which is used by the guards of the palace and city. Within the queens room they found the room a mess. Once left alone they got to investigating, Gertie noticed a trial of partially dried blood leading from the en-suite bathroom/privy and followed it. It was here they discovered more of the substance, and as Gertie suspected, the Queen was not killed where she was found (within her bed). It was at this point Gertie started hypothesising what might've happened. She looked to the group to which Jethro told her "I like the enthusiasm but lets not get any crazy ideas until we've looked at everything". Marina found a dagger which she took, and Jethro found a will the Queen.

When it came to questioning Jethro took the lead in interrogating them but Gertie stood close by to try and pick up on any tricks or tips on how he conducts himself, to see if she might be able to learn anything and use it herself in future. The guards revealed that they would have died had it not been for their cleric but at the cost of one of the guards, Rickard, losing an arm. They also revealed information about the assailants and said they saw 6 figures. Additionally, they said they advised the group that the royals of Illastria are untrustworthy, and specifically Hallas had been acting particularly shifty since he arrived. - When questioning the servants Gertie tried to take more of a lead as she felt a softer approach might be more beneficial. Two of the three servants were present and revealed that King Anthar only had access to the Queens room if he was summoned by her specifically. Gertie and Marina stayed behind whilst the other three went to question the remaining servant and Cleric, to which they revealed about an out of place stone in the West Wing. Gertie thanked them both for their time and she and Marina left to catch up with the others. Jethro and Marina started getting rather pushy in their attempt at questioning this young woman but Gertie made her way in to the infirmary where they all there to put herself between the party and the guards as to not interfere. It was revealed that this servant/Cleric, Abigail, directly saw some of the assailants enter the queens room after having attacked the two guards stationed outside. She revived and healed those two and by the time she got to the Queen it was too late. Gertie and Marina then go to the West Wing to investigate the loose stone, turns out it was just a loose stone and Marina pocketed it.

They questioned the King one last time and he thanked them for their thorough investigation and offered them 500Gold each for finding the Queens murderer and a further 1000Gold each for finding The Accords and also a manor house within the port town in the Heartlands that had recently been developed. It was decided that their next port of call would be Opportan to investigate the rumours about Necromancers, but only after a night sleep within the guest rooms of the palace.