Karesa Melrose

Karesa is an Apprentice of the Wayrest Chapter of the Mages Guild, who works at the White Poppy  tearoom in Wind Keep to support her studies and adventures.

## Appearance

Karesa carries herself with a graceful, poised posture, yet appears timid; her hands typically clasped together to fidget with one another, and gaze downturned. She has a slender and unmuscular figure, clad in humble clothes that belie her noble upbringing – on occasion, she’s seen wearing more formal gowns, however.

Her skin is a warm tan in colour with an even complexion, only marred by a handful of old scars that are well-hidden beneath clothing. Her face is beginning to show signs of age, with faint wrinkles on her forehead and laugh lines, but her cheeks and lips still possess a rosy vigour. She’s very rarely seen without kohl lining her eyes.

There seems to be some conflict between her sense of style and newfound practicality – her wavy, golden hair, as unmanageably long as it is, is now usually held in a bun, her shorter fringe and a few loose strands left to frame her face. Her nails, too, are a touch too long for her present line of work, and often-times end up broken or with dough stuck beneath them. However, she does benefit from one perk of her job; the scents of the tearoom linger around her, so she often smells pleasantly of vanilla, cinnamon, mint, or whatever she’s been working with that day!

## History

Karesa was born the only daughter and youngest child to a minor noble household. Lord Melrose and those before him are known for their mercantile and magical pursuits, although the family has only in recent generations ascended to the ranks of nobility.

Growing up, Karesa received a thorough education, tutored by the finest instructors the Melrose household could afford (far from *the* finest). Her elder brother, the heir, was married off when she was in her teens, and shortly after she found that she was expected to follow suit. Her parents’ almost distasteful pushiness about her eligibility, combined with her deliberate aloofness (among other unappealing acts) put off suitors for many a year, until she elected to leave her family home for Wayrest in 2E 582.

Perhaps one may have heard of her exploits in the years following her arrival in the city, having involved herself in the odd adventure; journeys alongside Jhalnu the Ruby-Eyed being particularly of note. During this time, she displayed some degree of competence with both the Destruction and Restoration schools, notably serving as a healer during the Withering of Bergama.

However, during an extended stay with her family, her engagement was being hastily planned – only to be just as hastily called off, following her disgraceful outburst. The rumoured details are quite fuzzy, but it is obvious that what was done caused great upset to the suitor and his family, as well as her own. Following this, Karesa was cast out by her own parents (who generously “gifted” her with some possessions) and took to working in the newly-opened White Poppy Tearoom.

The Poppy became a welcome respite for her, letting her lay low and have a taste of a simpler life. Yet soon enough, encouragement (or perhaps, in her opinion, better known as pressure) and guilt led to her joining the Wayrest Chapter of the Mages Guild. She now spends her free time studying and practising there, hoping to both make up for a certain mistake and do better in the future.