Alma

Fan art of Alma, by Taylor Weltzer.

**Alma** is a halfling midwife and member of the Air Ashari in Zephrah. As an NPC, Alma is played by Matthew Mercer.

## **Description**

### **Appearance**

Alma is a halfling woman in her sixties, with slightly hunched shoulders and strong legs. She has long reddish brown curly hair with streaks of white, and pale blue eyes. She and Orym look alike, especially when they smile. When Bells Hells encountered her, she was barefoot and wearing a flowing white and green dress.

### **Personality**

Alma is a sweet and good-natured woman, and a very proud mother.

## **Biography**

At some point in her life Alma became one of the few midwives of Zephrah, a position that made her very valued in her community. Between 806 and 807 PD she was involved with another halfling, surnamed Tarrintel, and she became pregnant, but by the time she gave birth the man had left town and had no contact with his son.

She raised her son by herself, and she taught him about wood carving; they, however, weren't completely alone, being in close contact with another local family of half-elves: the father, Derrig, was a bodyguard for The Voice of the Tempest, and trained Orym, teaching him "to write on the air"; the mother, Nel, as well as one of her triplet daughters, Maeve, were herbalists and taught the halfling some basic magical healing. Orym was particularly close to their son, Will, and since they were very athletic and well trained, they joined the Tempest Blades. Eventually they fell in love and got married, and Will became Alma's son-in-law.

Circa 837 PD, Orym lost several fellow Ashari in an attack, including his husband and beloved father-in-law. With Keyleth's encouragement, he eventually left Zephrah to travel and escape his memories, less than a year after the attack, and wanting to find the ones that had made him a widow. Alma was not left completely alone, since Will's family was still close to her, and Leeta specifically visited her from time to time. At some point in 843 PD she met Fearne Calloway and Dorian Storm.

During the apogee solstice, Bells Hells *Teleported* to Zephrah and visited Alma. She was very happy to see Orym and his friends, baking for them and sharing memories of her son's childhood (discovering in the process that some of his toys had been, in fact, made by Chetney Pock O'Pea). Although they couldn't stay for long she gave them food for their next journey, and a place to stay whenever they returned. She was also very happy when Chetney gave her a parting gift, a small wooden statue of Orym. The midwife immediately looked for a special place to display it. She gave Fresh Cut Grass the recipe for her carrot bran muffins, so they could bake them for their friends.

After their return, Bells Hells spent one last night in Zephrah, and after drinking and celebrating their most recent success helping Keyleth recover from her wounds, they went to Alma's home. She joined them for a bit, matching their festive mood and offering them muffins.

Days later, while Bells Hells were doing a mission in the Shattered Teeth Keyleth was with Alma, who asked her to greet her son for her, and the archdruid did so when they met in Whitestone Castle, ruffling her Savior Blade's hair.

## **Relationships**

### **Orym**

Alma is very proud of her son and loves him very much. She also worries about him, and would prefer if he didn't act like a hero in dangerous situations. Orym considers her a very good mother.

## **Character information**

### **Notable objects**

* A small wooden statue representing her son, carved by Chetney Pock O'Pea

### **Abilities**

As a midwife, Alma has medical knowledge and is aware of traditional Ashari techniques to deliver babies. She is also a talented baker and knows about wood carving.

## **Appearances and mentions**

* Exandria Unlimited Prime
	+ "A Glorious Return" (E1x03), mentioned only (first mentioned) (unnamed)
* Campaign Three
	+ "Make It Fashion" (3x12), mentioned only (unnamed)
	+ "Breaking Point" (3x31), mentioned only (unnamed)
	+ "Somewhere Out There" (3x59), mentioned only (unnamed)
	+ "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62), mentioned only (unnamed)
	+ "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) (first appearance)
	+ "Nice" (3x69)
	+ "A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76), mentioned only

## **Quotations**

* *(to Orym)* "Just don't be a hero if you don't need to be."

## **Trivia**

* Her name means "soul" in Spanish, and "apple" in Hungarian and Turkish.
* Liam O'Brien compared her with a halfling Cherry Jones.
* When Prism noticed Orym's connection to nature he commented that his own mother had some affinity with it, suggesting that Alma has some notions of druidic magic like many other Ashari.
	+ Another explanation (although it is not confirmed) would be that his mother is a descendant of the halflings of the Lotusden Greenwood, known for their nature-based magic. That subrace was believed to be Orym's for a while before he was confirmed to be a stout halfling.
* She knows how to bake carrot bran muffins, and although they are delicious, she recommends to eat them with honey, fruit or something to drink, since they are dry.
* Her home is a halfling-sized cottagecore in the side of a cliff, with many pots with flowers and a sign with a painting of a swaddled baby.

## **References**

1. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:26:35.  She's a halfling, so she might look younger than she is.
2. ↑ See "Somewhere Out There" (3x59) at 1:02:25.
3. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:26:35.
4. ↑ See "The Gift Among the Green" (E1x06) at 1:22:02.
5. ↑ See "Make It Fashion" (3x12) at 3:41:00.
6. ↑ See "A Taste of Tal'Dorei" (3x25) at 4:19:15.
7. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: Wrong Distance Relationships" (4SDx13) at 0:51:56.
8. ↑ See "The Hellcatch Valley" (3x24) at 3:25:56.
9. ↑ See "Trial by Firelight" (3x02) at 1:36:54.
10. ↑  Bells Hells Playlist: Orym on CritRole.com . "West Coast - *Imagine Dragons*: Will asked, and Orym said yes."
11. ↑ See "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06) at 3:14:08.
12. ↑ See "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06) at 3:12:51.
13. ↑ See "Heart-to-Heartmoor" (3x17) at 3:42:24.
14. ↑ See "Pyrrhic Return" (3x35) at 2:51:33.  Orym explains that Will and Derrig both died in the attack on Keyleth in Zephrah.
15. ↑ See "The Momentum of Murder" (3x39) at 1:42:04.
16. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:34:10.
17. ↑ See "The Draw of Destiny" (3x01) at 1:12:25.  The three members of the Crown Keepers visited Zephrah.
18. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:27:56.
19. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:41:12.
20. ↑ See "Nice" (3x69) at 2:23:56.
21. ↑ See "A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76) at 2:32:46.
22. ↑ See "Breaking Point" (3x31) at 1:57:05.
23. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:42:05.
24. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:35:09.
25. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:32:33.
26. ↑ See "Make It Fashion" (3x12) at 3:41:00.
27. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:37:18.
28. ↑ See "*4-Sided Dive*: Night of the Living Bits" (4SDx17) at 0:20:04.
29. ↑ See "A Long Walk of Reflection" (3x62) at 1:36:05.
30. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:41:45.
31. ↑ See "Aid of the Tempest" (3x66) at 1:25:32.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Alma, by Taylor Weltzer (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Alma hugging her son (and the artist's reaction), by Jenny Dolfen (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of Alma and her son, by Taylor Weltzer (source). Used with permission.