Mayah Lavaux

"I was born a witch and I will die that way. I'll say my good-byes and then I'll move on."

## Physical Description

### Eye Color

Brown

Hailing from Darkwall, Mayah is an aspiring witch of potential, seeking to honor her ancestors while empowering the Lavaux bloodline. Born with a gift for magic, Mayah has decided to take a more adventurous approach to life than her family, leaving the confines of their community's safety to get greater power, wealth, and influence in the world at large. Working alongside her brothers, Mayah seeks to help the community of Saint Marie, witch and mortal alike, grow and prosper. In the wake of tragedies, first from the horrors of Darkwall, then the Widow, much time has been spent grieving, burying, and rebuilding the fractured community. But in their success and the wake of their growth, Mayah hopes to help them achieve the next time in security, happiness, and safety.

Theme Song

## History

Mayah was born to a family within the Kingdom of Darkwall. From an early age, she was used to the underworld politics of crime, undead, and other darker forces of the world. Secluded away from the horrors of the world, Mayah's family grew up in a community of witches who did their best to honor the land and adhere to the natural cycle. In a place so corrupted and tainted with profane energies, this was an incredibly difficult process, but the Lavaux family found that by consecrating the bodies of their ancestors within sacred graveyards, the power of their ancestors could help, albeit weakly, suffuse the land with hallowed energies to keep the darkness at bay.

Yet even still, it was not enough, and so when the New World was founded, Mayah and many of her community left the Darkwall for a better future. They found themselves initially drawn to Ithaca, but it wasn't until the establishment of the kingdom of Vinland that they found a true home. Drawn to the location of Saint Marie in particular, Mayah and her community have gone through the arduous task of removing their ancestors from Darkwall to be established in the new town.

Given it's waterfront location, Saint Marie has resulted in the graveyards being turned into mausoleums, as many of the buildings have a focus on building up instead of down, with wooden planks and decks acting as 'roads'. Many of the bridges are above the first story, leaving much of the actual 'roads' to be river canals that can be sailed through with small canoes and rowboats. A welcome change for Mayah, she now lives in one of the many waterfront homes, her mother having since been consecrated and buried at Saint Marie, in the Lavaux cemetery, named after her family's lineage.

While Mayah is rather young in comparison to the heroes of great renown, she has shown a promising gift for the magic of her lineage, and the aspiring witch now seeks to go out into the world and prove herself among the Adventurer's Guild, learning more about the world and the people within it.

## Appearance

Mayah is 5'6 in height, with a slim build and only weighing 120lbs. Her hair is roughly down to her chest, and is often styled to be on one side. She wears a few pieces of jewelry, earrings and a necklace in specific made of copper and bronze. Her hair is a brown color with underlying tones and hues depending on the light, and her eyes are hazel, with flecks of blue and green amidst the pools of brown. Overall she is quite beautiful, and youthful in her image. With a lack of scars and blemishes, she has a comely face and a welcoming smile.

In terms of attire, Mayah tends to stick to simple dresses and garments that flatter her shape. Floral patterns and other nature-themed clothing are often the staples of her garment choice, comprised of silk, satin, and sometimes cotton fabrics. In addition to these dresses, she often wears small boots that come up to her ankle, with a few inch heels that are treated to ensure they can survive the harsh climates of adventuring.

Mayah's overall appearance looks relatively simple and unassuming, which she enjoys, as much of her wealth is invested into either magical objects of power, or the communities that she is passionate about building. She dresses in a manner to reflect her connection to the land, nature, and the ancestors, forsaking materialistic goods for a more quiet luxurious apparel.

## Personality

Mayah's personality is often described as extroverted with a tinge of coldness. While not intentional, Mayah struggles to often be as outwardly kind as she desires to be, leaving many to feel that there might be a tinge of aggression or callousness in her behavior. Her highly neurotic behavior coupled with her low levels of sympathy can at times leave individuals talking to Mayah as if she holds disdain or contempt for them. Unfortunate for Mayah, this is far from the truth, as she has a very strong desire to connect with and know others, yet she is slow to trust and slow to emotionally connect with others.

Despite these conflicting personalities, Mayah generally tries to be friendly and open to meeting other people, and often goes out of her way to make new friends and connect in new spaces. She especially seems to brighten and light up when discussing topics of interest to her, notably those of culture, history, faith, or the weather, ironically enough. She also has an enjoyment when discussing magic and philosophies, and greatly enjoys theoretical debates and exercises of thought on ethics and morality, much to the chagrin of some.

Order and organization are of paramount importance to Mayah. She believes in a strong, well-ordered government, whether that government is a tyranny or benevolent democracy, though she would prefer tyranny not be empowered if it can be avoided. The benefits of organization and regimentation outweigh any moral questions raised by the actions of what is perceived as good or evil. An inquisitor determined to ferret out traitors at any cost or a soldier who never questions his orders are good examples of lawful neutral behavior. For Mayah, this is the general code of most who follow Pharasma, but also a personal code sworn to uphold and maintain the balance of the natural cycle. Her devotion to her ancestors and her community are second to none, and her loyalties to those who help her achieve her goals is strong and consistent, regardless of the paths they may follow.

## Powers and Abilities

**Enhancement**: Able to tap into the ancestral knowledge and gifts of the past, Mayah can empower her own skills to mingle with this prior, allowing her to reach feats of strength and skill that she could not have otherwise previously done.

**Telekinesis**: Mayah's connection to the telekinetic powers of the world allow her to do incredible feats of manipulation, movement, and even strike foes with powerful force.

**Protection**: In addition to the offensive abilities, Mayah is able to weave telekinetic fields of force to protect herself.

### Equipment

**Sleeves of Many Garments:** Needing an outfit in a pinch, Mayah has sleeves of magical properties that allow her to magically change her wardrobe to whatever suits the occasion. Be it a set of formal clothing for a party, casual attire for a hangout, or even clothes fit for the cold and heat, she's never without an extra set of garments.

## Family

* **Delilah Lavaux (Mother - Deceased) -** The mother of the family, Delilah passed in one of the many countless Widow attacks that ravaged the world. She is currently consecrated and buried within the Lavaux Cemetery located in Saint Marie.
* **Edward Lavaux (Father - Alive) -** The father of the family, Edward currently holds the title of patriarch for the Lavaux coven, given he is the oldest living relative of the family, with the passing of their mother. Widowed and retired, Edward makes a living as a shopkeeper in Saint Marie, selling a variety of herbal and medicinal remedies for the citizens and townsfolk.
* **Elliot Lavaux (Brother - Alive) -** The eldest of the Lavaux children, Elliot's pursuit of witchcraft has found him drawn to the more natural world, communing with spirits not only of the family but also nature and the lands around Saint Marie. Much of his time is spent interpreting their will and aiding the localized farmers in the growth and cultivation of their lands.
* **Elijah Lavaux (Brother - Alive) -** The second eldest brother, Elijah is devoted fully to the Lady of Graves, serving as a clergy within a church dedicated to her faith alongside others of the community. His work is largely as that of a priest, dedicated to funeral rites, sermons, and blessings to the people of Saint Marie.

## Friends and Associations

**Alterak:** An associate of Red Flame, Mayah travelled with Alterak alongside other companions during the New Year celebration for the 11th Year.

**Angelos:** Another companion that she had adventured with, Mayah appreciates their dedication to helping others and being a rather good spirit where they can be. In specific, she enjoys their affinity for cooking, and also likes their general company.

**Red Flame:** Having not seen him since the initial adventure, Mayah felt them to be quite sociable, and appreciated their company. She hopes soon he will be around, as she worries for his safety in Ashsuru, especially after the information Alterak gave her on his current pursuits.

**Lucien:** Finding him to be a socially awkward, shy, yet kind and compassionate individual, Mayah admires his heroism and looks forward to her impromptu mentorship role in his journey to knighthood. It was also difficult to say if she saw him as a friend, or something more, though she also tended to gravitate towards attractive people for companionship regardless of intentions.

**Ignatio 'The Masetro':** The rather old vigilant is a curious one to Mayah. She respects him for his knowledge and has an appreciation for his dedication to helping others and improving life in general. The initial conversation was quite compelling and entertaining, and Mayah hopes to converse and maybe even work with him in the future.

**Sha'ka:** Perhaps the most developed and the most complicated relationship at present, Mayah's engagement with the orc has been one of surprising positivity. When first meeting, she had no idea how fond she would grow of him, but despite his somewhat abrasive and difficult personality, Mayah has found herself falling for the orc, and certainly entertaining the notion of being more than friends. After some time together, they've become an official relationship, much to Mayah's joy, as she has certainly grown to love and care for the orc hunter.

**Ulysses** - A rather intimidating figure to Mayah, her brief encounter with the Aasimar has left her feeling that Ithaca is a rather prominent nation, and she is happy to have met the leader that sponsored her own kingdom she now calls home.

**Leonard** - A slightly intimidating individual as well, Mayah finds his dedication to people comforting, and is appreciative of knowing the king that oversees the place she calls home. She also finds him slightly funny, and rather conversational, which she enjoys.