Talitha

**Talitha** **Erness** is a half-elf princess who chose freedom over captivity by her own father -- the King of **Serth**. At 23 years old, she is now a self-proclamed **alchemist** and **bounty hunter**. Known as the Hidden Daughter, for her father tried to keep her secret from his kingdom because of her hybrid part, seen as inappropriate for royalty. Using magic and what seems to be a curse, they were able to hide her animalistic traits, and today she is able to somewhat control said curse which gave her shapeshifting powers.

## Background

Talitha was born in a wealthy family, in fact, the wealthiest in the kingdom for it was the Royal family of Serth. This family has been the rulers of the kingdom for centuries, if not more. Not only they are wealthy, but they are strong and respected. Even their army could make nearby kingdoms quiver in fear.

However, respect is earned, no matter the cost.

As the kingdom was celebrating the Queen's pregnancy, especially when it came to an end, the kingdom was awaiting further announcement... Yet, no such thing was made. The people were confused, and the family did not wish to answer what happened. However, weeks later, an announcement was finally made. The Queen supposedly died while giving birth, and the child did not survive. However, gossips tell other stories; only one was true.

What happened to the King's child?

The child, if born female, would have been named Talitha, a name chosen by the Queen; Enett if male, chosen by the King. Yet— an abomination to the latter's eyes was born. A girl— a baby girl, with a tail, and especially long horse like ears came out of the womb, with few spots of hair on her body, rough like horsehair near her feet and ankles.

Thankfully, the whole royal family was there to stop the King from harming and killing the poor crying child with a single blow, the 13th sibling of the family.

Weeks later, the Queen after recovering from labour, was announced dead. But indeed, after recovering from labour— actually exiled out of the Kingdom by the King itself... without her child.

Instead, she was taken care of by her sisters and brothers secretly, as the King thought she has been with her mother— which would have been too dangerous for the poor newborn. Instead, Talitha was taken care of within the kingdom, yet still far from the castle's walls. For years, she has been undiscovered. For years, the family has been hiding such a secret from her own father.

However, on her 5th birthday, as all her siblings were united to wish her birthday— guards footsteps could be heard, which felt like they were surrounding the area. It was no use hiding the Hidden Daughter, there was no reason for all of the royal family to be together in a poor abode, far from the castle. As the door opened, the King entered the house.

Silence. Other than the guards taking two steps to protect the entrance between the King and the people, as well as the shakiest breathing Talitha ever made... there was silence. The father was looking at the tearing up hybrid, with her tail, ears, and hooves as feet. A step was taken by the sovereign, before he took one knee down in front of the child, stared at all of his family.

❝ I apologize, ❞ He said, words remembered by everyone in what was a poor man's house. ❝ I have been waiting years to talk to you— find the words I wanted to tell you but... the only thing I want to say, is that I am deeply sorry. ❞

Talitha doesn't understand. She is scared. The only times she has seen this man, is up there, on the big, very big walls, talking very loudly, and it made her ears hurt. However, right now, his voice is strong, fierce, yet calm and quiet.

❝ I knew all of you were protecting the girl for years now, ❞ he said, as he stood up. ❝ and I thank you all, for taking care of her. I apologize to all of you as well, for being such a bad parent. To make it up for what I have done, I promise I will make everything in my power to help her— to help Talitha, my child, able to live a proper life under our roof. I have hired the best alchemists, mages and more to help her hide those features. From here on now, I will be taking care of her, of my child. ❞

The siblings were quiet, not knowing what to say. After all, they know what happened to their mother. They couldn't say anything. Soo. enough, two guards entered the house, dressing up the child with clothing that helped to hide all of her body— leading her towards the castle.

As time passed by, Talitha was now ten years old. It has been only five years since she was back within the castle walls and was promised a new, better life. Then, perhaps she is indeed within the castle walls, but under the ground was not what she thought would happen.

A cave was her bedroom, her only room she would live in. She only sleeps and eats there however, her day is usually hidden inside of the castle, in rooms that were especially made for research and experiments on the hybrid. In five years, no such specimen was ever recorded. The girl was not only a horse hybrid, but a half-elf. Of course, noticing her other race was difficult since she has no usual half-elf ears... and especially since both of her parents were humans. Could have the Queen cheated on her King? No. Her blood and features correlated to the King's and the Queen's. It was their child, yet what happened to her?

Where is that elf part from? And especially, where does those horse features come from? And... what were those shapeshifting abilities she had?

In fact, the alchemists and scientists have discovered that she became different everytime she ate alchemical ingredients— especially those made to heal animals. In fact, it is the only way for her to change her body, at ten years old, she hasn't grown since she was seven. By feeding her the correct ingredients, they have been able to alter her body to make her grow and lose her horse ears— followed by her elf ears at seventeen years old.

At seventeen years old, she looked... human. Completely human. With human features, looking like her father and her mother. Yet, there were still some problems. She had trouble walking without high heels— they helped her as they felt like she still had hooves, and more insignificant problems... but a major one. No one still knew what was the **reason** for her to be born like so.

As her eighteen years old soon arrived, suddenly, Talitha was gone. Gone from the new bedroom she was given, offered after one of her sisters died. For almost eighteen years, she has never felt freedom. Everyone in the family knew how to fight, and Talitha's weapon of choice was a rapier. Her siblings recruited a teacher, which taught her everything she knew, and even offered her a handmade rapier, knowing she would leave the kingdom soon. Other useful items, such as a pouch, able to hold many, many items without problem was given by her brothers and other sisters. They were all thanked and hugged for everything they've done to her...

But not a single word was given to the father, that left her alone for five years and made her live in a cave for twelve years.

Today, she still looks human— most of the time. She still uses her shapeshifting powers from time to time, as well as knowledge in alchemy from watching those who experimented on her. She fights in groups, or sometimes alone. Talitha likes to be alone, but hates to be lonely. Not again. Being able to talk and group with people, chat with anyone, drink, sleep anywhere...

Freedom has never felt so good for someone who never knew it.

## Description

Talitha has light skin, slightly tan from travelling from one quest to the other. She has longm low-tied gray hair and gray eyes with a few small scars on her face, and a little more under her clothing. Her gray and blue clothes look quite expensive for a mere traveller, all made with always clean, resistant and silky smooth fabric. The different blue shades on her hair tie, her top and dress makes her gray looking appearance makes it a sight for sore eyes.

The woman does wear a chain mail hidden by her top, and nothing else in terms of armor, other than her elegant thick gloves that gives her just a small bit of protection in her everyday life. She fights in a quite long dress, with heeled boots for she has learned to wear high heels very young in her life -- wearing anything else makes it painful for her.

Using a rapier to fight, she also has a knife for foraging or as a secondary weapon on her thigh, hidden under her dress just in case. She also wears a pouch with a crest on it, which shines whenever her hand grabs it. It seems like she can pull out quite a few herbs and coin from it, acting like a bag of holding. It is bound to her, if someone were to steal it, it'd be empty and magicless for them.