Illysa, Red Priestess of R'hllor

**Illysa** is a Red Priestess of R'hllor, faithfully serving her god to fight against the Great Other and stave off the Long Night. She is the co-owner of *The Red Masque,* a theater in King's Landing where she weaves teachings of her god into performances to subtly spread the Red Faith to Westeros.

## Appearance and Character

A beautiful woman by any standard, Illysa has dark silky hair, and supple frame, and eyes that glow like polished amber in sunlight. On her back is a criss-crossed burn where her old slave brand was burned away. Her most notable characteristic, however, is a tattoo of a wisp of fire over a bloody crescent inked between her brows.

Illysa utilizes her attractive appearance to lure in potential converts. To her this isn't deception, but rather a tool gifted from R'hollor to convert non-believers to the one true faith. Salvation through flame, this is a core belief that guides her steps in the foreign land of Westeros. With the death of the last dragons, she considers it more important than ever to save the people of Westeros, and the world itself from darkness.

Oranges are her favorite food, and a delicacy she enjoys partaking in if given the chance.

*"R'hllor, you are the light in our eyes, the fire in our hearts, the heat in our loins. Yours is the sun that warms our days, yours the stars that guard us in the dark of night."*

## History

Abandoned at birth, Illysa was quickly sold as a slave and sentenced to a life of servitude and hardship. As she would soon consider a show of mercy from R'hllor, her life as an average slave wouldn't last long before she was sold to the Red Priests of Volantis. Her daily hardships and servitude only redoubled in this new life, but there was now purpose to the suffering.

She took dutifully to her new faith, proving herself a quick learner of the mantras and teachings of the Lord of Light. This didn't go unnoticed by the Red Priests in the temple, neither, however, did her beautiful appearance, and these qualities were put to use in the temple. Illysa proved a capable student of even the more advanced teachings, having little difficulties learning to read the holy books and write prayers. Recognizing that her potential went well beyond that of the average slave, Illysa's training was shifted so that she would become a true Red Priestess.

Life in the grand temple in Volantis proved to be both a wonderful and trying experience. The opportunities presented to express her innate talents proved endless - time and time again she proved her skills in oration before congregations both massive and intimate. Even the advanced arts of glamoring proved little challenge for the up and coming Priestess, though she lacked the true depth of skill of the eldest priests possessed. Truly, it was only in interpreting the future in the flames where her talents faltered, but she made up for it in devotion to her god.

No good times truly lasted, however, and her life in the temple would draw to a close when the ongoing conflict between Volantis and the newly emerging Triarchy reached new heights. Though matters of state were separate from the affairs the Red Faith, the iron grasp of war struck all in its path.

During the waning stages of the conflict, a raiding party stuck the weakened Volantis. They came quickly and bluntly, soon working their way to disrupt a gathering Illysa was holding a sermon mass of dockworkers. In the resulting confusion she was captured by a blue-bearded raider from Tyrosh. Despite her status as a Red Priestess, she was a beautiful woman first in his eyes. There was little she could do other than pray to R'hllor, chanting all the while she was being taken back to the raider's ship. During the long trip back to Tyrosh, she used the newly found closeness being a captured woman to spread her faith to the raiders. Utilizing her every skill to turn their hearts, one by one they relented to her. As if by fate, the very man who captured her was the captain of the ship, and the one to give most fully into her teachings. Upon their return to Tyrosh, the bluebearded captor, Lazarro bought her freedom and spent his free days devoting himself to her and her faith.

They spent months together in the port city, and it was here where she first learned of the decline of the dragons in Westeros, the last and purest embodiment of R'hllor's will made flesh. Though Lazarro was nominally in control of her life, he was well and truly entranced by her and proved to be quite a useful tool gifted by the Lord of Light. Praying long and hard into the fire, she eventually found guidance. Lazarro was a resourceful man, and the pair made their way to west towards the dragon city itself ensure the dying spark of dragonfire wouldn't be forever lost on the people of Westeros. In the early months of 98AC, Lazarro was guided by her will to purchase property by selling his ship. \*The Red Masque\*, a red painted theater was soon opened, and from here the she would work to spread the faith of R'hllor to the masses of Westeros. Though the culture proved foreign, the hearts of men did not, and resolute in her purpose, Illysa tends dutifully to the path set forward to her by the Lord of Light.

*"Lord of Light, protect us in the darkness. Lord of Light, defend us. The night is dark and full of terrors."*

## Family and Relations

Father: Unknown

Mother: Unknown

Siblings: Unknown

Master and Paramour: Lazarro of Tyrosh

## Meta

Attributes: Gifted, Witty

Points: 18

Correlations: +3 edu due to 9pts in magic

Skills: Entertainment, Recruitment, Piety, Glamoring, Firesight.

Apptitude: Lightbringer