Maren

## Backstory

Like Irving and Garrick, Maren was born and raised in Brookstead. As you may recall from their reveals, Brookstead is known for its first-rate military academy, which Maren attends. The school and town are based on the ancient model of 'soldier farming'. Local youth attend Brookstead Academy in the hopes of taking up positions as Delian officers upon graduation. Graduates who successfully reach the end of their military service are granted an endowment of land in Brookstead to settle and raise the next generation of officers.

Maren has had a complicated young life. She was never particularly outgoing, preferring to stay on her family’s farm and help out. When Maren was 8, her parents were called back to service, leaving her with her grandfather. Though she was mature for her age, she wasn’t the only child in the household. Alden, her younger brother, was 4 years younger.

Maren took it upon herself to raise Alden, who was an unusual young boy. Their parents were kept in service by the new king, Varic, as military advisors stationed on the Delian/Kharmont border. With visits few and far between, her care of Alden moved from a temporary responsibility to the crux of her life.

Their grandfather was Brookstead’s resident cleric, and was often called to his work in the town square. A community built upon a martial pact with Delia, Brookstead’s more religious residents primarily worshipped Faine, the God of Oaths. Maren grew up pushed into this same path of faith. It grated on her, since the pact that everyone held so dear was what kept her parents away from home almost her entire childhood.

The neighboring farm was owned by Galen, the headmaster of Brookstead’s Academy. His son, Garrick, came to spend a lot of time with Maren. He didn’t have any siblings of his own, and Maren’s relationship with Alden was more akin to a mother’s. Over time they came to see each other like brother and sister, and Maren cherished that almost as much as she cherished her relationship with Alden.

When she was old enough to enroll, Maren’s first year in the academy was rough. She was a gentle soul among countless youths who looked forward to practicing violence. She was one of the lowest ranked students, and had few friends. She began to study with her grandfather, learning to heal wounds. Not only was this useful in its own right, but she felt empowered to train harder with others knowing that she could help them if they were seriously hurt. She grew more confident as time went on.

Now in her graduate year, Maren is anxious in anticipation of leaving home in service of Delia. Alden still has yet to find his way, and her closest friends have a year left in the academy. The teachers there know and respect her preference for mending pain, rather than causing it. She fears she will be assigned to a superior that doesn’t see that, or worse, one that does and ignores it. Though she often felt like she had few choices growing up, the ones she did usually coincided with her own drives. For the first time, even that seems to be slipping away.

## In Gameplay

### Aptitudes

Personal Skill - Caregiver: Healed for 40% of given heals

### Bonds

* Irving
* Garrick
* Alden
* Elias
* Samara
* Benji
* Corvan
* Helena
* Ford
* Iris