Maestitia

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**Maestitia** (born 8:81 - 8:86 Blessed) is an elven mage and former slave from the Tevintide Imperium. She officially became a Liberati in 9:19 Dragon. She is the mother of Inquisitor Ies'saq Lavellan.

## Overview

### **Physical Appearance**

Maestitia's skin is extremely pale with pink undertone. She has sharp eyes and a thin noise. Her white grayish hair are stylized with an asymmetric haircut.

### **Personality**

Maestitia is a rather confident and quiet person. She learned that every word could be a weapon and use hers carefully. She almost never talk about herself or her past but listening attentively others.

Although she hates a lot of things in the Tevinter Imperium, she likes her homeland and knows its history very well.

### **Talents and Skills**

Maestitia besides being a powerful mage is also an excellent negotiator and manipulator. She was trained to use blood magic against her will and even if she's good at it, she refrains herself to use it now that she's a Liberati.

## **Biography**

### Childhood and young adulthood

Maestitia grew among other slaves in Ventus until her teenage years. As she showed sign of being a mage, she got sold to another master in Minrathous. Maestitia was naturally skilled with magic and was praised for it. Her master formed her to be a powerful tool of his, allowing her to practice blood magic by using other slaves. Despite having a special treatment because of her magic abilities, she was still treated poorly and suffered many abuses like the others. As Maestitia couldn't do any of it anymore, in 9:04 Dragon, she tried with other slaves to runaway from Tevinter once. It was an unsuccessful attempt and she was the only one who made it out alive as their master made her kill by her own hands those who hadn't already being assassinated.

One year later, she convinced her master she would be more useful as a partner than a slave. She asked him to let her travel in Thedas, offering him to breed a child with a powerful bloodline he could use as slave to replace her. Thus she began her travel, partially free and unsure if she should stick to her settlement or if she should try to flee.

One day, Maestitia met a Dalish travelling marchant, Assan Lavellan. She fell for his charm and accepted to travel along him. She quickly became pregnant and the both of them decided to join Assan's Dalish clan.

### **Clan Lavellan**

A few months after Maestitia joined the clan Lavellan, she gave birth to her first child, Ælf’hild. At that point, she knew she could suddenly leave in the night with her baby, go back to Tevinter and she would be officially free. But, Maestitia was hesitant. She didn't expect to care for her child as she never had a family before and thought it would be an easy task to abandon her offspring. Maestitia's master gave her five years to come back with what she promised him and although she already had it, she decided to stay among the dalish to raise her child until 9:09 Dragon.

Overall, the clan liked Maestitia and most treated her like one of them. Unfortunately, the Keeper, Shannon Lavellan merely tolerated her and showed her in many ways that he would never considerate her as one of his own. His hatred was mostly because she wouldn't believe in dalish gods and stayed true to the Imperial Chantry and her believe in the Maker.

In 9:09 Dragon, Shannon Lavellan found out about her connection to her master and made her confessed about her arrangement. He made clear to her that he wouldn't let her take Ælf’hild to Tevinter no matter what. Shannon offered her a deal: he would keep her secret from everyone and put her in contact with someone in the South if she left the clan immediately. Maestitia knew she wouldn't be able to overpower him without putting her own life in danger and accepted his deal. Without a word to her husband or her baby girl, she left for Ferelden.

### Travel in Ferelden

As going back to Tevinter to be enslave was no option for her, Maestitia decided to go along with Shannon Lavellan's plan for her and met with his contact. It turned out that contact was a criminal that could provide her dozens of potential willing slaves in a day. Reluctantly, Maestitia agreed. She ordered for them to be sent to her master along a letter in which she begged for his patience and that she hoped her unexpected *gift* pleases him. She later received a respond of him in which, luckily, he thanked and told her she could take as long as she would if she provided him regular *gift*. Assuring her they were both already good partners but that only her offspring could grant her true freedom and Liberati status. Maestitia was no fool reading his sweet words and knew that she was trapped in that deal she herself made.

For about three years, Maestitia worked among criminals to provide *gifts* for her master and earn money and reputation for herself.

### **Denerim Alienage**

In 9:11 Dragon, Maestitia is asked by her master to go to Denerim Alienage as they recently suffered from a purge and that it was the perfect time to collect a lot of *gifts*.

Thanks to contacts she already had in Denerim, Maestitia entered the alienage with no trouble. She, for a while, acted as a beggar, until she met Yvor Cyrion, the alienage's forgeron. He offered her shelter and she started to work at his shop to sell his armors and weapons. Maestitia enjoyed living an honest life, although it was all an act since she was still managing slaves traffic among other things. The two elves decided to get marry in 9:14 Dragon, Maestitia got pregnant a year later. Maestitia informed her master that her ultimate *gift* was in the making and asked for his patience. They agreed that she would comeback to Tevinter in 9:17 Dragon once the newborn is old enough to endure the travel. From that point, Maestitia stopped her illegal activities.

In 9:16 Dragon Maestitia gave birth to her second child whom, her husband and her decided to call Aster. Maestitia couldn't enjoy her time with her son as she knew what was waiting for him in Tevinter and she cursed herself for it. Although she didn't want her son to be a slave, just like she's been for years, she desired freedom above everything else.

A year later, whereas, Maestitia started to plan her travel for Minrathous, her ex-husband appeared at her doorstep. Assan explained to her he knew everything and begged her not to take Aster to Tevinter. The two of them argue for a while, under the eyes of Yvor, completely dazed and unaware of the situation. Ultimately, Maestitia gave up and accepted to risk her freedom and even her life to protect her child. She warned Assan that she would try to convince her master that Aster abruptly died but there were no guarantee that he would believe her. She apologized to her current husband and ask him to take good care of their baby as she left.

Maestitia rejoined her accomplices who were supposed to escort her and her baby to Tevinter and went back home a month sooner than excepted.

### Minrathous

Back home, Maestitia first went to the Chantry to pray the Maker, asking for forgiveness, hoping He might see that she acted out of fear and for survival. She then went to her master. Before him, she knelt down, apologizing to comeback hands empty and explained to him with tears in her eyes that her dear poor son died abruptly in her arms. Thankfully, as she proved loyal services, her master accepted her apologies and decided not to punish her. But, as he told her before, only the promised child would grant her freedom. Therefore, she would remained a slave. Maestitia thanked him for his mercy and went back to her miserable quarters.

Maestitia was unsure if her master truly believed her and feared her son might still be in danger. Nonetheless, her own life was her priority and she had to find a solution, a new deal her master couldn't refuse. For a week, Maestitia observed in silence her master's household and consider how she could use the situation to her advantage. Although, if among the current slaves there were strong criminals that could stand a good fight, she knew an uprising would be a bad idea. At best, she would get half of them dead and some would become fugitives, at worst… she didn't even want to think of the worst case scenario. She needed to destroy the house from the inside, to seed her rebellion deep in their master's ranks.

One day, Maestitia earned herself a private audience with her master. She told him she thought of a marvelous idea that would grand them both what they wanted the most. She used his insecurities, his wife's fertility problem and his acknowledgement of her great magical abilities to convince him to let her bare his heir. He would finally obtain his heir, procreated by two powerful mages and the promised child thus, granting her her freedom. Her master was no easy to convince as a child from a slave would be a shame on his name if it was to be known. But his wife was getting older and his chances to have a child her thinner. He couldn't allow his house, his name to fell in oubliettes. After a long deliberation, he finally accepted.

Maestitia remained a slave just like the other with no special treatment to avoid any suspicion. A year and a half later, in the middle of her pregnancy, her master officially freed her. As Maestitia became a Liberati, she got herself her own house and got allowed to the Circle of Magi of Minrathous thanks to her former master's sponsorship. She gave birth to her third child in secret whom she handed to her former master. To avoid suspicion, she didn't involve herself in the child's education but subtly led a trusted slave to be named nurse.

As a Liberati and Mage of the Circle, Maestitia acted as a partner of her former master. She lived a rather confortable life that way although in the dark, she was planing her former master's fall.

In 9:26 Dragon via Assan, Maestitia became aware that her former master knew she lied about her son. Her past lover visited her one day by surprise. After a short reunion, he made her promise not to get involve no matter what happen to him. A few days latter she learned that he sold himself to her former master. Unfortunately, he traded him, preventing Maestitia to keep an eye on him.

## **Relationships**

### Romantic partners

*Assan "Wynnon" Lavellan*: Maestitia truly fell for Assan and wished things ended up differently for the two of them. When they were together, they were a pretty couple. Assan taught her about dalish culture, help her to read better. He respected her and never judge her for her past or because her different faith. Even after Assan discovered Maestitia's true intentions and immoral actions, he never showed any form of disrespect toward her as he acknowledged how painful her past life was and couldn't understand the need to escape something no matter what. Maestitia is thankful to have found such a understanding man and deeply care about Assan, even though she isn't in love with him anymore.

Maestitia and Assan never were truly married but their union was officially recognized among the clan.

Maestitia and Assan vaguely stayed in touch after she left the clan. Assan kept her aware of how their girl was growing up while she would barely say a thing to him. Maestitia contacted Assan a few times once a Liberati.

*Yvor Tabris*: Yvor remains, even years after, Maestitia's beloved. She didn't expect to fell for him when they met as she only sought for stable situation in Denerim. But the sweet man charmed her in all aspects. She admired him for being such a good forgeron, citizen and husband. Yvor took good care of Maestitia. He happily shared with her his interests and even more happily learned about hers. As they have singing in common, they used to sing a lot together and were praised for it by their friends and neighbors. Their union was well accepted by the alienage and by Yvor's family.

Once a Liberati, she sent him a letter in which she explained to him everything and apologized for her wrongdoings. He replied that he wasn't mad at her and that he wished her the best but he couldn't forgive her for having sold their son to a tevintide slaver. She understood and both stayed in touch through Assan.

Maestitia learned about Yvor's death by Assan's letter. She mourned him for several weeks and never fell in love again.

### Children

*Ælf’hild Lavellan*: Maestitia was close to her daughter when in the clan and regrets not having being able to raise her more. Ælf’hild remained mad at her mother for years after she left. She eventually forgave her and contacted her for the first time in 9:24 Dragon through her father. Maestitia is amazed to learn Ælf’hild had her first child and sent her presents to celebrate the birth. In 9:44 Dragon she travels to Wycome in order to see her daughter and granddaughters which made Ælf’hild glad.

*Ies'saq "Aster" Lavellan*: Maestitia met for the first time, since she left Denerim, her son in 9:44 Dragon. She's more than happy to see him and welcomes him in style. Maestitia kept for herself a part of the truth, as Assan asked her to, but explained most she could to Ies'saq.

Ies'saq is rather distant to Maestitia which makes her sad but she's understand it is weird for him to be around her as he thought his mother died years ago. Maestitia is pleased to see her son found himself a mage as a romantic partner, a magister nonetheless. She respects Dorian Pavus and his Lucerni party. Ies'saq is greatly pleased to have his mother's blessing.

*Ulixes*: As she stayed rather distant to them, Ulixes is not aware of being Maestitia's child and only acknowledge her as their father's associate. Maestitia from the shadows make sure her last child is happy and becomes a clever and power mage. Although she thought of them as a weapon against their father first, she deeply care about them and hopes that one day she could tell them the truth.

## **Gallery**

* sample photo
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