Enwy Taleron

Enwy is a wistful young woman whose previously mundane life is turned upside-down when Tethyr falls under threat of an ominous prophecy. Now, as the threads of Fate intertwine, she moves to meet her own destiny. Enwy is a character in the Shattered Bonds campaign.

Description
Enwy is a lean, willowy young woman standing at a petite 5’3”. Much to the dismay of some, she wears her brownish-black hair short so that it “isn’t in the way”, though it tumbles into her face to frame large, honey-brown eyes. With her mother’s delicate features and a bright, alert gaze, she bears an almost fae appearance.

When it comes to rough work, the girl tends to don simple, boyish attire, though it isn’t uncommon to see her in a dress or gown when the situation calls for it. Typically, she garbs herself in cloth tunics of an Elvish style, trousers or short breeches, and the accompaniment of knee-high boots and leather gloves. Her only ornaments are simple earrings and an embossed leather choker, along with the short blade now belted to her waist. On occasion, a fine elven cloak is added to the ensemble. Recently, she has also been seen donning a tailored jacket once belonging to her father for more “official” matters; a now sleeveless garment of deep green, emblazoned with the Taleron falcon in gold across the breast.

Personality
A cheerful and outgoing woman, Enwy’s is a friendly face that many in Mosstone have come to know, and she is more than happy to stop and banter about the weather while hefting a crate somewhere. Young and energetic, she thoroughly enjoys living, and doesn’t seem to waste a moment of it.

Ever the tomboy, it isn’t unusual to see the girl assisting the local laborers and tradesmen while juggling her own agenda, despite this being classified by some as “men’s work”. Her philosophy on this is simply “more hands make the load lighter”, and she outwardly seems unbothered by others’ opinions of her. (Though whether or not she is inwardly affected remains a mystery.) Despite any social standing, Enwy is also quite unbiased when concerning the status of others and welcomes the chance to meet a new face. She has no trouble playing about with the children of the streets, or helping a poor traveler mend the wheel on his cart when others would just pass them by.

While going through each day with a smile, enjoying her mundane life in Mosstone, and understanding her place at the side of her family in the future of the Taleron name, there remains the unwavering mark of a daydreamer in her eyes. She has developed a habit of seeking out rooftops and other such high-altitude places during sunrises and sunsets, staring absently out into the forests--longing for something new, something exciting, and to live her dreams for herself instead of enduring an existence bound by birth and responsibility; a youthful romanticism about the character that reveals her nature as a blossoming woman.

Following Corellon’s prophesizing and the appointment of his Chosen, Enwy found herself in a short-lived state of fear and apprehension with the granting of her “wish” for excitement. After the untimely murder of her father, however, she seems to have discarded all of the uncertainty as the flames of her determination are fueled. She has vowed to push herself forward with that fiery resolve in order to save the land—and people—that she loves.

Family
Grandfather: William Taleron II  -  Though she has never met the man in person, Enwy was informed of her grandfather’s place on Darromar’s council by Estra. She firmly believed that he would be fighting against the capital’s political corruption from within, until Radagast claimed that he was not the good man she was expecting.

Father: William Taleron III (deceased)  -  While Enwy loved her father dearly, she was often skeptical of his intentions for her future, and because of this tended to shy away from his wants for her. Once he’d discovered her “secret life” as a Chosen, she began to ease back into his expectations after he confirmed that her life was her own. Following his murder, Enwy was overwhelmed by intense regret and guilt, though upon learning the truth of her father’s past and deeds, these feelings were transformed into determination and hope. In the wake of his death, she has vowed to proudly carry on his legacy and live their intertwined dreams for the sake of Tethyr and its people.

Mother: Ileen Velrose-Taleron (missing)  -  Though frequently told that she is the image of Ileen, Enwy often denies this. In her eyes, her mother is a paragon of beauty and grace, and it is to her that she (secretly) runs for all advice that pertains to being a woman. Though Ileen shared her husbands “wishes” for their children, Enwy more easily gravitated toward her mother than father for a time. Recently, despite all grief after William’s murder, Enwy has found a surprisingly large source of encouragement from her mother on the path of a Chosen. Despite Ileen’s sudden disappearance during the attack on Mosstone, Enwy refuses to believe her dead.

Brother: William “Will” Taleron IV  -  Despite her brother being three years younger, Enwy and Will are incredibly close as siblings—becoming one another’s best friend and most trusted confidant. Will was the first to learn of Enwy’s sorcery and had kept it a secret for years, along with her wistful dreams. Though she claims that she’s the one watching his back, Will harbors a strong protective streak for his sister, and his “knightly” aspirations see it his duty to ensure her safety—whether she likes it or not. While he’s often laid-back and seemingly childish, he contains a hidden maturity, and in turn can become awfully pushy when it comes to Enwy and her future. Having dragged her brother into the matters of the Prophecy, Enwy always seems to have his support and advice, yet still worries that she’s jeopardized his own happiness. Most recently, following the battle of Mosstone, she’s come to realize that Will has truly grown into a man; a far stronger person than she could have imagined.

Notable Relationships
Anna Ridell -  The Taleron housekeeper since before Enwy was even born, Anna has served as nursemaid, sage, and a well-loved grandmotherly figure. All at once strict and nurturing, she has become as much a part of the family as any blood-relative could ever be.

Shobi Nazebo -  An old friend of her father, Enwy hadn’t seen “Uncle Obi” for years, but the day he arrived in Mosstone may have been just what she needed to fill the paternal void left by William’s death. As she seeks his comfort and council, he seems to have become a form of surrogate grandfather, though as Enwy fights at his side there comes the respect and admiration of companions-at-arms. She sees them as family, and while he teaches her the harsh truth of war, he has also become a pillar of her resolve that she doesn’t wish to fail. As time passes, this view of “family” has only increased, and Enwy fears losing the older man so much that she sometimes forgets his nature as a warrior. Unfortunately, he also has a knack for causing her to feel awkward at inappropriate times, typically involving his “letting alone” of both her and one of the male gender—which, ironically, reminds her of her father.

Thorin Zuelias -  Initially drawn to his novelty and mystique, Enwy became quite taken with the man—though that mysterious air would also serve as a source of frustration. Disliking the air of pain he carried, Enwy made a personal vow to help him find a smile again, despite the questions of his past going unanswered. Also unanswered would be mysteries concerning her father, Estra, and the Branch of Linden, to which Thorin would implore she wait until the right time for her own good. They would hit a snag after he was discovered to be a leader of the Branch, but Enwy chose to forgive him—believing that his reasons were enough. During the Battle of Mosstone, he would again betray the party and slay Radagast, stating that she would learn why, only to fall at the hands of Raven and Ikrikaru—his soul lost to the Oni. This event would send Enwy over the edge, losing both her friend and her answers, though she swears to see him returned. As more of the man’s past and identity are brought to light, however, her doubts about his intentions return anew—ever waiting to learn the truth.

Michael Leftin -  While having always been intimidated by Michael’s innate “excellence”, Enwy quietly respects his place as the pride of Mosstone’s militia. She harbors an unspoken understanding for the man, what with his constant, dreamy expression that she knows all too well. His talk of destiny had left her intrigued, and as the events surrounding Mosstone progress, she finds herself feeling a growing sense of admiration for both he and his service to the city and its people. Though with that admiration also grows concern for his dealings with Amn, and the dangerous, cold tendencies he displays in battle when no one else can see. Because of this, her desire to glimpse inside of his guarded thoughts only increases tenfold. Regardless, a certain Freudian slip on her part seems to have rekindled a childhood fancy, and it seems the man can make her blush.

Keyia -  Though their meeting was through happenstance and initially marred by distrust, Enwy has come to depend on the genasi more than she had expected. Despite her distaste in his love of violence and brusque manner, she frequently finds herself with his shoulder to lean on when overwhelmed. She believes that regardless of coincidence, his place alongside the party may also have been an act of Fate.

Raven - With Raven’s enraged decision to strike down Thorin Zuelias, her initial admiration for the ranger was all but destroyed, though she would come to forgive him as truths were revealed. Though she has no fondness for his brash and arrogant manner—oftentimes baffled that he shares kinship with Varis—her understanding for his circumstances has lead to the friendship of comrades-in-arms.

Early Years
Enwy Alis Taleron was born in the bustling tradesman’s hub of Mosstone, in the region of Tethyr. Daughter and eldest child of the Taleron family—her father William a prosperous businessman—Enwy and her younger brother Will were tutored in the fields of mercantile, mathematics, and the written word from a young age. They received the education that many children could never know with the unspoken expectations that one of the two would come to inherit the family business. Upbringing aside, it was evident that the girl dearly loved the simplicity of that busy woodland community and all of the people who called it home.

When Enwy was but twelve or thirteen years of age would there come the first notable changes in her otherwise orderly and routine life. She and Will were already coming to discover their penchant for adventure and the independence that comes with growing up, but the girl would also begin to find herself surrounded by unexpected phenomenon. At first it was naught but small things, such as the sudden chill of a room or coughing a plume of steam upon waking, but gradually they became all the more frequent. She knew that there were arcanists—what with all manner of traveler passing through Mosstone—and that with their magic they could control such things as fire and air. However, she had never once given a thought to wizardry, let alone studied it! Apprehensive of how her family would react were she to tell them of her strange “powers”, she opted to keep the entire matter under wraps as the random occurrences slowed. Eventually, Enwy would reveal her secret to Will alone—ever her confidant. As the years passed on he would keep it, and the girl would gradually gain some small control over this newfound “sorcery”.

Time went on, and Enwy grew into an upbeat young woman with a great love for life. Sadly, with age also came the remembrance of responsibility. As her family’s attempts to nudge their daughter toward a more sensible future intensified, so too did Enwy’s already-frequent daydreaming. While matters of business and domestic pursuits were thrown at her left and right, her thoughts remained on adventure, romance, and the vastness of the sky…

The days would pass in normalcy, caught up in the flow of Mosstone’s clockwork activity, and Enwy was beginning to believe that her dreams of “something more” would remain as only that—dreams.

Little did she know that it was a dream—one of fire, blood, and agony—that would ultimately grant her wish…

Current Whereabouts/Activities
Coming soon.

Miscellany
Enwy's fast becoming the favorite of my characters, much to my own surprise. I believe it's due to how genuinely human she truly is. She began as this average person with an ordinary life, and had that completely turned on its head by an act of Destiny--and yet she still has the thoughts, feelings, and concerns of any other teenage girl, while trying to juggle a Fate that was thrust into her lap. She has dreams, and she has crushes. She has quirks, and vices, and mundane worries about her familial and personal life. Most importantly, I think, she does the best that she can do with what she has—carrying the defiant human spirit that keeps her trying even when the odds seem impossible, for the sake of everything that matters.

I didn’t create Enwy as a hero—she was created as a normal girl searching for her “happily ever after” in the story called Life. I’m truly interested to see where that story takes her, and how she continues to grow as both a person and as a heroine; and if—despite how the world falls down—her chapters have a happy ending.


 * As a small note, I find it ironic that her name is nearly phonetically identical to the Elvish word "anwe", that means "truth" or "reality". Considering that the entire antagonistic themes of the campaign are deception and distrust, it seems a suitable name for a heroine that's fighting against them.


 * As another note, Enwy's middle name of "Alis" was a small homage to Alis Landale of the original Phantasy Star. Coincidentally, their stories are proving to be similar.


 * Her life is also strikingly similar in places to that of Juliet di Capulet from the anime adaptation of "Romeo x Juliet". Dan had made a brief jest about it when we began watching the series (while already far into the campaign), but later on I couldn't help but notice the unintentional parallels.  Let's just hope they don't meet the same doomed fate.  <_<;