Breena Knackle

Breena is small but sturdy, standing just over three feet tall with a wiry, weathered frame. Age has softened her once sprightly build, but she still moves with practiced agility, a testament to years spent traversing wild terrain.

Her skin is lightly tanned, marked by old scars from battles long past. Wrinkles line her hands, but they remain deft and nimble, equally skilled at weaving spells or tending to wounded allies.

Breena’s face carries the wisdom of her years—soft but expressive, with laugh lines around her bright, emerald-green eyes. Her black and slightly silver hair is long and often braided messily, tucked under her hood or left loose in the wind. Her nose is slightly upturned, and her ears, though small, perk at the slightest sound of mischief or danger.

A deep, jagged scar runs along her collarbone, a painful reminder of her captivity under Nalynth. Her arms are inked with swirling druidic tattoos, once vibrant but now faded with time. She also carries a distinct scent of fresh earth, pine, and something faintly floral, as if the wilds still cling to her.

Breena often tilts her head when listening, as if attuned to something others can't hear. She hums absentmindedly when working with plants or preparing potions. Despite her age, she still walks with a light, almost playful step, though long journeys sometimes leave her rubbing her joints with a quiet grumble.

Breena’s deep connection to nature allows her to commune with animals effortlessly, often speaking to them as if they were old friends. She has a unique ability to blend into natural environments, becoming nearly invisible in forests or fields. Despite her fading strength, her spells remain powerful, fueled by a lifetime of experience and an unbreakable bond with the land.

She wears an incredibly worn dark green cloak adorned with small feathers, charms, and trinkets from past adventures. Her leather armor is reinforced with patches of bark and vines, a living testament to her druidic magic. Around her neck hangs a simple wooden pendant carved into the shape of a raven, a keepsake from The Circle of the Raven.

Breena excels in survival, tracking, and herbalism, her knowledge of nature unmatched by most. She can identify nearly any plant or creature at a glance and navigate dense wilderness with ease. Her magic leans toward protection and restoration, though she’s not above using nature’s wrath when needed.

Born into a lively gnome family, Breena grew up surrounded by nature, learning the ways of the wild from an early age. The call of adventure led her away from home, and she became a druid, eventually joining The Circle of the Raven, a renowned adventuring band. For centuries, she fought, explored, and protected those in need—until she was captured by the dragon Nalynth. Fifty years in captivity nearly broke her, but she escaped, now searching for her lost companions while forging bonds with a new adventuring party.

Female

Breena doesn't care for new fangled terminology. If you're good to her, shes good to you, regardless.

Breena has always been an adventurer, hired to track lost souls, battle monsters, and protect the helpless. Before her capture, she was a well-respected member of The Circle of the Raven, often sought out for her healing magic and tracking abilities. Now, she travels again, seeking purpose in a world that has moved on without her.

Escaping Nalynth’s Clutches – Survived 50 years of captivity under the great dragon Nalynth and managed to escape, an act few could ever claim.

Founding Member of the Circle of the Raven – One of the original adventurers who formed the legendary mercenary group, known across the lands for their heroics.

The Battle of Embercliff – Led a desperate defense against an overwhelming undead horde, holding the line long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

"Breena’s Brew" – Accidentally created a signature ale during a long night of experimenting with foraged herbs and stolen dwarven whiskey. It became infamous in taverns across several regions.

Out-Drank a Fire Giant – In a reckless challenge, she bested a fire giant in a drinking contest. The giant, impressed, spared the party and even offered them safe passage through his territory.

The Festival Incident – Won a pie-eating contest, a wrestling match, and a high-stakes gambling game all in one day—while disguised as a halfling named “Bramble Quickfoot.”

Even with all these achievements, Breena still considers her greatest victory to be the friendships she made along the way.

Years of captivity under Nalynth left her with deep scars—nightmares of the dragon’s voice, a lingering fear of enclosed spaces, and the haunting uncertainty of whether any of her old friends are still alive. Though she’s healing, she sometimes withdraws when memories become too strong.

Breena is wise, clever, and intuitive. She values experience over theory and has an excellent memory, particularly for old stories and natural remedies. She’s sharp-witted with a dry sense of humor and enjoys outsmarting foes rather than overpowering them.

She believes in balance—life and death, growth and decay, adventure and rest. She fights for the defenseless but doesn’t see the world in absolutes. Mercy is given when earned, but nature does not abide cruelty. She follows her heart, prioritizing loyalty and kinship above all else.

Harming nature without reason.

Betraying one’s companions.

Wasting good food or drink.

Disrespecting the dead.

Breena’s greatest motivation is to reunite with The Circle of the Raven, or at least find out what became of them. After fifty years of captivity, she refuses to let time steal what she lost. Beyond that, she seeks adventure, companionship, and a sense of purpose. She wants to help people, tell stories, and ensure her old friends' legacy isn’t forgotten.

✅ Expert tracker and survivalist
✅ Skilled healer and herbalist
✅ Quick-witted and deceptive when needed
✅ Excellent storyteller and negotiator

❌ Loses patience with people who refuse to learn

❌ Accidentally intimidating – Despite being small, something about her tone, expressions, or the fact that she’s seen too much makes people nervous when she’s just trying to be friendly.

❌ Zero patience for puzzles – Riddles? Locked doors with weird mechanisms? If it can’t be solved with a good kick or a spell, she’s not interested.

❌ Doesn’t understand personal space – Will casually sit on someone’s lap, lean on their shoulder, or rummage through their stuff without realizing it might be weird.

✔ The smell of rain on earth
✔ A warm fire and a full tankard
✔ Songs and stories, especially tragic ones
✔ Animals—particularly clever ones
✔ Pranks, especially if well-planned

✖ People who waste food or drink
✖ Disrespect for nature or the dead
✖ Enclosed spaces
✖ Formal events and stiff etiquette
✖ Being underestimated due to her size or age

Loyal to her core—once she considers you family, she’ll fight to the death for you.

Resourceful in any situation, always finding a way to turn the tide.

Deeply empathetic, even to creatures others see as monsters.

A walking history book, full of ancient knowledge and old-world wisdom.

Struggles with trust, afraid of losing people again.

Drinks a little too much when in deep thought.

Holds grudges longer than she should.

Has a stubborn, defiant streak—hates being told what to do.

Talks to animals like they’re people – Holds full conversations with birds, horses, and even insects, whether or not they understand her. Sometimes forgets when talking to people and refers to them like animals (“You remind me of a particularly grumpy badger I met once.”).

Taps her fingers in rhythmic patterns when thinking.

Always hums softly while making potions or tending wounds.

Occasionally slips into speaking Gnomish when excited or frustrated.

Keeps a pocket full of ‘useful’ things – Always has random trinkets: a lucky rock, a feather from a rare bird, a slightly cursed coin, or a beetle she’s befriended. Won’t explain why.

Nods along even when she has no idea what’s happening – Will confidently pretend to understand a complex plan and figure it out on the fly. Works about half the time.

Mutters spells under her breath – Not casting them, just keeping the words sharp. Sometimes forgets and does it in inappropriate situations (“Why is the bartender looking at you weird?” “…Did I just whisper a fireball incantation? Oops.”).

Rubs her thumb over her necklace when thinking – A nervous habit. The necklace is a keepsake from her past, though she rarely talks about it.

Has a ‘dangerous’ smile – Whenever she grins a certain way, it usually means she’s about to do something reckless, brilliant, or both.

Flicks her ears when annoyed – A subtle tell when she’s getting frustrated. If they twitch more than twice, someone’s about to get scolded.

Collects odd phrases from different regions – Drops strange sayings into conversations that don’t always translate well (“Well, as the dwarves say, never trust a goat in a drinking contest.”).

Breena isn’t overly concerned with cleanliness but keeps herself presentable enough. She bathes when near rivers or lakes but doesn’t mind dirt under her nails or twigs in her hair. Smells faintly of earth, herbs, and ale—sometimes stronger on the ale.

The Circle of the Raven – Her old adventuring party, long separated. Some may still be alive, some lost to time. She is determined to find them or at least honor their memories.

The Whispering Grove – A secretive druidic circle she once trained with in her youth, though she hasn’t returned in centuries.

Various tavern owners, mercenaries, and traders – Over the years, she’s built a network of loose allies, people who remember her fondly (or owe her favors).

Estranged from her birth family – Left home centuries ago to chase adventure. She hasn’t seen them since, and they are likely long gone.

The Circle of the Raven was her true family – They were her siblings in arms, her home, her heart. Now, her new party is slowly filling that role.

Superstitiously Respects the Raven Queen – Given the name of her former adventuring party, Breena has always harbored a wary respect for the Raven Queen. She doesn’t worship her, but she acknowledges that death and fate are inevitable forces, sometimes leaving a small coin at crossroads "just in case."

Believes in Nature’s Balance – While she has fought in wars and slain monsters, Breena doesn’t see the world in terms of good vs. evil. To her, everything has a role, and sometimes destruction is necessary for new growth.

Agnostic About the Afterlife – She doesn’t claim to know what comes after death. She hopes her fallen friends feast in an endless celebration, but she also wonders if spirits simply become part of the land, the trees, the wind. She finds comfort in both possibilities.

Druidic Animism – Believes that old trees, rivers, and even mountains have spirits, and she occasionally speaks to them when alone. Whether or not they answer is another matter.

A Natural Storyteller – Whether by the fire or in the middle of a battle, Breena weaves tales that captivate. She knows how to hold an audience, using grand gestures, dramatic pauses, and just the right amount of exaggeration to keep everyone hanging on her words.

Unexpectedly Wise – Beneath the jokes and pranks, Breena has a deep understanding of people. She can read emotions well and offer wisdom when it’s needed most—though it’s often disguised as a casual comment or a well-timed quip.

Affectionate but Guarded – She adores her friends and isn’t afraid to show it with teasing, gifts, or spontaneous acts of kindness. However, she rarely lets anyone see when she’s struggling, deflecting with humor instead of admitting pain.

Can Be Unsettlingly Calm in Chaos – When things go south, Breena rarely panics. In fact, she seems to thrive on unpredictability, often laughing in the face of disaster while coming up with a ridiculous yet effective plan.

Feared by Those Who Know the Real Stories – While some see her as a jolly trickster, those who have studied the Circle of the Raven’s greatest battles know the truth—Breena Knackle was there when some of the world’s worst horrors were felled. Some warlords and ancient evils still whisper her name with a hint of unease.

Uses Her Fame as a Tool – When it suits her, she leans into her reputation, casually dropping a story or flashing a well-worn token from a past adventure to get out of trouble—or into restricted areas.

Expressive hands – Talks with her hands constantly, often making gestures that seem half magic, half storytelling.

Side-eyes people when she’s skeptical – A silent “Really? That’s what you’re going with?” kind of look.

Laughs with her whole body – Throws her head back, claps her hands, and sometimes even stomps a foot.

A Natural Storyteller – Whether by the fire or in the middle of a battle, Breena weaves tales that captivate. She knows how to hold an audience, using grand gestures, dramatic pauses, and just the right amount of exaggeration to keep everyone hanging on her words.

Affectionate but Guarded – She adores her friends and isn’t afraid to show it with teasing, gifts, or spontaneous acts of kindness. However, she rarely lets anyone see when she’s struggling, deflecting with humor instead of admitting pain.

A Folk Hero Among the Commoners – To everyday people—farmers, blacksmiths, traveling merchants—Breena is a hero of legend. They offer her free drinks, tell their children stories about her, and sometimes even ask for blessings or advice, much to her amusement.

Feared by Those Who Know the Real Stories – While some see her as a jolly trickster, those who have studied the Circle of the Raven’s greatest battles know the truth—Breena Knackle was there when some of the world’s worst horrors were felled. Some warlords and ancient evils still whisper her name with a hint of unease.

Uses Her Fame as a Tool – When it suits her, she leans into her reputation, casually dropping a story or flashing a well-worn token from a past adventure to get out of trouble—or into restricted areas.

Thorne, Snips, Grimm and Bramble - Her most common familiars

Thorne, the Raven of the Circle (Fey Spirit – CR 0)

• Stats: AC 12, HP 1 (1d4), Speed 10 ft., Fly 50 ft.
• Abilities:
• Echo of the Fallen: Can mimic voices of Breena’s old companions, often at eerie or oddly fitting moments.
• Watcher’s Gaze: Has an unsettling way of always knowing where Breena is looking.
• Feathered Omen: When Thorne lands on a shoulder, it usually means trouble is coming—or someone is about to make a terrible decision.
• Personality:
• Thorne isn’t just a familiar to Breena—it’s a connection to the past, a reminder of the Circle of the Raven.
• It caws in oddly knowing ways, sometimes whispering fragments of long-lost conversations.
• Always lingers when Breena tells old stories, as if listening… or waiting for something.
• Fiercely protective, though it pretends not to be.
• Why It Matters to Breena:
• She swears it acts like her old friends sometimes—perching on her staff like Dain used to lean against trees, cocking its head like Zanna when planning a scheme, or just knowing things it shouldn’t.
• Whether it’s truly a spirit connected to her past, or just a trick of fate, she doesn’t question it. Thorne is hers, and in some ways, it feels like the Circle never fully left her.

Warm, slightly raspy voice – Years of travel, shouting over battle, and laughing too much have given her a slightly rough but comforting tone.

Talks fast when excited, slow when serious – She knows how to hold a room’s attention.

Throws in old sayings from different cultures – Some make sense, some don’t (“As the halflings say, never trust a cat with your stew.”).

Modest and ever-changing – She rarely holds onto gold for long, either spending it on necessities, giving it to those in need, or losing it in some ill-advised bet. Her true wealth lies in knowledge, experience, and the occasional magical trinket she "acquires."