Brenvira

Brenvira is of average height and build, for her race, though she possesses surprising flexibility. Her hair is continually kept in a tight bun in the back; which since arriving on the maindland has made her look even more serious and direct than she already is.

Before departing Hylsa for her quest, her mother gave her one of the few worldly possessions she had: golden earrings with purple jewels in the center. They were said to bring good luck and fortune. More than that, possessing them would act as a reminder, so that Brenvira would never forget where she came from.

Unlike most, Brenvira was actually born on the island of Hylsa. Her parents, like all other of the inhabitants, were drow soldiers who had, rather than fighting to the death as ordered, surrendered to the Elves of Sylran Delono in the Triumverate War, and were granted peace. Since sending them home would have only meant death there, they were granted this small island as refuge. The “nation” they were granted was little more than an extensive prisoner colony.   Growing up in such an environment has been difficult. Brenvira has seen how, even in a “peaceful” society, how the ignorance and uncaring of others can result in seemingly violent consequences among those who need the most help. Being forced by the Slyran authority to be dependent on that same authority has soured Brenvira’s perspective on the powerful.   With little other choice, Brenvira’s childhood and adolescent years were occupied as a farmer and rancher in intermittent capacities. Committed in some of their old ways, Brenvira’s parents and community would train her in arms, where and when they could do so without being caught or noticed by the Sylran guards. . What time wasn’t being spent in this capacity was spent learning of their unique Faith, as members of The Absolved.   Believing that their commanding general Khilgana, who had surrendered her forces, had received a prophetic dream and message from Varissa, First of Six Sisters and Goddess of Elves, their community is committed to reintegrating Drow with the Elves as one family again, including leading other wayward Drow to their ways.   That cannot occur, obviously, if they are never allowed to leave their island. For all of the early words of acceptance and believing their religious message, the authorities have granted no means by which they could actually fulfill their holy mission. A mission that Brenvira is fully committed to, having had no interaction with normal Drow culture below the surface of the world, she is a true believer and agent of Varissa, who has granted her the divine powers reserved for her clerics and temple stewards.   With the voices of dissent being so loud, it is rare for one so young as Brenvira to stand out among them. Ingeniously, she had made an argument enabling her departure from the Hylsan island. She could not lawfully or morally be paroled indefinitely on the island for a conflict that she had no part in. Deeming her a potential threat to Sylran society, or possibly a double agent, when her entire life has been under Sylran eyes, would only indicate their own incompetence.   Convinced, the Hylsan delegation of 25 unanimously agreed to send a petition to the Sylran Magistrate to allow for her release. The message made it clear that while this could be argued for any of the other children born in Hylsa, that the petition only applied to her. Having been given Varissa’s blessing was proof of her noble and devout intentions, and that she can be trusted to follow her duties.   What the letter did not indicate, however, was the full extent as to what those duties would be. While the Sylrans believed that they were taking on a young Drow woman to act as itinerant preacher and performance peace of their moral superiority, Brenvira was informed privately of exactly what her mission was. To fulfill the mission set by Varissa first and foremost, and to be a public advocate for the independence and liberation of her people.   Now, she is on the mainland, with the blessings of her creator and her people with her. Alone for the first time in her life, in a land both foreign and hostile to her, she begins to understand the true challenge set before her.

Being in close proximity of a small territory and under constant supervision has given Brenvira a self-conflicted view of her own sexuality. With only so much space and resources, and given Elven and Drow life times, her parents, and their generation, had to be mindful of just how many children they were actually having. As a result, restraint was taught to her early and often. A practice, she noticed, that was not followed nearly as often as it was preached.   Being constantly near other Drow, and with the island seemingly always under observation, made it difficult for anyone to have intimacy in private. While some people and even some cultures are excited by the prospect of being watched, the Drow as a broad collective have not, and so tend to be very particular about public displays of affection, even mundane ones.   Now, even when off the island and able to enjoy her freedom, she feels incredibly self-conscious and guarded about her sexual feelings and allowing herself her desires. Being on a holy mission to support the Goddess Varissa, and to liberate her people from being their oppression hasn’t helped her shame. Allowing herself a relationship or dalliance seems an unacceptable and immoral luxury at this point.

Her education is limited compared to most Drow, and especially to most Elves. She has some fundamentals that she learned from her parents and the rest of the community, but even a large group of former Drow soldiers are not, typically, academics.

She is confident that she knows what she needs. The skills she might have liked to possess, like artistry or poetry, are luxuries. Luxuries she and the rest of her kind should have been afforded, but still luxuries she can do without.

As a child, she was particularly fond of helping tend to the flock of sheep and wooly cows. She was even called the Tiny Shephard by a few of the adults, for how dedicated she was to the task, and how skilled she was.

Liberation of her people is more important and urgent than the mission to follow Khilgana's prophecy. As Brenvira sees it, this integral to that larger mission, and will have greater movement towards it than any other action she could accomplish.

Of course, neither will be easy, but she will not be deterred. Her parents, and everyone she knows are counting on her. Varissa is counting on Brenvira to be her Champion.

There are few contact on the mainland that she was given to meet and interact with while in Sochere, the Slyran capital. Her interactions with them have been middling at best, some not even aware she was scheduled to meet and work with them. Others, predictably, resented associating with a Drow, of any faith or persuasion, and tried to cleanse their hands of her.

This has actually worked to Brenvira's benefit, as she wanted little to do with bureacrats of the state anyway. She wanted to fix the system, not join it. Their actions have allowed her greater autonomy to fulfill the mission that she set out to do. If they were to forget entirely who she was, even better.

Everyone in her family, that she knows of, is still on the island of Hylsa, and likely will remain so indefinetely. Growing up, many of her parents' friends were referred to as "aunts" and "uncles".   She may still have actual extended family members out there. Neither her mother or father have spoken at length, as they hadn't seen or heard from any of them since long before Khilgana's surrender. If they are out in the world, or if she has cousins out and about, it would be extremely unlikely for her to receive a warm familial welcome.

Being a member of the Absolved has narrowed her focus on religion to Varissa, and almost exclusively. As she began to be blessed by her holy power, it was deemed appropriate for her to expand her knowledge outward to other dieties. As a holy cleric, she would be expected to know and perform rites of the other Gods, and she would be a fool to be remiss in those duties.

Brenvira is living a pauper's existence. She has a small collection of Sylran coins that her community could manage to part with as a donation, but this wouldn't even be enough to afford rent in any permanent dwelling for more than a month, let alone purchasing one.
To continue providing for herself, she will likely need to continue to travel, relying on good will of others, which on account of her race, may prove hard, or fulfill odd jobs.

She's aware that adventuring hero's like the Pathfinders look for those with skills and powers such as hers, but that would be a significant deviation from her intended plan.