Crystal Maucear

Fitness: Crystal has developed a lithe 'dancers' figure due to years of physical activity and exploration.

Strength: Although she possesses above-average strength for a woman, due to her involvement in her father's forge, this is not one of her primary strengths.

Agility: Crystal prefers to outthink situations and has taught herself to be quick and agile

Left-Handed

Crystal is of average height for a she-elf, and her build showcases having sufficient nourishment as a child. Her preference for practical 'tomboy' clothing often does not show off her figure, which has been equated to a dancer's form. Like many of the Elves in Mauribon, she is fair-skinned but is often tanned and covered in soot, ash, or dirt.

Typical of Elven culture, she has sharper facial features and pointy ears. Her cerulean blue eyes have given her a piercing gaze, one that makes you feel like she can see everything about you.

Her honey blonde hair is the one area that she pays 'feminine' attention to, it is well-maintained and shines in the sun.

Her pointed ears are indicative of his elven heritage

Crystal favors sturdy, hard-wearing fabrics like thick linen, practical wool blends, or even treated leather. These materials can withstand the rigors of the forge, outdoor adventures, and repeated tinkering without easily tearing or wearing out. She often wears earthy tones to conceal the dirt, grease, and soot that she accumulates. Her preference would be practical trousers or breeches, but if she is forced into a skirt, it had better be split or tiered.

She generally wears sturdy footwear, particularly when out and about exploring. A handy pouch of artisans' tools can often be found on her belt.

Generally, Crystal shies away from jewelry, typically only wearing the necklace that Aren gave her as a gift.

Early Life

Crystal was born the youngest of five children and the only daughter of the Maucear family, renowned merchants known for their master weaponsmiths. Being the only daughter amongst a family of brothers in a hands on profession influenced her heavily from a young age.

The lack of female influences outside of her mother caused her to become into a tomboy at a young age. Keeping pace with four older brothers caused her to develop a resilient rough-and-tumble nature. She learned how to hold her own and would not back down from what she thought was right.

Foundation as an Artificer

From a young age Crystal liked to play with scraps and various trinkets in her dad's workship. Her keen intelligence, particularly when it came to tinkering, allowed her to understand the concepts as she learned her early letters.

As the only daughter of the family, she did not work long hours at the forge, nor did she spend all day lifting heavy materials. Rather, she often joined her father in tinkering and fine-tuning the weapons after they were forged, or repairing old mechanisms. Her father's doting on her artificer skills, both set her apart from her brothers and led to a source of quiet pride within her.

Meeting Aren

By the time she was nearing her eighth birthday, Crystal was already headstrong and had a strong sense of morality. Thus, when a young boy suddenly dove into the shop looking worse for wear and in need of aid, Crystal immediately declared them friends and helped the young elf hide from the pirates seeking to kill him.

Together, the two eight-year-olds managed to climb up to the rafters and hide until the Blue Guard arrived to stop the threat. It was then that Crystal learned her new friend was Aren Rylin, the newly adopted heir to the Stewardship of the Seasons.

Into her Early Teenage Years

As a result of their meeting, Aren and Crystal became very close friends, with a strong bond forged between them. Her immediate aid, declaration of friendship, and acceptance of him in general had a profound impact on the young elf, who had lost his mother and cousin and been abandoned by his father just six months ago.

Crystal, on her end, saw a friend who was in need, even if it was just sitting with him. She was the first one outside of his uncle Auralon, the reigning Steward, that Aren spoke out loud to since the incident. The two of them formed a strong bond, becoming thick as thieves and going on several childish adventures, and pulling pranks along the way.

It was due to Aren's insistence that Crystal was able to attend some of his formal lessons with his tutor, and she thrived with the additional knowledge. While her brothers would teasingly call her 'gear-head' when she was surrounded by miscellaneous parts tinkering, she continued to experiment and thrived on creating new things. Even as a young child, several aspects of being an artificer made sense to her in a way that only her father could understand.

Teenage Years

Despite being introduced to a formal court through her friendship with Aren, Crystal maintained the blunt/direct manner that she developed in her family's forge. When Aren returned from a summer away, having been chosen by his family's ancestral sword, she remarked that he is still a dork despite having a fancy sword.

Once the two of them had turned 13, they began sneaking out and exploring the northern side of Mauribon more and more, making new friends, such as Alan Taylor, a young human whose father was serving as an ambassador from the Siorain Empire to their Elemental Enclaves. Together, the developing young individuals could be causing chaos one minute, and then helping a crying child the next.

Ulric Stormcrow

Despite her blunt personality, Crystal typically knew to behave around visitors to Kaer Douin, the seat of the Steward. However, when Aren's father returned after abandoning him ten years prior, Crystal was very quick to kick him in the shins. Throughout the next few weeks, she made sure to be there for her friend as he went through a whirlwind of emotions. This included not letting him isolate himself and brood as he was apt to do.

Explorations in Late Childhood

As Crystal entered her 20s, the age of late childhood for Elves, she was allowed more freedom to explore and figure out her future. She continued to help her father with commissioned orders that required an artist's touch, and even worked with him to finish a present he forged for her, a specialized scythe. This could be stored in a sheath like any sword and even act as one, but various panels in the blades were able to form a scythe and lengthen the handle when needed.

Together, Aren, Alan, and she began exploring outside of Mauribon in the Enclave valley where their people had settled.

Primary Education: The Forge and the Workshop

• Her earliest and most profound education took place in her family's shop, where she received a direct "learn-by-doing" apprenticeship under her father.
• Her focus was on fine mechanics, clockwork, metal properties, material science, and problem-solving through invention and repair.
• Her parents sought to teach each of their children to read, and her keen intelligence and early literacy helped her to further grow her education.

Secondary Education

Through Aren's insistence, she gained access to lessons typically reserved for nobility.

• History
• Mathematics
• Philosopohy
• Advanced Literacy

Apprentice at Mauricears

Problem-Solver and Improviser

Her passion for tinkering translates directly into her personality: she sees problems as puzzles to be solved. She's not content to just identify an issue; she wants to understand it and fix it. This makes her an excellent improviser, quick on her feet to find unconventional solutions in a crisis (as shown when she hid with Aren).

Intuitive Understanding of Mechanisms

Not just knowing how to build or repair, but an almost intuitive grasp of how intricate mechanisms fit together and function. This applies whether it's a clockwork device, a magical trap, or even the internal workings of a complicated political scheme (though she might not enjoy the latter).

Skills and Savvies

Exceptional Observation: To be a good tinker or artificer, one needs keen observational skills to understand how things work (or don't). This would extend to her environment, making her highly observant of details—a valuable asset in Mauribon's Durstraid district, or when with Aren. She notices things others miss.

Problem-Solver & Improviser: Her passion for tinkering translates directly into her personality: she sees problems as puzzles to be solved. She's not content to just identify an issue; she wants to understand it and fix it. This makes her an excellent improviser, quick on her feet to find unconventional solutions in a crisis (as shown when she hid with Aren).

Intuitive Understanding of Mechanisms: Not just knowing how to build or repair, but an almost intuitive grasp of how intricate mechanisms fit together and function. This applies whether it's a clockwork device, a magical trap, or even the internal workings of a complicated political scheme (though she might not enjoy the latter).

Ineptitudes and Flaws

Impatience with Inefficiency/Bureaucracy: Much like Aren's aversion to paperwork, Crystal would likely have very little patience for slow, inefficient processes or formal bureaucracy. Her mind is constantly seeking the most direct and practical solution, and she'd probably find courtly protocol or endless meetings stifling.

Socially Blunt/Direct: Growing up in a forge, and as the youngest daughter with brothers, she might have developed a very direct, no-nonsense communication style. She's not one for subtle hints or elaborate courtly pleasantries. This can make her seem blunt or even a bit abrasive to those unaccustomed to her straightforwardness, though it's usually well-intentioned.

Tunnel Vision (When Focused): When deep in a project or trying to solve a problem, Crystal might develop a strong tunnel vision, becoming oblivious to her surroundings or other concerns. This could lead her to neglect other duties or miss important social cues.

Crystal has a clear personality: She is "a resilient rough-and-tumble tomboy" who can be "headstrong" and "blunt."

Inherent Talent to be an Artificer: Crystal can see how mechanisms and artifacts work in a way that is hard to describe to someone who does not have the gift. She has a focused intensity that allows her to block out distractions and zero in on the problem.

Fingernails and Grease: As an occupational hazard, her hands are never perfectly clean. She often has oil or metal filings under her fingernails, or unconsciously wipes her hands on her trousers when thinking.

Tinkering with Small Objects: When bored, stressed, or listening intently, she might absentmindedly dismantle and reassemble a small, simple object (a bolt, a loose gear, a discarded pin).

Calling People by Practical Nicknames: Instead of formal titles, she might instinctively use practical nicknames or descriptions for people based on their skills or appearance.

A Distinctive Smirk: When she's particularly pleased with a clever solution or has thought of a mischievous idea, she might have a quirky smirk that lights up her face.

Her Brothers

Caelon - The Protective Older Brother

Being 20 years older than her, Caelon is both a brother and a secondary parental figure. It was he who taught her some practical skills beyond the forge, like how to handle herself in a scrap outside. Furthermore, he served as the mediator between the five siblings, often keeping things in check.

Lirien - The Teasing Troublemaker

Lirien is always the first to tease her about anything, particularly her tinkering or if she is doing anything feminine. This isn't necessarily malicious; it's classic middle-child behavior – seeking attention and pushing boundaries. It was sparing with him that Crystal really developed her refusal to back down; she learned to hold her own verbally and physically against him, honing her quick wit and stubborn resolve.

Orin - The Quiet One

Orin is more apt to be hyper-focused on a project than Crystal is, and this has allowed them to bond even if they are not particularly close.

Directness (Bluntness)

In a smithy, clear and concise instructions are absolutely vital for safety and production. This is how Crystal was taught to communicate. This is not just bluntness for bluntness' sake; it's a reflection of her mental prioritization.

Efficiency as a Core Value: In a smithy, clear and concise instructions are vital for both safety and production. Crystal would naturally carry this into her interactions. She's not trying to be rude; she's trying to be efficient.

Literal Interpretation: Growing up where words often meant exactly what they said (e.g., "Pass the tongs," not "Perhaps you might consider passing the tongs when you have a moment"), she might struggle with metaphors, euphemisms, or social subtext.

Honesty as a Professional Imperative: In a profession where flaws in a weapon could mean life or death, honesty is paramount. Sugarcoating a defect isn't an option.