Elsie Thornhilt - Variant Human Noble Bounty Hunter Ranger

[NorthOfOrdinary]

Elsie Thornhilt - Variant Human Noble Bounty Hunter Ranger

Name: Princess Aethelstar Hartwick aka Elsie Thornhilt

Character Concept: A young female wanderer, with an unpressed claim to a faraway kingdom, survives by traveling the wilds and taking odd jobs as a novice adventurer. Her road takes her west to Waterdeep in search of a treasure that could buy her an army to retake her ancestral home.

Race, Background, Subclass Class: Variant Human Noble Bounty Hunter Ranger

Ability Scores: STR 5 DEX 16 CON 10 WIS 13 INT 12 CHA 18

Description: Elsie is a beautiful girl that is slightly on the tall side for a human female. She stands just about five feet and nine inches tall. She has a very slender frame. Fair haired and fair skinned with a warm, gentle face- the ranger looks every part like a naïve noble girl stuffed into dirty leathers which wouldn't be that far from the truth. Her skin is naturally without blemish, her lips are soft, and her eyes are a stunning hazel. It's quite the contrast to her worn out hide armor and her mud stained linen clothes. It's not uncommon for passersby's to do a double take when Elsie walks by - who would expect such a dainty and waifish young woman to be carrying freshly skinned wolf pelts over her shoulder? On first impression, many assume her to be lost or in need of help. She takes pride though in showing others that even if it takes her more trips to haul the same amount of firewood, she is just as capable as any of them, if not more.

 

It's a shame that confidence doesn't extend much beyond the road from the forest back into the bounds of civilization. Elsie appreciates a scented bath and a warm bed as much as anyone but she hasn't decided if its worth the crowds. She is awkwardly soft-spoken and unsteady in front of very large groups of people. She'd much rather speak her mind one-on-one or within a small group of friends she trusts and feels comfortable with. Taverns are fine, but formal social functions draw out the outlander's nerves. Confrontations are a mixed bag. Elsie is not likely to keep her purse if cornered by a mugger in a dark lit alley, but she'll be the first to let loose an arrow when it means protecting someone she cares about. She's a tough girl even if she isn't very strong. Her mentor taught her not to get close to people that mean her harm and she does her best to follow that instruction. She learned quickly to walk with her head down and her hood up in the field district to avoid unwanted attention while transporting her pelts.

 

It's clear to those that get to know her that Elsie has a savage side. She is well mannered and speaks every bit like someone who is at least civilized and social but it's unusual to her that many in Waterdeep find more joy in watching a theater show or listening to an orchestra then sitting by a campfire or counting stars. Her biggest complaint about the city so far is the lack of trees to climb, rivers to swim in, and fields to let her horse roam. She enjoys learning about the experiences of different people though, and can often be found having inquisitive conversations in the back corners of the Yawning Portal with even the seemingly less social clientele. Sometimes it takes a damaged person to recognize a damaged person. Elsie works off her own emotional scars by pretending they aren't there and doing her best to help others heal their own.

 

When she isn't wandering the wilds Elsie tends to loose her armor, her sword, and her bow in favor of simple linen or wool dresses like those common amongst the regular peasants in Faerun. Her style tends to be very practical - favoring function and fit over fancy stitching or expensive adornment. She holds herself to the same standard that she holds everyone else to - a person should be judged by how they treat those around them and not by superficial things like wealth or power. Of course, she's come to the unfortunate recognition that the rest of the urban world seems to see things differently.

 

Character Plothook:

Mattrim “Threestrings” Merreg: Threestrings was the first friend that Elsie made in Waterdeep. The friendly bard took pity and invited the young ranger off the street and into the Yawning Portal for a cup of warm cocoa on a very cold, wet, stormy morning. She stayed to listen to him play a few songs and the two quickly hit it off as fast acquaintances. Elsie occasionally frequents the tavern now to listen to Threestrings play and to give him a good-natured ribbing at the bar afterwards. It's always nice to catch up with old friends.
 

Past is Prologue: Elsie was born Princess Aethelstar Hartwick of House Hartwick, the Kings of the Hartsvale and the Ice Spires. She was a newborn baby when her parents, King Taumarik and Queen Yilena, were killed and usurped by her uncle, Lord Osserick in a coup joined by an army of disillusioned northerners, orcs, ogres, and giants that despised the Queen for her practice of magic. The child was stolen away to the south by a dwarven servant with ties to King Abdar of the Dwarves. There she was given a fake surname, a shortened first name, and placed in a dwarven home to be raised in secret until the dwarves could use her birthright to leverage their new enemy to the north.

 

Eventually Osserick's spies discovered her however, and as a teenager Elsie was stolen away again by a wandering ranger, Dirk, who was hired by the dwarves to hide her from Osserick's mercenaries in the wilds of western Faerun. Dirk taught her the ways of a ranger and helped Elsie to accept the knowledge of her lineage when the secret proved impossible for him to keep hidden from her any longer. Dirk accepted the role of a fatherly figure early in their travels and the pair worked together to stay one step ahead of Rorik and Karl, Ossifer's contracted killers, for years before they were finally caught unaware while camping in the Evermoors. The ensuing fight was deadly. Dirk was slain by Rorik's crossbow. Karl was able to briefly grab ahold of Elsie, but Rorik's twin brother held her for only a moment before she slipped away into the dark marshes - a dagger in Karl's gut.

 

The young heiress continued to flee west until the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months and the months turned into years. She eventually figured she had traveled so far as to have perhaps outrun her pursuers for good. Elsie settled down in Waterdeep hoping to use its population to hide in plain sight and her skills as a trapper to make enough coins to survive. She had all but given up on any dreams of returning to the land of her birth until she heard a rumor of a vast treasure hidden somewhere within the coastal city - enough gold to hire her own army and march home to fulfill her destiny.

 

Truths, Rumors, and Lies:

1. Elsie is the lost princess and heir to the throne of Castle Hartwick. (True)
2. Elsie is an orphaned peasant, raised by dwarves with a penchant for tall tales. (Half-True)
3. Elsie is as sticky-fingered and untrustworthy as any thief or brigand. She is on the run to avoid atoning for past crimes. (False)

 

Connections: 

Olga Stronghelm: Olga is a kind but stern elderly dwarven woman whom calls Waterdeep home. She resides in the rough and tumble Field Ward near the North Gate. Originally from Citadel Adbar, she grew a grandmotherly fondness for Elsie after discovering the girl lived for a time with long estranged kin. A friend of Olga’s family is a friend of Olga. She runs a smithy and tannery out of the ground floor of her house that specializes in horse-shoes and other riding equipment. Many hunters and trappers stop by to trade hides for her locally famous apple moonshine.

 

Rorik Palebeard: Rorik is an aged, graying man of malevolent character. An experienced mercenary, Rorik and his brother were hired by Elsie's uncle to capture Elsie and bring her back to Castle Hartwick - alive or dead. After Rorik’s brother died in the pursuit, the chase has taken on a whole new level of personal vendetta. Rorik is a strong fighter and a capable tracker. His biggest strength however, lies in his cunning. He often poses as a man of the law seeking a young blonde haired girl he claims is a thief.

Pictures: 

Music:

I: 'Wayfaring Stranger' by Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker

The first selection is a somber, sobering hymn about a lost soul waiting for death to take them in its final peaceful embrace. I think it does a good job of capturing the deep feelings of hurt and loneliness that pervades Elsie's life following the death of her ranger friend. There is also a certain calmness about the song that I think speaks to her character. She dreams of someday meeting her parents and the others she has lost along the way but to get there she must first finish walking the path of this life no matter how long it takes. The song captures her present state.

II: ‘Queen of Kings’ by Alessandra

The second selection is about an invincible warrior queen that is unstoppable in her conquests. I see this song as a fitting theme for Elsie's personal rise from disheveled outdoorswoman to acceptance and eventual pursuance of her birthright to a faraway kingdom. As she comes to embrace her ancestry and appreciate herself for what she is capable of doing for people in need along the way, Elsie will gain a new sense of ambitious optimism and regal confidence that will permeate her persona. The song captures her dreams for the future.

III: 'Rains of Castamere' by Kiki Rockwell

The third selection is a tale of vengeance meant to caution anyone whom would dare to challenge the ruling family of Casterly Rock, a fictional location within the GRRM universe. Only fairytales end with happy endings, and I feel this song is not only a tale of revenge but a powerful warning against underestimating your foes. Whether Elsie's tale ends with her retaking her home, being cut down by the forces of her usurper uncle, or somewhere within the confines of Waterdeep - Either Elsie or her enemies will go down fighting. The song captures the unwritten end of her story.

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by NorthOfOrdinary (see edit history)

[NorthOfOrdinary]

 

Elsie Thornhilt

Human Noble Ranger

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AC: 15 (Studded Leather) | HP: 10/10 (1d10) | Speed: 30 ft.
Senses:
Str:Save: +3

Athletics: +3

Carrying Capacity: 240 lb.
Lift/Push/Drag: 480 lb. 6 (-2) | Dex:Initiative: −1

Save: −1

Acrobatics: −1
Slight-of-Hand: −1
Stealth: −1☆

☆ disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks from Chainmail Armor. 16 (+3) | Con:Save: +2 10 (+0) | Int:Save: +0

Arcana: +0
History: +0
Investigation: +0
Nature: +0
Religion: +0 12 (+1) | Wis:Save: +2

Animal Handling: +2
Insight: +2
Medicine: +2
Perception: +2
Survival: +2 14 (+2) | Cha:Save: +1

Deception: +1
Intimidation: +1
Performance: +1
Persuasion: +1 18 (+4)
Languages:

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“My words,” Elsie says. | ‘My thoughts,’ Elsie thinks. | My actions . . .

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OOC

Movement: —

Action: —

Bonus Action: —

Reaction: —

 

[Kamishiro_Rin]

Very nice application! Hope you're having fun in the Pre-Game IC Thread!