Full Name: Jessica Jaerden
Age: 24
Class(es): Fighter
Race: Human
Subrace: None
Alignment: Neutral Good
Deity: None
Bio:
Jessica was raised by her mother and father on a farm in the outskirts of Wyck, and found herself wanting to do more than just sit around and tend to the animals or farm all day. From a very early age, she wanted to get out and explore, to adventure, to go see what sort of new things were out there, maybe slay some baddies in the process too! In fact, she could more often be found running about swinging her little wooden sword and happily scampering around the farm, vanquishing make-believe monsters, discovering new lands, and meeting all sorts of new people, rather than tending to her duties like she was supposed to. After her parents or the other grownups got after her, she would eventually get back to her chores, but the thoughts of one day leaving the farm and getting out to adventure in the world were always dancing through her head.
The times that she relished the most were when she got to go and visit her Uncle Edward, who was a wizard living in the town close by. He would often take her out on little excursions about the surrounding areas with him to collect ingredients and things, and Jessica adored being in his company more than anyone elses'. She loved her dear uncle very much, and Uncle Ed was one of the few people that hadn't tried to tell her to stay at home where it was safer, and had encouraged her to keep dreaming, and to keep reaching for those dreams. In fact, it was mostly her beloved uncle's stories that had piqued her interest in wanting to be something other than another farmhand, or a simple housewife. She had tried to learn magic tricks like her uncle could do, once, but didn't seem to have any talent in that area.
Rather than be discouraged, however, she took it to mean that she should concentrate more on her skills with her sword, which is exactly what she did. She got quite a talking to the day that she came home with a real longsword instead of her wooden one, but didn't let that phase her once bit. Her determination to be something other than just a simple farmer pushed her to keep practicing, and to keep dreaming of something better and more fufilling than her days spent at home. What was out there? She didn't know, but she wanted to find out.
What seemed to Jessica like endless years went by as she continued to work on the farm for her family, waiting for the opportunity to be able to leave home with some sort of valid reason. In fact, not twenty-five years had passed since her birth, but to her, it seemed to feel like an eternity.
As she blossomed into a beautiful young woman, she found herself having to wave off suitors, not interested in being married off to anyone (despite her parents' protests). She didn't care to be tied down to any of the local boys who felt she should be a good housewife. No one around the area seemed to want much of anything to do with the rest of the world.. not something that she was too keen on.
One perfectly ordinary night, however, things suddenly changed.
While she was laying in her bed, all cozy and safe from the rest of the world in her dreams (or so she thought), a strange vision came to her. She found herself before a great dragon, and stared up at it with wide eyes, strangely unafraid as it opened its mouth. Words rumbled from the great creature's maw, speaking to her of a great threat to the lands, telling her that she needed to travel to Mistone, that heros were needed. She woke from her sleep groggy and disoriented for a short time, blinking in the darkness as she stared at the ceiling, wondering just what that dream had meant. She spent a few moments trying to sort her head out, but then closed her eyes again, trying to dismiss the dream as nothing more than exactly that. Even as she drifted off again, however, she was unable to push away a growing tingle of excitement within her, one that was still with her when she finally woke in the morning, roused by her mother's calling that she had overslept.
Waking, she found herself even more excited now than she had been earlier in the night by the dream, and had an overwhelming urge to go and tell her Uncle Ed about it. She slipped quickly into her clothes, strapped on her sword (she hardly went anywhere without it nowdays, just because it felt so comfortable having it with her), and hopped outside the house. Before her parents could protest the fact she was already late on her chores, she had saddled and mounted up her favorite horse on the farm and was riding towards town, calling back to them that she'd be back in a couple hours or so.
Jessica's arrival at her uncle's place was usually acknowledged somehow by the old man, so the silence that greeted her as she approached his door was quite disconcerting to her. She knocked on the door, feeling that something was amiss. Gladdened to hear his voice tell her to come in, she found her beloved uncle sitting quietly in one of his favorite chairs near the north window of his house, smoking a pipe.
Speaking to him, she was startled to learn that he didn't recognize her. Frightened as to what might have happened to the old wizard, she tried her hardest to remind him of who she was, and for that matter, who *he* was. Relieved that he finally seemed to remember some things, Jessica was still horrified to learn what had happened, as best Edward was able to recount it. He had miscast a spell and lost his magic? She couldn't imagine her uncle without his powers! She couldn't really completely fathom just what her uncle had been doing, but she knew that something had obviously gone horribly wrong.
What surprised her most in her talk with him was when he spoke to her of a dream that had come to him while he was unconcious the night before. His dream was the same as the one that she had come to tell him about. Jessica quickly realized, as her excitement grew, that this was very likely more than just a simple dream or coincedence.
After this, not much needed to be said between the two, a silent agreement being made as they both mutually decided what they needed to do. Jessica wasted no time in packing provisions and some of the more important things that would be needed, helping her now quite befuddled uncle with his packing since he seemed to be now forgetting and mixing up quite mundane things, including what things were actually his and where they were. Among her uncle's things, the young woman found a rather dusty spellbook, realizing that it was the wizard's novice's book, and showed it to him before packing it in with the other items. Edward balked, waving his arms and started spouting off protests at her, demanding to know what sort of nonsense she was pulling bringing that with. Placing an arm on her dear uncle's shoulder, she gently reminded him of his current situation, her brow creasing in concern as she watched his wrinkled face fall, his bushy brows and beard all seeming to sink on his face as he slowly realized that she was right, grudgingly consenting. She could only guess how hard it would be on him, and reassured him that she would stay by his side and help anyway she could.
Old Uncle Edward and Jessica were a light pair for the mount she had ridden there, but with the extra bit of luggage they were now carting, Jessica let her uncle ride as she led the horse back through town and out to the family farm to say farewell to their family.
Jaerb, Jessica's father and Edward's brother, met them as they came up to the house. Jessica's mother, drawn by a maternal instinct, suddenly appeared from wherever she had been working, going over to meet them. Jaerb grumbled and shook his head a lot, arms crossed and a stern look on his face while they explained the situation, and what they intended to do. Jessica's mother, not wanting to see her daughter go, but realizing that it was at the point where no one could stop her anymore, vanished into the house without a word. Jessica looked after her in confusion as her father, out of the love he had for his family, regardless of how nutty he thought them to be, gathered what things he could for the two, hoping to help them in some way.
The next day, goodbyes were said, affectionate kisses and embraces exchanged, luck was wished to the two would-be travelers, as Jaerb and the other farmhands saw them off at the gate. Jessica looked for her mother, wondering why she had hardly seen her the past evening, why she hadn't said goodbye, and was about to turn around to the road with Edward, her heart a little heavier, when she heard her mother calling to her.
Her mother hurried over to the departing duo, wrapping her arms around Jessica in a tearful hug, kissing both her cheeks and forehead, wishing her the best of luck and safe travels, and for the good graces of the gods. The two women smiled at one another through their tears. Jessica's mother reached into her apron's pockets and pulled out the item she had hurried into the house to get the day before. Opening her hands, she held out a small amulet to her daughter. Edward let out a snort, neither woman noticing a slightly amused smirk on his face.
The amulet was a delicately carved and painted piece of work, bearing the symbol of Deliar, the god of luck, fate and family, attached to a simple piece of corded leather. "Wear it or carry it with you for good luck in your travels, my daughter," her mother smiled softly as Jessica accepted one of the family's few heirlooms, putting it around her neck and tucking it inside her clothes, to keep it close to her. "Be safe in your travels, and may you never forget your roots, no matter how far from them you may grow."
With those words, and a few more goodbyes to the assembled family and gathered group, Jessica and Edward finally set out. It seemed like old times as the two chatted together as they followed the road west to the harbor, except this time, they had no idea when, or even if, they'd be coming back home. Jessica's spirits weren't dampened in the least, looking forward to the journey ahead, and she couldn't have asked for a better traveling companion.
Physical Description:
Jessica is a simple beauty. Always a pretty child, she has matured over the years into a shapely young woman. When looking at her face, her baby blue eyes look out at the world, warm, sparkling, inquisitive as she drinks in the sights around her. Soft blond hair falls past her shoulders, framing the fair features of her face, with her slightly tanned complexion from having spent so much time outdoors. A friendly and warm (though sometimes mischevious) smile often touches her pink lips. Around her neck, usually hidden inside her clothes, hangs a rather simple, unmagical amulet with Deliar's symbol on it. The slightly unusual strength in her body (at least, what her family considered unusual for a 'delicate' girl like her..) was always admired on the farm where she grew up, which helped her with her both in her duties, and also in her sword play. When sleeveless, her arm muscles are fairly well defined. Her step is light and confident, though not exactly graceful. She walks with her head up, looking forward to seeing what comes next in life, not wanting to miss anything. More often than not, her favorite longsword can be strapped somewhere on her body, regardless of the occasion.
Personality/Attitude:
Personality wise, Jessica is a kind, almost always happy young woman who's smile is more than just on her lips. Her very voice speaks with a warmth and kindness, and often an eagerness for what may lay ahead. She tries to help when someone seems in need, feeling good by aiding others, and hoping that by doing good to others, they might in turn help another in need. Helping take care of her uncle has become one of the responsibilities she has chosen to take on.
Jessica's want to adventure and seek new things goes hand in hand with her wanting to excel in her use of her longsword. While young and still inexperienced, she is aware that she knows very little about a lot of things, and wants to learn as much as she can, both about the world around her, and about the art of using her chosen blade. She doesn't expect to learn things overnight, but is eager to be able to get out and do things.
She hasn't been out in the world long enough to really have devlopped any real prejudices, especially after having spent so much time with her Uncle Edward. She does realize how different some races can be, but still has much to learn about them.
Languages: (Int 13 +1)
Halfling: Working on the farm with her parents for most of her life, Jessica picked up a good amount of the halflings' speech in much the same way that her uncle did (living on the same farm that he grew up on and all), by listening to and learning it from those who served Deliar and Prunilla, who did business with her family through farming or trading. She enjoyed being able to speak with them, but still never quite got rid of her accent, or her habit of sometimes misusing grammar, no matter how many times the usually good-natured halflings tried correct her.
*NOTES*
This is part of a joint submission of two characters. The other, Edward Jaerden, will be played by Rehevkor, and
~can be found here~.
The amulet that Jessica wears is pretty much completely RP in nature, completely non-magical family trinket (as far as Jessica knows anyways), so she doesn't require anything extra to start with unless someone feels generous. ^-^
Thank you!
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Jessica Jaerden 
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