Sister Merielle Silene Living Saint of Ilmater

Your characters' general information and background/origin should go here.

Moderators: Moderator, DM

LeslieMS
Posts: 1076
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:43 pm
Location: Oklahoma, United States

Sister Merielle Silene Living Saint of Ilmater

Unread post by LeslieMS »

((Note: This is put up here for reference. Mostly my own, but also so other folks might know a little more about what they 'see' since I forget little details. Apologies for that. Up until now, this info was scattered all over the place on the forums and my own notes. Obviously not all of this is IC info. I ask for a tad bit of common sense in regards to that. I think I made things clear, but if you aren't sure, don't hesitate to ask me. Now, when someone asks me when Meri's birthday is... I can peek here instead of claiming that I forget her birthday like I do everyone else's... including my own =D Thank you, Cecilia and Jonas for letting me swipe the format for Meri! ))
Merielle Keelynn Silene
(Maiden Name: Williams)

Image
Image
Artwork done by Dajala
(Thanks so much for the beautiful image of her, Dajala!)
Official Title: Sister Merielle Silene the Living Saint of Ilmater.
Aliases: Meri, Sister Meri, Meribird
Date of Birth: 1317 DR Year of the Wandering Wyrm on the twentieth of Kythorn (June)
Place of Birth: Unknown, assumed somewhere in Amn
Base Class & Proposed Development: Favored Soul/Sacred Fist, Monk. (Presently level 30)

Appearance/Physical Presence
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Age: 33 (Though she appears to be in her very late thirties.
Height: 4ft 11in (149cm)
Weight: 115lbs (52.1kg)
Eyes: Jade Green (Can darken to near blackish-green when angry. The angrier she is, the darker her eyes.)
Hair: Coppery colored, though she has begun to grey… It is sporadically spread through the copper, silver-gray strands, that give her hair a faded look. When loose it is curly, almost frizzy… which is why it is most often kept in a neat bun, and almost always beneath her hood.
Notable Facial features: light freckles, very faded. A scar that starts from the top of her left cheek, next to her ear and just below the temple. It traces the outer line of her face, following her jaw line and ending just under the middle of her chin. It has not faded as other scars might be expected to, and looks far more recent than it is. It is mostly hidden when she wears her hood.
Handedness: Right
Posture: Her posture is often described as motherly, with a kindly smile, a patient expression. She is hardly considered overbearing, but when she asserts herself, it is likened to a strict schoolmarm or a mother intent on asserting her authority with unruly children. She manages this with the tone of her voice and a very stern look.
Hygiene: Almost obsessively neat. This cleanliness carries through most of what she does. She stays clean when the situation allows, but isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty when duty calls.
Scent: Meri smells of a woman who spends her day working in the kitchen, and working with herbs, she also smells faintly of lye soap. The mix is something akin to a tidy bakery with an earthy undertone.

Notable Items:
She wears her holy symbol where it can be seen, on a leather cord about her neck. A gift from Jonas Rokranon, it is made of Mithril, it bears an engraving on the back of it upon closer inspection.
A far older, less elegant holy symbol is worn on the same leather cord. It is clear that this simple piece has been with her far longer than anything she wears save for her own skin. It would also seem that it is just as valued as the more expensive looking one.
She wears a simple pewter locket, a gift from one Selah Shartess that she has never been able to give up. Inside the locket is the likenesses of William “Billy” and Dianne Williams. The first children Meri ever adopted, both lost to the Bhaalists during the events leading up to or during the Bhaalist Siege.
Image Image
She also wears a signet ring. Though it is sized to her finger, it is still a rather large ring, thus it is worn on a chain around her wrist. The Rokranon crest it bears is visible when she works, and her sleeves are out of the way.
Her only other adornment seeming of value is a silver wedding ring, with a medium-blue colored sapphire on her right ring finger.
Her robes are often gray, and she is very seldom seen in anything else. A red head scarf is visible when her hood is down. Worn in the tradition of high ranking Ilmater clergy members. Some robes are more patched than others, and while the seamstress work is well done, most of her robes bear at least one tell-tale, post-battle patch job. Some robes even bear repair work indicating what well might have been a near fatal wound. In some cases, the repairs over lap.
The palms of her hands, and backs of her hands are wrapped in bandages. The wrappings start right at the bottom of her hand/top of her wrist, and move up to the top of her hands/base of her fingers. In most circumstances they appear to be plain hand wraps, but on the rare occasions that she has to fight, blood stains the wraps. An indication of a wound that has not, or will not heal. She seems un-surprised by this, and offers a ready explanation when asked of it.

Physical Description:
An imperfect cut and paste job from In Game, but it is current as of December 2014:
Image

Physical Markings:
The previously mentioned scar on her left cheek. It is always at least partially visible.
Her right temple, just below the hair line bears a very faint scar, visible when her hood is off, and her hair is up in its normal bun. This is Meri’s oldest scar, arguably her very first, that wasn’t caused by childhood skinned knees and elbows. It is approximately an inch and a half long, dangerously close to the temple.
A Drow insignia is branded into Meri’s left shoulder, though it has faded considerably… The symbol of House Baenund is still visible. This mark is not readily visible, but it is easy to expose, it is on the upper part of her shoulder, so that the collar of her shirt needs only be pulled to the side. It is approximately 2 inches wide by three inches long.
((Brand Image courtesy of Dajala Silverleaf again! Thanks oodles!!))
The Baenund Brand
Image
Her back is riddled with scars, stab wounds, lash marks and the like. These are obviously covered by clothing. Some are newer than others, most are now barely visible.
Her wrists and ankles bear very faint scars from something being wrapped tightly around them for too long. Her ankles are scarcely seen unless she dunks her feet in a river or something. Her wrists are partially visible if she raises her sleeves.
On her right arm, a few inches beneath her shoulder is yet another brand, this one belonging to a slaver group that traded out of Athkatla.
Inside of her left forearm bears a very faded slave brand of Thayan origin. She usually does not roll her sleeves up enough for this to be visible.
General Physical Stats:
Strength: Average
Dexterity: Above Average
Constitution: Slightly Above Average


Personality Profile
General Mental Stats:
Intelligence: Above Average
Wisdom: Above Average
Charisma: High

General Health: She is considered rather healthy, both physically and mentally.
Alignment: Lawful Good
Deity/Beliefs: Ilmater. The Broken God.
Unlike many of her fellows, Meri has taken no formal vows. In not taking vows such as Poverty or Silence, she can move funds and assets to aid the poor, children, and others that fall under her care. Especially since being named a Living Saint, she feels her voice is best used to speak on behalf of those who cannot or will not speak for themselves.
She also has not taken a formal Vow of Peace or Non-violence. Instead she has vowed to not raise her hand in anger or strike first. It is said that the wounds on her hands remain because she lost her temper and broke that vow once during her training. As such, it is a constant reminder of the pain a closed fist causes to herself and others… even when used as a last resort and only means of completing her duties to protect others from harm. A physical manifestation of her belief that one should understand the weight and true need of coming to blows, that raising a hand against another carries not only a physical cost, but a spiritual, emotional, and mental one that is exacted from all involved.
Philosophy: “As Faith and Heart bid, when needs must.” Follow your faith first, do your duty, but always temper deed, word and action with compassion. Never be afraid of a little hard work in your tasks.
“One cannot appreciate the Light without first walking in Darkness.” Even the worst of times are valuable experiences, without them, we cannot truly appreciate the blessing that the best of times are.
“Mercy to all, even the least deserved.” There are many forms of mercy, and everyone, even the worst people, deserves even the smallest measure of it. She believes strongly in the power of kindness, and in the strength that hope brings to people.
Profession: Healer. Since she was named a Living Saint, her duties have included more than just simple healing. Probably the part that she finds most awkward of her new role… is how much of a figurehead she has become.

Habits:
Meri has trouble… sitting still. If there’s work to be done, she feels better when it is finished.
It could also be said that worry is a hobby, one she is very good at.
She has a fondness for tea. Such that she carries a tea service set with her, and a supply of various teas for brewing. The more anxious/upset she gets… the faster she drinks her tea. If it could be said that she has a vice… this is it. Running out of tea, or going long without it, tends to make her cranky. She favors chamomile tea, but has yet to come across a variety that she doesn’t like.
Hobbies:
Meri has many hobbies because she hates being ‘idle’. She enjoys writing, reading, sewing, knitting, cleaning (Which… if it were an Olympic sport, Meri would have more than one gold medal). Aside from these very practical hobbies, she enjoys cooking, especially trying new recipes. She has also taken to painting in her later years. Though she is by no means a good artist, she finds it very relaxing. It is probably the one hobby she has just for fun.

Languages: Common is her preferred tongue. She is also (though not commonly known, outside of her closest allies) fluent in Undercommon. She speaks very good Elven, but it carries an odd accent that most do not place. Though this accent has lessened over time and is barely noticeable now, her time in the Underdark has effected her grasp of ‘proper’ Elven. Her brother has tried/still tries to teach her Celestial, but she is clearly not fluent with it.
Weapon of Choice: Her mind and her faith. She carries no physical or traditional weapon. When she absolutely must… she will use her fists.

General/Common Knowledge:
Founder of the Mercy Orphanage in Baldur’s Gate
Very important figure in the events prior to, and during the Siege of the Bhaalist Temple that is now the Friendly Arm Inn.
Granted the title of ‘Living Saint’ after the events of the Bhaalist Siege.
Happily married to Tessian Silene.
Mother of one daughter by blood, Matty Silene. Mother of many more, either through adoption, or her ties to the Orphanages in Baldur’s Gate and near her present home in Tethyr.

Allies (Notable Factions):
((Note: This list is incomplete due to my long absence and changes in server wide political dynamic. As old alliances are re-confirmed, they can be added.))
She has strong ties with the Radiant Heart chapter in Baldur’s Gate. At the request of Thiago the First, she served in a short advisory capacity as Prelate of the local order.
Close friends with the long standing clergy of the Ilmater temple in Baldur’s Gate; Brother Marcus, Sister Adolina, Sister Juna, and Sister Rachel.
She has strong affiliations to the churches of Torm and Tyr as they are members of the Triad. She frequently pays respects to both gods.
A strong supporter of the Flaming Fist as a whole.

Enemies (Notable Factions):
Any slaver organization
Strongly despises the Red Wizards of Thay and close affiliates
The Zhentirim
Has a very strong, deep seeded hatred for any claiming alliance or faith in Bhaal.
Those who worship Shar.
Those who worship Loviatar.
Any that continuously prey on the less able or fortunate, commit heinous evil acts, or go out of their way to cause strife and suffering.

Goals:
To lead by example in upholding the dogma of Ilmater.
To aid children without homes and families.
Live long enough to see peace in regions she thinks of or has thought of as home.
To undo evil’s machinations and end suffering where she can. Even if it is one soul at a time.


Miscellaneous Facts/Info
She remembers nothing of the first 15 years of her life.
Meri is famous for her honey cakes.
In her capacity as priestess, she has presided over many weddings, she loves them.
She cannot stand disorganization. Or an unclean kitchen. She’s been known to clean when overly frustrated.
She has not slept well in as long as she can remember.
She has a very undeniable fear of the dark. She isn’t even fond of dimly lit rooms. Over the years, this fear has become less debilitating than it used to be. She does however have a developing fondness of the night sky.
She has a terrible memory, especially with names and faces. It is what began her need to write things down, and learn to draw faces… which lead to her love of art.
For a brief time after completing her training with the Ilmatari, she worked as a seamstress making ladies’ dresses and evening gowns.
During her earliest days on the Sword Coast, she considered living at Candlekeep, and was even invited to work there in the infirmary. She did work at the infirmary for a time, but left for Baldur’s Gate when it was clear she was needed in the Ilmater Temple.
The light that surrounds her, originating over her head is the result of physical contact with the avatar of Ilmater during a visit to Mount Martyrdom before the final battle of the Bhaalist Siege. The Nimbus of Light is often called her halo, an intangible representation of her devout faith.
Meri has written a book on the Bhaalist Siege, a copy of which is available for public viewing in the Ilmater temple. Copies were given to the Dukes of Baldur’s Gate, and the book is also found within the library fortress of Candlekeep. It is titled ‘Murder Rended, Mercy Mended’. ((Link Below))

Other Representations and Links
Close real life resemblance (When she was younger, of course)
Courtesy of some random image I found on the internet years ago and can’t remember where… sorry:
Image

Theme Song for Merielle:

Saint Merielle Silene’s Theme Song:


The Original Symbol of House Baenund by Dajala Silverleaf:
Image

Comic Book Meri by Ol’ Kel:
ImageImage
Subject: The Adventures of Kel: A Baldur's Gate Comic
Murder Rended... Mercy Mended...

Subject: A Public Recounting

Meri’s Journal:
Subject: Never Again Forget - Saint Merielle Silene
Mind you, this needs heavy editing all over. Apologies in advance to all you English grammar sorts out there. I write a lot, but not always very well. Consider the novel/journal very much a Work in Progress.
"Play nice." Mum
"Mercy, even to the least deserved."
"Revenge is beneath me, but Accidents happen..."
"Even Echoes fade to silence."
Post Reply

Return to “Character Biographies”