Biography - Heideka

[Xndar]

First Name: Heideka

Race: Halfling
Age: 21
Height: 2'8"
Weight: 25lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown, Overgrown with moss

Deity: Sylvanus
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Class(es): Spirit Shaman/Warlock
Languages: Common, Giant (In place of Halfling), Animal
Weapon of Choice: Eldritch Blast

Physical Description: Heideka is small even for a halfling, but that is far from her most noteworthy feature. Her face is marked by several runes drawn in dried mud, which she changes daily, her fingernails have grown to the point where they look like dirty bird talons and her teeth are either naturally sharp or have been filed to appear that way. She frequently carries various herbs, berries and pastes in hallowed-out animal skulls hanging from her belt.

History: When Heideka was just an infant, her parents were travelling from Baldur's Gate to Beregost in a traditional halfling caravan. All went smoothly until the caravan took a detour through the Cloakwood to avoid the then-temple to Bhaal that would later become the Friendly Arm Inn. The caravan was raided by lizardfolk, who killed all they could find and made off with the caravan's wares, leaving a now orphaned Heideka behind in the ruins out of either negligence or some strange mercy. She would likely have starved to death or been killed by exposure had a member of the Cloakwood's hag covey not found her and decided to bring the babe back to her cave.

Had she been born a male, she would most certainly have been eaten, but it was not only her gender that saved her from a grisly fate at the hands of the Cloakwood hags. The covey sensed that she had fey ancestry; distant enough to not immediately effect her appearance or natural talents, but potent enough that it might be turned to useful ends. So she was raised, first as their infant, then as their servant. She cooked, cleaned, prepared reagents for the covey's spells, kept prisoners fed and tended to the younger hagspawn.

While most of the hags alternated between treating her like a favored pet and like filth, the green hag Chulwytha took a particular interest in young Heideka, and tutored her in the ways of the forest, and of its spirits. When she had grown to maturity, Chulwytha gave Heideka her first man: a halfling adventurer the local shadow druids had caught defiling their woods. Seeing little reason not to, she followed the hag tradition of devouring this unfortunate man. At this point the hags deemed her ready, and conducted a magical ritual whereby her fey blood was called forth and bound into the service of the legendary Baba Yaga. Now a proper witch, she was free to leave the covey and to begin exploring for them. Chulwytha and others like her hoped that she would bring back men and other treasures to strengthen their covey, while others were simply happy of one less mouth to feed.

Personality: Heideka is more of a miniature hag than a halfling at a glance, and emulates many of their speech patterns and customs. However, a small corner of her mind has always remained distinctly un-hag-like. Although she sees nothing wrong with murder or other more foul acts, she also does not possess any inherent drive to do such things. Although she cares for Chulwytha after a fashion, she is also aware of a much wider world of spirits and nature that require her care and homage as well. Her inner confidence and independence are both strong, and she has slowly learned to move about in civilized cities through much trial, error and observation, but she will never feel at home in such clusters of humanity.