Celine Prospero

[Featherfox]

First Name: Celine
Last Name: Prospero

Appearance:
Race: Human
Age: 18
Height 5'6"
Weight: 140 lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Blonde
Facial Hair Style: None

Personality Profile:
General Health: Healthy - She pays to eat well and fights disease at first symptoms
Deity: Milil
Initial Alignment: Neutral Good
Profession: Dancer / Adventurer
Base Class & Proposed Development: Base - Swashbuckler. End Goal - Duelist + Weapon Master (Rapier)
Habits/Hobbies: Exploration, Social Conversation ("People watching"), Dancing
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Draconic, Cormanthan, Serusan
Weapon of Choice: Rapier

Background: Celine hails from the Prospero family; a recent merchant family to emerge on the Sword Coast. Her grandfather had a successful adventuring career, in that when his group slew the dragon he was the only survivor and took the hint to quit while he had his head. Deciding that the cutthroat trading business was less dangerous, and confident in his skills to handle bandits, he married and settled down.

As children, Celine and Nathan Prospero grew up doing everything together. Their favourite pastime was sparring; which the two did regularly. Celine's parents felt that as the family were travelling merchants; it was prudent for Celine and Nathan to be able to defend themselves. Whenever bandits did strike, Nathan and Celine always fought back-to-back. As they both grew up, Nathan was trained more in the mercantile arts, while Celine was trained in the arts of social conversation and company. Celine never begrudged her parents grooming her for marriage; she honestly saw that next step in her life as a grand adventure. Nathan was married first, and had started to take over the business when tragedy struck.

The first life-altering moment for Celine happened when her family's trade caravan was struck by a surprise Orc attack. While the raid wasn't successful, the orcs managed to kill Nathan's new wife. Celine's brother did not handle the loss well. Then, one morning, he simply vanished. He snuck away in the night; taking only what he would need from the caravan. Though Nathan did leave a note naming Celine as the new family head; her father refused to accept it. He talked things over with Celine's grandfather, and the pair decided that Celine should go track Nathan down.

Celine has always obeyed her family dutifully. Though she doubted the wisdom of this quest; she quelled her inner turmoil long enough to begin her search. Her skill with words and mannerisms helped her immensely, and it wasn't long before she found her brother hiding in a village in Cormyr. When she found him though, he had changed considerably. His features were more sharp; and a cold menace lurked behind his eyes. For the first time, Celine saw and felt no warmth from her brother. She tried to talk him into coming back, but he refused. Instead, he told Celine that he would only return if she could best him.

The second life-altering moment for Celine happened when she foolishly rushed into that duel. Nathan had been cutting his teeth on orcs the entire trip, whereas Celine had merely followed roads and rumours. Her brother was leagues beyond her in skill and finesse. She couldn't read her brother's movements at all as he cruelly toyed with her; disarming her of her rapier numerous times. Finally, he pierced both her shoulders with his rapier to stop her from attacking. Celine crumpled; defeated both physically and mentally. Nathan stood over her, but as Celine looked up she didn't recognize the man towering over her. "I'll give you just one last chance, sister. But, next time, if you choose to face me you won't see the dawn." With that, Nathan dropped a rapier at her feet and walked out of her life.

It took Celine weeks to recover the use of her arms, and to overcome the humiliation of her defeat. She didn't know what had happened to her brother, but she realized in that time that she truly did have to stop him and bring him home. Seizing the rapier Nathan left behind, Celine set out on her journey anew. With rumours guiding her to Baldur's Gate, Celine promises this time she will travel as Nathan had; as her grandfather had before her too. She will help those who need it; she will enter and gain the trust of the adventuring community. If she's going to stop her brother, she'll need training, equipment, and information.

Goals: Celine's goals are selfish, but simple. She seeks mastery over Nathan's favoured weapon - the Rapier. It's not enough for her to simply win a duel; she must soundly and unquestionably dominate her brother sufficiently enough for him to want to return home.

Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
- Due to her defeat at the hands of her brother, Celine takes failure hard. Nobody is a harsher critic than herself when it comes to her own performance. To her, even a shaky success is still a failure.
- Celine calls fighting one-handed with the rapier "dancing".
- Celine is always seeking stronger fighters. Her goal isn't to emulate them, but instead to learn from their experience so she can incorporate their wisdom into her dance.
- Celine studies people because she feels that doing so can help her read her opponents better in battle; if she knows their intentions she can better dodge, parry, or counter their assault.
- Celine has not thought of anything beyond the goals before her. Should Nathan perish, or return home of his own volition; Celine would be lost as she has no idea what to do.
- Celine will run after rumours or glimpses of her brother. Even though she considers herself not ready to face him; she still wants to know where he is so she can duel him when she feels she's ready.

[[DM] Seren]

Reviewed, XP rewarded.

Undercommon was discussed. Addendum: The language was taught by the grandfather, who during his time as an adventurer picked it up.

[Featherfox]

Languages Gained through Celine's travels in Baldur's Gate:

- Elven