Genevieve Coeurdefeu - In the Name of Love

[Polaris2379]

Profile

Full name: Genevieve Coeurdefeu
Age: 25
Race: Tiefling of Infernal Blood
Sex: Female
Date of birth: 08/11/41
Place of birth: Thay
Alignment: Lawful Good
Patron deity: Sune
Profession: Paladin of Sune
Classes: Paladin with Hospitaler and Anointed Knight planned.
Primary language: Mulhorandi/Infernal

Secondary languages: Common, Abyssal, Celestial


Physical description: Genevieve stands 6'2" with a feminine physique but muscle honed through countless hours of practice. Her fiery golden eyes glitter with compassion for those in need or blazing with righteous wrath against the wicked. Her flaming red tresses are typically clean, brushed, and painstakingly woven into a braid that reaches her knees. A few rebellious locks often serve to frame her heart-shaped face. Of course that is assuming the beholder's gaze isn't stuck on the black ram-like horns on the sides of her head. Her skin is of dusky reddish tones. She wears makeup, though in a minimalistic and accentuating fashion, especially when in armor. Regardless, she always sports crimson lips. She speaks with a sultry alto, though the sultry aspect seems an inherent affectation rather than deliberate intent. Her accent is an odd mix of Mulhorandi, Waterdhavian, and a hint of Cormyr. She wears a medallion with the holy symbol of Sune openly. Her armor is in Sune's colors, the style giving some curves and shapeliness while still serving it's intended purpose as protection. She keeps it clean and in good repair as much as is possible. A longsword with a ruby set in the pommel is forever at her side or in hand.


Psychological description: Born into slavery in the land of Thay, she was used and abused even as a child. Genevieve currently struggles to truly live Sune's commandment to "Love none more than yourself except Sune." This self-acceptance, after all she has endured, the inferiority complex lashed into her during her years of slavery, this is indeed a struggle for Genevieve every day. Genevieve also desperately wishes to continue her mentor's legacy, potentially setting the bar incredibly high for herself. Still, she does her best to rise to the challenge of a Paladin's life and live as an example to others.


Religious views: Love set her free... Love changed her life, the Power of Love for Genevieve is a nearly tangible thing, and she embraces it with every fiber of her being. It is a bit of a paradoxical thing, to be an Infernal-blooded Tiefling in service to a deity of Good and Chaos, but doing so in a Lawful and Good manner as a Paladin. Every day she takes on that challenge anew and does so willingly so that she might offer to others the same Love, the same Hope that changed her life.


Pact:


Ancestor: The Bloodline of Fierna. While Genevieve is aware of this only as hearsay, it is indeed a fact that her particular bloodline can be traced to the lines of Devils in service to Fierna. Indeed, some of Genevieve's innate sensuality is due to this connection with the manipulative and fiery Lady of Phlegethos. Note that Genevieve does not receive any special powers or abilities from this connection, it simply affects some of what appears to be written in the fiber of her being.

Biography

Family Unknown. Given the slavery she was born into, her parents were dead before she could remember them, and was simply passed from one slave to another to make sure basic needs were met.


History Genevieve was born into slavery in Thay, property of a Red Wizard, a Conjurer, who wished to breed a perfect soldier- slave, or pleasure slaves, for Thayan use or sales. Most of the tiefling's life she spent with a collar around her neck or shackled. As she grew, the things she had to do to survive, the things the Thayans forced upon her... In part, she is grateful that some of the worst occasions she has no memory of, just the scars physical, mental, and emotional. Finally, after years of ill-treatment, there was an opening for escape, and she took it. She ran, she hid, she lived in sewers and trash heaps, slowly but surely making her way across Thay. She made contact with underground networks that help to free Thayan slaves. She and her group believed they had made it out free and clear.

Yet they were mistaken, slave hounds from Thay locating them. The runaway slaves desperately tried to fight, but they were no match for armed hunters. All would have been returned to Thay, but in the commotion of the struggle, the fighting had been heard by a passing Paladin of Sune, a woman of Cormyr by the name of Gwenivere Rennau. She sprang to the defense of the slaves, fighting against their would-be captors. When the battle was done, the slavers had been slain to a man, though the slaves too had lost three of their number. Vowing to protect the remaining four, the Paladin escorted them away from Thay.

In those travels, the Paladin Gwenivere showed kindness, compassion, patience, and understanding to the slaves. For one born into slavery like Genevieve, it was like a drink of cool water after having been lost in a desert. Over time during their travels, the link between Gwenivere and Genevieve grew, Gwen taught Gene what it is to love, and they shared it in many forms. The Paladin helped to teach the ex-slave how to love, including how to love herself, though it is a lesson Genevieve continues to struggle with. Many months passed, the other freed slaves finding a place elsewhere, but Genevieve felt her place was at Gwenivere's side, until one fateful day.

Brigands on the road. Such a common thing, something that Gene and Gwen had faced before. But a poisoned arrow can change many things, and at the end of the fight, the Paladin lay dying. As Gwen lay dying in Genevieve's arms, the Paladin passed her ruby-pommeled longsword to the tiefling, granting her the new surname of Coeurdefeu. As Genevieve accepted her lover's blade, she swore before Sune that she would continue Gwenivere's work, she would dedicate herself to the cause, to bring the Love and Hope that had changed her life to others. Genevieve brought Gwenivere's body to Sune's Temple in Waterdeep, the closest at the time. The clergy there saw to the slain paladin's funeral rights, and she was laid to rest with honor. When her mourning was done, Genevieve made good on her oath, dedicating her life to fulfilling her vow, and thus became a Paladin of Sune. With her training now complete, she makes her way into the wider world a new woman with a new life, so very different from how she began, and hopeful she can live up to the challenges her calling will put to her.


Future Genevieve has arrived at Baldur's Gate following what she believes to be the guidance of her goddess. Quickly upon her arrival, she met a fellow Tiefling with a similar history, and Sera Kelm has in turn introduced the Paladin to others who may well have roles to play in Genevieve's quest. She was able to meet Sister Ashanie of the local Ilmateri, and pens a letter to their Reverend Mother requesting permission to volunteer at the Shrine of Suffering as a healer in exchange for instruction in healing methods both magical and mundane. ((This begins the foundation for the intended Hospitaler levels)) With Gwenivere's blade always at her side, she has heard rumors of holy rites that can increase one's connection to such a weapon and has full plans to investigate this. ((future Anointed Knight levels.))


Heirloom item The blade of Gwenivere Renneau of Cormyr, Paladin of Sune, a longsword with a ruby set in the pommel. ((An Amulet, ring, her armor, all would be appropriate, but the blade would be the most meaningful choice.))


Plot hooks Thayan Slavery, multiple forms of past abuse and trauma, love conquers all, lost love, self-acceptance, self-love, self-confidence, acts of compassion, finding one's purpose, faith, fire.