Basic Information

• Name: Aymeline DuBois (formerly “Aymeline the Heart of Mercy” before her apostasy)

• Age/Gender: 31/Female

• Nationality/Ethnicity: Galt/Empyrean (Emberkin Aasimar - Celestial heritage)

• Backstory: Born an abandoned baby at the doorsteps of a Sarenrae Cathedral in Galt, Aymeline was taken in and raised by the church. From a young age, she was drawn to the ideals of goodness, light, and compassion that permeated the teachings of Sarenrae. she felt a deep, innate calling to the teachings of the goddess. Aymeline eventually managed an almshouse, caring for Galt's downtrodden, offering both spiritual and physical respite to anyone in need. This refuge of mercy, however, was exploited by agents of the Gray Gardeners, who turned her kindness into a weapon against her. After betraying her trust, her refuge was burned to the ground, and the helpless were either killed or forced to flee. This event shattered her faith and belief in mercy.

Ravaged by grief and feeling abandoned by Sarenrae, Aymeline sought solace in the tenets of Calistria, the goddess of retribution and vengeance. Embracing a darker path, she vowed to seek revenge against the Gray Gardeners, exacting her wrath in cold, calculated strikes. With her vengeance fulfilled, she left Galt, becoming a wandering adventurer, still torn between her instinctive compassion and the call to a life fueled by anger and retribution.

• Appearance: Aymeline stands nearly 6 feet (1.82m) tall with long golden hair and radiant wheat-colored skin, reflecting her Peri-bloodline heritage. Her golden eyes burn with celestial light, carrying a mix of warmth and sorrow. and has a scar on the bridge of her nose. Her powerful body is both voluptuous and muscular, a sign of her divine nature and her inner struggle between compassion and vengeance.

She wears her long golden hair braided in a variety of ways, and usually wears Galt-style clerical robes (cassock and capelet), but also dark plate armor with Calistria decorations and faded Sarenrae symbols when necessary.

• Residence: Currently a wandering adventurer, Aymeline has no permanent residence.

• Occupation: Adventuring Paladin, former caretaker of an almshouse.

Core Identity

• Key Personality: Aymeline’s outer appearance may scream warrior, but underneath that hard shell lies a person who is deeply conflicted by her dual nature. She projects strength and single-minded vengeance, yet in moments of quiet, the fierce maternal instinct that once guided her is difficult to suppress. Her attempts to embrace Calistria's doctrines of revenge often crumble when she’s faced with raw vulnerability, leaving her visibly awkward or hesitant when trying to comfort others. She is genuinely unsure whether kindness will ever leave her, despite her best efforts to douse it with anger.

• Beliefs and Values: Aymeline is torn between two sets of values. On one hand, the lingering beliefs of Sarenrae's teachings revolve around redemption, mercy, and forgiveness. On the other, Calistria's harsh dogma of revenge and paying back every wrong in kind has begun to sink in. She believes in protecting the weak, but now views punishment as a key form of justice. For now, vengeance remains her focus, but in her heart, she knows there must be some limit to the cycle of retribution.

• Worldview: Aymeline views the world as a harsh place where those with strength must stand up to protect the helpless. For her, the cycle of vengeance is difficult to break. Nevertheless, in quiet moments, Aymeline cannot shake her doubts and wonders if redemption is still possible for everyone. She finds herself wavering between despairing cynicism and an uncomfortable, lingering hope.

• Goals and Motivations: She sees her role as both protector and punisher, ensuring those who’ve suffered will get the justice she never received. In the short term, her life revolves around this perceived duty to maintain harsh justice. However, despite her best attempts to mask it, long-term she still yearns for some semblance of peace – a place where she could finally soften and allow herself to show genuine emotion without fear.

• Insecurities/Conflicts: Aymeline battles within herself, torn between her true nature as a healer and protector, and the dark path she has chosen. She fears she may no longer be worthy of Sarenrae’s light, yet she is not fully convinced she can devote herself entirely to Calistria's doctrines.

Behavioral Patterns

• Decision-Making: Aymeline tends to make decisions swiftly, based on her moral code but influenced heavily by her anger at wrongdoing. That said, her old compassion sometimes emerges if she’s given time to reflect.

• Emotional Patterns:

• Commonly felt emotions: Aymeline frequently feels anger, bitterness, and sorrow due to the burdens of her past. However, moments of genuine joy and warmth surface when helping those truly in need.
• Ability to regulate emotions: Aymeline tends to bottle up her emotions, though under pressure, her conflicting urges sometimes result in emotional outbursts. Her attempts to be stoic around others are often fractured by displays of maternal concern, which embarrass her greatly.
• Way of expressing emotions: Most often reserved and controlled, Aymeline’s emotional displays can be sharp and explosive if her pent-up anger is triggered. Alternatively, with people she trusts, Aymeline sometimes reveals glimpses of vulnerability and expresses care through gentle actions.

• Stress Responses: Aymeline tends to deal with stress aggressively, defaulting to action or confrontation rather than withdrawal. However, if protecting others is a factor, her stress may manifest as anxiety or overcompensating maternal behavior.

• Speech Patterns: Aymeline speaks with a soft and thoughtful tone, maintaining a noble and polite demeanor, even when she confronts enemies. Among close companions, her voice takes on a warmer, more personal softness.

• Social Interaction:

• In normal situations: Though self-assured, Aymeline can appear somewhat distant or aloof, preferring not to get too emotionally attached to others. She remains polite, speaking formally and in a measured tone.
• In close relationships: In trusted circles, Aymeline reveals her more compassionate, nurturing side, offering solace and advice to allies. She values her friends deeply and opens up emotionally when she feels safe.
• In conflict situations: During confrontations, Aymeline snaps into a protective role, fiercely guarding those around her. Her words become blunt and devoid of her usual formality, especially if defending someone weaker. Anger and aggression drive her, but not uncontrollably so.

• Habitual behavior:

• Daily routine: Mornings are spent in prayer to both Sarenrae and Calistria, though each set of prayers feels dissonant. She then trains with her weapons, preparing for future battles. Throughout the day, Aymeline seeks out those who need aid, though she often does so under the guise of delivering harsh justice to the corrupt.
• Habits: When anxious or uncertain, she taps her fingers rhythmically. Often, she will awkwardly attempt to show acts of kindness but fumbles over how to express herself.

• Sexual behavior: Aymeline is a virgin, struggling with her inexperience in the context of Calistria's teachings, which heavily promote the pursuit of pleasure. The expectations of the faith often leave her feeling ashamed, as she is unable to fully embrace its hedonistic elements. Though Calistria's influence has altered some of her views on sexuality, Aymeline is more inclined toward emotional connections rather than casual indulgence, a conflict that highlights her discomfort with her new path.

Preferences and Abilities

• Hobbies/Interests: Aymeline enjoys swordplay, training tirelessly to perfect her craft. She also has an interest in law and understanding different legal systems, especially to challenge corrupt authorities. Despite her harsh exterior, she secretly enjoys helping injured animals or tending to wounded companions.

• Likes/Dislikes:

• Likes: Providing help to those in need, the quiet of dawn prayers, and subtle gestures of gratitude when she protects others. She enjoys swords as a symbol of strength.
• Dislikes: Betrayal, exploitative leaders, being taken advantage of, and feeling emotionally exposed. Fire fills her with terror after the devastation of her almshouse.

• Skills/Expertise: Highly skilled with two-handed weapons and divine magic, Aymeline is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. Her healing magic, though derived from her celestial heritage, remains connected to her early paladin training. Despite being a warrior, she also has a remarkable knack for calming the injured or frightened, revealing her hidden maternal streak.

• Weaknesses: The unresolved grief and conflict she carries can cloud her judgment in situations where her compassion contradicts her desire for vengeance. Her awkwardness in emotional matters often leaves her isolated or misunderstood. Additionally, her struggles with fully embracing Calistria’s teachings sometimes make her hesitate or feel inadequate.

Extra Details

• Aymeline carries a strong, often hidden, maternal instinct.
• Despite her frugal nature, she has an appreciation and love for good Galtan wine and cheese.