Shadowheart

Born to parents Arnell Hallowleaf Arnell and Emmeline Hallowleaf, Jenevelle, as she was named, was raised in a Selûnite household in the forests outside Baldur's Gate. Devout followers of the Moonmaiden, they worshipped her in quiet seclusion away from the city, raising young Jenevelle in the ways of Selûne. In time, she would take part of an ancient Selûnite initiation rite: abandoned in the wilds, she would have to rely on her skills and faith to fend for herself, proving herself as a devout believer once she returned. Yet Shar, Selûne's dark sister, had other plans for the child and commanded Viconia DeVir and a cadre of Sharrans to kidnap the child. Arnell had learned of this ploy after capturing a Sharran spy, and taking his wolf form, he raced towards Jenevelle. But young Jenevelle never learned of her father's curse of lycanthropy, and instead of being rescued by her father, all she saw was a great wolf hunting her. The Sharrans caught up to the pair and kidnapped both, taking them to a secret cloister of the Dark Lady in Baldur's Gate. Jenevelle would be brought to the Cloister of Sombre Embrace, a Sharran temple in Baldur's Gate set up and ran by Mother Superior Viconia DeVir after her previous endeavours in Waterdeep had failed. Viconia's mission, given to her directly by Shar, was to mould young Jenevelle into a champion of the Dark Lady, an effort that would ultimately take almost half a century. Jenevelle resisted the indoctrination at first, but the brutal training she would be put through, being lied to that her parents perished defending her from wolves, as well as repeated forced use of the temple's Mirror of Loss, would slowly erase her past and in time forge a new identity: Shadowheart. Though the Mother Superior was especially cruel with Shadowheart, forcing her to use the Mirror of Loss more than with any other acolyte. Under Viconia's watchful eye, Shadowheart, no longer recognizing her parents, was forced to torture them and practice her newfound skills on them. Still, Shadowheart was able to retain a few memories from her past thanks to Rennald, a young Tiefling acolyte undergoing similar training. Any time she would be subjected to mirror training, Rennald would do his best to remind Shadowheart who she was afterwards. Thanks to him, and whatever scattered notes she was able to jot down between mirror trainings, Shadowheart was able to retain some parts of her identity, such as her fondness for flowers and animals. The two became good friends, and one of the few blessings during her time in the cloister. Zealously devoted, independent and headstrong, she prefers pragmatic solutions to issues, decisive action and staying uninvolved in the problems of others. While she initially seems guarded and reserved – hesitant to reveal information about herself – she is in fact amnesiac, with little memory of her own past. Fiercely devoted to Shar, she doesn't tolerate any slights against her goddess, often reacting defensively. Trained in the Sharran ways, she's also not above forceful actions, duplicity or even killing, to achieve her goals. Still, Shadowheart displays traits that are often at odds with her Sharran training. She has a fondness for flowers and animals, disapproves of indiscriminate violence, prefers relatively peaceful resolutions to conflicts when possible and often sympathizes with the plights of others. She can be as sarcastic and doesn't shy away from dark humor. She is introspective and often harbors doubts, and when someone gains her trust Shadowheart can be much more open and honest with her feelings. Overall despite the brainwashing, Shadowheart's personality can be incoherent at times, she has a heart of gold underneath her tough exterior, but also selfish and not above committing evil deeds, along with having sadistic tendencies. She enjoys privacy and boundaries but rewards curiosity, so long one does not pry too much.

Shadowheart has part of her fringe off-center, showing a bit of forehead, with coal-black hair kept in a long ponytail segmented by ornate silver rings. Her fringe hair is kept short and straight, revealing her brows beneath and a scar running from her nose to her right cheek. Hair adorns her face on the sides, reaching past her chin, her pointed ears barely peeking through them, and her eyes, light-green with speckles of yellow, are contoured by dark make-up. Though rarely seen, she has a black circular mark on her right hand, a wound given by Shar used to express her disapproval, causing Shadowheart pain whenever she misbehaves. Though appearing as youthful beauty due to being a half-high elven, she is 48 years old. Shadowheart stands at 5.7ft tall and weighs in at 130lbs, her body is slim and athletic, built for either assassination, scouting, or infiltration missions. She complements her Sharran attire with a silver circlet worn above her fringe, simple, yet elegant, displaying her goddess' holy symbol, a black disc, as well as an argent hairpiece at the base of her ponytail, reminiscent of the decorations found in Sharran temples. Shadowheart wears a golden breastplate adorned with intricate patterns, giving a sense of both strength and elegance. The chest plate has decorative flourishes resembling ornate carvings, with a circular central emblem of Shar, featuring black and purple elements. The armor's gauntlets and pauldrons (shoulder armor) are also made of gold, featuring detailed patterns and a sharp, angular design. The arms are covered in chainmail, providing additional protection. Over the armor, Shadowheart wears a long, flowing, dark purple tabard or robe that extends past the knees. The robe is adorned with golden trim, adding to the regal appearance. The legs are covered in golden and silver greaves that mirror the design of the upper armor, with subtle curves and a polished sheen. The boots look sturdy, suited for combat. It should also be noted although she's wearing full armor, it has a slender and formfitting design thus it doesn't slow her movements. Shadowheart wields a long silver spear of Shar with a spiked circular head resembling a sunburst, featuring an orb or gemstone at the center.

A Cleric of Shar embodies the duality of darkness and light, walking the fine line between shadow and secrecy. Her mastery of divine magic allows her to channel the enigmatic powers of the Nightbringer, granting her formidable abilities in both combat and healing. As a high half-elf, Shadowheart possesses the grace and agility of her elven heritage, complemented by a deep, intrinsic connection to the shadows. With her spear of Shar—a beautifully crafted weapon that glimmers with an eerie darkness—she excels in both melee and spellcasting. The spear serves not only as a physical weapon but also as a focus for her divine magic, enabling her to unleash devastating shadow spells upon her foes. Shadowheart can cast powerful spells that manipulate darkness, heal allies, and curse enemies. Her repertoire includes spells like Shadow of Moil, which cloaks her in protective shadows, and Cure Wounds, allowing her to restore her companions wounds. She can invoke the power of Shar to create areas of darkness, allowing her and her allies to move unseen. Alternatively, she can use her Channel Divinity to bolster her attacks, empowering her spear with extra necrotic damage. Shadowheart has honed her ability to manipulate shadows, enabling her to cast spells that obscure vision, instill fear, or even transport herself short distances through the darkness. Armed with her spear, she combines swift strikes with divine magic, making her a formidable opponent. With each thrust, her connection to Shar allows her to tap into the essence of shadow, dealing extra damage to those caught in her dark embrace. Leveraging her elven agility and clerical training, she excels in stealth, making her an adept infiltrator. She can slip through the shadows to gather information or strike at unsuspecting foes. Beyond her offensive capabilities, Shadowheart can heal and protect her allies. Her spells can turn the tide of battle, reviving fallen comrades or shielding them from harm with dark, protective wards. In essence, Shadowheart is a master of shadow and subterfuge, embodying the tenets of Shar with every step she takes. With her spear in hand and the shadows at her command, she is a force to be reckoned with, drawing strength from the very darkness she serves.

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