Note: The webpage was having an issue where I couldn’t put the personality and appearance above, so I put them here instead!
Personality: Saeris upon first meeting can be awkward and shy, with much to be desired in tactfulness. She is very sarcastic and snarky, a bit apathetic, and loves a good prank. Despite her childish nature, she is not a fan of actual children, finding them confusing to interact with (although Elven culture dictates that she still is one herself). Often, she prefers to be left alone to her own devices and studies, fascinated with plants, potions, and their effects when distilled in various ways. Despite this desire for seclusion, she can’t resist a good adventure with those that she trusts, often following literally behind them like a duckling.
Appearance: Saeris has the youthful light grey skin of a young dark elf, and a mane of wild white curls in a faint purple cast. Her eyes show a lavender hue as well, although she prefers to wear jewel tones of blue or red, as purple is her least favorite color. Her overall stature could be described as average, on the shorter side, and a bit thin from years of malnutrition. Small scars from cuts and burns dot her hands, and the outer three fingers on her left hand are partially paralyzed.
History: Saeris Neziroh was born in Sutica to a peasant mother, a girl of barely sixty when she was born, and a father that had long since left. Being an orphan with not a penny to her Saeris, Saeris’s mother worked day and night as a servant so that she and her daughter could live in relative comfort. They lived in the Kellian family home, given a small room to live in next to the rest of the servant quarters. There were others that lived in the servant quarters, confined in a single room to live in, but Jacob Kellian, the master of the house seemed to have a special relationship with Saeris’s mother much to the enragement of Mrs. Kellian, and thus she was allowed her own.
Saeris grew up in the manor, but she was put to work nearly as soon as she could walk. She had never minded, however. She was a stout, dusky cheeked little girl with a perpetual smile on her face and large purple eyes, always happy to help with what she was asked.
As she and her mother both aged, Saeris developed into a lovely young woman, with her mother’s raven hair and pale skin. Jacob Kellian had stopped giving preferential treatment to Saeris’s mother after her hair had started to grey, and her body started showing signs of age; signs of a life spent laboring. They were both moved into the regular servant’s quarters and Jacob had chosen a new ‘favorite’ girl, though at times it was quite clear that as Saeris grew, so had his interest in her.
Saeris’s mother died of illness before her time when the girl was just thirteen. The other servants, who had been something of a family as a whole, tried to console the girl, but something had changed when her mother had died.
Nearly a year later, the Kellian family had fallen into some debt due to a harsh summer drought. Jacob Kellian had invited his brother William, a wealthy chemist from Helena. William had brought his family; a wife and an elder son and a younger daughter. The son, Jean who was maybe a year or two Saeris’s senior, had taken a keen interest in the girl. During her daily chores, she frequently found him just ‘passing by’ or checking in to see whether the servants were alright. He seemed to be enamored with her, though never spoke with her directly.
When William and his family left, Saeris was taken as well. Being a servant girl with no living family, she had no reason to refuse and little say in the matter to begin with. As much as she could figure, she was part of the deal.
William’s estate was far less grand than Jacob’s, and she was one of only three servants that tended to the grounds. Two months later, Jean finally gathered up the courage to confess his attraction, and their relationship secretly grew, although remained largely innocent for the next few years. Jean was learning the art of brewing from his father, and Saeris would help him study the various plants and reagents. She was far more adept than he was, picking up the formulations and equations quickly.
As fate would have it, she would get to practice this skill when William passed. Unfortunately, around this time, Jean had found a wealthy, human bride that would elevate his family’s status. Saeris was relegated to the role of mistress. Jean’s bride absolutely hated this. She took every opportunity to send Saeris away and step on her, so to speak.
One such task had her sent overseas to buy a rare ingredient for brewing. The ship was attacked by pirates on the way, and splintered into pieces, scattered to the waves. Saeris somehow survived the ordeal, washing up on the shores of Haense.
