Elysium is situated in the region of Faerûn, specifically within the Western Heartlands, a central area of the continent. It lies at the confluence of two major rivers, the Silverflow and the Starwater, which flow from the nearby Sword Mountains. The city's strategic location near these waterways has played a significant role in its development and prosperity.

To the north of Elysium is the bustling city of Waterdeep, one of the most prominent cities in the Forgotten Realms. Waterdeep serves as a major trade hub and political center, with a complex web of alliances and factions. Elysium has strong trade ties with Waterdeep, benefiting from the flow of goods and knowledge between the two cities. It often acts as a gateway for caravans and river traffic traveling to and from Waterdeep.

To the south lies the town of Daggerford, a smaller but still notable settlement known for its defensive position on the Trade Way. Elysium maintains a friendly relationship with Daggerford, with occasional trade exchanges and cultural connections. The town acts as a buffer between Elysium and the more dangerous lands to the south, providing a sense of security for the city.

In the east, the city-state of Baldur's Gate serves as a significant political and economic rival to Elysium. The two cities have a complex history of competition and occasional conflicts, vying for control over key trade routes and resources. Although diplomatic relations are maintained, tensions often arise between Elysium and Baldur's Gate, as both cities seek to establish dominance in the region.

To the west lies the enchanting forest of Cormanthor, a vast woodland with ancient elven ruins and mysterious magical energies. The forest serves as a source of both wonder and danger, as the denizens of Elysium occasionally venture into its depths in search of rare herbs, magical artifacts, or to commune with the fey creatures residing within.

The surrounding lands near Elysium are characterized by rolling hills, fertile farmlands, and pockets of dense forests. The city itself features a blend of architectural styles, reflecting its long history and the influence of different cultures that have settled within its walls. Elysium is known for its grand libraries, prestigious academies, and opulent marketplaces, making it a center of learning, trade, and culture in the Western Heartlands.

The Time Prism is an ancient and incredibly powerful magical artifact of unknown origin. Legends speak of it being forged by an enigmatic group of time mages known as the Chronarchitects, who possessed the ability to manipulate the very fabric of time itself. The Prism is said to contain a fragment of the temporal essence of the multiverse, granting those who wield it unparalleled control over time. Long ago, the Time Prism was sought after by ambitious mages in Elysium who believed that harnessing its power could bring unparalleled advancements and prosperity to the city. However, their misguided attempts to control time led to the Cataclysm—a devastating event that nearly tore Elysium apart and left behind the unstable Time Gate.

The Cataclysm occurred when the mages attempted to unlock the true potential of the Time Prism, delving into forbidden and dangerous temporal magics. Their reckless experimentation caused a catastrophic rupture in the time continuum, resulting in a cataclysmic explosion that threatened to unravel the very fabric of reality. In a desperate bid to prevent further destruction, the mages managed to contain the explosion and stabilize the Time Gate. However, they paid a heavy price. The mages sacrificed themselves to become eternal guardians, forever bound to the Time Gate and tasked with ensuring the stability of the city's timeline.

The Time Prism itself remains hidden, its whereabouts unknown even to the guardians of the Time Gate. Many believe that it was shattered during the Cataclysm, its fragments scattered across time and space. Some say that the shards of the Time Prism hold immense power and can potentially alter reality if brought together again. The Time Gate in Elysium acts as a conduit for the residual energy of the Time Prism. It periodically opens, allowing individuals to traverse through different eras and locations, but with each opening, the stability of the city's timeline is at risk.

◈ Name: Lirelia Nightshade
◈ Race: Elf
◈ Age: 117
◈ Gender: Female



◈ Class: Mage
◈ Powers/Abilities:

• Arcane Infusion:
  Lirelia possesses an exceptional talent for imbuing her spells with additional arcane energy. Through Arcane Infusion, she can enhance her offensive spells, infusing them with raw power and elemental effects. For example, she can imbue a fireball spell with intensified flames that linger and burn the target over time or infuse a lightning bolt with shattering force that cascades to nearby enemies upon impact.
• Astral Projection:
  Lirelia has honed her skills in astral manipulation, allowing her to project her consciousness beyond her physical body. Through Astral Projection, she can explore the ethereal plane, gather information, and interact with magical entities or objects that exist in that realm. This ability also grants her the advantage of remote reconnaissance, planning strategies, and gaining insights into enemy weaknesses before engaging in combat.
• Time Weaving:
  Lirelia possesses a rare affinity for manipulating time magic. With Time Weaving, she can momentarily bend and manipulate the flow of time in localized areas. This ability enables her to slow down opponents' movements, granting her heightened reflexes and agility. Additionally, she can create temporal barriers that briefly halt incoming attacks or rewind time to reverse minor damage or errors made by herself or her allies.

◈ Limitations:

• Arcane Overload:
  The use of advanced and intense arcane spells puts a significant strain on Lirelia's magical reserves. Overexerting her powers or using them recklessly can lead to exhaustion and temporary depletion of her magical energy. To prevent Arcane Overload, she must pace herself and carefully manage her spellcasting to maintain a balance between offense and preservation.
• Astral Vulnerability:
  While engaged in Astral Projection, Lirelia's physical body remains defenseless and susceptible to attacks. Any harm inflicted upon her projected form could disrupt her focus and force her consciousness back into her physical body abruptly. She must exercise caution and ensure the safety of her physical form while exploring the astral realm.
• Time Fragmentation:
  Manipulating time carries inherent risks and complexities. Lirelia's control over time is limited to short bursts and small areas. Extended or large-scale temporal manipulations are beyond her current capabilities and could potentially result in unintended consequences or temporal paradoxes. She must be cautious not to disrupt the natural flow of time excessively.

◈ Skill Proficiencies:

• Arcana:
  Lirelia has an extensive understanding of arcane knowledge and magical lore. Her proficiency in Arcana allows her to decipher complex magical texts, identify magical effects or properties, and recognize the intricate symbols and patterns associated with arcane rituals. She can also discern the nature and weaknesses of magical creatures or phenomena.
• Insight:
  Lirelia possesses a keen sense of perception and intuition when it comes to understanding people and their motives. Her proficiency in Insight enables her to read subtle cues, gestures, and expressions, allowing her to gauge the truthfulness of others, uncover hidden intentions, and perceive the underlying emotions beneath their words.
• Spellcasting:
  Lirelia's expertise lies in the intricate art of spellcasting. Her proficiency in Spellcasting grants her an exceptional command over the manipulation of magical energies. She is adept at memorizing and preparing spells, accurately channeling magical power, and weaving intricate spell components. Her proficiency also extends to spell identification and the ability to modify or adapt spells to suit specific situations.

◈ Skill Inabilities:

• Athletics:
  Lirelia's focus on arcane studies and magical pursuits has left her lacking in physical strength and athleticism. She struggles with activities that require raw physical power or extensive physical exertion.
• Intimidation:
  Lirelia's gentle nature and soft-spoken demeanor make it challenging for her to assert dominance or intimidate others. Her attempts to use fear or coercion often fall flat, and she must rely on alternative means to influence or persuade individuals.
• Survival:
  Lirelia's sheltered upbringing and her reliance on magic have made her less adept at wilderness survival skills. She struggles with tasks such as hunting, tracking, and finding her way through unfamiliar terrain.

◈ Appearance:
Lirelia is a tall and slender elf with fair, porcelain-like skin. Her long, flowing silver hair cascades down to her waist, often adorned with intricate braids and delicate flowers. Her ethereal blue eyes shimmer with a hint of otherworldly magic. She dresses in flowing robes adorned with intricate arcane patterns and carries a staff adorned with glowing crystals. Lirelia's presence exudes an air of elegance and mystique.

◈ Personality:
Lirelia possesses a calm and contemplative nature, often seen as a voice of reason within her circle of friends. She has a deep curiosity for the world and its mysteries, always seeking knowledge and understanding. Despite her serene demeanor, Lirelia possesses a strong will and unwavering determination, especially when it comes to protecting those she cares about.

She is kind-hearted and compassionate, always willing to lend a helping hand and heal the wounds of others. However, Lirelia can be reserved and guarded, preferring to keep her own emotions and vulnerabilities hidden beneath a veil of composure. She values her independence and solitude, often finding solace in nature and quiet contemplation.

◈ History:
Lirelia was born into a secluded elven community nestled deep within an ancient forest. From a young age, she displayed a natural affinity for magic, captivating the elders with her raw talent. Under the guidance of the community's revered mages, Lirelia honed her magical abilities, exploring the depths of arcane knowledge and unraveling the secrets of the weave.

However, as she grew older, Lirelia's insatiable thirst for knowledge led her beyond the confines of her homeland. She ventured into distant lands, seeking to expand her understanding of magic and the world itself. Along her journey, she encountered various cultures, magical artifacts, and encountered both friends and adversaries.

Lirelia's path eventually led her to an ancient library hidden within a forgotten ruin. Within its hallowed halls, she discovered a tome of immense power, containing spells and rituals long lost to history. Sensing the weight of responsibility, she took it upon herself to safeguard the knowledge within and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

◈ Goals:
Lirelia's primary goal is to unravel the mysteries of magic and the arcane. She seeks to delve deeper into forbidden knowledge and ancient texts, striving to uncover the lost secrets of her elven ancestors. Lirelia also desires to become a beacon of guidance for young and aspiring mages, providing them with the necessary teachings and support to unlock their true potential.

Furthermore, she aims to restore the balance between nature and magic, understanding that both are intertwined and must be protected. Lirelia dreams of establishing a sanctuary where magic and nature coexist harmoniously, a place where mages can study without endangering the natural order.

Ultimately, Lirelia's journey is one of self-discovery and enlightenment, as she navigates the complex realm of magic, unravels her own identity, and discovers her place in a world on the brink of transformation.

◈ Name:
Amaris "Mari" Snowden
◈ Race:
Half-elf
◈ Age:
26
◈ Gender:
Female



◈ Class:
Rogue with a magic affinity
◈ Powers/Abilities:

• Shapeshifting
  Specifically into felines. Her favorite form is a snow leopard. Tapping into feline nature allows her to have practically silent movements and can camouflage herself into the background.
• Electricity manipulation
  She can create electricity from the tips of her fingers to throw at enemies or use as a tool to knock someone out when she gets close enough.
• Blade/Trap Knowledge and Crafting
  Amarais has extensive knowledge about various blades and how to use them. Her favorites are daggers. She has extensive knowledge of combining herbs to create traps and poisoned weapons to help on the battlefield.

◈ Limitations:

• Can Lose Her Humanity
  The more time she spends in her animal form, the more she begins to act like that creature. For example, if she spends more than a few days in her leopard form she will growl or hiss at others when upset or purr when happy.
• Has Little Control of Electricity
  While she can create electricity, just like in nature, that element is unpredictable.
• Things Can Go Boom!
  If Amaris has to make traps on the fly, chances are that things are going to explode. She has to have complete concentration when crafting her traps.

◈ Skill Proficiencies: Choose three skills from the DnD skill list in which your character excels.

• Acrobatics
  Amaris is very nimble and flexible due to her cat-like nature, this allows her to move quickly at a moment's notice on the battlefield.
• Stealth
  The times that Amaris can tap into her animal side allow her to practically blend in when necessary between silent steps and using camouflage to her advantage.
• Animal Handling
  Due to being a shifter, Amaris can tap into how animals are feeling and commune with them on a more personal level.

◈ Skill Inabilities: Choose three skills from the DnD skill list in which your character has a disadvantage or lacks proficiency.

• Arcana
  Even though Amaris possesses the ability of electrical magic, she has little knowledge or control over the magic she has.
• Charisma
  Mari struggles with discussing how she feels and will keep to herself a good majority of the time. She doesn't want to bother others with her issues.
• Insight
  Being a kid who has been locked away when she was growing up, many social skills go over Amaris' head. She is very black-and-white and has a hard time reading people. She is rather naive.

◈ Appearance:
Amaris is a petite thing, standing 5'4" at best with a china-doll-like complexion and softly pointed ears. Her shoulder-length white hair is always in a messy braid or ponytail. Her ice-blue eyes are hardened from the abuse she received as a child. She wears mostly light adventurer armor and her red hooded cloak.

Her shifter form:

◈ Personality:
Amaris keeps to herself mostly, she is quite happy to observe the world from a distance. Those that she does manage to form relationships with, she protects fiercely.

Amaris never takes the conventional route and prefers to explore life from off the beaten track, relying heavily on her instincts and powers of observation to guide it through the world. She has an air of indifference and the need for privacy keeps her on the outskirts of society, but her desire for comfort and pampering always brings it back.

When someone wrongs Amaris, she makes it her business to even the score. With superb patience, Amaris might even wait years for the right moment, and when the occasion comes to strike, she gathers all her forces and attacks. In the face of a ferocious display of magic and power from her shifter form, she surprises victims have little choice but to flee or die.

◈ History:
Amaris grew up within a noble household being the illegitimate heir to the Snowden family. Her father, Grand Duke Nikolai, was never able to produce an heir with his wife, Lady Alexandra. When her mother, Gwenth, his Elven lover, gave birth to Amaris, she was taken away at birth. Amaris' mother was the Snowdens' personal herbalist and apothecary. Mari was raised under her stepmother's care, believing that her stepmother was her biological mother since her. They lived in Elysium, on one of the various wide-open estates for nobles called Thign Manor. The Snowdens were rumored to be the first noble family in Elysium, an older bloodline than the first settlers of the area. They prided themselves on being strong mentally, magically, and physically.

Born on the spring equinox, Amaris' birth was a rather easy one except for the fact she was ripped away from her mother's arms. Her magic began to surface for the first time when she was just six years old and shapeshifted after getting angry with a fellow noble boy. Ever since then, she had been kept within the manor walls to teach her how to control her abilities. Originally, Amaris would have attended boarding school in her teen years like the rest of her family but her family opted to hire the best tutors available to come and teach Mari personally.

When she turned fifteen, her stepmother fell miraculously pregnant, and thus began the endless torture. Lady Alexandra treated Mari like she was nothing more than a useless stray cat, someone she could kick around and couldn't fight back. With her father traveling all the time for work and not knowing her biological mother, Amaris was left to believe that her own mother hated her existence. That was until one day when Lady Alexandra snapped and told her that Mari was a mistake, that she was glad that Gwenth had caught that awful cold and died and that Amaris didn't have anyone who loved her. Mari escaped the only home she knew.

Since then, Amaris learned that her biological mother had been a beloved apothecary and worked for many nobles and lower class alike. She even was allowed to have access to her mother's business which had been closed since she passed. Mari learned everything she could about her mother and the life she lived. She also discovered that she had an affinity for the electricity element, although being older when she discovered it, she has little control over it. Now, Amaris works as a mercenary rogue using her feline abilities to kill and steal what is needed to survive.

◈ Goals:
Amaris' main goal is to find somewhere that can feel like home. She wants to find those that are like family but struggles with trusting others. Mari enjoys animals and plants, and with her experiences being a mercenary, would rather be with them rather than with people sometimes. If granted, she would love to have a whole farm of animals to protect and raise.

◈ Name: Eleanor "Bane" Morgan
◈ Race: Human
◈ Age: 25 years old
◈ Gender: Female



◈ Class: Mage Hunter (Ranger/Fighter specialized in hunting and disabling spellcasters)
◈ Powers/Abilities:

• Auravision: To be an efficient hunter of mages, Eleanor's most basic and yet most useful trick is reaching out to the Weave using magical senses. As the ability's name implies, it allows Eleanor to detect and see magical auras in the vicinity. If she takes time to analyze these auras, she can determine the school of magic of an individual aura and its strength. Eleanor uses this ability alongside her tracking skills to uncover hidden truths during her hunts.
• Blank Thoughts: To thwart opposing spellcasters' attempt at turning her into a mindless puppet or lead her astray, Eleanor has learned techniques to put herself into a state of mental absence. Under the influence of this technique, she becomes immune to mind-affecting abilities.
• Deflection: The most powerful ability in her mage-hunter arsenal, Eleanor can ready herself against an incoming spell to deflect/reflect it either back at the caster or somewhere else.

◈ Limitations:

• Limited focus: Reading the nature of a magical aura is surface-level only. As it requires focus to analyze an aura properly, Eleanor can only read a single aura at a time and do nothing else if she wants a good read. The strength of an aura is vague at best and very powerful auras can overwhelm her senses, temporarily dazing her.
• Absent-minded: Ironically, purging her thoughts requires a tremendous amount of focus for Eleanor, to the point one might consider her deafened and blind to everything else around her. During her trance, she will not speak or put her attention away from her quarry.
• Projectiles' Bane: Deflecting spells requires actual projectiles to work against. For example, Eleanor could easily reflect a fireball or a lightning bolt spell cast her way, but she can't deflect an explosion cast at her feet or a tempest of hail above her head.

◈ Skill Proficiencies:

• Survival: Elenaor is an expert hunter. The most of her profession is boiled down to tracking criminals and bringing them to justice. As such, she has acquired a lot of experience in following her quarries' footsteps and the traces they leave behind, magical or not. Her tasks often bring her outside town where she not only has to follow up on a trail but spend a lot of time outdoors and learn to adapt to the intricates of the wilderness.
• Perception: Just like her survival skills, a good hunter has honed her senses to pick up on clues concerning the whereabouts of her targets. Eleanor is particularly adept at finding the barely unseen if she sets her mind into it.
• Investigation: Detective work, see the skills above for explanation. The three skills complement each others for figuring out where she needs to go and the best way to apprehend a criminal.

◈ Skill Inabilities:

• Deception: Eleanor doesn't believe in the concept of telling lies to get what she wants. Her upfront and honest attitude would rather have her get into trouble for telling what's on her mind rather than sugar-coat it with half-truths or omission.
• Performance: She's a bad singer, she's a bad actor and she's sure as heck doesn't appreciate the idea of entertaining people. Eleanor is too much of a serious and discreet person to put herself into the spotlight.
• Sleight of hand: Eleanor won't stoop to a level where she needs skills to commit acts of thievery or hide objects on her person. If asked, she'll honestly reveal the contents of her traveling gear.

◈ Appearance:
At first glance, one could easily mistake Eleanor for a male adventurer. For one, her face is pretty androgynous, presenting a smooth feminine appearance on sharp features. She has long dark brown hair that she often ties in a ponytail and forest-green eyes. She has also inherited the formidable physique of her family, standing at 5'11'' feet with broad shoulders and a lean frame. She often appears rough and rugged, fit for an adventurer spending her whole days kneeling in dirt and hands rummaging through dusty corners.

Eleanor prefers to wear a dark leather armor if she has to venture outside, favoring mobility over protection. She will however use a breastplate if she judges the protection necessary, depending where she goes. If she's not wearing any armor at all, she usually dresses in black trousers, a white collared shirt underneath a black vest, complete by a big dark cloak. She also prides in wearing the traditional vampire hunter hat, a signature apparel of her family's line of hunters.

◈ Personality:
Most people interacting with Eleanor would describe her as a no-nonsense type of person, calm and level-headed individual with intense focus and a woman of few words.

In reality, Eleanor is simply anti-social. She has no real desire to speak to people more than needed and prefer to be in the company of animals (especially her steed) than an actual person. She's a natural loner who attends to her personal business and work with little help from outside sources unless required. She has the skills the make a good living by her own means, be it from inside the cities or in the great outdoors.

While she is not a people person, Eleanor is a honorable person who tends to do things by the book. Breaking the law means unwanted attention, and thus strive to be on her best behavior while in towns. She is also known to have worked for the law on more than one occasion. She can become quite pragmatic in her approach to hunting down dangerous criminals, but she will not use undue violence if it can be avoided.

She also appreciates winding down from a hard day of work with a pint of ale and a few puffs of tobacco.

◈ History:
Eleanor comes from a line of hunters that started out from her great-grandfather. After years of vampire-hunter, her ancestor settled down with a wife and had kids of his own before a bone disease took him. From him, his descendants would learn and branch out into diverse areas of hunting. Her grandfather was a cleric who swore to purge as many undead from the land before he retired from a crippling knee injury, and her mother was an outstanding woodland hunter.

With the bloodline of hunters, it is of no surprise Eleanor continued the tradition, learning the arts of hunting from her mother. However, there was nothing real magical involved in this discipline. She hunted for food mostly, learning to track small and big game alike. Things began to change as life brought her to the big city. Eleanor's mother was sick, and so her father turned to civilization to try and find a cure to her ailment. Barely a week had passed, Eleanor was orphaned after a fiery incident. All she had ever learned from the event is that a pyromaniac had lost its temper in the inn and had the place burned to the ground before running off.

In the mind of a child hellbent on revenge, she turned everything she was taught into a single-minded quest. And to that end, she would seek out ways to carry out her revenge. Eleanor was still young at the time, she had enough time to learn to adapt what her parents taught her into a peculiar skillset that not many learn.

Ironically, the Church of Azuth played a pivotal part in her life. To find a rogue mage, what better place to look than a place of magic? She was no good at learning magic, but the peculiar order of Mage Slayers of Azuth had welcomed her in. Learning from her tragedy, they would turn her desire for vengeance and hunting skills into an efficient tool to track down those who would hurt the Weave and use it for misguided purpose. It is probably thanks to the church of Azuth that Eleanor did not turned out into becoming a mindless mage murderer. With their teachings, she learned that magic was neither good or evil, there were only people with honorable or malicious intents. Fortunately, she came to tame her anger and hatred into a focused mission.

After years of learning under the Church of Azuth, Eleanor set out into the world. She would put the all the skills she learned so far into use to make herself a dangerous but decent living. While hunting mages abusing of their talents was something she was trained for, she did come out of the church with a better purpose. She'd cooperate with local law enforcement as an independent investigator and bring criminals of all kinds into custody, dead or alive. You could say she effectively became a bounty hunter in those regards, but she doesn't like the ring it has to it.

◈ Goals:
Azuth's mage slayers gave her a basic purpose, but her upbringings and her own moral compass gave Eleanor her own motivations to pursue the kind of life she is now leading. Laws in the big cities were needed to make keep people from being harmed. While she's no official, she would take the mantle of law enforcer to bring wrong-doers and criminals into custody to keep the peace.

Fact is, the Weave is neither good or evil, but magic is still very much dangerous when put into the wrong hands. To keep mages from harming innocents, Eleanor has sworn to use and perfect her own talents to counter those senseless spellcasters. It is her mission, born from the constant reminder of her own tragic background. She will do anything to prevent history from repeating itself.

She might not have the lofty goals most adventurers have, but her reason to fight is enough to keep her going. If she can spare even just one life from being taken by misdeeds, she will have considered her life fulfilled for when she draws her last breath. Much like her ancestors, she will fight for what she believes in until she no longer can, or until death takes her.