Tess Marbury - The Watcher

[Scream of Silence]

Tess Marbury

About:

Physical:
Tess is powerfully built for her minuscule stature of five feet and some, strong, muscular frame formed by years of harsh life and martial training. One would note that her form is somewhat non feminine being rather flat except for wider hips. Skin would be northerner pale, if not for many years spent in the sun causing it to tan, accenting the many white lines formed by cuts all over her form. Her hair is brandy brown, straight and well kept, usually thick and kept at shoulder length with occasional decorative braid in it. The eyes are very vivid green, almost gem-like in their shine. Her face is rather plain, but by no extent unpleasant to look at.

Mental:

Tess appears to be rather sharp of mind and observant of her surroundings. Quick to engage in verbal banter and wit, as well as expressing herself rather bluntly and directly. Her knowledge about multitude of things seems rather vast, but mostly focused on matters of beast lore, geology, history, theology and philosophy. When in combat situations, she will employ flanking and ambush tactics where able, and blunt shock and awe when having to handle unfavorable terrain.

Emotional:

She would come across as rather stoic and distant emotionally, but still showing concern for well being of others. While she is jaded to matters of bloodshed and war, she seems awkward and unsure when forced into expressing her more intimate emotions in public. While in private, she is passionate and warm towards people she likes.

[Scream of Silence]

Here lies backstory of Tess. It is open to be connected to by other people's experience or possibly having previously met in some regard. Please send PM or Tell for such.

SPOILER: Click to show

Trials of Tess start their sordid tale somewhere in 1365 DR, when her mother, an indentured servant to a local merchant, had to abandon the young girl of nine years to the streets of Luskan. Her owner claiming that he does not wish to spend coin on additional mouth that does nothing for him. Eventually, after couple of years of scrounging bare necessity of beggar's life she found herself in company of one Celador, half-elven druid in service of Umberlee, and has been taken on as his assistant.
Eventually in 1369 DR, Celador joins the crew of Luskan longship "Stormwind", and Tess is taken along, having been passed off as older than she was. Stormwind participates in multitude of conflicts, skirmishes and outright piracy against Luskan's usual enemies. Tess hones her skills as a sailor, reaver and overall scoundrel, gaining some minor infamy with Lantanese, Watherdavian and Calimshite ship crews. This all comes to end in late 1375 DR, when crew mutinies after string of poor luck and failed raids, and decides to blame the failures on Celador, after he still demands the usual tithe for his services. The druid is murdered by the maddened crew, while Tess suffers heavy bodily harm. Ship is in turn wrecked by the wraith of Umberlee at folly of the seafarers.
Tess seems to wash up on shore near Port Llast, and her comatose body is picked up by a cleric of Helm by name of Marlo, escorting a caravan to Helm's Hold. The exposure to the sea and beating has had rather profoundly negative effect on her mobility, but over next year she manages to regain some mobility and demands to be allowed to repay her debt to her saviors, starting to train and work alongside soldiers of the Keep. Eventually, she is inducted into the Helmite church as a lay member, and starts her studies in the theology and warfare, accompanying the garrison in their duties around the Keep and beyond.
1380 DR, Tess returns to Luskan in attempt to bring some order to the city, and enlists with the City Watch. Her no-nonsense by the book ways, and previous criminal experience causes some stir in the power structure of the local groups, so Watch assigns her as an escort to Arcane Brotherhood expedition to Anauroch at start of 1382, traveling way of Mirabar and then southwards, in search of a rumored Netherese artefact. The expedition made it to the great desert, but due to machinations of the wizards inside the group, their numbers fully diminished until last two remaining ones fell to each other's ploy involving poison for one, and explosive runes for other. Leaving Tess and their luggage carriers to their own devices. Tess spread the coin of the mages to the carriers and freed them before heading south, in search of place where her work will not end her, eventually making it into realm of Cormyr, taking out her Adventuring Charter in 1383 DR.