Lyssa Yrthmair
Age: 20
Birthday: 17th of Skybright
Race: Fey-Touched (of river Fey)
Culture: Falstoner
Appearance and personality
Lyssa is a rose-skinned Fey-Touched, standing at about 5'7. She has a somewhat rounded face and fully olive eyes - closer to yellow than green. Her brown hair flows down to just above her waist; well kept in the back, and a little messy in the front. Olive scales, glimmering teal under the right lighting conditions, can be seen on her arms, with a few near her knees on her legs as well. She tends to dress plain, usually in whatever doesn't inhibit her movement. Sawdust litters her clothes, especially after long days of work.
She's quite nimble, and stronger than she looks - unsurprising, seeing as back in the Falstoner caravans, her tasks consisted of lifting goods and keeping tabs on the inventory, both of which require good coordination and strength. It doesn't automatically translate to combat, though; Lyssa has no experience with fighting, whether it be animals or people, nor does she know how to effectively patch up wounds or manage her safety in a tough situation. Having seen second-hand how dangerous the Reach can be, she's eager to learn how to fend for herself - even if she's rather squeamish.
Lyssa is quite expressive, and she has a rather hurried manner of speaking - she usually talks in short sentences and exclamations. It's a habit somewhat formed by her tendency to act on impulse, following whatever she finds most exciting at the time. Despite this, she may sometimes focus on a specific task; usually whatever it is she's tinkering on. She always approaches work with enthusiasm and puts in her all - a trait typical of Falstoners.
Ships are her primary interest, and she is generally fascinated with the sea. Her main goal is to make a living off of designing and making boats. She's still learning the ropes - but she's been progressing fast under Nell's watchful eyes.
She always keeps a hopeful view of her future, though whether it's naivety or determination is difficult to ascertain. She's generally open towards people, though perhaps too much, with a tendency to overshare - if you're telling her anything that you don't want going around, you'll have to tell her that upfront. Her observation skills apply less to people and more to handiwork, and even then they're more attuned to Falstoner customs; this can lead to her seeming insensitive at times, and poking at topics she isn't supposed to. Despite this, she's a very caring person, and is deeply loyal to her closest friends.
Backstory
Born in a caravan-village on the Faded Steppe, Lyssa lived a life quite typical of those involved with the Falstoner caravans; traveling from place to place, with small breaks in between. She had some distant relatives in one of the shore-side towns, but she only got to visit them a few times as a kid. There, she'd spend most of her time watching the fishing boats come and go, carefully studying every detail - at least as much as she could without ever getting up close. One time though, she saw something different; a trade ship, although which flag it swam under escapes her. She watched as crates of crops were brought in, and goods she'd never seen before brought out. Her parents bought her a souvenir; a picture book of various ships. Lyssa still has it with her to this day.
From there on out, a seed of an adventurous spirit slowly began sprouting within her. She began making models of ships from whatever scraps of wood or clay she could get her hands on, although they'd be fated to sail nothing more than shelves. As her ambitions grew, she'd eventually leave her home to pursue her craft full-scale, despite worries from her peers and family. Her initial destination would be one of the larger port cities of the Valks, whose tales of seafaring trade had reached even the Steppe. At a glance, it would have been perfect; a place willing to lend an ear to a traveler from a different land, with an opportunity to learn from some of the best. Unfortunately, Lyssa didn't mesh with big city life as well as she'd hoped. She remained undeterred, though; if not with the Valks, she'd find a place for herself elsewhere.
And so, her sights were set on a peculiar place she'd heard the name of whispered on the streets: the Southern Reach.
