Curse of Strahd

Ysarissa Orynden

4 min read

Details

Backstory (from the S1 character introductions)

  • Ysarissa ‘Rissa’ Orynden shares her past as a wood elf from a bustling port city who learned archery from her father but also fell in with a band of local pickpockets.
  • Rissa explains how she fell in love with a charismatic human smuggler, whose death in a ‘convenient accident’ after her family discovered the relationship led her to flee an arranged marriage and become a treasure hunter.

Character notes (GM Assistant Campaign Details, verbatim)

Personality Traits Rissa has a love of nature and the natural world and a desire to explore as much of the world as she can, even the darker parts Ideals personal freedom, living in the moment, acting unpredictably but not maliciously Bonds Ysarissa will always feel a stronger bond to her friends and chosen family then she will to blood relatives- perhaps with the exception of her brother Flaws despite her loyalty to others she doubts other’s have the same feeling for her and expects to be double crossed Allies Osin Oryden- her older brother who is a cleric and always defended her against her parents Anika- her friend growing up who was part of the band of thieves she ran with in her younger years. Bonded as chosen family this girl is like a sister to her Enemies -The Merchant’s son Rissa was supposed to marry- he and his family, the Kassablancas, are notorious for making sketchy deals that take advantage of folks. She suspects the family in the untimely death of her suitor.

-The Constable of the town she grew up in who could never quite pin down herself and her comrades who made good trouble for the local law enforcement. Backstory Ysarissa Orynden, Rissa to her friends grew up in an elven quarter inside a bustling port-city. Her mother was a scholar while her father was a Sentinel for the city. While her older brother was very close with their mother Rissa was closer to her father who taught her archery and fencing.

While her mother and brother were often busy with their studies she began slipping out of their family home and befriended a band of local pickpockets. These new found friends who taught her their skills-how to move unseen and take what they needed to survive.

She inevitably fell in love with a charismatic human smuggler from this group who “rescued” magical artifacts.

Once her parents discovered the connection they quickly arranged for their daughter to a more suitable and politically advantageous match with an influential merchant. Her lover died in a convenient “accident” her family quietly accepted the official story and pressed her toward the marriage they had chosen for her; Rissa left home and hasn’t returned since.

Rissa is now a treasure hunter: part scholar, part thief, part blade-for-hire. She uses legitimate relic retrievals as cover to move through ruins and marketplaces, and her thieves’ guild contacts help her access black-market leads. In combat she blends her archery prowess with quick, deceptive strikes and traps learned in the city’s alleys.

She hopes to one day uncover the truth about her lover’s death and she resents her family’s readiness to trade her life for influence. Other five life changing events:

  • nearly drowned as a child-rescued by her brother
  • Day her father gave her her first bow
  • Day her first love was killed
  • Day she joined her new companions

Relationships

Appearances (named in the session recap or scenes)

Graph View

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