Elira Caelwyn

Description:
Elira appears to be in her early twenties with red hair and green eyes. Her figure is lean and tall for a woman. Her face seems like an elf. The high cheekbones, the oval-shaped face, the shape of her lips and eyes. Her eyes are a bright emerald green in color. Her hair is red, and she falls to her knees. She normally wears it in a tight braid, allowing her to hide things. Her clothes are simple and earthy tones and in good repair. The choice depended more upon her mood and function, from a full-length skirt to pants. She wears soft leather boots and tends to go barefoot in the late spring and summer. She has not fully blossomed giving her a bit of a tomboyish look.

Elira is normally found working on something. She may be mending clothes, working on a farmer's tack, and waiting tables at the inn in the evening. Anything to make coins. She is not afraid of heights, she can thatch a roof, frame a shed, fix a gate, and many unladylike things.
She has been known to ride a horse or even a cow bareback if needed.

Elira Caelwyn’s Personality:
- Optimistic and Curious: Elira is naturally upbeat and curious, always eager to explore and learn. She approaches the world with a sense of wonder, viewing challenges as opportunities to discover new things. Her positive outlook helps her stay motivated, even in difficult situations.
- Empathetic and Compassionate: With her background in healing and herbalism, Elira has a strong sense of empathy. She is highly attuned to the feelings and needs of others, often going out of her way to help. Her compassionate nature makes her someone people tend to trust and open up to.
- Fiery and Bold: Elira’s spirited nature reflects her fiery redhead personality. She is bold and unafraid to speak her mind, especially when something matters deeply to her. While generally good-natured, she can be quick-tempered when provoked, especially in the face of injustice or unfairness.
- Strong Sense of Justice: Beneath her calm exterior, Elira harbors a fierce drive for justice. When she or someone she cares about is wronged, she is quick to act and won’t back down. She stands up for what she believes in, even if it puts her in challenging situations. Her sense of right and wrong is deeply ingrained, and she is not afraid to fight for what’s fair.
- Creative and Resourceful: Elira has a knack for thinking outside the box and finding inventive solutions. Whether she’s crafting potions or solving problems, she enjoys using her creativity to make the most of what she has. This resourcefulness defines much of her approach to challenges.
- Playfully Stubborn: Though generally good-natured, Elira has a quiet but unyielding determination. When she believes in something, she stands her ground with a mix of humor and conviction. Her stubbornness often surprises people, as she finds clever ways to achieve her goals.
- Patient and Observant: Elira’s training in herbalism has taught her the value of patience. She tends to be calm and reflective, often watching and waiting before acting. Her observant nature helps her notice small details others might miss, which can be crucial in her work and relationships.
- Tenacious: Once she sets her mind on something, Elira doesn’t give up easily. Her tenacity allows her to persevere through obstacles, no matter how tough things get. This determination is one of her defining traits and something that guides her through challenges both large and small.
Background:
Elira was raised on the outskirts of Tostad on the edge of a wood and grassland. Her mother, Ayla Caelwyn, was the midwife and healer for the community. According to the town folk, Ayla was also a hedge witch. When an egg had two yokes, a calf died in birthing, or a child got sick it was because Ayla had cursed them. But when someone was sick, they came knocking at Ayla’s door. Ayla always showed them kindness and generosity.

Elira got her love of books and reading from her mother. She also learned enough about plants and life in the woods and grassland to be a herbalist if she had paid enough attention. But she had a bit of her father, Aren Demir, too. Human curiosity and elven dexterity mean that Elira liked using her hands almost as much as her mind. Her father comes and goes into their lives. Normally bringing small gifts, combs, a locket, ribbon, glassware for her mom.

Growing up, Elira was left to nurse people as they healed. Being in people's homes she learned the basics of sewing and weaving, leather working, and even some carpentry. Skills that were needed. Without a proper apprenticeship, Elira learned these skills the hard way. Elira took an interest in creating tools, repairing items, and improving the practical day-to-day lives of the villagers trying to gain favor. Her natural intelligence and curiosity led her to experiment with crafting techniques. She tried to keep her magic abilities hidden.

Her father was a traveling merchant, one of the few who visited the town on occasion. Since the war, they had not heard from him.
Elira’s roguish habits started with a bet by two boys about her age.
“I bet you can’t steal that apple pie from the window ledge,” the first said to Elira. So she did. She did not understand that they wanted her to get in trouble if caught and that they wanted the pie not her. The challenges kept getting harder till Elira saw the boys walking holding hands with other girls while walking on the edge of town. To say that she is over that, would be to deny that she is a redhead.

Elira may borrow something she needs, without asking and returning it a bit later. She would steal from wealthy strangers or some eggs or food when hungry. Her thinking is they are a community and she and her mother should be taken care of too.

Personality:
Elira is resourceful, pragmatic, and always looking for ways to improve the quality of life for those around her. She enjoys crafting solutions to problems, whether it’s repairing a broken tool or making something entirely new. She’s often quiet but observant, preferring to watch and learn before jumping into action. Her rogue background has made her cautious and quick to think on her feet (not always making the right choice), but her real passion lies in using her intelligence.
Her biggest weakness is overthinking. She can make herself anxious

I picture Elira as a mix. Physically and (mostly) mentally she is an adult. But in many ways, she is a teenager. She wanted to be seen as able to make her own decisions and be independent but still needs guidance (aka revenge is sweet, but not always right). She wants people to notice her as a woman but does not want that type of attention. She worries about what everyone thinks about her and is devastated when she learns that they don’t.

Motivation:
Elira wants to make herself indispensable to the village of Tostad by mastering practical crafts. She is motivated to learn and wants to “fit in.” She is worried that if she uses her magic in public she will be labeled a witch like her mother and further isolated.

Skills:
- Crafting:
- Toolsmithing: Elira can make and repair basic tools for farming, harvesting, and general village upkeep. Her fine attention to detail ensures that her creations are sturdy and long-lasting. (Not blacksmithing or metal work, wood and leather tools).
- Leatherworking: She has a knack for crafting practical items such as belts, bags, and shoes, as well as repairing worn-out goods.
- Tailoring: Elira can sew and mend clothes, create practical garments, and patch up rips, a valuable skill in a small rural village.
- Carpentry: Though not a master carpenter, she’s proficient enough to fix fences, make simple furniture, and do minor repairs to buildings and sheds around the village. (rough carpentry like adding a beam or brace, maybe repairing a door or window.
- Herbalism: Elira’s minor herbalism skills allow her to create salves for healing cuts and bruises, brew simple teas for colds, and make basic remedies from local plants.
- Thieving:
- Pickpocketing: Elira has been known to lift a coin purse or other items from travelers staying in the inn.
- Lock picking: Elira has learned to pick simple locks. In a community where doors are left unlocked, this is not a big skill. Though she has opened jewelry boxes for people when the key was lost or while repairing them.
- Slight of Hand: Elira has learned to get out of drinking at the inn and various other reasons.

Magic:
- Light: Elira uses this simple spell to light up work areas, especially during late-night crafting or village repairs when no one is around.
- Mend: Elira’s most useful spell for her craft, allowing her to magically repair small breaks in tools, fabric, or wooden structures. She uses this spell sparingly, knowing that too much reliance on magic could undermine her practical skills.
- others based on the emotional charge of the situation.