Alessa the Scarred

Alessa the Scarred

Level 9 spellsword

medium humanoid (Agrarian Human), lawful neutral

Armor Class: 18 (Spellsword Defense)
Hit Points: 66 (9d8+18)
66 / 66
Hit Dice: / lr
Speed: 35ft
STR
8 (-1)
DEX
18 (+4)
CON
14 (+2)
INT
18 (+4)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
8 (-1)
Saving Throws: CON +6 INT +8
Skills: Stealth +12 Perception +5 Acrobatics +8 Arcana +12 Investigation +8
Senses: Passive Perception 15
Languages: Common, Elvish
Spellcasting: Alessa is a 9th-level spellcaster. Their spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16 , +8 to hit with spell attacks). They know the following spells:

Warding Incantations: While you benefit from Lightweight Offense, you have advantage on saving throws versus spells and other magical effects.

Focused Mind: When you roll a Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration on your spells, you treat a d20 roll below 9 as equal to 9.

Potency: When you cast a levelled spell, you gain 1 Potency for each level of the spell, up to a maximum of 9. When you finish a long rest, your Potency resets to 0. ( )

Arcane Lashing: When you hit with an attack, you can spend up to 4 Potency to deal an additional 3 (1d6) force damage per Potency spent.

Burst of Clarity: When you make an ability check that includes your proficiency bonus, you can spend a Potency to gain advantage on that check.

Actions

Multiattack: Alessa can attack twice with her handblades, and she may forgo one attack to cast a cantrip instead. Afterwards, as a bonus action, she can attack once more with her handblades.

Handblades: Melee weapon attack: +9 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit: 8 (1d6+5) slashing damage. On subsequent attacks on the same turn, the target takes 4 extra damage. If this attack disrupts a creature's concentration, it takes 3 (1d6) extra psychic damage per level of the spell it was concentrating on.

Bonus Actions

Stalking the Arcane: Can spend up to 4 Potency to teleport 10 feet for each Potency spent.

"I will shoulder this burden, so that the villagers are spared."

"My scars are my armor. Each one carried a lesson on how not to fight."

"I sense foul magic on the air. We are on the right track."

Alessa wears the scars of magic on her body, but does not hide them. She has dedicated her life to the destruction of practitioners of dark magic, as revenge for the pains inflicted upon her.

Alessa's mother died giving birth to her, leaving Alessa and her father to tend their small farm in Bleakholt, a hamlet near Pineharbor on Estia. It was a hard life, not seldom did she go without enough food.

When Alessa was thirteen years old, her village came under attack by a necromancer and her dark forces. At first, people and animals went missing. Soon, the missing people returned as zombies and wights.

Alessa was caught outside during one of the attacks, and was clawed badly by the zombies, causing scars that she still bears to this day. She only survived due to her father sacrificing himself so she could get to safety.

The townsfolk took to sleeping together in the church, keeping watch with what few weapons they had. One rainy night, the whole church awoke to a loud knocking on the door. It was a lone man, wearing only simple robes. He introduced himself as Nathaniel Moonblade, and said he had come to kill the necromancer.

Some of the townsfolk laughed at Nathaniel and said he stood no chance. Nathaniel ignored them, and simply asked if anyone would volunteer to aid him. No one stepped up, and as he was about to leave to go at it alone, Alessa stood up. "I will help."

...

Afterwards, Nathaniel took Alessa under her wing, training her with blade and magic in the way of the Magehunter. Together they walked the land, cleansing it of undead and those who summon them. Nathaniel became a second father to Alessa, and taught her much about the world besides fighting.

While it has been five years since Alessa saw Nathaniel last, she believes he is still alive despite their dangerous vocation. Perhaps someday they will meet again.

Alessa is very conflicted over her use of magic, as most magic she has met is evil and destructive. She is afraid that she will one day succumb to the allure of power and wield the magic against innocents for her own gain.

Alessa wears no armor, much preferring the freedom of movement granted by her minimal attire. She wraps her chest and wrists tightly with cloth bands, and binds her mousy hair behind her head. Alessa travels light, bringing only what she can carry in a small pack. She owns a Driftglobe, a trophy from one of her many battles.

In combat, she wields a pair of handblades that follow her forearms down to the elbow. With a spinning combat style, she runs or teleports to the high-value targets in the backline before slicing them open, mixing in spells as needed.

Feats:

  • (1) Dirty Fighting
  • (4) +2 DEX
  • (8) +2 INT

Traits

  • I hate undead, and those who summon them
  • I am slow to trust spellcasters I meet

Ideals

  • I will protect those who cannot protect themselves (Lawful)

Bonds

Flaws

  • I hate the tools I must use to accomplish my task
  • I am self-conscious about my grisly appearance