Gwenifar van Hol

Gwenifar has a natural curiosity, enjoying studying and learning new things. She likes to use that knowledge to help with her drive to do what's good and help others. When she devotes herself to a cause, it's hard to pull her away from it. Her moral compass is strong, not wanting others to suffer. She has leaned how to steady her impulsive words and actions, instead focusing that energy on her duty as a Cleric of Ilmater. But if she sees a grave injustice with no remorse, she will not be held back from serving retribution.

Beyond her work, she enjoys music (and playing violin as well as singing), cooking, drawing, and herbology. She has a keen talent for potions, salves, and other healing remedies from plants. She tends to be confident in her abilities, as they are practiced skills, and is beginning to gain confidence in other areas as well. She struggles a bit with the concept of herself involved in romance and chides herself on not being more skilled in it at her age. It's very difficult for her to think highly of herself, as she has buried herself in her work and the care of others for so long, it's almost like she forgot herself.

Early Life

Gwenifar was born the younger of two daughters to a newly single mother. Her father had gone off to seek his fortunes after her mother threw him out for infidelity. It's safe to say he never came home for his daughters, preferring his life away from the mundane. Occasionally they would hear word of him, but they did not care as he was not involved. Her mother worked hard for both her daughters, with Gwenifar's critical and strict grandmother often watching both girls. The two relied on each other, to an extent, but dealt with the situation differently. While Dana sought her peers' approval, Gwenifar preferred to stow away with books and creativity. This difference started a wedge between them, as their peers weren't keen on Gwenifar's independence from their approval.

The Illness

But when Gwenifar was 11 years of age, her sister fell ill. No cleric could heal her and nothing could be done to help her. Gwenifar went to every temple she could to pray to any god, any that would hear her plea. Her mother took her to Baldur's Gate and they stopped at the Open Hand Temple. While her mother was discussing the ailment with the clergy, Gwenifar had made her way to the alter. She prayed for her sister, only for her prayers to be interrupted by an old, frail seeming man with injuries, new and old. He asked her to get him some water and she obliged. When she started to return to prayer, he asked her for one of the potions available to the public. She obliged. He asked her what she was praying for and she explained the issue. He asked if she would carry her sister's burden and, considering how her sister was treated by their peers versus herself, she readily said yes. The man asked her to bring him a tome from the shelf and she obliged, only for the man to be gone by the time she returned.

Within the week, Dana was well, but Gwenifar was ill. She had severe fatigue and fevers, with some good days and some bad days. She buried herself more in her books, drawing, and music to stave the boredom that lasted for ten years. During these years, her sister grew and was well liked by the village, eventually marrying and settling down. By the time Gwenifar was well, there was a divide between them and she didn't know where to go next. Her decision came to devote herself to Ilmater and ensure others did not have to suffer as she had.

To present day

In her time as a cleric of Ilmater, she has aided with plagues and outbreaks, as well as traveled to battlefields to help those on either side. As she aged, she became more sure of herself, and found she had a slight ability to turn discussion to her favor. This was utilized to help raise funds for the temple and she was often sent to speak with Baldur's Gate's elite for fundraising purposes. It was on one of these visits she was captured and taken to the nautiloid.