Nina

=**Nina Moondown**=

Birthplace - Unknown Childhood spent in Wolf's Paw (Eldeen Reaches, formerly Aundair)

Birth Parents: James and Lilly Moondown (deceased), both possibly affiliated with House Vadalis but not known to have borne the Mark of Handling Adoptive Parent: Serena Strongheart (deceased), a Shifter and member of the Wardens of the Wood

Eyes: Blue Hair: Black (it is very long, usually worn in braids or ponytail) Height: 5'8" Weight: 130 Age: 23 years old
 * Physical Traits:**

When the other PCs first encountered Nina, she was...Caring, Free Spirited, Charitable, Very Independent (but able to work well in a group situation), Sincere and Compassionate.
 * Personality Traits:**

Now that she has grown in power, endured many battles, been betrayed by a friend she later killed (Alfred Meldrum), lost a possible love interest (Brunt d'Vadalis) and seen both wonderful and horrible things, Nina has become more focused, even grim, in her determination to preserve the Natural Order and destroy that which defies and corrupts nature. Her love for the Eldeen Reaches has also taken on more of a patriotic flavor, particularly with regard to those the Wardens have declared to be "war criminals."


 * Background History:**

When Nina was a young girl (approx. 5 years old) she was found in the forest crying over her dead parents' bodies //(Why they were in the forest? What killed them? Why was the little girl spared?)//. She was found by a Shifter Ranger named Serena //(was Serena following James and Lilly? Or was she pursuing those who killed them when she came across their bodies?)//. Serena took her in and raised her as her own in the Shifter-populated town of Wolf's Paw. As a child, Nina found herself joining Serena on frequent trips to Greenheart. As a Warden of the Wood, Serena made these trips to train and receive new assignments. It was here that Nina's fascination with the Druidic culture began to grow. On her visits she learned everything she could from all the great Druids she encountered. About 10 years ago she demonstrated an affinity for Druidic magic, and was inducted into the Wardens by the Great Druid Oalian himself. She now had reason to spend time in Greenheart separate from her guardian.

About seven years ago when Nina was 16, Serena died while out patrolling in The Gloaming woods south of Greenheart, near the Byeshk Mountains. No one is quite sure what happened (but after talking with Phi and Tanar d'Tharashk Nina now knows Serena was killed by Droaamites when she stumbled onto an airship crash site). Since then Nina continued training with the Wardens, working very hard to improve her skills (**//Note://** She is an Initiate Warden, entitled to wear the order's accouterments when traveling). On her 20th birthday, she decided to leave Wolf's Paw and Greenheart and head out to see the world. Traveling from forest to forest, town to town discovering the world and helping any of nature's creatures that need a lending hand.

Far less is said of the fact that Nina manifested the Least Mark of Handling about the same time she first used Druidic magic. Her contacts with House Vadalis at Foalswood have been covert, and her travels have been far from random -- she was sent to Breland specifically to investigate PriarieHearth and look into rumors of strange happenings in and around the House's main enclave in Breland. For their part, the Wardens gave Nina a different mission: Locate any persons hiding in Breland who are implicated in crimes against the Eldeen Reaches and its people. At the top of the list is Prince Bortan ir'Wynarn, eldest surviving son of the late King Boranel and Royal Steward of Breland.


 * Interests:**

In her spare time (when she is not adventuring), Nina can be found exploring the forest, talking to any woodland creature she comes in contact with. She also enjoys helping the less fortunate perfecting her healing abilities and offering any help to those in need. New Cyre has no forests to speak of, but the groves of Composite trees -- a prime source of the wood, fibers and resins used in the best Composite Bows -- fascinate her. Most cannot see it, but her experience and magical senses tell her the trees are not natural. Perhaps they are a remnant of ancient Gatekeeper magic from when they stood against the Daelkyr thousands of years ago?

Now that she looks at it, the talisman worn by the dead Orc gatekeeper, Ologhei -- which has empowered her own magic and wildshaping abilities -- is made of Composite wood. Ologhei's Clubwand, on the other hand, is clearly from the Shadow Marches -- a long masterwork //hunda// stick as used by Orcs since the days of Vvaraak (Exotic, One-Handed: 1d6[M], x2, 3 lbs., Disarm, Trip), it has a pair of embedded Eberron shards enchanted as Eternal Wands (can be used 2/day, but with no limit of charges). One casts Protection from Aberrations, the other enhances the Clubwand with //Improved Shillelagh// (Druid 2: As //Shillelagh// but enhancement is +2 and base damage is 2d8+2, and can be used while wildshaped in place of the primary attack form of the selected creature).


 * Attitudes:**

Nina is drawn to races that are seen as outcasts. Growing up in a primarily Shifter community and seeing how they are treated by others she has been given a very different perspective on life. She believes that all races - human and animal alike are equals. No creature born from nature should be discriminated against. Now that she wields real power, Nina can now dispense justice against those who discriminate and violate the Natural Order.

In her travels, she has learned of air ships and other magical items that have enslaved elementals trapped inside them. Although she has been told that the elementals do not mind being bound to one item for their entire lives, she does not believe it. She would very much like to explore this and find out for herself the opinions of elementals bound to these magic items. It has also turned her against the Gnomes of Zilargo, who have mastered the art of binding magics. Nina cares little for Jarvis Black, and actively hates his "companion," the Imp called Druziel.


 * Goals:**

Nina is very fascinated with the Wild Shape ability. She cannot wait to be able to explore every aspect of this talent and hopes to one day be able to shift into the form of a DRAGON!!! Wouldn't that be grand???? Enemies BEWARE!!!

Nina would love to learn more about her parents and family history. Serena claimed she was only able to learn her parents' names. Her House Vadalis contact have implied that her parents were unaffiliated House members, or perhaps even excoriates allowed to live in isolation. Each town she visits she asks around to see if anyone knew them or has any information that would lead her closer to discovering who her parents were and if she has any family left out there -- but folks hundreds of miles away in rural Breland aren't likely to know much.

She also has heard new rumors about how her guardian, Serena, died. The Valenar known as "Phi" was apparently on an airship that crashed in the southern Reaches about the time Serena died. She told her King's Citadel interviewers a fascinating tale of the airship being rebuilt by rogue artificers and creatures from Droaam, then flown away leaving her behind. Perhaps the Ranger got too close to their operation, and paid the price?

Anyway, when all this is done, Nina plans to return to Greenheart to protect the forests as a full member of the Wardens of the Wood. She reveres the Great Druid Oalian and would love to learn all she can from him.