Minerva Jael
Description
An unusual air of mysticism accompanies Minerva Jael wherever she goes. The dwarf woman, appearing to be in her early 60s (or mid-20s by human years), seems to be an exception for her kind. Her pale skin is a mark of the mountain dwarves and nothing strange. Her auburn hair, long and tied into three braids down her back, is not unique either. While her hazel eyes are worth noting, it is Minerva’s attire and demeanor that conflicts with what most know of dwarves. She wears a brown and silver robe like that of a sage, a robe etched with magical sigils. For Minerva appears as a wizard or sorceress, almost unheard of among her kind. Her round face is pretty and her thoughtful expression attractive and intriguing. But most likely, she suffers as something of an outcast, with only her wits and talents upon which to call.
History
In Deephart Dale in the land of Hale, the Jael Clan was always a family of blacksmiths extraordinaire. Minerva was the only daughter born in 852 AK; her two older brothers followed their father’s trade. Minerva enjoyed it, too, but was able to learn it only as a girl’s tinkering. It was a profession closed to women. Instead, she was obliged to attend university. With her “book smarts”, Minerva would make a good scholar, for even dwarves prized academic knowledge. While attending school, however, Minerva stumbled across minor spell scrolls kept in the library. She “borrowed” the scrolls to study them at home, and soon was able to cast those simple spells. Of course, Minerva worked hard as a sage’s aide to repay the library as a point of honor; she was a Jael, not a thief. When her family learned of her magical prowess, they disavowed the young Minerva.
However, the dwarven race was too practical to cast Minerva out. Instead, she was sent off to the only academy for dwarven wizards in Stagg, the capitol of Hale. There she learned to blend her dwarven ways and smithy skills with magic to master the school of conjuration magic. It took her many more years of training, including recognition of the inappropriate schools of necromancy and illusion, both anathema to dwarven beliefs in decency and truth. Minerva graduated with recognized talent, and her prestige earned her an assignment back in her home city of Deephart Dale. There she was to assist with the arcane problems her people were facing, possibly from duergar or derro savants. (Of course, it also kept in dwarven policy of keeping their few wizards scattered.) Minerva looked forward to earning her keep as a productive member of dwarven society and perhaps do her family name justice as a magic smith if not a true blacksmith.
Personality
Still an honorable woman despite her unusual career, Minerva is understandably reserved and cautious. She lives by the law of her people, in part to help alleviate any concerns they may have for her loyalty. (“Magicians can’t be trusted!”) Nonetheless, Minerva is deeply fascinated by magic, and she knows it is the way by which she can outshine her father and even the entire clan’s legacy as smiths.
Goals
Minerva will pursue the wizard class until 15th-level, and then take up the prestige class of archmage. She will master that class (to 5th-level), then continue on with more levels in the wizard class.
Character Sheet