Maya Silverlock
Physicals
Height: 4’8”
Weight: 95 lbs.
Race: Drow (Surface Born)
Gender: Female
Body type: Thin, feminine, not overly muscular.
Skin type: Obsidian
Hair color: Silver
Eye color: Silver
Profession: Priestess
Aliases: None
Languages: Elven, Drow, Common, Sylvan
Mental Info
Alignment: Neutral Good
Philosophy: guide others in the worship of the Maiden and all her teachings. Peace, love, and trust are our greatest weapons against evil.
Deity: Eilistraee
Additional Info
Gear: Typically Maya wears a practical silver set of traveling clothes. During important rituals she goes unclad, and in battle she wears a suit of full plate mail. She carries most of her belongings in her pack. She wields a bow, or a bastard sword and shield, depending on the situation.
Jewelry: A holy symbol worn prominently outside her clothing.
Habits/hobbies: Avid reader, and seeker of knowledge. She enjoys music, good conversation, and pleasant company.
Favorite drink: She enjoys several different things depending on the situation.
History
Maya was born in the temple at Velarswood to the Priestess Larynda and Protector Vash. Her parents had great hope for her, part of a generation of young drow born outside the darkness of normal drow society. Her parents did their best to model their family life after that of their surface cousins, having spoken to the few elves they knew from in and near the temple.
Maya spent her early childhood much like other children at the temple. Once she learned to read, however, her life became set on an obvious path. She practically devoured every book, and scroll she could get her hands on. It was clear that she would be a scholar, and probably follow her mother's path rather than her father's.
It wasn't long before the priestesses noticed Maya's potential. She was soon added to the ranks of the novices. Maya took her studies with a devotion rarely seen in one so young. The priestesses were surprised at how easily she could hear the song of the Maiden, and some speculated that Eilsitraee herself had taken an interest in the girl. Most discounted this, saying she was just a smart novice with an unusual dedication for one so young.
Skill at arms and academics were the focus of all novices. While Maya was fair with a blade, and capable of taking care of her kit, her studies in academics is where she excelled. She spent most of her free time in the temple's library. She passed all of her tests quickly, and at an earlier age than all the other novices. It wasn't long before she was assisting in ceremonies, and given more responsibility around the temple.
Once all of her trials were passed, and the priestesses determined she had completed her training they bestowed the title of priestess on her. She didn't wait long at the temple, hearing the call of the Maiden. She had been reading a book, outside in the temple gardens when she heard that the nearby area around Shadowdale was without a priestess. They had heard that one had moved into the area, but had been lost to local conflicts. Maya knew that this was a call she could not ignore. She spoke with her parents, and the priestess, telling them of her desire to travel to the area and offer her services to the faithful in the area. She could barely wait till the next day to start out, and didn't sleep at all the night before she left. She had her things packed, and as soon as the sun crested the horizon, she set her feet to the road for Shadowdale.
Maya spent two years building and guiding a temple, with the help of a group of diverse faithful from around the Cormanthor area. The ups and downs of temple leadership were hard on the young high priestess, but she had great support from the temple's battlemistress, and other councilors. Things went well for some time, but soon a vision came to many of the faithful, and they saw their path leading them in a different direction. Something drew them to leave the prime, to follow a doorway to a strange, and new land. So stepped the High Priestess, from the prime, into the Sigil.
Personality
Maya is kind, quiet, and generally peaceful. She speaks to everyone with respect, and usually a smile. She does not like deception, and has a hard time concealing the truth except in cases where the truth would do more harm than good. She will never lie about something that might effect another person's life in an important way. She is thoughtful, may times listening and letting others talk before offering her own insight. She chooses her words carefully, knowing that in her position, the things she says are often taken quite seriously. She does not like to rush into things, and tends to think about an important decision for a few minutes or a few days depending on the import of the decision and the factors involved. She believes that physical contact, and kindness, are the best way to get through to people. A hand on an arm, or shoulder, a brief touch of the cheek, or a light kiss on the forehead are believed, by her, to have a dramatic impact on the way people react and listen. As for kindness, she knows it's a powerful tool against hate and evil, but she doesn't do it just because of that. Her kindness is genuine. Finally love, the greatest defense they have against everything evil, is important to her. Not so much personally, but as a whole she loves the faithful. She, like the Maiden, is happy to see lovers together, especially when those lovers are from her own lost kin. To see something that was once dark, and evil, show love, compassion and caring for another, is the greatest success in life.
Maya is also curious, and bookish. She loves to learn, and is constantly looking for new things that she has not been exposed to, read about, or been told about. This can sometimes lead to embarrassing situations and questions, but it all comes from a burning desire to learn. Her key focus, with her new duties, is to learn about what life is like with her lost kin. She is keenly aware that she never suffered the darkness that many have. She knows that while she can empathize with converts that come from below, she can never relate to their experiences. It is something she fears may be a hindrance in some cases.
Maya is not afraid, even in a leadership role, to listen to the views and opinions of others, as long as they are offered in a respectful manner. One thing she has little patience for is blatant disrespect, to herself, and to others in her presence. She will, many times, let another handle a situation if she feels that they are doing a fine job. She is not cursed by the leadership quality of always wanting to be the one talking, or taking charge. She believes that a good leader develops those that follow them, not only with advice and guidance, but by letting them do the work that needs to be done without stepping all over them.
Finally, Maya is patient in the extreme. She can smile and be kind, even in the face of vile hate. She can handle obstinate converts, as well as troublesome faithful. This is not to say she never loses her patience. Usually when she does, she removes herself from the situation in order to regain her calm, if the situation is not one that would turn more negative in her absence.
Appearance
Maya is a bit tall for a female drow, light, and athletic in build. Her hair is silvery white, and her eyes are also silver. She has been told that she is pretty, but really doesn't put much stock in outward appearance. When encountered she is usually unarmed and unarmored, dressed for the task at hand. Her traveling clothes included a set of silvery/white clothes and robes, a worn leather pack, and a hood, if she wears it. If combat is expected she carries a suit of full plate in her pack, and a bastard sword and shield strapped to it. A bow rides in a carrier under her pack.
Maya Silverlock
