Athena La Croix

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Athena La Croix

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Relatives	Apollo Hellstar (father), Koronis La Croix (mother), Ezmerelda d'Avenir (wife).
Languages	Common, Celestial, Draconic, Elvish
Affiliations	La Croix
Aliases	Morningstar
Marital Status	Married
Place of Birth	La Croix, Osugbo
Date of Death	deathdate
Place of Death	deathplace
Species	Dhampir
Gender	Vampyre
Height	5'4"
Weight	120
Eye Color	Red

Athena La Croix was a dhampir fighter from the La Croix bloodline.

Physical Appearance

Athena's skin is fair, but she often wears body makeup to appear more human-like if in a realm run primarily by humans. Her eyes are red, only made brighter after she feeds. The raven-haired beauty is always carrying a morningstar and is often in armor when traveling.

Personality

Athena is the best of both of her parents. She is often described as kind, diplomatic, but can be fierce when she needs to be. She is extremely protective of the ones she loves and will do anything for the sake of the La Croix Kingdom. While her nature may be vampyre, she refrains from drinking human blood while in the company of humans and instead, is sustained by animal blood. She prefers to feed alone, often disappearing into the woods for a hunt.

Athena is assertive, soft spoken, articulate, and honest, but tries to be so in a non-offensive kind of way.

History

“You’re welcome in my home but it’s haunted. It’s haunted. By the ghost of love when I lost it, but I’ve been seeing some things that I can not believe. But once you’ve seen it, the ghost will never leave. I’m haunted. Haunted… by you.”

Athena La Croix was born long ago, 321 years to be exact, to Apollo (a human) and Koronis (a vampyre) La Croix. Koronis wielded her intelligence as a weapon, whereas Apollo was skilled in espionage and combat. When Athena came of age, she was given a choice: walk the path of intelligence or be a warrior.

She chose both.

Her training began at the ripe age of 16. Up until 19, she trained mostly with her mother, whose abilities were psionic and politically based in nature. Koronis aimed to teach Athena the importance of diplomacy. A woman’s place wasn’t in the home, no, it was in the courts, aiding men in their decision making and guiding them to do what was best for the realm, not themselves.

When her training in combat began with her father, she was introduced to a young woman name Ezmerelda. Ezme, a skilled warrior, often sparred with Athena in hand-to-hand combat. The two got close, learned to trust each other, and began a relationship. Her father, not one to judge, encouraged the courtship between the two, but warned of the cost of love.

“Do you love her, Athena?”

“I do, father. With all my heart.”

“If that’s the case, morning star, you must be willing to do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if that means walking away from her.”

“I understand.”

She wondered if he had ever told his protégé, Ezmerelda, the same. As tensions rose between the La Croix and von Zarovich families, Apollo was tasked with infiltrating the ranks of the von Zarovich family. To fight for the La Croix was a great honor but it did not come without sacrifice. This was a death sentence. Apollo spent his last night with Koronis and Athena, gifting his daughter with his most prized weapon, his morningstar.

“Morning star, I release you from training. It is now your responsibility to protect this family and our home.”

“I will do you great honor, father.”

“I know you will, my love. I know.”

The next morning, Apollo was gone, only leaving a note to his wife and daughter. For years, Athena and her mother went about their lives, knowing nothing of Apollo’s whereabouts. On one grim evening, several moons later, they received word Apollo perished, but were given no clear details of his demise. The only thing Athena knew was that Strahd had the answer, and she was willing to do anything in her power to get that.

So, Athena trained, combining the abilities her mother taught her with the techniques her father trained her in. Officially dubbed “morning star” by the La Croix, Athena was tasked with diplomatic missions at first. After her first mission, she returned home, only to find Ezme had disappeared. Heartbroken and left with only her mother, Athena threw herself into training with her mother, learning all there was to know about the von Zarovich family.

Hundreds of years passed. Eventually, it was Koronis’ time to move on to another plane. Death had finally caught up with her and as she lay dying, with Athena at her side, she clutched her hand and offered some final words of wisdom.

“She lives my morning star. In Barovia. Find her. Find your love. Bring her back. My biggest regret was never following my Apollo…perhaps we will meet again…in that place under the willow tree he liked.”

In honor of her mother and father, she sought out Barovia, in search of a love lost… and the devil himself.

Languages

Athena speaks common, celestial, draconic, and elvish.

Powers and Abilities

Athena is a psi warrior, meaning her speciality is primarily in psionic attacks. Because she is dhampir, she has increased darkvision and has no need to breathe.

Attacks and Weapons 

Athena wields a double-bladed scimitar and a morningstar.