Ashlyn Blackwood was born in 1320 CE, behind the wooden walls of Copseweald, a small, isolated town near the border between Veilwood and Rivalon. Her mother, Lady Selantria Blackwood, was a powerful vampire and one of the town’s respected figures. Her father, Theren Vaelen, an elven scholar, was a quiet and thoughtful man whose union with Lady Selantria Blackwood broke centuries of tradition. Rather than waiting for a mortal child to come of age and earn their transformation, Selantria bore a Dhampir daughter—an act considered improper and indulgent among vampire society. But Selantria did not care for their judgment. She had her reasons, and Ashlyn was raised proudly.

Ashlyn was not alone. She was the younger half-sister of Ariana Blackwood, Selantria’s daughter from an earlier marriage. Ariana had earned her full vampirism through discipline and service and had long since proven herself among Veilwood’s noble lines. But instead of looking down on Ashlyn, she treated her like a true sister. From the start, Ariana was a steady and fiercely loyal presence—guiding Ashlyn through the unspoken rules of their world and helping her carve out a place for herself among sharp tongues and sharper politics.

By the time Ashlyn was ten, the Curse of Veilwood had begun to change the forest around Copseweald. The trees grew darker and stranger. Game vanished. People whispered about Nightwalkers—things that tapped on windows in the dead of night, mimicking the voices of lost loved ones. No one who vanished was ever found. For Ashlyn, the fear never left—but it hardened into purpose. She and Ariana would take quiet shifts walking the palisade, standing between the town and the dark, if only to remind themselves they still could.

At fourteen, Ashlyn chose her path. She became a Blood Knight, a warrior trained to mix martial prowess with blood‑fueled magic. Her days were spent honing her body—learning to fight in heavy armor, mastering the sword, and pushing herself past the limits of ordinary flesh. Her evenings belonged to Ariana, who trained her in etiquette, presence, and the careful language of nobility. Ashlyn learned that knowing when to speak and how to hold herself could be as important as knowing how to strike. Her father’s quiet counsel filled the rest, grounding her with books and insights that connected her blade to the world she was stepping into.

Now, in 1396 CE, Ashlyn leaves Copseweald behind. Not in search of glory or to redeem some great cause—but because it’s time. She’s joined a group of adventurers taking part in the reclamation of Orathos, helping clear old ruins, drive back the undead, and protect those trying to return to what was lost. She has no titles and no grand expectations—just her sword, her strength, and a quiet determination to prove that her family name still means something in a world that has long since fallen apart.