Kariza de'Camyras

Biological

Birthday: May 17

Age: 80

Race: Dark Elf

Birthplace: Zhanduril/Crystal Dimension

Sex: Female

Eyes: Variable (usually purple)

Hair: Metallic Silver

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 116 lbs

Distinguishing Marks: A number of silver tattoos (spirals, etc.)

Personal

Occupation: Ranger/Sword Dancer Priestess

Religion: Eilistraee Worship

Martial Status: Widowed

Nicknames and Titles: The Dark Huntress; Exiled Sixth Princess of House Daelán Ka'Zendanâth (de'Camyras)

Weapons: Nocturne and Requiem (twin silver scimitars)

Hobbies: Cooking, singing, dancing

Inspiration: Zaknafein de'Camyras, Shalanzar de'Camyras, Lady Sereska Vae

History

Kariza is the youngest daughter of Matron Ilivarra de'Camyras, Matron Mother of Zhanduril's Second House. She was birthed through the ultimate rite of Dark Elven priestly magic, Ilhar Velve, in which a High Priestess of Sindrai'el channels the pain of childbirth into a powerful death spell. The child almost never survives, but Kariza is a rare exception, and was blessed with tremendous spiritual power as a result. In addition to the usual priestess training nearly all noble Zhanduran females undergo, Matron Ilivarra allowed Kariza to be mentored during her formative years by her father, the legendary Weapon Master Zaknafein. He trained her extensively in the fighting arts, and she was also trained in arcane magic by his lover Shalnazar, Thirdboy and the de'Camyran House Wizard. Kariza excelled in both disciplines, and by the time she came of age and began her formal schooling at Zhanduril's Academy, she far outstripped her peers. However, Kariza also shared Zaknafein and Shalnazar's hatred of the cruelty of Drow culture.

While training at Melee-Magthere, the Academy's school of fighters, Kariza fell in love with a prince of a rival house, Solaufein Everhate, Thirdboy of House Everhate. As a secret follower of Eilistraee, he also shared Kariza's convictions, and the two carried on a secret affair for years. Shortly after Kariza's graduation from Arach-Tinilith, the priestess school, Matron Ilivarra discovered the illicit affair and demanded that Kariza use her relationship with Solaufein to gather intelligence on House Everhate. After some initial subterfuge, Ilivarra finally demanded that Kariza prove her loyalty to her goddess and to House de'Camyras once and for all by sacrificing Solaufein to the Spider Queen. Kariza renounced her half-hearted faith in Sindrai'el, and resolved to flee Zhanduril with her beloved.

The two young lovers fought their way through the Upper Underground and escaped to Crystal's surface where they underwent a special form of Elven spiritual marriage. However, shortly thereafter, they were discovered by Kariza's vampiric brother, Salphore, who was under orders from Matron Ilivarra to kill the two. He overcame them with a pack of minions, and Kariza was made to watch as Salphore brutally violated and murdered Solaufein. She was subsequently left to die, as Salphore believed it a far crueler fate for a Dark Elf to be left alone and wounded on the surface.

Barely alive, Kariza made her way through the wilderness and collapsed just at the foot of Mount Ordeals. She was discovered there by agents of the Eilistraeen Temple of the Silver Crescent, and was nursed back to health by their High Priestess, Lady Sereska Vae. In time, Kariza became a priestess of Eilistraee, and trained as a ranger and Sword Dancer priestess under the tutelage of Lady Mayandrana Tuin'tar, commander of the Darksong Knights. She has faithfully served the temple ever since, along with her she-wolf companion, Kyorlin, helping to keep the wilderness safe and spreading Eilistraee's message of love and reconciliation to any Dark Elf who would hear it.