User:Avmella/Avmella

Appearance
Avmella hardly cuts what could be called an attractive figure. She is somewhat short and stocky, not even reaching 5'5" and having a large amount of muscle. Without makeup, she would have the appearance of someone at forty thanks to her previous lifestyle; with her makeup she appears somewhat younger than her 27 years.  Not helping her face any is a broken nose that has never healed. She allows her reddish-brown hair to fall where it will usually, though she will sometimes give it attention for special occasions.

Personality
On a good day, Avmella can be quite caring and helpful, even to the point of selflessness. Her willingness to risk injury or poverty in helping others is a special help in this regard. Much of the time, however, she is given instead to swings in mood, especially depression. She has little tolerance for actions she considers wrong, even if a good reason is provided for it. She becomes even more unpredictable when drunk, easily becoming frivolous or violent.

History
Avmella was born in the city of Lordaeron, a little under two years before the Second War. Her grandfather, head of a minor noble house of the Kingdom of Azeroth, had died in the First War defending the family's home of Grand Hamlet, and her father Perun fled to Lordaeron soon after. There, he was allowed to join the Knights of the Silver Hand and took part in the Second War.

After the defeat of the Orcs, Perun relocated his family to the rebuilding Stormwind, and settled in the Old Town district. There, Avmella grew up planning on joining the Silver Hand herself, despite the difficulty of that goal. Most of her childhood was spent learning the precepts of the Light and in military training; her two younger brothers, Philas and Kelas, showed more magical aptitude and trained to become mages under the Kirin Tor. As she passed her twentieth year, she prepared to travel to Lordaeron to train under the leaders of the Order.

Upon hearing of the Plague of Undeath and the murder of Terenas Menethil II, however, her father flatly refused to allow her to travel. She disobeyed him and went to offer her services anyway. Her journey was unsuccessful, finding that Lordaeron had been destroyed; further, her faith in the Light was shaken by two events: hearing of the death of Uther the Lightbringer, and of the destruction of Dalaran and her two brothers with it.

When she returned to Stormwind, Avmella gave up her studies completely. During the day, she made money as a seamstress; during the night, she spent all that money on alcohol, food, and less reputable pleasures. Her body wore down from the excess, and this, combined with a firm intervention from her father, finally convinced her that she needed to change her ways. While that process is still ongoing and likely shall be for a very long time, within a year she had performed well enough to convince the monks of Northshire Abbey to allow her to train to become a Paladin.

Goals & Motivations
Ideally, Avmella's goal is to spread the work of the Light, aiding others and removing the corruption caused by the Burning Legion. One of her stated goals is to once again visit her birthplace in safety, even if it is in ruins. She is also interested in bringing about an end to the conflict between the Alliance and Horde, or at least between her own people and the Orcs. This ideal is somewhat shaken, however, by the fact that the Forsaken and Blood Elves, both of whom she considers enemies for different reasons, have allied with the Horde.

Normally, however, her motivations are far less ambitious or pure. When in the field, she is willing to let her principles go for a time to make money or deal with a "greater evil"; this is especially true for the Blackwater Raiders and Steamwheedle Cartel, with whom she has a mutually comfortable business arrangement. When in Stormwind itself, she still spends much of her time drinking and enjoying herself, despite her efforts to the contrary.