# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Marissa Tovald - **Race/Species:** Gnome - **Class/Profession:** Naturalist/Druid - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral Good - **Age:** 143 - **Gender & Pronouns:** Female (She/Her) - **Appearance:** A vibrant figure who embodies gnomish curiosity and connection to nature, standing three feet four inches with a sturdy, energetic build that belies her considerable age by gnomish standards. Her face features the distinctive gnomish characteristics—round cheeks, bright eyes, and an expressive mouth—enhanced by the weathering that comes from decades spent outdoors in all conditions. Her eyes are a brilliant emerald green that sparkle with both mischief and wisdom, seeming to notice every plant, animal, and natural detail in her surroundings. Her hair is a riot of copper-red curls streaked with silver, typically adorned with small flowers, feathers, or leaves collected during her daily explorations. She dresses in practical clothing made from natural materials—sturdy fabrics in earthy greens and browns, with numerous pockets and pouches for collecting specimens and storing tools. Unlike many gnomes who favor bright colors and flashy accessories, her adornments are primarily natural items of scientific or spiritual significance—a necklace of carefully preserved seeds, bracelets of braided grasses, and a belt from which hang various small tools for botanical and zoological fieldwork. Her hands show the gentle dexterity of someone who regularly works with delicate plants and small creatures, and she moves with the quick, purposeful energy characteristic of gnomes, though she can become remarkably still when observing wildlife or communing with natural spirits. A pattern of small leaf-shaped birthmarks across her right cheek and temple has earned her the nickname "Leafcheek" among her gnomish kin—a name she embraces with typical gnomish delight in distinctive features. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Marissa embodies the perfect blend of gnomish enthusiasm and druidic wisdom—a naturalist who approaches ecological study with both scientific curiosity and spiritual reverence. She investigates natural phenomena with methodical thoroughness while maintaining childlike wonder at each new discovery, creating a unique perspective that bridges academic knowledge and intuitive understanding. To House Whitewood, she represents an invaluable resource, providing ecological assessments that balance practical resource management with long-term sustainability. To her fellow druids, she presents a refreshing combination of spiritual respect and scientific inquiry that enriches traditional practices with new insights. Her gnomish heritage manifests in her boundless curiosity, her talent for explaining complex ecological relationships through engaging stories, and her belief that learning should always retain an element of joy. Though capable of serious focus when ecological threats demand it, she is most authentic when sharing her knowledge with others, especially children, where her natural enthusiasm creates genuine connection to the natural world. Beneath her cheerful exterior lies a woman defined by dedication to preserving ecological balance through both practical action and education—a perspective that occasionally puts her at odds with more traditionally-minded druids but has created innovative approaches to conservation that benefit both natural systems and the communities that depend on them. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Ecological Knowledge** – Exceptional understanding of forest ecosystems and their interconnections - **Plant Identification** – Comprehensive familiarity with flora throughout Brevoy and neighboring regions - **Animal Communication** – Remarkable ability to interact with and understand wildlife behavior - **Educational Storytelling** – Talent for translating complex natural concepts into engaging narratives - **Sustainable Harvesting** – Expertise in gathering natural resources without ecological damage - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Distractibility** – Tendency to become sidetracked by interesting natural phenomena - **Excessive Optimism** – Sometimes underestimates the severity of ecological threats - **Collection Compulsion** – Difficulty passing interesting specimens without taking samples - **Temporal Disconnect** – Occasional failure to recognize the urgency of short-term human concerns - **Terminology Overload** – Habit of overwhelming listeners with specialized botanical terminology - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in quick, enthusiastic sentences filled with descriptive details and natural metaphors - Gestures expressively when explaining ecological concepts, often mimicking plant growth or animal movements - Habitually examines and collects small natural specimens during conversations - Hums or whistles tunes that mimic birdsong or wind through leaves when thinking - Employs a mixture of scientific terminology and whimsical gnomish descriptions when identifying flora and fauna #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to a gnomish community living in the forests bordering House Whitewood's territories, Marissa's early years were shaped by the traditional gnomish emphasis on exploration and discovery combined with her community's close relationship with local druidic circles. From childhood, she showed unusual aptitude for understanding plant and animal life, often wandering further into the woods than her peers to document new species and observe ecological relationships. Her formal druidic training began at age thirty, when her natural talents caught the attention of an elderly druid who recognized her potential to bridge scientific observation and spiritual connection. Under this mentorship, she developed a unique approach to natural studies that combined rigorous documentation with intuitive understanding—creating detailed records of plant properties while also communing with the spirits of the forest to understand their deeper significance. Her connection with House Whitewood began seventy years ago during a blight that threatened both forest ecosystems and agricultural lands. While traditional druids focused solely on spiritual remedies and human healers sought purely physical solutions, Marissa developed an integrated approach that addressed both the physical disease and the spiritual imbalance causing it. This combination of practical intervention and deeper ecological understanding not only resolved the immediate crisis but established a new framework for environmental management that caught the attention of Cedric Vayne and other forward-thinking members of House Whitewood. Over the subsequent decades, she has systematically expanded her knowledge of regional ecosystems while developing increasingly sophisticated approaches to sustainable resource management. Her particular expertise lies in identifying the delicate balance points within natural systems—understanding exactly how much can be harvested or altered without triggering cascading ecological damage. Her professional relationship with Cedric Vayne developed through their shared commitment to environmental stewardship, evolving into a partnership that bridges human political concerns and deeper ecological understanding. Where Cedric navigates the human political landscape, Marissa provides the scientific and spiritual foundation for truly sustainable policies. Currently, she divides her time between field research throughout Whitewood territories, advising on resource management decisions, and educational outreach to both human and gnomish communities. This multifaceted role has made her a crucial figure in regional environmental management, providing both practical expertise and spiritual perspective that informs House Whitewood's distinctive approach to governance. - **Current Role:** - Serves as House Whitewood's chief ecological advisor - Conducts ongoing assessment of forest health and biodiversity - Develops sustainable harvesting guidelines for timber, medicinal plants, and other resources - Mediates between human communities and natural spirits when imbalances occur - Educates younger generations about ecological stewardship through engaging programs - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[House Whitewood]]** – The noble family whose environmental policies she helps shape - **[[Cedric Vayne]]** – Half-elven diplomat with whom she shares commitment to balanced stewardship - **[[The Circle of the Green]]** – Druidic order where her innovative approaches have gained influence - **[[The Gnomish Naturalists' Society]]** – Organization she founded to promote scientific observation - **[[The Forest Spirits]]** – Natural entities with whom she maintains respectful communication - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Whitewood Environmental Council** – Advisory body she helped establish - **The Gnomish Community of Whispering Hollow** – Her birth community and cultural foundation - **The Druidic Circle of Balanced Growth** – Spiritual organization that embraces her integrated approach - **The Sustainable Harvest Alliance** – Practical initiative she helps coordinate - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Specimen Collection** – Extensive samples of regional flora preserved with druidic techniques - **Naturalist's Journal** – Detailed records of observations spanning over a century - **Druidic Focus** – Staff of living wood that continues to sprout leaves in appropriate seasons - **Communication Whistle** – Carved instrument that can mimic various animal calls - **Seed Bank** – Collection of rare and endangered plant seeds preserved for potential restoration #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The integration of scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom - The balance between human needs and ecological health - The importance of wonder and joy in environmental education - The value of gnomish perspective in long-term ecological planning - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a valuable source of ecological and natural lore - Might provide quests related to environmental threats or botanical collection - Could become a mentor for characters interested in natural magic or druidic practices - Her extensive knowledge makes her an excellent exposition vehicle for environmental storylines - Represents the scientific and spiritual dimensions of House Whitewood's environmental policies