Name:
Torlass of Shiresbar

Age:
23

Physical description:
Husky; she’s overweight, but has some muscle.  Messy brown hair, slight tan.  Too short to be physically imposing—about 5’5.

Personality/Attitude:
Uncomplaining in matters of duty, but bluntly outspoken in other matters.  Can be diplomatic with strangers, but has lost friends because of not holding her tongue. Wavers between self-disgust and pride, with some manic changes in mood.

Brief History:
Currently one of the oldest herald trainees at the Collegium, Torlass is not sure why she was chosen so relatively late in life, though she suspects it has something to do with increased demand for Heralds due to the war with Hardorn.  She’s an average thinker who compensates with a willingness to jump in and do distasteful jobs. 

Born to relative privilege as a landowner’s daughter in Shiresbar, a rural community near Sensolding, Torlass has spent most of her life with the choice to be as indolent or active as she pleases. From her teen years on, she has tried to break free of the “indolent noble” stereotype by jumping into tasks requiring more strength and skill than she has—something that has taught her a few things.

Now, one year after being chosen by Kotan, her Companion, Torlass has not completed enough training to go on circuit and earn her Whites, but she has to leave the Collegium anyway—there’s an emergency at home.  An illness of unknown cause is spreading through Shiresbar, and her most recent letter includes the news that her mother has developed red bumps along her arms and chest—uncontestable symptoms of the disease.

Haven has no Heralds to spare for this emergency, as they are occupied with fighting Ancar.  Angra, newly graduated from the Healer’s Collegium, will be the only one accompanying her.  Strongly gifted with mind-speech, Angra was chosen for her ability to quickly notify Haven officials in the event of an epidemic or civil unrest.  The two women are not friends—they are political and religious opposites, especially concerning the issue of alliance with Karse.

Goals in Life:
Torlass wants to be able to die proud—to look at her life and know she had skills that people could use, and used them well.  She also wants some stability of mind—the same mania that gives her energy and quickness of mind on some days sends her into depression on others.  On her depressed days, she has thoughts that disgust her—thoughts that go against her ideals—and she wants to be rid of them.

Gifts:
Moderate earth-sense; very minor empathy

Position:
Herald-Trainee