Oyesa Onyxhammer, Ancestor Priestess (A to Z, O)

In most fantasy worlds, there are a group of people who are specialists in making things.  In the Sea of Stars, they are called the Gemkine, in other fantasy worlds they might be called dwarves.

In the Sea of Stars, the Gemkine worship their ancestors, who include among their numbers their creator gods who had become mortal.

Oyesa Onyxhammer, Ancestor Priestess

Quote:  While the ancestors do not know everything, if you ask back across the chain of lives, they are likely to have encountered a similar problem and can often provide insightful advice.

It is important that we forge our links on the great chain of the family.  The lines cannot end with us, too much would be lost and forgotten

Description: As one could guess from her name, Oyesa is one of the Onyx bloodline of Gemkine, her hair is as black as night and worn in a braid decorated with silver wire and onyx chips, her eyes a startling dark violet; her skin is dusky.  She has a pleasing figure for a Gemkine and is certainly considered a beauty among her clan.

Oyesa wear robes, formal for official occasions, decorated with silver thread and cut onyx arranged into the symbols of the Onyx bloodline and when travelling in practical robes in dark colors.  She wears a fine suit of dragonsteel mail under her robes if trouble is expected.  Her symbol of office is a two-handed warhammer that in taller than her, its head inset with plates of jet carved with ancient runes, the plates are said to predate the Sundering.  She wears several daggers, including at least two concealed under her robes, Oyesa is a cautious woman.

When meeting people for the first time, Oyesa defaults to high formality, and it takes sometime for her to warm to people and relax around them.  Once she has done so, however, she is a very earthy woman, prone to risque jokes and tall tales.

Background: While almost all of the Gemkine venerate their ancestor, Oyesa was one of the few who heard their voices even from an early age.  Such a talent was quickly recognized and she was strongly encouraged to find a place in the priesthood, a suggestion she happily accepted.  She was a willing and dutiful student, soon becoming a full priestess.

She has spent considerable time travelling from Onyx stronghold to stronghold, speaking to and for the Ancestors.  During that time, she has taken several lovers and born two children, both sons, who are being raised with their father’s families.  When they are older, she hopes that one or both may accompany her.

Presenting this Character: Oyesa is a commanding force, knowing the will of the Ancestor gives a certain clarity to one’s actions.  She is confident and knows herself and her abilities.

What can she do?: Like many of the Gemkine, Oyesa has trained and served with her city’s militia and knows basic combat skills.  But her ability to channel the will and spiritual energy of the Ancestor is her most powerful talent.

She is well-versed in Gemkine genealogy, heraldry, and history.  With the advice of the Ancestors, she can produce some very obscure information.

Who might know her and why: Any one of the Gemkine who is more than a casual worshiper of the ancestors has likely heard of Oyesa as one of the most talented of recent Ancestor priests and priestesses.

She is equally well known among the Onyx Gemkine and often sought out for advice.

Plot Hooks: While her strongest connections are with her ancestors, she can commune with others as well, if they wish to be contacted.  So Oyesa is occasionally contacted by other ancestors and asked for help.  “Your Aunt Masabel wants you to find your cousin.”

If you need to known an obscure historical fact about the Gemkine, especially the Onyx gemkine, Oyesa is the one to ask.

Notes: Ancestor worship was always part of the plan for the Gemkine, though the idea of their gods becoming mortal and being the most important of their Ancestors came later.

Image from PeakPX and is in the Public Domain.