Background Story

Born the middle child (and eldest daughter) of a simple farmer and his wife, Marissa suffered a bit from "Middle Child Syndrome." She alternately wanted to have the attention going to either her elder brother or her younger sister and wanted the slight freedom being overlooked got her. That is until the fatal day in the winter of her fourteenth year when a pack of starving, rabid wolves attacked her farm.

When the fight was over, her mother and brother dead, she suddenly got all the attention she thought she wanted. But she also came away with a deep sense of duty and responsibility to help protect her family and see to it's continued survival. She received her grandfather's sword and started taking lessons with the blacksmith and his son, Garrick.

Personality

Marissa is often serious and duty-driven, though she breaks out of it occasionally when she's with a good friend or two. She's very protective of those she feels need a bit of protection and won't hesitate to jump into a fight to do just that.

Some would classify her as a tom-boy for her love of competing in the games at the Harvest Fair every year, but under her boyish (more sensible clothes), beats the heart of a girl who would love to indulge in flights of fancy, romantic dreams, pretty, frilly dresses and sparkling jewelry. She keeps those tendencies firmly suppressed, or so she'd like to think. She's not very adept at hiding those things she longs for most.

Appearance

Much as her bodycast, Marissa has russet-colored hair and warm brown eyes. An oval face with a strong nose and a wide, full mouth. She commonly dresses in shirts or tunics and breeches simply because it's easier to do farm work wearing those, rather than dresses or skirts. Most often, her hair is braided in one plait down her back, falling to the bottom of her shoulder-blades.

The other reason for preferring boy's clothes is that her work on the farm, plus sword practice has left her much stronger than other young women and even some boys and men. She doesn't feel comfortable displaying the very firm physique in girl's clothes. Though there's no doubt in anyone's mind by the time she's 18 that she is truly a young woman, rather than a young man.

Special Abilities

Supporting Cast

Knowledge of Other Characters

Marissa met Lucas Onomang at the Harvest Fair a year after the wolf attack. She saved him from a group of bullies, cleaned him up and the two formed a friendship.

She met Garrick Quopol a few months after the attack and with the help of Garrick's father, trained with Garrick in the art of swordsmanship.

She knows Ash by reputation, things more whispered than spoken openly.

Romantic Relationships (If Applicable)

Future Plans and Goals

Trivia

Side Pieces & Joint Posts

Influences

Character Sheet