Andraste of Edelwood

Andraste is a female Sylvan who lives in Amaroth. She is the current Knight Captain of the Thorn Knights and has held the position for the last 70 years.

Appearance
Like most Sylvans, Andraste has pale green skin and large dark eyes. She has the slim build of a long distance runner and is more hard angles than the soft curves of most of her race. The mask she wears at all times reflects her station as Knight Captain, made of rosewood and decorated simply but elegantly with thorny vines. She wears no armour, preferring light travelling robes with intricate embroidery. Her heritage as a Flora caste is shown by the long dark leaves growing out from behind her ears, as well as stems capped with tiny orchids. She has a butterfly familiar that is never far from her side.

Personality
Andraste is a diplomat at heart, and extremely comfortable in the higher echelons of Amaroth society. She is known for being strident in her views but also sensible and open to compromise and mutual understanding, with a sharp intelligence that sometimes finds solutions that others would not have thought of. Unlike most of her race she loves to read and is usually knee-deep in scrolls and tomes of history - she is said to have a soft spot for Knights who bring back such things from their adventures. As a Knight Captain she has a reputation for taking no nonsense but always publicly backing her Knights in whatever mess they have ended up in.

History
Andraste joined the Thorn Knights over 100 years ago as the first Sylvan member. She was sponsored by a somewhat erratic Orcish paladin called Grom, who has long since passed away. Initially she was reclusive and secretive, and somewhat ostracised in the city due to the Sylvan reputation for being arrogant homewreckers. The Knight initially supervising her took a particular dislike to her and accused her of causing the deaths of innocent non-combatants during a mission - a trumped up charge but the Knight had seniority and many believed him. Although after a thorough investigation she was cleared of wrongdoing, many thought she would leave. Instead she seemed to buckle down and focus on climbing the chain within the order, rising to Knight and then Knight Commander in swift succession. As the previous Knight Captain grew older, she took on more and more of their administrative duties until when their retirement was announced she was the only logical choice for successor. The Knight who initially brought the charges against her is now dead of old age.