Phyrra

Phyrra is a drow warlock, seer, and mother of Saphir. As a NPC, she is played by Goldseer, with development notes by KeruFaye.

Appearance
Phyrra is a petite, curvy woman with ashen black skin, long white hair, and purple eyes. She often wears a tired or sullen expression. When Saphir first spotted her in Daledyun, she wore a veil and garbed herself in dark, odd but lovely patterns.

Personality
While she appears to suffer deeply, Phyrra maintains a motherly warmth and compassion for others. She is an empathetic woman, understanding that pain takes time to heal. Phyrra displays an affectionately teasing side at times, particularly when speaking of her husband.

Background
Phyrra was part of a traveling caravan in her youth. About 312 years ago, they were denied entry into an undisclosed city in Curanna when the last Blood Moon occurred. She remembers that the world seemed to go dark, shadows and monsters roamed everywhere, and her mother cast a spell to keep them safe, though she cannot recall the nature of it.

Some time after, Phyrra set off on her own. She was travelling with the caravan in Soltrumd when they were beset by horrible monsters. The eladrin Laern came to their aid, slaying the horrors and healing the wounded. Phyrra was taken by his display of chivalry when he refused to be rewarded for his good deeds. It was the first time that she had witnessed kindness for kindness's sake. Phyrra left an impression on the knight as well, and they fell in love. After Laern left the Spring Court, they married and had a child, Ymille. However, the couple was forced to flee to Everrise due to the pursuit of Nyl. There, they sought a safe haven to raise their son.

Months after Ymille's birth, their home was attacked by Outriders. While Phyrra and Laern fought desperately, their son was stolen away by a Quickling, in service of the dullahan Torl Shal. For roughly thirty years, the couple searched and searched for their lost child, Phyrra using her scrying orb in an attempt to find him. However, none of their efforts bore fruit, and so they had no choice but to presume Ymille dead, or otherwise irreparably lost.

Within the Dales, Phyrra is known to return on occasion and help out around the towns. She travels in a highly decorated wagon under the sign "The Traveling Mystic".

Session 4/23
Phyrra is followed by Saphir upon leaving the tavern in Daledyun. After entering her caravan and changing clothes, she is shocked by his presence and threatens him into the light with a readied Eldritch Blast. The spell dies once she gets a good look at Saphir's face, recognizing him as her lost son Ymille. Learning of Saphir's fate after his kidnapping, she tearfully apologizes, but he rejects her apology.

Distraught, Phyrra follows Saphir into the street, where she finds him challenging Laern. She intervenes, telling Saphir once again that she's sorry, that she loves him, and she won't cause him any more pain. She won't force him to stay. She then retreats to her caravan.

Session 4/30
The following morning, Phyrra meets Saphir and his allies at the river to see them off, her appearance haggard from lack of rest. The two drow have a calmer exchange, with Saphir introducing her to the party and giving her a letter expressing a desire to know her. Phyrra cries with relief and explains the meaning of his birth name, "True Blessing". In order to keep in touch, she gives Saphir a sending stone. Given that the party has a sending stone already, she agrees to see if she can enchant it to accept other callers. She also gifts Saphir a ring, later identified as a RIng of Evasion, that belongs to his father. In exchange, Saphir gives Phyrra his toy frog Bunda to look after.

When questioned about why Laern left the Spring Court, Phyrra says he was pursuing a quest that he literally cannot tell her about.

Session 5/7
Phyrra meets up with the party once more before they depart for Mete. While she couldn't merge the sending stones, she gives Saphir his own set to contact herself and Laern. The bundle including the sending stone also contains an athame and five gold.

Phyrra offers Rylee some tips on using her newly acquired scrying orb and helps her affix it to her staff.

Between Sessions 5/18
Phyrra calls Saphir via sending stone to offer development of a teleportation spell that the party can use in case of an emergency. Saphir agrees it would be helpful to have, then informs her to keep an eye out for the college mages pursuing Clairen and questions Phyrra about her magic. She explains that she forged a Pact with something old when she was young and desperate, but does not elaborate on her patron's identity.

Dark Tidings
Nearing evening after arriving in the Spring Court, Saphir contacts Phyrra to update her on the party's findings and gather information on what's happening west of the Wall. She mentions odd sightings of a black stag and that one of Lord Tinneman's sons has disappeared.

Saphir
Since his initial rejection of her affections, Phyrra has offered Saphir her support and love, though she expresses understanding of his need to distance himself should he so choose. She's relieved that her son has decided to build a relationship with her. She frequently cautions him against reckless activities and urges him to stay safe.

Laern
Phyrra seems to be a grounding force for her honor-driven husband. Her interruption during his confrontation with Saphir caused him to drop his aggression, and she coaxed him out of his flagellant state after realizing Saphir wasn't lying about his identity.

Clairen Longridge
Clairen expressed distrust of Phyrra at the start due to the dubious source of Phyrra's magic and Clairen's own lack of positive parenting models. They had a confrontation on the Freewind that sent Phyrra into a bout of despondence. Since Phyrra's pure intentions have become clear, the two warlocks have made up.

Star Being
Phyrra's patron remains as distant as the sky above. She can't be sure it even knows she exists. Calling upon its power often comes at the expense of her physical health.

Cantrips

 * Eldritch Blast

Notable Items

 * Sending Stone (shared with Saphir)
 * Scrying Orb
 * Jar containing a disembodied eye

Former Items

 * Bunda (returned to Saphir)

Quotations

 * "Hah...You have your father's jawline...The freckles too, same as his."
 * "No...it's okay.  It is good enough to know that he is alive.  That he is okay. I'm sorry, Ymille.  I will not cause you any more pain. I'm so sorry...I still love you so much, I'm so sorry this is the first time I've been able to say it. I don't expect you to forgive me...but I will not keep you here."
 * "[My magic is]... taken. A Pact. It is not genetic, no, only I underwent what was required to gain it. [...]The Source is.. hard to describe. I took it on when I was young, and desperate, as if that is any excuse."

Trivia

 * Phyrra is based on a dark pact warlock made by Keru for D&D 4th edition in her college game. She wanted a chance to give Phyrra and Laern a happier ending, and so with Goldy's permission, decided to port them over as Saphir's birth parents for 5th edition.
 * Though they have nothing in common, Phyrra's name is inspired by Phyrra Nikos from RWBY.