## Overview **Hesta** is a young girl who survived the fall of [[Talonalton]]. She is the daughter of **Amelia**, a woman who was turned into a vampire spawn by **[[Rarvas]]**. Rescued by the adventuring party, Hesta represents innocence amidst horror, and her story is deeply tied to the emotional stakes of the campaign. Despite her youth and trauma, Hesta has become a symbol of hope for the survivors fleeing to [[Hearthstone]]. Her presence challenges the party’s ability to nurture, protect, and lead—and she may yet hold importance beyond what anyone realizes. - **Name:** Hesta - **Race:** Human (Child) - **Age:** 8 - **Origin:** [[Talonalton]] - **Current Status:** Rescued and sheltered by the party, recovering at [[Hearthstone]] --- ## Background Hesta was born in [[Talonalton]] during a time of quiet prosperity. Her mother, Amelia, was a kind and thoughtful innkeeper known for her singing voice and herbal cooking. They lived simply until the shadows crept into the town. When [[Rarvas]] arrived and corrupted the graveyard, Amelia was taken and transformed into a vampire. She was later used as a lure, attempting to draw Hesta—and the party—into a trap. Despite the horror, Hesta was found hiding alone in the inn, terrified but alive. She witnessed her mother’s final form and, depending on the party’s choices, may have seen her destroyed. --- ## Personality - **Disposition:** Quiet, watchful, emotionally distant - **Behavior:** Tends to observe instead of speak, but clings to those who show consistent safety - **Trauma Responses:** Wakes from nightmares; sometimes asks questions with piercing emotional weight - **Beliefs:** Still forming. She is trying to understand what death means—and why people change. --- ## Psychological Importance Hesta is a barometer for how the party treats survivors. She reminds everyone that the undead threat is not just tactical—it is personal. - **Healing Role:** A cleric, bard, or companion who cares for her may help ease her nightmares or emotional distance - **Mystical Sensitivity (Optional Hook):** After her exposure to her mother’s transformation and death, Hesta may have developed a latent connection to lingering spiritual echoes—allowing her to perceive undead presences or whisperings from the Veil --- ## Story Function - Serves as an emotional anchor for the party - Could become a recurring character as a ward, apprentice, or eventual squire - If neglected, she may grow cold or seek independence too early, putting herself at risk --- ## Future Development Ideas - **Light in the Dark:** May one day become a priestess or speaker of [[Perserphina]], turning pain into healing - **Tainted Soul (Optional Path):** If corrupted by exposure to vampire essence, she may wrestle with her own darkness - **Adopted Companion:** Could form a lasting bond with a PC, becoming a surrogate child or student --- ## Quotes - _“She used to sing to me when the lights went out. Now I hear her voice in the walls.”_ - _“Why did they want us to die?”_ - _“I don’t want to sleep anymore. That’s where the monsters talk.”_