Emily Bermont, Half-Elf College of Swords Bard - Sketch (Patreon)

An adventurous bard I drew on commission recently! Emily’s design is inspired by my own Aislyn Greywald!

Character: Emily Bermont, Half-Elf College of Swords Bard

Emily was the first child of the half-elf nobles Lucian and Juliana Bermont of Neverwinter. Her father Lucian was a diplomat of the Lords’ Alliance and her mother a former adventurer turned merchant.

Emily grew up well-off and spoiled. When she became an adult and after getting in some trouble, her father decided it was time she had some responsibility. She was sent on a diplomatic mission with some of her noble friends. On the way, she convinced her friends to attend a peasant wedding in a seaside village. During the weeding, pirates attacked the village and Emily was among those captured. As a prisoner she hid her noble status, not wanting to be ransomed.

For some reason the first mate, a male drow known as Ceran'dru,l selected Emily and a few others. It turned out those he selected had the gift of magic. She ended up under the drow’s tutelage and eventually became a pirate. For a time, things were going well, until a year later she was left to die on a burning ship. Ceran'drul abandoned her without a second thought.

By sheer chance a sailing ship was passing by. Emily was saved and she joined the crew of the Salty Maiden. The former noble was ambitious and sought to become a captain of her own ship. Two years after boarding the Salty Maiden crew, and after a traumatic event, she learned magic that allowed her to reach out to her dad. This was the first time her parents knew she was alive. Emily reunited with her parents and her younger sister Hilda in Waterdeep where she also learned that her mother was pregnant with another sibling.

Emily returned to the sea and after a couple of years got her own crew and ship. While blowing off some steam in the fighting pits of some port town, she met a half-elf known as Fang Darando'suil that stood out to her for having skills that impressed her. The two complemented each other’s sword fighting prowess and shared drinks after matches. Emily eventually attempted to seduce him and almost succeeded until he changed his mind and challenged her to a bet, which made him all the more interesting to her. After a wild week together they parted ways, but Emily had managed to form a genuine bond with someone.

They two reunited after she defeated Ceran'drul for what she hoped was the last time. However, her return to Fang caused serious problems to his family and she was shocked to know that he had apparently died.

With the aid of magic, Fang returned to life and Emily confessed her feelings to him. Then the Lords’ Alliance erupted into civil war. Her family defected from the side of Neverwinter to Waterdeep, and she went into hiding when Ceran'drul appeared amidst the chaos. Waterdeep eventually won and Emily married Fang after the war in an empire-wide celebration. The newlyweds slipped away on a four-year honeymoon, returning to Waterdeep with their child, Annabelle.

For now, Emily and Fang are enjoying the life of a retired adventurer with their young daughter, but when adventurer calls, they are ready to set sail again!

What do you think? :)

Full illustration soon!