Portentia Poppyfield

What would happen if you had been told your whole life that you have Great Potential, to be the most powerful seer your land has ever seen? What would you do if your family's livelihood depends on your ability to reach that potential? Well, you would study your ass off, of course. You would have no choice but to study as hard as you can.

But then, what would happen if you got tired of studying? What would you do once you get a taste of the larger world, outside of the walls of the school your patron pays for?

Before Portentia was born, her parents were simple farmers in a small, unimportant village, named Orren and Melia Poppyfield. They were honest, hardworking people, who wanted nothing more than to have a child. However, try as they might, they could not conceive.

One day, they received word that a renknowned oracle would be passing by their village on her way to the capital city of their land. The oracle had decided to pay for her room at the village's inn by opening an audience to any villagers who wanted to ask questions about their fates. The Poppyfields jumped at the chance, and traveled into town to ask the oracle what they needed to do to conceive a child. They told her they were willing to do whatever it takes.

The oracle beckoned Orren and Melia forward, so she could get a better look at them. As she did, her eyes glowed white with power and her jaw dropped, as though she was being overcome with an immensely powerful vision. An eerie wind swept through the tavern, getting the attention of everyone in attendance, including the local minor noble, Lord Ilius Keswick.

When the vision passed, and the oracle could speak again, she told the Poppyfields in hushed tones that although they had been trying to have a child with no success thus far, the time simply had not been right. She said that if they tried again on the night of the next full moon, not only would they bear a child, but that child would go on to become the most powerful seer this world has ever known. Orren and Melia were thrilled, and thanked the oracle generously before turning to take their leave. However, they were stopped by Lord Keswick before they could return to their farm.

He told the Poppyfields that he had great interest in the prophecy they had just received, and that he was willing to strike a deal with them over it. He would pay them enough money to run their farm and ensure they would never go hungry, and in exchange, once their child came of age, they would serve as his personal seer, once again for a hefty wage. He agreed to pay for the child's tutelage at the best institution where they could learn to hone their magical skills.

As soon as she was old enough to read, Portentia was sent to the best (and most expensive) wizarding school in the land. She dedicated herself to her studies, partially because she knew she had a contract to fulfill once she was old enough, and also partially because she was constantly bullied by her peers. They resented her for being younger than them, yet better than them in their classes. They teased her for her modest origins, calling her “farm stock” or ”poor little Poppy.”

Portentia didn't let this faze her, however, and decided to reclaim the nickname Poppy and ignore all the ridicule thrown at her by her fellow students. Eventually, they grew tired of bullying her, and just left her alone. She didn't have any friends, but she also no longer had any enemies.

Poppy excelled in every aspect of school. Her teachers loved her, and kept accelerating her through higher and higher level classes. Every month, she received her stipend from Lord Kesrick, and whatever she didn't need for tuition or supplies, she sent back home to her parents. She grew bored, however, and felt listless, like she was going through the motions of learning magic, but her heart wasn't in it.

One day, an unexpected excitement came to the school. There was a bustle in the school courtyard, drawing a crowd of students, including Poppy. A gang of adventurers had come to the school, asking for the headmaster's help researching a particular spell they needed to defeat a great evil. They were in a bit of a hurry, they explained, as this great evil had sent its minions after them to try to keep them from gathering the items and knowledge needed to bring it down. No sooner did they explain their need for expedience, than a young blue dragon came smashing through the courtyard wall, attacking the group of adventurers and students gathered, indiscriminate in its destruction.

To protect the school and his pupils, the grand wizard headmaster ordered all students to take shelter within the walls of the school while he and the other professors assisted the adventurers in fending off the dragon. Poppy was on her way to hide, when she had a sudden vision that she knew could turn the tide of the battle. She turned on her heel and raced back into the fray, arriving just in time to save one of the adventurers from being fried to death by the dragon's lightning attack. From that point on, the battle was a success, and Poppy was able to fight alongside the adventurers and her professors, until the dragon was wounded enough that it went slinking off back to its master.

After the battle, the adventurer whom she'd saved thanked Poppy personally, and asked her if she would like to travel with them on the rest of their journey. Poppy was torn. On the one hand, she's had her future planned out for her for her entire young life. On the other, battling side by side with other wizards, fighters, bards, and barbarians was the most alive she had ever felt.

Poppy is a smart girl... Perhaps too smart for her own good. She doesn't like to think of herself as self-important or needy, but in all honesty, she kind of is. The one thing she longs for in life is unimportance.