Alenka Temovyra Nightborne
Ambitious Alchemist
Alenka Nightborne is a mysterious tiefling whose natural red skin tone was muted to a dark, ashen gray at the time of her birth—an everlasting mark from the touch of the shadow veil. She appears as if infused with shadow, and her eyes bear faint inky blackness with violet undertones, reflecting her affinity for darkness and alchemy. Alenka is slim and elegant, with curling horns and flowing black hair often tied back and braided to keep it out of her face as she works. She wears deep-colored robes layered with pockets, pouches, and vials of swirling dark liquids, each representing some experiment or umbral potion she has crafted. Her movements are quiet, simple, and deliberate, and she exudes a faint, cold aura wherever she goes.
Alenka is calm, patient, and highly focused. She views her work as both a craft and an art, and she holds an intense curiosity for all things related to Vaelda Umbra. Though not inherently malevolent, her drive for power and knowledge can make her dangerous, especially to those who attempt to thwart her research—even unintentionally. She is precise in her speech, preferring carefully measured words to hasty decisions, and she maintains a code of honor toward fellow alchemists and magic practitioners. However, when it comes to her goals, Alenka is ruthless: she will eliminate any threat to her work without hesitation or remorse.
Born to the wealthy Temovyra family of Arlecza, Alenka grew up in a region permeated by shadow magic—thanks to the presence of several rifts into Vaelda Umbra. The darkening influence of these gateways altered Alenka, shifting her appearance and leaving an indelible scar upon her life: her skin, red in the moments of her birth, faded to its dismal gray over a matter of weeks. Early on in her life, she demonstrated an affinity for darkness, experimenting with shadows and plants altered by the energy seeping through the veil, and as her skills grew, she attracted the attention of powerful mages interested in her work. Despite the boons offered by such benefactors, Alenka craved independence. She broke away, disappearing into obscurity to pursue her craft in solitude. When she set out on her own, she shed her family name and took one that suited her personality: Nightborne.
Alenka now lives underground, in a hidden laboratory where she works toward creating her ultimate goal: the fabled elixir of true night, a potion that would allow its imbiber to merge—temporarily—with shadow itself, transforming them into a wraith. Her experiments attract dark clientele: assassins, thieves, and those seeking an edge in Velanaura’s dangerous underworld—those willing to pay handsomely for deadly advantages. Alenka’s ambition, however, may cost her dearly in the end, for as her connection to the veil grows stronger, her very mortality wanes.
Roleplaying
Alenka is a figure of calm precision with a soft, somewhat unsettling presence, and her voice is low and laced with hidden meaning. She respects those who seek knowledge but harbors little patience for those she considers “fools dabbling in the dark”.
“Darkness is not the absence of light. It is a force, a material, a thing that breathes and lives in its own way.”
“I do not deal in mere potions; what I create are conduits, crafted with purpose.”
“Some find comfort in the light. I find freedom in the dark.”
“Only fools believe shadow is to be feared; the wise know that it is to be mastered.”
As a mage and alchemist, Alenka has amassed numerous powerful tools and abilities, and she deploys them with expert precision and efficacy.
Shadowbinding Elixirs: Alenka’s experiments with shadow magic allow her to brew unique elixirs that grant temporary shadow-based abilities. Each potion is carefully crafted for a single use, providing one of the following effects, and she usually can acquire enough materials to craft one of each in a week.
Elixir of Shadowstep: For the next minute, you can use a bonus action to teleport from a space of dim light or darkness to another space of dim light or darkness that you can see within 30 feet.
Essence of Veiled Sight: For the next hour, you can see see invisible or incorporeal entities and objects within 60 feet.
Wraithskin Tonic: You gain semi-incorporeal resilience that lasts for one minute. This resilience grants you resistance to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Shadowmeld: Touched by shadow, Alenka can blend seamlessly into umbral spaces to avoid detection. While in an area of darkness, Alenka can use an action to become invisible for as long as she remains still.
Living Shadows: Alenka has learned to animate shadows, creating small, semi-sentient constructs to serve her whims. As an action, she can cast unseen servant, but instead of summoning a benign force, she conjures a shadowy specter that is bound to her will for the same duration. It can perform the same functions as an unseen servant, but additionally it can fight and defend Alenka as she requires. Once she uses this power, she can’t use it again until she completes a long rest.
Alenka Nightborne is a formidable shadow alchemist whose mastery over darkness grants her dangerous versatility. She’s a highly focused figure, whose calm demeanor hides a relentless drive to unlock the secrets of the realm of death—allowing her to complete her elixir of true night. While she respects others with dedication to their craft, her ruthlessness makes her a difficult foe—or a tenuous ally—and her ambitions and capabilities could draw adventurers into her orbit, whether as clients, rivals, or unintentional adversaries.
Character Hooks
Alenka might seek a rare alchemical component rumored to be in the players’ possession, sending shadow constructs to retrieve it. If unsuccessful, she may approach them to offer a trade—or issue a veiled threat.
Alternatively, she might experience setbacks in her recent research, suffering a necrotic malaise that begins to slowly corrupt her physical form. In desperation, Alenka may seek the players’ help in locating a healer or rare remedy—or they may encounter her during her search for answers.
Perhaps the players might also encounter Alenka while attending an exclusive auction where illegal or rare ingredients will be sold. The players could meet her there, either as rivals bidding on an item she desires or as reluctant allies forced into cooperation.