#essenwyn

This week, we'll be looking at an interview that Essenwyn is going to do for the local news. Essenwyn's world is sort of on the brink of an industrial age, but it's not quite there yet. So, there are places that make money by providing people with "newspapers" but they're set up more like a newsletter and they're all handwritten. Anyway, after Essenwyn's presence becomes known in the surrounding area, a journalist from a nearby city wants to talk to her. Here's the interview!

Icar, the interviewer: So, Essenwyn, why did you move to Penrith?

Essenwyn: Well, I had been left this manor house by a distant relative. I didn't actually know I was the last member of the Brightthorn line until I was contacted by the executor of his estate.

Icar: Did you know your distant relative, Torides Brightthorn?

Essenwyn: No, I hadn't ever actually been this far south before. I spent all my life with my mother and she didn't talk much about her family.

Icar: Well, you've certainly caused a stir. You're the first healer that's ever lived in Penrith for more than a month or two. People in town used to have to travel to one of the cities for medical care.

Essenwyn: Yes, they did seem happy that I intend to stay here. I've actually got plans to remodel the house so that it's more functional as a clinic.

Icar: Really? I had heard that you charge a lot less than other healers for your remedies and care, how can you afford remodeling?

Essenwyn: Well, that's part of why I agreed to do this interview. The renovations are going to be expensive and I hold monthly dinner party fundraisers to ask for donations. People have been great about helping me out, and I've got enough money to get the grounds in order and the outer wall fixed, but I still have a long way to go to get the rest of the house in order. So, I'd like to invite anyone who'd like to come to my dinner parties. It's a nice night, there's good food, dancing, occasionally there'll be a story teller and I set up a donation box where you can donate as much as you like and leave a message if you so choose.

Icar: Well, that does sound wonderful, I'm sure people would be excited to attend. Tell me though, what's it like, being a healer here? I know there are several different species living here, isn't it hard?

Essenwyn: Healing is a challenging job no matter where you are. Yes, having more species to tend to makes it more so, but I am here to heal, not to discriminate. Anyone is welcome at my clinic, no matter their heritage. The only reason I ask about that is because certain remedies don't work on certain species. I have to know, but I've had patients ask me to keep their heritage to myself, and I do.

Icar: Not many healers share your views. Why do you feel this way?

Essenwyn: I spent a lot of my life traveling and I often saw people turned away from clinics, spit on, and even a few times attacked for not being the "right" species. I always knew I wanted to be a healer, and I vowed to myself that if I ever got my dream, I'd be nice to everyone. Nobody deserves to suffer from something a healer can fix just because said healer doesn't like what species they are.

Icar: I've also heard some people criticizing the fact that you're a Kooka, what do you think of that?

Essenwyn: -laughs- I think that's silly. I know Kooka aren't known for their patience usually, but who cares? I've wanted to be a healer ever since I can remember and I'm good at it, so what does my species matter?

Icar: Very true. Well, I think, that'll do, unless you had anything else to say?

Essenwyn: I just want to again extend an invitation to the dinner parties. If you come into the village first, just ask for me by name, they'll point you in the right direction.

Here's a few more questions as Essenwyn, since I've been working on her story.

6.What is your occupation?

Healer.

55.Who is the person you respect most and why?

Hmm…Probably Mistress Heartsong. Even though she can be abrasive at times, she's a world-renowned healer and teacher of healing. She's a confident person too.

71.What is your most treasured possession?

My Healer's Journal. I never let anyone touch it for the longest time because I was so protective of it.

72.What is your favorite color?

Hm..well, I actually have a few. Healer Green, tan, golden-brown.

78.What makes you laugh?

Well, what makes anyone laugh? I personally, don't like any sort of "joke" that belittles another person or makes them uncomfortable or puts them in any sort of danger. Those sorts of things aren't funny, they're cruel.

83.What are your pet peeves?

I hate when a patient thinks they know how to treat their illness or injury better than I do. I mean, I did travel all the way to the northern mountains and Healer's Grove to learn from the greatest healer in our world, but sure, you the farmer know more about healing than I do.  *shakes head*

85.What is your greatest strength as a person?

Maybe my ability to take charge? I'm not really sure.

86.What is your greatest weakness?

I'm kind of meek and sometimes people don't notice me when I really wish they would.

87.If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Physically? Nothing really. I like the way I look. Personality-wise I'd like to be more confident.

91.Do you like yourself?

Mostly yes. I sometimes feel like I'm a little too meek, but I'm working on that so it's fine.

Alright, again I have no asks to answer, so I've put together another set of questions to answer. This week, I'll be answering them for Essenwyn since I've been working on her story most recently.

8. How does your character feel about religion?

Essenwyn is pretty open minded, but she's not personally religious. Whenever most people would offer up a prayer to their deity, she just sends a wish to whoever might be listening. She's not really sure if gods/goddess exist and since her world has several she's content to just be herself and help others.

16. What does your character do for a living? How do they see their profession? What do they like about it? Dislike?

She's a healer. She sells her remedies and people who stay at the clinic pay for her care. She sees others in her profession differently based on how they treat their patients. She's met several "healers" who were just selling fake remedies and overcharging people for it - she does not like these kinds of people. She also feels like others in her line of work are arbitrarily and unnecessarily exclusionary/elitist. She loves helping people and animals. That's her favorite part of the job. Honestly, if she had to pick something to dislike, it would be cleaning up vomit. That's her least favorite chore.

30. Are they holding on to something in the past? Can he or she forgive?

Essenwyn actually holds a mild grudge against her mother for not telling her anything about her father. She's always wanted to meet him and know what he was like, but her mom refused to talk about him. All she has to go on are rumors and speculation and she will not try to find him based on such subjective information. I think she'll forgive her mother when she learns the truth, but we'll see.

44. How badly do they want to obtain their life objectives? How do they pursue them?

That's her whole focus right now.  Her objective is to have a non-exclusionary clinic thrive in a world where being exclusionary is the norm. She's not really out to make a statement so much as she just wants to help everyone she can and being - for lack of a better term - racist would prevent her from doing so.

That's it for this week. If you'd rather see your questions here, send them my way and I'll include them next week! If you send it anonymously, I'll note that but if you send it off anon, I'll credit you with the question!