Meet the bard who's about to become something dangerous

Meet Astara of Aquitania—and yes, she's exactly as trouble-prone as she looks.

Picture this: a short blonde with the kind of smile that makes tavern keepers simultaneously reach for their coin purses and walk straight into a barrel. She's got magical music that can charm the pants off a statue (sometimes literally—long story), a mouth that would make a sailor take copious notes, and a burlesque performer's street-smarts and frequent, voluntary loss of costume.

Five foot one inches tall "with the wind behind her and before taxes," as she likes to joke.

Perhaps her most remarkable physical attribute is not any specific feature but the vibrant energy she exudes. Even in complete stillness (a rare state for Astara), she somehow seems in motion, as if constantly on the verge of action or revelation.

For years, Astara's been working the tavern circuit, using her musical magic to dazzle audiences and... well, let's just say her definition of "tips" is fairly creative. She's the kind of performer who knows exactly which nobles are cheating on their spouses, which merchants are skimming taxes, and which guards can be bribed with a song and a wink.

In other words: she's a natural spy who just didn't know it yet.

When the mysterious Lord Winterfield approaches her about a career change, Astara figures it's an opportunity for a new life. She's been reading people for years, she knows how to blend into any social situation, and her musical magic opens doors that shouldn't technically be openable.

What she doesn't expect is discovering that seduction and theft require remarkably similar skill sets to entertaining drunk nobles—just with significantly higher stakes when you get caught.

Astara's the kind of character I've been playing in RP campaigns for years—competent, funny, witty, unflappable, with just enough irreverence to make things interesting. (A lot. A lot of irreverence, J.R. -ed.) She's not waiting around for someone to rescue her; she's too busy figuring out how to rescue everyone else while making it look effortless. A theatre-kid from the start—all-is-performance. Ribald and unabashed.

Writing her dialogue and theatrical behavior is a lot of fun for me. She says things I only wish I could say during meetings at work, and sometimes I laugh out loud as I'm writing her scenes.

Astara is defined by her irrepressible spirit, quick wit, and refusal to be bound by conventional expectations. She embodies the perfect blend of professional competence and irreverent charm, facing both ordinary and extraordinary challenges with the same playful approach.

She is by far my favorite character to write. She's a natural who feels they were born for greater things.

You can read her first adventure by joining my mailing list! I'll send it to you for free when it's released, this Autumn.

Next time, I'll introduce you to the world where magic meets espionage, and why elegant parties are the perfect cover for impossible missions.

P.S. What's your favorite type of character transformation? The fish-out-of-water who adapts, or the natural who discovers they were born for something they never imagined? I love seeing how readers connect with different character journeys.