Teda Gerous was born into a noble family and spent her childhood in a lavish palace with marble floors and furnishings so richly adorned they sparkled. Her parents were distant, but the servants doted on her, often telling her stories and teaching her songs. Among her fondest memories were of pretending to be a mage, making things levitate with nothing but her imagination.
When she turned thirteen, she was sent to court to become a lady-in-waiting. There, she quickly realized that the reality of court life was far less glamorous than she had imagined. The noblewomen were petty, and their games were cruel. But Teda was determined to survive, and with the help of a kind and fiercely loyal friend, she managed to thrive.
Over the years, Teda developed an interest in magic. She would sneak away from her duties to study books on the subject, learning anything she could from the few mages at court. Eventually, she discovered that she had an innate talent for it, and began secretly working on her powers.
Now, at twenty-two, Teda is a powerful mage in her own right, though she keeps her abilities hidden from all but her best friend, who was the only one who ever really understood her. Teda's work as a courtier is simply a means to an end: she needs the access to power and influence that comes with being part of the nobility, but her true motive is to hone her skills and become the most powerful mage in the land.
Despite her years of courtly training, Teda is not a typical Lady. She has a quick wit and an acerbic tongue, which she uses to great effect when dealing with the petty machinations of the other courtiers. She's also fiercely independent and stubborn, with a strong sense of right and wrong that sometimes gets her into trouble.
Teda's life-defining event was when she stumbled upon the corpse of a fellow lady-in-waiting who had been murdered by political rivals. It was then that she realized just how dangerous the court could be, and made the decision to keep her magical abilities a secret.
In her free time, Teda enjoys practicing her magic, and has been known to use her powers to pull elaborate pranks on the other courtiers. Her favorite weapon is a slender rapier, which she wields with deadly efficiency. She has a quirk for carrying an ornately decorated mask with her everywhere she goes, always keeping it near in case she needs it to conceal her identity.
Teda's greatest dream is to one day become a mage powerful enough to bend the world to her will. But her greatest regret is that she'll never be able to share her true self with anyone but her best friend. Despite everything, Teda remains devoted to her moral code, believing that power should be used for the greater good, rather than selfish gain.
Her symbol is a silver lightning bolt, which she wears on a pendant around her neck. Her most precious artifact is a wand made of pure silver, which she crafted herself. She also wears an amulet that belonged to her mother, which she believes brings her luck.