...In Main Characters, The Garden Workers

Oleander

The local mystery, Oleander is a █████ who, after traveling the world for many years and having many adventures, has decided to temporarily settle down and take a break for a while.

Owner and main caretaker of the Garden, Oleander first began working on it for their own enjoyment in their backyard, and slowly over time built it to the point its become a community staple. because of this, and their reputation as a wise beyond their years, talented herbalist and skilled magician, Oleander has become a well respecter pillar of the community, just as crucial to the people as the Garden itself, despite Ollie not being an especially social person, and rarely venturing into town themselves.

Oleander, being a █████, is a shapeshifter, sort of. Their real body is actually the ████████████ itself, their humanoid appearance being just a magical projection they can change and customize at will. This current form just being what their personal aesthetic taste and gender expression happens to be at the moment, both things that change often, and drastically. The only thing they cannot change is the scar over the right side of their face, which they choose to cover instead. They can and do choose which bodily functions they get as well. They like being able to eat, for example.

Biography

Early Years

Oleander is a purely magical being. As such, they weren't exactly born.

When the ████████████ was mature enough, "Oleander" came into existence. They remained a shapeless existence for a while, a simple forest spirit, until they were mentally mature enough to understand what they were, who they were, and started experimenting with their physical manifestation

First Form

Oleander's first real humanoid form was that of a teenage girl. At the time, Oleander didn't quite understand the world too well, and so she decided to take on this form, to join human society, and learn from it.

This first form did not have anything truly human about it, past appearances. Ollie was about as childish as she looked, lacking hunger, or the need to sleep, she spent much of this period in big groups, observing people from up close. She made many friends during this period. It was, all around, the closest thing to a childhood Oleander got to have, and it was a fairly pleasant one.

Fourth Form

Oleander spent several decades changing forms as she grew into her own person. Her next most relevant form came much later, when after understanding humanity more, Oleander grew hungry for more knowledge, and took the shape of a college-aged young man, in order to pursue some form of education

This period was fairly long, Oleander spent several decades dedicated just to studies. He learned eveyrything from philosophy, language and psychology, to physiology, engineering, mathematics and management. He was, truly, a complete nerd.

Nothing much else of note happened during this period, until he started learning geography. Learning about so many interesting places, Ollie decided he was done being cooped up in a small appartment doing nothing but study. He decided to pack his bags, and finally go explore the world!

Fifth Form

Starting this new adventure, Oleander decided to change his form again. This time, he took the shape of an adult woman, with long red hair and truly impractical heels, inspired by the adventure novels she loved to read during her first form

Ollie spent many years traveling the world, seeing the sights, meeting people, learning and experiencing the world. It wasn't until a stint in a small island country up north, that things got interesting however.

Oleander had been living in this small country for a couple years, and had gained a reputation for her intelligence and magical abilities. Which is why, when a series of horrific murders struck the community, and it was discovered they were likely magical in nature, Oleander was asked to join in the investigation

Oleander was able to find out fairly quickly that the murders were the work of a vampire. For the next several months, She spent all her time and many resources to catch the murderer. However, when she finally did, she found that the story was far from simple

The vampire turned out to be a young Snowdrop. Having been turned against his will and then abandoned by his maker, Snowdrop had no control over himself and his new powers, and noone to help him get the hang of them. He was desperate for help, horrified for his actions, despite not being able to control them. Oleander found herself sympathizing with the young vampire, and instead of turning him in, she deviced a plan to sneak him out of the country, somwhere safer where he could learn to control his abilities

Sixth and Seventh Forms

After fleeing the country with a wanted criminal, Ollie had no choice but to change her form again. Her next two forms were visually very similar, a younger woman with brown hair, far less attention grabbing visually than her fifth form.

Ollie spent the next few years helping Snowdrop, introducing him to a couple people she knew could help, and making sure he was on the right track. Despite the situation being largelly resolved, Snowdrop insisted on sticking by her, partly wanting to repay her for her help, partly because he felt the safest while near her. Ollie allowed this, never having had a companion before, and they spent the next few years together

This period of relative peace however, ended with a fright. Ollie doesn't know why, but it would seem someone had a grudge against her, and knowing exactly what she was, and what her only weakness was, they snuck into her small estate, and set fire to the ████████████

Had it not been for Snowdrop's quick action, it is likely that's how Oleander would have died. He managed to save the ████████████, and took care of it while it healed. While Oleander could not have a physical form with the ████████████ in such a bad state, Snowdrop took care of it anyway, even though he had no idea if Oleander would ever be able to come back.

Eight Form

Fortunately, after a long healing time, Oleander did, in fact, come back, however the incident left them quite scarred, physically and mentally- now the right side of their face is out of their control to change, scarred in dark bark, though it tends to adapt to the form they choose well enough. Mentally however, its not been as easy. Oleander is now nowhere near as trusting, hiding the ████████████ and keeping their identity secret. The only person who knows what they are, and where the ████████████ is being Snowdrop.

Because of this, Ollie decided to settle down for a while, to heal from the experience. During their absence, Snowdrop took the time to rebuild their house, so Ollie decided to stay there for the time being, and over time started to grow a small garden, which slowly grew into the infamous enchanted garden, well known all around the region

Notes

• After the incident, Oleander has developed a pretty bad phobia of fire.
• In the garden, close to the house, They keep bees. One of the ways they make any money is by selling magical flower honey.
• Despite their frieldly personality and helpful disposition, it is important to note that Oleander is Not Human. Oleander is a forest spirit first and foremost, and does not live by human rules, laws, or concepts of morality. While Ollie chooses to play by human rules while in human lands, as a form of respect, it is not because they believe in human ethics or morality, and should not be expected to behave under them while in the Garden, in the Forest, on in their own home. Oleander is very protective of their forest and of their people, and will take offense easily if disrespected by forest spirit customs. They are very much capable of causing harm. Oleander and their territory should be treated with respect, unless one wishes to be turned to feritlizer.

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