Trist

Trist
Official art of Trist, by Hannah Friederichs.
Type	Player Character
Actor	Ashley Johnson
Character Information
Name	Trist
Pronouns	she/her
Creature type	Humanoid
Race	Human
Class	Paladin (Oath of Redemption) Cleric (Light Domain)
Age	39
Place	Aeor
Family	Amaris (husband) Haylie (daughter) Topher (son) Unnamed parents-in-law
Connections	Gilly (dog)
Profession	Teacher
Status
Status	Alive
Stats
Level	20 (14 Paladin, 6 Cleric)
HP	218
AC	15
DC
Str	20
Dex	20
Con	20
Int	20
Wis	20
Cha	20
Appearances
First seen	"Downfall: Part One" (3x99)
Last seen	"Downfall: Part Three" (3x101)
Stream	Campaign Three (3 episodes)

Trist is a human paladin/cleric played by Ashley Johnson in Downfall. She is a mortal avatar of the goddess Sarenrae, the Everlight.

Description

Appearance

Trist is an ordinary-looking human woman in her late thirties with greying dark brown auburn hair, tanned and freckled skin, and kind eyes. When first seen, she was wearing her husband's very large overcoat.

Personality

Trist is gentle and kind, although she also encourages smart naughtiness, as a teacher and a mother. She has some difficulty trusting people.

Biography

Background

After the main Exandrian pantheon agreed to collaborate in a plan to neutralize Aeor and their potentially dangerous technology, the Everlight agreed to do her part, and less than four decades before their intended mission she was born as a mortal human girl, Trist. She grew up and eventually became a teacher and met Amaris, a firbolg that would become her husband and the father of her two children, Haylie and Topher. Her husband may have been aware of her connection with the divine, agreeing for her to go on the mission to Aeor believing she would return in a few days. By then the family had kept a teenager boy with them for some time: Ayden, the mortal incarnation of Pelor, who after spending some time with Trist and realizing who she was decided to become a cleric of the Everlight.

"Downfall: Part One" (3x99)

After receiving visions from Arcadia Cerenvetorix (the mortal incarnation of Ioun) Trist and her family, accompanied by their dog Gilly, Ridge the centaur, and Barahai the dwarf, traveled to Hawk's Hill, where she and Ayden were supposed to meet others like them. While they were there Trist encouraged her children to learn how to play a card game in order to win some money with it, and while they were away she talked with Amaris, confirming she wanted him to stay on the ground with Kaylie and Toph. Not long after witnessing how Ayden healed a man to give him some peace before death, SILAHA (the mortal incarnation of Corellon) arrived looking for them to enter the ship that would bring them to Aeor; Amaris reminded his wife to use her sending stone if she ever needed his help. Trist's children returned having lost at the card game, but a criminal, feeling bad, followed them and gave Toph a gold coin, which made the boy very happy, so Trist thanked the man. She then said goodbye to her family, telling her children to be good with their grandparents and pretend that their old stories were new, promising to return in a few days. As they were leaving Emhira (the mortal incarnation of the Raven Queen) asked her guardian, Purvan Suul, to escort Trist's children far from there, and their mother watched them as the ship flew away, keeping their scent with her. While inside the ship the incarnated deities had the chance to speak for a bit, and Trist was warned that one of the people they would meet in the flying city wouldn't be very friendly with the Everlight incarnated; when they opened a crate and discovered that instead of Erathis incarnated there was a genasi called The Emissary, most were confused or disappointed, but Trist helped him get up.

They crossed the Latimus Princeps (a barrier to keep gods outside) successfully, and with some distractions they managed to leave the ship and take the Vermillion Line to move through the city of Aeor, eventually reaching the Chamber of Seasons, an extremely old and abandoned temple of Ioun where Arcadia was waiting for them, guiding them inside. They met four other people, incarnations of Betrayer Gods, and one of them, Father Milo Cowst, made a joke about Ayden being the last cleric the Everlight had left, making Trist stay in the back; she, however, approached when she saw that Zaharzht (a tortle with many hooks and spikes piercing his body) was in pain, although he rejected her healing. They had a long and chaotic conversation about their goals in the city, during which Trist felt Arcadia was holding back some information; however, when organizing the teams it was decided that she would stay with the archmage to keep her safe, and Ayden told her that he would be with Milo to keep an eye on him.

"Downfall: Part Two" (3x100)

Fan art of Trist and the prayers, by Elaine Tipping.

While the different teams were preparing to leave the Chamber of Seasons, Ayden prayed sitting on a bench, causing an item covered by cloth to glow beneath it. Trist examined it, discovering it was a very old book with stories about the gods after the end of the Schism, and that it had been used recently by an archmage, Cassida Previn, to pray to the Everlight (that knowledge alone made the avatar feel more powerful). Curious about this, Trist asked Umleta (Lolth's avatar) for help, and the halfling used her powers to connect a thread with one of the pages of the book, showing a young boy, Hallis, sick in a bed, and with that (and some assistance from her familiar) Emhira informed them that the child was in the Exceleter Hospital nearby. Trist thanked Umleta (who joked about it) and after being questioned by Arcadia, it was decided that them, along with Ayden and Father Milo, would visit the hospital to learn more about the religious archmage and her sick child.

After finding the building and making an entrance they had to deal with Doctor Bezel, who tried to lie to them and tell them that Hallis had been moved to a different place; however, after Ayden and Trist insisted, she agreed to let them in, assuming they were associated with Archmage Previn. They met a very weakened Hallis, and after his mother, Cassida, was summoned there and discovered that the strange group was there to help (after Trist showed her the book), she took a symbol of Raei from under the pillow, admitting her faith. After Dr. Bezel left with Ayden and Milo, Trist channeled as much divine power as she could (despite her hesitance, since the last time her divine self had tried a miracle she had been betrayed by Asmodeus), and while Cassida prayed she used Lay on Hands on Hallis, healing his disease completely and leaving him extremely healthy. After that, Cassida was very helpful and talked with Trist for a bit about her work at the hospital, and asking about her mortal life, which the cleric described as wonderful years. When the archmage questioned the reason why the mortal avatars were in Aeor, Trist showed some hesitance, and Cassida revealed to her that she and her group (the Society of Primes) had been working on the Factorum Malleus, but with the intention of using it to destroy the Betrayers; although she tried to interrupt the archmage by hugging her, Cassida continued, declaring that they wanted to help the gods the same way they had done in the past during the Founding and the Schism, protecting mortals.

Ayden eventually returned to the room, and through the Telepathic Bond he had cast, they learned that some of the other avatars were fighting Aeorian forces. Cassida, wanting to prove her loyalty to the Prime Deities, Teleported them all there, and Trist cast Guiding Bolt against the Obtenebrator, causing a lot of damage, and preparing to use more magic with a slingshot carved by her son; she, however, was also attacked by the automatons protecting the place. Despite that, Ayden and Tishar attacked too and destroyed the engine. Shortly after that they and their allies used Emhira's Arcane Gate to leave the place before the authorities arrived.

"Downfall: Part Three" (3x101)

In the extradimensional room in the Ars Elysia the gods tried to convince Cassida to listen to them and help them, despite the fact that the Betrayer Gods she opposed were in the same team as the Prime Deities. Trist told Tishar to leave the mage alone, trying to keep the latter alone so that she wouldn't Teleport away; the avatar cast Calm Emotions on Cassida, but even then, the wizard got very nervous when Emhira started asking about passwords, and tried to Teleport, being Counterspelled by SILAHA. After calming her down again, Trist asked her if she would feel comfortable sharing any information with them, and Cassida agreed to do so, but only with her, telling her telepathically that "Aurora Rex" was the password to access the elevators in the Genesis Ward. Cassida then assured that she just wanted to help, and Trist replied by saying that all there were trying to save the gods, giving her a clue that the Betrayers wew also represented there.

After Umleta showed them a recording in which Acastriel (Pelor's solar, who Ayden recognized) talked with two of Cassida's colleagues and urged them to activate the Factorum Malleus, the avatars started moving, as Aeor shook surrounded by Kord's tempest. They decided that Arcadia, Emhira, Umleta, and Trist would accompany Cassida to the scroll bank connected to the Factorum Malleus, to destroy the information it contained while the rest of the team destroyed the wards of the machine following the archmage's instructions; when the latter started giving them instructions to send Hallis with relatives in the Opus Ward, Trist hugged her, telling her how important she was for their mission, but she didn't answer. As preparation, Trist cast Death Ward on SILAHA and Sanctuary on Cassida. They reached B9 in the Genesis Ward, where the scrolls with divine information were being kept, and Arcadia shared with Trist that she didn't feel comfortable destroying knowledge, although they ended up agreeing they would eliminate whatever it was necessary. While Cassida was dealing with the scrolls and the automatons working there, Trist's sending stone activated, and Topher asked if she could send Aeorian ships to Hawk's Hill, since it was being attacked; Amaris took the stone and asked about Purvan, so his wife confirmed he was trustworthy. When Ridge talked through the stone informing that Barahai was dead, the Everlight's avatar urged him to find Haylie and bring her to safety; after that Amaris wanted to stay with the stone and keep talking to her, but then Trist confessed she wouldn't be able to return, asking him to get to safety with their children. Amaris answered, telling her he would do everything he could, but before they could finish the conversation the communication was cut. Arcadia, who had witnessed all that, asked what she was doing, and urged Trist to go wherever her miracles and abilities would be more useful, instead of staying with them and the scrolls; Trist agreed, saying goodbye to them and hugging Umleta, who was very annoyed by the gesture. Trist then ran towards the Factorum Malleus, and as she was doing so, she noticed how her steps became shiny, as some of her divine essence was returning to her, since her friends had destroyed some of the wards of the machine. The moment she arrived she started healing her allies, and managed to convince an irrevocable construct to voluntarily destroy another ward, empowering the avatars even more; after that she went with the Emissary and summoned wings to protect him from a Meteor Swarm, and shortly after she used her Aura of the Guardian to absorb damage that would have hit the barbarian. When the Emissary saw that he had a chance to disanimate the Factorum, he told Trist that he was worthy, so she let him go and do his duty.

Fan art of the Everlight's message, by Ed Palhares.

As the last ward fell and Trist fell extremely empowered, barely maintaining her mortal form, she whispered to her sending stone that she loved her family and that she was sorry, after which she shot it with her slingshot (making it cross the ocean, reach Hawk's Hill, and destroy a fiend that was about to attack her children, motivating them to use their own demigod powers to protect the people of that town). Selena (SILAHA's creator and one of Cassida's co-workers) had distracted the avatars with a crystal emblem containing a god, who turned out to be Arcadia, revealing that the now missing Father Milo must have been replacing her during part of their mission; this caused most of the avatars to leave the chamber to go find the Betrayer God. Trist only left when she confirmed that SILAHA was staying with the Emissary, and even then, she took a moment to cast Calm Emotions on the latter, to grant him peace in his last moments.

Trist and the others arrived to the scroll bank, discovering the corpse of Cassida, and Amaris standing next to her; he, however, wasn't Trist's husband, but Asmodeus already in his divine form, looking like the most beautiful person she knew. He tortured her by telling her that Cassida had renounced her before dying, and then showed the avatars the keys to the Factorum, a scroll he intended to use to destroy the Prime Deities; Trist, however, obliterated it in his hand with Guiding Bolt. As the destruction of Aeor started, Asha, feeling those were their last moments as mortals, became a wolf again and nuzzled Trist before running away to find Zaharzht; she stayed with Ayden, who was heartbroken for not being able to save the Aeorians, and saw how Asmodeus ran away when the teenager abandoned his mortal form, appearing as the Dawnfather. Trist stayed in her mortal form when the rest of her friends had regained their divine forms, and although tortured by the betrayal of the Lord of the Hells and its details, she ignored what he had told her and restored Cassida's dead body so she would look untouched by violence.

Fan art of the Matron with the Everlight, by Nico Silva.

Then she confessed she didn't feel good, and the Matron of Ravens (who had already abandoned the mortal form of Emhira) hugged; Trist asked her to go home, and they stayed together until the very last moment, and only then did Trist abandon mortality too. As the Everlight, when they joined the rest of the Prime Deities, she told the goddess of death she didn't understand how she could handle her divine duties and all the loss, and when asked if she was ready to fight again in the war, she admitted that she was, but only if necessary. Raei, remembering Trist's children, asked the Raven Queen to keep them alive as long as possible, and to resurrect them if necessary. The goddess of death told her that she could not do that, but she summoned their threads of fate, very shiny and close together, explaining to the goddess of compassion that Haylie and Topher were destined to do great things, and that eventually they would reunite with their mother. After reflecting about her time as a mortal, the Everlight told the other gods that she realized that regardless of how long a lifetime was, what mattered was its purpose, and admitted she would be willing to live another life like that; then, after telling them how much she loved them, she returned to her realm.

Character information

Notable items

• Large overcoat from Amaris
• Sending stone, twin to one held by Amaris, sent to her children during the fall of Aeor
• Slingshot, gifted to her by Topher
• Talisman of Passage

Abilities

Abilities that were demonstrated by Trist are footnoted. Others noted are presumed from class abilities.

Feats

• Gift of the Metallic Dragon^[presumed]
  • Cast Cure Wounds without spending a spell slot 1/day
  • Protective Wings: Trist summons wings that cover another creature within 5 feet, giving them an AC bonus equal to her proficiency bonus (6)

Proficiencies

• Insight (expertise)

Level 14 Paladin abilities

• Oath of Redemption
• Lay on Hands
• Divine Smite, Extra Attack, Improved Divine Smite
• Channel Divinity: Emissary of Peace (grants +5 persuasion for 10 minutes as a bonus action)
• Channel Divinity: Rebuke the Violent
• Aura of the Guardian
• Aura of Courage (Trist and nearby allies can't be frightened)
• Cleansing Touch (end one spell on a willing creature)

Paladin spells

Spell level	Spell	Notes
1st	Sanctuary	Oath Spell
1st	Sleep	Not cast; Oath Spell
2nd	Calm Emotions	Oath Spell
2nd	Hold Person	Not cast; Oath Spell
3rd	Blinding Smite
3rd	Hypnotic Pattern	Not cast; Oath Spell
3rd	Counterspell	Not cast; Oath Spell
4th	Death Ward
4th	Otiluke's Resilient Sphere	Not cast; Oath Spell
4th	Stoneskin	Not cast; Oath Spell

Level 6 Cleric abilities

• Channel Divinity: Turn/Destroy Undead
• Divine Domain: Light Domain
  • Warding Flare
  • Channel Divinity: Radiance of the Dawn
  • Improved Flare

Cleric spells

Spell level	Spell	Notes
0 (cantrip)	Light	Light Domain
1st	Burning Hands	Not cast; Light Domain
1st	Faerie Fire	Not cast; Light Domain
1st	Guiding Bolt
2nd	Flaming Sphere	Not cast; Light Domain
2nd	Scorching Ray	Not cast; Light Domain
3rd	Daylight	Not cast; Light Domain
3rd	Fireball	Not cast; Light Domain
9th	Power Word: Heal	Mentioned; not cast
9th	Mass Heal

Deity Abilities

• Divine Prowess: After calculating all bonuses, the Everlight doubles the result of any skill check she makes. Her passive skill checks are also doubled.
• Divine Magic: The Everlight may cast any cleric spell or domain spell of a domain she grants of any level once per turn without using a spell slot (it still takes an action, however). The Everlight's spell save DC is doubled as is the range, area of effect, and duration of all her spells.
• Divine Vitality: Provided she hasn't taken damage since the beginning of her last turn, the Everlight regenerates all hit points at the start of her turn. All her death saving throws are considered Natural 20s (bringing her up to 1 hit point automatically). Her maximum HP, current HP, and any temporary HP given by spells is multiplied by 10. Finally, she is immune to the poisoned, petrified, and paralyzed conditions, as well as any disease.
• Divine Potency: All damage the Everlight deals by spells or weapon attacks is multiplied by 10. After rolling an attack roll, the Everlight can double the result and use that instead. After calculating all bonuses, the Everlight doubles her armor class. Her range with ranged weapons is also doubled.
• Divine Resistance: The Everlight has five Legendary Resistances. After rolling a saving throw, she can double the result. The Everlight is immune to all non-magical damage, damage from weapons that are not Artifacts, and damage from spells of 6th level or lower. She is also immune to two elemental damage types (one of which is radiant) and resistant to four elemental damage types.
• Divine Awareness: The Everlight has truesight, blindsight, and tremorsense to a range of 120 ft. She can speak and understand all languages (spoken and written) and communicate telepathically to any creature she can see. She is immune to the charmed, frightened, stunned, blinded, and deafened conditions.
• Divine Vigor: The Everlight regains all limited use class features at the start of her turn. She is immune to exhaustion, and after all bonuses are calculated, has her speed doubled. The Everlight has three Legendary Actions per round.

Appearances and mentions

• Campaign Three: Bells Hells
  • "Downfall: Part One" (3x99) (first appearance)
  • "Downfall: Part Two" (3x100)
  • "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101)
  • "Reconciliation" (3x102), mentioned only
  • "The Cradle's Convocation" (3x104), in an illusion

Quotations

• Amaris: You really don't want me to come?
  Trist: Of course I want you to come, but I don't need you to come. You need to stay here.

Trivia

• The binary at the bottom of Trist's character card translates to "mercy".
• Her name could derive from the Latin trīstis (sad/sorrowful). The name itself could be a reference to how the Everlight was feeling when she incarnated, after being betrayed and losing most of her mortal followers.
  • She shares her name with Trist Drassig.
• Trist's dog, Gilly, is a very large bear-like mountain rescue dog.
• She is good at math.
• Brennan Lee Mulligan theorized that one of the reasons Ayden found Trist and stayed with her wasn't only Pelor showing support to his divine sister, but also making sure that that part of her (who had found simple happiness after the pain of losing most of her followers) joined the mission against Aeor when the time came.

References

Art: