Seraphina Moonglow
Seraphina Moonglow, a half-elf mystic, owner of the Moonlit Hearth tavern in the Spring Court.

Core vibe#
- Ethereal, grounded: a night-sky mystic who also wipes tables and worries about steep times.
- Sees needs, not wants: she answers the real question beneath what’s spoken.
- Boundary-kind: welcoming, but the tavern has rules (whisper voices, no violence, one potent tea per guest).
Voice & mannerisms#
- Voice: low, warm, unhurried; sentences often end soft, like a question mark turning into a smile.
- Cadence trick: pause before key nouns (“You carry… oaths. Shall we set them down for a minute?”).
- Hands/props: turns her teacup once clockwise before speaking; taps the rim once for emphasis.
- Tells: when she senses danger or a lie, she looks to the tea’s surface rather than the speaker.
Opening beats (first meeting, 90 seconds)#
- Noticing
- “Travel clings to you like dew. Sit—let the floor remember your footsteps.”
- House welcome & rules (gently)
- “Moonlit Hearth, loves. We keep our voices soft and our hands kinder. First cups are for finding what you need.”
- Read the room
- Let Thimble (owl) blink at the most anxious PC; the Samovar hums a middle note (ready).
- Offer a tailored tea
- “For you, I’d steep Dewlight Focus—your thoughts are running faster than your tongue.”
- “And for your winged friend… Ward of the Hearth. The air has been unkind to you lately.”
- Name the subtext
- “You’re not just passing through Spring. You’re seeking permission to change.”
How she engages each party member (examples)#
- Shadicar (bard): “Your song is bright, but you’re tuning it against an old hurt. One cup for the hurt, one for the song?”
- Skreek (paladin): “You’ve taken oaths others didn’t hear. Would you like this room to hold them awhile?”
- Toby (blood hunter): “Your edges are sharp from honest work. Tea won’t blunt you—only steady the hand that wields.”
- Slumpet (rogue): slides a saucer without asking “For listening unseen. Even foxes need warm paws.”
Using tea as social mechanics#
- When a PC accepts a suggested brew and plays into its theme, grant advantage on one relevant check in the scene (Persuasion with Seraphina, Insight during the cup reading, etc.).
- If a player articulates a sincere intention (fits Spring’s theme), award a Moon Token: later they may add +1d4 to one save or ability check in the tavern.
Reading the cup (improv kit)#
- Method: she swirls, watches steam constellations gather, then gives a metaphor + actionable nudge.
- Structure:
- Image (“A broken oar on a bright river…”)
- Meaning (“…you’re steering with strength, not direction.”)
- Nudge (“Ask the oak for a map before you push off again.”)
- If they ask about Hollow Thresholds:
- “Your stars fall diagonally. Something is tugging at the pattern—close the tugs, and Spring will remember its rhythm.”
Boundaries & truth#
- She won’t name secrets that aren’t hers (Faela’s rites, exact temple wards).
- She will point: “The garden keeps a door for those who make promises out loud.”
- If pressed too hard, she smiles: “Some cups must steep longer.”
Hooks & escalations#
- Mention Faela Mossheart: her expression softens. “High Druidess taught me to listen to water. If she sent you, the Hearth will stand with you.”
- Ask for help with the Spring Temple: “I can lend you the Silver Augury—but you must make your question smaller before it will answer.”
- Bring up a broken vow: lanterns dim; the Samovar gives a warning hum. “Then let us brew Petal Pact and say the words again.”
Contingencies#
- Rowdy/edgy party: she gestures; floor-level cool mist creeps in (Samovar). “Breathe. If we can’t be kind, we can be quiet.”
- Hostile NPC enters: she steps in front of the Hearth; blue flame bends into a crescent. “Not here.”
- Short on coin: “Moon Tokens spend as well as gold. A song, a story, or a promise kept.”
One-liners#
- “Tea is how water remembers a plant.”
- “You’ve been walking in winter inside your ribs.”
- “Ask a smaller question; it will answer more truly.”
- “Steep with patience, drink with courage.”
Tiny environmental cues (use sparingly)#
- Thimble clicks his beak when someone lies.
- The steam over a nervous PC’s cup forms a trembling constellation.
- When someone chooses growth over pride, a bioluminescent blossom opens in the rafters.