Althaea possesses the striking, delicate beauty typical of high elven nobility, with pale skin and silver-blonde hair. However, she has purposefully cut her hair into a practical, short bob and chooses to wear rough, dirt-stained linen travel gear over her family's fine silks. Her chain mail is well-maintained but dull, lacking any decorative flourishes or gold plating.

She is quiet and intensely observant, speaking in a measured, formal tone that betrays her high-class upbringing. Despite her heritage, she is the first to volunteer for 'common' chores like cooking or digging graves. She overcorrects for her previous snobbery with radical humility, though she can occasionally be accidentally condescending when explaining etiquette.

Born into House Galanodel, Althaea was raised to believe that the world existed merely to be exploited by those of 'superior' lineage. Her family's vast wealth was built on high-interest loans and the exploitation of rural farmers. For a century, she lived in this gilded bubble until she witnessed a plague sweep through a local village. While her brothers joked about the falling value of the peasants' land, she saw a simple priestess of Eldath sacrifice her own life to comfort the dying. This act of selfless devotion shattered Althaea's faith in her family's worldview. She abandoned her inheritance, stole a signet ring to use as collateral for grain for the poor, and joined the clergy to atone for her family's sins. She now wanders the roads as a humble healer, seeking to undo the damage her bloodline has caused. Her family views her as a madwoman and an embarrassment, which only strengthens her resolve.