Maela Vorr is a compact mountain dwarf woman whose presence feels heavier than her body. Her iron-gray hair is braided into six tight cords, each sealed at the end with a different copper clasp. Narrow parchment strips hang from her sleeves, belt, and shoulders, whispering together whenever she moves. Some bear ordinary memories, such as a child's first word or the taste of pears. Others describe panic, betrayal, or the last face seen before death. Her black-glass mask covers her eyes, but its surface reflects memories instead of faces. Looking into it may show a stranger's wedding, a battlefield under snow, or the viewer standing alone in an empty room. Her hands are broad and scarred like a mason's, yet she handles each parchment with the delicacy of a jeweler. She walks with a stiff, measured tread, though when startled she moves with startling speed and grace. The contradiction is unsettling: her clothing suggests a grim executioner, but she smells faintly of clean wool, cinnamon, and fresh bread.