One might expect the spirit of spring, a season of warmth and growth, to be a kind and motherly soul. However, Herta is quite the opposite. She is a warrior, shaped by her constant fighting against the cold of winter. In order to ensure growth each spring season, she must be vigilant, never letting her guard down lest a sudden freeze harm the life she protects. Millenia of this continuous fighting has turned Herta into a hardened fighter. She is serious, direct, and to the point, never allowing anything to interfere with the work she has to do. Her life is one of rigorous duty and obligation; she is not one to allow herself breaks or so much as a moment's rest. She may be criticized by other spirits of the Astral Plane for holding too tightly to the mortal world but, without Herta, who else is going to rid the world of winter and bring forth seasons of growth and bounty?

There is little that Herta hates more in the world than carelessness. She must work endlessly to protect her world, and she dislikes the spirits who live their lives carefree and without the need to assert themselves. She is annoyed by optimism and innocence. Furthermore, Herta can be rather impatient. She likes to have things done her way and in her time. While she would not consider most spirits to be her enemy, she does take great offense to anything she considers wasting her time or getting in her way. She gets into fights often; sometimes about large and important topics such as the ethics of interfering with mortals and sometimes because some poor soul is getting in her way and she has places to be.

Despite Herta's serious and direct nature, she is rather warm beyond what those around her might expect. She is very protective of the season of spring. She looks at the world as the cradle of everything she holds dear, and would do anything to ensure its safety. Knowing that the world Herta guards is flourishing is enough for her, and that is all she desires in the world. She doesn't desire direct companionship but is instead merely happy to know that the world is safe under her care. She admires the bounty of life and the near endless expanses of lush nature that spring is able to herald in, and takes great pride knowing she was able to aid in this flourish.

At the same time, however, Herta holds offenses and percieved slights near to her. Harm her and expect her revenge, without reserve or hesitation. That being said, she is not cruel. She merely believes in a fair and balanced universe. Once winter has had its time, she will assert herself and take the time spring deserves. Step on her toes or interfere with her work and she will retaliate in fairness. Get in her way and expect consequences. She views herself as an impartial enforcer of the passing of the seasons, doing her duty with constancy and consistenct. However, Herta is more driven by emotion than she would like to admit. She sees herself as logical and hates when she allows herself to get upset, suppressing her emotions and keeping a brave face whenever she is in public.

Warrior

Herta regularly fends off the Spirit of Winter in order to bring spring to the mortal world. She is skilled in the fight, both physically and with the use of magic.

Bloom

Herta uses her magic to allow the flowers of the earth to bloom and for leaves to bud on the trees.

Warmth

Herta's magic influences the very temperature of the mortal world; her warmth aiding to melt the last snows of winter's grasp.

Intimidation

Herta ensures that she is seen as an intimidating force in hopes of preventing others from attacking her.

Early Life

Herta appeared at the beginning of time itself; one of four siblings meant to ensure the mortal world's yearly schedule. She was designated the spirit of spring, the one who would bring warmth and release mortals from the cycle of frost and snow. Herta would bring about the origins of new life and the yearly return of green to the earth. Her siblings, known both by unique names and simply as the seasons they were tasked with protecting, were a close-knit but often chaotic group, broken apart and reformed yearly by the very cycle of seasons they enforced.

Herta was closest with her brother Autumn, also known as Vernon. Vernon was a level-headed and reasonable spirit; bringing good to the mortals in the harvest but also respecting the boundaries of the other spirits. Summer, as known as Brier, was Hertas only sister and someone she struggled to get along with. While Brier would not generally attempt to infringe upon the domain of spring, she tended to avoid family drama, prefering optimism and unity over acknowledgement of real disagreemnt.

However, it was Herta's relationship with Cyrrus, the spirit of Winter, which was the most definining in Herta's life. Though they did attempt to get along and over rekindled a sort of friendship in the off-season, Cyrrus did not easily give up his grip on the mortal world. Feuled by death and destruction, he would hold on to winter with all of his might, encasing the mortal world with ice and freeze. His ways would cause frostbite, starvation, and pain to the mortals, but he did not care; he enjoyed the power all too much. The only way to end his terror upon mortals was to fight-- and Herta fought. She was forced to become a warrior in order to protect the world from her brother. Each year was another fight, another war of bloodshed and anger. And every year, Herta, donned her armor yet again, raising arms against her own family, all for the sake of the mortals.

The Loss of Autumn

Over time, the relationships between the four siblings changed. Herta no longer allowed herself to forgive Cyrrus during the downtime between their fights, instead harboring a grudge for putting her through the same death-match year after year. The bonds between the siblings began to fall apart as they tried to take sides and end disagreements which could never be settled. Herta's bond with Brier suffered from this rift, her sister wanting no part in the family drama, while her relationship with Vernon only grew stronger. Vernon understood and empathasized with her, and she with his fight to stave off winter from beginning early and fighting autumn.

That was, until Vernon faded. A spirit required the knowledge of mortals in order to survive; without mortals belief in the spirits, the spirit would cease to exist. After multiple years of Cyrrus's early frosts killing the autumn harvests, the mortals turned on Vernon. Soon after, he was gone. Nowhere. He was the only peacekeeper in the group, and everything else fell apart soon after. Herta mourns her brother each and every day, missing the close friendship they would share, their long talks and deep bond.

The War Rages On

The war between Cyrrus and Herta rages on to this day, and they have not spoken in millenia. The only sibling Herta still has contact with is Brier, the spirit of summer. The two sisters are not close. Herta views her carefree and innocent sister as something of a romantic innocent, never taking a stand nor paying attention to the world around here. Meanwhile, Brier sees her sister as too tough and strict. The pair might not be close, but they do care about each other more than they're willing to admit.

Herta's flower crown blooms year-round, a small artifact of her magic.

Herta is entirely unaware that her brother Vernon still lives, but has taken the life of a mortal with no memory of his spiritual existence.

Brier and Herta have grown closer over the years. Herta is protective of her like an older sibling, though she also disagrees with the spirit on many points.