Priestess Hespia

Priestess Hespia is a priestess serving at the Temple of Aphrodite in Harmonia on Mars. She previously served at the Temple of Asteria in the Dysnomia Ghetto, until it was burned down by Czeslaw Romano. She was also a motherly figure to Alexei Santogold.

History
Priestess Hespia's given name is Allegra Jacobson, but like all servants of the Almighty, she chose a Holy name when becoming a woman of the cloth.

She grew up wanting to be of service to a higher power, and was taken by the Children of Olympus from a young age. Hespia trained at the Temple of Zeus at the foot of Olympus Mons to serve a variety of Gods, finally being stationed at the Temple of Asteria in the Dysnomia Ghetto when she graduated her training.

While most of her brothers and sisters saw this as a lowly assignment, Hespia proudly took to her job, renovating the temple and opening up an orphanage. Hespia dedicated herself fully to the protection and happiness of these children, and aimed to protect them from the various dangers outside the walls of the temple.

It was Hespia who found Alexei abandoned as a baby, and took her into the employ of the temple. Unfortunately, Hespia also lost Alexei to Lethe after the Titaness Theia visited them. Hespia suffered a crisis of faith that an Almighty would allow the kidnapping of a child, and from then on held no love for the Gods -- or much belief in them to begin with. But, she still loved her duties and the children she protected, and would not forsake them despite her own struggles.

Hespia saw Alexei again nine years after she'd been taken, and the state of the girl she'd once known brought her to tears. She felt as though she'd failed Alexei, but knew there was nothing she could for her anymore. Months later, when Czeslaw Romano came back to scout her children with Alexei in tow, Hespia chose to make a stand. Alexei refused to hurt her in spite of her orders, and this gave Hespia hope, even after Romano brutally attacked her and burned her temple down. Hespia lost two fingers and an ear from the assault.

When given the option to choose her next assignment after her recovery, Hespia chose the Temple of Aphrodite in Harmonia. Of course, many of those who frequent this temple were prostitutes ranging from the highest class to the lowest streetwalkers, all seeking the favor of the Goddess of Love, Passion, and Pleasure. Hespia hopes to keep an eye on them and their children. After seeing what Alexei had become, she would not let this happen to anyone else.