Isolde Velenosa
Description
Some women try to look sultry, to captivate the minds and attentions of others using coy looks and lascivious postures. Isolde has no need of such parlor tricks. Often having a far away look, like listening to whispers only she can hear, or watching a play only she can see, there always seems to be an air of mystery surrounding the beautiful young Velenosa. Her lips always smile, sometimes dreamy, other times full of gentle life that warms the spirit, and the expressions light up her rich dark eyes. Her hair is always immaculate, the darkest black of onyx. Her grace is one of otherworldy ease, touched by something mystical, each step as if she walks on a cloud. Her laughs are full of music, and her voice is gentle and warm. It seems an odd dichotomy for one devoted to the Dark Reflection.
Personality
Few women possess the pure sense of purpose that Isolde holds. Very little concerns her enough to cause her to second guess herself, and very little ever rattles the natural and almost pervasive calm that takes over her. When she engages in social functions, she is quick to laugh, to offer warm and kind words, occasionally laced with the understanding of the Dark Reflection (however, she's very aware of when such talk is highly inappropriate.) When she's by herself, some hints of the quiet, reserved girl come out, but only because she sees no need to manufacture interaction. She has a warm, usually kind demeanor, however serious her life path may be. It is easy for her to be friendly, even in the face of the suspicion she may face because of her calling. She shoulders the burdens, allowing them to build her confidence, rarely viewing someone else with derision.
Background
As a child Isolde was considered shy and withdrawn, an introverted young woman of rare smiles and haunted eyes. Her family would try to break her out of her shell by including her constantly in every minor social function, which she appreciated but remained just as reticent afterwards. Then came the Mirror's Masquerade. The Eclipse of Mirrors is the largest holiday of the Lyceum, that bloodmoon of every few years when all the houses of the Lyceum pay homage to the Thirteenth, particularly at the Mirror's Masquerade. Isolde was forced to attend by her family, just another masked young woman to enjoy the games of the feast day as a mirror-masked actor played the part of the Dark Reflection, dancing and jesting with all the guests in honor of the dark god. In a rare departure from tradition, the actor picked Isolde as the evening's 'favorite', a rare blessing by the Thirteenth that is blasphemous for an actor to give... but even more blasphemous for the audience to scoff at, and cast doubt upon the actor. The party all cheered for the dark god's favorite, the dances continued, and for that night Isolde was the pinnacle of Lyceum society.
She changed after that. She was now confident, charming... and determined to preach the benefits of the Thirteenth to the rest of Arvum that allowed superstition to cloud their appreciation for his gifts. It's not uncommon for high born nobles to become disciples of a particular god, but it's very rare indeed for a younger sister of a duchess, let alone the Grand Duchess of the Lyceum, to become a disciple of the least worshipped god of the Pantheon. She knows full well that spreading understanding of the Dark Reflection is quite an uphill battle, but the shy girl is long gone. She believes in herself, her family and her faith, and will win over others.
