Browse wiki

Norah was a child of a Baron and Baroness sworn to House Redtyde, aged five when the Tyde Rebellion overthrew her world. Her most formative years were spent beseiged in her home, while her mother gallantly sought to organize the siege defense, manage ever dwindling stores of food, and still find time at night to try and buoy her daughter's spirits with fanciful stories. For nearly three years this went on, until disaster at last struck. With the tower stores nearly spent, Norah's father returned home for the last time, killed aboard his ship in a failed effort to break the Thrax blockade. The tower surrendered, and shortly afterward the tyrant Donrai's armies stormed Tydehall and brought the rebellion to a bloody end. Norah's family holdings were divided between victorious Thraxian captains, until all that was left to them was a small stone hall on a scrap of land too worthless to be taken away, and three servants. Norah grew to adulthood knowing every day might be the one on which warriors approached to kill them. Her only solace was in the library. She read voraciously at the end of every day, when the chores and labors were finished. For fifteen years she and her mother survived so, until the day she'd long prayed for dawned: Donrai was dead, and the last daughter of Tyde restored to the ducal throne. Finally, their fortunes could recover. Frederik Redtyde returned from exile and although Norah's family had lost every material possession which was worthy of nobility, the Count was gracious enough to adopt her into his household, providing the young lady with a place at court and certain prospects. One such prospect was a betrothal to the Marquis Eswynd, a recently turned Prodigal whose first wife had died. Though it was a rustic house, Norah had gone from bare survival to a Marquessa's dignity, and it was a proud moment for Norah on the day of her wedding to see her smiling mother attired in silks and jewels, once again. At last Norah was in command of her own destiny and when the opportunity came to visit Arx, she leapt at the chance.

Her face and coloring are fair, a high forehead and gently arched blonde brows accentuate pale blue-grey eyes. A strong yet feminine jawline frames her features, while a graceful neck leads into narrow shoulders, heralding her long, slim frame. Curling waves of blonde hair fall to mid back when worn loose. Most guesses would put her on the younger side of thirty.

A woman who has survived enough to leave her both toughened and very fond of the finer things in life. In many ways she seems the archetypical Mourning Isles lady: intelligent, well read, and incisive with a well placed verbal barb. Never one to settle for comfort, when luxury could be had, she is a ravenous learner, and an opulent presence among her coarse kin.