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This page provides a simple browsing interface for finding entities described by a property and a named value. Other available search interfaces include the page property search, and the ask query builder.

List of results

• Arion Harrow  + (Arion Harrow is the youngest of a rather l …
  Arion Harrow is the youngest of a rather large family with ancestors who were Prodigal. Growing up in the Lower Boroughs with his siblings and grandfather after his parents died was exceptionally hard on the gentle tempered yet sharp minded boy. He was often the target of the other boys who found the weak bodied Arion and his long red hair all to easy to pick on. However the crimson haired boy was fast on his feet and charming enough to convince some of the older boys to 'discourage' his bullies. Arion learned at an early age to be creative and charming to get things done. An inquisitve child Arion often found himself exploring outside of the Lower Boroughs. The fact that his kneen sense of smell and vanity drove him to take great pains to keep his appearance clean and neat helped him not look too out of place as he explored the finer parts of the city. He managed to catch the attention of a local apothecary who worked in the Ward of the Compact and after a few years of running errands and doing chores, the man finally agreed to teach the young Arion his art Arion enjoyed learning. It started a near obsessive desire for knowledge in his mind and after his mentor taught him how to read and write he began exploring every text he found interesting. His mentor had studied several subjects and Arion enjoyed learning about as many of them as he could The next few years were spent in quite study until the young man came of age and was deemed a proper apothecary in his own right. Now he is trying to make his own way, either by starting up a shop of his own once he has the funds or by offering his services to another. While he remains somewhat untraditional for a Harrow, he has still kept good relations with most of his siblings as well. Now he just has to make a name for himself and prove that even though he has no desire to oin the Iron Guard like his ancestors he can still be useful.
  like his ancestors he can still be useful.)
• Armani Gilden  + (Armani is one of the children of Kordelia …
  Armani is one of the children of Kordelia Gilden. She was, most assuredly, a child of the seas. Almost before she could walk and talk Armani was making her way onto boats and trying to travel out to the seas, to feel the wind on her face and to taste the salt on her tongue. Her life was devoted to becoming a Captain of the Sea, though, her mother felt the need to assure Armani had a feminine touch to her and built up her interest in shiny things as well as got her into scholarly things. This divided Armani's love into four things: jewelry, the sea, reading, and writing. As she proved to be a skilled seaman she quickly rose through the ranks of the Gilden naval forces to become the Admiral of the fleets.
  orces to become the Admiral of the fleets.)
• Julia Grayson  + (Around Bastion and in the Grayson manor, s …
  Around Bastion and in the Grayson manor, she's known as Aunt Julia. No one can quite remember how exactly they're related to her, and most just assume it's so far out on the fringe as to not matter. And so this older Grayson has simply taken on the name of Aunt Julia. Most of the younger generation can probably remember a time when they've sat with her around a fire, eating sweets and listening to harrowing tails of ghost stories or of her adventures throughout the Gray Forest and Beyond. And do no be fooled into thinking that the stories she weaves do not have at least some measure of truth to them. Julia has spent her life working as a kind of bounty hunter, feeling drawn to the work. It's not escaped prisoners she looks for though, but the requests of towns who have nowhere else to turn for assistance. It's the strange adds in taverns advertising a basilisk in a nearby swamp; the village that claims to be haunted by the damned undead; or the hamlet that's known no sleep since the banshee wail begins. Most folks would tell you those things are fictional. The ghosts were just prospectors trying to run off the locals from a silver mine. The basilisk was some large lizard. And most of the time Julia would just smile and say, "Of course, but the work needed doing." Most of the time. Then, a few years back, Julia surprised the family by announcing one day she was taking her Godsworn vows. Since then she's been in service to the Pantheon, mostly hanging out with the Harlequins and the other Death Priests. She had a real calling for it. When asked she'd mostly joke it was all the years she'd spent ghost hunting, only now she got to do it in the service of a goddess.
  got to do it in the service of a goddess.)
• Arta Fatchforth  + (Arta Fatchforth, a daughter of the industr …
  Arta Fatchforth, a daughter of the industrious Fatchforth family. She was born and raised in a farming community among farmers. Her education and skills have been very much effected by this, she is also the adoptive big sister of Sparte Fatchforth whom she used to torment relentlessly during their time together most often beating him in a competition or another being six years his senior. Growing up she became a stablemaster of some skill and renown for having a natural way and a bond with animals. She was also more or less skilled in herblore which led to her developing a secondary career in medicine. However her medical career wasn't as prominent as her stable.
  career wasn't as prominent as her stable.)
• Arthen Dayne  + (Arthen Dayne's life was always going to be …
  Arthen Dayne's life was always going to be a thing of stories, whether he was telling them, or part of them, or chasing them into the wild forever of the great unknown. Even his origins were a mysterious thing, brimming with potential for tales. Quite simply, he showed up at the front door of an orphanage in Arx, swaddled in wool and furs, with a small pouch of silver and a short note that was light on helpful information and a bit thick about pleading to the establishment that he should be taken care of. And so he was. Mostly. At least until he could get around on his own. Arthen grew into a child full of questions, held captive by the wonder of the world around him. No rock ever went unturned, even if the better of some of those rocks ended up in his pocket for the sake of mischief or self-defense. It can be hard being half-raised by the streets, and harder still when your natural inclination is to get into anything you shouldn't. As much as curiosity was a part of his life, so too was trouble. Even so, while the ruffian's want for answers would carry him across the width and breadth of Arx, it would carry him also into books, and those books would carry him across the rest of Arvum, in time. Though a young Arthen Dayne loved daring stories of adventure, it was the histories that really set him on his path. Or rather, the realization that they didn't just lie in dusty old tomes, but happened out in - and as part of - the world, and so many of those histories were unfinished, forgotten, or just plain wrong. If there were things yet left to be discovered or corrected, Dayne decided he would be the one to do it. His intentions were entirely altruistic and for the sake of knowledge, no matter what some rumors said or how many times he might have secretly fenced off an importart part of cultural history to a private collector for considerable sums of silver. A man has to eat, after all. Years before those with an exploratory bent were formalized into an actual society, Arthen's tenacious hunger for glory and uncovering the lost past brought him to all corners of Arvum, mostly working independently for the highest bidder so he could afford to also work on his own personal projects. Eventually a chance encounter and some shared stories with Darren Redrain would land the lifelong adventurer a place in Redrain's fealty as a personal historian and acquisitions specialist for the north's Greatest House. During the Siege of Arx, Dayne disappeared without a word, presumed dead, and remaining as such until the Winter of 1009 AR, when he returned more full of tales than ever. Though he looked a bit older, and life had roughed him up a little, that was all that had changed. No danger was still too great for him, no mystery too small, and he carried a thirst to uncover them all. To the last.
  thirst to uncover them all. To the last.)
• Arthur Russo  + (Arthur Russo was born into a very impoveri …
  Arthur Russo was born into a very impoverished part of Southport. His father was a brute, thief and compulsive gambler, while his mother was addicted to a handful of very terrible drugs. The fact that he managed to get out of that life and into a better one is a miracle in and of itself, since he knowsd of more then a few people from his old home that never did. When he was about seven the abuse got too rough, and he finally fled home. He ended up an urchin, begging and stealing and doing odd jobs to live. During one especially rough winter he snuck into a leatherworker's home and tried to steal some food. He was caught by the man and his wife. They took pity on him and brought him in. They had been trying, unsuccessfully, for children for several years, and saw this as a chance. The two were stern, but loving, and Arthur became the man's apprentice. It turned out Arthur was a natural, and he loved the work. He adored other forms of creation as well, whether cooking or other things, and he took strongly to the faith of Jayus. He considers him a personal patron, and he tries to live his life by his teachings (Though he charges for his work). Eventually he was doing many of the more intense works for his 'father', though often the credit was given to his master, since he was a credited leatherworker, and not some young apprentice. Eventually a member of the Malvici came to the area, and he made her an incredible set of leathers. She discovered it was really Arthur that did the work, and she made a mental note of it. Years later, Arthur began his military service, and the Malvici saw some of his more recent work. She arranged things for him to serve the House as a smith for his military service, and now here he is...
  is military service, and now here he is...)
• Artorius Malvici  + (Artorius grew up in Southport along with t …
  Artorius grew up in Southport along with the rest of his Malvici cousins and his sister Caelis. Like all who grow up in this regimented military meritocracy, he easily found his way to the sword. Childhood was fairly easy for him, but that all changed during the Tor-Southport war. Not quite old enough to fight, and not young enough to forget, Artorius was permanently shaped by the events of that conflict. As time moved on and Artorius' travels eventually lead him to the southern end of the Gray Forest, where he had the fortune to run into a Lady Victoria Ashford. She with her sly passionate way about things seemed to lure him in almost immediately. It wasn't long before the two of them were wed. Their marriage was blessed with a child shortly thereafter. A little girl they named Serah. Only two years after Serah's birth, Lady Victoria Ashford contracted an illness and died. Her death left Artotius absolutely heartbroken. He wandered Arvum for a few years, coming home to visit with his daughter as often as his broken heart would allow. It was only when he had heard his sister was called to help the Malvici family in Arx that he too decided it was time to pick up his blade in service of the family once more. Taking Serah with him this time, her journeyed to Arx in hopes of making a difference on the Compact's war efforts.
  a difference on the Compact's war efforts.)
• Artorius Magnotta  + (Artorius grew up in Southport along with t …
  Artorius grew up in Southport along with the rest of his Malvici cousins and his sister Caelis. Like all who grow up in this regimented military meritocracy, he easily found his way to the sword. Childhood was fairly easy for him, but that all changed during the Tor-Southport war. Not quite old enough to fight, and not young enough to forget, Artorius was permanently shaped by the events of that conflict. As time moved on and Artorius' travels eventually lead him to the southern end of the Gray Forest, where he had the fortune to run into a Lady Victoria Ashford. She with her sly passionate way about things seemed to lure him in almost immediately. It wasn't long before the two of them were wed. Their marriage was blessed with a child shortly thereafter. A little girl they named Serah. Only two years after Serah's birth, Lady Victoria Ashford contracted an illness and died. Her death left Artotius absolutely heartbroken. He wandered Arvum for a few years, coming home to visit with his daughter as often as his broken heart would allow. It was only when he had heard his sister was called to help the Malvici family in Arx that he too decided it was time to pick up his blade in service of the family once more. Taking Serah with him this time, her journeyed to Arx in hopes of making a difference on the Compact's war efforts.
  a difference on the Compact's war efforts.)
• Artur Redrain  + (Artur was a happy child, with the joy and …
  Artur was a happy child, with the joy and energy of a young boy raised by parents with a good balance of benevolent distance and bland-edged discipline. His closest supervision was from a crotchety old shaman whose stories evolved as Artur aged, retaining his attention cleverly by incorporating more boogers and farts once Artur reached a certain age, and peppering his storytelling with blood and guts liberally throughout his childhood. Indoors, Artur had a little sister to equal parts torment and defend; outdoors, he had worlds to conquer, many of them entirely fueled by his own mind. As a boy, every day of his was filled with imagination games. One day he would be an evil wizard bent on world domination -- "please make sure you clean your hands and wash behind your ears when you're done building your sorcerous tower, dear" -- and the next day, a shining beacon of purity and light, showing the world the benefits of a true paladin -- "what a clever sword, Artur, did you make it from a stick?" -- and the day after, a secretly infiltrated dwarf agent, stealthing through the manor with daring surreptitiousness -- "we can see you hiding under the table, my prince, as I'm afraid your boots are sticking out." As he grew and learned his lessons and studied with swordmasters and trained in (oh no) etiquette like a good prince, his imagination games grew no less colorful, if they grew subtler; in his teen years, his flights of fancy he kept to scribblings in his journal, artistic translations of this visiting diplomat into an elven infiltrator bent on seducing his mother, or that complex arithmetic economics problem being illustrated with dragons and eggs instead of sacks of grain. He doodled constantly, and made stories in his head, and although he wasn't secretive about them, he became aware as he moved towards adulthood that they were -- if not childish things to be put aside -- private treasures to be kept to those he trusted. "Today, I shall go on a hunt," would be his itinerary, and then instead, while hunting pheasant he would imagine himself agriffonback, chasing the winged terror of a dragon marauding the countryside. "Today, I shall go with my father to an important meeting," would be the plan, and in his head, one of the councillors was replaced by a luring mirrorborn with destuctive appetites (the drawing from that day was paticularly spooky and splendid). Yet still, even as he grew to adulthood, his imagination pictures stayed with him. Even today, as he rides towards the capital, he imagines himself alive with derring-do, questing for adventure, rather than doing what he is supposed to do exactly, which is go to Arx and support the North's political, economic and military goals potentially by securing an alliance somewhere in the Southlands.
  g an alliance somewhere in the Southlands.)
• Arturo Grayhope  + (Arturo's sire was a drifter, and drift he …
  Arturo's sire was a drifter, and drift he did. He was in Arx just long enough to knock up Arturo's mother, a lower-class Grayhope. His mother was a performer, singing in taverns, acting small parts in the theatres, and cooking and cleaning when she needed more to feed herself and child. Despite the reputation of her family, Arturo's mother never was one to dabble in the shady side of things. As a youth, he shared his time between roaming the streets and following in the footsteps of his mother, learning to sing, read music, and play instruments. He grew talented at it, as well, earning enough to make his way as a poor bard. He had the potential to attract a patron, and continue such a career. And then he smoked his first bowl of dust... Everything changed after that. No amount of coin could keep enough of the drug for him, and the poor income he earned from being a bard certainly couldn't. Situation forced his hand. It was at that point that Art turned to his cousins, seeping into the darker side of the Grayhope family. Addiction fueled him. Always desperate for his next fix, he became willing to do whatever was asked of him.
  e willing to do whatever was asked of him.)
• Baldessare Velenosa  + (As a boy, Baldessare's energy was often st …
  As a boy, Baldessare's energy was often stoked by the fires of competition. Reared on legends of his House and often witness to the efforts - academic and athletic - of his cousins, he always wanted to prove that he was as good as any of them, and frequently pushed himself to terrible extremes to prove himself. Especially as an adolescent, he pushed himself. He wanted to be the top of his class, the best fighter, the best racer, the best everything, but of course, the perfection that he demanded of himself was impossible, and in those days, he threw fits and tantrums often, furious that he wasn't measuring up to his own self-image. Eventually, he settled down and evened out. The perfectionism would remain with him, but it was tempered by reality, an understanding of human limitations, and the patience of tutors. The older he grew, the more he demonstrated focus, and fierceness. He learned to control his temper and to channel it, so that the outbursts grew fewer and further between. His favorite way to blow off steam was on horseback, and he would ride out in solitude for hours, communing with the animals and feeling the freedom of their gait beneath him. His father took both Benedetto and Baldessare to sea in their early teens to teach them how to behave, and assigned their squirage as cabin boys on several voyages that were designed to look more adventurous and exciting than they were. Baldessare stuck to his father's elbow like glue, wanting to learn everything there was to learn about being a sea captain and caring for his men as a protector and a commander. He also learned that grog will knock you on your ass, especially when you're fifteen. As an adult, his generally attentive and ambitious nature proved useful to the family, as would that of any aspiring, aggressive military officer with an eye for horseflesh. As his sister's social star climbed in Arx, he and Benedetto were dispatched to Arx. Baldessare has high ambitions for demonstrating his prowess in service of his House. As far as he is concerned, the capital hasn't seen anything yet.
  ned, the capital hasn't seen anything yet.)
• Benedetto Velenosa  + (As a boy, Benedetto often skated on the ve …
  As a boy, Benedetto often skated on the very edge of trouble. Refinement was far from his reach, particularly at the beginning. But with a father who was frequently at sea, he and his identical twin brother, Baldessare, were reared largely by the house staff of the Lenosia estate, children bearing witness to the development and elevation of cousins with blood closer to the main line - and wards of no particular good blood at all. Benedetto cut his teeth on legends of cunning and cleverness and lagged behind his brother's academic achievements. He got into trouble constantly for being too forthright, too open in anger or in contempt or in confidence. He masked little, and had to be trained better - "What kind of Fox even are you, boy?" was a common refrain around the schoolroom. The older he grew, the more his energy came to be channeled into performative behavior, mugging and imitating his betters in ways that would have been more insulting if he didn't have such a knack for heart-melting puppydog eyes. His father took both boys to sea in their early teens to teach them how to behave, and assigned their squirage as cabin boys on several voyages that were designed to look more adventurous and exciting than they were. Benedetto was quickly a favorite of the men for his willingness to scale rigging like a monkey and do just about any jig or dance they came up with in exchange for nothing more than a kind word. He also learned that grog will knock you on your ass, especially when you're fifteen. As an adult, his generally biddable (if lazy) and flashy entertaining nature proved useful to the family primarily in social situations. As his sister's social star climbed in Arx, he and Baldessare were dispatched to Arx. Benedetto suspects that there may be marital plans in his future, but maybe he'll prove as talented at deflecting those as he has at everything else permanent. You never know!
  everything else permanent. You never know!)
• Elyid Acheron  + (As a boy, Lord Elyid was sent to populate …
  As a boy, Lord Elyid was sent to populate House Acheron as another ward of his cousin Mydas. Following the revelation of his caretaker's princely status, it was decided that Elyid would remain at the Glacial Fortress for stability's sake rather than return to Stonedeep. Despite not being much older than him at all, Marquessa Rhea came to be Elyid's legal guardian until he came of age. It was, according to Elyid, the longest three and a quarter months of his entire life. Despite no sibling or parent bothering to share a similar claim, Elyid enjoys anecdotally touting out dramatized rumors of his familial relation to the fallen House Aviaron. While it could be argued that ANYONE with Nightgold blood could make such statements regarding Aron Nightgold's fallen line, nobody's ever bothered to contradict Elyid on his insinuated exclusivity. Oh, it's never the same! Sometimes he's a third cousin and sometimes, he's a second cousin once removed. The important thing to remember is that Rhea's got his total support. She's, uh, like a mother to him! With the construction of the Whisper Palace of Aviaron's Peak, Elyid has taken full advantage of his family's position. He's among the first crop of Northerners to receive an education in refinement, beautification, and diplomacy there. Instructed to glide on the palace's gilded ballroom floor and to entertain beneath the music conservatory's canopy of hand-painted nightingales, the courtier-in-training now travels leisurely back and forth between the picturesque Crimson Peaks and Arx, where reside many of his kin and the legendary Whisper motherhouse.
  kin and the legendary Whisper motherhouse.)
• Isolde Velenosa  + (As a child Isolde was considered shy and w …
  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.
  y and her faith, and will win over others.)
• Octavia Kennex  + (As a child, Octavia was bookish and abrupt …
  As a child, Octavia was bookish and abrupt. She learned courtesies out of necessity but not inclination, and never favored prettiness or softness or quiet. She had few friends, though those she did have she treasured closely. While her younger brother, the heir to Stormward, was educated on the mainland, Octavia reigned supreme in the household. After her mother's death, she was the lady of the house and claimed it early with the full force of her personality behind it. She spent much of her time when not actively managing the household with an iron fist learning as much as she could in the library -- first the Kennex library itself at Stormward, and then in the libraries of the other lady scholars near her rank within her own fealty. She was disinterested in marriage politics, and she had sufficient force of personality to cause her father not to press the issue, which was remarkable in itself. Then again, she was basically the accountant, quartermaster and general historian of the entire Stormward navy by that point, and -- basically -- to hell with it. When Ford Kennex inherited the title, Octavia's elevation to the judicial role in life was as much to clear her imperious tyrant fist to make room as it was in line with her own ambitions to be more than simply Lady Octavia.
  tions to be more than simply Lady Octavia.)
• Thomas Hawkmour  + (As a child, Thomas was a bright, cheerful, …
  As a child, Thomas was a bright, cheerful, and proud little lordling, the youngest son given free rein to wander and play through the halls of the family citadel and explore the crater of Brassfall March with a lifetime of opportunity ahead of him. His mother and father were very fond of him and were in the habit of indulging whatever fancy struck him...perhaps too much so, but it was difficult to hold this favor against him, and he was well-liked among the people of the March and armsmen of the House. He spent many hours simply talking with the servants and listening with obvious fascination as they explained or demonstrated their various crafts, and it was said with pride among the smallfolk that he would one day be a fine leader - if he could only learn to focus with the same passion on the lessons his tutors painstakingly tried to enforce. As he grew up, he was very close with his older brothers Erik and Duncan - he tagged along after the nearly-inseperable pair like a faithful hound pup, and Thomas admired Duncan fiercely for his devotion to the House and his position as heir. While Thomas loved his father dearly, it was no secret that he sided with his brothers without question in everything; so it was that when the Tor-Southport war broke out in all its horrible ferocity, he demanded with all a child's stubborness that they be allowed to fight for their leige lord, as this was what Duncan and Erik so desperately wanted. More was the pity. When news came home of Erik's death, something changed in the lad, a bitterness that snuffed out much of his former joy - and when both of his parents were lost to illness only a few years later, that bitterness hardened into a dark resolve. Thomas threw himself into learning the blade and soldier's craft, volunteering for every border skirmish and Abandoned raid he could and throwing himself at his foes without remorse. Though he was respected by the men and women he served beside and eventually lead, he was no longer well-loved as much as feared for whatever terrible ruthless cold had rooted in his heart. As youth faded, Thomas served as a noble general for Hawkmour's forces loyally and competently for years...and yet even he was unprepared when Duncan was assassinated. Stunned, shocked, he was nearly hollowed out and ended by his despair...but instead a thirst for vengeance flared bright in his breast, burning away almost all traces of sorrow and filling him with grim purpose. Knowing how badly his family now needed him, and that answers would be waiting there - and maybe, somehow, justice as well -- Thomas packed his things and left for Arx, to offer his service as the House Sword to the Marquessa-Regent.
  s the House Sword to the Marquessa-Regent.)
• Elonso Pravus  + (As a clever, quiet child, Elonso learned t …
  As a clever, quiet child, Elonso learned the value of patience young. A confidante is not really something that exists within the watchful walls of House Pravus, but a co-schemer and willing tool? That is what Elonso became for Belladonna at a very young age. While their father's compassion and weakness slowly eroded the legacy of House Pravus in Setarco, Belladonna was not content to sit idly by and watch her birthright sink into the sea, and neither was Elonso, as her shadow. He had innocent eyes and good ears, and he was small and slight, clever enough to fit into small places, and his coloring was inobtrusive enough to make him not above playacting and pretending to be less than the son of a duke. Elonso learned the dangers of kindheartedness. He learned the dangers of a loose tongue. He learned the hazards of ambition overweening caution. He learned all this watching the mistakes of his father's vassals as his sister schemed, arranged, and reforged power that might have been lost. As a young adult, with his sister serene in her new post, Elonso thrived under the mantle of her authority, spreading his artistic talents, focusing on his religious pursuits as a mirrormask, and learning to apply himself for the power of House Pravus in subtle, interesting ways. It might be that in another life he would have been an actor (or a bartender). But in this one, Elonso was born to be a politician.
  s one, Elonso was born to be a politician.)
• Aislin Ashford  + (As a girl, Aislin demanded tales of advent …
  As a girl, Aislin demanded tales of adventure in which the pretty princess was the heroine and the dashing prince was the plucky sidekick, and side by side the two of them would take on the world, seeing the sights and mapping the secrets of Arvum. As a woman, Aislin isn't wasting her time waiting for the dashing prince to accompany her on her adventures, and instead of having tales recounted at her bedside, she is living her dream. An explorer with impressive locales under her belt, Aislin is her own hero. She's blazed mountain trails and mapped coastlines, categorized artifacts and delivered manuscripts to the Scholars of Vellichor, though her fierce independence has thus far kept her from outright joining their order. She does spend quite a bit of time in Arx however, seeking out like-minded scholars and explorers to exchange stories and obscure bits of lore, and sometimes to team up with those self-same people for further adventuring.
  self-same people for further adventuring.)
• Caius Valardin  + (As a prince of Valardin his youth was a se …
  As a prince of Valardin his youth was a series of predetermined benchmarks. Fostered to an ally of the family at the appropriate age, squired when he'd proven himself worthy and skilled enough to not get himself killed or worse make an ass of himself and shame the knight to whom he was squired. Knighted when he came of age with other squires of the same year and skill set, Caius spent his twenties on one campaign or another, doing his share of fighting the good fight. Taprooms and taverns filled the spaces between fights, a near decade of ultimately wasted years until he'd matured enough to long for something more. He eventually matured enough to think first - then think deeper - before reaching for his sword. He'd finally steadied in his late twenties, become less of a wild eyed fighter and begun to explore the years of diplomatic training that had been long buried in his education. It was in this transition that he would find himself on the business end of a mail-clad fist in one of his last regular visits to a tavern. Unintentional as it was, he was left with a broken nose and two black-eyes as a result. Caius would face endless weeks of laughter when his comrades and fellows learned that the knight who'd smashed his nose was the Lady Brennan. For him, however, it was the catalyst for his determination to win the heart of the Lady Knight. Two years of effort and persistence followed before they were betrothed properly then wed. One thing that Caius would often preface any statement about his wife were the words, 'My Brenn, she does have a temper' often said with a contented smile and no small amount of affection. Not every marriage is built on a great romance, in fact, most marriages are built on common ground and the need to establish or cement networking and ties that bind. Caius and Brennan were a fly in the mix, genuinely fond of each other, genuinely well-suited for one another and, by all rights, happy with each other. Thus, in the usual passing of time their first child was born, and five years later, a second. Only months after their second child was born Brennan was visiting family when the worst of all nightmares came to a head, culminating at the Tragedy of Sanctum. His wife was one of many that died that day, but Caius was deeply affected by her loss. He retreated from the world, taking only the household staff that would keep everything running smoothly and focusing himself on his children and the management of the family estate and assets. Eventually, he was called upon by his family to engage once more, to take up the duties of a child of Valardin. Reluctant but duty-bound, Caius returned to the vanguard of house affairs.
  returned to the vanguard of house affairs.)
• Filusae Tyde  + (As a very young child the memory of scream …
  As a very young child the memory of screaming, jostling and the scent of just everything that can burn blazing away - Filusae still stares into the dark at night, remembering the dim gloom of days being carried away by frantic hands and a trembling voice she can only remember as Mother's. The sound of cracked lightning and feeling constantly soaked upon a small, questionable vessel through dark waters and heavy rains. Clammy hands, attempting to be comforting only creating a more horrifying experience to gaze upon a once serene face tear-stained with pale hair disheveled. Where was father? What was happening? The capacity to understand escaped her, only to be brought to light as she grew in the home of her Mother's inlaws, among House Groverfield, far from the destruction of the Sack of Tydehall and the fall of House Tyde. Murmurs through the years from her mother revealed that maybe it could have all been different if her grandfather were alive, were there. While the years passed by, Filusae was brought up fairly sheltered but well educated in things that brought her interest, taking a past-time in collecting objects that would shine or make pleasant sounds she naturally found an appreciation for coin and dealing with it. Only twice did those in the home she was raised by and with attempt to take her near the docks and ships, ending in a wildly violent exchange with some staggering away nursing scratched arms or a face. The absolute panic of being so near a ship for so little a reason as 'a fun trip' did not strike her well; Maybe just being at the docks would not have been so bad were it not for the intent to convince her to board the vile ship for such an unacceptable reason. Maybe were it to visit a pen-pal, one of two she would have been encouraged to try. Maybe. Recently a worn-looking old man has come to the door, blue eyes as so many. She shut the door in his face, a hint of unease settling over her. Only later to find the very same man in the parlor with her mother looking pale and confused... What grandfather? Who? That man would be ancient and was supposed to be long-assumed dead.
  and was supposed to be long-assumed dead.)
• Azhan Arrynfield  + (As a young child, Ahzan was tutored under …
  As a young child, Ahzan was tutored under a teacher named Merrin. In the beginning he had no real interest in learning, not only that he would regularly try to find away out of having to be taught. Eventually his teacher decided to sit him down, showing him what he can do with simple techniques such as writing and reading, allowing him to open his eyes to a new world. He started to spend more time studying and learning, leaving his previous kid ways of life for a more distinguished and set path. Evere since then, he has always upheld the uses of the scholarly pursuits, although definitely never pressing it onto others.
  definitely never pressing it onto others.)
• Perrach Seiler  + (As a youth, Perrach showed promise with we …
  As a youth, Perrach showed promise with weapons, and his father -- a man-at-arms for a noble household -- was all the ready to push him forward as soon as he was old enough to swear into service. He was the only son of a mostly daughtered house, and his family was hungry for honor. Perrach was a fresh, raw boy crewing a ship of the fleet. He was nineteen when he followed Prince Donrai Thrax to crush the Tyde Rebellion, and distinguished himself mainly by fighting with wild abandon. He earned his first scars, then, too, and at length, his knighthood, distinguishing himself by quick thinking abovedecks as much as by bloodshed. Thrax's waters are rarely without incident, and he was a restless young warrior, sailing in search of sea monsters or glory or who knew what. He grew more jaded over time, spending months at a time at sea, and finding himself far removed from the concerns of land folk when he came back. Sworn as a knight for House Thrax, he served, and fought, and bled, and killed, and he loved it. Perhaps it is his ten years long service of the family that has made it harder for Perrach to hold his tongue, but over the past year or more, he has begun to speak his mind more and more often, regardless of his rank. He was never a long-tempered man, but as threats grow surrounding his home and all the lands of the Compact, he grows restive and less tolerant of what he perceives as "nonsense".
  lerant of what he perceives as "nonsense".)
• Saccharin Maudlin  + (As chaotic as the lives of her kinfolk.)
• Mark  + (As far as anyone knows, Mark is in Arx aft …
  As far as anyone knows, Mark is in Arx after spending extensive time in the Northlands. He professes that he's a tracker and a hunter, if pushed for details. It's an explanation that suits, as he's certainly dressed like a person who has spent significant time outdoors and his manners also befit someone that is possibly less skilled with people than others.
  ibly less skilled with people than others.)
• Mark Crown  + (As far as anyone knows, Mark is in Arx aft …
  As far as anyone knows, Mark is in Arx after spending extensive time in the Northlands. He professes that he's a tracker and a hunter, if pushed for details. It's an explanation that suits, as he's certainly dressed like a person who has spent significant time outdoors and his manners also befit someone that is possibly less skilled with people than others.
  ibly less skilled with people than others.)

• Lorna Redvale  + (As is often the case among the Abandoned, …
  As is often the case among the Abandoned, life for Lorna before she bent the knee was difficult and fraught with danger. Her people preferred to remain settled in one place for as long as they were able, but they were regularly forced to relocate due to hostilities brought by other clans or conflict with the Compact. She was still young when all-out war was waged and her clan was cut down nearly to the last; only a few children survived, sheltered in part by Lorna's cleverness in finding for them a good hiding place until the fighting was over. When the dust had settled, Lorna led her small contingent of orphans to the nearest safe haven they could find to beg for shelter. That she proceeded to do so in passable Arvani rather than the native tongue of her shav'arvani clan is likely what encouraged the lords of Stonehearth to oblige her pleas. Some ten years later, Lorna is now one of the so-called 'prodigals' and serves House Stonewood as a trusted steward and translator. She has a natural ear and talented tongue, well-versed in several different shav'arvani dialects, and strives to learn more and more. Her experience in the great melting pot that is Arx, however, has only just begun...
  at is Arx, however, has only just begun...)
• Saito charon  + (As luck (or the gods) would have it, Saito …
  As luck (or the gods) would have it, Saito started his life as a comonner, born in the lands of the Charon family. The start of his life was harsh. Having been born as an orphan, Saito had no choice but to live in the streets, feeling grateful for everyday that he managed to survive. Fortunately, this didn't last long: One of the nobles, a girl close to his age took notice of his situation and, for some reazon, decided to help him. To show how grateful he was, Saito vowed that he would always serve the family, as long as he breathed. This was tacken seriously and before his servisse to the Charons could start, he was properly educated. He alsso spent more time with the girl, who's name he learned, was Clarisse. They quickly became friends. Aside from his education, Saito started to develope skills in combat. Noticing that, Teague, Clarisse's brother, gave him an order which he still follows to this day: Protect and guard Clarisse. His training was encouraged and Saito became a skilled warrior, having a preference for bows instead of swords. When Clarisse moved to the ocuntryside to deal with a personal trauma, Saito acompanied her. It was in that peaceful atmosphere that the two of them became even closer, Saito being the first person that Clarisse spoke to after her trauma. In the countryside, Saito continued to practice and to protect Clarisse. There, he found a sense of peace. His promotion to knight came as a surprise to Saito. He hadd never sought any kind of power for himself, being simply content to serve the family that had helped him when hee most needed. When Clarisse decided to return home, Saito followed, staying behind only to settle their affairs in the countryside. Now it is his hope to reunite with her again, to see what the future has in store for them and for their family.
  as in store for them and for their family.)
• Watcher Crown  + (As one might expect from the name, Watcher …
  As one might expect from the name, Watcher isn't particularly keen on sharing personal details about her past, though this manifests largely as disinterest rather than evasiveness. She's said she's originally from Farhaven on occasion, she's certainly a commoner, and if she has any family, she's just as disinterested in talking about them, though the impression she gives is that there's no one to actually talk about. She seems equally comfortable working within the city and the wilderness, though, if pressed, she clearly prefers the latter.
  f pressed, she clearly prefers the latter.)
• Watcher  + (As one might expect from the name, Watcher …
  As one might expect from the name, Watcher isn't particularly keen on sharing personal details about her past, though this manifests largely as disinterest rather than evasiveness. She's said she's originally from Farhaven on occasion, she's certainly a commoner, and if she has any family, she's just as disinterested in talking about them, though the impression she gives is that there's no one to actually talk about. She seems equally comfortable working within the city and the wilderness, though, if pressed, she clearly prefers the latter.
  f pressed, she clearly prefers the latter.)
• Brady Grayhope  + (As one of several sons of Kelda Grayhope, …
  As one of several sons of Kelda Grayhope, Brady grew up a curious, acquisitive youngster. He rarely wanted for anything, especially pies to stick his fingers into. He learned the ins and outs of the Boroughs, back alleys a specialty, and served while still very young as a salty, scrappy little shit aboard the decks of smuggling ships. He frequently stole from the rich to give to the poor, which would have been more Robin Hood and less little shit if only he'd had any need to do so instead of doing it for the adrenaline rush. Speaking of the adrenaline rush . . . Brady's brother turned traitor a few years ago, and it turned his life upside-down. While Corrigan ratted out the business interests, lit the launderers on figurative fire, and turned over their /mother/, Brady scrambled to course correct. He was broke for basically the first time in his life, and found that his skills at getting into and out of trouble were all he had to fall back on ... so of course he fell back on them as hard as he could. Luckily, the Grayhope family connections to business legitimate and otherwise are not few, and he was able to set himself up as a handyman: that is, a man handy for all kinds of jobs, just generally a good guy to have in your corner in the crunch. Especially if you need him to be quick with a dagger -- which is how he ended up moonlighting with the Valorous Few (he'll tell you for sure, he looks great in hats). Or, you know, a little bullshit artistry. He's good at that, too. On demand.
  tistry. He's good at that, too. On demand.)
• Corrigan Grayhope  + (As one of several sons of Kelda Grayhope, …
  As one of several sons of Kelda Grayhope, Corrigan wanted for little as a boy. His mother was ambitious to improve the social and financial affairs of the family and she threw herself into doing that, enhancing the Grayhopes' position in the merchant class by hook or by crook. The emphasis was on the crook; by the time Corrigan was 13, he knew way too much about the borders between the Upper Boroughs and the Lower, and by the time he was 15, he'd already been a drug runner for several smuggling operations. Kelda was firmly ensconced in selling legitimate wares and laundering money for the family business. Corrigan was involved in literally everything. When he was nineteen, he ran afoul of the Inquisition tracking down dirt on Kelda, and a particularly clever and rather surly Inquisitor offered Corrigan a choice, an out: information in exchange for an absence of the less than savory methods the Inquisition might bring to bear. His subornment was mild at first. He turned over information in dribs and drabs, never enough to tip off the family or really enough to do much for the Inquisition. But treachery is a slippery slope, and his ability to burn the candle at both ends ended pretty sharply and sourly a few years into the proposition. Unable to make more traditional charges stick on Kelda when she disavowed all connection to everything even under torture, the Inquisition ultimately took Kelda as a witch for violating Limerance's Fourth Law. Ultimately, Corrigan's internal cover was compromised and he was forced to choose which life would be his: the investigator's life, taking confessions, or the criminal's, avoiding them. It was a complicated decision that he reached, but with a family that would not take him back, Corrigan chose to crusade against his own former life instead.
  usade against his own former life instead.)
• Sasiri Whisper  + (As one of the younger members of the Ulbra …
  As one of the younger members of the Ulbran family, Sasiri was born in the Lowers orginally. As she grew she went from disillusioned by her family to outright disappointed and disgusted. While Sasiri showed great talent in design and carpentry her cousins and siblings were out commiting crime. So it wasn't a hard choice when at eighteen she decided to leave home and become a Whisper. A year passed and she studied interior design meanwhile, adding it to her collection of abilities and talents. Her family tried to 'visit' her to convince her to help them with their various projects but she always turned them away. When she was growing up all she remembered them doing was taking and destroying, she wants to create and build and those two philsophies simply cannot coexist peacefully or so she believes.
  not coexist peacefully or so she believes.)
• Rukhnis Al-Katibi  + (As suggested by her looks, Rukhnis hails o …
  As suggested by her looks, Rukhnis hails originally from the Dune Kingdoms of Eurus, and is willing to concede under sustained questioning that she was a priestess or wise woman or some vaguely similar manner of person among some clan of desert tribesmen roaming the back of beyond, whose exact name and location she declines to give. She also seems to have spent some time as a scholar in the Mourning Isles, which perhaps explains her rather good command of the Arvani language and her haphazardly patchy knowledge about the land of Arvum itself. She is disinclined to speak about her reasons for leaving either Eurus or the Mourning Isles, or to explain just how she wound up in the service of Lord Rysen Crovane as his personal retainer, but it seems to be this latter circumstance that brought her to Arx. Since her arrival in the city she has largely avoided drawing attention aside from establishing herself as a healer of some small note and a trusted servant of Crovane. Joining the Physicians guild early on, she had the chance to prove her medical abilities when a Eurusi ship collided with the city docks, depositing a few dozen liberated slaves who had become afflicted with an epidemic illness. Eventually she received the great honour of being appointed Assistant Guildmaster by the legendary healer Marquessa Reigna Keaton, and was also assigned the post of Crovane Minister of Medicine. While dividing her time between her house and guild, much of her work is directed towards improving the lives of the poor and marginalized and she can often be found working at the Commons Clinic in the Lower Boroughs.
  the Commons Clinic in the Lower Boroughs.)
• Jamie Greenmarch  + (As the eldest son of Alda and Malcolm Gree …
  As the eldest son of Alda and Malcolm Greenmarch, Jamie enjoyed the first couple years of his life being the sole focus of their attention. He was an energetic and impulsive youth with a fearless streak that often got him into a bit of trouble. As time passed and more Greenmarch children entered the world, it was difficult for his parents to spend the amount of time necessary to keep him busy. Being the oldest, Jamie very quickly established a close bond with his grandmother, Maryn Greenmarch, who enabled his free spirited nature by passing on the family's old traditions and teachines in the ways of Shamanism. The concept of spirit and being in touch with the wilderness around him was the perfect answer to his personality. It shaped him in many ways into adulthood, including the advantage of understanding two different belief systems and opened his eyes to new ways to perceive the world around him. As he grew into a young adult, he was ultimately knighted and earned a place with the Knights of Solace, though he was quite the unorthodox member. His knowledge of the land and tactics saw to it that many of his responsibilities and missions revolved around scouting, establishing forward operations, and protecting healers and the populace on the fringes of friendly territory. Though he is a Knight, more often then not the people he has directly fought alongside and for have referred to him as the Ranger for the way in which he fights, his understanding of topography and how to best use that to the advantage of his allies, as well as his tendency to remain segregated from those around him, including his brothers-and-sisters-at-arms. A couple years ago, he was sent out on an escort mission to ensure the safety and well-being of healers who were traveling to the outskirts to provide medical care and attention to the underserved populations. In time, his mission statement evolved as he began to face off against not just simple bandits and raiders, but pirates and darker things. Protecting the common folk at these areas and the healers he was initially sent out to escort has earned him somewhat of folk hero status amongst the fringe populations. They call him the Spear of the Greenwood for his first to fight attitude, always at the tip of the proverbial spear defending those that cannot defend themselves. His combat style, his experience, and the man that he is has been rooted deeply in Shamanism and it is not something he will readily give up. He walks a fine line between the Pantheon and Shamanism, though those who have fought beside him or been saved by him care little about his personal beliefs so much as his actions. Returning home after years of service, the prodigal son finds that the world he was once a part of has continued to spin despite his absence. With his return just over the horizon, Jamie signed on as an instructor with the Academy of War to not only pass on the knowledge and experience he has developed over years at the frontlines, but also to strengthen Greenmarch's ties to House Keaton and the Compact.
  ch's ties to House Keaton and the Compact.)
• Niccolo Velenosa  + (As the firstborn son of the Duke of Setarc …
  As the firstborn son of the Duke of Setarco, Niccolo was groomed from birth with the expectation that he would eventually rule the powerful Lycene city-state famed as the home of the silk trade. House Pravus possessed a reputation for producing strong, ruthlessly effective rulers and Niccolo appeared that he would be no exception- he eschewed the pampered lifestyle that would have been easily available as the firstborn of one of the highest nobles of the Lyceum, instead training relentlessly with the house soldiers or learning all he could from his family about the dangerous intrigues of Lycene politics and how to be maneuver its treacherous waters. As a young man, he repeatedly led the city-state of Setarco's military forces into battle against against the Sea Reavers, a powerful clan of the Abandoned which have been foes of the Lyceum for the past thousand years. With a calmly astute leadership style and formidable mental discipline, Niccolo won reknown for prowess as a battlefield commander and looked to be all the people of Setarco could ask for in the next duke. And then he met Princess Carlotta, the heir apparent of the Archduke of Lenosia, and future Grand Duchess of the Lyceum. Immediate attraction quickly became something undeniably deeper, and both immediately made their wishes known. Unfortunately like most nobles, however celebrated great love stories might be in the commons, neither the current Archduke of Lenosia or the Duke of Setarco benefited much from the match and immediately dismissed the idea. Carlotta's father pointed out that the ties with Setarco were already strong and attempting to strengthen the bonds with another marriage when they had other city-states to bring to heel was foolish. Niccolo's father was even more horrified- as House Pravus was ostensibly a vassal of the Grand Duke of the Lyceum but quite nearly a peer to the Velenosa ruler, Niccolo would be forced to marry into the Velenosa family and pass his claim as the next duke of Setarco on to his brother, and everyone rightly saw Niccolo as a fantastic future duke. Both rulers encouraged their respective children to forget the follies of youth and be prepared to properly marry as befits their obligation to their houses, but Niccolo was in no way dissuaded. At the next great Tournament of Roses, the festival in honor of the god of love, Niccolo managed to emerge as the champion of the tests of the body. By long tradition, each of the victors at the Tournament of Roses can request a boon from the Compact, with the Crown speaking for the realm in recognizing the worthiness of the boon. As with no few star-crossed lovers, Niccolo asked in front of most of the assembled peers of the realm and thousands of commoners for King Alaric the Elder to grant his marriage to Princess Carlotta Velenosa. The king agreed, and it is a very rare house that would refuse their liege under those conditions. The next two decades oversaw the restoration of House Velenosa prestige and power under the new Grand Duchess of the Lyceum, Carlotta Velenosa, heavily assisted by her talented husband Duke Niccolo. Niccolo was almost immediately appointed a Voice of House Velenosa, speaking with the full authority of the Duchess, and the two together ruled with all the deft agility and ruthless dispatch that any house in the Lyceum would envy. Niccolo was responsible for smashing most of clans of the Abandoned near Velenosa lands, creating far more stability around the city-state of Lenosia than it has known throughout its history. Tragically, the demands of leadership kept the married pair apart for sometimes years at a time, with Duke Niccolo remaining in Lenosia and making certain the vassal city-states of the Lyceum stayed firmly under control while Carlotta resided in Arx to manipulate the politics of Arx repeatedly in House Velenosa's favor. When Niccolo heard of his beloved wife's death in Arx, it is known that he stayed uncharacteristically out of contact with nearly everyone for a month while in mourning, seeing only his daughter Esera at her coronation as the new Archduchess of Lenosia and Grand Duchess of the Lyceum. Tragedy followed not long after with his daughter Esera's death by being pushed from Sovereign Bridge by the Dominus Fawkuhl, with the elder statesman very reluctantly assuming the position of Grand Duke of the Lyceum for a time, a position that weighed on him and his grief, though he found brief happiness with a marriage to Princess Deva Redrain. Even that brief happiness was not to last with Deva's mysterious disappearance, causing many in the Lyceum to believe the poor man was cursed. The respected Lycene nobleman abdicated the position of high lord to allow his niece, Princess Eleyna Velenosa to ascend and allow her the chance to rule, with him stepping into a more comfortable role as voice and trusted advisor.
  ortable role as voice and trusted advisor.)
• Dylan Coldrain  + (As the oldest of many siblings Dylan took …
  As the oldest of many siblings Dylan took life seriously as a child, learning to be a sailor just like his father and his father before him, and so on, but it didn't take Dylan long to realize that I was not what he wanted to do with his life. So, against the wishes of his father Dylan went off adventuring to find just where he wanted to be in life. It didn't take Dylan long to discover it. Alcohol. Brewing it, more specifically. He ran into a brewmaster in his travels across the Compact lands and from him Dylan learned how to make a variety of drinks. It proved to be quite the enjoyment for him. His training to be a sailor, at least the strength, came in handy for lifting the heavy barrels to move them to storage and what not. Dylan spent much of his adult life training in brewing so that he could be an expert at it. Once he learned all he could from his mentor Dylan travelled once more, learning different styles of brewing and learning of the land to best know what would optimize his brews. During these travels he met the woman who would eventually marry. It was just after she had been freed from Thralldom, still a child. She was timid and content to hide in a little corner sewing. Sheena. At the time she had no name but she was eventually adopted by Coldrains. It took him many months just to get into her affections. He knew very well she did not talk much, if at all, of her relationship with him. So, his convincing her to marry him took several months. It was not that she objected to him or his desire to wed her, it was her extreme shines and timidness. Eventually, though, he reached her enough to get her to agree. As in it was just days before he decided to join her in Arx. September 1009. That is when he finally wed her . He met her in the Mourning Isles to make it happen then joined her in Arx.
  to make it happen then joined her in Arx.)
• Chanse Grayhope  + (As the owner and proprietor of the Murder …
  As the owner and proprietor of the Murder of Crows Boardinghouse, Chanse Grayhope is not one would call a soft man. He's survived the better part of two decades running the establishment most favored by those needing to disappear for a while by being the kind of man that seems to have very few (living) enemies, but somehow still knows far more than he ought to about anything and everything. He always seems to be given more respect than most would expect from the dangerous sorts living in the Lower Borough, and not just due to a willingness to crack a few skulls from those that get carried away in his establishment. More than a few rough sorts that have crossed the boardinghouse owner have gone missing, and even among some of hard cases of the Lower Boroughs there is a surprising amount of fear for the businessman. For a man living among the lowest of the low of Arx, he seems relatively content exactly where he is and has made little effort to change his station in life. Some of the thugs wonder just how he gets away with it, rarely seeming surprised by anything and showing a shocking amount of lese majeste to some nobles that visit without repercussions. He never asks others their business, and has implied it's extremely wise to do the same to him.
  it's extremely wise to do the same to him.)
• Olivian Malvici  + (As the younger brother of Eirene and Roxan …
  As the younger brother of Eirene and Roxana, Olivian enjoyed a golden childhood, surrounded by a family that loved him. Eirene looked after him and Roxana made him into a pet and a favorite, and he was happy being coddled and fussed over, a pretty boy who liked pretty things. But Olivian was also a Malvici, and military service wasn't something he'd be able to put off forever. When his time came, he told himself he's put his head down and just get through it. It was only a couple of years. Then it would be over with and he'd never have to touch a sword or sweaty armor again. Then the worst possible thing happened: Olivian discovered that he was good at it. Really, REALLY good at it. Principles of combat that it took the others hours of practice to master came to him like he'd always known how to do them. His instincts for what his opponent was going to do in a spar were so good that he was able to react to things that were going to happen several seconds down the line. Not that he enjoyed any of it, mind. He didn't like being dirty. He didn't like being sweaty. He ESPECIALLY didn't like being sore, and seeing a lot of blood at once, especially coming from him, made his stomach do flip-flops. But he discovered that the easiest way to make someone who wanted to spar with him go away was to just beat them into submission as quickly as he could, and that motivated him to become an even better duelist. Still, Olivian was deeply relieved when all that mess was over and he could go back to the indolent life of a worthless rich boy, frittering his time and money away on the finer things of life. He ran across the occasional person who remembered the breathtaking natural talent he'd displayed with a blade, and sometimes those people even managed to maneuver him into a fight, but with every year that passed, more people forgot. Soon, he was pretty universally dismissed, and he liked it that way. His ideal life came to an end on a day when he, along with a bunch of friends, took what turned out to be an ill thought out country carriage ride. They were ambushed by shavs. The deeds that Olivian did that day (actions taken mostly to save his own skin) were the stuff of instant legend that only grew bigger in the telling. People talked of the way that he stood over the ladies and single-handedly fended off five... no, ten... no, FIFTY giant bloodthirsty shavs (or were they actual giants who REALLY drank blood?). He was called a hero over his own protests, and worse, he was soon delivered a summons from the Duchess herself. Southport needed a Sword and she, it would appear, had found just the man for the job. That's not the sort of thing a person says no to, so Olivian packed his things and reluctantly made his way to Arx.
  hings and reluctantly made his way to Arx.)
• Jasher Thrax  + (As the youngest born to a lesser branch of …
  As the youngest born to a lesser branch of the Thrax family tree, Jasher is far removed from the line of succession. In the aftermath of his parents' execution for treason, he and his four siblings were placed under the protection of their dictatorial grandfather, Donrai Thrax, the late Prince of Maelstrom. Living under his watchful eye meant deriving relief at being overlooked as often as he was, and ultimately contributed to the development of his sharp observational skills and appreciation for structure and certainty. He was more or less left to his own devices, free to discover for himself where he fit into the family and world at large so long as he did not shame his house in the process. One day, at the ripe age of thirteen, Jasher slipped his house guards in disguise and enlisted to become a cabin boy aboard a trade vessel. Isles lords taking to sailing is hardly unusual, but the prince was far too young, and did so without the explicit approval of his grandfather. When he was eventually located and retrieved, Donrai considered what ought to be done about it. Rather than punish Jasher for his impetuousness, he decided that if the boy would chase the salt so ardently, he should give himself to it in full, but the proper way. Thereafter, he was provided hands-on training aboard a ship so long as he agreed to keep out of trouble and tend to his studies. Each job well done was rewarded with additional opportunities, and in time he grew to be an exceptional sailor and respected leader. While many of his family members moved to Arx upon reaching adulthood, Jasher was justly putting pirates to the sword aboard his own ship, the Sea Drake. What little time he spent ashore was shared with books or family, rarely with strangers. Societal pressures and constraints inherent to nobility have always frustrated him. The prospect of marriage was approached as a grim duty he'd someday be expected to fulfill, yet while there has been no shortage of eligible women, he has never shown an interest in courting them. He rarely entertains romantic overtures in general, but it is common knowledge that he is strictly attracted to men. Over the years, strong familial ties and lasting friendships inevitably sank their deep hooks into Jasher, and those long periods spent away grew fewer and farther between.Threats of all forms bid him return to support and defend House Thrax and The Compact at large. He is a veteran of the Gyre War, Silent War, the Lodge and the Battle of Pieros Bay. He returned to Arx at a most auspicious time, on the eve of the sacking of Bastion, and the cusp of yet another series of bloody conflicts.
  of yet another series of bloody conflicts.)
• Everard Telmar  + (As the youngest brother of the Duke of Tel …
  As the youngest brother of the Duke of Telmar, Lord Everard Telmar strove to be the honorable paragon that was everything his elder brother was not. He clung hard to a knightly ideal, gaining the respect of the forces of the Telmarch as he helped lead them in battle, and quickly rose to being a well-respected knight all throughout the Oathlands. Briefly, he even held the sword of the Telmarch in his stewardship, until Arn's own son came of age to wield it as the Champion of House Telmar and the Sword of the Telmarch. Lord Everard served loyally and honorably in the wars against the Shavs for many years, before recently coming to Arx at Prince Radley Valardin's suggestion and due to his influence was appointed the Lord Commander of the Iron Guard by King Alaric Grayson IV. As Lord Commander of the Iron Guard, he has a reputation for honesty and integrity that stands in marked contrast to the sometimes corrupt reputation of the guardsmen that might abuse their rank and privileges over the lowest in Arx. While the Iron Guard is by no means perfect, Lord Everard has resolutely sought to combat their excesses and make them a force for law and order.
  s and make them a force for law and order.)
• Lucene gilden  + (As the youngest child she had far more fre …
  As the youngest child she had far more freedoms than some of her older siblings might have had. It gave her the chance to pick up and put down more things than many get to try in a lifetime, before she settled on the fact that she wanted to pick up a sword and become a warrior like her father. Long swords, those seemed to be the ones that she favored over anything else, although she's proficient enough with shorter and lighter swords as well. Her dedication to her father was so strong that she had a tough time when he passed away, finding her solace at the bottom of a bottle instead of in the arms of her family. She didn't let that get her down forever, though, and eventually crawling back out enough to become functional. Not perfect, no, a large part of her heart was gone, but she was on the hunt for a new purpose. To that end she went to Arx to find a new purpose in serving the family there.
  a new purpose in serving the family there.)
• Lucene Gilden  + (As the youngest child she had far more fre …
  As the youngest child she had far more freedoms than some of her older siblings might have had. It gave her the chance to pick up and put down more things than many get to try in a lifetime, before she settled on the fact that she wanted to pick up a sword and become a warrior like her father. Long swords, those seemed to be the ones that she favored over anything else, although she's proficient enough with shorter and lighter swords as well. Her dedication to her father was so strong that she had a tough time when he passed away, finding her solace at the bottom of a bottle instead of in the arms of her family. She didn't let that get her down forever, though, and eventually crawling back out enough to become functional. Not perfect, no, a large part of her heart was gone, but she was on the hunt for a new purpose. To that end she went to Arx to find a new purpose in serving the family there.
  a new purpose in serving the family there.)
• Olivia Ashford  + (As the youngest of Duke Barton's legitimat …
  As the youngest of Duke Barton's legitimate children, Olivia enjoys something of a privileged status, not expected to lead she's been coddled more than Ashford's usually are. One would expect such treatment to have turned her into a maniacal brat, but somehow it has not. Certainly she is mischievous, and she sneaks around more than one might expect of a young woman with such an innocent face, blending into the shadows of furniture as a child, and moving through the shifting shadows of trees as an adult. She's no warrior, stalking the trail of tribal shavs, but rather she's avoiding the animals that plague the forests of her home. She's not scared of them, they are a necessary evil if she's to find the perfect blossom for a bouquet, or that one specific plant she's promised to find for the apothecarist. But she will walk miles out of her way to avoid a family of geese, or avoid an entire part of the forest during mating season. Her love of nature stops at the greenery, for certain. Prickly thorns and poisonous saps are all part of the adventure, but cuddly rabbits are simply loathsome and more than once she's released her cousins' pets into the wild where they'll be free - and no longer underfoot. The plight of Alaric IV has drawn Olivia to Arx, his condition sounding quite unlike anything she's ever seen before - and she's seen plenty, from poisonous roots contaminating a march's water supply to stinging beetles blinding infants in a tribe of Ravashari. Surely there is a cause and a cure to be found, and Olivia means to have her name mentioned upon this discovery, and many more.
  tioned upon this discovery, and many more.)
• Kaldur Crovane  + (As the youngest of the Selikis, growing up …
  As the youngest of the Selikis, growing up he was something of a Mama's Boy, always running to his mother and grandmother whenever he was afraid. But held rapt by his mother's stories of adventure and bravery, and wanting to please his father, he struggled to face his fears, and by the time he was twelve years old, had taken his first cliff dive, a frequently enjoyed sport of the region. The act in itself was a release; he realized to confront a fear was to conquer it. When his mother died, he was devastated, grief spurring him to challenge himself, sometimes recklessly, facing the ultimate fear of mortality. He dove into his martial studies, becoming one of his father's knights, fighting in battles ashore and at sea, eventually setting his sights on a project of vision and extraordinary scope, in good faith and aware of the risks, but unafraid: The Great Road. The Great Road has brought the best and worst out of the people of Arvum, arvani and shav'arvani alike, Kaldur included. He was terribly disheartened by the strife the Road stirred and ignited, buoyed then by family and friends to remember why he began the work in the first place. He joined the Knights of Solace to walk and protect the Compact's roads. With friends and allies, he led a pilgrimage to walk the entire length of the Great Road, something he thought he would not be possible in his lifetime. Upon return, one of the original inspirations for the Great Road - overland transit to far flung Stormwall in the wake of its destruction in war - became a bond by vows of marriage, Kaldur joining House Crovane as Duke-consort to Duchess Fianna Crovane. The marriage put to rest the remnants of strained relations between Stormwall and Old Oak.
  d relations between Stormwall and Old Oak.)
• Kaldur Seliki  + (As the youngest of the Selikis, growing up …
  As the youngest of the Selikis, growing up he was something of a Mama's Boy, always running to his mother and grandmother whenever he was afraid. But held rapt by his mother's stories of adventure and bravery, and wanting to please his father, he struggled to face his fears, and by the time he was twelve years old, had taken his first cliff dive, a frequently enjoyed sport of the region. The act in itself was a release; he realized to confront a fear was to conquer it, and so he took to learning the martial disciplines with gusto, and started to find the anticipation of danger to be somewhat thrilling. When his mother died, he was devastated, and it pushed him further into the notion of challenging his fear, of which his true remaining one is ultimately death. Now, he serves competently as one of his father's knights, but still takes the time to challenge himself with new experiences and enjoying that thrill that certain types of danger can bring.
  ll that certain types of danger can bring.)
• Baelos Redrain  + (As the youngest of three sons of a non-rul …
  As the youngest of three sons of a non-ruling branch of the Redrain, Baelos had a childhood unburdened by duties or significant expectations. Instead, his devout focus on swordplay, soldiering, adventure, brawling, taverns, and trouble made him something of a minor celebrity among Farhaven's soldiering classes, if not a favorite of his father. Blood on his blade, ale on his lips, and a pretty girl by his side - from all appearances, Baelos was more than satisfied with this life. This all changed after both of his brothers left Farhaven, and both found themselves dead. Now, with his father Vigsi grief-stricken and near death, Baelos for the first time is laden with duty - duty to represent his family in Arx, to serve the Prince of Farhaven at court, and to make his mark in the South.
  court, and to make his mark in the South.)
• Aeryn Laurent  + (As the youngest sister of Cristoph, Jael, …
  As the youngest sister of Cristoph, Jael, and Cassandra she was free of much responsibility and was free focus on whatever it was at the moment that captured her fascination. For a while she thought she might be a singer or something like a bard. The next, a lawyer. The next focus was animal husbandry and then maybe even medicine. While she shied away form the martial aspects of life, she excelled at whatever she put her mind to. More recently, her father has died and Cristoph has taken the reigns over Artshall and while her heart broke for her father she couldn't be prouder of her older siblings. Now, having come of age she's been loosed upon Arx to find her path and her footing.
  upon Arx to find her path and her footing.)
• Asha Espina  + (Asha grew up as the daughter to a favored …
  Asha grew up as the daughter to a favored Champion in Lenosia, but never the less a commoner. Through the relative fame of her mother, she grew up comfortable and although at first her mother intended for her to learn another craft, when she got into her teenage years there was no question Asha sought to follow in the footsteps of her mother. The scars she wears today are a mark of her early days in the guild back home, but with time she too earned herself a reputation. Taking up the way of the spear, the serpent's dance as she calls it she lingered in Lenosia for sometime, but it proved difficult to manage in the shadow of her mother, the famed Sara the Serpent. She has travelled across all of Arvum since then, mainly seeking cities as that is where a Champion will find work. And eventually Arx, for where are there more nobles in petty disputes than in the capital?
  les in petty disputes than in the capital?)
• Ashlyn Velenosa  + (Ashlyn Velenosa was born Princess to the f …
  Ashlyn Velenosa was born Princess to the family of the Lyceum. A bit of a hot-tempered child she was sent off to boarding schools and recently a propierty school. She grew up amongst the nobles, used to getting what she wanted but through schooling learned that making a fuss was not the way to get those things. If anything the schools taught her how to be proper and how to walk amongst the peers as an adult. She's just recently returned to be set out into the world as a Princess ready to be beholden to the proper man.
  ss ready to be beholden to the proper man.)
• Ashlyn Velenosa/Reflection  + (Ashlyn was born to Camilla Velenosa and ra …
  Ashlyn was born to Camilla Velenosa and raised by servants and maids, never truly knowing her father and his lack or presence. Naturally she was spoiled as a child with a bit of a temper, thinking she could get whatever she wanted. She was sent off to boarding schools to learn that this behavior was not okay. Her brother Jarek is a wandering priest who well left the city and many heartbroken in his wake. Ashlyn has just recently returned from a propriety school educated and well mannered to maneuver her way through society. Like a ghost forgotten she seeks new connections and to learn more about the others and the city.
  learn more about the others and the city.)