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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

• Dimitri Velenosa  + (Born a minor Lord of House Pravus, Dimitri …
  Born a minor Lord of House Pravus, Dimitri's life was never pre-destined to be anything but what he wanted to be. Far removed from any chance of ruling his House, the young Lord was afforded the opportunity to grow and prosper as he saw fit. Of course, this didn't stop various members of his family from trying to guide him in one direction or another, but ultimately, he would find his own path in life. And what a life it was. At a young age, it was easy to see that Dimitri would never be skilled in any form of the martial arts. Sure, he received some training in how to use a blade, but he's as equally likely to hit a friend as he is a foe. Coupled with his just plain .. disdain for learning such things, he found himself avoiding any such teachings. Instead, his love seemed to come from socializing. From spending time with people from all walks of life. From brash to kind to stoic, the young lord never seemed to have an issue with trying to make a new friend. But one can not spend all their time merely lounging around, no matter how much they may wish to do so and with Dimitri's apparent natural skill at talking with others, he found himself inadvertantly settling disputes amongst his friends. Playing the role of mediator and calming tempers was something that came naturally, it would seem, and as the years progressed, so did this ability. It wasn't long until he found himself being called upon by others to aid in matters of diplomacy and with his love of talking and socializing, it seemed as if he had found a calling, at least one that he could stand to do. It was during an event in Lenosia that his life really took a twist, in so much as he stumbled upon a Velenosian Princess, Cerys, who drew his eye almost immediately. Although the pair couldn't have been more different, where she was a skilled warrior and he was a minor diplomat, an easy friendship was struck. With House Pravus preparing for elevation to the status of Great House, it was the perfect opportunity to see one of their Lords married into House Velenosia, to try and strengthen a bond that would no doubt be strained as vassal became an equal. A whirlwind courtship was arranged and blessed and afterwards, the pair were married. Now, with the honeymoon phase having come to an end, the pair have made the choice to start their new life together in Arx.
  e to start their new life together in Arx.)
• Khari Ru'Taul  + (Born a thrall under house Redreef, the sal …
  Born a thrall under house Redreef, the salt twin of Mikani, Khari was given to one of the distant nobles of the house after her parents were killed. She worked all manner of jobs in the house, learning many good lessons for one who works in service to others. Most importantly she learned to keep quiet and not give anyone anything they could use against her. At the age of 21 she was smuggled out Redreef Shores and taken to the Saffron Chain. Eventually she found her way to Ischia, and found employment in the house of the Marquis, where she has served loyally since. Now she has come to Arx to help the family get everything in order.
  o help the family get everything in order.)
• Viveka Llyr  + (Born a thrall, she comes from a thrall fam …
  Born a thrall, she comes from a thrall family, who years and years ago was a minor noble house that had fallen and was taken and claimed by Thrax. The women of the Wojciech family made a long line of wise women, local healers, and keepers of hearth wisdom; knowledge and teachings that were passed down from mother to daughter, and so forth. A practice that was shared among the women folk. While Viveka did not go to any fancy academies, her grandmother's and mother's teachings, and her history and experience as a healer has served her well, and she is well renowned from the Isles she is from for being an exceptionally talented healer. She has always been a devoted follower of Lagoma, who like her foremothers before her, holds a very special place in her heart. Her husband Stevik was a ship captain for one of the various ships within the Thrax armada, and her oldest son, Marinus, was his First mate, and her other son, Rolf, served on the same ship as his brother and father. All of them died during the battle against the Gyre, leaving Viveka bereft from the loss of her husband, and her children. The grief of it still clings tightly to the woman. With no family left, and deeply grieving from her loss, she has left Maelstrom, needing to not be near that which is familiar. As such, she's moved to Arx, to throw herself into healing and assisting others, perhaps as a way to help her deal with her own grief; needing to keep herself busy. She seeks to assist Thrax, as well as Arx in the coming days, to help heal and bolster those in need. To kindle a new hearth, and share her knowledge that she learn from her foremothers, with other like minded people. And just maybe, to start again.
  ed people. And just maybe, to start again.)
• Lore Artiglio  + (Born abroad to Carabelle Artiglio, sister …
  Born abroad to Carabelle Artiglio, sister to Giovanni and Blacktongue, Lore didn't reach Arx until she was in her fifth year. Her mother brought her home to the family without a mention as to why, refusing to speak on the matter, ever. It lead Lore to being raised in the Lyceum ward, growing up alongside her cousins, and indeed, being sad when Talen was sent to 'the Big House' to live after Giovanni's death. Still, she found herself with plenty of playmates, growing from childhood to adulthood, travelling here and there with Velenosan merchant ships. She discovered a penchant for drawing, and a love of cartography, learning quickly to chart the lands and seas where she traveled. Lore even gained a bit of a reputation for knowing the best people to deal with, how to get where they wanted to go (quickest routes don't always mean safest, though!). A few years back, she sent a messenger to her family saying that she'd found a ship bound for Eurus and that she planned to sail with them, come Abyss or high water! And then nothing, for years. Not until a ship sailed into port bearing a young woman claiming to be Lore Artiglio!
  young woman claiming to be Lore Artiglio!)
• Elfriede Waters  + (Born across a salty shore of Thraxian doma …
  Born across a salty shore of Thraxian domain, for the longest of whiles; for the lengthiest passings of time as child, Elfriede only knew salt. And blood. She was peddled around as child like useful product when her known-parents were slaughtered beneath a raid after having survived many from a ship of black and crimson colors on a serpentine stretch for sigil. Too young to serve as an adult, yet too old to be flung into the sea as burden, she was raised in a kitchenette jury rigged together beneath the quarterdeck of a Thraxian boat. Made to wash, clean and rinse the dirt of sailors since she has known memory, with callouses to speak of it, when time begun to develop her the few remaining women in the ever-dwindling kitchen of the declining pirate coordination smuggled her back inland; back into the several holdfasts that stand at the feet of the Maelstrom. Life in the Mourning Islands was hard. She no longer cleaned for anything other than herself, but food; but production and want for a thrall of so-few skills then made her a target - it made her a victim - and victimization became her life in such teen years while living in a society where the hope of end's meet came at the expense and compromise of her values. What few she had left. Inevitably, violence returned to her life. And it did so in storm- she worked the streets as thief and eyes alike; she shared her perceptiveness with those that'd dare purchase it. Experience taught her the networked ecosystem of 'knowing' - and through this knowing she thrived as young as she was. In this life of humble burglary, she finally came upon a man; an old, hardy Knight born in the Oathlands. Happenings led them to strike an odd friendship, for none would dare claim they fit. He called her squire. They travelled long, and left the lands of Thrax together to reach the capital under the care of this knightly old thing. Age took him from her not too short after arrival beneath the wary trip, and Elfriede now finds herself roaming the streets in search of purpose, like one too many.
  s in search of purpose, like one too many.)
• Brannen Harthall  + (Born along with his twin, Bree, Brannen Ha …
  Born along with his twin, Bree, Brannen Harthall had his life set out since he was born. He never questioned the life put out for him. Never for a moment. Early in his years it was decided when Brannen was of age he would lead the forces of Harthall. He would train in the martial arts and become a respected commander. And he sure did. Brannen is very much an Oathlander. Conservative, stern, driven, bound by honor, and a tad humorless. Ever since he was a boy Brannen understood the importance of his duty and what he would need to take on over the years. While Bree took to fighting, Brannen took to command. He was still an excellent warrior, but it did not take long for him to earn the respect of the Harthall soldiers. Bree often would complain to him how she wanted to be out on the road, serving Gild, being a Knight of Solace. Brannen kept them grounded. To duty. But one day, tragedy struck. The heir to their house was killed in a horse race while both Bree and Brannen were present. Brannen informed the Harthalls that Odhran mismanaged his saddle and as a result died of it. Brannen Harthall in a moment of misery over his fallen cousin left with Bree Harthall. The twins became Godsworn and dedicated themselves to the Knights of Solace. Brannen has arranged himself in the Knights of Solace, aiming to be a martial force as well as a keen commander of the Knights.
  s well as a keen commander of the Knights.)
• Egil Frost  + (Born amidst the beautific rose-gold arches …
  Born amidst the beautific rose-gold arches and stone masonry of Stonedeep, Egil was orphaned, or, perhaps, abandoned -- he was never really sure -- to a life of filth, squalor, and blood. Wading clear of it didn't come easy, especially as an orphan, and were it not for the conjunction of his scrappy cunning, wanton savagery, and the favoring of fortune, he may well have never acceded to adulthood. It was in his teens that he first found his calling, earning coin by acting as servant to mercenaries, bands of men dedicated to wiping out troublesome villages of Shav'Arvani. The heat of combat soon propelled him from a mere servant to a fighter in his own right, and he earned his keep in adulthood by hunting and claiming bounties. While tracking a particularly problematic group of blood-drinking Shav'Arvani, he encountered Duchess Nadia Nightgold. After a dispute with the Duchess regarding his rights to claim the bounty he'd been hunting, they came to terms, and he aided her in tracking down the remnants of the tribe. Offering him handsome pay, she invited him to travel to Arx and enter her service.
  im to travel to Arx and enter her service.)
• Ferris Ulbran  + (Born an Ulbran on the streets of the Lower …
  Born an Ulbran on the streets of the Lowers, Ferris soon proved that he was never going to be a pickpocket or a sneak thief, and temperamentally he just wasn't suited to the criminal life - so his mother found him an apprenticeship with a smith, and he found himself enjoying it. After mostly churning out nails for the dockyards for a few years, he decided to take to the road and learn more; nails became horseshoes, arrow heads and tools, and Ferris wandered the breadth of Arvum as a travelling smith. After the first few crude bits of plate armour left his anvil he realised that that was what he most enjoyed making, and sought further training; after spending time with the armies of various Highlords, and more importantly with their smiths, he found himself supplying the soldiers retaking Bastion. In the wake of that conflict - and with a good purse of money in his favour - he's returned to Arx to rejoin the family and set up shop as a professional armoursmith. After all, everyone knows how much money you can make in Arx if you're good enough, and Ferris is entirely confident that he's good enough.
  entirely confident that he's good enough.)
• Skriggs Commoner  + (Born and bred on the docks of Arx, Skriggs …
  Born and bred on the docks of Arx, Skriggs often had to contend with the other children for consideration in games around the alley or, if the older children were on the prowl, quick enough to avoid their whallopings. This life suited a young Skriggs, who was often left to his own devices with his mother off tending to the sick in the hospitals and his father sailing to sea on whatever merchant ship would take him. The young commoner grew to love his home city for the many wonders it held just outside of his reach, like the many prim and proper towers and manses the nobles lived in. The only escape Skriggs found from his much smaller existence in the few blocks he called home was in his time in the Shrines of the Faithful. The grandeur of the sites put the boy into an awe each visit and fostered a muted respect for the priestly order in the boy. While any were free to join their numbers and this meant the odd nobility within the ranks, the Godsworn were a faith that sheltered and taught all who came to them. While the choirs and sermons brought breaks from a chaotic childhood of no supervision, Skriggs found that as he grew into a young man that their welcoming arms may not just hold peace for him but also a warm meal and the only offer of a roof over his head. With a particularly serious illness having spread through his neighborhood, Skriggs finally lost his mother. When his father learned the news on his return to port, Skriggs was not surprised to find he had left with another merchant the next day, and even less surprised to have never seen him again. Taken in by the Faithful, Skriggs took to learning his numbers and his letters, rounding out common education from the streets with much more theological ideals. Since taking his oath and swearing his fealty to the Pantheon over any House or family, Brother Skriggs has taken to brewmastery and in the pursuit of a good mead has become something of a adept bee-keeper amongst the Godsworn of Arx.
  pt bee-keeper amongst the Godsworn of Arx.)
• Salena Dumund  + (Born and raised a Northern girl, Salena ha …
  Born and raised a Northern girl, Salena has made a reputation for herself in the travels from her homelands and into Arx's bustling streets as being a solitary warrior and beast trainer. With knightly arms and the company of a Shaman of her home, she spent months spreading good fortune along the countryside and in various villages on her way to the capitol. While her manners were always found to be lacking, the young knight has made a name for herself as being dedicated and efficient in her promises, often attempting to solve conflict without bloodshed, even if it meant beating someone with a sheathed sword. During her short time in the confines of Arx, Salena has kept to her former company of wild animals and a lone Shaman she has guarded in their travels from the North, keen to hitch her own name and fortune to the religious fanatic's sharp wit and captivating vision quest.
  's sharp wit and captivating vision quest.)
• Kalivan Greene  + (Born and raised in Arx, Kalivan never had …
  Born and raised in Arx, Kalivan never had the opportunity to meet his parents, his mother taking ill shortly after his birth, and the identity of his father unknown. Thankfully, he had his maternal grandfather Jerem Greene to take him in. For as long as anyone's bothered to remember, the Greene family have been apothecaries, physicians and healers sworn to House Thrax, respected for their quiet professionalism and discretion. Little Kalivan was more than happy to follow in the family trade, and the first sixteen years of his life was spent as his grandfather's apprentice, learning much under his excellent tutelage. Just shortly after his seventeenth birthday, though, the home/laboratory they shared was destroyed in a fire none could determine the cause of, but thankfully nobody was harmed in the blaze. Already in advanced years by the time he'd adopted Kalivan, he took the loss of his laboratory as an opportunity to retire to more gentler climes in the south. Kalivan, for his part, took this as his opportunity to see the world and learn, and set off to the north to try and glean something of their shamanic traditions. It's unclear whether or not that really panned out for him, but he did greatly expand his knowledge of herbs and plants while among the dark primordial forests. After about three years and a modest peasant fortune spent on his voyage, he returned home to Arx.
  nt on his voyage, he returned home to Arx.)
• Kamaria Mairelli  + (Born and raised in Brassfall to a successf …
  Born and raised in Brassfall to a successful mercantile family, she grew up learning the family trade. As a single child, it was devastation when at the age of 13 her parents were washed away in an accident that would have left her a penniless orphan til she came of age. That is, if she hadn't been something of a smooth-talking economically minded prodigy. Friends in high places petitioned for her emancipation and the inheritance of her family's business. It was a bit of a risk on their behalf, but it paid many dividends in the long run. Eventually, by the time she was out of her teens, she was even more successful than her family before her. By the time she was twenty-three she had chosen a husband that was equally as keen with his business sense and combined forces to produce one of the more successful mercantile companies the Lyceum has seen to date: the Mairelli Mercantile Company. By the time she was thirty, her husband was dead after he was a little overcome with greed and overreached a deal. He was barely recognizable in the state he was found in. Again alone, she carried on. Most recently, she's become good business partners with the new Marquessa-Consort, Lycoris Hawkmour. After several successful business transactions the two became penpals until Lycoris became convinced that she needed Kamaria in Arx to help her manage her House's affairs.
  rx to help her manage her House's affairs.)
• Symanthe Morgan  + (Born and raised in Farhaven as the oldest …
  Born and raised in Farhaven as the oldest of three girls, Symanthe endured a bit of a rocky childhood with a stubborn sort of passion to systematically attach herself to a future she preferred. For her, she found joy and steadiness in the mathematical creativity of baking; people, after all, will always need bread. A visit by a contingent from House Valardin was what first brought a 20-year-old Hardwicke Morgan into her life, and she swiftly identified the gruff, awkward young man as another aspect of her preferred future. She was the one to start sending letters down to Sanctum after he returned (addressed quite seriously with openings like "Dear cutie butt" and "Dear serious face") and, since his duty belonged to Sanctum and hers belonged to wherever she chose to put it, she was the one to pick up her life and relocate after deciding she was going to keep him. That he managed to land such a beautiful, vibrant sort of bride was the source of much consternation to his colleagues. Their contrasting personalities proved to be a good complementary balance for both of them. They had their first child when Hardwicke was 22 and Symanthe 20, and they had another six before she declared quite firmly that she was done now that she had a brood large enough to harass her unsociable husband for the rest of his life. Their marriage has not been without strife, but it's several decades later with all their children (mostly) grown and they haven't quit yet.
  (mostly) grown and they haven't quit yet.)
• Amari Keaton  + (Born and raised in Oakhaven, Amari is the …
  Born and raised in Oakhaven, Amari is the only daughter of Lady Sallah and Lord Morden Keaton, one of the preeminent legal minds of the Oathlands. She was a sharp and exceptionally smart girl, and well suited, in Morden's opinion, to follow in his footsteps. He was certain that where her brothers had already failed him, she wouldn't. She was his last, best hope of another lawyer of his caliber in the family and she was lavished with attention and flattered accordingly. Unfortunately, with the attention came the smothering weight of his expectations and the strictness of his tutelage. They took their toll. While a warm and affable girl by nature, her stress would bubble over and pour out as intensely angry and often tearful outbursts. Needless to say, she had a somewhat lonely childhood as a result. Most of her days, in fact, were spent shut away in the library studying. There her only relief from the tedium and loneliness was found in vivid daydreams of the many elaborate and wonderful futures she would someday enjoy. Then a day before her seventeenth birthday she simply vanished without a word. Despite the Huntsmen searching near and far, and for months afterwards, not a trace of her was found. So when she unexpectedly returned two years later, it wasn't strictly to fanfare. After the initial relief, dismay and suspicion set in. Where she had been, and who she had been with she wouldn't divulge. Infuriated by her stubborn refusal to reveal in detail what had happened, and outraged by what little she did admit, her father decided and she strongly agreed, that she should join her cousins in Arx. She's resided in the city ever since. With exposure to new people and new ideas, her interests have grown far beyond the practice of law alone to include an eclectic variety of pursuits. Her once mercurial manner and stormy moods too, have improved with maturity and the broadening of her horizons. She's taken on various roles of importance and responsibility, and pursued a knighthood but the lingering sense of mystery about her still hasn't dimished. What is clear, is that the tempestuous girl who disappeared, returned a lady keen to see her dreams come true, by wit, charm or pointy end of the sword.
  by wit, charm or pointy end of the sword.)
• Amari Redire  + (Born and raised in Oakhaven, Amari is the …
  Born and raised in Oakhaven, Amari is the only daughter of Lady Sallah and Lord Morden Keaton, one of the preeminent legal minds of the Oathlands. She was a sharp and exceptionally smart girl, and well suited, in Morden's opinion, to follow in his footsteps. He was certain that where her brothers had already failed him, she wouldn't. She was his last, best hope of another lawyer of his caliber in the family and she was lavished with attention and flattered accordingly. Unfortunately, with the attention came the smothering weight of his expectations and the strictness of his tutelage. They took their toll. While a warm and affable girl by nature, her stress would bubble over and pour out as intensely angry and often tearful outbursts. Needless to say, she had a somewhat lonely childhood as a result. Most of her days, in fact, were spent shut away in the library studying. There her only relief from the tedium and loneliness was found in vivid daydreams of the many elaborate and wonderful futures she would someday enjoy. Then a day before her seventeenth birthday she simply vanished without a word. Despite the Huntsmen searching near and far, and for months afterwards, not a trace of her was found. So when she unexpectedly returned two years later, it wasn't strictly to fanfare. After the initial relief, dismay and suspicion set in. Where she had been, and who she had been with she wouldn't divulge. Infuriated by her stubborn refusal to reveal in detail what had happened, and outraged by what little she did admit, her father decided and she strongly agreed, that she should join her cousins in Arx. She's resided in the city ever since. With exposure to new people and new ideas, her interests have grown far beyond the practice of law alone to include an eclectic variety of pursuits. Her once mercurial manner and stormy moods too, have improved with maturity and the broadening of her horizons. She's taken on various roles of importance and responsibility, and pursued a knighthood but the lingering sense of mystery about her still hasn't dimished. What is clear, is that the tempestuous girl who disappeared, returned a lady keen to see her dreams come true, by wit, charm or pointy end of the sword.
  by wit, charm or pointy end of the sword.)
• Caera Tortorici  + (Born and raised in a small Shav'arvani tow …
  Born and raised in a small Shav'arvani town controlled by the Totorcini, Caera was raised by her father who was a farmer of an orchard of trees. At a young age, she went to live with her aunt who taught her herbalist ways and the way of poisons, should the family ever be threatened. As she grew older, she went to apprentice with a local apothicary, leaning to make items to heal as well. As he retired, she took up moving to the city, honing her skills with a group of thieves. They showed her the ropes in trade for her helping with healing or...poison, as need would have it. Now she has spent the last year learning how to attend to ladies of stature and is applying to attend to Celeste
  ature and is applying to attend to Celeste)
• Alfio Donatti  + (Born and raised in the city of Southport, …
  Born and raised in the city of Southport, Alfio was the middle child of three siblings. His mother passed away after giving birth to his youngest brother, and his father was pretty much absent --spending most of what he earned on drinks. Practically an orphan, just like his siblings, he did whatever he could to survive.
  ings, he did whatever he could to survive.)
• Shiara Aldmeris  + (Born and raised in the distant north, some …
  Born and raised in the distant north, somewhere in that blasted desert of ice, Shiara grew up. Her life wasn't an easy one compared to her southern counterparts but the Abandoned House, Aldmeris, was one of the principal ones in it's region. Which afforded her luxury and comfort of a sorts, their holding a large one that was a very well known hub of business among the Abandoned. Like most of her family the history of the Compact and their culture were part of her studies, one must always know the enemy as they say. This was when she first began to fall in love Arx and the idea of someday traveling there grew on her until it became a nagging urge. Many of which she acted on compulsively in the past, this was no different. Without seeking permission from her father and mother she stole away from the city under the guise of a performer, conveniently timed with a troupe coming to Aldmer Castle in hopes of winning the favor of such illustrious and well connected people. Thankfully, she wasn't sold out by her companions who quickly realized how much danger they were in for helping her escape, as it were. After traveling with them for several months the scion of Aldmeris started southward. The journey was grueling and she doesn't talk about the things she had to do to get where she is today but it wasn't very long after her arrival to the city of Arx that her family contacted her and informed her of their displeasure but because she is beloved and spoiled, she was named their official Ambassador and told to help make new alliances, trade and military pacts with any of the Southern Houses of the Compact. Which she continues to work towards, quite successfully, to this day. Even though this ultimately means that she is trying to bring her family into the fold of the Compact during a time in which it is spoken against so adamantly.
  n which it is spoken against so adamantly.)
• Shiara Stahlben  + (Born and raised in the distant north, some …
  Born and raised in the distant north, somewhere in that blasted desert of ice, Shiara grew up. Her life wasn't an easy one compared to her southern counterparts but the Abandoned House, Aldmeris, was one of the principal ones in it's region. Which afforded her luxury and comfort of a sorts, their holding a large one that was a very well known hub of business among the Abandoned. Like most of her family the history of the Compact and their culture were part of her studies, one must always know the enemy as they say. This was when she first began to fall in love Arx and the idea of someday traveling there grew on her until it became a nagging urge. Many of which she acted on compulsively in the past, this was no different. Without seeking permission from her father and mother she stole away from the city under the guise of a performer, conveniently timed with a troupe coming to Aldmer Castle in hopes of winning the favor of such illustrious and well connected people. Thankfully, she wasn't sold out by her companions who quickly realized how much danger they were in for helping her escape, as it were. After traveling with them for several months the scion of Aldmeris started southward. The journey was grueling and she doesn't talk about the things she had to do to get where she is today but it wasn't very long after her arrival to the city of Arx that her family contacted her and informed her of their displeasure but because she is beloved and spoiled, she was named their official Ambassador and told to help make new alliances, trade and military pacts with any of the Southern Houses of the Compact. Which she continues to work towards, quite successfully, to this day. Even though this ultimately means that she is trying to bring her family into the fold of the Compact during a time in which it is spoken against so adamantly.
  n which it is spoken against so adamantly.)
• Rohyn Oak  + (Born and raised on the fringes of civilize …
  Born and raised on the fringes of civilized lands, Rohyn has run wild through the woods since as long as she can recall. A doting father and a loving mother raised their only child with bow in hand and wind at her back. Rohyn's parents gifted her with a strong sense of direction, an earthy, deep-rooted sense of right and wrong, and the pride and confidence to fend for herself - no matter the circumstance. This last proved invaluable, as in time Rohyn's father suffered a hunting injury and died shortly after. Her mother fell into a languid depression afterward, and when she too passed away, Rohyn took her trusty bow and set off to find a new home far away from the lone cabin and all of its memories where she had lived all her life.
  memories where she had lived all her life.)
• Andreas Donatti  + (Born and raised on the streets of Southpor …
  Born and raised on the streets of Southport, Andreas was the eldest of three siblings. His mother passed away with the birth of his youngest brother Alexio, leaving his father to raise him and his siblings. Work on the docks of Southport hardly paid well, and the silver that it did pay didn't go far when the first thing on his father's priority list was booze, and not his children. Andreas and his siblings pretty much raised themselves, for better or worse. With no authority figure at home, it is little surprise that the three children ended up on the streets. Andreas, personally, developed a certain knack for the discreet transport and exchange of goods through witty and stealthy means. As he got more skilled in the fishy business, and what he transported became more valuable, he turned into carrying rather than simply for survival. What began as a means for sustenance, soon turned into a means of helping himself and his siblings attain the things that had evaded them for so much of their lives. The lad was around his mid-twenties when he managed to procure a ship of his own somewhere in the Lyceum. The nature of the vessel's acquisition remains a mystery to many; but, one thing is for sure, Andreas' face was nowhere to be found for some time in the south. Some say it was mere coincidence, while others insist it was not; but, not long after he left, rumors of a merchant having been swindled off his boat would have been running around the many markets of the hundred cities. Of course, there was no way to prove Andreas was the culprit. Not when the affected merchant had been allegedly drinking his fill on the night of the unfortunate event, and both Alexio and his other sibling were convincingly playing as the eldest Donatti's alibi. He spent his days supposedly transporting goods and people, legally, from one place to the other as a common carrier for various parties. It is said it was through these means that he made his small fortune - although, some dare argue the small fortune might be a bit bigger than it should. Nonetheless, now that his youngest sibling has successfully established his Import & Exports business in the shining city of Arx, Andreas has been said to have docked his ship in the Capital's port. Word on the street says he has been hired by Alexio as a private carrier of goods.
  d by Alexio as a private carrier of goods.)
• Alexio Donatti  + (Born and raised on the streets of Southpor …
  Born and raised on the streets of Southport, Alexio was the youngest of three siblings. His mother passed with his birth, leaving his father to raise him and his siblings. Work on the docks of Southport hardly paid well, and the silver that it did pay didn't go far when the first thing on his father's priority list was booze, and not his children. Alexio and his siblings pretty much raised themselves, for better or worse. With no authority figure at home, it is little surprise that the three children ended up on the streets. Alexio himself developed a certain knack for the acquisition of things he did not have through particularly sticky fingers. As he got more skilled with his thievery, and what he sold became more valuable, he turned to selling the things that he nicked, rather than simply for survival. What started as a means of survival, soon turned into a means of helping himself and his siblings attain the things that had evaded them for so much of their lives. As he came of age, he learned to use the skills that he had learned on the streets in matters of more legitimate trade, and soon discovered that he had a knack as a businessman. As such, he has made the journey to Arx where he hopes to expand upon his business opportunities and see what he can make of himself.
  ities and see what he can make of himself.)
• Meranthe Grayhope  + (Born and reared in the Lower Boroughs of A …
  Born and reared in the Lower Boroughs of Arx, Meranthe was raised at the Murder of Crows, just another Grayhope brat in and around the tavern. While she adored her family and felt most comfortable when surrounded by them, she also felt a deep longing to see the world beyond the Lowers and the walls of Arx. When she reached adulthood, Meranthe struck out on her own, taking up a position with a trading caravan. In this capacity, she saw the length and breadth of the Compact, from the Mourning Isles to the mountains of the North to the Hundred Cities of the Lyceum. Having worked as a guard and a sutler, she collected her fair share of stories and scars. Eventually, with her earnings, she became a merchant in her own right and over time began leading caravans of her own. There are few who know the roads and the wilds of the Compact like she does and she is very well paid for her extensive knowledge. Skilled with people as well as money, Meranthe been blessed by Gild with success in her ventures and found her own sort of happiness. But nothing lasts forever and the call of home was too loud to ignore, particularly after learning of the fall of Bastion and the complete destruction of Artshall. She was traveling the Great Road back to Arx when news reached her of the disappearance of the Grayhope family head, leaving a void with few with the right temperament to fill. So, she steps back into Arx, older and wiser and with a determination to protect her family from the threats of the world and, hopefully, see them prosper as well.
  and, hopefully, see them prosper as well.)
• Willow Nightgold  + (Born around harvest time, Willow is the yo …
  Born around harvest time, Willow is the youngest child in her immediate family, and the only girl among them. Between three extremely protective older brothers and her tendency to distance herself from others, she has never had a great deal of friends. Or, not human friends at the least. She got tattooed with a bloody crescent moon around her coming of age, the ink well hid beneath her clothes and serving more than anything as a symbol of dedication to the spirits and her ancestors. She was taughr by an older aunt to walk a Shaman's path, though she tends to trade in paintings.
  h, though she tends to trade in paintings.)
• Haseo Ekraiven  + (Born as a thrall to his thrall father and …
  Born as a thrall to his thrall father and mother, may she rest in peace. He grew up having to work hard for his meals and anything supplied to him by those of county of Stormchaser. His father fought long and hard to buy their family name out of poverty though sadly before their father could get everything he passed on from illness. This only drove his determination even more and he bought his freedom. And thanks to his vigorous training as a sellsword he set out and proved himself to and include the Champions guild. Now he has set out to Arx to find a certain tailor he grew up with having heard rumor they were here. And wishes to set a name for himself in the Champion circuit.
  name for himself in the Champion circuit.)

• Xyander Grimhall  + (Born as a thrall, Xander grew up without k …
  Born as a thrall, Xander grew up without knowing much of his family as they were split up when he was fairly young. He started out as a Scholar's assistant in Grihem's Point to Duke Eugine Grimhall and thus, had a fairly typical traditional experience. Which means most of the time, it wasn't entirely a pleasant life. When thralldom began to crumble, however, his future became more and more uncertain until he found himself adrift in a new life. Traveling to Arx, he has embarked on his new journey and seeks proper employment with House Grimhall there as the winds of change continue to blow.
  e as the winds of change continue to blow.)
• Leana Folan  + (Born as the fourth of five children and se …
  Born as the fourth of five children and second daughter of armorsmith Carraghean Ironclad and her mother Alessa Folan who was a tailor. She never behaved as a normal girl even at a young age. She always wanted to work with her father and brothers on the anvils of their shop but her mother tried to teach her to behave as a woman should. She always kept to herself and found joy in the sound of iron smashing against a plate of metal whatever it was. She had learned the most basic forms of forging metals at the age of 13 and found herself already at 17 able to work a piece of metal perfectly within minutes into a sturdy piece of a great armor which she can forge in a mere two days provided with the right equipment. She had learned it all from her father while the education from her mother, unfortunately, didnt bear the same fruit. She never really had many friends except for her siblings and their two pet dogs. When her father died of mysterious causes while delivering a very expensive armor to a noble she started investigating his death only to be drawn into something far too dark and dangerous. She fled her home leaving behind her family and went to the capital where she was greeted by harsh reality. Now almost a year later she owns a small shop working again on metals and providing people with tools, weapons and armor as they order from her.
  weapons and armor as they order from her.)
• Orazio Saik  + (Born as the second son, with three more si …
  Born as the second son, with three more siblings to follow, no one within the Saik family anticipated that summer plague that ripped through the deep south of the Lyceum and left many and more dead. Including Orazio's parents, and the twins, who were just too young and died as infants. With his eldest brother now the distraught heir, and his surviving younger brother studying within Arx, Orazio had a decision to make. The details are murky, but shortly after his family tragedy, Orazio appeared within Southport where he quickly joined the ranks of the military. Little of this time can be said, except that he served dutifully and with all the expected valour of any Southport citizen. As Orazio matured, he insinuated himself within influential circles. With a sharp, politically adroit mind, it came as a surprise to those who knew him when Orazio swore vows to become a priest of Sentinel. While serving with an even handed, tempered zeal, the political realm remained one in which Orazio 'occasionally dabbled.' Then there came the Tor-Southport debacle. Orazio, then Seraph of Southport, was disgusted by Lucien, but remained within the city of Southport for the war's duration. Shortly afterwards, he received the call to come to Arx, though he continued to maintain ties with the Malvicis, although such ties have become increasingly strained. After a period of several years spent as the Archlector of the Sentinel, Orazio was offered the position of Legate of Concepts, shortly before the Silent War. When Dominus Fawkuhl was accused of murdering the Archduchess of the Lyceum, Esera, Orazio worked with then-Archscholar Aldwin to call a rare Convocation of the Faith. The Convocation led to the stepping down of Dominus Fawkuhl, and the appointment of Aldwin as Dominus. Since then, Orazio has made a deeply controversial choice to revise the Fourth Law of Limerance to remove the prohibitions against non-Abyssal magic, if any such thing existed, and made several high-profile condemnations against various peers, while working to keep the more conservative and more liberal factions of the Church pointed in vaguely the same direction.
  rch pointed in vaguely the same direction.)
• Fredrik Redtyde  + (Born as the third son to the Redtyde March …
  Born as the third son to the Redtyde March, Fredrik was in no place to inherit any lands or real sense of political power, but he was blessed with a rather keen sense of observation and an attention to detail. And so he was often given the House's paperwork and left to tend to their businesses from as early an age as 16, a task he relished and embraced. And in time, he even married, a minor lady from a barony under Tyde, and they had two children, Garon and Alrik. Unfortunately, all of that was lost when the Tydes rose up in rebellion, washed away with the coming of thraxian banners. The Redtydes refused to abandon their liege lords, and were among the first houses wiped away in the Thraxian march to the Tydes. Fredrik managed to escape, but his wife and children, visiting the Tyde House at the time, were killed along with the rest once it was broken open and laid waste. Fleeing into hiding, Fredrik carried with him a bastard child of Tyde, along with a commoner child, and set to work disguising himself, posing as a merchant and eventually securing his own boat. He did all he could, never abandoning the Tyde cause and raising the children as his own. But many years have passed, and Tyde is reborn! After much caution and deliberation, Fredrik has come forth to meet with Margot, who he has been in contact with for many months, hoping to taie his place under the protection of House Tyde, and give his adopted children the home they deserve. And to serve. Always to serve.
  ey deserve. And to serve. Always to serve.)
• Ember Redleaf  + (Born as the twin sister to Marina Redleaf, …
  Born as the twin sister to Marina Redleaf, Ember Redreef endured the prejudice that left her and her sister treated like property by her father. She fought long and hard against the cage she was forced into, both in the social and martial worlds, spending a great deal of time outside the Mourning Isles learning the sword before finally returning after Thrax changed the law to allow women to hold lands and titles. Despite her small stature, Ember quickly grew a reputation as a frightening woman to spar against, having gravely wounded men who underestimated her without even a hint of remorse. Eventually, she and her sister found themselves as sailors on a ship, where they got their taste for adventure, working as an unparalleled team.
  dventure, working as an unparalleled team.)
• Cyril Melaeris  + (Born as the youngest of three brothers, Cy …
  Born as the youngest of three brothers, Cyril grew up in the seat of House Melaeris. He was not content to stay there, having a deep love for the sea and sailing. Many of his early teenage years were spent learning the ins and outs of various types of ships or tagging along on raiding parties. The fighting itself was never a draw but the journey was. That changed, when he reached his early twenties. An accident during a storm left Cyril crippled, with family worried that the Lord might die. While confined to bed, Cyril's mother fretted and fussed over him--she wasn't a Thrax. She didn't buy Tears in our Wake not at Our Wake. So each day she would come to him and leave books, tell him of courtly gossip, and of politics. She'd been a lawyer, a Lycene woman and a Mirrormask. As a child, she'd taught him to question everything--to think before acting. And though at first he resisted, seeing the law and economics as woman's work, she taught Cyril to adore the social arena. His father and brothers quietly disapproved. More traditionalist Thrax openly gossiped. Cyril ignored them, carrying on to become both a lawyer and later a member of various trading organizations. His love for the ocean never quite abated but the Lord has stead-fastly refused to board a ship except in cases of dire need. It was a bit of a shock in fact, when he arrived to Arx in order to support his niece.
  ived to Arx in order to support his niece.)
• Etienne Telmar  + (Born as third child to a branch family of …
  Born as third child to a branch family of the honorable and historic Oathlands House of Telmar, Lord Etienne Telmar was very well aware that no matter how clever or competent he was (and from an early age, he possessed a great measure of both these qualities), his most likely outcome would be as trusted adviser or Minister for his more prestigious relatives. It was not enough, and so the young Telmar convinced his parents to support his induction into the Faith at the quite young age of eighteen. There, he discovered that his intelligence and familiarity with the movement of money gave him a gift for uncovering when the Faith's funds had been embezzled, stolen, or otherwise misappropriated. After a few years of instruction and training, he found himself often assigned to suspicious parishes across the Valardin lands, where he would plot out the flow of funds and discover any misuse of them. In the process, this ended up restoring a significant amount of charitable funds to their rightful recipients. This made Etienne quite popular in some quarters (particularly those priests who valued the charitable works of the Faith, and the recipients thereof), which he parlayed into increasing roles of responsibility. But not a Seraph's position, as that would have chained him to a single parish, rather than allowing him to expand his knowledge of how the Faith was run. At least, until the Seraph of the Telmarch was discovered to be in conspiracy with the White Stewards, a secret cult which had a major part in starting the Silent War. This, and the accusations of collusion with the traitor Telmar in command of Arx's Iron Guard, could have drowned Etienne's career in suspicion and shared guilt. Instead, the priest thrived through his clear outrage and immediate request to help the Faith purge itself of other Steward collaborators. In the aftermath, he was appointed Seraph of the Telmarch, and it was thought that he would serve in that post for years before seeking another promotion. However, after the resignation of Archlector Caras, Etienne quietly called in a number of political markers in the Faith to make it clear that not only was he interested in the post of Archlector of Gild, but that he was clearly the best candidate for the job. No one is quite sure if this is simply an ambitious priest taking advantage of a shift in leadership of the Faith, or if he has a personal goal which requires him being in the heart of the Faith.
  uires him being in the heart of the Faith.)
• Nedios Darkstorm  + (Born at a young age, Nedios grew up on the streets. He's smaller than others so his way of survival was trading information. Be it cheating at games, blackmailing a noble, or just to embarrass someone, Nedios likes collecting and using secrets of others.)
• Ora Stahlben  + (Born between Oddmun and Braith, Ora's life …
  Born between Oddmun and Braith, Ora's life was pretty laid out for her. She grew up as a lady of the Compact, knowing that one day she'd be married to someone that could benefit her House and her family. She embraced this sense of duty, and found joy in the arts-- things which she could never be left without, no matter which corner of the Compact she found herself in. The charming young woman never could have predicted the Silent War, however, and how it would change her life. Brand swept down, and a prodigal tribe to the North bent the knee to Sanna. She was married to the Chieftain's brother, Timur, as a way to cement the alliance, and Lady Ora Sanna became Lady Ora Stahlben. She liked Timur, for what little she knew him. He was a warrior, and spent most of the next three years fighting against Brand and his Bringers of Silence. Near the end of the war, Timur disappeared. No trace of the man could be found, not even a body. Though her husband was presumed dead, Ora decided to stay with her new family and continue to be a link between the two Houses.
  tinue to be a link between the two Houses.)
• Alexandre Wyrmguard  + (Born between his siblings Reiker and Sorre …
  Born between his siblings Reiker and Sorrel, Alexandre proved to be difficult to predict as to what kind of a man he would become. Displaying admirable intellect from a young age, medicine proved to be an early passion for the young Wyrmguard. It would not be altogether uncommon to find him in the company of Mercies, with questions aplenty about something he'd read, or about their current work. Such curiosity in the youth was encouraged, and might have led him down the path of becoming a Mercy himself, had it not been for a fateful day. Fateful, for on that day the young Alexandre witnessed an injustice. He was still young, and had not yet learned the harsher truths of the world, when he beheld such. An older boy, more man than child in physique, the reverse in spirit, bullying a younger and far smaller girl. Alexandre didn't ask what it was about, and certainly didn't ignore it. Instead, he threw himself at the boy, intent on fighting the boy off. Predictably, it didn't go well. Alexandre had yet to receive any martial training, and the boy had the advantage of size, strength and experience. Still, Alexandre never yielded once throughout his trashing, getting back up every time he was slammed down. It might have continued, and might have caused permanent harm, had someone not saved him. Dame Anna Redwood, Godsworn Knight of Solace, quickly broke up the fight, and once Alexandre had said who he was, escorted him back to his family. On the way there, she faced the usual deluge of questions the child usually kept for Mercies, about who she was, what she did, and interrogations about the Knights of Solace that his education had not yet covered. Her answers found a receptive mind, and by the time they reached his parents, he had asked her to teach him, and made the same request to his parents when they arrived, a tad worried to see their son in such a state. Dame Anna could not stay, of course, but she made a promise. She would return when she could and, if Alexandre's parents allowed it and he was still interested, would teach the young Lord and, when he was older, would take him on as a squire. Children being what they are, perhaps those involved expected Alexandre to discard this momentary distraction with time and return upon what truly interested him. Yet the opposite occured. He was still interested in medicine, devoted much of his time to it still in fact, but it was now equalled to more martial pursuits. Even as his understanding of the healing arts grew, so did his understanding of riding, the sword, and matters of war and leadership. His education was completed by Dame Anna's visits, when, as promised, she would further not only his understanding, but the virtues of the Pantheon, nurturing the compassion and kindness she saw in him, as well as the protective nature that had made her notice him. Time passed, and eventually, the time came for the second part of Dame Anna's promise to be fulfilled. Alexandre left his family and Blancbier at the age of fourteen, to serve as the Dame's squire. From her, he learned not only the duties and demands of knighthood, but also the dangers that awaited the those traveling upon the Compact's roads and paths, dangers the Knights of Solace were sworn to guard against. It was a harsher life than the one he had lived thus far, yet Alexandre only seemed to thrive, the fire within him brightening. It was during that period of time that he would visit the Cedar Vale most often, whenever Dame Anna would visit her Redwood family. These were pleasant times, and even to this day, Alexandre cherishes their memory. Yet all good things must come to an end. Eventually, Alexandre became a man, and it was time for the Lord, no longer a squire but not yet a knight either, to return home. There, he spent the next few years serving his family and Blancbier, his concern for the people seeing him involved in not only charity, but tangible efforts to improve their lot as well. Indeed, he'd often be seen joining the city patrols on their rounds within the fortress city and beyond. He also joined the Knights of Solace at the time as a disciple, though he did not see Dame Anna Redwood again, not till the Silent War begun. At once, Alexandre volunteered to join the Compact's efforts against Brand, and actively participated within the war, one among countless others fighting back against the evil that had spilled forth from the North, and threatened the Compact itself. Refugees came in drove, often sick and wounded, requiring Mercies and the Knights of Solace to care for them. It was during one such event that Alexandre and others, including Dame Anna, were tasked with sheparding such refugees to a local haven, where Mercies awaited with supplies. Unfortunately, the enemy was aware, and sent a force far outmatching the Knights of Solace and the local garrison to destroy the haven and take its supplies. Shav forces struck at dawn, and though the defenders rallied to face the attackers, they were outmatched. One after the other, Alexandre saw his brothers and sisters in arms fall, the burden to protect weighting heavier on the survivors with every death. For they knew those within would find no mercy. The enemy had come to kill, the only thing they would take with them were the supplies. Evening came, and of the local forces, few remained. The Knights had been reduced to two, Dame Anna and Alexandre. Hope was bleak, even as the enemy pulled back, giving defenders some respite. Not for long. The next clash saw Dame Anne Redwood die, slain by an archer with too much luck or skill. The last of the defenders were forced to push back into the local shrine of Lagoma, the only stone building large enough to contain the refugees and the Mercies that still stood. Alexandre felt despair then, for the first time in his life. He knew he would die. Knew there was no hope, no way out. Thoughts of flight crossed his mind, desperate plans to escape. And as the dread threatened to overwhelm him... He saw them. Families clinging to each other, parents comforting their children though they knew what awaited. And the Mercies, still taking care of their charges, even now holding true to their oaths. Moved by the light of Gild and the warmth of Laghoma, by the selfless sacrifice of those dead and those that yet lived, Alexandre strode forth, and met the enemy's full might in battle. He spoke to his fellow defenders with such conviction, that when he told them to hold the line, they did. Against the Abandonned intent on the destruction of those they were charged to protect, they held the line. Against the horrors of Silence, they held the line. One after the other, they fell. But they did so holding the line. Yet it was enough. When reinforcements came to the rescue, they found Alexandre wounded and battered, his sword broken, more dead than alive. But still holding the line. Alexandre collapsed soon after being told the area was safe, and for a time, it was uncertain whether he'd live or not. Yet he recovered, sent back to Blancbier after the war's end. It was there he was knighted for his actions, though he did not remain for long. New threats arose, banners raised to face the Gyre, a Holy War proclaimed against those that would bring an end to not only the Compact, but the Faith itself. He joined others from the Oathlands to defend Stormwall, surviving the costly victory as far too few did. Now, he has come to Arx. With a light and fire brighter rather than dimmed, he comes to serve House Wyrmguard, the Faith and the whole of the Compact. Not as the sword to pierce the black hearts of demons, but as a shield. To protect all beneath the Compact's aegis, and hold the line.
  th the Compact's aegis, and hold the line.)
• Alexandre Redtyde  + (Born between his siblings Reiker and Sorre …
  Born between his siblings Reiker and Sorrel, Alexandre proved to be difficult to predict as to what kind of a man he would become. Displaying admirable intellect from a young age, medicine proved to be an early passion for the young Wyrmguard. It would not be altogether uncommon to find him in the company of Mercies, with questions aplenty about something he'd read, or about their current work. Such curiosity in the youth was encouraged, and might have led him down the path of becoming a Mercy himself, had it not been for a fateful day. Fateful, for on that day the young Alexandre witnessed an injustice. He was still young, and had not yet learned the harsher truths of the world, when he beheld such. An older boy, more man than child in physique, the reverse in spirit, bullying a younger and far smaller girl. Alexandre didn't ask what it was about, and certainly didn't ignore it. Instead, he threw himself at the boy, intent on fighting the boy off. Predictably, it didn't go well. Alexandre had yet to receive any martial training, and the boy had the advantage of size, strength and experience. Still, Alexandre never yielded once throughout his trashing, getting back up every time he was slammed down. It might have continued, and might have caused permanent harm, had someone not saved him. Dame Anna Redwood, Godsworn Knight of Solace, quickly broke up the fight, and once Alexandre had said who he was, escorted him back to his family. On the way there, she faced the usual deluge of questions the child usually kept for Mercies, about who she was, what she did, and interrogations about the Knights of Solace that his education had not yet covered. Her answers found a receptive mind, and by the time they reached his parents, he had asked her to teach him, and made the same request to his parents when they arrived, a tad worried to see their son in such a state. Dame Anna could not stay, of course, but she made a promise. She would return when she could and, if Alexandre's parents allowed it and he was still interested, would teach the young Lord and, when he was older, would take him on as a squire. Children being what they are, perhaps those involved expected Alexandre to discard this momentary distraction with time and return upon what truly interested him. Yet the opposite occured. He was still interested in medicine, devoted much of his time to it still in fact, but it was now equalled to more martial pursuits. Even as his understanding of the healing arts grew, so did his understanding of riding, the sword, and matters of war and leadership. His education was completed by Dame Anna's visits, when, as promised, she would further not only his understanding, but the virtues of the Pantheon, nurturing the compassion and kindness she saw in him, as well as the protective nature that had made her notice him. Time passed, and eventually, the time came for the second part of Dame Anna's promise to be fulfilled. Alexandre left his family and Blancbier at the age of fourteen, to serve as the Dame's squire. From her, he learned not only the duties and demands of knighthood, but also the dangers that awaited the those traveling upon the Compact's roads and paths, dangers the Knights of Solace were sworn to guard against. It was a harsher life than the one he had lived thus far, yet Alexandre only seemed to thrive, the fire within him brightening. It was during that period of time that he would visit the Cedar Vale most often, whenever Dame Anna would visit her Redwood family. These were pleasant times, and even to this day, Alexandre cherishes their memory. Yet all good things must come to an end. Eventually, Alexandre became a man, and it was time for the Lord, no longer a squire but not yet a knight either, to return home. There, he spent the next few years serving his family and Blancbier, his concern for the people seeing him involved in not only charity, but tangible efforts to improve their lot as well. Indeed, he'd often be seen joining the city patrols on their rounds within the fortress city and beyond. He also joined the Knights of Solace at the time as a disciple, though he did not see Dame Anna Redwood again, not till the Silent War begun. At once, Alexandre volunteered to join the Compact's efforts against Brand, and actively participated within the war, one among countless others fighting back against the evil that had spilled forth from the North, and threatened the Compact itself. Refugees came in drove, often sick and wounded, requiring Mercies and the Knights of Solace to care for them. It was during one such event that Alexandre and others, including Dame Anna, were tasked with sheparding such refugees to a local haven, where Mercies awaited with supplies. Unfortunately, the enemy was aware, and sent a force far outmatching the Knights of Solace and the local garrison to destroy the haven and take its supplies. Shav forces struck at dawn, and though the defenders rallied to face the attackers, they were outmatched. One after the other, Alexandre saw his brothers and sisters in arms fall, the burden to protect weighting heavier on the survivors with every death. For they knew those within would find no mercy. The enemy had come to kill, the only thing they would take with them were the supplies. Evening came, and of the local forces, few remained. The Knights had been reduced to two, Dame Anna and Alexandre. Hope was bleak, even as the enemy pulled back, giving defenders some respite. Not for long. The next clash saw Dame Anne Redwood die, slain by an archer with too much luck or skill. The last of the defenders were forced to push back into the local shrine of Lagoma, the only stone building large enough to contain the refugees and the Mercies that still stood. Alexandre felt despair then, for the first time in his life. He knew he would die. Knew there was no hope, no way out. Thoughts of flight crossed his mind, desperate plans to escape. And as the dread threatened to overwhelm him... He saw them. Families clinging to each other, parents comforting their children though they knew what awaited. And the Mercies, still taking care of their charges, even now holding true to their oaths. Moved by the light of Gild and the warmth of Laghoma, by the selfless sacrifice of those dead and those that yet lived, Alexandre strode forth, and met the enemy's full might in battle. He spoke to his fellow defenders with such conviction, that when he told them to hold the line, they did. Against the Abandonned intent on the destruction of those they were charged to protect, they held the line. Against the horrors of Silence, they held the line. One after the other, they fell. But they did so holding the line. Yet it was enough. When reinforcements came to the rescue, they found Alexandre wounded and battered, his sword broken, more dead than alive. But still holding the line. Alexandre collapsed soon after being told the area was safe, and for a time, it was uncertain whether he'd live or not. Yet he recovered, sent back to Blancbier after the war's end. It was there he was knighted for his actions, though he did not remain for long. New threats arose, banners raised to face the Gyre, a Holy War proclaimed against those that would bring an end to not only the Compact, but the Faith itself. He joined others from the Oathlands to defend Stormwall, surviving the costly victory as far too few did. Now, he has come to Arx. With a light and fire brighter rather than dimmed, he comes to serve House Wyrmguard, the Faith and the whole of the Compact. Not as the sword to pierce the black hearts of demons, but as a shield. To protect all beneath the Compact's aegis, and hold the line.
  th the Compact's aegis, and hold the line.)
• Trueth Redreef  + (Born during a late summer, early autumn th …
  Born during a late summer, early autumn thunderstorm, Trueth Melaeris was eerily calm when she was born - calm enough to startle the midwife into giving her quite a smack to get her crying. Even her cries were quiet still - but the girl thrived, content to stay near the bosom and bask in love. As she grew older, her family would wish for that quiet time. It was soon enough she was asking "Why?" constantly. "Why is the sky blue? Why does the wind blow? What makes the roses red? Why does the ocean get bigger near the sand sometimes? Why do the servants polish the silver?" Amused and exasperated, tutors were hired. Trueth had a love for knowledge and nature that was not easily contested. It helped that she was smart, too - smart enough to keep her tutors on their toes, when they weren't scolding her for her constant daydreaming. She watched her younger sister Llewella rise to have more responsibility, while she was merely challenged by her tutors. After a long, painful introduction to societal responsibilities for nobles, a marriage was in talks. Then another marriage. And another... until one took. At age 22, Trueth was wed to Roland Redreef, Tiberius Redreef's eldest son. For a variety of reasons, Trueth herself believed the marriage would never work, not only due to a large age gap but due to the fact that she was no Redreef. She preferred gardening, alchemy, and well - not owning thralls, nor did she have any fighting bones in her body, whereas Roland was a decorated soldier with a long battle record. Unexpectedly, love bloomed between them. Roland was kind and gentle with Trueth, accepting her strange, femining ways and putting up with her unending questions. They had an interesting dynamic and Trueth seemed to smooth some of Roland's rough edges. She learned to love the Redreef family, even if she did not completely agree with all of their ideals - until tragedy struck. Just as she was due to give birth to her first child, Roland was struck down in battle. Three years of wedded bliss, barely even time to get to know one another truly - but they did - and Trueth loved him. Trueth, in her grief, locked her and her son away for three long years, more or less. But now she has returned to the City with the little one to split her time between the Melaeris household and the Redreef family, aiming to reconnect with her families and raise her son to be his own person, do things in his own time, and perhaps find another happy ending for herself.
  aps find another happy ending for herself.)
• Magnus Stahlben  + (Born far from the Compact's borders, withi …
  Born far from the Compact's borders, within the last mountain of the North, Magnus' life promised to be no different from his father's, and his own father's. The son of the Chief of the Stahlben, he was expected to keep the watch over the Everwinter, pay the proper respects to the ancestors as Bonesinger, that they might entreat with the Firstborn, and ensure the Stahlben and the people that depended on them prospered and thrived. He exhibited early abilities as not only a leader, but one motivated by the need to look out for others, rather than the power and thrill of leading others. These qualities, along with a voracious curiosity and intelligence, only grew further as he aged and became a man. Duties and responsabilities grew, but he never shied away from them, meeting each challenge head-on, determined and diligent. Failures and successes were met the same way, with a clear and open mind to the rich lessons taught by either. Yet he would only be truly tested shortly after his father's death and his becoming Chief. When the Undying and their servants spilled forth from the Everwinter. Stahlben warriors and allies were gathered, and faced the oncoming tide of destruction with the strength and valour that had seen them triumph for centuries of conflict. They lost. Badly. Forced back to their mountain stronghold, besieged by a foe whose hunger for more death seemed unending, Magnus led the desperate defense to save his people from extinction. The fortress didn't fall, the enemy moving down south instead, to the relief, and dread, of the defenders. They had survived, yes. But Magnus was all too aware of the losses of his people and allies, and their failure at containing the Everwinter's monsters. In the months that followed the Compact's victory over Brand, another foe rose to attack the weakened Stahlben. Now facing either destruction or slavery for his people, Magnus gathered his advisors, and a third option was taken. To bend the knee to the Compact, become one with the victorious kingdom of the Silent War, and adapt to the new world only now awakening from a long darkness. The Stahlben stood unchanging for centuries, yet it is now Magnus' task to guide them during the first and difficult years of new loyalties and culture suddenly before them. He has been tested before and shall be again. But he will succeed. For his people. For the Firstborn. For the Compact.
  ple. For the Firstborn. For the Compact.)
• Elizabetha Grayson  + (Born for royalty, Elizabetha grew up in a …
  Born for royalty, Elizabetha grew up in a dream as reality. She found it terribly romantic to be a princess, a damsel, her favorite archetype in the stories she adored throughout childhood. This sparked an early romanticism, which she first expressed on canvas and stage. Innately an actress, she took to performance around age 5, when a Grayson dinner party was witness to an impromptu song and dance atop the table. Art, nevertheless, she names as her true calling. Her work won a plethora of contests, competitions, submissions throughout her years, her growth evinced in each flux of style. Eventually, her touch was lent to halls of marble and gilt. In adolescence, she maintained all that life and vibrancy, with a newfound curiosity that rooted itself in something beyond the typical: the study of alchemy. Her interest budded from a yearning to push the boundaries of painting, but progressed into a deep love of knowledge and academia. Her pursuits led her to experimentations, often safe enough, though she did pick up a few of the less acceptable practices-tattoo artistry a result. Moreover, she adapts the science into her art, the product either disastrous or ingenious. As she matured, Eliza began to note the world around her, the potential it held for her. A budding hunger for exploration drew her from her gardens and halls, to the place where all converge: the capital. Arx is her canvas and her stage, hers the next mark to sweep its expanse.
  , hers the next mark to sweep its expanse.)
• Jacque Valardin  + (Born four years before Sasha, Jacque was a …
  Born four years before Sasha, Jacque was a boy who dreamed of being a chronicler, a writer, an explorer. He fancied himself becoming a wise man that would teach children the right ways of the Oathlands. The young Jacque set out to try and become this sort of scholar, only to find out that he fell short of it. What he did not fall short of in his education was the physical training. He took to sword and physical exercise tirelessly, impressing his tutors in this regard, while disappointing in every other. He was adequate as a warrior but he was no genius, no smart man; average at best, he struggled with those more complex instructions, before neglecting them outright, in frustration he would opt for the path of the warrior, instead. One that he did not choose for himself, but the only one that was viable for him to walk. This became even more so when Sasha was afflicted with her illness. Out of worry, and protective brotherly concern, he became reliable with a blade, a man of strong build and nimble agility, but also tireless endurance. When his sister went to Arx, he lingered in the Oathlands and traveled the fields, assisting the subjects of his House in a number of different undertakings, all voluntary. He would escort merchants and travelers in the roads and assist the enforcers of the High Lord's law against those that would violate it. However, beneath that steely warrior's exterior was a growing sense of frustration with his life. And it is because of this that he traveled to Arx, in order to fulfill his life's dream without neglecting what led him down the path of martial prowess. He will be a scholar, aye, but he is a warrior, and will be one until he can no longer lift a sword on his own.
  he can no longer lift a sword on his own.)
• Jacque Lyonesse  + (Born four years before Sasha, Jacque was a …
  Born four years before Sasha, Jacque was a boy who dreamed of being a chronicler, a writer, an explorer. He fancied himself becoming a wise man that would teach children the right ways of the Oathlands. The young Jacque set out to try and become this sort of scholar, only to find out that he fell short of it. What he did not fall short of in his education was the physical training. He took to sword and physical exercise tirelessly, impressing his tutors in this regard, while disappointing in every other. He was adequate as a warrior but he was no genius, no smart man; average at best, he struggled with those more complex instructions, before neglecting them outright, in frustration he would opt for the path of the warrior, instead. One that he did not choose for himself, but the only one that was viable for him to walk. This became even more so when Sasha was afflicted with her illness. Out of worry, and protective brotherly concern, he became reliable with a blade, a man of strong build and nimble agility, but also tireless endurance. When his sister went to Arx, he lingered in the Oathlands and traveled the fields, assisting the subjects of his House in a number of different undertakings, all voluntary. He would escort merchants and travelers in the roads and assist the enforcers of the High Lord's law against those that would violate it. However, beneath that steely warrior's exterior was a growing sense of frustration with his life. And it is because of this that he traveled to Arx, in order to fulfill his life's dream without neglecting what led him down the path of martial prowess. He will be a scholar, aye, but he is a warrior, and will be one until he can no longer lift a sword on his own.
  he can no longer lift a sword on his own.)
• Alrigo Donatti  + (Born further out from the main Donatti fam …
  Born further out from the main Donatti family, Alrigo had instilled in him by mother and father the need to always do better. The family worked the docks of Ischia for years and, working around the rougher parts, Alrigo quickly learned how to survive on his feet and use that honey-dipped tongue to escape signs of trouble. After Alexio began building his business in Caina, Alrigo aided the contacts needed in Ischia to start. Here he found some success, a little bit, but soon he knew to make even more money he needed to start growing the business in Arx itself. Here he worked from the bottom and gradually started to build up, learning his tailoring trade, to a point which has caught some attention for just how this man from the docks of Ischia has ended up wearing fine clothes and looking like a cock among hens. Obviously, from Alrigo, he tells the brilliant tale about how the family that was too poor to even eat on some days - ended up being who he is today. A few hearts open up to that, melting in his hands. The story of how this lad from Ischia, who never even once picked up scissors, was able to craft fine jackets for the commoners and once even a Baron. Eyebrows raised. What did he know about fashion? Using that honey-dipped tongue of this, Aligro has since discovered ways to talk himself out of most problems in life, flipping the issue on its head, and pointing at someone else as being the reason it all went wrong. This helped him build up contacts that gave him the ability to open up coffers of silver to fund the family's business - Donatti Imports & Exports.
  business - Donatti Imports & Exports.)
• Arielle Rivera  + (Born in Arx to a pair of high class mercha …
  Born in Arx to a pair of high class merchants Arielle Rivera was the third born of four children. The Rivera family was common but decently wealthy and catered to nobility with their goods. Arielle grew up with a good education in addition to learning how to sew and tailor garments from her mother. The young girl found herself desiring to make a name for herself in the fashion world. To start trends that would be seen throughout the Compact and be worn at all the best parties. However she found limiting herself to cloth was confining. Arielle had skilled hands and was often put in charge of the more delicate work with embroidery and weaving. One day while helping her mother style her hair for a social event she got an idea. From that idea sprang a new career for Arielle. No longer was she simply a tailor, now she was a stylist. She studied the art of cutting and styling hair. Of applying cosmetics in a fashion that flattered ones face and matched ones attire. And finally at almost twenty years old she began searching for a shop where she could ply her trade officially.
  where she could ply her trade officially.)
• Braxas Songweaver  + (Born in Arx twenty years ago, Braxas came …
  Born in Arx twenty years ago, Braxas came into the world with no surname. His parents whoever they were did not want him so he was left at an orphanage in the worst part of town. Braxas was a dark child, handsome but frightening to the other children because of his dark moods and anger at the world. He started singing when he was five, just letting his emotions out via song. Some of the other boys tried to bully him over the singing but Braxas would not back down. When he was thirteen he ran away from the orphanage to join a troupe of traveling bards. Before he left Tomas his childhood tormentor gave him the scar that remains on his face today. He got away and has since learned how to dodge and defend himself a bit. He stayed with the troupe of bards as they traveled across the land. GOing from city to city Braxas learned how to survive and entertain on the streets. Seven years passed and after Braxas turned twenty he decided to try his luck back home in Arx once again.
  try his luck back home in Arx once again.)
• Murdoch Malespero  + (Born in Caith to a struggingly shipping fa …
  Born in Caith to a struggingly shipping family. Murdoch's elder sister (Lady Beatrice Malespero's mother) inherited. He spent his youth working the docks and caravans by day and learning the books by night, expecting to command one of his family's ships one day. But, just before coming of age, the family fortunes sank leaving a single ship remaining. His sister took command and he was asked to branch out to find new work. After a series of odd jobs and many tough months, he landed a job at a gambling establishment and discovered he had a rare head for numbers. After a few years scrimping and some personnel changes at the establishment, he was put in charge of the ledgers. It was during this time, now in his mid-20's that he met the woman he would eventually marry. Together, they had a daughter and a son, and some of his investments began to bear fruit. Things looked to be going well, and he was even able to help his sister's shipping business stay afloat through a tough spot, but...one day he came home to find tradgey. His wife and children were slain in an apparent robbery. No evidence of the killers was found. He fell into a black period and for years cultivated associates from the less savory contacts he'd met at the gambling house. His sister and her family raised Beatrice during this era, and he managed to teach her a thing or two but eventually was asked that he stay away, lest he taint their business with his shady dealings. Some years later, he learned that Beatrice prospered and was even ennobled by the Argento family. His network of contacts by that point rumored that Pravus would move against them, and for the first time he found he needed to truly pay attention to high houses. Beatrice was sentenced to prison for a year, and he was surprised to learn that she not only survived it, but thrived and landed on her feet as a new member of House Malespero. Curious how she had managed it, and feeling the loss of his own daughter, he visited.
  the loss of his own daughter, he visited.)
• Adriana Fieldstone  + (Born in Elmhurst to a farming family, Adri …
  Born in Elmhurst to a farming family, Adriana soon found herself seeking employment in the only tavern in town. She much prefered hauling barrels and trays over farming out in the warm Oathland sun. She found she had a natural talent for people, being able to get them what they needed rather than what they wanted. Adri found she loved to flirt with the handsome farmer's lads (and the not so handsome ones if they could charm her) and enjoyed making their time in the tavern that much more enjoyable for her cheerful temperment and charm. After her uncle's farm was burned to the ground and her cousin Jonathan went off to the big city, she decided she would follow him. Her dream was to one day own her own tavern and she would never be able to make that kind of money at home. Not only did she want her own tavern, she wanted her own cow too. Fresh milk and butter and cheese, and then get bread freshly baked every morning, and make sure her guests had everything they needed to be comfortable. Clean beds without any bugs in them, even. She wants -everyone- to get along and be happy and healthy.
  ne- to get along and be happy and healthy.)
• Danvir Ravenseye  + (Born in January 12, to Robert Ravenseye, D …
  Born in January 12, to Robert Ravenseye, Danvir Ravenseye leads an enjoyable life that has always mixed the wild life with the life of a noble. Perhaps it is his fiery red hair, but Danvir Ravenseye showed that he could hold his ground with his favorite weapon: an axe. As he grew he started studying the Family trade: sailing. With this he also had to study economics, the art of war and of course how to be a succesful diplomat. But that was not the only thing Danvir was studying. He also started studies in the occult and he firmly believes in Shamanism, so much so that he does tend to pay his respects to the spirts. And perhaps that has aided him in becoming a better man as he aged. When he hit his eighteen years, he told his loving dad that it was time for him to put the Raveseye name on the nautical maps. And with the blessing of the spirits and his father, he took of to the Compact, intent on increasing his knowledge as well as serving the Northern noble houses better. Some are surprised when this fiery red headed young man speaks about his love for the sea, so much that others think he is from Thrax. That could not be further from the truth. He is a Ravenseye, through and through.
  h. He is a Ravenseye, through and through.)
• Maren Lir  + (Born in Maelstrom to Prince Drake Thrax, M …
  Born in Maelstrom to Prince Drake Thrax, Maren Thrax was the youngest of the five children and the only girl; by virtue of those things she did not feature prominently in the public eye during childhood. The shadows of her brothers were tall, especially her eldest brother Donrai, but she still found ways to thrive amongst them. The household and the family were by no means indulgent, but even predatory sea serpents are sometimes moved by beauty and wit, and it was clear that she would grow into a formidable amount of both. Her parents perished when she was quite young, though the new High Lord was very dutiful in seeing to her education. Perhaps it was hoped she would join other Thraxian notables in a sharp legal and logical mind; but it was something warmer that stirred her even in Maelstrom's environment of stoic and imposing chill. She took to almost any instrument that was placed in her hands with startling ease, even some of the gruffest and most standoffish lords and ladies seemed to at least tolerate and even enjoy her presence. When she was sixteen, she was sent to Arx to serve as a lady in waiting in the royal court, as well as to train in the art of being a courtier from Whisper House. She blossomed there, forming close friendships with many of the other young ladies from Houses throughout the Compact in similar service, and seeking out further training in dance and music. By the time she was in her late teens, she was considered to be one of the beauties of her generation, particularly talented in the arts, enjoying the social whirl of Arx in full. But she was ever mindful of her place and her duty, and when she was twenty she obediently returned to Maelstrom at Donrai's request, enjoying getting reacquainted with the brothers that she'd corresponded regularly with but had seldom seen more than a couple of times a year during her time in Arx, and knowing that within a year she was likely to be introduced to whatever match Donrai decided would serve the interests of House Thrax the best. She continued in her studies of the arts, setting many sailors' and area folklore to music, capturing oral tales into written word and illustration, and even devising performances based on them, though they were often given to others to perform. As a birthday present, Donrai granted her permission to travel to House Blackshore's holdings and the great library there to gather more fodder for her works, though once she returned she was to meet her match. Her travel there was uneventful, and she set off for home by all accounts with many writings and sketches that surely would have fueled her artistic endeavors for many years. But she never returned. A terrible storm kicked up, and the ship she was on as well as one escort was lost, the remaining escort arriving badly battered in Darkwater Watch. After weeks of searching, there was a small amount of wreckage located--and months later more things started to wash up on shore. She was presumed lost at sea. In truth, she almost was. She was one of a very few survivors of the wreck that drifted for weeks; starving, thirsty, sunburnt, eventually all but her succumbing painfully slowly to exposure or their injuries. She was likely only days away from death herself, when a passing foreign ship came across her, one of the high ranking military officers aboard persuaded by his second to overrule the captain and insisting that they examine the strange wreckage. The second, Zixin Lir, was in the smaller boat that approached and drew her from the wreckage, and took her aboard before they continued their journey home. Her life was saved by the healer aboard the ship, but it took many weeks for her to recover, and she stayed with the local magistrate until they could figure out what to do with this foreigner plucked from the sea, as well as find someone who spoke Arvani. There was one constant, however; Zixin visited frequently, helped her learn the language while she taught him hers. Months after her arrival he brought her to a teahouse with musicians--she delighted them by being able to play some of the ones similar to ones she was familiar with, and singing without musical accompaniment some tales from home. After that each time they met, there was yet another new unfolding of art. He would recite poetry to her, for the beauty of the rhythm and sounds for her to enjoy long before she could understand it fully; take her to new places in the area and keep her company as she painted. They were drawn to one another, but their friendship was one that slowly unfolded, growing deeper roots before they allowed other things to blossom. For seven years, even as she built a life in this new place, she ever gave up on trying to find a way back home. Her acclaim as a performer and artist opened doors to talk to influential people, but seldom was she given a clear answer on if it was possible. Finally a visiting Imperial official told her in no uncertain terms that there would be no return, she kept her head high and hid her devastated heart. Weijin wasn't home. Instead, Zixin asked her to consider making a home with him. Nearly ten years after she was first plucked from the sea, she did just that, choosing to set aside her hopes to remain as she once was, a princess of Thrax, to marry for love and hope, and by tradition yield that title to do so. And then she moved forward and onward, using all the gifts of her upbringing, and the resolve and determination she'd only honed in Weijin to truly build a life with him. They welcomed their daughter Zyanya a few years after, when she at last closed the chapter on thinking she would ever see Arvum again. Over the next thirty years their household grew with many students (both hers and his), friendships, grand successes and failures, more happiness than heartache. Watching and guiding their daughter to blossom into a respected artist in her own right, whispering tales of the family and lands that her mother had traveled from, with Maren incorporating as much tradition and teachings as she could into Zyanya's life. The events of the wider world did not really reach her, especially in their quiet area of Weijin. Though the pace of Maren and Zixin's life slowed, she didn't even realize it was the beginning of his twilight years until her beloved warrior-poet died in her arms after a very brief illness. Devastated, she once again summoned her strength to be strong for her daughter now too. It was after his death that she discovered that Zixin hadn't forgotten her love of the Mourning Isles and those she'd left behind, and intended to honor the Arvani heritage of his child as well. Decades of dedicated and decorated service to Weijin and Jadairal had given him some influence on the layers of bureaucracy of the empire, and unbeknownst to her he'd been pushing on that quite heavily behind the scenes, to grant his family a favor upon his passing. He knew that she wouldn't leave his side, and that he was unlikely to be able to leave Jadairal. His final gift to her, after his passing, was a chance for an audience that might allow her to see Arvani shores again. Once more, the current in her life shifted, this time drawing her back to the home she never thought she would see again, bringing with her her greatest treasure and brightest hope, to give her daughter a chance to experience her heritage in full.
  chance to experience her heritage in full.)
• Apollo Oakwood  + (Born in Oakhaven, to parents who were both …
  Born in Oakhaven, to parents who were both Trackers, Apollo should have had an ideal childhood. But fate was less than kind to him, and at the tender age of six, while traveling between Lyon's Redoubt and Keaton Keep, he and his family were ambushed by a group of bandits looking to thin the packs of hunters after them. Apollo's parents were killed in the conflict and the boy was taken, the plan to rear him as a bandit, the irony found to be delicious. Weeks passed, but eventually another pack of Trackers discovered the location of the bandit's hideout and cleared the lot of them out. When Apollo was found, one of the huntsmen recognized the boy and took him home to Keaton Keep where the child was raised in the court. As an adult, he is fiercely loyal to the Keaton family. Eschewing the path of his parents, he learned the special art of tanning and leathercraft Oakhaven has become known for. The secrets of its manufacture are now his. When Kael left Oakhaven to come to Arx, he tapped his best leatherworker to come with him to see about making a name for themselves in Arx.
  about making a name for themselves in Arx.)
• Xandrine Morgan  + (Born in Sanctum to a groundskeeper of the …
  Born in Sanctum to a groundskeeper of the (mostly) respectable Morgan family and a Lycene duelist slicing her way into the Oathlands, Xandrine grew up proud of her family's reputation for honor and air of danger, both. Only fitting, no, for a descendant of the very first Champion? After the Tragedy, like many survivors, felt compelled to become a knight. She was far too young to take up arms, but that didn't stop her. Finding a Knight of the Laurent family who would squire her, she worked determinedly. Also fitting for the descendant of the very first etc, she displayed a natural talent for fighting, and quickly developed a rivalry with another young squire and aspiring Champion. Competition fueled her on towards excellence, developing a reputation - in the Laurent lands, at least. Oaths taken, duels fought (and sometimes won), Xandrine was sent on another mission: Go to Arx, escorting some precious cargo.
  Go to Arx, escorting some precious cargo.)