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2006
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| Aahana Magnotta + | Aahana is the youngest sibling of Ruslan Volkov which gives her the title of baby sister. Perhaps her being the youngest out of so many is what makes her shy to new people at first, tending to always prefer familiarity to something new or unusual. She has really been like that since she was old enough to crawl. Most consider her shy but in truth she likes to observe before acting upon things. As she grew up one of only two woman in the family she tended to be fiercely protected by her brothers and elder sister. This just aided in her quiet observing all the time. Even when they would occasionally go into town she was study over the nobles and watch their interactions more than anything else. And as she aged, she would eavesdrop upon lessons in economics and diplomacy. Often she would masquerade as a noble to learn what little etiquette she could before she would be found out and having to vanish. When Ruslan bent the knee, there was a lot of unrest among the tribe. Some of the family liked it, some didn't. Aahana was more excited than the others in truth though she did her best to hide it. And now that her eldest brother has sworn their family to the fealty of Fidante and in turn Velenosa, she is determined to try and keep her family out of trouble while they all adjust to the new ways of Arx. No more needing to pretend. During her time within Arx she made many a friend and ally. Then there was Domonico, there was something about him that caused her to become smitten, so smitten she sworn off shamanism and worked diligently to become a token prodigal. Her work paid off as when she married him to become Lady Aahana Malvici, it was deemed true. There the birth of their precious daughter Palania on the tenth of April in 1011. Then the unthinkable happened when she was travelling to visit her family with the baby. They disppeared just has the massacare of Volkov Woods happened. For those two years, it was though that both were dead. However the unthinkable happened. Aahana and baby Palania returned to arx unsathed and unaged on the sixteenth of March 1014 AR. She is still playing catch up but intends to help the now Count Domonico and the isles of Cyrto Major with all her being. + |
| Aahana Malvici + | Aahana is the youngest sibling of Ruslan Volkov which gives her the title of baby sister. Perhaps her being the youngest out of so many is what makes her shy to new people at first, tending to always prefer familiarity to something new or unusual. She has really been like that since she was old enough to crawl. Most consider her shy but in truth she likes to observe before acting upon things. As she grew up one of only two woman in the family she tended to be fiercely protected by her brothers and elder sister. This just aided in her quiet observing all the time. Even when they would occasionally go into town she was study over the nobles and watch their interactions more than anything else. And as she aged, she would eavesdrop upon lessons in economics and diplomacy. Often she would masquerade as a noble to learn what little etiquette she could before she would be found out and having to vanish. When Ruslan bent the knee, there was a lot of unrest among the tribe. Some of the family liked it, some didn't. Aahana was more excited than the others in truth though she did her best to hide it. And now that her eldest brother has sworn their family to the fealty of Fidante and in turn Velenosa, she is determined to try and keep her family out of trouble while they all adjust to the new ways of Arx. No more needing to pretend. + |
| Aahana Volkov + | Aahana is the youngest sibling of Ruslan Volkov which gives her the title of baby sister. Perhaps her being the youngest out of so many is what makes her shy to new people at first, tending to always prefer familiarity to something new or unusual. She has really been like that since she was old enough to crawl. Most consider her shy but in truth she likes to observe before acting upon things. As she grew up one of only two woman in the family she tended to be fiercely protected by her brothers and elder sister. This just aided in her quiet observing all the time. Even when they would occasionally go into town she was study over the nobles and watch their interactions more than anything else. And as she aged, she would eavesdrop upon lessons in economics and diplomacy. Often she would masquerade as a noble to learn what little etiquette she could before she would be found out and having to vanish. When Ruslan bent the knee, there was a lot of unrest among the tribe. Some of the family liked it, some didn't. Aahana was more excited than the others in truth though she did her best to hide it. And now that her eldest brother has sworn their family to the fealty of Fidante and in turn Velenosa, she is determined to try and keep her family out of trouble while they all adjust to the new ways of Arx. No more needing to pretend. + |
| Aaron Blackburn + | Fate and the Gods dealt Aaron Blackburn a hand both sweet and sour. The gregarious boy grew up amidst the Ashfords, his family being vassals of theirs for time out of mind. Adventure was in his blood, in his soul, and he hungered for it the way a drought thirsts for rain. Among their ranks he served, at first running messages, mending clothes, and then, finally, joining expeditions. He adventured for several beautiful, glorious years. Exploration was his adrenaline, his drug, and Aaron was addicted. But addicts get careless. They push ever further, ever harder. And eventually, they crash. Aaron crashed hard. Out searching for the ancient and unfindable, he found a treacherous crag and a life-altering knock to the head at the bottom. His equilibrium was never the same. His memory would not recover. Swinging a sword, climbing a tree or a mountainside were no longer in the cards for the sweet, devil-may-care Blackburn. Instead, Aaron was relegated back to Arvum where he struggled with his inner demons and emerged seemingly victorious. He took up a position as Lighthouse Keeper, and turned back to mending clothes. And mending clothes became, slowly, creating outfits and styles. Eventually, Aaron Blackburn became a tailor in his own right. Mens clothing, mostly, but there are always special cases to be made. Of course, The Lighthouse is appointment-only. Surely you've heard? + |
| Abbas Thrax + | Abbas's mother, Princess Marjory Thrax, was no proper Thraxian woman in the eyes of Donrai Thrax. With far too much interest in sailing, Princess Marjory defied her father by accompanying a daring expedition to sail east to the rarely contacted continent of Eurus on a perilous voyage. Worse in the eyes of his grandfather, not only did Marjory have the temerity to succeed, but she returned with a husband, married without permission of her family, to the exiled Prince Asad of Petrioch, a royal fleeing a lost war of one of the distant Dune Kingdoms of Eurus. Prince Donrai Thrax had little choice but to recognize the marriage of the royals as Marjory was already with child, but it proved short lived- Prince Asad was found complicit in the plotting of the Tyde Rebellion and was executed by House Thrax, and Princess Marjory Thrax was all but exiled, married off to a Lord of House Pravus and unwelcome to the family. This provided the Thraxian child with a difficult life ahead where his mother and father were considered traitors to Thrax. Abbas Thrax dreamed of a life of reaving to prove himself true to Thrax and at a young age the man took to battles and studies. His focus was complete and nothing else even remotely entertained him as a child that was not anointed in violence and his grandfather (Donrai Thrax) encouraged and aided in molding the man into a callous butcher. Abbas barely related to other young children nor did he possess friends. His was a singular desire to rise and lead the Thraxian fleet into glory and to earn a proper Thraxian heroes death. Individual fights quickly bored the mind of Abbas. And he began to listen and put himself in a position to learn of fighting at a higher level. There was not enough glory in hand-to-hand slaughter; tactics and strategy became his religion. Abbas lied about becoming a man in order to fill his urge to oar and sail upon the endless Salt. This led to his early years as a reaver being rough and he danced with death being overpowered, outmatched, yet he rapidly became addicted to the spilling of life and the riches of taking from the sea what you wanted. The young man was ruthless and fate saw him survive his first few overmatched raids; where the physically weaker Abyss was forced to kill against the odds. Abbas was hardened to the "Salt Life" early to the life of taking captives and using them as thralls. He possessed a strange affinity for understanding currents and sailing in an uncanny way. The Thraxian quickly distinguished himself and became a very young (perhaps one of the youngest) captain as a teenager. Abbas began to build a reputation early on. He would systematically target islands and begin to kill the elderly and snuff out the wisdom to make future raids easier. As the younger generations aged absent the wisdom of their more wise leaders he began to wear down the defenses. His brutality earned him a fierce reputation and soon after a couple of years many village and settlements would simply pay tribute to avoid the Thraxian wrath. Abbas fame and renown began to grow and the Thraxian was afforded more authority and allowed to operate autonomously. When Abbas was called to Arx two years ago he arrived with little experience but that of reaving and killing. It was a rough adjustment for the Prince but soon circumstances found him rising quickly in the ranks of the military. Abbas found himself upon the death of Donrai in a position to support the new Thraxian High Lord; Victus. Victus anointed Abbas as Warlord and gave him control of the Thraxian military. Abbas at the age of twenty-four is likely the youngest Warlord in living memory to lead the Thraxian war machine. Abbas ruthlessly secured Victus' power and was brutal in his tactics once more. Those who spoke against the new High Lord or loyal to Donrai were flayed alive. The military was used to brutally stop any insurrection and Abbas earned the title of the Bastard's Butcher. A campaign against the abandoned tribes on the periphery of the Gyre that threatens Thrax and the compact has thrust Abbas into heavy controversy. Abbas purposefully spread disease and plague amongst the abandoned populace to quickly end the fighting to those who did not bend the knee. The body count was unheard of as he systematically depopulated the islands of abandoned and quickly put an end to a prolonged war. This met with outcry and the hatred of many in Arvum, as the genocidal tactics were seen by the vast majority of the Compact as dishonorable and an offense to the goddess Gloria. During the siege of Arx Abbas was able to return the fleet to join the war due to his questionable strategy. He led the fleet from shore to rush through; relieving the Seawatch Gate and filling a hole blown in the wall of Arx where the Bringers sought to put an end to the Compact. With the help of the Redrain the Warlord was able to hold the wall at a great cost of life, winning that part of the battle. Though he distinguished himself well, he remains an extremely controversial figure- respected in the Isles, admired by many who hate shavs with geonocidal fury, but viewed as murderous and dangerous by most. + |
| Abby Laurent + | Born into the ducal line of House Laurent, Abby had been pegged as something of an 'odd duck' from her early childhood. With so many siblings ahead of her, the threat of inheritance was almost moot. Allowing her the luxury of living a comfortable life, albeit an uneventful one. She'd most commonly spent her time around the chapels, becoming a regular thorn in the side of Artshall's clergy. Bombarding them with questions or asking to assist in every little task well into her teenage life. It came as no surprise when she set on the path to be Godsworn the moment she'd come of age. It'd be a few years before she found a proper discipleship to settle into. With the addition of the Queen of Endings to the Pantheon and the creation of the Harlequins, Abby directed her passion toward reverence of the Goddess of Death. Her attitude made a very stark contrast to her macabre interests. Strangely, the skulls seemed to suit her. Bit more than the bees did, anyway. + |
| Abellus Ironfoot + | Being born into the Ironfoot clan meant being as hard as the metal from their namesake. His ancestors got their name because they were of Iron, unbent by war or bloodshed. They were a proud family with a strong heritage. Abellus has tried his whole life to live up to his name. Being the first son of Tuscak, an Abandoned shav traditionalist who was fed on the fires of hate for the Compact, he bore the same hatred for those that would try to break the Abandoned Tribes and force them on their knees. His mother was a wise woman who had her man's back. She never let him cry as a child, and made sure he would be as strong as his father. Yes, the early years of training and fists were hard but they forged him to be stronger, better than the weak Oathlanders that hide behind their armor and castle walls. When his father taught him in all manner of weapons, from the bow to the great sword. He favored the great axe in his mighty hands. Brand was a plaque upon the Abandoned Tribes of the Oathlands. He took the fuel of hate that lived in the Ironfoot's hearts and fanned it out of control. Abellus was there along side his father and brother, possessed by the dark magic to deal death to the citizens of Arx. He felled many that day. But the Gods that protect the Compact managed to break Brand and release the Abandoned tribes that were under his sway. Leaving the once proud tribe broken, leaderless. His father was angry the day the Oathlanders came to the encampment to gloat over their handiwork. He urged Abellus and his brother to enter the crowds, warning others not to listen to the false promises that bending knee would bring. He watched as his cousin was brought on stage, a boy too young to be cheiftain. Then he was betrayed by another Abandoned, arrested and brought to prison before he could blink. An Oathlander with the help of Rivenshari arrested his brother and himself. He was sent to prison with the outrageous crime of trying to murder his own cousin. He was caged with his brother for months, even after his father died in a trial by combat. It was during his captivity that he learned the proganda, the story of how his father tried to get his cousin to light himself and his sisters on fire to protest the Compact. How his father tried to start war again before his people had even recovered. While he did not wish to see his cousin die, he does not hate his father for his desperate actions. When they were brought to trial, to speak to the tribunal, Kanean denounced what his father had done and gladly bent on knee to Count Athaur Rivenshari. He took an oath that would bind him to the Compact that they once fought. Abellus was forced to make a decision. He could refuse and die. Or he could swallow his pride and go on bended knee. Even though he knew his father was rolling in his grave, he knealt and took an oath so that he could continue to watch out for his brother. He will keep his oaths because he is a man of honor. + |
| Abigail Lyonesse + | Abigail's family is well known to some, at least the name. Her father, Treveus, is Uncle to Marquessa Demura Lyonesse, and his wife Isabella married into the family. While she may have not be so called 'noble' before her marriage her family was not the normal or complete commoner either, just a lower rank. Abigail's father was and still is a most trusted and well known Knight for his family name, though age has started to catch up to him and that is the only thing possibly slowing him down. Her mother was a archer of high skill and quality, her knowledge with herbs was also high as her family was well know in the art of herbal healing. Isabella trained and taught her daughters to carry on the skills she had taught and to never forget them. Abigail has four siblings all sisters, she being the youngest of the bunch. Sundari and Idrissa are her elder twins sisters, and then there is Roselin and Jaelynn. When it comes to handling a bow Abigail is on par with her mother having picked up the skill rather easy. During a hunting trip, Abigail's mother was killed and many felt it was staged but others have said the woman took on too much, thus being cut down by the prey she was tracking. Abigail and Roselin were with her at the time and while her daughters have called for something to be done it is still being overlooked. Since this has happened Abigail was sent to stay with her cousin Demura Lyonesse by her father and Roselin is set to join her in the coming months. Abigail is attempting to keep an open mind and move on but it is hard with she knows something has happened to her family and she wants answers. + |
| Acacia Culler + | To be a member of the Culler family makes things easier in the Lower Boroughs as you grow up, but there's an enormous difference from 'easier' to 'easy'. Acacia has been a fighter all her life, getting into scrapes and petty crimes all through her youth at the behest of the family and watching in dismay as fortunes finally turned against her parents. After the deaths of her father and mother, she left the city of Arx to put as much distance between her and that crime ridden cesspool of the Lower Boroughs as she could. Becoming a sailor wasn't an easy life, and the shipping routes between Arx and the Lyceum were extremely dangerous, but compared to trying to survive in the Lower Boroughs it was downright relaxing. After time at sea learning to be a competent sailor, she's returned to Arx and reconnected with her family, and the Culler family has profited immensely from it. Since her return, Acacia has been cultivating the reputation as being the woman to talk to for the odd, hard to find (and sometimes prohibited) goods, seeming to always know exactly how to get those most elusive items. Life in the Lower Boroughs hasn't gotten any safer for her since she returned, but she's a spirited young woman that is determined not only to survive, but to thrive. + |
| Acantha Clearlake + | The classical stories of an ugly duckling growing up to be something beautiful, the same stories could be told of Acantha Clearlake. When she was a child she was chubby, dirty and poor. Growing up with two older brothers did not make this any easier. Especially when she wasn't their real sister. Acantha was abandoned on an very cold night and her adopted mother found her and brought her in. She loves her older brothers though, she even took after them a bit. On the fighting side of things of course. She was taught to use a sword. She was also taught to get herself out of confrontations. As well as her brothers when they can't talk themselves out of things. It became clear to her 'parents' that she had a brain between those ears of hers that was best put to use. Acantha Clearlake is one of the younger members of the Clearlake retinue that has come to Arx and bent the knee to House Halfshav. Though she shares the name it's clear when first meeting her that she's taken the task of fitting into the Compact a bit more seriously than some. Another thing that is clear is that she's wanting to make a better name for the Clearlake House since they haven't been the most warm welcomed. She's well spoken and charming, but she's also been known to show her more savage side when it needs to come out. + |
| Achard de Ange + | He is a poor country boy taken in by a poor country knight, Sir Reggie de Ange of Sanctum, after the boy's family was killed by forest bandits. Growing strong and healthy, a quick study, he eventually was accepted as a squire to Sir Reggie. He grew into his 20's as a man-at-arms under the knight, patrolling the forest roads north of Artshell. One day, against bandits, Sir Reggie was unhorsed and the younger man fought over his knight's stunned body, finally killing three bandits while wearing only leather armor and wielding a club. Reggie advocated for the boy and Achard was knighted. Present day, the young man is 33 and has been a knight for maybe eight years, gradually gaining a reputation as a skilled and strategically clever warrior. + |
| Aconite Fidante + | Her father was a Eurusi warlord wannabe who decided to harass a Fidante trade vessel. Then he hounded it. Then, with men, he boarded it during the night and took it captive for ransom. Fidante's response was to find out who this man is, hunt down his family, take his daughter, and offer HER as ransom for the ship. The story gets muddled but, some say he cracked immedietly. Others, that he denied her existence and caused the deployment of some secret strike force. Others still, that he yielded, but upon seeing how Eurusi are treated by other Eurusi, the Fidante in charge did not let her go, sent a strike force to destroy the enemy, and decided to keep her as one of their own. To do her a kindness. + |
| Aconite Unknown + | Her father was a Eurusi warlord wannabe who decided to harass a Fidante trade vessel. Then he hounded it. Then, with men, he boarded it during the night and took it captive for ransom. Fidante's response was to find out who this man is, hunt down his family, take his daughter, and offer HER as ransom for the ship. The story gets muddled but, some say he cracked immedietly. Others, that he denied her existence and caused the deployment of some secret strike force. Others still, that he yielded, but upon seeing how Eurusi are treated by other Eurusi, the Fidante in charge did not let her go, sent a strike force to destroy the enemy, and decided to keep her as one of their own. To do her a kindness. + |
| Adalbern Rimeheart + | Adalbern was born in the hills surrounding Bonespire, just south of the Everwinter to a warrior of the Stahlben clan, and a woman he'd taken to wife from the Everwinter Shav. Sadly, he never knew his mother as she died shortly after, his birth a difficult one. His father raised the boy as best he could, but he was often away and unable give the proper attention necessary for a young troublemaker. The boy spent much of his youth exploring the crags and tundra near his home, learning the ways of the mountains and the frozen north; largely unsupervised and turning into quite the little savage until his father decided he was an of an age to start training with the other young warriors-to-be of the clan. As he started spending more time amongst the others of his people, he met the girl who would grow to be his wife, Skada. Once the two were of age, they soon married and it wasn't long before a little one was on the way. It wasn't meant to last, however. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, Vigga, the Undying and their servants spilled forth from the Everwinter. Skada was lost during the first rush of the horde, though Vigga managed to escape into the mountain stronghold that her father would help to defend. A part of Adalbern seemed lost, and he flung himself into the battles of his clan even more fervently than before, leaving Vigga to his wife's parents at the time. When Magnus bent the knee to Sanna, Adalbern decided to uproot himself and Vigga from the Bonespire and the memories it held, and now they seek a new life in Arx and the Compact. + |
| Adalmus Nightgold + | Son of Rognan Nightgold, cousin to Mydas. + |
| Adalyn Clement + | Adalyn was the one child born of the marriage between Sir Norwood Clement and his late wife. She was treasured and adored by her father and didn't lack for love in the slightest in those regards. An argument could be made that he shouldn't have gone carting her around to /quite/ so many of his knightly duties however. She spent hours watching him train Jael and Klaus Laurent, picking up bits and pieces of swordsmanship from observation alone. Yet he was reluctant to give his own daughter the same instruction, despite her pleas. She was too young! It was too soon! He didn't want her learning the blade .But Adalyn would have her own way about this. Because all that adoration and time spent indulging her, it had made her a little spoiled and all too stubborn. So at ten years old, she began 'training' on her own. With a heavy stick and some pots worn for helmets she sparred against one of the other children in Artshall. It was all going fine until she brained him nice and good and knocked him unconscious. Thankfully, he was fine. But poor Norwood was forced to admit that wasn't going to be able to deter her from her wishes, so he might as well train her. Before someone /really/ got hurt. Over time, she has grown into quite the talented warrior. She has more swish and swagger than her father might care for and her showmanship truly grates on his nerves sometimes. She often makes grandiose remarks of how she'll take that sword from him someday! Before laughing brightly and jumping into a tale of her latest escapade. And there are many, many escapades. Her current plot to cause her family distress has been to runaway from the Oathlands and appear in Arx, unprompted. She's decided she wants to join the Champions Guild! And that mercenary group, but no, not the one run by Duke Telmar's son! The one by that Lycene Baron! The Valorous Few! He seems like fun. + |
| Adelais Savatier + | Adelais was born out of wedlock, the product of a young dalliance between a merchant-prince and a middling serving girl. Fortunately for her, she (and her mother) were set up by her father's family in a town near the family's sprawling estate once they realized what their reckless son had done. The family resisted the pressure for marriage, but they did their best to accept her and her mother into their family - albeit still beyond that inner ring. Still, she had a decent education and a decent life growing up, living in relative comfort with her mother and provided for by an extended family that she didn't quite understand until she grew older. As she grew, she felt awkward and a touch out of place, especially when her father married and had another child: a younger half-sister named Mateline, who stood to inherit. Their relationship wasn't always good, but Adelais did her best to be a decent elder sister. However, determined that she wasn't going to rely solely on the largesse of her extended family, she left home once she came of age to seek her fortune as a soldier. She spent five or six years of her life training with the blade and working as a sellsword, despite her mother's worries over her new station in life.In a way, it helped her purge her private demons and she learned a great deal about the uglier side of the world and the power of violence. Adelais eventually returned to her extended family when she heard that her father was dying of a wasting disease and despite her misgivings, found that she couldn't simply leave her younger half-sister to pick up the pieces by herself. Since then, she's essentially bulled her way back into the family business ,serving as a bodyguard and the right-hand woman for Mateline, dealing with some of the more unsavory aspects of the business and arranging protection for their business interests whenever necessary. If she has anything to say about it, they'll prosper. + |
| Adelphie Harthall + | A product of Oathlands custom, Adelphie's story does not deviate far from the ideals held high there. While a penchant for trade and commerce might have just as likely pleased her kin, her appetite for combat proved too great to overlook. There are few memories of her youth beyond the backdrop of the training yards or dining hall, fueling up to get right back out there. Amidst troubles associated with the Great Road, the Adelphie crossed paths with some Knights of Solace and felt compelled by duty and faith to help them in their task. This is how she found herself in Arx, having chaperoned a group of travelers to safety. Well, let's be honest... relative safety. + |
| Ademar Napolitano + | Born the second son but fifth born to the Napolitano merchant family, he was able to really choose any path he desired for himself. But the natural grace and silver tongue his father had, he inherited and was a naturally born merchant. As he aged, his skills were honed and then opportunity showed its hand. Caer Morien, lands that were newly being broken. He was given the money to set up a business venture there and set off from the city state of Rivincita. Soon arriving within the lands just as Domonico became the new Count of Caer Morien. With cocoa plants thriving on the isles, this business venture is going to be very prosperous. + |
| Adora Bell + | The Bell family of Arx was once known for making, you guessed it, bells! But it turns out the demand for such things isn't as great as one would think since they're mostly made to last. As a result, luckless Abrahall Bell (who everyone just called A as a sly joke), decided to strike out on his own and found a brewery! Sadly, he was not very good at it yet he was extremely stubborn that one day Bell Beer would take off, and so it wasn't long before he and his young new family found themselves in the Lower Boroughs, not quite struggling to survive thanks to small stipends sent by other more successful family members, but close enough. Two children were born of his marriage to wife Barb: Silver, a sickly young boy and Adora, who her mother swore never smiled until she was three years old and learned to push her brother down. Adora embraced the lawlessness of the Lower Boroughs early on, sneaking away from her family to roughhouse with the local kids and inevitably being taken in by the Ulbrans, who recognized a little thug when they saw one. She took to petty thieving like she was born to it and by the time she was a teenager had many run-ins with the Iron Guard, most of which she was able to talk her way out of. Not all. At a loss, her parents tried to steer her towards something that wouldn't end up with her at the end of a noose or worse, and thus a love of whittling was born. From there it was a short leap to carpentry. She loved the feeling of assembling something from nothing and loved the feel of coin in her hand even more. Coin that the Iron Guard couldn't question her about! By the time she hit her twenties, she was on the straight and narrow--at least by all outside appearances--looking to open her own shop and start raising her family out of the Lower Boroughs once and for all. + |
| Adora Ulbran + | The Bell family of Arx was once known for making, you guessed it, bells! But it turns out the demand for such things isn't as great as one would think since they're mostly made to last. As a result, luckless Abrahall Bell (who everyone just called A as a sly joke), decided to strike out on his own and found a brewery! Sadly, he was not very good at it yet he was extremely stubborn that one day Bell Beer would take off, and so it wasn't long before he and his young new family found themselves in the Lower Boroughs, not quite struggling to survive thanks to small stipends sent by other more successful family members, but close enough. Two children were born of his marriage to wife Barb: Silver, a sickly young boy and Adora, who her mother swore never smiled until she was three years old and learned to push her brother down. Adora embraced the lawlessness of the Lower Boroughs early on, sneaking away from her family to roughhouse with the local kids and inevitably being taken in by the Ulbrans, who recognized a little thug when they saw one. She took to petty thieving like she was born to it and by the time she was a teenager had many run-ins with the Iron Guard, most of which she was able to talk her way out of. Not all. At a loss, her parents tried to steer her towards something that wouldn't end up with her at the end of a noose or worse, and thus a love of whittling was born. From there it was a short leap to carpentry. She loved the feeling of assembling something from nothing and loved the feel of coin in her hand even more. Coin that the Iron Guard couldn't question her about! By the time she hit her twenties, she was on the straight and narrow--at least by all outside appearances--looking to open her own shop and start raising her family out of the Lower Boroughs once and for all. + |
| Adrian Beeler + | Adrian avoided influence of his avid family. His father worked as a carpenter and was widely social and his mother worked in an inn and had the same effect. He himself, however, avoided such and focused on a sort of self study, whatever he could get with what little he had from both of his parents. This sort of thing continued on until he decided to stay on his own. + |
| Adriana Fieldstone + | 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. + |
| Adriel Glynn + | Adriel was raised, along with his twin sister and best friend, Korka, by parents whose first loyalty was to the Telmars, and that loyalty is generational. But while his twin sister was constantly sticking her nose in things and getting into trouble, Adriel toed the line: a conscientious, well-behaved child, who was only very rarely drawn into hijinx past Korka’s ability to talk them both out of it. An able and attentive listener, he learned quickly at his lessons and served as soon as he was old enough in the forces of his lords’ retainers, learning a spear and shield along with the rules and laws of the regiment. + |
| Adrienne Pravus + | Bright, charming, born to Valardin, and gifted with a beautiful voice, Princess Adrienne might have been a storybook princess come to life. She knows, however, that fairy tales are for children. This knowledge has been painfully earned, brick by brick, as she has attended to the aftermath of raids and massacres, wars and illness with a Mercy's training so easily acquired in Sanctum. Adrienne left a courtier's life to others of her family and joined those with their hands in the dirt: a duty to her family name and a calling - or better perhaps described as a prayer - to be able to prevent suffering before it strikes. She has travelled the Oathlands to maintain her family's presence, listening to the needs of the many vassals and small villages in her purview. She has also studied wherever time and location would permit. Sanctum is a haven of knowledge, but the many Valardian domains have also invested heavily in education. Ignorance, when such resources are available, is a terrible sin. There is still work to be done in the Oathlands, but as the world turns its eyes to Arx, so must Princess Adrienne Valardin. Trouble brews. She would go there to stop it if she can. + |
| Adrienne Valardin + | Bright, charming, born to Valardin, and gifted with a beautiful voice, Princess Adrienne might have been a storybook princess come to life. She knows, however, that fairy tales are for children. This knowledge has been painfully earned, brick by brick, as she has attended to the aftermath of raids and massacres, wars and illness with a Mercy's training so easily acquired in Sanctum. Adrienne left a courtier's life to others of her family and joined those with their hands in the dirt: a duty to her family name and a calling - or better perhaps described as a prayer - to be able to prevent suffering before it strikes. She has travelled the Oathlands to maintain her family's presence, listening to the needs of the many vassals and small villages in her purview. She has also studied wherever time and location would permit. Sanctum is a haven of knowledge, but the many Valardian domains have also invested heavily in education. Ignorance, when such resources are available, is a terrible sin. There is still work to be done in the Oathlands, but as the world turns its eyes to Arx, so must Princess Adrienne Valardin. Trouble brews. She would go there to stop it if she can. + |
| Aeden Grayhope + | It can be tough being a Grayhope when you're growing up. It's certainly not the Lower Boroughs, but the whispers follow the children of this house from birth to death. Growing up, Aeden was intensely curious, voracious in his consumption of knowledge and sharper than a kid his age should've been. His words got him in trouble as often as not, but his family's relative prominence for a commoner family is what provided the resources for him to go beyond a basic education. Becoming a disciple of Vellichor was an absolute calling to a young man so sure of the direction his life would take. He was a Grayhope, however, and that has had complications of its own, the association with his family hindering him as often as, paradoxically, his faith. He truly believes Vellichor's teachings have become diluted since the Reckoning and his course in service at the Great Archive has followed that path. Knowledge must not be allowed to disappear and hidden knowledge is far more likely lost. As Prelate of the Black of the Great Archive, it is his role to push back against the Censor Librorum and the dangerous loss of knowledge that is hidden. Doesn't particularly ingratiate him with the higher ups, but he's good at what he does. + |
| Aedin Blackwood + | Even the wildest tribes have need of gifted souls able to read the wishes stored in the hearts of men. Whether determining if a treaty will hold or trading fox pelts, that talent sometimes spells the difference between a hard winter and a good one. The Blackwoods had their reputation for holding peace between tribes of the mountains and the sea, and Aedin's mother, a comely lass with golden hair and eyes like fire, caught her father's eye. Their marriage supposed peace, but their daughter surpassed them both for grace and wit. As a child, Aedin enchanted her playmates. Not for her, getting in trouble or torn dresses. She stayed close to her mother's side and honoured the tribe's shamans, often tending to the delicate tasks that earned her approval and favours. Let others barter in coin. She amassed obligations and debts of other kinds, wielding a silent power. Marriage offers spilled in soon as she was old enough, but she denied them all. A greater world waited. Patiently Aedin bided her time, and her exasperated father was none too willing to give up his precious treasure. She knows the ways of the wilds -- no Abandoned turned noblewoman in the North can avoid that -- but so too she learned the quieter secrets, the way of whispers and trade. But the world grew circumscribed. She hungered for the sea and larger markets. The people in the woods pleased her more than the wild wood itself. When the Blackwoods knelt to the Crovanes, she was one of the first to brave the strange world of beyond. Her exoticism lured in the unexpected, and she started up exactly as she had before, acquiring favours and exchanging debts, building on an intricate web of social graces that made her a merchant princess in the most unexpected ways. It wasn't long thereafter a party breezed through her adopted city, seeking someone to speak for them, a diplomat with a keen sense of value and a talent for appraisals. A wide-eyed, electric speaker, Aedin charmed them as much as her new crew laid out a fascinating future. Never one to back down from daring, she took them up, and so sails to Arx and points beyond under the leadership of Arthen Dayne. What's life for if not excitement? + |
| Aedric Blackshore + | Born in the shadow of Cornelius and Oswald, Aedric developed an immediate aversion to court politics and family diplomacy. Opting instead to follow in his bloodline's rich history of mercantilism and exploration, he spent most of his childhood pouring over textbooks, joining vassals and fishmongers on their expeditions to sea, and memorizing naval trade routes. The older he grew, the less time he spent ashore -- missing even the marriages of his brothers and births of his nieces and nephews. Rather than utilize the resources granted to him by noble privilege, he worked tirelessly to establish commercial and personal relationships throughout Arvum. + |
| Aela Velenosa + | Aela grew up invisible as the youngest of 3 children. Her sister was adored by all for her other-worldly beauty while her brother was praised as a scholarly genius from a young age. Aela was, indeed, smart and beautiful, but in the eyes of her parents, she paled greatly to her siblings. Neither a disappoint or a child to pay attention to, Aela grew up mostly isolated from her busy siblings and with generally anything she needed, except the love from her parents. During her lonely childhood, she would often sneak out and explore the city and make friends with the unknowing commoner children. From them, she learned the cunning ways of the streets, the beauty of music, and the fun of adventures. + |
| Aelgar Navegant + | Growing up a noble son in Escuma, Aelgar was lucky to have House tutors and a physically active rural lifestyle in a relatively invasion-free location. He survived childhood uninjured and healthy in the unremarkably active way of country children. Of note, though, is that his curiosity was often commented by adults and his interest in learning occasionally drew ridicule from his peers. He eventually came to the attention of the Disciples of Vellichor, or, perhaps they came to his attention, so precocious was he. As the years passed, he became a student and then an acolyte and, finally, a priest. Along the way, his curiousity and cultural tradition also pushed him to explore the island, wrestle with his peers, learn horses and dogs, and otherwise soak up the normal learning for a boy of his station. As a priest, he carried on the tradition and taught children himself, and then adults, mostly about thinking clearly and critically on topics like medicine and ruling. Over time, the scholarly thinker received some acceptance as a man with a good head on his shoulders and even became respected by some for his contributions. Eventually, though, he became restless with the offerings of his island home. He decided to travel to Arx with a letter of introduction to the church and another for distant relatives living there. + |
| Aelius Mercier + | Aelius was born into a minor branch of the Mercier family, to traditional scions who were interested in keeping the family business on wedding wines alive and well. His father, Vibius, was a dedicated merchant, often assisting to the former head of household in meetings and contacting relevant people to the trade deals. However, a young Aelius wasn't meeting up to the expectations of his father, preferring to spend his time studying scholary matters and painting, instead of learning the family business. Naive as he was, Aelius spent most of his time daydreaming of buildings he would create, tall creations that would impress The Pantheon themselves and he planned to dedicate such buildings to them. It was only when his father suffered a severe disease that Aelius realised his role in the family, he would spend his days trying to learn as much as he could from his dying father, working to fill up his boots and setting his dreams aside, at least for now, so he could help the cause of the family. Vibius passed away around Aelius' 27th Summer and Aelius decided it was time to put his ideas forward and advance the family business to a next level. + |
| Aella Ravenseye + | The firstborn of Chieftain Bran Ravenseye, Aella has always been on a path toward leading her clan of hardy, stalwart seafarers. Graced with rich red hair at birth, the girl was raised hearing murmurs about the blood that runs through her and similarities to her mother - Gudrun - and grandmother. A talented shaman of the Ravenseye people, Gudrun tragically disappeared during a raid by a rival Shav'arvani clan when Aella was just a baby. Bran searched for several years, finding no trace of his wife. Eventually, he remarried, which resulted in Aella gaining three siblings. Cadern, Rosalind, and Triton are all so different from her - and each other, but she loves them all and would do anything in her power to see them succeed. Of the four, Aella took to sailing the best, and she spent as much time as she could learning the ropes and gaining experience to earn being called 'captain' upon reaching her 18th year. And though her people needed to raid to survive, she developed a distinct hate for pirates before her people ever joined the Compact. Like so many others, Ravenseye faced tough choices during the SIlence War. Following their old ally, Clan Blackwood, Ravenseye bent knee to the Compact as their vassal. The addition of the seafaring people to the Northlands brought naval expertise and opportunity to Redrain. Soon after, Bran abdicated his rule to his eldest, believing that it was time for the new generation to lead his people down this new path. Aella had attained her birthright. It hasn't been the smoothest transition. Social missteps, accidental heresy, culture clash, and anti-Prodigal sentiment have dogged her steps over the years. Yet, through it all she has worked hard to show that her people are a benefit to the Compact, growing Stormheart and lending aid during the Gyre War and multiple engagements with Isles Traditionalists and Skal'dajans. She may be a reluctant countess, but Aella Ravenseye stands ready to weather any storm that comes. + |
| Aerandir Elensar + | One unaffiliated with seafaring would likely know little regarding the man that goes by the names of Aerandir Elensar. Nonetheless, should one inquire enough in dockside taverns, inns, and any harbours scattered about the continent of Arvum or the Mourning Isles; knowledgeable sailors, venerable innkeepers and the like may claim him to be a marine of Southport origin recognised for serving aboard a naval vessel called the Lusty Mermaid - which under the vassalage of House Grayson frequented many a harbour throughout the decades. Rumour has it, however, that the Lusty Mermaid - during a voyage through the Darkwater Reach - was sank, its crew slaughtered along with the civilian ship's it was escorting. The disgrace and ignominy following such colossal failure as the commanding officer and sole survivor of the vessel ensured his service's end, though his life was spared in recognition of his and his family's lengthy, formerly immaculate history of servitude. What transpired that day is anyone's guess, but what is certain is that the hedge knight now roams the lands as Crownsworn - bereft of the honour he once bore in service to one of the greatest houses of the Realm. + |
| Aerwan Valardin + | Born the only son of Bernh Valardin after years of attempted conception, to say that Aerwan was considered a blessing from the divine would be an understatement. A celebration was had on the day of his birth, offerings were made, praise was given, and a prince's get was watched over like circling hawks by the family staff as he grew up into a young boy, especially when try as they might over his formative years father and mother found themselves incapable of producing a spare to their heir. For the young Aerwan, life was an adventure, and there was no grander aspiration than to be a valorous knight upholding the honor of his family and bringing glory to the Pantheon - which his father was inclined to encourage - while escaping his minders at every opportunity to hare off and recreate such escapades with whomever he could wrangle into the process. There were no shortage of tutors and trainers to mold and refine the child into a young man capable of doing proud by his father, but that changed with the Tragedy. They were off on holiday during the massacres, and it was a weight that settled heavily on a tender young heart. But where it was the sort of thing that sparked a flame in many to only drill them deeper toward the sword, for Aerwan it had the opposite effect - lost in the malaise of mourning kin, the youth began to question his path and his purpose. There were always going to be times and places where arms were the only option.. but this was their result. What other options were there? It was while trying to find these answers that Aerwan began truly diving deeper into looking at the Pantheon as a broader picture to life instead of his younger zeal solely for Gloria, inquiring with priests of all of the divine, and in the process took his first steps on a different path, even if it wasn't what he would have hoped for. There was never any shortage of work to be done for the Faith, and so he spread whatever help he could advocate for with his family to the causes that called to him for action. There was still honor and glory to be found, but solace, too. The canonizing of the Lost was a particularly special time for the young man, and in the years since he has come to ponder on and search for more of Aion in particular, but also investigating other beliefs with an open, critical eye while rooted in his own faith. His own wandering pursuits to find knowledge and provide relief have recently come to a halt, returning for the first time in many years to Arx at the call of the Dragons to deal with the Skal'dajans. For all that he may be incapable in warfare, he has experience providing a helping hand - and there may be no shortage of need for those. + |
| Aerwyna Froic + | Growing up to a pair of farmers, her family were poor but not the poorest out there. But Aerwyna knew one day she wanted to be well off financially so she was encouraged to find a way to make money and an old family friend showed her the basics of sewing. She hopes to either join the crafter's guild or make it on her own. + |
| Aery Ashford + | Aery's been an orphan from a young age and has as such never been able to learn many good skills. Despite all of this, she's remained a positive outlook on life, somehow managing to stick to living through odd ends here and there. + |
| Aeryn Laurent + | As the youngest sister of Cristoph, Jael, and Cassandra she was free of much responsibility and was free focus on whatever it was at the moment that captured her fascination. For a while she thought she might be a singer or something like a bard. The next, a lawyer. The next focus was animal husbandry and then maybe even medicine. While she shied away form the martial aspects of life, she excelled at whatever she put her mind to. More recently, her father has died and Cristoph has taken the reigns over Artshall and while her heart broke for her father she couldn't be prouder of her older siblings. Now, having come of age she's been loosed upon Arx to find her path and her footing. + |
| Aethan Kennex + | Aethan, the oldest of three brothers, has always felt the oldest child's weight of responsibility, and it only got heavier with time. He went to sea at sixteen, followed soon by his brother Porter, and then by nine year old Ian. Not yet twenty, he found himself wearing the hats of brother, of father, teacher, and guardian. He drove himself hard, taught his brothers to do the same, and by the time they'd graduated from escorting merchant ships to hunting pirates on a ship that Aethan himself captained, the brothers Kennex were a force to be reckoned with, a force forged from the strength of the oldest brother's will. Aethan got so much respect for how well he taught his brothers that he was the one tasked with teaching the ungovernable Washburn Grayson to sail, more responsibility that he bore without breaking. These few years, riding high on the waves with his brothers by his side, were the happiest of Aethan's life, and they ended too soon when Ian, while trying to sail a prize ship through a storm, fell from the rigging and nearly died. The fall left Ian paralyzed -- and Aethan knew that it was his fault. He should have seen the signs that the storm was coming. He should have checked the prize ship's rigging. Unable to stomach the guilt, unable even to look at his broken little brother, Aethan lost himself in the bottle. He also lost himself in the comfort of a woman. Invierna Winter, the daughter of a wealthy Thrax-sworn merchant, came to him in that darkest night and soothed him. Only weeks after meeting her, they were married. Aethan loved her ardently enough that, at least for a couple of years, he was able to drown out his own self-loathing. But this moment of peace was ephemeral. Aethan lost his father, his mother, and his wife all in quick succession -- his father died of a lingering illness that had plagued him for months, and then a few weeks later, his mother and wife died suddenly during the same night. The Aethan who turned up in Arx weeks later was a shadow of the man he had once been, held together by copious amounts of alcohol and little else. He was reunited with his brothers, and as they gradually healed their relationship, he began to heal, as well. He became admiral of Stormward's fleet and served with distinction, spearheading the House's efforts to rebuild into something even stronger than it had been before the freeing of the thralls had driven it to the edge of ruin. Then he was needed for a greater and weightier calling -- Duke-Regent. It wasn't a responsibility that he was comfortable with shouldering, but he did it anyway, just like he always has done. If he's not equal to the task, he'll just have to force himself to rise to it. + |
| Agatha Redrain + | The wealth and privilege of the North do not always manifest in the same ways as the wealth and privilege of the South. Farhaven is not remote to the point of being entirely uncivilized, and yet there is still a brusque forthrightness that its children grow famous for, a wildness of the blood, sometimes coupled with a clarity of vision, that those who are more accustomed to the obfuscations of politics might not be able to channel. In youth, Agatha developed a headstrong nature early, and never abandoned it. For many children, a fall from a horse is reason to avoid horses; for Agatha, a fall from a horse was a reason to bloody well conquer the entire stable. Failures -- in the practice yard, in the schoolroom, in the woods and on the mountainside -- did nothing to deter her from her goals, whatever they were. They were merely added incentive to succeed on the next try. Agatha did not actually set a record for broken bones in the course of her training, but her knight trainers consistently told her that she was at risk of doing so. Yet she healed well and quickly, apparently by applying her force of will to her body, or maybe just by nagging so hard and so aggressively that finally she was permitted to leave the infirmary and get out into the world again regardless of how ready she ought to be for it. Warcraft lured her with her own aptitude -- her strength and acumen with weapons made her want to get out into the world and demonstrate her prowess and earn glory for her house, but meanwhile she struggled with history and mathematics and the things that make a war leader instead of a knight. Yet she applied her focus and her determination to these things as much as to her training, because she simply refused to fail, and she breached the walls of adulthood as a young knight with a fierce desire to prove herself and defend her family from all comers. Originally she was going to spend more time working with the troops in Farhaven and defending the home guard, but as several of her relations of the blood fell in battle or out of it, she determined it was time to join her family in Arx and lend her spear to the defense of the Compact. + |
| Agnarr + | Of common, albeit healthy stock, Agnarr tired of work on the farm and sought to relieve his family of the burden of his appetite, as well as strike out on his own. He stole away in the night with one of the farmstead's felling axes, offering service as a caravan hand - and eventually that grew to caravan guard, until he'd earned enough coin to purchase a proper panoply for himself. With a fair amount of experience underneath his (surprisingly trim) belt, he seeks work rather more in the southern reaches. + |
| Agnarr Frost + | Of common, albeit healthy stock, Agnarr tired of work on the farm and sought to relieve his family of the burden of his appetite, as well as strike out on his own. He stole away in the night with one of the farmstead's felling axes, offering service as a caravan hand - and eventually that grew to caravan guard, until he'd earned enough coin to purchase a proper panoply for himself. With a fair amount of experience underneath his (surprisingly trim) belt, he seeks work rather more in the southern reaches. + |
| Agostino Alonso + | Agostino was born to one of the barmaids at the Black Fox tavern, a lively woman named Marina Alonso, some time ago. Her family had lived in the Ward of the Lyceum for two generations, tracing their blood back to servants who accompanied members of house Argento to Arx as servants from Nilanza. An only child, he fell in easily with some of the troublemakers in the Ward as he grew older, running the streets with them and getting into all manner of mischief. Though he never missed any of the lessons with the Scholars that his mother insisted on, otherwise he could be found all over the city by the time he had reached his teen years. His knowledge of the streets of the city became increasingly valuable as he approached adulthood, beginning with working in the same tavern as his mother, carrying messages for the customers. This quickly translated into more silver for him when he realized that the value of the content of some of those messages, to the right sort of people, was quite high. Along with what he learned from the Scholars, he developed a strong appreciation for knowledge of all sorts, particularly the sort that was risky or difficult to obtain. Over time, he developed a reputation for having access, or gaining it, to all sorts of interesting tidbits, and for years, he did so freelance, selling what he found to the highest bidders. Most of his customers were Lycene, though, given where he grew up, and many considered it merely a matter of time before he was hired by one of them. This happened only recently, however, with the formation of house Malespero, in a way bringing him full circle, since they now have control of the city his own family originated in. It took him some time to get used to the idea of having an employer, but now he has settled into his role within the household comfortably. + |
| Agric Leary + | Like most of the Leary family, Agric spent many of his years in Leaholdt under the vast tutelage of the many scribes and scholars, even at an early age. This paired with strict parents who drilled into him the need for the methodical progression of your intentions, leads to the sort of well-mannered young man who garners the support of many Elder Learies. Let it not be said that his studies failed to grant him expertise either. When Agric came of age, he quickly left his studies at the Leaholdt Academy, only to move up in the world and find a position on their staff. For three years, Agric lingered on the staff of the Leaholdt Academy, learning administration and governance carefully. He focused on the areas of law in order to better assist his family in their dealings, but these were not his passions. Not exactly, even if he did put a proper amount of effort into it as was expected. In reality, what truly grasped his heart was the arts. All of them. Every. Last. Single. One. Agric has a deep love of painting, drawing, and any other number of mediums. He throws himself into learning their intricacies with a passion he doesn't really show anything else. + |
| Ahmar Nightgold + | Ahmar grew up in Stonedeep and was closest to his sister Azolla. Because of her illness as a child, and his lack of social skills and book smarts, he took to training, telling himself that at the very least he could keep his little sister safe. Once he became older and Azolla began to flourish more he began branching out a bit, offering his spear, sword, or axe to any who needed it. He see's it as his duty to keep the people of the north safe. He saw many battles in his time up north. Most of which ending in him being injured so bad that most people wouldn't think a human could survive, but be it luck, the spirits, the gods or /something/, he always managed to make it out the other side without permanent damage, some of course requiring more recovery time than ever. Despite this, it never stopped him from picking his weapons and armor back up and going back at it. More recently his sister came to Arx, and being distrustful of people he doesn't know, he decided to follow, just in case. + |
| Ahriman Grayson + | Ahriman Pravus (married Grayson) was born the fourth sibling and he was a long way from inheritance of the Pravus leadership which meant outside of treachery he was never going to sniff much significance with Setarco and it seemed he was destined to be marriage fodder. Ahriman was left to find his way through military conquest and focused on the sea. A cunning man he was seen as ambitious om his pursuit of sailing; yet perhaps lacking in the Lyceum manner of doing whatever it takes to move upwards within the ranks. He quickly found himself captain upon the High Seas and earned a small measure of prominence through his exploits and leadership. By his siblings and family he was seen as a distant threat due to his familial loyalty and nature. He was never seen as possessing the cunning treacherous aspirations stereotyped within the Lyceum. When Ahriman was married off (sight unseen) to Princess Alarys Grayson the marriage was a suitable match for him. Ahriman married up due to the need of the Grayson fleet of capable commanders. Secondarily the marriage would help tie and improve relations between the Lyceum (and their massive fleets) and the Grayson family. And when viewed through the lenses of Thraxian instability and rebellion that left the seas volatile and unruly; the marriage was a perfect opportunistic match of the time. And so he was content to marry up and the man found himself enjoying his newfound family and position. Ahriman showed his prowess at sea and as he sailed and led Grayson ships to war the man earned notoriety and was seen as a great rising commander whose sights were set upon command and control of the Grayson fleet. At home his marriage blossomed and the birth of his first daughter (Lou Grayson) and concluding with his third and youngest daughter (Reese Grayson). All of whom favored their mother's lighter complexion. He was a firm yet caring father full of energy and warmth to his children and his family. He grew to love his wife very deeply. Ahriman was far more reserved outside of this circle behind closed doors and was perceived at times to be a bit cold and firm in his person outside of his closed circle. He was very much a firm authoritarian in his personality when removed from the presence of the joys in his life. Ahriman was next in line to inherit the Grayson fleet when he sailed out with a small number of ships on a searcg mission into Abandoned waters in 994 AR in search of the lost Alaric III. The small contingent of vessels never returned and many considered Prince Ahriman Grayson a casualty caught up in either a victim of piracy or having been lost to violent storms that were reported in the area. No word of the presumed dead Prince surfaced for many years until recently. Rumors began in late 1009 AR of a man found many leagues into Abandoned and Gyre waters that capture a barely sailable skiff and found refuge in Lyceum waters near Setarco. Weak, gaunt, and barely alive he was taken to the Mercy's where he was nourished back to health until only recently did he regain consciousness. That man has identified himself as Prince Ahriman Grayson. He remembers little or nothing of what happened seventeen years ago on his voyage. His life the last seventeen years was spent as a slave in Abandoned lands he recalls well. It was not until disease wiped out his captors (one his Arx immunities saved him from) that he found and eventually won his freedom. The layers of scars and whip marks upon his flesh validate much of his claim along with the clear aged deformation around his throat due to his slave collar. Now Prince Ahriman has returned to Arx to see what became of his daughters, his wife, and his Grayson family. He has been reported to be distant and if not a little troubled from his ordeal but mostly of sound mind and body. His physical prowess though has waned given his captivity and torment. + |
| Ahrsen Damane + | Ahrsen was born on a tiny island to the south. Expansion pushed larger houses outwards, and those, in turn, pushed smaller houses even further out. Soon the tiny island was usurped by a greater house and made into a barony after a terrible battle that saw most fighting men dead. The boy's mother would sing to him at night and tell him stories of the old kingdom and what it was like to be a part of his people. Having fled their little island the boy and his mother grew up in relative peace until he came of age. It was around the age of 14 or 15 that Ahrsen begins to show an interest in a sailors life. He threw in with mercenaries early on and soon was sailing the clear blue waters of the south seas and raiding. Within a matter of years, he soon had a ship of his own and a loyal crew. His silent, brooding nature and short way of speaking garnered a fair amount of loyalty and respect from his crew, and they were feared in those waters. The captain was in it for the money and glory, nothing more. As a captain, Ahrsen learned more things than the art of sailing and combat. He learned things like music and poetry, things he had no skill at but grew on him. A love of animals, wildlife, and art also entertained his thoughts. All these things were as much a part of his adventures as they were the upbringing by his mother, a lady who had once had great influence on the little island where he was born. His mother passed shortly after his 20th year but not before giving a ring that belonged to his father. The mercenary group had turned into a sizeable fleet after some time, and they begin to run into trouble as they gained a little too much attention. Rather than fight to the bitter end or be captured and imprisoned, Ahrsen and his crew sold their ship, disbanded most of the crew and then purchased a new one. In that vessel, they sailed to Arx with plans to do business closer to the capital. For now, they have been raiding Abandoned and doing mercenary jobs, the Captain waiting for the right time to take in a big haul. + |
| Ahven Granger + | When Ahven was very young, her parents moved the family from Artshall to Sanctum. Or, they meant to. They were involved in an accident on the road, leaving Ahven to be escorted back to Artshall by a Knight of Solace - now an orphan. Her closest living relative there was the Seraph, and while he could not adopt her, he did make sure she was provided for and well educated as a ward of the local nobility. Her memories of that trip are faint and fractured, but the impression of the heroic Knight who found her and carried her home never left her. She grew up torn between her desire to follow in her Knightly hero's footsteps and her desire to honor the memory and legacy of her family. One does not simply forget when one is the last known living descendant of the Very First Champion. Luckily, in the Oathlands, these two dreams can be entwined and chased together, and that's what she's done, barrelling through her adolescence and teenage years, leading with her head. It's the hardest part of her body. + |
| Aibek Grayson + | Aibek Grayson is the youngest child of Roderick Grayson and Daniela Grayson nee Bisland. A scion of both House Grayson and House Bisland. He studied combat under his uncle duke Gabriel Bisland along with his older brother Ainsley. But he leaned more toward smaller, faster blades than his older brother. His parents had all but given up on getting one of their children to be a politician by the time that Aibek was old enough to start being guided in life, so while he was given tutelage and taught how to be a noble as all members of his family-- he was also somewhat spoilt by his parents. He was allowed to put his attention more toward the physical, becoming quite acrobatic. But he also had a wanderlust, and he ended up travelling for some time with a relative, and then joining the Knights of Solace as a disciple. Squaring with a knight for a time to help protect travelers. + |
| Aiden Grayson + | Born the middle child of Prince Rodric Grayson and the Lady Daniela Bisland, Aiden Grayson was raised alongside siblings Ainsley and Ailys in Bastion. From the start Aiden was a quiet child and often considered the 'odd duck' by the others, adult and child alike. Friendship wasn't easy for a child who would barely manage to speak a word under pressure; a problem which often escalated into him becoming a target to be pushed around. + |
| Aiden Rubino-zaffria + | Born the middle child of Prince Rodric Grayson and the Lady Daniela Bisland, Aiden Grayson was raised alongside siblings Ainsley and Ailys in Bastion. From the start Aiden was a quiet child and often considered the 'odd duck' by the others, adult and child alike. Friendship wasn't easy for a child who would barely manage to speak a word under pressure; a problem which often escalated into him becoming a target to be pushed around. + |
| Ailith Ethere + | For those of humble birth among the many vassals of House Valardin, the dream of being one of their gallant knights may forever be out of reach. But Ailith as a commoner sought martial training regardless, accepting she might raise no higher than a simple footsoldier among the house guards of the tiny barony of her birth if that was the price she might pay for a chance to strike at the evil foes that threaten home and hearth. She feels it was the will of the gods to spare her from a boring backwater, however, when her barony found itself on the front against an Abandoned warband, a shockingly large makeshift army of several barbaric clans who sought to raid and plunder the weaker borders of House Valardin's holdings. Ailith still remembers the looks of terror on her fellow soldiers faces on the eve before battle, and the disappointment she felt when she realized the seraph assigned to her barony was a terrified old priest who never expected to speak on the eve of a battle. The young woman still recalls being able to all but smell the fear from her fellow soldiers, sapping their resolve, and then something like a whisper to her... something only she could hear, that spoke words of iron and triumph. Ailith, the youngest soldier and lowest of the guards out of the hundreds, addressed her unit. She spoke movingly of faith, of duty, of honor, and what it meant to be a child of the gods and a servant of Gloria. She remembers the fear melting away from her fellow soldiers, the growing cheers as those men and women found their courage and their resolve, and of the fervor that gripped them all as they then faced the screaming hordes of the Abandoned the following day and smashed the enemy host while greatly outnumbered. A lone knight of solace who had been at the battle declared it no less than a miracle, and all but demanded that Ailith be sent to Arx to meet with the Faith and consider joining one of the militant orders serving the gods. Though she was expecting to become a soldier serving with the Knights of the Temple, a meeting with the Dominus himself convinced the young woman otherwise. The earthly voice of the gods spoke movingly of the importance of priestesses that can inspire and remind the faithful of what the gods require of them and to not break when the time comes for their tests of faith. He convinced her that one who can speak with divinely inspired words can do more good in the halls of power than a thousand steadfast soldiers, and assigned her as the personal priestess to the royal family: the palace seraph. Ailith is not entirely comfortable with a role that keeps her from the fighting, but she nonetheless recognizes its importance. How few commoners get the chance to talk to kings, and counsel them on what their faith asks of them? As the palace seraph, it is precisely her task, and she can do no less if that is the path the gods have set before her. + |
| Ailys Grayson + | Princess Ailys Grayson, daughter of Prince Rodric Grayson and Lady Daniela Bisland, was born with all the patience and composure that her oldest brother, Ainsley, would prove to lack. Those present for the event later joked that she came out of the womb with more poise and grace than even the most veteran of diplomats. So, of course, it is to everyone's dismay that she refused to become a politician, instead applying those gifts to perfecting her bedside manner in the field of medicine. She knew early on that she would need to learn how to mend flesh and bone; after all, her siblings were always getting hurt in their training. Providing assistance in those moments came naturally. She instinctively tended to cuts and scrapes. It started with Ainsley but soon encompassed all of the children that trained under her uncle, Duke Gabriel Bisland, as well. By the age of ten, she was watching a sparring match between two hot-headed young men, no adults in sight, that ended with one of the boys getting a particularly bad knock to the head! Ailys calmly took control of the situation, seeing to the injured party before getting her uncle's physician involved. Said physician was so impressed by her handling of the mishap that they took her on as an apprentice. From that day on, she received expert instruction in the healing arts. By the time she reached the age of majority, she was deemed competent enough to act unsupervised. Ailys garnered an impressive reputation as both a trusted healer and a much beloved Grayson princess, devoted to both roles with humility and the utmost decorum. That is why it came as such a shock to the people of the Crownlands, in the shadow of the Sack of Bastion, she set aside all titles and noble privileges to live as a commoner. 'Such a sensitive soul,' the scholars wrote, cherishing her all the more for it. + |
| Aindre Grayson + | Aindre Grayson was a bold and capable soul from his youngest years, always a strong-willed handful and into everything. His parents and teachers realized early on that his liveliness of spirit would need to be channeled into something productive. The sword was a natural fit and he was allowed to pursue it so long as he gave an equal amount of dedication to his lessons in strong leadership, sound diplomacy and whatever else his parents thought to be the hallmarks of a great political figure. This left him with the well-rounded education a prince should have, but anyone could see that while it was duty which drove him to learn the importance of maneuvering through the political machinations of the realm, his training in arms was where his passion was allowed to blossom. Between the excessive number of exceptionally talented members belonging to both halves of his Grayson and Bisland lineage, Aindre was never at a loss for older role models nor was he ever lacking in extraordinary cousins to test himself against in matters of the sword or the silver tongue. A veteran of two wars - the Silence and the Gyre - it was only a matter of time before his duties carried him to Arx on a more long-term basis in the Spring of 1012 AR at a point when tensions were high, the last of his siblings to do so. How his story unfolds from there is anyone's guess, but Aindre Grayson cut his teeth on tales of his family's storied history and the words of his House might as well be etched into his soul, so many in Bastion expect even greater things from him. No pressure, right? + |
| Aine Halfshav + | Adelie Pravus, second wife of Ahern Halfshav, was unhappy in Whitehold from the moment she arrived following her marriage to the widowed lord. Khanne and Arik were never really hers and this world was cold and miserable. It was likely that there would have been a divorce, but then Aine arrived in a screaming bundle on one rare, gloriously warm day in the far north reaches. And Adelie had something of her own, which Aine was raised to be. She was not raised with or like her half-siblings, allowed to form their own paths in the wilds, especially after Ahern's death. She was raised as a Southern lady, her mother's own little audience just as trapped as Adelie felt but in a different way. The call of her Northern blood was a thing to be ignored as she studied and worked on her wits and charm. It's only as Khanne rises that Aine has found an escape. She has been allowed to come to Arx, to see the city for the first time, and notable without her mother in attendance. There's hardly a party, or event in the bustling capital that Aine isn't attending. If she wants to make it somewhere in this world, she knows that she's going to make the right connections. Sister of a Duchess is not all that she wishes to be. + |
| Ainsley Grayson + | Born to Daniela Bisland and Rodric Grayson, Ainsley Grayson is a distant cousin of the Crown Prince. His parents tried to groom him for politics and the spotlight. Wanting him to shine like a star. They had many a plan for him. He created for none of them. As a boy he was far more interested in being outside in the training yard. As he grew he found it far too exhausting to deal with politics. Don't say this, don't do that. Pretend you like that person, don't talk to that person even though you like them. Why can't he just tell people whether or not they are annoying him? Why does he need to act a certain way? His parents saw it as a rebellion when he pursued a career in the Iron Guard. He saw it as a way to still do the Grayson name proud, without spending all that time exhausting himself trying to weave political webs. He'd rather just be himself. So he has thrown himself into the Iron Guard. He wants to do the Grayson motto justice: 'None greater than Grayson'. He wants to the best knight in the Iron Guard. His parents eventually found peace with his choice in life, and have stopped putting as much pressure on him to be some political maestro. He was, aside from his parents expectations, quite spoilt as a child. He spent time as a child with his Bisland cousins but his Grayson ones as well. Though most of those connections have not been very strong. Connecting with his family is something he looks forward to in the future. + |
| Aisha Inverno + | Aisha was one of several siblings and a member of the Inverno family. She was expected to uphold the traditions of her family as well as be a proper woman of the Velenosa fealty. Duty was hammered into Aisha since birth. This sense of duty never escaped her even as it became clear as she grew that she was a person who got lost in her own thoughts far too much. However, she never failed to take up her duties. One is not noble, according to Aisha, and forgets their duties towards their family, their fealty, and their Gods. That is the way of things. At one point in her life Aisha realized she, like many of her family seemed to be inclined, wished to become a Mirrormask. She realized her more notable personality traits were at odds with each other, just as a reflection typical is. + |
| Aislin Ashford + | As a girl, Aislin demanded tales of adventure in which the pretty princess was the heroine and the dashing prince was the plucky sidekick, and side by side the two of them would take on the world, seeing the sights and mapping the secrets of Arvum. As a woman, Aislin isn't wasting her time waiting for the dashing prince to accompany her on her adventures, and instead of having tales recounted at her bedside, she is living her dream. An explorer with impressive locales under her belt, Aislin is her own hero. She's blazed mountain trails and mapped coastlines, categorized artifacts and delivered manuscripts to the Scholars of Vellichor, though her fierce independence has thus far kept her from outright joining their order. She does spend quite a bit of time in Arx however, seeking out like-minded scholars and explorers to exchange stories and obscure bits of lore, and sometimes to team up with those self-same people for further adventuring. + |
| Ajax Tyde + | "Let the silver fall, boy!" The echoes of Ajax's father still crawling through his skull. He was a surprisingly happy child before the fall of Tyde under the strict tutelage of his father and mother both well respected if not ruthless merchants of the realm which led to an unfortunate bit of scrutiny on the otherwise happy go lucky child. As he aged into the world properly he never found himself taken with further education provided by his parents and as he simply seemed to lack the patience required to be a merchant. In his teenage years, he spent time away from his mother and father to learn the art of sword play from a distant uncle. Learning chivalry, and the art of the sword spoon fed the tales of war and adventure against the elves. Ajax was being prepared for service to a knight when Tyde had fallen. When the news had reached the land he had disappeared only being spoken of in rare passing. During the start of Ajax adulthood he would be found amongst the Redwood mercenary company, often guarding the roads, fighting in small skirmishes for coin. Eventually, parting to earn his own way in the world. While those who encounter him claim he cares for little for status, he seems content in his own dreams in hording a large stockpile of coin + |
| Akamos Cyrto'ani + | Most of the Abandoned that can be found in the islands of the Cyrto Arch to the far South West of the Lyceum Sea are part of a clan known as a Pol, lead by a Polmarkh. They vary in nature with some living in scattered towns and villages with others preferring to live behind the protection given by the walls of their fortified towns. Akamos was born and raised amongst the Pol of the Mountain, on Cyrto Major, the largest isle in the Cyrto Archipelago. Rare amongst the Pols of the Cyrto Arch, that of the Mountain had a strong shamanistic tradition, one that Akamos never truly felt satisfied him. As a child he enjoyed the life that he had, helping his father with the fishing and enjoying the praise from his parents when he performed his chores to their satisfaction. When he was twelve his life was changed drastically when his parents were both killed in a raid orchestrated by another Cyrto Arch faction, the Pol of the Reef, a particularly aggressive and warlike Pol. He was then taken in as a ward of Arkhos Arminius, the second to Polmarkh Kassandra and war leader of the Pol of the Mountain. His day to life changed completely as he was more or less in service to Arkhos at that point, the veteran war leader training the boy hard in the ways of combat. However hard he may try in his training and tasks, Akamos never got any praise from Arkhos and it was only the occasional positive words from his cousin Kia that gave him any sense of self worth. Then the Malvici lead expedition came to Cyrto Major in friendship to the Pol of the Mountain. They defeated the rival Pol of the Great Bay and established House Magnotta, Akamos got to see other types of warriors and fighting and vowed to emulate and impress them and over the following years he became a rising name amongst his people and the settlers from the mainland. A short while ago however he was responsible for defending a group of travellers out of Caer Morien from a savage attack by the Pol of the Reef. Akamos was at the forefront of the battle and was cited as being responsible for routing the attackers. Word of his feat spread until it reached the ear of the new Count Domonico Magnotta, who then summoned him to offer this warrior the position of Sword of Caer Morien. + |
| Akio Nagamine + | By thirty-five, Akio should have been someone. He should have married for the honor of his house or to stir his own ambitions and climb the social ladder. He should have been among the ranks of the Children, running across the rooftops of the capital city. By thirty-five, Akio's name should be known to more than just his family and friends, but to his father's disappointment it was not. Akio seemed to have none of the same ambitions that had driven his family the ranks of middle nobility in the Undying Empire. This was not to say that Akio had done nothing with his life. He had spent it as a scholar, chasing a discovery that might one day put his name on the tongues of important people. The problem he found was that most of the important discoveries in the Empire had already...well, been discovered. At least that was his excuse. The beaurocracy made sure everything was well documented. The scribes of Vellichor picked up what slack was left. If you wanted to know something, you just went to the library. Then came Arvum. Then came Copper's death and the year of mourning, and everything for Akio changed. Suddenly he had a chance to docment what the Empire did not have. Suddenly he had a chance to study what Platinum did not already know. And maybe if he could return home with the results of the Platinum Shift documented, then he could find a reward worthy of his father's praise. And so he was sent with Xia, Jian, and Nyima as part of the delegation to Arx. Now he serves as Chronicler and Accountant while working his private research. + |
| Aksel Nygard + | Aksel hails from a commoner family Nygard that has been loyal to the Nightgolds for as long as anyone can remember. Like the clan of enterprising shavs so many generations ago, they too bent the knee to Arx and its rulers. The Nygard clan ended up being small, but proud family of miners, which they had done for generations before being brought into the fold of Nightgold. Good work, hard work, but fulfilling work. They worked the mines, were paid decently for their services and really couldn't be asked for much else. They were neither popular or disliked, the Nygards were seem more as a staple and anchor in Stonedeep. So long as a Nygard worked the mines, all would be well. Aksel, in the beginning, barely entering his teen, joined in the family work, taking up the pickaxe like his father, brothers, and ancestors before. In his clan, it was something as priviledge, grateful to the mountain that allowed them to take their bounty from it. Aksel's life took a turn for the different, the day a tribe of shavs, still unwilling to bend knee and finding the hold of Stonedeep and affront to their way of life, attacked one of the mines worked by the Nightgold. Aksel's father older brothers were there that day, and were killed in the resulting cave-in that ensued, created by the attacking shavs. For all his life, Aksel had intended on just being another miner, an everyman, a common man, and was content with this. But now being the eldest of the family and burning with anger at the family taken from him, he enlisted in the duchy's armies to serve his cause and get his revenge after the tribe led to the collapse of a mine tunnel, entombing his father and eldestborn brothers with in it. Come to his surprise, his more than anyone else's, he had a knack for combat. It came naturally to him as it did taking a pickaxe to ore. And this talent was picked out by the Nightgolds, one of their elder soldiers having an eye for raw, but bursting talent when she sees it. She took young Aksel under her wing, having him train alongside Nadia and her elder brother Dustin. A rather odd thing to do, which made Aksel nervous to no end, not thinking he should be anywhere near them, but oddly enough, the three of them formed a bond and fast friendship between them. And so the training and fighting continued, Aksel, somehow making a name for himself as one of the better soldiers in Stonedeep, a point of contention the man always denies, having no want or need for songs sung or ballads told about him. Which really, only endeared him more to common folk of Stonedeep, being his humility and the simple statement that he was only doing his job. It was, and still is, something he hasn't gotten used to, being the center of attention. He's more happy to stand in the background and let the nobles have their fun. His likes are simple ones, such as his hobby of carving jewerly from soapstone. Years and personal accolades later, Duke Neddim Nightgold goes on one of his "famous walks" that he was known to do and never comes back. Weeks pass, and after enough fretting and worrying, Dustin and a number of other Nightgold family members and soldiers go after him in search and end up missing as well. Some time later, a sack is sent to doors of Stonedeep. Inside the bag is nothing more than a number of severed, frostbitten and bloated hands back with rosegold signet rings. None of them were the duchal ring, which meant there was chance Duke Nightgold still lived, resulting in Princess Nadia to send a war party out for blood and take revenge. She appointed Aksel, her friend, to led that war party, though word is he requested to lead it because of his friendship with Dustin. The shavs, and it was shavs who committed the act, were killed to the man, Aksel as the one who killed their chieftan in single combat, leaving the latter dead and former with a scar on his face for his efforts. It was to be this story that would be told for some time. Rescuing the Duke Nightgold and avenging the losses of the house, Princess Nadia named Aksel Sword of Stonedeep as a title, and giving him the relic weapon which represented that house. And yes, to this day, Aksel still downplays his involvement. He's just a soldier, even if these days Nadia keeps dragging him along in whatever she happens to get wrapped up in. + |
| Alantir Valardin + | How Alantir survived the Tragedy at Sanctum remains to this day a mystery. He has the scars to show for it, of course -- the raised and discolored tissue marring the majority of his bare chest and back. But the memories, beyond crawling from beneath a pile of corpses and burning debris? Hidden behind an impenetrable veil that obfuscates even his unconscious mind from uncovering the truth beneath. He talks about the event rarely, opting instead to busy himself with tasks entrusted to him on behalf of his family and its dignitaries. Outside of this blemish on an otherwise perfect record, he is very much the honor-bound and chivalrous knight one would expect to find bearing the crest of the White Dragon -- though perhaps with a negative predisposition toward the shav'arvani due to the great pain the Abandoned inflicted upon the Valardin psyche. + |
| Alaric Grayson + | When his father, King Alaric III was lost at sea during the Tyde Rebellion, King Alaric IV was just a boy- a boy who greatly resented the regency of Duke Gabriel Bisland, a duke who had no intention of attempting to shielding the young boy from the harsh realities of rule, but wound up alienating his ward. After Alaric IV's majority when he came of age at 18, he dismissed Gabriel as regent, ruling as a well liked but intensely frivolous king, who had little interest in the advice of sober ministers and listened to corrupt flatterers- ultimately resulting in the King's Rest, when his tragic trip to the Night Grove resulted in the death of his entire royal retine, and his coma for three years. Finally freed from his illness, the King of the Compact is determined to make right for the sins of the past and prove himself a true king, leading with strength and wisdom as he rules over a hard won peace. A peace that almost certainly will not last. + |
| Alarie Harall + | "I can barely remember the Saffron Chain. I was but a small child when my family came to the city. My father was a merchant, patriarch of the family. He sought to bring his business here to make a name for himself and the family. Unfortunately, he never quite made it as big as he had dreamed. We really cannot complain though, we have shelter and food. We do not go without our needs. Though,he had always dreamed of more. Mother had a talent with cooking and she always seemed to enjoy providing for the family. She always did father's biding with a smile on her face. Many men envied him for the wife he had. However, she took ill and died when I was twelve. Since then, father was not the same. He drank. He lost interest in the business. The family began to suffer for it. One thing I learned from mother was how to sew. I am actually quite good at it. The actors and actresses come to me for their costumes when putting on their plays. People around the city seek me out to make new garments for them. I have used this to help build the family back up. It all goes back to the family. + |
| Alarissa Thrax + | No matter how adept Princess Alarissa manages to be at getting her way, it always seems like the world conspires to ruin her victories. Ever since she was very young, the ambitious young woman felt she was destined for glory. She was born too distant from the crown to rule Grayson by inheritance, of course, but she had almost neatly circumvented that nuisance of birth by showing Alaric IV just how obviously lovely and charming she was, and had juuuuuust about gotten a betrothal when frustratingly wiser heads snatched him away and gotten the distantly related dolt to agree to marry a Thraxian instead. Yes, yes, putting an end to centuries of unrest and blood is simply wonderful for those worried about that sort of thing, but Alarissa would have been a marvelous Queen for a pure Grayson match. Instead, Alarissa was forced to pivot from being the perfect potential match for King Alaric into being the perfect potential match for some high-lord to be or other. So she arranged to 'accidentally' meet Prince Vance Valardin, the disturbingly pious and stalwart son of the Prince of Sanctum and future ruler of the Oathlands, and she had to awe him with her numerous virtues, foremost that she looked absolutely stunning in white. It wasn't too long before she was betrothed, and not much longer until she was married and finally in a position to be the wife of the future Prince of Sanctum, and then all her plans needed to be thrown into ruin once more. Her husband (along with most of his family) were killed at the Tragedy at Sanctum, leaving Alarissa an extremely young window without issue among her new family in House Valardin. While she appreciates that he died heroically protecting his extremely gorgeous and charming young wife, she would have much rather he heroically barred the door until help arrived rather than leaving her alone to consider her next move. It is most irritating. That next move would take nearly five years. But good things come to those who wait and the Usurper of Maelstrom reached out with an offer. A political marriage. They were in need of her Grayson blood and Valardin connections. The hindrance was the status as enemies, both houses. But! She had a solution to that. Why wouldn't she? Nothing was going to get in her way. Oathlanders keep their promises after all and Alarissa had no qualms about leveraging a promise made by the Prince of Sanctum. It was a pairing that brought no small amount of shock and in a circuitous fashion Thrax and Grayson back again. A quiet marriage of just Godsworn and themselves, knee deep in water and the deed was done. The mainlander bride of the High Lord of Thrax. Whether this would last, who knew. She had adaptability going for her. A Grayson flower in the tidal pools of Thrax. Time would tell. And it has thus far. At his side and working hand in hand, Thrax has begun to really prosper. The Gyre dispensed with, Thralldom reformations in place - attributed to her despite that in truth it's Victus but that's perfectly fine with her. A truce between Valardin and Thrax that has settled in, a renewed strong alliance between the Lycene and Mourning Isles. There is little that has failed to be accomplished when Alarissa has put her mind to it. Heirs provided, including the future first High Lady of Thrax, everything seems to be going well on the outside and the marriage going strong. But she's still young in that marriage, in helping rule and her status as one of the most talked about women in the city and the compact brings no small amount of jealousy or admiration from it's populace. She still has a long way to go and many more moves. + |
| Alarissa Valardin + | No matter how adept Princess Alarissa manages to be at getting her way, it always seems like the world conspires to ruin her victories. Ever since she was very young, the ambitious young woman felt she was destined for glory. She was born too distant from the crown to rule Grayson by inheritance, of course, but she had almost neatly circumvented that nuisance of birth by showing Alaric IV just how obviously lovely and charming she was, and had juuuuuust about gotten a betrothal when frustratingly wiser heads snatched him away and gotten the distantly related dolt to agree to marry a Thraxian instead. Yes, yes, putting an end to centuries of unrest and blood is simply wonderful for those worried about that sort of thing, but Alarissa would have been a marvelous Queen for a pure Grayson match. Instead, Alarissa was forced to pivot from being the perfect potential match for King Alaric into being the perfect potential match for some high-lord to be or other. So she arranged to 'accidentally' meet Prince Vance Valardin, the disturbingly pious and stalwart son of the Prince of Sanctum and future ruler of the Oathlands, and she had to awe him with her numerous virtues, foremost that she looked absolutely stunning in white. It wasn't too long before she was betrothed, and not much longer until she was married and finally in a position to be the wife of the future Prince of Sanctum, and then all her plans needed to be thrown into ruin once more. Her husband (along with most of his family) were killed at the Tragedy at Sanctum, leaving Alarissa an extremely young window without issue among her new family in House Valardin. While she appreciates that he died heroically protecting his extremely gorgeous and charming young wife, she would have much rather he heroically barred the door until help arrived rather than leaving her alone to consider her next move. It is most irritating. + |
| Alayne Frost + | Alayne's history, since childhood, was laced and tied to calamity that was no public secret. Her father, a famed alchemist under the hire of a now diseased vassal of Redrain, practiced his trade openly in the red ward of its fealty. A particularly treacherous night called for the explosion of his laboratory, a combination of fire; of nameless concoctions with terrifying, gaseous nature spelling the doom of him, his Lord and his family name. Alayne was cast aside as one of the few surviving elders of her already shattered family. The youngest were taken in as wards of the surrounding houses- pages, squires, or stableboys. The relatively older Alayne, however, shed her name and took to the only thing she knew; mixing potions and working her father's trade as yet another nameless figure in patchy browns amongst the many, chasing battlefields and death to ply medicine and healing. As an omen of strife to surely come, it is no secret why the woman has returned to Arx. + |
| Alban Farshaw + | Alban Farshaw is a cousin of the Duke of Westrock Reach, slightly out of line of succession given his age. His mother was the youngest sister of the old Duke of Westrock, who died without an heir of his blood-- passing the duchy to Ryhalt. Alban has never been concerned with the line of succession for the duchy, however. His concerns have always been on the troops of Westrock. At a young age it was decided he would become the General of Westrock-- his father, after all, was the previous once. So when he was old enough he was sent to the mainland and to Sanctum to squire with a knight there. He took the lessons of honor, chivalry, and fealty quite to heart. When he graduated from his squirehood and was knighted he returned home to take over the duties as Minister of Warfare for Westrock Reach. While he's still a young commander he's got a natural charisma and calming quality to him. He's a staid and serious young man. He is dedicated to his family and to his troops. + |
| Alberic Laveer + | For all that may be concerned, Alberic may as well have been born of the sea. When he was found on the shores of Brighthold County, he was a speechless waif with no family or friend. His life became one of quiet survival and wit. He grew up there, as all in Brighthold did, as was needed to survive. He traded service for a place to sleep or a meal to eat, coming and going by different means at different times. Despite the tragedy of his coming to Brighthold, he never feared the planks of another ship, and made much of his young life as a fishing hand or guide. %TThis was his life and his world until he became a man. Life on the sea had given him a knowledge of rig and sails, and most importantly, wind. Conscripted to serve under the sails of the Laveer, Alberic adapted to a life of military defense in the popular waterways between Brighthold and Arx. Being an accomplished captain and swordarm defending the people adeck the Laveer ships was a fine way to earn a living, and it paid off for Alberic end-over-end. Being handy with a bow or spear eventually lent itself to a command over others wielding the bows and spears. Eventually, this grew to a command of Captains and Commanders of vessel and force, with Alberic being raised to a position within the Laveer house as not only an adopted son, but Admiral. + |
| Aldwin Aurum + | Of all the orders of the Realm, perhaps the Scholars of Vellichor are the most respected. Every great house welcomes the men and women who dedicate themselves to learning, to the safeguarding of knowledge, and to the healing arts under the auspices of the Faith. And of that revered order, none are as held in as great esteem as the first of their order, the Archscholar of Vellichor. Aldwin has been acting as Archscholar for at least a generation, and is such a fixture at court giving his kind, reasonable and wise counsel that more than one peer jokes that the man has always been there. He is perhaps the only significant political figure without any true enemies- after all, the man offers his advice to any that seek it without reservation, is conscientious to a fault, seems to have no political ambitions whatsoever, and his order has no interest in power at all. A kindly old man that offers no threat to anyone is not likely to make very many enemies, and more than one high born noble thinks of the gentle elderly scholar as a sweet old grandfather (which, knowing the life most nobles lived, is odds on more likely kinder than any grandfather they ever knew themselves). + |
| Aldwulf Unknown + | Little is known about Aldwulf's younger days. He makes claims to being from nobody farmer parents whom he barely remembers, found deep within a minor barony owing allegiance to Ashford. When he was old enough to make his own decisions, he left because the farming life just wasn't for him. His first stop was the watch stations that dot the Ashford lands. Two years of that was more than enough for the man who developed wanderlust at a young age. After that, it was time to travel. A young man with very little money set out. Apparently, he picked up some classical education at some point (perhaps a mentor while he served in the watch, perhaps through an individual after his military career), because odd jobs like cartography and archeology lept out at him and he was able to do more than other typical poor hires. These were the type of things he would seek, serving as a helper or a short-lived apprentice before moving on to the next thing. It was during this time that he developed his explorer skills, whether it was unmapped lands or runes of cultures just after the Reckoning, Aldwulf was drawn to them. It's known that he wants to become famous, to discover things that others haven't and write about them. Arx has called to him as a place that perhaps he can make this happen. Other than that, it's also known that Aldwulf tends to live outside of his means. He is a regular at the inns, wearing clothing of quality that is higher than a commoner's wear, but older, perhaps even a little threadbare. He is a gambler and loves to learn new games. His time as an explorer has turned him into a bit of a risk-taker, whether with dice or deep in the woods. + |
| Alecstazi Halfshav + | Son of Donrai's youngest brother Weylan Thrax, Alecstazi was born into power. Or at least within the aura of it. Even as a child he was measured, perceptive and quick to learn the art that was surviving in Donrai's court. He studied his uncle well, and modeled himself after the most successful courtiers in the Mourning Isles. He did not speak unless spoken to, his answers were short, accurate and politely given. He studied the way of the sword and hid his dislike of boats, because showing weakness was not the path to victory. And victory? Meant surviving. Alecstazi was twelve years old when the Tyde Rebellion began and Donrai's fury threatened to turn the seas permanently red. Too young to fight, Alecstazi studied the battle reports, drank up stories of the fighting, listening at Donrai's knee. Three years later, he was horrified to discover that his father, Weylan and his older brother Rotan were traitors, working to try to smuggle some of the last remaining Tyde children to freedom. He immediately called for guards and told his uncle of his father and elder brother's crimes. The sentence was to be death, but at Alecstazi's suggestion, he had them made thralls instead. Death is a swift punishment with no chance to really atone for one's betrayals, he reasoned. Thralldom... well. Isn't that the worse punishment? Apparently, Donrai agreed. Alecstazi earned his uncle's favor and was able to navigate that into being allowed (with no small amount of eye rolling) to cultivate a small number of cavalry soldiers in Maelstrom. Again, he argued, if ever there was a need to fight on the mainland, better to have an idea and some preparedness than be caught flatfooted and landlocked. He enjoyed the benefits of Donrai's favor, cultivating his persona at court, continuing his education in martial training, tactics and doing his cavalry drills. When the old man died and Victus defeated Dagon, that was a blow that left him reeling. He's continued to work towards the betterment of Maelstrom, though the direction the fealty has been taking, the move away from tradition has been growing more and more concerning. This last proclamation, about the end of thralldom, well. Things have got to stop. It is time for Alecstazi to head to Arx and see for himself what is going on. + |
| Alecstazi Thrax + | Son of Donrai's youngest brother Weylan Thrax, Alecstazi was born into power. Or at least within the aura of it. Even as a child he was measured, perceptive and quick to learn the art that was surviving in Donrai's court. He studied his uncle well, and modeled himself after the most successful courtiers in the Mourning Isles. He did not speak unless spoken to, his answers were short, accurate and politely given. He studied the way of the sword and hid his dislike of boats, because showing weakness was not the path to victory. And victory? Meant surviving. Alecstazi was twelve years old when the Tyde Rebellion began and Donrai's fury threatened to turn the seas permanently red. Too young to fight, Alecstazi studied the battle reports, drank up stories of the fighting, listening at Donrai's knee. Three years later, he was horrified to discover that his father, Weylan and his older brother Rotan were traitors, working to try to smuggle some of the last remaining Tyde children to freedom. He immediately called for guards and told his uncle of his father and elder brother's crimes. The sentence was to be death, but at Alecstazi's suggestion, he had them made thralls instead. Death is a swift punishment with no chance to really atone for one's betrayals, he reasoned. Thralldom... well. Isn't that the worse punishment? Apparently, Donrai agreed. Alecstazi earned his uncle's favor and was able to navigate that into being allowed (with no small amount of eye rolling) to cultivate a small number of cavalry soldiers in Maelstrom. Again, he argued, if ever there was a need to fight on the mainland, better to have an idea and some preparedness than be caught flatfooted and landlocked. He enjoyed the benefits of Donrai's favor, cultivating his persona at court, continuing his education in martial training, tactics and doing his cavalry drills. When the old man died and Victus defeated Dagon, that was a blow that left him reeling. He's continued to work towards the betterment of Maelstrom, though the direction the fealty has been taking, the move away from tradition has been growing more and more concerning. This last proclamation, about the end of thralldom, well. Things have got to stop. It is time for Alecstazi to head to Arx and see for himself what is going on. + |
| Alecto Charon + | A lawyer and dabbling-merchant specializing in maritime affairs, Lord Alecto Threerivers served as Voice to the late Count Trevor Threerivers and momentarily as Count-Regent in the days immediately following that man's death and prior to the new Countess of Highrock announcing herself. That Alecto sided with Magaen's succession claim over that of her sister in what he charmingly refers to as 'the trouble with having twins' was considered a big coup for her by outside observers, but privately the pair had been quietly allied for quite some time. Much of the influence Highrock enjoys on the system of nearby riverways crisscrossing the Northern-Oathlands border can be attributed to Alecto's efforts on behalf of his former house. It gives him no satisfaction to see that influence wane in the absence of his nuanced stewardship. Now, Alecto has the prosperity of Glacial Grove to concern himself over. With House Charon inheriting a virtually uninhabitable tower castle, decrepit defensive walls, a crumbling infrastructure, and a withering Prodigal population, the newly conquered holding is bound to keep this consummate worrier up at night. + |
| Alejandro Rossetti + | Born in the city of Tor to a house servant of House Fidante, Alejandro Rossetti was the first of three children born within three years of his parent's marriage. Precocious from a young age, he was considered by some to be a musical prodigy at the age of four. There was talk that the Whisper house in Arx was interested in him but by that time his path had already been laid out before him. By luck and hard work he was being raised with Lady Calista, the very young daughter of Duchess Giancinta Fidante. There was tragedy that saw Giancinta killed and Calista's brother Leo eventually becoming Duke but neither Alejandro nor Calista could well remember those times. He was raised and educated by the same tutors she was and the pair grew close. The boy's musical talent blossomed and he became well known in the gardens of Tor for practicing his guitar and trying out new songs on both the Duke's sister and anyone else that would come past. His relationship with Calista grew to one of constant companion and confidant. A convoluted series of events saw more change come to House Fidante when Alejandro had moved to Arx and Calista ascended to her brother's seat as ruler of Tor. The Duchess of Roses, they called her. Numerous were the songs he wrote in honor of his friend and now liege. Alejandro is content with his life of service and is honored with the role he plays for the young duchess, chief among them being friend. + |
| Aleksei Morgan + | Aleksei was born a middle-child to a well-respected commoner family serving in Sanctum which a long history of service for House Valardin. While his father had earned a place of trust and respect as Captain of the Guard in the city, and several of his children siblings seemed certain to follow in similarly honorable footsteps, Aleksei was -- a bit of a trouble. He took to the sword with a truly obnoxious amount of skill, but by the time he was sixteen he had grown too restless under the pressure of potential honor; he packed his things and left. Over the years since he traveled up and down Arvum, serving as a mercenary, man-at-arms, random muscle, and general adventurer. As luck would have it -- and luck often seems to have it where Aleksei is concerned -- he was back in his homeland of the Oathlands when he rather inadvertently ended up saving the children of one of the smaller noble houses there. It was their gratitude that had them thrusting a knighthood upon Aleksei; it was not long at all after saying the vows (vows?!) that he was making a break for his next adventure, heedless of whether he'd be confirmed by the high lord or not. It was Arx that he eventually made his way to; it had enough diversity and diversions to satisfy his cravings for a few years serving as a duelist, Champion, and occasional instructor for those with less skill and more money than him. It was something of a shock when he decided to take his vows and join the Faith as a Godsworn seemingly out of nowhere. Sir Aleksei became Brother Aleksei, despite all previous evidence of irresponsibility and general distraction from any matters of the divine. There were even some rumors around the end of the Siege of Arx in 1006 that he served as some sort of Paladin against Tolamar Brand, leader of the Silent Army, but what exactly that entailed is less than clear. It wasn't long after the siege ended that he was named Archlector of Skald, one of the three newly-returned Lost Gods of the Pantheon. To a lot of the senior Faith, the appointment came rather ridiculously early in his career -- particularly for someone who wasn't exactly known for his devoutness before taking his vows -- but they couldn't exactly refuse the decision from the Dominus himself. He's taken to some parts of the priesthood...more than others. During his tenure as Archlector, he raised millions of silver the Faith used to liberate some several thousand thralls and set up a new Faith initiative to help care for all those freed from bondage moving forward: a chance to start their new lives with Faith support wherever in the Compact they chose. It didn't make him many friends among the Mourning Isles, but it did help prepare the Faith to be able to respond when House Kennex suddenly abolished thralldom in their lands. In January 1009, Legate Orazio announced Aleksei's resignation from the Faith "due to certain personal needs." The announcement was rather sudden and without warning, as well as less formal scuttlebutt that a hitherto unknown son might the catalyst of the decision, and brought with it thirteen days kneeling in front of the Shrine of Limerance as penance. In the end, he returned to the life of a commoner, now without rank or title, to start the next chapter of his life. + |
| Alessan Fidante + | Alessan's beginnings were quite humble. He was born to a father who was a fledgling poet and a mother who worked as a seamstress fashioning dresses that some of the members of the ruling family wore from time to time. If it had been up to his mother, he might have found himself in the life of a crafter, but there was another path for him. He grew up on his father's poems and stories and they fascinated him, there was always something about the construction of a poem could convey so many more meanings than the words themselves could. As he reached his adulthood, he struck out from Tor to travel around the duchy in order to experience what life had to offer. He spoke to everyone he could in order to discover their own life experiences and in one small village he came across a bard. The man was older and had a way of entertaining folk with stories, song and other small tricks. Alessan found himself captivated by the older man and set off from the village with him. Their travels took them all over the lands of House Velenosa, but Tor was always home for Alessan and after ten years of travelling with the old bard, he returned home and began to make a name for himself around the city and the duchy with the skills he picked up on the road. He's spent some years doing this, but now he finds that the call of Arx is loud and he wants to see what new adventures his life has to offer. + |
| Alessandro Velenosa + | Alessandro was a youth who pushed limits. He got into trouble a lot, and set his overbearing will against the dominance of his elders generally and his parents in particular. He was a handful, a struggle; generally, a big pain in the neck. As he grew older, his mischief grew more obscure and intellectual. His favorite game began to be pitting his intellect against that of instructors he believed couldn't keep up with him. Of course, when he was 12, it turned out he was rarely right about this -- the amount of knowledge an active preteen can absorb, no matter how much time he spends in libraries and harassing scholars for information, is not really a match for most trained adults. But he never really lost his taste for the game. He hated sword lessons. He hated learning about poisons and antidotes. He was fortuitously allergic to horse dander and exaggerated his allergy to get out of more and more things so that he could spend more time with his books. He learned etiquette and mastered it expressly so that he could push the limits of being rude, and, enchanted with his own cleverness, earned himself several enemies in Lenosia's court. At least one of them is dead now, and it can't actually be traced to Alessandro at all, but he's always been on the lucky side. Theology lured him, especially the theology of doubt, and while his cousin Isolde soared into the panoply of the Mirrormasks and reached heights of elevation as a disciple leader, he personally found much more lure in the practicum of their craft, and focused himself almost entirely on the scholarship of law and politics. By the time he defended his first case as a Mirrormask serving in the Court of Lenosia, he was certain he couldn't lose, because he knew the law that well. It turns out there is more to defending a case than being right, though, and Alessandro learned some humility in practice that he had never had before. A perfect record is impossible as a defense attorney, but defending the indefensible is the greatest challenge of Faith for a Mirrormask, and Alessandro grew skilled in the balance of ego and humility, doubt and certainty, necesssary for the work. He also learned very valuable lessons from his family about the critical impact that sartorial perfection can have on one's effect. + |
| Alessia Mazetti + | For Alessia, one of her happiest days came at thirteen. A precocious child, Alessia had always known she was destined for great things. Becoming a glaivedancer was just the first step on that path. The years of training required, however, tempered that youthful pride with instruction that shaped core virtues rather than simply training the body in the ways of a warrior. Today, Alessia knows that greatness doesn't come without hard work and dedication - whether in the field, or in the court of politics. There have been setbacks, of course, such as that time when her scheme to win favor with a particular lord fell into disarray when he discovered she had been seducing his son as well. She admits that it was poorly done, but surely the man should have known not to conflate business with pleasure. Then there was the time Vitalis asked Dianna to travel with him into that Shav-infested valley and didn't ask her...but they have agreed not to talk about that any more. These days, Alessia has set her sights on Arx. With a few of the Mazetti doing the unprecedented and leaving their beloved Walled City on the Sea, she has made sure that her uncle includes her name in that number. After all, they couldn't possibly get by without her. + |
| Alessio Moretti + | Alessio Moretti was born in the twin cities of Gemecitta as the third and last child to Niccolo Moretti, a kind and passionate jeweler of some renown, and Fiore Moretti, a struggling artist with a big heart and a frail mind. It was a tumultuous childhood at the best of times for young Alessio. Between his apprenticeship in his fathers shop, a mother who was slipping into her own world for long periods of time more and more frequently and a sister who had inherited her mothers fragile psyche and was more or less constantly depressed and needed taking care of, there wasnt much time for friendships or fun. One of the few friends he did have was Vittoria, the daughter of a tailor living only a few houses down the street from his own. Their fathers were good friends and her mother often came over to help with things around the house, bringing Vittoria with her. They quickly bonded and the bond only grew tighter as the years passed, the two of them spending most of their waking hours together when daily work and chores had been seen to. She was four years his younger but every bit as smart, a sharp-minded and determined young woman even from an early age. His father was a warm and kind man, but also a ruthless perfectionist when it came to his craft and it wasnt easy being his apprentice. It was, however, a highly effective way of learning, even if it meant many sleepless nights studying or trying to perfect yet another of the delicate techniques needed for the craft to meet his fathers expectations. The rigorous training and mentoring proved not to be lost on Alessio, as he quickly rose in both skill and understanding of the art of jewelry making. At age twelve the first creation made by his hand was sold in his fathers shop and at the age of 15 he was starting to rival even the skills of his father and mentor. As the years passed, little changed save for Alessios ever increasing skill at his craft and his bond with Vittoria growing closer and into something more than just friendship. He would work, take care of his mother and sister and spend what free time he had by Vittorias side. But then, one day, things suddenly did start to change. The relationship between himself and Vittoria had kept growing and had evolved into more than mere friendship to a degree where none of them could hide or deny it any longer. Roughly 4 years ago, shortly before his twenty-eighth birthday, they were married after a very short period of being together as a couple. They didnt need more time, they already knew everything about each other from a life spent by one anothers side. Not long after the marriage, Fiore, Alessios mother, recovered from her ailments seemingly overnight, returning to the real world once more and not long after that, his sister started to recover, even if at a more modest pace than their mother. No one could fully explain how, but the little family didnt seem to care about such things as why or how, too busy caught up in the joy of finally having mother and wife, sister and daughter, returned to them. It was a happy time and the following years went by fast. About two years ago, Vittoria approached him with the idea of Moving to Arx to start their own business and their own family. To get a new start in a new place, to define a future for themselves, a future forged by their own hands. Alessio was hesitant and not immediately ready to leave his home and family, still unsure whether his mother and sister would remain in good health and continue their recovery from all those years lost to them. He wasnt completely opposed to the idea, he just.needed a little more time. Vittoria didnt give up or abandon the idea, however, and over the following two years she slowly convinced him that it was the right thing for them to do. With his mother and sister not showing any signs of relapse and the increased passion and longing in his the eyes and words of his wife, he finally agreed. And so, the two of them would set out on the longest journey either of them had ever undertaken, traveling halfway across the country to the capital city of Arx to start their new life. + |
| Alexander Wyrmfang + | Alexander and his twin sister, Alexis, were born to Alphonse Wyrmfang, then the Sword of Blancbier. Coming from a respected family of Knights, both of the siblings were raised in the martial tradition, destined to become Knights in their own time, and the importance of the family traditions of honor, loyalty, and service were drilled into them at a very young age. Alexander was always the more skeptical of the two, and tended to take the tales they were told with a grain of salt, though the lessons they were designed to impart were certainly not lost on the deep thinking young man. When not out on the training field, Alexander could usually be found in his youth with his nose buried in a book - the older the better. History and philosophy fascinated him from a very young age, and he studied both topics intensely, sometimes even to the detriment of his other training responsibilities. This isn't to say, by any means, that he didn't take his martial training serious as well. He has, for as long as he can remember, been a natural with a blade in his hand, and has always tended towards smaller, faster weapons, making good use of his keen agility and long reach. Coming to Arx after the death of his father, Alexander has every intention of pursuing both his martial and intellectual skills, set on finding a place and position where he can make good use of both talents. He intends to do whatever he can to help and support his twin as well, who, after the death of their father, was named the new Sword - a fact which has garnered no ill-will from Alexander. He had resigned himself at a very young age to the fact that he would not be named as the Sword, and truthfully, has always felt his sister to be better equipped to handle the charge. + |
| Alexandre Redtyde + | 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. + |
| Alexandre Wyrmguard + | 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. + |
| Alexandros Dawnbringer + | Alexandros once strived to be a sterotypical boyscout. He was polite, honest, brave, and obedient to his social superiors. He served a few years as a rather unremarkable though dogged Templar, often going on pilgrimages to help those in need and to right perceived wrongs, only it's become apparent to those who know him best that he's withdrawn into himself and is now an empty shell of what he used to be. Where he was once a cheerful lad with dreams of heroism, he's become something of a crestfallen recluse that seems to be married to his letter of his job and has grown oddly apathetic and listless to the spirit of it. + |
| Alexio Donatti + | 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. + |
| Alexis Wyrmfang + | Legend has it that a century or three ago, Wyrmfang split off the main March of Wyrmguard as a cadet branch, slowly diminishing in importance from second sons and third daughters, until they were far enough removed to in essence become a highly respected family of knights. For the last few generations, ever since one Cristoph Wyrmfang turned an-almost defeat into an astounding victory, the Wyrmfangs have also had the honour of holding the Sword of Blancbier for the Wyrmguards. Alexis and her twin brother was born to the then-Sword of Blancbier, Alphonse Wyrmfang, and the children were raised on the family traditions of loyalty and steadfast service, served up with constant tales of Oathlands chivalry and ambitions, of meritorious rises and rewards for serving the ideals that the gods of the pantheon represent. And Alexis swallowed it all rather wide-eyed. When she was nearly old enough, she became rather insistant on squiring, including at one point running away from home to find herself adventure (and a knight to squire to), and eventually her father acquiesced. Small, but fierce, she favoured larger weapons such as two-handed swords and glaives in combat, which may in part have been inspired by her father's position. She was overjoyed when, for about a year, she spent time in the same group of squires as one Princess Alis Valardin, and the even smaller woman left a deep impression with her tenacity. One duty that Alexis picked up as a squire was the mending of armour, and to this day she uses the beating of steel as a form of meditation, slowly learning the craft of the smith. Her knighting ceremony took place at her 18th birthday, while she was part of the force protecting Blancbier and anxiously awaiting news from Arx about the siege and the Army of Silence. In the last battle of the siege, her father took a grave wound protecting the Marquessa. The wound festered, and Sir Alphonse was sent home to Blancbier, but expired on the way. When the Marquessa Dominiqe next visited Blancbier, there was a small ceremony in which Alexis found herself becoming the keeper of the Wyrmguard heirloom blade, as her father, and her father's mother had before her. She swore the oath to protect her family gladly, and now, after having grieved and seen her father to his final rest, she comes to Arx. An untested blade, but eager to prove herself. + |
| Alfio Donatti + | 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. + |
| Alheri Deepwood + | Alheri was born to the Melaeris family, far from Old Oak. Her mother served as lady-in-waiting to Princess Kellen Grayson, and when the Princess married the Marquis Melaeris, Lady Maira struck up a friendship with his cousin, Maleck. After a few years there was a proper courtship - and after that, a marriage and eventually four children, of which Alheri is the oldest. And then there was the tragedy of Old Oak. For as long as she can remember, Alheri has faced various disappointments in life - early dreams of romance were quashed by the pragmatic love her parents held for each other, and for their children. Her desire for a sister never quite manifested. She didn't quite have the aptitude for blade and battle that would let her be a storybook knight. And her friends would fail her in various ways as well. In short, Alheris accentuated the negative. The world was a disappointment. Only in her dreams - and in her ideals - could she find the perfection she craved. But even that wouldn't last long. She had a natural touch for brush and clay, but despite others declaring her genius, she could always find a flaw. Always find something to be unhappy with. She has striven for all of her (admittedly short) adult life to chase perfection. Eventually, she decided that she'd rather seek it at Deepwood. The Conscience of the Peers was far from perfect, but in Samantha, Alheri saw someone who might wish to attack the flaws she saw, rather than be made uncomfortable with them. Besides, Deepwood needs the numbers, and Alheri is happy to oblige. And her family, of course, were happy to return her and strengthen the bonds between Melaeris and Deepwood, and the two fealty chains (in theory). Alheri has barely been in Old Oak for a year, but she's ready to make changes. And ready to assist the Marquessa in making changes. And maybe, just maybe, she'll set aside some time for herself, to chase perfection. Arx is the melting pot of the Compact. If it can be found anywhere, it can be found here. Right? + |
| Alina Redreef + | Alina was born to an unimportant branch of House Redreef and raised in an almost painfully ordinary manner, as befits any noblewoman from the Mourning Isles. When other children played outside, she was taught to balance ledgers. When her siblings went out sailing, she stayed and studied the great lawgivers. And so it was that when a great dispute arose one day, between two utterly unimportant members of the nobility, Alina Redreef stepped forward to settle the dispute. And there it was that a great secret was revealed to all: Knowing a lot about the law doesn't mean that you know the first thing about people. After the great embarrassment that was her first foray into society, Alina's parents discreetly shipped her off to Arx. Returning without substantial improvements in station, it was quite strongly implied, was not an option. + |
| Alis Valardin + | Like every scion of House Valardin, Alis was weaned on the stories of high chivalry and heroism that have been core to the identity of the great house since time immemorial. There have been great heroic female warriors of House Valardin from history, such as the famed heroine Dame Sugan who saved the West during the Reckoning, but yet there was still a continued pervasive discouragement from young women pursuing martial careers and being expected to serve the House as diplomats or priestesses. Alis, born of short stature and a slight frame that her lord father found extremely ill-suited for the rigors of the field, found far more discouragement than most from her dreams of knighthood. But she would not be dissuaded. As a teenager, she was the most willful of all her siblings, rebelling constantly against the lessons and continually demanding to be given the same training as a squire. Of all her siblings, she was the only one that dared to get into screaming matches with her lord father, and he once declared in exasperation that she was the most willful person in the entire Oathlands for him to deal with. Her father became resigned to her determination and gave her his extremely reluctant blessing to train as a knight. It still felt something like a punishment to be sent to Arx to do so, an exile away from her home, even if she could hardly complain about training under Dayne Valardin, the Lord Commander of the King's Own and best knight of the realm. The training made her keenly aware of her shortcomings, but ferociously determined to make up for them. Though she'd never admit outwardly that maybe her parents had a point about her physically being better suited to non-martial service for the family, she is all-too-aware of how hard she's had to train to compensate. As she neared the end of her training and wrote to her lord father in the hope he would visit Arx and personally attend her being dubbed a knight, she read the reply in disbelief: her parents and all of her siblings save Edain had been slain fighting a barbaric tribe of Shavs. She returned home a knight, and knows it is irrational to feel guilty that she wasn't there when her family was attacked, knows it is foolish to think one extremely young newly minted knight would have made any difference when hundreds of soldiers did not, but she can't quite help it. The deaths might have aged her in many ways, but she is still young enough where she thinks in bold absolutes. She is a princess of House Valardin, and a knight. She will protect what remains of her family and her people. That's what knights are for. + |
| Alise Farshaw + | Alise is the youngest of three daughters, one of which has married into the Thrax fealty and another into the Grayson fealty. Her mother was a Lycene Lady, and as such, she was sent to foster in the Lyceum when younger. She was to marry a Fidante, when she was sixteen, a contract involving a route to trade roses and pomegranates in the offing but since the recent skirmishes between the Lyceum and the Oathlands sprung up, the contract has been annulled before they were properly wed, and she caught the first ship to Arx to get out of the islands before things could escalate. She cannot help but think of those years as the best of her life, but cannot even bring herself to take pride in that side of her heritage of late, and wants even less to be married into a future there. She has opted to keep some of the fashion, but has a deep seated loathing for the /expected/ treachery of the politics, viewing it as dishonorable and beneath anyone aiming to call themselves noble. This is something of an irony as she has the unfortunate reputation of haggling like a fishmonger. This is actually rooted in her refusal to make it look like she is not involved in anything she is involved in. In fact, she has a tendency to both macromanage and micromanage coin around her, and feels that using a go between to make it look like she doesn't is just dishonest. + |
| Alistair + | It is far from easy for an orphan to grow up amidst the poverty of the Lower Boroughs of Arx, but for a prodigal to survive it requires a powerful will to survive. 'Prodigals', the exceedingly rare handful of barbarous Abandoned who have returned to the civilization of the Compact of Arvum, are not well cared for by society at the best of times, and Alistair's situation was a far cry from that. Born among the Gray Forest Howlers has seen first hand the kind of brutal savagery embraced by the most terrifying tribes of the Abandoned, watching as a child as the Howlers preyed upon travelers daring to penetrate the depths of the Gray Forest. Even as a child, he felt the murderous savagery was wrong, but when the chieftain declared after a fruitless raid that their dark gods needed a blood sacrifice and selected Alistair as the offering, the life threatening predicament added an extra incentive for the young man to make his escape from the tribe as barely a teenager. He eventually wound up in Arx still as a teenager. Life in Arx was harsh and unforgiving, though he was able to survive partly by hiring himself out as a tracker and hunter to the city folk as well as begging in the streets. Despite his miserable existence, he still remembered the face of evil he'd witnessed as a child and was determined to grow up and make a difference, somehow. That drive to combat the demons of his past pushed him to a very unlikely calling- the Inquisition. Of course, Alistair learned very quickly that he might be one of the very few 'true believers' inside the entire Inquisition. He rapidly learned as a confessor, the grunts that aid inquisitors in their bloody work, that very few members of the Inquisition think something like 'demons' exist and are quite comfortable being members of a political organization. On one occasion, Alistair enraged his superiors by declaring a rich merchant innocent of all charges of witchcraft, after discovering the merchant's only crime seemed to be possessing no political patron or allies that could protect him while hurting the business interests of some powerful lords. Alistair was given poor assignments afterwards for a time, assigned as a liaison to the Iron Guard in their investigations who famously have contempt for the corrupt Inquisition. If their goal was to have Alistair have an accident, though, it might have backfired. He has one of the rarest reputations- that of a conscientious, honest inquisitor. It might not really be the life Alistair was looking for, but it's the one he has, and at least his reputation is judged useful by his organization. + |
| Alistair Crown + | It is far from easy for an orphan to grow up amidst the poverty of the Lower Boroughs of Arx, but for a prodigal to survive it requires a powerful will to survive. 'Prodigals', the exceedingly rare handful of barbarous Abandoned who have returned to the civilization of the Compact of Arvum, are not well cared for by society at the best of times, and Alistair's situation was a far cry from that. Born among the Gray Forest Howlers has seen first hand the kind of brutal savagery embraced by the most terrifying tribes of the Abandoned, watching as a child as the Howlers preyed upon travelers daring to penetrate the depths of the Gray Forest. Even as a child, he felt the murderous savagery was wrong, but when the chieftain declared after a fruitless raid that their dark gods needed a blood sacrifice and selected Alistair as the offering, the life threatening predicament added an extra incentive for the young man to make his escape from the tribe as barely a teenager. He eventually wound up in Arx still as a teenager. Life in Arx was harsh and unforgiving, though he was able to survive partly by hiring himself out as a tracker and hunter to the city folk as well as begging in the streets. Despite his miserable existence, he still remembered the face of evil he'd witnessed as a child and was determined to grow up and make a difference, somehow. That drive to combat the demons of his past pushed him to a very unlikely calling- the Inquisition. Of course, Alistair learned very quickly that he might be one of the very few 'true believers' inside the entire Inquisition. He rapidly learned as a confessor, the grunts that aid inquisitors in their bloody work, that very few members of the Inquisition think something like 'demons' exist and are quite comfortable being members of a political organization. On one occasion, Alistair enraged his superiors by declaring a rich merchant innocent of all charges of witchcraft, after discovering the merchant's only crime seemed to be possessing no political patron or allies that could protect him while hurting the business interests of some powerful lords. Alistair was given poor assignments afterwards for a time, assigned as a liaison to the Iron Guard in their investigations who famously have contempt for the corrupt Inquisition. If their goal was to have Alistair have an accident, though, it might have backfired. He has one of the rarest reputations- that of a conscientious, honest inquisitor. It might not really be the life Alistair was looking for, but it's the one he has, and at least his reputation is judged useful by his organization. + |
| Alistair Masque + | It is far from easy for an orphan to grow up amidst the poverty of the Lower Boroughs of Arx, but for a prodigal to survive it requires a powerful will to survive. 'Prodigals', the exceedingly rare handful of barbarous Abandoned who have returned to the civilization of the Compact of Arvum, are not well cared for by society at the best of times, and Alistair's situation was a far cry from that. Born among the Gray Forest Howlers has seen first hand the kind of brutal savagery embraced by the most terrifying tribes of the Abandoned, watching as a child as the Howlers preyed upon travelers daring to penetrate the depths of the Gray Forest. Even as a child, he felt the murderous savagery was wrong, but when the chieftain declared after a fruitless raid that their dark gods needed a blood sacrifice and selected Alistair as the offering, the life threatening predicament added an extra incentive for the young man to make his escape from the tribe as barely a teenager. He eventually wound up in Arx still as a teenager. Life in Arx was harsh and unforgiving, though he was able to survive partly by hiring himself out as a tracker and hunter to the city folk as well as begging in the streets. Despite his miserable existence, he still remembered the face of evil he'd witnessed as a child and was determined to grow up and make a difference, somehow. That drive to combat the demons of his past pushed him to a very unlikely calling- the Inquisition. Of course, Alistair learned very quickly that he might be one of the very few 'true believers' inside the entire Inquisition. He rapidly learned as a confessor, the grunts that aid inquisitors in their bloody work, that very few members of the Inquisition think something like 'demons' exist and are quite comfortable being members of a political organization. On one occasion, Alistair enraged his superiors by declaring a rich merchant innocent of all charges of witchcraft, after discovering the merchant's only crime seemed to be possessing no political patron or allies that could protect him while hurting the business interests of some powerful lords. Alistair was given poor assignments afterwards for a time, assigned as a liaison to the Iron Guard in their investigations who famously have contempt for the corrupt Inquisition. If their goal was to have Alistair have an accident, though, it might have backfired. He has one of the rarest reputations- that of a conscientious, honest inquisitor. It might not really be the life Alistair was looking for, but it's the one he has, and at least his reputation is judged useful by his organization. + |
| Allegra Pravus + | It is never easy being the youngest daughter of a dynasty, but when it comes to a House like Pravus that is an understatement. Growing up, Allegra felt outclassed just about everywhere, simply too late to make a splash in a court filled with brilliant scions of a legacy older than the Reckoning itself. Condemned to be the second best, if she was lucky, Allegra knew she had to do something dire if she wished to fight her fate. Much to the woe of her family, Allegra chose the books. Not occult knowlege, nor erotica or religion. Allegra just randomly selected a book each week, and ravenously learned it. Although her sisters and cousins found it strange, and many thought such a beautiful woman should have sought the ways of a courtier, Allegra paid them little heed, and kept reading and when Pravus Keep library dried up, she had her beloved father expand it, twice and, a year later, three times its size. By then, many had pegged young Allegra as a sure-to-be disciple of Vellichor, but the girl was not ready to commit to the Faith just yet. Time passed, and it was during one of her many trips to lands under Pravus rule that Allegra heard of House Argento's uprising and their assassination of Duke Piero. More troubling still was the fact her hosts, local merchants in Bravura, chose to throw their lot with the rebelling family. Suddenly, Allegra became a prisoner, and for much of the war, that is what she remained. She would enter her imprisonment at the age of 13 and would spend the next five years at her captors mercy. It would take the fall of House Argento and Lady Celeste Pravus' marching down onto Bravura for Allegra to be released from captivity. Since then, Lady Allegra Pravus has been an eerie reminder of the ugliest sides of war, a young beauty sapped of her grace as tortures visited upon her have the girl walk with a limp to this day. Now fully healed, in mind and body, as well as she will ever be, Allegra joins her family in Arx, part of their court and by her family's side, where is her place to be. + |
| Alrec Magaldi + | One of many sons of sailors born in the docks of Darkwater, Alrec's early life was a predictable one. From child to cabin boy, from cabin boy to sailor, and eventually from sailor to Captain. He acquitted himself well on the high seas, sailing in support of house Thrax with other Vassal crews during the Tyde war before returning to the business of pirate hunting and a little discreet piracy on the side the Darkwater are famed for. All that changed however when he ran escort for a merchant vessel taking cargo to Setarco, the Silken City. The Merchant ship was held for repairs and he and his crew enjoyed two weeks living in the most decadent city in all of Arvum. Two weeks was more than enough and the Captain found a member of the Pravus family and promptly offered his allegiance. The half of his crew that remained loyal to Thrax were ruthlessly butchered by the Captain and just like that he became a loyal retainer of house Pravus. As long as they could keep him in the women, drink and other vices he desired, they had his sword. With his superior naval combat experience from serving the Thrax he was able to greatly improve many aspects of the Setarco navy and he was named Admiral of their, admittedly small fleet. His defection might be a sore point amongst many of the Thrax, particularly those from Darkwater but thus far they haven't assassinated him. Most recently he's come to Arx in order to advise the House Pravus leadership on matters martial and naval. + |
| Alrigo Donatti + | 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. + |
| Althea Pravus + | Althea was born to House Pravus and set herself apart for all the wrong reasons. In her youth she took more interest in helping her siblings, cousins, and other family members in their studies. She was punished for her lack of killer instinct and her drive for cooperation over competition, but it did little to curb her "unnatural" impulses. Those most generous to her were certain that she would grow out of it once puberty hit. They swore that there had been Pravus before who came to their senses as a coming-of-age rite: Some psychic wound or personal loss would harden her heart to the world. Puberty came and went, and the weight of family ambition did little to crumple the butterflies and daisies flitting in her heart. If anything, it seems to have reinforced them. Althea became the black sheep of the family, but she was still *family*. Instead of puzzling out how to change her, they instead decided to use her love of charity and helping others to their own less-than-innocent goals, and innocent Althea goes along with it none-the-wiser, ever trusting in her darling family. + |
| Amador Rafael + | Born on a smaller vineyard on the outskirts of Northern Lenosia, Amador knew he wanted something beyond the simple life of a vintner. He had seen the crowded streets of the trade hub and basked in the beauty of the ladies of court in all of their silk and gems. He had watched the shadows in the alleyways and listened to the whispers behind the veil of the city's grandeur. It was at the age of fourteen that he decided he could find a space between the two. A conduit between nobility and the reality of what the world really is. He could be that figure. So after much debate in the Rafael home, it was the grace of his mother Almea that swayed his father Ortego's stubbornness and their son was allowed to venture forth to one of the many smaller courtier schools in the area. It was here that Amador first met Gaspar Velenosa, a life changing event that little did the young Lenosian know would change the path of his life forever. The two young men were surprisingly quick friends despite the vast differences in their personalities. While Amador found humor in Gaspar's tangential nature, Gaspar in turn found a solace in Amador's stoic foundation. So, when Gaspar invited him along on an expense paid tour of the kingdoms under the pitch of expanding Amador's cultural understanding making him the better courtier... Amador couldn't refuse. A few years were spent in each other's company and their relationship thrived. Amador was able to rein in Gaspar to ensure the young prince was attentive to his studies and Gaspar dragged Amador out to a wide variety of social events and more or less served as his connection to the world of nobility. They finally parted ways during the tour of the Mourning Islands. Almea had fallen ill and Amador returned to Lenosia to spend her final moments with her. After Almea's passing, Amador remained on the vineyard to assist his father during the mourning period and go over the family's financials to be sure their fiscal health remained intact during those dark times. Finally the day came where the vineyard was managed and Amador's siblings had become more integrated into the working life of the vineyard. A letter was sent to Gaspar in search of work and it just so happened Emma Velenosa was in need of a new assistant. Amador took up his role with gusto, seeing to all of the lady's day to day needs and fielding her endlessly busy schedule. After a few years of service, Amador decided the great walls of Arx was his next step and so he reached out to his former schoolmate once again this time to see if the Prince (now the Marquis-Consort of House Tessere) was aware of any employment that might suit Amador in Arx. He wasn't surprised that Gaspar responded quickly, their friendship sustained despite the distance, however when it was mentioned that Gaspar himself was in need of help Amador gave a minor pause. He knew the enigmatic Marquis. He knew of his frivolity and charismatic inclinations. He knew what it would be like to be chasing after Gaspar's heels to gently steer him through the social arena. The pause was brief though and a letter returned to his soon to be employer of his resignation to Emma and the acceptance of the new position. And so to Arx he went... + |
| Amalthea + | Amalthea is a paranoid woman of the woods from a remote farm whose production is lead by crops and horses that were broken by her. She is a survivalist whose skills revolve around her knowledge of the harvest and hunt. No last name meant no family, she doesn't remember any either. + |
| Amalthea Crown + | Amalthea is a paranoid woman of the woods from a remote farm whose production is lead by crops and horses that were broken by her. She is a survivalist whose skills revolve around her knowledge of the harvest and hunt. No last name meant no family, she doesn't remember any either. + |
| Amanda Morgan + | Childhood for Amanda was an odd thing. Quiet, withdrawn, and seemingly in her own world (yet terribly observant of what everyone was doing around her), she came up with few friends and none of the passions that a child might have. In fact, being fastidious and proper seemed to be the only thing that held her attention. Quiet children weren't exactly an oddity in the Morgan household, and so the family knew to simply embrace what they found in this girl, and Amanda was sent off to learn how to be professional fastidious and proper. After years of learning, during which Amanda developed a love for the Gods (above and beyond what would otherwise be expected for an Oathlander), she went to serve the Valardin family as a Court Lady. She helped more than a few princesses learn which fork to use and how to speak in just the right way to get what they wanted. All the while, as she tirelessly helped the nobility, she quietly pushed them toward what she thought was best for them. Toward the answer that was piously correct. She may have even made a fine priest, but she found the life simply too constraining. No, after years of service she opted to leave her position at court and spend some time by herself. Amanda spent a few years travelling. She'll talk of the odd sites she saw, of the poetry she read, of the wine and food she tasted. She wanted, in her words, to see all the greatest of the Gods' work. Which, of course, were the greatest of humanity's work. And beyond those vagueries, she does doesn't share many details about her years away. When Amanda became stationary again, it was in Arx. She quickly found herself serving Whisper House as a courtier. Unlike back in Sanctum, she was freer here to pursue her own goals, while still serving humanity, as she believes the Gods would want her to do. She comforts and soothes, she pushes and she prods, she corrects and adjusts, all to make people (in her opinion) better. She'll bring virtue to Arx, however she can. + |
| Amanita Malvici + | A Malvici cousin raised in Southport, the former Lady Amanita Malvici, now just Amanita - was raised with an extensive emphasis on both knowledge and fighting. It was an exhausting childhood. Her mother, who came from Valardin stock, was a renowned alchemist and healer who named Amanita herself after a type of mushroom. Her father was a soldier who rarely spent time at home but doted on Amanita and her siblings when he was there. Between schooling, learning how to fence, learning which dinner fork to use, how to dance, and what to wear to which occasion, Amanita found herself in want of something more than the life of a noble - particularly a Lady. Despite the relative freedom that her mother was granted, she still found it too restrictive, and the prospect of arranged political marriages scared her. As some of her siblings got married off, Amanita realized that her time would likely come sooner than later and with some finessing, she talked her parents into sending her to courtier training. A gawky, uncoordinated teenager went into a school - and a tall, slightly better coordinated young lady came out. After spending some time as a courtier in Southport, Amanita has made her way to Arx to seek out her fortune and join the renowned Whisper House, hoping to glean more education from them and perhaps become a great Whisper in her own rite. At the very least, her extended family is in the City, and she'd like to visit. + |
| Amantha Harrow + | With ancestors who were Prodigal and growing up in the Lower Boroughs, life was far from easy for Amantha. Despite the hardships that the family faced, she and her ancestors did willingly serve the Crown in the form of the Iron Guard. Her great-grandfather, grandfather, grandmother, both parents and older sister Felicia forging the path ahead of Amantha. Service has been something which the family has conducted with stringent adherence to the simple concept: to integrate and find acceptance, one must be willing to serve. And serve the family has, for a number of generations in concurrence. Amantha went from living in the shadow of her older sister, to nominal head of the household when Felicia broke with the family tradition to become one of the King's Own. She rules the roost of the Lower Burrough's Harrow's, balancing her duties with the Iron Guard with her own aspirations of some day joining the Mercies. + |
| Amanthir Hale + | Parents, illiterate vassals of House Moore, were simple farmers. His father taught him how to tend fields, ride a horse, notch an arrow, and identify all manner of flora and fauna. A chance encounter with a brigand of bandits while a teenager drove him away from Acorn Hill for a time. He was eventually liberated from captivity by the Timberwolves and, in exchange, served a brief stint as a low-ranking soldier to House Keaton. It was during this time that he mastered the use of a longsword and survived his fair share of frontier skirmishing. Upon being formally dismissed from service, he returned to his childhood home and discovered his parents missing and their property destroyed. Without a claim to the lands, he was forced to seek out other means of securing a meager income -- notably by contracting his skills as a duelist and pathfinder to the highest bidder. + |
| Amaranth Pravus + | Born into House Pravus among a line so distant you can almost see them from the shoreline if you squint, Amaranth has enjoyed all of the privileges of her name and none of the responsibilities or duties. To say that she was a wild child is putting it mildly, with her noble name sheltering her from the worst consequences of her behavior. As fate would have it, her untamable nature lead her to the curious habit of taming and training wild or foreign creatures. She gathers them like some noblewomen gather jewelry, and gifts them away just as easily. + |
| Amarantha Sanna + | Born just a few minutes after her twin sister, Amarantha had a companion since birth. As children, the pair were inseparable--despite occasional disagreements. They did everything together, often with one twin dragging the other along due to different ideas of "entertainment". Amarantha would begrudgingly trail after her sister while out exploring nature and going on adventures. Astraea would sit around and listen to her sister puzzle out lyrics for her songs or accompany her to party after party. The two found an easy compromise in Amarantha's love for the sea. While Astraea poked around in tide pools or examined the odd piece of sea glass, Amaranatha would walk through the waves. There was nothing she loved more than singing to the ocean, amidst the wind and faint spray of sea. It's where she would clear her head after fights and where she would sit on the rocks and write lines of poetry. It was little surprise that eventually, Amarantha would be proposed to on that same shore she'd grown up alongside. But that was much later, when she was eighteen and had traded childhood games for the thrill of noble parties and politics. A Redrain noble, some well to do man from the Sanna family had come to Granato to court Amarantha. A flurry of letters, wine, and late nights in marble floored ballrooms later and they were married. Everyone had thought them a darling couple! He had grounded her while Amarantha brought a smile to the once dour man's lips. All was well when the new couple headed back to the north. That happiness would be short lived, A year and 3 months into the marriage, Amarantha's husband fell victim to a hunting accident. She was left a wealthy widow without a husband or child to her name. Many expected her to return home and remarry but in an odd twist, Amarantha spent the next 2 and a half years in mourning. She allowed no guests bar her twin and other siblings. It was only in the last few months that the widow returned to a semi-regular social life and by her sister's invitation, accompanied her to Arx. + |
| Amari Keaton + | 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. + |
| Amari Redire + | 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. + |
| Amber Mondegreen + | Amber is one of those rare Arvum dwellers who has spent time on the continent of Eurus, and even farther to the east - all the way towards the far sea - in the kingdom of Daobujin Bo. There she met her husband, Nisoi. Foreign stranger or not, he fell hard for Amber's exotic coloring and her soft, sweet laugh, and she was just as taken. Together, they dreamed of finding a safe route through the vastly uncharted seas to reach Arvum, opening up lines of trade between the distant, distant peoples. Nisoi died before that dream could be realized, but Amber made it home to Arvum, to the forests around Bastion. She's still committed to the dream she had with her love, and bears a few treasures from Daobujin Bo to sell so she can finance it. + |
| Amelia Eventide + | The Fleet Commander of the Eventide Collective appeared in the public eye only a few short years ago, not long after the marriage between King Alaric and Lady Symonesse of the Nox'alfar. Known as one of the few capable enough to brave the Darkwater Deeps bordering Arvum and Eurus, Amelia Eventide capitalized on her talents to grow from a few simple merchant ships to a considerable armada. Now, her organization handles the lion's share of imports and exports between the two regions. Rumors abound of her origins, from an enterprising urchin in the Lower Boroughs to an Abandoned that has since split off from her tribe. Some assert she must be a forgotten bastard daughter to some Thraxian Lord - where else would she have received her education? - while others murmur of even stranger roots. + |
| Amelie Steelhart + | Born Amelie Steelhart, she was the youngest daughter in the Ducal line, so she grew up knowing that she did not really need to be concerned with learning the ins and outs of being a Countess. She grew up training to be strong enough to successfully explore the ruins she found such wonder and excitement in. Given that she often was so focused on her training and studies, she often found herself spending most of her time alone. As a gift for her eighteenth birthday her father, Count Frederik, gifted her a ship, a crew, and a map to unpopulated island. with rumors of ruins to explore. Her arrival to the island did not live up to the expectations she had in her heart, as her ship crashed in rough seas as they arrived, stranding her and the crew that survived. With the fall of Highhill also coming, she and the crew were forgot about, only recently escaping their unintended prison when a trading vessel happened upon the island. So now she has returned to the mainland to find her family has been replaced with a new one. + |
| Amelie Wyvernheart + | Born Amelie Steelhart, she was the youngest daughter in the Ducal line, so she grew up knowing that she did not really need to be concerned with learning the ins and outs of being a Countess. She grew up training to be strong enough to successfully explore the ruins she found such wonder and excitement in. Given that she often was so focused on her training and studies, she often found herself spending most of her time alone. As a gift for her eighteenth birthday her father, Count Frederik, gifted her a ship, a crew, and a map to unpopulated island. with rumors of ruins to explore. Her arrival to the island did not live up to the expectations she had in her heart, as her ship crashed in rough seas as they arrived, stranding her and the crew that survived. With the fall of Highhill also coming, she and the crew were forgot about, only recently escaping their unintended prison when a trading vessel happened upon the island. So now she has returned to the mainland to find her family has been replaced with a new one. + |
| Amerigo Pravus + | There are those destined for fighting - for martial pursuits and are made to wield the blade or the bow. Such...is not Amerigo. From an early age, Amerigo learned what it was like to be at the end of many a beating between his siblings and his 'friends' as he made his way through life. Not that he didn't have the physique for combat, he just didn't have the desire. Blessed with what many thought was a gentle spirit but a keen mind, Amerigo spent more times in books than he did out in the fields or the sparring ring. His sparring ring was the classroom where he put to shame (and likely is why he earned so many beatings from) his fellow scholars. The son of a wine vintner, his family did not lack for resources. He was able to travel with his father as they hawked the wares of their lands, a full but distant branch of the Pravus family that provided plenty of alcohol for the Pravus family to celebrate with yet, primarily, avoided much of the daily politics though he was present at most important events, and so kept tabs on the family as they did him. As he grew older, he learned the value of his good looks and winning personality. Making friends with the biggest an strongest meant less beatings because, well, why fight when you can have people fight for you. He continues his pursuits and scholarly efforts, learning the skills of counting coin but, moreso, adminsitration and law. He became a sort of wandering magister, resolving disputes and settling matters, an arbiter and judge. And so his quiet life was moving along quite simply until a messenger arrived one day. He was due in Arx, at the request of the Duchess, to stop playing and as the letter said, 'get some real work done.' Considering it had been a while since he saw his cousin, he was a bit surprised by the news but one does not dismiss such a request. So off to Arx he goes. + |
| Amieli Igniseri + | A noble of a lesser branch of the Igniseri family, Amieli is the only child begot from the tragic story of Lisa Igniseri, younger sister to Emilisia Igniseri by several minutes. As an adult, Lisa wanted nothing more than to raise a family. Infertility would have been tame--instead, after three consecutive miscarriages, it became clear something was very wrong. Most of the Lyceum simply sighed with relief Lisa was not ruling head and went about their lives. But the lady herself, grief stricken and determined, was nowhere near as content. She turned to midwives, physickers, even alchemists in search of help. Despite reassurances and postulated solutions, the results were far from satisfying. Amieli should have been the youngest of seven; she was the first of one. IN a final twist of pitch irony, Lisa's only successful birth was also the cause of her death. The fate of her father is even less certain. From childhood to young adulthood, Amieli lived an almost nomadic life in the Lyceum, her upbringing distributed across branches of the Igniseri family and close relatives or friends, sometimes even in other houses. She learned to own little, travel light, and learn everything she could while the opportunity was at hand. Connections were many but shallow, and her solace was in those fragments which became permanent: appreciation for proper etiquette; her study of the sword; and even the difference from one place to the next, finding a story here, a poem there, and piecing the world together as best she could. For the displaced lady, the turn to Arx was only natural; yet another patch in her patchwork of homes. Except this time, she could choose where to go--and what better place than the heart, jewel, and crossroads of the Compact? + |
| Amir Melaeris + | Born the only son of the Marquis Lyron' dear, widowed sister, Amir lead a privileged life. His mother was sickly but doting, making sure that her son had only the best tutors and wanted for nothing. And when she died, he was taken into Lyron' care and raised alongside the his youngest daughter. For all intents and purposes, the two children were treated like siblings--sharing playmates, eating dinner together, and reading eachother's diaries aloud to friends. As a young teen, Amir's raw talent with a blade quickly became apparent. So much so, that the Marquessa-Consort, arranged for him to be tutored in martial subjects by the House's previous Sword. Youthful cockiness and pride hampered his early years of training but by the time he was in his early twenties, Amir had learned to temper his emotions and master his movements. Even if the old Sword could still knock him on his ass. He was biding his time, hoping to be appointed the new house Sword as his mentor aged, when Marquis Lyron passed. A storm had taken the life of his uncle and the entirety of his ship to the ocean floor. The new Marquis was quick to stir up the ranks, putting fresh faces in new positions. Including Amir. For the next few years, he would serve as House Melaeris' faithful and occasionally outspoken Sword. Many a white journal was put up decrying the practice of Thralldom or naming and shaming those who mistreated their thralls. Not a single soul was surprised when Amir would later go on to become a disciple of the newly discovered Skald and a Liberator. Or that he supported the reforms on the laws concerning thralls--even if he contested they weren't good enough. Still, even if he objected to many of Thrax's policies, he still fought dutifully for the Great House during the siege of Arx and later during the war against the so called Pirate King. + |
| Amorria Arterius + | Amorria's parents traveled a great deal, mainly to sell what they had made from what they gathered along their traveled. As a wanderer in her own sense, Amorria often would pretend to be more than just the commoner child she was. She would save every bit of nice looking fabric she had and drape herself in the knotted together scraps to form dresses and outfits that she imagined was the most beautiful. Her parents sheltered her for the most part, her father always being close by her side even as she grew into a young woman. Her mother, more often ashamed of her child's whimsical nature would often be seen walking in front or a few steps behind her husband and her daughter. Unless it was just herself and Amorria, in which case Amorria would be seem close by her side but with her head down and curious eyes never turning up from looking at her own feet. There is very little known about her family, or her, only that they never lingered long in more than one place and Amorria was not always seen in their company. + |
| Amund + | Born twenty-five years ago, Amund has learned from an early age that hardship and misery is the staple of living on the frontier with the Everwinter. The months of famine would bring sickness, the sickness would bring death. His parents fastidiously thought to spare him the worst parts, often to their own detriment. One night, a band of aggressive shavs took the village by storm. The emaciated villagers fought their best, but ultimately they could not stop the wave of violence that would see babies wrenched from mothers' breasts and dashed against walls, fathers put to the sword and mothers speared through their skulls, hanging like ragdolls in the winter snows. The boy, barely twelve, wasn't noticed from his perch on the roof of his house. With nowhere to go, he was forced to fend for himself. Out in the wilds he set out to avoid bands of raiders, foraging what he could from the woods until he found shelter in the next village. After a month of slow and painful recovery from frost exposure, he was nursed back to health and taken in by the village's mayor as a ward. Eventually he became part of the watchers of the town, trained in the sword and the axe before a band of sellswords showed up in town and, after saying his goodbyes to these Whitehold-affiliated villagers, he signed up with them. Their fight against the shav'arvani became ever more violent after he was recruited. Whereas the lieutenants would have consternation for his methods, they couldn't deny that they were effective. Slowly he crawled up the ranks until he made it to Lieutenant. When the general of the company died from a fever, the company disbanded. He became a Champion in ducal courts, his style a favorite of Northern nobles for its sheer ferocity and his disregard for the opponents' safety. If the fight ended in one blow and the opponent lived, then it didn't matter if it was a stab to the gut or a sliced vein that did it. His money was earned, win or lose, and it was time to part ways. But that, too, became a boring endeavor. But the opportunity for money rose again when lord after lord would call for free swords to fight for them in the Silent War. And fight he did. There may have been unspeakable horrors in the line of battle, but he resolutely pressed on and took the fight to them. His remarkable versatility helped make himself quite the name in the field of battle. Once the battle was joined, win or lose, he gave his best; consummate professional that he is, the outcome didn't matter so much as the payment. If the bands of shav'arvani aligned with the Silence were slaughtered to a man, who cared? Moreover, there were times he sought out these tribes in diversion, intent on bleeding their numbers dry. Once again, in the Gyre War, Amund distinguished himself with a seasonal contract with the Setarco military. For those battles, he proved himself gritty enough to be offered a renewal of his contract by a serjeant, which he declined. The lure of fighting against shav'arvani drew him to Arx. So he packed his bags, hoping for business that marries his hatred for the Abandoned with a desire for new thrills. + |
| Amund Frost + | Born twenty-five years ago, Amund has learned from an early age that hardship and misery is the staple of living on the frontier with the Everwinter. The months of famine would bring sickness, the sickness would bring death. His parents fastidiously thought to spare him the worst parts, often to their own detriment. One night, a band of aggressive shavs took the village by storm. The emaciated villagers fought their best, but ultimately they could not stop the wave of violence that would see babies wrenched from mothers' breasts and dashed against walls, fathers put to the sword and mothers speared through their skulls, hanging like ragdolls in the winter snows. The boy, barely twelve, wasn't noticed from his perch on the roof of his house. With nowhere to go, he was forced to fend for himself. Out in the wilds he set out to avoid bands of raiders, foraging what he could from the woods until he found shelter in the next village. After a month of slow and painful recovery from frost exposure, he was nursed back to health and taken in by the village's mayor as a ward. Eventually he became part of the watchers of the town, trained in the sword and the axe before a band of sellswords showed up in town and, after saying his goodbyes to these Whitehold-affiliated villagers, he signed up with them. Their fight against the shav'arvani became ever more violent after he was recruited. Whereas the lieutenants would have consternation for his methods, they couldn't deny that they were effective. Slowly he crawled up the ranks until he made it to Lieutenant. When the general of the company died from a fever, the company disbanded. He became a Champion in ducal courts, his style a favorite of Northern nobles for its sheer ferocity and his disregard for the opponents' safety. If the fight ended in one blow and the opponent lived, then it didn't matter if it was a stab to the gut or a sliced vein that did it. His money was earned, win or lose, and it was time to part ways. But that, too, became a boring endeavor. But the opportunity for money rose again when lord after lord would call for free swords to fight for them in the Silent War. And fight he did. There may have been unspeakable horrors in the line of battle, but he resolutely pressed on and took the fight to them. His remarkable versatility helped make himself quite the name in the field of battle. Once the battle was joined, win or lose, he gave his best; consummate professional that he is, the outcome didn't matter so much as the payment. If the bands of shav'arvani aligned with the Silence were slaughtered to a man, who cared? Moreover, there were times he sought out these tribes in diversion, intent on bleeding their numbers dry. Once again, in the Gyre War, Amund distinguished himself with a seasonal contract with the Setarco military. For those battles, he proved himself gritty enough to be offered a renewal of his contract by a serjeant, which he declined. The lure of fighting against shav'arvani drew him to Arx. So he packed his bags, hoping for business that marries his hatred for the Abandoned with a desire for new thrills. + |
| Amund Honor + | Born twenty-five years ago, Amund has learned from an early age that hardship and misery is the staple of living on the frontier with the Everwinter. The months of famine would bring sickness, the sickness would bring death. His parents fastidiously thought to spare him the worst parts, often to their own detriment. One night, a band of aggressive shavs took the village by storm. The emaciated villagers fought their best, but ultimately they could not stop the wave of violence that would see babies wrenched from mothers' breasts and dashed against walls, fathers put to the sword and mothers speared through their skulls, hanging like ragdolls in the winter snows. The boy, barely twelve, wasn't noticed from his perch on the roof of his house. With nowhere to go, he was forced to fend for himself. Out in the wilds he set out to avoid bands of raiders, foraging what he could from the woods until he found shelter in the next village. After a month of slow and painful recovery from frost exposure, he was nursed back to health and taken in by the village's mayor as a ward. Eventually he became part of the watchers of the town, trained in the sword and the axe before a band of sellswords showed up in town and, after saying his goodbyes to these Whitehold-affiliated villagers, he signed up with them. Their fight against the shav'arvani became ever more violent after he was recruited. Whereas the lieutenants would have consternation for his methods, they couldn't deny that they were effective. Slowly he crawled up the ranks until he made it to Lieutenant. When the general of the company died from a fever, the company disbanded. He became a Champion in ducal courts, his style a favorite of Northern nobles for its sheer ferocity and his disregard for the opponents' safety. If the fight ended in one blow and the opponent lived, then it didn't matter if it was a stab to the gut or a sliced vein that did it. His money was earned, win or lose, and it was time to part ways. But that, too, became a boring endeavor. But the opportunity for money rose again when lord after lord would call for free swords to fight for them in the Silent War. And fight he did. There may have been unspeakable horrors in the line of battle, but he resolutely pressed on and took the fight to them. His remarkable versatility helped make himself quite the name in the field of battle. Once the battle was joined, win or lose, he gave his best; consummate professional that he is, the outcome didn't matter so much as the payment. If the bands of shav'arvani aligned with the Silence were slaughtered to a man, who cared? Moreover, there were times he sought out these tribes in diversion, intent on bleeding their numbers dry. Once again, in the Gyre War, Amund distinguished himself with a seasonal contract with the Setarco military. For those battles, he proved himself gritty enough to be offered a renewal of his contract by a serjeant, which he declined. The lure of fighting against shav'arvani drew him to Arx. So he packed his bags, hoping for business that marries his hatred for the Abandoned with a desire for new thrills. + |
| Amund Masque + | Born twenty-five years ago, Amund has learned from an early age that hardship and misery is the staple of living on the frontier with the Everwinter. The months of famine would bring sickness, the sickness would bring death. His parents fastidiously thought to spare him the worst parts, often to their own detriment. One night, a band of aggressive shavs took the village by storm. The emaciated villagers fought their best, but ultimately they could not stop the wave of violence that would see babies wrenched from mothers' breasts and dashed against walls, fathers put to the sword and mothers speared through their skulls, hanging like ragdolls in the winter snows. The boy, barely twelve, wasn't noticed from his perch on the roof of his house. With nowhere to go, he was forced to fend for himself. Out in the wilds he set out to avoid bands of raiders, foraging what he could from the woods until he found shelter in the next village. After a month of slow and painful recovery from frost exposure, he was nursed back to health and taken in by the village's mayor as a ward. Eventually he became part of the watchers of the town, trained in the sword and the axe before a band of sellswords showed up in town and, after saying his goodbyes to these Whitehold-affiliated villagers, he signed up with them. Their fight against the shav'arvani became ever more violent after he was recruited. Whereas the lieutenants would have consternation for his methods, they couldn't deny that they were effective. Slowly he crawled up the ranks until he made it to Lieutenant. When the general of the company died from a fever, the company disbanded. He became a Champion in ducal courts, his style a favorite of Northern nobles for its sheer ferocity and his disregard for the opponents' safety. If the fight ended in one blow and the opponent lived, then it didn't matter if it was a stab to the gut or a sliced vein that did it. His money was earned, win or lose, and it was time to part ways. But that, too, became a boring endeavor. But the opportunity for money rose again when lord after lord would call for free swords to fight for them in the Silent War. And fight he did. There may have been unspeakable horrors in the line of battle, but he resolutely pressed on and took the fight to them. His remarkable versatility helped make himself quite the name in the field of battle. Once the battle was joined, win or lose, he gave his best; consummate professional that he is, the outcome didn't matter so much as the payment. If the bands of shav'arvani aligned with the Silence were slaughtered to a man, who cared? Moreover, there were times he sought out these tribes in diversion, intent on bleeding their numbers dry. Once again, in the Gyre War, Amund distinguished himself with a seasonal contract with the Setarco military. For those battles, he proved himself gritty enough to be offered a renewal of his contract by a serjeant, which he declined. The lure of fighting against shav'arvani drew him to Arx. So he packed his bags, hoping for business that marries his hatred for the Abandoned with a desire for new thrills. + |
| Amund Monrosa + | Born twenty-five years ago, Amund has learned from an early age that hardship and misery is the staple of living on the frontier with the Everwinter. The months of famine would bring sickness, the sickness would bring death. His parents fastidiously thought to spare him the worst parts, often to their own detriment. One night, a band of aggressive shavs took the village by storm. The emaciated villagers fought their best, but ultimately they could not stop the wave of violence that would see babies wrenched from mothers' breasts and dashed against walls, fathers put to the sword and mothers speared through their skulls, hanging like ragdolls in the winter snows. The boy, barely twelve, wasn't noticed from his perch on the roof of his house. With nowhere to go, he was forced to fend for himself. Out in the wilds he set out to avoid bands of raiders, foraging what he could from the woods until he found shelter in the next village. After a month of slow and painful recovery from frost exposure, he was nursed back to health and taken in by the village's mayor as a ward. Eventually he became part of the watchers of the town, trained in the sword and the axe before a band of sellswords showed up in town and, after saying his goodbyes to these Whitehold-affiliated villagers, he signed up with them. Their fight against the shav'arvani became ever more violent after he was recruited. Whereas the lieutenants would have consternation for his methods, they couldn't deny that they were effective. Slowly he crawled up the ranks until he made it to Lieutenant. When the general of the company died from a fever, the company disbanded. He became a Champion in ducal courts, his style a favorite of Northern nobles for its sheer ferocity and his disregard for the opponents' safety. If the fight ended in one blow and the opponent lived, then it didn't matter if it was a stab to the gut or a sliced vein that did it. His money was earned, win or lose, and it was time to part ways. But that, too, became a boring endeavor. But the opportunity for money rose again when lord after lord would call for free swords to fight for them in the Silent War. And fight he did. There may have been unspeakable horrors in the line of battle, but he resolutely pressed on and took the fight to them. His remarkable versatility helped make himself quite the name in the field of battle. Once the battle was joined, win or lose, he gave his best; consummate professional that he is, the outcome didn't matter so much as the payment. If the bands of shav'arvani aligned with the Silence were slaughtered to a man, who cared? Moreover, there were times he sought out these tribes in diversion, intent on bleeding their numbers dry. Once again, in the Gyre War, Amund distinguished himself with a seasonal contract with the Setarco military. For those battles, he proved himself gritty enough to be offered a renewal of his contract by a serjeant, which he declined. The lure of fighting against shav'arvani drew him to Arx. So he packed his bags, hoping for business that marries his hatred for the Abandoned with a desire for new thrills. + |
| Anabelle Lyonesse + | One of the earliest memories that Anabelle can readily recall is cold and hunger. Not something one would expect of a noble family. In 990 AR, as winter was beginning to make itself evident in the Oathlands, a caravan of food and furs was robbed. Which in turn caused a crisis within Lyon's Redoubt, the home of the Lyonesse family. It was a long winter, cold and full of rumbling bellies. Yet such petty complications couldn't dampen the spirits of a young Anabelle! Upon reflecting on the cold and hunger she felt at the time, she implored her parents to ration out her own meals to the people of Lyon's Redoubt. That winter taught her a valuable lesson at a young age; everyone deserves a warm meal and bed. Which in turn has caused her to grow into an adult with a mind toward helping others. Naturally she has her own ambitions and desires, but at the end of the day she understands the intrinsic value of helping another. Never one to take studies too seriously and having no particular interest in the sword, it was the realm of social activity that called like a siren to Anabelle. As she grew older she was often the centerpiece of a throng of young noble girls and at times those of the common class. It was likely this penchant for being social, understand people, and generally being the most willing to extend a hand in welcome to another that she became the Voice of House Lyonesse upon her only slightly older sister, Demura, becoming the Marquessa of Lyonesse following the departure of their older brother and Marquis, to join the King's Own. 'Little Lady Perfect' became a moniker of sorts, often utilized as a teasing barb cast from one sister to the perceived favorite young child of the family. She strives to be perfection personified, though as her older brother so regularly told it: it's unattainable. Anabelle will try though! Trying is always worth the fun and story of it! She's come to Arx with Autumn transitioning to Winter in 1005 AR alongside Marquessa Demura Lyonesse with the intent to represent their family within her role as the Voice of the Marquessa and an effort to do what good she finds herself able while within the city walls. + |
| Anastajia Mercy + | Being a young girl who has never known her parents, life has been rather difficult for Anastajia. She knew her strengths were in making people happy, and decided she would make a living out of doing just that. You may think one in a situation such as hers would lose their way in life, but she resolved to keep her head held high and take it one step at a time, literally. Entertaining people was in her blood, and with the various skills she had picked up along the way, as well as her aptitude for dance, she was able to make a enough money to get by. She may not be wealthy, and may appear to be all alone in this world, but the fact remains that she is gifted with the ability to touch the hearts of everyone she meets. Because of this, she never feels like she is alone in the world. + |
| Anders Nightcove + | Anders was born a lord of House Nightcove, a vassal of House Helianthus. He's spent his years in the loyally serving the Marquis of Eastcrest and rising steadily to the position of Voice and admiral of his family's naval forces. He has an immaculate and impressive career, and is personally responsible for claiming significant tracts of land for his house. + |
| Andreas Donatti + | 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. + |
| Andrel Monteaux + | Andrel was born the middle son of the Monteaux family. He was considered the golden child of his family, and paraded around as the jewel of the Monteaux sons from his promising physical stature to his honorable demeanor. Despite this, when their father perished on a hunting accident, it was his older brother, ever envious of Andrel, that received the family wealth, and estate. He ensured Andrel received only enough to live on his own, but now Andrel has set off to make a name for himself in the Kingdom greater, independent of his brothers. + |
| Andrina Thornburn + | Andrina is the daughter of Andrew and Anastasia Thornborn-- a wealthy baker and his iron guard wife. Her mother and father pampered her and spoiled her (by commoner standards). She grew up in a nice home in the upper boroughs with a sheltered and rather idyllic life. Her parents encouraged her to follow her passions. She flittered around in several apprentices as a teenager before she finally landed on her true passion-- painting and sculpting. She knows how to sew, melt down an ingot, and how to tan leather but she doesn't really have much interest in it. No, instead, she would rather be reading stories of larger than life heroes and bringing those tales to life on a canvas or in marble. + |
| Andromeda Leporidae + | Andromeda has always been athletically inclined, coordinated and possessed of a strong build. Her resilience, however, was something that needed work. She'd always been described as soft of heart, and while her mother assured her there was nothing wrong with that, she warned her about kindness and mercy. These are principles that warriors of Andromeda's caliber simply can't afford. Everyone who knew her growing up remembers a time in which the apprentice Sword was idealistic, maybe even naive. That all changed when she was taken captive during a battle waged against the enemies of Tremorus. A particularly brutal tribe of Abandoned spent months torturing her for information they could use to fight against their enemies in turn. She was never allowed a moment of peace, but they knew that at the very least their "noble" hostage needed to remain whole enough to be used in negotiations if it came down to it. Andromeda managed, after a lengthy confinement, to trick her gaoler into letting her out. When she got her hands on a sword, it was only a matter of time. She slaughtered everyone who got in her way, and then she slaughtered everyone else at the holding. They call it the Night of Long Screams, and it is a tale that has endured in the history of the Proscipi. When Andromeda returned to her people she wasted no time in informing her kinsmen of the knowledge she had gathered while being kept prisoner; enemy movements and other inside information that allowed them to smash the opposition on every front. In the final battle she fought their Champion one on one with the stipulation that the victor takes all -- despite the protestations of her brother Remus who felt it was pure folly. Andromeda's cold methodology and skill with a blade allowed her to carve through him like a cake. After which, of course, the rest of the clan quickly disarmed and bent the knee. The shattered blade of her foe remains on display in the museum of the Leporidae and since then she has become something of a ruthless pragmatic. After Tremorus and Leporidae bent the knee, she was introduced to the concept of the Champion's Guild, which quickly caught her mind, and fascinated her. It wasn't long before the Prodigal Champion joined their ranks, eager to find new ways of testing herself, and of emerging victorious. + |
| Andry Bayweather + | Another day, another orphan, another life into the Lowers. Perhaps Andry's parents are some line of royalty, perhaps great nobility runs through his blood, perhaps he's a bastard child of a former king, perhaps there's magic in his blood! Or perhaps his parents were just no ones who got ran off or killed and he's just another baby in the Tragedy of the Lowers. One of those being more likely than the others, Andry lived his life with pragmatism. An urchin and an orphan in the Lowers, Andry was quick to learn he couldn't make it alone. Not being a sizeable boy, he was not one who would survive many of the scraps that took place in the Lowers. So he found himself a big boy, an older boy, and endeared himself to him. Jeffeth Bayweather. The two took on the same surname, both of them without real families, two orphans decided they could be their own family. With Andry's wit and Jeffeth's brawn the two were able to survive the lowers and grow well enough. While Jeffeth was swayed by the stories of the Knights Solace, Andry made sure they had solid connections to the Cullers, a family with known criminal connections in the Lower Boroughs. He always appreciated the thought of just taking what you want in this world. And so he made sure to endear himself to the Cullers, that they would look upon him kindly. But when his adoptive brother became a fully Godsworn knight, Andry wasn't far behind. Becoming Godsworn meant a life being taken care of. Of course he had to become a bit more in tune with the Gods that he was originally inclined, and eventually he took a great liking to Gild. Feeling more of a kinship with the Goddess than he expected. While still much was expected of Andry, it was never very hard for him. Looking after his pocket of trusted individuals, Andry became a well known Knight of Solace, famed for his keen eye and sharp wit as well as the edge of his blades. Andry is always sure to keep those he is close to happy and safe. While they may be on either side of the tracks, Andry feels deeply indebted to both the Cullers and the Knights of Solace. Though now, his duty is to protect those who could not protect themselves. And hey, make some money on the side. + |
| Angelica Sanna + | Angelica comes from a branch of the Sanna family split free, obscurely referenced in Farshaw and fairly unremarkable. Several generations back, they settled in a small village north of the Redrain capital, called to an obscure purpose and excelling at it, tending sheep, mining, and joining the locals in their trade of bookbinding. Their success is a little above modest, the village able to support itself without much interference from the outside world, encouraging a work ethic that's reflect in their respected goods as well as their day to day. Angelica is a product of such a community, her calm demeanor rarely ruffled, her focus intense on whatever she sets herself to. + |
| Angelo DiFidante + | The son of a lesser Fidante line, first cousin to Duke Leo and Lady Calista, Angelo was born to be a superfluous son, and like many, found expectation suggested him for soldiery or the priesthood. He lacked interest in spilling blood, and he lacked the devotion of the early priestbound. As a youth, he was irresolute, frustrated, sometimes reckless. He defied expectation in every way he could think of. He eschewed parties for books. He eschewed priestly training for quiet, private meditation. He eschewed dueling and getting in people's faces by being more than ordinarily diplomatic. When assigned military tasks, he would generally find ways of fulfilling a support role: aiding in quartermastery rather than combat, for example. When he just coming of age, his father got stabbed in the chest during the Tor-Southport War, returning home alive but with troubles breathing and many fits of illnesses which he fought through for the following decade. Despite the struggles of a kind of depressed and reactive teenagerhood that he mainly spent getting in the way and being discontented without particular aim, Angelo began to develop a direction despite himself, mainly inspired by spending time devoted to his dying father. That direction became the laity. A little disturbed by the mirrormasks, perhaps because of spending too much time near the Oathlands, he nevertheless grew in his heart a fascination for the reflection and for Tehom. Spare nobleman that he is, he has flirted with becoming godsworn, but never gone through with it. Skillful diplomat that he is rumored to be, mainly because of the deftness of his vocabulary and the imaginative and deeply perceptive nature that one develops when they have listened to many stories and many problems, he never quite decided to opt that way. Some say that he didn't have a good time in Tor, and it could be true: when his father died two years before the King's Rest, his reaction was to seclude himself in his chambers and the number of public appearances he could be counted with a couple of hands. It was until mid-1005 AR, when he traveled to Arx at the sudden request of Duke Leo Fidante, who was in need of diplomats for the Voice of the Compact and had heard rumors of his cousin's vague interest in diplomacy. Like many other times when Angelo finds something that fascinates him, it might seem like the chance to escape from Tor, from his past, has made him truly engaged with the idea of putting his empathy and vocabulary to the service of House Fidante and the realm. Just prior to House Volkov's destruction, Angelo was there as a diplomatic envoy. Perhaps he felt responsible for their fate, because not long after the new Difidante cadet house was established, Angelo entered these lands again, and vanished for a month. Wardens within the cadet house found him, thin and haggard and wandering, with long-dried blood on his hands and arms, and not a mark on him personally. They took him in let him recuperate in silence, and he emerged much as he had been, a bit remote and thoughtful and verbally gifted, but thinner, more haunted, restless, as if awoken by some impulse that would neither let him withdraw or rest. + |
| Angelo Fidante + | The son of a lesser Fidante line, first cousin to Duke Leo and Lady Calista, Angelo was born to be a superfluous son, and like many, found expectation suggested him for soldiery or the priesthood. He lacked interest in spilling blood, and he lacked the devotion of the early priestbound. As a youth, he was irresolute, frustrated, sometimes reckless. He defied expectation in every way he could think of. He eschewed parties for books. He eschewed priestly training for quiet, private meditation. He eschewed dueling and getting in people's faces by being more than ordinarily diplomatic. When assigned military tasks . . . he proved to have a mind for strategy and organization. He was credited for creating new moves in strategic games like Stones and became involved despite himself in hosting tournaments which brought some of Arvum's most brilliant minds to Tor. When he was just coming of age, his father got stabbed in the chest during the Tor-Southport War, returning home alive but with troubles breathing and many fits of illnesses which he fought through for the following decade. Almost by accident, Angelo began to develop a real direction, mainly inspired by spending time devoted to his dying father. He began writing his father's accounts of war. When his father died, he secluded himself in his chambers and completed the biography. When he emerged, it was with the finished text and a certain restlessness. He traveled to other fealties to gather the stories of other war veterans. And as he traveled, he explored other areas. Deepened his skills for diplomacy and counsel, developed his imaginative and deeply perceptive nature. He traveled to Arx at the request of then Duke Leo Fidante to serve as a diplomat, but he has branched into other interests. He is still prone to traveling and gathering stories, while retaining his fascination for strategy and study. He finds ways to commit himself completely to his duties wherever he is. He's agile enough for that. + |
| Anisha Whisper + | Who is Anisha Whisper? That might depend on who and when you ask. She joined Whisper House after time as a courtier in Setarco, offering a differing story to whomever asked - though a common signifier she left in is that she's a former noble who left her family in some disgrace. The noble house is always anonymous and unnamed, though the fealty frequently changes. For now, she insists that she has found her purpose in life as a Whisper and a Mirrormask, and that it was only a matter of time before her journey led her to Arx. + |
| Ann Redrain + | She was born Ann Moriah Redrain, a Princess with her nose buried in books and planted firmly at the feet of wise elders of the North, absorbing their tales, or off having adventures. Her childhood was indeed full of these - crossing into a spooky copse of trees or venturing upon high mountain peaks for the sheer exhilaration of it. As she grew into womanhood, these adventures became a little less childish and a little more odd. Always the one to goad into temptation, once she heard tales of wondrous relics or academic tomes, Ann (or sometimes Moriah, depending on her mood) would plead, coax, and cajole an intrepid (or sometimes reluctant) member or two of Redrain to accompany her to explore the tale. Among her favorite to pull to these adventures were her three brothers: Valerian, Torrus, and Angus - all three having perished, the latter valiantly so in the Night's Grove with the King and Sherrod. Within the Silent War, Princess Ann Moriah Redrain found herself taking vows to Duke Asger Crovane on the ashes of the once proud city, laid low. Together they rebuilt the city from inside out. Together they had three children, each showing small hints of personality of both mother and father. Shortly after the twins were born, Duke Asger Crovane was poisoned by an unknown assassin while visiting the County of Coastside to talk to House Crackneck. Devastated, Ann stepped down from being Duchess to allow the Crovane family to have the direct bloodline at head of the house. With no title nor succession for her children, she returned to Redrain to take up her position as Princess again. Seeking new adventures, and helping her family navigate the politics of the Compact. + |
| Ann Rivenshari + | She was born Ann Moriah Redrain, a Princess with her nose buried in books and planted firmly at the feet of wise elders of the North, absorbing their tales, or off having adventures. Her childhood was indeed full of these - crossing into a spooky copse of trees or venturing upon high mountain peaks for the sheer exhilaration of it. As she grew into womanhood, these adventures became a little less childish and a little more odd. Always the one to goad into temptation, once she heard tales of wondrous relics or academic tomes, Ann (or sometimes Moriah, depending on her mood) would plead, coax, and cajole an intrepid (or sometimes reluctant) member or two of Redrain to accompany her to explore the tale. Among her favorite to pull to these adventures were her three brothers: Valerian, Torrus, and Angus - all three having perished, the latter valiantly so in the Night's Grove with the King and Sherrod. Within the Silent War, Princess Ann Moriah Redrain found herself taking vows to Duke Asger Crovane on the ashes of the once proud city, laid low. Together they rebuilt the city from inside out. Together they had three children, each showing small hints of personality of both mother and father. Shortly after the twins were born, Duke Asger Crovane was poisoned by an unknown assassin while visiting the County of Coastside to talk to House Crackneck. Devastated, Ann stepped down from being Duchess to allow the Crovane family to have the direct bloodline at head of the house. With no title nor succession for her children, she returned to Redrain to take up her position as Princess again. Seeking new adventures, and helping her family navigate the politics of the Compact. + |
| Ann crovane + | She was born Ann Moriah Redrain, a Princess with her nose buried in books and planted firmly at the feet of wise elders of the North, absorbing their tales, or off having adventures. Her childhood was indeed full of these - crossing into a spooky copse of trees or venturing upon high mountain peaks for the sheer exhilaration of it. As she grew into womanhood, these adventures became a little less childish and a little more odd. Always the one to goad into temptation, once she heard tales of wondrous relics or academic tomes, Ann (or sometimes Moriah, depending on her mood) would plead, coax, and cajole an intrepid (or sometimes reluctant) member or two of Redrain to accompany her to explore the tale. Among her favorite to pull to these adventures were her three brothers: Valerian, Torrus, and Angus - all three having perished, the latter valiantly so in the Night's Grove with the King and Sherrod. Within the Silent War, Princess Ann Moriah Redrain found herself taking vows to Duke Asger Crovane on the ashes of the once proud city, laid low. Together they rebuilt the city from inside out. Together they had three children, each showing small hints of personality of both mother and father. Shortly after the twins were born, Duke Asger Crovane was poisoned by an unknown assassin while visiting the County of Coastside to talk to House Crackneck. Devastated, Ann stepped down from being Duchess to allow the Crovane family to have the direct bloodline at head of the house. With no title nor succession for her children, she returned to Redrain to take up her position as Princess again. Seeking new adventures, and helping her family navigate the politics of the Compact. + |
| Annabella Grimhall + | Annabella was fortunate enough to have been born to the Grimhall family, and as such her upbringing was a bit more fortunate than a commoner child. Through she was raised with the proper etiquette and formalities of a noble, Annabella never much cared for the supposed worth in her noble blood, and instead found solace in libraries and apothecaries, where she could gather as much knowledge on healing and medication as possible, as she quickly found this to be her true passion. In her hands, the tools to save a life are just as valuable as the tools of war most of her Grimhalls employ in their tactics. Where that fails, she isn't too bad with a knife. + |
| Annika Navegant + | Born the younger sister of Quirin, Annika had a very clear path ahead of her, and she followed it, for the most part. She was not a rebellious child, but she also had some ideas of her own, thankfully ones that fit in just fine with the typical Thraxian ideals of female nobility. When she was a young woman she showed an aptitude for the healing arts, and learned what she could of medicine from the family priest she was unable to pursue her studies further while at home. To that end they decided that she should travel to Arx and study there until such time as she was satisfied with her studies, and came home. She eventually came home, but was never satisfied with her studies. It was while in Arx that she met Dion Stonewood, who would turn her head with tales of adventure and romance, and eventually marry her. They have primarily called Escuma home for all these years, but neither have been stuck on the island. When younger they would adventure, or sail with the fleets. As they had children and gew older they lingered at home until it was decided that they were needed in Arx once more. + |
| Ansel Telmar + | Ansel knows that many are extremely jealous of any noble that has the good fortune to be born the son of a powerful and influential duke, but all things the same he would have been much happier being raised a farmer's son. Duke Arn has a reputation as gruff, mean spirited, painfully blunt, callous, ruthless, often dishonorable, and unrelentingly unlikeable. And those are by his allies. Ansel, on the other hand, is the Duke's son who was born after a disappointing string of older siblings (who Arn never forgot to inform them of such) and then finally settling on his bookish, good natured, and gentle-hearted son. Those traits, of course, would simply not stand. Ansel's earliest memory was his first kindly tutor being put in stocks and publicly whipped before being exiled from the Telmarch for having the audacity to suggest that Ansel, with his love for book loving, would make a wonderful Scholar of Vellichor. It was a slight to suggest that any son of Arn's (and, still to date and much to Ansel's dismay, since his elder brother Tobias feld he receives most of this attention), would be anything but a ferocious warrior and ruthless knight to carry on the battle legacy of House Telmar and defend the Telmarch. Briefly, Ansel had the fond hope that his uncle Lord Everard would keep the position of Sword of the Telmarch and remain champion of the house, and allow Ansel to do anything but train relentlessly in the questionable art of killing people with sharp objects. Sadly, his father Duke Arn dashed those hopes, and made certain that Ansel knew (and repeatedly reminded him every day during brutal drills) that the sword was just in his uncle's keeping, and Ansel would be a great warrior and the new champion of the house when he came of age whether he liked it or not. And would of course represent the family in duels of honor and fights to the death if need be. And Ansel had better like it. The thing that really disturbs Ansel the most is he might even like being a knight if it wasn't for his father. Training with swords is fun, even if he prefers books and could probably have done without his father graphically describing just the best way to end an opponent's life in the most unnecessarily vivid detail. But even though he didn't ask for it and didn't particularly want it, he still he feels he could be a better Duke of the Telmarch on that fateful day when Arn finally dies, if for some reason the Duke passes over his siblings. He hopes he can be a better man. Ansel is pretty sure he can't be much worse. + |
| Ansgar Blackram + | The Bear Shepherd, that is what Ansgar was often fondly or not so fondly called in his prime. When Ansgar was young and was the military commander in charge of the Blackram Pikesman, he was loudest, largest and fiercest man on the field. He was a trusted commander, and not only for Blackram forces, more than once in his life Ansgar found himself leading Telmar forces in assistance to the Valardin house. This was his prime, the time he was at his best, but sadly that was short-lived. When Ansgar was 45 he was leading 500 pikesman in a fight against a shav raiding party who had been attacking Valardin and Redrain parties and in his moment of glory, as his 500 pikeman attacked the group of 1000 shav fighters, Ansgar was unable to clearly lead the attack, he could not remember critical planned timeframes to send groups into the attack, and because of this, his pikeman were pushed back, losing 100 men, with Ansgar's own giant horse killed from under him. It was rumored that after a long recuperation from a broken leg he might have been not of a stable mindset to be leading the attack. Despite this, as time went on, it became quite obvious that Ansgar was becoming of less fit mind as years went by and could not be trusted to lead troops into battle. When he was 50, his family managed to talk Ansgar into joining the Knights of Solace, feeling the old Knight could serve the Faith and protect those who needed protecting. Where his mind has weakened, and his speed in battle may not be as great as it once was, Ansgar is still strong of body. As the years progress, the move to the Knights of Solace seems to be a perfect fit for the knight. He seems to more often feel he is 20 years old again, heading into battle to save the damsel in distress or the men who ride alongside him are those he is leading to fight shav forces once more. He is often heard shouting orders on whatever he deems to be his battlefield, even if it were the training yard with a blunted weapon. + |
| Antea Mazetti + | The youngest daughter to Bacchio and Joye Mazetti, Antea was born to the couple late in life, something of a surprise to her parents. She was born early and while surviving, the girl child was quite frail throughout childhood. Antea even had her own personal physician that could be seen haunting her every step through her Ostrian home. Given her deficiencies, she was quickly given over to the best tutors her family could find to begin her schooling rather than risk the girl's health in combat training. As she grew, her body strengthened, thankfully. And while she will never be the most robust of Mazetti, Antea was able to begin her battlefield training in earnest. Apprenticed in an advisory capacity to General Nico Scale of the Third Legion at the age of 15, Antea spent the rest of her teen years learning practical application of all her earlier lessons. Once she reached maturity at 18, she was sent to join her first cousin Valerio Mazetti in the Second Legion as one of his Captains. It was during the Gyre War that Antea Mazetti truly came into her own, however. Sent to Setarco to help command the Mazetti forces there, Antea proved herself a capable leader and tactician. Her battleplans and strategies ensured that while Mazetti's troops suffered as heavy of losses as anyone, without her guidance it would that been much worse for them. That lead to her being named the new General of the Third Legion after Nico Scale's retirement from the position. Antea served her House well as General despite her youth, commanding the respect and fellowship of those in her command. When Valerio fell in battle far from home and Mazetti found itself in need of a new Marshal, it was perhaps a surprise for some that Antea Mazetti was picked but the young woman accepted the honor (and responsibility) with the dignity and gravity she'd become known for. For the first time since the Gyre War, the young Marshal has left Ostria to join the family in Arx and take her place at their side. + |
| Anton Kennex + | Born to a Kennex father and Lycene mother, Anton was an only child and doted upon accordingly, both parents quite willing to spoil the indolent, if brilliant, boy. While he excelled at his studies and took to the sea well enough, a pronounced aversion to anything martial was observed with dismay by his family. However, forced to not be defenseless at sea, the young Kennex Lord had some skill with a crossbow drilled into him before he was allowed to much more in the way of sailing. Once done, he availed himself of the opportunity to visit the various locales in the Isles, observing their architecture and fortifcations, then came home to figure out how best to put this knowledge to use. It is likely he would have remained content in Stormward, working at the drafting table and overseeing construction - if not for the Gyre War. Pressed into service to fight at Setarco, his parents both were killed and Anton gravely wounded. Once recovered, his life in ruins, he made his way to Arx to see the building styles of the grand capital. + |
| Antonia Amadeo + | With the Princess of Velenosa being established, Antonia has been placed in the new appointment to ensure that Saoirse represents a vision of the future, a new Arx, enlightened and prosperous. Antonia's external sole mission is to ensure the prosperity and elevation of Saoirse in all things, especially fashion and event planning. For her own devices, gatherings serve as an opportunity to learn more about the attendees, interactions and associations that Durate may find worthwhile. + |
| Antonio Velenosa + | Even as a child, Prince Antonio Velenosa felt drawn to the sea. He'd spend time by the shores near Lenosia, watching the ships come to port, and panic his house hold servants and guards by giving them the slip and swimming in the sea alone. There are secrets in the dark waters of the sea, hidden beneath the fathomless depths but not everyone can see them. For some, they're lost beneath the crash of the waves and the bright light of the sun, but for others... For others they can hear the voices lost to the waves, the whispers that come in the night. They understand what it is to look upon those dark waters and know that more, so much more, rests beneath the surface. Prince Antonio Velenosa was one who could look upon the waters and know that there was more. He could hear the Siren's song from the depths, understand the nothings that she whispered in his ear and it was her song that lured him to the shores, invited him deeper so that the urges that followed him in childhood, to spend all his time about the waves, carried him into adulthood. From a boy on a skiff, to a Captain at the helm, Prince Antonio has known a life of adventure. He made a name for himself as a young captain of royal blood escorting Lenosia shipping to Arx and the homes of the great houses, fearlessly meeting threats head on. Whether pirate or storm, the bold captain seemed to take any danger in stride, and his daring always seemed to carry the day when more timid men might have been lost. Unfortunately, it seemed his good fortune couldn't hold forever, and the entirely-too-bold captain may have underestimated how many enemies among pirate shavs he had been making, as a flotilla he was leading to the Darkwater Reach was ambushed by an exceptionally well organized and far more numerous force of Shavs. While House Velenosa stood by its prince, and claimed no one could have acquitted themselves better by escaping with as many ships as he did from the trap, the losses and embarrassment of the defeat have left the bold prince chastened and looking for redemption. That redemption wouldn't come at sea, but at the court of Arx, where a bold young captain with now an underserved reptuation for recklessness could prove to the Lyceum he had sound judgment and even temperment. If he can just stop himself for strangling any smug nobles asking about how he lost to shavs, of course. + |
| Anwen Ravenseye + | A noble family member of the Ravenseye tribe, Anwen was born in the Redrain holdings. She has never forgotten this, nor has she forgotten the Shamanistic origins of her people. Her first love is the sea, and while she prays to Mangata, she respects the ancient traditions of the Path of the Elders as well. Anwen has spent her life near the sea, on the sea, and in it. When spending too much time on land, she grows restless. + |
| Anze Malvici + | The north is harsh and it quickly forges those who live their to be strong. Anze never had time for the matters of court and intrigue, not that it was exactly a problem in Farhaven. He was focused on the blade and on war. He grew honing those skills, always a year and a step behind his brother Fergus and always trying to catch up. Anze wasn't the sword of the north, but the way he practiced and fought showed that one day he intended to be. Campaign after campaign, raid and duel after duel his skills were honed through blood and sweat. If there is one thing that can be said though it's that the glory of war quickly fades. No longer does he fear combat, but no longer is he eager for it either. The practicalities and brutalities of martial combat grant one perspective. The singlehanded desire to become the greatest swordsman in the north and thus a peer that could show himself an equal to his elder brother, Prince Fergus the Sword of Farhaven, has become tempered over time. There is still that desire there, smoldering in his heart, but losing friends and family makes one realize perhaps life shouldn't be all about war and every once in awhile we should stop and smell the roses. He still wishes to be great, and worthy of respect equal to Fergus, but he doesn't seek to replace him. It would be enough to be seen as an equal. + |
| Anze Redrain + | The north is harsh and it quickly forges those who live their to be strong. Anze never had time for the matters of court and intrigue, not that it was exactly a problem in Farhaven. He was focused on the blade and on war. He grew honing those skills, always a year and a step behind his brother Fergus and always trying to catch up. Anze wasn't the sword of the north, but the way he practiced and fought showed that one day he intended to be. Campaign after campaign, raid and duel after duel his skills were honed through blood and sweat. If there is one thing that can be said though it's that the glory of war quickly fades. No longer does he fear combat, but no longer is he eager for it either. The practicalities and brutalities of martial combat grant one perspective. The singlehanded desire to become the greatest swordsman in the north and thus a peer that could show himself an equal to his elder brother, Prince Fergus the Sword of Farhaven, has become tempered over time. There is still that desire there, smoldering in his heart, but losing friends and family makes one realize perhaps life shouldn't be all about war and every once in awhile we should stop and smell the roses. He still wishes to be great, and worthy of respect equal to Fergus, but he doesn't seek to replace him. It would be enough to be seen as an equal. + |
| Aodhan Crovane + | Born of the Crovane line in the far north, Aodhan was born and bred to fight, or so he would tell someone. He was a gentle child, but don't let it fool you: he could brawl as well as the other kids, if not better. He especially got into many good fights with his cousin Asger, as it strengthened their bond as family. Despite this, as a child he was always the one to want to mend wounds, rather than cause them. Thankfully, he grew out of that trend. While he was still gentle as a man, he loved to fight. HE loved to train. He loved to win. He would brave the harsh winters and even volunteer to fight hostile Abandoned just to test and improve his skills. As he grew older, his sense of pride and honor officially arrived, growing a deep love for his family. To him, nothing was more important. He serves his family proudly, while all the while wanting to constantly prove himself as a true Crovane. Little did he know, his adventure was just beginning... + |
| Aonghus Seliki + | It is no secret that the man worked forges for the Gyre before swearing his Oaths to the Compact and House Seliki, but since weapons he crafted spilled Compact blood and armor he crafted turned Compact blades, he is understandably reluctant to speak on it. It should come as no surprise, that life under The Gyre was unpleasant. Aonghus is glad to have those dark days behind him. The only family he has left in the world anymore is his sister Olin. With her help, he was able to come to Arx. The two of them have sworn Oaths the Compact and House Seliki. His thoughts are turned to the future and the path before him - now his own at last! His accent is a strange unplaceable amalgam. + |
| Apollis Malvici + | Apollis was born in Granato and became the eldest brother of four. Through his whole childhood he'd have to endure constant scrutiny and suspicion, much deserved. He was a hellion and rabble rouser. He was often the one inciting others to fight rather than being the one to get into a fight. Then during the chaos he'd make off with the coin purses. He'd often go off on his own urban 'adventures' where he'd come across 'hidden treasure' just sitting around. While his sisters were content with a different kind of adventuring he was often playing with Abandoned children and getting into places he had no business being in. After growing up a little the boy mostly put aside his troublemaking ways but his path was definitely chosen. He wasn't going to be a stuffy noble do-nothing. He was going to go out and experience things. That's why his match to his Malvici love was so opportunistic. They both shared a love of treasure hunting - some might call it grave robbing and ruin looting. They traveled all over Arvum together before she was suddenly befallen with a strange illness. In a matter of days she had died in the Northlands during one of their adventures. Once again Apollis was met with scrutiny and suspicion on his eventual return to Southport. He wondered if he'd ever live it down or if anyone would offer him the comfort he needed in his time of mourning. Unsatisfied with how he was being treated he left once again to find his fame and fortune in Arx. + |
| Apollo Malespero + | A child of the Oathlands, born in Oakhaven to a pair of Keaton Trackers, Apollo might have had an idyllic childhood in the woods. But while traveling between Lyon's Redoubt and Keaton Keep when he was six, he and his parents were ambushed by bandits. His parents were killed, and he was kept; life as a bandit would have been an ironic twist for the child of peacekeepers. But other Trackers eventually found the hideout, and Apollo, recognized, was taken to Keaton Keep, where Countess Margerie took him in. Nigh silent, owlish, grieving, the genial warmth and friendships he found in Oakhaven nurtured him from near mute to merely skittish. His early artistic impulses were noticed, and connections made with local artisans; when he found tanning, he found his first love. He swiftly rose to local prominence for his craft, and Marquis Kael tapped him to come to Arx. He might have been a big fish in a small pond - but he wasn't. Apart from exceptional tradecraft, his care for his liege house, his customers, and his fellow crafters had him lending an ear, a set of armor, or assistance as often as he was taking commissions. And then more often. He became Co-Guildmaster of the Crafters Guild of Arx, a position he held for more than two years. Though often uncertain about his skillset and utility, his time bent toward diplomatic and economic work, outreach with Abandoned, and cultivation of ties between crafters, houses, and organizations for projects and mutual assistance. He took up with Whisper House, first as an associated courtier, then Apprentice Whisper, leaving House Keaton to serve as a Whisper in mid-1014 after a successful diffusion of tensions in the Oathlands. Then in 1015, in answer to his service to House Darkwater and its vassals, he was offered ennoblement. He accepted, stepping down as Guildmaster and retiring as a Whisper, though his ties to both organizations remain. In truth, though his life has changed to a vast degree, much remains. He is a maker of art and a builder of connections, and it is rare a day that passes without some of both. Now, after a brief, quiet betrothal, he's joined House Malespero as Marquis-Consort, where he'll doubtless bring those same instincts to the people of Nilanza. And where better for an orphan like himself? + |
| Apollo Oakwood + | 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. + |
| Appolonia Seraceni + | Appolonia is the daughter of Isabella Pravus, a minor daughter of that great house, and Admando Seraceni, a seasoned corsair who died of an infection in war with the Argento. From a young age, Appolonia struggled against the restraints of knowledge. What happens when we grow older? Why are some things hidden from us, for "when we are older" or never at all? What dangers does such information hold? How can we prepare for these dangers if we don't know any better? (Such latter lines of thought spoke of a budding talent for social manipulation.) Appolonia sought to spite her tutors, learning more by her womanhood than many of the highborn learn in their entire lives. She soon exhausted the stock of common knowledge, although she retains it and deploys it at her command. She sought the restricted, the unknown, the hidden. To know that which few, or no-one else knew. It was the only way to be... Safe. Mother encouraged this. Mother helped her daughter learn the hidden ways, such as they were. Some people in Seraceni raised their eyebrows, but Isabella's grace and charm poured oil over ruffled feathers. (Is that the analogy? Ducks have oil, you know, in their tails. When they preen, they're smearing it over themselves.) Appolonia struggled with the new Marquis, Dario, on this matter. Her occult studies were a rift between them. Of course, such matters have moved along, although she is often feared in a subtle way within the household. Whispered about, but never to. Less cryptically, Appolonia is also fascinated with tales of foreign lands, although she has taken a special interest in Eurusi culture and fashions and more. She is fluent in the Eurusi language (if perhaps not perfect - few people to practice with in Arx) and hopes to travel the world, one day - perhaps simply as a tourist, perhaps as more. Appolonia wants to find something - not simply power, or wealth, or even love, though she is no ascetic. She seeks something else. She herself has trouble articulating it... or reluctance; and the two are awfully hard to tell apart. + |
| Arcadia Leary + | Arcadia, Cady to her family, had the misfortune of being born into an incredibly loving family who had the bad grace to be uniformly bookish and scholarly. Where her family enjoyed lengthy dinner discussions about the newest research one of her siblings was engaged in, Arcadia thought she would much rather stab herself with a fork repeatedly; at least it would be more exciting. She had the best of tutors, so long as the tutoring was in history or science or theology. Instead, she longed for tutors of her own choosing: swordmasters, adventurers, hunters, sailors, knights! Over the years (and often with the help of formal presentations created by her sister Elloise), Arcadia would lobby her well-meaning parents to allow her one of these. Any of these! Just pick one! And they finally relented. A bit. Arcadia was allowed to train once a week under one of Leaholdt's hunters. Off with him in the woods, a bow in her hand, stealthy and on the hunt - that's where Arcadia spent her happiest childhood years. But still, she longed for more. More to do! More to see! More to try! As Cady got older, Elloise started recruiting her for help with her scientific experiments. Cady didn't particularly care about the experiments or their results, but she was all too happy to run off to hunt down whatever rare ingredients her sister might need for them. An adventure! Or as much adventure as one can get in Leaholdt, anyway. And when Elly started petitioning their parents to send her to Arx, Arcadia threw herself in with her. "It will be fine!" she promised. "Elly and Fairen will make sure I stay out of trouble!" Arcadia knows it's only because of Elloise and Fairen that she's being allowed to go, but who cares! She's on her way! An endless world of possibilities await her, and a city full of people to teach her things! + |
| Arcadia Stahlben + | Arcadia, Cady to her family, had the misfortune of being born into an incredibly loving family who had the bad grace to be uniformly bookish and scholarly. Where her family enjoyed lengthy dinner discussions about the newest research one of her siblings was engaged in, Arcadia thought she would much rather stab herself with a fork repeatedly; at least it would be more exciting. She had the best of tutors, so long as the tutoring was in history or science or theology. Instead, she longed for tutors of her own choosing: swordmasters, adventurers, hunters, sailors, knights! Over the years (and often with the help of formal presentations created by her sister Elloise), Arcadia would lobby her well-meaning parents to allow her one of these. Any of these! Just pick one! And they finally relented. A bit. Arcadia was allowed to train once a week under one of Leaholdt's hunters. Off with him in the woods, a bow in her hand, stealthy and on the hunt - that's where Arcadia spent her happiest childhood years. But still, she longed for more. More to do! More to see! More to try! As Cady got older, Elloise started recruiting her for help with her scientific experiments. Cady didn't particularly care about the experiments or their results, but she was all too happy to run off to hunt down whatever rare ingredients her sister might need for them. An adventure! Or as much adventure as one can get in Leaholdt, anyway. And when Elly started petitioning their parents to send her to Arx, Arcadia threw herself in with her. "It will be fine!" she promised. "Elly and Fairen will make sure I stay out of trouble!" Arcadia knows it's only because of Elloise and Fairen that she's being allowed to go, but who cares! She's on her way! An endless world of possibilities await her, and a city full of people to teach her things! + |
| Arcelia Navegant + | Arcelia was born in the Saikland Greens to Giovanna and Aaron Saik where she was raised until she was twelve years old, spending a couple months a year down in Southport. During her early childhood it was discovered that she had a talent for performance, specifically dancing. The lady was a fun loving type of woman and being raised as a noble around many warriors she developed a love for being beautiful and for adventure. She loved playing in the mud, throwing it at anyone she wanted to get to play with her. Likewise, she enjoyed climbing trees and jumping out of them at her friends. And eventually she learned to enjoy sailing as well. She loved playing with the other Malvici and Saik children when she was able, tagging along with the older kids and terrorizing some of them with mud when she was able. She was attentive and loved to learn but she could never sit still, swaying and dancing while she listened to lectures. Though, this did not stunt the woman's ability to pick up the skills she needed and in fact made it easier for her to learn. Arcelia had a strong relationship with her two siblings growing up. Estaban developed a very protective side for Arcelia, his beloved outlook on her always keeping danger away. Even from lovers in her teen years. She was close to her sister as well, the two of them being close enough in age to have played with one another in their youth. When she was twelve years old she moved to Nilanza where she was fostered by the Argento. Salazar Argento seeing that she got a good education so that she could be a future diplomat. She had some rare but very valuable encounters with Venta Darkwater(Venta Argento), seeing the woman for some of her educational needs whenever the woman was there and available to tutor the young girl. She learned how to sail with the Argento as well, Salazar being one who ensured she was able to nourish her adventurous side. Estaban Saik and two women assisted in teaching Arcelia when they were in the area as well. The two women teaching Arcelia how to be a stronger woman as she faced dangerous storms and lecherous sailors. During Arcelia's time in Nilanza she met many people and created many bonds. She became known there for being overly curious and difficult to keep a watch on, the girl sneaking out to spend time away where she could explore and learn about the world. Though by the time she was sent home Arcelia was a bit more tame, time having taken its course in helping her grow up a bit... but only a bit. When Arcelia was sixteen years old she returned to the Saikland Greens and her family. It was felt that her education there was complete and that the best way for her to continue her growth was to go out and test her skills directly. She was told to be patient and seek out a good mentor for future training, someone who would help give her real experience as a diplomat. Over the years she has never attempted to approach anyone, so far as it is known, about this. When Arcelia was back home again she spent a lot of time missing Nilanza and the friends she had made there. As a result, she went through a small period of depression, adapting again within a few months and finding the joys once experienced as a young girl. Arcelia refused any conversation of marriage for years, only coming to terms with the idea in recent months. Though, the idea of falling in love was one she openly said she did not want to do, going as far as to beat a boy who spoke to her in poetry until he agreed not to pursue her heart anymore. She had no desire to marry and would do so only for her family and love was a scary thing that caused her friends and family pain, she vowed that she would not fall in love until she was married. It was the silly hope of a naive young girl who did not understand that the heart has no master. While she was in the Saiklands, Arcelia did a lot of volunteer work. She helped secure resources and jobs for people in need. Food, water, and medicine being brought to people directly by the young noble. She even helped people find jobs and shelter and watched over children when their parents were ill, finding them new homes when parents passed away. Recently, Baroness Kima called for Arcelia to join her in Arx, the woman having some plans for the girls future. There are whispers that the young Arcelia is here to search for a husband as well as aid her family in diplomatic matters. + |
| Arcelia Saik + | Arcelia was born in the Saikland Greens to Giovanna and Aaron Saik where she was raised until she was twelve years old, spending a couple months a year down in Southport. During her early childhood it was discovered that she had a talent for performance, specifically dancing. The lady was a fun loving type of woman and being raised as a noble around many warriors she developed a love for being beautiful and for adventure. She loved playing in the mud, throwing it at anyone she wanted to get to play with her. Likewise, she enjoyed climbing trees and jumping out of them at her friends. And eventually she learned to enjoy sailing as well. She loved playing with the other Malvici and Saik children when she was able, tagging along with the older kids and terrorizing some of them with mud when she was able. She was attentive and loved to learn but she could never sit still, swaying and dancing while she listened to lectures. Though, this did not stunt the woman's ability to pick up the skills she needed and in fact made it easier for her to learn. Arcelia had a strong relationship with her two siblings growing up. Estaban developed a very protective side for Arcelia, his beloved outlook on her always keeping danger away. Even from lovers in her teen years. She was close to her sister as well, the two of them being close enough in age to have played with one another in their youth. When she was twelve years old she moved to Nilanza where she was fostered by the Argento. Salazar Argento seeing that she got a good education so that she could be a future diplomat. She had some rare but very valuable encounters with Venta Darkwater(Venta Argento), seeing the woman for some of her educational needs whenever the woman was there and available to tutor the young girl. She learned how to sail with the Argento as well, Salazar being one who ensured she was able to nourish her adventurous side. Estaban Saik and two women assisted in teaching Arcelia when they were in the area as well. The two women teaching Arcelia how to be a stronger woman as she faced dangerous storms and lecherous sailors. During Arcelia's time in Nilanza she met many people and created many bonds. She became known there for being overly curious and difficult to keep a watch on, the girl sneaking out to spend time away where she could explore and learn about the world. Though by the time she was sent home Arcelia was a bit more tame, time having taken its course in helping her grow up a bit... but only a bit. When Arcelia was sixteen years old she returned to the Saikland Greens and her family. It was felt that her education there was complete and that the best way for her to continue her growth was to go out and test her skills directly. She was told to be patient and seek out a good mentor for future training, someone who would help give her real experience as a diplomat. Over the years she has never attempted to approach anyone, so far as it is known, about this. When Arcelia was back home again she spent a lot of time missing Nilanza and the friends she had made there. As a result, she went through a small period of depression, adapting again within a few months and finding the joys once experienced as a young girl. Arcelia refused any conversation of marriage for years, only coming to terms with the idea in recent months. Though, the idea of falling in love was one she openly said she did not want to do, going as far as to beat a boy who spoke to her in poetry until he agreed not to pursue her heart anymore. She had no desire to marry and would do so only for her family and love was a scary thing that caused her friends and family pain, she vowed that she would not fall in love until she was married. It was the silly hope of a naive young girl who did not understand that the heart has no master. While she was in the Saiklands, Arcelia did a lot of volunteer work. She helped secure resources and jobs for people in need. Food, water, and medicine being brought to people directly by the young noble. She even helped people find jobs and shelter and watched over children when their parents were ill, finding them new homes when parents passed away. Recently, Baroness Kima called for Arcelia to join her in Arx, the woman having some plans for the girls future. There are whispers that the young Arcelia is here to search for a husband as well as aid her family in diplomatic matters. + |
| Archene Clearwater + | Archene is a thrall from Cielos Encantadores, an island that is part of Darkwater Reach. Son of an apothecary and a dockworker, he was apprenticed to his mother, from whom he got his love for perfumes above other crafts a proper apothecary must learn. During his childhood, he met and befriend the local Lord's youngest daughter, Ariel Darkwater, who was only a years younger than himself. After years helping his mother, he soon obtained enough to buy his way out of thralldom. And having heard that his noble childhood friend moved away to Arx, he gathered the resources he accumulated for a few months before setting off. + |
| Archeron Tyde + | Archeron was born about 15 minutes before his sister Lethe, and thus, born both the oldest and a Tyde Lord, the mantle of 'being the responsible one' was given to him at birth by both his mother and father. From infancy the notion that he is would be responsible for caring for and protecting the family imbued all of his early life lessons. When the twins were 6 years old, their mother Lady Gilda, took them to visit her birth family the Ashfords just before the onset of the Tyde Rebellion and upon hearing of the death if their father, Lord Raymond Tyde, the three were all quietly absorbed into the Ashford family without a word to anyone and there they stayed for the next 13 years. For entirely different reasons than his sister, Archeron flourished in the Grey Forest, there seemed to be something right to him about steady ground under his feet that he had never experienced in the unsteady world of ships and sea. He climbed trees with his cousins, learned to hunt and track game as a boy and for many years it seemed as he would fall comfortably into the life of a ranger and warden. And then the Silence came to the Grey Forest. Archeron served with the rest of the Ashford rangers to stave off the vile corruptions that wished to destroy his home and for this he is marked forever having gotten caught up in the thorny whip wielded by one of their Shav minions before he was able to put an arrow in underling's eye. When the war ended, the world changed again when word reached them that their father's family had been restored under the union of his cousin Duchess Margot and the former prince and heir to Maelstrom and Archeron's mother asked that he go with his sister to Arx to rejoin their birth family, saying that their opportunities may be better there where they can be what they were board to be. The truth is Archeron aches for the forests he knows and understands already but he knows that his reprieve is over, it is time to pick up the role he was born for to be the protector of not just his sister but his family again. + |
| Archibald Kitt + | Having been a successful teacher serving the King's Own, Archibald's early life was pleasant. He served well and even earned a parcel of land to call his own. During what had been a successful retirement, his land was raided. Though he fought to stop the raiders, he was left for dead and all of his family slaughtered. Permanently lame in his leg, he went to request aid from the crown, but it was determined resources could not be spared and he was given a token gift to assist him in his hardship. Crippled, alone, and feeling betrayed, he has lived the rest of his existance in the lower boroughs teaching riff-raff instead of soldiers. + |
| Ardee de Lire + | Born to a commoner family with too many children, Ardee spent the first few years of her life mostly under the radar. She was cared for by her siblings until she was old enough for the family to realize that she was going to grow up to be a 'looker'. It was decided for her quickly that her lot in life would be to go to school and learn to be a Courtesan. She could make decent enough money that way, and would be able to help 'pitch in' by looks and wiles. She went to school, began to learn the tricks of the trade and started planning on how to escape the hold of her family. She wanted more out of life than to live to support her family. The answer came through death, her entire family ending up victims of the Silent War. She only escaped the same fate through the school she'd been attending when tragedy struck. Though nearly a victim herself, she was taken in as a refugee and eventually pledged her services to the de Lire family. She serves as the family's Chief Librarian. + |
| Ardoin Valardin + | Growing up in a provincial cadet branch of the Valardin family, Ardoin is the second son and initially was allowed to indulge in scholarly pursuits while soaking up stories of the family's honor and piety. After the Tragedy at Sanctum, though, his remote chance of succession to the high duchy got bumped up a few places and his father demanded Ardoin take up the blade. And he did - with enthusiasm, taking the vows of knighthood at sixteen. His life became an endless quest to protect the commoners and peasants from bandits and Abandoned raids, his idealism as much of a weapon as a blade. Over time, his voracious reading habits combined with his steadfast beliefs in honor and nobility, created the unpleasant idea that the nobility ought to not only protect and control the commoners with an iron fist, but also provide them with greater education, land, and economic opportunities - from the pockets of the peerage. Needless to say, this disconcerting belief caused concern within the family, whereupon his father sent him off to Arx to serve the Crown and the interests of House Valardin - and hopefully smarten up in the process. + |
| Argos Seraceni + | Argos is from humble beginnings, but all he has really wanted to do in his like is to become a knight. He left his family's farm the first shot he got to start training, despite his father's protests. He has spent his whole life training for the chance to show some noble that he is better than any knight despite his rank. He quickly developed his fighting abilities and got noticed by a guard. He then got proper training and a job. After a year or two he left this post to seek out a proper lord to serve. To Argos nothing is more important than the his duty. + |
| Ari Corsetina + | Born Arrigo Corsetina to a poor but large family in Setarco. No one-- /no one/ --calls him Arrigo, however. His name is Ari. He considers this so much his name that when he had a daughter he named her after himself and her mother. Who was Miraya, a lovely girl who flunked out of the Setarco school for Courtesans-- she just wasn't suited to that life. She was too carefree and flighty. She met Ari when he was naught but nineteen and was just about to go on his first tour sailing with the Pravus navy. Their was a fierce, passionate romance that ended with them married within three months. By the time that Arrigo returned from his tour at twenty his daughter-- Mirari --had been born. He managed to take assignments that kept him nearby for two years. Watching his daughter grow. However, he got an offer he could not pass up and he sailed out for a longer tour. Officially, his ship was lost at sea. In truth, his ship was raided by pirates and Ari was forced into piracy. The next eighteen years were spent with him slowly gaining the trust and loyalty of the rest of the crew-- until he could finally lead a mutiny against the pirate captain. As soon as this happened he set sail for Setarco, and flying the Pravus colors came to port to find his wife long dead of a lung sickness, and his daughter "gone". His wife's family wasn't very forthright about what happened to his daughter... Gone somewhere. He agreed to join the Setarcan navy as way to sail the world looking for his daughter. Never meeting the Duchess, never quite making the connections that would allow him to see that his daughter was closer at hand that he ever realized. In recent years he was called to serve with the Setarcan navy against the Gyre. His ship and crew distinguishing themselves in a small skirmish, and after the battles were done he was called to Arx to receive an honor from the Duchess. + |
| Aria Gilden + | Aria was the sort of child who loved to swordfight with sticks, sneak into the pantries, terrorize the maids, and climb the trees. Her health declined as she grew toward the age of ten, however, and as she spent less tiem outside she spent more studying and endearing herself with the household. She's become a conscientious woman who often acts in her uncle's stead as a representative of House Gilden or manages the household when he is away. Arianna is one of the likely choices for heir as he seems unlikely to have children. Much remains to be seen, of course. She is known to be dependable and conscientious, as well as bright. While she'll never be athletic Arianna's health seems to have improved and she'll take walks and join for parties that she didn't as a youth. + |
| Arian Brand + | Little is known of Arian's origins. As far as anyone knows, the formidable young man has forsaken the path of his family and refused a life of serfdom. Although of common blood, swirling dreams, radiant energy and aristocratic ambition emanant with his every move. Abandoning menial work in the Crownlands, Arian came to Arx to seek his fortune and roll the dice of life. While familiar with a plough and scythe, his apparent skill with a blade interests some and makes others wary. + |
| Arianna Fireviper + | Arianna is the only daughter in the Stonewood family. She was born to her mother who was a proper Lady from a vassal house in the Lyceum, Lady Vayla Pravus. Her father being the Count of Stonewood himself, until he died and her eldest brother Malesh inherited the title. She grew up with a fascination for culture and anthropology. Always a people watcher and a clever girl from the start, she learned how to read before she was able to walk and she spoke quite early. She was pale of skin and fair, her family could not be more proud of their newest addition. Though she was never directly subject to the pressures of her family, their reputation as the reigning house from Pride Hall to Whitehawk was an immense weight to bear. Arianna learned the subtlies of people's mannerisms and customs, the way they held themselves when they were proud or broken. The little tells that people had when they were lying. All of these aspects of psychology intrigued her and she quietly learned by throwing herself into the proverbial lions den. Having been born to the courts and becoming intimately familiar with it, she realized her natural talent at finding out what people needed and providing it for them. Arianna cultivated favors like a farmer cultivates his crop. While the young woman had briefly considered many different vocations, none was more intriguing than that of truth seeker. Or scholar. Though that didn't stop her from also being intrigued by the possibility of becoming a linguist, diplomat, expert on esoterica, or an investigator and skilled in martial pursuits. All in all quite an eclectic array of interests for someone so young, but none the less she has used her talents to further her family's ambitions. While she traveled Arvum for the first time she discovered many interesting things but truly only ended up with more questions than answers. Ever loyal to the causes she devotes herself to, in the time that she has come to the city she has joined several organizations and devoted herself to helping the city thrive after it's most recent tragedies. + |
| Arianna Pravus + | Arianna was born the only daughter in the Stonewood family, born to a Lycene mother from Setarco. Lady Vayla Pravus instilled a lot of herself in her daughter and insisted on raising her child in the Lyceum. It was an unusual request, all things considered, seeing as it was in Lenosia and not Setarco that the girl was raised. Alongside other notables within House Velenosa like her Pravus cousins and Luca, the little Crownlander existed practically as a member of the fealty. She spent summers in Setarco and learned about the paramount House of the Silken City while she did so but rarely did she ever return to the lands of the House which she and her mother owed fealty. Her brothers and cousins in House Stonewood were not too keen of this but her father did not seem to mind it so and nothing was done about it until the man died and the Marquis Malesh took his place. She was summoned back to the House and parted ways with her mother who did not wish to return to a that House when she was welcome back in Setarco. Arianna's return was met with mixed feelings but her clever ways and principled upbringing in the Lyceum made her savvy and a useful advisor to her brother whom soon after appointed her his Voice. For a long while she did an excellent job at this, staying out of court politics and tending to the affairs of her lands that had belonged to her father. She was unhappy with her place in life and took to many hobbies to fill the voice, in time these hobbies became pursuits and these pursuits into careers. Trained in the Ministry of Defense as an Agent, working as an Investigator with the Iron Guard, spending time in the archives with Scholars, and even going so far as joining a company of sellswords that fought in many of the Compact's most recent wars. Being a famous sellsword and having a penchant for dark humor didn't win her many friends, but since she did so well in her duties as Voice that the public backlash for her activities and penchant for scandal washed over her brother like water off a duck's back. Of course, this put tension on the relations between native Stonewoods and this Lycene girl in Crownlands clothing. Inquiries were made and loyalties were tested and ultimately the House was better served without her leadership, and even if her brother hadn't decided on this for her - the Pravosi girl threw in the chips and stepped down not just in Stonewood but elsewhere. She withdrew from the world at large and returned to Stonehearth to, presumably, attend Reform School. It's the worst kind of punishment for Lycene, especially when attending an institution with dour matrons and delinquent Crownlander nobles. Suffice to say upon her return Arianna was quite well behaved and leaned even more so upon her Lycene upbringing. She left Stonewood to join Fireviper as the Sword of Cinder at her brother Gailin's request but even still she grew more distant from the Crownlanders and looked to home. Eventually the Count of Fireviper released her from her oath of fealty so she could return to Pravus and so she did. + |
| Arianna Stonewood + | Arianna is the only daughter in the Stonewood family. She was born to her mother who was a proper Lady from a vassal house in the Lyceum, Lady Vayla Pravus. Her father being the Count of Stonewood himself, until he died and her eldest brother Malesh inherited the title. She grew up with a fascination for culture and anthropology. Always a people watcher and a clever girl from the start, she learned how to read before she was able to walk and she spoke quite early. She was pale of skin and fair, her family could not be more proud of their newest addition. Though she was never directly subject to the pressures of her family, their reputation as the reigning house from Pride Hall to Whitehawk was an immense weight to bear. Arianna learned the subtlies of people's mannerisms and customs, the way they held themselves when they were proud or broken. The little tells that people had when they were lying. All of these aspects of psychology intrigued her and she quietly learned by throwing herself into the proverbial lions den. Having been born to the courts and becoming intimately familiar with it, she realized her natural talent at finding out what people needed and providing it for them. Arianna cultivated favors like a farmer cultivates his crop. While the young woman had briefly considered many different vocations, none was more intriguing than that of truth seeker. Or scholar. Though that didn't stop her from also being intrigued by the possibility of becoming a linguist, diplomat, expert on esoterica, or an investigator and skilled in martial pursuits. All in all quite an eclectic array of interests for someone so young, but none the less she has used her talents to further her family's ambitions. While she traveled Arvum for the first time she discovered many interesting things but truly only ended up with more questions than answers. Ever loyal to the causes she devotes herself to, in the time that she has come to the city she has joined several organizations and devoted herself to helping the city thrive after it's most recent tragedies. + |
| Arianwen Grayhope + | Arianwen can be maddeningly tight-lipped about her past, but can anyone really blame a Lower Boroughs girl for her privacy? Especially one that grew up in the rowdiest and darkest slums in the lowliest section of Arx? Nevertheless, most know by now that Chanse Grayhope either practically raised her, or perhaps he just happened to be nearby while she grew up on her own. Whatever the truth, she often casually introduces herself with the Innkeeper's family name appended. Regulars at the Murder of Crows would have also heard something terribly unkind occurred to her biological parents, which caused her to experience a short stint as a street urchin before her double digit years, and before appropriating a room at the inn. These days, she's happy to make a living as the preeminent tavern maid for the underbelly of Arx - singing numerous merry tunes, demanding the compliance of drunken ne'er-do-wells, and making a pretty penny washing clothes or tending to bar brawl injuries on the side. Famous for her beauty and the melodramatic stories sung of her by sea-bound sailors, it is the rare individual that dares to truly harm the beloved Star-Eyed River Nymph of Arx. + |
| Aric Keaton + | It's hard to look on life with regrets when you get to live it exactly how you want to, but it wasn't always that way. Growing up the first born son of one of the greatest legal minds in the House Keaton, Aric felt extraordinary pressure to succeed and follow in his father's shadow and eventually to eclipse him when he finally retired. Two years of legal studies was enough for him to know this wasn't what he was meant for and after many fights with his father, Aric left for parts unknown. Rumors have him seen in every direction, just the way he liked it. His education in legal matters may have halted but with what he did know, he started carefully smuggling goods and providing other services just this side of the line. True, his family had some money, but nothing like what he was able to make working the grey areas and sometimes dark shadows of the lands. Most anyone in any tavern will vaguely recall Aric buying them drinks and leaving with a morally bankrupt woman or two at the end of the night. He's kept himself busy for the last decade and away from his family and all the life in House Keaton and considers himself better for it, but a recent spot of trouble with the wrong Baron has started pushing him back to build bridges and mend fences with family once more. This is not going to be pretty. + |
| Ariel Darkwater + | Ariel is the the youngest daughter to a Lord of Darkwater and a Lady who was from the noble family of Moonriver. She has an older sister and an older brother but sadly their mother died while birthing little Ariel. Their father, Santiago, had much sorrow when this occurred. Due to the sadness that was caused by the loss, the fact they were living at Darkwater Watch made things easier for her father, Ariel took up dancing as her passion. Now her father has sent her to Arx to assist her cousin Max with whatever he will need. She is quite excited to explore the city, though not to eventually seek out a husband as he father wishes. All on her mind is family, dancing and the sea being her only mistresses for the time being. She is quite the little social butterfly and absolutely adores throwing parties. + |
| Ariel Stonewood + | Ariel is the the youngest daughter to a Lord of Darkwater and a Lady who was from the noble family of Moonriver. She has an older sister and an older brother but sadly their mother died while birthing little Ariel. Their father, Santiago, had much sorrow when this occurred. Due to the sadness that was caused by the loss, the fact they were living at Darkwater Watch made things easier for her father, Ariel took up dancing as her passion. Now her father has sent her to Arx to assist her cousin Max with whatever he will need. She is quite excited to explore the city, though not to eventually seek out a husband as he father wishes. All on her mind is family, dancing and the sea being her only mistresses for the time being. She is quite the little social butterfly and absolutely adores throwing parties. + |
| Ariella Igniseri + | The eldest daughter a lesser line of the March of Granato, Ariella's ambition was never for political power or material wealth -- as such -- because both seem likely to encompass the kinds of responsibility she never really wanted. It's actually hard to quantify for certain whether she is the eldest for certain, but she was removed from her mother's belly first when she had to be cut open so that the children could be removed, so she is the eldest for all practical purposes. As a girl, she was a hellion and a troublemaker, but learned when to behave herself: when her auntie, the Badger of Granato, was in earshot, primarily, or under the glares of her Rubino or Zaffria lieges. The rest of the time? Screw it. Ariella was not a well-supervised little lady. She frequently slipped her minders and ran among the tiered streets of Granato until she reached the rocky shores. Often underfoot for the sailors and merchantmen who peopled the docks and the drinking houses nearby, she developed early on the kind of uproarious temper and _awful mouth_ that makes one ... unlikely future princess material ... to say the least. It didn't help that her aunt, the Countess of the March ... always seemed at least a little amused. Still, these habits forced Ariella into aggressive etiquette lessons that she hated. H A T E D. Her true love was the freedom and the salt and the wind on the verge of the sea, and this was a tendency that only grew as she aged. She managed to bully, cajole, and adorable her way into a role on one of the ships of the Granato navy whose principal duty was guard escort for the merchantmen who sailed back and forth on a route primarily between the Lyceum and the capital in Arx. After she learned the sailor's trade, she managed to bully, cajole, and adorable her way into a claim on her own ship: Lady Captain Ariella Igniseri, QUEEN OF THE WAVES. Since then, it's all been clear sailing. More or less. + |
| Arielle Rivera + | 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. + |
| Arik Halfshav + | To hear his father tell it, Arik was born in the coldest hour of the coldest night of the year, the temperature so low that the boy came into the world coated in ice that never melted from his gray eyes. An unlikely tale, but it can certainly be said that Arik was built for the rugged cold of the North. A born warrior, Arik led men into battle against tribes of Abandoned as young as 14 years of age, collecting victories the way some boys collected bruises, and he certainly collected his fair share of those. No tactical genius, his talents rested more squarely in the realm of physical combat, his unrelenting determination driving him forward against crushing odds. This proficiency at head to head combat earned him the respect of warriors that came before him, and so it was that Arik was named Sword of Whitehold, the heirloom weapon passed down from father to son, an unorthadox move as the title is generally not hereditary. Champion of his family name, Arik wields the sword against those Abandoned tribes cultured enough to respect the rite of duel to settle conflict. Oft-victorious, still this appointment did not come without its trials. Arik has long-suspected that his uncle, the Duke of Whitehold, doubts his accomplishments are truly worthy of the title of Champion. Seeking to prove himself, Arik found himself in a duel against a knight whose fealty was sworn to Valardin, and after much boasting and blustering, the long and horrifically fought bout was called in a draw. After the bout, and after seeing the other fighter and realizing she was both younger than him and not as physically strong as him but significantly more trained, he realized he had to refocus his efforts to be the best warrior he could be. He has since headed to Arx, allegedly to seek refinement in his craft to complement the brute strength he already wields for the glorious honor of Whitehold. + |
| Arion Harrow + | Arion Harrow is the youngest of a rather large family with ancestors who were Prodigal. Growing up in the Lower Boroughs with his siblings and grandfather after his parents died was exceptionally hard on the gentle tempered yet sharp minded boy. He was often the target of the other boys who found the weak bodied Arion and his long red hair all to easy to pick on. However the crimson haired boy was fast on his feet and charming enough to convince some of the older boys to 'discourage' his bullies. Arion learned at an early age to be creative and charming to get things done. An inquisitve child Arion often found himself exploring outside of the Lower Boroughs. The fact that his kneen sense of smell and vanity drove him to take great pains to keep his appearance clean and neat helped him not look too out of place as he explored the finer parts of the city. He managed to catch the attention of a local apothecary who worked in the Ward of the Compact and after a few years of running errands and doing chores, the man finally agreed to teach the young Arion his art Arion enjoyed learning. It started a near obsessive desire for knowledge in his mind and after his mentor taught him how to read and write he began exploring every text he found interesting. His mentor had studied several subjects and Arion enjoyed learning about as many of them as he could The next few years were spent in quite study until the young man came of age and was deemed a proper apothecary in his own right. Now he is trying to make his own way, either by starting up a shop of his own once he has the funds or by offering his services to another. While he remains somewhat untraditional for a Harrow, he has still kept good relations with most of his siblings as well. Now he just has to make a name for himself and prove that even though he has no desire to oin the Iron Guard like his ancestors he can still be useful. + |
| Arman Velenosa + | For as long as he can remember, Prince Armando Velenosa, or Arman as he prefers to be called, has been responsible for keeping a gentle pulse on all of the Lycene houses. That, as one can imagine, is quite a task. Arman was born into a branch of the Velenosa house that prides itself on its intrigue work ? not spies, no, never call them spies! But they are close to the crown and they are close to all the other houses. It's imperative that the other houses of the Lyceum kowtow to Arman and his branch; after all, one word from Arman and the other houses are subject to repercussions from House Velenosa. And no one wants that. He was brought up to take over the family business, which he dutifully did, and Arman found he very much enjoyed it. Early on in his career, Arman earned a reputation that follows him to this day. The circumstances remain shrouded in mystery; all people know is that one humid summer night, a coordinated assassination sting took place all over the Lyceum. Commoners and nobles alike never made it to morning. One notable nobleman was arrested and brought to Arman himself. After several days, the noble was mysteriously found in a seedy part of town with a vacant stare ? he never spoke again. Not long after these events, Arman announced his engagement and the Lyceum began to tremble at the very mention of his name. He married for duty and Miranda gave birth to son after son, but only one lived: Theo. Arman took that child under his wing and raised a fine young man who carries on the family tradition. Arman would never say as much, but he is proud of Theo. Then Miranda became pregnant again. Arman had his son and the boy had lived into his teens; there was no danger or need for another. Miranda died shortly after the birth and left Arman saddled with another baby. The daughter, Saoirse, was shuffled off to nannies and never wanted for anything, but Arman had bigger things to do than raise another child on his own. He and Theo poured themselves into their work in intel; they have a good system, where Arman commands behind the scenes and Theo runs contacts as sort of "boots on the ground". And now they've uncovered something ? it is time to head to Arx. + |
| Armand Farshaw + | The younger brother of the Duke Ryhalt, Armand was once known as a kind-hearted, generous man, of honest heart and word. Chivalry was an ideal to aspire to, Gloria's teachings a way of life. His faith and devotion were such that more than one assumed he would be taking the vows of the Godsworn, and become a Templar, if familial duty allowed. These expectations were checked when one tragedy after another struck the Farshaws, and Ryhalt became the unlikely Duke of Westrock Reach. Armand's duty was to stay, and support his brother in his new rule, and hear the call of duty he did, staying till the rising of Brand reached them. Sent by Ryhalt to aid in the war effort, Armand left his home with the firm intention of doing his brother, family, Compact and Gods proud, and smite the enemies that would see them all destroyed. It didn't work out as intended. While Armand was an excellent knight, it didn't make him invincible. An ambush saw him receive grievous wounds that not only brought him low, but sent him in a coma form which he did not wake up from, not even when he was returned to Westrock Reach. It was only through the efforts of the House's doctor, and prayer from the priests, that Armand eventually opened his eyes once more. Weakened, certainly, but healed and whole... mostly. The long convalescence did not leave him without marks. The trauma of the experience had changed him, turning the idealistic virtuous knight into a fatalistic, reckless man whose impulses led him to laughter or wrath with distressing unpredictability. His body recovered, but his mind never returned to what it once was, leaving his future and destiny in the murky waters of uncertainty. It is under these circumstances he has come to Arx, accompanying the rest of his family... though whether for duty or on a whim is difficult to ascertain. + |
| Armani Gilden + | Armani is one of the children of Kordelia Gilden. She was, most assuredly, a child of the seas. Almost before she could walk and talk Armani was making her way onto boats and trying to travel out to the seas, to feel the wind on her face and to taste the salt on her tongue. Her life was devoted to becoming a Captain of the Sea, though, her mother felt the need to assure Armani had a feminine touch to her and built up her interest in shiny things as well as got her into scholarly things. This divided Armani's love into four things: jewelry, the sea, reading, and writing. As she proved to be a skilled seaman she quickly rose through the ranks of the Gilden naval forces to become the Admiral of the fleets. + |
| Armel Godsworn + | Born in the city of Sanctum, Armel early on heard the clarion call of the Gods, often spending much time in the numerous chapels and temples of the city, and was utterly fascinated by how the priests could deliver such powerful messages with such few, strong words and convictions. With the messages of strength through mercy and protection through faith. When he was a young man of fourteen, his family decided to move to Arx, to hopefully continue his father's business as a carpenter, while his mother found side work as a gardener and servant. They were poor, but rich in spirit as folk. It was on the way that the family was accosted by desperate, hostile shavs, and both of his parents and his toddler sister were killed. Young Armel barely managed to escape with his life, and still bears the scars of that assault upon his face and spirit. From that moment on, as he wandered into Arx maimed and dispirited, he dedicated his life to that of the Godsworn. He became a Knight of Solace, traveling the roads of the Compact and protecting all travelers and pilgrims that wished to use them. It was not an easy life, and he has seen death in almost every form that can be offered by the hearts of men, and some that cannot, in any sane universe. For his years of service to Gild and to his Order, he was Knighted several years ago, and is now Sir Armel, such as it is, a title he received with a low, amused grunt and a simple 'I'll be'. He has now come to Arx, for the need for his Order here is great, and he wishes to be of service in whatever capacity he can, learning from those in the Order and those around, for veteran that he is? There is still much to learn in life. Always is. + |
| Arn Telmar + | There are many stories about Duke Arn. It is said he is a usurper just like his father Laegan. That he is a duplicitous, conniving bastard only out for his ends. Many have said that that is he is but the enemy you keep closer than a friend. A few know the truth though. His Honor has ever been to pay that price his Prince cannot. His father, Duke Laegan, was every folk story villain you ever heard about by the firelight. He was the kind of man to whom Honor was just a word, a means to an end. Vicious in battle and graceful in court they called him the Titan of Telmarch. His son turned out to be his short, ill tempered and socially curt. They called Arn the Troll of Telmarch to mock him, but it is a moniker he eventually wore with pride. Prince Radley, the father of Prince Edain saw something in him that others did not. When Arn learned his father had ambitions to conquer another Duchy to gain more power and a bigger army, he went to Radley. They both feared, rightly, that with that much power, Laegan might one day try and challenge the High Lord. Though Radley could not personally intercede until Laegan made a direct move agains the crown he secretly supported Arn deposing his father, and taking his place as Duke. Not long after that Prince Radley succeeded his mother as the next High Lord of Valardin, and Duke Arn became one of his most trusted generals. Everyone told him he could not trust the usurper, that he would one day turn on him. But Radley knew the value of general and advisor that could do the nasty things he couldn't for the good of the crown and of his people. Arn became what he beheld, but while many say his honor is stained, the few that know him well, or simply who are able to piece together what really happened, realize he has forgotten more about honor than most will ever know. Decades later, the choices he has made have left him bitter, and caustic, having been widowed, and disappointed in his children. A daughter insisted on marrying into the new Greenmarch family for reasons he still doesn't quite agree with, and his oldest son tries to always have his nose in a book. Now he has lost the only man that ever truly called him friend, and he intends to honor his oaths and keep that Valardin line strong, come hell or high water. + |
| Arta Fatchforth + | Arta Fatchforth, a daughter of the industrious Fatchforth family. She was born and raised in a farming community among farmers. Her education and skills have been very much effected by this, she is also the adoptive big sister of Sparte Fatchforth whom she used to torment relentlessly during their time together most often beating him in a competition or another being six years his senior. Growing up she became a stablemaster of some skill and renown for having a natural way and a bond with animals. She was also more or less skilled in herblore which led to her developing a secondary career in medicine. However her medical career wasn't as prominent as her stable. + |
| Arthen Dayne + | Arthen Dayne's life was always going to be a thing of stories, whether he was telling them, or part of them, or chasing them into the wild forever of the great unknown. Even his origins were a mysterious thing, brimming with potential for tales. Quite simply, he showed up at the front door of an orphanage in Arx, swaddled in wool and furs, with a small pouch of silver and a short note that was light on helpful information and a bit thick about pleading to the establishment that he should be taken care of. And so he was. Mostly. At least until he could get around on his own. Arthen grew into a child full of questions, held captive by the wonder of the world around him. No rock ever went unturned, even if the better of some of those rocks ended up in his pocket for the sake of mischief or self-defense. It can be hard being half-raised by the streets, and harder still when your natural inclination is to get into anything you shouldn't. As much as curiosity was a part of his life, so too was trouble. Even so, while the ruffian's want for answers would carry him across the width and breadth of Arx, it would carry him also into books, and those books would carry him across the rest of Arvum, in time. Though a young Arthen Dayne loved daring stories of adventure, it was the histories that really set him on his path. Or rather, the realization that they didn't just lie in dusty old tomes, but happened out in - and as part of - the world, and so many of those histories were unfinished, forgotten, or just plain wrong. If there were things yet left to be discovered or corrected, Dayne decided he would be the one to do it. His intentions were entirely altruistic and for the sake of knowledge, no matter what some rumors said or how many times he might have secretly fenced off an importart part of cultural history to a private collector for considerable sums of silver. A man has to eat, after all. Years before those with an exploratory bent were formalized into an actual society, Arthen's tenacious hunger for glory and uncovering the lost past brought him to all corners of Arvum, mostly working independently for the highest bidder so he could afford to also work on his own personal projects. Eventually a chance encounter and some shared stories with Darren Redrain would land the lifelong adventurer a place in Redrain's fealty as a personal historian and acquisitions specialist for the north's Greatest House. During the Siege of Arx, Dayne disappeared without a word, presumed dead, and remaining as such until the Winter of 1009 AR, when he returned more full of tales than ever. Though he looked a bit older, and life had roughed him up a little, that was all that had changed. No danger was still too great for him, no mystery too small, and he carried a thirst to uncover them all. To the last. + |
| Arthur Russo + | Arthur Russo was born into a very impoverished part of Southport. His father was a brute, thief and compulsive gambler, while his mother was addicted to a handful of very terrible drugs. The fact that he managed to get out of that life and into a better one is a miracle in and of itself, since he knowsd of more then a few people from his old home that never did. When he was about seven the abuse got too rough, and he finally fled home. He ended up an urchin, begging and stealing and doing odd jobs to live. During one especially rough winter he snuck into a leatherworker's home and tried to steal some food. He was caught by the man and his wife. They took pity on him and brought him in. They had been trying, unsuccessfully, for children for several years, and saw this as a chance. The two were stern, but loving, and Arthur became the man's apprentice. It turned out Arthur was a natural, and he loved the work. He adored other forms of creation as well, whether cooking or other things, and he took strongly to the faith of Jayus. He considers him a personal patron, and he tries to live his life by his teachings (Though he charges for his work). Eventually he was doing many of the more intense works for his 'father', though often the credit was given to his master, since he was a credited leatherworker, and not some young apprentice. Eventually a member of the Malvici came to the area, and he made her an incredible set of leathers. She discovered it was really Arthur that did the work, and she made a mental note of it. Years later, Arthur began his military service, and the Malvici saw some of his more recent work. She arranged things for him to serve the House as a smith for his military service, and now here he is... + |
| Artorius Magnotta + | Artorius grew up in Southport along with the rest of his Malvici cousins and his sister Caelis. Like all who grow up in this regimented military meritocracy, he easily found his way to the sword. Childhood was fairly easy for him, but that all changed during the Tor-Southport war. Not quite old enough to fight, and not young enough to forget, Artorius was permanently shaped by the events of that conflict. As time moved on and Artorius' travels eventually lead him to the southern end of the Gray Forest, where he had the fortune to run into a Lady Victoria Ashford. She with her sly passionate way about things seemed to lure him in almost immediately. It wasn't long before the two of them were wed. Their marriage was blessed with a child shortly thereafter. A little girl they named Serah. Only two years after Serah's birth, Lady Victoria Ashford contracted an illness and died. Her death left Artotius absolutely heartbroken. He wandered Arvum for a few years, coming home to visit with his daughter as often as his broken heart would allow. It was only when he had heard his sister was called to help the Malvici family in Arx that he too decided it was time to pick up his blade in service of the family once more. Taking Serah with him this time, her journeyed to Arx in hopes of making a difference on the Compact's war efforts. + |
| Artorius Malvici + | Artorius grew up in Southport along with the rest of his Malvici cousins and his sister Caelis. Like all who grow up in this regimented military meritocracy, he easily found his way to the sword. Childhood was fairly easy for him, but that all changed during the Tor-Southport war. Not quite old enough to fight, and not young enough to forget, Artorius was permanently shaped by the events of that conflict. As time moved on and Artorius' travels eventually lead him to the southern end of the Gray Forest, where he had the fortune to run into a Lady Victoria Ashford. She with her sly passionate way about things seemed to lure him in almost immediately. It wasn't long before the two of them were wed. Their marriage was blessed with a child shortly thereafter. A little girl they named Serah. Only two years after Serah's birth, Lady Victoria Ashford contracted an illness and died. Her death left Artotius absolutely heartbroken. He wandered Arvum for a few years, coming home to visit with his daughter as often as his broken heart would allow. It was only when he had heard his sister was called to help the Malvici family in Arx that he too decided it was time to pick up his blade in service of the family once more. Taking Serah with him this time, her journeyed to Arx in hopes of making a difference on the Compact's war efforts. + |
| Artur Redrain + | Artur was a happy child, with the joy and energy of a young boy raised by parents with a good balance of benevolent distance and bland-edged discipline. His closest supervision was from a crotchety old shaman whose stories evolved as Artur aged, retaining his attention cleverly by incorporating more boogers and farts once Artur reached a certain age, and peppering his storytelling with blood and guts liberally throughout his childhood. Indoors, Artur had a little sister to equal parts torment and defend; outdoors, he had worlds to conquer, many of them entirely fueled by his own mind. As a boy, every day of his was filled with imagination games. One day he would be an evil wizard bent on world domination -- "please make sure you clean your hands and wash behind your ears when you're done building your sorcerous tower, dear" -- and the next day, a shining beacon of purity and light, showing the world the benefits of a true paladin -- "what a clever sword, Artur, did you make it from a stick?" -- and the day after, a secretly infiltrated dwarf agent, stealthing through the manor with daring surreptitiousness -- "we can see you hiding under the table, my prince, as I'm afraid your boots are sticking out." As he grew and learned his lessons and studied with swordmasters and trained in (oh no) etiquette like a good prince, his imagination games grew no less colorful, if they grew subtler; in his teen years, his flights of fancy he kept to scribblings in his journal, artistic translations of this visiting diplomat into an elven infiltrator bent on seducing his mother, or that complex arithmetic economics problem being illustrated with dragons and eggs instead of sacks of grain. He doodled constantly, and made stories in his head, and although he wasn't secretive about them, he became aware as he moved towards adulthood that they were -- if not childish things to be put aside -- private treasures to be kept to those he trusted. "Today, I shall go on a hunt," would be his itinerary, and then instead, while hunting pheasant he would imagine himself agriffonback, chasing the winged terror of a dragon marauding the countryside. "Today, I shall go with my father to an important meeting," would be the plan, and in his head, one of the councillors was replaced by a luring mirrorborn with destuctive appetites (the drawing from that day was paticularly spooky and splendid). Yet still, even as he grew to adulthood, his imagination pictures stayed with him. Even today, as he rides towards the capital, he imagines himself alive with derring-do, questing for adventure, rather than doing what he is supposed to do exactly, which is go to Arx and support the North's political, economic and military goals potentially by securing an alliance somewhere in the Southlands. + |
| Arturo Grayhope + | Arturo's sire was a drifter, and drift he did. He was in Arx just long enough to knock up Arturo's mother, a lower-class Grayhope. His mother was a performer, singing in taverns, acting small parts in the theatres, and cooking and cleaning when she needed more to feed herself and child. Despite the reputation of her family, Arturo's mother never was one to dabble in the shady side of things. As a youth, he shared his time between roaming the streets and following in the footsteps of his mother, learning to sing, read music, and play instruments. He grew talented at it, as well, earning enough to make his way as a poor bard. He had the potential to attract a patron, and continue such a career. And then he smoked his first bowl of dust... Everything changed after that. No amount of coin could keep enough of the drug for him, and the poor income he earned from being a bard certainly couldn't. Situation forced his hand. It was at that point that Art turned to his cousins, seeping into the darker side of the Grayhope family. Addiction fueled him. Always desperate for his next fix, he became willing to do whatever was asked of him. + |
| Arya Gilden + | With older children to be saddled with training to lead the House and younger children to be coddled, Arya was often left to her own devices, just as she preferred it. With such liberty, she was able to cultivate her own interests; the pursuit of the fantastical, and fiction-writing thereof. Hours would drift past as she lost herself in her own imagination, penning tales of talking creatures, woods with secrets unknown, and battles between forces of light and darkness. Oh sure, she learned to socialize and she likes a bit of courtly gossip as much as the next young noblewoman, but the unreal has always been her passion. Thus, when word began to circulate through the noble houses of the return of magic and visitors from other lands, she wasted no time setting off for Arx with a sturdy quill and an iron will, determined to seek out the fantastical happening all around herself right under the very nose of the Compact - and she'll write it all. + |
| Asger Crovane + | Born the youngest son of the Crovanes of the far north, Asger has found his place in the family on the battlefields against the Abandoned clans around them. The man betting his life on the outcome of every raid, skirmish, and patrol, reveling in those narrow moments when he dances a hairsbreadth away from losing it all. The glee and laughter he displays in the face of his enemies, and his blood soaked appearance earning him a rather barbarous reputation. Even as a child growing up he displayed a penchant for brawling with his peers, gregarious and quick to forgive whatever slight real or imagined might have spurred the fight to begin with. + |
| Asha Espina + | Asha grew up as the daughter to a favored Champion in Lenosia, but never the less a commoner. Through the relative fame of her mother, she grew up comfortable and although at first her mother intended for her to learn another craft, when she got into her teenage years there was no question Asha sought to follow in the footsteps of her mother. The scars she wears today are a mark of her early days in the guild back home, but with time she too earned herself a reputation. Taking up the way of the spear, the serpent's dance as she calls it she lingered in Lenosia for sometime, but it proved difficult to manage in the shadow of her mother, the famed Sara the Serpent. She has travelled across all of Arvum since then, mainly seeking cities as that is where a Champion will find work. And eventually Arx, for where are there more nobles in petty disputes than in the capital? + |
| Asher Grayhope + | Born poor, raised poor, and currently poor. That's most of the Lower Boroughs for you. Most go hungry, some starve. It's the wonderful city of commerce and wealth! But for those who desire to rise up from the muck, it's a difficult trek, and a dangerous one at that. Asher, for his part, has thought to make his way by joining with the Grayhope family. At least, working for them. In whatever they need. Secrets and information can be a dark business, and all the muck passes through the shade of the Lower Boroughs. + |
| Asher Morrlin + | Born poor, raised poor, and currently poor. That's most of the Lower Boroughs for you. Most go hungry, some starve. It's the wonderful city of commerce and wealth! But for those who desire to rise up from the muck, it's a difficult trek, and a dangerous one at that. Asher, for his part, has thought to make his way by joining with the Grayhope family. At least, working for them. In whatever they need. Secrets and information can be a dark business, and all the muck passes through the shade of the Lower Boroughs. + |
| Ashkyr Elensar + | Likely an unknown man from Southport save for those knowledgeable in seafaring, Ashkyr was the younger brother of Aerandir, and his second in command aboard the Lusty Mermaid - a naval vessel under House Grayson that frequented many harbors throughout its decades of service. Rumor has it after a colossal failure by the brothers, the Lusty Mermaid was sank during a voyage through Darkwater Reach, along with the civilian ship it was escorting. Both crews were lost in the slaughter, the only survivors being the familial pair. Despite the failure, historic service by their family saw their lives spared, although their careers ended. He now roams the lands as a Crownsworn, much like his brother, and works tirelessly to not only find his way in this world, but restore his family's name. + |
| Ashlinn Speare + | Lin Farmer was born in a smaller-than-small village in the middle of nowhere in the Telmarch called Rivlet. So named because it was close to a river and that's what one can expect out a village where the thatcher is named Thatcher, the tailor is named Tailor and, of course, the farmer is named Farmer. Her mother Lin was a hardy woman and her father Hamish was a hardy man and neither of them were interested in life beyond the till and the harvest. Neither were bad people and the life wasn't terrible, but neither cared much about the world beyond Rivlet and while they might enjoy a night of drinking and music at the local inn (run by Robett Innman) but once they were back home the stories the passing bard or troubador may have shared didn't stick with them. Tales of the great heroes, of Dame Sugan and Prince Cerdic, Queen Alarice and Sir Lionel, may have made for an evening's distraction, but for her parents the doings of heroes were things that happened long ago and far away and the fall planting was something that needed to be done now. They appreciated that their daughter had a head for adventure and stories, but there was a job that couldn't be shirked. Still, when she could get away she would do so, running through the woods and pretending she was a knight, swinging a stick and playing at war and heroism. She had friends in the other village children, though as they all aged Dacey Smith was called by her father to the forge and Llew Hunter was called by his mother to the bow. Eventually it was just her, resisting the call to the field. When she was sixteen years old her mother was killed during a shav raid. Her father grieved, but grief can only get one so far when the village will expect your grains to get them through the winter and you will need their beer and meat in return to get you through winter, so after a day Hamish was back to work. The event was enough to set Lin on the path she would follow for the rest of her life. Perhaps she could have fought off the shavs if she were more than she is? Perhaps they all would have been safe had they left this backwater town for a place with tall walls and burly guards? No matter the case, Lin had had enough of being a farmer and one night, without so much as a goodbye to her father, she left Rivlet and ran. Running took her to the river, which took her to Riva, a bigger city than anything she'd ever seen in her life, and from there to Sanctum. If Riva was a shock, Sanctum redefined her concept of the world. In Sanctum she joined the city guard for a time, learning to fight from the best they had to offer and in turn helping to keep the order. Still, as much as life in the city had amazed her, she yearned for more. She rode with the Knights of Solace for a time as an assistant and prospective disciple, but ended up leaving them to join a band of mercenary adventurers out of Arx. With them she saw Arvum, fighting shavs in the North and pirates in the South, protecting villages in the Isles and never quite making it back home. It was somewhere in this period that she let the name Lin Farmer die in favor of something that more suited a dashing adventurer and became Ashlinn Speare, embracing her favored weapon (though she still used a sword when she HAD to) and giving her birth name a little more heroic flair. Ashlinn was in Arx when the Bringers marched on the city. Her company was one of those that joined the Iron Guard and, now a lieutenant in the company, led sorties against the shavs, but there was no stopping them. During the siege she was among those trying to hold the wall in the Thrax ward, trying to live up to her heroic ideals and putting herself between the enemy and fleeing citizens. During a particularly rough engagement, her people having fallen, she found herself fighting side by side with a half-dozen Silver Swords. When that battle was done she'd earned the notice of one of the knights who found herself impressed enough by the Oathlander's skill, determination and dedication to honor, heroics and common damn sense that she decided to keep an eye on the girl. When the siege was broken and Brand killed the knight of the Hundred, or rather the Lord Commander of the King's Own, offered her knighthood and a place in the Silver Swords. This was her dream realized and Ashlinn did not hesitate to accept. It has been going on a decade since and Dame Ashlinn has time and again acquitted herself with valor, her service to the Crown seeing her fighting in Setarco against the Pirate King as the city was evacuated and standing with her fellows against yet another shav army (and other things) when the Gray Forest was threatened by the chieftain called the Horned God. Her greatest honor, and greatest pride, in life comes from her service to the King and his silver swords. That her father recently showed up in the city and is suddenly not only a godsworn but an archlector is a strange wrinkle, sure, but duty comes first. + |
| Ashlyn Velenosa + | Ashlyn Velenosa was born Princess to the family of the Lyceum. A bit of a hot-tempered child she was sent off to boarding schools and recently a propierty school. She grew up amongst the nobles, used to getting what she wanted but through schooling learned that making a fuss was not the way to get those things. If anything the schools taught her how to be proper and how to walk amongst the peers as an adult. She's just recently returned to be set out into the world as a Princess ready to be beholden to the proper man. + |
| Ashlyn Velenosa/Reflection + | Ashlyn was born to Camilla Velenosa and raised by servants and maids, never truly knowing her father and his lack or presence. Naturally she was spoiled as a child with a bit of a temper, thinking she could get whatever she wanted. She was sent off to boarding schools to learn that this behavior was not okay. Her brother Jarek is a wandering priest who well left the city and many heartbroken in his wake. Ashlyn has just recently returned from a propriety school educated and well mannered to maneuver her way through society. Like a ghost forgotten she seeks new connections and to learn more about the others and the city. + |
| Ashur Sanna + | Born to a distant cousin of the then Count of Seliki, Ashur was raised with a bow in his hand and an adventure in his heart. And even when there was no true adventure to be had, he made up his own. An independent boy, he explored the woods outside his home, the beaches and caves along the coast. He found treasures everyday: long abandoned chests that surely held goblets of ancient, though none were ever found inside, books with pages torn out that undoubtedly once contained mystical spells. At the age of 18, Ashur's father, a minor lord, brokered a deal to have him married into the Sanna family. He didn't want to, but was talked into it with language like 'duty' and 'family needs'. A trip was organized not long after the nuptials and he was dragged to a distant-relation's estate; some aunt's cousin's third husband's grandfather's sister's niece. It was revelatory. His exploration, up until that point, had been external, always looking for answers elsewhere. But this young girl, with her brilliant mind sought answers to things inside her laboratory, inside her mind. He showed her some of the weaponry he used, some of the tools that he believed could detect spirits, which they both believe in! He told her of his wild stories that most people never believed, of the places he went that were not marked on any map. And she showed him her inventions and experiments, things he didn't necessarily understand all of the time. But she explained her need of things. Rare flowers, fancy metals. Who better to find those things than him?! Ashur would chase things for Elloise and bring them back to her. Together, they worked on new ways to create things that had made this way for generations. They grew fond of each other and were inseparable in that limited time they were able to spend together. But the trip had to end sometime and he returned home. Within a year of his marriage, a strange, undiagnosed disease struck his wife. He heard legend of someone that would have been able to save his wife, that had never failed to heal any sick person. He lost himself in the search. He was away from his wife and home for months, but each clue led to another hint and eventually, he found the person; a 'witch' in the deepest, darkest part of the woods. He brings the 'witch' to their estate after another week's journey home and is told upon arrival that his wife had passed away the night before. Grief overwhelmed him. He fled from his home, from those that knew him and he lost himself in travels until a letter from Elloise recently arrived... + |
| Aslaug Winge + | When asked where she comes from, if she can be coaxed into saying anything at all, Aslaug may tell one soul she washed up on the beach of Arx in a spring storm, another she may whisper to that she wandered down a mountain in a snow storm, or that she simply sprouted one spring. Each of these explanations delivered as a matter of fact - as if everyone has a similar story behind them. What is clear is that she commits to no origins. Some amongst those who owe their allegiance to Redrain have seen the wanderer about, passing through their various holdings, and often attending Shamanistic gatherings generally hovering at the periphery of such gatherings. Her arrival in Arx coincided with the influx of nobility following the start of the King's slumber and since she may be found wandering in some strange places, typically with her hat pulled low over her eyes and her head bowed down. Most often she can be sighted in the Low Borough or the Redrain quarter, though many have spotted her in the wilds around the city as well. + |
| Asphodel Leary + | A sunny and precocious young woman of a Leary branch, Asphodel could be found wherever there was merriment. A roadside inn at harvest-time was such a place one evening, with Asphodel laughing among and enjoying the company of common folk. All shared song, drink and warm jests. Asphodel, always sharp-tongued but kind enough with it, made a jape about a man's fashion, setting the room to laughter. Most would laugh it off. But some innocent mockeries cut more deeply than the dealer could ever expect, and the hearts of men can be both bitterly vengeful and shockingly explosive. Asphodel had visited the inn without a guard. Foolish. Outside, as the night's festivities waned, the mocked man pulled Asphodel from the palfrey she'd mounted to depart, threw her to the dirt, and buried a hand-axe in her face with a choice word shouted. He would have struck again, had a wayfaring Knight of Solace not been stepping from the inn just then. The knight arrested a second axe stroke and saved Asphodel from death, but not from a lightning bolt of shattering pain, her darkest year to come, and a life forever changed. All due to a thoughtless joke. She awoke days later. Medicine cured the infection, but could not make her whole. Ahead lay a year of shadows in a shut room, each day a series of objects thrown in anger, curses, desperate prayers, wailing and sobs with enough pain to drive the servants from hearing. But after months of anguish came an equilibrium of silence. Books and a quill saved her from worse. In solitude, she exhausted the library, as servants pleased to see her occupied brought tomes to her room on request. She devoured history, legend, poetry, philosophy and fiction. Unsatisfied, she began to add her own work, but given her limited experience, mustered only critiques of certain dated historians and poets. Foremost of her learning was that she had so much more to learn, and that one library could not satisfy. She needed more to read, and more to write. Where to find it? She'd read of Arx. With a year passed, she at last left her room, more pale than before, more inquisitive, and altogether changed, for the city. + |
| Asralyn Venac + | There's a small village north of Farhaven that if you searched for your whole life, might never come close to brushing its borders. The world is a big place. This Asralyn has always known, sitting on the cliffs that look toward the endless reams of pole-pines that stretch to the sea. By this time, at the age of twelve, she knew her life would not end in this place. The kiss of the wind lured her away. At sixteen she quit her home as pressure mounted from her parents to settle down. She sought the edge of the world and came to it on the coast of the Eventide Vast and the next chapter in her story; pirates in a cove unloading their bounty and hiding from the wrath of the navy in dogged pursuit. They thought her some feral Shav at first, especially when she lunged a knife into the throat of a sailor who tried to take her aboard their ship. Down a man, the Captain saw fit to offer her a job instead. This disreputable life she led for some years, until their crew came upon the shadow of the Gyre. Asralyn and two others were the only survivors. She parted ways with them, however, and instead took up her spear in the name of whoever paid her wage. For a long time it has been this way, a rough and violent life. A life whose purpose is as transitory as the adventurer who lives it; and now in these interesting times, it has led her to Arx. + |
| Asriel Darkwater + | Asriel Darkwater has ever been a notoriously private person. Still, not every facet of his long life has been masked by the sort of mystery he so often cultivates around himself. What is it they say in the law courts of Arx? Just the facts, please. Asriel was known to be a precocious child, nobody would argue that. A noble's education and a hunger for knowledge would find him growing into a young lord of House Darkwater with a brilliant mind and a bright - if sometimes questionable - personality full of idiosyncracies. Yet no amount of radiance would help him to escape from beneath the long shadow cast by his brother Draevor, a man who better espoused the qualities a Darkwater was thought to need at the time. It could be fair to think that because of this, a younger Asriel Darkwater might have already harbored a healthy resentment for his more brutal brother even before whatever passed between them that would cause an informal falling out. In the years leading up to Draevor's death, a distance grew between Asriel and his family at Darkwater Watch. Where once he had put his keen mind to use handling finances and other important details for his House, more and more he failed to come home altogether. Every stretch of absence was longer than the last, until one day he disappeared entirely. Before he seemingly fell off the face of Arvum, Asriel had been pursuing the life of an antiquarian. Though the return of the Darkwater lord wasn't inevitable, it wasn't an accident either. It was by the hand and efforts of the newly-elevated Countess Carita that the letter which would finally convince Asriel to come home would reach him. While he isn't always quite the outgoing socialite he once was, his philanthropic nature and driven curiosity has remained intact through whatever ravages time has brought down upon him. Many of the Peerage expected that perhaps Draevor's brother might pose a challenge to the latest Countess to grace the head of House Darkwater's table, being the neo noble that she is, but to their surprise his return has found him steadfastly vocal about his support for her. + |
| Asterion Havmarke + | Asterion Havmarke is the firstborn and last living child of Dallon and Odelia Havmarke, and the only remaining scion of the Havmarke line proper. Two younger brothers and a sister were born after, though both younger boys faced health complications that led to early deaths. Like his father before him, he was a farmer by birth and by profession, and was resigned to such a life long before he ever reached adulthood. An avid reader, he consumed every bit of ink and parchment he was able to get his hands on, primarily via discarded missives and historical texts. It was this sharpening of his mind that led to a surprisingly competent military career. It served as an escape from the monotony of agriculture and a method to elevate his own station, eventually resulting in a commission to officer. It was at this time that he took a wife, Vorina, and soon after inherited his family's lands after illness claimed the lives of his parents. She too would be taken by ailing health, accelerated by a complicated pregnancy that left Asterion widowed and without any progeny. Rather than fall into any despair, he threw his life into duty - cultivating his lands, serving his commission, and reigniting a passion for literature, now with the agency to acquire proper books to expand his library. Eventually, his military service was ended by injury and subsequent illness that threatened to claim him just as it did the whole of his family. It was this distinguished military service, though, that led House Byrne to invite Asterion to serve as a steward and agent of Cedar Vale following his recovery, a role that he has acted in with ruthless efficiency. The duty would carry him to Arx to serve the Vale from afar, and so it was that he escaped the destruction of Cedar Vale at the hands of the Abandoned. He returned when the County was given to Lord Gailin Stonewood, seamlessly transition from service of House Byrne to service of the newly created House Fireviper. So it is that he has carried on in stewardship of House Byrne, then Fireviper, and now Byrne again. He has remained through it all in a number of capacities, the only consistency a loyal and steadfast service to Cedar Vale and to the House that holds it. + |
| Astor Larrant + | Astor grew up in a family of simple farmers and ranchers on House Grayson's lands. Harboring greater ambitions than a typical farmer's son, Astor decided the best thing to do was to give up his claim on the family business and start one of his own. He apprenticed under a traveling merchant who dabbled in alchemy until he was old enough and knowledgeable enough to set off on his own. He made his way around for a few years, and after a string of run-ins with bandits and scammers, he decided it was best to find a place to settle down. Now that he's in Arx proper, he's not quite sure what to do, at least not yet. He does at least believe that he's wise enough to figure it out, though. + |
| Astraea Redrain + | Astraea was born mere minutes before her twin sister but the two might often go back and forth on who was actually the first brought into this world. Though she may be identical in looks to her sister they are quite different in some ways. Astraea is the more thrill-seeking, physical type who enjoyed tussling with the boys and getting dirty. Unafraid of a little danger, she always managed to find herself getting into trouble. Her mother was afraid of losing her daughter to the wiles of her whimsy and did her best to reign her in. There was no way in hell that Astraea would ever enjoy embroidery or needlepoint. Knowing her daughter well, the Igniseri noblewoman managed to procure the services of a well known sellsword from a foreign land. Due to her natural inclination toward athleticism she was an excellent student and picked up swordplay quickly. This only bolstered her eagerness to partake in dangerous ventures for that rush of adrenaline. Storm-chasing, rock-climbing, extreme sports, diving, exploring, and just about anything that risks life and limb was on her checklist. Astraea managed to undertake many exciting adventures but her career as a daredevil came to an end when she got married. It was politically motivated and she had never met her intended before they were engaged. As she got to know him it seemed alright and the Igniseri girl felt like perhaps she might even grow to love him. It was with a heavy heart that she left her family and home in the Southern isles to go and live in the icy north. Life can be good, but it isn't always happy endings and for Astraea this was quite the case. Her husband died three years into their marital bliss, his body was found terribly mangled and the cause of death was never discovered. In the weeks following the investigation into the Redrain Prince's death the grisly details were kept from his widow. After the news was delivered to her, Astraea sunk into depression and mourning, thus shattering the hopes and dreams of the southern-but-northern princess who had expected to live a long life with her Prince Charming. Many long months have gone by since then and once again Astraea has fallen prey to her wanderlust and taste for a good fight. Ever a devotee of Gloria, this princess is highly devout and her love of the Gods is second to none. It's no secret that she walks with the Sentinel and has a special place in her heart for the Queen of Endings but she carries a flame of passion in her heart and soul for each member of the Pantheon; finding their combined philosophies and teachings the most beneficial to the soul. Strangely enough she is not actually a member of any single discipleship but the Redrain princess frequents the shrine and the Cathedral. When she isn't pursuing a life of piety, Astraea pursues her interests quietly and tends to avoid the politicking of Arx. Her sister, Aurelia, and her spend a great deal of time together and tend to be synchronous with their moods. This doesn't always mean the pair of them are in agreement but even in their discordance they manage to echo one another's thoughts and feelings as if they share a soul or at the very least a mind. There are no limits on her love for family and the people, all people. Some might see this as naivete or weakness but Astraea has always seen the best in humanity and has an amazing capacity for love. She enjoys meeting people with warmth and open arms, and though she may not always see eye to eye with someone she does her best to keep an open mind. How she arrived in the city is a bit of a mystery, but the why is something she hasn't been quite forthcoming about either but she has set about throwing all of her efforts into maintaining the peace and bringing down the Compact's foes. + |
| Astraea Valardin + | Astraea was born mere minutes before her twin sister but the two might often go back and forth on who was actually the first brought into this world. Though she may be identical in looks to her sister they are quite different in some ways. Astraea is the more thrill-seeking, physical type who enjoyed tussling with the boys and getting dirty. Unafraid of a little danger, she always managed to find herself getting into trouble. Her mother was afraid of losing her daughter to the wiles of her whimsy and did her best to reign her in. There was no way in hell that Astraea would ever enjoy embroidery or needlepoint. Knowing her daughter well, the Igniseri noblewoman managed to procure the services of a well known sellsword from a foreign land. Due to her natural inclination toward athleticism she was an excellent student and picked up swordplay quickly. This only bolstered her eagerness to partake in dangerous ventures for that rush of adrenaline. Storm-chasing, rock-climbing, extreme sports, diving, exploring, and just about anything that risks life and limb was on her checklist. Astraea managed to undertake many exciting adventures but her career as a daredevil came to an end when she got married. It was politically motivated and she had never met her intended before they were engaged. As she got to know him it seemed alright and the Igniseri girl felt like perhaps she might even grow to love him. It was with a heavy heart that she left her family and home in the Southern isles to go and live in the icy north. Life can be good, but it isn't always happy endings and for Astraea this was quite the case. Her husband died three years into their marital bliss, his body was found terribly mangled and the cause of death was never discovered. In the weeks following the investigation into the Redrain Prince's death the grisly details were kept from his widow. After the news was delivered to her, Astraea sunk into depression and mourning, thus shattering the hopes and dreams of the southern-but-northern princess who had expected to live a long life with her Prince Charming. Many long months have gone by since then and once again Astraea has fallen prey to her wanderlust and taste for a good fight. Ever a devotee of Gloria, this princess is highly devout and her love of the Gods is second to none. It's no secret that she walks with the Sentinel and has a special place in her heart for the Queen of Endings but she carries a flame of passion in her heart and soul for each member of the Pantheon; finding their combined philosophies and teachings the most beneficial to the soul. Strangely enough she is not actually a member of any single discipleship but the Redrain princess frequents the shrine and the Cathedral. When she isn't pursuing a life of piety, Astraea pursues her interests quietly and tends to avoid the politicking of Arx. Her sister, Aurelia, and her spend a great deal of time together and tend to be synchronous with their moods. This doesn't always mean the pair of them are in agreement but even in their discordance they manage to echo one another's thoughts and feelings as if they share a soul or at the very least a mind. There are no limits on her love for family and the people, all people. Some might see this as naivete or weakness but Astraea has always seen the best in humanity and has an amazing capacity for love. She enjoys meeting people with warmth and open arms, and though she may not always see eye to eye with someone she does her best to keep an open mind. How she arrived in the city is a bit of a mystery, but the why is something she hasn't been quite forthcoming about either but she has set about throwing all of her efforts into maintaining the peace and bringing down the Compact's foes. + |
| Astrid Ulbran + | Mother? Father? These are terms that Astrid's familiar with but not questions she can answer about herself. She was taken in by the Ulbran family when she was found as a three-year-old orphan in the alleys of the Lowers and was raised with ample cousins, aunts, and uncles but never knew a mother or father per se. At an early age she was taught some lessons that carry through to today: how to read people, how to make impassioned arguments, how to navigate the Streets and its culture. And she was also taught lessons she tries to forget: nimble fingers, insincere speeches, and the brutality of man. Astrid was twenty before she would find someone outside of the family she had known to inspire her to be something more. A priest of the Pantheon had been spending time in the Lowers, working on some pet project about documenting the histories of the common people. He was always kind to her, always lacking in judgement, and frequently finding an excuse to provide a little coin for a proper tour guide. Through their conversations over the course of a year, Astrid was encouraged to try something new, to embrace Lagoma's change and put what the priest recognized as a sharp mind and indomitable will to work. Over the next decade, Astrid would study with the aging man, turn her life around (according to the views of most) and leave behind a path that was sure to see her in the stockades to become a Priestess of the Pantheon. Now she still visits the place where she was raised, but she does so with an eye towards proving there's a chance for anyone to do anything if they just give it a real try. And who knows? Maybe one day she'll even be an Archlector. Others have risen to such heights! + |
| Astyr Vanha + | When the Bringers of Silence carved their way across Arvum, they left ruin in their wake. Astyr is a refugee, holding and people lost, who knelt and found refuge in the Compact. In the years since Brand's advance, Astyr has shaped herself into the image of a proper Prodigal. She could pass among the citizens of Arx unnoticed, without tattoo or piercing, and has worked to tame even her accent. She's passed through the great cities and holdings of the north, through the Oathlands and the Crownlands. She respects the stability of the Compact, that it endures even in times of chaos -- that it even prospers. She could use some of that. + |
| Aswin Ulbran + | Aswin doesn't really know if he was born an Ulbran, or if he simply fell in with the family around the time that he took his first steps. He has no memories of his mother or his father, they simply were never there. The streets of the Lower Boroughs are a tough place for a child to grow up, especially by themselves, and while his parents were not there the Ulbrans were. Survival became not only possible, but he learned at the instruction of his family how to thrive in the dangerous streets. As soon as he was able, he was put to work as a lookout and pickpocket, the innocence of his youthful appearance presenting an opportunity that was not to be wasted. And then by the time that he entered into his teens he was being trained to fight and sent along on more dangerous work, a life that Aswin took to quite well. Now in his twenties, he fills whatever role the family needs of him. + |
| Athaur Rivenshari + | The Rivenshari Abandoned were never one of the bigger tribes in the Oathlands, but they were always a tight knit group of sailors that manned their boats up and down the waterways. A branch of the nomadic ravashari and smugglers, his family resisted the efforts of House Valardin to bring them to heel until Brand's dark magic enslaved his people and forced them to fight a battle that was not theirs. Many Rivenshari were struck down by House Thrax's navy the day Brand tried to breech Arx's walls. But a select few survived. Athaur and his younger sister, Eshra, will ensure the thrive now that they've bended knee to their former enemies. Born into a large family, Athaur never thought he would have to take the mantle of leader. His father, Aegis, and mother, Triega, had two older sons, Gavier and Raqui, who were meant to help lead their people. This left their third son to focus on what he did best, thieving and smuggling. Quick with his hands, even quicker with a blade, he became a skilled thief early on. His sailing skills rival those in House Thrax. His passion for the guitar, an outlet when things life troubled him. He was the reckless one, the man that took chances. His luck always paid off. Nobles would well to beware challenging this ravashari to a game of dice or cards. Closest to Eshra, who followed him by birth three years later, she has always been the one to temper his impulses. His advisor, his voice, it is she who consuls him to take a longer path. He thanks the spirits every day that Brand's darkness did not take her and Mattheu, his youngest brother, from him. He mourns the loss of his father, former leader of the Rivenshari, his mother, former Voice, and two brothers. Their losses have tempered some of his impulsiveness. Now he plays a longer game to see that his family thrives in Arx. + |
| Atherton Galeren + | Atherton's origins are mostly unknown beyond the past few years. A few whisperings of offering his services to the Abandoned linger. In the more recent past he's been seen doing mundane work such as escorting merchants about, intimidating young bandits off farmers' property, and the like. + |
| Atreylan Hollowood + | A sharp wit and a tactful tongue can carry a young man far in this world, given the right encouragement and resources. Atreyan was blessed to find both from birth. While not of the finest blood, his parents had means and desire to see themselves elevated in time. His father was an able-bodied man of the Iron Guard, and his mother put hand to gem, selling fine jewelry to nobility. Through their professions, they saw the privileges of the nobility in all things, and wished for their son to be better positioned to move within greater circles. To that end, they put their resources to education and betterment of the boy. He took to words, etiquette, and new knowledge with vigor- taking great joy in every sentence he constructed. Words yielded to him in a way that nothing else ever would, and before long he was surpassing his tutors. From there, it was a matter of what paths would offer him the greatest opportunities- and to further his abilities he was sent forth to the City-States of the Lyceum in the midst of his adolescence. Where a more militant boy might squire and aide to a warring man, he worked briskly in the trades of courtly stewardship, learning the proper way to guide a book and to assist lowly Lords with their correspondences. Many a letter was written in his hand, and by his mind, with another name attached. The intrigues of the Lyceum also bred in him a healthy paranoia for unsigned gifts, and a respect for the viciousness of the nobility. He was ever the respectful servant, and worked as honorably as anyone within the Lyceum may. By the time of his return to Arx, his sharply-educated mind had been honed by the practical rigors of his vocation. Within Arx, Atreyan found his greatest challenges being the de jure colliding with the de facto. Outside of the Compact, the laws of the realm are as varied as its people, and exceptions grow like weeds to every writ. Over the last few years, he's worked as a steward for a variety of well-off merchant families- ensuring that their trades adhered to the laws of the land, and doing what he could to give them an edge over their competition. + |
| Atria Ulixes + | Atria is the second of three children, the middle child that's always so troublesome. Her eldest brother was trained to be lord of the manor and now rules House Ulixes. Her youngest sister was married off at an early age to secure trade agreements to grow the house's trade port which it so desperately depends on for life. And Atria? Well, her early years were a mix of being taught to be 'the spare' to having her time left to her own devices. She would spend many of those free hours playing the drums, for which she would find her lessons banished to the far side of the manor for the first year. She would spend other hours going to the Senate with her father and brother, listening to what she felt was worse caterwauling than anything she was mangling with her drums. The years would pass and Atria's ability to keep a beat, to lead a song or the cadence of war band would grow. And her interest in the Senate would sharpen as she realized these sometimes vitriolic proceedings held sway over countless lives. Not only that, she understood why her father took her and her brother, and not just the heir. The work their house would do could never be handled by just the Head of House; her brother would need her help. At the young age of 22, Atria lost her father. He went to Eurus, and he's never been seen or heard from again. His ship did not return and it's believed he was lost to attack. Since that time, Atria's served as the right hand to House Ulixes. Which made it not at all odd when the family contingent that arrived in Arvum included its calm right hand. + |
| Atrid Darkwater + | Atrid is of House Darkwater The son of A Darkwater nobleman and a Grimhall noble woman. When his mother married his father they went back to his fathers keep south of Darkwater along the deeps. It was on an Island in the middle of the deeps. The keep itself was a lighthouse the Island was called La Isla De Muerte Negro. When Atrids mother left the she brought her body guard to help keep her safe when her husband had to be away. Over the years with his mother and fathers influence and teaching he became a good and charismatic if not strict leader, learning from his mother and her body guard the arts of warfare and the brutality often times needed "the ends justify the means" right? And from his father he learned more of the sleight of hand and trickery, also inheriting the more liberal way of looking at those below his station. Through his teen years he decided to start following in his fathers footsteps hed turn out the lighthouse light allowing a cargo ship here or there to wreck on his island and pillaging the goods and money from it. Now hes left to seek out his fortune and carve his place in the world to leave his own legacy. + |
| Auda Crown + | There are always people that slip through the cracks. An unwanted child, or perhaps one who's parents died to some illness or political machination. Maybe even a child squirreled away, tucked into hiding where no one would ever look. Auda doesn't know where she falls in that, she just knows that she's always been alone. Memories of a warm place and caring adults are vague at best, though she doesn't suffer some sort of amnesia. The memories are just hazy, lost to strong emotions, hunger, a need to survive more than a need to remember. Her fiesty temperament is probably what kept her alive. Being full of fight means she wasn't afraid to dabble in some rougher jobs, though most of her youth has been spent in kitchens or cleaning, odd jobs at the docks or running messages. Whatever would get her the silver to get her through another day. Now she's an adult, and still running the same lifestyle. + |
| Auda Florin + | There are always people that slip through the cracks. An unwanted child, or perhaps one who's parents died to some illness or political machination. Maybe even a child squirreled away, tucked into hiding where no one would ever look. Auda doesn't know where she falls in that, she just knows that she's always been alone. Memories of a warm place and caring adults are vague at best, though she doesn't suffer some sort of amnesia. The memories are just hazy, lost to strong emotions, hunger, a need to survive more than a need to remember. Her fiesty temperament is probably what kept her alive. Being full of fight means she wasn't afraid to dabble in some rougher jobs, though most of her youth has been spent in kitchens or cleaning, odd jobs at the docks or running messages. Whatever would get her the silver to get her through another day. It wasn't until she was a young adult herself that she ran into an old friend who'd struck riches. She didn't have to live day-to-day any more, and Auda finally had time to figure herself out. What she wanted, who she wanted to be. She learned how to keep a small House's finances as a way to earn her keep, and started to dabble in alchemy. It wasn't long before she went from taking classes to opening a shop of her own. finding a home of her own. Still in the Lowers, of course, but now it's on her own terms. + |
| Auda Waters + | There are always people that slip through the cracks. An unwanted child, or perhaps one who's parents died to some illness or political machination. Maybe even a child squirreled away, tucked into hiding where no one would ever look. Auda doesn't know where she falls in that, she just knows that she's always been alone. Memories of a warm place and caring adults are vague at best, though she doesn't suffer some sort of amnesia. The memories are just hazy, lost to strong emotions, hunger, a need to survive more than a need to remember. Her fiesty temperament is probably what kept her alive. Being full of fight means she wasn't afraid to dabble in some rougher jobs, though most of her youth has been spent in kitchens or cleaning, odd jobs at the docks or running messages. Whatever would get her the silver to get her through another day. Now she's an adult, and still running the same lifestyle. + |
| Audgrim Veilandir + | Born to a Knighted couple in a small barony in the Crownlands, Audgrim grew up in a happy home. From an early age he loved the forest, and joined the scouts and rangers working for the baron. He learned to survive and hunt this way, and when old enough he took employ in the ranks of the rangers. His parents were proud of him, and they also saw to him getting training with weapons and armor, to give him a chance for a career as a Knight or at least a soldier. Life in the barony was mostly peaceful, the occasional skirmish with abandoned or bandits being the worst that happened. But then the Silent War began and everything changed. Banners were called, and Audgrim's parents were to join the army against Tolamar Brand and his forces. The baron also dedicated his trained rangers for scouting, Audgrim included. So, leaving his family behind, including his fiancee since only a month, he and his fellow rangers took off to scout for the main forces, while the baron gathered up troops on his land to move to the frontlines. What was not expected was that The Silent Army was moving through the forest and came straight at the barony and the small town where the mansion was. When Audgrim and his fellow scouts realised this, they turned around and rode as hard as they could back home, but they arrived to death and oblivion. The silent army was still there and captured the rangers after a short skirmish where it was clear to Audgrim that they never stood a chance. About a week later, Audgrim awoke alone on a small strip of beach by a small, dark lake. He did not know where he was or what had happened. There was no sign of anyone or the silent army, or his fellow rangers. The area was silent and the forest dying around him. He stumbled away and managed to make it back to the mansion where he proceeded to bury everyone he loved, including his fiancee. He walked away, and stayed in the forest for years, banding together with others of similar fates, hunting and taking on mercenary work for villages having trouble with bandits. But they stayed on the fringe of society, earning a reputation as a fearless and cunning band of a semi shady reputation. They avoided entanglement with Compact forces and were called the Woodsmen. Many years like this ended when Audgrim and his band ended up in trouble that caught the interest of people from Arx. Audgrim decided to go to Arx and look for answers and to start another life. There are always those in need of a ranger and hunter, whether of beast or man. + |
| Audrey None (formerly Valardin) + | The tale is well-known by those in the Oathlands: Princess Marianne Valardin was an infectiously charismatic daughter of Sanctum, someone different from most her fellow White Dragons. She was unafraid of pushing social boundaries to the very extremes, always mingling with the Commonfolk and defying her family whenever she felt was right. Next to her the Valardin were seen as stuffy, and Princess Marianne as someone who put in full display just how pleasant a White Dragon could be. So wild was the Princess that she clashed against expectations and challenged tradition to marry for love, her husband a Lycene merchant named Marcello, a simple commoner. The crowds erupted in jubilation at wedding and the chaos in the White City that day was legendary, and it was to this legacy that Audrey, the first of four children, was born. Although she loved her parents very much, Audrey always had a favorite. Marienne was just enthralling, more friend than mother as she taught Audrey how to dance, sing and ride a horse. The young girl eventually grew up to be just as full of joy as her mother, and possessing a strong sense of right and wrong, something that would serve her well in the years after the Tragedy. When the Tragedy struck, Audrey's immediate family was thankfully spared from the carnage. The eldest of her siblings, she remembers as her parents argued over what to do next, and while Marianne was against leaving their children Marcello decided to help the surviving Valardin. Peeking out a window, Audrey watched her father mount his horse in the dead of night to ride to Sanctum, a decision that claimed his life. His death at the hands of the Malardin brotherhood cursed Audrey's family, and marked them for a dark fate: weeks later, in a night not unlike the one that saw Marcello leave, Audrey was found in a pool of Princess Marianne's blood, holding a kitchen knife, weeping over her dead mother. In the wake of the travesty, many expected - many hoped - the Kinslayer to be put to the sword by then-newly elevated Highlord Edain. In a crowd that rivalled that of Marianne's wedding in size, the Commonfolk demanded blood, and Audrey seemed to agree with them. Highlord Edain, however, stayed his blade, not executing the young girl. The Kinslayer was allowed to live, albeit without her family name, and trusting his guidance, the Valardin's own fury was placated even if the Commonfolk would never forgive Audrey. Marianne was a larger-than-life character, and for all her shortcomings, the lively Princess did not deserve to die by the hands of her daughter. This sin has walked with Audrey ever since as she swore her sword to the Valardin and took it upon herself to ride alone at the Oathlands for years, hunting evil whenever it manifests, until now. As the White Dragons find themselves readying for war, Audrey finds herself in Arx, heeding the call for those who have swore to defend the Great House and facing her family once more. + |
| Audric Crown + | Audric changes his background story with every telling, lying for sympathy or just because he finds it wildly entertaining. In the (very) rare cases when he is forced to be honest, such as talking to the high and mighty of society who could have the rogue hanged under the entirely correct assumption he must be guilty of something or other, Audric would be forced to admit that he grew up in the rough Lower Boroughs of Arx untroubled by burdens holding him back such as parents, a family, or basic human necessities. Audric contends that while being a waifish urchin was a promising career track, he quickly discovered the far more lucrative field of talking oneself in and, more importantly, out of trouble. Noticably vague about how he first learned swordplay and made the acquaintance of other sellswords, the scoundrel quickly learned that a captain of a sellsword company is not so much the best swordsman as a leader of other soldiers. Or, in Audric's far superior case, someone who can present a reasonably facsimile of a leader while cashing in big on the work that mercenary groups are hired to do while trying to avoid the work of actual bothersome fighting. Also extraordinarily vague on the real details for how he came to be the head of the Valorous Few sellsword company, which is neither few in number nor anything resembling valorous, he has a remarkable talent for being hired while never actually fighting. It's not easy to be an honorable man, which is why Audric is devoutly glad he is instead profoundly not that. + |
| Audric de Lire + | Audric changes his background story with every telling, lying for sympathy or just because he finds it wildly entertaining. In the (very) rare cases when he is forced to be honest, such as talking to the high and mighty of society who could have the rogue hanged under the entirely correct assumption he must be guilty of something or other, Audric would be forced to admit that he grew up in the rough Lower Boroughs of Arx untroubled by burdens holding him back such as parents, a family, or basic human necessities. Audric contends that while being a waifish urchin was a promising career track, he quickly discovered the far more lucrative field of talking oneself in and, more importantly, out of trouble. Noticably vague about how he first learned swordplay and made the acquaintance of other sellswords, the scoundrel quickly learned that a captain of a sellsword company is not so much the best swordsman as a leader of other soldiers. Or, in Audric's far superior case, someone who can present a reasonably facsimile of a leader while cashing in big on the work that mercenary groups are hired to do while trying to avoid the work of actual bothersome fighting. Also extraordinarily vague on the real details for how he came to be the head of the Valorous Few sellsword company, which is neither few in number nor anything resembling valorous, he has a remarkable talent for being hired while never actually fighting. It's not easy to be an honorable man, which is why Audric is devoutly glad he is instead profoundly not that. + |
| Augustus Grayson + | Born the younger brother of King Alerius II and Tommen Grayson, and the youngest son of Thalia Grayson, Augustus was trained as an administrator and academic rather than a warrior or an heir. Constantly engrossed in books, texts of all kinds, and the sheer environment of academic learning, Augustus did not entirely shirk his martial duties either - though his education has lead him to be more of a strategist than a combatant. Unlike most Graysons, Augustus was not born in the Crownlands and was instead born when his royal parents were conducting a tour of the vassal princedoms. It was during a stop in the Lycene capital of Lenosia that Augustus was brought into the world. As it was that Augustus was destined for a life of courtly matters and intrigue, it was decided at some point during his youth that he would be sent to Lenosia to continue his education. Whilst in Lenosia the young Augustus, a gentleman of around twelve years of age at the time, met Livia Velenosa, a young princess of the Grand Duchess' extended family. The two had been betrothed since birth, an attempt to show the continued Grayson support and admiration for the Lycene people and the Velenosa specifically. The pair were not an ideal match when they married several years later. They knew each other well and their personalities could not have been more different. Where Augustus was a cooler, analytical sort Livia fancied herself a patron of the arts, investing great sums in poetry, songs, and the like; much to the consternation of her young husband. The pair eventually, after some great difficulty and perhaps with the aid of a good-natured spirit of some kind, came to fall very much in love. So much so that many bardic songs exist of their romance and their treasuring each other long after their children had grown. Together they had three sons, Aberforth, Aerys and Tiberias, along with three daughters, Matilda, Elysia, and Cassandra. Their marriage would come to an end in the sixty-first year of Augustus' life with Livia's death at fifty-eight. + |
| Aurelia Pravus + | Aurelia was birth was the first blight upon her mother's honor, but it would not be the last. Her mother was sister to the Duke of Pravus, a cutthroat woman who relished power and adored those who would wield it sharply. Although arranged in a political marriage with those Houses who would later rebel against the Duke of Pravus, she fancied a pirate lord as her bedmate, a thinly-tolerated practice given his open defiance of maritime law. When she became pregnant, she asserted often and loudly that it belonged to the pirate lord and not her husband. From a young age Aurelia took after the Duke of Pravus, who was determined to reform Pravus's image. She studied the songs of Valardin bards, and the great legends of their Dragon Knights protecting the innocent. The Duke showered her with the tender love and fatherly affection that her pirate lord of a father did not, and shaped her romantic's heart from a young age. Just before the conspirators raised their rebellion against Pravus, she was sped away to live with her father. Soon her mother joined them with news that the Duke had been assassinated, but his heir Belladonna, new Duchess of Pravus, had put down the rebellion. She wept for days until news trickled in that her trueborn siblings had been slain. Although she had never been as close to them as her uncle, the grief was too much to bear and she threw herself into the sea. Hours later she was discovered huddled on a beach, covered in black seaweed. She said that she had been saved by beautiful beasts from the sea. After that day, some thought she was touched in the head and strange, though no examination showed any lasting harm. She lived among the traders, smugglers, exiles, and cutthroats of the island for a time, and reportedly gossipped and performed often. A sudden sickness that swept the pirate cove put her father's life in peril, and with it, the guarantee of her safety. Although her mother refused to leave her beloved's side, Aurelia had no such warmth for the man who had not been the father of her heart. She paid a smuggler to take her to Arx, where she penned a letter to Belladonna Pravus, requesting clemency and an audience. + |
| Aurelian Valardin + | First cousin to the head of House Valardin, Aurelian had a happy childhood, and used to run around the castle pretending to be a knight slaying monsters and demons, looking to be well set on the path to becoming a knight when he grew older. That would change one day when the boy was four, while on a trip through the countryside he and those guarding him were attacked by bandits. The boy was taken prisoner, though no ransom demand was made as a few days later he was rescued by members of his family. After being returned to his family he was a very different person. He grew quiet whenever the abduction was brought up, he'd grow sad and sometimes would even cry. To this day it isn't known what happened but it clearly traumatized the lad. After the early trauma Aurelian showed more and more disinterest in matters related to violence and war, instead growing more and more serious and thoughtful. For this reason it was no surprise when he decided to seek study with the priesthood, a fate his parents felt was more than suitable as he could serve the realm in a way that wouldn't require him to relive past harm. After becoming an Acolyte Aurelian joined the ranks of the Scholars. By the age of sixteen he was elevated to the rank of full Scholar and started to go on expeditions alone or with fellow scholars with the desire to rediscover the knowledge lost during the Great Fire of Arx. At the age of twenty tragedy struck again, while at an expedition Shav forces attacked and resulted in The Tragedy of Sanctum and the death of several of his cousins and those loyal to House Valardin. Today he continues in his efforts to rediscover what was lost, and honor his family and the faith in the process. + |
| Aureth Grayhope + | A younger son of a branch off the main line of the Grayhope family, Aureth was an odd child: quickfingered and resourceful, the middle class child of an artisan with questionable ties, his most frequent punishments were from wandering away from the family and being a focused observer of the human animal. Apprenticed early to an older woman who decided his powers of observation might be useful, she taught him to tell fortunes. When she grew too old to patter convincingly, he eventually inherited some of her customers and made a name for himself as a predictor, a card player and a source of sensible advice to those who knew to ask the right question. Unlucky in love (or resistant to social pressure), he claims he just hasn't met the right girl. + |
| Auriela Malvici + | When you are born the daughter to a member of the Malvici family who is blamed for much loss and suffering, you start life with your head down and with the intent to forget your name, who you are and who your father was. From child to teenager, Lady Auriela kept herself to herself and her studies. When she became of age for her Malvici military training, she signed up under a different name - one so that those who served with her did not know who she was out of worry they might treat her so differently. With a sword in hand, it was not her forte. The delicate frame of the Lady Auriela having her easy to overcome. But, like her father, the battlefield was where she excelled. When faced with a board, counters and strategy - she was able to make bold moves against her opponents. Sometimes with significant numbers of her side lost in the war games. This, soon, led to rumours of her having a similar mindset to that one Lucien Malvici. That was it, she needed to finish her service and step out. Upon finishing she travelled to Tor, Grantao and Lenosia as well. Spending much of her time people-watching, she developed her own set of skills this way. Returning to her home city, quietly, she made light ripples around Southport as people started to ask about 'Lucien's girl' it became apparent that it was time to run once again. She cannot be remembered as Lucien's daughter. That cannot be what defines her. So it is to Arx where she has come to make her name. + |
| Aurora Thornburn + | Living in Arx her entire life, Aurora could not imagine life anywhere else but in the busy, bustling city where cultures mix with one another and there is excitement to be found in every corner. The Thornburn family has always flourished within the capital city, the large family taking pride in their ability to serve the crown in various ways. Forging her own way, without using a forge at all like her father and sister Eithne, Aurora has always had a natural talent when it came to creating beautiful works of art with fabric. To her, art is the only way to describe the things she creates, and soon everyone will be seen in her masterpieces. + |
| Aurus Wyrmguard + | Aurus was ever happy to do what was expected of him. He was, truth be told, everything that Stuart Wyrmguard could want in a son: skilled with a blade, purposeful in his quest to excel, stately, and a bright shining star of the family after Caras's fall. He had never spared a second thought to being a younger son, confident in his own abilities and goals. He was also much unlike his cousin Damon, who tended to want to stick his nose into books and histories, rather than into the thick of things and make it himself, and in this, too, he strove to take up the mantle of everything his uncle had wanted. And though he and Damon were unlike in many ways, he still felt a great affinity towards him. Strangely, in the wake of the tragedy of Sanctum and secondarily Damon's untimely death, Aurus seemed to be one of the least affected. Some think that's because his smile is too bright to falter, or, as some have disapprovingly thought, that the young knight is just not as serious as he should be. With the turn of threats to the Compact to the east, the young crusader has come to Arx proper to support his sisters and cousins, and join the ranks of the beleaguered defenders of the Crown. + |
| Austen Ferron + | Austen Ferron is the baby of the family, though he may look far from it. He and his family resided in a small hamlet within the Oathlands and he spent most of his youth doing farmwork and growing strong through manual labor. The older youths of the village would often pick on him, until one day he shot up and wasn't quite so scrawny any more. Then he beat them up. Austen did not particulary want to become a farmer, nor did he wish to become a smith like his eldest sister Ida, so when the opportunity arose he joined the military as a soldier. It did not take quite as well as he thought it would: after running afoul of a vengeful noble he was discharged, but at that point he was just about done with that foray anyway. He returned home, still a teenager longing to be something more in the world. One day, a perfect opportunity arose: on his trek to the nearby city he came across the beleaguered caravan of a knight, and after helping fix the wheel the knight offered him a position as his squire. He happily accepted, and for the next two years accompanied the knight errant on his travels, learning what he could. Early into his eighteenth year he was knighted to little fanfare, but knighthood fit much better on Austen than farmerhood. He arrived in Arx and joined the Iron Guard at the recommendation of a friend of a friend. The intricacies of city law still puzzle him, but he is slowly getting the gist of it. + |
| Austin Goddard + | Austin is not terribly well-known outside of his personal circle; he grew up the son of dirt-farmers, scrabbling to provide for their family. His brothers became petty thugs; his sisters became either disreputable, or married off quickly to any man who could piss in a pot. Austin, however, had no intention of living in squalor. Growing up, he viewed his peers as petty, reckless fools, and had little love for them, regarding them as more children than proper adults. Thankfully for him, he also found that they rallied around any figure who could make an empty promise--also like children. He took his time sowing his wild oats in the lower boroughs of Arx. Those who know him know of his past of petty thievery--and the occasional transfer of currency from the pockets of others into his own. He was known to associate with criminals of various levels of repute. Often, he recruited other young folk to help carry out his dirty deeds, most desperate to make something of themselves despite their dismal life prospects. But thankfully, by some miracle, he straightened himself out by his young adulthood to enter legitimate social circles. He clawed his way into the middle class by gathering a small company of sell-swords and hirelings, known as the Letters of Marque, which he still operates out of the lower boroughs to this day. + |
| Avak Zadarra + | Born in arx in a poor neighborhood, avak zadarra lived hard. His parents were soldiers, and good ones, but they used all their money on equipment. At a young age, avak knew he wanted to be like them. He applied as soon as he could, and after being accepted, he was tested. He was found to be weak, but good with a sword, so they took him anyway. Now he fights as a soldier, even though he is weak. + |
| Avaline Velenosa + | Avaline often heard stories about the winter storm that blew the day that she was born, one chilly February night. Never one to wait for long, she arrived early, while her mother was still on business in Farhaven. Snowed in from the storm, she came into the world defiantly screaming out her protests, fists clenched in her tiny fury with hair as white as the snow that cascaded outside. So that was how she came to spend her first months in Arvum in Oathlands, until finally she was old enough to travel back home. Time back in Granato was typical of a southerner of her station. From a very young age she took a great interest in strategy games, and began looking in earnest into the history of wars and great strategists. Many war games were set up with her siblings, games of strategy and tactics. Eventually she began to see herself as the general of all of her sisters and brother, and it turned into a very real interest in becoming one in earnest. Of course becoming a general isn't something that is just handed to young women, so as she grew older she knew she would have to be a soldier. She trained with her blades as surely as she honed her craft as a strategist, and over time she really did find that she had a knack for it. She squired from a young age, until finally when she came of age swore her oaths as a knight. It was her calling, and her life's passion. She quickly made a name for herself in small skirmishes as a talented fighter, adaptable and ferocious. She eventually gained true renown as a commander when she picked up the banner of a fallen commander, while surrounded by enemies. Outnumbered and outmatched by a much larger force of shavs than they had been expecting, Ava pulled the remaining soldiers back, only to press forward once more when she'd found more favorable conditions. Her victory was well regarded and earned her the attention of a young Velenosian prince. It was a whirlwind romance, and perhaps due to her own renown in the previous battle she was allowed to marry into the family where she continued her service as a Lycene Knight-Princess, serving to drive back the silence in her own campaigns, enjoying the brief respite to birth two children of her own, and with the new threats looming from Darkwater, Avaline finds herself travelling to Arx with her children to reuinte with her siblings, and assist the increasingly disparate situation bearing down upon them. + |
| Avary Ashford + | Born a cousin of the main branch of the Ashfords and the older sister of Addison, Avary had the distinct honor of being noble by blood, at least. She was a reckless youth, as many Ashfords are known to be, flinging herself head first into any kind of adventure. She loved her home, she loved her family, and she was loved in return. Yet, at the age of 19, something changed suddenly for the young noblewoman. She shut out her family and walked away from her title and claims to join the priesthood without a word of explanation why. She was a different woman after that; she applied herself fiercly to the studies of the Faith and the questions of it, but she withdrew inward. She travelled, seeking out answers, even as she devoted herself to the Sentinel, never seeking out her Ashford family despite their closeness to Arx. She only returns now, called back by the Faith that took her in, to step into the shoes that Legate Orazio has left behind to become Archlector of the Sentinel. + |
| Avasyn Culler + | Avasyn has never been the luckiest of sorts. Raised in a very poor family devoted to the House of Valardin, she's lucky enough to even know how to read and write. Her father a drunk and her mother a lowly maid, Avasyn grew up as the youngest amongst her family, with three other siblings. She was the last, an unfortunate mistake on their part, and they looked down on the girl with an unhealthy amount of resentment. After all, she was another mouth to feed. But their dislike of her went far beyond regret, and bordered on near mad superstition. They weren't the brightest of people, and living with one foot in the gutter, the other in the grave, was enough to drive most of them mad. It was no surprise, but somewhat strange, when a thirteen year old Avasyn retreated to the heart of Arvum to forge out her own life without her family, alone, penniless and scared.Swearing fealty to the Crown, she was taught by an old healer and mixer of posions, learning everything she knew before she passed away. And she found sanctuary with the Cullers, who opened their arms for her, and became more a family to her than our blood family ever were. But still, the events that drove her away still haunts her, along with the ache of being loathed so by those she'd spent her childhood years with. It leaves a deep, bleeding ache there, and the guilt can sometimes be seen in her eyes before they turn cold and secretive. + |
| Averie Ashford + | Of a lesser known noble family of Ashfords, Averie is the youngest of five. Her father, Wilheim Ashford, was known as a great explorer in his time. He would often return from places far afield with stories and trinkets for each of this children. Averie was the unvoiced favorite, the apple of her father's eye. This created some consternation and jealousy amongst the other children, particularly the eldest son. It came to pass that all the best tutors and mentors in the world could not keep Averie contained, whether by physical or mental measures. She was a dreamy-eyed child, always ruminating over foreign lands through a window while her frustrated tutor approached with a pointer stick keeping tempo with the palm of his hand. To keep her solidly grounded in the present became a source of aggravation for many. On other occasions she would simply be missing, having disappeared into the woods or down a curve in the river where it was dangerous to tread. Upon adulthood, Averie began traveling with her father and his ship to different lands. There was always something new to see and experience, and like an addict she could not stay on shore. Afraid for her daughter's well-being, Averie's mother saw to it that an arranged marriage was quickly sorted to a fellow of a more grounded disposition. Thus, Averie returned home to land and reluctantly took her place as a bridge for a fellow that better belonged permanently in a library stacking books; this was not the dashing pirate captain she would have preferred. Chaos ensued after the wedding, and the rest is unfortunately still playing out. + |
| Aviana Bertram + | Aviana growing up was a happy child, her parents worked hard to give her what they could. Growing up she listened to her mothers teachings on how to sew and as she got older she was able to use that to sell at the local market to help her parents. Growing up a only child was good in ways but bad in others, it meant a lot on pressure of Aviana but she seem to handle it. Her mother would tell she had a calm soul a lot because in times of stress Aviana would be able to stay calm. One of the things she enjoyed very much was watching the nobles and knights sparring and jousting, but her mother use to tell her all the time to get her head out of the clouds that she was the daughter of a farmer and a tailor and she two was just like them a commoner it was a harsh lesson but Aviana down deep understood. + |
| Avita Seraceni + | On the surface, Avita's life looks pretty average. Certainly she has spent the majority of her youth in the lap of luxury, going through the mundane routine of the noble born; an education of politics and propriety, of economic and militaristic interests, of subterfuge and secrecy, all of that mind-rotting nonsense one is expected to know to be a fine represtative of the Ischian nobility. Whatever that means. She was being groomed to be an emissary of sorts, a political anchor in the storm that has raged and ebbed like an angry tide what seems to be a thousand times over by now -- that of the long-standing conflict between her people, and those of Skal'daja. Of course, it would take time for her to hone her craft before she was truly prepared to serve in such a capacity, but she had always shown an aptitude for swaying favour and inspiring ire at a whim. It wouldn't be long before her life would truly begin. Her talents were first truly noticed when she aided in rallying support for Seraceni's efforts during the Gyre War. Her involvement might have been minimal, but one does not have to scream just to make a point, do they? A war requires able bodies, an army needs supplies, and she would be instrumental in providing both. As success began to shine on the horizon, and victory seemed all but won, she was ushered on to her next great political adventure. She expected a new war, to swell the might of Seraceni, to broker the impossible bargains that would see them as an economical, political and militaristic powerhouse to rival the ducal houses of the compact. She thought she was getting what she wanted. She had gained some acclaim by this point as a shrewd negotiator, a soft voice that carried the gravity of consequence behind her sweetly worded speeches, and artfully written missives. She had found herself well in the thick of it, wading defiantly into the turbulant tides of war once more, as Skal'daja's agents grew bolder, and louder than ever before. Now was her chance. Now was her time! She must strike whilst the iron was ... what do you mean, that's not what's needed? ... What do you -mean-, 'politically sound union'?? Yes, she thought she was going to be the new name in all things political. That they would use her skills in the diplomatic arts to bolster their numbers, and send the Skal'dajani scuttling back to their castles in the sand. Instead, like her father before her, she was meant to wed a member of Eurusi nobility, that they might further strengthen their oft tenuous bonds in hopes of a more peaceful, unified future for Ischia. A Prince, in fact, that for reasons yet to be discovered was to be joined to Seraceni as a supposed boon granted. How strange. Regardless, marry she did. She's still not sure how she feels about it. Oh well. The show must go on! + |
| Avovorinth Seraceni + | Avovorinth was born to a Pirate Lord by the name of Zothar and a prodigal mother from a people who hail from an island in the middle of the sea that nobody has ever heard of. Avorina, the mother of Avo, became a fortune teller, a false one of course but such is the way of the Darkcrows. This worked for a time and Avorina was able to provide for her child till he became of age to sail and do the work that sustained the Clan, this was when the little guy was first able to set to sea by his papa's side. Avo's father was infrequently involved with business at sea. Some might call raiding or thieving but others called providing, but none could say he was anything but a good father. Often, he would return after many months with small treasures and tall tales and his son was entranced by these tales and imagined his father as a heroic adventurer. One day a woman entered Avorina's home and asked for a reading. Avorina did as always, telling her what she wanted to hear, or so she thought. This woman was in fact a truly talented woman with mystic insights that bordered on the impossibility. She was furious with Avorinas deception and in her rage she cursed her child and his entire bloodline, or so the story goes to explain away the whimsical fate of madness beset upon the boy. Avorina was horrified, and slipped into a deep, unnatural sleep. For one month she was bedridden and had constant nightmares until eventual she died, nearly a week before Avo's father returned. Zothar had finally become captain of his own prize and was joyous upon his return, only to find Avo crying in a corner covered in blankets and his wife dead from wasting sickness. So they said. The father of this unfortunate child knew no other remedy, and thinking the entire situation too strange to deal with he took the child and brought him onto his ship and left the Roost. Avo was a small boy, not deemed very much of a sailor from appearances sake, but nonetheless gained favor with the crew by quickly picking up several of the tricks of the trade. He would traverse the ship with swiftness and grace, helping here and there with the tasks that needed doing. All the while he suffered from madness which struck him blind and senseless on occassion. The sailors were uneasy at first and thought him tainted by the red waters but of course his father's stature and the fear he cultivated from his men kept them from tossing the boy overboard. After several years on his father's ship, he had learned to do nearly everything that needed done on a ship. The crew loved Avo despite his odd nature and strange mannerisms. So it was only natural that when Zothar was aged he was promoted to captain. By this point his madness had grown into a core part of his being and through it he gained a reputation for being insightful in ways that bordered on the impossible and yet still he turns to drugs, drink and the embrace of solace to deal with his problems. Not a bad thing at all and for this very reason his family line managed to avoid much of the extinguishment that the rest of the Darkcrows suffered beneath the hands of the Seraceni's righteous steel and the flames of war. Perhaps this is why he serves the House today, coming all the way from the Roost to serve the interests of the Clan and the House alike. + |
| Axel Culler + | Despite his nature, not knowing much about his parents never really bothered him. In fact, growing up as an orphan and seeing other kids be -- quite literally -- used and abused, made Axel come to the conclusion that most blood ties, are just as superficial as the brown-nosing beggar on the street; the one that gives you praise and calls you their best friend, but spits behind your back the moment you pass by without paying them any attention. That mentality, which developed relatively early on, helped him pay little to no mind to the position he ended up in. The struggles he went through were no different from the other orphans, but they didn't bother him that much either. What bothered him though, is how frustratingly little he knew; the adults surrounding him -- always up to something. From the tavern wench whispering yet another shady patron's ear off, to the rare noble scurrying along the Lower Boroughs in the cover of the night, hoping to stay unnoticed. Whatever it was, the young Axel felt left out. It was just plain unfair! And since wallowing in self-pity and feeling betrayed by the rest of the world around him, wasn't something he was particularly fond of, he decided to do something about it. While the rest of the kids were busy getting into trouble for a loaf of bread, Axel would rather starve than pass up an opportunity to stick his nose into someone's business. He honed his skills and learned the ins and outs of the boroughs, by getting caught over and over again, or by running away and hiding from people who found out that he knows a little too much for their liking. He didn't neglect his mental faculties either, making sure to study at the boarding school he went to with the rest of the orphans, developing his ability to think analytically. Being young helped him in his ventures, as people tend to pay little attention to a clueless orphan, roaming around the streets. But, the ones that have keen eyes and wield power in the Lower Boroughs eventually took notice of Axel. The Cullers were the ones to catch him snooping about, ready to dash away with one of their secrets he'd just found out, but instead of punishing him, they offered to take him in as one of their own, which he accepted. They nurtured his developing abilities and let him become the man he is today. Quiet and calculated, Axel works for them as an investigator of sorts, taking on a wide array of tasks to repay his debts to the family. + |
| Azhan Arrynfield + | As a young child, Ahzan was tutored under a teacher named Merrin. In the beginning he had no real interest in learning, not only that he would regularly try to find away out of having to be taught. Eventually his teacher decided to sit him down, showing him what he can do with simple techniques such as writing and reading, allowing him to open his eyes to a new world. He started to spend more time studying and learning, leaving his previous kid ways of life for a more distinguished and set path. Evere since then, he has always upheld the uses of the scholarly pursuits, although definitely never pressing it onto others. + |
| Azolla Nightgold + | Growing up Azolla was a sickly child. This meant she was kept inside alot. She spent her time drawing, painting, playing music and singing when she was feeling well enough. Her family worried and doted over her till she finally was strong enough to overcome her illness. She now is ready to fulfill her duties to her family. + |
| Azova Darkwater + | Azova was a treasured daughter who grew up with the pampered life of a noble and yet found it left her empty and cold. Instinctively conscious of her privilege even at a young age, she observed her family’s place in the world with a certain level of native uncertainty for its justice, and focused hard on her studies with the seraph on anything that she could learn that might justify her position. So it was not that surprising, as she blossomed into an earnest, educated young woman, that she blossomed into one with a keen desire to find ways to give back to the world and to help others. Well-intentioned idealism is not the only pathway to the physicians’ guild and the Mercies of Lagoma, but it is a well-traveled one, and there were friends and mentors to help guide Azova on her way. With the support of her family and a dewy-eyed hope about the future, Azova ventured forth to Arx. During the Silent War, she cut her teeth on battle, and saw horrors that quenched her initial idealized version of being a battlefield medic in blood and terror. Others might have wilted back and sought a quieter life, a quieter service, when subjected to such early trauma in their career, but not Azova. She was a noblewoman, a daughter of House Darkwater, a lover of Lagoma, and above all other things, a healer. She had studied to be a doctor where she was most needed, and this was a trial by fire that left her with grim determination to succeed. + |
B | |
| Babette Grayson + | By the time the second daughter and third child rolled around no one was really that impressed with children in general and definitely not with another girl. So Babette was mostly left to nannies and tutors and her own devices and she absolutely and totally thrived. Being the youngest meant that she had to be loud and somewhat pushy to get attention and she did that by just constantly talking. Non-stop. Her cheerful but endless chatter endeared her to even the hardest of hearts at home, although when she got to be too much she was shuffled off to the library. Babette would dive into the lore of the Crownlands, soaking up everything she could, learning the old ghost stories and tales of the surrounding forests and organizing ghost hunts with her older siblings that would both terrify and intrigue her. When her cousins came to visit she would cook up mysteries for them to solve and was often the scourge of Varan's existence as it was always him that was stealing the cookies from the cookie jar. She learned of the Inquisition at a young age and was determined to join once she was old enough, throwing herself into her studies so that she could impress them once she got there. As Jerrica and Varan set out on their own paths, Babette decided to be a little more dramatic and, in the dark of night, hid herself and her bag in a passing carriage bound for the city. By the time she was discovered it was too late to turn around and her first stop with her bag in hand was the House of Questions as soon as she arrived in Arx. + |
| Baelor Keaton + | Far from the chance to inherit, Baelor grew up knowing that he had flexibility in the decisions he would make in adulthood. Of course, he would squire. Sent to Bastion at the age of 15 to find himself a squire for a Prince of some repute. He was knighted at the age of eighteen and was Knighting about for Keaton while Marquis Kael was still a young pup. He joined a knightly order in his youth, spending most of his time with the organization until his marriage sent him south into Velenosa. Two childless years before his wife passed away from a wasting disease that swept the county. He spent another few years there before moving back to Keaton Keep. + |
| Baelos Redrain + | As the youngest of three sons of a non-ruling branch of the Redrain, Baelos had a childhood unburdened by duties or significant expectations. Instead, his devout focus on swordplay, soldiering, adventure, brawling, taverns, and trouble made him something of a minor celebrity among Farhaven's soldiering classes, if not a favorite of his father. Blood on his blade, ale on his lips, and a pretty girl by his side - from all appearances, Baelos was more than satisfied with this life. This all changed after both of his brothers left Farhaven, and both found themselves dead. Now, with his father Vigsi grief-stricken and near death, Baelos for the first time is laden with duty - duty to represent his family in Arx, to serve the Prince of Farhaven at court, and to make his mark in the South. + |
| Bahiya Mathali + | Bahiya grew up a beloved child of minor nobility, her peaceful, idyllic childhood marred only by a singular accident that robbed her of her sight. Adaptation required a strength of character that bloomed easily and surpised no one; sightless or not, her family found it hard for her to be anything less than independent and gracious. Well loved and well educated, there wasn't anything she didn't want to learn, the girl having an especially keen ear for language fostered early. It's very difficult to grow up loving your life, your people, your place in the world, even the path that unfurls before you, when you disagree so heartily on something so fundumental to it all: slavery. It's a dangerous thing to disagree with salvery among the Eurusi, but from a young age Bahiya struggled to keep her ideals hidden. Life as a courtier, an influencer, and an advisor, settling into the official role of diplomat came naturally to the educated young woman. Finding her words weighed seriously by members of court, both the respected and the powerful, it was Prince Damik'uhl'daja who eventually brought her into his retinue. Kenjay, her bodyguard, was a slave in her service until they came to Arx, Bahiya's first order of business to free him gaining her an unexpected companion in this foreign country. His freedom is a release of her own as well, as she no longer needs to hide her formerly forbidden ideals among the people of the Compact. + |
| Baldessare Velenosa + | As a boy, Baldessare's energy was often stoked by the fires of competition. Reared on legends of his House and often witness to the efforts - academic and athletic - of his cousins, he always wanted to prove that he was as good as any of them, and frequently pushed himself to terrible extremes to prove himself. Especially as an adolescent, he pushed himself. He wanted to be the top of his class, the best fighter, the best racer, the best everything, but of course, the perfection that he demanded of himself was impossible, and in those days, he threw fits and tantrums often, furious that he wasn't measuring up to his own self-image. Eventually, he settled down and evened out. The perfectionism would remain with him, but it was tempered by reality, an understanding of human limitations, and the patience of tutors. The older he grew, the more he demonstrated focus, and fierceness. He learned to control his temper and to channel it, so that the outbursts grew fewer and further between. His favorite way to blow off steam was on horseback, and he would ride out in solitude for hours, communing with the animals and feeling the freedom of their gait beneath him. His father took both Benedetto and Baldessare to sea in their early teens to teach them how to behave, and assigned their squirage as cabin boys on several voyages that were designed to look more adventurous and exciting than they were. Baldessare stuck to his father's elbow like glue, wanting to learn everything there was to learn about being a sea captain and caring for his men as a protector and a commander. He also learned that grog will knock you on your ass, especially when you're fifteen. As an adult, his generally attentive and ambitious nature proved useful to the family, as would that of any aspiring, aggressive military officer with an eye for horseflesh. As his sister's social star climbed in Arx, he and Benedetto were dispatched to Arx. Baldessare has high ambitions for demonstrating his prowess in service of his House. As far as he is concerned, the capital hasn't seen anything yet. + |
| Baldwin Fidante + | A cousin to the current Duke, Baldwin was from the start a deeply spiritual individual. It was this spirituality of his, this faith, that tempers the occasional impulses for which he was known in his childhood. After all, what little Baldwin loved more than to hear the stories of warfare and House Fidante's many glories was to brawl his relatives, or play-pretend with wooden swords a little too aggressively. As he grew, a certain contemplative nature also came about, and he would often be found in the various temples, meditating and praying when he wasn't compulsively training for what he believed was his true calling. He was fostered with a Southerner Knight Templar, then, both to complete his training and to assist the man in his fight against the Abandoned menace. Many years were spent as the young man flourished into a martially-inclined, highly competent adult, thanks to the spartan upbringing that ensued. Once he was knighted, following a particularly harrowing attack by the Abandoned at a westward holy site the newly-made knight decided to ride back south, after hearing of unrest in Tor. Once there, he joined forces with the Duke against the pretender Count. His training paid off; riding at the vanguard, his mettle was proven again and again in the field of combat, although some whisper of carefully measured brutality visited upon the foe, concealed beneath the veneer of valor at arms. Once Duke Leo was reinstated, he pledged his sword to him, willing to serve House Fidante against enemies without and within, as his liege requires. + |
| Baltus Darkwater + | Baltus Darkwater was born to the life of the sea, like many of the Saffron Isles. Being a man of the sea goes is in his blood for it goes back generations. His love of the waters might be aided by the fact he was born on the Isles, more specifically Cielos Encantadores. There he was raised, mostly by his mother, along with his siblings. He was taught a mix of being a proper nobleman and sailor, making him both regal and crude, yet charismatic as a leader. When he was old enough he started travelling with his father on the seas, learning the way of a future captain of a ship. He spent his times in port in the arms of a woman he could seduce with his confidence and charm, though, because he was on the more serious side his choices were limited despite his looks. When his mother died at the birth of his youngest sibling Baltus and his father agreed that Baltus would spend a little more time on shore attending to his siblings to assure they were properly raised. He still spent time on the sea but less until his younger siblings were old enough to take care of themselves. During one of his times at port in Arx, a very brief port, Baltus met his wife to be. A Whisper and the epitome of beauty, at least to him. During his time in Arx he spent every available moment with her, trying to woo her. He managed to woo her enough to get her to agree to keep in contact via letters and to meet each time he managed to get to Arx. Baltus took every trade he could to get to Arx and spent his time there with the Whisper, Carita, and with her he built a grand romance. He had to fight to make Carita his wife, for she was common - even though she was a Whisper. Carita was his grand love. With her he has, thus far, had one child. And yet things took a dark turn soon enough, and they went from a grand romance, to estranged, to divorced. Still she remained a Darkwater, something very difficult for Baltus to understand - particularly when she was made a Voice over him. But all of that seemed less important after Darrow died defending Darkwater against the Fleet. Though Carita had ordered the place evacuated, still this was his home, and now he has determined to spend his efforts showing what a true-born noble can do - rebuild his home, strengthen his people, and lead well into the future. + |
| Barbrey Blackwood + | Nearing her seventh decade, Barbrey has lived a long life of courageous feats. Born near sixty years ago as the younger child of the Chief of the Blackwood Tribe in an age remembered by few in the realm. A proper woman of the north, she took to the sword and spear as soon as she was six: and with such skill and valour she did. Inspiring awe in her clan from her adolescent years, all were sure that she would be the one to lead her brother's armies to battle, and defend the Blackwoods with courage and passion once he inherited. And so they were right -- a barbarian strength, sheer willpower and devotion to the spirits led her as an advisor first to her lord brother, and then after his passing, to his son Geraint. She never married, nor had children, but nonetheless remained a valiant figure in her house. Blackwood's bending of the knee to the Crovane duchy, however, is a recent move that Barbrey is somewhat divided over. While she respects the spirits and knows there must be practicality in these hard times-- she is a traditionalist at heart and finds a pride in her millennia-old lineage, who never bent the knee to the Compact or anyone else. Still, she tries to devote herself to her house and family as much as she can. + |
| Barik Reed + | Barik's life begun in the Western oathlands that belonged to the Kingdom. His family was one of proper means- his father an auspicious, and beloved bard who went from home to home leaving little crumps of happiness, and sometimes more than that. His mother wouldn't complain, he always came home with coin, and for a woman who had spend her whole life in poverty it was sufficient for her. The inherently independent Barik took to hunting rather than singing; he took to trekking through the wilderness and adventuring to far-gone townships rather than inherit the legacy set by his lascivious father. Since his departure from family grounds, Barik has been on a quest of acquiring meaning- meaning that hasn't been manifested, yet hopes to find in the very Capital of the continent. + |
| Barric Grayson + | To be born royalty is a dream for most, with all the pampering and easy life that entails, but it never suited Prince Barric Grayson. Barric was a driven young man, who from his earliest memories badly wanted to rise to the equal of the greatest knights and heroes of the Compact. He remembered the mutters of the men-at-arms and commoner soldiers as some of his relatives (including the crown prince, Prince Alaric IV) would ignore practice and embrace idolent passtimes and worthless pursuits, while the true warriors would drill for future battles with the shavs. He remembers the other soldiers holding their peace but clearly regarding their future king as a faineant, while Barric and his cousin Dawn would drill relentlessly with Duke Bisland or Lord Commander Dayne Valardin. Moreover, Barric saw first hand the inspiring mettle of the forces of the Faith, the templars and the knights of solace, working alongside the forces of House Grayson to drive back brutal shav forces from the Gray Forest and noted how it seemed like so few of the commanders came fro the highest of noble blood. It was crushingly depressing to Barric to see how many vassals of House Grayson clearly idolized Duke Gabriel Bisland or servants of the crown, or had great veneration for the old king Alaric III, but or had tremendous respect for the old king's illegitimate daughter Dawn, but no true born Grayson of the newest generation was inspiring that same loyalty. It drove Prince Barric with a grim determination to be the equal of the great knights that had come before, and he took shameless advantage of being distant enough from the line of succession as a mere second-cousin to the king to be bold on the field of battle. A campaign against the shavs of the Gray Forest was enough to win Prince Barric the renown and respect from Grayson soldiers, and personally slaying a shav warchief in single combat earned him a truly embarrassing amount of praise and recognition from his distant cousin, King Alaric IV. Barric didn't particularly want fame and didn't desire anything more than to become a great knight, but Alaric IV almost capriciously named him the Sword of Bastion, making him the ceremonial champion of House Grayson. In many ways, it was everything Barric ever wanted, but in other ways it almost infuriated him. He's now wielding the same sword as Queen Alarice the Great and he felt all he had to do it was to kill one drunken Abandoned chief in a duel. He took the sword, but having that high an honor bestowed upon him just so Alaric IV could win more applause from the people of Arx still grates upon him, feeling like he could hear the whispers of the common soldiers how he got the honor too young and too fast just because his last name was Grayson, and maddening to Barric knowing that it was partly true. But he took the sword, and now he'll show that he is worthy of it. + |
| Bashira Ru-Taul + | Bashira was a Thrall, much like her brother, Caspian. As were her mother and father. Her parents died and they inherited their debt. To say that their life was not easy was an understatement. But there was a light in the form of Princess Donella Thrax releasing them from their Thralldom. Bashira was sixteen and Caspian was nineteen. Going from life as a Thrall was not hard for her, that was until Caspian said that he was going to leave for Arx and become a mercenary. This did not upset her. Her brother needed to walk his own path and he had taken care of her. She was a bit upset with him when she found out that he'd changed his last name, but, she let it go. She stayed in the Mourning Isles, determined to find out more about their Tribe. Wanting to find some remnant of their family. But that turned out to be far more difficult. So she started to learn a trade, working on merchant ships as a sailor. When she wasnt working, she was doing her best to absorb every bit of knowledge she could about the Island Shav culture and things related to it. Caspian wrote her diligently. Through these she learned more of what he was doing, but she knew something was amiss. Call it sibling intuition. She continued to work hard though, finally going back to learning new skills. She was surprised recently by a letter from her brother, asking if she can meet him when he visits the Mourning Isles on the Champions Tour. + |
| Basilio Cabral + | Basilio or "Basi", as his crewmates call him for shorter name convenience, is not one with much to be recorded in the annals of history. Hailing from the Saffron Chain, grown up around Darkwater docks, he had neither memory nor keepsake of either of his biological parents as he was thrust into this world of salt, sea, and scoundrels. He was taken in and raised by a crusty old cook who lived in the company of the tropics' Lower natives and worked on a Thraxian ship. While occasionally a pilferer when the need or urge arises, Basilio thrives more when able to jump from one odd job to the next. As such, he has garnered a bit of a reputation back home as "that boy who can probably do the thing". His foster father managed to squirrel him into some more stable employ on the same sailing vessel as a rigger. The ship has recently docked in Arx but, unfortunately, some political issues surrounding their current Captain and Quartermaster have left the crew in shambles and Basilio without a job (because good cooks are always in demand). + |
| Bastien + | Bastien came to Arx as a young man in his early twenties with far more pride and attitude than the silver in his pockets warranted and with ambition of great artistry. Surprisingly -- to Bastien, at least -- these ambitions were not /immediately/ fulfilled by wild success and acclaim. He's been toiling away, mostly in the underbelly of the city, but eventually towards more of the mediocre middle once he found enough steady work over the past decade. The focus of his work is in playwrighting, and he became known -- at least within a small community of arts lovers -- for having a particular affection for plays of political and cultural commentary with a taste for the avant garde. Of course, sometimes he just needs to write a comedy where everyone gets married in the end, if for no other reason than to pay the bills. But he doesn't do it /gladly/. + |
| Bastien Crown + | Bastien came to Arx as a young man in his early twenties with far more pride and attitude than the silver in his pockets warranted and with ambition of great artistry. Surprisingly -- to Bastien, at least -- these ambitions were not /immediately/ fulfilled by wild success and acclaim. He's been toiling away, mostly in the underbelly of the city, but eventually towards more of the mediocre middle once he found enough steady work over the past decade. The focus of his work is in playwrighting, and he became known -- at least within a small community of arts lovers -- for having a particular affection for plays of political and cultural commentary with a taste for the avant garde. Of course, sometimes he just needs to write a comedy where everyone gets married in the end, if for no other reason than to pay the bills. But he doesn't do it /gladly/. + |
| Baz Thornburn + | Baz is a Thornburn, and she couldn't have been born into a better family. Full of artists already, it's how the woman's writing was nurtured, and so one can't say lack of nurturing is why Baz turned into an acerbic recluse, obssessed with finding the perfect muse, with writing plays that shape the Dream itself. She's had critical acclaim, she's tasted the dizzying, drugging heights of seeing her work spread across the land. But the mercurial playwright has also sampled the bitter dregs of bad reviews, has fallen into black despair at the smallest criticism, hiding herself away in her family home back in Arx, chainsmoking and writing drivel for months until the cycle repeats. + |
| Beatrice Malespero + | Beatrice's parents ran a shipping business out of Caith. The family did well enough, though at any given moment their entire fortune was wrapped up in some expedition or another, or it was drained to repair a ship, or something else meant constant scrimping and saving. As she grew, she watched her parents celebrate new deals and weep when a ship was lost. She saw how the pair went to bed every night exhausted. She watched as years and years of grueling, painful work netted them almost nothing. Beatrice decided that was not the life for her. The woman was allowed out of the warehouses and away from the ledgers when she turned seventeen. It wasn't that she wasn't an excellent bookkeeper, she just wanted to see more. She was soon first mate aboard one of her mother's ships. At twenty-one, after a most unfortunate accident during a storm, Beatrice's ship was out a captain, and she was quick to take the job. By twenty-three, Beatrice was soon raking in piles of silver, all off the books and without her parents' knowledge. Beatrice had learned quickly the fine art of smuggling. She had fallen in with the Argento family, who ruled Nilanza back then. After financially supporting a failed attempt to overthrow the Pravus family, Argento was hurting for funds. They turned to illegal goods, and Beatrice became their primary mover. It was good, easy, fun work. In the next couple of years, Beatrice left her family's company to work exclusively for Argento and oversee their ports and smuggling operations. Things were going well, until it seemed the Pravus family had figured out everything. Fearing Beatrice might flip on Argento, the family ennobled her. If she was an Argento herself, they reasoned, she'd be seen as guilty. She would be unable to turn against the family without getting herself imprisoned or worse. And they were right. Beatrice fed information to the Pravus family. She saw the coming wave. She knew this would only end one way. And when the soldiers came to collect her, as they came to collect every Argento, she went into her cell with chin held high. A year later, Beatrice has emerged from the dark of her imprisonment. In that time she not only convinced Marquessa Lianne that she was the one who had turned against her oath-breaking family, but that she was also ready to serve once more... not to mention too useful to have locked away. Beatrice was declared innocent of treason, and the time she served plenty to cover her other misdeeds. She surely wouldn't pick back up her old illegal ties, not after being granted her freedom! No, surely not. Now, she is still a noble, sworn wholly to House Malespero, and eager to get Nilanza back in proper order. + |
| Beatrix Corsetina + | Beatrix and her twin sister Margaux were born in the beautiful city of Tor to a branch of the Corsetina family. Unfortunately for them, their youth was during the troubled time of the Tor-Southport War, when Count Lucien Malvici had usurped the rule of the Fidante family, and their early years was spent evading the horrors of war, the cruelty of the well born, and dreaming of one day having the peace and luxury of the nobility for themselves. As women the two sisters rose notoriety. Beatrix was a well-known muse to many artists in the city, her dalliances with upper crust commoners and even some nobles sparking many rivalries and a lot of drama, her ambition and boldness unafraid to make the occasional enemy. Margaux's fame was darker, the shadowy woman having become a criminal of ill-repute who avoided capture time and again, ahead of those who set themselves to catch her every time. Their paths diverging, the elite called Beatrix their White Thorn, bright and perfect, and in time a noblewoman of the Fidante vassal of House Floris was so taken by Beatrix, the noble asked her in marriage, giving up rank and title (if not wealth) to join in marriage. The tragedy that followed quickly became the talk of some of some of the Lycene city-states, and the common consensus was the following drama occured: Feeling like she had been left behind by her sister, the violent Margaux murdered Beatrix's wife a day after their wedding. The White Thorn woke up that morning by her dead spouse's side, the former noble's chest carved open by with a single, bloody white rose stuck into the exposed heart. The noblewoman-turned-commoner's former House couldn't accuse Beatrix of the deed as she would be the one to lose any benefits gained from tying herself, even if haphazzardly, to nobility. The answer was obviously Margaux, and the hunt began immediately. Beatrix, alone and afraid, worried that once the Floris were done hunting down Margaux they could come for her. She was just a commoner, after all, why would they stay their vengeance and stop at one Corsetina? With the heat too much for to handle in Tor Beatrix left for Arx where she has since found and sought refugee with the rest of her family, hoping she can rebuild her life away from Tor and her sister. But Beatrix is already recovering. Bloodied and hunted she might be, she's still the ambitious young woman that was unafraid of obstacles in her path. She'll have her wealth and safety again, and woe be to those who stand in her way. + |
| Beaumont Valardin + | It is all but expected for a prince of House Valardin to become a knight, an exemplar of chivalry and paragon of virtue. At a very early age, Beaumont developed a far more cynical view of that particular path, getting to see an entirely too upclose look at some of the hypocrisy of celebrated knights. He remembers feeling the crushing disappointment when his uncle, Lord Commander Dayne Valardin, was forced to admit to Beaumont that 'not all knights are worthy of their title'. If the greatest knight in all the realm was willing to admit something that obvious, what was the point of becoming a knight at all? Beaumont saw another clear path towards glory and fame- a curvy and slightly disreputable path to be sure, but one far more honest about its dishonety which was immensely preferrable to the young man. Better to be a roguish scoundrel than a bright and shining hypocrite, as far as he was concerned. So with that in mind, he became an extremely high born champion. Beaumont didn't mind at all joining the assorted ranks of sellswords and other rogues for hire popular among western noblewomen looking for champions to duel for their honor (and any assorted slights). As far as Beaumont sees it, just the simple fact he is a prince lends a proposterous air of legitimacy that he is happy to exploit shamelessly, and it gives him a special sense of glee that it is a source of some embarrassment to his stalwart cousins in Sanctum. Not that non-lethal dueling for sport is entirely a scathing social commentary by him on the shortcomings of chivalry- he quite enjoys the adoration of the masses when he draws a show against another champion and uses his impressive talents for another victory. It's not quite the fortune that good Valardin princes are raised to pursue, but he never claimed to be a -good- Valardin prince. For the last couple years, he's been spending far more time at court in Arx than other Valardin high nobles. Being closer to the heart of politics gives a well-born champion many opportunities to grab glory in front of adoring crowds, but truthfully Beaumont is there to also lend aid to his sister, Isabeau. Beaumont might be something of a black sheep for becoming a champion with negotiable loyalty rather than a knight in shining armor, but he'll still be there when they need a skilled duelist to settle the questions of the day with a sword, rather than words. And look very, very good doing it. + |
| Becka Honor + | %TBecka spent the first ten years of her life growing up in the march of Fair Harbour. Her parents were merchants and took the best care they could of the girl. She had a good childhood, but that all changed once her parents left to Arx for a new opportunity and different life. On the trip over they all became ill, and Becka barely survived the death of her parents. Orphaned and left alone, the girl found her new home on the streets, where she remains today. The only difference now is that she is the one helping the misfortunate children. + |
| Bedivere Whitehawk + | Bedivere Tyndall is a retired general known for commanding the 8th Lancer Unit of the Bisland army during many skirmishes against hostile shav'arani tribes in the Crownlands. A son of Sir Harry "the Hotspur" Tyndall, Bedivere was groomed for command at an early age and distinguished himself apart from his peers once he joined the ranks of the Bisland military, at the ripe age of eighteen. He made friends and quickly ascended the ranks, culminating in him becoming one of the youngest generals to ever be appointed. He developed a reputation as an expert horseman and set an equestrian high-jump record that stood for almost 15 years. Ahead of him seemed to be a promising military future -- one likely to be longer than that of his notoriously hot-headed father. That is, until he suffered his first true loss on the battlefield and was captured by a particularly vindictive chieftain. For having slaughtered his sons, the chieftain refused to execute Bedivere outright, and instead severed his right hand, killed his men in front of him, and proceeded to torture him for weeks on end. He was saved by another unit, and he recovered physically, but the mental scars were permanent. In anguish, Bedivere retired from the military at the age of thirty and returned to his home in Old Oak, where he married his childhood sweetheart and began a family. He attempted to become a farmer to acquire the income to support his family, but his injury made him heavily reliant on paid help, and the fickleness of the harvest made their financial fortunes precarious at best. In early 1006 AR, his wife Lynette fell ill and unexpectedly passed away, leaving him to raise his two children alone. As fortune would have it, his nephew would be ennobled later the same year, and offered him a position as Marshal of Hawkhold -- and with it ennoblement and enough silver to comfortably provide for his family. Bedivere accepted, his mind still sharp as ever, though his reflexes notably less so. Upon visiting the city for the first time in many years, Bedivere accepted a position within the Knights of Solace, seeking a position to re-train his rusty skills and lend his assistance to a worthy cause when his duties at Hawkhold do not overwhelm him. + |
| Behtuk Sanna + | %TAs a child of a Child of the Sun and Moon, Behtuk and his father were nomadic travelers. About wenty years ago, when Behtuk was only a child, their tribe came across an abandoned vessel on the ice. In the course of looting this vessel, they came across a dying man. Behtuk and his father stayed behind to nurse the man back to health as thanks for bringing them the bounty of the vessel. %TThe stranger learned their tongue, and taught them his. He taught Behtuk the trick to forging steel, for in his homeland he was a smith of renown. When the stranger recovered from his wounds, he took his leave of Behtuk and his father, claiming that it was too dangerous for him to stay as he was a hunted man. He was only too right. %TWithin a single moon of the strangers' departure the hunter came. Behtuk's father said: 'This is a demon, run! Don't look back.' And Behtuk obeyed. He returned a day later to find his father dead, and all their supplies stolen. Behtuk was unprepared to care for himself in the unforgiving North and he did not know how to rejoin his nomadic tribe. %TSo Behtuk left the North, travelling to the land the Stranger was from, someplace where he would be able to hide his crimes. When he entered Redrain he found it welcoming. He already spoke the language, and he was able to apprentice as a smith with the knowledge the Stranger had given him. For the past twenty years he has served as an apprentice or journeyman. It was slow going, but he has just completed his masterwork and come to Arx to support his House and ply his trade. If he still holds onto the knife the Stranger gave him and secretly hopes to meet him again in Arx. He is uncertain though whether he owes the Stranger a debt, or if the Stranger owes him one for his father's death. + |
| Bell Cleck + | Bell Cleck (not his original name) is one of the many Eurusi refugees settled in the wake of the "freeing folk in the Saffron Chain" matter, and one who chose to go Crownsworn rather than settle on holdings as a serf. He says little about his old life. He's about looking forward. While he dabbles, generally, with selling and reselling, his key focus is on his apothecary business. As he will say with a gently sardonic smile, "Any slave worth his salves learns how to cover up the scent of blood." + |
| Belladonna Pravus + | The Lyceum has a reputation as a den of machiavellian scheming at best of times, but Belladonna is well aware that in her home city-state of Setarco it is more deserved than most. Her family House Pravus, has ruled Setarco, the city famous for its influence over the silk trade, since the time of the Reckoning nearly a thousand years ago. And yet it seemed that in the past generation that nearly everything they have held dear was lost. Belladonna's famous uncle Duke Niccolo was the one groomed to rule and lead House Pravus to glory once more, but passed on the burden of rulership so he might follow his heart and marry his future liege, the Duchess Carlotta Velenosa. This very unfortunately forced the mantle of Duke of Setarco onto Piero, Niccolo's younger brother and Belladonna's father. Belladonna's father was a kind, generous man, soft-hearted and wishing more than anything simply to be loved. Belladonna now knows that few personalities are as ill-suited to rule the snakepit of competiting Lyceum families as one such as he father's. She watched as her father tolerated much and more, small slights as other lesser vassals tested her lord father to see precisely how much they could get away with, outright ignoring orders and making House Pravus a laughingstock. What's worse, her father never saw the danger in this. Instead of winning their love, it emboldened the most ambitious and won only scorn and contempt for her father's weakness. And as her father's eldest daughter, she was caught right in the middle of the plots of the vassals who had lost all respect for her lord father. She tried at first to be good, she really did. She warned her father, she tried reason to make it clear how much his good heart was costing House Pravus, how none of these men were in any way his friends and that trying to win their love was only destroying her family. He just wouldn't listen, it was simply too easy to turn a blind eye to the men and women walking all over the Duke of Setarco. But as her lord father ignored slight after slight, and she watched arrogant vassals 'jest' they would marry her and take Setarco away from House Pravus for good and all to make things right again, she knew she could wait no longer. She quickly discovered that most of the arrogant men trying to undermine her father were not half as clever as they thought they were, and the proper word into the perfect ear, the right amount of charm to the right person, and a bit of sly manipulation could be wielded to a more devastating effect than all the soldiers under her father's control. Her enemies never quite guessed how much guile lurked behind the eyes of the very young noblewoman, as she used grace, beauty and charm to set her enemies against one another. Her one regret was she waited so late to act, since she had no idea that one of her father's most powerful vassals had already decided it was time to lead an uprising and replace him. She discovered the plot in time to crush the rebellion in its infancy, House Pravus soldiers catching the ringleaders in a meeting that resulted in more than a few executions for treason... but she did not know about the plot to assassinate her father, and returned home to Setarco to find the city in mourning and her as the newest Duchess of Setarco and head of House Pravus. The lovely young woman has been hardened by events, and possesses a wisdom far exceeding her years in the ruthless politics of the Lyceum. With wit, charm and ruthless determination she fully intends to restore House Pravus to its glory and will harbor few regrets about using any means necessary to accomplish her goals. + |
| Bellamy Redrain + | Bellamy Redrain is the-later-in-life-child of a Laurent Lady turned Redrain Princess. As an infant they were concerned that she would not survive. For the first months of her life she struggled to draw enough air to breathe, but somehow she made it into her first year and then beyond. Her mother would remark that has a baby she was utterly determined to live... She should have grown into a woman with a steel spine. She should have grown up with the same sort of dogged determination as her older sister. She didn't. Nor did she grown into a person with the sense of adventure and wonderment that her older brother did. No, instead, a cossetted, pampered, and perhaps just too sheltered, childhood lead to a soft, sensitive woman. In childhood while many Redrain princesses might have trained with the sword, or shield and spear, or perhaps an axe... She was not. She took an interest in it once, and it took quite the argument and persuasion with her mother to allow her to even begin her lessons. And as soon as she got the fainted of scratch (and started crying over it) she was forbidden to try again, and the tutor given a stern lecture. And this was how it was for every thing that Bellamy might have pursued. As soon as it became a touch difficult she was either forbidden by her mother to continue or was allowed to stop because her mother couldn't bear her tears. And so, the only thing she became good at were non-dangerous things or things she had a natural aptitude to for; such as research (strictly in the archives, of course), and social interactions with others. Indeed, if she weren't so kind hearted she might make a skilled diplomat. However, even The Softest Princess can ignore the call of adventure and the excitement of Arx for so long... and after a year of fighting with her mother she was allowed to travel south and join her older siblings in the great city. + |
| Bellona Deucalion + | Nearly a child when her small clan of Ravashari, House Deucalion, was caught in the fires of the Tyde Rebellion, Bellona learned at an early age the ways of the world, the suffering of coin and the bitter wine of the campaign. Her family, a troupe of carefree entertainers, were at Tyde Hall when the warships of House Thrax arrived and watched as the friendly noble house that had once tolerated them was ruthless purged. Bellona witnessed much of her family become slain or put in chains. She speaks little of those difficult years as a thrall, and not at all about the circumstances of how she became a free woman living in the slums of the Lower Boroughs of Arx, but she has only admitted to her name since House Tyde was restored- and very old allies have been reborn once more. + |
| Benedetto Velenosa + | As a boy, Benedetto often skated on the very edge of trouble. Refinement was far from his reach, particularly at the beginning. But with a father who was frequently at sea, he and his identical twin brother, Baldessare, were reared largely by the house staff of the Lenosia estate, children bearing witness to the development and elevation of cousins with blood closer to the main line - and wards of no particular good blood at all. Benedetto cut his teeth on legends of cunning and cleverness and lagged behind his brother's academic achievements. He got into trouble constantly for being too forthright, too open in anger or in contempt or in confidence. He masked little, and had to be trained better - "What kind of Fox even are you, boy?" was a common refrain around the schoolroom. The older he grew, the more his energy came to be channeled into performative behavior, mugging and imitating his betters in ways that would have been more insulting if he didn't have such a knack for heart-melting puppydog eyes. His father took both boys to sea in their early teens to teach them how to behave, and assigned their squirage as cabin boys on several voyages that were designed to look more adventurous and exciting than they were. Benedetto was quickly a favorite of the men for his willingness to scale rigging like a monkey and do just about any jig or dance they came up with in exchange for nothing more than a kind word. He also learned that grog will knock you on your ass, especially when you're fifteen. As an adult, his generally biddable (if lazy) and flashy entertaining nature proved useful to the family primarily in social situations. As his sister's social star climbed in Arx, he and Baldessare were dispatched to Arx. Benedetto suspects that there may be marital plans in his future, but maybe he'll prove as talented at deflecting those as he has at everything else permanent. You never know! + |
| Benedict Ferro + | Benedict is known to be the son of a blacksmith, in a very long line of blacksmiths. Though years after swearing fealty to House Fidante, and serving in the ranks as a soldier in their Army, he attained the rank of Sergeant. Not long after which, amazing deeds and acts of bravery and fighting skill earned him a battlefield promotion to Lieutenant, and soon after, Knighthood within house Fidante. + |
| Benjamin Carver + | My father was a butcher, a man who sang merry diddies while he cleaved the heads from fowl on the tempo, a man of simple mind and unwaveringly iron spine. My mother was a cook in a noble house, a woman whose shoulders were perpetually slumped for the weight of the world on them, a woman with a whip-smart mind and nearly no spine at all. Was. My father butchered my mother, an act discovered when the people of the lower boroughs woke to find her parts hanging from the meathooks in the bloody front window. His name was lost to history and he became only the Butcher of Crow's Lane. The Inquisition took him first, and who among us can blame them? The scene was so heinous. When they were through, the public had their spectacle of him. He sang his cheeriest song while he was drawn and quartered and spilled his vitals to the street. For their substantial flaws, I learned a great deal from the both of them. I learned to loathe the status quo. I learned of anatomy and how to create a consomme to satisfy the most refined palate from little more than a soup bone and onions. I learned that a person with no vision for the future, no grand dreams, will die in their soul long before they do in the flesh. It would have been quite easy to follow the lead of my departed parents. I could have given my life to food and a simple, quiet existence, but I had also learned that I had no desire to lead such a boring life as them. As a boy of fourteen with very little to my name even after the shop was sold, I traveled the world by one of the most famously popular means available to the poor; I signed on with a merchant ship. I was assigned to help a cook who could burn water with infuriating ease. But wait! How does being a cook's assistant take you away from the culinary course you ask? There was more than a cook aboard that ship, of course, and it was there that I met Osric, an old and saltwater weathered barber surgeon with one eye who had lost most of his teeth to scurvy. I had never before, and never since, seen hands so steady. He could sew a man's wounds in perfect crosses and knot it with the tidiest bow, all while the ship was tossed around by storms. He is the one who saw my potential and my time on the ship put towards applying what I had learned in my early years to this new vocation. After some years, when I tired of the sailing and had amassed some funds for myself, I began to travel alone. I had seen most port cities already, so I began to roam the interior of Arvum. There was always something new to see, some new custom to inquire about, some new cuisine I had never tasted. Life has no shortage of fascinating experiences and opportunities if only one is willing to step beyond their front door and seek them. It was while traveling in the west that I first provided my services to the Champion's Guild, and eventually found myself in their employ. And now I find myself in Arx again at the behest of the guild, though I admit I was happy with the request; drawn by nostalgia, perhaps, or the niggling sense of home that even I have not been able to leave entirely behind. Much has changed, and yet, nothing. It is good to see you again, old friend. + |
| Benvolio Corvini + | One of the later scions of the ruling family, Benvolio was squired and eventually became a trained knight. Prior to the legitimization of House Corvini, Benvolio led a gang of street thugs in Iasu that served as the family's enforcers. Known for drinking, womanizing, and dueling in the streets, Benvolio has been since forced to tone down his activities to avoid negative attention to a family barely regarded as civilized. Officially Benvolio now serves as the commander of the unit of household soldiers accompanying Ilinca to Arx to negotiate the terms of the family's new position in the Covenant. + |
| Berenice Velenosa + | Berenice grew up afforded all of the privilege and benefits one might expect for a Velenosan princess: she has never wanted for much, and what she did want for, she often wheedled her way into getting. She had a knack for the social web of Lenosia that her family identified and cultivated early, and she did well having some direction rather than letting her whims take her wherever she wished. As a rather indirect cousin to the main branch of the family, she had to make a bit of noise to get noticed, but she was nothing if not willful. Unfortunately, she was also not /entirely/ tamable to her family's will: when a potential match with an upstanding Valardin prince began to be arranged, and she found herself violently, VEHEMENTLY against the idea of being shipped off to the OATHLANDS, she /may/ have misbehaved herself /just/ enough during a visit to muddle the whole affair before it got too far. Instead of the Oathlands, she ended up shipped to Arx, where it was determined she would make herself useful if she was going to make a mess elsewhere. + |
| Berto Tiazza + | There he was, sitting at the edge of the pier, looking at a long life of being a fisherman and he said to himself, "Self, let's not and say we didn't." There was a bit of a pause there, as he realized... "So what are you going to do?" And that was when he went to work in the dockside taverns. At first, he ended up being a bruiser in some of the nastier parts of the Ostrian docks. But then he got a bright idea! Let's add apples to this beer to make it not taste like total crap. From there, he had a certain low sort of trade as an "improver" of bad ale and occasional distiller. It was a good life. Well, not too bad anyways, but see, there was a little issue with the tavern he was working for, well, engaging in the Dust trade. So, when the place was raided (on the picayune grounds of engaging in illegal trade with unsavoury sorts) and individuals sentenced to some pretty hard labor, he said, "Let's make some new friends." Sure, the first of them was the young Ostrian magistrate by the name of Giulio Mazetti, who was involved in the sentencing, but, hey, friends are friends, right? And what are a few little favors between friends? Yep. History in the making! And... whoa! New term: 'gustatory diplomacy.' Ain't life grand? Oh, and yeah. He figured out how to make Southern Thunder. + |
| Bethany Mercier + | Bethany is the youngest child and only daughter of Adlai Mercier, a Grayson wine merchant of increasing wealth and repute. While most in the Borough scrape by, Bethany and her siblings enjoyed a childhood within the comfort of a large mansion in the Upper Borough. A great part of her early education came from her mother, who consulted Archscholar Aldwin Aurum for advice and hired a skilled Scholar of Vellichor to regularly tutor her children. In these studies she excelled: by the age of nine, Bethany could read and write three languages. Though he was often away from home, Master Adlai doted on his daughter and frequently boasted about her intellect to his social betters. Through her close relationship with her knightly brother, Bethany has even acquired knowledge of the basics of swordplay, though she lacks the physical strength needed to wield blades larger than a rapier. As a teenager, Bethany attended a noble wedding and impressed Lady Alarys Grayson with a performance on the piano. Upon being informed of Bethany's many talents and her father's desire to see her in high places in society, Alarys secured a position for Bethany within the royal household, if only as a servant. She was initially lukewarm towards the idea - though serving the Graysons was an honor, it hardly seemed to make use of her talents - until she met the young king in the Palace, and his Majesty Alaric Grayson IV seemed so shockingly indifferent to matters of economic policy that he actually asked the brand new young servant's opinion out of the blue on a matter of finance for the entire court. She quickly learned that most important matters were handled by his ministers and particularly the Voice of House Grayson, Lady Dawn, and that provided all the motivation she needed to know that even as a minor servant, her voice and talent could be meaningful at court. + |
| Bhandn Yvar + | The second son to mercantile (peddler) parents, Bhandn stood to inherit very little from the family trade, a trade that evoked his talents in unexpected ways. He learned of traveling abroad almost from infancy, but he also slowly began to develop an appreciation for the men and women who took it as their sworn duty to provide safe travel. As he grew older, and bigger, he began to spend an increasing amount of time learning of the more physical arts done in Gild's name. At the age of twenty two, he swore his vows. For over twenty-five years, he served in relative silence, keeping to himself more than mingling with others, with one very notable exception, the woman who some said melted the rigid stone mask that was his face with only a touch. His on-again, off-again relationship with the Mercy of Lagoma Valena Eseri was a matter of some gossip, even if the two were rarely seen together over the course of fifteen years. One could always see his smile whenever his eyes found hers as part of the pilgrimage she would frequently make. Receiving word of her passing was the most difficult moment of his life, one that caused him to go into seclusion for a period of months... until now. + |
| Bianca Wyrmguard + | Daughter of Daniel Wyrmguard, the almost unknown youngest brother of Marquis Denis Wyrmguard, Bianca maintained much of the same peripheral status to the Wyrmguard family that her father once had. Unlike his brothers, Daniel was a man of knowledge and chose to spend his life in pursuit of it. Unfortunately, that quest was cut very short as Daniel did not live past the age of twenty-four, survived only by his toddler daughter as Bianca's mother had passed presumably during the child's birth. Thankfully for Bianca, her father was able to deliver his daughter to the Oathlands and from there left specific instructions for her education and general future prior to the end of his life soon after. Upon reaching the age of twelve, Bianca would be sent to study with the Mercies of Lagoma and choose her own path of study be it as a priestess or following in the footsteps of her deceased father. After a few years, the blossoming beauty made her decision and proceeded to depart from the priesthood and instead follow the pursuit of knowledge. While she adored her theological and medicinal studies, there was just so much more to the world. So much more that she couldn't wait to see and experience. And so at the age of eighteen, Bianca was granted a single guard/escort by House Wyrmguard to begin her travels outside of the safety of Blancbier and extend her knowledge and understanding of the greater world. Intermittently Bianca would return home to Blancbier to visit throughout her youth. It was at the behest of her cousin, Lord Damon Wyrmguard, that she come to join some of the family centralized in Arx and no great secret that her desire to explore the Great Archive was her primary reason for her arrival in the city. Within a matter of weeks Bianca had gained the permission of Dominus Fawkhul to pursue further investigation into the lost art of Exorcism and from there she joined the discipleship of Vellichor in a more official capacity, first as a simple Scholar and following a Prelate. It was with Fawkhul's great betrayal and the elevation of Dominus Aldwin that her career within the Faith continued forward. After much internal searching and seeking the guidance of many of the Godsworn, Bianca stepped down from her role as Voice of House Wyrmguard and took her oaths to join the priesthood. Within her annointing ceremony and to the surprise of many, Bianca was named Aldwin's successor as Arschscholar of the Scholars of Vellichor. Since then, Bianca continues her work as an icon of the Faith and representative of the discipleship she leads. + |
| Bjorn Grimhall + | Being born a Lord of Grimhall was to be born to privilege he never wanted, and obligations he never asked for. From a young age, he was fascinated by the court of Arx, with its fashions and grandeur, but that wasn't what was expected of a Grimhall lord. He was to be a solider, to set aside any frivolity, and to marry a wife in a political match eventually. His sister Jadzia was set to marry someone far off in the Lyceum by the time they were 18. It wasn't what she wanted, but she was more resigned to her familial sense of duty than Bjorn. He still hoped he could avoid it, spending time with a handsome courtier named Thomas who acted as a tutor, and filled the young man's head with tales of the capital city of Arx Still, despite wishing to do little more than spend time with the young man who had won his heart, Bjorn was to be a soldier. While Bjorn was far from weak as a young man, he had always been built for speed and agility compared to his hulking and brawny older brothers, who mercilessly abused him in training and mocked him ruthlessly as he learned. His father, without consulting the young man, informed Bjorn was due to marry in the Oathlands, and would be marrying out of the family. He'd likely not see home, and Thomas, again for years. Rather than face that, Bjorn did the near unthinkable for a noble, and renounced his title, traveling to Arx to live with his sympathetic Aunt Mahin in the Ward of House Thrax. That put him in contact with the Crimson Blades who had been hired by Aunt Mahin to protect her very small estate. He began to spar with them and soon caught the attention of their Lieutenant. It wasn't long till he was signing papers with his aunt's blessing, and despite the heartache at leaving home and those he cared about behind, he felt happy. Briefly happy. He received word of his aunt's brutal murder during his Crimson Blade training. Apparently, he had not been gone a day before someone killed her. Sliced her flesh into ribbons. House Thrax's guardsmen even permitted the Inquisition to look into the matter, but the guilty were never found. Her last wish was he be happy and do well in the Blades, to follow his heart. And so he has. Throwing himself into the Blades that welcomed him, despite his name, like family. And it became real a few years later when Thomas joined the Blades as an adjunct healer for a contract. They fell in love and got married. Everything was going so well. Then came the Silent War. At the end of it he survived, but according to records his husband's position was overrun. He never even saw the body. Other men would have fallen to drink or worse, he fell to killing and focusing on his work. Taking the pain and making it useful. + |
| Blacktongue Artiglio + | Blacktongue the Harlequin, the jester of House Velenosa, wouldn't have said that being a fool was his first career choice. He's never felt there was much job security in being a fool professionally when so many other people are willing to do it unwittingly for free. That said, he enjoys making others laugh, and Blacktongue vastly prefers his current method of making others laugh (telling jokes, for example) than his old one as the long time cupbearer and poison-taster for Archduchess Carlotta Velenosa, the Grand Duchess of the Lyceum. Given the choice, he's pretty sure anyone would rather tell a joke than produce scattered giggles by choking loudly and twitching on the ground, but he supposes there might be individuals of strange cares who would lean towards the latter. That being said, he enjoyed his time as the poison-taster for the most popular assassination target in the Lyceum, and leaving the post to become instead her fool wasn't really his choice and not really his fault. He simply become so tolerant of poisons that not only was he hardly harmed by some of the more popular toxic agents, some he could no longer detect at all- it only took one near miss with his beloved Archduchess for him to step down and no longer be the honorable Donato Artiglio, trusted hand of Archduchess Carlotta, and become instead her jester- Blacktongue the Harlequin. All things considered, it could be worse. By all rights, Blacktongue should have been dead a hundred times over; his tongue being coal black is a not-so-subtle reminder of that. But since he possessed the special providence that the gods always seemed to reserve for fools, and he had completely mastered the 'fall down and twitch' routine after trying most drinks sent to Carlotta by her innumerable enemies, it was a pretty natural progression. The way he figures, every single day he's granted is some questionable gift by the gods, and if he's making -them- laugh, then the rest of humanity should be no problem at all. + |
| Blair Elricks + | Blair was born to one of the lesser families. She grew to the age of ten before her apparent abilities for the spirits came to light. She was pulled up by one of the elders of the family, taught in many of the traditions of the ways of the Shamans. During this time as well, she was trained to fight. She worked to master her combat and her shamanism. This is how she came to her position as a warrior, or as many might say, a knight. At the end of her tutelage, she was told to go out and experience the world, for her experiences would temper her soul and grant her wisdom beyond her years. Blair wandered for a few years until meeting up with the Crimson Blades. She was invited to join the mercenary band, as one of the newer Privates. + |
| Bliss Whisper + | The Lyceum city stats are famous for many things: dangerous women, dangerous men, wine, silk, sun, and passion in politics and swordplay, both. Bliss, nee Celia, might as well be made of all these things in equal measure. She was a quarrelsome, charming child, the only daughter of the Master at Arms serving Duke Leo Fidante('s holdings) in Tor. Her father loved his daughter, and taught her everything he knew. Everything he knew was about fighting, drinking, and wooing women. She got so good at these things that it's no surprise she ran off when her first lover (a local official) tried to find her a husband. Out drinking her frustrations away, she met a handsome swordsman on the run for killing his opponent during a duel, said forget this place, and then did. Their torrid affair lasted right up until the time she realized he couldn't teach her any more about fencing. She dumped his ass and found herself in the borders of the Oathlands across the Lycene Split, making her way by parking herself outside the rare tavern and challenging the knights and sellswords coming out with mocking singsongs and extravagant boasting. . .all backed up by her shockingly quick swordplay and her utter lack of hesitation. Bliss, she called herself, part of some joke or rhyme that just stuck. She talked herself into a fancy party one night, flirting and flustering her way through the room to a tipsy meeting with the glowing blonde angel who seemed to be the belle of the ball. She was the best looking girl there, can you really blame a woman for stealing that kiss? That kiss on the dance floor. In front of the lovely angel's intended. Honest mistake. You can't win all the time. After taking a serious wound to her shoulder, she had to slink away and nurse it in friendlier climes. Not able to reliably fight her way out of all the trouble she talked herself into, she had to reconsider her actions for the first unfun time in ever. So she said forget this, and came to Arx to join the Whispers. She could still sing, and she could put on quite the show against opponents who are also playing it up (and less intently thirsty for your blood). Why not get famous? That could be fun. + |
| Blossom Corsetina + | The only child of a Setarco courtier named Rose, Blossom grew up accustomed to a comfortable life for a commoner, but a life her mother knew wouldn't be right for her. Blossom had the beauty and the grace to work as a courtier, but she lacked everything else, especially the attentiveness to learn it all. More importantly, perhaps, was that she lacked the political savvy needed to survive and excel in Lycene society. She wanted to paint, more than anything. She was actually pretty okay at it, with the sort of talent and vision that buys commissions, but won't be celebrated in hundreds of years. A mother's love is what led Rose to contact the estranged family whose name she bears - Corsetina, to save money for a place on a ship to Arx, and to send her daughter north, far from the warm sun and the treachery of Lycene politics. Arx - so far from home, but maybe a better place for her. + |
| Blush Prismatics + | Little is known about this man's origins. When did he arrive in Arx? How did he come to have pink hair? How can one man look so good in so many colors? He's much more interested in talking about the lives of others than his own, but pieces and scraps from rumors and whispers suggest he's the hero of some small village somewhere in Arvum for reasons uncertain. What is certain is that he holds a special love for the freedom of choice, liberation, and Skald. + |
| Bonibel Barleycorn + | Bonibel Barleycorn was born in the North to a small farming family. The second eldest of thirteen, she helped raise her cadre of brothers and sisters who al lent hands around the farm. Hard work and practicality were passed through the family, like hand me downs. Her mother had taken on the role of the healer and herbalist (and brewer) of the village and took Bonibel under her wing when she began to show signs of interest in tending sick animals and more than one occasion was found 'experimenting' in her mothers still. When Bonibel turned twenty she was swept off her feet by a foreigner visiting from the Crownlands. A roguish sort that took a liking to her both for her talent at brewing and her untamed wit and passion. The two married in a whirlwind romance and after a year with her family the whisked her off to a port city where he said he had found work for both of them. Her Husband's work was aboard a ship in Arx and while he was out to sea half of the year - his time away cause for the lack of children - and the young Apothecary was left in their small home in the Lowers to make extra silver. Three years later her husband's ship was said to have been lost at sea, taken by pirates or perhaps just lost in a squall no one could tell Bonibel for certain. Now a widow Bonibel works in the lowers brewing up scents, liquors and various tinctures to help aid the locals while keeping her larder full. She's kept to herself until recently but even a grieving heart can mend and the world can become new and exciting again.. + |
| Bonnie Shepherd + | Bonnie was a child of two very different worlds. Sir Bentley Shepherd, her father, was the sort of stiffly honorable man that seemed to believe that one couldn't even crack a smile or make a joke without somehow undermining the seriousness of one's duties. Even if those duties weren't particularly serious. But time and again, she was grilled on obligation, duty, responsibility, honor, and a dozen other roughly equivalent synonyms that made for life's most tedious thesaurus and childhood. Her slightly older brother, Malcolm, even caught more of it as the first born, but Bonnie decided from an early age that a knight's life was not even remotely for her. Yes, it was incredibly fascinating how a few hundred years ago they were part of a ducal line that was dishonored and cast out, and there still was a line of Shepherds that ruled a duchy, but it had absolutely nothing to do with her. On the other hand, unlike her brother, Bonnie took to the sword fighting practice with her father with as one of her first passions, though it was maddening to her father when Bonnie veered away from his knightly style and leaned immediately into the flamboyant, flashy Lycene duelist style that her mother Andromeda had mastered as a retired member of the Champions Guild. It was her father's loud condemnation of it that was the start of several fights that led to his divorce, and Andromeda running off to be a pirate. For Bonnie, this was a reminder that you can't please everyone, and set her on a fiercely independent path. After a few more years of trying to make it work with her father, the provincial and tedious life and constant lecturing about disciplined living just proved too much, and she set off to find her mother. Turns out, having an incredible natural talent with a blade, a scoundrel's flexible take on morality, some natural charisma, ambition and a very capable teacher really makes for a winning combination in being an exceedingly successful Naval Acquisitions Specialist. Her start at privateering startedly with (mostly) legal exploits such as fights with Abandoned raiders, acting as a sellsail, and convoy guarding, but she's fairly confident there's at least a half dozen smaller domains with grudges it would be unwise to visit. After her mother's comfortable retirement (the beaches in Setarco -are- very nice, she writes), Bonnie acquired quite a few names for herself (Black Bonnie? Bonnie the Red? Bonnie the Fashionable? Why are the memorable ones not repeatable in polite company?). She also acquired one of her best friends, Simon, an author and adventurer she rescued from Grazagh the Incoherent, an Abandoned Chieftain of the Deeptides clan. A few letters back home from an increasingly despondent brother convinced Bonnie that it was time for a change, and she and Simon went home, rescued poor Malcolm, and founded the adventuring (and sellsword) company named the Valiant Effort. The name was definitely her idea, and don't believe anyone claiming otherwise. She fully expected to do questionable deeds for adventure and profit as a former pirate for the rest of her days, and definitely never expected to hear from her father again. And she especially didn't expect to hear that the old, stuffy warhorse had apparently reconciled with the noble line of the family, become the house sword, died in glory, and been posthumously ennobled and had Malcolm declared heir. With her also ennobled with him. The idea was preposterous to her. But all right. She'll see this through. What's the worst that could happen? + |
| Bors Keaton + | Growing up the third son of Guy Keaton was not a particularly easy thing. His mother Leona, formerly of Kennex, was a demure woman, content, or seemingly so, with the transition from a sea-based life to one as the wife of a minor branch of the Keaton family, living in a small hold near the village of Stone's Throw. Together, Guy and Leona had three children, all boys. The firstborn and heir, Campbell, took after his father in all things, receiving the lion's share of attention from Guy and all the man's scarcity of affection. The second son, Willem, was born two years after Campbell and three years after that, Bors arrived. Some of the servants whispered that what little affection and love Guy possessed was spent entirely on his first born, scraps left over for Willem, so by the time Bors arrived, there was nothing left. While Campbell was doted upon and was rarely away from his father's side, Willem and Bors were far more familiar with the back side of Guy's hand than they were with a kind word or a smile from their father. Leona tried to shield the boys as much as she could, but the woman had always been frail and sickly and she could do little to combat the severity with which her younger sons were reared. While Campbell received the best tutors that money could provide, Willem and Bors were sent on various training missions with the local guards, sent into situations with little concern for their safety. And yet both of the boys strove for the approval of their father. Willem was wounded on one of these missions into the shav-infested forests, his injuries halting any further missions. Bors assumed the mantle for both of them, determined to prove himself, if not to his impossible-to-please father, then to the gods themselves. He threw himself into lessons, both scholarly and martial, earning a reputation as a serious and upright young lord. No matter his accomplishments, that elusive approval from his father continued to elude him. As the years passed his mother retreated from the public, sequestered in her rooms, and yet she never stopped writing her younger sons, a solitary figure of affection in their lives. During the attack from the Pirate King, Bors went south with most of the Keaton forces, returning with a Knighthood for service to his lieges. Even in this, there was no word of pride from his father. Enough is enough, and Bors, Knight of the West, disciple of Gloria and lord of Keaton is heading to Arx. + |
| Bosco Caputo + | Bosco had a good upbringing with a family on the very fringe of nobility in a minor house sworn to Velanosa. An able warrior, he was always quick to the blade and to the fight and learned martialry from his father, and crafting from his mother. He dreamed of being a knight and earning this through valliant effort. And he did. Everyone was proud; young, capable and destined for greatness. It didn't quite work out that way though. Fortunes come and fortunes go, and after an early swing to favour there followed an equally potent downward spiral. A mix of bad decisions, inpugned honour, and a haze additiction culminated (in a long, drawn out episode) in being disowned. There followed a trying period, kicked out of house and home and left to wander. The money dried up, and the addiction couldn't be fueled and hard choices had to be made. The swinging of the pendulum of fortunte led to an apprenticeship with an old master northlander smith in Ischia; the man was childless, and took pity on Bosco, guiding him out of the deep hole he'd fallen into. They developed a mutually beneficial arrangement and Bosco plied a trade as muscle and arms while mastering his trade in the small and soon to be terminated Caputo family. Good times come to an end though, and with the passing of the old man after extended illness, Bosco was left with skills but no venue or patron. He has ultimately travelled to Arx to seek fortune or favour - without the social skills to pursue a business venture of his own, and having a most unfortunate past, he's left to hope that fortune is ready for an upwards swing. + |
| Brace Din + | A recent arrival to the glittering city of Arx, Brace is but a pebble lost in a quarry filled with gems. Minute details are known of the woman and her origination, the ocher tan of her skin giving clue to a life that began in the desert, unrelenting inked imagery along her body revealing time upon the sea. + |
| Braden Laurent + | Growing up in Artshall and being so close to the boarder of the Lyceum, Braden took to the sword early. Not being in line for any kind of leadership rolls allowed him to concentrate more on his martial training than anything else. When he was younger, his sword teacher was called to take care of an issue outside of the walls of Artshall. That teacher did not make it back alive, and this was a man that the young Lord greatly respected. It was at that point in time Braden decided to make it his duty to keep everyone he could alive. Having decided that he had learned all he could from the people in Artshall, Braden left and made his way to Arx, where he figured either he will get better, or he is good enough and will continue his goal in keeping people safe. Only time will tell. + |
| Brady Grayhope + | As one of several sons of Kelda Grayhope, Brady grew up a curious, acquisitive youngster. He rarely wanted for anything, especially pies to stick his fingers into. He learned the ins and outs of the Boroughs, back alleys a specialty, and served while still very young as a salty, scrappy little shit aboard the decks of smuggling ships. He frequently stole from the rich to give to the poor, which would have been more Robin Hood and less little shit if only he'd had any need to do so instead of doing it for the adrenaline rush. Speaking of the adrenaline rush . . . Brady's brother turned traitor a few years ago, and it turned his life upside-down. While Corrigan ratted out the business interests, lit the launderers on figurative fire, and turned over their /mother/, Brady scrambled to course correct. He was broke for basically the first time in his life, and found that his skills at getting into and out of trouble were all he had to fall back on ... so of course he fell back on them as hard as he could. Luckily, the Grayhope family connections to business legitimate and otherwise are not few, and he was able to set himself up as a handyman: that is, a man handy for all kinds of jobs, just generally a good guy to have in your corner in the crunch. Especially if you need him to be quick with a dagger -- which is how he ended up moonlighting with the Valorous Few (he'll tell you for sure, he looks great in hats). Or, you know, a little bullshit artistry. He's good at that, too. On demand. + |
| Braelynn Deepwood + | Braelynn Deepwood comes from a long ling of people comfortable with the woods and the forest. Though most of her family chooses to remain homebound, Braelynn found at an early age that she enjoyed walks through the forest and learning about the various trees and other plants that grew there. She would often reference them as her "Serenity Walks" and indeed would come back refreshed and relaxed after. Over time that interest in the forests and plants in general only deepened and now she finds herself the go-to expert for all things horticultural among her family and extended family. She was close to her cousin Joxur, and as he moved to the city she enjoyed receiving letters from him. She was particularly proud when he was named Sword of Deepwood, and wrote him a glowing letter of congratulations. But gradually her walks in the forest for serenity proved to not give her the calm she wrapped around her like a cloak, and she grew more and more restless. Until at last she decided the only solution was to go visit her extended family and explore new horizons and new forests - and so she came to Arx. + |
| Braith Mazetti + | Close cousin to the march and his Voice, Braith was a tagalong as a child. She wanted to get into everything, learn everything, and put most things in her mouth. As she grew older, these urges didn't really change with the possible exception of that last one. She was a constant troublemaker and essentially ended up pawned off on a steady shaman tutor for something to /do/ with her, and it was under this tutelage -- with the occasional rising influence of her grandmother -- that her early aptitudes for music were discovered. She loved to sing, she loved to perform, and she had a keen sense of rhythm for the hand drum and bells. Other instruments were more of a challenge but she learned several of them anyway, inhaling the knowledge like she sopped up story and song. She began to make up stories of imaginary exploits for her friends and family, putting some to music and chanting them like the ballads of heroes of old, and sometimes just telling them like stories, especially for the younger children of Giant's Reach. It was in this way that her life's path was set as a maker of music and teller of tales: it was the shining passion of her heart, so why not pursue it. + |
| Braith Sanna + | Close cousin to the march and his Voice, Braith was a tagalong as a child. She wanted to get into everything, learn everything, and put most things in her mouth. As she grew older, these urges didn't really change with the possible exception of that last one. She was a constant troublemaker and essentially ended up pawned off on a steady shaman tutor for something to /do/ with her, and it was under this tutelage -- with the occasional rising influence of her grandmother -- that her early aptitudes for music were discovered. She loved to sing, she loved to perform, and she had a keen sense of rhythm for the hand drum and bells. Other instruments were more of a challenge but she learned several of them anyway, inhaling the knowledge like she sopped up story and song. She began to make up stories of imaginary exploits for her friends and family, putting some to music and chanting them like the ballads of heroes of old, and sometimes just telling them like stories, especially for the younger children of Giant's Reach. It was in this way that her life's path was set as a maker of music and teller of tales: it was the shining passion of her heart, so why not pursue it. + |
| Bran Ravenseye + | Bran became the chieftain of his tribe at a young age, and married young as well, having fallen head over heels for one of the tribe's young shaman's and talented weather eye. A beautiful redhead, Gudrun; charming, and bright. For a few years everything seemed great for them, their raids on the Northlanders and Thrax successful, with few casualties and a decent amount of plunder returned with them. They weren't immune from other tribes and clans raiding them, however. It was not long after the birth of their first child, a daughter, Aella, that his wife was taken. He spent a few years trying to find her, not ready to give up. All the while Sorcha, Gudrun's younger sister was helping to raise Aella. Eventually, he was convinced that she was lost, likely dead. And he remarried, taking Sorcha as his new wife. With Sorcha, he had other children, though most didn't have Aella's fiery temperament. Still, he loved them all. Roguish Cadern, inquisitive Rosalind, and collected Triton. He led his tribe as best he could, settling disputes with his neighbors with trade and diplomacy as often as the sword, or at least he tried. When Crovane and Blackwood bent the knee to Redrain however, he sensed the change in the times and knelt with them, before abdicating in favor of his eldest, Aella. It was time for the younger generation to take charge, though he would shepherd them along. + |
| Branan Dominici + | The Dominici family of Lenosia has never excelled at anything in its existence. It has always been a line of consistent mediocrity. Although gentry and wealthy enough for being gentry, the family has never so wealthy as to advance its station significantly, but also never too poor to slide down the rungs of society. They have never been beloved In politics or reputation, but again neither terribly disliked. As gentry, the Dominici have always been a family of courtiers that never gain royal notice, yet even without it, they continue to receive invitations to the balls and events of court. Such a family gives scant space for greatness to arise. Instead, you get men like Branan. Capable with a quill, educated but not being courted out of school by powerful trading houses, royal families or the church. The most remarkable thing that Branan has ever done in his life, is refuse to join his father and brothers in the family cloth reselling business, and choose to try to make a career of his poetry. This single act of rebellion, of choosing a dangerous new path, cost him his families good will and his very modest students stipend. Cut off and with dwindling cash reserves, Branan set out on a traders ship for Arx, intent on finding a patron who will be pleased with his skills and services. Someone who will be pleased to have a capable scribe and assistant who occasionally writes poetry of some quality. + |
| Branimir Eswynd + | Branimir has outlived his father, the first War Chief he served, and then his older brother, and now he serves his nephew. All these lords change like the tides but Branimir is the rock that has seen it all and survived it all. Alongside his male kin he's survived 2 wives and a handful of children, though as many still remain and he's content with that. In younger years Branimir was a creature of great violence, he desired blood, victory, and most of all GLORY, until in the same raid that took his brother, he took an axe to the face, lost an eye and nearly died. Something changed while he lay bleeding on the ground trampled by friend and foe both. His blood lust finally quenched while he soaked in his own. After that, he saw the world differently, and where many reavers are consumed by gloom after such grave injuries, Branimir was filled with a new vigor. He also awoke with a belief in the Spirits, leading many of his kin to worry that so nearly dying had cracked Branimir's mind as well as cutting out an eye. He still fights when he must, but rather than being the one to advocate for the sword first, he became the one to call for it last, and there are few whose calls are louder than Branimir One Eye! + |
| Brannen Harthall + | 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. + |
| Branwen Stormfeather + | Branwen has no memory at all of her formative early years, knowing only what she's been told from those of House Ravenseye. Nearly all of their clan in one night was wiped out, decimated by another tribe of crazed Abandoned. That they obviously weren't sane was probably the only reason she and a very few others survived the massacre. Each of them were hidden underneath the bodies of others, or fallen debris. And made neither a sound, or moved, out of fright and shock. It was a group of scouts from the Stormheart that found them, surveying the damage as they swept through the next day hot on the trail of the perpetrators. Instead of chasing after them though, they stopped to rescue the survivors and brought them back; and now, the Ravenseye are her family. Her quiet, perceptive nature, and her love of solitude brought her under the wings of the Shaman in the group. She took to it quickly, learning both to tend to spiritual ills and those of the body. And when the calling of the Tribe was to come to Arx as ennobled Prodigals, she too bent the knee so she could follow her adopted family and tend to them there. Where she is sure that she will be busy given rumors of things that have happened in and around the city. + |
| Brass Not anymore + | You don't know! + |
| Braxas Songweaver + | 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. + |
| Breccan Malere + | Born to a family of successful farmers, Breccan grew up understanding and learning the land like all people of Acorn Hill. But what developed was a deeper understanding of nature itself and more often than not the impressionable youth found his time idling out into the woods where he was oftentimes scolded for being so careless by his father who compared him often to his older brother, Everett, as the eldest took to the agriculture life and found it suitable. It was after a fight that resulted in blows, the brashness of youth calling his old man out, that he ran off to the woods and wasn't heard from in weeks. What happened exactly was unknown but Breccan came back changed, throwing himself headlong into the family affairs but from a different angle. Instead, his charm and good nature was put forward to help bring prosperity and trade, having made several connections throughout Arvum- houses ranging from Setarco to Clearlake. It was after the death of his father, that Breccan told his brother the truth of where he had been for those many weeks ( as it had always been a mystery ) and it is with the passing of their father that he now must devote his life to another path for something is coming that will test their family and all of Acorn Hill. That something did come, however, it came with the arrival of shavs who destroyed all of Acorn Hill. It was luck that had Breccan away, devoting his life to helping build Lodges of Petrichor in other areas that he deemed would need the protection.With a brother and nephew still alive, he aims to devote his life to Pretrichor and seeing the land of forest and homestead safe from any that would defile it. + |
| Bree Harthall + | Bree and Brannen Harthall were born twins and from the moment they were born their lives were planned out. From early formative years, Bree took to the Valrdin way of life. Chivalry! Duty! However Bree always had a very bright twist on the Valardin way. She was strange, as many Valardins are more reserved and conservative Bree never was. From her childhood she was the most outgoing, the most exuberant, the most enthusiastic. Because there are dragons out there to slay/befriend depending on the particular situation/dragon. Bree loved stories and when playing as a child often got in trouble for being so violent. Her excuse generally was that she needed to see how hard she had to hit in case it wasn't her brother she was fighting but a skeleton risen out of the earth. And so her training began early. Bree took to fighting like a fish to water. While her brother became more tactical, more keen, Bree spent her days training and fighting, interspersed with flower picking, running on the beach or watching the sunset. Though she was driven she never had an issue with the work life balance. Bree has always known how to live, even in her most prepatory years. She also became closely attuned with Gild. She would often talk to the goddess at night, worried about those worse off than her, promising Gild she would help them in the morning. It was Bree's dream to become a Knight of Solace, to protect the weary and downtrodden, but she was destined to become a knight for her house and to serve as a champion of Harthall. Brannen constantly reminded her of her duty, to house first. Unfortunately tragedy struck. In a horse race with the heir of the House, their cousin Odhran, Bree and Brannen witnessed their cousin die in an accident. Stricken by this great tragedy, Brannen finally relented and the two have recently taken their oaths as Godsworn. Foreswearing marriage, titles, children, and have instead recently been inducted as Knights Of Solace. Eager to protect the weary in the City of Arx! + |
| Breidaia Ferchyn + | The Northlands are a harsh place for a commoner. Breidaia knew the hardships of a hungry belly, an empty quiver, and lips turning blue. Her father died before she was five, memories of him gone dim with the years. The tiny village she dimly recalls was overrun by Abandoned or plague, alternating disasters that signalled a need to move on. So her mother did, uprooting them in a straggling band of starvelings harried by the closing season. The small family nearly perished before they reached Giant's Reach, or close enough to eke out some modest existence. They were never prosperous after any fashion. Some days it was merely enough to life. Hunger motivates as well as necessity. Breidaia had no future on the outskirts of Giant's Reach, being without desire to work in mines or muster some small craft. She had a far-roaming nature and a quest to see the sea. It took her nearly six years to make it to the shores of Sanctum on the Eventide Vast, working the river bit by bit, but she had enough competency on the ropes and the sails of inland waters by then to buy her way onto a ship. It was a terrible position and she thoroughly hated it. The next posting was better, less given to abuses. The crew tolerated her quirks more. She grew into her skin. The lure of the water wasn't really what it was about. The excitement, the colour, the wonder all found on a ship boiled down to the heady experience she loved. Sailing gave her choice. She went far west with a trading coster funded by the Redrains, and through the distant patronage of their economic interests, would criss-cross the ocean. She became the second mate on a respective ship, got a name for honest dealing and good leadership. None of that mattered for piss during a brutal storm somewhere northwest of the Saffron Isles, when they were cutting for the far storm-wracked coast of the Compact. Men died. Her lover, the captain, died with a spar to the chest that no one could heal. The first mate was riddled by rage and sickness, forcing Breidaia to take up the role. And she was good at it. Very good. By the time they made landfall, half their cargo lost, a third of the crew down, it looked like a disaster. She got a second chance, with a second ship, and that was that. She's been sailing for the Redrains ever since. + |
| Brianna Halfshav + | A true child of the north, Brianna has always wanted more. She's proud of everything about her heritage, taking particular pride in her family House Halfshav winning glory for House Redrain and laying low the worst elements of the Abandoned in the North. Despite that pride, she yearns to see more, and she grew up of tales among northern nobility about the wild customs and fashions of the south and the pageantry of the court of Arx. When she was finally old enough to accompany her father south to court, it seemed to be all she had ever dreamed, delighting in all she found and even meeting the king, becoming King Alaric IV's frequent companion. Shortly after the king's marriage, she was forced to return to the north, but has since returned after the tragedy of the King's Rest. Still bright and vivacious, she also has a newfound determination and intensity about her, the tragedy of recent events with the coma of the king and deaths of so many others weighing heavily upon her mind. + |
| Briar Marjawn + | Born into a Halfshav village, Briar was the third youngest son of a full family of woodcrafters. A mother, a father, and three brothers, and a sister, Violet, the family did well living off the land and selling to the leatherworkers. He got to spend his days following his older sister around the woods, her eternal shadow. That would occasionally wander where the dappled sunlight or shadows seemed to guide him. A true child of the forest he could approach a deer with surprising ease. There would be the occasional skirmish with the Abandoned, but for most of his young life it wasn't a real threat. Eventually though, it wasn't enough. A warband from the village had gotten tired of the constant warfare, and attacked the small village outright. Only Violet dragging him out of bed before dawn and into the surrounding forests allowed them to survive the massacre of their family and most everything and everyone they had known.. By the time the Halfshav army arrived it was too late to do anything but help the survivors. Briar and Violet didn't leave with the others, however, and stayed to take out the warband once and for all. The Halfshav army had hired a nearby company of Crimson Blades to assist them in the eradication of this particular Abandoned problem. When the dust settled the survivors of the village were scattered and Violet and he had no home or family to go too. Yet his sister's talent with a bow had caught the Colonel of the Blade company's attention. Soon they were off to Arx with the Blades and a new life. Briar, who had always had a calling for shamanism finally had the ability to do something with it. Being a woodcrafter was all well and good, but he felt his passion lay with the spirits. So with his sisters blessing and support, he joined the Spirit Walkers. It was been a few years now and he has grown well into his vocation, his fierce energy doing him well in some areas and less in others. + |
| Bridget Pravus + | Bridget is from a minor noble family, House Mescino of the Lycene barony of Pastrazza. She is a young widow to Elonso of house Pravus. Her marriage had nothing to do with love. It was a formally arranged marriage with the goal of bringing two houses together. It was a marriage that abruptly ended with her husband's death. Upon the return of their widowed daughter, her family broke into chaos. The entire point of the marriage was to settle the dispute of a land claim. It was a minor land claim, but to her house could mean the difference between riches and ruin! The whole thing would have been easier if she had given her husband a sun before he went off and had himself executed. The only logical step to take from here was to send her back to house Pravus as a ward. It was cruel considering they were the ones to execute her late husband, but they didn't have time or resources to deal with a widowed daughter, and there were simply no other logical courses of action to take. What did Bridget think about all of this? Oh who really cares... just send her off! + |
| Brier Crovane + | Brier was born in the north in the middle of June as one of the first cousins of the Crovane family. Her mother was Ingrid and married into the Crovanes, while her father was Kheit Crovane. She was quick to become known for being one of the biggest handfuls out of the Crovane family's children, one who was quick to barrel into trouble just for the fun of it or to otherwise make sure that no one doubted her just because she was a 'young lady'. Her family, knowing that she would need an outlet to contain her energy and distract her, encouraged her to spend some time with the blacksmith of the village. There she tended to some apprentice-like duties and found that she loved the craft. Enthralled by working in the forge, Brier soon became less of a problem and grew into a fine young woman. There was a time that her family encouraged her to marry a young man of a neighboring territory, and so she and Yldimer were married in the winter months near her twentieth birthday. They spent ten years living happily together, but were unable to bear any new heirs due to him being secretly barren. Unfortunately, he fell three years ago in defending the north. For years she was stricken by grief, until her mother and father encouraged her to try a change of scenery and so she moved to Arx with hopes of being able to leave behind her past. + |
| Brigid Inverno + | Raised at Acorn Hill, Brigid grew up steady and strong like the many mighty trees that surrounded her home. The forest pathways became so familiar she could traverse them blind, chuckling rivers guided her ears, and she learned to appreciate the land in which she resided. The land that her family cultivated was perfect for grazing and housed a large stable where visiting households were known to stall their mounts given the skilled reputation for quality care. With a father who was versed in the various use of weaponry and a mother who was born to the saddle, it left an impression on their only child. Molding both their teachings, Brigid grew into an accomplished equestrian and swordswoman training herself up to both protect the ruling house and assist the nearby military outpost where her cousin, Rane Keaton commanded a stalwart militia. It was what granted her the title of House Sword for her ruling Moore cousin of Acorn Hill and it was one she had planned on devoting her life to - that was until tragedy had struck her home. While having been granted leave to deliver mounts to the nearby Keaton outpost, a rider delivered the news that everything and one she had sworn to protect had been decimated by an outside force with not a soul left alive. With direction having gone askew, Brigid remains to help see her home set to rights and to redeem herself in the eyes of the family she had failed. + |
| Brigid Moore + | Raised at Acorn Hill, Brigid grew up steady and strong like the many mighty trees that surrounded her home. The forest pathways became so familiar she could traverse them blind, chuckling rivers guided her ears, and she learned to appreciate the land in which she resided. The land that her family cultivated was perfect for grazing and housed a large stable where visiting households were known to stall their mounts given the skilled reputation for quality care. With a father who was versed in the various use of weaponry and a mother who was born to the saddle, it left an impression on their only child. Molding both their teachings, Brigid grew into an accomplished equestrian and swordswoman training herself up to both protect the ruling house and assist the nearby military outpost where her cousin, Rane Keaton commanded a stalwart militia. It was what granted her the title of House Sword for her ruling Moore cousin of Acorn Hill and it was one she had planned on devoting her life to - that was until tragedy had struck her home. While having been granted leave to deliver mounts to the nearby Keaton outpost, a rider delivered the news that everything and one she had sworn to protect had been decimated by an outside force with not a soul left alive. With direction having gone askew, Brigid remains to help see her home set to rights and to redeem herself in the eyes of the family she had failed. + |
| Brigida Fidante + | Brigida has lived through it all. When she was a girl, she was as fine a hunter, dancer, and player of music as any lady of the Lyceum. She was not the most beautiful of her sisters but she was clearly the most accomplished. At sixteen, she was the Golden Rose of Tor, and she had lovers on her string at twenty ranging from all over the Compact. But all idylls end. Brigida joined the Faith relatively late -- at 24 -- in part to avoid a disastrous marriage she did not want that would have sent her to the Laurents. She had no desire to join the workhorse duchy of the Valardins. Instead, she cast aside the silks of her wild life as the Golden Rose of Tor, and threw herself into a new life as a priestess. She had a solid background of Lyceum politics to bring with her to the priesthood along with genuine faith for the gods and a healthy respect for the power structures here that she could potentially grow into. She had already survived at least three poisonings before she donned her first robe. She learned quickly that the machinations of the priests were different in form from those of Lycene politics but not in kind. Ambitious people jockey for position everywhere, and the Faith is no exception. By the time she was 40, she was such a mainstay of the priests of Petrichor that there were few other names that could even be considered for his Archlector. Yet at this pinnacle she chose to stay, leading the godsworn and championing the guardian of the land rather than attempting to politic any higher. + |
| Briseis Morgan + | The last of seven children, Briseis had to make quite a bit of noise to stand out. A few of her older siblings were already headed in a direction of martial service, but Briseis's talents were more mental. She was preternaturally curious from a young age, devouring books, become an enthusiastic visitor to Sanctum's local Archive. One might say she harassed the Scholars there, but enthusiasm and talent for exploiting her own cuteness meant that she actually managed to endear quite a few of them. It's only right to encourage the will of Vellichor where one finds it, after all. So she grew a joyful child. An /enthusiastic/ child. Not quite as wild and free as her brother Aleksei, who ran from Sanctum without looking back when he was sixteen and she was only eight, but if her effusiveness was sometimes a little unseemly, it was tempered by the fact that her areas of fascination were entirely appropriate: theology, history, law. (It also helped that she was a good deal better at charming her way into what she wanted from her father than certain other rebellious siblings.) And where many Orthodox Oathlanders were raised with faith as a serious, sober weight, she celebrated the beauty of it with a joyful conviction, and she gave up hours of her free time to become a disciple of the Faith among the ranks of the Scholars as soon as they let her in. However, she found that the spread and preservation of knowledge, while fulfilling, didn't quite fulfill the itch of her passions. It was in the Sentinel that she found her calling. Curiosity was her drive, but being able to use that information to help make the world a more just one -- that became her purpose. She would FIND INJUSTICE. And she would STOP IT. (And people would TAKE HER SERIOUSLY.) She longed for the days when the Inquisition was itself a discipleship of the Sentinel, but who said she needed to let a little rift between major Compact organizations stop her? She could revere the tenets of the Sentinel both as a Disciple in the Faith as well as in the secular world as an Inquisitor! That's what she's come to Arx to do, in any case. And when Briseis dedicates herself to something, there's not a lot that can stand in her way. + |
| Brogan Nightgold + | Born to be a duke's younger brother, Brogan expected his lot in life from an early age, and threw himself into it with a will. Marriage for politics, maybe -- he was a dutiful son, and he expected that even when he was a young teenager -- but that was nothing to put a damper on his lust for life. Marriage did nothing to stop him from running amok amongst the common folk, or among the other similarly ranked nobles, for that matter. He drank, hunted, punched and gambled his way through every keep in the North and brought with him wild volume, laughter, and just an inordinate supply of delightful bullshit. His wife was another count's daughter, from the Oathlands, and she died giving him his firstborn daughter, who died a few years later. It was the kind of tragedy that could have brought a lesser man down. For Brogan, it made him live harder, live wilder. He disappeared into the snows and got in touch with the mountain's icy roots, bringing himself to the shaman's path and hunting for blood, life and happiness in his own way. When he returned, it was as an uncle to the new Duchess Nadia, as a frequent inebriate and a roaring soldier who drank as much as he punched. Bare fist fighting was his specialty (and remains so) and while in coming to Arx as part of the Nightgold retinue has made him miss the snows, he came ready to throw himself into the uproarious life of a lesser nobleman in the capital. + |
| Bron Aisling + | Born in one of the smaller mountain villages in the North, he was scooped up by an army recruiter shortly after reaching adulthood, his knowledge of the area along with his hunting and trail skills making him a useful skirmisher. A few small wars later, Sergeant at Arms Aisling left his Lord's service with a pension, some spoils and a desire to spend some time on his own for once. Going back to his village didn't seem quite right, not after all he had seen so after shipping home a totally non-blood-spattered care-package he vanished into the woods. Bored with his own company and perhaps missing the camaraderie of his unit, he has headed to the big city to see what that's like instead. + |
| Bruce Valardin + | Honor. Honor above all. Born on May 26th, 985 AR to Prince Robert Valardin and Lady Helene Telmar, Bruce was the firstborn but grew up knowing he'd never inherit title or land. Instead, he was prepared for a life of chivalry, nursed by tales of Oathlands heroism and knighthood. He was riding by the age of five and learning how to wield a longsword by eight. At ten, he became the squire of Lord Gregor Steelhart the Chillhearted, a renowned knight and swordsman. It was a busy childhood of martial training, studying warfare, extensive conditioning and prayer. Though even now, he holds those hazy memories close of warm summers spent at the river with friends and family outside of the Capital, and along the coast outside of High Hill. His peaceful childhood was not to last. Knighted at sixteen, Bruce took up the sword for his family and began his career in earnest. It was only a year later when the Tragedy in Sanctum occured. His mother and father lay dead, along with Prince Radley Valardin and most of his immediate kin. The newly knighted Oathlander had been away in the Gray, partaking in Compact operations against hostile abandoned. When the news reached him, it changed the young man forever. 1006 AR. Bruce was a mounted knight in the Silent War, twenty one years old. He fought in countless skirmishes in the Northlands, the Gray, and finally in the Crownlands, culminating in the Siege of Arx. Months of his life had been spent waging war against Tolamar Brand and his forces. Yet there was never any respite. The following years were spent in small campaigns among Valardin forces, the Compact and Templars, fighting hostile Abandoned and cultists throughout central and western Avrum. A week before his birthday, in May 1008 AR, Bruce served under High Lord Edain Valardin in the Gyre War. Though the city burned and the losses were extraordinary, the battle-hardened knight survived and rode down the Gyre's fleeing troops alongside his comrades. In less than three years, he had participated in two grand wars that shaped the future of the Compact. And he lived. Bruce had earned a name for himself with his exploits among knightly circles and Valardin forces; a veteran of wars, countless campaigns and dozens if not hundreds of skirmishes with abandoned and brigand alike. He gave the Pantheon praise, Oathlands Orthodox through and through, living without a fear of death after experiencing so much in his young life. It took the Battle of High Hill Crossing to humble him. He was twenty six years old, a small unit commander among the united forces of Valardin and Telmar. He had recently learned of High Hill's fall to shav forces, and the massacre of House Steelhart; so many friends, comrades, good men, dead. He yearned for revenge. In his anger, he forgot the Faith's teachings. And he payed. Nearly a thousand allied troops died in that ambush, among them Prince Caius Valardin and Duke Arn Telmar, both kin to Bruce. His leg was shattered in battle by a mighty blow, a serious injury that would fully heal, but that left him bedridden for the better part of a year. His countenance grew more serious, stern. He lost that youthful charm and cocky posture. Prayer was his solace. He thought of all the brothers and sisters in arms that he had lost throughout the years. Slain family members, allies, friends, fellow knights and Oathlanders. It's during this time in which he realized that for him, war would never be over. In the years since, Bruce returned to combat and his knightly pursuits, training and assisting in the Compact's campaigns against abandoned and foreign foes whenever able. And now, he has traveled to Arx in order to get more directly involved in the coming wars. Foes surround Avrum, the Compact, Valardin. From within and without. Bruce wants to play his part; for the sake of honor, virtue, justice. He will lead his people to victory. + |
| Bryndis Nightgold + | Bryndis is the youngest of five, and has always been a curious child. She would often go out of her way to explore the world around her, from outside the home to the darkest of corners within the home. She would watch the animals, study the bugs, draw the flowers and trees that she saw in her world. There was not much that did not interest her, both in the animate things around her, or the inanimate as well. Just because a flower was often more beautiful than a rock doesn't mean that the rock itself didn't hold its own very special place in her world. By the time she was ten she had books and books of drawings, each year they got better, more apt to actually resemble what it was that she was exploring and studying. She would watch and listen to others that were more knowledgeable about art, flora and fauna, and take in everything they offered. As she grew older she knew that it was very clear to her what she was going to do with her life. Some thought she'd become a healer or midwife. But she didn't want to do anything like that, she was very interested in the properties of the plants, of course, but even alchemy and apothecary studies weren't number one on her list outside of just curiosity. No, it was actually learning just about the world around her. How things fit together, why you'd find one particular animal and plant in one location, but find just the animal, or the plant, in another. It was when she was almost nineteen that she grew ill, ill to the point that everyone was sure that she'd die. But something changed, one night she was on her death bed, and the next morning she was up and moving around as though nothing was ever wrong. She's never really had any explanation for that, but her entire outlook on life seems to have changed after that night. She was more direct, less interested in books, more forgetful than she once was. + |
| Brynja Blackwood + | Brynja was born in the wild lands, beyond the bounds of what most consider civilization, the eldest child of Sigurd Blackwood. Her mother passed away when she was young, dying under mysterious circumstances, and leaving her father heartbroken. As a way of honoring her memory and helping himself recover from his grief, Sigurd taught Brynja the ways of the warrior as soon as she could stand, and she has been on that path ever since. Her father would eventually find love again and remarry. As she blossomed into a young woman, word of her deeds spread among the tribes, and she gained notoriety for her unrelenting ferocity in battle. Many great men made many great excuses when she bested them in combat, but Brynja had hardly a care -- you don't get very far with excuses. When Tolamar Brand came to assault their lands and enslave their people, Brynja was on the front lines, commanding the Blackwood infantry. She performed well, even if she received another scar or two. She was less thrilled at the notion of becoming a silk when her family decided to bend the knee to House Crovane. She will just have to make do. + |
C | |
| Cabrera Godsworn + | Cabrera was a beautiful boy, the pride of his parents. He was born large and strapping, and grew quickly. But he grew in the backdrop of chaos and war, and his parents were cut down in their prime. His mother was a knight-captain who laid down her life for Fidante in the Tor-Southport war, and his father was brutally crippled in the aftermath of the fighting; though young, he simply was in no state to care for himself, let alone his son. There was no family left who could take care of this young boy whose parents had had such high hopes for his brilliant future, so the Seraph of Tor brought him to the Faith, that he might be raised with the children who knew no other family. A child who ran and scampered among the servants of the Rectory, fitting into strange places and exploring weird corners was young Cabrera's raison d'etre. He was too young to squire when he first came to the Church-- a child, five years of age -- but somehow he managed to get places and make himself useful. His bright eyes and raffish smile were weapons of war he waged upon the Faith. He was everyone's gopher and no one's; a disciple of the Church when he was far too young to be so. He wasn't the only child of the Faith, but he was certainly one of the most vibrant. As a teen, he came to understand how he lost his family, and he was reactive about it, fierce and hotheaded and miserable. He tried to get into duels about it, but the Lycenes he challenged knew better than to duel a boy of his years, and he was given a hiding and sent back to the Rectory. He screamed his outrage at anybody who would listen, and one of the priests -- the same Seraph who had brought him from Tor -- took him back to the Lyceum to visit the grave of the cripple who had been his father. When he returned again to Arx and the service of the Church, he was a quieter, more thoughtful version of himself. While the mischief and warmth returned to him, and he would never lose the laughter or the quickness of his wits, the Cabrera who recognized the indelible part that loss had played in his development was a more sober, serious one, with a fierce understanding of what it was to be loyal to a cause, and a deep-seated recognition of the horrors of war. He squired with the templars as a youth, and as a man, he took his oaths in service to the Faith, and enlivened their quarters with lively cheer, an upbeat attitude, and a sense of humor that danced between classic soldierly raunchiness and more obscure absurdism. Resourceful and clever, Cabrera lived by his tongue and his wits, and in more than one campaign, served the Faith with sword and shield, putting his life on the line gladly in service of something greater than himself. + |
| Cade none + | Born in a small village, Cade's mother died a few days after his birth. He was left to be raised by his stern and unaffectionate father who was a former mercenary. Even as a boy, Cade's father instilled into him the hard work and discipline that he had learned from his travels. Having not known any gentle touch and constantly receiving his father's ire, Cade grew to resent his father. When his father died of sickness, Cade packed whatever belongings he could carry and left the village, knowing that there was nothing left for him there. He traveled from one village to the next, doing some odd jobs when he could. From then on he wandered aimlessly, only doing what he deemed necessary to get him through the day. + |
| Cadenza Fidante + | Cadenza Velenosa, eldest of a lesser line of Velenosa princes and princesses, was not a very good Lycene. As a child, she did not take to her political lessons. She was frank, forthright to the point of tactlessness, and had a knack for taking exactly the wrong point from her teachers and running away with it out of sheer stubbornness. Iron will in a nine year old can be difficult to deal with, particularly an active nine year old with a seemingly endless ability to get into things. Her father was a Zaffria, and while on a trip to visit relatives at Crowned Hill, their party was attacked by an Abandoned raiding party, and Cadenza learned a lesson about heroic recklessness: that is, that if you're going to hero recklessly, you have to pick your moment, and preferably, be older than eleven. She came away from the fight half an orphan; her mother died fighting in defense of her father, and her father brutally injured defending Cadenza, and it was a lesson she never forgot. As an adult, she remembered what she'd learned about timing, but she never let it hold her back. She sailed forth with her cousin Antonio and learned the ropes, and then set forth all the further, sailing through the Mourning Isles. Allegedly she was seeking a potential alliance with House Thrax, a potential match for one of the young princes, but she slipped loose the leash and sailed still further, disappearing off the map for awhile. She turned up again far afield in Arvum on a wild adventure where she either rescued or was rescued by Lou Grayson, or maybe it was mutual. It was neither the first nor the last time that Cadenza mysteriously made herself vanish only to reappear again later with tales of dramatic nonsense and half-truths. When Lady Aislin launched her Society of Explorers, Cadenza was only not an early adopter because she was spending a month trapped in the basement of a ruined temple to Gild in the hinterlands of the Oathlands, living on an unfortunate diet of roast rat and buried roots while she tried to work out a series of absurdly confusing puzzles that would have made a lot more sense if you could remember all Thirteen gods. During the Silent War, Cadenza would have fought for the Lyceum gladly, but instead, she had accidentally gotten herself temporarily sold as a prisoner of one piratical group of Abandoned to another, following the loss of her ship to a raid. She only escaped by dumb luck and someone else's stray arrow fortuitously striking the gut of the guy who held her chain. So it was that, in trying to make her way back to Arx, speaking a mangled polyglot of several Abandoned languages badly, she has only turned up again on the shore of Southport honestly confused about how she'd arrived, with a fresh scar on her neck from someone trying to kill her for no reason she could explain, and the worst part is she had no good story to show for it. + |
| Cadenza Velenosa + | Cadenza Velenosa, eldest of a lesser line of Velenosa princes and princesses, was not a very good Lycene. As a child, she did not take to her political lessons. She was frank, forthright to the point of tactlessness, and had a knack for taking exactly the wrong point from her teachers and running away with it out of sheer stubbornness. Iron will in a nine year old can be difficult to deal with, particularly an active nine year old with a seemingly endless ability to get into things. Her father was a Zaffria, and while on a trip to visit relatives at Crowned Hill, their party was attacked by an Abandoned raiding party, and Cadenza learned a lesson about heroic recklessness: that is, that if you're going to hero recklessly, you have to pick your moment, and preferably, be older than eleven. She came away from the fight half an orphan; her mother died fighting in defense of her father, and her father brutally injured defending Cadenza, and it was a lesson she never forgot. As an adult, she remembered what she'd learned about timing, but she never let it hold her back. She sailed forth with her cousin Antonio and learned the ropes, and then set forth all the further, sailing through the Mourning Isles. Allegedly she was seeking a potential alliance with House Thrax, a potential match for one of the young princes, but she slipped loose the leash and sailed still further, disappearing off the map for awhile. She turned up again far afield in Arvum on a wild adventure where she either rescued or was rescued by Lou Grayson, or maybe it was mutual. It was neither the first nor the last time that Cadenza mysteriously made herself vanish only to reappear again later with tales of dramatic nonsense and half-truths. When Lady Aislin launched her Society of Explorers, Cadenza was only not an early adopter because she was spending a month trapped in the basement of a ruined temple to Gild in the hinterlands of the Oathlands, living on an unfortunate diet of roast rat and buried roots while she tried to work out a series of absurdly confusing puzzles that would have made a lot more sense if you could remember all Thirteen gods. During the Silent War, Cadenza would have fought for the Lyceum gladly, but instead, she had accidentally gotten herself temporarily sold as a prisoner of one piratical group of Abandoned to another, following the loss of her ship to a raid. She only escaped by dumb luck and someone else's stray arrow fortuitously striking the gut of the guy who held her chain. So it was that, in trying to make her way back to Arx, speaking a mangled polyglot of several Abandoned languages badly, she has only turned up again on the shore of Southport honestly confused about how she'd arrived, with a fresh scar on her neck from someone trying to kill her for no reason she could explain, and the worst part is she had no good story to show for it. + |
| Cadern Blackwood + | Cadern was a rapscallion. A scavenger of attention. A thirsty little sneak who made it his business to get into things. He cherished freedom, the freedom to run amok, and clashed frequently with his older sister, with whom he had a seriously healthy sibling rivalry, especially when both were too young to temper themselves particularly. The shamans of the Ravenseyes knew what to do with a boy who wanted to get into trouble, though, and found ways to occupy him, to turn his impish mischief to good account, and to train him so that his garrulousness and wit could one day be used to the advantage of their family. He chafed at being second to Aella, especially when the House first bent the knee to the Compact. He had hoped that swearing fealty to Redrain would mean casting aside old traditions and leaping whole-heartedly into a new life, a new culture, with the people of Farhaven whose arms would surely open wide to welcome them now that they were oath brethren. He had a few rude awakenings early on before settling into his new role, and still twitches restlessly for chances to prove himself. Which sometimes means, to this day, that he has to talk himself out of a tight spot. Luckily, he always did have a glib tongue. + |
| Cadern Ravenseye + | Cadern was a rapscallion. A scavenger of attention. A thirsty little sneak who made it his business to get into things. He cherished freedom, the freedom to run amok, and clashed frequently with his older sister, with whom he had a seriously healthy sibling rivalry, especially when both were too young to temper themselves particularly. The shamans of the Ravenseyes knew what to do with a boy who wanted to get into trouble, though, and found ways to occupy him, to turn his impish mischief to good account, and to train him so that his garrulousness and wit could one day be used to the advantage of their family. He chafed at being second to Aella, especially when the House first bent the knee to the Compact. He had hoped that swearing fealty to Redrain would mean casting aside old traditions and leaping whole-heartedly into a new life, a new culture, with the people of Farhaven whose arms would surely open wide to welcome them now that they were oath brethren. He had a few rude awakenings early on before settling into his new role, and still twitches restlessly for chances to prove himself. Which sometimes means, to this day, that he has to talk himself out of a tight spot. Luckily, he always did have a glib tongue. + |
| Caelis Malvici + | Caelis is a cousin to the main branch of House Malvici. A student of herbalism, she took great joy in learning each plant and it's uses in the gardens of Southport. When herbalism wasn't enough she learned the craft of a soldier and sailor. Spending most of her late teens and young adult years on a ship, she's risen recently to Maritime Captain and uses her travels to collect and find rare herbs from port to port as well as stories of the old days. Recent trouble has recalled her to Arx to support the family and bolster alliances. + |
| Caelis Valardin + | Caelis is a cousin to the main branch of House Malvici. A student of herbalism, she took great joy in learning each plant and it's uses in the gardens of Southport. When herbalism wasn't enough she learned the craft of a soldier and sailor. Spending most of her late teens and young adult years on a ship, she's risen recently to Maritime Captain and uses her travels to collect and find rare herbs from port to port as well as stories of the old days. Recent trouble has recalled her to Arx to support the family and bolster alliances. + |
| Caera Tortorici + | 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 + |
| Caerdroc Woodbine + | When Caerdroc was young, he expected the life of a woodsman, and there are ways he never left that behind, even now. He and his family were taken by a pillaging raid of the Shavs when he was still quite young, an untried boy. It was Uriel Bisland who saved him, and it was to the Bislands that his loyalty was given forever, his and his father's. His father was risen to a knighthood, and he became his father's squire; when he turned 18, his father enfeoffed him to a knighthood in his own turn, and they served the Bislands loyally as father and son. Caerdroc fell madly in love as only an 18-year-old can, with a prodigal, his elder by two years with midnight hair to her waist, which was really pretty awkward, all things considered. The drama rocked the household and he risked honor and loyalty and everything to wed this woman. That's part of why it hurt him so badly and made him question everything about his faith and his life when she died giving him their daughter. His daughter he named Cedara -- imaginatively -- and for a long time when she was still young he continued to keep his knightly vigil as much to the woods as he could, scouting for the Bislands and helping rain down arrow volleys of death around his former wife's former people. But now that Cedara is grown to be herself 12, Caedroc has come to apply himself in Duke Gabriel's service and to bring himself and his daughter back to civilization so that he can, you know, better remember how that being a human being in society thing works. As opposed to running around in the woods all the time. + |
| Cahal Blackram + | One of several Blackrams born off a vibrantly healthy branch of the family tree, Cahal is a middle child in a brood of half a dozen. It made him what he is. Where a smaller family might have allowed him to be quiet and reserved his rambunctious kin forced him into a rough and tumble world where being quiet saw you getting overlooked. He's glad for it. When he tries to imagine what it would be like to grow up without being smothered in brotherly fights, family hugs and so much love you were like to drown it makes him feel kind of sad. He was groomed to take part in the endless fights up on the Cloudspine, much like his siblings, but whilst he's got a good enough arm with a sword its never been where he truly shone. Soon he was being sent to scout with small groups, or even alone, instead of joining the fighting units but as he grew in experience the nobles around him realised something important. Whilst he wasn't a bad tracker where he truly excelled was in places where people were a major part of the puzzle. If there was a suspicious death in one of the villages - Cahal could usually wrangle out the story. Who better than a man that shone with people to support the family in the big city? Once his talents were noticed they were nurtured but there isnt much that can be taught in this field without experience. And so, on his twentieth birthday, it was decided that he should go ahead and start his path. + |
| Cahal Lyonesse + | One of several Blackrams born off a vibrantly healthy branch of the family tree, Cahal is a middle child in a brood of half a dozen. It made him what he is. Where a smaller family might have allowed him to be quiet and reserved his rambunctious kin forced him into a rough and tumble world where being quiet saw you getting overlooked. He's glad for it. When he tries to imagine what it would be like to grow up without being smothered in brotherly fights, family hugs and so much love you were like to drown it makes him feel kind of sad. He was groomed to take part in the endless fights up on the Cloudspine, much like his siblings, but whilst he's got a good enough arm with a sword it’s never been where he truly shone. Soon he was being sent to scout with small groups, or even alone, instead of serving the army but as he grew in experience it became increasingly obvious that his true talents lied in people, not scouting. He started to use his skills on deeper mysteries than the whereabouts of Shav forces. If there was a suspicious death in one of the villages - Cahal could usually wrangle out the story. Who better than a man that shone with people to support the family in the big city? He was close to thirty when he came to Arx in the belief that he could serve his family best in the Capital. The greatest diplomatic minds were here and he took great joy in learning everything he could from and whilst he loves his Blackram cousins dearly, none of them were capable of working socially as well as he could. In Arx he deveoped an interest in the strange, and it's rumored that he met Marquessa Demura of Lyonesse in the pursuit of further knowledge, a relationship that quickly blossomed into love. Fortune smiled when his family agreed that it was a good match and whilst the Cloudburners will always blaze in Cahal’s heart he has turned much of his attention to Lyonesse. As long as he remains the Marquis Lyonesse, he won’t allow them to fade away. + |
| Cai Falken + | Cai follows a long line of hunters, rangers, warrior and other woodsy-type from his family. It's what his family was good at, so he followed suit, and found his life richer for it. Didn't seem like it was even an question when he was a boy, and now that the years have passed, when he looks back to what could've been, he's since decided that he couldn't think of anything else he'd rather do. He can remember back to a time when they had no association with the Compact. While he might've been happier to have nothing to do with them, it's not like he held any kind of negative feelings toward them either. Things change, it's a constant in nature. Just as the world changes through seasons, so do people, mentalities, and all those other kind of things that he only cares to a certain degree about. He always respected the leadership in place before the Compact, so he followed suit along with the rest of them. For the the majority, it hasn't had a great impact on his life. Still in the woods, still hunts, still does what he's always done. Until he had to relocate to Arx with the rest of the Greenmarch brood. Not the biggest fan of the city life, but it could be worse. Thing changes, and nature seems to abhor things staying the same for too long. + |
| Cailean Grimes + | Cailean Grimes grew up in the Lower Burroughs, the slums. He was the only living child of widower and a thief, Donnal Grimes. He was never expected to be much more than his father was but Cailean had natural talent and ambition. He was known for his pretty face and even prettier singing voice. His father took note and began to steal instruments which the bright Cailean taught himself to play. Eventually, a noble took notice while visiting his lover and took the boy under his wing. Soon, life became a whirlwind as he began to attend schools of Courtesans. As usual, Cailean was a natural and took to the life like a duck to water. + |
| Cain Crown + | The first memories Cain has are of the streets of Arx. His mother was most likely a whore, or as Cain puts it, if he's lucky a courtesan. His father, who knows. In reality, he doesn't even known as he was abandoned by his parents when he was very little. He survived by appealing to the charity of others and by making connections with the right people, or some would say, the wrong people. It was during his childhood that he befriended a young girl named Acacia, whom he often would try and bail out of whatever scrapes she managed to get herself in. The two of them became close friends, only for her to suddenly disappear on him when she left the city. While he knew enough to defend himself if he needed to, his silver tongue remained his weapon of choice. He put that weapon to use in the cons he conjured in order to cheat others and ensure his survival. It was that silver tongue that brought him to the attention of a man rumored by half of the Lower Boroughs to be a seer of some kind. Of course, the other half claimed him to be a fraud. Davalos was his name, and he was successful enough to be able to take Cain under his wing and teach him a thing or too. Like all people do, eventually Davalos passed away. Now on his own, Cain's made a name of himself among the people of the Lower Boroughs. Half of them claim him to have the gift, and are quick to buy his trinkets, and pay him to divine their fortunes, the other half, of course claim him to be fraud. Once a child of the streets, now he's a man of them and he intends to make the most out of that for as long as he's able to. + |
| Caith Thrax + | Princess Caith Thrax, the first daughter of her mother Alyona's second marriage, followed by two other younger sisters -- ack, sisters everywhere, even an older half-sister from her mother's previous marriage, though she and Cassima were too many years apart to be truly close -- until her mother finally gave up and admitted that there just weren't going to be any sons. According to the marriage contract between Thrax and Leary, the daughters of the marriage would be fostered at the Leaholdt, due to some ideas both Caith's father Edouan Leary and his family had about what happens to women in the Mourning Isles. It's strange to think that your summers by in the woods were paid for essentially by a great many lumber concessions made in a trade negotiation before you were born, but Caith loved her time with her Leary uncles and aunts, and she loved, especially, her time on the ships sailing back and forth from the spar at Brighthold to the south of the Leaholdt to her real family's home at Maelstrom. She would stand at the prow of the ship, letting the sea spray splash on her face, and pretend that they were sailing -- not the simple route with which she was familiar -- but to wild, faraway, or just straight up fantastically made up places. For Caith's whole life, there were two things she loved best: being outdoors where her imagination could run away with her and escape, and being indoors, surrounded by paper and ink, breathing in the words written on the page so that ... her imagination could run away with her and escape. There was a vivacious, infectious energy about her that enabled her to share her wild flights of fancy with the other children, sometimes even those serious children who would ordinarily be more interested in other things. A born storyteller and a winsome speaker, Caith learned to spin her tales for others and learned to listen well; it became a skill as she grew older that also became excellent for derailing burgeoning conflict, a master distraction artist that would make her namesake proud. + |
| Caius Valardin + | As a prince of Valardin his youth was a series of predetermined benchmarks. Fostered to an ally of the family at the appropriate age, squired when he'd proven himself worthy and skilled enough to not get himself killed or worse make an ass of himself and shame the knight to whom he was squired. Knighted when he came of age with other squires of the same year and skill set, Caius spent his twenties on one campaign or another, doing his share of fighting the good fight. Taprooms and taverns filled the spaces between fights, a near decade of ultimately wasted years until he'd matured enough to long for something more. He eventually matured enough to think first - then think deeper - before reaching for his sword. He'd finally steadied in his late twenties, become less of a wild eyed fighter and begun to explore the years of diplomatic training that had been long buried in his education. It was in this transition that he would find himself on the business end of a mail-clad fist in one of his last regular visits to a tavern. Unintentional as it was, he was left with a broken nose and two black-eyes as a result. Caius would face endless weeks of laughter when his comrades and fellows learned that the knight who'd smashed his nose was the Lady Brennan. For him, however, it was the catalyst for his determination to win the heart of the Lady Knight. Two years of effort and persistence followed before they were betrothed properly then wed. One thing that Caius would often preface any statement about his wife were the words, 'My Brenn, she does have a temper' often said with a contented smile and no small amount of affection. Not every marriage is built on a great romance, in fact, most marriages are built on common ground and the need to establish or cement networking and ties that bind. Caius and Brennan were a fly in the mix, genuinely fond of each other, genuinely well-suited for one another and, by all rights, happy with each other. Thus, in the usual passing of time their first child was born, and five years later, a second. Only months after their second child was born Brennan was visiting family when the worst of all nightmares came to a head, culminating at the Tragedy of Sanctum. His wife was one of many that died that day, but Caius was deeply affected by her loss. He retreated from the world, taking only the household staff that would keep everything running smoothly and focusing himself on his children and the management of the family estate and assets. Eventually, he was called upon by his family to engage once more, to take up the duties of a child of Valardin. Reluctant but duty-bound, Caius returned to the vanguard of house affairs. + |
| Calandra Culler + | It's not easy growing up poor in the Lower Boroughs, not even for a Culler, one of the most feared families at the bottom of Arx society. Calandra was never going to starve, as her family always seemed to be doing just a little bit better than they should be. Calandra was even as closed to spoiled as a girl could probably get inside the crime ridden neighborhoods, but even that came with a price. While still a teenager, her father was hanged for banditry and her mother was murdered not long after some of the 'Culler family business' went terribly awry. While she's a Lower Boroughs girl at heart and will probably never leave, the deaths of her parents might have set her on a somewhat different path to one that would see her finding a noose or a dagger in the back eventually. While she's always been proud of her singing voice, she didn't have any expectations when she auditioned with the Black Rose Mummers as one of their entertainers. She was shocked when the Black Rose Mummers almost immediately signed her, singing for the company in plays and other performances, with her brilliant, almost impossible-to-forget singing voice resulting in more than one noble wondering how something so pure and delightful could come from a place so tragic and common. So no, she might never leave the Lower Boroughs forever, but she has no intention of dying there. + |
| Calarian Grayson + | Calarian was born yet another Grayson cousin amidst the usual gaggle of princes and princesses. He grew up a bright and curious child, and his knack for ingratiating himself with others was both a blessing and somewhat of a trouble; no one likes a six-year-old with a talent for negotiation. But as he grew, his family was able to direct him quite firmly to a role within the house that always needs filling: diplomacy. His life as an adult became filled with travel -- both to the houses of the Compact within Arvum and the Abandoned houses outside his family's rule. When the Bringer threat became imminent, he was tasked with dragging every single Abandoned fighter he could manage to wrangle to join in the fight. The Gold Feathers to the north of Grayson's claimed lands offered a sizable fighting force that he knew the Compact desperately needed, and so when the Chieftan declared his requirement that his daughter wed into the Grayson family, there wasn't exactly time to take back the offer and shuffle through prospective husbands for her. And so when Calarian returned with Abandoned reinforcements for the Compact army, it was also with a brand new wife. You work with what you have, after all. + |
| Calarian Wyrmguard + | Calarian was born yet another Grayson cousin amidst the usual gaggle of princes and princesses. He grew up a bright and curious child, and his knack for ingratiating himself with others was both a blessing and somewhat of a trouble; no one likes a six-year-old with a talent for negotiation. But as he grew, his family was able to direct him quite firmly to a role within the house that always needs filling: diplomacy. His life as an adult became filled with travel -- both to the houses of the Compact within Arvum and the Abandoned houses outside his family's rule. When the Bringer threat became imminent, he was tasked with dragging every single Abandoned fighter he could manage to wrangle to join in the fight. The Gold Feathers to the north of Grayson's claimed lands offered a sizable fighting force that he knew the Compact desperately needed, and so when the Chieftan declared his requirement that his daughter wed into the Grayson family, there wasn't exactly time to take back the offer and shuffle through prospective husbands for her. And so when Calarian returned with Abandoned reinforcements for the Compact army, it was also with a brand new wife. You work with what you have, after all. But Calarian did not have his wife for long. The Gold Feathers fought and died alongside the Compact's army, and Peregrine ranked among the fallen when the Bringers were finally repelled. He worked stabilize the Compact afterward, helping secure a treaty with the Nox'alfar to prevent future threats, and continued to serve both Grayson and the Crown by throwing himself into his work as a Voice and a diplomat. However, after a quiet courtship he married Marquessa Dominique Wyrmguard, setting aside his Grayson bonds to join one of the Oathlands' oldest houses in a marked departure from his former path. + |
| Calathane Drumenach + | Calathane is a son of an old Baron in the fiefdom of Redrain, Hargthon Drumenach. Having decided his son needed new expereinces and to increase his knowledge of the other houses, he has sent him off to Arx. The boy grew up near the mountain ranges closer to shore and bay there known for it's ability to recieve imports and for the ability to send foeces down the coast or up futher into the northern wastelands of ice and snow. Known for his stoic resolve and love for the Queen of Games that he has been playing since he was young and has had some contact with others playing in the courts of his father. + |
| Calaudrin Estardes + | Calaudrin was born in Setarco, the son of a silk merchant and her husband, whose profession was probably something but by the time Calaudrin was old enough to understand adults, he was under the general impression that that profession was /layabout/. His mother frequently traveled, and he went with her, seeing the world with early cynicism, particularly when at the age of 12 he noticed that his mother was regularly cheating her clients and the noble family she worked for and pretty much everyone else. She was eventually caught, as criminals frequently are, and Calaudrin escaped the resultant potential chaos mainly by voting with his feet as only a commoner can: he lied about his age and voted with his feet, reporting to the Arx guards as though he was 18 instead of 16, as a particularly tall and cynical youth; nobody looked too closely at this until years later when he was already well-situated as a fixture of the guardhouse. See, because Calaudrin was good at it. Many young people believe themselves to be cynical, but Calaudrin found from early on that the most depressing thing about his cynicism is that it kept being outstripped by real life. He learned to read people and, generally, to find which things about people he was better off not knowing, even in the pursuit of an investigation. There are a lot of dark and nasty secrets in an old city full of such high levels of wealth, and Calaudrin learned to balance when to latch onto a problem like a terrier and dig and dig and dig, and when policework was best a synonym for 'having a smoke in a quiet corner out of the wet'. Having reached a sturdy Lieutenant's rank, Calaudrin has become a capable administrator, a master of the dire weapons of sarcasm and applied rudeness -- different from unapplied rudeness in that it is selective -- and a very, very good detective ... when he chooses to exert himself. + |
| Calevaro Stars + | Calevaro was born as the son of a wealthy merchant, his mother having died at his birth. Due to his father's profession, he had to travel a lot, leaving Calevaro in the hands of capable servants. As the boy grew older, he started to develope an interest for combat, atempting to learn how to use every kind of weapon, not just the sword. When he became an adult, at the age of 18, Calevaro decided it was time for him to finally make something with his life, eagerly joining the Valardin military. His trainers and fellow soldiers would describe him as a compassionate man, who wasn't willing to ask of someone what he wouldn't do himself. It was at the military that Calevaro found his calling: He loved to serve and to fight for a cause. His dedication eventually rewarded him with the rank of officer, a very public and personal triunf for the young man. + |
| Caliban Assacu + | Caliban is an unrepentant prodigal, something which hasn't earned him any particular goodwill, though he blends enough with the rest of the common rabble that it can be quite easily overlooked. Just where he actually came from is a question without an answer. For the most part, this is because people don't particularly care to ask, even those whose jobs often involve doing the asking. In quiet contrast to his easygoing nature, there's a certain, clinging sense about the man that speaks clear: don't bother this one. He's truly not worth the trouble. + |
| Calista Fidante + | Despite a tragic past, Calista is not a bitter woman. Not that she wouldn't possess considerably justification to be bitter, in her humble opinion. When your stepfather murders your mother after your birth to attempt a coup by declaring himself regent over you, and your elder brother leads a revolt that kills the man even before you learn how to walk, it's not the most auspicious beginnings to a bright and shining happy childhood. But she's not the only noblewoman to be raised nearly entirely by tutors instead of family, due to her lord brother the Duke barely ever having time for his only surviving sibling. So no, Calista is not bitter, but she also has no intention of letting her life be dictated to her by an older sibling, no matter how well intentioned. Who to see, how to speak, how to act due to how she might be perceived, what to wear, what hobbies to pursue, and on and on and on to 'live up to the standards of the Fidante family', when House Fidante is mostly well known for how her stepfather murdered her mother and started a war. She damned well will decide exactly what it means to be a Fidante, and to her that means having fun how she wants, when she wants, anyway she wants it despite the opinions of anyone else. Political power and scheming and intrigue is fine for some people (especially old boring ones), and it's hilarious to have the movers and shakers of society try to guess devious cunning plans behind the random things she does, but she doesn't really set out to cause trouble. Well, mostly. Some people deserve trouble. But she really isn't trying to give her brother the Duke of Tyr a heart attack, she just refuses to be reined in and bow to the public perceptions of the oppressively boring and old that cluck their tongues in disapproval at daring behavior or gasp in horror that someone used the wrong spoon at a royal feast. For those people, she is only too happy (gleeful, really) to be considered 'a problem' or 'trouble' and if she can make their lives more difficult without getting into real trouble for it, she will gladly take it. Maybe she'll settle down and get serious about playing the games of power and politics that older nobles enjoy, maybe she'll even make her ideas of fun benefit her in that regard, but for now, she mostly is just about a good time. + |
| Calla Vaevici + | Little known in the Compact, the remote region of the Caldera in the southwest of the Saffron Chain is a war-torn country where entire generations have come and gone without ever knowing peace in their constant wars with other Abandoned. Although conflict intensity has fluctuated over the centuries with scarce recognition by the Compact, most regional Abandoned historians tier their rise to the dominance of House Vaevici, the rulers of the city-state of Sangris, a remote city that Lycene experts on the Saffron Chain thought to be myth. Firm adherents to their Code, an indexed series of principles and stratagems that rule their lives, the so-called Warmongers are more than simple warriors: to them the battlefield is a temple and victory is the only prayer. True victory in life can only be achieved in battle against one's fellow mortals, and for almost a thousand years this attitude kept them feared in the Caldera, but now their power has waned, and their ancient enemies prepare to destroy them, unless a young and unlikely ruler can stop it. Calla Vaevici is the third child of Novos Vaevici, behind Argos and Valla Vaevici, which precluded her from inheriting anything of any significance. The girl never complained about such an arrangement, however, eager for a life without as many responsibilities as her siblings. Instead of being stuck with tutors at all time, Calla was often out and about in Sangris, meeting her extended family, commoners and foreigners with avid fascination. At home she showed amazing potential for the little she studied, but Calla was set on enjoying a carefree life, much to her father's chagrin. Calla's nature would make her a savvy diplomat over the years, opening up peaceful solutions to conflict with other Abandoned that her father promptly shut down. Although those decisions would provoke constant arguments between the two, it was Calla, not either of her siblings, who would be called to accompany Novos when he was granted an audience with the last living augurs during the great festival of Carnala. To be in the same room as an augur was the journey of a lifetime, and so she accepted the proposal, embarking on a trip that would end in the death of Novos, his heart giving up on the ride back. The subject matter of their meeting would be Calla's secret to keep. Not long after Argos took the reins of the Vaevici he would start a war with the neighboring city-state of Serrano. Always hateful towards their neighbors, Argos was also predictable, and he would not survive four months before his brashness got him ambushed and murdered. Valla would fare better, but not by much: her demise would take place in the battlefield, leading the Vaevici forces against the Serrano in the war she did not start, but was in no position to end. She took the day, and vengeance on House Serrano's oldest son, but perished nonetheless. After her death, the Caldera was engulfed in war. Under these circumstances Calla Vaevici became Magistrix, a position she never wanted, her House crippled in debt and disarray. In Sangris, only Calla's noble allies kept the mobs from rioting against the most recent war, and outside their crimson walls enemies howled, ready to excise the Warmongers from the Caldera forever. The only way out, for Calla, was to take a path her predecessors would have not: kneeling to the Great House of Pravus, the stunning new arrivals to the Saffron and the first sign of the Compact many of her people had ever known, and kneel to their might that of the warriors who had just bested the Eurusi of Skal'daja. Her political situation is still frail, many of the nobles of Sangris despise Calla while her enemies now pause and strategize on how to deal with Sangris' new allies and take their victory, but she has changed the landscape and silence the cries for blood. Whatever she does now, the Chain will be watching with baited breath, witnessing what might be the last days of the Vaevici. + |
| Calliope Grimhall + | Calliope is the only child to Eugine Grimhall. Her father was known to be cruel and difficult, so her childhood was not easy. Calliope's natural talents lean towards the scholarly, leading her to be educated in the ways of investigation and researching information. She has been known to use her skills for profit, if a puzzle is brought to her, she will do her utmost to find any information helpful. There are rumours that she dabbles in the crafts as well, but it wasn't permitted in her family. Before her death, Eugine had made it known that she would entertain offers of marriage for her daughter, whether Calliope was interested or not. + |
| Calypso Malvici + | Her mother Adona had a reputation as an excellent judge of character. As Calypso grew up, she realized how well-suited she was for the military path the Duchess laid out before her. In the aftermath of the Tor-Southport War, she embraced the martial life that defined House Malvici and the city of Southport. She had always stood apart; her younger brother's enjoyment of politics saved her from a role she never wanted. Calypso was in field training by the age of twelve and commanding patrols by fifteen. She lived and breathed strategy, logistics, tactics, and leadership, but it was the time among soldiers in the field that she appreciated most. She grew to love them as much as she did her brothers. The inevitable deaths and losses among her troops led her to work them and herself harder. She was a highly-demanding commander, never settling for less than the best and scant with praise. Her success at bearing the same burdens as the common troops as her training prolonged their lives won her fierce loyalty from Southport's soldiers. When her mother abdicated in favor of her younger brother Hadrian, his first act was to make her the commanding general of House Malvici's armies. She wasn't yet twenty-five years old, but some said the promotion was overdue. With the tension in Arx, Calypso finds herself needed for her counsel and good judgment as much as commanding soldiers. Though she gratefully passed the responsibility of rule off to her young brother so she could follow her passion for martial mastery, she is still determined to help. She intends to make the most of her first diplomatic excursion outside the Lyceum, aiming to learn as much as she can about potential enemies, seek out allies among those who respect the pragmatic use of force, and set her tactical experience to work in the ballrooms and audience halls. After all, she reasons, diplomacy is war by other means. + |
| Cambria Mazetti + | Cambria was born an only child, much to the disappointment of her parents, who wished for a large family. To make matters worse, Cambria was a sickly youth, so there were plenty of concerns and two or three scares during her early years. Not too long after her tenth birthday, Cambria's father died during a hunting accident. Her mother refused to remarry, and remained a widower. Some said it was for love, while others claimed it was to consolidate her power and make sure her daughter was in a position to assume the mantle of rulership after her, even if it wasn't what was best for the House. Life passed, uneventfully enough, and Cambria grew into a young woman. Though no longer prone to bouts of illness, it could not be said she was very robust. Thus, while other young nobles were making their journey to Arx due to necessity or to expand their education, Cambria's mother was too fearful, and kept her close to home. It was quite likely that Cambria never would have left Ostria, except that fate had other designs. At twenty-three, Cambria's mother fell ill and died suddenly, leaving her daughter free to spread her wings and choose the course of her own life. She promptly left for Arx, one of the first Mazetti to do so in many generations. Once within the capital, Cambria immediately set about maneuvering herself in such a way as to further an audacious goal. Making use of all the political tools and resources available to her, the then Marquessa secured a favorable marriage and wasted little time in promoting a series of progressive reforms for the city-state of Ostria. In the span of a few short years, House Mazetti was formally recognized as a Ducal House before the Assembly of Peers held in the spring of 1012 AR. This is only the start of her story... + |
| Camilla Pravus + | Camilla was born a bastard, the fruit of a one-night affair between a Lady Madeline Pravus and a foreign noble. As a child Camilla was taught how to read and write by her mother, and was well on her way to learn other languages when Madeline's rapidly-deteriorating mental health took her agency and wits. Before the young girl was ten, the Pravosi noble was a shell of her former self, a husk mumbling in bed about the man who had taken her heart away. In the night when Lady Madeline finally lost her ability to communicate, withdrawing further and further within herself, Camilla was desolated. Along with the servants she stared as her noble mother was tended to by the local physicians, and seared in her mind were the sights of one of House Pravus' best reduced to nothing. Camilla could not reconcile with the fact there was nothing she could do, but before her anguish was turned to action the girl was approached by an envoy of the House of Silken Sighs of Setarco. The woman sat with Camilla and they talked throughout the night. Come the dawn, the courtier offered Camilla tutelage in the House free of charge, pleased with the conversation. None would know the nature of this conversation for years to come. The Pravosi bastard's time at the House of Silken Sighs is not publicly known, but it was, supposedly, shock full of its own trials, failures and successes. Whatever her exploits, Camilla left the place an educated courtier and the woman she is today, hailed far and wide as the best alumni of the school in decades. To those who have seen her talents, Camilla is a soulful fury with uncompromising artist vision, a desireable artiste who, once, was just a bastard, and now saw her contract acquired by the Duchess of Pravus herself. No more a simple bastard, the woman is now a highly-sought courtier whose's fame is not insubstantial. She is finally ready to meet her family, and join the Sins in Arx. + |
| Canaan Savantis + | Born in the lower boroughs, that is what Canaan spent a majority of his life. His father passed due to illness at an age he was too young to really recall, raised by his mother in majority. Too trusting at a young age he had an incident that left him somewhat untrusting despite his mother's insistence that people, as a whole, were good. It was a nice sentiment but not exactly easy to believe. His inquisitive nature brought him into brushing with the unsavory side of law led to some unfortunate outcomes and the wagging finger of his mother. In adulthood he married for a number of years before divorce came about and left him a bit weary (and quite late in the game) of further romantic pursuits, It was not long after he lost his mother to natural causes. Still.his curious nature often lead him down figurative rabbit-holes simply because not knowing the answer could become a persistent itch in the back of his head until at least attempting to look into those things with due caution toward things one generally shouldn't pry into. This natural desire to know and the irritation of lingering unknowns has lent his naturally developed skills toward helping out others when the price is right, even if it's as simple as finding proof of infidelity. + |
| Candace Corvo + | Candice Corvo was the middle child in her family, right between two older brothers and two younger brothers, and went on every adventure they did. She was a tomboy terror growing up, stealing sheep (temporarily), getting into fights (often), and carrying wares from the market to her parents inn (heavy). When her brothers game of age, they enlisted in the watch. When Candice came of age, she took her sword and went straight to one of the caravans and sold herself as a guard. She's ridden riverboats laden with goods to Bastion, frozen on the edges of the Everwinter, and chased thieves through the southern city states of the Lyceum. And for ten years, the adventure and the pay were enough. Then she met Sam and everything changed. They were instantly inseparable--which caused a lot of problems because Sam was an exceptionally good thief and the Velenosians had already made a less than stellar impression on the trading caravan. They needn't have worried; she gave Sam an ally, and they tempered her tendency to violence with cunning. They married and traveled together with the caravan on their way to Arx. This is the part everyone knows, and nobody talks about: shav brigands attacked the convoy, setting the tents and wagons on fire in the middle of the night. There were screams and violence and blood, and in the end the regimented caravan was reduced to a handful of grimfaced survivors. Sam wasn't among them. There's a small band of survivors who get together and share a drink every year, and every year Candice drinks with them. + |
| Candido Orata + | Candido was born the middle of three children in a more-stable-than-not commoner family in the city-state of Lenosia. His mother, a city guard, was the primary backbone of the household (and the person who first taught him to fight). His father was a bard in a struggling mummer's troupe that toured the Lyceum and Crownlands and was largely absent, if well-meaning when he was around. His parents never married, but it was a decent collection of relations and Candido never went hungry or felt unloved. The turning point in his life came when the Pirate King called the Gyre descended on Setarco. Candido wasn't old enough to go to war himself (and may not have anyhow, his life had limited direction), but his older sister Eugenia had joined Velenosa's army and was sent to fight. Though the Compact ultimately carried the day, Eugenia was among the slain. This was the biggest tragedy in his life up to that point and, when the dust settled, Candido felt the urge to throw himself into something vaguely meaningful. To give his mother one less thing to worry about if nothing else. He started volunteering with the Faith's rebuilding efforts, which led to him becoming a disciple of Gild, which led to him taking his vows as a godsworn brother when he was 19. Growing up he'd been an inattentive adherent (at best) to the Pantheon, but the work crystallized his view of the Faith as a way to both do something that mattered externally and get right with himself internally. And a way to make his own path in the world. The Faith as a social force offered opportunities to a common boy with both martial and interpersonal skills that few other vocations could. He squired to a Knight of Solace not long after taking his vows and acquitted himself well enough to earn a knighthood a couple years later. His personal convictions are heavily Lycene Liberal, though he's learned how to go along to get along with the Orthodox that make up so much of the Faith Militant, and he's served with general competence for the last several years. His latest assignment has taken him to Arx. What he'll make of it remains to be seen. + |
| Cantus Crown + | Cantus is the type of person to get into trouble for all the right reasons. The wrong reasons? In any case, it's almost because he saw someone that decided they needed help, whether or not they agreed. But it's okay! Sometimes they actually do need helping. He had been taking a walk, as Cantus was wont to do, and stumbled upon a brigand harassing a poor old man. After that, a couple that needed a wagon wheel replaced. Depending on how he's feeling at the telling, either he felt the spirit of wandering the world, helping folks, ooooor far more likely Cantus found himself lost, shrugged, and decided to embrace this new adventure. + |
| Capri De Lire + | The Lower Burroughs of Arx are a rough place to grow up, but someone has to grow up there. Capri was one of those, though he doesn't often talk about it. While many of those in the Lower Burroughs tend to end up striving to be good people in the face of adversity, or criminals, Capri ended up neither of these. Instead, the dangers of life spoke to him, and through countless fights he eventually developed a reputation as a duelist to be watched, and feared, leaving countless wounded or dead in the alleys of the Burroughs behind him. It isn't certain how he ended up joining the Valorous Few, but it's apparent that it likely has to do with the family business. + |
| Caprice Artiglio + | Caprice often receives praise as being one of the most promising talents in tailoring from the Lyceum, but she has never felt quite comfortable with the assessment. She is, foremost, simply an artist who demonstrates her talents by weaving fabrics into stunning fashions as her chosen medium of expression. From a very early age, she felt called to be one of the chosen of Jayus, feeling a spark of inspiration from the Prince of Stories. Even as a child she would idle by shrines of Jayus and toy with dyes and clothes, working ever more elaborate colorations and blends of fabric. As a young woman, her talent was quickly recognized, and at a very young age she has been given the immense honor of being appointed the tailor of House Velenosa. Caprice is fully aware that her position might well be one of the most coveted of any tailor in all of Arvum. The Lyceum are the height of fashion for the entire Compact, after all, and House Velenosa is the height of fashion for the Lyceum. But the knowledge does not trouble her unduly She is, in her opinion and without any feelings of conceit, divinely inspired. + |
| Cara Ashford + | Cara was born a daughter of House Rubino, blessed by fortune with good teeth and a steady mind. A quick study, her interest in things intellectual blossomed as she recovered from an unfortunate accident -- a fire, which left her with burn scars on her legs and a lengthy healing period. Quiet -- but not especially shy -- the young lady showed promise in the arts of diplomacy and the study of history, eventually growing into a maiden well-suited to gracing a parlor or fine dining hall and engaging in polite conversation. She married a cousin of House Ashford and left the Lyceum for greener climes, adjusting with relative grace to the very different life, and seemingly through luck finding true happiness with her husband -- until he was tragically discovered among the slain of the king's retinue. How she will adapt to this change in her life, and her position among her new house and her old, remains to be seen. + |
| Cara Grayson + | Cara was born a daughter of House Rubino, blessed by fortune with good teeth and a steady mind. A quick study, her interest in things intellectual blossomed as she recovered from an unfortunate accident -- a fire, which left her with burn scars on her legs and a lengthy healing period. Quiet -- but not especially shy -- the young lady showed promise in the arts of diplomacy and the study of history, eventually growing into a maiden well-suited to gracing a parlor or fine dining hall and engaging in polite conversation. She married a cousin of House Ashford and left the Lyceum for greener climes, adjusting with relative grace to the very different life, and seemingly through luck finding true happiness with her husband -- until he was tragically discovered among the slain of the king's retinue. How she will adapt to this change in her life, and her position among her new house and her old, remains to be seen. + |
| Caras Wyrmguard + | Caras Wyrmguard was born in the fortress city of House Wyrmguard, Blancbier. On the northern marches of the Oathlands, Blanbier is an important bastion protecting Sanctum from the heathen shavs of the north. As a young man, Caras showed great proficiency in martial training. This is not unusual for the sons and daughters of the Oathlands but Caras took to his training with great passion and vigor. Not simply a soldier or knight, but a student of the blade, his first campaign came at a relatively young age. While he played little part as a mere boy, he knew at the time that his life would be a constant battle - and he loved it. A careless and dismissive young man, he was selfish and self-centered. Haughty and superior. Few friends, little love of or for the people of the Wyrmguard lands or his family's retainers, he sought only glory for himself. A life of battle and death and harship. This was not the life he was destined to lead, however. A small unit commanded by the young lord was ambushed on patrol, nearer the road than they had expected. Not wanting to die for their selfish lord, the other men retreated and left Caras to his own fate. Though he fought well and bravely, he was cut down and left for dead on the road, alone in the cold. It was hours before anyone came along and he thought it a specter. A vision of a goddess offering succor and kindness, healing and protection. It was no entity but a Priestess of Gild. She gave him shelter and nursed him back to health. When he returned to Blancbier he found the men who had abandoned him had concocted a story that was not true. Caras forgave them, said nothing, and renounced his title and fealty to join the order of Gild. Caras traveled to Arx for his training, learning about the plight of those in need, the lives of the common folk, the way one can change a life through kindness, compassion, and charity. Once becoming godsworn, Caras began to travel. Walking the roads of the Compact with nothing but his generosity and charity, he brought the message of Gild far and wide through all the lands of the kingdom. His return to Arx several years ago came after deep contemplation and prayer. It would be a sacrifice considering his love of the road and the far-flung people that need the blessing of Gild, but it is a sacrifice he is willing to make and one that has paid dividends as he becomes the Archlector of Gild and increases his opportunities to praise the goddess. + |
| Carilova Nowak + | She rarely spoke of her origins and never claimed 'home' as any one place. Carilova seemed to know the customs of nearly all the more notable houses of the Compact and whether that came from study or firsthand experience had been the talk among the peerage after her departures. Noblemen and women had been eager to call and summon on her as a counselor, friend, advisor and notable guest. + |
| Carissa Malespero + | After being sent off to become a scholar on a far-flung island as an extra lady who was too rebellious for the Argento family, Carissa heard what happened to the nobles of Arx and returned in a panic a few years too late, after the Gyre had been defeated. Her family mostly dead, and her March given to Lianne, she yearned for something to do to gain back some measure of trust for herself and the name Argento. However, after learning some hard truths about that name, Carissa is humbled, thankful, and even grateful to Lianne for welcoming her home with open arms and kindness. She is working hard to regain herself, after so many years of anger. She's always been rebellious, it's true, but now she's trying to live up to the new family name she proudly wears. + |
| Carita Darkwater + | Once Upon a Time? (No, this is how I want my story to start.) Once Upon a Time there was a girl that grew up hungry, dirty, and poor in the Lower Burroughs as the youngest of seven other children. Her mother, Darya, was a former Thrall that managed to pay off her debt to live free - and her father was never spoken of. Life was difficult and unpleasant for the girl as she fought to make herself noticed among the rest of her siblings. It was a battle that she constantly lost, but she fought on. She was determined to better herself and her situation. It was expected that this girl would apprentice to some trade, to marry, or find work to support her constantly growing family - as many of her older siblings were already having children of their own. She worked as a barmaid in the Murder for quite some time (rest in pieces, Chanse, you bastard) before she caught the attentions of a courtier of the Whisper House and the two established an unlikely friendship. The courtier had also grown up in the Lower Burroughs, but had impressed the Radiant enough to train them and offer them a position among the Whispers. It was through this friendship that the girl realized that this could be her future, her chance to make it all better for herself. This was her calling, her passion. Constantly surrounded by interesting people, endless opportunities for socializing, and always having the finest things that her new life could afford her. Life as a Whisper suited her far much better than being a barmaid. When she received payment from her wealthy patrons, she always made sure to send a portion of it to her aging parents, but she always kept more for herself. As a girl that had grown up wanting, the woman that she became would never want for anything ever again. The woman would have been most content to remain a pampered Whisper for the rest of her days, but her heart (fiery and quick like her temper) led her to fall in love with a pirate. Well, he was a Darkwater. (It's more or less the same.) She had many misgivings of him and his intentions, considering that he was a Thrax - but Lord Baltus Darkwater proved to be a truthful man that honored his promises, and acted upon every lovely word that he had spoken to her. The woman would have been pleased to remain his lover indefinitely. When the Darkwater Lord proposed to her with the desire to make the woman his wife, she was surprised that she accepted it so easily. The wedding was a subdued affair (the dress was not) and the newly wedded pair went off together. Away from Arx, across a deep blue sea to a gem of an island called Cielos Encantadores. After a couple of years in this paradise, they finally had a child - a girl named Nerissa. And they lived Happily Ever? Oh, wait a moment. When Baltus was sent a summons by their liege, the Darkwater Count Maximilian, he answered and returned to the city of Arx. It was days after that Carita decided to follow her hushand with their daughter (and a nanny) so that they might be together again. Eager to starting a new adventure in the city that she was more than pleased to leave behind. ... Hopefully, they live Happily Ever After. (They didn't. Irreconcilable differences.) + |
| Carmen Harol + | Carmen grew up in the Lower Burroughs. Her mother was a laundress for the Mercies and her father a carpenter. They did okay as families went. As an only child she often followed at her mother's heels around the House of Solace. She proved an able helped and natural caretaker as a young child. It was when her mother insisted on her getting some schooling that her sweet demeanor faded. Carmen had a very keen mind and the stupidity she saw in the classes had her speaking out. It also had her targeted by those who didn't appreciate being made a fool of. Carmen came home angry and determined to give as good as she got. Until she hit her majority Carmen's youth was full of fighting and learning. The mercies had seen her natural gift and offered to train her, which she was happy to do. Yet she had made friends during her schooling and like most kids formed her own Burroughs gang. There were times her skills came in very handy. Her parents did not approve of her gang activities. So they brought her uncle, a Blade, to talk to her. He convinced her to give the Crimson Blades a try, where she could fight -and- use her medic skills -and- get paid for it. Seemed perfect to her. The fact that the Crimson Blades were elite helped a lot. The utter stupidity of people she couldn't help but comment on was not nearly as evident. And all her trainers actually had brains so she managed to not get in too much trouble for her smart mouth. Now six years in and through several wars she has come out a veteran combat medic. Preffering to use a small bows for protection on the field, she has become known among the blades as the Bloody Mercy. She wears the nickname with pride. + |
| Carrick Squallborn + | Carrick was born to a family of sailors and raiders. His father having been a sailor that fought off raiders and his grandfather on his mother's side being a raider that attacked ships. As a boy he grew up hearing the stories of the open sea as well as the honor of different warriors. It was his dream to go explore the sea as a sailor and he did. This was his life on the open sea fighting pirates while he explored. When he came home from his adventures he would fight with others in the village to show them how to fight raiders or any others that might come to attack. This lead to him quickly showing him to be the best warrior in the village. As he traveled out when he came back home would find a new challenger appeared to challenge him due to word of his skill of arms. This lead his name to grow even while sailing as a fearsome combatant as well as talented teacher for he would show those that he faced how to improve themselves as well as teach any who wished to know how to defend themselves. Finally after years of adventuring traveling and dueling. He was called to the Ravenseye house, they had heard of his skill and asked him to be sword of the house. Seeing it as a new adventure as well as wanting to settle down a bit to start a family Carrick agreed. His new title suited him more than he thought and now on his way to the city of Arx with the Countess seeing it as a new adventure to travel. + |
| Casiar Cross + | Born to Silvia and Daren Cross, Casiar grew up as an only child. His primary interests were academic, where all of the other kids his age he knew were more focused in the pursuits of physical prowess. Though most would speak to him, and he wouldn't ignore them or shun his peers, he did have some trouble in his mid-late teens with a few of the boys he grew up around. One in particular, a young man by the name of Rowen, had apparently decided that it was his place to "toughen him up", and his way of doing this was to knock Casiar around at every possible opportunity. many of Casiar's books, though worn and old already, fell to the destructive tendencies of Rowen and his ilk, as they pushed him around, tripped him, and even went as far as to break his nose more than once. Other than these encounters, Casiar's childhood was unremarkable in almost every way. Having become a scholar at the age of twenty-two, Casiar was forced to take a few months away from his studies only half a year later when he received word that his father had passed away unexpectedly. During his time back at home with his mother, while putting what little his family had in order, She too grew ill. After only two weeks from her diagnosis she too passed, while Casiar sat on her bed cradling her head in his lap. It was evident to all of his friends and fellow scholars that this experience took a heavy toll on him. While never outright dismissive or disrespectful of his fellows, Casiar was, prior to the loss of his parents, always more focused on his studies than on anything else, though after his return from his temporary leave, and the subsequent loss of both of his parents, Casiar spoke little. The easy smiles he always had for his friends were gone, his eyes were rarely focused unless the subject was a book or tome he was reading. He became introverted and quiet, obsessed with work and solitude. Those who called him a friend prior to his time away slipped from his notice, even a young woman he had grown close to could not get him to speak or take time away from his books. It has been over a decade since his tragic loss, and while Casiar has begun to come away from his studies more often than any time in the past ten years, he is still mostly quiet and heavily introverted. He has started to try to make new friends, as all those he once had have moved on to other appointments, married and moved away, retired or passed on themselves. At the age of thirty-four, with no prospects for marriage, and no sign that this is particularly bothersome to him, and with a head full of all the writing he devoured throughout the years, Casiar has started to venture out and interact with people more and more. Though still fairly shy and soft spoken, he hopes to put his knowledge to use for the benefit of The Crown. + |
| Casimir Acheron + | From a young age, Casimir was marked to seal a political alliance by marrying out of the family. You see, he never liked the family dogs. He never liked the wilds that much, either. He learned to endure both -- to ride, and to hunt, and to do everything that was expected of a Keaton lord -- but his true passion was found in books: histories and stories captured his imagination as the forests never could. He was still young when his eldest sister took her own life. He watched as Margerie took on the burden of rule with the incomprehension of the young, while his rather idle studies took on sharp new focus as he moved up the line of succession. His relief when he was bumped back down was matched only by Margerie's when Kael was found. The young promise of a political alliance was sealed through a marriage to house Acheron, and off Casimir went to Arx to meet his new wife. He has mixed feelings about setting aside the sigil of a dog's pawprint to take on that of a monstrous wolf-bear. + |
| Caspian Artiglio + | Caspian was a thrall because his father was a thrall and his mother was also a thrall, and his father's war debt was a lot to pay. Yet the Thrax fealty has spent the last few years struggling towards what the rest of the Compact would call progress, and in an early push towards some of that progress, Donella Thrax freed some thralls who were thralls only by virtue of their parents' debts rather than their own. Caspian was freed at 19, with scattered memories of his tribe's honestly piratical raiding traditions mostly subverted by the day in and day out of long hours of hard labor with tenant farmers and ropemakers and sailors. He found in his newfound freedom that what he was mainly good at was a.) hard labor and b.) knives! He took the surname 'Wild' because his parents didn't give him a better one, and became a mercenary and sword for hire, until he eventually tagged into being a duellist for the Champion's Guild in Arx on account of besting a few in combat and developing a reputation for being a real /showy/ sword for hire. Though he began as a kind of desperately hungry merc with an axe to grind, he blossomed into a delighted fighter at the opportunity to pitch his skills in the dueling ring to wealthy nobles. It was exactly the life for him. Money was suddenly easier to come by, and with money, delicious attention, heartwarming acclaim, and the love and affection of adoring crowds, at least as long as he was making a show of it. Turning to away from grim guts and leaping whole-heartedly into laughter and life, he shines with the brilliance of the bon vivant, and it's clear he's here to make a killing. + |
| Caspian Ru'Taul + | Caspian was a thrall because his father was a thrall and his mother was also a thrall, and his father's war debt was a lot to pay. Yet the Thrax fealty has spent the last few years struggling towards what the rest of the Compact would call progress, and in an early push towards some of that progress, Donella Thrax freed some thralls who were thralls only by virtue of their parents' debts rather than their own. Caspian was freed at 19, with scattered memories of his tribe's honestly piratical raiding traditions mostly subverted by the day in and day out of long hours of hard labor with tenant farmers and ropemakers and sailors. He found in his newfound freedom that what he was mainly good at was a.) hard labor and b.) knives! He took the surname 'Wild' because his parents didn't give him a better one, and became a mercenary and sword for hire, until he eventually tagged into being a duellist for the Champion's Guild in Arx on account of besting a few in combat and developing a reputation for being a real /showy/ sword for hire. Though he began as a kind of desperately hungry merc with an axe to grind, he blossomed into a delighted fighter at the opportunity to pitch his skills in the dueling ring to wealthy nobles. It was exactly the life for him. Money was suddenly easier to come by, and with money, delicious attention, heartwarming acclaim, and the love and affection of adoring crowds, at least as long as he was making a show of it. Turning to away from grim guts and leaping whole-heartedly into laughter and life, he shines with the brilliance of the bon vivant, and it's clear he's here to make a killing. + |
| Caspian Wild + | Caspian was a thrall because his father was a thrall and his mother was also a thrall, and his father's war debt was a lot to pay. Yet the Thrax fealty has spent the last few years struggling towards what the rest of the Compact would call progress, and in an early push towards some of that progress, Donella Thrax freed some thralls who were thralls only by virtue of their parents' debts rather than their own. Caspian was freed at 19, with scattered memories of his tribe's honestly piratical raiding traditions mostly subverted by the day in and day out of long hours of hard labor with tenant farmers and ropemakers and sailors. He found in his newfound freedom that what he was mainly good at was a.) hard labor and b.) knives! He took the surname 'Wild' because his parents didn't give him a better one, and became a mercenary and sword for hire, until he eventually tagged into being a duellist for the Champion's Guild in Arx on account of besting a few in combat and developing a reputation for being a real /showy/ sword for hire. Though he began as a kind of desperately hungry merc with an axe to grind, he blossomed into a delighted fighter at the opportunity to pitch his skills in the dueling ring to wealthy nobles. It was exactly the life for him. Money was suddenly easier to come by, and with money, delicious attention, heartwarming acclaim, and the love and affection of adoring crowds, at least as long as he was making a show of it. Turning to away from grim guts and leaping whole-heartedly into laughter and life, he shines with the brilliance of the bon vivant, and it's clear he's here to make a killing. + |
| Cassandra Laurent + | Cassandra Laurent was born to lead and she never doubted that. She never doubted her duty. She knew that she would be the Duchess of House Laurent, and that she would serve her family, and that she would serve House Valardin. But life, and the gods, had other plans for her. She was drawn early to the faith. At first she was merely a lay sister, dedicated to Gloria, to whom she felt called. But at the age of 20, while riding hard for her father's men in pursuit of a group of Shavs who had killed a priest and desecrated a shrine in one of their raids on a surrounding village, she was knocked from her horse and fell in battle. She fought her way clear of the Abandoned, but fell unconscious in the valley, separated from the others. Before she was recovered, she had a dream she attributed to Gloria, and when she woke, she knew that she could not remain the heir to her father's ducal seat. But she did something that she would never again do in her life: afraid of the reactions of her family, of her father and brother, she temporized. She hesitated. She kept finding excuses, putting off her passions for another day. When her father was in the midst of brokering a potential marriage alliance for her, however, she could no longer bear the silence. The lay dedicacy was not enough; she would serve the Faith, called to another duty than the one she had first been born to. Cassandra threw herself into the priesthood with her whole heart. She studied and worked and threw every ounce of her will behind serving the faith. It is possible that her connections to a Valardin ducal house -- godsworn though she was -- helped her in her climb through the ranks, but Cassandra liked to believe it was her passion and dedication that eventually made her the Archlector of Gloria. The pinnacle of her ambition is to be the Sword of the Faith -- and her eye lifts ever to that horizon. + |
| Cassia Mercier + | Cassia Mercier grew up with a comfortable life for a commoner. A scion of a merchant family, but she wasn't particularly close with her cousins. Her mother having "married" in, while her father was the Mercier-- who died when Cassia was barely five years old. The Merciers made sure she was cared for but she wasn't particularly close with them, and her mother wasn't very interested in pushing for a family connection. Cassia has always had a strong sense of smell and as a young girl would often be bothered by strong scents. Which was unfortunate since her mother was a fisherwoman. Cassia simply cannot stand the smell of fish and so refused to follow in her footsteps. Leaving under the same roof as a fisherman drove her to learn how to create other scents. She fell in love with the act of creating perfumes, of distilling oils, and creating things that smelt _good_. ...and that's what she's been doing ever since. + |
| Cassian Crovane + | Cassian was the second son of a Ravenseye family, and from the start seemed destined for adventure. Constantly exploring from the time he could crawl, climbing from the time he could walk, there was virtually nothing that could bar Cassian from a place. By the time he was of age, the sea beckoned to him and his parents could do nothing to dissuade him. His good nature and quick mind let him learn nearly every job aboard the ship, and it didn't take long for him to rise to the rank of Captain, with a crew that would follow him into storm or fire. His skill at sailing earned him renown, and the eye of a lovely woman from the House Crovane, though the latter would perish before their life together could truly blossom. + |
| Cassim Sanna + | Cassim is the second son of cousins to the Sanna, having grown up pretty much in the Giant's Reach his entire life. As a second son, he wasn't going to inherit anything anytime soon so he was expected to pick up the slack by being pressured into educational and artistic pursuits. This tempered him for a long life of reading books, and trying to make something out of nothing, but it was not what he wanted. He'd find himself constantly getting into trouble just to avoid it, which lead to him lashing out at his peers, family, and even important visitors. When he was eight, he ran away into the wilderness where he was lost for three days. In those three days, he was attacked by beasts, avoided detection by two thuggish looking men, and was discovered nearly dead by a Shaman who nursed him back to health. When he was strong enough to explain what happened, the Shaman scolded him, and returned him home. However, as a reward for his show of endurance and resourcefulness, he was offered an apprenticeship, to start upon his tenth birthday. He had two years to study all he could about herbalism, medicine, and the Spirits. His parents weren't thrilled, but they accepted it as a means of boosting his social rank to make him more viable for mates. What they hadn't expected, was the Shaman to return, and take their son into the woods never to be seen again for months at a time. Each time, Cassim came home a little more different. First, he was no longer the angry little boy he'd used to be, he was more relaxed, and laid back. Second, he'd begun to establish a certain distance between him and the rest of the family, and described it as a 'comfortable distance'. The third and final change, though, was when he never came home at all. He was eighteen when his mentor passed from this life into the next. That was when his real training began. His mentor, had left him a number of clues and notes to prepare him for the next phase of his journey. His vision quest. For two long years, he was to live in the wilderness, survive, and by the end commune with the Spirits, while coming to an understanding of the differences between his Free Soul, and his Mundane Soul, and why each can't exist while the other is active. He has only just returned, from this grueling ordeal. A changed man? Only time can tell. + |
| Cassima Thrax + | The eldest daughter of a lesser line of the principal house of Thrax, Cassima never expected to be in line for anything. Her father was about as foreign to the ways of the Mourning Isles as it was possible for a man to be: the younger son of a Northern march, inclined to study, whose hobby was mathematics and logical proofs. Yet he brought with him wealth for the House and the knowledge of what to do with that wealth, and was embraced by the family as an odd, but useful, addition to the line. Still, he had no sons, and that was an unending frustration for Cassima's mother, who wanted nothing more than a prince to push into the line of fire, that is, the line of duty that are the internecine politics of a major house. Cassima loved her father more than anything in the world, and so she grew up at his knee. Books and learning were their special time together, when she was free of the nursery and could sit with him in his study, and while there were not insignificant tensions between he and his wife Alyona Thrax, with his daughter he could sit and think and talk -- frequently well over her head, but in deepest earnest. So it was that she grew up a daddy's girl with a most untraditional father in a traditional house, and there's nothing that breeds true like nerdery. Cassima focused on learning everything that she could about literally everything, but especially the running and management of a house, the running and management of an army, the logistics and the inglorious; it's easy to pay attention to maths when they're maths based on people's lives, the food and clothing and gear and everything that is desperately needed in a world where it might be more fun to pay heed to the more glorious questions of war. Cassima's father died when she was still young, but his death only served to fire her determination to embrace all that he was and had been. There has always been a strong tradition of Thrax economists, lawyers, and managers, so Cassima found that although she felt the pangs of outsiderhood because she learned these things at her father's knee rather than her mother's, she was not an iconoclast, and found herself uniquely situated among her sister women -- vehemently traditional in her interests, vehemently nontraditional in her outlook, she fit in with neither the old guard of grandmothers with their finely manicured fingers twisted around the purse strings nor the new guard of young women reaching for the progressive outreach that she saw growing in many of the vassal houses to Thrax. Alone in a crowd, an outsider among insiders, she developed her self-sufficiency along with her personal brilliance, and learned to obscure and shroud her basic, fundamental loneliness in a traditionally nerdy way: humor. As an adult, she finds Thrax on a precipice of change and arrives in the capital with a certainty that her fundamentals are those that her family will desperately need. She has reached out to join the scholars and economists and thinkers of Arx to drive herself into new connections and new friendships that might help her build anew and learn and grow. + |
| Cassimir Inverno + | Cassimir is the only child of Artemis and Theda Argento. From his birth, his mother exercised control over the minutiae of his life, while his father was emotionally and physically distant. Without a firm hand to tame her overpowering will, Theda's oppression would contribute to the bulk of his underdeveloped social skills and a period of adolescent malcontent. When Cassimir came of age, he decidedly channeled every ounce of his free time to knowledgable pursuits that he hoped would one day be the basis for his escape from the prison his estate exemplified. At every turn, he shunned his mother's wiles. Such overt acts of rebellion greatly displeased Theda, who, agitated by an increasing awareness that the family's reputation and favor in Arx was steeply declining, sought above all else to secure a good match for her son and, through him, herald in a new age of prosperity and power. On the morn of Cassimir's twentieth birthday, Theda stirred to find his chambers empty, with nary a trace left behind to inform her of where he had gone. She searched and she waited, but it became quite clear that he had abdicated his wealth and titles, and ultimately rejected the Argento family for good and all. In the very same year, Theda's most potent fears would become stark reality: House Argento was summarily eradicated, and his parents with it. Cassimir is keenly aware of the events that transpired, and the unfortunate reputation that his surname espouses. A cautious inclination to emerge from hiding has budded over time, so sightings of the scholarly scion have become more frequent in the capital city. With the rise of Lianne Pravus claiming the title of Marquessa of Nilanza after the destruction of his house, and the formation of House Malespero from the remains, it was with readiness and great relief that Cassimir cast off his ruined name to join them, and start anew. + |
| Cassiopeia Leporidae + | Cassiopeia of Tremorus, said to be the most beautiful woman in the far Southern city-state hidden away in the Saffron Chain. A woman who has inspired bards to sing of her allure and whom great artists of her time beg to portray her with their craft, as she is frequently spoken of as the personification of ideal human beauty. Paintings of her sell for quite a lot of money and motifs are jealously guarded but in truth, the woman who has sparked the myth is no more attractive than her sister Andromeda nor her cousins. She possesses a special quality, a presence, that many have a difficult time reconciling with gravitas and while their father enjoys the reputation his eldest daughter has begotten, Cassiopeia finds it somewhat exhausting. Ever since she was a young girl it was as if her only lot in life was to be something sought after and obtained but never appreciated for who she truly is - an indelible truth she couldn't shake no matter how hard she tried. This led to years in which she would constantly find herself going from one adventure to another in order to escape the reality of feeling put upon a pedestal and gawked at. Oftentimes this was counter productive for when she was discovered to be /the/ Cassiopeia the ship's crew or some random sellword accompanying her at the time would become fixated to the point of obsessed and she'd need to abandon ship, quite literally, and find some new bout of adventure aboard another vessel. While she traveled the Saffron Chains she learned many useful skills and her experiences tempered her into a very capable woman but no matter how far she ran, Cassiopeia simply could not escape her woes. Since she could not escape her reality she chose instead to do the next best thing and sequester herself away from it all -- retreating into solitude and privacy within the walls of the Sky Palace. Year after year her 'Pa-Pa' would receive countless offers of marriage from a myriad of places and while most of them were trash, some were immense opportunities in his eyes. Even though his daughter would sometimes give him the vapors somehow she was, politically, worth a great deal. He never forced her to marry however and so she did not. After some months squirreled away in the city-state she began to grow restless. Hearing that her siblings had gone to the capital of the Compact, she decided it was time to follow. If not to get away from all the clingers on, then at least to explore this new city. With the reclusive young Lady's recent reemergence into the forefront of politics and goings on in Tremorus there is a bustle of excitement and hushed whispers about why she has -really- chosen to rejoin society proper after being gone for almost a decade. + |
| Cassiopeia Proscipi + | Cassiopeia of Tremorus, said to be the most beautiful woman in the far Southern city-state hidden away in the Saffron Chain. A woman who has inspired bards to sing of her allure and whom great artists of her time beg to portray her with their craft, as she is frequently spoken of as the personification of ideal human beauty. Paintings of her sell for quite a lot of money and motifs are jealously guarded but in truth, the woman who has sparked the myth is no more attractive than her sister Andromeda nor her cousins. She possesses a special quality, a presence, that many have a difficult time reconciling with gravitas and while their father enjoys the reputation his eldest daughter has begotten, Cassiopeia finds it somewhat exhausting. Ever since she was a young girl it was as if her only lot in life was to be something sought after and obtained but never appreciated for who she truly is - an indelible truth she couldn't shake no matter how hard she tried. This led to years in which she would constantly find herself going from one adventure to another in order to escape the reality of feeling put upon a pedestal and gawked at. Oftentimes this was counter productive for when she was discovered to be /the/ Cassiopeia the ship's crew or some random sellword accompanying her at the time would become fixated to the point of obsessed and she'd need to abandon ship, quite literally, and find some new bout of adventure aboard another vessel. While she traveled the Saffron Chains she learned many useful skills and her experiences tempered her into a very capable woman but no matter how far she ran, Cassiopeia simply could not escape her woes. Since she could not escape her reality she chose instead to do the next best thing and sequester herself away from it all -- retreating into solitude and privacy within the walls of the Sky Palace. Year after year her 'Pa-Pa' would receive countless offers of marriage from a myriad of places and while most of them were trash, some were immense opportunities in his eyes. Even though his daughter would sometimes give him the vapors somehow she was, politically, worth a great deal. He never forced her to marry however and so she did not. After some months squirreled away in the city-state she began to grow restless. Hearing that her siblings had gone to the capital of the Compact, she decided it was time to follow. If not to get away from all the clingers on, then at least to explore this new city. With the reclusive young Lady's recent reemergence into the forefront of politics and goings on in Tremorus there is a bustle of excitement and hushed whispers about why she has -really- chosen to rejoin society proper after being gone for almost a decade. She didn't really expect as much to change as it did, however. Following the destruction of the palace in Tremorus, the deaths of much of her extended family, the fall of her liege, and the ennoblement of Giorgio and naming him as Ezmeralda's successor, Cassiopeia wasn't seen for weeks afterwards. When she finally was, it was announced she had formally joined very distant family in the city-state of Sangris, House Vaevici, and would not be returning to Tremorus- not now, and possibly not ever, which has caused a great deal of gossip among the peerage as to her reasons. + |
| Cassiopeia Vaevici + | Cassiopeia of Tremorus, said to be the most beautiful woman in the far Southern city-state hidden away in the Saffron Chain. A woman who has inspired bards to sing of her allure and whom great artists of her time beg to portray her with their craft, as she is frequently spoken of as the personification of ideal human beauty. Paintings of her sell for quite a lot of money and motifs are jealously guarded but in truth, the woman who has sparked the myth is no more attractive than her sister Andromeda nor her cousins. She possesses a special quality, a presence, that many have a difficult time reconciling with gravitas and while their father enjoys the reputation his eldest daughter has begotten, Cassiopeia finds it somewhat exhausting. Ever since she was a young girl it was as if her only lot in life was to be something sought after and obtained but never appreciated for who she truly is - an indelible truth she couldn't shake no matter how hard she tried. This led to years in which she would constantly find herself going from one adventure to another in order to escape the reality of feeling put upon a pedestal and gawked at. Oftentimes this was counter productive for when she was discovered to be /the/ Cassiopeia the ship's crew or some random sellword accompanying her at the time would become fixated to the point of obsessed and she'd need to abandon ship, quite literally, and find some new bout of adventure aboard another vessel. While she traveled the Saffron Chains she learned many useful skills and her experiences tempered her into a very capable woman but no matter how far she ran, Cassiopeia simply could not escape her woes. Since she could not escape her reality she chose instead to do the next best thing and sequester herself away from it all -- retreating into solitude and privacy within the walls of the Sky Palace. Year after year her 'Pa-Pa' would receive countless offers of marriage from a myriad of places and while most of them were trash, some were immense opportunities in his eyes. Even though his daughter would sometimes give him the vapors somehow she was, politically, worth a great deal. He never forced her to marry however and so she did not. After some months squirreled away in the city-state she began to grow restless. Hearing that her siblings had gone to the capital of the Compact, she decided it was time to follow. If not to get away from all the clingers on, then at least to explore this new city. With the reclusive young Lady's recent reemergence into the forefront of politics and goings on in Tremorus there is a bustle of excitement and hushed whispers about why she has -really- chosen to rejoin society proper after being gone for almost a decade. She didn't really expect as much to change as it did, however. Following the destruction of the palace in Tremorus, the deaths of much of her extended family, the fall of her liege, and the ennoblement of Giorgio and naming him as Ezmeralda's successor, Cassiopeia wasn't seen for weeks afterwards. When she finally was, it was announced she had formally joined very distant family in the city-state of Sangris, House Vaevici, and would not be returning to Tremorus- not now, and possibly not ever, which has caused a great deal of gossip among the peerage as to her reasons. + |
| Cassius Nightgold + | A second son, Cassius was never destined to rule, so his lessons on leadership were taken less seriously than his training to become a Knight. Long hours were spent with the seraph appointed to Stonedeep, arguing the finer points of the Pantheon versus Shamanism. Torn between an ingrained Northern pride and a calling toward the Faith, Cassius looked for signs of what he was meant to do, and he found one in the Knights of Solace. Spending time with the pilgrims being escorted toward Arx, many of them recent converts from shamanism, Cassius found his calling. With his family's blessing, if not their full understanding, Cassius set out for Arx where he could begin his training in earnest. Slow to master the blade but quick to pick up on the nuances of the Faith, Cassius worked hard to overcome prejudice against his Northern roots, the way paved for him somewhat due to his noble origins. Well-versed in navigating the mountainous region of his birth, Cassius was often sent along with more experienced Knights on treks that involved fetching pilgrims from areas closer to the Everwinter. It was one such trek Cassius was on when his group was set upon by a band of Abandoned. On the defensive due to the unarmed faithful accompanying them, several Knights were slain. Leading those remaining alive and injured toward Stonedeep to rest and resupply, Cassius was greeted with the news that his father had disappeared, and that just days prior, the severed fingers of his brother and other relatives had been delivered to the Stonedeep gates. Furious with his father for leaving and with himself for not being at Stonedeep when he could have been of use, Cassius lost himself for a time to alcohol, abandoning the Knights of Solace and leaving his sisters to maintain order in Stonedeep on their own. Weeks passed like this, with Cassius getting into drunken brawls, having blackouts, and waking up with chunks of time missing. Things came to a head when one night in a fit of rage over a Poker game, Cassius wrapped his hands around a man's throat without any true intent, but without his wits about him all the same. When he came to from this particular blackout, he was in the company of the Knights Solace once more. No one offered any information about the night prior and he didn't ask any questions, instead packing his things and getting back to the trail, redoubling his focus on bringing those who desire the comfort of the true Faith to Arx. + |
| Cassius Pravus + | A second son, Cassius was never destined to rule, so his lessons on leadership were taken less seriously than his training to become a Knight. Long hours were spent with the seraph appointed to Stonedeep, arguing the finer points of the Pantheon versus Shamanism. Torn between an ingrained Northern pride and a calling toward the Faith, Cassius looked for signs of what he was meant to do, and he found one in the Knights of Solace. Spending time with the pilgrims being escorted toward Arx, many of them recent converts from shamanism, Cassius found his calling. With his family's blessing, if not their full understanding, Cassius set out for Arx where he could begin his training in earnest. Slow to master the blade but quick to pick up on the nuances of the Faith, Cassius worked hard to overcome prejudice against his Northern roots, the way paved for him somewhat due to his noble origins. Well-versed in navigating the mountainous region of his birth, Cassius was often sent along with more experienced Knights on treks that involved fetching pilgrims from areas closer to the Everwinter. It was one such trek Cassius was on when his group was set upon by a band of Abandoned. On the defensive due to the unarmed faithful accompanying them, several Knights were slain. Leading those remaining alive and injured toward Stonedeep to rest and resupply, Cassius was greeted with the news that his father had disappeared, and that just days prior, the severed fingers of his brother and other relatives had been delivered to the Stonedeep gates. Furious with his father for leaving and with himself for not being at Stonedeep when he could have been of use, Cassius lost himself for a time to alcohol, abandoning the Knights of Solace and leaving his sisters to maintain order in Stonedeep on their own. Weeks passed like this, with Cassius getting into drunken brawls, having blackouts, and waking up with chunks of time missing. Things came to a head when one night in a fit of rage over a Poker game, Cassius wrapped his hands around a man's throat without any true intent, but without his wits about him all the same. When he came to from this particular blackout, he was in the company of the Knights Solace once more. No one offered any information about the night prior and he didn't ask any questions, instead packing his things and getting back to the trail, redoubling his focus on bringing those who desire the comfort of the true Faith to Arx. + |
| Castiel Thrax + | Castiel was born in the bowels of a ship; it seems that both the claustrophobic darkness and the salty musk of a trading vessel were both things the young Thrax learned to love as much as the mother who brought him into the world. He was a curious child given his kin, possessing both an affinity for books and longing for the furious crucible of war, yet while growing up he never cared to settle his differences - which he had more than his fair share of - in the more conventional manner of fisticuffs; there was always someone bigger, stronger and older willing to though, and that person could be enticed to do so on his behalf. When he became of age Castiel was restless; wanderlust had settled in him, and as soon as he could find a place on a ship he seized the opportunity and sailed with them. It was no heavily manned war galley, only a light merchant caravel and yet he loved the experience and spent the next three years working just about every rank on it until he took control altogether. A naturally patient man even at the time, he discovered he had an affinity for coin and learned how to make more very quickly; traders are shrewd people but he milked every advantage he had until just after his twentieth birthday he already controlled - in everything but name - a small but busy fleet of ships sailing the islands. Since negotiating the waters in the Saffron Chain means dealing with scum, Castiel first became acquainted with negotiating with pirates early on and then as he became more confident in the practice and his connections grew, he saw the benefits of working with them. A naturally untrustworthy and self-serving bunch, they could still be manipulated when it was to their best interest to do so, something which the young Thrax counted as an advantage; knowing what moves a person is leverage. He cultivated such ties very carefully and let them grow, expanding his interests past the islands along as whispers of an oncoming war reached him even in the eastern seas. After years of making a name for himself in the open waters and becoming a veteran captain in his mid-twenties, Castiel finally realized he could no longer neglect his obligations to House Thrax. He is fully aware he is *different* than many of his peers; a self-described progressive traditionalist, he is more concerned with *winning* than he is with just how such a feat can be achieved, and it's something which has caused friction at times during family gatherings. He hopes his return might herald a shift in tactics - achieving dominance built on the back of robust positions, careful planning and employing cunning as much as brute strength. + |
| Castinus Blackshore + | Recently arrived in New Hope flying the heraldry of Blackshore, much of Castinus' history is as much of an enigma as the man himself. From what little that has been let slip, his intentions are to reconnect with lost family members whom he himself as been out of contact with for a great deal of time, to beseech aid or perhaps offer it himself. + |
| Castor Redwind + | In the quiet farming village north of Stonedeep, nestled in the mountains, known as Redhaven. It guards Redhaven's Pass, by far one of the most treacherous was to get to Whitehold and rarely used. The lowly Baron Dominic Redwind, former Lieutenant of the army, retired to married life with Haruka Devonshire, a courtier vassal of the Grayson family. He has come to the city in hopes of proving himself somewhat worthy to be heir. Cas has come to Arx with his mother's assistance to seek knowledge and better himself for the road ahead. He has much self learning to do. + |
| Castruccio Fidante + | From a young age, Castruccio was a brooder. Where other children played pranks and made jokes, he was more likely to explore than partake in games. Though plain to all that as he grew older his ambitions were militant in nature, his father directed him instead to theological studies. It left a bitterness in Castruccio to see his cousins and older brother getting to train all day at the sword, though indeed, he did train in secret as often as possible. It didn't help that he received much mockery for having to study and read during the day when others were training outside. His first scandal, and the first of many scandals attributed to his name, was from the result of a duel with a far-removed cousin that resulted in the lad's death. Though ruled accidental, rumours began to circulate, pointing out that the deceased had been the biggest instigator when it came to harassing Castruccio. s he grew older, his father began to send him on diplomatic meetings, which he actually took to with aplomb. Oft times the biggest detractors of House Fidante would find their minds changed to everyone's surprise, though the occasional accident and rise of someone with more sympathetic views to Castruccio's mission occurred more often than might be easily swallowed as coincidence. Still, it left Castruccio with a reputation as an intellectual, as well, though he still railed against the life chosen for him. Until it all changed. No one was sure what the duel was over, but a fight between Castruccio and his older brother left Castruccio two times a kinslayer, for he won the fight. Then he left. Six years were spent as a soldier of fortune, Castruccio building up name and reputation for himself. Six years of carefully selecting alliances, and sometimes fighting for one enemy only to switch to another when the profit was correct. It's only now that the threat of the Gyre is so impending, that Castruccio has returned to his family to take up as a Knight of the Rose. + |
| Catalana Kennex + | Molded from an early age by the needs of others, Catalana has always been determined to be all things to all people. For her unconventional sister Jan, she took on the softness and the strength of a traditional Isles lady, the vessel into which her parents poured their hopes and dreams... all so that Jan would have room to be different. For her brother Evander, always on the edge of death and shunned by parents who feared the pain of losing him, she became mother and nurse. For Marquis Denholm, she became at first a personal secretary, then an advisor and a skilled diplomat as the old Marquis relied on her more and more during the last years of his life. It was while she was representing the Marquis in negotiations in Bastion that she met Washburn Grayson. She first saw him hanging from a rope as her carriage drove in the main gate, and thought he must be an executed criminal. (In reality, he tried to climb the outer wall of Bastion on a dare, fell, and knocked himself out. Alcohol was involved.) Needless to say, that first glimpse made an impession, and she sought him out. The dramatic and often out of control Grayson prince spun her through a wild affair that lasted for three delightful months. It was with regret that she parted from him once her work in Bastion was done, but she couldn't wallow in self-indulgence forever. There were people back home who needed her. When Washburn was discovered as a stowaway on her ship, Catalana realized that he needed her, too. The sheer depth of that need -- he completely falls apart without her -- would have overwhelmed most people, but it drew her to him. She knew as she watched him plead through tears not to be sent away from her that he would propose to her someday, and she knew when that he did, she would forsake her duty on Stormward, and join him in Bastion as a Grayson princess. What she didn't anticipate was the second part of his proposal -- he wanted to throw away his title and his name and become Wash Kennex. Denholm's death and the gruesome return of Ford hit Catalana hard. She withdrew from public life and focused on being a wife, and later a mother. She didn't tell Wash when she was pregnant with Cirella because she knew he'd worry himself to pieces, and wound up giving birth on the ship that took her to Arx to join him. A son, Rahne, followed a couple of years later in a more conventional birth. With the death of Ford and the rise of House Kennex, Catalana has decided that the time has come for her to step up and be the diplomat that this house full of gruff sailors so desperately needs. + |
| Catalina Rossi + | Catalina was born into service in the Igniseri household, her father a trusted steward who saw to the affairs of the house through Emilisia's various marriages, and her mother a ladies maid who was ever at the Countess' side to offer what support and advice she could. Catalina was born when the countess' children were still young, but from an early age, the girl displayed a remarkably bright mind and malleable nature. She was learning her father's work while still a child, and assisting her mother and learning the ways of the court when her father was too busy for her help. By the time she reached her early teens, it was clear that the girl had talent - and more, potential. She could read people like a book, and was easy enough to overlook as a servant but skilled enough to have access to other reaches of the court. Light of hand and foot, with an easy smile, she had all the grace and wits she might need. And so, in the interests of the house, she was trained in other means of support. The houses of the Lyceum are known for intrigue and deception, and Catalina is but a pawn in that game - albeit a useful one. + |
| Cato Corsetina + | A native of a hamlet outside of Tor, Cato's early life was identical to that of his forefathers for generations: The halcyon existence of a goatherd. A poor but idyllic life was his for some time, until his father perished in a riding accident when he was 16, and his mother died five years later to a pox. With no family and few prospects, Cato sold off the last of the family's assets set off for the city to find work. At 22, he found work as a drover; at 24, he found love, and a wife in the Corsetina family. A few short years later, war found him. The Tor-Southport conflict kicked into high gear, and Cato was among many of the eligible young commoners levied for the troops of the Fidante. The mud on his hands was traded for blood, and Cato found no glory or happiness in combat. Fortunately, he discovered something else: An uncanny knack for gambling and reading eyes at the card table. This skill would stay with him for life; gambling remained a side hustle for him throughout the campaign and after it. At the conclusion of the war, Cato ended his service at the earliest possible opportunity, eager to return home, only to find that his wife had perished in childbirth, along with their unborn child. Widowed, childless, and now out of a job, Cato's fortunes were only improved by profits from war spoils, and his veteran's dispensation. These, he used to return to a life familiar to his old one; at 31, he purchased the beginnings of a goatherd, and worked a spit of land just outside the city. Time and patience brought rewards; for the past two decades, he has tended and expanded his goatherd, and brought up small pools of other livestock as well. The wheels of his progression have been greased considerably, however, by the card table. Huddled over eights and aces, Cato came to rub shoulders with the jacks, queens, and kings of Tor's lower elements, and in place of a second marriage, he became wedded to complex trade networks which shy away from prying eyes, from Arx to Tor and back. It was here that Cato began to shine. After all, when the guards were searching for smugglers, why would they suspect the old guy who sold them their evening mutton? All the better for him; at 53, Cato has already outlived both of his parents, and for all the connections and satisfaction his day and night jobs bring him, he still has no legacy to show for it. Who shall tend to his goats when he passes? Who shall manage his complex finances? To whom shall he teach which guards to bribe and which to blackmail? And most of all, who's gonna look after his dang horse? Cato's made his life by reading eyes at the card table, but the glassy gaze of Arvum is, so far, opaque. And worst of all, the gambler's temptation never fades. There is always more to be won. Perhaps, in his twilight years, it's finally time to double down...? + |
| Catriona Thrax + | The last of four daughters (and Coraline's younger twin), it's perhaps unsurprising that the baby of the family became the favorite. Whereas her mother had always wanted a son and Catriona represented the end of that dream, that same mother beamed with pride as she grew into the perfect little lady. Everything came easy to Catriona. She was intelligent, sociable, and beautiful. She studied the law. She was an accomplished dancer. Strangers could get lost in conversation with her for hours. Her parents could not have been more proud of the proper princess Catriona became, particularly in light of the rebellion of her twin, Coraline. Like all the Thrax-Leary girls, she spent every summer in Leaholdt with her Leary relatives. While Caith was given to reading and got along well with all their intellectual cousins and Coraline spent her time hanging out with those who were more combat oriented, Catriona found love in her middle teen years. A younger son of a younger son of a Velenosian noble, Catriona spent the happiest of summers with the man. It was the only time she ever considered marrying for love rather than position. From him, she learned many of the Velenosian ways, particularly related to information gathering and subterfuge. This was a type of power a proper Thraxian woman could wield, and Catriona was fascinated. Alas, their love was not to be. The boy, doing his duty, returned to his family's home and was married off not long after. Catriona remembered the lesson, and vowed that love would only ever be a pleasant distraction for her. The rest of the time, she would be smiling and scheming her way up the social ladder. + |
| Cecilia Kennex + | The youngest daughter of Marquis Denholm Kennex and his wife Claudia, Cecilia was a golden child, smiling, chubby cheeked, with a mop of glossy, pale curls. As a young child she was doted upon, even spoiled by her father, while her relationship with her mother, who was jealous of the attention her daughter got from her husband, grew increasingly contentious. To keep the peace, Denholm eventually had to send her away; at a very young age, she was sent to Blancbier, where Victoria could keep an eye on her. Her mother died shortly after she left, but Victoria convinced Denholm that Blancbier was a healthier place for young Cecilia to be than Stormward, and so she stayed. She was barely in her teens when word came to her that her father was very ill. Cecilia rushed home, but by the time she got there, it was too late. Her beloved father was dead. She hadn't even gotten the chance to say goodbye. Her sister Renatta was dead, too. Her brother Ford, a near-stranger to her who she'd always looked up to as a heroic figure, was the new Marquis, but there were dark whispers of what he'd done to secure his place. A very drunk Naomi Cutter was the one who finally told her everything: There had been a rebellion against Ford's rule, during which Renatta (and Naomi's own father) had been killed. Ford had broken guest right in the most violent way to put it down. Cecilia didn't believe it. She couldn't believe it. Her brother would never do such a thing, and people should stop spreading vicious lies. When Ford sent her abroad again, this time to Tor to continue her studies, he sent away a confused and angry girl who would, over time, blossom into a confused and angry young woman. She embraced the Lycene lifestyle and values as an act of rebellion against her heritage, and repeatedly resisted (or outright ignored) calls for her to come home. By the time word came to Cecilia that Ford had been murdered, she was no longer the innocent girl she had been, and was finally prepared to accept her brother's flawed character. His death turned out to be the closure that she needed in order to return to her family, especially when she learned that his young son Darion, now the Duke under a regency, was also under threat, with at least one attempt on his life already thwarted. And so, by now more Lycene than Isleswoman, Cecilia has returned to the family, determined to go to any lengths necessary to avoid seeing her nephew follow his father to an early grave. + |
| Cecilli Blackwood + | Cecilli was born in the late winter, a child born to commoners struggling to keep her warm-- of course, come spring, she had survived. Her upbringing was riddled with fables and tales common in the northern shamanistic tradition, all which left behind footprints in her mind. Not just lessons and wisdom, but laws and realities of her world, an assurance that the existence of the incorporeal was just beyond touch, but communicable to her through the signs inherent in the world around her. As she grew, she only became more sure of this. Her world was filled with the supernatural, and it called to her; it was perceptible, but only barely, requiring a trained eye and the favor of the spirits, a favor won by realizing the hardships of nature through a lifetime within it. She left behind her village when she came of age, travelling within the wilderness and beyond it with a long-time friend and protector, a knight from her homeland. + |
| Cedarav Grisni + | Born in the Lycene city state of Tor, Ced's parents were Vesalius, a mason, and Robyn, a noted artist. It is from his mother that he first developed his love of anatomy, as he was often underfoot in the salons and portrait galleries - often, with models in the natural state, given Lycene tastes. He was always sharp as a child, and ever getting into problems, but usually able to think or talk his way out of them, and grew a decent artist in his own right, though he was far better at sketches and outlines than picture perfection. He, an only child, was offered a scholarship to the Tor Academy and excelled in many of his classes. He enrolled in the college of Alchemy, Medicine and Apothecary, though left quite adruptly in his last year of study. There was some question as to why he left so suddenly, but usually it is chalked up to his uncanny ability, that he simply had learned all he could there. He travelled first to Setarco, where he set up his shingle. Performing many operations in a rather short time period, he drew the attention of House Pravus, who offered him patronage and a bigger space than his less-than-desireable bit-rate clinic. Travelling with many of their family over the years, he has both cared for the members and employees of the Pravus household as well as made significant contributions to the field of anatomy, and his texts are starting to make their way into public light, although there are many who scoff at his methods and ideas. + |
| Cedric Primm + | Cedric had a different name when he was a boy, but this one suits him perfectly well. When he was young, he was a child of thralls under the dominion of a lesser family of Thrax fealty, but in the course of being transported through the islands of the Saffron Chain, the ship was wrecked in a storm and half the crew eaten by sharks or other monsters. The boy and his mother survived along with a handful of other men, some of whom tried to swim for it and if they made it, neither Cedric nor his mother ever heard anything about it. However, a ship of explorers bound Southward for an expedition towards the Darkwater Deeps took them aboard when the Ashford party on the deck caught sight of the blaze from their bonfire. The expedition took them on, on the promise that they would get out of the way, and while there were terrors in the deeps the ship braved before it eventually returned to the relative safe harbor of Sanctum. Romance was in the air between Cedric's mother and one of the Ashford retainers' servants on the long overland haul from Sanctum to Ashford Keep. Cedric took his new name from his new father, and began working as a servant in the servants' quarters for the Ashfords. Cedric signed up for military service when he was old enough, but it was aptitude and the servants' family connections that essentially placed him in a position of valet to one of the knight-officers in service to Ashford Keep. He served there for a term of five years until, in his late 20s, his mother died and his stepfather remarried, leaving Cedric the guardian of his little sister. Cedric retired from military service to a more stationary post working as a steward for the Ashfords. His little sister Celia was the light of his life, and became the central figure of Ashford Keep's kitchens, particularly in the bakery. As a house man and fine steward with a history of service as a valet, there is no more sensible servant to bring along as a member of an expedition to ensure that one's boots get the mud and blood off them. Neither is there anyone more surprisingly useful in a pinch. + |
| Celeste Pravus + | Piero Pravus was entirely too gentle on his baby girl, and many over the years have said that this is exactly the reason that Celeste is the way she is. She had the run of Setarco as a girl, a constantly changing array of tutors (changing because she changed her mind on what she wanted to do with her life, or threw a fit and got rid of them), and a number of failed courtships where the betrothal period ended with the other side walking away from the "impossible" Pravus. Which is not to say that there are no redeemable qualities about the younger sister to the Duchess. She is a devout follower of the Pantheon, and took especially to the practices of the Mirrormasks. It's no wonder, really, with her contrary nature, that she should devote much of her time to the practices of the Thirteenth. Her enjoyment in this form of worship has had her as an active member of the Thirteenth's discipleship from an early age. This would prove to be key to understanding the young Celeste, and something her sister would take advantage of later in life. Beyond that, Celeste proved to be /really/ good at strategy. Chess and checkers gave way to military games, and Celeste consistently found herself capable of winning them. Some encouraged her to become a soldier, to join the military, to get disciplined... but that didn't happen. She has no desire to fight personally. None. When Belladonna began to make her moves and consolidate power in Setarco, Celeste was one of her first attempts. She reigned her free-spirited little sister in and began to use that mind to help maneuver enemies. Celeste may not be ambitious, but she's become devoted to her family and steps up to the plate whenever they have need of her, and it all started with Belladonna. With Setarco taking heavy losses in the battle against the Gyre, Celeste no longer has the option of staying quiet in the sidelines. She's been called to Arx to advice the duchy and take her place among the court. + |
| Celine Valardin + | The tale is well-known by those in the Oathlands: Princess Marianne Valardin was an infectiously charismatic daughter of Sanctum, someone different from most her fellow White Dragons. She was unafraid of pushing social boundaries to the very extremes, always mingling with the Commonfolk and defying her family whenever she felt was right. Next to her the Valardin were seen as stuffy, and Princess Marianne as someone who put in full display just how pleasant a White Dragon could be. So wild was the Princess that she clashed against expectations and challenged tradition to marry for love, her husband a Lycene merchant named Marcello, a simple commoner. The crowds erupted in jubilation at wedding and the chaos in the White City that day was legendary, and it was to this legacy that Celine, the second of four children, was born. Celine and Marcello were close, and with him she learned to be a watchful woman, to think before acting and how to engratiate herself to others. She travelled much with her father and met many Oathlanders, displaying talent for making friends whenever she went. Unbeknownst to Celine, the bonds of friendship she forged would feel punishing as the Tragedy befell Sanctum and many of her acquaintances were butchered. People she had dined with, shared dances and whose laughter she would never forget. After the Tragedy, Celine withdrew into her shell more and more, to the point her father, when he decided to ride out to join the othe rValardin in avenging the Tragedy, had to say his farewells through the closed doors of her chambers. A survivor of the Tragedy she might had been but the sickness of grief had taken hold deeply within Celine's young heart. The unfortunate turning point for the young Valardin came weeks later, when her mother's life was claimed in the dead of night by Audrey, her older sister. All at once, Marienne's death seemed to snap Celine into a state of awarenesss that the house servants described as baleful, something none had ever seen in the young Princess. Celine stood by her dead mother laying in a pool of her own blood as her older sister was taken away, and until the Valardin came to take Marienne's corpse, that is where she stood, now responsible for her two younger siblings, Lenard and Stephanie. The years since have seen the life return to Celine Valardin, and although she has never been quite the same, most Oathlanders agree that there is a charm and levity to the White Dragon that is hard to find. Since taking the reins of her family, Celine made sure that Lenard found a proper Oathlander knight to squire to, and Stephanie had everything she needed after regaining her mobility after most physicians had written the girl off as an invalid. Many in the halls of the White City look at Celine as a lesson in rebuilding from the ashes, a symbol of what the Oathlander people made of: the Tragedy broke many, but like her House, Celine refused to go gently into the night. These days Celine, Lenard and Stephanie live in Arx. Many say it is due to the woman's need to be surrounded by people of all sorts, but some posit that walking around the White City, where the commonfolk bemoan the loss of her mother daily, was more torture than the girl could stand. A warm flame at the heart of the Valardin, the young woman nonetheless thrives in Arx, serving the White Dragons of Sanctum. + |
| Cerdensulathara Ferrier + | Born in area called Rivermuth, far south of Pridehall, Cerdensulathara was one among a litter of children. Her father was a butcher and a warrior, her mother a tanner. For five long and tiresome years, they lived a simple existence. The worst of their troubles were occasional raids, and the strife caused by Cerden's peculiar fits. Rumors held her to be plagued by evil spirits, and she was subject to many, many attempts to cure her. When the neighboring tribe invaded fully, her mother managed to escape with her and two of her siblings into the woods. Traveling northeast into the woods, they were able to assimilate into another group, but it wasn't long before they her mother was presented with a choice to leave with the disabled young girl, or the tribe would sell her off. Unwilling to put her other two living children under such stress, she simply abandoned Cerden in the woods. It was a miracle of some kind that she survived to the age of thirteen. And despite the harsh realities of living in the wild, there was a peace to the daily struggle. Her fits lessened, she learned how to hunt, what to eat and what not to, (through great trial and error), and was quite happy in her life. Unfortunately, fighting between two villages drove more people into her neck of the woods, and eventually she was captured by Abandoned warriors. Who knows where should would be now if she had not been saved by the Knights of Solace. It was a short trip to the city of Arx. She swore her allegiance to the Crown, and was placed in the care of an aloof horse trader, a cousin to the very Knight who rescued her, and his wife, a well to do poet and seamstress, both childless and grateful for an opportunity to care for and teach someone less fortunate. She flourished in the Upper Boroughs, and it was a good time for the young woman. She was taught the wonders of reading and numbers, which she excelled at. She was given simple chores, and taught prayers, which she excelled at. She discovered the many different libraries and temples, and spent the majority of her time there when not helping out at home. Before she left to strike out on her own, she made a bit of silver tutoring the younger children of her adopted mother's social circle, possessing a talent for making complicated subjects simpler. Using her modest income, she's rented a small place in the upper boroughs, and few who ever met her would realize she's a Prodigal. She plans on becoming an explorer, writing books on obscure knowledge and history, and becoming a renowned scholar. Perhaps one day she can own a place of her own, with a bookcase of titles she's written herself detailing grand adventurers, treatises on lost lore and profound essays on rare phenomena. + |
| Cerelia Pontelaeus + | Born of the Sea. At least, that is what Cerelia would say of herself when asked of her past. The Pontelaeus family is that of wealthy bankers and traders, often braving the waters of the Saffron Chain, braving trade routes that run the risk of slipping inadvertently into interhouse wars between the various Abandoned Clans. It is on one such ship that Cerelia was born. It was a stormy night and the sea was angry, so many of the sailors who were present that night would say. The waves were rising high and the ship they all sailed upon was being pitched to and fro, in danger of capsizing when a bolt of lightning struck and severed the mast in twain. Her mother, the ship's First Mate, had ignored counsel from the healers in Tremorus that her baby would not wait to the end of the voyage which she had deemed too valuable to postpone. So it was that in the peak of the storm that she would go into labor. The ship was drifting listless upon the raging storm tossed sea, and no help was to be found for miles. Doomed to sink, at least that is what the crew of the ship believed, it was sudden providence when down below Cerelia's mother screamed at the peak of her delivery and a sudden calm fell eerily upon the waters as Cerelia made her way into the world and drew her first breath. The ship ran aground on a deserted island, and there the crew would live in relative ease for two weeks until another Pontelaeus rescue ship would find them. At least, if you believed the legends of the Saffron Chain, that is what you would hear. Cerelia's younger years would drift by with a relative lack of complication. Like any child, she was good in certain studies, and rubbish at others. Like her cousin, Savio, she would show little interest at all in the family business. But where she excelled was upon the waters. From schooner to caravel, Cerelia had a gift at sailing and navigating upon the waves, and as she entered into her late teens the sea is where she would spend the majority of her time. She took the helm of trading vessels when the positions presented themselves to her. When they did not, she would take out other vessels, always as if there was something out on those waters to be found, some mystery to plumb. Sometimes she would even offer her services to Sabriel, soon becoming fast friends and joining the Vice-Admiral upon the seas. When Leporidae bent the knee and joined the Compact she was as skeptical as many of her kin, but when Giorgio sent word back to the family of the wonders to be found in Arx, Cerelia would find herself being sent soon after Savio with orders from the family to join the two Pontelaeus brothers and help where she might in their pursuits in Arx. + |
| Cerys Velenosa + | Born of a union between Blackram and Velenosa, Cerys is a strange marriage of Oathlands honor and martial strength and Lycene sensibility and and morality. Raised in Velenosa through childhood, she was sent to foster at Blackram through her teen years, taking to the martial training with an ease of natural aptitude. By the time she was returned, the training had gotten under her skin and she insisted on continuing with it alongside the more traditional social graces and tutoring of a Velenosan Princess. She took part in each of the major battles over the years, veteran of both the SIlent War and again for the Gyre, the latter earning her a Knighthood in the Lyceum that she is inordinately proud of. After that accomplishment, she started to turn her eye towards explanding her knowledge of 'knightly skills', once more visiting family in the Oathlands to tutor under some of the more well-known knights. It was on the return from one such trip that Cerys was introduced to Dimitri Pravus during an event being held. It was fascination at first sight for the both of them. After a bit of a whirlwind courtship, and with the blessing of both Houses, she married the man she had deemed worthy (and who was able to put up with her intensity). Travelling to Arx with her new husband seems the perfect end to their honeymoon and start to their new life together. + |
| Cesare Whisper + | Even at a very young age, Cesare stood out as an exceptional talent. While most boys his age in the Lyceum were already playing with swords, Cesare had a single passion that consumed him, with every waking thought dedicated to it and it alone: music. Every day he would toy with a new instrument or he would listen to the singers around the shrine of Jayus in his native Setarco, learning the same songs and then improving upon the delivery. The words just always came naturally to him, the music flowed through him and he had a voice that made crowds gather. First he attracted the notice of the disciples of Jayus and priests of the Faith of the Pantheon, who eagerly encouraged a young man with such obvious talent. Then he attracted nobles, who made a point to visit the young man's performances. Before long, he became known as 'the Singer of Setarco' or 'the man with the perfect voice'. The fame meant nothing to him, and he barely noticed it- he was tireless in seeking out new forms of music, in cultivating each and every aspect he could find, in the hope to finally capture something truly sublime in music. He still hopes to find a perfect moment that captures the essence of Jayus for all the world to hear. Unfortunately, he couldn't linger in Setarco. He didn't realize how truly popular he had become until he was forced to flee the city as noblewomen who all seeked to patronize the talented young man became increasingly dangerously jealous over his lack of reciprocation of their affections. He was informed in no uncertain terms that he was likely to wind up dead as a result if he didn't flee, and has since made his way to Arx, more than a bit wiser at how dangerous spurned passion truly is. To that end, he has become a much sought after courtier, currently employed by the Whisper House, entertaining the greatest and most powerful women in the Compact, with the same respect and protections associated with other courtesans. He's still seeking that perfect song, but he's deciding there's sublime beauty in other parts of life as well. + |
| Chanse Grayhope + | As the owner and proprietor of the Murder of Crows Boardinghouse, Chanse Grayhope is not one would call a soft man. He's survived the better part of two decades running the establishment most favored by those needing to disappear for a while by being the kind of man that seems to have very few (living) enemies, but somehow still knows far more than he ought to about anything and everything. He always seems to be given more respect than most would expect from the dangerous sorts living in the Lower Borough, and not just due to a willingness to crack a few skulls from those that get carried away in his establishment. More than a few rough sorts that have crossed the boardinghouse owner have gone missing, and even among some of hard cases of the Lower Boroughs there is a surprising amount of fear for the businessman. For a man living among the lowest of the low of Arx, he seems relatively content exactly where he is and has made little effort to change his station in life. Some of the thugs wonder just how he gets away with it, rarely seeming surprised by anything and showing a shocking amount of lese majeste to some nobles that visit without repercussions. He never asks others their business, and has implied it's extremely wise to do the same to him. + |
| Charis Durant + | In Oakhaven, it's a common jest that Simon and Thais Durant could populate their own crafters' guild with their extended family alone. Theirs is a line known to be called to Jayus' service and they've answered that call, both individually and as parents. Simon, a woodworker, and Thais, a glass-blower, number four children of their own, and countless cousins, nieces and nephews sponsored, fostered and apprenticed through the years. Of these, Charis was third-born of their own brood and most easily distracted in her youth. She was inclined to daydreaming through windows (many of them constructed by her parents) when she should have been minding the lessons of her master tailor aunt, Dorcas. When a motley band of ruin-explorers and relic-hunters rolled through Oakhaven on the way to adventure, the Durants didn't stand a chance of competing. A wink, a crooked grin and a beckoning wave were all it took. Charis abandoned her studies and left home. Being neither scholar nor adventurer, she took up training with the mercenaries who were hired on to watch the backs of the less robust members of the group. She flourished, living, laughing, loving. Fighting. Years passed. And then they ventured into the wrong ruins, sought out the wrong relics. When Charis returned to Oakhaven, she was older and scarred. She did not or could not tell her family what happened but they opened their arms to her all the same. She resumed her apprenticeship with Aunt Dorcas, took up needle and thread again. Years passed, but they were spent in quietly, in study, in renewed devotion to her craft. In time, when her skill with those tools passed what skill she'd once possessed with her swords, she was recognized as a master in her own right, committed to the promotion of Oathlands fashion as rival to even the Lyceum and its artisans. + |
| Charlaine Blanchard + | Life is not easy for a shy, whimsical and scholarly dreamer born to a ruthlessly ambitious nobleman and a strict and controlling mother. It is even worse when she was born to House Blanchard, the noble family famed for their mastery as horsemen when those animals seem to be scared of her, or she is scared of them, or both. That is what happened to Lady Charlaine Blanchard, and that is why she slowly drowned in the world of her imagination in her beloved books and bard songs, where everything seems to be brighter, more colorful and serene. From her earliest memories, Charlaine's desires ran a distant second to the will of her parents. Her father focused single mindedly on the advancement of the family, and to that mind he either wanted a daughter that could distinguish herself at war or that could be a prize to mesmerize potential political matches at Court. Charlaine's scholarly bent and her lack of interest in drab reality in favor of exciting fiction set her immediately at odds to her relentlessly goal-orientated father and her carefully organized and pragmatic mother who hoped to turn their daughter into a stunning beauty to win a favorable marriage match. The more they pushed her to embrace politics and think of marriage matches or soldiering to vicariously achieve their own goals, the further she retreated into scholarly pursuits, songs and stories. However, Mathilde Blanchard noticed her daughters passion for books and offered to Phillipe that they would invest into their daughter's intelligence so that it could earn her a potentially high position at court. That is how she was trusted as a ward to Phillipe's brother Alicio Blanchard. The man was a Scholar of Vellichor and viewed as the most suitable tutor by Phillipe. Charlaine enjoyed her time in the large city, meeting many new people and, especially, having access to such large amounts of different books in the Archives. She grew quite close to her uncle Alicio Blanchard as well as with some other scholars and locals. Charlaine was more often found in the company of commoners than nobles since she admired the freedoms common folk could enjoy and nobles had no luxury for. At the same time she learned of the wonderful feeling which she gain when she take part in charity. The life seemed to be perfect. Though, all nice stories come to an end. She counted her nineteenth summer when it was announced that Charlaine caught an unknown illness. She was sent back home. It was not a surprise since she loved gathering in large crowded places with commoners of low standing while doing charity. The young woman was gone from social life for two long years before Arvum heard about her once more as the new lady-in-waiting to Princess Alarissa Valardin. Alicio Blanchard was asked to help find for Charlaine a lady to whom their daughter could serve. She was described as still a bit fragile after a hard illness followed by depression, but healthy. It was felt time away would be what she needed to fully recover and come back to social life. Alicio agreed to help their family and approached his fellow scholar Prince Aurelian Valardin with the request, Aurelian knew that Princess Alarissa Valardin was looking for a Lady-in-Waiting. After long discussions Charlaine was approved. + |
| Charlaine Moore + | Life is not easy for a shy, whimsical and scholarly dreamer born to a ruthlessly ambitious nobleman and a strict and controlling mother. It is even worse when she was born to House Blanchard, the noble family famed for their mastery as horsemen when those animals seem to be scared of her, or she is scared of them, or both. That is what happened to Lady Charlaine Blanchard, and that is why she slowly drowned in the world of her imagination in her beloved books and bard songs, where everything seems to be brighter, more colorful and serene. From her earliest memories, Charlaine's desires ran a distant second to the will of her parents. Her father focused single mindedly on the advancement of the family, and to that mind he either wanted a daughter that could distinguish herself at war or that could be a prize to mesmerize potential political matches at Court. Charlaine's scholarly bent and her lack of interest in drab reality in favor of exciting fiction set her immediately at odds to her relentlessly goal-orientated father and her carefully organized and pragmatic mother who hoped to turn their daughter into a stunning beauty to win a favorable marriage match. The more they pushed her to embrace politics and think of marriage matches or soldiering to vicariously achieve their own goals, the further she retreated into scholarly pursuits, songs and stories. However, Mathilde Blanchard noticed her daughters passion for books and offered to Phillipe that they would invest into their daughter's intelligence so that it could earn her a potentially high position at court. That is how she was trusted as a ward to Phillipe's brother Alicio Blanchard. The man was a Scholar of Vellichor and viewed as the most suitable tutor by Phillipe. Charlaine enjoyed her time in the large city, meeting many new people and, especially, having access to such large amounts of different books in the Archives. She grew quite close to her uncle Alicio Blanchard as well as with some other scholars and locals. Charlaine was more often found in the company of commoners than nobles since she admired the freedoms common folk could enjoy and nobles had no luxury for. At the same time she learned of the wonderful feeling which she gain when she take part in charity. The life seemed to be perfect. Though, all nice stories come to an end. She counted her nineteenth summer when it was announced that Charlaine caught an unknown illness. She was sent back home. It was not a surprise since she loved gathering in large crowded places with commoners of low standing while doing charity. The young woman was gone from social life for two long years before Arvum heard about her once more as the new lady-in-waiting to Princess Alarissa Valardin. Alicio Blanchard was asked to help find for Charlaine a lady to whom their daughter could serve. She was described as still a bit fragile after a hard illness followed by depression, but healthy. It was felt time away would be what she needed to fully recover and come back to social life. Alicio agreed to help their family and approached his fellow scholar Prince Aurelian Valardin with the request, Aurelian knew that Princess Alarissa Valardin was looking for a Lady-in-Waiting. After long discussions Charlaine was approved. + |
| Charlemagne Charon + | Lord Charlemagne, a Silent War widow, first married into House Threerivers by way of House Bellerive, their chief military rival and a direct vassal of House Blackram. The politically motivated pairing was understood as pivotal to a swift and much-needed brokerage of peace, its urgency quite enough to disregard the rumors of infertility stirred up by gossips keeping eye over Charlemagne's previous match. By agreeing to the terms, House Bellerive was setting aside the atrocities of their war with House Threerivers and gaining an important local ally in the new Countess of Highrock. Although symbolically stabilizing, few have been historically successful in managing to reduce Charlemagne to a mere political prop. During the early days of his marriage when his wife's condition became clear, Charlemagne spent an egregious amount of his own personal fortune hiring northern members of the Courtier's Guild. The resulting social campaign epically shifted public sentiment in their region and beyond, forcing Charlemagne's sister-in-law to legitimize Magaen's bastard son if she had any desire to retain the Compact's goodwill. It also had the added benefit of contributing to what would ultimately be Charlemagne's brief stint as Count-Consort. Very brief. See, the Seraph of Last Bridge was furious by the end of the war and rather predictably for a man of his prejudices, treachery seeped into his work. The overzealous priest was heard wishing aloud for the next generation of Bellerive children to rise up and cut out that cancer that is Shamanism in the north, and put all of the northlanders to the sword, and that they should even slaughter them under guest right since they don't respect the Pantheon, anyway! Defrocked for his heretical statements, the noble marriage he negotiated in bad faith was nullified and the pact left unraveled. Awkwardly enough, it's Charlemagne's continued presence in House Charon that seems to be keeping the peace while the families involved remain hands off until all else is settled. No pressure! Why the pair did not immediately remarry under their new circumstances is a question that, well, they have yet to answer. + |
| Charles Valardin + | Charles was born the daughter and only child of a low-ranking noble officer. Without a male child to serve as heir, his position would fall vacant upon retirement; and thus, Charles was obligated from a young age to pursue masculine activities. This upbringing was controversial, lending itself to conflicts within his house. He took poorly to the courtly education of a noble child, never holding still long enough to complete his lessons. As such his reputation among the court is not a respected one. By his teenage years, however, his prowess in battle assuaged many fears of his ability. He has since lived publicly as a man without disguising his birth, and has distinguished himself as a competent warrior and tactician on the front lines. He has sought to prove himself through martial service ever since. + |
| Charlotte Wyrmguard + | Enough was never really enough for Charlotte. Growing up with six siblings in a backwater like Apsfel Falls was just dull. A cadet branch of the illustrious Wyrmguard family should have given her excitement and prestige, but their family was poor. So very poor, and all their wealth went to keeping their patch of land operational. The infrequent trips to Blancbier were the only bright spots of her youth. That and her twin sister Yessica. Together they would dream up the life that they would lead when they were older. Traveling from city to city, rubbing elbows with Princes and Princesses, catching the eye of a dashing Duke... it was going to be amazing. Reality, however, was not as kind. When she was eighteen she was married to Tymer Sanna, now Tymer Wyrmguard. The man was a brute and practically a savage. He had a wandering eye, a coarse manner, he as everything Charlotte did not want. But she married him anyway. Because a Wyrmguard puts family first, and this was a duty to be borne with dignity. And the occasional screaming fits punctuated with flying vases. The marriage was a seven year war of silence. When word came that Tymer would be fighting in Stormwall, there was a part of her that rejoiced at the forced absence. When word came weeks later that Tymer died, there was a small part of Charlotte that felt actual relief at the news. She grieved as was proper, and then promptly sent a letter to Yessica saying that she was going to move to Arx, to get to know the extended Wyrmguard family, and if that didn't work, they had a sister, Reigna, living there too. Charlotte has a chance to capture her childhood dreams, dreams she spent a life preparing herself for. Fancy parties, fancy people, fine wine and ballgowns. She has a wealth of political game (she thinks) that she is eager to put to the test. She is ready to take her life into her own hands. With Yessica at her side, the city of Arx should be put on notice! The Wyrmguard twins are going to take the city by storm! ...Is that too soon? + |
| Cherilo Menada + | Cherilo was born to a lumberjack and homemaker, who raised him with distant but thorough care. They lived in the forests worked by his father, and from a young age, Cherilo spent much time exploring these wilds. As he grew enamored with the animals, plants, sounds and smells of the forest, Cherilo equally grew contemptuous of his father's exploitation of the forest. At 16, having completed his homeschooling, Cherilo left home quietly to camp in the outer woods. He never returned to live at home, slowly building his own homestead sustainably. He's lived in the home he built all his life, and has endeavored to learn as much as possible about his natural environment - both its beauties and its natural laws. It was his enthusiasm for this world that eventually led him into the city. By befriending city folk, making connections, and becoming learned, he's made opportunities to spread the gospel of nature. Among certain crowds, Cherilo's writings, sketches, and poetry have become well-known, and he's encouraged a small movement of preservation and appreciation of the natural world. Cherilo helps support himself by taking nobility on tours of the area surrounding his home - although their manner sometimes rankles him. Some of his city friends have come to be loyal confidants, though perhaps none as much as his pet dog Carrie, the fourth-generation pup of his childhood pet. + |
| Chiara Tavetti + | Born to a family of merchant sailors in Nilanza, Chiara is the middle child of three; her parents, Marcel and Ilena, were much of the opinion that their children should all be involved in the family business with the goal of eventually succeeding them, but perhaps unsurprisingly Chiara begged to differ, having not properly been consulted in the matter prior to her birth. While both her older sister, Denora, and the youngest, Linette, have been more than happy to follow in the footsteps of their parents, Chiara has spent as much as time investigating the destinations of those goods shipped as the shipping process itself, occasionally disappearing mid-trip, much to the exasperation of her family - perhaps all the more so because she is actually quite competent at her trade. Surprising absolutely no one, the restless Chiara ultimately left the confines of what protection her family could give her and has spent the past few years traveling; due to such she has certainly seen her share of good and bad. Thankfully, either through sheer luck or quick thinking, she's managed to extricate herself from the worst of those situations, leaving her with an appreciation for what could have been, but not resulting any obvious dampening effect on her enthusiasm. With the Marquessa having made it known that she is looking for native Nilanzans to help support the growing House Malespero - and perhaps due to a little bit of trouble with the locals in the most recent port she'd been carousing in - Chiara has made her way to Arx to settle there, at least for a short while. + |
| Christine Kennex + | Christine spent most of her early days learning how to read, how to write, how to get more books... The world didn't need to be seen, since you can find it all and more in a good library. But then, one day she did. On her way back home, after visiting her cousin Denholm, she decided to take a detour... And ever since, she's been travelling around... because, why just to read books if you can be part of them? + |
| Chrysanthia Chatreuxe-DeVirre + | The Brindleberry Wood is a place of mystery and wonder. Many people don't even know of it or where in the Lord of the Deep Wood's name it might even be but boy do the stories come a pourin' out of /that/ place. People say a lot of things about the kooky Baroness; she's a reclusive hermit, she's eccentric, she throws exclusive tea parties with thee most interesting guests, she's crazy. The list of things goes on but all of them are usually very nice. People kiiiiind of laugh at the Chatreuxe-DeVirre's because their lands are all primal forests and beautiful glades filled with people who don't like to wear clothes. Or, maybe even worse, people who like to spend more time with plants than people (which is nothing to judge anyone for) and not a single soul in her Court ever comes to the city. The Peerage all think they're mostly a rumor but when Chrysanthia showed up wearing the mauve & green sigil of the Brindleberry Wood, well, it becomes quite clear that it is -not- a joke. Nobody can really say much about who or what the Spring Knight of the Hedge has been up to, but she's really bizarre and seems to have a passion for plants, animals, and people. In that order. + |
| Ciaphas Seraceni + | The politics of Eurus are a difficult thing for many to comprehend, and even harder to truly understand -- this is a thing that Ciaphas shares with the majority of the Compact, despite being born a Prince of the great Dune Kingdoms and raised with the hopes that he might one day take up a diplomatic position within the Dune Emperor's court. They would have to get used to disappointment. He was groomed from an early age by dedicated, dutiful tutors that should have seen him be a rising star in the realm of statecraft, but he found these things terribly dull. His lack of focus would be of terrible frustration for those set to instruct him, and despite their determined efforts, he would never be as they wished him to be. Not the way they wanted, anyway. Instead, his attentions shifted toward the intricate dance of warfare -- a brutal warrior, with the ability to direct in open conflicts as a stalwart commander. Certainly, this was not what his parents had envisioned when they sent him away as a ward of Ahj'on, but the worth of such abilities were not lost to them, nor his watchers. He spent many years in the fields of battle, disappearing from the public eye for sometimes years at a time, with none seeming able to figure out where he had gone, until he would miraculously appear again with nary a story to be told, or an explaination to be given. There he would be, proclaimed victorious in the wake of wanting details, until he would be gone again. Until, of course, he returned one of these times and was told that a political marriage had been arranged, and he was to be wed to some lesser noble of Ischia in order to broker some sort of non-aggression pact that would somehow benefit them. He still does not understand why it was necessary, but he is a man that has been raised to follow orders ... even if he doesn't carry out the tasks set before him in the fashion they might enjoy. To this day, he does not know why he is wed, only that he is. And now? Now he's here, in the Compact, disgruntled and confused, but still doing his duty. + |
| Ciara Wyrmguard + | The youngest child and only daughter born to Etienne and Celestine Wyrmguard, a cadet branch of the Wyrmguard family, Ciara grew up with her three older brothers on their family's patch of land south of Blancbier where mountain and forest meet. Born to one of the oldest and proudest families in the Valardin fealty, not to say all of The Compact, she was brought up on stories of valor, heroes, honor, and chivalry. Stories full of adventure, romance, and knights in shining armor. Stories full of everything her life was not. Stories she would often dream herself away to. That is not to say that she wasn't happy, but there was a part of her that always longed for more even as a young child. She was a willful and lively girl, with her mother's sharp mind and kind heart and her father's effortless charm and playful spirit, always hungry for new experiences and with an almost insatiable curiosity. But her mischievous and adventurous nature was tempered by a desire to please and ideals inspired both by her family and by those stories that she loved so much. Ideals she couldn't always live up to. For all her youthful exuberance, she was a caregiver right from the start. She would always be there to tend to and care for her brothers after a particularly grueling day of training or when they got injured, she would go out of her way to comfort or stand up for one of her friends when they needed it, and she'd be there to cheer up and bring a smile to her parents' lips after a long, frustrating day of business or research. Her father being the former steward of the main line of the Wyrmguards in Blancbier and her mother a socialite scholar known for her research into the more obscure lore and parts of history, it is perhaps not surprising that the young girl showed a natural penchant for numbers, patterns, and organization, as well as a way with people. She was taught a lot about trade, economics and how to run a noble household, and Celeste involved herself personally with her daughter's education after Ciara turned ten, expanding the young girl's knowledge to other scholarly topics and grooming her on how to become a proper young lady. Ciara would, quite frankly, much rather be out playing with her friends, gossip about who the most handsome prince is despite never having seen any of them, or go explore that part of the woods to the west that nobody's supposed to go into, but she excelled at her studies and mostly stayed out of trouble. Mostly. Shortly before her 18th birthday, her parents informed her that an arrangement had been made and that she would be traveling to Arx to act as a Lady-In-Waiting to Marquessa Dominique. Ciara could not be more excited. Arx! So much to explore, so many people to meet, so many new sights and experiences. Princes and Princesses and fancy parties. Not to mention getting to know her extended family and a chance to make a good impression with the Marquessa. It was going to be amazing! A week later, after packing her things and writing her brothers, she kissed her parents goodbye and set off for the capital and the biggest adventure of her young life. + |
| Ciaran Farshaw + | Born a lord of House Farshaw, Ciaran never show any interest in ruling: instead, his mind was fixed on adventure. While Farshaw might not boast much in the way of a war navy, Ciaran always managed to make an impact bigger than the military resources he had available--developing a reputation as an able tactician and intrepid explorer. Be it against barbarian tribes or long-lost settlements of the Abandoned, he showed a knack for moving through the far places of the world. There, he made both friends and enemies. In the Gyre war, he showed particular gallantry. Unfortunately, it was in that conflict, at that moment of triumph, that his life took a turn. Suffering a terrible wound to one of his legs, a wound that seems to have been in some part spiritual as much as physical, Ciaran now must live with a perpetual limp, and never fully regained his martial prowess. For a time, he bounced around the far corners of the map, and perhaps some places beyond its borders. Whatever obscure place he got off to, he has at last settled in Arx, where he intends to represent his family and support the ruling lords. + |
| Cicero Malvici + | Cicero Velenosa grew up in the current ruling house of Lyceum, but several branches of the family tree away from actually inheriting anything of worth. As a middle child he was not destined to be heir to the estate and was little more than fodder for a political marriage... until he put his talents towards the silk trade. He was gifted at it, using his position as a bridge between the merchants and their noble customers, easing the passage of the luxurious material along the economic system while keeping the coffers of his house well filled. Like any one noble of the southern City-States he ran into some trouble now and then that had to be solved at the end of a sword, but he usually realied on his quick wit and sharp tongue to win the day. Now he has come to Arx to ply his trade, to work with the silk merchants of the city for the betterment of all of Lyceum. Kinda. + |
| Cicero Velenosa + | Cicero Velenosa grew up in the current ruling house of Lyceum, but several branches of the family tree away from actually inheriting anything of worth. As a middle child he was not destined to be heir to the estate and was little more than fodder for a political marriage... until he put his talents towards the silk trade. He was gifted at it, using his position as a bridge between the merchants and their noble customers, easing the passage of the luxurious material along the economic system while keeping the coffers of his house well filled. Like any one noble of the southern City-States he ran into some trouble now and then that had to be solved at the end of a sword, but he usually realied on his quick wit and sharp tongue to win the day. Now he has come to Arx to ply his trade, to work with the silk merchants of the city for the betterment of all of Lyceum. Kinda. + |
| Cigano Laroye + | Growing up in a small camp of vagabonds, Cigano learned from an early age that the world was unfair. His mother passed as he came into the world, already making him resented among his people. They treated him as an ill omen, passing him from family to family in the camp, giving him only the barest essentials so he would survive and they believed made good with his poor mother. It wasn't until he had his coming of age rite performed that the tribe would even speak to him as an equal. As he began to work for the family, he proved his worth and was given a chance to live and work as the rest of the tribe. He proved adept as spinning stories with cards that brought him fame among the nobles that the tribe often encountered. He soon became popular enough that the tribe leader began to groom him for his replacement. The leader's son, whom should have been the rightful heir, didn't take kindly to the news. He planned to poison Cigano at his first chance. Cigano sensing the man's anger ensure that nothing that came to him was ever out of his sight. Eventually swapping a cup force upon him by the heir apparent with the leaders. Once the poison was revealed, Cigano used his new acquired status to have the heir exiled for his crimes. The years after Cigano continued to run the camp, doing as much as he can help provide for the family, always watching for the next assassin and the next chance for him to bring more money into the camp. + |
| Cillian Weatherwood + | Raised in a small tribe allied to the Blackwoods, Cillian grew up learning the ways of the wild. For the most part, his adopted family and the tribe survived the squabbles and land struggles between tribes. His village was always under assault by monsters and so from a young age he learned the bow and became a protector. It earned him the nickname among his people as "Guardian of the woods" When the Blackwoods took in the last of the Thunderoaks people and ultimately they all bent knee together to the Crovane his tribe did so as well by then he was in his teens and chose to stay out in the woods protecting it knowing the dangers out in it. But now he has been told the truth and much of what he knew was false so now he goes to Arx to search out that feeling he has always felt, that feeling like a part of you is missing and so now he finds himself in the city and finds himself very guarded. + |
| Cirdan Halfshav + | Born to Riker Halfshav and Triana Tessere a year after his older brother Reve, Cirdan was given much of the same upbringing. While his martial training proved to be lackluster and was soon abandoned once the basics were covered, he proved especially skilled in more social settings, quickly making friends and earning no small amount of popularity among certain circles. It proved to be especially beneficial when he was sent to be fostered within his mother's family, soon at home within a land quite different from the one he had grown up in. He quite enjoyed his time in Iriscal, though he was ever quick to leap at any opportunity to travel to new locales and courts, his curiosity insatiable. He knew to make new friends even in what amounted to short visits and maintained these links through active correspondence, somehow managing to fit those in between lessons and other social adventures. There were certainly times of tension, however, though none so great as when Reve declared, once his fostering was finished, that he would not return to Whitehold. While Cirdan was still a year away from the end of his own fostering, it was deemed preferable to escort Cirdan back home to finish his studies there, lest he get any ideas about following his older brother's example. Cirdan didn't mind, but things didn't quite go as planned. While a day away from Whitehold, his group was ambushed by bandits. The bandits proved to be a shav tribe and they took him prisoner, the intent to ransom him off. What followed is the subject of speculation. He appealed to his guards. He seduced the chief's daughter. The story's varied over time. Nonetheless, somehow, Cirdan escaped and managed to make his way to Whitehold and alert his family. Now with Halfshav's forces, he returned to negotiate the release of those who had been traveling with him. The more romantic storytellers like to add that he also negotiated for the chief's daughter to come with him. Yet if such was the truth, it led to tragedy as the negotiations broke down and violence was the ultimate solution. While peace did not reign that day, the experience shaped and motivated him. He dedicated himself to master both law and diplomacy in service to his House. It is for that purpose that he now travels to Arx, after news of his brother's return have reached him. + |
| Ciriel Whitehawk + | Son of a local blacksmith, he was always frustrated with the kind of work that was done in his father's shop. Working schedule did not permit for anything more than tools, horseshoes and nails. He always had the passion for anything out of the ordinary, anything clever. Be it practical or not. After his father's retirement he took over the shop and took a wife. Soon after there was an accident and all that was left of his previous self, was his passion for novelty trinkets and odd items. Alienated from his previous life an unable to practice his trade, he decided to go on the road and pursue his passion. + |
| Ciro Seraceni + | Ciro grew up in Ischia mostly wish his mother Isabella. His father passed away from infection while at war with the Argento. As a boy, he was drawn both to the luxurious villas of Setarco and the busy docks and diverse peoples of Ischia. Like his sister Appolonia, he acquired a good education from various Lycene tutors, and though he showed some aptitude, he never found much joy in abstract studies though he found a great love of music and performance. He sometimes sneaked down to the docks and watched as the sailors rolled dice and played cards for piles of gleaming coins. As a very young man, Priscila had high hoped that Ciro might prove a diplomat, but the young man had a greater interest in the daughter of the Farshaw Minister of Income than in trade deals he was meant to negotiate. Returning to Ischia without having proved himself, and labeled a wastrel by his family, Ciro continued to drink and game throughout Morisco, and Arx. In this very state, however, Ciro, having lost a great deal of coin in a high stakes wager, was returning through the Lowers in Arx, where he overheard the formation of a scheme to steal a good amount of Pravosi goods from the harbor. Using the last of his coins to pay a cabin boy for the full story, Ciro wrote a missive to Lady Viviana, and saved the House several hundred thousand silver when the plot was foiled. Having proved his loyalty and a capacity for acquiring valuable information, Ciro was encouraged by Dio to put his inclinations in further service to his House by joining the Whisper House. He also joined the Golden Hart, and has often been seen gaming with many of the peers of the Compact. Later, he found his way to Gianna Whisper's Bard's College, where his flair for the dramatic and musical talents infused with the styles of Ischia and Eurus have found him in good company. + |
| Cirroch Sanna + | Cirroch was always going to be the March of Giant's Reach. Actually, he was the March of Giant's Reach by the time he was ten. It's a risky proposition, being a ten-year-old with a regent, but there were a few things going for Cirroch: first, his regent was his uncle Talward, whom no one wanted to cross and who loved his deceased sister more than life itself, and second, he was a pretty clever and aspiring ten-year-old, and put off the fears of his vassals by being aggressively interested in warcraft from when he could first walk. He developed an interest in statecraft as well, although it was admittedly much /later/ in life that he wanted to attend his own meetings and councils. By the time he was 16, there were few who feared his ascendance to the seat he held in name, and when he reached majority at 18, his uncle retired to be feted for a job well done, and Cirroch took the reins fearlessly. It's amazing how long you can stall from a topic that you don't want to address. He very nearly had a treaty negotiated with the Nightgolds for a wife of his rank only to have it fall through on some stipulations about mining rights that he refused to let go. He very nearly had a treaty negotiated, later, that would have had him wed to the sister of a Velenosan count, only to have her cry off for a number of reasons, some related to, frankly, the cold weather of the north and the total absence of seawater anywhere around Giant's Reach. That is until a faithful day that he wasn't thinking of a need to keep a shield up. He was training with his axe when Princess Sasha boldy approached him, anyone in their vincity might have thought that they did indeed watch mountains move that day. Sasha would become the love of his life. The day he meet his first born, heir to what Sanna had to offer, was the day that he understood that life was more than how long one can stall a topic. + |
| Clara Crovane + | Clara was born to the Crovane family only a handful of years ago but she would not start breathing when she was born. It took a little bit of work from the midwives to get Clara to take in her first breath and by that time they had nearly given up hope that she would survive. The result of this experience was that Clara's eyes turned white and everyone expected she was blind. She is young and still learning about the world in a very hands on way. While she doesn't mind being a lady she doesn't specifically want to be a politician and she has made that clear with starting to learn the sword young as well as preferring sitting in cemeteries and stitching wounds to listening to people talk about the various problems in society. She began learning the sword when she was 12 years old, a compromise her parents made with her when she wouldn't sit still long enough to learn about being a leader or try to better understand how to bring in money, through the people, for the house. Learning the sword was a way to help her learn to focus her abundance of youthful energy as well as make her useful to the family. When she was about 15 years old she showed an aptitude for medicine, a love for plant life as a healing source, and a desire to help people. This lead to her start into studying medicine closer and eventually becoming a novice medic. Barely an adult, Clara has been sent to Arx to experience the rich diversity in culture the city has to offer. + |
| Clarisse Charon + | The youngest daughter born to Merrick of Highrock and Kiera ThreeRivers, was Clarisse, a beautiful young child, brought up almost entirely by staff, until the death of her Mother, the trauma of witnessing her Mother killed in front of her caused Clarisse such deep trauma she refused to speak to anyone. Finally as the brother Teague's last resort to help his baby sister, he sent her away to the countryside to help bring her a sense of peace and grieve out of the sight of court. There in their country estate, she was distanced from the politics and manipulations of the court and cared for by her Aya. She was guided in the healing arts, working with herbs, learning all she could absorb, giving her a sense of purpose and a reason to begin to open up again to those around her. She loved the beauty and peacefulness of her home away, but also missed her family deeply. Since Clarisse was so far removed and able to focus on what came to matter most to her, she began to grow in her own faith. Not a faith taught by those around her, but faith she came to embrace through dreams shared with her, waking and sleeping. Some that came to her in the middle of the night that though she does not know the meaning of, have lead her back home. She has learned to keep secrets close to her heart, confidense entrusted in her buried deep, a compassionate heart for those sick and injured, and a steady supply to add in her healing arts within hands reach. Though she is of noble blood, Clarisse has a very humble spirit, kind and loving, and tries her best not to hurt anyone for any reason. It has taken her a long time to get over her mother's death, but it has finally come to terms with her mother's loss, and chosen to return home. + |
| Claude + | A Prodigal from the Mourning Isles, Claude is rather private about much of his history. This much seems to be true: once upon a time, he was a shav carpenter with a family. His tribe's village was one of the many that fell to the Gyre, and whatever family he had was lost. He made it to Arx during the Silent War, but moved on quickly enough to Old Oak after befriending Dame Zhayla, House Deepwood's Sword. It was the tragic death of that same friend that eventually brought him back to Arx, seemingly renewed in his desire to do some good amidst all of the dangers facing the world. At least as much as a quiet, artistically-minded carpenter can do. He'll make a start by joining the Faith's disciple ranks as a Liberator of Skald, serve as a vassal of House Deepwood, and go from there. + |
| Claude Crucible + | A Prodigal from the Mourning Isles, Claude is rather private about much of his history. This much seems to be true: once upon a time, he was a shav carpenter with a family. His tribe's village was one of the many that fell to the Gyre, and whatever family he had was lost. He made it to Arx during the Silent War, but moved on quickly enough to Old Oak after befriending Dame Zhayla, House Deepwood's Sword. It was the tragic death of that same friend that eventually brought him back to Arx, seemingly renewed in his desire to do some good amidst all of the dangers facing the world. At least as much as a quiet, artistically-minded carpenter can do. He'll make a start by joining the Faith's disciple ranks as a Liberator of Skald, serve as a vassal of House Deepwood, and go from there. + |
| Claudia Malespero + | There are rules to the way the world works, or there should be rules to the way the world works. Perhaps those rules, that clearly outlined code of behavior, is sometimes more obscure than at other times. It might just be because of the randomness of things, the way the world as you know it skews hard to the left when you expected it to veer gently right that Claudia has given herself a very strict code of conduct. Honor your deals, be honest in your deals with others, don't take the proverbial dump where you live. There are more, of course, little things that she's been developing since she was a child watching her father run a small shipping empire. Empire being a rather loose term, and more something fueled by the imagination of a child than the reality of being an adult. Claudia was the youngest born to a very minor noble house that over saw some of the trading done around Nilanza, and they made good profits. Many would argue that trading would be something beneath the nobility, and they might be right. As it was, Claudia's family really acted as backers to others, never taking direct part in the trading, technically. From a young age she learned how to run things, not because she was expected to take over the house, but her father was a practical man, and he felt that everyone should learn to contribute. So as soon as she was old enough she was put on the ships and taught to sail, read the wind and sky, navigate by the stars, how to speak to those in other ports, to find the best deal. She built up a reputation of being able to find what people wanted, difficult, rare, expensive goods....none of that mattered. She'd always go the extra mile to make sure that the deal was honored. When House Argento fell, she wasn't home in Nilanza, and in fact, she decided that it might be best to make herself scarce. She knew what happened to her family, and that it all crumbled, that her father died of a broken heart after her mother was killed. But recently she's heard that it might be safe to come home, and take up a place among House Malespero, which is what she's done. + |
| Cleo Frost + | Far to the north of Whitehall in the depths of Everwinter where nights and days can last weeks or even months with the turning of the seasons livesa tribe of Shav'Avani called The Children of the Sun and the Moon. The tribe has over the millennia developed a number of particular standards and rituals that vary greatly from those used of the more Southern Shav'Avani which differe even more from the tribes that have sworn fealty to and become Houses of Redrain. The Children of the Sun and the Moon are mostly nomadic, moving as dictated by the Weather and the Seasons to either follow their prey or return to their ancestral homes for shelter. They have developed a regimented culture where one is either Hunter, Gatherer, Raider (Sun), or Hearthkeeper (Moon). Those who follow the Sun, and the Moon, are generally formed along gender lines but gender is a choice to the Children of the Sun and the Moon and thus both physical sexes are accounted for in both. Born amongst the Children of the Sun there was always more to Cleo's life, odd things happened around her constantly both good and bad. There was hardly a dull moment around her life and she never fit in due to it, kept separate a lot, which suited her just fine. She spoke to the spirits as they would speak back and when it came time for her to pick her focus she chose none, and was sent to the Walkers Inbetween. There she found who she was, which was neither, and both, all the same and she partook of the rituals, sacrifices, and alchemical potions that discovered her true self and stabilized it permanently. Never Sun. Never Moon. Always Sun. Always Moon. She had found her place, and she made friends during her training, but one of the younger Walkers she knew during their apprenticeship ended up leaving the tribe and headed south soon after she succeeded in her tests. Cleo wonders and waited to hear news of the return of Cybele, but when no news came Cleo began to worry. Asking the spirits for guidance Cleo was told that Cybele still lived, far to the south in the land of warmth and green. So too did Cleo tell the Elders that she would go check on Cybele, and see if she was unwilling, or unable to return. The trek was not an easy one but Cleo endured, sneaking south past Whitehall, and into the lands of Redrain where she finally was caught by House Nightgold and very nearly put to the sword but the young shaman was able to get the spirits to speak of her quest and intentions. She was forced to bend the knee of course, and she did so gladly if it would allow her to continue on to find Cybele. After the long walk and through those dangers she finally came to Arx and learned of many wondrous things... it was no wonder why Cybele did not come back, there was to much to learn before she could go home. + |
| Clover Farshaw + | Clover Wyrmguard was born to Annaliese and Damien Wyrmguard, a lesser branch of the family; distant cousins. She's the youngest of her particular branch. One of her older siblings is quite good with a sword, another with a spear. She decided she wanted to take the bow and arrow as a young child... unfortunately she is not blessed with grace. If there is anything that Clover is not is graceful. She's broken more bones in her life than either of her more combatant siblings-- just from falling off of things. Her parents put her into dancing lessons once and she ended up breaking her instructors nose AND her own arm. She does, however, love to be outside. Even if it means she's probably going to cause herself some amount of harm. She's also been the type to be outside; growing up in Blancbier this meant being outside of the cities walls either in the mountains or out in the forest. She's got a deft hand with dealing with the less combat-centric aspects of being outdoors; she knows well what is safe to eat, how to navigate a forest, and how to handle an animal. Growing up in Blancbier also meant that she had some training in medicine which led to her joining the Mercies of Lagoma. Her early twenties saw her married to Duke Ryhalt Farshaw of Westrock Reach. It was considered a positive political move for Wyrmguard and Farshaw, strengthening both houses through their mercantile connections. From there she settled nicely into the role of Duchess-Consort, a bright and positive addition to the duchy. She grew from a haphazard girl to a strong and mature woman, her skill with the bow increased, as did her interest in medicine. Since her joining Westrock she's come to be known for her prowess in the field and her innate understanding of the wilderness of the isles she's now come to oversee and love. + |
| Clover Wyrmguard + | Clover Wyrmguard was born to Annaliese and Damien Wyrmguard, a lesser branch of the family; distant cousins. She's the youngest of her particular branch. One of her older siblings is quite good with a sword, another with a spear. She decided she wanted to take the bow and arrow as a young child... unfortunately she is not blessed with grace. If there is anything that Clover is not is graceful. She's broken more bones in her life than either of her more combatant siblings-- just from falling off of things. Her parents put her into dancing lessons once and she ended up breaking her instructors nose AND her own arm. She does, however, love to be outside. Even if it means she's probably going to cause herself some amount of harm. She's also been the type to be outside; growing up in Blancbier this meant being outside of the cities walls either in the mountains or out in the forest. She's got a deft hand with dealing with the less combat-centric aspects of being outdoors; she knows well what is safe to eat, how to navigate a forest, and how to handle an animal. Growing up in Blancbier also meant that she had some training in medicine though she has never joined the Mercies, she has thought about it off and on. + |
| Cocine Arcuri + | Much like her mother before her, Cocine grew up in the middle of the brood of Arcuri children. Helping in the shop with odd chores, then with simple tasks. When she apprenticed, she chose a tough route, taking on both alchemy and smithing. Many in the Arcuri family seem blessed when it comes to their chosen profession, but for Cocine it was a calling. Experimenting with metals and minerals, mixing compounds with metals to see what she would get. Always with an eye towards which ones work best together. When she reached an age, she opened a shop of her own in Lenosia, the mixtures of minerals and metals creating unique appearances without altering properties. And still she experimented every chance she got. Sometimes going out of her way to learn some obscure formula just to see how it would fare when paired with different metals. She broke even more than she profited, her experiments always taking the bulk of her resources. The last of the Josephine's children still in Lenosia, after her mother's death, Cocine finished what remained of her commissions, then packed her things and headed to Arx to join the rest of the family. + |
| Col Steelhart + | Col was never as good as Lionel in his fathers' eyes. He was never treated poorly or unfairly, that wasn't Frederik's way but it was always there: Lionel was better. Lionel was the first born. Lionel was the warrior and knight. Lionel was the man who's honor could not be tarnished. He could do no wrong. While his older brother was learning to fight and be a knight Col was reading books and learning tactics for war, rather than individual battle. He knew he would never be as physically capable as his older brother but he was driven to prove himself useful to his father and the House. He tried to learn, he truly did, but all the hard work netted him very little. It was not his aptitude. His aptitude was in planning. Plotting. Leading but not from the front. It was like Col and Lionel were the two sides of their father's 'coin'. Lionel got all the physical talents and ability while Col was the statesman, diplomat, and planner. When the two worked together they were unstoppable. Frederik finally noticed Col and they had begun to mend those fences when tragedy struck in the form of his cousin's attempted coup and rebellion. Of all the people to fall it was Lionel and Col was left suddenly the heir of House Steelhart. There was nothing for it, Col was next in line. Frederik finally had to recognize Col's merits on their own standing. That is how it should have went. Instead Frederik buried Lionel and moved on. There is the knowledge that Col will one day inherit the County, but until then there's not a lot he can do to get out of his brother's shadow. At least not in Highhill. + |
| Cole Farago + | Hailing from a tiny village under the control of House Redrain, Cole's mother died in childbirth leaving his father to raise him. A woodcutter by trade, his father emphasized hard work and discipline above all. Though it was not an unpleasant life, money was tight and the repetitive lifestyle grew to wear on him. Hoping to make his fortune in the city, he struck off by signing on as a caravan guard. + |
| Colette Laurent + | Growing up the baby of a ducal line usual has it's advantages, but perhaps the slight disparity of age worked to reverse that for Colette. She always fiercly admired her older siblings, but given she was so little, and seen as frail and delicate, she always managed to be somewhat of an underfoot figure. She always wanted to be apart of her older siblings adventures and shenanigans, but never really found a way to fit in. This caused her to take up the art of sneaking around, just to be close to them, and often led to her just being in the way. All of this led to her more silent and demure demeanor, which she found a way to channel in to her love for sneaking about and spying on her siblings, but given how protective everyone was of her, it usually ended in getting her siblings in trouble. In the long run it might have left her a bit more on the socially awkward side. As her siblings grew up and began departing for Arx and having more and more important roles to fill in the duchy, and having very little responsibilites left for her, she slowly became more and more reserved. Finally as she grew old enough she decided to depart for Arx herself and see what all the fuss was about. + |
| Conall Redrain + | Born into a minor line of the Redrain family, Conall grew up just outside of Farhaven where the importance of preparing for war had been strongly impressed upon him. Eschewing drunken antics for strict discipline and drilling, he came to be known for his odd habits as much as the zeal with which he approached military life. When he was finally allowed to accompany patrols hunting for Shavs Conall was in his true element. The battle of Stormwall left him more detached and realistic towards the approaches one should take towards evil. Heavily injured in that conflict, he spent a long time in recovery before able to help aid in defending the North again. For reasons known only to himself, he recently left for Arx without a word to anyone in Farhaven beforehand. + |
| Conrad Drayton + | He's seen the worst war can offer. A former Grayson soldier from an unremarkable village in the Gray Forest, Conrad and dozens of his friends were conscripted in the war to pacify the Reavers in the Gray Forest during those campaigns. He knew it was coming at least, and enlisted the help of a veteran from previous campaigns to teach him the basics, while his friends simply laughed at him for taking 'shavs' so seriously. In the end, most of those friends only survived the year long campaign because they stuck with him and learned to keep up with proper formation work in the infantry lines after their first real combat. When Conrad went home from there, the village just... wasn't the same. His friends went back to hunting and farming. His family expected him to do the same, but Conrad had gotten a solid taste of the power of a sword, and wanted to earn a much better living doing that, as he'd heard from the soldiers that mercenaries get paid very well if they're good enough. Having heard in passing about the Crimson Blades, Conrad went to Arx to sign up. His time among the Grayson armies had already given him an edge in experience, so when the time for promotions came around, Conrad was an easy pick. He's served as an officer in the Crimson Blades for a while, now. + |
| Constance Redrain + | Constance was born a noble of House Redrain and had a markedly rebellious youth that ended in her voluntarily shedding the family name. In her childhood she defied her tutors and enjoyed spurning their lessons more than taking them to heart. Often, she would go out of her way to learn so that she may foil their plans in the most troublesome way possible. Her teenage years consisted of a shift toward the natural world, and the people in it. Criminals, warriors, and all manner of violent or seedy sorts captivated her imagination, and she followed them throughout the north on their journeys, flouting social norms. By necessity, she learned something of medicine, and this curiosity flourished into a passion that lead her to the Mercies. She looked at her traveling companions with a new eye for their talents and strengths, and in her adulthood, she saw how these people might serve their fellow Arvani. It lead to her renouncing her faith in Shamanism in all but the most informal ways, and her own Redrain surname name in a rather dramatic devotion to the Godsworn. + |
| Constantine Kennex + | The second youngest of the Kennex brood, Constantine found himself in a position of freedom in comparison to his elder siblings. There was very little expectation of him beyond upholding the family dignity and preparing himself for the time when the weight of political responsibility would fall to his shoulders via future marriages and so forth. Without the determined role he would play, it allowed young Connie a more open relationship with both his mother and father spanning from his early years all the way to their tragic deaths. Denholm Kennex to the world was a calculating and brilliant naval commander, but in talks with his youngest son late into the evening Constantine learned there was so much more to his father than the lens of responsibility allowed to be seen. He came to realize each individual faced a myriad of inner struggles that more often than not were bore in silence. Alone. And so Constantine found his calling. He began seeking out others outside of his family, ingratiating himself with nobility and common folk alike via drink and topical discussion until like long ago in the wee hours of the evening his conversational partners began to reveal who they truly were. Not as whatever role they played in the grand scheme of Stormward or Arvum in general, but as people with all their hopes, dreams and fears. He found this made life a far less intimidating thing, especially in the political sphere and while the sea was always a soft siren's call in his ear... Constantine knew he was not meant for its embrace. During the transition and abolition of Thralldom within Stormward, Constantine worked tirelessly in the "trenches" shoulder to shoulder with his people. Up until more recently, Constantine remained home as a steady presence of House Kennex, but now that the dust has settled and Stormward progresses forward again with the Pirate War past he has decided to join his family in Arx at least for the near future. + |
| Cora Ulbran + | Born in the tougher parts of the world, in the Lower Boroughs, the daughter of a thief and her man, she grew up swift fingered and able to defend herself. She was often found tagging along with her partner in crime, Raymesin. Eventually, her parents had their life of crime catch up with them and had to skip town, leaving Cora to depend on her own skills and her friends. + |
| Coraline Thrax + | The third of four daughters, Cora always felt out of place. A tomboy through and through, she did not quite fit in with either side if her family, no matter how much she loved them: she couldn't quite relate to her father's bookish Leary relatives and she most certainly did not conform to the feminine ideals expected of her from her Thrax family on her mother's side. Her parents wanted her to become a proper princess and pursue subjects that were deemed acceptable (diplomacy! law! academics!) but Cora wanted to learn how to fight. She didn't understand why her male cousins were allowed to train and she wasn't -- especially when she was often better than they were. Like all the Thrax-Leary girls, she spent every summer in Leaholdt with her Leary relatives. While her sister, Caith, was given to reading and got along well with all their intellectual cousins, Cora spent her time hanging out with those who were more combat oriented. Increasingly, these summers spent with her more egalitarian relations would result in her returning to Maelstrom in the fall asking: why? Why couldn't she learn to fight? Why couldn't she be a soldier? Why couldn't she be a leader? Why? Why? WHY? The harder her Thrax family tried to shove her, a square peg, into a round hole, the more she resisted. When Donella was named heir (before she married out, that is), she viewed that as a hopeful sign that times were changing. She idolizes Leona, how she saved the King and became the Lord Commander of the King's Own (although Cora wants to be able to achieve that kind of greatness within Thrax). She dreams of rising up through the ranks and becoming the Thrax Warlord someday. However, her mother (while she was still alive) and most of her sisters (ESPECIALLY Cassima) continually tried to push her down more traditional avenues. Caith was the more moderate exception; while she never quite full-on encouraged her aspirations, she would often fill her head with ideas by reading her stories of heroic female knights and adventurers. It was frustrating because Cora really loved -- and felt a connection to -- Thrax but never could find her place in it. Maybe she could marry out, chase her dreams in another house? But she did not want to be in another house. She is a Thrax. She wants to STAY Thrax. If only there was a way... Well. Now Coraline is in Arx. How did she get here? That is an interesting story. See, she just couldn't stand being in a cage any longer and decided to take control of her own destiny. One of the benefits of being far removed from the line of succession is that no one pays too close attention to what you do. One night, she slipped her guards, lopped off her hair, stole some armor and a blade and snuck off to war. For the first time in her life, she felt comfortable. She felt like she fit in. She felt like the person she was meant to be: a warrior who was standing side by side with her fellow Thrax soldiers, fighting off the Gyre's forces. Did anyone realize at the time that the young male soldier was in fact one of their princesses? No, of course not. When it was all over, she returned with the troops: bloody but unbowed. She decided that she was going to be the change she wanted to see and, with that in mind, she returned to the Thrax estate in Arx to face the music ... with her head held high. + |
| Corban Telmar + | Born the second son of Lucas Telmar, Corban grew up the nephew of Duke Arn Telmar in the hostile, unwelcoming Duchy of the Telmarch. From an early age, Corban showed an affinity for martial skills, training alongside his cousins Ansel and Tobias, the two treated more like brothers than like cousins, given the common hardship that the three faced under the stern tutelage of the Duke Arn Telmar. After the passing of Lucas Telmar, Corban's mother decided to return to her family to assume a modest station as a deputy minister, leaving the young Telmar to be raised alongside his cousins by Duke Arn and the rest of the Telmars. As a young leader with the Telmarch army, Corban was already a favored captain of the Telmar armsmen, knowing the lord would always be the first sword rushing into the most dangerous frays. He quickly grew a reputation as one of the Telmarch's most capable military commanders, assuming increasing levels of responsibility within the powerful duchy, leading the forces of the Telmar and their vassals to break the shav hordes crashing against the Telmarch fortress walls. Now older, and with years of experience leading men into battle, Corban has come to the city to lend his sword to his family's assistance. With dark times on the horizon, he knows it may well be needed, and he plans to do fulfill his duty to his house. + |
| Corbit Leary + | Corbit was essentially born curious and had the perfect family to help feed that curiosity. His best childhood memories are debates at the dinner table over some minor point of a random piece of information. Between all these ideas whirling around him and having a mind like a sponge, he couldn't help but become a bit of a jack of all trades when it comes to scholarly persuits. So one day what he's working on might be totally different than what he's working on the next. So what if he may have accidently turned his hair green trying to come up with a cure for baldness? Worth it. Or about that time he burned down a shed trying to make it fireproof, small price to pay in his eyes. He's always been encouraged in these pursuits and has always taken great advantage of that. + |
| Cordelia Grimhall + | Born in the Hall of the Grim, Cordelia understood at an early age two very important things. Firstly, she never subscribed to the strict and punishing patriarchal beliefs pervading most of the Mourning Isles. Secondly, if she was ever going to enjoy life, she would have to find entertainment on her own. Not so much comprehending as reacting to the expressions on her neglectful mother's face after a visit with the Duke, she strove to conduct little rebellions against authority. One day, she might dodge her tutors or ruin her clothes. Another day, she'd soap up the floors and secretly watch her elders trip. More guards were hired for the simple dual purposes of keeping an eye on Cordelia, and patrolling for childish traps. At first, she was just trying to gain attention, but her disobedience evolved into outright unshakable independence. After managing to convince a combat instructor to train her, a brother eventually goaded her into a duel, to once and for all prove the reason and superiority of traditional Thraxian values. Scarred and incensed by the loss, it only drove her further away. At just fifteen, she ran off to join a group of adventurers allegedly seeking fame and fortune. Buoyed by others with a similar perspective, she felt wonderfully liberated. The band of explorers journeyed from one end of the Compact to the other, hoping to find lost articles from before the Reckoning in all sorts of strange and enigmatic places. Ultimately, the Duke's men found her and returned her home, but she responded with the announcement that she would become a Champion. They retorted with a short list of likely betrothals, and so she was sent to the center of the Compact to meet her future husband. + |
| Corinna Kelsey + | Corinna Kelsey has lived her entire life in the Lower Boroughs, and as far as she's concerned, the world outside the city might as well be a myth. Born to spectacularly unlucky lowborn parents, she was orphaned by disease at age of ten, and being taken in by a succession of more-or-less kindly tavern keepers was all that kept her from starving in the street. She spent most of her childhood in one tavern scullery or another, earning her keep through service, and not much has changed as she has aged into womanhood. Her cheerful, ditzy, and uncomplaining demeanor has endeared her to more than one employer, and she is mostly happy with her lot in life, but the vibrant, cosmopolitan life of the other boroughs has her longing to experience more of the world outside of the slums. + |
| Corinne Brooks + | Corinne was born to two loving parents who, despite their best and many efforts with each other and later others, never again managed to conceive another child on either side. They weren't wealthy, but tried to spoil her nonetheless, though it never took. She was cooperative, yes, and dressed in whatever style she was told without seeming to mind overmuch, but as she grew, neither fashion nor boys nor girls ever caught her eye. She was tolerant of others in the same way she tolerated mother fussing over her skirt of the day, or which ribbon to put in her hair. It wasn't a chore, not precisely, but she seemed to rarely if ever care for these things. That's not to say she was a dull, unsociable child. Corinne loved her exploits, and took well to learning her father's alchemical trade with no real prompting. She was friendly and sunny and beloved or at least well-liked by near all, though few save her parents were allowed to catch sight of the dark undercurrents of apathy at her core. As she grew older still, blossoming past adolescence and into adulthood, it became clear to those who knew her she cared little for anything but her brews and concoctions. Still, advancing in her craft required funds, and funds required speaking to people like a human being. To her poor parents' great relief, she embraced necessity, started leaving the house, and spoke verbally with others again. For a few months, it was like the sullen creature living in their attic that only communicated in grunts, monosyllables, and hand gestures was just a bad dream. Soon after, though, she left her home of Southport for Arx with a small sum, seeking to make her fortune in greener pastures. + |
| Cornelius Blackshore + | With other heirs apparent, it was clear when Cornelius was born that he would never inherit Blackshore Isle. However, he was groomed to serve his brother Oswald by the stern, unforgiving hand of his father. Mother was nothing more than a glittering show piece that was valued only by her ability to engage their social peers in the drawing room. He never found any maternal warmth from her. Under the harsh rule of a Thraxian warlord, Cornelius quickly learned to navigate among some of the most ruthless warriors of the Compact. Cornelius met Lady Florence Gilden, his future wife, at a society event. She was nothing like what he was used to. Fragile, vulnerable and so trusting. It was easy to sweep her off her feet, and convince her to marry him. Of course her family had misgivings that he was ten years her senior and only after her dowry, but he managed to convince the idealistic artist that he had only eyes for her. They were married after a quick courtship. It was her dowry that allowed him to launch his career as a naval architect for House Thrax. Serving Donrai was never easy, and his back bears the scars of a few missed gambles but overall he managed to get the High Lord to sponsor his ideas. When his first son, Romulius, was born while his brother had yet to produce an heir, other ambitions caused him to stop more often to visit Oswald. Florence never liked him so he was careful to balance those two when they were together. The next few years passed quickly, his fortunes ebbed and flowed depending on his investments. Dycard and Skye were born. His family thrived on their many travels as he gave his duty to the Compact. While Florence's health seemed to wane as time passed, others would remark that he was the consummate family man. Cornelius will tell you it was a difficult decision to leave his wife with his brother, but her wasting illness got to the point where she needed more medical care. He managed to convince Oswald to take his wife in. Then he placed his daughter there to assist with her care. Of course, he kept his sons by his side to make sure they would learn the business. There were times that he perhaps in reflection were harsh, but he only was trying to raise them to be warriors that would thrive under Donrai's rule. As a staunch traditionalist, he managed to gather popularity among his peers. All the pieces were in place. His daughter had gained favor with Oswald, his oldest son was being groomed to be the heir of Blackshore. Dycard was a bit of a disappointment, being more of a dandy than a warrior, but perhaps in time he would find his place in society. Then it happened, the reavers attacked their ship. Cornelius bravely fought off the pirates, creating an escape route. He yelled at his oldest son to come, but the foolish man wouldn't leave Dycard. The window of opportunity was closing. Suddenly Cornelius had to face a decision to escape or be taken by the pirates with his sons. In a split second, Cornelius chose escape, promising himself that he would return with troops to free Romulius and Dycard. He traveled back to Blackshore Isle to rally his brother, only to find the isle in ruins. Everyone was dead. Without the means himself to rescue his family, Cornelius was forced to lean back on his wits. To lean on others more powerful than himself, slowly rebuilding his connections. + |
| Corrala Leary + | Growing up in a manor Corrala never saw the outside world much as a child. Being taught from an early age about the arts of scholarship and nobility she thought that one day she would be a scholar. This all changed when she had to visit a healing temple one summer afternoon. Her focus in life changed from knowledge gathering to medicine and she learned about all the different medical interventions. When she got sufficient training she decided to join the Mercies of Lagoma where she dispensed healing to all who came to the temple near her home. Finding that she was also able to listen to people's troubles as she worked Corrala soon became the one that everyone went to for advice, and she soon gained a reputation for being knowledgeable especially in matters of leadership and medicine. In her spare time Corrala does some decorative gardening, sewing, and reads as many books as she can find. + |
| Corrigan Grayhope + | As one of several sons of Kelda Grayhope, Corrigan wanted for little as a boy. His mother was ambitious to improve the social and financial affairs of the family and she threw herself into doing that, enhancing the Grayhopes' position in the merchant class by hook or by crook. The emphasis was on the crook; by the time Corrigan was 13, he knew way too much about the borders between the Upper Boroughs and the Lower, and by the time he was 15, he'd already been a drug runner for several smuggling operations. Kelda was firmly ensconced in selling legitimate wares and laundering money for the family business. Corrigan was involved in literally everything. When he was nineteen, he ran afoul of the Inquisition tracking down dirt on Kelda, and a particularly clever and rather surly Inquisitor offered Corrigan a choice, an out: information in exchange for an absence of the less than savory methods the Inquisition might bring to bear. His subornment was mild at first. He turned over information in dribs and drabs, never enough to tip off the family or really enough to do much for the Inquisition. But treachery is a slippery slope, and his ability to burn the candle at both ends ended pretty sharply and sourly a few years into the proposition. Unable to make more traditional charges stick on Kelda when she disavowed all connection to everything even under torture, the Inquisition ultimately took Kelda as a witch for violating Limerance's Fourth Law. Ultimately, Corrigan's internal cover was compromised and he was forced to choose which life would be his: the investigator's life, taking confessions, or the criminal's, avoiding them. It was a complicated decision that he reached, but with a family that would not take him back, Corrigan chose to crusade against his own former life instead. + |
| Corwin Sanna + | A love match, rather than a strictly political marriage, brought a Blackram woman to take the name Sanna and move into the Redrain fealty. On paper, Peyton Blackram secured the use of some minor mountain causeway for trade that would extend Sanna's reach through the winter, but outside of the official story everyone knew that the marriage was going to happen or a bastard was going to a stain. So it was that just a week after the vows had been said, Peyton and Benedikt welcomed their baby boy, Corwin, into the world. They said from the start he could scream loud enough to start an avalanche. When it came to his lessons, things involving reading were not high on Corwin's list. Once he learned how to get out of those lessons, usually by sneaking or just not showing up, he tended to go missing at least four times out of ten. He hated being indoors, and the tutors never wanted to be out of doors. It was, really, just a match asking to fail. When it came to going with Benedikt on a hunt, or working with a weaponsmaster, or learning to stalk a beast, that's when Corwin paid attention. The outdoors, the thrill of tracking something, of catching it, gavae him something that made his blood stir. And on the days when he was really on his game, the wind seemed to always be at his front, keeping his scent away from the prey and making his cloak billow dramatically. As he grew, it became clear that Corwin was not going to be learned, merely adeequate. He was, instead, destined for the life of a ranger. He'd spend his days out of doors, leading hunting parties, skirmishing with shavs, tracking warbands to relay back to the armies. And as long as he was outside, he was perfectly fine. Now he's been summoned to Arx and he's about to find out just host much outdoor camping one can do in a city. + |
| Cosette Nightgold + | Born into a large family, there was never a dull moment for Cosette. She grew up with two older brothers and a slew of cousins in the mountains. Her father kept busy with the other mountain men, and her mother kept busy with the family when she wasn't doing work as an apothecary. Cosette was always interested in plants and minerals, and it was only natural for the girl to grow up learning apothecary skills from her mother. She learned about medicines and poisons, and she also dabbled in making other off-the-wall potions. 'Love' potions? 'Truth' potions? Whether or not they truly work, she always enjoyed creating new mixtures and tinctures for others. Once she became older Cosette decided she wanted to make the trip to Arx to see what it was like. She heard she had several cousins there, and would find a home with her extended family as she tried to make a name for herself as an apothecary. + |
| Cosimo Tessere + | Cosimo is what most noble parents would consider the spare, the next legitimate child behind the groomed heir. He wasn't present for the scandal that followed the birth of his illegitimate sister, Nurie, nor the collapse of his father's House - but these events left an indelible mark on his upbringing. He was neither the favored child nor the favored sibling, and was often left to his own devices in the care of the household servants. It was both a bane and a boon: his parents did not foist high expectations onto him and he largely remained out of their crossfire, but books and tutors did not always make for great socializing. He excelled in his studies as a youth and remained intellectually curious. Medicine, language, the occult, and even musical composition piqued his interest. He was closer to his father when he was around, who was notably more cerebral than his wife. As he grew from a gangly teenager into an independent adult, he gradually realized that complete knowledge requires more than just reading a book. While his sister spent her time at Fortezza di Iriscal learning how to rule alongside their capricious mother and half-sister, Cosimo traversed across the continent in search of answers to some of the mysteries he found within their library, some of which involved the roots of his own family. Peripheral politics on the outskirts of his childhood were largely ignored... until the Countess was murdered. He has accompanied his family to Arx to assist with the investigation, and with whatever else may come their way. + |
| Costas Voducce + | Born Costas Voducce, the young third son of an unexceptional minor house expected only to live a life of relative obscurity tallying casks of wine and bolts of silk in one dusty counting house or another. His parents, notorious misers not much beloved by their liege or peers, spent little time on the twice-redundant son, boarding him at a series of schools only to ensure that he would not become an economic burden on the lineage. It had been three years since he had seen his family when he received word from his sister that the family was relocating their interests to a more favorable location in the Saffron Chain and that his brothers had decided he need not hasten to join them until his studies were complete. She begged him to join her so that their greedy brothers could be prevented from squandering the family fortune. All he need do was secure a ship to meet them mid-voyage along the secret route they had travelled together as youngsters on their family's ships. She had even arranged a ship.% So it was that Costas Voducce brought ruin to his house. The ship he rushed to board, eager to reclaim a place in his family, was a pirate vessel. It did not occur to him to ask why, if his sister had secured the ship, she had not also provided the destination. A helpful Costas was eager to assist. It was not until the flags of his family's company were spotted that the pirates raised their own, and he was tossed in the hold. After the battle, he was tortured for five days before they were satisfied that he had no more information that could be made into a profit. He would have been dumped overboard there, throat slit, save for that the ship's navigator pointed out that he could use a man who knew letters if they were to command a fleet of prize ships. For three years Costas swabbed decks, cooked meals, and copied endless nautical directives for ships in the pirate fleet. Never fully accepted into the crew, he was subject to routine beatings. When after one particularly rough drubbing Costas sustained a fractured arm that put him off his work for weeks, the navigator decided to begin training him in the sword so that he might defend himself. He took to it quickly, finding a talent completely unlooked-for and a sense of confidence he had never known. When three months later their ship was attacked by a rival band of pirates, Costas killed four himself. Though he was not added to the marines despite his skill, owing to his value as a navigator, he would be force to repeat the act many more times over the next four years. While it was not a life full of much happiness Costas had come to accept his place, just as it was upended one more time. On a cold and moonless night, while seeking quarry closer than ever before to the southern ports, a patrol of Malvici pirate hunters caught them in a bad wind and a fierce battle ensued. Faced for the first time with the prospect of having to fight someone that wasn't a pirate, he made the decision to try to flee in a dinghy. Magata had other plans. A storm rose up during the height of the attack and he was quickly capsized as the engaged ships battered against one another in a cacophany of splintering wood. When he next awoke, it was to the prodding spears of Malvici bannermen who found him floating among the wreckage. He would have been put to the death there, had not one of them spotted the seal of a noble house on the simple leather strip he wore around his neck. Though long since dispossessed of its lands and titles, the name of Voducce would have a final grace to extend to its last scion. + |
| Courage Pie + | Stanley 'Courage' Pie was born a farmer, lived a farmer and would probably have died a farmer on Fidante land if it wasn't for the Valorous Few recruiter who came through his village. He was the only one to join up, and his reason had absolutely nothing to do with being sick of being the butt of everyone's jokes and wanting to get away from it all. No sir. + |
| Cristoph Laurent + | Because he was the second child of Duke Edmund Laurent by a number of years, Cristoph was educated as the 'spare' to his sister's heir. He showed considerable aptitude for the soldier's trade, and generally expected that it would be the knightly service of the ducal seat that would be his life's work. Yet his path was not so set when she struck herself from the rolls of House Laurent. His sister was in her early twenties when she left the laity sisterhood of Gloria to be truly godsworn and throw herself into the Faith. That left Cristoph a boy coming to his adulthood in a changing universe. (It also killed a potential marriage alliance with another ducal house, but never mind. There will always be more potential brides, right?) Yet the mantle of heirdom did not sit easily on Cristoph's shoulders. He was accustomed to a soldier's trade, a soldier's goals, and he hungered for the glory of the battlefield. He risked himself early and often, leading from the front and leading the charge ahorse against the Shavs even as a young man. Badly injured to within a few inches of his life in a skirmish a few years ago, his men prevailed upon him to control his more glory-hound impulses; his father had lost one heir to a different kind of duty, and it would be terrible to lose another, particularly with his younger sister so very much younger. In order to accustom Cristoph to responsibility and grow him into his role as the future duke, he was made Voice of Laurent, and threw himself into the work with a will to prove himself, first while he lay recovering in an infirmary bed, and then afterwards when he was wholly recovered. He proved a pragmatic thinker and a capable organizer. So it was that when the duke fell ill and died in the spring of 1005 and he took the reins of the duchy, it was with several years solid experience under his belt, as a leader of men whose vibrancy was newly tempered by patience. + |
| Cufre Harrow + | With ancestors who were Prodigal and growing up in the Lower Boroughs, life was far from easy for Cufre. Despite the hardships that the family faced, her ancestors and older siblings did willingly serve the Crown in the form of the Iron Guard. Her great-grandfather, grandfather, grandmother, all the way down to Felicia older sister Amantha. Service has been something which the family has conducted with stringent adherence to the simple concept: to integrate and find acceptance, one must be willing to serve. And serve the family has, for a number of generations in concurrence. Cufre did not choose to follow in the family tradition of service in the Iron Guard, but instead recently opened a shop in the Lower Burroughs known as the Heart of Glass Glaziers, her 'service' more private in terms of trying to improve the family's fortune. This does not mean she is without aspirations, particularly with Death's rediscovery and admission into the Pantheon, the youngest Harrow sister finds herself increasingly intrigued with the Harlequin's of Death and service to Death in particular. + |
| Cullen Greenmarch + | The only son and eldest child of Alda and Malcolm Greenmarch Cullen was raised to be a proud warrior of the Greenwood Abandoned fighting against the oppressive House Valardin and the Compact. Or at least he was supposed to, but that all changed when his tribe bent the knee and became House Greenmarch of Greenhaven. When he was twenty his family made their first trip to Sanctum. There he was introduced to the Oathlands Knights that he had been raised to war with, and developed a great appreciation for their culture. Chivalry and the Knighthood were of particular interest to Cullen, and he embraced it wholeheartedly. He was even the first Knight his cousin the newly minted Marquis of Greenmarch made, in fact. Still, Cullen honors his families' culture, and he seeks compromise between his love of Oathlands chivalry and his family. He has not abandoned his family or their ways, and instead sees himself as adapting to new ways. + |
| Curran Grayhope + | Curran was a bastard in a noble house in Arx, probably one of the Lycene ones, but he wasn't an important bastard. He was somebody's servant sleeping around trying to get a leg up on her employer for blackmail purposes, but she miscalculated because he didn't care. She was fired and she took her son to the Lower Boroughs, where she worked at the Murder for the Grayhopes, and her son was underfoot all of the time. He helped cook and clean from when he was old enough to hold a rag, but not like he was beaten into it. More like he was interested in sticking his nose where it wasn't wanted. It was not an ideal childhood. A low, scraggly little rat in the Boroughs, he developed a knack for creeping into corners, a light-fingered little punk who found trinkets where he could and shadows wherever he looked for them. Curran got old enough to get into real scraps and that meant he got old enough to get himself into trouble. He punched somebody he shouldn't have, but the Grayhopes liked his mother, so they looked out for him, too, and he wound up 'employed' by the 'organization', learning from spies how to be quiet. There's plenty of fine, fancy family folk, but Curran's who any of the family call when they need something shifty done on the quiet. + |
| Cutlin Moss + | Cutlin Moss has served the Deepwood since his birth, as did his father and his father before him. And, like all of them before him, he served as a scout and ranger. Few know the wild lands like the Moss do, and few are as comfortable in it. Cutlin began serving on long-range scouting missions and hunting at a young age, and he was trained well by his father and his elder sister. Eventually he fell in love with another commoner (A woman by the name of Bianca), and they married. They had a son, and two years later a set of female twins. His wife and eldest son were eventually killed in a skirmish with pirates while they were on a trip to the coast eight years ago, and he has raised his daughters alone since. Now, in the wake of the siege, he has been called to aid the Deepwood closer to Arx, though he already misses the deep wild. + |
| Cybele Frost + | There are places past Whitehold, in the Everwinter, where night starts and then continues for several months before the sun rises again. Where midsummer means the sun stays in the sky until autumn comes. Where the stars wear ribbons to dance at night, shimmering across the sky in celebration of life and creation. The Children of the Sun and Moon are a Shar'avani tribe leading a semi-nomadic style along the tundras far north, following the yearly trails of their pray and returning to their ancestral homes at roughly the same times of the years. The Children divide themselves into those who hunt , gather and raid(Sun) and those who take care of the homesteads (Moon), which led to a ritualised set of roles in their society. Mostly, Sun and Moon arise along gender lines, but overlap is common, and a Child of the Sun is a Child of the Sun by their own declaration, rather than any accident of birth. So it also goes for the Children of the Moon. Cybele was born among the Children, and was a fey child prone to dreamings and wanderings that could land a youngling in trouble. With declarations of fealty to both the Sun and the Moon, it wasn't long before Cybele's parents sent their youngest off to the ones that stood apart. The Walkers Inbetween. Cybele, after all, was approaching an age of maturity, and would need to declare to the day or the night, to the Sun or the Moon. To the hunt, or the hearth. Except... Not. The Walkers Inbetween were the crossers of boundaries, a shamanistic tradition embracing transgression in many things - including gender and gendered expressions. Imbibers of alchemical potions to shift the balance in their bodies, and granted power by their unique position, never belonging but always in place. So when Cybele was asked to choose between Sun and Moon, Cybele choose neither. Taking the third option, and guiding the Children while standing apart, like others had done before. The Apprenticeship was long and full of secrets - there are things in the Everwinter that Arvum - and the Compact - rarely hears about. What came next came as a shock and a disappointment to Cybele's tribe. After the final test, and being declared a Walker, the newly-blooded shaman picked up what meagre belongings had been gifted over the years, and walked south. Cybele was nearly killed by house Halfshav, but eventually they were convinced of the Abandoned's earnestness, and accepted a prodigal oath. Since then, Cybele has continued south. And now, the shaman is in Arx. It will be a grand adventure. + |
| Cydra Corroda + | She was born an only child in the City of Arx to a poor family, her mother being a tavern maid and her father being a dock worker. It was a difficult life growing up, getting her in to a lot of scrapes and trouble with the law - much to the frustration of her parents. She wasn't bad - simply headstrong and willful - but those two traits tended to rub the wrong people the wrong way. She helped her father at the docks loading and unloading heavy crates, far preferring that to the tiring social setting of a tavern, but she didn't have hope of much of a future beyond the simple life her parents have. Wanting much more than to be poor and pregnant, she hopped at the chance to join Arx's military, serving several years as a common man-at-arms. + |
| Cynara + | Background + |
| Cyril Melaeris + | 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. + |
| Cyrus Laurent + | Much like the modest roots of the House Laurent, Cyrus was not born exceptionally high in his family or siblings. A third sibling, there wasn't much heavy responsibilities already expected of him. Instead he turned his sights towards a classical training of sword and pen so that he might one day become a Knight to aid his family and the people. As he studied and trained, he found a calling for the Goddess Gloria and the teachings of chivalry grow stronger and stronger until he started to add the teachings of the faith to his daily lessons. while he had no issues juggling his studies, it became clear that his passion for his faith was strongest among them. As he grew into a pious man, he had foregone any serious considerations of marriage and instead turned his time and efforts towards protecting the people and the Faith wherever and whenever he was needed. + |
D | |
| Dacian Krosse + | Hailing from a family of level headed merchants, Dacian was afforded the opportunity to travel from an early age. With tutors on board his parents' ships, he was also quite well read from an early age - after all there was hardly ever anything else to do on the ships. Boredom and curiosity made him look forward to the trips ashore with his parents where he learned the family trade first hand from both of his parents. He can boast that by the time he was 18, he had seen every domain on the sea or waterways through the Compact. He's met many beautiful men and women and learned about many cultures and what each domain had to offer, and needed in return. He was expected to make himself a fine life for himself carrying on the family business. Except by the time he was 18 he felt the call of the wilderness and took to hunting. Of course this supplemented the family's business in perfect compliment. He would disappear for a month or two at a time and reappear with only the best pelts for sale. His path took a slight turn when an abandoned island was taken over by the Compact. Intrigued, he visited the island and was one of the most -if not THE most- successful merchant of Elune. He quickly adapted to the needs and desires of the traders there and after only a few short months decided to make it his home and base of operations. He still travels these days of course, but his primary focus is building his empire on Estroch and travels between Elune and Arx now when the financial forecast is just right. + |
| Daemon Dracone + | Daemon Dracone was born into a Knightly retainer family of the Oathlands. From a young age he was made to follow in his own ancestor's footsteps to walk the path of a Knight, swearing to codes of honors and learning the way of sword and horse-riding. Several years were spent with his nose buried in textbooks of etiquette and training with sword and shield all the while. Never a moment of his childhood was spent with play, always in practice and martial training. One might think that such ardous childhood would lead to a rather hard and cynical child, but by some anomaly the opposite became true. Daemon was a bright and happy child even through the demands of his family's desire to hone him into another proud and rigorous member of their ilk. He performed with flying colors without a single complaint. Some still believe he might just be holding it all in for one disastrous meltdown. For some years the rumor of the Dracone's extinction began to build in the circles they frequented. After his father's disappearance, Daemon set off on a voyage away from Arvum and before long the letters stopped coming in. It didn't exactly make a large splash in the history books though, they'd always been minor and unlanded with their most significant feature being their loyalty to Valardin. But then one day, Daemon resurfaced on board a merchant ship that had settled into Arx's harbor. His disappearance having been a quest to find where his family had disappeared to, a quest that he had failed at. It's a burden he freely admits is his deepest regret, the one stain he'd never be able to repeal from his duties. + |
| Dafne Rubino-Zaffria + | Dafne was born to the younger sister, Cerese, of Duke Marco; she is first cousin to Lady Sylvie Zaffria and technically, her heir. Although in general an overlooked member of that powerful family, she has been sent to Arx in hopes she may be of assistance to her cousins. Well. Her parents are also hoping it may help Dafne gain some worldly wisdom and social polish--not to mention cure of her of a certain fascination with the darker side of life. + |
| Dag Frost + | Dag was born a poor farmer's son in one of the most inhospitable lands in Arvum: The Northlands. Though his tiny village is on few maps, they were always loyal to House Redrain and the Compact and enjoyed a relative modicum of safety. For most of his life, Dag expected he would always be a farmer, taking on his father's lands when he eventually passed. What he had not anticipated was that his father, exhausted and disillusioned by years of labor for little reward, arranged for his son to be apprenticed to the local blacksmith in an effort to give him a better life. At first Dag was reluctant, but he soon found himself taking to the craft with a passion he had never before experienced. Though tales of heroic knights in impenetrable armor wielding legendary blades against monstrous enemies had never really gripped Dag the way it had other boys his age, he found himself more and more drawn to the idea of being the man who made one of those mythical suits of armor. Dag was soon so enthralled by this dream, he poured himself completely into his work, laboring night and day at his master's forge until, before he knew it, he was a man grown with a formidable knowledge of smithing. The little village had no need of two blacksmiths so Dag, taking the humble gifts his family and master provided to him, set out to find his own place in the world. His travels took him all over the Northern realms, into mountain strongholds and humble townships similar to his own. Though he traveled a dangerous road, the strength he earned at the anvil proved useful as he learned to wield his hammer not just to create, but to defend himself from bandits and the Abandoned. Along the way he honed his craft, often stopping to lend a hand in forges all over the Northlands to fund his travels. Sometimes he'd spend months at a time out in the wilds, almost always moving forward, seeking secrets of smithing and metalworking anywhere he could find them. Finally, after traversing hundreds of circuitous miles and spending years on the road, he turned his sights towards Arx to finally make a name for himself. + |
| Dagny Stahlben + | Life has not always been easy at the Bonespire, there is constant skirmishes, constant guarding against the dangers that come from the Everwinter. When Dagny was young she would sit at her grandmother's feet, soaking up the frighting tales of things that lurked out beyond the Bonespire, waiting in the icy cold snow of the Everwinter. Stories that gave her nightmares as a young child, and turned her attention towards the more esoteric of things as an adult, always interested in death, the bones, the spirits. Rumor has it that when her grandmother died she refused to say goodbye to her for good, and kept a small piece of her. But that was surely just a rumor about a child that was a little more dark and creepy then some. As she grew older she turned her attention to studying with her father, learning to fight in the defense of her family and allies. After the Silent War and the decimation of her family, she left the Bonespire with a promise that one day she'd come back, and be able to save them. It was the childish assertions of a young woman that had never really lived in the wider world, or understood that there is not ever really any saving that is possible. Not overall, just a method of keeping as many people as possible alive, and defeating as many of the enemy as possible while doing it. About six months before her appearance in Arx she returned to the Bonespire, although most say that while she was there she didn't talk to many people. Kept to herself. But she started hunting for her grandmother's things, looking for something. Evidently she found it, because she left for Arx looking satisfied about something. + |
| Dagon Thrax + | Prince Dagon Thrax, heir to the House Thrax and future Prince of Maelstrom, is not what most Thrax expected and very few wanted. Most in House Thrax are weaned upon tales of hard men in hard times, pragmatic men who brutally do anything necessary for victory. Dagon's father Elton was instead a more gentle sort, much to the consternation and disappointment of Dagon's grandfather, Prince Donrai Thrax, who is every bit as brutal and ruthless as any Thraxian vassal could hope for. But Prince Elton was a quiet dreamer who raised Dagon upon tales of knighthood, chivalry and honor, hoping to not have a brutish reaver as a son, though it is doubtful he ever could have suspected how closely his lessons would have been taken to heart. Dagon grew up a true idealist, one who is determined to change the way that House Thrax is perceived and rule with honor, dignity, compassion and justice... much to the consternation of many of his fellows in House Thrax. After his father's death during the House Tyde rebellion, the very young Dagon dedicated himself to knightly ideals. He -never- lies and is visibly uncomfortable with anything like a half-truth, and takes honesty to a fault. He is unfailingly polite in a true courtly fashion, standing in marked contrast to the crass way his fellows comport themselves in House Thrax, though he never attempts to shame them and conducts himself with the quiet humility that doesn't pass judgment on his fellows. He is dedicated to the defense of the weak and helpless, taking this to the old fashioned and romanticized ideal as a defender of women, and placing great value on chastity and purity. He does, however, take his vows of loyalty and service to his family extremely seriously, and while he might wish to reform the House and address its injustices, he takes a measured and honorable approach that does not ever risk breaking any of his sacred vows. His honor is that of the diligent paragon so rarely seen in House Thrax, and while he might work to further the ends of a House often seen as heartless or cruel, he hopes to eventually win over the doubters. + |
| Dagon Tyde + | Most in House Thrax are weaned upon tales of hard men in hard times, pragmatic men who brutally do anything necessary for victory. Dagon’s father Elton was instead a more gentle sort, much to the consternation and disappointment of Dagon’s grandfather, Prince Donrai Thrax, who is every bit as brutal and ruthless as any Thraxian vassal could hope for. But Prince Elton was a quiet dreamer who raised Dagon upon tales of knighthood, chivalry and honor, hoping to not have a brutish reaver as a son, though it is doubtful he ever could have suspected how closely his lessons would have been taken to heart. Dagon grew up a true idealist, one who is determined to change the way that House Thrax is perceived… much to the consternation of many of his fellows in Maelstrom. After his father’s death during the House Tyde rebellion, the very young Dagon dedicated himself to knightly ideals. He -never- lies and is visibly uncomfortable with anything like a half-truth: he takes honesty to a fault. He is unfailingly polite in a true courtly fashion, standing in marked contrast to the crass way his fellows comport themselves in House Thrax, though he never attempts to shame them conducts himself with the quiet humility that doesn’t pass judgement on his fellows. He is dedicated to the defense of the weak and helpless, taking this to the old fashioned and romanticized ideal as a defender of women, while placing a great value on purity. In the year 1006, Donrai Thrax died under mysterious circumstances, leaving the seat of High Lord of Maelstrom open for the rightful heir, Dagon Thrax, to take. However, it was not to be. Prince Victus Thrax challenged Dagon to a duel to the death for the right to rule. Accepting, as is honorable, Dagon lost that duel -- and with it, his inheritance. Victus spared Dagon his life, and that very night Dagon bent the knee to High Lord Victus Thrax, on the single condition that he would be given Margot Tyde’s hand in marriage. This came as a shock to many in Arvum. After all, the Tyde Rebellion had killed thousands in Maelstrom, including Dagon’s father. To Dagon though, it seemed the best way to make good on the wishes of both Elton Thrax and Titus Tyde, and find peace within Maelstrom under the new regime. Now Duke Tyde, Dagon has renounced his claims to his birthright, and instead serves as Sword, and protector of Maelstrom, while commanding the northern head of the Leviathan as Voice, under his wife Duchess Margot Tyde. + |
| Dairen Wyrmguard + | Of no remarkable height or strength, coupled with a more introverted mind and love of artistry, it was almost a blessing that he had three other siblings with a more appropriately martial bent. This allowed him to focus more on learning to help run the household and studying markets, much more suited to his more scholarly inclination. He is devoted beyond most to family, and will defend even those he has the most frictious relation to to his dying breath. What started as an interest in armor became a full blown interest in armor making, then swords, then the working of fine metals for ornamentation of more practical pieces, though he still considers himself more steward than smith. + |
| Dalsam recently disowned from a wealthy merchant family + | Dalsam was born to a pair of wealthy merchants under House Grayson. They were the youngest of four siblings, and as the quietest of them, their parents rarely paid Dalsam any mind. He spent much of his childhood reading. As he grew, he left the house more. He was naturally curious, talking with all sorts of new people. He picked up writing around this time, obsessively telling stories about what he'd seen. He began to publish his works, and his parents remained content to leave him to his own devices. However, it was around this time that Dalsam began to get into trouble; they'd developed a disregard for the rules of polite society. After a series of scandals - notably, publishing a vulgar satire about the Crown - their parents took notice. They disowned Dalsam, effectively leaving them an exile. In the time since, they've been homeless, traveling around Arvum without much purpose. + |
| Damaris Arenir + | In less than a generation, Damaris Arenir has gone from her grandfather's farm in the hills of central Arvum to walking the halls of some of the greatest noble families of the land. It's a rise that would be dizzying if she stopped to long to think about it -- but fortunately, she excels at not thinking too much about uncomfortable things. Her mother Alysse was a sheepfarmer's daughter who ran away from home to fight for House Bisland during the campaigns against the Shav incursions. Not the most auspicious start, but she proved to be a good soldier, and, when she had the opportunity, she turned out to be a /great/ soldier. The Duke of Pridehall himself tapped her shoulders with his sword and made her a knight, and, when Alysse perished in his service, he repaid her for her loyalty by making sure her young daughter would be trained as a knight in turn. Damaris has done everything in her power to avoid giving him reason to regret it. She's worked hard at every turn to make herself into something her mother would be proud of. Whatever she's asked to do, she does, and, if she's ever said a word against the Duke, his family, or his lieges in House Grayson, she's done so where no one could hear her. If you didn't know any better, her manners and her fighting skills are polished enough that you might think she was born to knighthood. But she knows better, and she never forgets it. + |
| Damiana Valardin + | Damiana was born in a line of heroes who seldom married outside the Valardin or Wyrmguard families, at least until Prince Sherrod Redrain and Prince Radley Valardin decided to marry her parents in an effort to ease the tensions between the Oathlands and the North. A full year of courtship later and Princess Larra Redrain married Prince Lyonis Valardin. Their story of duty and, some say, even love, saw the birth of three children and ended in the Sanctum decades later with the Tragedy. Growing up there was no girl as lovable than Damiana, someone who could sit a table with her peers and be the heart of their fun, or take a seat with the adults and appeal to people from all directions of the Compact. She had a knack for figuring out people, finding their hearts and worming her way in, and while she trained her swordarm and to ride on horseback, it was clear her path laid outside the battlefield and in the courts. There were even talks of having the young woman join the Whisper House for a life of peacekeeping within the Compact, but with so many marriage proposals flying in Damiana and her mother did not rush to any one decision too fast. Even though she did fight with Emma, who though Damiana was too vapid; and Gwenys, who Damiana thought was too uncivilized, Damiana was in no rush to leave her family to go anywhere, her whole life ahead of her and teeming with potential. That same potential, and her life, came crashing down with the Tragedy. Damiana doesn't talk about the Tragedy, not ever, but what little is known is that she was found crawling among the corpses, bloodied and blind. She had no wounds on her that would account for the loss of her sight but the woman cried copiously, and locked in darkness not many gave Damiana a fighting chance. For weeks she remained in a dark room in isolation until confirmation that her sisters Gwenys and Emma had also survived, but what Damiana herself thought of it all remained a mystery. What is known is that despite many loyal servants and even family members writing the once-adorable Damiana off, believing she did not have it in her to overcome her new condition and all the losses, the Princess rebounded quite well. Maybe too well. In Sanctum none of her peers saw her shed further tears for her parents, and she plunged herself to work, filling the void left behind by other deceased Valardin. Along with stewards and economists she worked tirelessly to bring the House from the brink, and many say that is what has given her purpose since. With the rallying cry of the Dragon banners to fight in Skal'daja and Emma's summons to Arx, Damiana joined the family there, now completely transformed from winsome socialite into a dangerously cunning politician. The Valardin do not have the fame of breeding many of those, and the other Houses think honor is a detriment to diplomacy, but Damiana takes no heed of other Houses' worries. The dragon does not listen to Foxes, Badgers, Bears, Sins, Serpents or anything but itself. The dragon soars alone. + |
| Damik Uhl'daja + | For most people in the Compact, the name 'Skal'daja' means little to nothing, with the Dune Kingdoms of Eurus blending together as a vague awareness of foreign nations far to the east across the Mourning Sea. The Crown Prince of Skal'daja, Prince Damik'uhl'daja would very much hope to change that. Son of current Grand Vizier Rayik'uhl'daja and nephew of former Grand Vizier Rel'Khan, Damik was raised with the expectation that he would one day come to rule the City of Chains. Often at odds with the rest of his family and troubled with the traditions of the city and the war on Eurus, he was nonetheless put in command of the great fleet sent to punish Arvum. Once he met with Arvani shortly before arriving in Sungreet, he shocked even his supporters when he suggested allying with the Arvani instead... and then managed to survive an assassination attempt by forces commanded by his brothers. The Eurusi forces splintered, with Damik leading forces loyal to him to the aid of the Compact, while his brothers continued with their plans to attack Arvum. And now Damik looks to possibly join the Compact, and provide a bridge for their ambitions in Eurus. + |
| Damon Wyrmguard + | Damon has always seemed bound and determined to defy the path laid out for him. He was exactly the kind of son any militant noble family dreams of having. He was strong, ridiculously attractive, talented with a sword, and combined the charisma of a promising young leader with the good natured affability that guaranteed he'd be liked. He was, in other words, the perfect spare second child to marry off for political gain or the beloved spare to the heir that could be reckless enough to win true renown on the field. But despite his talent and how well he acquitted himself while training to be a knight, the young man stunned his father by insisting that he wished to be a Scholar of Vellichor, that his true passion was learning and protecting knowledge, and that he had no desire to be the next great knight. While most houses of the Oathlands, House Wyrmguard included, have great respect for the Scholars of Vellichor, Marquis Denis Wyrmguard did not take the news well. Stopping just short of disowning his son, the trained knight traveled to Arx to study with the Scholars of Vellichor, his previous training allowing him to act as one of the Knights of the Archive, the armed guardians that safeguard the knowledge of the Compact. Since the tragic death of his father during the Tragedy at Sanctum, Damon has ended his semi-estrangement with his family and reunited with his sisters, determined to help aid the family while continuing his studies as a scholar-knight. + |
| Danae Russo + | Danae grew up in a rather poor family in Southport. Because of this she learned the art of making a deal. When you don't have a lot of silver you need to stretch each one as far as possible. She had the reputation of being a tough child, who was never intimidated or backed down from anything. When it came time to serve southport in the military, she was beyond reluctant at first. Her parents agreed to have her start her training at the age of twelve in the hope that she would find a better life than they could offer her. She had to literally be taken, fighting the whole way. This only hardened Damae further. However, eventually she grew to enjoy her time in the military. She had a new family, countless brothers and sister in arms. Better yet she found out she was good at it. So she decided to dedicate her life to military service, a way of thanking the Malvici family for providing her with a good life and purpose. Eventually it became obvious that Danae's equipment was always better than everyone elses around her. Once the higher ups learned about her uncanny ability to make deals and get supplies, she was made one of the supply officers for the whole of the Southport military, a position which she flourished in. Due to all of the recent troubles in the compact, Sgt. Russo was asked to come to Arx to ensure the Malvici forces are ready to go at a moments notice. + |
| Daniella Velenosa + | The youngest daughter of her family for some time, Daniella was naturally rather doted on, and grew to like it perhaps a touch too much. When she started to grow a little less adorable, she compensated by putting on little shows for her family, speeches, plays, sometimes songs or dances although she wasn't a terribly gifted singer or musician. Over the years she convinced her parents to obtain her a string of different tutors, each time declaring that shed found her one true vocation. All of them were entertaining in nature, mummers, acrobatics, storytellers, models and even duelists, but she had significant trouble staying motivated in any one discipline. She eventually decided to just dabble in everything and continued in that vein until witnessing the trial of a traitor while attending court at Lenosia. Quite taken with the skillful elocution of the traitor's lawyer she decided that this might be a valuable use for her talents and to everyones surprise actually stuck with it long enough to become a reasonably capable attorney, although her penchant for arguing cases from the most exciting and dramatic angle possible seemed sure to keep her from ever becoming truly great. + |
| Danielle Valardin + | Her great grandfather was a part of the line of succession in the house, if only just. Technically, Edain is a distant great uncle, but she is closer related to Ectorion, in their respective distance from any sort of inheritance or succession, his mother Lyllindyl being her aunt. Her father died fighting the forces of Tolamar Brand. Her mother died during childbirth. She has half a dozen or so half brothers and sisters from her father's later marriage. She idolized the man, and took to learning a weapon from the time she was old enough to hold one, quick to emulate her childhood hero. Her own training only recently came to any sort of formal conclusion and then only because she was so anxious to be done with learning and get on to the doing! More than any other God, her dedication is to Limerance. Though she does love the idea of love, it is more because of the importance of oaths, the reliability and accountability meaning more than any romantic elements. Of late, with the Compact seemingly teetering on the edge of war, she's come to the Capital, with the hopes to find glory on the front lines of battle, even if it's the last thing she ever does. + |
| Dantaria Ulbran + | Dantaria was born into the Ulbran family, and took in the lessons of criminal life with her mother's milk. As a child she was often sickly, and rather than teach her the rough-and-tumble ways of the Ulbran rank-and-file, her parents had her taught the way of the socialite and the diplomat. A charming veneer over a heart as hard as stone, as adept with the language of flower and fan as she is with the language of the streets, Dantaria is something different, something elegant. And yet, an Ulbran to the core, Dantaria has always wanted more. Unlike many, she's been willing to bide her time to get it. + |
| Dante DiFidante + | Dante grew up alongside his cousin Leo in the city of Tor. Though only a few years younger, theirs was a brotherly bond forged in steel. From the time Dante was old enough to hold a sword, he knew he had found his passion in life and instantly fell in love. His days consisted of eating, training, and sleeping and more training when he could fit the time in. Dante idolized Leo who has always been more like an older brother than a cousin. When Leo was sent off to live, practice and train with the Valardins, Dante begged and pleaded until he too followed in Leo's footsteps. Their welcome home a couple of years later was not so pleasant. Things were changing quickly for Leo's family and Dante watched every bit of horrendous ordeal from the sidelines. The very moment Leo declared war on Lucien and on Southport, Dante was there to defend his cousin, his family, and his city. There was no question as to where his loyalty rested. Now, there were other Fidante's who believed Lucien's claim about Leo being illegitimate. Once Lucien was decimated on the battlefield and succumbed to his wounds, it was time to start rebuilding Tor to it's former glory. There was never a moment where Dante did not give all of himself to the cause. It pained him to watch Leo fight not only the enemy in Southport, but also the enemy at home since Lucien was able to convince other Fidante family members to believe his lies. After many years of battling alongside his cousin, Leo named Dante Sword of Tor. It is an honor Dante takes seriously. + |
| Dante Fidante + | Dante grew up alongside his cousin Leo in the city of Tor. Though only a few years younger, theirs was a brotherly bond forged in steel. From the time Dante was old enough to hold a sword, he knew he had found his passion in life and instantly fell in love. His days consisted of eating, training, and sleeping and more training when he could fit the time in. Dante idolized Leo who has always been more like an older brother than a cousin. When Leo was sent off to live, practice and train with the Valardins, Dante begged and pleaded until he too followed in Leo's footsteps. Their welcome home a couple of years later was not so pleasant. Things were changing quickly for Leo's family and Dante watched every bit of horrendous ordeal from the sidelines. The very moment Leo declared war on Lucien and on Southport, Dante was there to defend his cousin, his family, and his city. There was no question as to where his loyalty rested. Now, there were other Fidante's who believed Lucien's claim about Leo being illegitimate. Once Lucien was decimated on the battlefield and succumbed to his wounds, it was time to start rebuilding Tor to it's former glory. There was never a moment where Dante did not give all of himself to the cause. It pained him to watch Leo fight not only the enemy in Southport, but also the enemy at home since Lucien was able to convince other Fidante family members to believe his lies. After many years of battling alongside his cousin, Leo named Dante Sword of Tor. It is an honor Dante takes seriously. + |
| Danvir Ravenseye + | 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. + |
| Dara Agassi + | The wealthy like to be entertained, and one of those entertainments in Petrioch were the grand carnivals full of animals from all over taught to do tricks. 'More amusing the the slaves,' her master used to say sometimes, thinking himself clever, or that the slaves in earshot could not do anything about it. And maybe they couldn't but seethe. This was the life Dara was born into: the child of two slaves whose job it was to tend to the animals. Her mother a trainer, her father a healer, and her life one of a little of both. As the family traveled with their master, one of the wealthy but not one of the nobility, they would tend to the animals. And since they knew how to tend to the animals they often learned to tend to the people as well. A medic to one, a medic to another. When they would come back for the off season to reside in Petrioch again, Dara would sometimes get a chance to study under someone new. She was at least one that got to read and write, to keep records and learn to think for herself. Of course, learning to think for one's self can just make slavery worse. And learning your craft better? Well that just meant sometimes an abusive guard who found himself needing medical attention didn't always make it through the night. But the nicer ones usually did. It was pure luck Dara, too much trouble her master said, had been sold when they reached Skal'daja. And even better luck that she was placed on Prince Damik's fleet and found her way to Arvum. Left to her, Dara's going to do the only thing she knows to do: follow the rumors that Princesss Fatima is here and join the cause to free Petrioch. + |
| Darby Grayhope + | Poor families perpetuate across Arx and Darby was born to a mother who soon abandoned him with his charming scoundrel of a father. A large babe, then an imposing kid, he was bullying the neighborhood with gusto since he could spit in someone's general direction. Learning was for people who couldn't punch hard enough, and reading and writing fell aside before his other talents, most of which aren't very nice. He spent a life enforcing the wills of others, content to stand in the way of trouble, which has battered and mangled him. Fresh off a sour deal, the last man standing has come to Arx under the verbal impression that he's related to the Grayhopes and that hopefully they will fare better. + |
| Daria Mandragora + | Daria is one of the Mandragora, an Abandoned tribe that has claimed part of the woods along what the Compact recognizes as the Oathlands/Lycene border for generations. That claim and their allegiance shifted when Ruslan Volkov and his people bent the knee. They followed suit, swearing fealty to the Volkov, but little changed other than the family's claim on land being significantly reduced. Thus, Daria has known both lives, shav and prodigal, though for most of her life has known little difference between one and the other. As one of Mandragora's Whitefeather Scouts, she spent most of that life in those ancient woods, ranging north through the Oathlands and south into the Lyceum, paying far more attention to game trails than news from the capitols, either in Lenosia or in Arx. What use are those things to people of the woods? Everything changed in the winter of 1011, when a marauding army rolled through the woods. Her own people scattered before it like leaves in a gale wind. The Volkov weren't so fortunate and, to the last, were exterminated. Things were different afterward. The forest that had been as familiar to Daria as the back of her own hand was changed. Twisted. Scouts ventured into old parts and never returned. When the duchy of Fidante raised its cadet house, di Fidante, over the march the Mandragora were skeptical. Many wanted to return to their old ways, their old lives. Daria was among those who argued in favor of staying, of waiting, and when the new marquis and marquessa began to make progress in undoing what had been done, she urged her uncle to reach out to them and later reminded him of his vows of fealty. She spent most of the next year helping restore the land, freeing the land from the strange hold the woods'd taken upon them, and assisting the di Fidante with a number of their attempts to bring order back to the area. Now that things are getting back to normal, she sets her sights on Arx and the rest of the world. + |
| Darian Malespero + | Some people have rotten luck, and they crumble beneath the weight of all that bad luck. But not Darian. Despite being the youngest son of a now defunct and dead noble family he has never let these facts get him down. When he was young, roughly five or so as near as he can remember, his family as a whole was slaughtered. It was messy, and there was no pretense at hiding the fact they were kiled for a reason instead of it being just casual accidents. Darian could not tell you how it was he managed to survive, and escape, what was the ruins of the rest of his family. Eventually he resurfaced on another island, the ward of another noble family. THe knew he was an orphan, and although he wasn't treated badly he was not given all the nice trappings of the birth children of that family either. He worked for his keep, joining the family militia, training to be a soldier with them, even learning some ways of ship-board war when it was required. Despite all this hardship he remained positive, he new that one day he'd get what he was searching for. THe set sail with many of his brothers-in-arms to fight in Setarco, seeing things there that he would swear were not real if it had been months before. But he saw them, and it has opened his eyes to a great many things, a reality that life was once more changing for him. After the battles, during the clean up efforts he parted ways with the family that had sheltered him since he was a child, setting sail for Nilanza and the rumors that he heard about the remains of what was House Argento's holdings. It was there that he met the Marquessa, and was extended an invitation that seems impossible for him to refuse. Swearing his heart to the family, as well as his sword-arm, he went to work helping to rebuild, eventually sailing for Arx itself. + |
| Dariel Bisland + | Dariel is the progeny of Lady Kimbrielle Bisland -- cousin to the Regent Emeritus and Duke of Pridehall -- and Lord Darius Bisland nee Melaeris. The match was one quietly established as a means of funneling support into the isolated House Melaeris in recognition of their longstanding resistance to the practice of thralldom ...and probably also just another way of getting some jabs in at Donrai. Far removed from the ducal line of succession, Lord Dariel has had the privilege of riding the coattails of Bislands greater than himself ...and it shows. The only sense of duty he's ever felt obligated to fulfill has been that of his beauty regimen, which he (very selfishly) refuses to share with anybody else. If there is a flower blooming in the gardens that are House Bisland... it's Lord Dariel. Dariel's flock of admirers and penchant for catering to an audience came on fast. As such, 'celebrity' has always been the name of the game. Being a big fish in a little pond has been fun and all, but -- bored now, the serial headliner has set out from his childhood home of Pridehall. You're welcome, Arx. + |
| Dario Seraceni + | Marquis Dario Seraceni was taught war from the very moment he could begin to comprehend its meaning. The Seraceni family members are all studious by nature, but the heirs to the House are inundated and primarily driven to learn sea warfare in order to take the lead of the fleet in times of crisis. For the heir, all other education is largely forfeit until strategy, tactics, and leadership are mastered. Often times, other members of the family will be practiced in stewardship and other vital duties to support the fledgling leader. Should an heir not measure up to these standards, House Sareceni has a tradition of promoting another heir more competent in these arts. This is not seen as dishonorable as much as it is a necessity given the long history of primarily driving their economy through plunder, raiding, and sailing. Fortunately for Dario, he blossomed early and became adept in both war and sailing. His father, Marquis Vincenzo Seraceni. was particularly famous in the annals of the family for his martial abilities. Through him, House Seraceni reached new levels of admiration and respect among the Velenoza. This was due, in large part, to his devout and unshakable faith in the Pantheon. It eased the perception of House Seraceni as wild, godless pirates, and allowed the family to make political gains. For this reason, Vincenzo instilled a strong religious tradition in his son from a young age. His mother Marquessa Asuna Seraceni was less pious and more practical. She was a noble of one of the more wealthy minor nobles families of House Velenosa.. Sadly, when Dario was only eighteen, both of his parents were killed in a storm that wiped out a good portion of the Seraceni fleet. They had been on their way to the capital of the Lyceum for an unscheduled (and rather mysterious) appearance before the Court. Elevated at such a young age, Darios inexperience showed and he had a rather rough start in his new position as Marquis he depended on the loyalty of his family and their good favor among the people to grow as a leader. He took their counsel and treated them fairly, generously, and he was not afraid to bring others up that could prove themselves and giving them positions of responsibility. Once settled in his position, Dario became a masterful fleet tactician while relying on his family for matters of economics, trade, and governance of Ischia. He served well when Pravus called its banners against the traitorous Argento family, and received recognition for his service in that war. He rewarded his family with key opportunities and he is eager to see them successful. This leaves the man perhaps a little insensitive to the great picture or greater need of events around him as he has a habit of looking to Ischia first. He has invested a lot into the loyalty of his people and respect for his naval conquests. Still a bachelor Dario, has been pressed to marry as of late but has yet to deem a fitting match to help and assist his House. He continues to pray and keep his faith strong to carry him through these tumultuous times of war. + |
| Darkus Crovane + | Darkus grew up in Stormwall not far from the Crovane. His grand father, father, and mother all worked closely witth crovane as Crafters. He has no talent of his own in crafting but found he is very handy selling things and making money that way. His soul job is to help Crovane with all their market needs... Darkus joined the Crovane fleet when he was barely a man and learned to command a ship by the time he was 20. He has a lot of respect for soldiers and sailors. He is not a super religious man but he praises Mangata on the regular and follows the shamanistic ways of the North. + |
| Darren Redrain + | Darren possesses a bone-deep love for the North and all it represents, rejoicing in the individualism and unrestrained love of freedom that is unmatched through the rest of Arvum. He knows full well that House Redrain of all the great houses has almost certainly the most contentious array of vassals and he wouldn't have it any other way. But ever since he was young, he watched his father very carefully, and learned that the Prince of Farhaven didn't just bully the submission out of each of the powerful houses that serve Redrain and watched how the wise strength of his father backed by strength constantly won the respect and love of his people. Unfortunately, Darren also saw the worst elements of fierce northern behavior when he was very young at his uncle Bjerarg's birthday. A simple drinking contest that led to a drunken exchange of insults that grew steadily more ugly and led to a brawl that left four dead created, by almost any standards, one of the most stupid and wasteful wars Darren can think of. The Alespill War, as it was known, was as brief as it was idiotic. A few hundred dead over quite literally a spilled ale as one thing led to another and a prince of Redrain was killed, then vassals that refused to give up the murderer... idiocy. Darren loves his people dearly, but to this day he knows full well that there is merit to the Southern notions of decorum and courtly manners. The young prince of Redrain can sing drunkenly and revel with the best of them, but his enjoyment of Southern grace is not the least bit feigned. He'd never force it on the North, but his experiences with waste from the proud, drunk and foolish have made him determined to rule with wisdom that will never see needless carnage again. + |
| Darrow Darkwater + | The third son and fourth child of Dameodred Darkwater, the younger brother of the former Count of Darkwater, Darrow has had a life marked by trajedy. Darrows' mother passed in childbirth with a stricken younger sibling, and alternatively watched his father rain harsh blows upon he and his siblings, or spend nights weeping, spilling tears and heavy drink in torrents. During the rebellion of Duke Titus, the keep of the Weeping Isle, Lacrimus, so nicknamed from Dameodred's gloom, was stormed by Tyde reavers. Dameodred was killed with wine, not a weapon in hand, and his men and thralls put to the sword. Three crosses faced the waves and the gulls - his two brothers and sisters lashed in the sea crucifixion which had already become so familiar to the losing rebel side. Darrow, the youngest, was left bound to the rocks at the shore, and was found, thankfully, but the tides had already reached his neck. A third son and now of a gutted family, Darrow was warded amongst the Thrax at Maelstrom. He grew up a sullen child, the focus of numerous fights for his lack of interest in many of the youth's games, but his talent for violence was found and trained. He squired for Sargax Shipbreaker, and was knighted at the turn of his fifteenth year for his defense of Sargax's fallen form at the battle of Hellespont, suffering no fewer than ten wounds. He is known, now, in knighthood for being one of the few postulants of the Sentinel, as the Knight of Sorrow, after his stern disposition and bloodied history. Oddly, though some of more sensitive tastes find him depressing and a bore, many folk of the common ilk have lauded him, at least silently, for his strict protection of their rights, scarce as they may be. He has even been known to champion a few of them in cases of perceived slights, to the shock and scandal of some. + |
| Daturo Tessere + | Daturo is the oldest of his parent's children and was given every advantage growing up. Which is why when he showed an early talent for riding, he was given the best instructors in horsemanship and swordplay and allowed to pursue knighthood. As he grew and neared manhood, it was decided that he would leave to foster with another family, which is how he happened to be away when his family fell. His father, the younger sibling to a countess, was caught embezzling funds, and the family's land and estate were stripped away, the family left in disgrace. From his distant perch and still young, Daturo could do nothing for them. Indeed, he was advised he was safest further away. Always a favorite, he had made friends and allies in his foster family, and they agreed to keep him on and train him as a household knight. So, there he stayed. Mourning when he heard his father had been murdered over his debts. Mourning even more for a mother who seemed callous to the needs of her family, and mourning most for the younger brothers and sisters he was helpless to aid. Daturo found no joy in the knowledge that his position in his new life was secure. He was advised to make a match, and certainly, he had plenty of women to choose from, but securing his own joy while his family still suffered discomforted him. So it was, when he heard Sabine had been named countess, he returned to the home of his youth, seeking both a position in her court and a chance to find what remained of his family and bring them to security with him. + |
| Dawn Grayson + | Illegitimate children of nobility have scandalously existed since time immemorial, though the Grayson Dynasty has mostly avoided embarrassment since the time of Alarice the Great. Lady Dawn Baseborn despises the circumstances of her birth being a rare exception to that, and her stature as the only elder sibling to King Alaric Grayson IV put her firmly in a painful spotlight. Her father King Alaric III refused to ever discuss her commoner mother with anyone, giving Dawn the less than satisfying answer that he would talk to her 'when she was older', a claim he never made good on before his death. The unanswered questions eat at her, in the rare moments she has to dwell upon it. She knows her father would have loved to legitimize her, and make her a formal Grayson, but was afraid to take the risk that her claim would be contested after his death. She had hoped her half-brother when he became king would finally make her a Grayson, but he has repeatedly delayed until he has an heir. Despite this, Dawn is not a bitter woman. Her father raised her at court, taking great pains to instill in Dawn and her brother the responsibilities of leadership, an ironclad sense of duty towards their subjects, and a great sense of integrity and personal honor. Dawn, at least, took the lessons to heart and the young woman represents a far closer ideal to Grayson Monarch virtues than her brother ever has. 'Lady' Dawn is accustomed to the carefully crafted slights and barely masked derision of other nobles, including ones who might dare to refuse to grant her the courtesy title of a lady, for the young woman possesses both the foresight and propriety to know how disasterous responding to those provocations might be. Many in House Grayson at least recognize the young woman's levelheaded judgement and extreme competence, and some even forget her illegitimate status and mistakenly call her Princess Dawn Grayson or 'your highness' without thinking of it. Her brother granted her the authority to act as High Lord of House Grayson in his stead, an unheard of honor for a bastard child, though Dawn knows that it was largely because Alaric the younger simply did not want to deal with the work of high lordship when he could be spending his time with courtesans or attractive young women at court. She took the responsibility of rule fully knowing her brother will take any credit and glory that she wins in the position. She can abide that. She's her father's daughter, after all. + |
| Daya Harrin + | Daya grew up poor and proud in the Lower Boroughs. While she is not a criminal, there may have been a rogue or two in her family, and she is no stranger to the company of the city's least privileged. Her father is a sailor and her mother is a washerwoman, but age is catching up with them and Daya does her best to help stave off starvation for her five younger siblings who still live at home. She works as a barmaid and is seldom found in the city's finer quarters. + |
| Dayton Grace + | Dayton isn't one to discuss his history. He has a penchant for redirecting conversations regarding anything truly personal to a different topic of conversation. What is known of the gentle leatherworker is his youth was spent at sea under Admiral Denholm Kennex's command. His early twenties was spent upon a merchant ship mastering his trade and the minutia of the distribution portion of business and his late twenties have him back in Stormward seeing to his family and acting as a liason and occassional counsel to the young Marquis Kennex. + |
| Deacon Pateris + | Deacon Pateris was born in Setarco during a time of relative peace. His mother and father were both palace servants, so he grew up in and around the palace in Setarco. As he grew, Deacon showed a nack for socializing as well as music. Both of his parents were beloved servants of Piero Pravus, so the then-Duke paid for Deacon's schooling as a courtesan. When school was over, he returned to the service of Pravus as a newly-minted courtesan. The two would later become friends and confidants before the far more wild and free Deacon left Setarco to travel. Deacon's travels were almost always met with some form of calamity. He was first shipwrecked on an island in the Saffron Chain inhabited by an Abandoned tribe. While others on the ship were discouraged, the young Pateris refused to accept defeat and offered his help around the Abandoned community. At first they found him to be soft and weak, but his infectious optimism and his willingness to put his all into everything he did endeared him to them in the end. He wound up staying well past when his other fellows fled back to the mainland. Deacon made his way up along the coast, encountering a variety of people he traveled with for a time before moving on to the next thing that caught his fancy. For years, he lived without a care or a single thread of responsibility. The constant state of leaving started a nagging in the back of his head, but it was the news of Piero's death that guided him back to where he started. + |
| Decius Meridius + | Decius Meridius is a fairly simple man who had dedicated most of his young and current life to the forge and the plane, with what some have whispered as "Gods Touch". Many of his detractors call his work "plain", but in the end they cannot argue with the oft perfection of his vision and his skill with metal, leather, and wood. It is an odd combination, but when Decius is not at the forge, his is in his workshop working on his next piece of furniture or wood carving, using this skill to provide the income to his other passion, the creation of armor. It is not too much a wonder for his there was a great aunt or some other relative of the Thornburn family. His work has a reputation of its own, and like many others has arrived at the City to set up shop, earn a living, but at the same time making certain those who will be in future fights or stuggles will be equiped to face them. + |
| Declan Tyde + | Lord Declan Tyde was one of the male children of House Tyde massacred during the Tyde rebellion, lost when the house was attainted and destroyed by Prince Donrai Thrax, the Highlord of the Mourning Isles. That was what was believed for the entirety of Declan's childhood and young adulthood, as the young man managed to evade death, and hide his identity for years in the Lower Boroughs, living as a commoner under an assumed identity and scraping by, always afraid he'd be discovered and delivered to the highlord of the Mourning Isles. With the death of Prince Donrai Thrax, and the restablishment of House Tyde under control of his cousin, Duchess Margot Tyde, Declan finally felt comfortable enough to send word he survived- and with the heirlooms to prove he was just who he said he was. Now as a young man who saw his family slaughtered and spent years living as a commoner, he's returned to his family, determined more than ever to help Margot restore them to glory. + |
| Deimos + | Deimos was born in the chaos of a storm-tossed sea. The ship groaned against beating waves, the frantic crew above thundered to action, their calls drowned by a torn sky. But from Deimos, not even a whimper. He entered the world in chaos, and rocking upon the waves, found comfort in it. He and his mother had been cast away from Lycene shores, from the privilege he might have known in a just world where men like his father braved the fallout of an illegitimate child. Deimos was instead raised to see the world for what it was, its harsh truths peeled before his eyes. Most memorable of them was the loss of his mother when he was only twelve years old, her life ended for a dispute over unpaid debts that had kept her son from starving. Without one bleeding heart among those responsible, Deimos was dragged from his mother before she'd gone cold and pressed into service on a merchant vessel. He grew into adulthood on that ship, with each crack of the lash and pull of the oar in the name of his masters strengthening resentment and resolve equally. In the shadow of men who thought themselves giants, Deimos' whispers of dissention spread among the thralls. How it is that men in chains overcame their well-armed captors and what transpired thereafter is a secret that rowed away from the sinking wreckage with its lone survivor: Deimos. Unshackled, he made his way to Port Defiance, and there found his calling as a corsair. He learned from the exploits of the merciless pirates that ruled the seas with fear. He found his own name joined among the likes of the most vicious among them. Surrounded by the threat of nations, the rage of the sea and the betrayal of men, Deimos thrived. Despite all of this, the birth of his daughter sparked whispers that the insatiable captain was losing his once-keen edge. Lending support to these whispers was what some perceived as a flight from Port Defiance in the midst of his conflict with an up and coming cutthroat who'd made himself an obstacle to Deimos. A secluded cove used by Caina's illicit enterprises became his port of harbor, where he could frequently visit the Cainite woman who'd captured his heart and given him the one treasure he valued above all others: his daughter. Deimos' crew started to resent him and his attachment to this island. They felt a change in the wind, and in their captain, so they hatched a plan to 'strand' him on Caina, to mutiny and abscond with his ship. One loyal sailor apprised Deimos of this plan, and so he devised a clever scheme to win Caina's favor by 'exposing' the threat of his previous crew and sailing a ship out to crush them. He got his vengeance on the mutineers, and Caina got its 'hero.' And so he has grown in the island's esteem, built a reputation amongst the stubborn citizens of the black cliffs, and turned to more legal work in Caina's navy. With the shifting of the tides, Caina's growth to a March, and the new ruler, he heads to Arx to see what fortune has in store for him there. + |
| Delfina Darkwater + | A middle child among a gang of six siblings, Delfina grew up half-wild, learning stubborn resistance to bullying and bossiness as well as how to charm gifts from adults even before younger, cuter children. The siblings were raised in an environment of benevolent neglect in a small but firmly established noble House in the Lyceum, with a father who attended to the business of the vineyards under the family's control and a mother often abed with a chronic illness. Extended family taught the children as it amused them, some with lessons far too mature for their tender years. Delfina learned discipline only as a teen when an uncle took her under his wing to teach her swordsmanship, finally managing to harness her drive and intensity. She seemed clever enough that he first thought she might make a good military commander, but it was one-on-one where she really came to shine. Under his guidance, she began to learn when to shove and when to smile, when the point of a pen might be more useful than the point of a sword. She came to love puzzles and secrets, in the way information might sometimes be used as a weapon to greater effect than force. She was on the cusp of departing the family villa for a grand adventure, perhaps going to Arx itself, when her great uncle the Count informed her of a political match to be made with a House in the Mourning Isles. No tears or wheedling would change his mind, so it was a stubborn and resentful woman who showed up on the docks of Darkwater Watch, loudly complaining of the damp and the chill. Was she disappointed when she first laid eyes on the lean, tumble-haired antiquarian who was to become her husband? For a few years, they managed to develop what seemed to be a companionable relationship. Delfina spent her free time honing her skill with the sword, becoming a knight sworn to House Darkwater. She took the opportunity to travel on House business, seeking the adventure she had wanted since childhood. Until, that is, the journey she took made her seem to vanish from Arvum entirely. It was years later that she returned to Darkwater Watch, unwilling to speak much about where she had been, but quick to rededicate herself to rebuilding what was destroyed in the Pirate War. + |
| Delia Whisper + | Delia has always loved stories, great and small. Ever since she was a child, one of many in a lowly commoner merchant family in Arx, she remembers talking about about the pagentry and glamor of the court and picking out the stories that excited everyone to hear. What noble was doing what to whom, what a noblewoman said that caused gasps, the ebb and flow caused by developing relationships... it all captivated her. Even the things that were tragic contained an element of drama that was a delight to her, if at one stage removed. She knew from a young age that she absolutely wanted to become one of the elite courtiers of the Whisper House, to move around the highest echelons of nobility and watch first hand the drama as it unfolded. In many ways, the Whisper House is everything she ever dreamed of, but she was privately shocked at how many nobles were... really, really bad at being nobles. Even some otherwise crafty Lycene nobility would occasionally just say something truly unfortunate in a White Journal and then be absolutely shocked when they were suddenly a social pariah, and it stunned Delia to see how many of these paragons of grace and refinement were remarkably ungraceful and truly unrefined when it came to maneuvering around socially. As a courtier, she started reaching out to individuals that were dying socially of impressively massive self-inflicted wounds and was surprised how remarkably easy it was to help individuals come back with the right explanation, with a little bit of deft care in saying the right apologies to the right people, and getting them back on track. Now, she's a highly sought after Whisper by individuals who really, really cannot seem to avoid alienating people they really cannot afford to alienate, which is where she comes in. While dramatic meltdowns in the White Journals might not be the highest example of nobility at its best, it does provide someone with a little more finesse the opportunity to make an excellent living as an apologist. + |
| Delilah Shepherd + | Delilah is the oldest daughter of three born to Jerome Mercier and the older sister of Kenna. She was, arguably, her father's favorite -- and it shows it many of her habits. Her wanderlust was obvious from a young age and her father frequently indulged her by allowing her to accompany him on his business trips up and down the Gray River. She picked up his penchant for thorough record keeping, as well as exceptionally neat writing. When she was sixteen she was allowed to go on her own forays with the small family river boat. She befriended a fellow adventurer, Bridget, during her first 'adventure' to Whitehold. They quickly became thick as thieves and explored much of the northern Crownlands together... until a deadly miscalculation on her part left Bridget dead and herself traumatized. What happened? She hasn't told anyone -- not even Bridget's bereaved family. She returned home and became a recluse, cutting herself off from most of the outside world, to simply digest what had occurred and to grieve. During this period, she distracted herself by working in a minor capacity with the Inquisition, writing at length about what she'd seen in her travels to help with with their investigations at home, and she considered joining as a junior rank as a confessor. She eventually climbed out of her depression with the diligent attention and care of her little sisters, and emerged from her room humbled and wiser from the experience. The wanderlust remained, and she answered the call once again. When she heard her sister Kenna left home to join their ennobled cousin's household, Delilah was flabbergasted, having been unaware of just how much her sibling admired the new baron. When she had some rest afforded to her from her adventuring and studies, she decided to follow as well -- particularly when she heard that the Nox'alfar were given an embassy within Arx. It's not every day you see an elf... or is it, now? + |
