Fantasy of seas and sovereigns - cs

[macrombie]

OF SEAS AND SOVEREIGNS

The palace holds lot of people and many rival factions. So within the walls of the looming towers, many secrets are abound that could change the histories written by the learned men. The true question is... What are you looking for? Do you want to bring honor to your Great and Noble House by serving on the council? Are you a zealous Cardinal looking to persuade the King? Or are you just a middleman stuck in the chaos of it all? And truly, the most important of the questions - are you willing to make a mark on history?

Tell us about your character in a post below,

Spoiler: Character Sheet

Include the following:
- Name
- Age
- Gender + Orientation
- Heritage
- Their House/Allegiances
- Their goals, stakes and motivations
- A list of some family members/allies
- A written description of an appearance, along with a faceclaim of some sort (could be art, could be realistic)
- Possible enemies (could be blanket statements, could be specific people)
- A biography/history as long as feel is needed to understand them
- A personality explanation, again, as long or short as you feel it has to be
- Whatever else you find necessary or fun to know (likes, dislikes, fun facts)

Spoiler: Houses of Vysha

House Worren
The Worrens are currently the Royal House on the Pearlspire Throne, with King Edmond the Daring having overthrown the previous ruler, Queen Celice of Laerym.

House Laerym
Our Tide is High
This overthrown House ruled Tarq for four centuries. While some believe that Worren's militia have hunted all of the family down, others believe that somewhere, the Laerym claimant to the throne is still alive. The emblem of the house is a circular pearl entrapped in the maw of a sea snake. Some visual markers would be black hair, pale skin, and grey eyes. It is rumored that they are the descendants of mermen. Their connection to their fleet had been crucial to their success for a very long time. However, a century ago there was a split between the Laeryms and the rest of the family under the new family name of Maryam.
The last living members belonging to House Laerym according to popular myth were Alaric, who was the heir to the throne before an untimely death at sea, and his sister, the presumed dead Celice, who was the acting Queen for seven years after her father's end. Alaric was handsome and witty, and was known for sleeping around and having a short fuse. Celice was a known beauty, with a sharp mind and an interesting distaste for male company - including her own Prince Consort.

House Maryam
We Who Catch the Winds
Despite being split off from the Laeryms, they bent the knee to the Worrens after the coup, but who knows where their loyalties truly lie? A sizeable chunk of the current fleet belongs to them, as such, they hold great sway. Their emblem is a gust of wind.

House Seyedi
A minor house within Vysha, stationed within the easternmost territories of Tarq. Comprised mostly of the centuries-old Antonov line, currently headed by [placeholder], they swore fealty to House Laerym some 50 years ago in exchange for continued regency over their lands - however, they switched sides during the coup after being promised greater land by House Worren. House Seyedi serves as the Tarkhan - the local word for Regent or General - of the east border provinces, with their "capital" assigned as Gisha, a large town with a single castle. They don't necessarily have any enemies, though House Laerym views them with some "hard feelings," to say the least.

House Sommer
To Prosper or Perish
The House of Sommer is known as one of the richest Houses in Vysha, and it is them who control the largest bank in the continent. Their main seat of power is in the Southwest, surrounded by mountainous land rich in ore. Their current leader, the Lord Sommer, is shrewd but trying his best (and failing) to be seen as apolitical. The bride of this Lord is also a Princess (a second daughter) from a Kingdom south of Vysha, and it is said that the children of the Lord have taken on her coloring.

More to be added!

Spoiler: Other factions

The Royal Council
- WIP

The Scholars
- WIP

The Sommer Bank
- WIP

Spoiler: Character List

- Character 1
- Character 2
- Character 3
- Character 4

Spoiler: CS code

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Character info
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[font=Alegreya]"Something in quotes"[/font][/border]

 

[macrombie]

ADARA SOMMER

Adara of House Sommer

22 - bisexual cis-woman - vyshan and other - house sommer and sommer bank​

Goals, stakes, and motivations
As her eldest brother is proving to be unwilling to participate in courtly affairs and her younger brother is only interested in the counting and calculating the numbers as the Golden Keep's treasurer, it is on Adara's shoulders to secure the family legacy at court by her father's side.

Family and allies
Her father - The Lord Halvar Sommer of Golden Keep, the previous Royal Exchequer, he grew old and weary and now seeks for his daughter to wed a powerful man.
Her mother - The Aer-Tavar Princess Aziza, who is the second daughter of a small dying kingdom south of Vysha.
Her elder brother - Caius Sommer, a young man entirely disinterested in political pursuits who ran off to explore the world with a woman.
Her younger brother - Wren Sommer, an even younger man entirely disinterested in political pursuits in favor of the arithmetic.
The Queen or Princess she serves

Enemies
The House Sommer is not without controversy, and has upset a lot of the Laerym loyalist houses before the beginning of the siege for being directly pushing against the old families rule economically, having tied them off from the bank.
Along with that, at a certain point the Golden Keep has been plagued with famine.

Appearance
Dark hair, dark eyes, and pale skin which still tans easily in the summertime - Adara has a look to her that is not entirely Vyshan, thanks to her mother's genetics. She dresses a bit more strictly than most unwed women, in general, her clothes tend to be just the slightest bit out of season. She is also frequently in shades of gold, orange and emerald green - her House colors.

Biography
Adara was born in the Golden Keep, and according to the stories of her birth told by her parents, the wails and screams let out by her newborn self could be heard echoing throughout the halls for days. The crying girl was seen as a curse by her Lord father, a man who only wanted sons. Most people forget that before Lord Halvar took on the role of family head, he was a capable knight known for strict discipline and disagreements with the now deceased Alaric Laerym, a man known as a loose cannon at court. With a man like that as ones father, Adara grew up differently from most other girls. Her mother did not believe in the silly and 'vain' ways in which Vyshan women were raised, and her father was a man who while now is edging closer to senile every day, used to be known for his stern ways. In a strange way, Adara was raised like her brothers, without the privilege of learning the sword and shield, or even military strategy.
Eventually, a terrible tragedy struck the Golden Keep, and sickness claimed their crops and fields, leading to a mass starvation - including the ruling family. Adara was greatly affected by this, and while right now her family puts on a face of indifference, the slight that they took in having no help arrive upon request has stung and still stings. After this, the family words were taken a lot more seriously by Adara and her brothers.
Her arrival at court was at fifteen, and upon turning sixteen she became a debutante in Queen Celice's court, as a lady-in-waiting for [Insertname].
Currently, Adara finds herself at a crossroads between doing what is best for her House and doing what is best for herself, and she has to find a good match for herself, before she is titled a spinster.

Personality
Adara is often seen as a cold and intimidating person by the other ladies in court. With her stern glare, uneasy scowl, and sharp tongue, her reputation is not a surprise to anyone, including herself. While there is some desire to be seen as charming and desirable underneath, she never puts it above her ambition. She also has a tendency to read into things too much, and make note of a lot of details, often mistaking their meanings and patterns for what they aren't. She can be mean, and at times bitingly angry, even if she hides it, eventually it does arrive to the surface.

Trivia
Adara does not like milk
Her younger brother is a savant when it comes to counting and has been helping manage the banks from a ridiculously young age, but has immense distaste for things outside of it
Adara can sometimes be seen with silver jewelry weighing down her hair, an heirloom gifted by her mother

Our words are 'Prosper or Perish'... Quite cruel, is it not?

 

[BakaTheIdiot]

VITYA ANTONOV II

(faceclaim nicked from Miss Hena on DeviantArt; credit here - DSA: Eichward by miss-hena on DeviantArt)

Name: Vitya Antonov II
Title: Tarkhan of the East
Age: 32
Heritage: Vyshan, Seyid
Gender/Orientation: Male, Straight
House: House Seyedi
Allegiances: House Worren (Family; Ally)

Goals/Stakes/Motivations:
Vitya, above all else, craves glory. Like his father before him, he seeks to expand House Seyedi's power and influence across Tarq, or even across the continent, and bring fame and riches to himself and his family name. House Seyedi continues to exist only because of a tenuous treaty signed well before his lifetime, swearing Seyedi's fealty to the ruling power - once Laerym, now Worren. This will not stop Vitya, nor will anyone else: he aspires to be even greater than his father, colloquially known as "Vitya the Great."

Family and Allies:
-Edward the Daring [First Cousin] | [Neutral, leaning Positive]
A man who needs no introduction. Though Vitya initially viewed him with suspicion, he has come to look over his ignorance in favor of the opportunity that Edmund now presents - and will do most anything to win his favor, as not to craft an enemy.
-Mikoyan Seyedi Salemsky [Half-Brother] | [Negative]
The more timid of his siblings, Mikoyan, sometimes shortened to Mikki, is the bastard teen son of Vitya Antonov I and a concubine, something that both Sayana and Vitya II are very well aware of. While Sayana has appreciated her brother's gentler outlook and favor of arts and tradition, Vitya views him with disdain, for his brother is incapable of brandishing a sword, much less ruling a territory. He refuses to give his half brother any responsibility, and forbids him to leave Gisha.
-Sayana Antonov [Sister] | [Neutral]
Sometimes known as Vitya's cool-headed half, and is frequently responsible for reigning in his ambition to more realistic goals. Though there is animosity between Vitya and his younger sister, Sayana respects his brother for his power, and supports his goals of uniting the old Seyid tribes - though she keeps silent about his brutalist methods.
-Vitya Antonov I [Father] | [Neutral, leaning Negative] -Deceased-
The most revered name in House Seyedi, Vitya the Great ruled with an iron fist, but was known to be benevolent and cared about his subjects. He was also known to be unfaithful and a drunkard, near the end of his reign, dying of a stroke in his late 50's. While his methods of appeasement did keep House Seyedi on the map, there are those within his kingdom that resented him for his "spineless" policy and bending to the Laerym - his own son among them.
-Ksenia Antonov [Cousin] | [Neutral, leaning Negative]
Though related by blood, there exists a great animosity between Vitya and Ksenia. While she has consistently been a thorn in the side of Vitya, to have her removed from House Seyedi - either politically or violently - would be scandalous, and to Vitya, counterproductive. He knows as well as anyone in Gisha that without the unanimous support of all his family, uniting the Planesands would be impossible. Still, Ksenia makes it pretty difficult with her personality and opposition to his methods.

Appearance:
Vitya is somewhat short for his age and size of ego, standing at approximately 5' 9", however he never seems to let this bother him. He has brown, somewhat curled hair, roughly neck length, often worn in a ponytail to keep it out of his face. Along with some minor facial hair, he has chestnut eyes and lightly tanned skin. He is generally somewhat thin, however it is usually hard to tell underneath all of his layers.

Among the royal court, he is regularly seen wearing a simple maroon tunic and white undershirt, with his coat of arms proudly displayed on his torso, next to his heart. He occasionally wears chainmail in court, for appearances. Interestingly, he is almost always wearing armored grieves, rather than boots or sandals, perhaps as a testament to his power and character - more likely, he probably just thinks they look cool. He walks with a very subtle limp, and can sometimes be seen carrying a cane, adorned with simple jewelry.

Enemies:
While he does not have anyone he outright hates (presently), Vitya is a spiteful person, and will remember any perceived injustices given to him - regardless of who gave it. He loathes weakness, in all of its forms, which has given him a frosty relationship with some of his family, especially his half-brother, who has a reputation of being hesitant and timid. Anyone who would oppose him or challenge his authority on a matter can be considered an enemy, even his own family or allies: he is, both figuratively and literally, not above stabbing someone in the back to get what he wants.

Biography:
Vitya Antonov II is a complicated figure. The eldest of three children, he inherited the throne of House Seyedi at age 25, with the unexpected death of his father, whom had a stroke. Upon his ascension, the territories were undergoing poor harvest and there was talk of abdication spreading throughout the capital, and especially among the aristocracy in the region. Like his father, he was hard-headed, stern, and intuitive - unlike his father, he didn't have a taste for liquor, and would spend much of his first two years experimenting with ruling, and taking a far more hands-on approach to his internal affairs.

Further unlike his father, known for having a more compassionate and gentle approach to ruling, Vitya was also far more brutal. Aristocrats caught speaking of sedition or abdication were publicly hung, criminals were issued far harsher sentences and offered fewer rations - literally working them to death - to make up for a shortage in grain, and harsh taxes were imposed on all of the peasantry and tribes in order to keep the house afloat. With this brutality, however, came some modestly impressive reforms: he capped the price of grain to three silver coins per barrel, restructured the social castes of the area, paving way for a handful of peasants to become knights, reorganized the garrison, updated their equipment, and drastically improved the infrastructure in the surrounding areas: for the first time in their history, House Seyedi had an actual road to the capital, making shipments of goods far easier.

People within his territory are hesitant to speak of Vitya Antonov II. While his improvements to quality of life were impressive, and brought about some modernization of thought to the peoples within House Seyedi's reign, it came at a cost in blood, terror, and the icy gaze of the Tarkhan. Among his inner circle, he is sometimes referred to as "Vitya the Bloody." In recent history, he has begun plotting an invasion into the eastern territories, predominantly occupied by wetlands, marshes, pirates, deer, and tribesmen, to become more self-sufficient, but the ruling party of Tarq would perpetually get in the way - until, that is, one recent Edmund the Daring ascended the throne, and a unique opportunity presented itself to bring the issue forward once again.

Personality:
At a glance, Vitya would not present himself as a hostile or cold person, rather the opposite - he is surprisingly easy to talk to, refrains from using larger words, and has a tendency to be blunt and precise with his speech; he does not waste his or anyone else's time, much to some of the family's chagrin. He is often found with a smile, rather than a judgmental grimace, and can appear very sanguine. That said, he is known to have a short - and incredibly violent - temper. In his anger, his voice reaches booming highs and roars, and has even slashed the throat of a guard in a fit of rage. Some believe that his nature may stem from a simple inability to feel empathy, though this is primarily speculative. Others believe he simply has anger issues.
Moral Alignment: Neutral Evil (Self-Serving, apathetic, etc.)

Spoiler: Trivia and Extras

-Tarkhan is actually an ancient Central Asian/Turkic word for a military regent or general. It is a title of respect.
-His name was automatically generated by a website. I do this a lot.
-It is said that when he visited an oracle to predict his future, the tarot assigned to his character was Judgement XX - some speculate it was actually Death XIII.
-He hates the smell of incense. No particular reason, it's simply unpleasant to him.
Theme: (for fun)

"I have been graced with glorious purpose - you would do well to stay out of my way."

 

[GrieveWriter]

DAIRINE CENTURIS

Name: Dairine Centuris
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Heritage: Vyshan with distinct Handratti Ancestry

House:
Centuris - Initially the Centuris family was a band of Handratti traders from the mainland who evetually settled in the south of Tarq when their business became overwhelmingly lucrative in that area. Over time the Centuris family managed to buy a number of lucrative farms in the south as well as a number of workshops in neighboring territories, soon they became one of the predominant trading families in the region whose wealth became invaluable assets to the House of Laerym. But it was only after a number of Centuris Knights managed to gain acclaim in service of past royals that the Centuris family was elevated to the status of a House, with actual land being granted in their name.

Over several generations the Centuris family managed to build itself into a House of economic strength, with all the benefits and rivals that brought with it. Though not known for their warriors like some Houses, there were few that could challenge them in the economic sphere. One of those challengers was House Sommer, who had a fairly consistent rivalry House Centuris until they underwent a dreadful famine that crippled their standing in Tarq. Though they campaigned for external aid, one of the staunch opponents of external support was House Centuris, who jumped at the opportunity to leave their greatest rival weakened. Though time has passed since the famine held the attention of the Court and House Centuris moved to new ventures, their actions are no doubt remembered by House Sommer.

Eventually, House Centuris managed to arrange a betrothal to King Alaric of House Laerym, a union which would've directly tied them to the royal family. Even with Alaric's reputation, House Centuris was confident they could reign him in if partnered with a suitable bride. Those plans went out the window when Alaric was lost and replaced by Queen Celice, an action which the Centuris hadn't planned for. Though she had more of their respect than King Alaric, the main families of House Centuris watched carefully when working to set up a different betrothal into the Royal line.

Then everything went out the window again when Edmond Worren emerged, violently besieging House Laerym in an attempt to take the throne for himself. His sudden power grab put King Alaric's death to shame, sending House Centuris into a panic as they realized the danger such an act put the Nation's economy in. When it became clear that House Worren would oust the Laerym or rend the entire nation apart trying, the Centuris Families came to an almost unanimous decision to betray House Laerym and back Edmond in the war using their sizable wealth and council.

Despite having a Centuris woman marry Edmond and even get a swath of new lands as a result of his victory their actions have led to them being generally viewed with suspicion by even more of the court than before, yet none can deny the new Queen is the spitting image of proper regent. The House is currently working on solidifying their control over the new holdings they acquired, while also acting as part of the King's court, desperately trying to counterbalance his more unfortunate tendencies.

Allegiances:
House Worren

Goals/Stakes/Motivations:
Dairine is dutybound to the realm and her House, and seeks above all else to see both prosper. But she's had her work cut out for her, as her husband's recent rise to power has left Tarq in a tumultuous state that she's almost certain would worsen without careful maintenance. Though her 'boundless love' for her husband and 'nuturing patience' are what she's most known for, Dairine is constantly working to maintain the realm in whatever ways she can from her position.


A list of some family members/allies:
Father-Duke Hector Centuris
Mother- Duchess Kaelyn Centuris
Brother- Rhory Centuris

Appearance:
Dairine's beauty is undeniable, from porcelain skin to flowing red locks that frame a blemish-free face and gentle pale eyes. Besides that, everything from her attire to her stance is geared towards showing her as an almost saintly figure of grace and kindness, with even her movements being precise yet cautious at the same time. Her smile soothes the mind while her touch calms the soul, with even the most wayward glance being nothing less than the picture of perfection. She's gone to great lengths to look the part of a Queen and she will not display anything less.

Possible enemies:
House Laerym
Loyalists

Backstory:
As the youngest girl in House Centuris, Dairine was prepped from a young age for political marriage. As a result she was taught propriety as well as the usual business dealings of her family, always eager to be the pride of her house. Though she loved her brother dearly, his distaste with politics never really made much sense to her. That would last up until she would be betrothed to Alaric Laerym, King of Tarq.

King Alaric had a reputation, one that became clear the more she was told of him.

Despite her loyalty to her House, her mind was clouded at the prospect of marrying it to such an incompetent ruler. But when she brought such woes to her Father, the Duke sat her down and explained very clearly why they had an obligation to keep close ties and ever closer tabs on such people. She was not marrying just to strengthen House Centuris, but to gain significant spheres of influence over the King and his court. If he would not be the leader the Nation needed, they would make him one in one way or another.

Recognizing the sacrifice she needed to make, Dairine was prepared for their betrothal to be made public, all the while studying and practicing to be the Queen the nation would need with such a man on the throne. But all of that went out the window when Alaric died. House Centuris was no stranger to sudden inconveniences, and many began renegotiating an alternative union with the new Queen of Laerym, but Dairine was left torn by the matter.

Though she wasn't fond of Alaric by any stretch of the imagination, her teachings made her fairly aware of how much chaos the death of a sovereign can bring. Though she idolized the new Queen Celice, Dairine wasn't blind to the poor reputation that Celice was gaining amongst the populace. These concerns made her hesitant to grow confident in the new plan her House was devising, but it all went out the window again when House Worren made their play.

Though her House seemed confident the usurper would win and that it was in their best interest to support him, Dairine and her parents were quick to recognize Edmond's brash nature as equally dangerous if not moreso than Alaric's casual incompetence. Though aiding the Queen might've prevented the revolt, House Centuris joined Edmond Worren and gained land, wealth and power from his victory. Dairine's parents were outvoted in the matter, and so they begrudgingly had her married to the new King.

The plan was essentially a retread of their plans for King Alaric. For her to be the counterbalance that would keep the King's actions from dooming him and the nation as a result, but Dairine was not the same as she was when betrothed to Alaric. With how many times the Nation nearly descended into catastrophe recently, she's become far more aware of just how fragile Tarq's unity had become. Someone like Edmont left unchecked would doom them all, so she couldn't just be his wife.

She had to be the perfect Queen.

Personality:
Dairine is the perfect Queen. Regal, kind and with an air of grace and beauty that teeters on the unnerving. She is the mother of the Nation, seeking it and its denizens prosperity above all. It is her duty, her responsibility, her purpose for being sired at such times. As such, she goes to great lengths in maintaining both her appearance and her actions. Every step she takes, every motion she makes even down to the smallest glance to the side seem as practiced as they are elegant.

It must be so, for if word ever spread of the true cynicism that has been fostered inside her, the nation could spiral into its doom.

Dairine has found her responsibility draining her, especially in recent times. It feels as though the nation she's duty-bound to see prosper has been on a spiral that could at any moment reach its deadly end. And despite her house's best efforts, things have only grown more and more precarious. Dairine had known for years now that she would have to sacrifice much of herself in order to ensure a better Tarq.

But recently she's had to ponder the painful idea that her sacrifice will amount to nothing, and wind up saving nobody.


Extra Facts:
Dairine keeps her personal staff of caretakers consisting of simple-minded boot-lickers who she can easily keep tabs on while still maintaining her perfect Queenly image.

Rhory Centuris' position in the Court was a last minute addition to the arrangement that House Centuris had with House Worren, as Dairine had to convince her father to entrust her brother for the task at hand

The Colors for House Centuris are white on green, with the House crest being the image of a scale with a purse overflowing with gold on one side and a wide eye on the other. Its meant to represent the old saying that Centuris always had the right eyes for gold.

A Queen for the People, a Queen for the Lands. A Queen I shall craft with my very own hands.

 

[KingofAesir]

Ksenia Antonov

Ksenia Eudoxia Antonov of House Seyedi

Ksenia; Hospitality. Eudoxia; Good honor.

Age: Twenty-Eight
Gender/Orientation: Female, Homosexual
Heritage: Vyshan, Seyid
House: House Seyedi
Allegiances: House Worren

Goals, Stakes, Motivations​

In her logical mind, Ksenia wants to support her family's climb to renown. She would like nothing more than to belong to blood with such importance, but it has been difficult for her heart to follow. She has always held a particular distaste for great ideals of conquest and thirst for power. If her House has to climb over the corpses of others to grasp at that power, Ksenia will not stand to watch. There is a kind of honor to be had, she thinks, in coming to power with a gentle hand instead of a ruthless claw. This is how she would prefer them to find purchase under the ruling house, but things do not often go as one wishes. So, she finds it appealing to push against her family's more brutal nature in whatever small ways she can. If she cannot change the course she is of a mind to be a proverbial, persistent thorn in her House's side.



Family/Allies:
- Leonid Antonov; Father; The younger brother to Vitya the Great and a slimy speck in his brother's shadow. Ksenia and her father do not get along by any stretch, though she does not think much of anyone gets along with the snivelling prick of a man.
- Sascha Antonov; Mother; A quiet, impish woman who Ksenia has grown to resent in her adult years. She hates her refusal to speak her mind or do much of anything aside from agree with her fool of a father.
- Edmund the Daring; Cousin; Ksenia does not harbor any particularly fond feelings for the man who has taken the throne. She sees him as a brute who's only skill is making men die for him.
- Vitya Antonov II; Cousin; Ksenia knows her cousin is a capable man and has done good for their House, but her respect for his abilities only goes so far. She makes it a point to let him know that.

Appearance:
Ksenia is rather tall, for a woman, standing at a respectable five foot eight with a build that cuts a rather willowy figure. She's lithe and pointy at the joints, but she holds herself like she possesses the strength of ten men. Brunette hair never falls much lower that her shoulders and she has never cared enough to fix it in any special way. Under dark eyebrows sit a calculating pair of light brown eyes.

You will never catch Ksenia dead in the dresses and skirts that her family might prefer her dress herself in. She is partial to practical clothing, articles she feels she can move freely in. In courtly appearances, she does at least try to look the part, wearing finely tailored trousers and and tunic. She is particularly fond of high necklines and shiny, knee-high boots.

Enemies:
Ksenia does not currently have any outright enemies. But, she's not the type to make a great effort to rid herself of them. Her distaste for others manifests in general avoidance wherever she can. If anyone were to slight her in any significant way this might be the only time she would fall back on the more heavy handed methods that might be used by men like her cousin. Otherwise, she's plays off negative relationships with sarcasm and a grin.

Personality:
WIP
- Cocky;
- Confrontational;
- Impatient;
- Jealous;
- Rebellious;
- Selfish;

+ Bold;
+ Charming;
+ Empathetic;
+ Honest;
+ Passionate;
+ Sentimental;

Biography:
WIP

Fun Facts:

- Eats more oranges than an entire village in a week.
- Hates scratchy fabric on her neck, all of her collars are silk padded.
- Fell out of a tree when she was seven and broke her left hand, it healed wrong and still hurts her sometimes.
- Has a dog, Luci, that she loves more than everyone.

(Character art credit to Astris Jursen)

"See, I have every intention of living forever. Death will have to fight for me."

 

[AriAriAbabwa]

ANNE-MARIE WORREN

Name: Anne-Marie Worren
Age: 16
Gender/Orientation: Female, Heterosexual
Heritage: Vyshan
House & Allegiance: Worren

- Their goals, stakes and motivations

- A list of some family members/allies

- A written description of an appearance, along with a faceclaim of some sort (could be art, could be realistic)

Possible enemies:
Anyone who has had the displeasure of meeting Anne-Marie may as well consider her an enemy—but she could not care any lesser. She is royal blood, and any who dare make a slight against her is also attempting to besmirch the royal family! That alone is treason and worthy of punishment! Anne makes good on reminding everyone of that; even if it serves as a convenient excuse for her to do whatever she wants without reprecussion.

History:
TBA

Personality:
A young girl whose only knowledge of her family's new position is the power—not the responsibility.
TBA

- Whatever else you find necessary or fun to know (likes, dislikes, fun facts)

"I have the great honor of reminding you how inferior you are."

 

[The Witch Son]

Lord Rhory Centuris

Age: 23, birthed in the spring

Gender: Male

Title(s): Lord Centuris, a member of the King's council as The Court Poet

House: Centuris

House Colours: Green on White - which are colours he’ll only wear so often because they look so fetching on him and for no other reason whatsoever.

Coat of Arms: a scale with an eye and bag of coin - something something an eye for coins or whatever. Rhory just spends the coin to be honest.

Religion: (secretly) The Trickster God (very secretly) in the hopes that he can delve some form of self defense from magic what he can not (or rather will not) from a blade. But perhaps that book about him was hidden in the dark corners of the family’s archives for a good reason.

His name is SHESH and he is a strange old god hailing from Handratti. He's a shape shifter by nature, taking different forms to spy on man and to enjoy their lives and stories. He even on occasion will tip the scales of luck and use trickery to influence man. For he loves to be entertained above all else.

There tends to be oddities in the forms he takes. His favorite form is a large wild rabbit with antlers on its head.

It is said that he is there when a two headed calf is born. He is there when a snake is eating its own tale. And he is there when water runs upstream instead of down.

It is also said that his favorite worshippers are blessed with a silver tongue. Or maybe it is that the silver tongued tend to be his favorite worshippers? Who knows. Shesh is a trickster god in a wider pantheon that is associated with luck, mischief and strangeness.

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Bio:

When it comes to nobility, being the first born son and heir is as good as being born blessed. You inherit Lordship and are raised with meticulous care. If your parents have the resources to give you the best then that is what you are given. And me oh my did the erroneously rich House Centuris have the resources. With the golden path laid out before him, any first born son should have an easy childhood with a promising future.

Unless you're Rhory. Unless your father makes the detrimental mistake of taking you one day at the ripe age of ten to view a public political execution.

The sword swinging, the crowd cheering, the head held up for all to see. Rhory’s father made him watch it all. He felt it would man him up, as Rhory spent too much time playing dolls with his little sister or brushing his mother's hair and not enough swinging a sword. When Lord Hector Centuris was a boy all he wanted to do was play at sword fighting. Their family was not one of knights but that did not mean they were a house of fops.

Little did Lord Hector understand about that day. For the deeply thoughtful and sensitive Rhory’s reaction was not to numb his mind or harden into a boy-man the way his father had wanted. Instead Rhory became incensed from that point onward with ensuring that he never met the same fate as that noble who had lost the political games of courtly intrigue.

Rhory did not speak for a week, and when next he did what came out of his mouth was the dumbest thing his tutor had ever heard. Only matched by the second thing he said, for posterity's sake. Bright boy he would be no more. Excelling in his lessons were a thing of the past. Any athleticism he had displayed was too, a thing of the past. Any sense at all the heir of the great House of Centuris displayed was now a thing of the past.

Trusting his father, was too, a thing of the past. As Rhory saw it, father did not have his best interest or safety in mind. He was not raising Rhory to be happy or have a good, long life. He was raising Rhory to play a part in a very dangerous game for mere coin and prestige. For a family name that served none if its members were dead.

Perhaps Lord Hector shouldn't have hired a philosophy tutor for him if he hadn't wanted him to figure that particular bit about noble life out.

Too bad for Lord Hector though, Rhory won't play and he won't participate. He’ll read his books in secret and parrot dumbassery to any who'll listen. He’ll concern himself with nothing more important than the latest fashion to wear and make offerings to old trickster gods in the dead of night with the hopes that it'll pay off. He'll be the worst man on the training field with a sword and whine that the theatre is a better pursuit. He'll write bad sonnets that make his sister laugh and watch helplessly as she's groomed into becoming a Queen.

Gods.

He really thought it would never happen, given all the twists and turns. Yet. It did. And as much as Rhory raged at his father (away from his mother or sister's prying ears) for not caring for his only daughter’s life the Centuris family all outvoted his measly objections. Unable to really fight for her without exposing himself as not-really-an-idiot. What a coward he is.

The worst part is, Lord Hector did not seem surprised that his son was able to argue him into the ground and speak of things he had no business knowing as the continent’s most useless heir. He knew. He knew the whole time that Rhory was spitting at him every time he embarrassed the family name. He had looked so sad and regretful of it too.

“If you wish to protect your sister, then serve at court. Be a Centuris man and rise to the occasion Rhory. For once in your life stop running and hiding.” Was all Rhory got as closure after a particularly nasty row of accusations and insults by both parties.

So to court Rhory went. To serve on the King's council as The Court Poet. Whatever that means. Rhory will work with it. He'll use it. He'll use everything at his disposal to ease his sister's burdens as Queen and keep her off the chopping block.

"Losing your head over frivolous things like power and gold is a humiliating way to live your life. But I'm just a fool, don't mind me."

 

[jones573]

Elyot Laerym

- Name: Lord Elyot of House Laerym (formerly Prince Elyot)

- Age: 26

- Gender + Orientation: Cis man, bisexual.

- Heritage: His father was Prince Jasparn, Queen Celice's paternal uncle, and his mother was a princess from Joless, a remote kingdom comprised of twin islands.

-House/Allegiances: Elyot belongs to House Laerym, and as such, most of the people he was loyal to have died. There may still be some loyalist factions who want to see him on the throne, but he can’t be sure who they are- With the shift in power, he understands that many of the noble houses will do whatever is needed to survive.

-Goals, stakes and motivations:

1. To get his little sister out of the country and to their family in Joless or to at least make sure she is betrothed/married to someone who will have both the means and motivation to protect her. If he can help secure the safety of the other remaining members of House Laerym he will, but his sister is his top priority.
2. To live out the year. Or maybe he should just take it one month at a time. With the current political climate, he might not even last the week. There's also the matter of his broken health- Though he's stable now, the infections from his wounds did a number on him and his cousin's royal physician warned that he will be more susceptible to illness, and more likely to die if he gets sick.
3. To take whatever petty revenges he can against House Worren. If he can inconvenience the new regime without compromising his sister's safety, he will.

- A list of some family members/allies

• Lady Yasmina. (Formerly Princess Yasmina) 14 years old. A bright young girl with an effervescent personality, Yasmina is Elyot's little sister and the darling of her family. She became much more withdrawn over the course of the war, and was particularly devastated by the loss of her brother, Prince Bryson. After the Pearlspire Citadel was overrun by Worren forces, she was sent to live with a minor noble family out in the country until she comes of age or a betrothal can be arranged for her.
• Prince Bryson. 19 years old, recently deceased. Elyot's younger brother was a excellent swordsman and fought bravely in several of the first battles. However, while sailing up the coast to report for another impending battle, his ship was sunk by Worren allies.
• Prince Jasparn. 54 years old, recently deceased. Elyot's father was the younger brother of [Queen Celice's father]. As the Queen's heir apparent and one of her chief military advisors, he was summarily executed shortly after Pearlspire was taken.
• Princess Tahmina. Died after a horse riding accident, several years ago. Elyot's mother was a supposedly minor princess from the far-off kingdom of Joless. She had a bit of a cultural shock moving to the more conservative Tarq, but adjusted with grace and became well-liked, especially among the small folk. Despite leaving Joless in her twenties, she still had regular correspondence with her family there, and even took her husband and children to visit once.

Appearance:


Because of his mother’s heritage, Elyot and his siblings don’t have quite the traditional Laerym look. Their skin is several shades darker than their pale cousins, though they all have the same dark black hair and striking gray eyes.

Elyot’s hair has a loose curl to it, and though he used to wear it long in a braid or ponytail, it has recently been cut short. He has short black facial hair, and while he prefers it tidy and well trimmed, he is no longer able to care for it himself and instead must rely on others to do it for him.

The most noticeable thing about Elyot is what he lacks- A right hand, and a not insignificant portion of arm that goes with it. Elyot’s right arm ends in a stump, a few inches below the elbow. He has a prosthetic wooden forearm, on which can be attached either a hook or a wooden hand.

Undressed, the right side of Elyot’s body is a tangle of fresh scars, including a particularly bad cluster around his hip. These days he is often seen leaning on a cane to compensate for the pain it causes him.


Enemies:

House Worren, particularly King Edmond. Usurpers, the lot of them. But Edmond is particularly dangerous to Elyot- The former prince has calculated the odds, and it seems the rash new king is the most likely to order his death, and perhaps even carry it out. Additionally, Edmond seems even less interested in being a good monarch than Cecile was, and Elyot worries for the nation.

House Centuris. Usurpers, yes, but traitors too. Elyot has no warm feelings towards any of the noble families that joined the rebellion, but he feels Centuris in particular helped to secure Edmond’s win with their considerable wealth and resources. They’ve always been power-hungry, and Elyot fears they may try to manipulate the new king. He could care less if the two houses destroy each other, but it would not be good for Vysha.

- A biography/history:

In his early twenties, Prince Jasparn set out to sail the world and establish diplomatic ties by visiting the courts of far off nations. In his late twenties, he docked once again in Tarq- With his new wife and infant son. House Laerym was not overly pleased by this development, but Winnamina was a princess, had brought a significant dowry, and offered important trade connections. They were married again, this time in the Laerym fashion, and began raising their family.

By all accounts, Elyot had a happy childhood. His family split their time between a large country estate and the Pearlspire Citadel, and Elyot is grateful for it. He learned valuable lessons at the Citadel about the games of politics and nobility, but he also had a home where he could enjoy himself and spend time with his family under less pressure. His parents were the rare noble couple who genuinely loved each other, and they made sure their children knew they were loved as well.

He has many fond memories of fighting his brother with wooden swords in the courtyard while their father's master of arms shouted advice, of being chased out of the kitchen by the cook staff, of sitting on the parapets at night in his mother's lap while she pointed out the constellations, both Vyshan and Jolessic. The buildings of the estate are smoking ruins now, and the land he once explored on horseback during long summer afternoons belongs to House Worren.

Elyot was good at being a prince, decorum and decency drilled into him by his mother. He excelled at most of his academic studies, though his inability to progress in mathematics frustrated his tutors. He was good at swordplay, even if there was a much lamented day when his younger brother became better than him. In his early teens, he joined the Vyshan Navy as a cabin boy reporting to the Captain, an older Laerym cousin, and learned all he could about sailing as he worked his way through the ranks. He spent more than half of each year at sea, patrolling the coast for pirates and similar ilk. He was at sea when his mother passed, and only learned of the funeral in letter after the fact.

After the death of Princess Tahmina, her husband became increasingly withdrawn and became solely focused on his duties as Queen Celice’s military advisor. When one of his sister’s tutors wrote to Elyot and revealed that the staff at the countryside estate had not been paid in months, Elyot took leave from the navy to manage the family affairs. He settled the finances, began attending court functions regularly, and saw to the education of his sister and military placement of his brother. He also took over his mother’s role of currying goodwill for the Laerym name among the smallfolk - And arguing policy with Queen Celice. Though in public he supported his cousin and even reported to her the intricate games the court members were playing, the two fought frequently in private over her decisions or lack thereof. She was creating an unstable nation, and everyone from the farmers to the nobles were growing unhappy. It wouldn’t end well, unless she changed course.

And then- The Worrens changed the course for everyone.

Elyot was assigned a captaincy of his own and sent to war. He did well in his first few naval battles, establishing a tentative but promising lead for the Laerym forces on the naval front.

And then-

He remembers standing on the quarter deck and bellowing orders, the sun high in the sky and the enemy ship just off to starboard. He remembers the roar of the cannons and the shout of the men. He remembers the pain, as grapeshot tore through his arm and splinters of the ship drove themselves under his skin. He remembers his First Mate pulling him across the slick deck as the boom cracked and split in two above them. He remembers the pool of blood he laid in, and the horror when he realized the blood did not belong to him. He remembers pulling himself onto his good arm and trying to shake the cabin boy awake.

He passed out shortly after.

Blissfully, he does not remember the ship’s doctor carefully pulling out the grapeshot from his arm and hip. He does not remember the fever that set in with the infection. He does not remember agreeing to the amputation, though he’s told he did. He does not remember the moment itself, when his hand and forearm became just a lump of mangled flesh and bone, no longer attached to a body.

Elyot awoke on land, in a tent-city hospital set up outside one of the port cities the Laerym forces had managed to claim. In addition to his hand, he had also lost his ship, his First Mate, and a good portion of his men. At least the enemy ship had sunk as well. But that was small consolation.

He was returned to Tarq and the Pearlspire Citadel, where he learned that his younger brother was dead some weeks past. His sister was distraught and his father would not leave the war room even to visit his only remaining son’s sickbed. Queen Celice visited a few times, once bearing gifts of an arm cuff with either a hook or wooden hand attachment, but mostly left him in the company of the royal physician, who berated him for traveling so soon after his injury and ran him through series upon series of increasingly difficult exercises.

He had hoped that as he recovered, he might make himself useful and join his father to offer military advice. But his recovery was slower going than he hoped, and his cousin increasingly reluctant to follow the suggestions of anyone. As more and more of the noble families openly sided with the Worrens, she became distrustful and paranoid of her confidantes and councilors, sure that any number of them were secretly scheming her downfall. Her decisions became erratic, and though she had been unenthusiastic about Elyot’s advice prior to the war, now she outright ignored him.

With the Laerym forces spread across Vysha and unprepared to respond, Tarq fell within days. The night the Citadel was taken, Elyot stayed up to watch his Yasmina as she slept, a dagger in one hand. He may not be able to defend them very well, but he could give them both a quick death if it came to that.

He wonders sometimes, if he made the wrong choice- If death might have been preferable to life as a hostage. But as far as he is able to discern, his sister is being treated well enough in her new home. At the very least, she hasn’t included any of the code words or phrases they agreed on in the brief letters she sends, that are almost certainly read by the Worrens before they reach his hands.

And he is being treated… Not as badly as he could be, he supposes. Instead of lavish apartments, he was moved to a simple room in a far less splendid wing of Pearlspire. He sees the royal physician weekly at most, instead of every day. His material goods were divided up or sold off. His clothes are less fine, his food less filling.

He was roughed up initially by some Worren soldiers looking for a laugh, but he has not been tortured or beaten senseless or killed. Yet.

And it’s the ‘yet’ that worries at him, gnawing away at his waking mind like a dog with a bone.

So long as he remains within the reach of King Edmond’s sword, the loyalists are unlikely to openly rebel. They will bide their time in seething silence, hoping that an opportunity to put a Laerym heir on the throne may someday arrive. But they may still test the patience of their new monarch in smaller ways, and Elyot is afraid that patience may be as shallow as the king’s spoiled little sister. If Edmond decides he needs to punish the loyalists, it will be Elyot who suffers- And the Worrens will have need of a new pawn.

Pearlspire may once have been their home, but Elyot will do anything in his power to ensure his sister never returns.


- A personality explanation:

Note: These personality traits describe Elyot before his injuries and fall from power. These days he is a much more muted version of himself, taciturn and calculating. Only time will tell if some of the old Elyot begins to show through and how.

• Charming and flirtatious. With a reputation as a generous lover and being a prince to boot, Elyot probably didn’t need to be charming in order to bed his many lovers, but he enjoys the amorous games of seduction. He is not picky about his dalliances, and has enjoyed the company of nobility and smallfolk alike, as well as people of any gender. He has had a few ‘relationships’ that lasted more than a week, but generally has avoided anything serious.
• Easily bored by things he isn't good at (such as mathematics and archery), prefers to dedicate his time to improving pursuits that already come somewhat naturally to him.
• Opinionated and quickwitted. Elyot is used to airing his thoughts on all topics under the sun, often with sharp words towards those that disagree with him. Being related to the monarch has shielded him from the harm that habit might place him in, but he no longer has that protection.
• Confident. It’s hard not to be confident when you are naturally good at many things- And shielded from the consequences of doing poorly in areas that don’t come so easily. Elyot’s self-confidence has recently been shattered though, and is unlikely to ever be what it once was.
• Observant. From a young age, Elyot’s mother taught him to notice small details and patterns, to add them up to gauge a more complete picture, and to leverage what he knows against other nobles. He may have been good at playing the games of court, but he has found himself floundering recently- The game itself hasn’t changed much, but he is unfamiliar with the players on the board and unused to his new role as pawn.

- Et Cetera:

• Rumor has it that Elyot is infertile due to a childhood illness. This may explain why his family had yet to arrange a suitable marriage for him. Just as likely, his father’s depression and his own disinterest in the matter stalled any progress on the issue.
• Though Elyot’s desire to protect his sister has become a defining characteristic as of late, he is careful to disguise that as much as he is able. Obviously the Worrens already guess that she can be used to keep him in line, but he never asks after her or brings her up unprompted.
• Elyot prefers not to eat fish if other options are available- But life at sea has taught him never to turn down a filling meal when offered.

Spoiler: Lore About Joless

Lore about Joless:

Joless, also known as the Jolessic Isles, is a small nation of two islands that face each other across a wide channel. It is at least four months sailing from Vysha. It is ruled by a matrilineal monarchy and a cabinet of ministers who are appointed by the monarch and confirmed via vote by the upper nobility. As the largest and only inhabited land mass in the center of a large ocean, it is a bustling hub of trade and people. Joless has a very racially and culturally diverse population, and altars to gods of nearly every pantheon can be found in its crowded temples.

Though there have been a few attempts to annex Joless by more powerful countries over its long history, those attempts have failed because of Joless’s natural defenses and because other, even more powerful countries understand the benefit of an independent Joless where ships of all nations are allowed to dock. Joless has maintained neutrality in nearly all major conflicts over the last thousand years (excepting ones in which they were attacked directly), and only their own military vessels are permitted to dock in the many harbors of the islands.

Beyond its important position in sea-faring trade and its famous markets where nearly anything can be bought- for the right price- Joless is most known for its acrobats and circus troupes. The Royal Company is the highest standard for performers, but there are many troupes -from those financed by the nobility with elaborate rigging and sets, to those eating fire in the market square- and dozens of traveling groups who delight and astound international audiences. Any Jolessite leaving home is likely either a sailor on a merchant ship, or a circus performer.

Thousands of years ago, Joless was two separate entities, embroiled in a constant, bitter war. It was brought together by Queen Winnamina, who has become a legendary figure in Jolessic folklore, with many things being attributed to her that likely never happened.

Joless has a simple pennant flag of white with a blue outline and a blue wave dividing it down the middle.

"The tide always rises."

 

[Arnalia]

Wu Lin

"Many rulers are like birds. They wish to rise but never learn to fly." ​

• Basic
• Relationships
• Personality
• Background
• Miscellaneous

• 
  Full name :
  Wu Lin
  Surname :
  Wu
  First name :
  Lin
  
  Age :
  23
  
  Pronouns :
  she/her
  
  Gender and orientation :
  demi-sexual biromantic woman
  
  Ethnicity :
  Tiandian
  
  Clan (House) :
  Wu
  
  Allegiance :
  The emperor of Tian dao.
  Her temple Head priestess.
  (In appearance) The Wu clan.
  
  Goals and motivation :
  To represent her country interests, strike up beneficial deals and ensure good diplomatic relations. In truth, keeping an eyes on the current events and report her analysis to her superiors. Tian dao being a long time commercial partner of Vysha, Wu Lin true role and main mission is to gauge if the Empire should continue such a close relationship or pull out before the island (and by extend Tian dao trades and businesses) is caught in a civil war or is just no longer worth it. The current ascension of House Worren being watched closely. Additionally try to spread the Empire culture, religion and influence whenever she can. Although this last reason is presented as her primary one along with acting as an envoy and diplomat.
  
  She hope to rise in rank and prestige and has the well-being of her kin at the forefront of her mind. Lin is open about having no horse in the race and her loyalty is first and foremost to her country. As such, who sit on the throne is of little importance to her beside how they affect her mission. Evaluating Vysha current and future state as well as their reliability and potential with sharpness, but a surprising objectivity. Despite her role as a simple observer, Lin is well decided to be proactive. If she can gain something out of this mission while remaining in the good grace of her superiors, she has no problem doing so, and can be convinced to be more indulgent or amiable to requests. Making her a powerful ally to have if one wish to use Tian dao large network of influence and trade, or have a significant power backing them up.
  
• 
  Family members :
  Father : Wu Chao
  The two are not close. Lin and her father have a respectful but distant relationship, treating each other pretty much like stranger.
  
  Mother : Long An
  Loved each other a lot. Lin had many fond memories of her mother before she died from an illness.
  
  Little brother : Wu Ruo
  Lin is close to him and practically raised him. The two trust and genuinely care about the other. Exchange a lot through letters.
  
  Friends and allies :
  Childhood friend : Rong Mei
  Consider the other their sister. They grew up together at the temple and continue to keep in touch to this day despite the distance.
  
  Bodyguard : Wang Yichen
  Trust each others and are good friend. Have been travelling together since Lin first mission.
  
  Enemies :
  Although not here long enough to make mortal enemies it is no secret that some nobles see the Envoy with much wariness and suspicions. And if I dare say, prejudice. Some remain cordial but on guard about the foreign woman intentions. Surprisingly, Lin biggest potential enemies is not petty courtesans, but the Royal families themselves. Or more precisely the tug of war she has to play with whoever is important to strike up beneficial deals or alliances while taking care to preserve good relationships.
  
• 
  
  Amiable and courteous, Lin take her role very seriously. Rarely letting her emotions get the best of her. No matter the circumstances. Being more than used at wariness or outright rudeness. The envoy composure and calm is second to none. Her demeanor the picture of an elegant and humble lady.
  
  Under this professional mask one can sometime see a peak of Lin humor or rather flippant streak. The woman adept at backhanded compliments and acidic praise. She does seem to genuinely like to laugh though and is more lively then she appear.
  
  Lin is first and foremost a political animal, with quite a silver tongue and a flexibility that got her out of many problems. She see no shame in taking advantages of a situation whenever she can or humbling herself when necessary. Having dealt with wildly different people and courts she is far more open-minded then many of her countrymen. And have no problem adapting her behavior to suit the drastically different personalities she can encounter.
  
  Those that know her well often consider the envoy a real motherhen. The woman being very caring and protective of those she likes. Lin is dependable and can be relie on to help them with anything or listen to their woe.
  
  The envoy is ruthless with her enemies, and doesn't hesitate to use whatever mean she see fit to reach her goals. Never showing her full hands to anyone, she is content with giving up fights she know she can't win. But Lin will not hesitate to get back at anyone who she feel deserve it, if she can get away with it. And the list can be long as she is notoriously petty and easily miffed.
  
  Lin position naturally made her cautious of any of her actions or words but also shaped her to have many precious insights. Observing more rulers and royal court then most, she developed an intuition about their inner working that is almost philosophical. Pondering about the art of ruling itself or what even make a ruler. A side of the envoy few get to see. As Lin is deliberate about keeping a little distance between her and others. Never expecting to stay long. A sad truth that can make her melancholic and long for Tian dao.
  
• 
  The daughter of an ancient and respected Tiandian family born from a concubine. Lin always had to face contradictory expectations regarding everything in her life. Having to balance her position as an unfavored concubine daughter with still being from a respectable familly. And expected to work twice as hard for this privilege. Forced to prove that she was worth something while taking care to never steal the spotlight. Lest her more favored siblings remind the girl and her little brother of their place.
  
  In such an environment, Lin did everything she could to protect her brother and herself. But quickly had to think about a way out when say brother got into problems with the eldest legitimate son. Arranging for him to go to a temple as punishment and her to follow as a guardian. The proposition was immediately accepted by her family, knowing it would be a long time before they saw the two siblings again.
  
  At the Lunar temple, Lin and her brother found their place. The priests and priestess not caring about their status or history, the two children grew to consider it their true home. Her brother Ruo decided to train to become a Jade guardian. Wishing to serve the temple with what he knew he was good at. Punching people and running.
  Glad her brother had found his way, Lin felt reassured enough to begin working on her future.
  
  Soon, the head priestess noticed her hardwork and talent for diplomacy, as well as an affinity for language, and took her under her wings.
  The young girl flourished under her mentor. The head priestess being a relative of high ranked officials, Lin was slowly initiated to politic and court intrigue. Her mentor regularly taking her to the imperial palace as an assistant or during her travels throughout Tian dao.
  
  When she was barely 16, Lin passed the imperial exam and officially became an envoy and diplomat. Since then, she saw countless places and dealt with many foreign rulers.
  
• 
  - Lin is extremely gifted at languages and speak many fluently. She speak Tiandian and many of it dialects, Vyshandian, Seyid, Handrattian and many more.
  - She like cats and birds of prey.
  - Lin is a good dancer in accordance with her position but she genuinely like it as well as singing. Her voice is light and airy and she is very proud of the time she put getting good at it.
  - Despite picking up many diverse instruments during her travels and not been bad at them. She consider herself good only at playing the guzheng, a common Tiandaoian instrument.
  

FC : 壳中蝎
@𝚢𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚊 • 𝚄𝚁𝙻 : 𝚑𝚝𝚝𝚙𝚜://𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚋𝚘.𝚌𝚘𝚖
𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚗

 

[LiliBunny666]

Aella Maryam

- Age: 19

- Gender + Orientation: Female, Asexual.


-House Colors: Periwinkle and Silver with touches of White.

- Heritage: Pure Vyshan, though many have whispered of Aella’s father and founder of House Maryam, being barely human or at least a wild man with questionable lineage.

- House/Allegiances: Worren

- Goals, stakes and motivations: Those remain hidden, though it can be said she simply is attempting to enjoy herself in the ways she adores most and those vices are currently found through allegiance to the King


- Family members/allies: Both her mother, Princess Illyria of Laerym and her father Lord Zeru Maryam are deceased. Aella has no other LIVING siblings except a younger brother, Caspian. It has been said the two Maryam heirs are responsible for the deaths of their other three siblings. Two older brothers named Avel and Caelus, while the other was an elder sister called Iara. Lord Elyot of Laerym is her maternal first cousin, his father Prince Jasparn being her uncle.

- Appearance: She is Albino thus she lacks the blackened tresses of her mother, or the warm umber hued locks of her father, her own being like spiders' silk, but she does possess the blanched skin and fair eyes of silver which have just the faintest touch of pink due to her condition . She is barely of average height at 5"6 and her build is lithe yet lightly muscled, but still retains the fleshiness of the thighs which keeps her figure from being considered masculine. She does wear rouges and other beauty enhancing products from time to time and Aella, despite being a bit of a lad when it comes to fashion, she does often dye her hair crimson to maintain a visage of not being an oddity.
- Possible enemies: Though there are not any currently, anyone may become her adversary or confidant. She is a woman whose loyalty is first and foremost to herself.

- Biography/history: Aella of Maryam was born into nobility, being the youngest daughter of Illyria of Laerym and Lord Zeru Maryam. Her mother, not only a legendary beauty by her peoples standards, but highly skilled in all matters of horticulture , using this talent to mostly create perfumes, while her fathers lineage had attained wealth through origins as shipwrights as well as the purveyors of captives from all reaches of the realm. And though frowned upon by many, the name Maryam was often associated with vessels that seemed to fly the oceans, able to deliver the ever precious cargo of flesh in immaculate conditions to be sold. The joining of these two highborn may have seemed doomed, but in fact the young Illyria and her husband, though a political match, were as well suited for one another like the winds and the waters, their love, never full of monotony. The birth of their eldest three only added to this bliss, the offspring seeming to be unblemished in neither mind nor body, there was not a worry as to how they would grow...the same could not be said for the fourth born..a child who seemed a specter emerging from the womb...

Aella, she was extra ordinary, yet she was not a shiny jewel held to the light like many other progeny of the couple, her mother primarily, treating her as a tender dove. Her life was spent being sequestered behind covers. Walls, carriages, parasols, slathering's of various ointments her mother had concocted and layers of clothing. Even the few visits with her extended family were from behind a veil, though once, just once she played in secret shedding the guise with her cousins. If they had been startled she had been filled with far to much merriment to care, it was not that her life was dreary but limited, for a time that was, but a short time, her father being the factor in the change. You see, the Lord of Wind recognized something in his little daughter, and that was she was not a diminutive nestling, but a Harpy. He took her under his wing, often needing to persuade his wife as to what Aella was exposed to, but the Laerym princess always ceased her disapproval, wanting only for her unique child to be happy, no matter what the toys were..

By the time of the war Aella, as well as her brother Caspian, were far to young to fight, but the eldest Maryam children participated and though they came out severely scathed, as most war survivors do, they had miraculously out maneuvered death...something their parents had not the luck to do. Lord Maryam succumbing to his injuries after returning home( or so its told vaguely) and his wife being her own escort into the eternal dark as she was not able to imagine life without her mate. House Maryam, would swear fealty to the new King, a Worren Lord despite their origin, but the reasons why, as well as the preservation of her House through only the two youngest Maryam heirs are truths only Aella knows.


- Personality: At first glance Aella seems perpetually placid, her surface visage being the embodiment of the element that rules her house, and to some extent she is, but beneath hides a very different beast. Not delicate, pillowy gossamer breezes, but rather the turbulent and ever destructive gales that cut both swiftly, as well as precisely. Though bloodshed is always a prime choice for Aella, she is far from a berserker-like individual. Being introverted by nature, the Maryam heir is ruled by her mind and intellect. This paired with her quick wit lends to the lass being difficult to read. Her biggest weakness is her apathy and overall lack of care or concern, she rather spend her days inventing devices of war, in her private study elbows deep in chemicals and cadavers, or on a hunt.

- Likes: Blacksmithing, history, torture tactics, Alchemy and surprisingly nature. Her favorite foods are sweets.
-Dislikes: Fussy court matters such as balls and parties, frilly clothing, any event requiring far too much preening will send her to the edge of madness.
-Fun Facts: Aella is well known for her knack for getting information out of even the most stubborn of people, as well as making the executioners blade not the most feared way for one's life to be ended. She is also an ace when it comes to engineering and fashioning things out of metal.

"Imperceptible annulation is best when delivered with an ever soothing hand, let the wind envelope you. "

 

[Athanas]

Code:

EDMOND WORREN

Νame: Edmond Worren

Age: 25

Gender + Orientation: Male, Straight

Heritage: King of Vysha, Head of House Worren, Bölvaðr Jarl

Their House/Allegiances: House Worren. Oh, apparently, also the realm.

Their goals, stakes and motivations: Ensure House Worren thrives. Acquire more personal glory and prestige. Don't fuck up this King stuff.

A list of some family members/allies:
-Merstorn Worren(Father)
-Sarine Worren(Mother)
-Anne-Marie Worren(Sister)
-Ksenia Antonov(Cousin)
-Vitya Antonov(Cousin)


Appearance: The first impression most have of Edmond is that of a brute, the kind of oaf some merchant would use as a thug, or some barbarian raider from a long-lost history. Admittedly, it is not an entirely undeserved image. After all, Edmond towers over most men, and his heavy, endomorph build makes his appear as stocky, with broad shoulders. His mustache and beard are kept short, much to his chagrin, and his blonde hair is braided in an unusual manner that he insists was the way of his ancestors.


Possible Enemies: It is a fairly extensive list-from disgruntled nobles that lost a great deal from the civil war, to loyalists of the old queen(or even the woman herself, should she still live), and many, many more. Edmond remains unafraid.


Biography: Before House Worren took power, the presence of one member of their family amongst the royal council was incredibly common, and almost always in the same position, the position of Marshal. This was never due to some familial privilege, or corruption on their part, though their detractors frequently made such claims, due to the fact that it was always, unfailingly, the second son of the family that got the position.

The truth is somehow worse than even the detractors could imagine. There is a custom, you see, an initiation process dating back well before even the time of Kharlord, passed down from father to son. A process supposed to make someone worthy of wielding the family blade, and bear its terrible curse.

This was the fate of Edmond Worren. From as early as the age of 6, the child was forced to begin training under an astonishingly harsh regime. He spent less and less time at the family estate, often missing for months at a time. He learned of the ways of war, of combat prowess and martial strategy. He was forced to consume poisons of countless varieties in small quantities, inoculating his constitution against all manners of such honorless trickery, even as they made him ill and feeble while his body fought off their effects. He learned how it felt to take a life without hesitation, at first of beasts, then of a human prisoner. He endured physical conditioning of the most extreme variety, including ritual scarring and flagellation.


Edmond stoically endured all such trials, until, at the age of 17, he was finally deemed worthy of the Ancestral blade. The ceremony was plain and unremarkable. There were no trumpets, no cheers, no celebration. A weary and tired Edmond knelt before his father near a barren coastline, supposedly the place Kharlord first landed on Vysha. There, he handed the boy the blade, wrapped as it was in plain cloth, a simple, leather scabbard to go with it.


As Edmond unsheathed the blade, he felt a chill run through his spine, unlike any cold he had ever felt. He felt the weight of the responsibility crash down upon his shoulders. He was Bölvaðr Jarl, a relic of a bygone age, the mailed fist of House Worren for when words proved ineffective and coin proved insufficient. He bore the legacy of a time of heroes and monsters, a time where blood was as common as wine.

In these duties, he proved excellent, shaped as he was by his training. He put down a peasant revolt at 19, personally beheading the ringleaders, much to the distaste of many of the local Burghers. He took a company of Einherjar abroad to fight for a foreign nation, part of some deal House Worren made, returning home with ships bursting with loot, and tourneys across the realm saw this upcoming star defeat all his opponents handily, at least insofar as dismounted combat was concerned. With the guidance of his much wiser brother directing his skills, House Worren flourished. All was well.

Until the winds of fate cruelly and suddenly changed, and his brother perished under suspicious circumstances. His father had, unfortunately, been rendered infirm due to an accident, while the late head of House Worren had not yet managed to leave behind any heirs. This meant that the title of House Head suddenly passed to Edmond.
To his credit, young Edmond tried, really tried, to be a good ruler. But he was completely unprepared in all manner of statecraft, from managing the domain to good diplomacy. Moreover, although his prowess had given him much prestige, it had not made him particularly popular. House Worren was hit with setback after setback, all stemming from their new leader’s incompetence, and both vassals and paupers alike were rapidly losing faith and support for the upstart.


Stressed, and desperate for a way to stabilize this situation that he was maddeningly unprepared to deal with, Edmond realized that he needed to prove himself to everyone with an astounding victory. An accomplishment that would forever silence the chatter that claimed him to be a blood-mad buffoon and nothing more.

Unfortunately for House Laerym, their allies, and the realm, Edmond knew of only one way to achieve victory, and only victory worth achieving. Using his brother’s suspicious death as a Cassus Belli, Edmond launched a civil war against the crown, his eyes firmly set on the greatest prize in the realm. And just like that, all his stress, worries, and fears vanished overnight. With his incredible martial skill, and supported by the mighty military of House Worren, Edmond scored many great victories early in the civil war. Many Houses quickly saw the tide turning against Laerym and joined forces with the Usurper, providing him with the things he did not have-bountiful coin, shrewd diplomats, and networks of informants. With this newfound support, Laerym’s fate was sealed-Edmond himself was at the vanguard of the assault on Tarq, allegedly killing over a hundred men by himself, earning him the moniker of “The Daring.”


The gambit was successful to the extreme-Lord Edmond the incompetent suddenly became King Edmond the Daring, victor over the deceitful queen, to the smallfolk. To the vassals and nobles of House Worren, he became the man who quadrupled their power and reach. To the world, he became one of the mightiest conquerors in recent years. Looted gold filled his coffers, the most influential of nobles and wealthiest of merchants prostrated themselves before him, currying favor, and he has been given a stunningly beautiful bride whose smile never fails to brighten up his day.

So why does he still feel fear for the future? And why do so many servants complain that he spends hours, some days, just staring at his ancestral blade, trying to decipher some hidden meaning from it?

More importantly, how will the man, for whom ruling his House proved too much, handle being a King of the entirety of Vysha?


Personality: Upon first meeting, King Edmond would probably give you the idea of someone who does not take things too seriously, and you would probably be right in your assesment. Self-assured in his ability to win any fight his words or actions land him in, he appears almost jovial, with a crude sense of humor. Having been deprived of the comforts of life for most of his upbringing, Edmond is more than eager to make up for lost time, and he frequently indulges in all of life’s pleasures, from hunting, feasting and drinking, to fighting and even the occasional tryst.

Fickle in his decisions and quite impatient, Edmond does not often take too much time to think things through outside of a martial situation. His astonishing lack of past experiences also render him quite easy to distract, and, seemingly driven by some deep-rooted insecurity about the opinions of others about him, he frequently showers his friends and, particularly, family in gifts and favors in some futile ploy to gain their love.

With all that being said, he is far from the harmless oaf many consider him to be. Brutal and quick to anger, many aspiring schemers have met violent ends that they most definitely would’ve been able to weasel out of were any other king to sit on the throne. Care should be taken not to underestimate King Edmond, lest he decides Banamaðr shall drink its fill from you tonight.

"Many think me impotent, because I do not understand their ways. They forget. All the politics, intrigue and coin in Vysha could not stop my ancestors from butchering their forefathers."