Fantasy ROLL CALL. — risen ashes.

[starboob]

risen ashes.
THE CAST

starboob & Syntra​

 

[Syntra]

Nepheli, the Sword of the Morning

1. It is said that Nepheli wasn't born in the traditional sense of the word, but rather that she was called forth by the planet itself. No longer could it bear the presence of the terrible princess, and so it 'created' its own savior. What does that means, exactly? The priestesses may know, but they aren't giving up their secrets.

2. As her nickname implies, Nepheli's sword indeed is special. It was forged from the tear of Aimsara, the First Goddess, and, as such, holds the power to cut through souls. Again, what does that mean? The rumors are plentiful, ranging from the destruction of one's soul to something akin to mind-control, but those who could tell you the truth are pretty much all dead now. Tough luck!

3. While Nepheli doesn't have any royal blood in her veins, there is a prophecy that says she will become the Queen, and rule in Ismenia's said. Such is the Temple's justice -- and what its priestesses strive for. What Nepheli herself thinks about it... isn't really obvious, mostly because she doesn't talk about the issue at all. But, for someone who is meant to claim the throne, she does appear a bit unenthusiastic about the prospect.

4. Some say that Nepheli is afraid of fire. Not that most sensible people aren't afraid of fire, but her aversion does seem a bit overblown.

5. Nepheli was promised to Eyran, a certain duke's son, as part of a pact against princess Ismenia's family. The two seem to get along swimmingly, and everyone is certain that they will make a wonderful couple.

6. There are many qualities that people admire about Nepheli, but her sense of justice is her greatest asset. The fact that she even executed her best friend, the Lady Iroe, when it was discovered that she betrayed their cause, more than proves it!

 

[starboob]

Princess Ismenia, Warduke
"Cannibal Queen"

1. Of her many earned titles through her service as her father's faithful warduke, she cherishes most that she is renowned as the cannibal queen. It is rumored that only flesh of her own kind can sate her unending appetite. It imbues her with their strength and all but makes her unkillable, with abilities like growing back body parts. One should never cleave this princess in two, unless they would like to deal with double trouble.
2. She learned of her taste for flesh after murdering Aimsara's favored king and the princess's husband for only a night. Displeased with the arrangement of her marriage, she stuck a sword through him before he could even make it to their marriage bed. Blood splattered across her face, a droplet fell to her lips. She suckled each of her wet fingers clean. One of her waiting ladies came to check on the princess and Ismenia charged at her, ripping her throat with new fangs like a wild animal.
3. As her daddy's special princess, he had been kind enough to welcome her back home in spite of her misgivings. It did not hurt that she also made him King Regent of her recently acquired kingdom.
4. Preferring fresh meat, she kills her victims slowly, ordering the good barber-surgeons to amputate and harvest her meals for her. That said, she will never deny herself a good pickled heart.
5. No official record exist of her thoughts on her known demise at the hands of Nepheli. Though once, love drunk at a party, she is rumored to have said, "If I am to meet this most foregone end and be part of the new queen's origin, then I shall be a monstress of equal legend."
6. Being a truly wicked thing, only a pure soul has the ability to kill her. Pure hearts are also her favorite meal and she can sniff them out from miles away. They often meet gruesome ends before they can even realize they were ever in the cannibal queen's vicinity.

 

[Syntra]

Seighiro, the Wise

1. One of the Empress's lovers, and certainly one of her finest conquests. Not because she's beautiful - because of course that she is - but rather because of who she is. In the past, she served the goddess Nytheira; now, her heart belongs to her killer. Is it not proof enough that the Empress's quest is just?

2. Allegedly a skillful magic user, though few know what she dabbles in exactly. Seighiro herself claims that she is clairvoyant and offers her services to those who are worthy enough, but the list is remarkably short. It is said that her ability to see what the future offers is part of why the Empress values her insight so much.

3. Many wonder how the Empress came to trust her in the first place. There are many reasons for that, of course -- but what (likely) convinced her of her new lover's loyalty was that she didn't hesitate to sell out her sisters. It was only thanks to Seighiro's help that a silly little rebellion of Nytheira's worshipers was stamped out!

4. Seighiro is often the subject of strange stories, with many of them likely being created by the former priestess herself. For example, some claim that they spotted her in different places at the same time, or that her voice isn't always the same.

5. A skillful politician, Seighiro can talk a bald man into buying a comb and convince him it was actually a great deal. Most know how dangerous that is, and yet she manages to be loved by everyone but one woman -- Halen.

6. Despite being something of a social butterfly, little is actually known about Seighiro. She speaks much, but doesn't say a lot, and it's not easy to read her. Apparently she dislikes those who hunt birds, though, because she had someone executed over that.

 

[starboob]

Halen, Counsel to The Throne
"Hawkeye"

1. Some might say that Halen was bred to serve the Empress Divine. As a descendant from an aristocratic family desperate to keep their position in society when the empire came for their home world, they traded secrets and their first born for that privilege. Thus, Halen was fostered by droids aboard the Empress Divine’s space palace.
2. If being raised by droids does not explain her robotic nature, then maybe her cybernetic enhancements will. They are numerous enough to classify her as a cyborg. By this point, most speculate she is trying to become the perfect machine for the Empress Divine, aiming to live by her side forever. While most of her modifications are camouflaged to look natural, her knuckles standout, having been replaced with diamonds.
3. Halen’s career in the regime started in intelligence, where she first made waves as an accomplished spy. Her work as a spy earned her the nickname Hawkeye, for nothing escaped her observation. Eventually, she pivoted to working in strategy. It is because of her efforts in this arena that the galaxy’s rebels have been all but stamped out and they enjoy relative peace. No one wants their city to become the next Atlantis or suffer a volcanic winter or become the testing ground for the lab grown latest virus, after all.
4. Supposedly, to earn her position as one of the Empress Divine’s counselors, she poisoned her own mother to takeover in her stead. No hard feelings, of course. It’s not like the woman raised her.
5. Halen famously took a bullet for the Empress Divine on one of her rare planetary excursions. Some speculate it was not her loyalty that inspired her, but her desire to become the governor of one of the empire's many solar systems. Romantics believe it was her widely known affection for the Empress Divine that inspired her braverism.
6. Almost nothing exists on record of Halen's personal life. It is likely she has none. At most, one can gather that most of her paychecks go towards her impressive jewel collection.