Full name: Joakim Mirke Weade
Titles: Young Lord Regent of the Whitelands, 'Mir'
Social rank: Nobleman
Job or societal position: Regent over the lands of the Northern Demesne
Age: 16
Gender: Male.
Appearance: Reference picture above.
Personality: Joakim is a young man who has been trained in the northern version of etiquette. As such he can be seen as rude, straightforward and unsubtle by those in the more southern regions. However this bring up has given him a thorough understanding of hierarchy, and more respectably a large dose of respect for hierarchy. As such he can be considered one of the most loyal people in the realm of Borhilon. Along with this respect also came a natural affinity for all aspects of combat -- archery, swordsmanship, architectural designs and logistics are things that he has learnt to become skilled enough in. Being the third son, he was never meant to be a leader, nor was his older brother. That as it may be, this means that he might fall back on his military knowledge rather than diplomatical skills or economical know how to solve the incoming conflict. Besides that he is caring, generous and infinitely prepared for self sacrifice for the good of his people.
History: Joakim was born as the third son to his father, Rikard Weade. This means he has barely any right to the throne of the Whitelands. His older brothers, who were twins, Janus and Gregar, were both destined for greater things according to his father. Janus died early in his infancy as he was born sickly, and the healmaster could not do anything for him but pray to the Old Trees. Gregar however was born healthy and sound, and grew into a strong boy. It helped him that he was pretty in his face, as many noble girls swooned over him as soon as they heard his name. Being the first in line, he was not destined for war as much as Joakim. Instead he learned to govern from an early age. Economics, governship and reading and writing were things that Gregar learned, and in his spare time he learned how to properly use shield, sword and armor, as well as the horse and lance. When Gregard was 8, young lord Joakim was born, just as healthy as his older brother was born.

This is not the sobstory that other noble third-born sons would tell, but rather, the story of a young man who had a strong role model in the form of his older brother. Gregar was not the stern, strict older brother that other families had, but rather was kind and caring as much as his father and mother were. Joakim fit right into the family with ease. From the age of 8, he started learning how to wield a sword, shield, and all other assortments of weaponry. Being the third born, second-in-line heir, he was meant to be a commander of forces for his brother, and whenever possible a personal bodyguard, too. Enjoying the company of his brother, he had no remorse about this fate, and embraced it with open arms. This resulted in Joakim becoming quickly familiarized with large amounts of weapons, strategies, tactics and personal combat skills. This is not saying he is a master of the blade, but pit any common soldier of the duke against him and he will emerge victorious -- with remarkable grace, too.

As of the death of his father, lord Rikard, he has been forced to take over day to day command of the estate, waiting for his brother Gregar to return to the Whitelands to assume his rightful position on the throne.
Skills: Proficient in swordsmanship, personal combat, maces and hammers, horseriding. Above average tactician and strategist.
Dreams and fears: Joakim lacks any higher aspirations, other than to serve in a prestigious knighthood. His fear is however to lose the families lands, his family members, close friends and subjects.
Favored equipment: A bastardsword, wooden shield, chainmail leggings and hauberk, with a surcoat over the hauberk. His right arm (sword arm) has a metal plate shoulderpiece and a metal plate elbow piece. His shieldarm has only a hardened leather shoulder piece and no elbowpiece. On both his hands he wears metal gauntlets. His leggings have metal kneepieces. His footwear is rather simple compared to the metal armor, as he wears rather simple leather boots which are tightly strapped.
Extra: His insignia is the Weade's insignia, the Old Tree. The family dog is 'technically his' he claims, as he was the one that paid the smith for the dog. The dog does not confirm this.. but he sleeps in Joakims' room an awful lot.

Full name: Gregar Weade.
Titles: Duke of the Whitelands, Master of the Hunt of Borhilon, 'The Oakheart'.
Social rank: Nobleman.
Job or societal position: Captain under the banner of king Etwine the Stout, commander of the 3th regiment of heavy infantry, duke over the Whitelands and rightful heir to Rikard Weade.
Age: 24.
Gender: Male.
Appearance: Reference above picture.
Personality: Gregar is a kind man that can be described as harsh but fair. Being trained as a lord he has learnt that this position is not one of fun and pleasure at all times, but rather a position of making hard decisions time and time again. Over the years the smile has faded from his face because of this. However he is utmost prepared to make these decisions for the greater good of his people. Truly, he is the pinnacle of God's virtues, being temperate, chaste, and content with what he has. He is also very trusting, which can be seen as a good thing. It is, however, not a good thing for a lord. Numerous times he has unknowingly invited people into his halls, who seemed to be down on their luck, only to find items missing. His father's scoldings were often not enough to stop this happening again.
History: Gregar lost his twin brother Janus early on, but didn't realize this until much later as his brother died in infancy. It was said that his brothers will lives on through Gregar, something that's always pushed him harder to do well for some reason. From an early age the notion that he would be the image of the Weade family was instilled into him, forcing him to abide etiquette at all times, even when nobody was present. The youth of a first son is relatively harsh, but once they get older, they can slow down and take it a bit more easy. As it did for Gregar.

When he was 16, and came of age, his mother and father had to find a suitable bride for him. Being the famed 'Gregar Oakheart' did him much good in this regard and he was married to the daughter of king Etwine in order to form an alliance between the two families. The lady he was married to, lady Elisandre, was a lady fair and beautiful. She took up residence in the Wintershouse and lived there for two years, until she became ill and died of the cold weather and other nasty effects the illness had upon her. No child was birthed from this marriage however, as Gregar mostly found himself away from the Wintershouse to fulfill his duties to his liegelord king Etwine which caused him to be unable to consume this marriage. Luckily king Etwine wished the alliance between the families remained intact and issued a decree that stated that the two families were still bound, although the families would never be as close as during the marriage. As of yet, Gregar is still unmarried and his time spent in the army of king Etwine has not done this fact any favors.
Skills: Gregar has become skilled in the art of managing his estate, although the economics often go unnoticed by him and the slack would be picked up by the local scribe and his ward. He is inspiring for his troops and can hold his own in combat, however he is not a skilled fighter in the sense of being a legendary warrior. He is about as good as is expected of a nobleman. He is quite charismatic and a sort of symbol for the Whitelands, however how much of this he can make true is another question.
Dreams and fears: His dreams are to explore the regions East of the mountains when the time comes. His fears are the fall of his estate, family, or the death of the King due to intrigue or political struggles.
Favored equipment: For the armor, reference the picture. As for weapons, he prefers to wield an arming sword and a wooden shield, painted with the sigil of the Weade family. On horseback, he would wield a lance where possible.
Extra: Logically, his sigil is the Old Tree of the Weade family.

Full name: Gidja Jorvsdottir
Titles: 'Giddi'
Social rank: Lowborn courtier.
Job or societal position: Castle guard.
Age: 21
Gender: Female.
Appearance:
Personality: Gidja is a typical Northern woman. Cold and warm at the same time, she seems to omit an aura of tranquility, order and peace. Outside of battle she smiles often, atleast when she is not on duty. When on duty or in the heat of combat, her face grows stern, authoritarian and holds a respectful gaze on those above her. She is one of the few women in the entirety of Borhilon, save the few such as the duchess of the Forklands, who is in a combat role and is accepted as such in more or lesser degree. As such she has grown to become slightly more than a castle guard, and holds an esteemed position within the dukes militia even.
History: Gidja was born on September 18th, which was coincidentally the name of one of Gods' children, the lady Gidja, fierce housemaiden. As such it seemed appropiate to name her after the child of God. Her father was Jorv, a strong man who served in the dukes army, and her mother was Herietta, a scrawny woman who served in the dukes castle-keep. She was supposed to become like her mother, a servant in service to the duke, but her strong believe that her name was given to her for a reason led to her requesting audience with the duke at the mere age of 14, when she was appointed to become a servants' assistant to learn the trade.

What followed was a shock, namely the duke accepting her request of audience. She got called in by her father, who told her to watch her tongue as she spoke to the duke, more so for her own safety than theirs. Her mother teared up, thinking that she would run her mouth and face punishment. But duke Rikard wouldn't be called the Just if it weren't for his friendly demeanor. Gidja approached the duke slowly, bowing slightly before standing straight again. What followed was a barrage of pleas, reasons and promises about her becoming a warrior, just like Gidja, the daughter of God, the Father of Earth.

Many objected but the Duke raised his arm, the hall deafening with silence. Then he granted her permission to become part of the castle guard, as she wasn't the first female to join a military group, and she certainly wouldn't be the last. Besides that, she had the spirit of Gidja in her, and he deeply believed that she was right when she said Gidja lives in her.

After that she spent most of her years until now guarding the castle from thieves, bandits, and guarding the halls during festivities.
Skills: She is capable at fighting with a spear, this being her preferable weapon. As a backup weapon she uses a sword that's sheathed on her left side. Her skills with a shield are also quite good, to the point where she knows how to actively use it to force an enemy into certain positions, guarding her sides and is also able to use it offensively to good effect.
Dreams and fears: One day she hopes to be lifted into a noblemans status, which would allow her to become knighted, or at the very least become part of a more prestigious order than being a castle guard. She fears death deeply, as any sane man does.
Favored equipment: For her armor, see her appearance. For weapons she has a medium sized spear, and a sheathed sword on her left. Her shield is also on her left arm. It's a round wooden shield, with the castle guards insignia on it.
Extra: She owns a cat, but he mainly roams the courtyards and her quarters.

Full name: Alethea

Titles: She has no titles or names beyond that of ‘Alethea’. It was the name given to her as a child, that and no other. Though she does take a certain degree of mirth in telling people she is Alethea of No Name and Nowhere. Her chosen profession as earned her several names, some of great admiration and others of scorn depending on who you ask. Her favourite so far has been Poison Ivy.

Social rank: Alethea has no memories before the orphanage and workhouse her and her identical twin sister grew up in. Born the poorest of the poor, the girls guessed they were either orphaned or given up because they were the result of less than pure activities.

Job or societal position: Alethea takes great pride in her work for, though she would not want to tempt fate by being hubris, she is very good at it. Very good at it indeed. Alethea is a thief. Not the petty thief she was in her childhood who would steal from market stalls and people’s pockets. No, such trivial things are long behind her. Alethea’s speciality lies in entering otherwise untouchable places and taking the treasures they house. As much as Alethea loves the thrill of stealing for herself, if one can find a way to her (and there are very few as over the years her chosen profession as earned her a few enemies as apparently people don’t like having their possessions taken from them from right under their noses - who knew?), then she may be willing to steal what you desire - providing the theft is enticing enough to tempt her.

Age: Alethea suspects she has passed her twentieth year, but by how many seasons is unknown to her. Hazarding a guess, she would put her age in the early twenties, but she wouldn’t swear by it.

Gender: Female

Appearance:
Alethea has never been bothered with her appearance. She has been told many times that she is beautiful, but instead of feeling flattered she views her beauty as a nuisance. She would rather be unremarkable and go about unnoticed. Alethea has deep brown hair that doesn’t quite reach her shoulders and lovely, sea-green eyes. She stands at 5’5, a little taller than the average woman and she has slightly darker skin than most of the residents of Borhilon. Having been malnourished as a child, she is rather lanky and lacks feminine curves that are so desired by most. However, her muscles are strong. Alethea has a branding on her left hand, her dominant hand, of the sign of a thief from where she was caught stealing as a child. The skin around the branding is slightly pinker than the rest of her, but the branding itself has turned white where the skin is raised from it. Not wanting to draw attention to herself, Alethea never takes her fingerless gloves off.

Personality: Alethea gives off a very calm demeanour to the outside world and is rarely moved to doing something out of anger. Her temper is kept in check, as is her tongue. In years gone by her tongue would have earned her lashings, but since those childhood days she has learned to keep what she thinks to herself. These days, not much riles her and if it does, she would not show it. Why let people know what she is thinking?

Alethea has no great love of the expensive things she steals. Her love and pride that she takes in her profession come from the thrill of a successful theft - the more difficult and dangerous, the more satisfying. However, Alethea is no idiot. She would not rush in blindly to a heist or simply take a job because the payment is large and appealing. Meticulous research is done behind the scenes on both the location she will have to breach unseen and the person’s motives behind hiring her.

She cares little for petty feuds between people and has no time for those wanting to hire her services as a means for seeking revenge. Then again, the intricacies of human nature and its relationships have always been a mystery to Alethea. She has yet to find a lock she cannot eventually pick and only wished people were so uncomplicated. Jealously, guilt, love, hate, grief, loyalty - the whole range and spectrum of human emotions are something that make her uncomfortable.

Alethea thinks that people might think of her as uncaring - if she allowed people to know her, that is - but there are things she cares about. She despises when people overwork their animals and then beat them for their tiredness. Those people always find themselves missing their coin purses not soon afterwards. Another thing to affect her is children. Perhaps because no one gave her a helping hand growing up, she keeps an eye of the children who live in the alleyways and are seen as a pest by most people. Coins are dropped in the laps regularly for them to buy food and medicine by her as she passes by.

History: Alethea and her twin sister do not know where they came from, but they were raised in a rundown orphanage in a neighbouring kingdom. As soon as they were old enough, both girls were put to work in the town’s workhouse to earn their keep. The work was hard for such young children, but it was their lot in life and neither girl complained. It was several years later, when they were to be separated due to the growing number of children the workhouse had, that the girls dared to brave the outside world they had been warned against. “Thieves, cutthroats and bandits - not an honest man amongst them out there” was the warning they had headed for so long.

The girls stayed together throughout the years that followed. They would pick pocket and barely survived the winter’s cold each year. The days of unending hunger are burned in Alethea’s mind to this day. As are the cold winter nights. Stealing food and coin became easier as their skill set grew. Marga, her twin, would in time, become a seasoned grifter. She could manipulate people into revealing their darkest desires without them even realising. Alethea grew into her role as a thief too. The shadows became her home and she could pass unseen by all and locked doors were no longer an issue or obstacle.

What ultimately separated the girls was a man. Alethea fell in love and entertained the foolish notion of being able to marry and raise a family with him - to finally have everything she had never had before. She gave the man her heart and virtue. However it was Marga that won the man’s affections. Alethea knew no man could resist her sister. Though they were identical in looks, Alethea did not have the way with people as she did. She would often joke that Marga could charm the birds from the trees with just her sweet words. Thus, the man she loved fell in love with her sister and they married. Alethea knew her sister married the man for his good fortune and standing in society, but a small part of her wondered if Marga had actually done it out of jealousy. Jealousy that Alethea had almost achieved something on her own. Though Alethea would never admit to the deep hurt their marriage had caused her, she has not visited her sister since the news that Marga was expecting her first child. That was five years ago now.

Alethea left the kingdom they had grown up in, claiming their were richer pickings in Borhilon and not once has she looked back. Though her heart aches for her sister, she doesn’t see a future where she could come to terms with what has passed between them and thus, she stays away, only sending money to Marga once a month. Since her first, and really only, experience of love, Alethea has closed herself off to such things, deeming them unnecessary.

Without Marga by her side, Alethea had to learn how to thieve again. She no longer had a partner to steal the secrets of the location hidden treasure boxes or weaknesses in a home’s defence. Given that she had no other skill set, she hurriedly evolved into a solo artist, lest she become destitute and have to turn to other, less scrupulous means in order to feed herself. Alethea thus learned to pick out faults and possible entrances into places by herself on sight alone, or closer inspection once night had fallen. She learned how to read guard routines, knowing she could no longer rely on Marga for distractions. Most importantly, she learned how to pick locks. Her first night in a jail cell was a harrowing experience and one she did not care to repeat if it could be avoided.

Alethea has only gained a reputation in recent months. A year ago she was relatively unknown, but after a series rather risky endeavours in the rich region of the Great City, that is no longer the case. This new turn of events brings with it benefits and cons to Alethea. She is now sought out and payed handsomely to steal for others, but it means that if caught, the punishment would be certain death, not a mere branding as was the case when she was caught once as a child.

The other new addition to Alethea’s life is a child of about ten years who had tried to pickpocket her one day several moons back. Alethea had been highly amused by his cheek and had spent the next few days watching him before she stepped forward to offer in a few tips to avoid him being caught and punished. Since that, he’s followed her from region to region, almost like her second shadow.

Skills: Hand Alethea a sword and she will be able to tell you the region it was made in, the extent of its quality, what its true value is and then what she could sell it for and to whom. However, ask her to wield it and she wouldn’t have a clue. Alethea's survival skills in a situation involving conflict are to run - run hard and run fast. Being a thief, combat is not something she factors into the equation during a heist. Passing unseen and undetected however are. Alethea is proud of her skills in lock picking. To date, she is unrivalled in her expertise. She is also very adapt at climbing as scaling walls of great height is just part of her profession. Thankfully she has the necessary grace and balance to allow running along an embarkment or a rooftop without the fear of falling. Passing unnoticed and being light of foot are good attributes of hers too. Her only skill with weapons of any description would be a crossbow as sometimes a line is needed as part of her escape or entry into a domicile. Her daggers are more for show than anything - an insurance policy almost.

Dreams and fears: Alethea once dreamed of raising a family and no longer having to steal and though she would never admit it a part of her still hopes for just that. However, she does not linger on such notions. Nowadays she just prays she is not caught. Having no combat skills, she does fear that one day her luck will run out and she will not be able to escape a heist if her presence in undetected.

Favored equipment: Two daggers are hidden underneath her clothes for protection - one strapped to her thigh and the other hidden inside her boot. Otherwise her only constants are her lock picking kit, her dark-coloured cloak and a green bandana to cover the lower half of her face. All other things she can steal.

Extra: Just an FYI, I'm open to romance with this character if anyone is interested.

Full name: Baego Thatchrite

Social rank: Commoner

Job or societal position: Pick-pocket, street rat

Age: 10

Gender: Male

Appearance:
Baego is tall for his age, already being just shy of 5 feet tall. His straw-coloured hair is naturally curly and he has green eyes.

Personality: Baego is a highly intelligent young lad, despite never having received any proper education. He prides himself on being smarter than others his age. He has a great love of the theatre as he and the other street children used to go and watch the plays from their precarious positions in the rafters. He admires the artistry of the playwrights and fancies himself quite the wordsmith. Baego is not a timid lad, but neither is he reckless. He has a kind soul and makes friends easily due to his easy manner, cheeky demeanour and ability to charm most.

History: Though there is great wealth and prosperity in the southern Great City, there is also poverty - it just goes unseen. Baego knows little of his parents other than his mother died in childbirth and his father was a thatcher who took a fatal fall off a roof he was working on when Baego was very young. Having no other family, he grew up as one of many children who had no homes and were forced to live on the streets. Being too scrawny to do any manual labour, Baego could get little work to earn coin to buy himself food and therefore resorted to pick-pocketing people. Which is incidentally how he met Alethea.

Alethea is the first adult to take a genuine interest in him and since the day she approached him to offer him advise on how not to get caught, he has clung to her. When she told him she would be leaving the south, he was distraught as apart from his father, who he only has a few hazy memories of, no one had ever cared about his well being. Not wanting to loose Alethea, he joined her on her journey north.

Dreams and fears: Baego dreams of one day writing great plays that will out-live him for many generations. However, first he needs to master how to read and write. He is making progress, but each mistake he makes frustrates him greatly. Additionally, he fears the day when Alethea will leave him.

Height: 6'3"
Weight: 212lbs
Hair Color:Dark Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Notable Body Features: Vincent has a scar on the upper left side of his torso from a burn that is in the shape of a circle with a line cutting it vertically in half.

Height: 5'6"
Weight: 109lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue

Full name: Brier Catryn Weade / Brier Catryn Morrigh
Titles: Countess of Blackwood (Formerly), Kitty for her friends, and Witch of Blackwood to her detractors.
Social rank: Noblewoman
Job or societal position: Former Royal Court Musician, Countess, Healer and Alchemist.
Age: 20
Gender: Female

Appearance:

Personality: Brier was once a high spirited merry girl who always questioned everyone and everything. Sociable and curious to the extreme, she wasn't put off by appearances or standing whatshoever. She also shared the generous good nature of her elder brother Gregar Weade, as well as the lack of malice. Like her sibling, this bit her in the back quite a few times at first, but as she grew older, more focused and wiser, she learned how to read the intentions of people and developed a friendly, polite, but very defensive demeanor. Brier is a woman of intellect and culture and she enjoys learning new knowledge or discussing with akin minds. Bitterly accepting that not everyone is nice, and that there are wicked people out of there, she can be quite vindictive, throughout and manipulative if any member of her family is at stake.

History: Brier was born between the twins Janus and Gregar, and the thirdborn Joakim. Little Brier was a chatterbox and a relentless chaser of odd things, when she wasn't too busy sticking to Gregar like glue. She however, didn't neglect her education, and she followed her mother diligently just as Gregar did with their father. Education that was soon put to test, as she tended to her younger brother Joakim whenever others were not available. When Gregar's bethrodal was announced, Brier was for the first time, wary of an stranger coming to the house, but soon took a liking to Lady Elisandre as the elder sister she never had. By Elisandre's suggestion, Brier managed to convince his father the Duke to go to the King's court to receive more education.

Although initially reluctant, her family conceded to Brier's petition, as becoming part of the court and with Brier's easygoing nature, she would probably find a good groom later on. With her skill with the harp and sociable nature, Brier found herself befriended several people of all sorts. While comfortable with the people of her age and social status like princes, princesses, and sons and daughters of other nobles, Brier's sharp mind also sought out three people that usually were beneath notice: the King's spymaster, an old alchemist who had somehow gained prestige as royal advisor, and a portly and coarse yet skilled woman who was the Royal Physician.

Brier would seek their presence whenever she felt the whole court scenery and upbringing was too repetitive and dull, and she ended up learning several skills that a noblewoman was not suppossed to have in the first place. The ability to read people's lies in their faces, alchemy and healing arts. Brier didn't know how dangerous this combination was until much later, a year after Elisandre's death. While playing matchmaking to find her a suitable husband, Brier unadvertedly drove all of them off with her skill to read people. Only one succeeded to not be cowed, earl Kevin Morrigh of Blackwood.

Earl Kevin was perhaps thirty years her elder and he was looking for a second wife after the first one had died without giving him any descendants. He was a stout man of rotund features, a bristly beard, a large booming voice, and the most important feature of them all. He didn't even bother to hide his true intentions in the slightlest. He had heard rumours of Brier being a healer and an alchemist, and precisely for that he was proposing her. He also acknowledged he didn't have a big status as nobleman, but he had a rather important mining and timber site in the Ironhills. He did not want a wife who only stood idlely to be coddled. Brier was taken aback by the man's honesty and accepted to become his wife.

Life at the Ironhills was just as Kevin described. There wasn't a single idle moment. If it wasn't helping blacksmiths identify and refine ores, it was helping injured lumberjacks and workers. She often delighted the earl's men with her harp at the end of the day. Never she had felt so drained and yet at the same time she was happy. She even had her first son by him, which both named Brian. And then the war struck out, and everything went down in a quick succession. Earl Kevin, thinking more with the heart than with the head, defied his lord, the duke of Harrighfield, and tossed his support in favor of the King and his father-in-law, duke Weade of Whitelands, only to be cut down in the same battle as Rikard. While brave and commending, this did not bode well for Brier, who soon was in the wrong of a lynching mob who took her castle, spurred by the less than honorable family members of the Morrigh. Being accused as a witch who had twisted earl Kevin's mind, she was all but helpless when the mob killed her infant two-year-old son in a fit of rage and bloodlust, and threatened to burn her at the stake.

She was saved by the timely intervention of Ser Wilhem, a recently ordered knight who had been left behind to ensure the safety of the countess. The lad, although brave, did not survive the wounds sustained, no matter what Brier died, and in the end, she reluctantly buried the young, brave and unfortunate knight beneath a large oaktree, while she took his horse for herself, and headed north to seek refuge in the Forklands and Whitelands.

Skills: Brier has an active mind, and she can engage in social conversation with practically anyone. She also knows how to cook decently, and she's greatly skilled at sewing and playing the harp. She can also sing quite well. More importantly, Brier can detect who lies to her by merely looking at the body language of the person before her. She is also a master healer, able to perform advanced bonesetting and even surgeries (where her sewing skills once again help), with the associated knowledge of herbalism. Last but not least important, Brier is an alchemist, and as such she can easily identify ores and create black powder and alchemic fire should she need to. Brier can also ride a horse quite decently.

Dreams and fears: Brier dreams of getting back at the insult suffered in the Blackwood, and avenge her dead son by the mob, and then maybe start over a new life. She obviously fears losing more family members.

Favored equipment: Brier usually is seen with her harp, although that one was lost when she was nearly killed. She always carries a hidden dagger in her thigh. Whenever she has to hit the road, it is not uncommon for her to carry a large knapsack with her healing materials as well as a staff for support. She also carries the Weade family ring and the Morrigh family ring.

Extra:Brier is thought to have perished in the riot, if news of such reached the north.