Family name: De Reimer

Kingdom Location: Cawanor

Crest:


Family motto: Bound by Blood

Relations with other Kingdoms:
House Rallar: Good terms
(Future relations will be added in once everyone has created their house).

Family reputation: Reliable, Ambitious, Cunning, Wealthy

Kingdom's main export goods: Ores; (Iron, copper, steel, gold, silver, coal, gems) equipment; (tools, armour, weapons), Stone, Woodcraft (Furniture, Tools), Clothes.

Description of Kingdom: Cawanor is a kingdom just south of central Formaroth. It has a Continental climate that is slightly colder in its southern regions. Cawanor is very mountainous with a large proportion of the kingdom (around 40%) being covered in mountains. Therefore the main form of industry within Cawanor is mining and smithing. The remaining area that isn’t mountains is mostly farmland. The farmland itself is of average fertility.

There is one settlement of importance within Cawanor, this being the port city of Cawaport. This city is located on the northern coast of Cawanor and is considered an average size for a city in Formaroth. The river Dagma runs through the centre of the city. Cawaport has a similar building design to renaissance Florence. The city has a great divide of wealth between the upper class, the middle class and the working class. The upper class tend to live in one collected area in Cawaport in large mansions. The middle class is the main populous within Cawaport and are made up of such profession as: craftsmen, blacksmiths, shop keepers, tanners, merchants, doctors, tailors, etc. The working class is less of a working class (with the majority of working class people such as miners and farmers living in the countryside of Cawanor) and more of an underclass. The underclass is compacted into one area of the city and lives in the slum known as Ratway. People who live here are mostly beggars or people who find the odd job in docks with loading and unloading ships. The city is surrounded by a stone wall which provides a decent amount of defence against minor attacks, but in the event of a major siege it would only provide a minimum amount of resistance.

Iredale Stronghold is located in the centre of Cawanor. It is where the De Reimer family, as well as their advisers, reside.

Family Background: The Kingdom of Cawanor has only been under the control of the De Reimer family for a short period of time (only around 10-20 years). Before that it was controlled by the Hieze family; a greedy and power hunger house that was on ill terms with the current King (Helyot Remonnet). The De Reimer family was a noble family that owned several mining systems within Cawanor. Eventually the wealth and power of the De Reimer family caught the attention of the Hieze family who became fearful of the De Reimer’s wealth and power. They decided to executed the head members of the House in the belief it would destroy the family that may oppose them in the future. However this was not the case. The De Reimer’s oldest son Patrick raised an army from those who were loyal to the De Reimer’s (which was far more than those who were loyal to the Hieze) and started a civil war which ultimately ended with the De Reimer’s becoming the new ruler of Cawanor and every member of the Hieze family with their head on a spike.

Due to the bad relations between the Hieze family and the king, Helyot Remonnet made the De Reimer family the official rulers of Cawanor and gave the family the honour of electing one of its members to the King’s council. Duncan De Reimer was sent to fulfil this role.

Reason of claim to the throne and family motives: Lord Duncan De Reimer was named the Kings Head adviser and is currently the acting ruler of the kingdoms. Therefore the authority of being King carries over to him.

It is known that the De Reimer Family’s motives are purely the advancement and progression of their own family’s power and legacy. Though they are not known to be unnecessarily cruel or ruthless, it is believed that they would go to great extents to achieve these aims.

Name: Roogel Therp
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Position: Proffessional mercenary lieautenant
Personality: He goes from being chummy, loud and kind to a cold heartless killer faster than people ever feel comfortable with.
Appearance: A giant of a man, a bushy black beard and clad in the classic armour of the Steel fist, albeit with a nice silver decor. With brass rivets.
He uses a pollaxe instead of a halberd.
Background: Having joined the Steel fist when he was 20, he did so after the famine in Akki his family was suffering from. Or more like himself, seeing he tended his miniscule farm alone.
He always felt he wasn't good at farming, he had a crappy house, weedy and root and stone filled fields and on top of that the moose seemed to be after him.
When he joined the fist he felt all the more at home. He is a personal friend of Claus being one who helped him keep away from drinking.

Skills and abilities.
Master polearm fighter
Master brawler
Decent fighter otherwise
Makes friends easily when in a good mood
Expert command
Decent tactics
If possible, worse than Claus at farming

Name: Ashala Harr {Deceased}
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Position: Proffessional mercenary lieautenant, crossbows
Personality: Short tempered, serious, protective
Appearance: Medium long auburn hair, curvy build, looks stern but pretty... apart from the scars. Wears a filled out cuirass to give her chest more room, she wields a Corseque instead of an arbalest.
Background: A born fighter, she was an orphan, a slum child and a thief, she was currently hunted and wanted for execution when the Steel fist showed up and gave her a way out. She was 17 then.

Skills and abilities.
Expert polearm fighter
Good brawler
Decent fighter otherwise
Expert sneaking
Good thief
Expert command
Good tactics

Name: Katrina Nikos
Age: 14
Gender: Female
Position: Blacksmith apprentice
Personality: Head strong, Stubborn, honorable, idealistic, ambitious
Appearance: Short Black hair, taller than most of her age,
Background: Katrina has spent her entire life helping her uncle at his forge. She knows nothing of her mother and father and only knows that her mother served up in the castle but was killed during the civil war. Once she reached 14 she decided that she wanted to leave Nyhem and see the world (much to the disagreement of her uncle). Once the Steel Fist mercenary troupe arrived in Nyhem she saw it as the best opportunity to leave.

Skills and traits:
Apprentice swordswoman
Expert Blacksmith
Master knowledge on weapons
Expert inventory taker
Expert logistician.

DISCLAIMER! This is a very rough draft of the history of the steel fist. Some dates and a few other things are still susceptible to change. Any of this can be changed.

The official mentions and dealing with the company of the Steel Fist are scattered within the archives of Nyhem, while the mentions are often correct, it is hard to get all the data, especially with a self governed force like a mercenary group.
So considering this, the archives are well stocked in the matters of the mercenary company.
This data can be collected by anyone who has access to the archive of Nyhem. And some is well known facts by people in or outside the company itself.

The Steel Fist was formed by Captain James Formery in 412, a man who worked for the Tulza family and was rewarded for his service with funds in exchange for creating a mercenary force loyal to the Tulza family alone.
The company helped fight their dirty fights of the Tulza and did so as long as they paid. Which the Tulza's stopped. So the Steel fist abandoned them. The Tulza’s hoped for a loyal puppet, but they got Mr. Formery, who was only loyal to his purse.

The Tulza’s waned into nothingness over a span of roughly 15 years after the Steel fist refused to work for them. At least once did the Tulza's suffer from a manhunt, but records are hard to come by.
The Tulza family was recorded as extinct by the year 437.

The following 45 years are shrouded in myth, lost records and simple bad memory. A few mentions of the company exist but few have exact dates.

461: The Steel fist is mentioned in a report about Windermere. The mention is short and their captain is listed as Nathan Goyle. This makes sense since James Formery would have been 75 years old at this time and probably have not led the Steel fist for some time.

462: The Steel fist celebrates 50 years. Many reports of increased disruption can be found in the Windemere provinces for a time. A 3 month span according to reports.

467: The Steel fist is listed as participants in a troops record of the forces of Nash. Border skirmishes and waning diplomatic relations between Nash and Orog during the time does make the companies presence and employment does make sense. However no true battles are recorded between Nash and Orog during the time and their relations stabilized over the next five years.

470: The Steel fist makes an official plead for aid to several towns, and the city of Nyhem. Records state that the company suffered a tragic accident while they were travelling through the Irman strait by ship. Apparently two vessels ran aground and thus inflicted heavy losses in manpower, but primarily materiel.
The plead was written by Felicia Hartshyre. It is unknown if she was the captain of the force or if she was tasked with the plead. There is rumours that the previous captain was killed in the accident which complicates record keeping further. However a certain Doroka Hawk is seen within the list of survivors.

471: The Steel fist is restructured by their new captain, Dory Moor "The Dwarf." The records on this event is rather extensive and include an order for a new equipment standard. And that their equipment was now owned by the company and not individually paid for.
The company is designed with the armament types wielded to this day. Heavy cuirasses, polearms and crossbows. The company kept making minor changes in the equipment thereafter, mostly following technological advancements.
The nickname of captain Moor is often mentioned in records and rumors claim he was an actual dwarf. But evidence speaks directly against this, since the then most famous armour-smith in Nyhem was tasked with a suit of armour that he described as "Fit for a giant." Probably referring to captain Moor which means the nickname is probably a joke.

474: The battle of Alenius. Captain Dory Moor leads the Steel fist into the heartland of what today is known as Alenius. Reportedly the force was to seek out and destroy a dragon to quote "Prove that dwarves smote harder than beast." The whole ordeal ended in catastrophe as the expedition was ill prepared and suffered from food shortage. It is also told that the company resorted to heavy pillaging in the area. But little proof can be found.
The force achieved one of its main objectives though as it was attacked by a dragon. Reportedly the battle was a great confusion. The ranged forces were scattered and the beast also never landed.
A small poem of the event lives on in a very select few books and known by tongue within the Steel fist company itself.
"Dory the Moor, most dwarven in lore."
"The beast faced the fist, but the fist had no gist."
"Dwarf ordered loose, that hail was death."
"For not once it struck black scale, but many struck flesh."
"By miracle or luck, large bolt was flung."
"Pierced was black scale, beast wings now hung."
"From the sky beast fell, upon the banner of the fist."
"A crash was its landing, our banner now in dung."
"And from under the beast, an arm of a dwarf, clenched with ringed mesh."
"And thus Dory the Moor, most dwarven in lore."
"Dwarven no more."

The poem describes the battle and the fate of the captain of the Steel fist. With massive losses and the loss of their captain the force left Alenius.

475: A large draft was made in Telmarion, the reason it is of note is that the whole ordeal really upset the local government. There is even reports of skirmishes. "The hunt for Hoyt." was a local phrase used by some in Telmarion during the time. Which could refer to the name of the Steel Fists captain.

475: Rumour has it there was an uprising within the Steel fist, if it was one or more people is hard to know. But several people were killed.

478: The first recorded instance of "Old" Doroka Hawk being the captain of the steel fist. Rumours claim he officially took over after cpt Moor, other rumours claim he was leading the force while Moor took the credit.
It is however important to not ask steel fist personnel of this, since it is practise within the company to blatantly lie about when mr Hawk took over the company. Since some claims even predates the end of the elven invasion and some claim how mr Hawk helped the Remonnets take over Formaroth. Which is simply falsehoods.
It is however evident through several reports that mr Hawk has been active within the steel fist for a long time.

488: House De Reimer intercepts a courier with a letter to the Steel fist from house Hieze. The letter was an invitation for employment and would probably have swung the events in the following year in another way should the fist have fought for house Hieze.

489: De Reimer employs the Steel fist, but the fist suffers from problems with transportation and arrives too late to make a significant impact. The Steel fist is therefore only mentioned in a single battle.

491: The steel fist is hired by House Manshrew to defend house Willow. However the battles are not in the favor of the Steel Fist and while horrendous losses were inflicted on enemy forces, the Steel Fist is ultimately beaten and forced to retreat.

492: Early in the year Doroka Hawk gives a formal statement that the steel fist is far too beaten up to take any contracts of employment for the time being.
It is evident that this was probably an act of reason. The Steel fist is reported to have fought in multiple conflicts in the years leading up to this decision.
But it is also evident that mr Hawk could have done this to protect the Steel fist. Many rumors exist but few can be proven.

494: After an extended rest and an influx of new recruits Doroka Hawk leads the Steel fist to Beilokias to begin a contract for the elven kingdom. Rumour has it the Steel fist was pressured from multiple sides to change loyalties to several formaroth households. Especially during the civil war but also after the civil war.
There is also rumours of threats of assassinations and treachery. Barely any which can be proved.
Doroka Hawk is believed to have left Formaroth for the time being to properly safeguard the company for the future.

497: Command is let over to Claus Rotstein when Doroka Hawk retires. Different sources about mr Hawk are available, but it is generally agreed upon that he was either 63 or 85 years old. Interestingly enough it seems as if you look upon mr Hawk in person that the later age is the correct one.

498: The battle of Shrooms. A rather inglorious event with rather good reports refer to the battle of Shrooms. Apparently it was a lengthy siege against a city of elven revolters, but the Steel fist had received the wrong location or there was a misunderstanding.
The result was however that Claus had his men cleave their way through an extensive Beilokian fungi forest for 2 weeks trying to locate the fortress. When the correct location was finally received Claus was much angered since the 2 weeks of hard work was completely in vain.
When the defenders of the castle asked for a parley Claus was repeatedly insulted and quote "offered fungi stew" that he called off the negotiations as fraud. It's later been proven that the parley actually was delaying tactics.
A later report states "Rotstein fell down upon the fortress with unspeakable force, within a day the keep was razed and the Steel fist burned two fungi forests."
Soldiers whom remember the event claim it was pure slaughter, and that Claus acted more like a madman than a captain. Fighting with blade in hand instead of commanding.

500: The battle of hymns. The steel fist engages in a land battle against an army of Vogani in their homeland aiding the elves in their conquests. Curiously enough there was massive casualties on all sides except for the Steel fist whom lost no lives and had few wounded.
While facts of the battle are hard to come by, the Steel fist claims they were superior at arms. While the numbers suggest they did not enter the battle itself until the very end.
Accurate records are hard to obtain of this incident.

501: The siege of Krypola. The steel fist enters a siege against the fortress city of Krypola which is fought against revolting elven slaves.

502: The siege of Krypola ends with a large scale battle inside its walls. The Steel fist however does not participate. Why this is does not come up in records.
The Steel Fist then returns to Beilokias to root out rebels once more.

503: With the contract with the elves complete the Steel fist returns to Formaroth in Scassia. It then marches to the capitol of Nyhem. Disrupting the grieving populace after the death of King John Remonnet. Claus Rotstein is imprisoned and tried at court but found innocent.

503: The Steel fist was employed by the imperial concord, Claus Rotstein leading the defense force of Telmarion on order by the De'Reimer family.
The army of the concord clashed with the combined army of Andrew Manshrew and many of his allies. The battle was a massive slaughter, thousands perished on both sides as the Steel fist engaged with unbridled fury after the local commander Orland Tuania sent in his forces without consulting Claus.
Claus Rotstein performed an impressive tactical feat and managed to save his outnumbered army from annihilation.
However, the cost was high.

503: The siege of Clarm commences. The steel fist are in charge of the command and defence of the massive stronghold and its surrounding town.
The fighting is fierce and after a week of siege the Manshrew alliance attack the city. The town falls but the stronghold within still stands under the command of Claus Rotstein. He also orders hit and run strikes against the Manshrew forces trying to peacefully occupate the town.
After several days more, the Alliance are forced into action by the closing reinforcement armies of the Imperial Concord and thus assault Clarm.
The town is taken with force but the steel fist manages to halt the destruction of the gate. A massive war elephant was used to drag down the gate but with a daring raid performed by Claus Rotstein he managed to take it out. Prolonging the siege. Roogel Therp takes temporary command over the steel fist when Claus Rotstein goes missing after the raid.

(Details about character's and what their positions entail can be found under 'Old High Council' or on their own character sheet)

Name: High King Duncan De Reimer
Position: King

Name: Marchioness Cerlina Tuania
Position: Head advisor - The head advisor is responsible for advising the king on most matters. They are often involved with most political affairs and act as ruler in the Kings absence.

Name: Duchess Lanaya Dionisa
Position: Magisterial advisor - A magisterial advisor is responsible for advising the king on matters of which he knows very little about. As a result, a Magisterial advisor tends to be a; High magister, Grand Alchemist or scholar.

Name: Grand Duchess Isabel De Reimer
Position: Economic advisor

Name: Ser Alice Rallar (More information bellow)
Position: Advisor of war

Name: Alexander (More information bellow)
Position: Advisor of Law - The advisor of law is responsible for residing over trials as well as upholding old laws, introducing new ones and upturning obsolete ones. He advises the king in matters of justice and law.

Name: Patrick De Reimer
Position: Head of Concords military (not officially part of the high council)

Name: Grand Duke Duncan De Reimer
Position: Head advisor (currently acting ruler) – The head advisor is responsible for advising the king on most matters. They are often involved with most political affairs and act as ruler in the Kings absence.
(See character sheet for more detail)

Name: Aurelia Vyncetta
Position: Magisterial advisor – A magisterial advisor is responsible for advising the king on matters of which he knows very little about. As a result, a Magisterial advisor tends to be a; High magister, Grand Alchemist or scholar.
(See character sheet for more detail)

Name: Grand Duke (Denounced) Edward Du Paraquette
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Position: Ex-Economic advisor/Prisoner
Personality: Greedy, talent for money management, Dubious, Corrupt, Formal and Polite in public
Appearance: Fat, wispy moustache, balding grey hair, sweaty, considered un-attractive
Background: Edward has served on the council since he was a young man. He was chosen to serve on the council by Queen Victoria for his skill at money management. Despite his façade of being a honest and polite man he is in truth corrupt, and although he always brings in money for the crown, a certain amount always ends up in his own pockets. After Duncan De Reimer took the throne Edward and his wife were imprisoned after their son Charles showed Duncan evidence of his parents money laundering.
Skills and traits: Master economist, adept manipulator, expert politician

Name: Ser Alice Rallar
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Position: Advisor of war
Personality: Stern, serious, loyal to the crown, chivalrous
Appearance: Short ginger hair, muscular, narrow eyes,
Background: Alice Rallar fought as a commander on the side of house Remonnet in the ‘Remonnet, Manshrew civil war’. Due to her impressive performance at commanding and inspiring the troops, king John Remonnet made her the new advisor of war. She is good friends with Alex.
Skills and traits: Master military commander, champion swordsman, Inspirer, Adept politician

Name: Alex
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Position: Advisor of Law – The advisor of law is responsible for residing over trials as well as upholding old laws, introducing new ones and upturning obsolete ones. He advises the king in matters of justice and law.
Personality: Kind, gentle, loyal, naïve, strong sense of justice
Appearance: Young, short brown hair, thin,
Background: Alex was originally a scholar within the Miserth Keep, however his extensive knowledge in law was noticed by King John Remonnet who added him to the High council to replace the previous advisor of law (Lissana Nahor) who had recently passed away. He is good friends with Alice Rallar.
Skills and traits: Extensive knowledge of law, adept politician, apprentice economist.

Name: Grand Cleric Mildred
Age: 72 (Deceased)
Gender: Female
Position: Grand cleric of Divine church
Personality: Corrupt, greedy, polite and spiritual in public.
Appearance: Long grey hair, lavish robes, elderly, looks more feeble than she really is.
Background: Mildred became the leader of the Divine church nearly twelve years ago. Though she preaches the faith in public she was known for breaking nearly every teaching she preaches. She was known to use her status and power to pay for lavish clothes, rich food, heavy drinking and even breaking the vows of Chasity. However this was not particularly shocking given that many of the previous grand priests and grand clerics have been the exact same way. The church is currently deeply corrupt among it’s high ranking members. Mildred was recently assassinated during one of Lycaon's plots.
Skills and traits: Knowledge of the faith, expert deceiver

Name: Davos ironbark/Sarah ironbark
Age: 47/52
Gender: Male/female
Position: Joint heads of the Nyhem bank
Personalities: Formal, straight to the point, pragmatic, cold, logical
Appearance Davos: Bald, closely trimmed beard, thin man with a long hooked nose
Appearance Sarah: Long grey hair, sharp check bones, tall, thin
Background: Davos and Sarah are a married couple who currently run the bank of Nyhem. They run the bank in a brutally efficient way; never handing out loans to people who they know can’t pay it back and having no mercy on those who don’t. They are currently the richest individual’s in Nyhem (also one of the richest in Formaroth) and have enough wealth and power to even give entire kingdoms pause. Currently the crown is up to 6 million in debt due to the reign of Helyot Remonnet. Half of which is owed to the bank of Nyhem given both Davos and Sarah a lot of political influence.

Name: Harold
Age: 83
Gender: Male
Position: Head alchemist
Personality: Kind, wise, caring, knowledgeable, intelligent
Appearance: Elderly, thin white hair, bad eyesight
Background: Harold has been with the alchemist’s guild for his entire life. He learned various skills within the alchemist guild and has been responsible for several scientific breakthroughs. He was made the head alchemist when he was sixty and has continued to manage the guild in a kind hearted, fair and logical way.
Skills and traits: Master Alchemist, Master scientist, Incredibly wise and intelligent

Blackwell crest and motto

Kingdom Location
Formaroth -> Alenius

Relations with other Kingdoms
No true diplomatic relation has been established with the neighboring noble families preceding the death of king John Remennot.
-To be elaborated upon at a later date

Family reputation
Dragonslayers
-The Blackwell family has a fierce reputation, for they are well known as the slayers of dragons.

Strong as Iron
-The Blackwell family was born into a noble house from the ashes of warfare, and their people are a hard and strong people.

Duty before Honor
-The Blackwell family is one who sees 'getting the job done' as superior to the concept of 'Honor', and their use of guerilla tactics and clandestine operations in the past is noteworthy.

Queer Fighters
-The Blackwell family is notorious for training to combat foes without the use of shields, and typically wield additional weaponry in the off hand or adopt the use of larger weaponry in the stead of traditional sword-and-shield pairings

Kingdom's main export goods
Raw goods: Lumber, coal, ores
Skilled goods: Weapons, armor, agriculture//seasonal crops

Kingdom's imports
Alenius' imports alter to accent any shortages and emergency needs
-Primary imports consist of skilled laborers and educators, rather than any material needs
-Secondary concerns are dependent upon the Alenius' kingdom's own production of goods, and is typically shifted to correct any shortages seen; alternatively, exports may be cut to offset this rather than imports made
-Importing goods is seen as a last resort

Description of Kingdom
Alenius is a land that, in recent years, has prospered greatly. Prior to the Blackwell family placement upon the kingdom, it was a simpler land that was heavily dependent upon its neighbors for goods such as tools and food, and had seen considerable damages due to dragon attacks frequenting its southern provinces [quite near the mountain ranges] that left the south almost entirely uninhabited, save by those few wanton dragonslayers seeking their glory.

With the Blackwell placement preceding the Manshrew-Remonnet civil war, considerable industrial upheaval occurred in the kingdom. The Blackwell family instituted more rigorous agricultural practices, which dragged the kingdom out of its dependency, and allowed it to further progress into its own enterprises and expand the kingdom's demesne.

Under Blackwell rule, the dragons plaguing the south of the kingdom have been slain and the land made habitable, allowing the kingdom of Alenius to expand into its own profitable mining and prospecting enterprises, further eradicating the heavy debt that originally lay across the land.

Now, the kingdom is powerful economically due to its centralized production and lack of consistent imports. The military of the kingdom is comparatively small in regards to its neighbors, yet highly trained and elite under the Blackwell standards, and has a high reserve force that is constantly in training circulation to keep the civilian populace prepared in the event of a war.

Family Background
Summarized - See individuals for further explanation
The Blackwell family is one bred from the fires of war, and hardened in combat like the harshest of irons. Originating as a peasant family who served as a mercenary company, the Blackwell family saw extensive combat and operations in the Manshrew-Remonnet civil war, where they served as a guerrilla unit, a misinformation broker, as well as a strong backbone in central battles when the need arose.

Their extensive operations in crippling the Manshrew forces at every available opportunity, as well the spread of misinformation through the enemy [Manshrew] forces, was a critical role they played in the war. They targeted high priority persons, sabotaged supplies, engaged in open warfare to a considerable extent, and by the end of the war the Remonnet's had them hoisted up to the position of nobility due to their display of effectiveness and loyalty to the crown.

However, peasants cannot simply be made noble without angering the other vassals of the kingdom. The Blackwells were granted land and territory in what is known as the kingdom of Alenius, which at the time following the war was little more than an inhabited wasteland of barren fields and scorched earth. The land was facing incredible debt.

The kingdom of Alenius had sided with the Manshrew forces in the beginning of the civil war, and as a result had been utterly crushed by a massed Remennot attack as a pre-emptive measure, and the ensuing battles backed the Alenius nobility into Hell; dragons at their backs and an overwhelming enemy at their fronts. Needless to say, the kingdom of Alenius was rendered a non-issue in the war.

Upon being granted their title and lands, the Blackwell family continued to serve the Remennot's until near the end of the war, when they withdrew from the combat in order to govern their lands and recouperate from the extensive combat they had seen.

In the following years, in the face of having their titles revoked and land squabbled over by neighboring lords, the Blackwells turned the same lethal efficiency they carried for the art of war towards the art of statecraft; the core Blackwells, the ones who had served in the civil war, were masters of the arts of war and death, but many of their extended family and subservient citizens were farmers and simple artisans. Rather than trying to institute the standard reconstruction process, the Blackwells deferred to those who understood the earth and the tasks that needed to be done.

Those who could best get the job done received the highest positions in the Blackwell society, and through the constant struggle for improvement the land became fertile once more, and the people's fortitude returned as- rather than with swords and shields- they fought with hoe and sickle to win back the plentiful peace they once had.

The only issue was that of the uninhabitable wastes in the south, where the prospect of ores and mining stood as a saving grace for the land of Alenius. Many dragonslayers had gone into this southern land in an attempt to fight and gain glory by slaying one of the great beasts, but none had succeeded. The Blackwells, however, were backed into a corner in the face of crippling debt and a rebuilding society. The Blackwells were not ones to back down from a challenge.

So the Blackwells went south, to the mountains, to hunt dragons. They left the army they had grown through the years of combat and war behind to defend the territory with The Shadow as governor, and left with but a small elite group of soldiers rather than employing vast numbers of dragonslayers- opting instead to gather up the wanton heroes already present in the country rather than warn their surrounding threats of the family's planned absence.

However, the rumors were hardly enough to prepare the Blackwells for what awaited them in the south. What they intended as a speedy mission quickly developed into a task that took the span of a few years, with the forces back in the northern half of Alenius holding the land and warding off possible threats. The Blackwell family had anticipated but a few dragons that had grown into many by years of myth and rumor, but the truth of the matter was both harrowing and boldening; There were hundreds of dragons in the south of Alenius, and the Blackwells had found another war on their hands.

And war for the Blackwells is like harvest for the farmer; it revives the spirit, and makes one look to the future.

The dragons in the south were steadily eradicated into manageable numbers; nearly two hundred dragons having been slain by the Blackwell family, and a vast quantity of those were accredited to a single member of the family alone. Scales, claws, teeth, and bones were harvested from the creatures and sent back to Mercy [the renamed capital of the Blackwell kingdom].

Now, only a handful of dragons still survive in southern Alenius; hardly enough to pose a threat to the Blackwell family, or the people of Alenius. The south became an industrialized powerhouse for the country, and the north evolved into an agricultural cornucopia...

Various mottos of the Blackwell lands, and their origins

"Death's no Stranger." ~ The Old Man; in response to threats from the Manshrews during the civil war - Adopted as the family motto

"I'll choose death." ~ The War Maiden; when prompted to turn coat in the civil war - Adopted as a military slogan

"Send me more!" ~ The War Maiden; Her disappointment at the lack of a challenging foe during the civil war conflicts she took part in - adopted as a military slogan

"Salted earth doesn't grow." ~ The Lord; his grim displeasure at the land they had been titled - adopted as a military slogan.

"Never falter, never fall." ~ The Dragonslayer; during the Dragon War - a common saying

"What are we?" + "Forged in dragon's fire!" - Pre-battle mantra of the Blackwell military

"Dragons were hardly as big an issue as this". - A comical colloquialism of the Blackwell lands
---

Reason of claim to the throne and family motives [See; individual characters]
-The Old Man of the Blackwell family wishes to defend his family's position in society by pre-emptively integrating other lands and territories into his own.
-The Lord of the Blackwell Family seeks to solidify his own claim of succession by commanding a force through a war, just like his father has done, and thus earn his father's approval and blessing.
-The War Maiden seeks to live up to her sister's reputation as a dragonslayer by proving herself on the field of battle and combatting the strongest fighters in the land.
-The Shadow seeks to profit from stirring the Blackwell family back into war, and marking her name down in history through notoriety.
-The Dragonslayer seeks to protect her family to the fullest of her ability, regardless of the challenges they face.

I've forgotten more about war than you'll ever learn - The Old Man

Name
Giles Blackwell
Old Man Blackwell

Age
63

Gender
Male

Position
Head of the family - King of Alenius

Personality
An exceptionally harsh man, Giles Blackwell was a man born for war. His speech is slow and deliberate, carrying both authority and weight, and despite his age the man's physicality carries strength that few men possess. He walks in the refined manner of those who fear not death, as if they're entitled to every step they take- and none shall deny him that right. His slow and deliberate speech hints of an analytical mind, and despite his low birth the man has no shame or humility about him.

He was forged in dragon's fire, and of man's steel. There is no fear within the man, but no courage; purely the honest duty of a soldier.

The Old Man's treatment of others is blunt, yet fair. He'll not treat anyone different, save his own family whom he treats far harsher than anyone else. A man of great expectations, for he has accomplished much.

Appearance
The man's hair is greyed, and scars mark his face. He is aged, yes, but his body is hardly withered. He is known as 'The Old Man', yet his body still has the strength and dexterity of men half his age. His hands are rough, hard, and calloused- quite unlike other lords of his status, who would ordinarily have softer and more delicate features. His height is average, and his stature itself is not anything special- but his presence is unmistakeable and the very air around him thrashes with the authority he bears. He, for all intensive purposes, has the appearance of a man whose word is law.

Skills and traits
Giles Blackwell is renown as, perhaps, the greatest soldier to ever partake in the art of war
Tactician - Excellent
Combat [General // Warfare] - Master
Command [General // Warfare] - Excellent
Martial Weaponry [All varieties] - Master

Statesmanship - Average
Education - Average
Diplomacy - sub par
trade - Sub par

background
Giles Blackwell has never been anything other than a soldier. From a young age he was introduced to the soldier's life through his own father, who commanded a small mercenary force to marginally profitable results. At this point in time, the Blackwell family was a respected name in the common folk's community.

His mother was a simple tavern wench, and thus Giles was naturally attracted to his father's lifestyle far more than his mother's, and left at a young age to join in his father's adventures. However, for some time the young boy had no place in his search for his father, and thus spent considerable time just wandering the various kingdoms of Formaroth in a search for his own purpose.

For these travels of his life, he was not Giles Blackwell. He was known during this time simply as Pounce the Stray. This is not a time of his life that many remember, or bothered to learn, but it is perhaps the most critical time in Giles Blackwell's life. His time as Pounce the Stray defined him moreso than any other period in his life, including his time in war.

The only way to understand why, is to see it.



While this singular instance of the story of Pounce the Stray is short, it was a defining factor in the man's life. While on the extreme side of the spectrum, it is but an average experience of the man's youth. As he grew, his natural penchant for fighting became honed into a soldier's edge; at the age of fourteen he finally found his father's mercenary troupe and discovered that his father had died, and in turn Giles fought his way up to the leadership position with tooth and nail, until he dominated both the mercenary company as well as the battlefield with his hones combat expertise as well as his fledgling tactician's mind.

Years later, his own children joined him in his travels when he sired them. By this time, Giles was a battle hardened veteran, grizzled and forged by years of combat in the elven empire as well as on the Formaroth lands. His children were following in his foot steps, and when they first came to him he sent them on a yearlong journey around Formaroth without their names in order to make them discover how harsh reality was on their own. One of his daughters was even magically capable, and he sent her to the Summer Isles until she could control her gift.

When the civil war broke out, it was only another battle in a life-long war that Giles Blackwell had been fighting.

Father is a man of iron; I shall be a king - The Lord

Name
Eli Blackwell
Lord Blackwell

Age
32

Gender
Male

Position
Heir - Prince of Alenius

Personality
A charismatic fellow, yet reserved by nature. He bears the force of will that his father carries, yet has a sort of hesitance about him that makes him come off as more thoughtful and less brash. He is a courteous fellow, but is quick to count himself nobody's underling and to declare himself equal to all. He is an honest man, and being a Blackwell he is hardened to the throes of battle and war, and thus has a heavy weight when it comes to matters of human life.

Appearance
He is a man. Dark hair full of youth and vigor, and a face made rough from hard work and hard battles. He is not the soldier his father is, and that disparity is obvious even at a glance. His gaze is that of a man who judges all he sees, and seeks to better himself as well as those around him through his actions. He is tall, and strongly built; an athletic man with a strength inside him mirroring his father's, but not the harsh military authority.

He is a man who one would find it impossible to lie to.

Skills and traits
Lie Detection - Master
Diplomacy - Very good
Statecraft - Expert
Charisma [general] - Expert

Combat [General // Warfare] - Good
Tactician - Excellent
Martial skill/combat - good
Command - Good
Naval command - Very good

Construction - good
Labor Organization - Very good
Trade and Economy - Expert
Animal handling and training - Very good
Eli is an avid falconer, and cares deeply for his beloved falcon dubbed 'Mary' as a nickname for 'Marionette', in reference to a childhood friend known as 'Doll-Girl'

Background
The only surviving son of Giles Blackwell, king of Alenius. The story of Eli Blackwell is best told like most others; begin at the start, struggle through the midst, and finally reach the end. As a youth, Eli was turned out of both name and house- much as his father had done- and sent on his own journey around Formaroth.

Eli's name during his travels was simply 'Mouse'.



Eli was trained much as his father had trained; with desperation and anger at the world, and a need to revitalize the spirit. He did not bear the natural penchant for combat that his father- and siblings- bore, but his time in Nyhem had educated him better than any formal education in the art of economics.

Eli was soon growing into the very definition of a lord despite being simply a member of a mercenary troupe, but his way with people and his way with money was a great boon to all who worked with him. Becoming the prince of Alenius only marked what was seen as an inevitable event for Eli Blackwell, for none who met him could deny his noble air and penchant for statecraft.

He would have become a king one day, regardless of if his father had earned the kingdom for him.

Coin is far superior to blood; Uncle just pays the best - The Shadow

Name
Vivian Blackwell
The Shadow

Age
26

Gender
Female

Position
Assassin // Spymaster

Personality
Vivian is a rakish woman, very aware of her curves and body. However, her core personality is one that is safeguarded closely. She is a very troubled woman, disillusioned from the ties of family and the strength of blood- she values only people's actions, not their words, and coin. Promises are not a thing she believes in, only collateral agreements and down payments.

Appearance
Vivian is a beautiful woman, and yet it is nearly impossible to find her attractive without her wanting you to do it; her gaze is piercing, her movements hint at a lethal efficiency, and her form fitting clothing is undeniable for function rather than form.

Of course, this look of lethality can swiftly switch to one of flirtation and innocence- and can just as easily shift to one of inconspicuousness and leave people's gazes travelling over her and finding it hard to focus upon her.

She is simultaneously beautiful and iconic, and ordinary and intangible.

Skills and traits
Stealth - Expert
Perception - Good
Lie detection - Expert
Manipulation - Good
Infiltration - Expert
Assassination // Lethal striking - Expert
Disguise - Very good
Vocal Disguise - Very good

Crossbow mastery - very good
Short blade skill - very good

Background
Data missing, information to be filled out at a later date

Vivian Blackwell is the niece of Old Man Blackwell, and acted as both an assassin and spy during the civil war when she was 15 years old. Much of the information regarding her youth is kept secretive and undisclosed. Many view this woman as a tool rather than a human being, and it is apparent that she sees herself in a similar manner.

Facing war at the age of 15, her suicidal nature lead her to the reckless and dangerous endeavors of a spy rather than the soldier life she had trained for. Rather than grabbing up sword, spear, and halberd, she took up a crossbow and a black cloak. Her services during the war served as the primary functionality of the Blackwell family as a mercenary unit, as it was Vivian who- acting as serving women and prostitutes- spread misinformation and gathered up intelligence on the enemy movements during the war.

She even assassinated key targets, such as particularly competent soldiers and officers, and sabotaged entire sections of the enemy's supplies whenever possible. Despite the woman's lack of known background, her track record and accomplishments are well known- even if she, herself, is not.

The Blackwell family has, naturally, accepted the accusations and notoriety for utilizing spies and assassins, but Vivian Blackwell herself has never once been named or acknowledged in order to maintain her functionality.

I am a soldier, a fighter, a champion- send me bigger foes, send me stronger opponents; challenge me! - The War Maiden

Name
Beatrice Blackwell
The War Maiden

Age
29

Gender
Female

Position
Princess of Alenius - Champion of the Blackwell Family

Personality
Beatrice is an overwhelmingly stoic woman, except when in the heat of battle. She has a distinct apathy for all matters except those involving proving herself and matters of combat. This does not make her a hot headed warmonger however, and she will rarely instigate combat herself.

Appearance
A large, imposing, woman of average height. Her body, possessing immense strength beyond her size, is thus muscled and athletic in an almost masculine manner. Her feminine features are thus limited- at least, when she's wearing armor they are.

Her face is hard and angular, with her waist length hair often intricately tied up to keep it short. Her body, while muscular, is still female- only she dilutes this feminine body with clothing specified for women who wear armor and tend to perform heavy, laborious, activities.

Skills and traits
Beatrice is a woman of immense physical strength, and possesses a physical power superior than even males of her age and size. Her fortitude and endurance are equally immense

Combat // Fighting capacity - Master

Other - Sub par -> Good range

Background

One of four living children of Giles Blackwell, Beatrice is, by far, the most martially capable of his offspring. When the woman was turned away and discarded her name, as Giles forced all his children to do, the girl simply enlisted into his mercenary company as a stray rather than Blackwell, and spent the next years as a nameless fighter within the troupe. Her name during this time was 'Mule'.



Beatrice earned her name back, and became a fighter to rival her father. After years of continuous combat and training, the Old Man is still superior to Beatrice, but Beatrice is capable of holding her own against the man. During the civil war she acted as a vanguard for the combat the mercenary troupe saw, and following the conclusion of the civil war she was named Champion of house Blackwell while her father served as king.

I have flown above the heavens; I have howled at the moon; I have wrestled with dragons; I am but a Blackwell - The Dragonslayer

Name
Drevala Blackwell

Age
27

Gender
Female

Position
Princess of Alenius -> Court Mage/High Magister

Personality
Perhaps the most amicable of the Blackwells, and also the most dangerous. While she is no martial master, the woman has a pleasant air and a friendly smile- disarming qualities on top of a surname that bears nothing but lethal intent. The woman is a far cry from the martial and military prowess presented by her siblings, and is, still, a bit distanced from the statecraft presented by her brother. She is a genuinely amicable woman, with some reservations to those outside her family.

She is one who puts faith and trust in her family, and is quick to trust others. She was raised and educated primarily by the mages of the Summer isle rather than her father's brutal manner of raising his children, thus she has drastic alterations from the usual Blackwell harshness.

Appearance
A woman with short black hair and an athletic form, whose strength does not lie in her own body. Her skin is soft, unlike her siblings', and her voice is softer still. She does not have the hard gaze that analyzes threats, but rather the inquisitiveness of a natural learner and profound thinker. She has a natural grace that permeates all actions, and despite her plain-ness she has a sort of nobility and serenity about her.

Of course, at another moment she may appear to be any variety of creatures.

Skills and traits
Magic knowledge [basic] - expert
specific schools - Dual Study
Shapeshifting - Excellent
Restoration - Average

Education - Excellent
Sociability - Excellent
Martial skill - Above Average

Other - Average

[Edit - August 8th, 2016: Changed non-standardized wordings into 'excellent' and 'above average' rather than the non-conformed 'good' and 'very good']

Background

Drevala is a peculiarity amongst the Blackwell for she bears magical power. This being said, she was not forced into the Old Man's usual test, and was instead sent to study at the Summer Isles- where it was found that she grasped magical concepts with exceptionally quick aptitude. Having chosen the school of shapeshifting, Drevala was quick to attune to the magic and discover its finer nuances. Restoration was but a secondary schooling for her, and she has but standard understanding of its principles.

Shape shifting- now that was something Drevala was truly interested in. Studying animals, learning just what made them move and what muscles accomplished which task- it was a deeply liberating experience for the young Blackwell. Learning how to fit into another creature's skin created a deep empathy for others within the woman, as well as a deep understanding of her own body and natural instincts.

Tapping into the primal urges that lie within the concept of life itself were what Drevala found to be key in fine tuning her art. Humans, through their construction of civilizations and religions, have distanced themselves from these internal urges- have warded themselves away from their primal instincts of fear and survival in order to reward suicidal and reckless concepts of honor, courage, and bravery.

Drevala's acute understanding and belief in natural instinct and animalistic urges are a driving force in the woman's actions and life, and have played into her distinctly singular understanding of the art of shape shifting to extreme efficiency.

To put it in the Lay; Drevala is an animal in human's skin, and finds shedding her natural form to come easily to her.

Drevala's most notable achievements were during the Blackwell Dragon War, where she gained her title of 'The Dragonslayer' due to her unprecedented display of tenacity and efficiency at the eradication of the great beasts known as dragons.

I've no interest in war or thrones, I just want to be happy - The Youngest Blackwell

Name
Naomi Blackwell
The Daughter

Age
16

Gender
Female

Position
Princess of Alenius

Personality
The first of a new generation of Blackwells, the youngest daughter of Giles Blackwell.

This girl has not suffered the same trials as the other Blackwells, and has been spared the tribulations of war and the scarring sights of murder and battle. To this extent, she is both innocent- yet not naïve. She is a Blackwell, and was trained and educated as thus, but is both innocent of murder and innocent of battle.

She is a princess, more similar to the style of behavior of Drevala in that she is amicable and friendly, yet also bears the analytical behaviors of her brother Eli.

Appearance
A young, delicate, and uncalloused girl. She bears not scars of combat, nor the hard hands of a dedicated fighter. She has the analytical eye of one who often debates of strategy one night, but also of philosophy the next. She has the voice of one who has authority, yet also the voice of one who you can call a friend, and also the voice of one you would call a child.

She is truly a youth, but has a harsh cynicism about her. She is innocent, and reluctant to do the deeds her family considers common place, and has a deep fascination with human behavior and the nature of civilization as a whole, and this is apparent in the way she carries herself; a curiosity that glimmers in her eye, a careful manner of moving the body, a self conscious glance towards herself when others are around and she believes herself to be invisible, and most importantly of all a careful silence that begs others to speak and for her to listen.

Skills and traits
Average in all aspects

Background

Naomi is but the youngest, and least accomplished, of all Blackwells. She was left amongst the castle of Mercy during the Dragon War, and was too young to have seen combat during the Civil War. She is truly a rarity amongst the Blackwell, and is a cherished object amongst the family.

She is, by all standards, but an average girl- hardly noble, and hardly capable of combat by Blackwell standards, but she is a Blackwell Princess...and thus...quite valuable an asset, nevertheless.

The Old Man
The Old Man is a man few would call flawed, and few would challenge- this is true. However, he possesses a few critical flaws that are central to his personality and mannerisms, and these flaws are unyielding with the rest of his personality.

The Old Man is prideful and judgmental. He holds himself of a higher stature than even other nobles despite his common blood, all because he fought and clawed his way to where he is, and he is likely to be brash and harsh in these regards when he senses a weakness or cowardice in others.

The Old man, additionally, suffers from a very mild case of paranoia. Some would argue his paranoia is healthy rather than detrimental, but it is still present nonetheless. He is a crafty and wily bastard, and he sees the map of Formaroth as a chess board rather than geo-political map. He assumes people are spying on him, because his house is known for its clandestine networks and underhanded tactics.

The Lord
The Lord is the shining symbol of pride. Where his father has a healthy dose of pride, coupled with an iron core of judgment, Eli Blackwell has a strong natural pride. He considers himself as noble as one of common birth can get, and even sees himself as a more capable statesman and economist than members of the Imperial Concord's royal council.

The Lord is an ambitious person. Incredibly ambitious. His ambition is not secret- he has declared that he will become king of Formaroth one day, and with the beginnings of a new civil war it may very well be safe to bet he's plotting to work his way into the middle of the Manshrew/De Reimer war.

The Lord is terrified of failure. Failure is equivalent to death in his mind. When you enter into diplomacy between kings, and organize the economy of a nation, and handle the state and legal affairs of said kingdom, even the smallest mistake can ripple and destroy years of work.

The Shadow - Vivian Blackwell
Little is known about the Shadow. This title of 'The Shadow' is not even known publicly.

As for the woman known as Vivian Blackwell, little is known about her as well. She is only niece to Giles Blackwell, and this distance from his personal lineage marks her as less important than his sons and daughters.

However the woman does have flaws; greed, hedonism, selfishness, paranoia, apathy, sociopathy, and disdain for blood ties being the easiest to list.

The Dragon Slayer

The Dragon Slayer is protective of her family to a lethal degree. She'll not throw herself in the middle of a debate or argument, or even into a single combat scenario, but she will throw herself in harm's way to shield her family, and will even sacrifice on objectives and tasks in order to heal and take care of her loved ones.

The Dragon Slayer finds trust to come easy. She believes in the good and natural intents of others, and easily finds herself trusting others.

Magically Dependant; The Dragon Slayer is dependent upon her shapeshifting and healing magics. Without them she is probably the least martially capable amongst the Blackwell family, which still makes her admittedly a good fighter, but she is one that relies on her natural penchant for shapeshifting to see her through issues from combat to day-to-day travel. She'd feel trapped without it.

The War Maiden
The War Maiden is one of honor and anger. She employs a stoic demeanor to shield her emotions and to buffer her slow thoughts from the manipulation of others. These simple things define her flaws, and no real further elaboration is necessary. She is a simple woman.

The Daughter - Naomi Blackwell
Naomi is a naïve and silly sort. She was not a part of the mercenary troupe, nor was she engaged in the Blackwell Dragon War. She has never tasted true combat outside of her training and sparring sessions, and is an untested edge in this regard.

She has had a...Well, 'shielded' is not the best terminology, but it is apt. She is not ignorant or incapable of understanding the brutalities of war, combat, and murder- she is simply distant from them, as if she finds them distasteful, and doesn't want a damn thing to do with them.

She's a generally nice girl and tries to be as nice to others as she can, and doesn't want to see people hurt. These aren't flaws per se, but they are a weakness the girl possesses. She has no aggression.

Family Crest
Two black wolves on a field of white

Family Words
Sharp as winter winds

Other house Relations
(To be determined)

Reputation
Proud, Ruthless, Natural Leaders, Warriors, Blunt, Rational Competent, Serious, Respected, Feared, Severe hate for inefficiency.

Exports
Hard Woods/Lumber, Stone, Marble, Granite, Whale Products (Oil, Meat, Etc..), Tin, Furs/Hides, Fishing (Fish, Crab, Oysters, Etc…), Pearls, Iron

Land Description
Raeldar has a climate that most would make a point to avoid. It’s atmosphere is cold and the winters are even harder. But these winters produce a people that are even harder to endure the bitter cold. Mountains covering the majority of the southern part of the peninsula but scores of pathways are carved through the mountains for mining and whale products exported from the southern seas. While the land is hard it is able for farming while the summer months and early autumn, boundless wildlife and coastal fishing feed half the populace.

While Raeldarian nobles and the Sutharlan’s aren’t considered wealthy and frugal with their money but treat guests with the utmost respect and courtesy. But they’re a proud bunch and when their honor is slighted they consider it extremely distasteful and hold a considerably long grudge.

Crime despite it being a poorer region is at an extreme low. Most likely due to the harsh laws and are punished accordingly. As the proverb goes “An eye for an eye” is taken quite literally. Nobility isn’t even allowed to get away from these set in stone laws, but maybe something lesser like flogging to save face. On the other hand gambling and prostitution run high in population areas, legal and taxed.

Being a cold peninsula the people here are adept at hunting and have designed specialized White Wood bows based of elven bowyers. Claiming to be able to pierce through armor, but since there hasn’t been any major wars/battles there is no claim to this but are known to be highly effective. Sailors from the Ice sea to the uncharted ice laden waters to the south are highly skilled in their labors.
The armies of Raeldar are often put in the vanguard of any force for their king with unrelenting prowess. As a cold hard land, so are the armies when called upon. From their brutal appearance to barbaric prowess in combat. They’re feared like the dreaded dragon, slow to ruse but once woken nothing gets past the massive force of men, horses and iron.

Family Background
The Sutharlan’s wed into a bastard branch of the royal’s after the initial conquest. Marrying into the Remmonnet’s bastard daughter only after making them play in seas of blood for their conquest of their lands, which is still sung in taverns. Known to be some of the finest warriors and honor any agreement. They rarely marry out outside of their own territory for what reasons isn’t know, probably to eliminate headaches but they will on occasion.

The men of Sutharlan are known to be tall strong figures, which tend to be intimidating enough. The women of average height but are pale yet beautiful, fertile, with wide hips. Birthing strong children healthy, needless to say marriages with these noble women are sought after for that very purpose. All family members have hair black as ash with shinning near emerald green eyes, giving way to who they are.

House Sutharlan carries an ancestral Dwarvern Steel sword that has been passed down since its founding. The sword ‘Cold Heart’ has been in the family since its founding but still looks fresh forged. Large two handed bastard sword, with point on varying parts of the blade acting as small hooks and to intimidating opponents. Lastly the Sutharlan's don't care for magic, they see it as unnatural and leads to abuse of power. Anyone wielding such magic are tiptoed around.

Claim to Throne and Motives
While they haven’t expressed an interest in the throne, they certainly wouldn’t object to it either. If there is any underlying motives, they aren’t privy to the rest of the world. Lady Sutharlan has rumored closer ties to the dead king but they haven’t released the details of such a relation.

Name: Lanaya Triskell Dionisa (or to those who know her personally, Lana)
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Position: Magister
Personality:
Lana is a proud and arrogant woman with strongly held beliefs in the superiority of mages. Nonetheless, like many in the grand political game, she has multiple faces. Publicly, she is a polite and occasionally outspoken Magister, who strives to be noticed but not annoy. She hides her arrogance and disdain well. She is happy to demonstrate her magical prowess on request, and also makes heavy use of her abilities without being obvious about it. In public she treats other mages no different than others.

Privately, she is far more opinionated, and once she has determined you agree with her opinions, will tend to be much more vocal and outspoken with them. She respects mages far more than ‘mundanes’ as she calls those without magic, and is prone to ignore the flaws of mages while exaggerating those of non-mages in conversation.

She also has a strong streak of wanderlust, which she indulges with regular traveling in the lands nearby wherever her current residence is - traveling alone and far further than most would be able to in a short span by making use of shape-shifting.

She is motivated by a strong desire to see mages take a larger role in ruling Formaroth. She argues that Circle trained mages are both more neutral and more logical than the current self interested rulers currently in place. She is exceptionally dedicated to her cause and will happily manipulate, lie and in extreme circumstances, injure or kill to achieve her goal.

Appearance:
Lana is of average height (5’6), and low weight, maintaining a slim appearance. She is not particularly curvy, but nor is she unpleasantly lanky. She has pale skin, green eyes and straight copper-red hair stretching down to her waist.

Her clothing varies wildly - if she is traveling she wears more form fitting, practical clothes together with enough small storage pouches to collect any interesting curios she finds or carry limited supplies. At court and around the city, she wears the typical dresses of a noblewoman, in whatever fashion is current. Of note, is that, particularly in the warmer months, she has been known to wear very little while creating an illusion of clothing around herself. Only those who have been intimate with her know of this tendency however. Even when she is not doing this, she does tend to add details to her outfit via illusion, covering for the fact that she does not own quite as much jewelry and extra finery as she would like.





Background:
Born Lanaya Triskell Dionisa, first daughter of house Dionisa, a minor family living in the capital city, Nyhem. Lana’s early childhood was a relatively normal one as far as noble children went. As soon as she was able to speak, her education began, her parents obsessing over ensuring she would be a worthy continuation of the line. Despite this, they still eagerly granted her almost every wish, doting on her in the extreme, particularly when she did well in her classes. Needless to say, this quickly turned her into a spoiled brat who expected to get whatever she wanted whenever she wanted.

Near her seventh birthday, everything changed. An abrupt and clear manifestation of magic drastically altered her parents view of her. Suddenly, in their eyes, she would not be able to continue the family in any way. Though it was not exactly a dishonor for her to be a mage, it ruined their carefully laid plans for the future. Though it was not her fault, she was nonetheless blamed for the manifestation of magic. No time was wasted in contacting the Summer Isles to inform the mages they had another child to take.

Mere days later, she was collected by mages from the city and sent on her way to the isles. The last expression she remembered on her parents faces as she was taken was one of profound relief. To her, it seemed they were happy she was gone.

By most standards, the journey to the isles was a smooth one. To Lana, it was something else entirely. She had never traveled beyond sight of the city before, much less been on a ship. It was terrifying at first, but once she realised she was safe, both from the strange mages around her and the road and sea, she began to look upon the wilderness with wonder. After a time, however, she became so eager to see the next grand sight that she became impatient with the slow speed of travel. Fortunately for the mages accompanying her, she only began to act up the day before arriving at the Isles and the Circle proper.

The mages identified her as a possible trouble maker early on and did their best to eradicate her attitude, knowing how much of a catastrophe it could be to teach a child with such a mindset how to bend the world to their will. Their success was limited, and by her tenth yeah she had changed from demanding to manipulative.

Her magical studies went on regardless, though in the first two years they were extremely unfocused. Early on she lacked discipline, and had a tendency to flit between the next most impressive magic on the list, dabbling in the basics of many different kinds of magic. She was a nightmare for the teachers, who could see clear signs of potential and finesse in the basic techniques she learned, but regularly found themselves being informed by the self important young girl that she was going to go learn something else instead.

By her tenth birthday, Lana had finally decided on a type of magic to focus on - illusion. For three years she focused exclusively on illusion magic, despite her teachers recommendations that she study more broadly. Her focus within the field was broad, focused both on illusion to create art and illusion to aid in subterfuge. When she was thirteen, the wanderlust of travel began to once again grip her. Initially, she roamed the area near the circle during her downtime, but quickly decided that walking was far too slow. This led to her taking an interest in shapeshifting. By taking the shapes of other creatures, she reasoned, she would be able to travel faster. To the surprise of her teachers, she did not abandon her study of illusion at this point, instead balancing her time between the two pursuits more reasonably.

By the age of 15, she had become quite capable with several bird forms, each suited for a different kind of travel. With these new skills, she decided to travel back to the capital city and visit her parents, hoping that perhaps, they might be happy to see her again.

Initially, they were. But the initial joy at seeing their daughter again lasted only a short time before they tried to incorporate her into political machinations. For a time, she stayed, hoping to be something other than a playing piece in their political games, but however valuable a piece she was to them, she was never more than that. Three months later, she left once again, returning to the circle, now with knowledge of what it was like to be on the receiving end of manipulation. She decided when she left that she would not be manipulated ever again.

Upon her return, she further diversified her magical studies - picking up destruction magics to better defend herself against those who might seek to control her with force. It was only one year later that the Remonnet-Manshrew civil war broke out. Lana did not have the dubious pleasure of taking part, instead watching events unfold from afar, safe on the Summer Isles. Her personal hope for much of the war, was that the Remonnets would be victorious, but that the despotic king Heylot would fall in battle. Safe as she was, however, it was all somewhat surreal, affecting her little until the end came. With the conclusion of the war came news of the fallen.

Several of her friends from the circle, older, more battle capable mages, had left to fight in the war - none returned, sacrificed for some tactical advantage or another at the hands of generals who often did not understand their abilities. As well, she discovered her parents had supported the now dead King Heylot. Whether from fear or greed, she did not know, but as minor as they were, they were not spared the fallout. They were among those to die at the order of Patrick De Reimer, though they were not important enough to warrant his personal presence.

The entire affair convinced Lana that the leadership of Formaroth could not be trusted to the political machinations of the mundane, the unwise who held no magic. She kept this opinion to herself at this time, knowing that agitating about it would get her nothing at this time. She requested, and was granted, the chance to study politics and governance within the circle. As with most pursuits she set her mind to, she learned quickly, though not abandoning any of her magical studies.

In particular, she was seeking ways to push her newfound agenda without having to become directly involved with any particular family as an advisor. At the age of twenty, she was deemed to be sufficiently capable to leave the circle, however, she was also sufficiently capable in Illusion and shape-shifting by this point to begin assisting in teaching novices in the circle. Thus, she remained on the Summer Isles in the official role of a teacher, while continuing her own studies in fields both political and magical.

At the age of 22, Lana decided she had studied sufficiently to try her hand at some real politics. She was able to call in sufficient favors at the Circle to select a particular house to be assigned to as an advisor to this particular family. She chose the minor House Thale, a Nyhem noble house with a singularly weak leader. At first she advised on magical matters only, but within the first year she had influenced the Houses head to follow more and more of her recommendations. After her third year as advisor, House Thale was totally dependent on her for its running. Recently, she has begun speaking openly for the House, and persuaded the members to extol the virtues of having a mage advising them.

To Lana the Death of the King represents opportunity. Though she has made a public show of grief, as expected, she has in fact been happy, for now more than ever she is in a position to push for Mage oversight in the governance of the land, if not a Mage on the throne itself.

Skills and traits:
Magic:
Illusion - Master
Though no longer Lana’s prime focus, Illusion is the form of magic she has studied the longest. She is capable of creating detailed images of places she has been in still motion up to the size of the average room, though this requires time to create and active focus to maintain. She can create or shroud light nearby, as well as hiding herself or altering simple features of herself, such as hair color. She is capable of creating illusory clothing for herself, and often does so when required to appear in fancy dress, while wearing something else entirely.

She is skilled with maintaining moving images, in particular clothing. In addition, she is capable of maintaining many small illusions at once with almost no focus, having been incorporating such magic into her daily life for well over a decade. She is capable of a number of sound based illusions - including boosting or softening her own or others voices, as well as recreating sounds she has heard in the past - though the voices of other people are difficult for her to accurately recreate, and the longer the sentence in such a recreated voice she casts, the more likely it is to be determined a fake.

Lana’s current path of study is in tying Illusions to Glyphs in order to create remotely triggered effects. This has met with extremely limited success thus far.

Shapeshifting - Adept
Lana has a total of eight shapes that she has mastered. A moderately sized Eagle, a small Owl with dark plumage, a fast but fairly small Falcon, a moderately sized Tern and three separate songbird shapes make up her known bird forms. She is also capable of taking the form of a Dolphin. She has fully mastered all of these forms, but has chosen not to study any more since mastering them.

Of note is that she can use more advanced shapeshifting spells while transforming, one to maintain all of her clothing through the transition, and another, more complex one, to carry small objects like sheafs of paper and coin pouches through the transition. The more she takes with her though, the more preparation she needs, in the form of spoken spells.

Destruction - Master
Force - Lana’s grasp of Force magic is strong. She can create both wide and narrow waves of Force, easily enough to knock a man over. She has also studied how to generate such waves from sources other than her hands, and though such spells still require a somatic element, she can bring force down from above or other directions. She can fully integrate Force based attacks into glyphs.
Fire - Lana’s grasp of fire magic is the strongest in her destructive arsenal, and she is capable of generating incredibly hot fires in bolts, sheets or glyphs. Of particular note is that she is capable of manifesting bolts from unusual directions, not needing to originate them in her hands, although somatic elements are still required to cast such spells.
Ice - Lana’s capability with Ice magic is less than fire, and she cannot generate temperatures much lower than freezing. She can however, create a wide aura of this lowered temperature around herself, as well as the typical ice bolt type attacks. She does not usually carry any water with her to use in creation of such ice bolts however.
Lightning - Lana’s least capable elemental magic, she is limited to summoning a single directed bolt from her hands, or, if outside and in sufficiently cloudy weather, above. Though not strong compared to what other mages can achieve, she can easily kill with this lightning.

Like all mages, she is capable of working with others of her kind to generate larger, more destructive spells. Given her great power and knowledge, she is often elected the leader of such a channeling group when involved in one, though not always.

Her current direction of research in Destruction is the combining of Force and Fire into a single circular, band shaped glyph to be cast around herself or a group of people she wishes to protect. The intent of the glyph is to direct force and fire outwards to repel aggressors. This project is going quite well and is close to completion.

General Magical Knowledge:
Though incapable of effectively casting any other forms of magic, Lana is quite familiar with all forms on a theoretical level, in particular recognising what a spells desired effect is likely to be and methods of countering or mitigating it. This knowledge allows her to accurately advise on all but the most extreme and specialised of magical matters.

Her knowledge of general magical theory is also fairly extensive, though often not up to the level of more dedicated Magisters, as she does not dedicate as much time to its study as most of her similarly ranked peers.

Other skills:
She is a capable dancer, both in typical courtly manner and for performance’ sake.
She is a skilled singer, both with her natural voice and that of the songbird form she can take.
She is an adept ruler, though focused on magical solutions to problems.
She is a master manipulator, unafraid to employ magic in her manipulation but not relying on it.

Flaws:
Disdain of mundane combat:
Lana looks at combat with ‘mundane’ weaponry as a barbaric and crude. She has no skill whatsoever when it comes to wielding a blade, staff, bow or any other form of weapon. In addition, her lack of practice with such things has left her physically frail compared to those who do regularly wield weapons. Dancing has ensured she is not a complete weakling, nor is she clumsy, but she could still be easily outmaneuvered and overpowered by the vast majority of her peers in a physical confrontation.

Arrogant:
Lana looks down on everyone who is not a mage, and though she typically hides this in public, those who know her privately are aware of the strength of her feelings in this matter. In addition, she is prone to underestimating the capabilities of non-mages, though experience has tempered this somewhat.

Fear of being Manipulated:
Lana hates the idea of not being the master of her own fate. She constantly second guesses people, especially non-mages, analysing her interactions with them to ensure they are not manipulating her.

Love of fine things:
Lana has lived in luxury her entire life, save for very short sections while traveling long distance, sections which she hates with a passion. As much as she loves the natural beauty of the world, she also hates having to live outside of comfortable environments for more than a day or two.

Barren:
Due to an unfortunate genetic defect, Lana is incapable of conceiving children. She is not aware of this fact.

Known members:
Ida Raudhfell Mother, Current heir to House Raudhfell
Asgher Raudhfell Maternal Grandfather, Head of House Raudhfell
Alva Raudhfell né Mirkvidhr Maternal grandmother
Urd Raudhfell Heir-to-the-heir

---

Name: Marquis Lycaon Issorat

Age: 36

Gender:

Sexual Orientation: Straight

Position: Grand Master of the Holy Order of Saint Elenor

Many years ago Lycaon founded the Holy Order of Saint Elenor in honor of the blessed saint and martyr of the same name. Though originally only a knightly order, and knights still dominate the organization, the order has allowed non-knights to join the order as well, transforming them into a more typical Holy Order. Lycaon’s goal is, as a pious believer in the gods, to restore the Church’s former power and glory. He knows that the only way to do this is through the King and the high nobles.

Personality: In public life Lycaon plays up his reputation as a hero, and acts friendly, amiable, and helpful with all that he congregates with. This is partially the reason that the poor treat him like a saint and hero. The other part is that he not only listens to them, but actually helps them. However, like a true saint he is never emotional, and though his words are passionate, like a true saint his expression remains stoic save for the gentle smile he wears on his face. The masses have never accused Lycaon of insincerity. Perhaps this is due to their ignorance of many of his previous actions. In court he is always as polite as possible, always remaining calm, and presenting himself as an upstanding man of chivalric virtues. It is important to notice that Lycaon is not boisterous or animated, but calm and agreeable. He is trying to be seen as a paragon of chivalry, saintly and unconquerable, not a jovial fool. It is not rare for him to unnerve people. No doubt this limits any charm he may have.

Lycaon himself knows he is not a saint, and does not concern himself especially with the veracity or depths of his actual goodness. He is in fact far more ambitious than he would have most believe. After having sat on the sidelines for so long, he is now ready to begin holding real influence. He understands that drastic measures will have to be taken. However, his chief concern right now is not becoming King. Rather, his current wish is to restore the power of the Church to its original position. Lycaon knows that that is no easy task. The Church has effectively fallen from favor for a long time, and the current Church is decrepit and corrupt. However, because atheism or monotheism (Lycaon has read that, scandalously, some philosophers have taken this latter position) has not been allowed to take hold, Lycaon believes the Church can regain its old position. Unlike many other nobles, Lycaon is a genuine believer in the gods. Despite this, he does not follow everything the Church preaches. He finds the idea that one cannot engage in sexual intercourse on feast days and on service days to be ridiculous, and does not follow it, just like everyone else.

Though Lycaon knows that he is no saint, as the masses believes, he does not think that he is misleading them too greatly. Any misdeeds he does he either brushes off as unimportant or as necessary sacrifices for a greater future. He is not an artificial man, and actually believes that he has many noble attributes in himself. Though his morality his certainly suspect, he does genuinely believe that he is moral, though he has not studied the matter, and believes he has done and will do nothing which makes him bear any great burden of guilt. He is very confident in himself, and flirts with the idea that Timtos himself favors him. Though he knows his physique is not comparable to many others on the battlefield, he is confident in his own skills to demonstrate his superiority, and show his inner strength. For what it’s worth, he is genuinely loving towards his wife and his family.

Lycaon does value the people, but he generally does not think about them in the way in which they would wish to. He often thinks of them in terms of religion. Lycaon, a warrior for the Church, would naturally be aided by an army of the faithful, which are the ever-pious masses, and he understands just how powerful a tool they can be, especially if there is popular discontent against the ruling monarch. His intentions for aiding the poor cannot be said to be altruistic or even truly to their benefit, as the people of Nyhem have not improved their state of living at all since Lycaon came to help them. Lycaon privately admit that he has learned some things from the masses, even though he is above them in all aspects. He has observed that though they are pious worshippers of the gods, they are not high-strung, prudish, or puritanical, but rather quite the opposite. He has observed that of all the types of people in the world, the poor are without a doubt the least corrupt of all, and that their indomitable spirit in the face of hardship and adversity ought to make any noble grudgingly nod his head in grudging respect.

Lycaon has genuine bravery, and will not shirk away from fighting. He has fought at or near the frontlines in numerous battles, even though it has resulted in a number of injuries in the past.

Additionally, Lycaon has moderate or liberal opinions of magic and mages. He has no problem with either mages and magic, and believes that mages should live without persecution and the Mage’s Circle should continue to be given the state’s support. He thinks that there is no reason to be suspicious of mages, and that they hate black magic just as much as any non-mage.

Weakness:
Though Lycaon declares himself to be strong, he is actually of lower-than-average physique when compared with the average knight. He is quite insecure over this fact, and hates the very idea of being overpowered in any way. Though the thought angers him, it also frightens him.

Lycaon has a weakness to women, and not just in the traditional sense. He, for some reason, cannot help but find them naturally innocent and pure. While this does not mean that he trusts every woman, it does mean that he will trust them when there is real no reason to.

Lycaon normally remains calm, but there is one thing he simply cannot abide. If someone attacks his war record and calls him an incompetent commander he will become so enraged that he will be unable to keep his calm. Perhaps he would ask them for a duel.

His extraordinary calmness and stoicism tends to make some uncomfortable with him.

Appearance:



Lycaon wears standard and state-of-the-art heavy plate armor for battle. Though it is polished and shiny, and fit for the noblest of men, it is also unadorned with jewels or gold, and is fit for battle. He does not only wear his armor in battle, however. When he congregates among the people he is always wearing his shining armor, which simply adds to their view of him as a saintly chivalric hero. Even in court he will wear his armor, both for intimidation and to make him appear as more a military man than a church man. When it is improper for him to wear his armor, he wears the proper attire of the military officers.

His face is clean-shaven, and his hair long and pale. Though he no longer has the beauty he once had in his youth, he remains handsome, and his face still has signs of his beauty from youth. For a knight he noticeable few muscles, but still has greater physique than regular people, though it is not as if such a thing could be noticed through plate armor. He has a number of scars, most notably the remnants of a gash below his cheek, but the greatest of his scars is the remnants of the wound inflicted by a war-axe inflicted in the Battle of Uzgob.

Background:

Lycaon was born the eldest son of Duke Percival II of the Issorat Dynasty, whose family had faithfully served the Du Paraquettes for nearly two centuries. Being born into the high nobility, Lycaon was given every luxury, and in return he had to both learn the strict manners of courtly life and meander through the cutthroat politics of the nobility. Not even children were free from the intrigue of the court, especially when their father was so closely connected with a king. So he spent his childhood in luxury, trying as hard as he could to stay alive. His childhood is considered to have come to an end when he was ten years old, when his father began to have him trained as a proper heir. He was put under the tutelage (at least in education) of Hanot Plasait, who had extensive as a soldier and a mercenary, and taught him martial arts, swordplay, and archery. His wife, Yzebel Plasait, taught him in rhetoric, oration, and poetry. She failed in the last one.

When he was fourteen, a peasant uprising occurred in one of the counties of his father’s duchy, and Lycaon was given a regiment of soldiers and sent to crush it. His role was mainly a formality, a peasant-born officer doing the real commanding, but it helped to establish Lycaon’s reputation as an able and noble young commander. It was not until after this that Lycaon was actually instructed in strategy, by a retired general, Count Ernst Harnish, who had previously served for decades as a general. Soon after he returned from crushing the revolt, Lycaon realized he had grown incredibly weary of the intrigue of the court, and hastily left for the capital. His father disapproved, but Lycaon was able to convince him when he spoke to him of how much safer he would be in the capital against assassins.

So Lycaon left his home of Linsdorf at the age of fifteen for Nyhem, taking Ernst Harnish, Hanot Plasait and his wife Yzebel wife with him. Though he arrived at Heylot’s court when he first arrived, he was hesitant to return, as it was quite clear that the King was mad. He stayed active in the lavish affairs of the nobles, but for the most part was an unremarkable presence, and his greatest achievement during this time was avoiding the attention of the mad tyrant Heylot. He remained quiet, and spent a considerable amount of time reading (Chanson de Geste mostly) and perfecting his martial arts. He used his considerable wealth to donate to the Church, marking his first contact with the Church in Nyhem, and established him as a friend. As a result, he created close ties with members of the local Church of the capital, and began to meet regularly with a priest named Farseth. Though Lycaon knew him to be corrupt, he was knowledgeable, so Farseth began to teach Lycaon religion and theology. Lycaon was enthusiastic and learned much, though he was always to be far from a theologian.

When he eighteen he was briefly recalled back to his home in the Duchy of Linsdorf, as his father, Duke Percival II, was concerned that his heir was still unmarried. Percival made it clear that he wished to marry his cousin, Felise of Dagensbourg, who was renowned for her beauty. However, his father overturned his request, and was instead told that he was to marry Pylia Thaner, the daughter of a powerful and rich nobleman. However, Pylia instead married the heir of a wealthy Telmarian duchy, with Lycoan being passed over. So Lycaon was allowed to marry Felise of Dagensbourg, though not without silent accusations that he wasted the opportunity to create an alliance with another noble house. He decided to stay at Linsdorf for the time, and this state of affairs remained for two years, when he was nearly assassinated. The killer-for-hire managed to sneak into Lycaon’s bed while he was sleeping, and stabbed him. The wound was far fatal, and although the official story was that Lycaon valiantly beat the assailant into submission while injured, the truth is that he screamed and a guard heard his scream and killed the assassin with his pole-arm. The plot was traced back to none other than Lycaon's own younger brother, Raimbaud. Lycaon was infuriated when he was only exiled, not executed. When Lycaon recovered completely, he announced that he was going to be relocating to the capital permanently, and would be taking Felise with him.


Felise of Dagensbourg

Once he arrived, Lycaon not only continued to be a generous and beloved benefactor of the Church, but also did the unthinkable of going among the populace. These two were intimately connected, as the Church was intricately connected to the people. If the clergy are the generals of the Church, then the people are the soldiers. This made Lycaon very popular among the commoners of the capital. Nobles lived in what seemed to be a world apart from the peasants, and normally treated them with disdain whenever they did happen to come across the masses. Because Lycaon not only walked among them and spoke to them, but also offered them aid, he was seen to them as a hero, and after months and eventually years passed they began to love and adore him. Though the last years of King Heylot the Mad would hardly seem to be the time to be causing such a stir, Lycaon was himself unusually loyal to the crown, and repeatedly spoke to the masses of loyalty and stories of brave knights who had unconditional loyalty to their king, so he was not considered a threat. During this time he was far from only engaging in charity with the poor. About four months after Lycaon returned to Nyhem, Yzebel Plasait, who had given Lycaon all of his mature intellectual education, became gravely ill and died, and Lycaon mourned her deeply. However, Lycaon moved on. He travelled back to the Duchy of Linsdorf, and founded an Order of Knights, called the Holy Order of Saint Elenor, in honor of the famous saint and martyress, and Lycaon’s father granted him a March, making him a Marquis, enhancing his prestige. A number of knights came from Linsdorf, while others were “holy warriors” with connections with the Church. The chief reason knights joined the order was that it brought financial stability and connections with the Church, as Lycaon had intricate and intimate relations with the Church.

When tempers finally rose and the country seemed to be on the warpath, Lycaon was a consistent loyalist to King Heylot, as mad and tyrannical as he was. When the Remonnet-Manshrew Civil War began, Lycaon fought on the side of Remonnet against House Manshrew. He fought with distinction in the war, bringing alongside his order of knights along with him. The Order experienced high casualties, Hanot Plaisat himself being killed in battle, and as result Lycaon opened the order to include more than simply knights and regular nobles, welcoming many who worked for and with the Church especially. Lycaon participated in the war, and was injured a plethora of times. At the Battle of Uzgob, Lycaon served as a commander and held a general’s rank along with his friend and mentor Ernst Harnish, who also served as a general. Lycaon, initially on the offensive, eventually had his position overwhelmed when the battle turned against the loyalists. Lycaon did not despair, however, and held out for such a considerable amount of time that the opposing regiment feared this would have an effect on the whole of the battle. However, eventually the Manshrewists charged Lycaon’s center and knocked Lycaon from his horse, and overwhelmed Lycaon himself. Lycaon, after engaging with the enemy in combat, was greatly outnumbered and eventually received a clean hit to the chest by a battle-axe, which pierced even through his thick breastplate of plate. Lycaon’s knights quickly surrounded themselves around the commander, carried him away, and promptly retreated. Though Lycaon was injured, it was only really a minor injury, and he would live to fight another day. Ernst Harnish himself was not so lucky, and was killed in battle.

After King Heylot was killed by Andrew Manshrew, Lycaon was driven into the countryside, and he promptly retreated to Sypius. Soon after he recovered he was attack by the forces of Patrick de Reimer, and although he survived he would never forget the horror of the battle his Order faced there. To this day Lycaon harbors a personal grudge against House de Reimer. Nonetheless, peace finally came when Patrick took Nyhem, Andrew Manshrew capitulated (at least in Lycaon’s opinion), and John Remonnet became King. After enthusiastically supporting John Remonnet as the new King, Lycaon faded from any sort of prominence.

He did not disappear, however. He knew that despite the strange victory and continuation of the Remonnet dynasty, a new order was emerging. He did not find this odd, as such a thing had happened under every monarch. However, Lycaon suspected that he still had powerful enemies, and would have to lay low until it was tenable for him to actively return to the royal court. However, Lycaon did not cease to going among the people. Now years have passed since the war’s end, and Lycaon, having gone among the people, spoken to them, and having aided them in their plight, has become something of a saint and a hero to them. The war caused the Order of Saint Elenor to grow rapidly, and in the post-war period it has only continued to grow. With his rising prominence, Lycaon’s ties to the Church have only grown, and Lycaon now has personal connections to the Grand Cleric herself. Lycaon has since began to rejoin the royal court, but he comes not as an aristocrat or heir of a duchy, but as the chivalric Grand Master of an order of knights and holy men.

Skills:

Swordplay: Tier 5 - Expert
Lycaon was taught by Hanot Plasait, veteran soldier and his martial teacher, starting when he was only ten. He has since had plenty to improve his skills, as he has had over twenty years to practice, and used his skill when he participated in the Civil War.

Other Weapons: Tier 7 - Average
Hanot Plasait gave Lycaon thorough training, teaching Lycaon how to handle other types of weapons, and not only the sword.

Hand-to-Hand Combat: Tier 7 - Average
Lycaon is knowledgeable and skilled in martial arts. However, this undercut by the fact that many on the battlefield tend to have greater strength and muscle than him.

Horsemanship: Tier 3 - Master
Lycaon is extremely skilled in horsemanship, and has successfully tamed a unicorn. This unicorn, by the way, only adds his mystique among the populace.

Strategy and Tactics: Tier 4 - Adept
Lycaon was taught strategy by Ernst Harnish, a former general, and distinguished himself in a number of battles in the Civil War. Nonetheless, he has suffered a number of defeats, most notably in the Battle of Uzgob. It is worth noting he has never served as the head of his own army.

Intrigue and Cunning: Tier 5 - Expert
Lycaon was born and raised in a world where it was necessary to outmaneuver one’s rivals in court politics. Even one’s very life was often at stake. Year after year of this have made Lycaon well-accustomed to the intrigues of the court.

Theology: Tier 8 - Rudimentary
Lycaon has received some instruction by a knowledgeable clergyman in theology. This has given Lycaon knowledge about his religion and allows Lycaon to follow the conversation and argument of a theologian, but not more.

Oration: Tier 4 - Expert
Yzebel Plasait’s intellectual training has allowed Lycaon to cultivate considerable oratorical skill. Unlike some orators, he is not merely fiery and bombastic. Though he knows how to be a polemical and powerful when necessary, when he speaks he tends towards a soft, but definitely not quiet nature. This has aided him greatly, both with the higher classes and with the masses.

Poetry: Tier 10 - Poor
Lycaon is poor at poetry.

Family House Name: Eskandar

Kingdom Location: Formaroth - Coruneon/Rathikun - Humber Liegeman (Castle Cramz)



Relations with other kingdoms: N/A

Family Reputation: House Eskandar has been completely decimated - only Aulus remains. Before its decimation, it had already become a little-known house with nothing much going for it. For this reason, House Eskandar is virtually unknown beyond Coruneon/Rathikun.
Eskandar knights, led by Granus Eskandar, are famed for their charge at the Battle of Helmar's Heath. It was fought between a small contingent of Humber footmen, bolstered by Eskandar knights, against an ambushing force just north of the Eskandar seat, Castle Cramz. Daeron Humber was present at the battle, and Granus, along with his four younger brothers and other family members, met his demise during the charge. It is the only truly notable event involving House Eskandar in recent history.

Main Export of Goods: N/A

Description of Kingdom: N/A

Family Background: House Eskandar's origins are mired in mystery - largely because it has always been so small and insignificant that even the Lords of the House have found it pointless to keep record of their minuscule achievements. Nevertheless, a fairly intact family tree stretching back two hundred years can be found on the back wall (behind a large red curtain) of the Castle Cramz's small hall. These names are all that survive - the deeds of these men are little-known, other than the odd reference in one obscure history book or another.



It is unknown where the Eskandars emerged from before being appointed as Lords of Castle Cramz, but they have held on to the castle ever since. With a river and thick forest to its east as a source of timber, the mountains beyond as a source of stone and iron, and the arable land of the river basin providing rich and arable land, the castle is situated in a protected and ideal position [see location where the red dot is: here]. Being rather deep in friendly territory and so well protected, Castle Cramz has - in its recorded history - never been besieged.

Lord Granus Eskandar was a very close friend of Daeron Humber. They appear to have met as children and a friendship blossomed between them almost immediately, and grew over the years. Due to his father, Sirvus, mostly being ill during his time as Lord of the Castle, Granus took up responsibility for the castle from an early age and proved a very capable and intelligent ruler and administrator. Under him the Eskandars greatly increased their power-base due to Lord Humber's favourable opinion and support. He was able to, using the resource available around the castle, to increase his income and invest hugely into training what he called the 'Eskandar Household Cavalry'. Led by his own brothers, the force of fifty knights was Granus' pride and joy - and for good reason! They were most certainly a fearsome force, if not many.

When civil war broke out, Granus leapt at the opportunity of leading his elite knights into battle and carving the name of House Eskandar into the very heavens. 'Our star,' he is said to have proclaimed to his beloved wife, Lady Arvay, 'is at last risen!'
Lord Daeron rendezvoused with him at Castle Cramz, bringing with him a small force of twenty five footmen, and they marched from the castle - heading south where they would unite with the rest of the Humber force. It proved a shock, then, when an enemy force of some two hundred men burst forth from the forest not twenty miles south-east of Castle Cramz. Guarding his lord-liege, Granus commanded his fifty knights to form up immediately and protect the lord. Telling him that, being on horseback, the Eskandars would be able to escape more easily at a given opportunity, it was best for Lord Humber and his footmen to retreat immediately while the Eskandars distracted the ambushers. The Eskandars charged and Lord Humber was able to make his escape - and he watched from a distance the final charge of the decimated force. The Eskandar Household Cavalry was mown down to a man at what came to be known as the Battle of Helmar's Heath.

When news reached Castle Cramz, Lady Arvay - who was six months pregnant and disposed to illness - collapsed. Despite the care of her maids and the attempts of her physicians, the baby could not be saved and she only survived some six months before joining her husband in death. Fatherless and the last of his household, Aulus had none to care for him other than Lord Daeron - who took the boy in and raised him like his own son.

Alas, the boy seemed to have been spiritually broken after the great loss and proved ever unwilling to do as Lord Daeron bid him.

Claim to the Throne/House Motives: N/A

Name: Aulus Granus Eskandar

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Position: Noble

Background: Born in 484 A.R to Lord Granus Eskandar and Lady Arvay Eskandar of Castle Cramz, Aulus looked set on following in the rather undistinguished footsteps of his forebears. His father, however, had different ideas. A close friend of Daeron Humber, he had been infected with a sense of dignity and ambition - a desire to be useful to his liege-lord and carve the name of House Eskandar in the stars. His ambition got him, and all his brothers, killed at Helmar's Heath in a made - if heroic - charge.

Til then a rather normal child, the death of his father - closely followed by that of his mother - as well as the loss of all his family had an understandably negative effect on the boy. Taken in by Daeron Humber - who has raised him like his own son - Aulus proved unwilling to do anything he did before. Sitting with instructors brought on painful memories, and so he avoided lessons. Staying too long in Castle Calchester reminded him of his Castle Cramz, and so he generally snuck out and whiled away his days with the lower classes - and as he grew, he frequented inns and was a general nuisance. When being less of a nuisance he picked up the art of the bamboo flute from a local lumberjack, named Grun, who frequented the inns after work - he found the instrument oddly appealing, and Grun was only too happy to snap at the boy and thwack him every time he made a mistake!

Despite his general avoidance of Daeron's instructors, Aulus never missed an opportunity to swing a sword around. Indeed, fencing instructors have constantly noted his skill and knack for the sword. Though Helmala preferred the clunky mace - and by furious Timtos could she swing it! - Aulus took more to the refined rapier, the trusty knightly sword, and other such swords widespread in Coruneon and Rathikun. He has also always had an affinity with animals - particularly horses. While he was surrounded by the animals before his father's death, this affinity only true developed afterwards. As a result of it, his riding skill is as impressive as his skill with sword. Perhaps, somewhere deep in his subconscious, there is a desire to prove that his father had not been wrong and that House Eskandar can create knights to rival the best Formaroth has to offer. Whether this is the case cannot be ascertained, for Aulus is unconcerned with such things as any Grun in an inn.

As a result of his infantile antics, Aulus' relationship with Daeron has been rather strained over the years, and more recently Helmala has proven equally disapproving. So concerned was Daeron that he decided against sending Aulus back to Castle Cramz, when he turned sixteen, where he could take up his ancestral title and land. Aulus for his part loves his adoptive father and sister, and cannot understand for the life of him why they are so stiff.

'You're a nobleman, not some lowly bumpkin!' Daeron would berate him, 'get yourself together boy!'
'We're not children anymore, Aulus,' Helmara would chastise him, 'we are surrounded by dangers on all sides. You can't be acting like you do.' But despite their words, Aulus would chuckle or laugh and wave them away - the world was depressing enough without him going out of his way to make it more so! While Daeron has noted Aulus' skill, the boy has consistently refused to be sent into battle or to fight alongside his adoptive father.
'I need a man by my side!' Daeron would decalre angrily, 'Helmara is more of a man than you!'
'What do I want with these things?' Aulus would retort, 'can't you find something better to do than fight all the damn time?'
'You think I want this boy!' the old man would roar, slamming a table or the wall, 'we must war that there might finally be true peace! If the gods didn't put people like me on this earth and all were like you, then the mad king would never have fallen! And now Duncan...'
'Alright alright, you go off and have your fun. I'll be having mine,' and Aulus would run off despite Daeron's demands that he return.

Personality: Aulus is undeniably intelligent. He is also undeniably carefree and happy-go-lucky. Wholly unconcerned about anything in general, his intelligence comes in more handy in coaxing himself out of sticky situations than doing anything truly useful or of weight.
He prefers the easy company of the common man to the restricted and prim life of the nobles - and it's lucky that House Eskandar is not of much significance, and it is lucky that he's had little responsibilities, for his antics are able to go on and no one loses greatly due to it.
If ever on his own, Aulus can prove quite reflective - which isn't great! The flute proves a useful escape from any thoughts that attempt to disturb his blissful existence. It's not that he's afraid of what his thoughts might come with...it's not that somewhere deep down he's ashamed that he has let his forefathers down...nothing of the sort...

Description: A well-built young man, appearing to be around twenty years of age. He is not overly tall, coming at 5'10", or 180 centimetres. He weighs at 75 kilograms. His physique is ectomorphic, and his muscles are small and built for speed and power rather than brute strength. He is rather flexible, though not unnaturally so. His hair is red-brown and is shoulder length, and is generally left loose and messy. His beard is large enough to cover his face completely, but not quite long enough to be gripped. His skin is a light olive due to exposure to the sun. His eyes are a dark green and his nose is long and straight, though slightly wide and not pointed. In general, he's real eye candy! Such a pretty boy...
He has some very minor scars on his hands, wrists, and upper arms earned during duelling practice and foolish fights with the scoundrels he has tended to associate with.
He can usually be found dressed in a large, loose, light brown tunic tied at the waist with a belt. He wears black canvass pants on his lower body and and locksley boots.
His face carries an easy, instantly friendly smile. He appears carefree and generally after a good time.

Skills: If there is one thing Aulus ever took seriously, it was his fencing lessons. Not only is he a natural, but he has learned from the very best instructors of Lord Humber's household. While he - unlike Hemala - never took to the heavy, clunky mace, his ability with rapier and other swords is at the very least impressive. The time he spent truanting his others lessons he spent with lowlives in inns and on the streets - where he developed quite a love and skill for the humble bamboo flute. He also has a love for horses and is a very skilled rider - a skill that has helped him out of many sticky situations!

Weaknesses: For a noble, Aulus knows very little - he has not properly developed skills such as reading and writing, and his understanding of mathematics, history, politics and whatnot are severely lacking. This is due to a generally irreverent character and a lack of concern with what others deem as 'greater' matters. He does not realise his importance as a feudal liegeman and - perhaps due to his thus far sheltered life - has no understanding for how to rule and command men. For this reason, he cannot always understand Daeron's frustration with him, and Hemala's disappointment. What is life if you are always stiff about it and don't have some fun, after all?
While no coward, Aulus does have a...heightened sense for self-preservation. Ahem. This is perhaps due to his association with the lowlives who frequent inns and fight in dark alleys after dark. If something is dangerous and not fun, then he is very unlikely to want in. On the other hand, if something looks exciting he would not think twice about jumping in!
Due to the above, Aulus is heinously unaware of the situation in Formaroth. He knows that people are fighting and whatnot, and that it's all very bad (obviously) but he is otherwise very unconcerned. I mean, it's not like anything is going to change that much, right?

Name: Eclipse Kornova, Sir Kornova, Eclipse, Justicar, The Merciful, The Brave, Oathbreaker, Rider of Unicorns, Lightmaker, Favored of Leplo, Tideturner, Defender of Legon Pass, The Patient, Battlefield Redeemer.

Age: 32
Gender: Male.
Sexual Orientation: Straight.

Position: An ordained knight of the church supposedly operates under the sole jurisdiction of the holy order, which is theoretically independent of local lordship or even the will of the Crown. In practicality, this has not always been the case, as there has been much discrepancy over whether or not a King is a divinely chosen individual. Regardless, in many realms, the church maintains a small militant force for several reasons. Holy knights are often called upon for the defense of the commonfolk from invaders or even from local bandits, for general humanitarian missions within the realm, and occasionally for crusade into heathen lands where the devout are most vulnerable and the spread of the holy word is needed. They carry out church business and are revered icons to the masses. Often, a knight may have other specific employment within the church, such as administration, education, or ethics. For many years, Eclipse served as a Justicar, a lawyer and legal advisor, and also a Judge for resolving complaints or disputes involving members of the chivalric aspect of the Order. Currently, Eclipse is a Knight Errant of the Church of Klebrithy, as he travels to Nyhem with a unique assignment. He would be perceived as having a status comparable to the nobility he had renounced so long ago.

Personality: Eclipse's company is a comfort to the blameless and an aching reminder to the shameful. First impressions are often mixed as he bears the appearance of a disciplined and unwavering soldier, polished, meticulous, and presumably judgemental. Yet, his countenance almost always bears a warm smile. Quickly he is revealed to be jovial and trusting, attributes that calm and reassure. He is generally peaceful, quiet, and attentive as he listens before answering. Careful deliberation delays his actions, and it becomes clear that he does not hold others to the same standards to which he holds himself. The guilty inwardly fear his vigilant presence, as if time itself is on his side, ticking closer and closer to an eventual slip of the tongue in admission of their crimes. What would they have to say for themselves before such a paragon of virtue? Perhaps a proper confession is in order.
Underneath the hype lies a human heart, however, and Eclipse has seen his share of conflict. He is no stranger to deception and temptation. He has broken oaths and taken lives. Forgiveness is how he deals with his own flaws and those of others, seeing the turmoil of human life as necessary in the forging of the soul, but penitence must be sincere. Thus, he is slow to anger and quick to forgive, but beware his level of commitment when his righteous ire is finally stirred. Normally, he would turn down a personal challenge, for he considers pride without purpose a sin, and he would probably tell you so. When afraid, he would pray for the god's favor to muster his courage.

Weaknesses: Eclipse is above all overly trusting. Although old enough to have seen the worst of human behavior, and judged it, his professional and religious training demand that he check what might be a healthy paranoia up front. He tends to believe someone who "swears" to him, leaving himself open to deception, at least the first time.
Having renounced his house and taken a vow of poverty, Eclipse is technically poor. He owns nothing of his own, yet is supplied and supported by the church wherever he travels. There are also many who are willing to spare him room and board as a form of donation or offering to the gods he quasi-represents.
Eclipse is weak to strong drink.

Appearance:


Sir Kornova of the Holy Order is hard to miss, standing tall, with his fairly lengthy pale blonde locks, oft clad in meticulously cleaned, steel-colored armor and a symbolic, nearly-white cloak. He bears no excessive adornments except identification of his rank and ordination on his pauldrons and coak, and a personal mark on born his breastplate and shield. Faintly etched into the metal, is the image of an eclipsed sun, a ring, dark in the inside, with 8 rays of light extending from its edge. The image is repeated on the face of his shield, with holy mantras and symbols denoting each deity etched along the sides in caligraphic script. The length of his sword also bears his personal motto in ancient Formarothian tongue. His skin is fair, yet not easily flushed. His expression, lightly pleasant. He keeps clean shaven, but any blonde stubble would be easily missed for several days at least. His shoulders are broad, but his frame lean, forming a body that is built for endurance more than sudden power. Having only minimal recession to his hairline, one might mistake his age initially, but faint wrinkles at the corners of his blue eyes offer a good explanation for his mature conduct. There are no prominent scars, no tattoos, and no piercings. He keeps a leatherbound, latched prayerbook tethered about his waist. He might be seen wearing plainclothes or simple robes similar to a priest when armor is not required.

Background:

Eclipse was fortunate to be born into a noble house in Thralreth. House Kornova was small, but with much for wealth and status. Lord Reginald Kornova was held in high esteem by both House Staghein and House Sutherlan. Most of Reginald's efforts went into caring for his own aging parents and in raising his then only son, born on an auspicious day to bear the name, Eclipse. Reginald had a younger brother and sister who each had their own families and children, but no boys. The brother, Eclipse' uncle "Walter," which was not his given name, was killed in 489 in the battle to take Cawanor when Eclipse was only 19. Eclipse' mother, Lady Iomedae Kornova, was found to be barren after her first child, yet Reginald was satisfied and would not remarry. She died of disease in 490, and only later did Lord Kornova take a new wife. She bore him two new sons, two years apart.

Throughout all his life until adulthood, Eclipse led a fairly ideal life. He was an only son in a noble house with both parents alive. He was educated at Faemley Castle, and trained in the arts of combat by Mylla Staghain and other masters. He became great friends with Iain Sutherlan, whom he was close to in age, and the two often practiced swordsmanship together under the watchful eye of Iain's father, Lord Bearnard Sutherlan. In the summers, the two young noblemen would go on "camping trips" together with friends for days to weeks at a time learning hunting and survival skills. The boys claim to have been able to tame and ride a wild unicorn.

It was with the outbreak of the Remonnet-Manshrew civil war that the weight of adulthood was finally enforced upon the young, idealistic knight. For the mostpart, Thralreth had enjoyed the peace of an ideal location far from the capitol at Nyhem. Politics seemed to fade in importance the further south one lived until one simply forgot that anything could change, that their lives could be threatened by invading armies, or that an oppressive king could reach them. House Kornova had sworn the same oath as House Sutherlan and House Staghein, to devote themselves to the Remonnet royal line, and thus, their side was pre-chosen during the war. Much to the dissappointment of his father, Eclipse personally sided with Manshrew, going so far as to renounce his inheritance and family name to join the rebellion. It was a sad day that he departed, yet, with two infant half-brothers, Eclipse knew he was not the last of his line. He regretted he did not get the chance to say goodbye to his loyal friend Iain. Still, he had to cut his ties on the offchance that Andrew Manshrew failed, for he did not want his own house to be branded traitors over his individual actions. It was the only way to fight for the true cause of good against a mad and wicked king and not endanger those he loved.

Fortunately, the war was won and a new Remonnet was crowned as king. Perhaps, in a way, even Eclipse had kept his family's oath. This result pleased all sides, and peace was reestablished. Eclipse did return to his homeland and made peace with his father, yet he declined to return to his former status as the next Lord Kornova. Instead, he swore his loyalty to the gods, becoming a paladin of the Church of Klebirthy, to end his days in service to the divine. The became highly respected, often personally sought to resolve disputes across Thralreth or other matters. He was considered a local war hero, an evangelical, a swordmaster trainer, and recently rumors circulate that he is a divine healer and uniquely blessed. Once a year, on the celebratory day, he would participate in the spectacle of joust, as knights were expected to do, for the practice himself and for the pleasure of the people.

The years passed, and finally, tragedy struck again. The beloved King John and his Queen were both dispatched under highly suspicious circumstances. The DeRemiers and Manshrews, and other lesser houses, vyed for the throne, and now rumors of a highly influential heretic come from Nyhem. Eclipse has felt a calling, and has departed his homeland as he once did before on a personal crusade, for answers, and for justice.

Skills:

Literacy
Interpretation of Law, professional arbiter, contract negotiator, legal notary, and lawyer.
Noble Decorum
Ethics Council
Mounted Combat - Tier 5
Dueling/Fencing - Tier 3
Proficiency with:
Poleaxe/halberd - Tier 4
Longsword - Tier 2
Shortsword and Shield - Tier 3
Unarmed Combat - Tier 7
Archery - Tier 8
Armory, upkeep of own equipment.

Innate Magic, untrained spells -
- Healing: can stem bleeding, close wounds, knit bone, dull pain.
- Generate Light: from his hand or as an aura of light around his body.
- Soothe Animals: calm a frightened horse, turn away a vicious dog, etc.
- Undiscovered Potential...

Name:
Publically (Elven Lands)- Híril (Lady) Dyril Elian, of the Elian bloodline and granddaughter of Hír (Lord) Raton Elian.
Privately- Agarwaen (blood-stained), Umarth (ill-fated), Hin (child), N'Tel'Quess (not of the people- not elf), Uuner (nobody), etc.
By Lower Station (often slaves and servants) - Híril Dyril

Age: 31 (ages about 1.5 slower than humans)

Appearance Age: 22 due to slow aging process

Gender: Female

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Position: Merchant (upper class within Imperial Even society)

Personality:

Value over Image

Being an Elf, her upbring places a high value on image and worth in order to advance your family to a higher status. From her birth she has been taught to hold a strict control over her emotions and give a calm presentation in public, especially when in the present of those equal or higher than her rank. Failure to hold this practice would risk her family reputation, entitling them to mockery over their ‘childish’ behavior. Minor as it might seem, recovering from it was often a chore best avoided. This didn’t mean anyone could insult her family, and by extend herself, without any repercussions and those will come in time when she’s had time to ready them.

Patience

Dyril is very patient, maybe too patient at times. She never rushes into things, as shown in her bio, and instead carefully treads into her plans. It can take months to years to set things up before she feels safe to act on her plans. In some ways this can help and hurt her. While she won’t blindly rush in on instinct, any time sensitive plans she decides to follow could become useless if too much time passes or things don’t add up in her favor. Most times it requires a push from an outside source for her to place aside her patience and go for things ahead of plans.

Motivation

She will have two current motivations. Her original motivation was to prove her worth to her family, both Elven (though she won’t admit it) and human. In order to adaptly do this, she needs to make her trading dealings work out well and benefit her family both here and across the sea. Her second one will surface the moment she learns of recent events about the death of Henry. This will develop into a need for revenge against the individual that took his life away and desire to change her exile family’s state. How long this lasts could change in the future.

Weaknesses:

Image Vanity- Like many Elves are brought up to believe, Dyril values herself and family image highly giving her sense of vanity. Not surprising since her environment has been her teacher most of her life and it is all she knows. When others attempt to ruin it,, Dyril’s calm becomes less natural and more forced. With higher and greater insult to the image, she gains a hidden spite and this builds over time. Dyril rarely forgets an insult as she bides her time, gradually seeking to gain some sort of satisfactory revenge for their insult. If left unchecked, this can eventually become obsession in her free time or influence her focus.

Isolation and Abandonment Fear- While Dyril doesn’t fully know it, she has a minor fear of being discarded and even left behind by all she knows, loves, and even is connected to. This stems from her upbring where her family regarded her as something to be ashamed of and when possible, isolated her from both public and family ordeals. If it wasn’t for Kiseo, she would’ve fallen to the effects of facing her fear a long time ago.

Mix Heritage- Being a hybrid has its perks and limitations, something that Dyril knows fully well. One biggest stigma among hybrids is that they are sterile and are unable to carry on the bloodline into the future. This can bring a promising family into extinction over time if a future heir is unable to produce children. In addition, her physical appearance is a mixture of human and Elven which makes her unappealing to either race for the most part. Too Elven for a human or too human for an Elf is a painful experience forcing her to give up on the notion of any love or family. It also makes any manipulation through sexual appeal clearly out of her skill range unless one is curious or want to try something ‘exotic’. Another issue is that her facial ticks aren’t like humans and sometimes be difficult to read.

Lack of Combative Skills- Dyril was brought up in higher society and being female, these are primary factors that denied her the right to learn combat skills. Females had higher power when it came to marriage and politics than physical or business transactions within Imperial lands which made image that more important to them since it was harder to earn and keep. Married individuals often rode upon their husband’s successes which could range from the battlefield to more common skills unfitting for a female. This means any situation that required pure physical strength or speed would put Dyril at a serious disadvantage or even worse, make her into a fool. She is unable to defend herself should things escalate into blood and violence.

Ignorance of Formaroth- Never traveled beyond her family property too often, Dyril has little to no knowledge of any thing about Formaroth’s politics or recent events. Not even the state of her present family. Any knowledge she does know is officially obtained through traders (which are few and far between) or what guests have been kind enough to share, none she fully puts trust in until she’s seen it.

Appearance:

Physical

Being a hybrid of two races, Dyril’s got characteristics that fit both her mother and father. Her mother’s are dominant which allowed her grandfather, Raton, to hide her heritage with the excuse of deformities. ‘Unique’ isn’t acceptable in Elven society like it is in their slaves, a fact she’s had to live with all her life and struggle to overcome. Compared to her relatives who sport the common dark blue (denim color), hers is a bluish-grey shade. A few have compared it to something called blue spruce trees which don’t exist in Beilokias.

She has dark, brown eyes much like her father. So far, no one she’s been with for extended time- save her family- has noticed the difference compared to their own onyx back irises. Her face is considered long by humans standards, giving her a rather haughty look like the rest of her family. However when closely examined, the subtle differences are easily seen and clearly not completely elven. Her features are fleshed out along her cheeks, sides, and forehead rounder in comparison to her other female relatives.

The thicker physical appearance doesn’t stop merely at her face, but also include her weight which is considered heavy at 146 lbs and closer to human than any female elf should be. Meanwhile, her saving grace is that she barely falls to the average height of 164 cm (5’4”) and doesn’t need to shrink or alter it in any fashion. The final abnormality is her fingers, they are still considerably long but a bit less claw like and a dead give away to her human side. Instead of three digits on each hand, she has five.

Her default expression is often neutral and difficult to read thanks of her mixed heritage. Often considered permanently stuck in a day dreaming or haughty one, which gives the impression to humans she doesn’t care about what is being said. A fact that is far from her real feelings. However, when she does smile the human in her is quite easily seen and considered genuinely appealing (not sexually), breaking the bizarre features she inherited. Her black hair falls to about the bottom of her shoulder blades, but often bounded into numerous tight braids and loop about her head back. They are pinned in place with silver hair pins that are decorated into handcrafted designs like shells, feathers, and even animals.

Clothing

In Elven culture, despite the hot and arid atmosphere, the higher social classes often wear layers of clothing that reflect their status and importance among their peers. Being a granddaughter of Elian bloodline, her dresses are the official colors of black and yellow with the crest of her family’s rank. They are linked with the Patricians making Raton and his son Dathion apart of the senate. Often, Dyril is dressed in loosely fitting dresses made of two layer skirts, a pleated shirt and binded at the waist with a belt. Upon her feet are slipper shoes and a kaftan (long over coat) is placed over her to allow her to shade her head from view.

Background:
Family
Lists of those Dyril has interacted with on a daily basis, both alive and deceased.

Grandparents
Uncles
Aunts
Male Cousins
Female Cousins

The story begins on the day Dyril was conceived thanks to ill fated combination of a bet and curiosity. After the recent decease of his wife, Angril Elian, Raton’s merchant trade faced possible decline in popularity and worth when profits rapidly shot down. Evidence, much to his cringe, had been planted to discredit the value of his goods causing him to seek additional options to recover from the loss. In 471 A R, Raton and his daughter Crabanil traveled to Formaroth due to establishing trade with Ralda. The Mazeltof was one of a few families that held a rich dwarven source of materials in their land and were willing to trade for then giving the right persuasion. Usually the very rare magical items (thanks to a method done by mandrakes), potions, food goods not native to the continent, silks, and other materials. Drawven metal, in any variety, was often sought after for great prices making the trip worth it and hopefully recover his reputation.

Setting aside his mourning, Hír Raton Elian and his youngest daughter Crabanil traveled to Formaroth. Crabanil was expected to take up the trade negotiations after a few years and show her own worth in her family’s eyes. This wasn’t meant to be since on the last week of being deep into trade dealings, Henry Mazeltof was roped into a bet which his companions believed was impossible for him to complete: to bed the Elven daughter of their host. Being the arrogant, strong headed individual that came with his heritage, Henry took on the challenge in exchange for greater gains and his friend’s respect.

When Raton followed his father into the final night of negotiations, Henry made his move. He followed the young Elven daughter, just hitting the cusp of adulthood, into a secluded area where he began to converse with her. One thing led to another and out of mutual agreement, Crabanil’s curiosity being a main factor, they made their way to the guest room that served for her residence here.

After the one night stand, Crabanil found herself pregnant with child. Raton, himself, found out after they departed the Mazeltof hospitality and had settled back into their own port home. Purely because Crabanil was afraid he would break off trading rights to Ralda over it. Image, after all, was everything to him.

This created stress between her furious father and her, their desires divided over the tainted offspring’s future.

Raton wanted to bribe a priest from the priesthood, made mostly of mages, to abort the growing life within her womb and rid her of the shame it brought upon the family. However, Crabanil had other ideas. She wanted to use the child as a bargaining chip and to pull at the Mazeltof’s honorable reputation get more out of their future trading relationship. Forced to admit to the fact his daughter was an adult now, Raton allowed her decision to stand but he still blamed Henry for contaminating his youngest daughter.

Being a woman of high up bring, it would’ve looked suspicious for Crabanil to avoid public affairs. This would’ve drawn the attention of spies to try to pry the truth about everything then rush back to their masters. The last thing the Elian family needed was for others to create ways to blackmail them into less suitable dealings. So together they fabricated a plausible story to cover the obvious signs of Crabanil’s upcoming pregnant image. The young Elven woman had been seduced and lied to by another Elf within Formaroth, which there was a few. This charming man later vanished into the night after both bedding her and stealing numerous valuables. While it hurt Crabanil’s reputation for the time, it did nothing to harm the bloodline’s and the fact she was with child made the rumor believable.

Through many tried to dug deeper, they often found Raton there as a wall to their progression.

It was a year later that Crabanil went into labor on their estate home. Raton was pacing the hallways with nerves rattling his every step as his daughter’s laboring screams echoed throughout the wall and making him anxious for her health. Unknown to Crabanil, he had gradually threaten her slaves into placing a subtle herb in her tea in hopes to kill the infant late in the pregnancy. It wasn’t a sure success always, but enough to give him hope to try it.
Whatever divine forces above felt he desired punish did so with a vengeance. Instead of the infant dying, it was his beloved daughter. The herb had stopped her body’s ability to clot the blood and so Crabanil had lost a lot of blood during the birth, her blue skin ashy grey in hue. With her dying breath, she named her young female offspring Dyril before she passed away. The loss cut Raton very deeply, a mixture of self guilt and blame upon the child for being born.

For the following years he held deep hatred for the Mazeltof family and it fueled his determination to almost end the trade negotiations. However, his eldest son stepped in and made the request not to due to damaging their family image. Instead, Saeldir took over the trade dealings with the Mazeltof.

Against his daughter’s careful planning, Raton never informed Henry of his illegitimate child or even considered to use her as a pawn to their advantage. In fact, he wanted nothing to do with her. Her life’s care fell upon the family who felt it was best to hide their shame. They couldn’t simply lock her way as all the senate knew Crabanil had been with child and news about the birth had already spread through prior arrangements by the now dead mother. So they prepared for the expose in the future while making her life difficult.

Over the years, Dyril found herself exposed to higher education, various arts and whatever her family’s station allowed her to learn. Unlike Formaroth, women were frowned upon to learn how to combat since they were much more fragile compared to the male gender. Court dancing, sewing, and other more mild forms of quiet etiquette were expected. Everything Dyril learned was taught to her within her family estate which for much of her childhood became her prison. Never once was she allowed to explore the various areas within the city they lived in and her inherited curiosity often pawed at her in daydreams. This wasn’t the only thing she had come to accept in her life. Her family, uncles to aunts and numerous cousins, all made it clear what she was: a blight on their bloodline. A shame that never should’ve been born. Naturally being exposed to such cruelty, Dyril fell to the background and learned to keep her voice to herself until she became an adult.

At the age of nineteen, she became exposed to her first social gathering. It was in honor of her Aunt Duvainil who had become married to another Patrician senator and the ceremony was to make their relationship publically known. To hide Dyril’s human heritage, her fingers and hands were wrapped in cloth and were claimed to be ‘damaged’ due to her father’s unsavory lineage. This also did well to explain her other odd features that were beyond being hidden. Whenever she arrived, one of her family was never too far from her. They ensure she never spoke of her human father and even spoke for her, blocking any attempts to glean information from the younger elven woman. Most the time they gave a snooty air about it.

Around the age of twenty-one, she learned her mother’s old slave Shinx had been bred and expected a new kit in six months. Surprisingly, Dyril found herself worried over the new kit’s arrival and how much attention it would steal from her. For years, she had Shinx’s full attention on her and now something threatened it. However, deep inside she knew Shinx would not last forever and eventually she would need to replace her. If she rejected Kiseo, it would not only hurt Shinx but likely Dyril's family would give her an incompetent and nearly dead slave. That idea was less appealing than taking the risk.

Knowing she had little choice, Dyril sought out only one in the household who would faintly listen to her: Faron, her cousin.

The male, only older than her by a few years, sneered upon her request for an additional slave. He assigned an elderly and well beaten one named Lini to assist Shinx. The persian markings along Lini’s fur was maimed by numerous wounds thanks to burning to vicious beatings which was something that Shinx lacked.

A few months later, Raton had gotten in contact with Doroka Hawk and his company of mercs. Many of the soldiers had also been stationed on the outskirts of their farming property during their services and naturally, her curiosity swelled enough she couldn’t help but investigate. That’s when she met Claus Rotstein, a brash and boastful individual that happened to spy her stalking him one day. This was likely the first time she learned about humans as her interest over her own heritage became sparked the more she learned. She was fortunately enough to have learned the basic speak of humans, thanks to her family’s requirements, but she still had difficulty in making it flow naturally and had to pause to think about how to phrase her words sometimes.

This continued off and on until Raton discovered the pair during her first lesson in combat. The grandfather had been looking for Hawk when he overheard Dyril’s loud cry and the sound of a bow falling to the ground. As the elder elven man entered the doorway, his eyes narrowed and jaw set at the sight of her nursing a hurting wrist. She had let go of the bow too soon and it clipped her hand causing Claus to examine it for serious injury. With a loud, furious bark Raton summoned a no longer pregnant Shinx to the room then had the Mao usher them both back to Dyril’s quarters. What happened between them, Dyril still doesn’t know but it resulted in her being locked in her room or escorted everywhere, something that gradually tapered off over the years.

When she became twenty-eight, she had been mostly left to her own devices now. During her free time, which she had much of, she began to research and question family on her father’s side. From those who believed knowing the truth would degrade her new found determination, she learned about Henry Mazeltof and the events in Ralda. This also included her mother’s original plan to use her in tilting the favor of gain with the trading negotiations. It was a harsh thing for her to learn which took some time to accept, her desire to learn of her father assisted in distracting her mind and hurt emotions.

By this time, Kiseo had matured in the following years and been helping her mother in attending Dyril.

At first the younger Elf had difficulty in accepting the leopard cat patterned Mao, her jealousy and greed for attention conflicted with Shinx’s desperation for her young daughter to be accepted as her one day replacement. Out of all her family, Dyril was the only individual that treated her slaves with a fair merit of respect while many slaves of her family members were left broken, maimed, or worse.

There was one thing that finally won over the Elven woman’s heart, Kiseo’s gentle and empathic nature. It was something that Dyril had never been exposed to and in that moment, Kiseo was hers. Three years before their departure, Raton caught wind of Dyril’s conversations with Saeldir over their trade business. His reaction was as expected and in a sad turn of events, Shinx was the victim of it. The elderly Mao, about forty now, had been delivering a message to Saeldir over Dyril’s plans for the upcoming voyage when her path crossed Raton’s. Infurious with the fact his daughter’s shame was aiming to interfere with their family trade, he began to take his anger out on the Mao and took the message from her. Shinx died of her injuries hours later.

When Saeldir send another message inquiring about the voyage plans, Dyril quickly concluded that Shinx had been delayed or stop causing the pair to investigate. Finding the Mao, broken and tossed away, hurt the woman more than she expected as she spotted Kiseo literally break down and cry. Worried about her image in passing, Dyril quickly held the younger slave then ushered the Mao into an alley to console the sorrow and hide her own tears. Interesting enough, that was the final nail in her tolerance for her grandfather.

In about three years, she quickly made arrangements thanks to Saeldir for departure to Formaroth.

Skills:

• Basic Etiquette: Being raised in higher society, Dyril was raised in the similar fashion as her female relatives. Through primary that was to ensure she didn’t mess up or create an ignorant for her family’s image. She knows how to conduct herself within a court, through she lacks a bit of knowledge on Formaroth’s customs which can easily be corrected.
• Translator: She knows how to read, write and speak numerous languages. This ranges from those in Formaroth to the conquered worlds within the Elven Imperium. Most her basic within Formaroth is thanks to interaction with Claus and his men.
• Sewing: Basic sewing as she had spent several hours learning to decorate tapestry pieces for subtle displays in her room.
• Court Dancing: She was expected to properly dance, through this is mainly in Elven fashion. She doesn’t know any Formaroth dances but with some time and practice, she could easily adapt to be able to perform them at a decent level.
• Harp Musician: Dyril is an elegant player of the harp. With this being her main activity aside from reading, sewing and other required skills for a lady, she has become rather good at playing it. The calluses of her fingers, through a bit faded, indicate she practiced rather vigorously over the years.
• Natural Talent with Crossbow: However, she’s not been able to or had any teachers willing to increase her skills in this area. This has made her remain at the novice or lower level, but she does get the lucky shot even so often. Over time, and with practice, her shot might become rather lethal.
• Good Memory: Dyril has learned to keep track of what others say with a keen memory and often uses it to determine if they are lying to her when facts don’t match up. It also makes it easier to recall when someone has wrong or owes her a favor.
• Novice Manipulator: While her heart, honestly, isn’t in it, Dyril’s ability to lie, coax, and even negotiate has grown over the years she’s worked with her Uncle Saeldir. However when compared to those have been doing longer than three years, she’s rather new to it.
• Elven Trader: In order to have some worth in Formaroth, Dyril had to learn the ins and outs of trading through her Uncle Saeldir. Was fortunate enough the Elven man wanted to step down from trading as he hated dealing with humans. However, he knew how badly it could damage their family reputation if they ceased it completely. Upon offering to take his place, he eagerly trained her into the worth of things and what risks were best. She doesn’t have the experience Saeldir did, but she isn’t the little novice she might appear to be.
  -Saeldir has made sure Raton can’t influence her trade ability… for now.
• Magical Examiner: While Dyril doesn’t know how to cast magic, she has regularly dealt with mandrakes, items and potions for the trading business. This has given her an interesting insight and more knowledge than most non casters. After spending a good portion of time with an item (A few days), she is able to tell the bare essentials over it including: if an object is truly magical, the enchantment’s quality and what it does on a baseline level. However since she’s not a mage, she’s only able to get a general sense rather than gritty details.

NPCS:

Name:
Given- Kiseo no last name
Names given by Nobility- Slave, Servant, Cat, Animal, etc. (need I really list them all?)
Nick to Allies and Friends- Seo (primarily to hid from her masters it’s her preferred name)
Title- Personal Slave of Híril Dyril.

Age: 11 years ( Felines mature faster, the ratio is about 1.5x faster than humans making her look about a little more than 17 years.)

Gender: Female

Sexual Orientation: This is an unknown factor for her, purely since interaction in areas of intimacy without express permission is forbidden and often punished. Through it is, Kiseo is taught by her masters she is suppose to be attracted to purely males. This is because a union of opposite sexes will produce kits and eventually added to the population of other enslaved rather than explore the aspect of love. Unknown to her, she does in reality swing both ways, but unless someone nudges this then it won’t be realised.

Position: (In Formaroth) Attendant to Dyril Elian.

Personality:

Invert Personality

Kiseo’s behavior and carefully chosen words give the impression she’s very shy and timid as an individual. While it is true she’s invert when it comes to her personality, she far from shy about meeting people. This side of her often shows only in private and when given permission to speak by Dyril. Though she knows she’s no longer a slave, Kiseo still acts submissive to her Elven mistress as deep down she knows if abandoned then she will likely not last very long on her own.

Curious and Observant

Unable to feed her curious and desire to learn new things by asking questions, Kiseo has learned to be watchful and listen to what interests her. Her mind trained to gleam whatever she can from the subject then make educational explanations. When permitted, which is rare, Kiseo’s excitement can get the better of her causing her to forget her place and embarrass Dyril by hurting the hybrid’s image. On these few occasions, she has been punished with a few light lashes over her bare back but it was nothing compared to past experiences. Since the Mao has learned to curb her need for answers to merely sneaking hidden looks, studying and listening in order to make accurate assumptions. She will adjust when she learns something new however so none of her information is set in stone ever.

Compassion and Protectiveness

Kiseo is a deeply compassionate Mao ever since birth, despite the harsh reality of her status. At first, she cared and watched the young kits under her care with a ferocious protectiveness from the danger of their surroundings. For many she was like a mother they never had as she attended their wounds and even shepherd them from the cliff overlooking the river and sea. Gradually when she became Dyril’s personal slave, her compassion started to flip gears to her mistress’. It only grew after her mother’s telling of how Dyril’s life really was. Most slaves assumed all the Elven masters lived in luxury and paradise, but for Dyril that was only partly true.

Over time, Kiseo began to admire how strong she viewed Dyril against her family’s attempts to tear her down and mentally torment her. However, the Mao knew those chains still existed and there was only one way to fully free her. After Shinx died, Kiseo made a promise to herself that she would help her mistress to find a place she could be anchored and severe her ties to her past. However, in order to do that it was Kiseo’s job to ensure that Dyril survived until then. The slave learned quickly how to appear uninterested, keep her head down, and casually act while listening in order to warn Dyril of unsuspected danger. Through she has her doubts her tactics would hold much assistance here.

Note: I’m still figuring her out so her personality might change and I’ll update if needed. Personality sections are really hard for me.

Weaknesses:

Low Pain Tolerance, Easily Bruised and Fear of Pain- Kiseo fears and can’t stand intense pain. When struck harshly by anything with intention to make her bleed, she can’t stop herself from flinching in reaction. She will not fight back as she’s not taught to, her eyes watering and the punishment seared into her memory. She easily bruises through they are often hidden under her blotchy pattern coat and unless you’ve seen her in her prime, you might never know it. When threat of pain comes with a gesture, or even one resembling it when someone is angry, she will automatically brace herself and assume it will happen.

Low Birth- Due to her low standings, Kiseo has very low confidence about changes in her future and in her own value. This means if she is abused, hurt, or otherwise insulted then she will often take the path of least resistance rather than seek justice for wrongs against her. Especially against those of higher station than herself. After all, she is taught she is purely property from the very beginning and have no rights to protest against how those of higher birth treat her. Though she knows deep down, she is far luckier than most slaves in the household.

Sticking Out Like A Sore Thumb- Kiseo has been pulled into the game of espionage by her mistress, Dyril, in recent few years. While in the Elven Lands she was one of many, here Kiseo faces a greater challenge that she’s never encountered before: She’s literally one of a kind here. While Dyril is the minority, Kiseo is literally the only Mao that has crossed over Elven Imperial Lands and into Formaroth where slavery is outlawed.

Weak in Strength- Kiseo, like others of her species, aren’t raised and bred for heavy labor. Due to her life time of performing lighter tasks like cooking, cleaning, climbing into high places, and other similar tasks, her strength is lacking. At max and with some some notable stress, she can deadlift about 80 lbs (average human beginner for her size, about 119 lbs) for a small time. This makes things a bit difficult should something much heavier get into her way.

Language Barrier- Kiseo wasn’t raised to understand human language in Formaroth and while she has little trouble understanding it, actually talking in it is another hurdle for her. A big issue and difference is the fact that Formaroth puts the subject as first and most important in the sentence. For Mao’s, their native language focuses on the topic, often placing it first to indicate its importance, leaving out key words, and uses description to fill in details. In addition to their verbal speech, her hands, feet and even tail will move out of habit since they include a crude but elegant sign language to their speech in order to further understanding. Here’s an example of how the structure varies, with both placed in English:

“Hello, my name is Kiseo. Would you like curry and eggs for breakfast, mistress? And will you be eating in your room too?”- Basic Formaroth

“Name Kiseo, hello. Curry and eggs for breakfast, you like, mistress? Eat in your room too?”- Kiseo in her attempt to speak basic Formaroth *

Biological

While she has strengths that humans don’t, she also has weaknesses in them. These are listed alongside her biological skills since it’s easier when separating them for me because a strength often creates a weakness if a condition is met.

Appearance:

Physical



Kiseo is a Máoróngrōng which is a race of feline semi-digitigrade creatures both similar and different from humans. Like humans, she stands upright at 7’5” in overall height and weighs at a reasonable 119 lbs. She has two arms, legs, torso, and longer hair upon her head. There’s also five digit hands which are made for gripping, manipulating, and more. Her eyes are in a similar position through they are slightly more slanted compared to humans, colored ember in the irises. The pupil can slit or expand depending on the light source’s intensity, ensuring she can see most of the time. Brown hair that’s slightly lighter is highlighted with yellow streaks and kept at shoulder length, often pulled back into a short fish braid. Whatever short strands that escape the braid are shooting up in a slightly spiky fashion giving the appearance of messy and unkept bangs.

Here is where the feline distinctions come in. Her ‘skin’ is actually fine yellowish brown fur covered with lanceolated, black spots much like a leopard's’ along her sides. Along her neck, mouth and inside of her limbs are lined and colored white to contrast with her outside fur. She walks on her toes with retractable claws on her both her feet and hands. There’s also cushioning pads along her palms and fingertips, while they are on her toes, ball and heel of her foot. From the tip of her tail bone are additional vertebrae which create a tail about the length of her slender torso which is hardly easy to ignore since its tip is usually swishing side to side.

Her face holds the most obvious and alien characteristics, which blend human and feline facial features together in a sharp and elegant way. The shape is slightly diamond like giving it a long and sharp appearance but reasonable width compared to Elven kind. Her nose tip is closer to her lips giving her a bit of downward curve profile with the top of the nose bridge indented less than the average human. Her ears are rounder with a white spot over each, resting at the sides of her head. However, they are able to rotate forward, up, down and a bit backwards to catch any sounds that surround them.



Clothing

When Kiseo was still a slave, her garb was molest and simple due to the nature of her status. While Elven servants were given worn hand downs to reflect their position in the household, most indoor Mao were bred for living decoration and quick service skills. Like many that worked in the home, she often wore a simple wrap on her upper torso covering from her underarms to the bottom of her breasts and specially designed loin cloth that came to mid thigh. The basic materials are designed to show as much fur as possible without exposing any unwanted gender identification. Due to their long tail, the rear flap was often split in order to allow free movement. She was one of the lucky ones that didn’t have their tails severed into a bob because it was an annoyance.

The most clothing she owned was a linen shirt and simple pants without shoes. Through they are in decent condition for her status, they do have both dirt, food and other stains from her rare work in the fields and the kitchen. The fields were harsh because of the elements so the slaves, in order to make them last longer, were often given a linen shirt and pants every year to protect them. They were used in the kitchen to prevent their fur in certain places and from shedding into the prepared dishes.

Background:
Notes: House slaves: 25 avg, due to extreme abuse while field slaves lived up to 40 avg. Dyril’s slaves lived much longer due to better care, extending their lifespan much closer to a natural life span of 60+ years.

Keep in mind, Mao age at about 1.4 faster than humans which means her bio will cover less years and one year will cover more than one when it comes to physical/mental aging.

Kiseo, like many Mao, was born into slavery. There was no pre budding commitment or love between her mother, Shinx, and the stranger that sired her. In truth, Kiseo’s knowledge of him was pretty simple: he was the one she got her coat pattern from and he was a slave of another Elven Patrician branch. The union was arranged by Hír Raton through a minor sum strictly to replenish their Mao slave stock and possibly acquire a pretty fur pattern for display. The more exotic the coat, the more like it would be admired and easily hid the abuse many slaves suffered day to day.

For the first three years, Kiseo would be blissfully ignorant of this fact like all kits of that age.

After being born in 492 AR, she was allowed to remain with her mother for about a month. This was considered unusual for most slaves since the masters often required they become useful quickly. Oddly enough, it was by Dyril’s orders that Shinx care for Kiseo rather than wean her within the week. This was likely the primary reason Kiseo was considered healthier as an infant. While Shinx cared for her child, Lini, an elder Mao, replaced her during her allowed recovery period. When the month expired, young Kiseo was passed from her mother’s arms into others to be cared for in Shinx’s absence. Not being weaned yet, she sustained on rice milk, gruel, and porridge for the next two months. Though she had about three weeks more of her mother’s milk compared to the others, the substitutes still lacked the needed nutrition for her early development and gradually slowed it. She couldn’t run until the year 493 AR, her appearance close to a very thin three year old.

Theirs lives, while mostly work, had its moments of imagination. The children’s primary responsibility was to help the too far crippled with the tiny garden outside their assigned hut, their primary source of food for meals in the summer. It was during this time, Kiseo became attached to an older kit Ferat who shared the bamboo hut with her and about ten others. Ferat was a young, leopard Mao with pretty pattern coat and a shy nature. Through she was only older by one year, she seemed very observant and began to teach this to Kiseo over time.

Limited in resources, Kiseo, Ferat, and the other kits learned to use their surroundings and imaginations to great effect. They often made a game out of the harsh realities by putting on pretend auctions or working under a ‘master’. Sticks to rocks, anything was free game for a toy in their minds. They played ‘lily pad’ (think a crude hopscotch game) to skimming rocks across the drinking ponds and created dolls or quills to draw shapes in the dirt. Throughout the day, about two minor meals with a large meal at the end of it. On holidays they enjoyed a wild fish master Raton Elian allowed them to keep from the sea, but the size was always pitiful, unable to feed all the hungry mouths in the hut. This forced a few volunteers to gave their rations, in turns, up for the younger ones.

Time changes things and as she got older, her observant nature quickly began to break through the illusion of childhood happiness. By this time, she was considered three and the overwatcher of the younger kits still naive in their lives. She began to notice a pattern that whenever a kit reached the age of four, a month later they would become absent from the group. This pattern started to bother her over time since her own fourth birthday was coming close.

The night Ferat didn’t return to the kit group, Kiseo laid wide awake in her bed. She heard the field slaves trudge in, like normal, and begin to pull the herb pail from the corner. Without thinking, Kiseo quickly twisted about in her small space on the floor as she heard a familiar voice break through the snoring. It was Ferat, sobbing, as she turned her back to the older tiger Mao. With the night version gifted to her by her race, Kiseo pressed her hands over her mouth to muffle a horrified squeak. All along the leopard patterned back were numerous scars glistening with fresh blood. Her linen shirt was shredded while the Mao began to apply a paste, crushed within his paw with a rock, then traced each vivid line causing Ferat to recoil in pain and bit upon her linen’s sleeve to stifle her cry.

Shocked by the sight, Kiseo couldn’t pull her eyes way as she drifted slowly to sleep. It was her first hint of reality, but she didn’t fully understand it.

When her fourth birthday hit, it should’ve been a day of joy and modest celebration even when forgotten dread lingered in her heart. Being a slave, hardships never hit when individuals were prepared for it. Watching the newest kits, about six, she caught sight of one of the field slaves dragging what she assumed was a sack toward the master’s property edge. It was too far to determine details, a fact she would’ve been glad for, as she went back to her own given task. Later that day, she learned the elder Mao Lini had gone from this world. It didn’t take her long to recall that scene and knew it was proof that their lives matter little to their masters and were easily replaced.

It was a month later, Kiseo braced for her future. She was quickly surprised when her mother came casually walking toward the hut and mentioned she was there to retrieve her. Since her birth, Kiseo’s interaction with her mother had always been limited to an hour once or thrice a week.

These times weren’t given by the masters, but stolen by her mother in the dead of night when Shinx stole away from the house, down to the hut and took her sleeping place beside Kiseo. While the other slaves knew it was happening, they turned a blind eye to allow the pair their peace together. It was primary by voice, thanks to numerous lullabies, that Kiseo knew her mother at all. So when Shinx requested Kiseo to follow her, naturally the chance to spend time and feed her curiosity was too good to pass up. During their walk, Kiseo learned she would be attending a Híril Dyril who would eventually become her master.

A short, cold bath in the sea cleansed her of any filth or external parasites before they made their way into the house. That bath made weekly turned out to be one of many expected requirements. At first, the tasks were small and things she could already do well. Fetching water, supplies, meals and more often left her feet blistered, sore and cracked on the pads. Even worse, she was often clipped, halted or forced to do other tasks by the rest of the household purely to delay her in serving Híril Dyril. This resulted in her being punished a few times.

While the lashings were only skin deep, Kiseo didn’t like the pain in the least and sought to avoid it. She became smarter about her paths through the household and purposely taking longer detours rather than short cuts. In order to make up the difference, she would push herself harder to speed up. While she still was considered slow, the tactic worked. Eventually Kiseo began to avoid crossing paths with Dyril’s family at all. Over the year, Kiseo learned to show her respect, awe and even loyalty toward her would be new master. Something that filled her mother with pride as it endeared the hybrid Elven toward her.

Kiseo’s fear of pain developed when she seven years old. A young adolescent, her built and height would’ve had many humans mistake her for a young ten or twelve year child, she felt sorrow as she helped Shinx pack for Dyril’s yearly exposure to the Elven affairs. Naturally, her mother would accompany the Híril to attend to her during the trip and leaving Kiseo home.

It was a mistake Dyril would later regret.

About a day after Dyril left, the current mistress of the estate, Duvainil, assigned Kiseo to the main house slaves numbers. For the three months that her master was gone, Kiseo learned what true cruelty was and why many house slaves had numerous scars. One incident stuck out in her mind: the day she was ruthlessly whipped for an accident not even her fault. Faron, the very one that killed Lini, had purposely stepped on her tail and then jerked it back without warning. Trying not to fall into any of her ‘masters’, she immediately dropped the food she was holding and crumbled to the floor, her heart racing at the torment that awaited her. Duvainil frowned deeply then ordered two servants to take her out back where she was tied up to the punishment tree by her arms. Frightened, Kiseo pleaded for forgiveness but her words fell on deaf ears. By the Aunt’s command, about sixty lashes were made across Kiseo’s back. She was left hanging there for hours until a tiger Mao named Ting pulled her down. She was then ushered back to the hut where an elder prepared the healing paste. Ting later left to inform Dyril about what had happened.

What occurred between the young mistress and her Aunt, Kiseo had never found out. All she knew was that later that day, Shinx came to retrieve her and then took her into the house. In the kitchen, Dyril was waiting patiently for the pair. When Kiseo noticed her, the child immediately hit the ground and whimpered her apologies in a desperate voice. Tears fell from her eyes while she braced for the worst. It didn’t come as Dyril leaned down and helped Kiseo to her feet, her five digit grip firm but gentle. With a simple gesture, the Mao was pulled into a chair where Dyril motioned for Shinx to clean and wrap the wounds. This would be one of a few rare, caring actions Dyril would perform during her life.

The next time was when her mother was killed and she learned how much Shinx truly meant to the half elf. Fear had tilted and raged in her heart when the news about Shinx’s absence reached them. It wasn’t like her mother as both of them knew. Without a bit of nudging, Kiseo dressed Dyril for travel then placed on her linen shirt, pants and even a hand-me-down cloak of itchy material before they left for the docks. It was an hour later when the older Mao was found.

She was discarded under the docks with her neck broken and tilted at an odd angle. Kiseo was the first to find her in the grim twilight of the dawn. The horror and sorrow to her heart over the loss broke her down immediately as she cradled the lifeless corpse.

Any other master would’ve beaten her into submission then sent her home, but Dyril lowered herself and pulled Kiseo upright. Gently, Dyril guided them both from the open area into a local back alley hidden from view. After they finally became hidden from sight, her mistress allowed her to sob uncontrollably. Her own tears covered the ones the Elf was holding inside herself. When both females had composed themselves once more, they both knew how it happened and who had done this. It was a deep motivation to Kiseo to begin to take over her mother’s duty and help pass letters between Dyril and Saeldir. Over the course of the next few years, she began to help Dyril by assisting in her research, delivering letters, and other smaller tasks for her owner. Every bit was critical toward their trip to meet the Mazeltof and across the sea.

Skills:

• Farm Experience: Very limited, but she does know how to grow and tend to mandrakes in the fields. This is usually only to get them to sprout and keep them healthy, but if they fall ill due to disease or need harvested… she won’t be much help.
• Able to Read and Write: This is primary Elven, Mao, and quite a bit of basic human. All taught out of need, rather than by allowance, purely because she is made to write out numerous things for her master and assist in the research over Dyril’s family in the last past three years.
• Cooking: The Mao, due to her requirement to take of her mistress, has been educated to cook primary Elven dishes.
• Mending Clothing: Is an excellent seamstress when it comes to repair, altering and other basics in clothing care.
• Language: Kiseo understands the language used by Formaroth, but speaking it is another matter. This allows her to eavesdrop and spy in a fashion that most might not realize, most the information being pulled back to her master for Dyril’s own personal use later on.
• Fast Runner: Being the only slave to Dyril, an Elf of many needs, Kiseo has learned to be fast and to navigate her path in the best possible way. Through most types of terrain, through when it comes to a run of endurance, she often falls behind the more athletic humans.
  
  
  
  • Spell: Metal Skin
    
    This spell makes an individual's flesh become as hard as steel armor for a limited time, gaining resistance to non magical piercing and slashing damage.
    
    Duration: 1 hour
    Classification: Restoration
    Range: Individual
    Concentration: Yes
    Limitations: This spell requires active focus and concentration from the user, which means that any action done to cause distraction has a chance -50/50- to cancel out the effect early. This spell doesn't protect against internal wounds such as internal bleeding, broken bones and other related wounds caused by high power impacts. Included and not limited to bludgeoning weapons, crossbow bolt (won’t penetrate, but hurt) and other weapons that able to hit with the same impact force.
    
    Notes: I have a method to keep track of this during use, but a great deal of if stops or continues will depend on the scene, story and other factors.

Biological Traits

• Flexible and Agility: Being a Mao, her feline traits give her advance flexibility by allowing her to dislocate her collarbone and squeeze into tight spaces most humans can’t. However it falls short of domestic cats ability making it difficult to fit her body into anything smaller than about 1/2 her shoulder width, mainly since her clavicle isn’t free floating or she couldn’t lift anything in her arms above her head.
• Balance: With her tail, she’s got excellent balance when darting across narrow bridges or areas as well as able to twist her body about on her feet when falling from high heights (about 7 m max). The bad part… her tail can get in the way of things if she’s not watchful.
• Claws: Retractable claws are noted on her fingers and feet, but they are primarily for climbing, delicate manipulations, and minor self defense rather than any sort of decent combat weapon.
• Silent Walking: Mao, when bare foot, are silent in their walking. Unless it’s on very weak floorboards or you strain to listen, you likely won’t hear when Kiseo walks up and stands beside you. Another thing to note, her movements in her attempt to be quiet are often slow and cautious as she still can make a sound if careless. So she’s not going to be running while using this skill.
• Higher Hearing: Higher hearing than humans, her ears about to rotate and can pick up faint sounds often missed by humans. While not as high as felines, her ears still are sensitive to extremely loud sounds. An example is the clashing of swords. Any similarly loud sounds will briefly hurt her ears, causing her to flinch in discomfort, distract or make her go temporarily deaf.
• Night Vision: Kiseo has limited night vision up to twenty feet, making her nearsighted in almost complete darkness. Everything is displayed in black and white making details like color hard to determine. Anything beyond the twenty feet is a complete, unreadable blur to her and straining will not help. In addition, unexpected or warned flashes or light will temporarily blind and hurt her depending on the exposure time and harshness. So say you stick fire in her sight suddenly when her eyes are in night time form, she won’t see anything for a good minute or more until her eyes readjust from the sudden change (varies with how long).

*_{Keep in mind, I’m trying and it might not be an accurate attempt to mimic a foreign Chinese individual trying to speak broken English. However, it should get the gist across.}