Registration of Current Nobles
The Name of the Noble: Ti'Dama Noire
The House of which said noble belongs: Noire
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Current Age of said Noble: 23
House History: The House of Noire is one of the elder Houses achieving their status seven generations ago. Not that there was much hope for it in the first place as the lands granted to Ti'dama's ancestor were worthless. An apparent reward for the minor vassal for provide an adequate cure for the ailing wife of another ranked member of the court who happened to have the king's ear. If only that marriage was happy one..but that is a tale for another time. So her ancestor took her people to the mysterious Riene Swamp, a place few dared wander beyond for it was notorious for sudden fog stealing away the path to home and its wildlife was not exactly friendly. Yet her House found wealth in the lands; not material, but in knowledge. New herbs for salves and 'potions' were discovered as were the uses of natural secretions of webbed frogs..well after some tampering. It became common knowledge a dying traveler would seek out the inhabitants of this land in hopes of catching a glimpse of a vine covered hovel for their final cure or..grave.
Noire would rise in fame for their medicinal talents from common salves to ward off pesky bugs to oral pastes to fight off setting infections within the body. Their infamy in some circles began after several caravans vanished in their waters in which the ruling woman at time raised her brows with a stout response that those that do not know their waterways need a guide or be swallowed by the land itself. In common terms pay their people for safe passage or find yourself as nutrients for their ancient mangroves. Friendly and warm weren't exactly trademarks of her House after that event, preferring to keep the company of nature or their own folk. Like the nightly fog that settled over the swamp water, rumors swirled about her House's frigid nature as medical experimentation began as her House strove to fight against that eternal enemy..Death. All it took was the plain dance of a rat's corpse to send a shutter down a visitor's spine before the skinned corpse walked itself into a boiling pot to made into stew. Missing ligaments once the obvious result of a snapping turtle became questioned as healers crossed lines between the world of the living and the dead..for a price. It was her own Grandmother that drove off daring raiders utilizing her own men hidden among the trees with poison spears and an extraordinary large water serpent defending it's home from beyond grave. It's skin lies as an honor behind the family's seat of power.
Gods have little place in their House as her family has found answers only in Nature and Death. Offerings of water lilies and woven reeds were occasionally made to the Swamp as thanks..or sweet powders that made the birds sing in ecstasy. While Death has mere candles lit of expensive wax or sap for the less able. Eventually a practice developed as children came of age; the act of mixing one's own blood, venom from water serpent fangs and placed on the recently slaughtered carcass of a toad. The venom has a strange effect on the two blood types congealing it into an almost tar-like substance..a simple needle used for the rest of the process. A toxic substance that excites the blood vessels causing them to appear more prominent appearing in brilliant colors of greens, purples and for her House..golds. The chosen marks are used as displays of personality, status and most importantly marriage status. Black ink means single and unattached, while upon marriage it is covered the colors of the two partners in a bonding ceremony. The only problem miscalculating the amount of venom used in the combined inks can result in a bonding ceremony turning into a funeral quickly. Superstitions that a partner must be honest, loving and above all loyal to their partner in all aspects of life or else Death will steal their love away from them. A failed bonding ceremony can result in immense distrust in the surviving partner, possibly ending their bloodline.
Nature, Death and the Swamp are the rulers of this land..and House Noire accepts that..Outsiders beware the Fog.
House Banner
Lands and Ownership: Her House rules the swampland of the Rienes Swamp, as vast as any woodland one can imagine. In simplest terms one can imagine the lands as three separate rings or layers. Their main food sources come from the swamp in the form of meat -Don't ask what it is-, roots and the few crops able to grow on lifted platforms. The outermost ring of Keile (Port) composed on the fringes of the swamp as murky waters become clearer merging into the Sines river. A major trade hub for the inhabitants as exotic salves, foodstuffs and stories come from this port, while nothing impressive compared to coastal ports it suits them just fine. Here to where you can find a willing guide or two to lead wayward travelers into the deeper Leik Rim. Leik (Barracks) is the second ring as well as the most feral portion of the swamp; the best protection are the wagon-sized canoes utilized by the folk of the land. It's slow going as the poles crawl forward, but it's better than taking chances of soggy land spits passing by. Looking up you can occasionally see a sign of civilization; guard outposts as men and women spend their time watching the waters below or seeking a target. Spear and bow are their weapons of choice as why not utilize the poisonous wildlife?
The last ring is Tikm (City) as civilized as these lands are as make-shift bridges connect on the murky water all leading to the center of the Rienes Swamp. Common citizens live in housing among the mangroves, each residence having a small bridge of stone or wood connecting to the center. Floating platforms are here and there growing rice and other suitable crops. In its middle is the Slene Mangrove the oldest living thing in the entire Reines Swamp. It's boroughs are as wide as a hovel allowing carts to easily cross them and support their weight. Make-shift stairs wind about the vast trunk as shops and living quarters alike are built out from the tree on platforms. While the ruling House of Noire calls home in a vast two-story home with the vines of the tree falling about it like a rampaging waterfall. Moss covers the old wooden panels as elders exhale strange colored smoke observing the going on of life beneath their feet. The actual hall of the House isn't anything too impressive compared to more..civilized ruling Houses, but it has an air of respect about it. Cobblestone flooring and wood intermingle as a light haze of smoke seems is a fixture as men and women of medical persuasion discuss, barter and grumble over the day's business. Advisers to the ruling head of the House..or mere pests depending on the day. It's here missing ligaments are seen, a pinky, a toe or extreme scarring..all proudly visible. The flesh is not ashamed of as garments made of reeds and such; the wealthy can afford to barter for finer furs of land bound beasts having lost value due to damage..but still worthwhile to these independent people.
Strangers regarded with suspicious eyes and hushed voices by the elders, while barefooted children scamper about them either contemplating if the stranger could swim in their murky swamp or would be willing to share a tale from their own lands. While the Hunters and Trappers of Leik a bit too boisterous and aggressive to impress elders or peers, challenging visitors to dangerous games of knifes or tasting poison. Of late, the Hall has become a bit noisier as Ti'Dama has insisted on trying to set-up an aviary of sorts for Swamp Cranes in a futile effort of some sort on the adjacent section.
-A minor village-
Autobiographical Knowledge: Born as the only child to Lord Wen and Lady Ikle; it was an understatement to say Ti'Dama's early life shadowed with security. Smaller families and miscarriages are common in the Reines Swamp as disease carrying insects do not discriminate from pregnant or a sickly babe. So Ti'Dama found herself confined to the vast branches of the Slene Mangrove never touching the water that seemed to calling to her. The traditional arts of salves were beyond dull to her much to the despair of her tutors having to constantly call her attention from a flock of passing by cranes. Nature was calling to the young heir..and her parents couldn't keep her confined as she grew. Bare feet brushed against the moss-covered roots of the mangroves as Ti'Dama tracked the furred and scaled alike armed with a single quill and drawing implements. Sketches of beasts soon covered her quarters as she began seeking the mysteries of magic..despite its' risks. It was her sickly mother that encouraged this inquisitive venture as her own body marred and blessed by magic. Her mother had been the first in a longtime to be blessed with Beast's Soul..taking the skin of her Mark of a Dragonfly. Despite her fragile body, the Lady of Noire had given birth to what would be a talented Witch.
Years flew by without a second thought as Ti'Dama trained under reclusive Witches making their homes in the Leik Ring away from prying eyes. Tongues of man intermingled the harsher call of beasts as she could only listen unable to reply. Mammals seemed more keen to speak compared to the colder voices of reptiles, shy creatures it seemed. Now if the beasts understood her own response varied after swallowing various concoctions of bitter herbs and beast blood. Unfortunately these demonstrations could lead to headaches without aid of consuming such concoctions. While she was less successful when it came to the temperamental magic of Elementalism managing only minor control over a vine or creating a small ring of fog for a limited time. Her hands became scarred from the backlash leaving leaf-like patterns up to her wrists. The offering of blood seems to appease the fickle magic making her reluctant to use it beyond an emergency.
It was upon her coming of age ceremony that her Beast Skin called to her. As the ink burned into her skin forming her Mark on her back of her House's sigil. A Crane about to take flight from the murky swamp it called home. It was a strange request for someone to make feathered patterns in the corners of her eyes, but who was the inker to question her. It was utter agony for Ti'Dama the following days as the venom burned in her blood..changing obsidian irises into golden orbs. It was after this experience, she insisted upon the beginning construction of her Crane aviary as the varied colored birds settled in their platform pond free to come and go as they pleased. Fishes stocked for their feed as the birds became a common sight in the mangrove..as was the naked form of Ti'Dama much to the displeasure of the Elders clucking their tongues at her display.
Chicks curious about their constant companion would leave little trinkets of their own from shiny rocks, flowers and silver minnows. Ti' Dama graciously accepted the gifts storing them in her own quarters, an odd behavior as her companions noticed the young woman becoming more withdrawn and quiet. It was only the display of her legs that caused alarm as black banded scars curled around her legs as her frantic handwaving did nothing to deter the healers from prodding at them. Magic was the cause of the scarring as the rough new voice of Ti'Dama explained her attempt to take the skin of Crane..she had only managed her legs so far turning them into the scaled pole-like legs of the avian creatures. Only for a small amount of time until the magic backfired leaving her with the scars. Her mother clucked her for a short time before providing her with an enchanted necklace that passed down throughout their House to lessen the backlash of her Chosen Magic.
Five years have passed since that day while the severe scarring on her hands and legs remain. Other effects have begun as her nails became as black as coal and pointed like a Crane's talon. Her bones have become more fragile as she has found out after accidentally falling from a tree resulting in a fractured foot despite it not being too far a drop. This sudden fragility has led to her aggressive rejection of suitors knowing that the child-bed could lead to her death or crippling. Still the rewards have been beyond as she finds herself speaking the tongue of birds and assuming her Crane skin with ease. Now she looks for a more stable Skin to counteract her fragility..if Magic works in her favor. Marriage is far from her mind, but she knows that it is expected as her duty..unless all her suitors are driven off by her nature. Or so she hopes..
Portrait: 
