Domain Name: The Grand Realm of Drevilna Under Ownership of the Great House of Vyapult, also known as Drevilna-under-Vyapult for shorthand. Typically interchangeable with "Frostmark", and many don't bother making the distinction.

Location: The Frostmark, most prominently its largest region to the West of the Great Bastion Mountains, bordered and protected by these mountains to the East, and to the Farwater River on the West.

Domain Summary: Drevilna-under-Vyapult is considered one of the larger territories in Adanion, with quite a wide horizontal range and perhaps the most vast vertical range of any realm, supported by a system of rivers flowing from the mountains and bordering the land on its East and West sides. At these bounds, the land is prime territory for farmland, well protected by both geography and military force; yet within are a variety of forest trees ranging from deciduous forests further down, indeed marking the realm's lower bound and supporting this idea with border fortresses stationed within the treelines, whilst further North the trees gradually transition to evergreens, then pines, before the cold grows too much even for these and the land turns to nigh-uninhabitable tundra - in theory under the control of House Vyapult, in practice under the control of none but nature itself, only ventured into for the sake of hunting certain animals.

Major Holdings:
Farwater River, plus additional tributary streams and rivers - The river and associated tributaries bounding Drevilna to its West and South, its rapid growth from accumulation of meltwater is such that even shortly after the northernmost tributaries emerge from the lake, it becomes difficult to safely cross with more than perhaps a dozen individuals at a time. It also provides an easy source of fish to support the Frostmark's population, and less obviously helps transport minerals Southward from the lake, fertilising the land and, with substantial effort, rendering the regions along its coast somewhat better suited for farming extremely hardy crops and supporting a small number of livestock, though its primary provision remains fishing.
Supporting this hold, three bridge-keeps persist on it, providing easy passage across as well as heftily-guarded points in key locations: Severoreka, providing passage to the Mistlands at the point where the river tributaries merge before splitting into Splitstream and Farwater; Yugoreka, offering entrance into the Crownmark just before the Farwater River merges with the Great Bastion's tributaries at the Frostmark's Southernmost point; and Lesreka, relatively close to Yugoreka, but positioned between where the Great Bastion's tributaries merge and where this river then merges into the Farwater proper to grant access to the Arbormark.

D'yavoles Forest - The general name given to the boreal forest encompassing the lower portions of Drevilna. It has been said by some that it is cursed in one way or another, perhaps inhabited by the damned souls who perish within it; whilst it is certainly thick enough to get oneself lost within, it also provides a rich source of wood from various types of evergreen tree, as well as prime hunting grounds for very many animals and foraging material for many sorts of berries and fruits. It is not, however, exclusively owned by House Vyapult, and many other Houses in the Frostmark do draw their wood from this region.

Vyapult Wood - A forest that is House Vyapult's exclusive property. Taking credit from the Frozen Tears, House Vyapult began to "farm" trees from D'yavoles Forest by planting saplings and branch cuttings and carefully managing their growth, an endeavour seen as laughable back at its point of origin. Nowadays, the region around the realm's capital city is rich with woodland under the exclusive ownership of House Vyapult, an asset far greater than many give it credit for, and much more difficult to replicate than other Houses may recognise, much to House Vyapult's ongoing amusement.

Kivhar City - The capital city of Drevilna-under-Vyapult, in that it generally hosts the Grand Duke of the Realm. It is a fairly-sized place toward the Northern edge of Vyapult Wood, combining local lumber with imported stone to produce a uniquely-blended structure of houses and culture. This surrounds the castle Dom-Vyapult, where the Grand Duke of House Vyapult takes residence and diplomats to his domain alike.
The main church of this city consequently stands out like a sore thumb - a blend of white marble and black basalt, The Church of Life and Death espouses amongst the Twin Faith's usual ideals the dual nature of the world as covering both the living and the dead, best represented by the way Vyapult Wood dies at the tundra's edge, perfectly presenting this balance. Not everyone in Kivhar is enthused by this choice of message, but it at least holds water for many.

Azkuzia - A city well to the South-West of the realm, effectively supporting and guarded by the Yugoreka bridge-fort leading toward the Crownmark, and the Lesreka bridge-fort into the Arbormark; if Kivhar City is the political capital, Azkuzia is certainly the mercantile capital, trading out to the rest of Adanion in both native resources and those gained from the Frozen Tears to the far North. To this end, it is a city that blends culture from many other realms, noticeable in how its general aesthetic merges traditional Drevilnan structures closer to the center with increasingly-esoteric designs further out. The local Guild Hall covers much trade for a system of guilds within this city, which ultimately controls every niche in the city.

The Frozen Tears - Interestingly, the Silver City and mountains of the Frozen Tears are at present a functional vassal state under House Vyapult, moreso than would be typical in normal circumstances. More precisely, the leader of the region is to be considered the Duke or Duchess of their realm and head of one Great House Echo by virtue of their unusual natural resources, having sworn fealty to the crown through the High Lords in charge of Drevilna-under-Vyapult.
This renders Drevilna-under-Vyapult in the interesting position of being a technical suzerain, as the Frozen Tears' primary access to the rest of Adanion comes through House Vyapult, but also confers the status entitled to ownership of a Duchy upon House Echo for this. Granted, actual political power is another matter, as due to their isolated position, the Frozen Tears' political strength is effectively that of House Vyapult.

Reputation: The Frostmark's primary reputation is tied to its extremely cold weather. Beyond the northernmost forested reaches, the land is cold and inhospitable, making it difficult to survive within; because of this, it also has a reputation for poverty, the House's wealth historically considered lesser than most others whether or not this holds true.

Wealth: Drevilna-under-Vyapult has some forests available to it, but nowhere near enough to sale to other nations regularly between growth cycles and structure building. Consequently, their economy is reliant in many ways on fur and pelt trading in Winter, and ice harvesting in Summer. Year-round saleable goods include hides suited for leathermaking and the like, river and lake fish preserved with ice, and high-quality lumber acquired from either D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood. Despite their reputation, sales of these things combined with thrifty personal spending have allowed House Vyapult to build up quite reasonable coffers in the last two generations, giving them more economic power than other Houses might give them credit for.

Strength: One might make the case that Drevilna-under-Vyapult's primary defense is its cold environment, which certainly holds true in its more Northern regions, but as both of its largest cities are more Southern, this cold is thus somewhat less of a barricade for those who simply want to claim the area without outright conquering everything. Its true defensive worth lies in its geography - surrounded by wide rivers whose key points of invasion are controlled by fortresses bridging the gaps, Drevilna-under-Vyapult is extremely difficult to invade simply because actually getting into the Frostmark region is an extreme challenge to begin with.
In terms of offensive force, whilst a significant proportion of the realm's defenses are focused at the bridge-forts, this is not to say they cannot make a push outward. A modestly-sized knightly order known as the Frostguard exists within Kivhar City, in theory acting as the last port of call to protect the Frostmarch from its enemies, but in practice acting as elite soldiers within a potential army, should House Vyapult choose to expend its monetary resources in building up levies and mercenary forces alike as the bulk of troops.

Name: Velikynaz Varangyrian VII of House Vyapult, a.k.a. High Lord Varan VII
Titles: Velikynaz - A title that in context translates roughly to "Grand Prince", representing Varangyrian's nature as master of the Frostmark. In practice, he is for all intents and purposes a High Lord.

Description: Well-groomed and handsome, the High Lord's 32 years have presented themselves quite well indeed. One understands from a gaze that he is focused, intelligent, and understanding of the way the world works, traits gained from a lifetime of education both under tutors and in the wider world.


Claimant: Sharles of Bremerant - Comparing Sharles' milder, all-but-tame insights to Anyamara's potential brutality, and her insistence of returning to a "status quo" which by his account has been recently gruesome and lately inept, Varan has thrown himself in with Sharles for the time being.



Reputation: The Velikynaz of Drevilna-under-Vyapult is taken to be a fairly capable individual, no matter the generation. In an environment as varied in scope, and especially as broad-spanning as Drevilna and the Frostmark, one has to be capable to keep the area from falling to pieces. For Varangynian VII, this is no different at all: even in person, one can see his wit and experience at the fore, and it is quite clear to see that he has no trouble with running his realm whatsoever. Not to mention that he could be taken as objectively attractive, despite (or indeed supported by) the scar along one side of his face, though one wonders how he maintains a somewhat darker skin tone despite a relative lack of sunlight.
Indeed, one needs to be a smart person to try and negotiate terms with the native tribe up north - savage as they are, it is thus all the more impressive that he has been able to wring out as many resources from them as possible, all but taming them of their worship of false gods and devils! However, simple as those people are, many have asked why the Great House is so keen to retain these people as vassals, even this subservient position providing implication that they are in any way equal to the truly noble people of Adanion. What, in the end, stops this great man from eradicating them and taking their resources?

"When I ferst laid eyes on Varan, I thought he would be as slow as the rest of the Grand Houses. Yet, he has a curiosity about him that is good. He accepts the knowledge of the People and thatsa good start on our relationships. I do see him having benefits in the future relations with the other Houses. Perhaps the Varan in time can become more than someone who grants us presence in the Marble People Politics, but someone who takes us off the reigns and allows us our own autonomy." - Merta the Echo
The People of the Frozen Tears have a mixed opinion about the current High Lord. Their relationship with House Vyapult has been an odd one: while Vyapult has been kinder to them than, say, some of the other Great Houses, they are uncertain of this uneasy alliance.
But Mertavodah believes that he can ease that uncertainty- he believes that speaking with Varangyrian may lead to better future opportunities. If Varan respects the history their people share; the resources the Frozen Tears have given; the help navigating the terrain; insulating the Drevilnan's homes more effectively; what plants to eat; the uses of minerals and ores... then Varan should respect the alliance that they have. To say they feel uneasy hope from Varangyrian VIII is the best way to put it.

Ambitions: Under normal circumstances, he might be content with simply ruling the Frostmark as his family has for over a century. With what he's learned of himself in mind, and especially the current royal situation, this is no longer so: Varangyrian VII is keen to avoid a potential repeat of his grandparents' execution under King Colyt II, the stress of which likely killed his mother in short order, and he will do about anything to ensure this does not come to pass for him too, although he is keen not to hurt those he considers important in the process.

Aptitudes:
General Logical Intellect - House Vyapult is keen to present its best self to the world, and prides intelligence greatly in this respect. Thus, it has widely been taken that of each generation of siblings and cousins, it is the most capable who will claim the seat of Velikynaz, somebody who can present themselves to Adanion and succeed through knowledge, strategy and wit, rather than brute force alone. Varangyrian VII proved the smartest of his siblings in that respect time and time again, and therefore took the title of High Lord upon the previous holder's passage.
Communication - It is not always easy to talk with the leaders of other Houses, especially when at least one bears a culture utterly unique to them, and nor is communicating one's will down to the common folk easily done. Varangyrian's efforts in life have been focused greatly on this in particular, for well-executed diplomacy can turn foe to friend just as surely as poor diplomacy can kill you in the house of an ally, and likewise ensuring one's communication reaches those who it needs to is a continual task; no truer is this than with House Echo, whose distance from the rest of Adanion demands firm lines of communication to maintain contact, and whose unusual customs continue to present Varan with something between thankful amusement and confused frustration when, for instance, a formal gathering is in place.
Forestry - One of House Vyapult's greatest skills, ever since the first tree of Vyapult Wood was planted, has been an affinity for the management of forests and trees. Woodcutting, tree farming, and dendrology are all long-instilled skills of the House's scions, a necessity to maintain not just Vyapult Wood, but many other forests in the Frostmarch. More than once has D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood been saved from mass deforestation by the discovery of a tree-eating fungus, and the subsequent destruction of every tree and stump within fifty or one hundred paces to prevent its spread; and over-harvesting of the forests is a matter carefully prevented by highly particular policies on when given trees can or cannot be chopped down.

Vulnerabilities:
Ties of Emotion - Varan, for all of his political abilities and high position, feels intensely what others do, moreso than mere empathy should explain. Thus, the happiness of those he holds to be important, be they his family or the people he rules, is his own; and in turn, their loss, their frustration, and especially their pain, eats at him like cancer, potentially affecting his ability to lead when experiencing this high emotion, or even swaying him toward actions he'd otherwise not normally take.
Mixed Blood - It was Varangyrian IV, great-great-grandfather to the current High Lord, whose failed attempt to raid the Silver City led to the Frozen Tears' current status as Duchy. Yet within a few decades, his grandson Varangyrian VI had found love within that city, and from there bore children with a member of the Frozen Tears; in the end, the Mad King killed them both most brutally for perceived blood treachery, being swayed not to strip House Vyapult of its status or slay the line outright by Prince Daymian alone.
For Varangyrian VII's part, this proves a conundrum on two parts: first, encouraging his investigations into their culture as an aspect of his bloodline; and second, given the Frozen Tears' reputation as savages, serving as a potentially-scandalous revelation among just about any other Great House were this to be discovered, whose aftereffects could range from eternal blackmail to being stripped of the status of High Lord or even nobility outright... or hardly a jot, depending on the outcome of events.
Ambivalence - Truthfully, Varangyrian is not convinced that either claimant is especially qualified for the throne. Anyamara is clearly the less pleasant option, for more reasons than one, but Sharles in his turn looks to be a rather weak king, with an inability to properly effect the radical changes he proposes - and crucially, neither has a true claim to royalty.

Additional Info:
Vyapult Line (starting from Varan I's designation as High Lord of the Frostmark)
1. Varangyrian Vyapult I x Duchess Mariya of D'yavoles
2. Varangyrian Vyapult II x Duchess Eleonora | Duke Dzhek, the Treefarmer x Lady Alison of Arbormark
3. Alekzandr Vyapult I x Archduchess Ruthenia | Archduchess Anastasia of Azkuzia
4. Varangyrian Vyapult III, the Cruel x Duchess Miriam of Stormlands
5. Alekzandr Vyapult II x Duchess Arianne of Wildwood | Erik the Hunter (formerly the Outcast)
6. Varangyrian Vyapult IV, the Suzerain x Archduchess Vyatik, the Wanderer | Archduke Garl't x Countess Alina | Duchess Aleksandryr, the Lawbinder
7. Varangyrian Vyapult V x Warden Markus of Westmarch | Count Varangyrian of Mirkuzi x Lady Dzhezika of Severoreka | Duke Varangyrian x Archduchess Lilianna of the Crownmark
8. Varangyrian Vyapult VI (recently the Barbarian) x Dikynima | Duchess Novgoriz x Duke Izboryk
9. Theophania Vyapult I x Warden Jacques | Duke Dyr of Bastion | Archduke Dvini x Duchess Miriyam of D'yavoles | Duke Varangyrian of Eastfrost x Duchess Ayla of D'yavoles
10. Varangyrian Vyapult VII | Duke Karl, the Guildmaster x Duchess Natalie of Mistlands

Character: Michaela Müller-Hohenstein

Title: Duchess of Steinland

Claimant: Michaela stands with her family’s backing of Anyamara.

Age: 25

Height: 5’10

Reputation: Michaela is known to carry herself with dignity, to treat people with respect, and expects the same to be given to her. She is beloved by the people of Steinland.

Description:
Michaela stands taller than most women of Steinland with a height of 5'10, has youthful pale skin, and thick wavy hair as red as the fires of the setting sun with ends that sway across her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build that shows that she maintains an active lifestyle. Her bust is of a medium size, full and seemingly nice to look at when others think that she will not notice. They are accompanied by a small waistline and hips slightly wider than her under-bust. Michaela is happy with how she developed as a woman in which, despite her slender frame, she looks good enough to not be a heavy topic of discussion with the other court women. Her breasts are agreeable in that they are not so large that they hinder her when she trains or provide her with back-ache and hips wide enough for child baring. She cannot stand their useless chitchat and if she is not the subject of their folly, all the better. She is fully aware of her duties as Dutchess and is not looking to be reminded by upper society gossips.

As cultural standard demands, Michaela is often playing the graceful and polite hostess. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. Outside of social events, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do.

After her brothers horrific capture, she began to train for combat and will wear a longsword accompanied with a short stabbing dagger strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a Knight. The only time she is without her longsword is when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a flowing dress of green or blue, but she will always have the dagger on her person for protection.

Notable Traits:

Artist - Michaela is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail.

Socialite - As a daughter of a King, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people.

Average Swordswoman - Michaela had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.

Skilled Archer - Where she lacks in swordplay, she makes up for with deadly accuracy with a bow. She hits her targets more often than she misses them and will often help to bring in fresh meat from the forests.

Poor Strategist - While on the field - Michaela understands the basics of the battle in front of her, but doesn’t always see the bigger picture of what is worth fighting for and what is worth loosing when it comes to war.

Adept equestrian - Kanna has a love for horses and rides well. Her skill in fighting from the saddle is well known.

Personality:

Michaela is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes.

However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father or brother’s orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.

Michaela is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Michaela is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits. She hopes to one day meet a man that will no only match her intellect, but also respect her as the person she is and not try to force her to be something she is not. She also hopes to have twin children to carry her family’s name.

Important Note:
It is largely believed that any future heir to Steinland will come from Michaela. Rumours circulate suggesting that Karl cannot produce any children following his torture.

House: Steinland (The Stormlands)
Location: Bordered to the West by the Dragons Graveyard, the North by Westmarch and Abormark, the East by Wildwood, and the South by the Starry Sea.

A Description of Steinland:

Stormlands - Named for the seaborn storms that routinely wash over the land or even flood it, the Stormlands can flip between a beautifully sunny coast to a terrifying thunderous storm in minutes, it is also picture of ancient rounded mountains, lush river valleys, endless castles and stunning vistas. Bordered to the West by the Dragons Graveyard, the North by Westmarch and Abormark, the East by Wildwood, and the South by the Starry Sea.

Deep and wide rivers snake down from the Dragon Mountains where soaring peaks of the quickly give way to rolling hills, rounded ancient mountains, and a certain sense of walking into antiquity. The mountains here are old, far older than those of the north, and thousands of years of rain and wind have battered them into a pleasing undulating landscape.

Deep forests are common here, but unlike the marshy forest of Wildwood or Abormark, they are filled with mighty oaks, colourful maples, and delicate aspens. This is a land poets and bards sing of when they wish to conjure forth songs of beauty and prosperity.

To the south lies the Starry Sea where long coastlines of jagged rocks are broken by countless bays that boast beautiful white sand and excellent anchorages. Fishing is plentiful and the marine life a wonder to behold.

Castles dot the landscape from small strategic holdings to the massive citadel at Steinbach. The Nobles here fight each other as often as they have external enemies and no lord is to be caught without a formidable redoubt to call home.

The People of Steinland:

Steinlanders are a fair folk, tall, well fed, and great fans of ales, meads, and violent sport. Often considered dour and studious by their neighbours, that is a reputation gained from those who have come from behind the natural barriers that protect these fine people.

Those in Steinland love as much as they fight and the population has remained strong for many years. The abundance of water and resources has allowed for a comfortable lifestyle, even for the peasant classes. It is no surprise then that Steinland considers itself the true heart of the nation.

The Economy of Steinland:

Steinland draws much of its wealth and strength from the Dragon Mountains, and the ancient mineral deposits found throughout the land. High quality coal and plentiful iron have allowed Steinlanders to make their mark as the finest blacksmiths in the land, producing incredible armour and weapons. It is a true status symbol to be equipped with Steinland plate.

Two major ports, Steinbach and Ostfelsen, allow a steady flow of trade with the rest of the continent, as well as those across the sea. Not lacking for agricultural goods or the bounty of the sea, Steinland is loath to part with much of its homegrown wealth.

The names and locations of fortresses are to many to count, but the major citadels are listed below:

Steinbach:
Steinbach is an ancient and soaring city that has spread across the mouth of Splistream River and up the sides of the hills that embrace it. Stunning architecture, powerful industry, and a studious, if at times ridiculous people, make this city a true powerhouse in the realm. The finest swordsmen and armour come from this region.

Unlike the frozen hellhole of Frostmark, Steinbach enjoys a mild year round climate with the temperature rarely dropping below freezing while the summers are pleasant and most desirable.

Ostfelsen:
Ostfelsen lies to the West of Steinbach along the coastline and straddles a series of rivers and canals that make it a wonder to visit. Unlike Steinbach, with its heavy industry and love of weaponry, Ostfelsen is popular with craftsman and makers of liquor.

The architecture here is less brutal and formal, allowing it to attract folk from far across the seas as a place of learning and study.

Reputation:
Steinland is known for its martial and civilized folk.

Strength:
Steinland fields armies of mounted knights supported by infantry and archers drawn from the peasant classes. Knightly Orders are common here and can range from being largely helpful, to a downright pain in the keister. They have a siege train second to none.

Please enjoy this marching song of Steinland.



Further Information:
It is an open secret that Steinland considers itself the best part of Adanion. With the death of both the King and the Crown Prince, the Arch Duke is widely known to favour the Princess Anyamara but there are rumours he may simply declare independence and shun any holder of the Crown completely. Any faction that counts the Arch Duke among its allies would surely take the Crown.

Character: Karl Müller-Hohenstein
Title: High Lord of the Stormlands, Archduke of Steinland, and Lord of House Muller-Hohenstein.

Claimant: Princess Anyamara
Reputation: Known for being brutally honest and to the point.

Age: 25
Height: 5’8
Description:
Karl was once a tall and proud young man but the injuries he suffered at the hands of pirates has left him bent and twisted. His shaves his head completely, and never permits himself to grow any stubble on his face. His teeth are either gone or broken, painful to the touch. His right leg is bent and gnarled, forcing him to use a cane. Both his feet are badly mangled and angle inward causing him to walk duck footed. His once broad shoulders have shrunk to little more than the that of a youth. His fingers, all broken before healing into a gnarled mess, had to be rebroken when he was rescued, healing again into some approximation of claws.

It is his eyes that still give life to an otherwise piteous being. They are a pure and hate filled black. Like two pools of evil that try to draw you in and drown you.

Notable Traits:
Spymaster: Spies, assassins, subterfuge, all of it falls into Karl's purview and he wields those resources with terrifying skill, both within Steinland and abroad.
Cunning: Those who cannot wield swords, wield words, and Karl has proven himself time and time again to be a skilled negotiator. To those paying any attention, a sudden cessation of local feuds hints at a unification within Steinland.
Strategic Thinker: While he cannot fight in a war anymore, Karl has proved adept at waging them from a leadership perspective.
Useless fighter: Karl couldn't fend off a child.

Personality:
Karl is cunning and cruel on a level that very few people can imagine. The cruelty that he suffered at the hands of pirates following his capture at eighteen left him scared and vengeful. The once handsome and confident young Prince has become a twisted and evil person, driven only be the desire for revenge and to make his enemies suffer as he suffered. Many of those in Steinland, where martial prowess is so highly valued, have come to respect him for his intelligence and common sense. Among the cheerful folk of Steinland, Karl is considered a serious person. He rarely smiles, never laughs, and is known to enjoy inflicting pain on others.

Karl loves one person, his twin sister Michaela. To what extent this love goes is anyones guess, but he dotes on her and she has forever accepted him.

Character: Michaela Müller-Hohenstein

Title: Duchess of Steinland

Claimant: Michaela stands with her family’s backing of Anyamara.

Age: 25

Height: 5’10

Reputation: Michaela is known to carry herself with dignity, to treat people with respect, and expects the same to be given to her. She is beloved by the people of Steinland.

Description:
Michaela stands taller than most women of Steinland with a height of 5'10, has youthful pale skin, and thick wavy hair as red as the fires of the setting sun with ends that sway across her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build that shows that she maintains an active lifestyle. Her bust is of a medium size, full and seemingly nice to look at when others think that she will not notice. They are accompanied by a small waistline and hips slightly wider than her under-bust. Michaela is happy with how she developed as a woman in which, despite her slender frame, she looks good enough to not be a heavy topic of discussion with the other court women. Her breasts are agreeable in that they are not so large that they hinder her when she trains or provide her with back-ache and hips wide enough for child baring. She cannot stand their useless chitchat and if she is not the subject of their folly, all the better. She is fully aware of her duties as Dutchess and is not looking to be reminded by upper society gossips.

As cultural standard demands, Michaela is often playing the graceful and polite hostess. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. Outside of social events, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do.

After her brothers horrific capture, she began to train for combat and will wear a longsword accompanied with a short stabbing dagger strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a Knight. The only time she is without her longsword is when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a flowing dress of green or blue, but she will always have the dagger on her person for protection.

Notable Traits:

Artist - Michaela is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail.

Socialite - As a daughter of a Duke, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people.

Average Swordswoman - Michaela had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.

Skilled Archer - Where she lacks in swordplay, she makes up for with deadly accuracy with a bow. She hits her targets more often than she misses them and will often help to bring in fresh meat from the forests.

Poor Strategist - While on the field - Michaela understands the basics of the battle in front of her, but doesn’t always see the bigger picture of what is worth fighting for and what is worth loosing when it comes to war.

Adept equestrian - Michaela has a love for horses and rides well. Her skill in fighting from the saddle is well known.

Personality:

Michaela is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes.

However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father or brother’s orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.

Michaela is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Michaela is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits. She hopes to one day meet a man that will no only match her intellect, but also respect her as the person she is and not try to force her to be something she is not. She also hopes to have twin children to carry her family’s name.

Important Note:
It is largely believed that any future heir to Steinland will come from Michaela. Rumours circulate suggesting that Karl cannot produce any children following his torture.

House Info: the House of Marietta
Coat of Arms: the symbol of the house, a female bear with a fish in her mouth, stands upon a blue and black checkered backgound.
Motto: "There is no beauty without fear."

Reputation: She is the Witch Queen of Lake Bruna, the dread lady of the Duchy of Inge. In the wake of Filiberta-Marie lay cruelty and opulence, her posterity being the one thing she holds high and dear. Rumors abound around the royal masques, the court of Filiberta-Marie, and the ancient hedonism she is supposedly leading.
Ambitions: Ultimately Filiberta-Marie wants two things: power and knowledge. She wants to expand the influence of her realm, but this is primarily to fund the study of her people and the history of her house. She is obsessed with the truths of the past, especially prior to the conquest by Adandum. But her vision for the vastness of this project, bringing back a past she does not quite yet understand, requires much research and wealth.
Aptitudes: Filiberta-Marie is first and foremost a master of branding, and she understands how to wear many different masks. She knows how to strike fear into the heart of any peasent or ambitious merchant, yet she knows how to grease the palms of the rich in just the right ways. Also, she is a student of social history.
Vulnerabilities: Although she uses this to her advantage at times, the legacy of her house is ultimately a blemish upon her name. Her house supposedly comes from a coven of hags, ancient and long forgotten, yet amongst the royalty her house remains ostracized for it. Also, Marietta herself, although young in her face, suffers from a frail and atrophied body that she hides beneath her furs and wools.
Additional Info: Men of House Marietta are known to often be born sickly and more commonly than not possess frail bodies and weakened immune systems. The women of House Marietta however seem to be mostly immune with the large majority of them being born healthy. The women also often appear younger than one would expect of their age. Popular superstition of House Marietta among the smallfolk says that this is a sign of their foul lineage and that their blood is cursed with the women taking the vitality of the men while still in the womb some how.

Domain Info: The Duchy of Inge. House Marietta has ruled the duchy for time immemorial, nestled within the lakes and rivers flowing form the many mountains of the realm. She personally holds 5 baronies, while the rest of her duchy is divided amongst cadet branches of her house and burghers who earn their right to land via scholarship.
Domain Summary: In the West of the domain lie the farthest mountains and the most remote villages, forgotten upon the international border and surviving off of hunting and gathering. The East of the domain are the flooded valleys of Bolstadt, the breadbasket of the duchy. To the south lie the rich iron veins of the Lindstendt mountains, and to the north are once barren lands now the home of blacksmiths, guildhalls, and universities, kept alive by the rest of the duchy. In the center lie the wooded hills of the capital region, an ancient place in which the mist clings close to the ground all too often, and from this land the rivers flow and the House of Marietta reigns.

Major Holdings: The Mariettan Palace, Hundsbeck upon Bolstadt (major farming county), Julechton (largest city), Lake Bruna (upon which lies the Mariettan Palace and many folk tales), the Sanctum of Anacht (religious heart of the duchy)

Reputation: The Duchy is known for the military scholars and historians arising from the new universities, and the odd folk practices arising from the ancient and untamed hills.
Wealth: Economically the realm survives off of the trade of military supplies and the provision of militant generals to the greater kingdom.
Strength: The domain is somewhat thinly defended, as most military supplies are exported, but when the time comes mercenary armies are paid to fight for the realm.