Credits to the original artist: Aurora2001 on Deviantart :)
A comely young woman with yellow-amber eyes who stands at 5'5", she is more often seen smiling than not, and those who know her are a bit skeptical of that very smile, though newcomers see her as a gentle, motherly figure. She has long brown hair that falls in twisting rivers down her back to the middle of it. Sometimes she even puts flowers in it. Partial to wearing long gowns, some of which appear beautifully tailored, for which she has to thank her sister. Also has one or two summer hats she wears, signifying her as the upper middle class.
Traits:
Skills:
Cassandra, being a town citizen, makes her living as both the runner of a flower shop and her mother's assistant, with the elder woman being one of the better known herbalists in the city. The two careers have made it easy for her knowledge of plants and herbs, for purposes aesthetic, medicinal or otherwise to blossom.
Was privileged enough to be taught how to ride from a young enough age, with her father being a part of the royal guard. He's now retired and with good reason as the wars decreased and so did threat. The family horse Rook, a bay stallion that's about seven years old, was purchased when Cassandra was 15.
Since she grew up with a sister, Sophia, the housework was split between the two. Therefore, Cassandra can clean and cook adequately enough for if she were to live on her own.
Weaknesses:
Cassandra was never very good with complex physics or mathematics.
She has become desensitised to when someone is dying before her eyes due to having seen it so much, so her empathy in those moments to grieving family is less than stellar.
She's defenseless with or without a weapon, personally believing more in healing than hurting. Therefore her physical endurance and strength also isn't very high.
Personality: You could call her an ambivert. Cassie enjoys the company of people, and though in her childhood she was ever curious and bubbly, though not as much as Sophia, that's dulled down now to make her more serious and graceful. Though she still enjoys the thrill of a challenge and adventure, and the adrenaline of doing something where she might be caught fuels her occasional reckless behaviour, though she's not particularly violent. Far from. Cassandra is a woman you'd see smiling more often than not, but behind that graceful exterior lies an envious and vindictive beast of a woman. Though her love was once different, she now lusts for riches, particularly precious stones, and also an unreasonable revenge. Though you wouldn't hear her admit to any of that, since playing innocent is something Cassandra has come to learn works well in her favour.
Biography: Born to a member of the royal Guard and his wife, a woman of medicine, Cassandra had a comfortable life growing up with her elder sister Sophia. Nothing particularly eventful, she went to school and grew up managing her studies and with her sister, opening up a flower shop though her sister went on to be a seamstress. Though when she was seventeen, and in the years of peace the kingdom enjoyed, as she was supplying flowers to the castle for one of the king's many events with nobles, she met one particular Duke. His name was Adrian, and he had come from a close land. His title of Duke was inherited as both his parents passed away, and his elder brothers had gone to conquer their own lands, leaving him, the youngest, in the lap of royalty. Adrian and Cassandra fell in love at first sight? It wasn't quite like that, but started off in the comic fashion of her being too fixated on this handsome man's face and his ocean green eyes, and bumping into someone of the royal household. He spoke up on her behalf to be pardoned. For a year and a half they courted, with Adrian making excuses to come by and by to the local Kingdom, and through all the political naysayers, he wanted to take Cassandra as his wife. The two were unbelievably happy, though the political situation of his local lands would go into ruin should he not have made an alliance with another warring land. The young duke was later assassinated, leaving Cassandra at 19 with his child. Being unable to live and raise something that would remind her of her lost lover everyday, with the help of her mother, they managed to kill the child somehow before it reached an irreversible stage, though it left Cassandra wounded both emotionally and mentally. She mourns her lost lover to date, and she doesn't know who or why the assassination was ordered, being kept mostly in the dark. She's come to the kingdom seeking riches and answers of her fiancé's untimely demise. And if she ends up dying, she's more than willing to comply, much against the wishes of her sobbing mother and sister and her disapproving father.
Misc: Adrian shared her love for animals, and taught her how to train a bird of prey, before some time in the course of their relationship assigning her the position of owner to one of his two beloved birds, a white barn owl named Locket. Since the bird isn't too much of a hassle to deal with, she's happy to bring it along for sake of protection and as an affectionate companion. Cassandra also loves sweet things, particularly fresh fruits, especially berries, and anything made of chocolate. Her favourite flowers are lilies. She and Sophia had a dog at home who has become quite old now called Hunter, and she personally had two pet dormice. She loves the sound of harps and violins.
Name: Aiden Whitlock Age: 24 Gender: Male Rank: Prisoner of War. Appearance: Him Skills:
+ Adept with all types of weaponry, but is truly a beast to behold when using any of the weapons of his homeland. These include the dual daggers he was given back after stepping forth to meet the King’s challenge, but he is also masterful with spears and bolas, which are the three traditional weapons of the small kingdom he once belonged too.
+ Due to the harshness of his homeland and the rigors of military service, Aiden is in fantastic shape, boasting agility and endurance of someone half his size, with the strength and tolerance of someone twice so. Takes a lot for him to be exhausted or taxed, so physical challenges will be a bit easier for him.
+ Life in the secluded mountains called for the inhabitants to learn how best to traverse the area, as well as track/forage game/food. This upbringing has made Aiden an adept hunter, with great perception for understanding what’s around him. Basically really good spatial awareness.
Weaknesses: + Bloodwrath – Though some may consider this a strength, Aiden shares the fatal flaw that lead to his kingdom’s demise. With their hardy lifestyle, his people were extremely prideful and stubborn, especially on the battlefield and even more so against the armies of Alush, which they deemed pompous and weak. While his people are recognized for their battlefield prowess, this losing one’s self in the midst of a fight caused extreme tunnel vision, leading for mistakes to be made and in the case of his kingdom, death.
+ Not trusting of citizens of Alush, especially the nobles and commoners, the latter being the ones he places most of his contempt for. This is because in his culture, the castes were a lot more fluid, so political issues received just as much weight coming from the commoners as it did from the lords. So the expansion of Alush is mainly due to the people, rather than the King’s wishes.
Personality: Thanks in no small part to his upbringing and his life as a soldier for the small mountain kingdom he hailed from, Aiden has grown quite the ol’ chip on his shoulder. This makes him come off rather aggressive and arrogant, though he is by no means stupid or thick, rather he uses this forwardness to his advantage as it often overwhelms those of a weaker constitution. However, he is not some heartless barbarian from some bygone age, as he does have a soft spot for those who are dumped on by society. This is mostly directed towards other PoW’s, as well as the poor of Alush, though depending on a person’s situation it is quite possible for him to even look out for a commoner or noble. Though he of course must overcome his initial disgust first. Can be seen as devilish or monstrous when he gets amped up.
Biography: Growing up in the remote and mountainous kingdom of Krag, Aiden found himself as the average citizen, spending his days hunting and gathering to support their small lands. However, at the ripe age of 18, he became part of Krag’s militia, a small army that numbered around 600 men. This was due to the sudden conquest that the newly crowned King of Alush spurned forth, engulfing all the small fiefdoms, townships, and rival kingdoms in stunning speed. Once the armies reached the mountainous lands of the Krag, Aiden’s people fought ferociously, taking down several men for every one they lost. Though they were soon overwhelmed by the might and numbers of the Alush military, their warrior spirit would become popular tales around the many taverns and campfires of Alush. The King’s generals realized the risk of leaving such a devastating kingdom, as small as it was, standing to become a thorn in Alush’s side. So they destroyed the small kingdom, leaving the land itself scorched and bare, forcing those who survived to integrate into Alush. However, all surviving soldiers of the Krag were taken back to the Capitol, where they became prisoners of war.
With the news of the King’s decree of immense rewards for those that pass his challenges, Aiden quickly gave word to his guards that he wished to take them on. Being that they were open to all, he was allowed to leave his shackles behind, putting his life now back in his own hands for whether he succeeds in the trials to come or ends up dead like the majority of his former kinsmen. He dreams of attaining the power and influence to return to his homeland, hoping to somehow be able to return home again. Even if he has to make it himself.