Name: Andica Garun
Abstract: A runaway bookbinder trying to escape an awful match
Details: Andica grew up as the oldest of three children in her family. Her father put bread on the table by breeding and training dogs, be they for hunting, guarding, or as pets. Andica helped him with the animals from a young age, and her assistance became increasingly important, particularly after her younger brother and sister were born and money became increasingly tight.
At 14, she took a job as an apprentice bookbinder at the Enn library, while still working with the dogs in her eveinings. She proved adept at this exacting process, and in the process became a voracious reader, devouring books on many subjects as they passed through the workshop and gaining a broad general knowledge of Enn and its workings. She even read a few texts brought in by travellers.
Unfortunately, working here also brought her into contact with Santini Quade, a nobleman of the city who often came in to buy rare books, and whom she found disagreeable in more ways than she could name. While she was never able to express this to his face (he was a lucrative customer, and not to mention a wealthy nobleman), she remained forcedly civil towards the man, even as he continued to come by the library and particularly the workroom with increasingly frustrating regularity.
This all came to a head after three years, when, while Andica was at the library, Santini visited her family’s home and kennels. He initially seemed to be interested in a large hound, but soon revealed that he had been infatuated with Andica for some time and had come to ask for her hand in marriage. Her parents were very pleased by the proposed match, as it would earn their daughter a much improved life and themselves a sizeable dowry. They agreed at once, and asked Satini to come back on the following day to finalise details of the marriage.
When Andica came home to learn of this, she was horrified, and protested vehemently that she would never marry, to quote her words, “a thickheaded, arrogant, callous, narcissistic pig of a man twice my age, who would treat me like nicely made-up dirt for the rest of my life”. Her parents sympathised, but nonetheless encouraged her to reconsider, saying how much better her life would be among the upper echelons of Enn’s society and citing Santini’s better qualities. In spite of this, the debate went back and forth well into the night and no agreement was reached.
As Andica lay fuming on the bed she shared with her siblings, she remembered seeing Spook’s notice on her way home that evening. It seemed like the only way for her to escape her impending wedding was to flee the city. She carefully got up, cobbled together a few supplies and slipped out of the house with them, her father’s musket, and Kavinika, the hound Satini had showed interest in, to save him as well. The two of them were at the gate well before dawn, and eager to be off before anyone could discover they were gone.
Andica is generally quiet and hardworking, though she has a fiercely independent streak. She is a perfectionist who strives for the best in what she does, and likes to improve on things if she thinks she sees a better way.
Andica has a slim, almost scrawny figure, and mid-length dark brown hair that she is forever pushing out of her hazel eyes. She is five feet, nine inches tall and is wearing a brown shirt and grey pants, both of which are slightly too big for her.
