"Only through science can the secrets of the universe be laid bare."
Gwendolyn Alexander Rowe; Gwen for short.
ＡＧＥ25.
ＧＥＮＤＥＲFemale.
ＰＬＡＣＥ ＯＦ ＯＲＩＧＩＮOriginating from the small island town of Rivensford, Gwendolyn was raised by her scientist father: Silias Rowe. Located on the outskirts of The Archipelago, Rivensford is located west of Bridesend. The town is surrounded by roaring waterfalls; the perfect source of power for any person interested in more advanced machinery. Engineers from far and wide flock to Rivensford to set up shop and further their research into the realm of the machine- or even that of the arcane.
ＡＰＰＥＡＲＡＮＣＥGwendolyn is five foot and seven inches of cold logic and "superior knowledge". Draped around her bony frame she dons her mother's sun-bleached leather coat; a dusty grey heirloom that Gwendolyn could never be parted with. Underneath this coat she wears a black tank top that keeps her from getting too warm during her heat-intensive work. She has a thick head of mousy brown hair that is cut short, only falling down to the back of her neck. Due to her lack of knowledge in social customs, her hair often appears wild and unkempt.
One of the first things that most notice about Gwendolyn is the unhealthy pale pallor of her skin, as well as the knowing smirk that is forever painted on her face. Another thing that haunts the air around Gwen is the constant shuddering cough she lets out now and again, reminding all those near her of her persistent disability.
ＰＥＲＳＯＮＡＬＩＴＹGwendolyn goes through life logically and rationally. Every decision she makes she reviews a few times before finally giving the final perfect answer. Her perfectionism is very obvious in the way she frantically searches for every excuse to be right and give at least fifteen reasons why. She feels that's it's only natural to lecture people when they are wrong, because it would be inefficient and illogical to go through life having the wrong answer to something. While she would love to be one to do this, she is extremely soft-spoken and has difficulties interacting with others when there are multiple people around(as she grew up alone and without friends).
When it comes to engineering and science, however, Gwen gets excited to the point where she might have to use her inhaler. She loves to go on long winded explanations on the inner mechanisms of airship technology, and would never miss an opportunity to have an intellectual conversation about new technology. When it comes to debates about science she can become extremely emotional, and will even come to the point of shouting to prove her point.
Gwen hates to be helped, as her entire childhood consisted of people worrying about her health. She stands on her own, proud of how far she has come despite her crippling lung difficulties. When she is outside of the social pressures of multiple people, many find Gwen to be quick and witty with her speech, drawing on her knowledge of comedies and other sharp tongued pieces of literature.
ＳＫＩＬＬＳＥＴ● Avid Learner- Ever since she was a little girl Gwendolyn found that her father's schooling bored her. She much rather enjoyed pouring over the dusty tomes and scrolls of her father's library alone. Whenever she did so, she would begin to infer, make connections between objects and the forces that affected them. In next to no time, Gwen had already come up with a basic understanding of science and mathematics nearly all on her own. This lust for knowledge led to her father testing her harder and pushing her farther, until her intellect surpassed even his own. Due to her debilitating disease, Gwen spent most of her time indoors surrounded by sheets of paper as she would work through theorem after theorem. Now as an adult she is an avid scientist and engineer learning how to better the lives of others through the power of technology.
● Airship Engineer- Gwendolyn is an adept engineer with a very deep understanding of the inner workings of everything mechanical. Taking things apart and putting them back together better and stronger than before has become quite the hobby of Gwen's. She works tirelessly to hone her skills, tinkering with things on the daily and drawing up plans for things that could perhaps be useful or more efficient. This skill is the most precious thing to Gwen, as she learned everything she knows from her father.
● Practical- As a scientist and an engineer, dreamy solutions have never been one for Gwendolyn. When faced with a challenge she will continue to stay level headed as she works through the problem, taking every logical step until she achieves her goal. She is a very down to earth person and thinker, making her perfect for acting under pressure.
ＷＥＡＫＮＥＳＳPhysical activity of any kind is the bane of Gwendolyn's existence. This can be attributed to the fact that she is asthmatic as well as completely out of shape. Another weakness she displays is her complete overconfidence in her ability to do anything. This strong-headed outlook has gotten her into many a bad situation in the past, however also serves as the thing that drives her to keep going.
ＨＩＳＴＯＲＹGwendolyn Alexander Rowe was born twenty five years ago aboard a passenger ship on it's way to Bridesend. Her mother, Helena Rowe, was deathly ill and on her deathbed when she gave birth to the baby girl. After successfully saving the life of Gwen, Helena passed away shortly after due to her illness. As it turned out Gwendolyn had been born prematurely. Her lungs were not quite fully developed, and the doctors aboard the ship were worried that she would not be able to survive for long. Much to their relief the child seemed to stabilize over the rest of the voyage, and was rushed to a hospital for treatment soon after.
Gwen's father, Silias, had become overwhelmed with grief at the death of his beloved and the birth of his sickly child. He took the child and fled from his old home in Bridesend to find solace in his life's work; finding out what lay beneath the clouds. However he felt greatly attached to Gwendolyn, and even while he tirelessly worked day and night working on a small vessel to breach the clouds he made sure to teach the child all he knew. She was, after all, all he had left of Helena. Gwen's base of knowledge grew vast in next to no time. The child was not allowed to leave the house most of the time, as her terrible illness would cause her to seize up and have terrible problems breathing. Because of this, Gwen spent most of her childhood indoors pouring over all the books in the library and in her father's archives. Eventually, she stumbled across a book that was of great interest to her. The Adventures of Cumulus Le Fèvre. The stories of wonder and magic caused Gwen's jaw to drop to the floor in awe. She longed to finally be able to escape the house she had been confined to and explore this amazing world outside her dark horizons.
Starting at the age of fifteen the girl entered the annual Rivensford invention exchange, showing off her engineering prowess when she designed and built an airship thruster all on her own. People from all around were impressed with her work, but Gwen did not listen to their praise. She only cared on how she could change the design, improve it beyond measure. While she toiled in her dark room she would hear her father working day in and day out to perfect his pet project. At last, when she was nineteen years old he completed his dream; a craft able to dive below the clouds. Bidding Gwen a quick but tearful goodbye and leaving everything he owned to her, Silias dove below the cloud layer, promising to her that he would return in only a year's time.
When two years past, the truth became very apparent to Gwen. Her father had no intention of returning at all. Now on her own, she vowed one day to follow in her father's footsteps and finally discover what had become of her idol. Fate seemed to favor her in this endeavor, as when she was going on a monthly errand to buy food for her shut in lifestyle she came across two men in the market square discussing an ad they had seen posted down the road. People were wanted for an expedition of sorts; apparently it held promise of adventure, of camaraderie, and most of all...
Diving below the clouds.
Gwendolyn's dull brown eyes lit up at the sound of those words, and quickly she gathered up her things and left her dusty childhood prison behind. Now with a heart ablaze with passion, she sets sail to at last find out what has become of her father and to live the life she feels she was meant to live.
ＡＭＢＩＴＩＯＮＳGwendolyn hopes to find out what has become of her father below the endless sea of clouds. She also wants to go out and experience all of what life has to offer in case her condition worsens.
ＩＮＶＥＮＴＯＲＹ● Cluttered Tool Belt- A well worn leather belt covered in rusty tools of all varieties. (Spanners, Mallets, Screwdrivers, a Blowtorch and a Rivet Gun.)
● Dusty Coat- A sun-bleached cloak of ragged leather. Used to belong to Gwendolyn's mother.
● Tinted Goggles- A pair of protective goggles that serve to shield the wearer's eyes from bright lights and extreme temperatures.
● Inhaler- A tiny trinket that Gwendolyn (literally) can't live without. The inhaler was designed and built by her father to keep the sickly child from dying at a young age.
● The Book The Adventures of Cumulus Le Fèvre- This old tome is carried by Gwendolyn as a reminder that there is so much excitement away from home. It serves as a motivator for the sickly and scared girl go out and live life to the fullest.
● Blackened Socket Wrench- The last thing Gwendolyn has to remember her father by; his favorite socket wrench. The old tool is notched and charred, but still works as if in prime condition.
